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7 features I want to see in iOS 7
We've been hearing rumors for a long time now about what we can expect to see in iOS 7. In fact, the most in depth information came in form of a source leak earlier today. I found it quite amusing that it should show up on the day I've been planning to write my wish list on now for more than a week. But I guess that's how the cookie crumbles a lot of the time.
It may seem a little unnecessary to say, but: I love iOS. It doesn't matter how many times I try other platforms, and how much I like other devices, I cannot for the life of me escape iOS and its awesome ecosystem. Personally, I think I'm an app addict, and that's an issue I'm more than happy to live with. But, that doesn't mean that I'm under any illusion of iOS being perfect. It's not. Here are my top 7 desires for the next version of our favorite operating system.
1. Notifications
I don't think it's possible to write an iOS wish list without mentioning notifications. It's come a long way from its hideous blue pop-up days, but it's still got some work to attain perfection. Most of my preferences on this topic have come from having tried a variety of jailbreak tweaks and finding that I prefer the modded version of iOS to the default.
First off, there's that rolling notification that appears on the top of the screen. On a screen the size of the iPhone's, it's far too big. A more efficient and less obtrusive way would be to take the idea from the DietBulletin tweak. Instead of having a rolling alert, you have scrolling text in the status bar. It doesn't take up any more room than your status bar already does, and you can see the entire message as it scrolls across your screen. It's fantastic.
Secondly, there's the issue of syncing notifications across devices. If I read an email on my iPhone, I don't expect the notification to show up on my iPad the second I unlock it a few hours later. If it's read, it should be gone across all my devices. There's nothing worse than opening a Smart Cover to a sea of notifications you've already dealt with on your iPhone. It's a pain, and it's something you'd bank on Apple doing something about. A company professing to love and promote efficiency should notice that this is an issue, especially when you consider that more and more iPhone and iPad users have more than one iOS device.
2. Keyboard with smarter auto-correct
Having used both SwiftKey on the HTC One, and BB10's new SureType technology on the Z10, it's fair to say that I've gone from being proficient on the iPhone keyboard to downright hating it. I'm constantly miss-typing words, and when I do, auto-correct either doesn't have a clue what to do or does the wrong thing. In portrait mode on the iPhone display it's almost unusable.
Part of the problem is the size of the display, but we're going to assume that the iPhone's display size will not be addressed any time soon. So, what's the answer? Personally, I think we need a keyboard like SwiftKey which learns your common phrases and suggests them subtly, either by suggesting words above the keyboard, or having easily accessible word choices above letters like BB10.
3. Bigger Folders and Better App Management
When you have a large collections of apps (remember, I'm an addict) you need somewhere to keep them. Especially when you have dozens of the same category. 12/16 apps isn't enough for a folder, and there's no reason why Apple can't make Folders unlimited. I know it's not impossible, I have 'Infinifolder' (another jailbreak tweak) running on my iPhone, and have 30 apps in one folder. All that needs to happen is that iOS gives you the ability to scroll up and down, or sideways to reveal the ones not currently on screen.
The reason I want this so badly is that I like as little clutter as possible on my iPhone screen, and yet I need to quench my insatiable appetite for applications somehow. I have over 130 apps on my iPhone and that's having recently deleted ones I haven't used in a while. There aren't any currently installed that I could do without. There's nothing quite as irritating as needing three folders for games, when you know that Apple could quite easily enable Folders to host as many as you can possibly download.
I'd also like more flexibility in terms of where I can place my apps and how many I can dock. Instead of having it so that the apps all flood to the top of the Home Screen page, how about just letting us place the apps anywhere in the 'grid'? It's not like we're going to harm ourselves somehow by having apps in an order and in positions that Apple doesn't approve of.
4. All about apps – Co-operation and Defaults
This is a big deal in this day and age, and it's something that Android has got absolutely nailed down. I could have split this wish in to three, but decided to lump it all together in to one.
Firstly, Apple's default apps: Calendar, Notes, Mail, Safari, Weather, Stock, Calculator, Maps, Clock and the rest all have better third party alternatives. Personally, I use Fantastical, Write for Dropbox, Wunderlist, Mailbox, Yahoo! Weather and Google Maps instead of the Apple-made defaults. It would be great if I could use those as defaults, and in turn, delete Apple's versions to save some space on my iPhone's flash drive.
Secondly, apps need to talk to each other better. For instance, with Android, when you open specific links like Twitter, YouTube or Ebay pages, it'll offer you the choice as to which program you'd like to use to open that. You can even set its as the rule to use that every time. Not only that, but, sharing options from within every app come with a whole list of services, whereas iOS' choices are limited to Facebook, Twitter and Apple's own apps. It's constricting. To say the least.
5. Quick Access toggles
Imagine, you're going on a plane, or to bed and you want to switch 'Do Not Disturb' or 'Airplane Mode' on very quickly and easily. Unlock>Settings>etc… Picture instead that your Lock Screen has a few instantly accessible toggle switches like Airplane Mode or Do Not Disturb. It makes the process much quicker. I'm not suggesting they be front and center and always present on the Lock Screen. But perhaps, being able to swipe across from the clock to a panel full of useful toggles would be the best way to do it, without filling the screen.
6. Auto Updating Apps
Yep, another Android inspired feature. You have to admit, some of them are quite useful. When you download apps from the Play Store, you can select whether or not you want them to automatically update once a new version becomes available. It would be great if that was an option with iOS. What's more, if the App Store can auto-download cross-device when you download a new app, why can't it do it when you download an update?
The frustration with this for me is that we have a shared iPad in my house that I rarely get any time with. It means that the odd occasion I do get chance with it there are 30+ updates waiting for me to update. Let me tell you, on my 2.5Mbps internet connection, that can take some time to complete.
7. Multitasking
I know, yet another inescapable addition to the list, and one which seemingly makes its way here every single year. The fact is, Auxo is popular on Cydia for good reason. The current app-switching user interface in iOS is terrible. Not only because you can't see a preview of your app as well as the icon, but because deleting all the apps from memory takes so long. Apple needs to address this at some point.
Overall, I'm not sure how many of my desires Apple will address with iOS 7 when it arrives. We know not to expect too many heavy textures in the graphics department, but other features are unclear. If Cupertino's designers and engineers really want to make sure we love iOS, and don't all flood to the jailbreak scene as soon as one for iOS 7 is available, they need to address the common place issues. The seven above are my own personal gripes.
Now it's your turn. What would you like to see changed or improved?


