text: In June 2006, The Northern California Regional Land Trust unveiled its largest project, protecting 4,235 acres of the Llano Seco Rancho in Butte County. This conservation easement provides for 1,870-acres of agricultural production, 1,715-acres of cattle grazing and protects 736 acres of pristine riparian habitat. The Llano Seco Rancho is one of the last remaining intact Mexican Land Grant ranches in California totaling 18,434 acres, located south of Ord Ferry Road and east of the Sacramento River. Approximately three quarters of Llano Seco have some form of protection in place. Placement of this easement will ensure that virtually all of the Llano Seco's 18,434 acres are protected from development and as a working landscape. Funding for the purchase of the agricultural conservation easement on Llano Seco was provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Conservation and the California Department of Fish and Game.


text:
Who We Are
At Alpha Home Exteriors INC, we are focused on providing, Honesty and Integrity with the highest levels of customer satisfaction – we will do everything we can to meet your expectations.
With a variety of offerings to choose from, we're sure you'll be happy working with us. Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us. We hope to see you again! Check back later for new updates to our website. There's much more to come!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Humans started to move from one place to another in very early ages of their existence. And the main factors, influencing their decision to do so, were wars, natural disasters, climate conditions, lack of food or water. The situation has not changed dramatically, though. Today, people move inside one country, for instance, eco-migrants who resettle because of natural disasters ruining their houses, or to other richer countries for better opportunities. Migrants leave their home because they can't earn enough to support their families, they fell insecure in their own countries, they look for better study and working conditions and, finally, they simply want to change their life.
Migration has been and is a global issue. Migrants link their countries of origin and destination with economic, social, political and legal ties: this is a two-side process. Flows of migrants bring challenges and sometimes prosperity to countries of destination. Countries, accepting labor or political migrants need to have proper policies and infrastructure in place to meet them and provide assistance as declared by international and national legislation. Countries, which attract students or highly skilled professionals, gain a lot: they ask for higher tuitions from international students and benefit maximum from in-demand skilled labor.
The core of programs on migration studies is to explore the causes and impact of migration. All these factors and processes are discussed in undergraduate and graduate programs on migration studies in colleges and universities around the world. Migration studies is an interdisciplinary academic program leading students through such disciplines as: social and post-traumatic adaptation, human rights, migration and development, migration and gender, child protection, public policy and research methods. Academic programs on migration studies also put a lot of emphasis on migration and immigration policies of most developed countries: separate courses on EU migration law or US migration law are a valuable supplement to any program.
Research opportunities in migration offer a chance to engage in vivid academic analysis and discourse on migration flows in various changing political and economic contexts, as well as provide recommendations for policy makers and non-profit advocates.
Summer schools, conferences and workshops on migration studies are other short-term opportunities to explore deeper migration trends and their perspectives.
ARMACAD database is a rich resource for those looking for academic and professional programs and events in the field of migration studies, as well as other related areas.
Choose disciplines, subscribe and receive information about international academic and professional opportunities, scholarships, summer schools, conferences, grants, fellowships and trainings matching your interests.
Get Started


text:
If you are wondering how to get rid of fleas from your house or premises read on.
Welcome to a large club. Many people get fleas but you just never hear about it. Honestly, we have lots of calls about the removal of fleas. Its nothing to do with your housekeeping. Its often due to cats . Also, you may be pleased to know that fleas like clean houses.
Its not pleasant. You will get bitten and its very uncomfortable. Fleas are biting insects that will live in your carpets and between floorboards. Treatment is fairly straight forward but you will have to prepare the rooms for us before we get there.
Don't worry, its not hard – we'll tell you how to prepare for a treatment. It'll help reduce the cost if you follow our advice. Once Acclaim Environmental start a flea treatment, the first thing we need to do is make sure that you really do have fleas. Once that is established, treatment can then proceed.
Not quite. you'll have to keep pets and children out of treated areas and you must not vacuum for 14 days after treatment – unless you want fleas to return.
Sometimes you might feel like you're getting bitten but we'll tell you that there are no fleas in the building. This can often be due to a static charge building up on carpets in heavy traffic areas. Constant rubbing of the carpet with shoes can build up a charge on the carpet. Once it discharges, tiny pieces of hair, wood, glass and other materials can fly up and embed themselves in your skin. The resulting injury looks just like a flea bite. Don't worry though; we'll be able to tell you if static is affecting you.
Can't talk now? Need us to call you later? Just complete the form and we'll get in touch whenever you like.


