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Plateau Boots white
Elegant ladies ankle boot in fashionable design of Funtasma!
The plateau ankle boot is held in elegant black and white, and its design was inspired by the Victorian era.The fashionable faux leather ankle boot can be with cooler combine Gothic and Rockabilly fashion, and any everyday outfit and gives them an extravagant look.The ladies ankle boot also fits perfectly with DIVERSE carnival costumes in Mafia look.
The Plateau Boots is made of high quality synthetic leather and has a lateral button placket with ten black buttons, and a ruffle trim that visually separates the front shaft as a tab.The women's boots is coated on the heel, and in the plateau region with a patch made from black faux leather which provides a striking contrast to the white root of the Plateau Boots.The narrow heel is slightly funnel-shaped and is no less than 11 cm, but which loses height by platform sole.On the inside of the plateau ankle boot is a zipper.
Combined with the Women's Hat White or Ladies frock coat victorian come the plateau boots perfectly.
Information about the ladies ankle boot:
- Padded footbed
- Color: White / Black
- Upper: PU (polyurethane)
Please note:
- US size 6 = EU Size 36 = 23,5 cm
- US size 7 = EU Size 37 = 24.1 cm
- US size 8 = EU size 38 = 24.8 cm
- US size 9 = EU size 39 = 25.4 cm


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A modern interpretation of a classic trick from old-school turners.
By Eric A. Hedberg
Pages: 30-33
From the February 2006 issue #153
Buy this issue now
I believe there are two types of wood turners, those who turn for pleasure and those who turn out of necessity. I started in the latter group. I started turning because I needed to make spindles and my goal was to get the best results with the least amount of effort.
Once you've developed some competence for turning, making spindles is easy. And making multiples is just more time. Over the years I've come across articles showing an old turner's trick for multiples. A rod is suspended above the lathe with lengths of wires hung from it. The turner cuts at the spot under each wire until the bouncing wire swings free, indicating the correct diameter has been reached.
I decided this trick could be applied to a lathe jig that would work like a profile gauge. Each wire could be adjusted and readjusted for different spindle profiles, and you could use as many or as few wires as necessary. So was born the Spindle Dancer Jig.
From the February 2006 issue #153
Buy this issue now
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.

subset: commoncrawl


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Birds of Passage
Directors Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra helm a lyrical and brutal film about another side of the drug wars. Focusing on a Wayúu family - a clan of Native Americans living on border between Colombia and Venezuela on the Guajira Peninsula - the plot of "Birds of Passage" traces how an inauspicious martial match and the arrival of Americans looking to buy weed (and pay well for it) first lifts the family, then corrodes it, divides it, and destroys it.
The marriage is between Zaida (Natalia Reyes), a daughter of the well-regarded Pushaina family, and Rapayet (José Acosta). Though Rapayet has little to offer, and the dowry is steep - Zaira's father stipulates 30 goats, 20 cows, five necklaces, and two "decorative mules" - the young man is determined to meet the cost. It helps his cause that his uncle, a man named Peregrino (José Vicente Cote) is a kind of ceremonial messenger, a diplomat of sorts who serves as an intermediary between clan leaders and helps keep the peace.
But omens abound that something new and dangerous is on the way, and Zaira's mother, Úrsula (Carmiña Martínez), renowned for her ability to interpret dreams and keep counsel with spirits, advises caution. Her words fall on deaf ears, and disaster arrives in the form of a windfall. Hearing that visiting Americans - kids in the Peace Corps - are looking to buy marijuana, Rapavet sees a way to raise the money he needs to pay Zaira's dowry. He and his friend Moisés (Jhon Narváez) combine their resources and start up a little business that soon mushrooms, causing Rapayet to involve his cousins Gabriel (Joaquín Ramón) and Aníbal (Juan Bautista Martínez), growers who eagerly throw in with this lucrative new kind of trade.
Money, alas, brings strife and conflict; bloodshed follows and grudges are created; even Úrsula, such a reliably wise matriarch, loses her bearings. As the 1970s pass by and 1980 arrives, both families become consumed in a raging war that escalates out of control when one wild young man - Zaira's brother, Leonídas (Greider Meza) - insults and then rapes Aníbal's daughter. The end game involves the arrival of new players in the weed game: Men from Medellín. The rest, as they say, is history.
The film opens with a title card that claims these events are based on real happenings. How closely they might hew to actual events, "Birds of a Passage" is a potent study in how human weakness can bring down not just individuals, but extended families, and even cultures. By keeping the focus on this handful of characters, screenwriters Maria Camila Arias and Jacques Toulemonde Vidal - working from original ideas by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra - tell a larger story that much more effectively. Like a Greek tragedy of old, this contemporary, cautionary tale resounds with universality. Think of this as "Scarface" in the desert, but with a literary bent.


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Hot Dog Of The Week: Perro Caliente
A unique hot dog feature each week from hot dog connoisseur and cartoonist Hawk Krall!
This week's dog is perhaps one of the craziest things I've ever eaten in my life. After first reading about Colombian hot dogs, I assumed they were just a variation on Mexican hot dogs. Boy was I wrong.
The Perro Caliente is something totally different. With no plans to visit South America anytime soon, I was happy to discover that Queens in New York has plenty of Colombian fast food restaurants serving various incarnations of the Perro Caliente.
There are a bunch of hot dog spots all on the same few blocks of Jackson Heights. My first stop, Perro Veloz—a bright green storefront with a counter, a few stools, and a hot dog riding a scooter for a logo—wasn't even on the original list, but was the clear favorite by the end of the day. We tried the Mexicano, which was decent, but we were instantly blown away by the wild flavors of the Veloz Special.
The steamed dog is in a standard bun topped with bacon, pineapple, and a dusting of finely crushed potato chips, which is criss-crossed with an insane number of sauces (ketchup, mustard, mayo, the mysterious "pink sauce" and raspberry). Fruit, bacon, creamy mystery sauce, the panko-like crunch of the chips, and somewhere down there, the faint recognition of a hot dog—it was a battle of flavors and textures.
It was hard to avoid the non-hot dog temptations of the neighborhood. Veloz also has a burger menu—featuring the "Monster" with double meat, bacon, chips, cheese, and multiple sauces—not to mention Colombian barbecue restaurants and empanada stands on every corner.
But alas, we continued on the hot dog crawl. Next stop was Xtasis, a bright pink and chrome monster—somewhere Paris Hilton might be found passed out in the bathroom. We ordered a Perro Super Xtasis and an ice cold cholada. The Perro came on a massive sesame seed bun with the hot dog and grilled onions at the bottom, all covered in a heaping mountain of potato chips, bacon, ham, "seven sauces" and a blanket of melted cheese. This thing was ridiculous—the size of your average cheesesteak.
Glancing at the menu I noticed you can even order a "Super Xtasis Combo" which adds sausage to the mix. The Super Xtasis was interesting, not nearly as sweet as the Veloz Special and sort of hard to eat. There must have been a whole bag of chips piled on there but the grilled onions were a nice touch. Of course we washed it down with an ice cream and condensed milk cholada drink jammed with fresh fruit, cookies, and enough sugar to kill a horse.
The final stop on the Colombian hot dog tour was the well-known Perrada De Chalo, a larger restaurant with a massive menu (including more traditional Colombian food) and giant screens flashing images of hamburgers and hot dogs with fantastic names like the "Hamburguesa Super Showy."
We went with a Criollo hot dog topped with cabbage, pineapple, crushed chips, and "sauces," as well as the infamous Iraqi hot dog that tops it all off with sliced hard-boiled egg. But this is when I finally had to break down and order them without ketchup. I like to taste things the way they're intended to taste, but enough with the ketchup already.
The crunch of the cabbage did a good job countering the 45 different mayonnaise-based sauces, whereas the Iraqi was kind of hard to get down, not unlike a hot dog topped with egg salad and Russian dressing. Everyone else here seemed to be eating hamburgers—probably the way to go here, since a burger can hold up to all those toppings better.
For me, the Veloz Special did the best job balancing the wild flavors and textures of a Colombian hot dog, but if you're going for adventure and shock value, I would say Xtasis or Perrado de Chalo are the way to go. All of these places serve about 15 different versions of everything (we didn't even put a dent into what's available).
I'm still dying to try the "Hawaiian" burgers, dogs, and sandwiches topped with pineapple, ham, cheese, chips, and "sauces," as well as Salchipapas, a sort of Colombian poutine that tops french fries with sliced hot dogs, ketchup, chilies, mayo and/or hot sauce and cheese. Whew.
Perro Veloz
80-26 Northern Blvd, Queens New York 11372 (map)
82-10 Northern Blvd, Queens New York 11372 (map)
La Perrada De Chalo
83-12 Northern Blvd, Queens New York 11372 (map)
Hawk Krall is a Philadelphia-based illustrator who has a serious thing for hot dogs. Dig his dog drawings? Many of the illustrations he has created for Hot Dog of the Week are available for sale: hawkkrall.net/prints/.
Hawk Krall is a Philadelphia-based illustrator who has a serious thing for hot dogs. Dig his dog drawings? Many of the illustrations he has created for Hot Dog of the Week are available for sale: hawkkrall.net/prints/.


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After hearing the Datsun 710 Theme Song yesterday, I remembered that my old industro-noise band, Murilee Arraiac, recorded a song entitled "Chrysler New Yorker."
Unfortunately, "Chrysler New Yorker" only exists on four-track cassette tape, and my ol' Tascam Porta 01 died years ago. That means you don't get to hear that fine song, which thrilled dozens of Japanese college radio fans during the late 1980s. What you do get is the "music video" for the Murilee Arraiac song "Hajoi Hotai," which features the circa-1990 replacement of a 2-speed Powerglide with a junkyard Turbo Hydramatic 350 3-speed in a 1965 Impala. That's me with the Plumber Butt on the
right left, and my friend ChunkyDeath on the right. Note ChunkyDeath's innovative "floor jack leg pump" maneuver.