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Productivity Parameters for Recruiters
Traditional recruitment process has taken a back seat in recent times. With new trends influencing every industry across the globe, technology has advanced steadily that has impacted growth of every segment. With this the recruitment process has also remodelled itself to meet the increasing demand for candidate sourcing. It is no more about the experience and gut feeling of the hiring manager. The hiring process and candidates have been quantified with the help of certain parameters. Hence the performance of the recruiters can now be measured and evaluated based on below factors.
- The first and foremost parameter that forms the basis of the recruitment success and effectiveness is the time to hire factor. It is the time span that is taken up by a recruiter for bringing in the candidate onboard. The duration is counted from the time the job posting goes live across various platforms to the successful placement of the candidates. Organizations which have a strong talent management process usually have the lowest time to hire quotient.
- Next factor to consider is the sourcing channel. The conventional sources such as job portals and normal company database wherein candidates drop in their resume are no more sufficient to indentify talents. Recruiters need to build up their own network of talent sourcing which may include personal channels, following up with the referrals and a strong reaching out ability to the passive candidates. The third scenario is the toughest to handle as these candidates are not looking out for job change. Convincing them to the selection process and finally placing the offer is a strategic work that requires proper planning and discussion.
- Next in line is the cost of hire. It includes the compensation and other benefits that are offered to the candidate. There are a few to things to consider in this case. In case of technical professionals where the skill availability is less, it is obvious that the demand for compensation will rise. But the recruiter needs to understand the budget and work accordingly in order to retain the candidate as well as sustain the company benefit.
- Just recruitment of a resource now days are not enough to add value to the workforce. The recruiter needs to identify a resource that can adjust with the company work environment and connects with the brand so that learning and development investment of the company gets paid off.
- The ratio of the current vacancies versus positions filled for a particular time period is a good parameter for recruiter ability judgement. It can either be measured monthly or quarterly depending on the company policy.
- Offer acceptance ratio is another factor that reflects the performance of the recruiter in terms of convincing the candidate regarding the positions. It needs to be performed from the sales point of view for effective results.
- Lastly, the gender mix should be considered for performance evaluation. Workforce diversity is an important aspect of employee base for every organization and that can be looked upon through this parameter.
Candidate Experience building up the branding image of the employer
It is a natural tendency that when a candidate attends an interview process, he or she discusses the experience with the family, friends and personal network. While it might sound trivial to many but the brand image reaches out to these people through these candidates. Whether the candidate gets selected or not, in both cases the information passed on by them is an important source of data in terms of company branding. Social media platforms are in high tide in recent times in terms of information gathering. Consequently it has been observed in a study that 70% candidates are put off by the negative comments and experiences which impacts the recruitment process. So in order to boost up the talent sourcing process it is essential to improve candidate experience quotient.
Creating an impression is not restricted to the candidates any more. It has become both ways for the employer as well. For the company the first impression created for the candidate is the job posting that appears on various portals and job boards. While it might sound trivial but the style of writing and information conveyed through the job description in these ads is the first impression created in front of a candidate. A study suggests that 75% applicants apply for a job when they are influenced by the look and feel of the job. The second factor that plays a key role towards candidate experience is the communication channel. A constant interaction with the candidate regarding the selection process build up the trust towards the brand and brings in a lot of transparency to the process. Lastly, the interview process should be streamlined and objectified so that the candidate is not made to sit for hours without any reason.
It is not always about the professionalism attached to the process. The candidate connects more to a brand when there is an interaction which is professional yet special. Be it the interview process or the communication regarding the selection process and extending the employment opportunity, it should be undertaken with utmost care and courtesy. Instead of making the entire recruitment process all about technical stuff, a touch of casualness such as asking about the day or how did the candidate reach the office or whether he or she was able to find the address properly goes a long way in building up appositive candidate experience.
The last but definitely not the least is the feedback system. Taking only initiatives does not help the purpose. Managing a proper feedback system is essential to completely understand the candidate experience scenario. Even if the candidate is not selected, that individual can be approached for a feedback regarding the process with an assurance that his or her profile is present in the talent pool and will be considered for other relevant vacancies. Even small advice on any miss points during the interview can also be conveyed. This builds up the positive candidate experience which goes a long way.
Evolution of Purpose Driven Professional
The employment market has become stiffly competitive with rising corporate demand and changing industry and market trends. When companies are involving new concepts such as workforce diversity, human resource management system, application tracking system in to the HR segment, it becomes essential for the professional to prepare themselves for the upcoming competitive market. So it becomes essential to evolve as a purpose driven professional in order to secure the job profile as well as increase the boundary of performance to retain the position. There are few measures to consider in this case which are as follows.
- The first step towards this approach is to choose a career opportunity which influences your potential and shows your capabilities to the fullest. It is basically selecting a career path that you really want to get involved with rather than just a family or environment condition. In this way you will enjoy your work and flourish in your profile.
- After you join a company do not restrict your knowledge gain to the company day to day work process. Reading about what goes on in the segment you are associated with broadens the horizon of your knowledge. Get in to workshops and seminars that are associated with your field in order to gain insight and it is sure to reflect in your performance that helps in your career growth the long run.
- During intermediate break time, indulge in small discussions regarding the industry or current affairs related your industry with team members or managers. You will be able to gain useful insights through these discussions and your senior take notice of your interest and involvement.
- While it is good to involve yourself at work, but that does not mean that you work day and night and forget about your personal life. While many professional make this common mistake that working late hours actually counts towards your dedication. But in most cases it is the opposite. It might appear that you are incapable of completing your work within office hours and slogging late after work. This impression is not good especially when you are new in a company.
- Do not restrict yourself to your job profile only. Keep an interest on other responsibilities that are handled by other people within your team. This shows your interest towards contributing to the internal processes of the team and company.
- Motivation is a good way to create a positive vibe within the team. It is always beneficial to willingly extend help towards team members for certain tasks. This recognizes your skill set that is rare within the team and your attitude towards team play and motivation.
- Lastly, creative thinking is a positive approach towards building up the purpose driven professional image. It not only helps in showcasing your abilities in your current job role but also open up opportunities for future decision making responsibilities.
The competition is intense and purpose driven professionalism is a perfect way to ensure career growth in the long run.
The Recruitment Funnel – the effective approach combating talent scarcity scenario
The recruitment industry constantly faces the challenge to find the right talent with right functionality. Due to diversification of the industries and domains, there is a massive requirement of niche and top notch professionals who have the knowledge about recent industry trends and technological innovations. But sourcing of such talents has become a tedious task for the recruitment firms and hiring managers. However, the new concept of recruitment funnel has evolved in recent times that can source the talented candidates through a steady pipeline. The framework of recruitment funnel involves five major steps, namely, Employment Brand, Sourcing, Candidate Experience, Candidate Selection and Insight.
- Employment Branding refers to the company's exposure as an employer in terms of work environment, compensation, employee benefits and such like. The unemployment is at its lowest rate in current times. One needs to understand that candidates now have multiple opportunities at hand when they consider employment. According to published sources, 56% employers who have a strong employment branding usually are preferred by candidates. So it is essential to keep track of a company's brand value in terms of a recruiter. Based on this research a detailed layout of Employee Value Proposition should be structured and implemented within the organization.
- Next is a highly effective sourcing process. Two major trends currently making rounds in the recruitment industry are tight labour market and multiple opportunities leading to high iteration rate. It has been observed that millennial altered their employment 15 to 20 times in their entire career. Hence the sourcing process should be dynamic in order to retain and engage the existing talent in a positive manner. Application Tracking System (ATS) is an effective approach for this initiative.
- After taking up the first two initiatives, there is a need to build up the candidate experience in terms of brand knowledge. The content that is available on social media platforms, job boards and professional networks are a good source of interaction with the candidates. Some part of social media interaction is covered during sourcing, so it better to concentrate on application and interview process during this stage. The job posting should be structured in a way that represents a lucrative offer for the candidates. The application process should be made convenient and multichannel at the same time. Candidates should be able to apply for the job on the go especially through mobile phones.
- Candidate selection process should be streamlined. One of the first pointers to note is that whether the resume is coming in with a cover letter. This shows the seriousness of the candidate as well as highlighted achievements relevant to the job role. Various online tools are present that can evaluate the technical and soft skills of the candidate before calling in for a face to face interview round.
- The last stage of the funnel is gaining Insight. The market and industry need to be regularly monitored in order to tweak the recruitment model according to trend changes.
Work Life Balance – The need of the hour for professionals
Today's world is all about a fast paced lifestyle accompanied with technological support which has made everything at the fingertip. People across the globe are now connected at all times through social media and many other platforms all thanks to internet revolution. This has also taken its place in the corporate world. Technology and connectivity has propagated flexibility of work along with ease of communication. But amidst all these developments, there are certain impacts which have taken a toll on an individual's life format. Working professionals are not really leaving from work; they are actually taking their office with them and carry it around 24×7. This has impacted the health of an individual due to build in stress, exhaustion and fatigue. Hence we put forth certain measures that can be very helpful towards work life balance maintenance.
- First and foremost thing to keep in mind for every working professional is that nobody is perfect. You cannot always perform to the 100% mark. As human beings we are all bound to make mistakes which are very practical. But there are many professionals who always want to give their perfect output which adds to the stress when they cannot deliver. You need to accept the fact that errors happen and need to let go of striving for perfection.
- As mentioned earlier that technology has facilitated easiness and work but it has also given accessibility at all times which has led to the never ending work session. It feels that you do not leave from office at all. This after a certain period of time becomes over whelming which brings in stress and other mental and physical health problems. So it is essential that you unplug yourself from office. Sometimes it is essential to switch off the mobile and laptop and enjoy the moment without any technology to reduce unwanted stress.
- Health and fitness has become an important aspect of today's life as people suffer from various mental and physical problems due to work pressure. So it is essential to indulge in certain physical activities to keep the system active and detoxified. It helps in better health and stress management.
- It is essential to keep a routine of the tasks which needs to be done at specific time intervals. Also there should be a list of tasks which are on top priority. Basically organization of day to day work according to importance and time limit reduce unwanted time wastage so that you can complete your tasks and leave from office on time.
- Structuring life at both personal and professional end is also essential. There are some tasks which need to be outsourced at some point if you have a job where you need to put in higher effort. This can be anything such as laundry, car washing, house maintenance, cooking and such like.
- Lastly if you have started some healthy initiatives in your day to day lifestyle, keep it small initially and build it up with time. This can be either a particular diet or physical regime.
Team Building – The edifice of organizational structure
Team building is commonly referred to as recruitment of certain individuals who will collectively work towards achieving a specific set of tasks and projects. But the actual interpretation of this concept is way different. In actual terms it is referred to as a set of activities undertaken by an organization towards development of social interactions and communication within teams as well as other work groups. It mostly involves collective activities which can be related to the work or sometimes fun and creative activities as well. It is a type of training that improves the functionality and efficiency of a team to a significant level. The importance of this approach is as follows.
- The activities conducted under team building initiative primarily helps in improving the communication levels between individuals within work groups as well as other teams' members. This improves the work environment to a great extent by making the work culture friendly and informative at the same time.
- As per research it has been observed that people tend to generate more creative ideas and contribute proactively within work environment when they are comfortable among their team members. Hence team building activities are a direct contributor towards generation of innovation and creativity.
- It motivates people towards building up the team spirit which increase the fun of work and celebration of a successful project.
- It generates a healthy competitive environment where in people strive for the best in a way that show cases their talent and contribution that becomes the source of others inspiration as well.
- It helps in indentifying the strengths and weaknesses within a team. In this way it aids in striking the right balance of skill sets that is essential towards project management and boosting the performance of the team as a whole. It is a direct contributor of productivity increase and performance enhancement.
- Channelizing information within team members increase the flow of information and facilitates knowledge sharing that helps in better management. Team building is a positive initiative towards building this approach.
With this, it is essential to keep certain elements in mind while conducting team building activities.
- Even before deciding on the team building activities, the objectives should be clearly laid out for the same. There should be clear indicators and bench marks for this type of approach. A leader role should also be nominated beforehand so that, he or she can supervise the entire process systematically.
- Commitment is an essential element in this regard. One should understand that this initiative is not for personal rewards and benefits only. It is rather a team approach to gain insight and rewards collectively.
- Communication as mentioned earlier is the key to success in team building initiative. The participating individuals should have the clear understanding of the initiative, its purpose and end result in order to gain desirable results.
- Lastly, rewards and appreciation is essential in this case. It helps in building up the confidence, urge to perform and give the best.
Personal grooming for better corporate impression
Corporate grooming is an essential element of professionalism now days. All companies need their employees to be presentable in a proper manner that is in line with the work culture and ethics of the corporate structure. One thing which needs to be kept in mind is that there is nothing like a perfect look. Not all people in the world are blessed with ideal height, body and looks. But dressing and presenting oneself according to the body structure brings out the confidence and creates a proper impression in front of seniors as well as clients. Many people think that wearing expensive clothes and well finished makeup only builds up the corporate grooming segment. Well it is definitely not the case. We present to you the following list of things for the corporate grooming for men and women.
Male grooming pointers :
- Fashion is not always about women, it includes men too. So keep your eyes open and it would not hurt if you go through certain magazines that feature menswear for casual and business purpose. Though it might sound a bit self-indulgent to all you men out there, but it is essential. One example of fashion trend is that straight trousers are quite a hit now; pants with pleats are now obsolete. Many variations of shirts are currently in fashion and the world is moving towards a semi formalwear trend.
- Shorter hair is always preferred. If you manage to tame down longer hair with a proper style then that can work too. But please try to keep yourself away from bright hair colours and over the top styles. Sometimes, we all feel like going wild, but keep those things temporary so that you can get to normal overnight.
- Leather footwear is always professional and in. Wearing standard length socks along with it adds to the formal look.
- Accessories in terms of pen, handkerchief, belt and watch go well with professional look. Invest some good money in getting a professional looking watch and pen especially as it creates a great impression always.
- Sometimes, casual wear is also present in the work environment. It is better not to go over the top with ripped jeans, T-shirts with loud colours and such like. Keep it modest with a jeans and standard T-shirt with a collar preferably.
Women grooming pointers :
- In terms of clothes, women do have a wide range of options in the formal wear segment. Formal pencil or A-line skirts, trousers, Indian formal in terms of salwar suits, sarees and the list goes. You can pick whatever you are comfortable with but avoid too bright colours and heavy patchwork and related stuff.
- Hair style for a girl has no such boundaries for professional look. But please make sure that your hair is always combed properly and carry a comb at all times. Make sure that you hair does not fall on your face.
- Make up should enhance your looks rather than looking like a mask over your face. Matt finish is ideal. It can also go for a slightly dewy look as well. Flashy eye shadows are to be avoided.
- Pick your shoes that goes with your clothing but keep out of too much high heel or flashy ones.
- Lastly accessorise yourself with an elegant chain and pendant, ear tops, elegant ring, leather belt and so on. There are a lot of options in this case.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Bought this guitar several years ago and had several questions after reading this forum for a while. One is that some say that all 1974 LP customs had the 20th Anniversary ingraving on the neck? Seems like I have seen postings of 1974's that didn't have it. Anyone really know how many were made? Mine is a red wine which I think is rarer? The neck to me is awesome compared to newer ones I see in stores. It is narrow and gets larger as you go up the neck. Is this a 70's neck or is this a older profile? I don't see why customs are not more highly thought of than the standards. Real pearl in the custom and plastic pearl in the standards, correct? Better tuners etc. Makes no sense to me. Any info on the above model would be appreciated. Great forum by the way, been great reading old posts.