text:
Enjoy a healthy Middle Eastern platter and make my recipe for Sunflower Seed Falafel Balls with Tahini Dipping Sauce, as well as a healthy Wheat Free Tabouleh.
Today I'm sharing a "tray gourmet" platter perfect for a relaxing weekend get together or event. It's simple to create a modern healthy mezze plate and one that has a variety of tastes and textures to wow friends and family.
Mezze originates in the Middle East and translates to 'appetisers'. Over time Mezze has evolved from humble shared plates to include tables overflowing with cosmopolitan spreads. If you live in a city, you can probably find many variations of the mezze plate, including Middle-Eastern, Greek, Italian and Nordic cuisines.
To make your own mezze platter, start with some Mini Lamb Koftas alongside generous bowls of Baba Ganoush and Hummus. Add in fresh olives and my delicious warm or chilled recipe for Slow Cooked Green Beans.
Add a simple yet culinary colourful Wheat Free Tabouleh (recipe below) which belongs on every mezze plate.
You can also add extra dips if necessary depending upon the number of people you're accommodating. My Red Capsicum and Hazelnut or Basil Pesto have impeccable credentials and if you're worried about making everything from scratch, all of these recipes can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for ease on the day.
For dipping breads and crackers, whip up some Lemony Herby Crackers and make extra as they will store in an air-tight container for your next Middle Eastern immersion. Or try my Gluten Free Pita Pockets which work well as a vehicle for flavour filled dips.
Falafels have long been a middle eastern favourite and these are a great alternative to store bought deep fried falafel balls, processed in cheap cooking oils. The falafel consistency is attained by using half sunflower seeds and half cashews. The final result is a nutty consistency with zesty flavours and surprise crunches along the way.
Cashews and sunflowers seeds have a high satiety index - making you feel fuller for longer. The double combo of nuts and seeds will also help make your skin glow and leave your hair looking luscious thanks to the Vitamin E and Omega-3 fats.
The tahini dressing also provides a great source of protein and calcium and is easy to digest. I encourage you to be generous with the lemon juice in both the falafel balls and the tahini dressing. The added lemon juice in the tahini dressing gives a zesty explosion of flavour in the mouth when consumed.
Enjoy your next meal mezze-style and let me know you favourites in the comments section below!
Get the recipe: Sunflower Seed Falafel Balls with Tahini Dipping Sauce
Get the recipe: Wheat Free Tabouleh
[Feature image via Visual Hunt]


text:
The design is available from my online boutique (see link to the right), and features on bags, badges, bookmarks and prints of various sizes...
Friday, 29 April 2011
Congratulations William and Kate!
I have avidly been watching the Royal Wedding all morning - what a wondrous occasion. I'm really pleased that a local Crouch End newspaper asked me to create a little design for it way back in November (I think it was!). Originally the design featured the Crouch End Clocktower as the illustration was for an editorial piece on what the wedding could look like if it took place in Crouch End. After some requests to see the design on items such as tote bags and badges I re-designed the image to feature Westminster Abbey to make it more universally appealing, and here it is;
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
For over 100 years, Massachusetts Maritime Academy has been preparing women and men for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation's finest co-ed maritime college, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment. As a member of the cadet corps you will live, study, sail, work and play in an atmosphere that encourages you to be your best.
We have both DVDs and streaming video in our collection. Browse through our DVDs on our 1st deck, or search through our Films on Demand collection for streaming video.
Search library collections for all streaming video:


text:
The 2016 Toyota Avanza comes as a facelift of the current model earmarked for Asian markets. The improvements include tweaks to the front- and rear-end. The popular 7-seater will also bring a line of upscale materials in the cabin and the reliable powertrain it is known for.
2016 Toyota Avanza Release Date and Price
The pricing begin from $15,715 for the base level trim and if you want to purchase the range-topping trim youll have to fork over roughly $18,586.
Exterior and Interior
The 2016 Toyota Avanza introduces a brand new large chrome grille integrated with a molded bumper and fog lamps. The front fascia also includes a cluster of stylish LED lights, whose design matches the LED taillights round back. The flared fenders and wheel arches complement the athletic design of the hood and add to the overall impression of style.
The side panels include powered side-mirrors and tinted window glass in advanced trims. The windows and a moon roof provide excellent vantage points while the rear-view mirror opens up wide behind the D-pillars.
The model sits on standard 15-inch wheels, which are upgraded to optional 19-inch aluminum alloys in more expensive trims. To jazz things up a bit Toyota has provided the new Avanza with optional front and rear bumper spoilers, roof spoilers and side skirts.
The interior is roomy and outfitted in upscale materials from top-of-the-range textiles to soft leather which covers the dash, steering wheel and seats front and back. The three row seats offer plenty of comfort and leg room along with airbags front and sideways.
Depending on the trim the 2016 Toyota Avanza offers seats for eight or seven passengers, with the latter version featuring the second-row captains chairs which are stylish as well as able to slide way forward or backward to increase the cargo space, which stands at the maximum 150 cubic feet once youve removed the second-row seats.
The model comes with an array of technology features, like Entune touchscreen, a navigation system and a suite of smartphone-connected services, plus a rear-seat entertainment system, which features a split-screen monitor, which makes it possible for two different media (a movie on one side and a video game on the other, for example) to play at the same time.
The 2016 Toyota Avanzas powerhouse is outfitted with three engine options: a 1.5E and the second 1.5 G. The third option is a 1.5S with a 1.5 liter engine. This engine is powered by a 16-valve. It gets a four speed automatic transmission system and generates 103 horsepower along with 136 NM.