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| 8.9°C Belfast
Students from the richest neighbourhoods are still almost 10 times more likely to go to a top university than those from the poorest areas.
And they are nearly three times more likely to study for a degree at all, according to new research by the Independent Commission on Fees.
It also reveals a widening gender divide, with more women going into higher education than men.
The new study analysed official data and statistics from the admissions service UCAS to look at different trends in university application and entry rates.
Overall, English 18-year-olds from the most advantaged backgrounds were 2.8 times more likely to go to any university than youngsters from the most disadvantaged areas, with 46.7% starting a degree compared to 16.9% of the poorest students.
This gap has closed slightly since 2010 when they were 3.2 times more likely to go into higher education, the findings show.
But the analysis reveals that the gap is wider for students going to leading universities.
English school leavers from the most advantaged areas were 6.8 times more likely to enter one of the 30 most selective institutions in the UK, and 9.5 times more likely to go to one of the 13 most prestigious universities, it found.
These splits have closed slightly over the last four years.
The study also found that across all universities, students who are not eligible for free school meals - a key measure of poverty - are still more than twice as likely to apply to go to university than those who are eligible for the dinners.
"The gap in application and entry rates between advantaged and disadvantaged students has narrowed slightly, but remains unacceptably large - particularly for the most selective universities," it concludes.
A poll conducted for the Sutton Trust on behalf of the Commission suggests that many people would be in favour of poorer students paying less for their university education.
Just over half (53%) of the 1,728 16-75-year-olds in England questioned backed the idea of students from lower income families being charged lower tuition fees, with 25% against the proposal.
The study examined gender differences and found that in 2013, 21% more 18-year-old women entered university than men of the same age.
It warns that the divide is largest among the poorest university applicants, with disadvantaged boys particularly under-represented.
Overall, the proportion of UK 18-year-olds taking up university places has recovered to above pre-2012 levels - the year fees were trebled to a maximum of £9,000.
Degree entry rates for English 18-year-olds were 2.9 percentage points higher in 2013 than in 2010, in Scotland they were 0.2 percentage points higher, in Wales 2.8 percentage points higher and in Northern Ireland 2.5 percentage points higher.
But it adds that the picture for mature and part time students is "much bleaker".
Applications from mature students in England are still considerably lower than pre-2012 levels, especially in England, it says, and there were 41% fewer part-time enrolments overall in 2012/13 than in 2009/10.
Will Hutton, chair of the Commission, said: "Whilst we welcome the recovery in the proportion of 18-year-olds taking up places at university after the introduction of higher fees in 2012, serious gaps in access to university remain.
"Our research shows that advantaged students are nearly 10 times more likely to attend a top university than their disadvantaged peers. Young men from disadvantaged areas are particularly badly affected and remain under-represented in applications to all universities."
A Business Department spokesman said: "It is encouraging that applications to higher education from 18-year-olds are at an all-time high - including the applications rates for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"Prospective students recognise the lifelong value of a university degree, but we are not complacent and there is still more to do - particularly by some of the higher tariff institutions."
Professor Les Ebdon, director of fair access to higher education, said: "This comprehensive analysis shows that the new system of fees did not deter young people from disadvantaged backgrounds from applying to university.
"Disadvantaged young people are applying to, and entering, higher education at higher rates than ever before, which is excellent news.
"Despite this, the report shows that there is still an unacceptably large gap in participation rates between the most and least advantaged young people. This is especially the case in the most selective universities, although we have seen progress in recent years."
Paul Bridge, head of higher education at the University and College Union (UCU), said: " Since the introduction of £9,000 fees, we have seen a substantial drop in mature applicants, and the collapse of part-time entry, which has had a disastrous impact on widening participation and social mobility.
"We believe stronger demands must be made on universities, particularly those that are most selective, to diversify their intake. We need to see more pressure on universities to contribute to social mobility."
Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, which represents 24 leading universities, said: "This report provides no evidence that higher fees have put off school leavers from going to university. In fact, the number of students on free school meals being admitted to the more selective universities rose by 22% last year.
"Russell Group universities are keen to ensure that anyone with the qualifications, potential and determination to succeed has the opportunity to study at a leading university, irrespective of their background.
"However, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture - progress continues to be limited by levels of achievement at school and a lack of advice on A-level subject choices."


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The web server software is running but no content has been added, yet.
Do you have some idea what happen ?


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New Jersey Dispatch: 'The Ironbound,' Newark's Portuguese Neighborhood
While this column has explored the Indian community on Oak Tree Road in Iselin and the Korean world of Bergen County, we've have all but ignored what may be the state's most famous food neighborhood—The Ironbound.
The Ironbound first became famous as the New York area's largest enclave of Portuguese immigrants. This gave it a strongly Latin European flavor that brought forth a whole bunch of restaurants, cafes, and grocery shops. After the jump, a few small shops, a cafe, and a restaurant.
When you get to Newark Penn Station, just walk down Ferry Street, or "Portugal Avenue." At one time, the area's most important businesses were here. While many have moved a few blocks away, there are still quite a few worth a stop. Lisbon Wine and Liquor at 114 Ferry Street has over 300 Portuguese wines including, on the day I visited, fourteen kinds of vinho verde, and a huge selection of port and grappa. Also worth checking out are the housewares—stores that offer everything from hardware to gifts and have large sections of good kitchenware at reasonable prices. Check out Lopes and Sons at 98 Ferry for cooking gear and classic charcoal grills.
Ferry Street is known for its mega-Iberian restaurants with hundreds of seats and a perennial air of festivity. What I wanted, though, was a traditional Portuguese plate lunch—and I got it at Katekero, a small café and restaurant right off Ferry Street. When I walked in at five to noon, there was a crowd clustered around the bar watching the chef write the specials of the day on the board.
We all placed our orders (I had shrimp with garlic sauce) and while most of the customers went out for a smoke, the tables were set and cooking began. Soon the meals came out, classic Portuguese dishes sided with rice and fries and we all got down to the serious business of lunch. (Whole meals are in the $10.00 to $13.00 range.) Huge platters were served, and I almost felt like a traitor when I skipped dessert.
My next stop was Popular Fish, one of those fish stores that excels because of its lack of selection. You are limited to what's available in great condition at a reasonable price. Yes, there is fresh fish, but that's not what will impress you; what will leave you absolutely stunned is the quality and variety of bacalhau, or salt cod. Whole fish, fillets, and those little bits and pieces are for sale here. Not on the side or in a corner, but center stage where they belong. A reminder that not so long ago, this was an important staple food.
Stupefied from my huge lunch and exhausted from trying to associate all the different kinds of bacalhau with actual recipes, I decided to hit a coffee shop and headed for the Daily Bread Bakery at 121 Ferry Street. Here I had a double espresso and the legendary Portuguese sweet called "Molotof;" a sort of cake/pudding made from egg whites and caramel. For one last moment, I was in Portugal.
Is something missing here? In Portugal you'll find amazing cured pork products and while there are artisan butchers working in the Ironbound, they're a bit off the beaten path. That's a matter for another day.
Note: Be aware that the Ironbound is one tough place to park. If you can come by public transit, seize the chance. It's a quick walk from Newark's Penn Station where you can catch Amtrak, PATH, Light Rail and NJ Transit.
Katekero Cafe & Restaurant
77 Jefferson Street, Newark NJ 07105 (map) 973-522-1220
Popular Fish
129 Ferry Street, Newark NJ 07105 (map) 973-344-7939
Daily Bread Bakery
121 Ferry Street, Newark NJ 07105 (map) 973-344-4567
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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If you walk into Sheraton Framingham Hotel on Valentine�s Day, don�t be surprised if you are serenaded by fiddles and banjos.
Welcome to the world of the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, a three-day musical oasis where the hottest bluegrass music offers an annual escape from the polar vortex.
The festival, being held Feb. 14-16, has been a mecca for bluegrass fans for 29 years.
Forget that it lives in the hotel. It is February, after all. The environs get transformed. Fans take out their instruments and jam in the hallways, by the elevators and in their rooms. Top-notch entertainment and workshops are a short walk. And you can wear slippers to the shows, offered on two stages.
"We have a great relationship with the Sheraton Hotel staff, and they give us free reign to turn a business hotel into a festival playground," says festival organizer Gerry Katz. "We try to create a big outdoor festival, with all the fixings, but just in the cozy confines of the Sheraton Framingham Hotel."
The festival offers a preview of bands fans normally would see during the spring and summer. That makes it an early showcase for regional and national acts. There�s music for dyed-in-the-wool bluegrass fans, as well as for fans of country, rock, folk and other genre-bending acts. And since it is presented by the Boston Bluegrass Union, its mission is not just to entertain, but to further the advancement of bluegrass music by encouraging regional talent.
The national acts, naturally, are a huge draw, and are one of the reasons rooms at the Sheraton sell out, literally, in�2 minutes when they become available in November.
Headlining the festival this year are The Gibson Brothers, a five-piece ensemble fronted by New York siblings Leigh and Eric Gibson. Having first performed at Joe Val in the mid �90s, the brothers return carrying huge accolades: They were named "Entertainers of the Year" by the International Bluegrass Music Association, bluegrass music�s equivalent of the Grammys.
"[Joe Val] holds a special place in our hearts," said Leigh Gibson, explaining that when the band was young, festival organizers helped them find their sound. "Joe Val was the first large festival audience for us to be in front of. They welcomed us back with open hearts and once again put us on our way to what we were and should be � a bluegrass band. It's been three or four years since we've been back, so we're excited to be a part of it again."
In all, IBMA handed The Gibson Brothers four awards. Leigh Gibson said that kind of recognition allowed the band to feel more relaxed and to explore their sound.
"Part of that exploration allowed our real personalities to show up," Gibson said. "Turns out people find us funny sometimes, just being ourselves. We don't script our shows or even follow a set list. What you see is us being who we are and doing what we like."
Country fans will appreciate the special reunion of The Desert Rose Band, featuring rock n� roll hall of fame member Chris Hillman (The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers), Herb Pedersen (the Dillards, Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Old and in the Way, Emmylou Harris), John Jorgenson (Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Jorgenson Quintet), and Bill Bryson (Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Dan Fogelberg, Bluegrass Cardinals). During the late-'80s, this versatile ensemble chalked up seven top-10 country hits while never losing sight of their bluegrass, folk and honky-tonk roots.
Other featured groups this year include Junior Sisk, the IBMA's 2013 male vocalist of the year; award-winning singer Russell Moore with the dynamic IIIrd Tyme Out; Blue Highway, one of the most esteemed and influential bands in contemporary bluegrass; songwriter and Sirius-XM radio personality Chris Jones and his band the Night Drivers.
Regional bands like The Hillbenders, will debut this year, bringing a different flavor to the main stage. The Missouri group�s hard-driving newgrass sound, has been winning over new audiences, with evocative interpretations of country, rock, jazz songs.
Nolan Lawrence, singer and mandolinist for The Hillbenders, says the band is looking forward to performing at Joe Val for the first time.
"Every time we get anywhere near the Northeast, there's always someone talking about how great the Joe Val festival is," said Lawrence, reached at his Missouri home. "When an event generates that kind of excitement in people, and wins awards like IBMA Event of the Year, it's obviously doing something very right � We are thrilled to be on this year's lineup and very much looking forward to finding out what all the buzz is about."
Other main stage bands will include: Sister Sadie featuring Dale Ann Bradley, Balsam Range, Sideline, Special Consensus, The Spinney Brothers, Detour, Bluegrass Gospel Project, Berklee All-Stars, The Reunion Band, The Feinberg Brothers, Dick Bowden�s Flying Circus Tribute to Don Stover, and The Lonely Heartstring Band.
"We try to mix established bands that are doing great things, and these emerging talents that need a proper showcase in the region," Katz said.
The festival features master classes and more than 60 workshops for musicians and singers hoping to hone their craft, and you are likely to see several music vendors. The festival is known for its efforts in encouraging the next generation of bluegrass performers, by teaching and then featuring on the main stage the Joe Val Kids Academy, now in its 12th year. Dozens of children ages 5-17 participate.
Established in 1985, the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival celebrates the legacy of the late Joe Val, a pioneering Massachusetts-based vocalist, musician, and bandleader, whose riveting performances, recordings, and generous nature did so much to spread the popularity of bluegrass in the Northeast. In addition to winning IBMA Event of the Year in 2006, in 2012 the festival was listed by USA TODAY as one of the Ten Great Places to Go to Bluegrass Festivals.
For more information, visit the festival website at http://bit.ly/joevalfest.
Joe Val Bluegrass Fest returns to Framingham Feb. 14-16
If you walk into Sheraton Framingham Hotel on Valentine�s Day, don�t be surprised if you are serenaded by fiddles and banjos.