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Spaz Stix Professional Paint Mask (Chains Of Fire)
Spaz Stix
This item is discontinued and no longer available for purchase. You may want to search our site for a similar item.
|Low Price:
Discontinued Online
This is the Spaz Stix "Chains of Fire" Professional Paint Mask. This paint mask is considered a 'Skill Level 5' mask and is intended for advanced skill level artists.
This product was added to our catalog on September 10, 2009.


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Zam [a.k.a Zaheer Qureshi]
Zam a.k.a Zaheer Qureshi, age28, originally from Bhopal
Zam loves to think of himself as a rebel beatnik. Although he enjoys all the perks on consumer culture (Eats a McD burger every day and watches a film only at multiplexes). He earns just as much to sustain himself. Engineering drop-out. Kind of suffers from the 'Golden Age Syndrome'. Wishes he were born in the US in the late '50s. Not much is divulged about his family. Works as an Illustrator for the most happening social media company in Mumbai. Keeps quoting communist intelligentsia. Spends from his nose to stay in a rat hole at Carter Road because he feels 'inspired' by the surrounding there.
He's the only illustrator or so-called 'artist' in a team full of ambitious BBA freshers. That's a cause for him for either feeling artistically superior to everyone else or lacking respect in office & growth in life. Friends have sometimes benefited from his advice. But strangely, he has not been able to do much good in his own life with all that wisdom! He has a strict guy as boss, who is a stickler about punctuality and discipline - something Zam has never given importance in life. With initial fights, they both start respecting each other's ways and style after a while.