text:
SOFTWARE UPDATE: VM Barcodes Deluxe 2.0 Includes Automatic Installer and 5 Subscriptions to the Barcode Graphics Server
EAN Barcodes Tabs for VirtueMart are now available in the 2.0 version of VM Barcodes Deluxe from Autheticated Merch.
You can use this software seamlessly with any barcode software within VirtueMart. The beta version includes an automatic installer and possibly some other goodies, look for updates in the VMED section of the VirtueMart website. For comments or suggestions log in to the forum at Authenticated Merch. Responsive customer service is also available on the forum or by contact form on the website if you have not already purchased from the site.
Inventory listings with barcodes in the admin product listing make physical inventory inspection updates a breeze!
Barcodes are delivered securely via SSL to your new secure VirtueMart inventory system. 1yr free barcode server subscription per domain with each purchase. If you want to use the barcode server from five domains, see the instructions available at VirtueMart as of the time of the writing of this article.


text:
Farm Insurance
Property owners who reside on a farm premises can obtain a Farmowner Policy which will insure their home, personal property, additional living expenses, farm buildings, farm personal property and farm liability coverage. Various types of coverage are available. A tenant who resides in the home and operates the farm can obtain a policy insuring their personal property and additional living expenses as well as farm personal property and farm liability. Optional Inland Marine coverage such as farm animals and machinery can be added to this policy.


text:
Get ready for an exciting event. Join us for a fun and educational seminar dealing with healthy relationships. You will be inspired as you interact with other couples and singles participating in a relationship feud game and solving a highly charged mystery. You will enough a tasty lunch while solving this cliff hanger. Mark your calendar for February 23, 2013. Place to be announced soon.
For information call Minerva at 252 258-3522 or leave a note at the website.


text:
"Where words fail, music speaks"
Jahwilz Productions formerly, Ajamu Records was born from the concept that Western Jamaican Artistes (whether in the UK, US or Jamaica) do not get the credit and exposure they deserve. The company was formed in August 2006 with a vision to seek out and find new ways of bringing these artistes and their music to the wider public.
Jahwilz Productions offers independent original artists the opportunity to record, release and promote with an established and experienced label; enabling them to compete in the digital market place on the same basis as 'signed acts'. The label shares costs and profit 50/50 and does not require exclusive rights to your material. Please note that Jahwilz Productions only works with Reggae (Dancehall and One Drop), Afro Beats, R'n'B and Hip Hop, we do not work with techno or heavy metal and thrash/speed metal etc. acts.
Jahwilz Productions arranges recording, overdubbing and mastering sessions, creates a range of bespoke promotional material such as photo, video and on-line bios, reviews etc. We work with some of the best and most cost effective UK pressing and PR companies to manufacture and promote its products and artists. Do not send in your material without contacting the label first and then only send original work.


text:
Just two days before Thanksgiving, a terrible tragedy befell the family of Sarah and Julie Slater, creators of Denver's essential Titwrench festival and two of this town's biggest proponents of our precious, ever-blooming DIY scene. The home of their parents underwent a devastating house fire that has left the family -- although safe and healthy -- financially crippled with only a limited insurance policy to back them up, although no amount of money could recover something so priceless as the home you'd built a life in for thirty years.
But the Slaters persevere, and they could use your help. Titwrench MC Piper Rose will graciously donate her time and yoga expertise to hold a benefit class, cleverly called "Showga" (show + yoga - get it?) for stretcher-posers of any skill level at the Mercury Cafe this Saturday, Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m. The class will feature some soothing, meditative sounds from Astral Glamour, a band comprising of Pee-Pee's Doo Crowder and Esther Hernandez. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Slater family and donations of any size are welcome.
We Believe Local Journalism is Critical to the Life of a City
Engaging with our readers is essential to Westword's mission. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling Denver's stories with no paywalls.