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Elmbrook School District allows employees to use Breathalyzers on students
District changed Breathalyzer policy over summer
It won't just be police who can use Breathalyzers at Elmbrook School District events this year.
The district changed policy so specially trained employees can also test a student if the student is suspected of drinking alcohol.
Some local schools check students with Breathalyzers at random, while others like Brookfield East High School take a more targeted approach.
With homecoming week underway, Brookfield East administrators had Breathalyzers ready at Monday night's bonfire and outdoor dance.
"It's just a tool to allow us to test students that we have a reasonable suspicion that are under the influence of alcohol and that again is the priority, to maintain a safe environment for all," said Principal Andy Farley.
Elmbrook schools updated its Breathalyzer policy over the summer. If a student is suspected of drinking alcohol, an administrator can conduct a Breathalyzer test. If it is positive, the student will be tested again. If the second test is positive, parents or guardians will be asked to remove the student and police will be called.
"Kids should be responsible enough and mature enough to not come to a dance drunk or anything. So I do think it's a good idea," said student Natasha Plavsic.
"I think it's good that you're caught and it's dealt with, so the kids need to understand the school will not allow that," said Natasha's mother, Milly Plavsic.
The new district policy mandates training in the use and maintenance of Breathalyzer equipment for every worker who will use it.


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How Green Are We? - Our Policy in Relation to the Environment and the World We Live In
Changes in Earth's Climate patterns affect everyone. Brits in Crete is committed to doing its bit to balance man's advancement while respecting and preserving natural resources for future generations.
Here's how Brits in Crete is helping reduce our impact on the environment by reducing waste and aiding in reducing C02 emissions:
When you place classified advertisements for items to sell in our Brits in Crete forum, you are re-cycling goods in useable condition thereby contributing to reducing CO2.
The computer you are using right now contains an element of toxins. We have purchased the latest equipment containing the least pollutants to reduce the impact of known toxic substances.
The electricity that your computer is using emits CO2 - carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere somewhere down the line.
Oxford University has carried out research into personal computers and their power consumption. Brits in Crete is following a carbon offset formula devised by the university as a result of the research. The calculation is based on the amount of CO2 that your computer is emitting while you're visiting Brits in Crete web sites and we offset it.
Brits in Crete is responding to the need to offset these CO2 emissions and is planting the first three trees over the Summer of 2008. When mature an average large tree will absorb approximately 20.3kgs per year of CO2 (over a 40 year lifespan).
On this basis, Brits in Crete is offsetting 2.19 tonnes of CO2 in its initial contribution.
Brits in Crete Advice to Reduce your Energy Bills by up to 30 per cent by more efficient energy use of Appliances in your Home:
* Remember to adjust your air conditioning and heating thermostat controls when you leave the home for short periods. For holidays and longer days away, shut down your system or set the controls to absolute minimum.
* Important to unplug all digital and analog equipment when you go away for extended stays. They run on standby when they are connected to the electricity mains, continuing to consume electricity.
* During the hours you not use certain rooms e.g. the bedrooms during the day, keep their doors shut to contain the hot or cold air circulation you require for daytime rooms. At night reverse the process. When building a new home consider putting a thermostat control in every room.
* Consider switching to "energy saving" compact fluorescent lighting. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
* Remember to Insulate your walls and ceilings. This can save 20 to 30 percent of home heating bills (and in summer air conditioning) and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 1 tonne per year.
* Clean all of your heating and cooling appliance filters! They consume more energy when they have to draw air through dirty filters. Ensuring that your air conditioner filter is clean can save 5 percent of the energy used.
* Save Up Dirty dishes, pots and pans until you can fill your dishwater. Otherwise wash small amounts of daily used items manually. When you set the dishwater cycle, allow your full load to dry naturally by keeping the door ajar at end of each wash cycle and do not use the heater element to dry. By not using your hot drying cycle you can save 20 percent of your dishwasher's total electricity consumption.
* Recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper.
* Plant trees to shade your home and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate. But paint it in a dark color if you live in a cold climate.
* Adjust your refrigerator settings. These should be less cold in winter and cooler in summer and amend the settings for small amounts of food and drinks in your fridge.
* Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the "Energy Star" Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution.
* When Driving Your Car. Slow down and drive sensibly. The faster and more aggressive you drive, the more petrol or diesel your car uses.
* Where it is possible, choose to walk or bike to your destination. Fuel used in transportation constitutes a large proportion of the total fuel consumption in Greece or UK.
* When you plan your trips by car or motor cycle, group your errands together, where and when possible, not separately to save on fuel costs and pollution.
Brits in Crete believes each one of us can contribute, no matter how small, to sustainable management of resources to ensure mankind has a future on this planet. While in the past 100 years much has been done to rape Planet Earth's natural environment , it is not too late. Please join us in our efforts in your own small way.
Brits in Crete owned domains and websites:
Reference: University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute
Thank You. Brits in Crete Web Team Environment Policy