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More than twenty months ago, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Board") first proposed a rule amending Regulation Z to implement an expanded ability-to-repay requirement and to define a "qualified mortgage" in accordance with various Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") amendments to the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"). Responsibility for rulemaking with respect to Regulation Z passed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") on July 21, 2011. On January 10, 2013, the CFPB completed the initial phase of this rulemaking process by promulgating a final rule that will fundamentally reshape the residential mortgage market (the "2013 ATR Final Rule").1 Effective January 10, 2014, the 2013 ATR Final Rule (i) institutes a broad ability-to-repay requirement applicable to virtually the entire residential mortgage market, (ii) defines a new category of "qualified mortgage" and (iii) establishes a two-tier safe harbor/rebuttable presumption architecture for assessing compliance with the ability-to-repay requirement for "qualified mortgages" that roughly distinguishes between "prime" and "subprime" mortgage loans.
The significance of the 2013 ATR Final Rule cannot be overstated: the ability-to-repay requirement and the "qualified mortgage" standard will define the U.S. residential mortgage market for the foreseeable future. At this juncture, we do not believe that there will be a market for loans that do not meet the "qualified mortgage" standard. We further believe that while these new provisions will contract the availability of credit and likely increase its cost, the provisions will also be effective in improving the credit quality of new residential mortgage loans.
It should be emphasized that a mortgage loan that is not a "qualified mortgage" and that does not meet the ability-to-repay requirement would subject the creditor and subsequent assignees to, among other things, civil liability under TILA and provide the borrower with a defense to foreclosure. In addition to actual damages, statutory damages in an individual or class action, and court costs and attorneys fees, the Dodd-Frank Act also amended TILA to include special statutory damages for a violation of the ability-to-repay requirement equal to the sum of all finance charges and fees paid by the consumer, unless the failure to comply was not material.2
The statute of limitations for civil actions arising from ability-to-repay claims has been extended to three years, and the borrower's defense to foreclosure is not subject to any statute of limitations.
Ability-to-Repay Requirement
The amendments to Regulation Z in the 2013 ATR Final Rule, including the ability-to-repay requirement, apply to a "covered transaction," which is defined as a consumer credit transaction that is secured by a dwelling, including any real property attached to a dwelling.3
The 2013 ATR Final Rule establishes the following general ability-to-repay requirement: "A creditor shall not make a loan that is a covered transaction unless the creditor makes a reasonable and good faith determination at or before consummation that the consumer will have a reasonable ability to repay the loan according to its terms."4 The 2013 ATR Final Rule thus expands and extends the ability-to-repay rule in Regulation Z that has been applicable to "higher-priced mortgage loans" since 20095 to virtually all closed-end consumer credit transactions secured by a dwelling. The specific ability-to-repay requirements in the 2013 ATR Final Rule are similar, but not identical, to those currently in effect for "higher-priced mortgage loans" under Regulation Z. To date, "higher-priced mortgage loans" have been originated and sold in the secondary market without incident. They are fully eligible for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as long as they satisfy the underwriting and documentation requirements applicable to that category of loan. The concern for the residential mortgage market is whether or not the 2013 ATR Final Rule in any way compromises the current acceptance of such mortgage loans in the secondary market.
Although the 2013 ATR Final Rule does not impose a particular underwriting model, the creditor must, at a minimum, consider eight (8) discrete underwriting factors pertaining to the individual consumer in determining ability-to-repay:
- the consumer's current or reasonably expected income or assets (other than the value of the dwelling, including any real property attached to the dwelling) that secures the loan;
- the consumer's current employment status, if the creditor relies on income from the consumer's employment in determining repayment ability;
- the consumer's monthly payment on the covered transaction, calculated using the greater of a fully-indexed rate or any introductory rate and using monthly, fully amortizing payments that are substantially equal;6
- the consumer's monthly payment on any simultaneous loan that the creditor knows, or has reason to know, will be made;7
- the consumer's monthly payment for mortgage-related obligations (i.e., property taxes, insurance premiums and similar charges required by the creditor, fees and special assessments imposed by a condominium, cooperative or homeowners association, ground rent, and leasehold payments);
- the consumer's current debt obligations, alimony, and child support;
- the consumer's monthly debt-to-income ratio, meaning the ratio of total monthly debt obligations to total monthly income ("DTI"), or residual income;8 and
- the consumer's credit history.
Creditors may develop their own underwriting standards and make changes thereto over time in response to empirical information and changing economic and other conditions.
The creditor must verify the information that it relies upon in determining a consumer's ability-to-repay using reasonably reliable third-party records.9 As a corollary, a creditor generally need not verify, for example, income or assets that it does not rely upon to evaluate the consumer's repayment ability. For the verification of income or assets, the creditor may use tax return transcripts from the IRS, copies of tax returns, Form W-2s, payroll statements, financial institution records, government benefit or entitlement records, check cashing service receipts or funds transfer service receipts. The creditor may verify employment orally, if it prepares a record thereof. If the creditor relies on a credit report to verify current debt obligations or the consumer's application states a current debt obligation not shown in the credit report, the creditor need not independently verify such an obligation. Third-party records include records transmitted electronically. In effect, the 2013 ATR Final Rule prohibits no-documentation and low-documentation loans.
Exemption for Refinancing of "Non-Standard" Mortgages
The 2013 ATR Final Rule includes a special exemption from the general ability-to-repay requirement for a creditor that refinances a "riskier" non-standard mortgage (i.e., an adjustable rate loan, an interest-only loan or a negative amortization loan) into a standard mortgage with more "stable" characteristics. This exemption applies if the following conditions are met:
- the creditor has considered whether the standard mortgage likely will prevent a default by the consumer on the non-standard mortgage once the loan is recast;10
- the creditor for the standard mortgage is the current holder or servicer of the existing non-standard mortgage;
- the monthly payment for the standard mortgage is materially lower than that for the non-standard mortgage;11
- the creditor receives the consumer's written application within two (2) months after the non-standard mortgage has recast;
- the consumer has made no more than one (1) payment more than thirty (30) days late during the twelve (12) months preceding the creditor's receipt of the written application;
- the consumer has made no payment more than thirty (30) days late during the six (6) months preceding the creditor's receipt of the written application; and
- if the non-standard mortgage was consummated after January 10, 2014, it was made in accordance with the ability-to-repay requirement or was a "qualified mortgage."
The standard loan must have regular periodic payments that do not cause the principal balance to increase, do not allow the consumer to defer repayment of principal and do not result in a balloon payment. In addition, total points and fees may not exceed the level required for a "qualified mortgage," the term cannot exceed forty (40) years, interest must be fixed for at least the first five (5) years, and the proceeds must be used to pay off the outstanding balance of the non-standard mortgage and closing or settlement charges.
These types of transactions would be used to "rescue" consumers in existing adjustable rate, interest-only or negative amortization loans who are vulnerable to default, but likely have far greater prospects of performing under a more conservative obligation.
"Safe Harbor" and "Rebuttable Presumption"
Section 1412 of the Dodd-Frank Act amended TILA to provide that a creditor with respect to a residential mortgage loan, and any assignee of such loan, may presume that the loan has met the ability-to-repay requirement if the loan is a "qualified mortgage." However, as the Board observed in its proposed rule, it is unclear whether Congress intended this provision to constitute a "safe harbor" or a "rebuttable presumption" of compliance with the ability-to-repay requirement. The Board offered two alternative formulations to address this statutory ambiguity, based on competing policy considerations. In the 2013 ATR Final Rule, the CFPB adopted both a "safe harbor" and a "rebuttable presumption," albeit using a much different approach than the Board.
The 2013 ATR Final Rule includes a "safe harbor" for a covered transaction that meets the definition of "qualified mortgage" and that is not a "higher-priced covered transaction," a definition that is substantially the same as the one applicable to a "higher-priced mortgage loan" in current Regulation Z.12 The CFPB views covered transactions eligible for the "safe harbor" as being lower-priced, less risky "prime" loans. For any covered transaction that meets the definition of a "qualified mortgage" and is not a "higher-priced covered transaction," the creditor or assignee complies with the ability-to-repay requirement (i.e., will be conclusively presumed to have made a good faith and reasonable determination of the consumer's ability to repay), although the consumer could still subsequently contend that the covered transaction did not actually meet the criteria for a "qualified mortgage."
The 2013 ATR Final Rule also includes a "rebuttable presumption" standard for a covered transaction that meets the definition of "qualified mortgage" but that is a "higher-priced covered transaction." The CFPB considers "higher-priced covered transactions" to be "subprime" loans extended primarily to consumers with a weaker or less established credit history. For any covered transaction that meets the definition of a "qualified mortgage" but is a "higher-priced covered transaction," the creditor or assignee is merely presumed to comply with the ability-to-repay requirement. However, the 2013 ATR Final Rule sets forth limited grounds on which the presumption may be rebutted.
Rebutting this presumption for "higher-priced covered transactions" requires proof that the creditor did not make a good faith and reasonable determination of the consumer's ability to repay at the time of consummation, and specifically a consumer asserting a violation of Regulation Z must demonstrate that, at the time that the loan was originated,13 the consumer's income, debt obligations, alimony, child support and monthly payments (including mortgage-related obligations) on the covered transaction and any simultaneous loans of which the creditor was aware at consummation left insufficient residual income or assets (other than the value of the dwelling and any attached real property) to meet living expenses, including any recurring, material non-debt expenses of which the creditor was aware at consummation. Importantly, the CFPB indicated that a consumer is less likely to prevail in rebutting the presumption the longer that the consumer has made timely payments, without modification or accommodation, and, for adjustable rate mortgage loans, after recast.
"Qualified Mortgage" Definition
Under the 2013 ATR Final Rule, a "qualified mortgage" must be a covered transaction that meets the following criteria:
- the covered transaction provides for regular periodic payments
that are substantially equal (except for the effect of interest
rate changes after consummation on adjustable-rate or step-rate
mortgages) and that
- do not result in an increase of the principal balance (e.g., no negative amortization loans);
- do not allow the consumer to defer repayment of principal (e.g., no interest-only or graduated payment loans);
- do not result in a balloon payment (i.e., a scheduled payment that is more than twice as large as the average of earlier scheduled payments), except that certain special criteria apply to a smaller creditor operating predominantly in rural or underserved areas;
- the covered transaction does not have a loan term in excess of thirty (30) years;
- the covered transaction does not have total points and fees (including loan originator compensation14) in excess of three percent (3%) of the total loan amount for a loan equal to or greater than $100,00015, less up to two (2) bona fide discount points if the interest rate without any discount does not exceed the average prime offer rate by more than one (1) percentage point;
- the creditor underwrites the loan (taking into account the monthly payment for mortgage-related obligations) using (i) the maximum interest rate that may apply during the first five (5) years after the date on which the first regular periodic payment will be due and (ii) periodic payments of principal and interest that will repay either the loan amount (i.e., the principal amount of the promissory note or loan contract, even if not fully disbursed at origination) over the loan term or the outstanding principal balance over the remaining loan term as of the date the interest rate adjusts to the maximum;
- the creditor considered and verified at or before consummation the consumer's current or reasonably expected income or assets (other than the value of the dwelling and any real property attached to the dwelling that secures the loan) and the consumer's current debt obligations, alimony and child support;16 and
- the consumer's DTI ratio at consummation does not exceed 43%, determined using the consumer's monthly payment17 on the covered transaction (including any mortgage-related obligation) and on any simultaneous loan that the creditor knows, or has reason to know, will be made.
The 2013 ATR Final Rule contains a special exemption to the DTI limitation for a transitional period, based on the CFPB's concern that creditors may be unwilling to make a loan that is not a "qualified mortgage" in the current market, even if the loan is responsibly underwritten. Under the special exemption, a covered transaction with a DTI in excess of 43% may nonetheless constitute a "qualified mortgage" if the other criteria for a "qualified mortgage" are satisfied and if the loan is (i) eligible to be purchased or guaranteed by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac while they operate under government conservatorship (or any limited-life regulatory entity succeeding the charter of either), (ii) eligible to be insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, (iii) eligible to be guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, (iv) eligible to be guaranteed by the Department of Agriculture or (v) eligible to be insured by the Rural Housing Service. If one of the aforementioned agencies in (ii) - (v) implements its own definition of "qualified mortgage" in accordance with TILA, the special exemption will expire with respect to that agency. In no event will the special exemption apply to a covered transaction consummated after January 10, 2021. We suspect that the residential mortgage lending market will avail itself of this special exemption, which is the closest that the CFPB comes in allowing a "near miss" category to enjoy the benefits of a "qualified mortgage."
The 2013 ATR Final Rule addresses issues in connection with the points and fees calculation that are part of a broader, integrated set of revisions to Regulation Z. The provisions adopted in the 2013 ATR Final Rule will have the effect of excluding some covered transactions from the category of "qualified mortgages" because they exceed the total points and fees limit. For example, the 3% limit on points and fees includes charges paid to and retained by an affiliate of the creditor (e.g., affiliated title insurance vendor commission, affiliated appraisal provider fee) without regard to whether such costs were actually lower than the consumer could have obtained from an independent third party.18 Consumers may be unable to avail themselves of the efficiencies that affiliated service providers can offer (i.e., consumers may pay higher overall closing costs), and creditors may simply decline to extend credit if confronted with originating a less profitable loan in order for it to be eligible as a "qualified mortgage." In any event, consumers face the prospect of paying higher mortgage costs while creditors will earn less compensation under these new rules.
On a related matter, the CFPB also invited comment on how to calculate loan origination compensation, which is part of the points and fees calculation applicable to the "qualified mortgage" criteria. The CFPB expects to resolve these additional matters in Spring 2013, well in advance of the January 10, 2014 effective date.
Additional Provisions
The 2013 ATR Final Rule also includes other provisions related to statutory mandates in the Dodd-Frank Act, including:
- a prohibition on prepayment penalties in covered transactions, unless (i) the covered transaction is a fixed-rate, "qualified mortgage" that is not a "higher-priced mortgage loan," (ii) the prepayment penalties do not apply after three (3) years and do not exceed two (2) percent of the outstanding loan balance during the first two years and one (1) percent during the third year, and (iii) the creditor has offered the consumer an alternative covered transaction without a prepayment penalty that contains certain other specified terms;19
- extension of the record retention requirement to three years to evidence compliance with the ability-to-repay requirement and the prepayment penalty restrictions;20 and
- a prohibition on inappropriately structuring a closed-end extension of credit as an open-end plan in order to evade compliance.21
Concurrent Proposal
The CFPB also invited comment on proposed amendments to the general ability-to-repay and "qualified mortgage" rule that were not contained in the original proposal or in the text of the Dodd-Frank Act, including:
- exemptions for nonprofit community-based creditors that help low- to moderate-income consumers obtain affordable housing;
- exemptions for housing finance agencies and lenders participating in housing finance agency programs intended to foster community development;
- exemptions for homeownership stabilization programs that work to prevent foreclosures (e.g., programs operating in conjunction with the Making Home Affordable program);
- extending "qualified mortgage" status to loans originated by smaller creditors (e.g., community banks and credit unions) that make and hold loans in their own portfolios (i.e., a more broadly applicable of version of the exception that now exists for loans with balloon payments made by small creditors operating primarily in rural and underserved areas); and
- increasing the threshold separating "safe harbor" and "rebuttable presumption" qualified mortgages for smaller creditors (e.g., rural balloon-payment qualified mortgages) to 3.5 percentage points above the average prime offer rate for first-lien loans to reflect the higher cost of funds for such creditors.
SNR Denton Observations
In evaluating the 2013 ATR Final Rule, residential mortgage market participants will need to assess the potential impact on both primary and secondary market activities.
Origination of Non-Qualified Mortgages
In light of the fact that a non-qualified mortgage that does not meet the ability-to-repay requirement, a determination that would be made well after origination, will likely prevent the holder from foreclosing on the loan—as well as expose the holder to having to repay the consumer's finance charges—it is unlikely that any loan other than a "qualified mortgage" will be sold in the mainstream residential mortgage markets for the foreseeable future. Such loans would likely be very illiquid and part of a relationship lending business.
Effect on Origination
The "rebuttable presumption" for "higher-priced covered transactions" may affect the marketability of loans that have, until now, been readily salable in the secondary market. If such loans are perceived to be less marketable because of an enhanced litigation risk, creditors may be deterred from extending credit to consumers at the margin, resulting in a net contraction of access to credit for lower income consumers. This same dynamic may also restrict extensions of credit to creditworthy consumers who have sources of income or other financial resources that do not meet the documentation or verification requirements of the 2013 ATR Final Rule.
Effect on Jumbo Prime Loans
The "qualified mortgage" definition would put a hard 43% DTI ratio cap on jumbo prime loans (i.e., loans with balances in excess of conforming limits for purchase by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, but that otherwise meet the eligibility criteria). The transitional period exception to the 43% DTI ratio requirement would not apply to such loans precisely because of their non-conforming balances. In contrast, loans with conforming balances but with a DTI ratio above 43% may be eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac based on compensating factors applied through their respective underwriting guidelines, and therefore could meet the "qualified mortgage" definition. Under current lending practices, jumbo prime loans that have high debt-to-income ratios may be permitted under a creditor's underwriting guidelines on the basis of compensating factors, such as cash reserves or residual income. The 2013 ATR Final Rule may cause creditors to be unwilling to originate loans to jumbo prime borrowers with a DTI ratio over 43% even with compensating factors, which could result in some creditworthy consumers being unable to obtain financing.
Effect of the Two-Tier Structure on Pricing
The bifurcation of the mortgage market between loans eligible for the "safe harbor" and those relegated to the "rebuttable presumption" category may have unintended economic consequences for consumers with relatively better credit. Given the disparate legal risk for creditors between the two categories, creditors may be inclined to lower rates on otherwise "higher-priced covered transactions" in order to meet the "safe harbor" requirements. However, creditors may simultaneously seek to recoup this lost income—and to offset the greater financial risk that they would undertake by lowering rates for less creditworthy consumers—by offering rates for prime loans at incrementally higher rates. In effect, consumers with better credit could wind up subsidizing consumers with poorer credit.
Effect on the Risk Retention Requirement.
The import of this issue extends well beyond TILA. Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Act provides that the definition of a "qualified residential mortgage" ("QRM") for purposes of the still-pending risk-retention rules applicable to asset-backed securities can be no broader than the definition of a "qualified mortgage" for purposes of TILA. The interplay of the two provisions is significant because asset-backed securities collateralized exclusively by QRMs will be exempt from the risk-retention requirements.
Please note that we are not members of the Bar of any jurisdiction other than New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, and we are not licensed to opine on matters in jurisdictions other than in those states.
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage Standards Under the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z), RIN 3170-AA17 (January 10, 2013)
Dodd-Frank Act § 1416(a).
"Dwelling" means a residential structure containing one-to-four units, regardless of whether or not the structure is attached to real property. However, the ability-to-repay requirement does not apply to home equity lines of credit or timeshares, reverse mortgages, temporary or "bridge" loans with a term of twelve (12) months or less, and the construction phase of twelve (12) months or less of a construction-to-permanent loan. More generally, the ability-to-repay requirement does not apply to an extension of credit primarily for a business, commercial or agricultural purpose, even if secured by a dwelling.
The 2013 ATR Final Rule uses language of similar import to the statutory mandate in the Dodd-Frank Act, adding the clarification that the "reasonable and good faith determination" may be made at or before consummation. Section 1411 of the Dodd-Frank Act provides that "no creditor may make a residential mortgage loan unless the creditor makes a reasonable and good faith determination based on verified and documented information that, at the time the loan is consummated, the consumer has a reasonable ability to repay the loan, according to its terms, and all applicable taxes, insurance (including mortgage guarantee insurance), and assessments."
12 C.F.R. § 1026.35(a)(1) ("For purposes of this section, except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(v) of this section [certain jumbo loans], a higher-priced mortgage loan is a consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling with an annual percentage rate that exceeds the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction as of the date the interest rate is set by 1.5 or more percentage points for loans secured by a first lien on a dwelling, or by 3.5 or more percentage points for loans secured by a subordinate lien on a dwelling"). The ability-to-repay requirement for "higher-priced mortgage loans" provides that "[a] creditor shall not extend credit based on the value of the consumer's collateral without regard to the consumer's repayment ability as of consummation as provided in § 1026.34(a)(4) [the repayment ability requirements applicable to "high-cost mortgages]. 12 C.F.R. § 1026.35(b)(1). Note also that, for purposes of the definition of "higher-priced mortgage loan," the term "average prime offer rate" means "an annual percentage rate that is derived from average interest rates, points, and other loan pricing terms currently offered to consumers by a representative sample of creditors for mortgage transactions that have low-risk pricing characteristics." 12 C.F.R. § 1026.35(b)(2). Regulation Z states that the CFPB publishes the "average prime offer rate" and the underlying methodology, but the data is available on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council website.
Special rules apply to mortgage loans with balloon payments, interest-only payments or negative amortization.
To constitute a simultaneous loan, the other covered transaction or home equity line of credit must be secured by the same dwelling and made to the same consumer at or before consummation of the covered transaction or, if to be made after consummation, will cover closing costs of the first covered transaction. If the simultaneous loan is a home equity line of credit, the payment calculation must reflect the periodic payment required under the terms of the plan and the amount of credit to be drawn at or before consummation of the covered transaction.
The DTI ratio is calculated using total monthly debt obligations (i.e., the sum of the payments on the covered transaction, any simultaneous loans, mortgage-related obligations and current debt obligations, alimony and child support) and total monthly income (i.e., the sum of the current or reasonably expected income, including any income from assets). Monthly residual income is the consumer's remaining income after subtracting total monthly debt obligations from total monthly income.
Third-party records consist of (i) a document or record prepared or reviewed by a person other than the consumer, the creditor, the mortgage broker or an agent of the creditor or mortgage broker, (ii) a copy of a filed tax return, (iii) a record the creditor maintains for an account of the consumer held by the creditor or (iv) a document or record of employment status or income maintained by the creditor or mortgage broker if the consumer is an employee of such party.
The term "recast" means the expiration of an introductory period for an adjustable rate loan, the expiration of an interest-only period for an interest-only loan or the expiration of the period during which negatively amortizing payments are permitted for a negative amortization loan.
Special calculation rules apply for the comparison. For the non-standard loan, the monthly payment must be based on substantially equal, monthly, fully amortizing payments of principal and interest using a fully indexed rate, the remaining term of the loan as of the date of recast, and a remaining loan amount equal to the outstanding principal balance as of the date of recast (or, for a negative amortization loan, the maximum loan amount). For the standard loan, the monthly payment must be based on substantially equal, monthly, fully amortizing payments based on the maximum interest rate that may apply during the first five (5) years after consummation).
The term "higher-priced covered transaction" means "a covered transaction with an annual percentage rate that exceeds the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction as of the date the interest rate is set by 1.5 or more percentage points for a first-lien covered transaction, or by 3.5 or more percentage points for a subordinate-lien covered transaction."
The Official Interpretations to Regulation Z add the crucial qualifying language "based on the information available to the creditor" at this point, which modifies the entire concept.
This includes all compensation paid directly or indirectly by a consumer or a creditor to a loan originator that can be attributed to that transaction at the time the interest rate is set (regardless of when actually paid), which would exclude compensation based on long-term loan performance, base salary, etc.
Different tiers—either flat dollar amounts or percentages—apply for smaller loans: for a loan amount greater than or equal to $60,000 but less than $100,000, $3,000; for a loan amount greater than or equal to $20,000 but less than $60,000, 5% of the total loan amount; for a loan amount greater than or equal to $12,500 but less than $20,000, $1,000; and for a loan amount less than $12,500, 8% of the loan amount. These amounts are indexed for inflation.
The 2013 ATR Final Rule adds an appendix "Standards for Determining Monthly Debt and Income," which contains detailed procedures for the calculations.
For purposes of this requirement, the DTI calculation generally must be made in accordance with the aforementioned appendix "Standards for Determining Monthly Debt and Income." However, the monthly payment for the covered transaction is calculated in the same manner as set forth elsewhere in the definition of "qualified mortgage" (e.g., using the maximum interest rate that may apply during the first five (5) years), and the monthly payment for any simultaneous loan is calculated in the same manner as set forth in the ability-to-repay requirement.
Note that bona fide third-party charges that are not retained by the creditor, loan originator or an affiliate of either are generally excluded.
Although reverse mortgages, temporary or "bridge" loans with a term of twelve (12) months or less, and the construction phase of twelve (12) months or less of a construction-to-permanent loan are not subject to the ability-to-repay requirement, they are subject to the restriction on prepayment penalties.
The extension of the recordkeeping requirement parallels the three-year statute of limitations for violations of the ability-to-repay requirement. Dodd-Frank Act § 1416(b). As the CFPB noted in the Supplementary Information to the 2013 ATR Final Rule, creditors will likely elect to retain records of compliance for a period of time well beyond three years because TILA allows consumers to bring a defensive claim for recoupment or setoff in the event that a creditor or an assignee initiates foreclosure proceedings.
Reverse mortgages, temporary or "bridge" loans with a term of twelve (12) months or less, and the construction phase of twelve (12) months or less of a construction-to-permanent loan are subject to the anti-evasion provisions.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.