text:
The Art Law Blog
Saturday, December 24, 2011
"A moral tragedy? Good lord."
More responses to Jeffrey Goldberg's
against Crystal Bridges.
Clive Crook
says the two columns are "terrible," "among the angriest attacks on [Wal-Mart] I can recall reading, which is saying something. Coming from a writer I think of as a fount of common sense they shocked me." And
Michael Kinsley
concludes: "Walton could have put her museum in New York, where this sort of thing belongs. Most of us don't get to Bentonville as often as we'd like. Or she could have decided not to build it at all, for fear that journalists would start comparing her to Marie Antoinette. Would that have been better?"
Posted by
Donn Zaretsky
Newer Post
Older Post


text:
'WHAT'S it like to lose a game?" sang the Swindon supporters.
They meant it as a taunt, but it was also a back-handed compliment.
This certainly wasn't the Town who have gone unbeaten in 42 League I matches.
Sure, manager Lee Clark made seven changes to the side which had started the home draw with Walsall seven says previously.
But the men who came in – Nick Colgan, Gary Naysmith, Jamie McCombe, Antony Kay, Donal McDermott, Anton Robinson and Alan Lee – certainly weren't rookies, and the starting XI was certainly strong enough to have pushed Paolo Di Canio's side harder.
It started well enough, with Town withstanding Swindon's early pressure before going in front in the 22nd minute courtesy of Lee Novak's slick finish.
The Geordie ace made space and drilled home his 11th goal of the season with a precise low shot to end a move which had begun with interplay between centre-backs Kay and McCombe and continued with Calum Woods finding Lee, who lofted the ball forward to the edge of the area.
But two goals in five minutes from impressive centre-back Aden Flint and Italian striker Raffaele De Vita gave the hosts the half-time advantage.
And after pushing for a leveller, Town were caught on the counter-attack in the 76th minute, when Algerian frontman Mehdi Kerrouche, freshly introduced from the bench, finished off a fluent three-man move.
Simon Ferry's 88th-minute strike rubbed salt in the wounds and highlighted Town's defensive deficiencies as they suffered another 90 minutes of woe in Wiltshire (it was their third straight defeat at this venue).
The former Celtic man was given too much time and room to thump the ball home after his initial strike was well parried by Colgan, who could do little about any of the goals as he made only his third Town appearance.
Town also appeared slow to react when De Vita put Swindon in front in the 39th minute, with Ferry able to get to the byline and pull the ball back for a rising shot into the roof of the net.
The equaliser had arrived after Town conceded one of 18 free-kicks, a figure which troubled boss Clark.
Gary Roberts was cautioned for his foul on Paul Caddis on the Swindon right, and when Matt Ritchie's delivery was flicked on, former Alfreton defender Flint arrived at the far post to power home a header.
The leveller put a real spring into Swindon's step.
But as they celebrated De Vita's strike, the home fans could have been quickly silenced when Lee flicked on Colgan's booming kick to Novak, who lashed in a volley which Wes Foderingham, the keeper on loan from Crystal Palace, did well to tip over.
Kay headed over from the resultant corner taken by Roberts, and Town continued to press after the break, when Scott Arfield added zip to the attack after coming on in place of McDermott.
It was the former Falkirk man who picked up possession after a great tackle by Robinson on Ritchie and played in Lee, who advanced into the area and drilled in a strong shot which Foderingham pushed wide.
Town, with former Swindon man Danny Ward given a rousing ovation by the home fans on his introduction for Roberts, were bossing possession, but were caught when Ferry darted through the middle and slipped the ball out to French substitute Etienne Esajas, whose cross was turned in by Swindon top scorer Kerrouche for his eighth goal of the season.
Arfield whistled a shot over in the 80th minute before the tie was put beyond reach when Ferry fired in at the second attempt to seal Swindon's place in the second round.
Have your say in our weekly Huddersfield Town webchat today. It takes place between 12.30pm and 1.30pm and you can interact with other Town fans from across the globe - and Huddersfield - on all things blue and white. Click here to be taken to the webchat page.