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Insurance Payout May Depend on Whether Boston Bombing Was 'Terrorist Act'
Boston businesses wait for word from Treasury Secretary and other authorities.
April 26, 2013 -- Whether the Boston bombings are deemed a "terrorist" act could have enormous financial implications for the businesses that were damaged or closed during the police investigation.
At the center of the issue is a federal law passed in the shadow of the attacks of 9/11. In Nov. 2002, Congress enacted the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which provided insurance coverage for terrorist acts. That means if a special insurance rider was not purchased, and the act is deemed terrorism, the claim will be denied under business policies.
On the other hand, if the bombings aren't deemed a terror act, affected businesses could then apply for reimbursement under their regular insurance policies.
Related story: Accused Bombers Plotted Attack in NYC, Officials Say
President Barack Obama called the bombings an "act of terror" but businesses now await word from the Treasury secretary, attorney general, and secretary of state on the designation.
If those offices officially certify the Boston bombings as an act of terror, then only businesses that had previously purchased coverage for "terrorism" from their insurance companies will receive insurance payments for damage and lost income from the events of April 15.
"It does not help the policyholder when the President makes such statements, but his statement is before all evidence has been reviewed, so it depends on what the insurance carriers decide as to the event," said Judith Spry, partner in litigation and consulting with BDO.
A spokeswoman for the Treasury said the office has not taken action yet.
Related story: Bombing Suspects' Mom Regrets Move to US
It's possible some businesses won't have insurance coverage for building damage or lost income after being cordoned off by police for over a week. That's likely the case for the dozens of small businesses on Boylston Street and the area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
"Some of the large businesses, like hotels, likely had the coverage," said Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, an industry trade group. "It's not surprising or atypical if the small businesses did not."
Mark Bollman, president and founder of Ball and Buck, a men's retailer about two blocks away from the finish line, did purchase terrorism insurance.
"It's not something you think you need to have or something you would ever want to need, but being in a downtown city we wanted to be safe rather than sorry," Bollman said.
His brick and mortar store is back up and running after being closed for several days. The store did not sustain any damage other than the lost business. Bollman and other local businesses are donating 10 percent of their sales to the Red Cross and inviting others to participate through www.PatsDayFund.org.
"Customers and traffic still remain slower than normal but is steadily picking up," he said. "We would expect that by next week we will be back where we were planning."
Bollman said he is in contact with his insurance agency and has submitted a claim under terrorism insurance, but does not know what exactly will be covered.
Related story: One Fund Boston Raises $20 Million in First Week
For businesses that may be affected by a terrorist act, Spry advises owners to gather documentation, put the insurance carrier on notice, and retain professionals, like accountants and attorneys, if needed.
While terrorism insurance has been available for the last 11 years, businesses and the insurance industry have little experience in filing claims for it.
"When the act was legislated in 2002, everyone's version of a terrorist attack was something like 9/11, or involved hundreds of billions of dollars of damage," Hartwig said.
Hartwig said the Treasury secretary, secretary of state and attorney general are under no obligation to certify within a specific timeline whether the bombing was a terrorist act.
"Until then, insurers will proceed to adjust the claims and work with policyholders just as it would have been in a natural disaster of some sort," Hartwig said.
To be certified as a terrorist act, they must also assess whether insured damage, like building damage and lost income, exceeds $5 million.
If these officials don't certify the bombing as a terrorist act, the businesses' standard policy would apply.
Part of the definition for a terrorist act in the federal law states that the attack must have been "committed by an individual or individuals as part of an effort to coerce the civilian population of the United States or to influence the policy or affect the conduct of the United States Government by coercion."
The coverage itself is "relatively inexpensive," Hartwig says, but many factors influence the cost, such as location and the size of a business.
A small business in many cities might pay less than $100 a year for the coverage, said Hartwig.
"If you're a very large business with a lot of real estate, machinery, aircraft, or a stadium, these things will cost more of course," he said.


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I found this image in Facebook and thought of sharing here too:
The steps are really simple, right? I think if people will start doing these things, there would be less chaos around. Thus, less stress. :) As the old saying goes, do not wait for tomorrow if you can do it today. Same thing applies to all the scenarios given above :)


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It's the holiday season – time to order your Schweddy Balls.
If that made you laugh, then you're among the appreciators of the comic talents of Alec Baldwin, who, by keeping a straight face in the classic 1998 "Saturday Night Live" Schweddy Balls sketch, established himself as a master of deadpan humor.
Now Baldwin, who brings his comic gifts to "30 Rock," tells Men's Journal (via the New York Daily News) he plans to quit show business after his contract ends in 2012. He also declares his movie career a "complete failure."
For a guy good at making us laugh, Baldwin tends to take himself awful seriously at times.
Let's hope he was just venting, amid public personal woes that include his infamous and inexplicable haranguing of his daughter in a phone message ("I feel the consequences of that every day," Baldwin told Men's Journal).
As far as his career, Baldwin's a bit hard on himself – he's proven a fine film actor over the years, in "Prelude to a Kiss" and "Glenngary Glen Ross," among other flicks.
But his greatest talent seems to reside in comedy, which is nothing to spit take at. His role as pompous network executive Jack Donaghy, who barely believes his own absurdity while delivering one-liners as fast as he can talk, is the foundation of "30 Rock." It would be a shame to lose him.
Maybe Baldwin should have a chat with Steve Martin, the only performer to host "SNL" more times than him. He'll have plenty of opportunity. Baldwin and Martin are co-hosting this year's Oscars, and co-star with Meryl Streep in the upcoming movie, "It's Complicated."
Martin, over a four-decade career, has glided between comedy, drama, books, plays and music. But he always returns to the making us laugh.
As Martin told us, comedy isn't pretty. Or as another sage once said, "Dying is easy – comedy is hard." Baldwin has the hard part down.
Baldwin at 51, understandably, has other interests, including politics (a calling where the humor largely is unintentional).
It may be selfish, but here's hoping he sticks to comedy. After all, how can we get through the holidays without Schweddy Balls?
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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EA Studio Showcase Audiostreams
VG247 has a bunch of audio recordings of the presentations from EA's London studio showcase earlier today. The sound quality is a bit iffy, but the info is good. There's also a bunch of new screens. Mm, rich, tasty info.
The lovely Ben Cousins on Battlefield Heroes. Both interview and presentation.
The alien sex-fancier Ray "Bioware" Muzyka on Mass Effect PC. Hot.
Talkomatic Paul Barnett on Warhammer Online.
Valve's Mr Lombardi on Left4Dead. (Prefaced by plenty of presentation blather.)
Phew. Anyone for a beer?


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Behavioral economist Dr. Richard Thaler was Monday's closing keynote at IMCA's annual conference in National Harbor, Md. Thaler, whose groundbreaking work on behavioral issues is well-known in the advisor industry, was interviewed by IMCA vice chairman John Nersesian. Nersesian began by asking Thaler about claims by many advisors that "they saw 2008 coming." If so many had, he asked, why hadn't more investors avoided the aftermath?
Thaler, the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, responded that hindsight bias—the tendency to remember that our forecasts were better than they really are—is a powerful psychological phenomenon.
"In 2004, who would have predicted that four years later we would have the first black president?" he said by way of example. "Most thought at the time, 'no way.' But today everyone is saying they absolutely would have predicted it."
Clients have selective memories, he added before launching into a story about baseball that he uses in his class. He said he shows his students a clip from an old baseball game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals. The third-base coach for the Yankees had to make a split-second decision as to whether or not to send a runner home. He did, and the runner was thrown out. Following the game, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner fired the base coach.
"Steinbrenner had the benefit of knowing the outcome," Thaler said. "He hired Don Zimmmer to replace the coach. Zimmer was very conservative. If you fire someone for a poor outcome even though the decision was sound, you will never take risks."
Continuing with the sports theme, Nersesian noted the extensive work Thaler has done with NFL franchises, and specifically with how teams choose players from the draft.
Thaler said he began with a hunch that teams overvalued early picks; the picks they made were too pricey and they traded away others.
"Is it a smart strategy to trade up in the draft for an earlier pick? No, and they should actually trade down," Thaler said. "We actually found that that a sixth-round pick is more valuable than a second-round pick."
Football team owners are billionaires, he added, so they are obviously smart, but they "fall in love" with certain players, and it clouds their better judgment. Much to the chagrin of the audience members, Thaler said the New England Patriots ranked the highest in his study for the quality of the picks they've made.
Nersesian then asked Thaler about how investors could profit from the behavioral mistakes of others.
"My golf partner is Gene Fama, the father of the efficient market hypothesis," Thaler, who has a money management firm, responded. "We don't talk finance when we play. The thesis holds that market prices can't be predicted in order to beat the market. It also holds that prices are always 'right,' the NASDAQ never went to 5,000 and the real estate bubble in Las Vegas was all a dream. But mistakes in the market do happen. We classify them as either severe underreactions or severe overreactions. We then add our secret sauce and make lots of money for our clients."
One of the biggest laugh lines came when Nersesian asked Thaler about the value of risk tolerance questionnaires.
"Ah …I wish you hadn't asked me that question," Thaler said. "It is very difficult to predict risk by using a piece of paper. We have clients that skydive, but then invest only in T-bills. Is that person aggressive or conservative with risk? The problem is that no one knows what their risk tolerance is because risk tolerance is situational. Danny Kahneman and I worked for years on developing a better questionnaire to accurately assess risk. I don't know that it can be done …yeah, next question."
For complete coverage of the 2012 IMCA Conference check out AdvisorOne's special home page.