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AWARDS NIGHT: End of Season Gongs at Hove01-Oct-2013
Sussex County Cricket Club held their annual Awards Evening on Friday night at The BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, Hove, following their victory over LV=County Championship winners Durham earlier in the day.
Held in the Montefiore Hospital Boundary Rooms, the Sussex playing staff claimed a host of different gongs and it was Australian overseas player Steve Magoffin that won the Championship Player of the Season Award.
Magoffin took 63 wickets at an average of 21.49 in the LV=County Championship Division One this season, bettering the previous season's haul of 57.
His best of 8 for 20 came in the incredible two-day win over Somerset at Horsham, with his magical match figures of 12 for 31 also earning him the Performance of the Year Award on the night.
One-Day Player of the Year was awarded to Luke Wright, who scored over 500 runs in the Yorkshire Bank 40 at an average of 62.75, including three hundreds. His form saw him called up to the England One-Day Team for the series with Australia, and he also captained the England Lions in their ODI series with Bangladesh A.
There were also two awards for Chris Jordan in his first season with the County. His 59 Championship wickets saw him win the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, which recognised his incredible first season at Hove in which he made his debut for the England ODI side against Australia last month.
He also claimed the Fielder of the Year Award, with his 22 Championship catches putting him in the top five on the list around the circuit, many of them taken in the slip cordon. Both Jordan and Magoffin were also named in the BBC County Team of the Season and the pair were recognised by BBC Sussex on the evening.
Young Player of the Year was awarded to Matt Machan, who had a significant breakthrough season, making his maiden LV=CC century in the win over Somerset at Taunton, after scoring his first One-Day International hundred for Scotland less than ten days earlier. He also averaged over 64 in the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition and over 30 in the Friends Life t20.
The 'Champagne Moment of the Year' went to Joe Gatting for his stunning one-handed catch on the boundary at Lord's in the FL t20 victory over Middlesex Panthers. Sussex's Vice-Captain Chris Nash was awarded the Team Man of the Year Award for his contribution off the pitch and in the dressing room throughout the course of the season.
The 'Agony to Ecstasy' Award went to the Club's ever-popular mascot Sid the Shark for his victory in the Mascot Race in the FL t20 Finals Day at Edgbaston, having been disqualified and finished third in the last two seasons respectively.


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/v/rage 2017 remake.
an animation about the /v/ board on 4chan.4.39 / 5.00 5,364 Views
Pmation: "Unchairable"
When the lazyboy cannot be lazy…4.07 / 5.00 947 Views
Dinosaur thing
Dinosaurs are cool3.99 / 5.00 1,971 Views
gives new meaning
to eating kittys. whats the matter, toung got your cat? lol very good.
im an animal lover and i found it hilarious, because i know ppl who put their animal on a pedistal like that, its subtle humor btw its not going to get to the punch line in 2 seconds...damn be patient, what are you 12? Reiko is also gothic humor, and one of my personal favorites.
Hmm, dragged on too long.
Hmm, well drawn, and it was a funny idea, so I'll give it a high 2, but it dragged on so long that I was thinking "God, get on with the show!" with Reiko repeating a trick she performed in the first movie and was too predictable. The pun would've been funny, but its the long drag out that killed it again, rather than seeming funny, it just seemed mean and pointless. Also, Reiko should've shown signs of increasing irritation, she just seemed to sit quietly, didn't even seem bothered by the incredibly annoying cat-chatter. A good idea with good art skills, but it failed in its primary purpose, which was to be funny.
nice drawing
The sound was so bad. You really should listen to it before you submit, the levels are way off. One part is so quiet that I have to turn my speakers up, and then it's blasting loud. Get some kind of balance. Besides that, it was a really corny joke, and the annoying girl went on way too long. I understand you wanted to drive in the fact that she was annoying, but really, that was way too long for such a crappy joke. Aside from that, you can really draw, but you aren't really animating much. Most of the time there was no movement on the screen, maybe a mouth movement. This could have been a comic and have been just as good. Well, if it was a comic I wouldn't have had to listen to the horrible sound so it would have been much better.
Not at all funny...
Yeah the art was nice, but you cant always write off a bad score with nice art..
The humor in this was incredibly bland. Even still it wasn't funny..
That girl just got plain annoying and the major punchline wasnt even said with a remote amount of expression..
You need to work on your voice acting and your sense of humor.


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Game 8: Sharks at Bruins
Good morning from TD Garden, where the Bruins will play the third match of their four-game homestand tonight against San Jose.
The Bruins are going through an optional morning skate. Tim Thomas is not present, so we'll assume he'll get the nod in goal.
Adam McQuaid is skating this morning. For now, we'll assume he sits out tonight, although he could be a game-time decision.
Puck drop: 7 p.m.
TV/radio info: NESN (Jack Edwards, Andy Brickley, Naoko Funayama), 98.5 The Sports Hub (Dave Goucher, Bob Beers)
Records: Sharks 2-3-0, Bruins 3-4-0
Projected Bruins lineup:
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Nathan Horton
Milan Lucic-Chris Kelly-Tyler Seguin
Benoit Pouliot-David Krejci-Rich Peverley
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg-Joe Corvo
Andrew Ference-Steven Kampfer
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Healthy scratch: Jordan Caron
Storylines: Joe Thornton appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game last night… Milan Lucic is skating this morning. Lucic had a maintenance day yesterday… The Bruins will wear their third jerseys tonight… Kelly Sutherland and Frederick L'Ecuyer will be the referees. Michel Cormier and Derek Nansen will be the linesmen.


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Route Grade Votings
Total votes cast 2
Adjacent Routes
Technical climbing that feels a little run-out.
Felt 7a to me!
No comment Steve...
Get back to your thesis slacker. You didn't even try it, scaredy cat...
That's right I was doing that 6c+ to the right which you didn't get up! ;o)
Yes - the 6c+ that was actually easier than this route which is given 6c!


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Features and Benefits:
The PS1 series coupler provides extremely high flow in a 1/4 body coupler. It measures the pressure on the outflow side and will not release the plug until it is safe to do so. The green push button readily identifies this coupler as a High Flow profile. Very durable with a 1-year warranty.