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What is the Maya Research Program?
The Maya Research Program (MRP) is a 501C3 non profit that supports archaeological and ethnographic research in Middle America. From May to August Each year since 1992 we have sponsored archaeological research in northwestern Belize and ethnographic research in the village of Yaxunah, Mexico. The Blue Creek Archaeological Project currently includes research at the sites of Blue Creek, Xnoha, Bedrock, Nojol Nah, Tulix Mul, Grey Fox, and Tamarindo (You can read many MRP publications here.) MRP has been instrumental in documenting and protecting numerous Maya sites in northwestern Belize. Over 3000 students and volunteers have participated in the project in the past 23 years. MRP's research members include faculty members and graduate students from over a dozen universities worldwide. In addition, the Blue Creek field school has been certified by the Register of Professional Archaeologists and is affiliated with the University of Texas at Tyler.
MRP's goal is, first and foremost, to conduct research that helps us better understand the complex ancient societies of the Americas. MRP is proud to have a diverse staff of talented scientists contributing to this goal and our affiliated scholars are recognized as leaders in their fields. Recent support has come from the Archaeological Institute of America, National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, the Heinz Foundation, and the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies. In addition, the Blue Creek field school has been certified by the Register of Professional Archaeologists and the project was recognized as the winner of the Archaeological Institute of America's Excavation Outreach contest.
Another key MRP goal is to encourage the participation of students and volunteers — anyone who wants to experience the real world of archaeological or anthropological research and understand how we learn about other cultures may join us. We see this as a critical educational component of MRP's work and it helps us accomplish our research goals as well. The ages of our participants range from 18 to over 80. So many of our participants return year after year that MRP has become an extended family. About half of our participants are university students under 30 years old and the other half are professionals and retirees. While the majority of participants this summer have come from the United States and Canada, we have numerous students and volunteers from Australian, European, Latin American, and Japanese institutions as well. For students, academic credit can usually be arranged. While many students go on to careers in other fields, numerous students go on to become successful graduate students in archaeology or a related field and return to focus on MRP projects for their theses and dissertations.
From May to August of each year, MRP hosts four two-week sessions for students and volunteers at Blue Creek. Everyone is a full participant in the effort and is involved with field excavations and laboratory work. You can read more about what to expect at the MRP's field school in our Participant Guide.
Scholarships and fellowships are available.
If you are interested in joining the MRP team – please get in touch soon as space is limited! If you have any questions – please don't hesitate to contact us:
Maya Research Program
Website: http://www.mayaresearchprogram.org
1910 East Southeast Loop 323
#296; Tyler, Texas 75701
Phone: 817-831-9011
Email: email@example.com
2015 Day of Archaeology Update:
MRP is proud to support a vast range of talented researchers from across the globe under the project's umbrella. The Blue Creek Archaeological Project's research members include not only archaeologists, but also soil scientists, geoarchaeologists, geographers, conservationists, cultural anthropologists, bioarchaeologists, and botanists. Our 2015 excavations started on June 1st and end on August 2nd. This year's excavations are located at the ancient Maya site of Xnoha and are focused on the elite residences west of Plaza A, two residential ancestor shrines, and the monumental architecture of the site core. In addition, we have excavated the rejollado feature at the site of Blue Creek and identified numerous canals and wetland resources in the area. Our expanded course offerings in 1) PXRF and Artifact Analysis 2) Bioarchaeology and 3) Photogrammetry and 3D Digital Modeling are also active.
Adopt a Maya Site Update
The Maya Research Program is very pleased to announce that we have purchased 83.6 acres on the New River Lagoon. This land acquisition includes the ancient Maya site of Tamarindo. The site's location on the New River Lagoon gave its inhabitants strategic access to important coastal trade routes. MRP is pleased to contribute to the conservation of this endangered archaeological and ecological resource. You can read more about this conservation effort is Popular Archaeology
In addition, the Maya Research Program has an opportunity to acquire an additional 35 acres of the ancient Maya site of Grey Fox. MRP was able to purchase 90 acres of this site in 2011 thanks to the generosity of our supporters and donors. As with MRP's purchase of the site core of Grey Fox in 2011 – MRP very much needs the your help with this settlement zone acquisition.
Please help MRP purchase more of this important archaeological site and ecological resource and conserve it for the future. Your tax-deductible donation of $100 will allow us to buy a quarter of an acre and a $400 donation will buy an entire acre. Of course any donation is more than welcome and 100% of the funds go directly to this initiative.
As a thank you present for donations exceeding $50 USD – MRP is offering a custom trowel. This custom heavy-duty Marshalltown 4 inch-pointing trowel (London style) is the perfect tool for excavating features! Your $50 (or more!) donation will help MRP conserve archaeological sites in Belize. (Please note we will mail these thank you gifts in August when we return from Belize). Please donate now to adopt this endangered Maya site and save it from destruction.
Tour the Maya World Update
Please note that the full itinerary for our annual New Year's tour in now avalible on our website. The Maya Research Program will offer a New Year's tour from December 28th, 2015 to January 9th, 2016. You can join MRP for the adventure of a lifetime as we explore the Costa Maya and the Jewels of the Jungle. From Mexico's stunning sites of Oxtankah, Dzibanche, Calakmul, and Becan to the jewels of Belize – Caracol, Xunantunich, and Cerros – we invite you to join us as we take a memorable journey through Mexico and Belize. Travel for a great cause and join us this winter! (You can download the full brochure here.)
Follow MRP's Research Online
Remember if you can't join us in person this summer – you can follow our work via our webpage, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts. You can also read numerous MRP publications for free via our webpage or explore our virtual museum.
If you are interested in contributing to our adopt a Maya site initiative, or would like to travel for a great cause this New Year's, or would like more information about our archaeological or ethnographic field programs, please do not hesitate to get in touch!


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Wild's Pominville remains sidelined from elbow to chin, will miss Game 1 against Chicago
CHICAGO – Minnesota Wild right wing Jason Pominville will sit out Tuesday's playoff opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Pominville missed the last two games of the regular season after he was elbowed in the chin by Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings. He practiced Monday but coach Mike Yeo says he's "not quite ready."
Yeo says the Wild have to "look at the big picture" and make sure that when he returns "we get him back in for good."
The Wild finished eighth in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks led the NHL with 77 points.


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Article content
VANCOUVER — Concerns in Washington state over oil tanker traffic from British Columbia have spurred a U.S. Coast Guard review of proposed increases in Canadian oil exports.
It's because of a legislative amendment proposed by Washington state Sen. Maria Cantwell and recently signed into law by President Barack Obama.
It gives the U.S. marine safety agency six months to conduct a risk assessment of the increased marine traffic that will result from planned expansion of oil pipeline capacity to B.C.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Oil tanker concerns prompt U.S. Coast Guard review of Canada's oil export plans Back to video
While several proposed projects would see oil from the Alberta oil sands brought to the B.C. coast for export primarily to China, the legislation deals specifically with tanker traffic out of the Vancouver area.
The risk assessment will look at the potential increase in marine traffic and the spill response capacity in the region.
The U.S. Coast Guard will also analyze the toxicity of diluted bitumen — a heavy oil that critics say is more difficult to contain and clean up than crude or refined oil.
Kinder Morgan is proposing a $4-billion expansion that would more than double the capacity of its existing TransMountain pipeline that delivers oil from the Alberta oil sands to its terminal in Port Metro Vancouver.


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Here's Scarlett Johansson in Paris for an Obama fundraiser organised by Anna Wintour and an event for Tod's. I'm writing this on Blackberry - Scarjo is D&G for sure, but does she have a deal with Tod's? Is it coming? Or did they just send her a tote and a plane ticket?
As you can see, by Hollywood standards, and surrounded by all those fashion people, Scarlett kept it simple and stripped down. That's about as clean of a face as you'll see from a celebrity at a proper public appearance. No she doesn't look washed out or worn or whatever. She's just not wearing 2 inches of foundation and powder and all the rest and the lighting is probably sh-t. I dunno, man, without any of the usual illusory tricks and tools, that's pretty impressive. I prefer her without the camouflage. Also I like this quote - Scarlett to WWD on her personal style:
"I think every girl has their difficult part of their body that's difficult to dress," she said. "For me it's always been about being petite and curvy. There are certain styles I'd love to wear, but I just have to come to terms with the fact that I just don't look good in like a sack dress, it's just not going to happen.…As you get older you learn more about your body and what looks good on you. It's weird for me, because I've been photographed for so long…and sometimes you look back at those red-carpet pictures, and you're like, 'What was I thinking?' I think everyone has that, maybe not on that scale…but everybody has their shameful red-carpet moment."
God I love a good sack dress. But she's right. Short people with some thickness just can't do it.


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IntroductionThe remarkable, ancient Roman city of Aphrodisias, 280 mi/450 km south of Ankara, was dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Located near the village of Geyre, the ruins merit at least half a day of exploration. See the old walls, theater and stadium (it could hold more than 30,000 people), and be sure to visit the museum, which contains several interesting sculptures found at the site.
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Apple touts its iLife suite of photo, video, music, and Web applications as one of the best reasons to buy a new machine, but for existing Mac owners, new iLife releases traditionally cost $79. With iLife '09, however, Apple has given owners of PowerPC Macs a major incentive not to upgrade: the most significant new feature in GarageBand '09 is Intel-only.
Despite all of Apple's foot stomping about Universal Binaries and convincing developers how easy it is to straddle both sides of the Mac CPU fence, the company felt the need to take the much-buzzed new "Artist Lessons" feature of GarageBand '09 to the side with greener grass. From iLife '09's system requirements section at the Apple Store online: "GarageBand Learn to Play requires an Intel-based Mac with a dual-core processor or better."
Learn to Play is easily GarageBand 09's most appealing new feature, as major recording artists like Sting and Fall Out Boy sit adoring users down to teach them how to play their hit songs. Building on Apple's ridiculously-successful App Store business model of bite-sized purchases, more lessons can be purchased for $4.99 apiece from a Lesson Store built into GarageBand.
Apple's site and the iLife '09 software box both state this requirement in fine print, though this increase in system requirements appears to be the latest in a new trend for Apple. The dramatically rewritten iMovie '08 was the first iLife app to eliminate the G4 PowerPC from its supported CPUs, raising its demands to an Intel processor, a Power Mac G5 dual 2.0 GHz, or an iMac G5 1.9 GHz.
In a way this isn't surprising; Apple has been using iLife to push the boundaries of both flashy-yet-useful UI design and the capabilities of media editing software. Still, PowerPC owners hoping to get in on the iLife '09 fun are probably feeling the Intel squeeze on their wallets more than ever now. We can only expect these performance requirements to become more stringent in future iLife releases.