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RealNetworks RealPlayer RealPix Server Header Parsing Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityZDI-10-282: December 10th, 2010
CVSS Score
Affected Vendors
Affected Products
TippingPoint™ IPS Customer ProtectionTippingPoint IPS customers are protected against this vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID 10717. For further product information on the TippingPoint IPS:
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of RealNetworks RealPlayer. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within RealPlayer's parsing of RealPix files. If such a file contains an image tag pointing to a remote server, the player will attempt to fetch the remote file. When parsing the response from the web server, the process blindly copies the contents of the Server header into a fixed length heap buffer. If an attacker provides a large enough string, critical pointers can be overwritten allowing for arbitrary code execution under the context of the user running the player.
Vendor ResponseRealNetworks has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
Disclosure Timeline
2010-09-24 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
2010-12-10 - Coordinated public release of advisory
CreditThis vulnerability was discovered by:
AbdulAziz Hariri


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Freedoms over budget mean that academies can direct resources to where they feel their priorities are.
They can also 'shop around' to find the best deals for services, or opt to buy back from the local authority.
There is additional money available for set-up costs and more funding to cover the costs of services the local authority no longer provides.
In sponsored academies, the idea is a fresh start with a sponsor holding the school to account to help drive up standards.
The power to set staff pay and conditions could allow schools to offer pay incentives to attract and keep high quality staff.
As owner and manager of the buildings and grounds, there is more opportunity for the school to sell or rent parts of the site to raise income.
The additional funding for services no longer provided through the local authority may not cover the additional costs.
Academies are forbidden to operate at a deficit which could have an impact on staffing and resources if the predecessor school has historically carried over a deficit.
Academies become liable for central staffing costs such as maternity cover, trade union cover, long-term sickness and for terminating employment.
If academies outnumber schools, it affects the viability of the services the local authority provides to maintained schools.
More responsibility falls on the governing body and sponsor, if there is one.
Academy schools are accountable to their governors, their sponsors and the Education Secretary, rather than to the local authority, which some feel erodes local accountability.


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Daily Archives
New Topics in Cruises: May 4, 2012
Cruise with 2 nights in St. Petersburg. Local tour or go solo? by misterfuss
Started on May 4, 12 at 06:58 PM 16 responses
How to get to mayflower Terminal, Southampton from Gatwick Airport? by ljv53
Started on May 4, 12 at 06:19 PM 2 responses


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New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Under intense pressure after losing his first match on the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group Play-off, Czech tennis star Jiri Vesely was a relieved man here on Sunday having beaten India's Yuki Bhambri in the reverse singles to clinch the tie for his country.
Vesely — placed 40th in the world rankings — faced more problems from the searing heat and scorching humidity of the late Indian summer than the skills of the 125th ranked Yuki on his way to a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory at the RK Khanna Stadium here.
But the contest, which lasted almost two hours, left Vesely completely exhausted and drenched in sweat.
"The conditions were brutal. It was very, very hard to play in these conditions. The Indian team chose just the right place to play the games. We just fought through. I was very (determined) to make my country happy," Vesely, who had to use his icepack after every game, said after the match.
"I was under a lot of pressure ahead of today's match after losing on Friday (to Somdev Devvarman). I was determined to prove myself," he added.
Somdev had beaten the Czech star 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to give India a glimmer of hope in the tie. But Vesely made amends for that on Sunday as he outclassed Yuki over three sets.
The 22-year-old did not face too much difficulty from his opponent except in the second set as the Indian committed unforced errors at regular intervals.
"In this heat, the longer the match goes, the tougher it gets. I was more mentally prepared for the conditions today. He (Yuki) was very clever with his game and caused a few problems. I was relieved in the end that I could pull it off," he said.


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The League of American Theatres and Producers has released its annual survey, "The Demographics of the Broadway Audience, 2003-2004," and many key findings will please those who fret over the average age of Broadway audiences or whether ticket prices needlessly tamp down box office sales.
Anyone who works on Broadway or aspires to -- that is, actors, directors, writers, producers -- would be well advised to also note many of the consumer trends the survey documents for a second year.
Overall, according to the report, the past season generated the third-highest attendance in Main Stem history, rising to 11.6 million tickets purchased from 11.4 million during the prior season and nearing the all-time record of 11.9 million achieved during the 2000-01 season. The numbers can be analyzed another way, however: In a sign of just how difficult it has become to mount plays on Broadway, 10.02 million people saw a musical last season, a new record, versus the 1.57 million who saw a play, the lowest figure in almost a decade.
Part of the credit for the ticket-sale rise goes to foreign tourists, who increased to 1.24 million last season, nearly double the 650,000 figure recorded for the prior season.
Part of the credit, too, goes to young people: The League reported 1.30 million tickets used by children under 18, the second-highest number ever recorded; more broadly, the under-18, 18- to 24-, and 25- to 34-year-old sectors totaled 35.6% of the Broadway audience. Overall, this may help explain why the average Broadway theatregoer's age declined a bit last season, from 43 to 42. One statistic proved utterly reliable: 62.8% of the Broadway audience last season was composed of women, which comports with relatively flat data stretching back a decade or two: The 1980-81 statistic was 58.0%; the 1990-91 statistic, 61.8%.
Ethnicity, too, remains a stubbornly and seemingly unmovable statistic on the Broadway scene. In 2002-03, Caucasian audience members composed 82.9% of the whole; last season, the figure fell to 80.1% -- an improvement, but a small one. African-Americans made up 3.2%, versus 3.8% the previous season; Asian-Americans, 3.0% (versus 3.1%); Hispanics/Latinos, 4.7% (versus 4.0%); and all others, 9.0% (versus 6.2%). The report also noted, however, that among attendees under 35, 28% were non-Caucasian, compared with 10% of ticket holders over 50.
In the League's latest study, the ethnic disparities in the Broadway audience were matched only by its economic disparities. Last season, the picture brightened just a bit: The average annual household income was $97,300, roughly a $10,000 drop from last season's record high of $107,400 and $105,000 the season before.
Audience diversity can also be measured quantitatively: How many Broadway shows does a ticket buyer see each season? Here, too, the study shows minimal change, with the average Broadway theatregoer seeing five productions last season, the same figure as the season before and the season before that. Those purchasing tickets for 25 or more shows composed just 2.4% of the whole -- down from 2.9% the previous season -- but accounted for 16.3% of all Broadway theatre visits. Those who bought tickets to between one and nine shows accounted for 60.1% of all Broadway visits, suggesting that while many ticket holders are only occasional Broadway attendees, they are the majority of the audience.
Other results of the survey:
- The percentage of Broadway ticket buyers purchasing via the Internet reached a new high: 19.4%, up from 14.1% the prior season. Sales by telephone decreased to 14.8% from 18.0%, walk-up box office sales dropped to 21.8% from 23.1%, and group or package sales fell to 8.8% from 10.6%.
- Personal recommendation was the most widely cited factor in ticket buyers' selection of a Broadway show.
- Broadway theatregoers are purchasing tickets with very little lead-time: Same-day sales accounted for 23.9% of the whole, up from 21.8% the previous season. Sales booked two to four months in advance, four to six months in advance, and more than six months in advance all declined.


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William Boy Buckland, 42, of 1031 Webb Drive died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001.
A native of Bibb County, Mr. Buckland was a son of William ''Bill'' Buckland, Greensboro, and the late Mary Stanley Buckland. He was a graduate of Greene County High School and was co-owner and operator of Buckland's Paving, Greensboro. He was a member of the San Marino Masonic Lodge #34, Greensboro, and the Union Point Worship Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Greenview Cemetery with the Rev. Johnny Barrett officiating.
Survivors, in addition to his father, include his wife, Jenny Buckland; a daughter, Marie Buckland, Macon; a son, Willie Mose Buckland, Greensboro; four sisters, Harriette Smith, Lexington, S.C., Mary Pollock, Betsy Buckland and Carrie Buckland, all of Greensboro; and two brothers, Cody Buckland and Cheyanne Buckland, both of Greensboro.
McCommons Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001
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This morning I was excited to try another sample of Teavivre tea. The Yun Nan Dian Hong Black Tea – Golden Tip did not disappoint me one bit. It has a wonderful, light, flowery, fresh fields taste to it.
So far, Teavivre's black teas have amazed me with the great amount of flavor they produce at low brewing temperatures and short steeping times. I brewed this one for three minutes at 185 degrees as recommended. The result was plenty of flavor, although I think my worn out tastebuds may need about three and a half minutes of brewing to obtain the full flavor effect. Regardless, this is another excellent tea.
This tea has a bright light amber color like wildflower honey. There is also a hint of sweetness to the flavor that makes this selection refreshing for black tea.
I continue to be very impressed with Teavivre teas. They have skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list. I'm already counting the hours until tomorrow's new sample!