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FRANKFURT – Lighting companies like Philips and Osram are scrambling to develop more advanced technology as a price war for LED bulbs threatens to eat into profits and bring on a period of low growth as the long-life bulbs become more common.
The market for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is growing rapidly as companies, hotels and shops switch from incandescent light bulbs, which are being banned in countries around the world, to these more efficient and durable lights.
But the initial cost of buying LED bulbs for home use, while falling rapidly, is still higher than alternatives such as compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) or halogen, leaving consumers hesitant to adopt the new technology.
That is driving manufacturers to cut prices, and also to seek new product features to replace lost business when a blown bulb becomes a much rarer event.
"We are working on two different fronts," Philips Lighting CEO Eric Rondolat told Reuters at the Light + Building trade fair, which is being held in Frankfurt this week.
Analysts see the overall lighting market starting to shrink from around 2017, when LED will account for more than half of the lighting market.
Three manufacturers – Osram, Samsung and LG – announced plans at Light + Building to launch or expand smart lighting systems for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), pioneered by Philips's Hue line.
Manufacturers hope they can lure more customers with systems that allow them to customize light intensity, color and composition.
Smart lighting allows users to remotely control lamps from a smartphone or tablet computer. They can, for instance, add orange hues to their lights when they want to relax in the evening, have colorful lighting schemes for kids or have their lights blink whenever they receive an e-mail on their smartphone.
When used in office buildings, such smart, connected systems offer ways to save energy by having the lights on only when and where they are needed and to increase productivity by adjusting lighting schemes to match human biorhythms.
Manufacturers like Philips, U.S.-based Cree and Germany's Osram have been cutting retail prices of LED light bulbs as they compete for the residential market.
Philips said its retail price for 60 watt replacements in Germany had dropped to just under 12 euros by 2013 from close to 40 euros in 2011, and Cree has been selling a comparable bulb for about $13 in the United States.
"Our objective is to drive LED lighting to the same price level as traditional lighting," Greg Merritt, Cree Vice President Marketing Lighting, told Reuters at the trade fair.
Globally, the retail price of LED lamps fell 9.4 percent in the 12 months through March, according to data from IHS Technology, putting the average cost of an LED lamp that can replace a 60 watt incandescent bulb at around $25.
General Electric, one of the biggest traditional players in the lighting market, has estimated that LED will account for about 70 percent of a $100 billion lighting market by 2020, compared with 18 percent in 2012.
Some estimate the residential sector alone will account for almost a third of LED lighting.
But in 2012, LED accounted for less than 1 percent of light bulbs in the United States, compared with 43 percent for CFLs, according to a May 2013 report by the U.S. Department of Energy.
In Germany, only 3 percent of lamps sold in 2012 were LED, up from 1 percent in 2009, according to energy think-tank Dena.
"In the residential area, costs are still seen as relatively high," Osram Chief Technology Officer Peter Laier told Reuters ahead of the trade fair.
"But you're also getting a product that lasts at least 10 times longer," he added.
Manufacturers realize that prices have to fall further to win over more customers, so they are also trying to lower production costs to safeguard margins.
Osram, for instance, is introducing an LED lamp based on a modular product platform so it can combine parts in different configurations and introduce new components when technology advances.
Manufacturers are also trying to develop technology that uses silicon instead of sapphire in the manufacturing process, although so far silicon-made LEDs do not perform as well.
"We currently still see an efficiency disadvantage," Aldo Kamper, CEO of Osram's chip-making business Osram Opto Semiconductors, told Reuters.
"That doesn't mean that we have given up on the matter. Production with silicon substrate is still being developed." (Reuters)


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Type: Posts; User: ZippyTheChimp
In the days of the Ninth Ave El (service ended 1940), Greenwich St and West Broadway merged at Fulton St. The El ran from South Ferry over Greenwich St.
WTC site pics from 8:06 - 11:24. Fulton St...
Is that a landscaped terrace (podium) I see at 3WTC; was it ever depicted that way in the past?
I wonder if Maki will be forced to get with the program and add shrubbery.
That's true, and besides, the station opening isn't only waiting for the painting to be completed.
I'm not sure what you mean by overblown.
The guy broke a rule, and was disciplined for it.
The rest of it is funny - team dynamics and fan reaction stuff. It's funny because they are in last...
Glass & Paint
Lotta rolling
And what makes them that way?
The author's point, I believe.
There is much more to this than the NRA and the 2nd Amendment.
This is primarily about racist terrorism, although we refuse to acknowledge it.
Washington Post:
Why South Carolinas...
Are the Red Sox back to 2011, Chicken & Beer in the clubhouse?
Pablo Sandoval got benched for surfing Instagram and liking a woman's photo. Can't blame him, except he could have waited until the...
Maybe not, if he adds a few water towers.
On my list of the top ten most...
As the building gets taller, the location - as far as visibility - improves.
I do think the building is in a poor location - right now. The neighborhood needs improvement.
My argument is your minimizing the health risk of refined sugar (you seem to have made it a political statement) while counterpointing with the health risk of trans fat.
Can we agree that "the...
Have you reviewed the entire thread?
The OP was about the court overturning Bloomberg's soda ban.
You were in agreement in post #2:
From my point of view, the discussion from that point was...
This is great! I hope Trump polls high enough to make the the cut for the debate adult table. If you ignore the buffoonery,...
The 250 Water St site is within the Seaport historic district. It was designated in 1977; the Milsteins bought the property two years later, so they knew they would have to go through LPC.
200 Water St & 181 Front St
The building being renovated is 200 Water St. It lies within the Dumbo historic district, as does the building at...
New oval cable barriers - more harmonious with the bridge aesthetics.
Peck Slip
There has been a seven year running argument too-green vs. not-green-enough.
The latest: http://www.downtownexpress.com/2014/09/25/a-tree-grows-in-the-seaport-not-so-fast-or-slow/
100 Franklin St
Only this small section of the lot is closed off; there are still parked cars.
Looks like explanatory digging - the foundation...
Disclaimer: The following assumes that the developer's engineer knows what he is doing, no financial corners were cut, and the DOB wasn't asleep at the switch.
The old building didn't prevent the...
Peter Poon project progressing.
You have one big advantage over people within the field. There is a symbiotic relationship among architects, their clients - and extending more and more to professional critics, who must weigh...


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Using PCHW V2,
I have it all setup and working. The trouble is, when a customer launches the client, they all show up in the viewer as the same thing (whatever you have set in the SC Create tool for access code)
Is there anyway for SC tool to use the PC name that is running the server or even better yet, the logged in user name.
Worst case would be to make the user type in a name once they launch the tool.
Thanks in advance and great job this tool is awesome.


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If you are into in-house planting, you'll love this fun idea: turn a light bulb into a tiny greenhouse.
Here's the detailed instruction (and make sure to look though the comments as well).
I am not sure what happens if / when a plant outgrows the bulb - but I guess there's a way to find a really tiny plant for it to grow inside for a long time.
Here are a few interesting takeaways from the comments:
- Will the plant need air?
If you give the plants an airtight house, you create a mini ecosystem and the water that's inside will eventually evaporate to the top, condensate on the glass, and fall back down like rain. It will keep doing that over and over, and you end up hardly ever having to water
- Do the plant grow, and does it stop growing?
The plants don't really grow much- a little bit, but they have stayed small enough to not outgrow the terrarium. A few of the little fern babies have doubled or tripled in size over the course of many months, but they were very tiny to begin with.
More greenhouse and planting gadgets:


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WUD Art is thrilled to announce the 90th Annual Student Art Show!
The 90th Annual Student Art Show is the University of Wisconsin-Madison's longest-running celebration of student artists and a beloved campus tradition. It offers all UW-Madison students the opportunity to enter their work in a competitive juried exhibition. Our committee has received over 150 submissions this year, and we're proud to present a variety of selected pieces from all backgrounds and media in this public, collaborative exhibition! Thank you to everyone who has submitted and has been involved in the creation of the SAS this year; we really appreciate all of the hard work and dedication from the artists, jurors, SAS coordinator and committee members.
The opening gala of the 90th Annual Student Art Show will be presented in Gallery 1308 at Union South from 6-8pm on Friday, February 9th, 2018. There will be an awards presentation at 7:00pm. Refreshments will be served—please invite family and friends to join you at the celebration.
The 90th Annual Student Art Show will be featured in Gallery 1308 at Union South from February 9th through April 1, 2018.


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Mega Sports
Every night during football season, millions of devoted fans stay up well past their bedtimes to catch the final edition of ESPN's "Sports Center." Though some of these viewers are marginally interested in watching taped highlights of the day's best throws, catches and runs for the 29th time, what most of them really want to see are the numbers. People with money on the games want to find out who won, and by how much. People who play in fantasy football leagues want to find out who scored the most points and made the most yards. In other words, people with a financial interest in the performance of Brett Favre's arm, Emmitt Smith's legs and Morten Andersen's left foot need to know. They can't wait for the morning papers.
Any leap in the ratings that ESPN's "Sports Center" experiences this fall may well be attributed to a new betting program called MegaSports. If all goes as planned with this revolutionary way of wagering on athletics, it may become the most important--and exciting--development in sports betting since the advent of number-crunching computers.
MegaSports, introduced recently at more than 50 Las Vegas casinos, is a parimutuel wagering system that offers gamblers an enormously entertaining menu of exotic bets, including exactas, quinellas and trifectas, while simultaneously providing a chance to win millions of dollars from a single $5 bet. Developed by longtime Las Vegas bookmaker Vic Salerno, the man behind the Leroy's chain of 41 Nevada sports-betting parlors, MegaSports combines elements of horse racing, fantasy football "rotisserie" leagues, progressive slot machine jackpots and old-fashioned proposition bets. The result, "The World's Largest Office Pool," is a new way of betting that is undeniably fun, mildly controversial and potentially profitable for wiseguys and bookies alike.
According to Salerno, 53, a former California dentist who's been a Vegas bookmaker for 20 years, "MegaSports has one very simple, very attractive selling point: Bet a little, win a lot."
Some in the sports betting community call Salerno a visionary. The idea of making Vegas sports betting into one huge office pool seems so simple, so obvious. But nobody had ever bothered to do it. Four years ago, Salerno, whose bouncer-at-a-swanky-nightclub looks belie his business acumen, figured he could market betting on America's most popular sports--and even the marginally popular ones--at least as well as the horse- and dog-racing tracks. Today, millions of dollars in research and development later, he's making his gamble pay off.
Perhaps the most attractive component of the MegaSports program, the feature that attracts thousands of amateurs, is its progressive jackpot. Similar to horse racing's Pick Six, every week bettors must pick the winners in 22 different propositions, a mix of National Football League "sides" (pick the winner against the point spread in each game) and NFL totals (pick the over or the under). The gambler with the most winners each week takes down a guaranteed $50,000 prize. Should someone select all 22 games correctly--mathematically speaking a 4,200,000-to-1 shot--the lucky player earns more than $1 million, paid in a lump sum. (In the opening weeks of the season, several players got 20 out of 22.) If nobody gets all 22 propositions, the jackpot, plus a percentage of the previous week's money, gets rolled over to the next week. Given the difficulty of hitting 22 out of 22, multimillion dollar jackpots are not uncommon.
For sports betting, this kind of return borders on the inconceivable. Traditionally, winning sports gamblers grind out their profits; they don't reap life-altering windfalls--unless they've decided to risk something like $1,100,000 to win $1 million. The peculiar Vegas myth of "put in a few bucks, walk away with a million" has primarily applied only to slot machine players. With the advent of MegaSports, those who wouldn't dream of tossing a coin down the gullet of a voracious slot can now get rich quick by betting on football.
MegaSports' other major innovation is MegaSports Daily Picks, a series of highly specialized proposition bets, the kind normally seen only on Super Bowl Sunday: Which quarterback will throw for the most yards? Who will have the most sacks? What team will rack up the most penalty yards? With MegaSports, though, gamblers aren't merely considering two teams; they've got the entire league to choose from. Thus, with the quarterback bet as an example, every passer in the NFL has odds attached to him. For example, on any given week, favorites like aerial bombers Dan Marino and Drew Bledsoe might go off at 4 to 1, whereas long shots like Neil O'Donnell might fetch 12-to-1 odds.
And it's not just football. Every driver in the starting field of a NASCAR Winston Cup Race has odds attached to him--and they're almost always better than what you'll typically find at traditional sports books. So does every name golfer in PGA Tour events. Every ranked player in ATP tennis tournaments. Even every country in the Winter Olympics. If you've got a strong opinion about somebody in the wide world of sports, chances are MegaSports will afford you an opportunity to put your money where your mouth is.
When MegaSports debuted earlier this summer, during the heart of the baseball season, gamblers could bet on which major league team would score the most runs that day. The favorites, like the Yankees and Rockies, went off at 8 to 1; underdogs were as high as 80 to 1. If you wanted to bet on the margin of victory between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, odds ranged from 4 to 1 on Atlanta triumphing by a single run to 20 to 1 on the Mets winning by four runs. Like bookmaking shops in Great Britain, virtually any proposition, no matter how obscure or specific, can attract some action. Take the Albert Belle bet, for instance. At the MegaSports debut, White Sox fans could wager on Belle's total number of bases for the day. Zero and one bases went off at 7 to 2; nine or more bases returned 50 to 1.
Inspired by horse racing, MegaSports allows gamblers to make win, place and show bets, as well as the entire array of exotic combination bets you'll find at the track. Thus, an Indy car follower could wager that Michael Andretti and Paul Tracy will finish 1-2 in the U.S. 500, or place a show bet that Al Unser Jr. will finish no worse than third. That same gambler might also fancy tennis; with MegaSports he could make a quinella bet (predicting the top two finishers regardless of order) that Martina Hingis and Monica Seles will meet each other in the Wimbledon finals. MegaSports offers almost every type of wager on almost every form of sports.
Salerno says that future pools will include Formula One auto racing, soccer and perhaps even professional bowling. "Our wet dream is to develop a worldwide soccer pool, where you've got bettors in South America supporting Argentina, the Europeans backing Germany and the Asians betting South Korea. With a pool potentially that large, the house commission would be small and the fluctuation in odds very minimal." At present, MegaSports is opening betting outlets around the world, ranging from Chile to Italy to South Africa. "By the year 2001," Salerno predicts, "we'll be installed on every continent, linking up international bettors with our players back home."
As at the horse track, the odds of each MegaSports bet are calculated by the ratio between the money wagered on a particular team or contestant and the total amount wagered in the pool. So, similar to what happens at the racetrack, the odds constantly fluctuate based on the betting action. If every sharpie in Vegas is betting that Michael Jordan will score the most points in the NBA on a given night, you can be sure his odds will be very low; conversely, the odds on a lightly bet "horse," like, say, Gary Payton, will be huge.
And as with horse racing, MegaSports sets an early "morning line," suggesting preliminary odds for every contest. (These odds are provided by Las Vegas Sports Consultants, the line-making company run by Roxy Roxborough, a partner in MegaSports and himself an inveterate horse player.) What makes MegaSports parimutuel is that gamblers, not the casinos, determine the final odds of any proposition. In Vegas sports books, Tiger Woods opened at 5 to 1 to win the PGA Championship. Since every hacker in Vegas backed young Eldrick, his odds plummeted to 3 to 1--and nobody else's went up. On the other hand, at MegaSports outlets he went off at 7 to 1. Meanwhile, as money comes in on Woods, the price on Nick Faldo, which opened at 12 to 1, rose to 20 to 1. At the British Open, in fact, Justin Leonard, the eventual champion, went off at most Vegas sports books at around 40 to 1. MegaSports paid 121 to 1.
The casinos love this system because, like a race track, they are guaranteed a profit. The house takes its cut--ranging from 3 to 20 percent, depending on the size of the field--and then pays the winners from the remaining money. With MegaSports, sports betting is now like a typical Vegas poker game: gamblers are betting against each other; winners are paid with the losers' money, minus the house's commission. Proponents of the MegaSports concept say that sharp sports bettors will always be able to outwit the average gambler, including the action junkies, weekend tourists and recreational bettors that make up most of the current market. Critics say MegaSports is a lousy bet. "How can you beat a game with a 15 or 20 percent takeout?" complains one Las Vegas-based professional sports bettor. "I don't think anybody who knows anything about this business wants to have anything to do with that kind of percentage. It's criminal."
Other seasoned gamblers disagree. They say, yes, the house commission is high. But so is the one at the horse track--yet expert gamblers beat the ponies year in and year out. "I think you'll find professional sports bettors picking their spots carefully," one well-known Vegas gambler says. "Since MegaSports is going to attract a lot of novices, a lot of people who are going to make bets solely because they're fun and different, guys like me will occasionally discover some ridiculously profitable opportunities."
Vic Salerno says, "This is a virtual paradise for the wiseguy. Every day there are bets with such huge overlays, the smart guys are going to do very well. Plus, with our fluctuating odds played against some of the set odds at traditional sports books, you'll find numerous arbitrage opportunities."
Thus far, MegaSports outlets can be found at most sports books around Nevada. But plans are to expand the network internationally in 1998. The potential for astronomically large betting pools has both bookmakers and wiseguys drooling on their stat sheets. Imagine an event like the Ryder Cup, where golf fans from America and Europe are fixated on the exploits of their countrymen. MegaSports could conceivably offer matchup propositions--Phil Mickelson vs. Colin Montgomerie; Tom Lehman vs. Jose Maria Olazabal; Mark O'Meara and Tiger Woods vs. Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo--as well as odds on the final outcome. Anyone who could correctly choose the winners in all 24 matches would win a pot that surely would be in the million-plus range.
"The possibilities are truly endless," Salerno gushes.
What's particularly intriguing about MegaSports is the system's potential to become certified in the 43 American states that prohibit sports betting but allow parimutuel betting. The lawyers will have a terrific time deciding that one--just as gamblers, no doubt, will have an even better time trying to make their fantasy football team into a profitable investment.
"Sitting here today, with all our pools up and running, parimutuel sports betting seems like such an obvious idea," says Salerno. "And I don't really know why nobody did it before. Why did some guy come up with the paper clip?"
Probably because he saw a need to bind two pieces of paper together. Just as Vic Salerno has seen a need to keep sports gamblers up past their bedtimes on Sunday night. *
Contributing Editor Michael Konik writes Cigar Aficionado's gambling column.


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I couldn't resist stopping by the local bakery this morning. My boys like to have a surprise when they come home from school. I'm not sure if eating a Cream Elephant, Choco-Bear, or Apple Bunny makes us carnivores or not. The boys sure love them. I went for a chocolate covered donut. The chocolate is kind of hard. It tastes good. Because I am on a diet, I only ate half of the donut. I saved the other half for about 15 seconds later...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Posted by Ka`iana at 9:41 PM
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error 404
404. Page Not Found...So Sad!
Our humble apologies...we have recently upgraded our site and had to move things around a bit.
But all is not lost! Please use the menu bar at the top to find your way around.
You'll be happy to know that all of the plays are still available. And now, you can even download PDFs of every play for free or for a small donation if you are so inclined.
Thank you!