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be one of a kind, like you. That's why we make each piece to order, one at a time, just the way you want it. Choose emerald and yellow gold or blue topaz and sterling silver: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from a wedding or graduation to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your sterling silver blue sapphire gemstone halo jewelry design with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Sapphire is a very durable gem that wears well over generations. Sapphire is the gem of the soul, a symbol of truth and faith. Sapphire comes in blue, of course, but also pink, yellow and white, which are known as fancy sapphire. Gemvara is proud to offer sterling silver jewelry crafted in Argentium silver, which is 96% pure, 100% recycled, and resists tarnish up to ten times longer than traditional sterling silver. Our wide selection of sterling silver blue sapphire gemstone halo jewelry by Randy Dixon, Tony Rodrigues, Just Like You Designs, and other talented designers means you can find jewelry that's exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Celtic, Featured Engagement, or Flower Collections. Halo jewelry designs have a ring of brilliant gems around the center stone that make it look larger and more dramatic. Gemvara's fine quality sterling silver blue sapphire gemstone halo jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Heltemes runner-up for state award
On Oct. 20, Carol Heltemes was awarded the Minnesota Financial Worker-Case Aide Association Worker of the Year Runner-Up. The award was given to her by Wadena County Board Chair Bill Stearns.
Carol was nominated by her co-worker, Social Worker Linda Kirk in the following letter:
"Carol Heltemes is a Rock Star! After 20 years working as a financial worker in Wadena County, Carol thought she had seen and heard everything; that is until the June 17 tornado ripped through her community. Besides the increased volume of work at the agency that follows such a disaster, Carol volunteered approximately 50 hours between June 17 and June 29. Carol made and served meals at St. Ann's Church for the victims and sympathetically listened to many 'storm stories.'
"Over the past 20 years, Carol has learned and implemented any and all financial programs. Carol recently accepted a unique opportunity to serve as the financial worker at the Tri-County Hospital satellite office. With Carol's vast knowledge of social programs she has become an asset in that position. This new challenge has brought a smile, a spring in her step, a new dress code, and a renewed energy for her work.
"I personally work well with Carol; she is approachable, knowledgeable, and willing to go that extra distance to answer my questions or to re-direct my energies to the appropriate resources. I carry a heavy caseload and oftentimes need an answer sooner than later; she never fails to act quickly.
"One cannot complete this picture without mentioning Carol's involvement with her community of Wadena. For the past 18 years, Carol has been involved with the Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts locally, she teaches religion classes, and serves on her Parish Council. Carol has opened her home to five different foreign exchange students in the past nine years. Wadena County and the City of Wadena are fortunate to call Carol one of their own."
Another financial worker, Cheryl Hahn, was also nominated for this award and her coworkers were very complimentary of her work with the elderly and Long Term Care facilities as well.


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News of the World's Former Top Lawyer Arrested
LONDON—British police on Thursday arrested the former top lawyer at News Corp. 's now-closed News of the World tabloid on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, a person with knowledge of the matter said, marking one of the most high-profile arrests in a continuing police probe into wrongdoing at the shuttered tabloid.
London's Metropolitan Police confirmed Thursday that officers investigating illegal voicemail interception at the News of the World had arrested a 60-year-old man and brought him in for questioning at a South London police station, but the force declined to identify the suspect.
A person with knowledge of the situation, however, identified the person as Tom Crone, the lawyer who served as the News of the World's in-house counsel for more than 25 years until News Corp. closed the weekly tabloid at the apex of the phone-hacking scandal in July 2011.
A call to Mr. Crone went unanswered mid-day Thursday.
The 60-year-old lawyer became one of the phone-hacking saga's most visible figures last year when he and former News of the World editor Colin Myler broke ranks with their former employer to dispute an element of News Corp. executive James Murdoch's testimony to a parliamentary committee.
Web of Connections
Learn more about who's who and how they're all connected in the scandal over allegations of voice-mail interceptions and corrupt payments to police.
Messrs. Crone and Myler said they had informed Mr. Murdoch in 2008 of a controversial email whose contents suggested the practice of hacking mobile-phone voicemails went beyond what the company had initially admitted. But Mr. Murdoch said he hadn't been informed of the email's contents at the time and learned the scope of the wrongdoing at the paper only in late 2010, a position he reiterated upon further questioning.
A spokeswoman for News International, the U.K. newspaper unit of News Corp., declined to comment on Thursday's arrest. She didn't say whether the company is paying Mr. Crone's legal bills. News Corp. owns The Wall Street Journal.
Mr. Crone was a veteran lawyer on Fleet Street. He often vetted the News of the World's raciest stories ahead of publication and went to court to defend the paper against high-profile libel claims brought by celebrities.
The longtime News of the World lawyer was one of three people the U.K. Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee censured in a May report for misleading Parliament during hearings on the phone-hacking matter.
Mr. Crone denied giving misleading evidence at the time and said the report had "serious flaws" and didn't properly reflect his testimony. "I accept there are valid criticisms of my conduct in this matter," Mr. Crone said in a statement in May, but he said he had become "the subject of serious allegations which lack foundation."
His arrest is the 25th police have made in relation to phone-hacking at the News of the World. That doesn't include the many arrests police have made in separate investigations into bribery and computer-hacking by News Corp.'s British papers.
In a 2009 testimony to the parliamentary committee, Mr. Crone said he had "listened to many, many taped conversations—telephone conversations" in the process of vetting stories, but he said he had never been suspicious that a story he vetted had been obtained through phone hacking. "Absolutely not: never, ever," Mr. Crone said at the time.
Write to Paul Sonne at email@example.com and Cassell Bryan-Low at email@example.com
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Steamboat Springs morning roundup for Monday, Feb. 18
February 18, 2013
Good morning Steamboat Today readers.
Read the eEdition. View the daily photo gallery with staff and reader photos.
Read our Sunday feature about West African immigrants building a new life in Steamboat.
• In a rare move, the Steamboat Springs City Council on Tuesday night agreed to send Gov. John Hickenlooper a letter opposing a Senate bill that aims to give all firefighters in the state collective bargaining rights. Steamboat City Council opposes bill that would give local firefighters collective bargaining rights
• Voters could be the final judges of the city's plan for how to spend its lodging tax in the future. Plan for Steamboat Springs' lodging tax may require voter approval
• Hayden senior Ryan Domson was told there was no way he could recover from a devastating knee injury in time to compete in any sports in his senior season. One thing about Domson: he hates being told what he can and can't do. Hayden's Domson back at state after incredible recovery
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We aim to answer all e-mails within 24 hours of receipt if received during our normal office opening hours. Responses will be delayed if you contact us after 2pm on a
Saturday or at any time on a Sunday.
The answer to a number of the queries that we receive on a daily basis can be found in the frequently asked
questions on our website. We have also listed the top eleven frequently asked questions with their answers below. Before contacting us, please consider viewing this list or
visit the FAQ page. If you are still unable to locate the answer that you require please complete
the 'contact us' form at the bottom of this page.
Travel Areas
European Policies - In addition to the countries that you would expect to be covered under a
European policy, our European travel area also
includes coverage for Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Iceland as standard.
Worldwide excluding USA, Canada and the Caribbean – Means any country excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. This is the correct area to select if you are
travelling to Mexico.
Please click here to be taken to the world map linked to our site, where you can enter the country/countries that you intend to travel to and we will display the travel area required.
Cruise Cover - All our policies provide cover for cruises as
standard. Please ensure that you have taken all your planned destinations into consideration when selecting your travel area including day trips and excursions.
Upgrading an existing policy – (Extending the travel area, insuring an additional traveller etc.) We are unable to provide an upgrade quotation via e-mail. Please call the call centre within our normal
office opening hours to discuss the change to your travel insurance requirements.
Obtaining a quotation – We are unable to offer quotations via e-mail. Please consider following the link to the quick quote page or
alternatively call us during our normal office opening hours to speak to a sales and service agent.
Select Policies with pre-existing medical conditions declared – If all
pre-existing medical conditions for each traveller you wish
to insure have been correctly declared to us through the booking process and we have confirmed that they are covered on the medical letter/s sent to you via e-mail together with the policy
wording and policy schedule, you do not need to contact us further unless one, or more of the named insured's suffers a change to their health.
Making a claim – Claims are dealt with by the AXA Travel Insurance claims unit. Please call them during their normal office opening hours of Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0345 873 4425 to either register your claim or
discuss the progress of your claim where necessary.
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here to view our sports and activities table.
UK residents - Our policies are designed to offer cover to United Kingdom residents, to qualify you must be a permanent resident within the UK and have been registered with a
UK medical practitioner for at least 6 months.
We can consider offering cover to temporary permanent residents on the understanding that they have been living in the UK and registered with a UK GP for at least six months, that their intention
is to travel to and from their home in the UK, and where a visa is required for residency purposes, the visa in place at the time of policy purchase runs for a period that is the same length or
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suggest that this is saved to your computer for ease of access. We do recommend that you try to print the two page policy schedule to take with you on your trip/s together with any pre-existing
medical declaration letters.
Cancelling a policy – If you wish to cancel a policy within the 14 day cooling off period and you have not travelled and are not making a claim, we can accept your request via e-mail.
Please complete the 'Contact us' page below in full and select 'Policy administration' you will need to confirm that:
A) You have the permission of all travellers listed on the Policy Schedule to cancel the cover on their behalf.
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Please ensure that all the above information is provided within your initial refund application, failure to do so will result in a delay in assessing your refund application.
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MILTON, Ga. – The Windward Walmart joined with local public safety members Dec. 10 to bring some Christmas joy to area children and their families.
Each year, the police, fire and EMS departments of Milton and Alpharetta join with Walmart and the Police Athletic League (PAL) to treat at-risk and homeless children to a $100 shopping spree for Christmas gifts for themselves and their families.
This year was the biggest year ever, with 106 kids taking part. About 70 members of public safety departments helped take the children around the store and make sure they stay in budget.
This year, PAL took on the task of helping homeless children as well as at-risk ones.
"We realized there was a need. Children between the ages of 15 and 19 were staying in local hotels," said Veronica Carew, executive director of Alpharetta PAL. "We decided that maybe they needed a little help as well."
Shop with a Cop is now in its 15th year. PAL organizes the event each year.
There were also children from the Miracle League, a group established for those who are mentally challenged.
"If it were up to PAL, no child would go without a Christmas," Carew said.