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OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for FY 2013
The National Safety Council recently released a preliminary compilation of OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards in the 2013 fiscal year.
The National Safety Council recently released a preliminary compilation of OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards in the 2013 fiscal year:
1. Fall Protection (1926.501) – 8,241
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) – 6,156
3. Scaffolding (1926.451) – 5,423
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 3,879
5. Electrical: Wiring Methods (1910.305) – 3,452
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) – 3,340
7. Ladders (1926.1053) – 3,311
8. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) – 3,254
9. Electrical: General Requirements (1910.303) – 2,745
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212) – 2,701
Featured Content
Scaffolding, respiratory protection and ladders are the least likely to be found in precision machining shops. The remaining standards are key to maintaining a safe workplace and injury-free workforce in our shops.
Fall Protection: Pay special attention to housekeeping on walking working surfaces. Also, keep floors and aisles free of debris. Winter weather conditions can add additional risk. Compliance in this area will only increase in priority as our workforce ages.
Hazard Communication: In December, you must train your employees to the new Globally Harmonized Standard for Hazard Communications. They will need to learn new format for symbols as well as new content. We see this as an area for high awareness in the coming year. Link to: short.productionmachining.com/EM6ONTLA.
Electrical Wiring Methods: With all of the electrical power used in our shops, this needs to be a foundation of our best practices. Assure grounding compliance. Avoid and eliminate temporary wiring and eliminate the use of flexible extension cords.
Powered Industrial Trucks: Are your people trained? Are only trained personnel operating? Is all equipment adequately equipped with needed safety equipment? Is that equipment operable or has it been disconnected (back-up horns and strobes?)
Lockout/Tagout: Proper de-energization of powered equipment is an area for particular attention in our industry. We have heard of some OSHA inspectors not being familiar with the criteria from the Kershaw Letter. See our blog here.
Electrical General Requirements: It has been my experience that the most common failure under this requirement is the maintenance of clear working space: "Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment." 1910.303(g)(1) That means nothing in front of panels and switches.
Machine Guarding: Actually, this is the regulation that requires "Anchoring fixed machinery. Machines designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving." 1910.212(b)
— Precision Machined Products Association


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Forbidden lust...Illicit sex...Secret adultery. Read all about it...in a story from 1898?
Sounds more like a recent issue of US Magazine then from a now-canonical piece of 19th century literature. But let's face it: the caption writers over at US could stand to learn a few things about how to handle scandal and forbidden desire from a writer like Kate Chopin. The difference is, gossip rags are all about getting hidden truths out into the open, and Chopin's story "The Storm" is totally focused on keeping secret sex…well…secret.
"The Storm," a short story about an extramarital affair in the South, is very sexually explicit, especially for the time it was written, in 1898. Because of that, the story wasn't published during Chopin's lifetime. It would have been completely scandalous. The story didn't come out until almost 70 years later, in 1969 (source). Think about that for a second – it's only been about 40 years since people have even been able to read this story. Before the 1970s, any picture of Chopin's work would have been missing the nuances given to it by this story.
In addition to the complications surrounding its publication, "The Storm" has important connections to at least two of Chopin's other stories. Of course, you could just read "The Storm" by itself and enjoy it on its own merits. But it's worth figuring out what those other connections are.
Several characters from "The Storm" appear in Chopin's earlier piece from 1892, "At the 'Cadian Ball." Read side by side, the two pieces offer a cool comparison, particularly because they share the same set of characters. The earlier story is not as sexually explicit, and it got published soon after Chopin wrote it (source), which helps show us what was acceptable for publication in the 1890s. It also helps us imagine what else Chopin might have written if she had had fewer publication boundaries to contend with.
As many critics have pointed out, "The Storm" also really resonates with Chopin's most famous work, The Awakening. From a literary critic's standpoint, it's super interesting that The Awakening was written just one year after "The Storm." Even though it made it into publication, The Awakening was attacked for being too risqué. Can you imagine what those critics would have made of "The Storm"? If you're intrigued, head over to our "In a Nutshell" section on The Awakening and read about it for yourself – but be sure to come right back. Compare Calixta's life and choices with Edna's, and see if the parallels are all they're cracked up to be.
When you think about love, what worries you? Meeting Mr./Ms. Right? Hooking up with the wrong person? Meeting Mr./Ms. Right after you hook up with the wrong person? Those are all tough things to deal with, but nothing you all can't handle. Compared to 19th century lovers, people today have it easy. Sure couples encounter obstacles all the time, but today we have way more options than the characters in "The Storm" do.
See, Alcée and Calixta are each in unsatisfying marriages, and they still have feelings for each other. Unfortunately, society, propriety, and all that other stuff keep them apart. During "The Storm," Alcée and Calixta finally get to experience the passion they've been cheated of in the past. But that's it. They have an amazing sexual encounter and then are forced to go their separate ways.
There's something tragic in seeing two people experience such pleasure and happiness, all the while knowing that it can't last. Alcée and Calixta both find extreme physical happiness together, which it's clear that they aren't getting in their marriages. Yet after having experienced that pleasure, they have to return to their normal lives. It almost seems cruel. Would it be better not to experience such happiness if it's only fleeting? Or does it seem like Chopin's story is telling us to seize the moment, that a sliver of happiness is better than none at all?
Because of this story's racy and scandalous content, it couldn't be published during Chopin's lifetime. Just as Alcée and Calixta had to keep their affair a secret, Chopin had to keep the story of that affair secret too.
Kate Chopin International Society
Visit the society and learn more about both Chopin and her works.
Kate Chopin Clearinghouse
This collection of links, hosted by VCU, pays special focus to Chopin's biography.
Chopin Society: The Storm
Check out the Chopin International Society's page on this story in particular.
Read interviews with David Chopin and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese about Chopin's opinions on feminism, slavery, and more.
Check out these historic and scholarly resources used in the PBS program, Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening.
Domestic Goddess Links
This page provides a variety of links to Chopin-related sites, many of which focus on The Awakening.
"The Storm"
A contemporary retelling of the story by John Berardo. Somewhat cheesy, we think, but judge for yourself.
Audio Book
Listen to a reading of "The Storm" and 22 other Chopin stories.
A Young Woman
A famous photo of Chopin.
A Grand Lady
This image is of Chopin in her later years.


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News Release 2011-84 | June 30, 2011
OCC Issues Guidance To Banks Regarding Foreclosure Practices
WASHINGTON — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today clarified expectations for the oversight and management of mortgage foreclosure activities by national banks.
While the interagency reviews of 14 large mortgage servicers conducted in the fourth quarter of 2010 and subsequent enforcement actions address the majority of the mortgage servicing market, the guidance issued today is intended to ensure that all mortgage servicers under OCC supervision adhere to appropriate foreclosure management standards.
OCC Bulletin 2011-29 stresses that banks engaged in mortgage servicing must ensure compliance with foreclosure laws, conduct foreclosures in a safe and sound manner, and establish responsible business practices that provide accountability and appropriate treatment of borrowers. The bulletin provides additional clarification on expectations regarding governance of foreclosure process to include adequate staffing and training, dual-track processing, management of affidavit and notary practices, documentation, oversight of third-party service providers, and adherence to all laws and regulations related to mortgage foreclosure.
The bulletin also directs all national banks to conduct a self-assessment of foreclosure management practices no later than September 30, 2011 and correct any weaknesses identified. National bank examiners will review the self-assessments and corrective actions in the next quarterly review or examination of the bank.
Related Links
- Bulletin OCC 2011-29
- Interagency Review of Foreclosure Policies and Practices (PDF)
Media Contact
Bryan Hubbard
(202) 874-5770


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Thread: The Health & Fitness Forum!
#1 The Health & Fitness Forum!07-24-2011, 01:09 PM
Post your info and questions here but don't ask for medical advice, leave that for a doctor.
And let's keep Politics out of this Forum. Post the facts, period.
If you make the title inflammatory it'll be moved to GD.May the FORCE be with you!
|« Previous Thread | Next Thread »


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Newcastle Anglican priest Rod Bower reveals his Hunter background in new book, Outspoken
HIS mother was a 16-year-old Newcastle girl who gave him up for adoption, the three fathers in his life died tragically young, and he had a "raging hangover" when he walked into a Mayfield church in 1984 as a first step towards becoming an Anglican priest.
Father Rod Bower tells the story of his Hunter upbringing in his new book, Outspoken, to explain how a conservative country boy became known years later for challenging the powerful on some of the most controversial issues of our time.
Father Bower's signs outside the Newcastle diocese Gosford Anglican Church have championed marriage equality – "Dear Christians. Some ppl are gay. Get over it. Love God." – gun reform – "When will they love your kids more than their guns?" and the environment – "There is no planet B".
But it is his passionate advocacy on behalf of asylum seekers and against their detention that has seen him directly oppose the two politicians central to last week's prime ministerial spill, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton.
In an interview this week before the book's release on Monday Father Bower criticised both men for asylum seeker policies that he said dehumanised some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
He questioned the "concerning influence" of the "Christian right" in Australian politics and was disturbed by evangelical Christian Scott Morrison's first speech to Australians as prime minister last week. Mr Morrison said fairness in Australia meant "a fair go for those who have a go".
It is a definition of fairness that excludes many marginalised and disadvantaged Australians, but it reflected the prosperity theology that informed the pentecostal Christian church Mr Morrison attended, Father Bower said.
Prosperity theology was developed in America and holds that if humans have faith in God he will deliver security and prosperity.
Father Bower said such a view "sanctified" trickle-down economics and created "a very dangerous mix that will continue to marginalise the poor and benefit the rich".
"It consecrates a whole social and economic system that continues to widen the gap between rich and poor," Father Bower said.
"It does seem a Christian right element is becoming a concerning influence, and even a force, within Australian politics."
In his book Father Bower recounts how therapy was essential to deal with the legacies of his childhood, including an alcoholic adoptive father, and allowed him to stand up for the marginalised based on the teachings of Christ.
"I grew up in an extraordinary environment with an extraordinary sense of freedom but there was a dark side. I wasted a good 10 years of my life drinking too much, and a fortune. I used to hoon up and down Hunter Street when I was a young man in the 1970s because that was what you did," he said.
The public speeches, television appearances and regular controversies sometimes left him "utterly exhausted, empty and drained".
"Were I not somehow rather driven by my vocation to fight for a more just society I'd be happy sitting in this room with my books," he said.
Newcastle Anglican Bishop Peter Stuart this year appointed Father Bower Archdeacon for justice, ministries and chaplaincy.
"It is an acknowledgement by Bishop Peter that social justice issues are particularly important to him," Father Bower said.