text:
I was born and raised in Greenville, Indiana with my parents Ron and Dolly and my brother Tony. I attended Greenville Elementary and graduated from Floyd Central High School in 1992. I attended Indiana University Southeast and University of Louisville School of Dentistry where I graduated with a Doctorate in Dental Medicine.
My wife Krista is a school teacher at Highland Hills Middle School where she teaches sixth grade math and science. My daughter Katelynn is a student at Floyd Central and my son Garron is a student at Highland Hills. Our free time is usually spent at a local ball park, wrestling event, or the lake.
I am actively involved in my community. I have been asked to speak at many support groups and schools throughout the area and would love the opportunity to be involved with your organization.
My practice is focused on bringing high quality dentistry to the entire family while controlling costs and working with you to ensure that together we stay within budget for your care. I understand how expensive dentistry can be and I will work hard to provide treatment options to you without sacrificing the quality you should expect. I have been involved in the dental industry for over18 years including eight years of product knowledge and training through dental sales. With an insight into the various products available for patients I can bring you current proven treatment.
I am devoted to you and your family and I welcome the opportunity to discuss your family dental care.
Site Developed by ProSites.com


text:
Pumps are an essential part of any hot tub, pumps power the jets by pulling the water through to mix it with air then push through the jets. Most hot tubs will have a combination of pumps, one which powers the jets and another which circulates the water through a filtration system and heats the water up, larger hot tubs may have additional jet pumps to power more jets.
When choosing a hot tub, the pumps play a pivotal role in providing the perfect hot tub experience and we would suggest looking at the following:
When it comes to pumps, power is measured in horsepower, horsepower controls the pressure of the water coming out of the jets and the more jets you have the more horsepower is required to power them all. In a hot tub with more than one jet pump, a diverter allows you to control the jet power to particular seats for an improved experience.
Remember it's not just horsepower than makes a difference to the experience, jet configuration and placement are also important factors to consider.
Traditionally hot tub pumps are either a one or two speed pump dependent on how many levels of jet power the spa has. For hot tubs which combines jet power and circulation through a single pump, a two speed pump allows you to set a low level speed to circulate the water through the filtration system when not in use.
The latest hot tub technology offers a variable speed pump, these allow you to control the speed of the pump and are generally quieter, produce less heat and vibration than their one or two speed counterparts.
Heating and pumps are the main sources of energy consumption in your hot tub and when it comes to pumps, a programmable circulation pumps filter the water efficiently and some help to reduce energy consumption by transferring heat from the motor to heat the water. As for jet pumps a variable speed pump offers the most energy efficiency as they can be set to any speed where as a one or two speed pump can only offer one or two set speeds.
Language: English
© 2020 Jacuzzi Europe Spa.


text:
Security Executive Council Adds New Leadership Resources
June 12, 2009, Washington, DC—Continuing to deliver on its mission to help security practitioners lower the cost of their programs, make program development more efficient and establish security as a recognized value center, the Security Executive Council has added three books to its Leadership Store.
All three books have undergone an SEC vetting process that is designed to verify high quality and proven value. Ralph Welborn and Vince Kasten, co-authors of two of the books, are new subject matter experts who have developed a relationship with the SEC. These recognized business experts can help security and risk practitioners view their organizations from a business perspective.
CISO Softskills: Securing Organizations Impaired by Employee Politics, Apathy, and Intolerant Perspectives , by Ron Collette, Michael Gentile, and Skye Gentile presents tools that empower security practitioners to identify the intangible negative influencers of security that plague most organizations—such as employee apathy, employee myopia (tunnel vision), and office politics—and provides techniques to identify, minimize, and overcome these pitfalls.
The Jericho Principle: How Companies Use Strategic Collaboration to Find New Sources of Value, by Ralph Welborn and Vince Kasten, likens your company to the Biblical walls of Jericho, which fell at the blast of Joshua's trumpet. In this metaphor, the trumpet is competitive uncertainty that stifles innovation. By aligning your activities and processes with those of other organizations, you can create shared value and manage shared risk. This book provides models, maps, and tools for using collaboration to help managers, executives, and consultants understand the patterns, explore the options, and exploit the opportunities for effective collaboration.
In Get It Done: A Blueprint for Business Execution, Welborn and Kasten identify effective ways to improve business execution. In far too many organizations, disconnects exist between what executives want to do and what really gets done—leading to personal and professional frustration, finger pointing, higher costs, and lost time. Knowing the underlying causes of these disconnects is the first critical step to overcoming them, and it is this key insight that Welborn and Kasten use to identify and then manipulate the "DNA of business execution" to bridge the gaps between what executives demand and what really happens.
All three books are available at a discount to Council participants and strategic alliance partners.
About the Security Executive Council


text:
Save £200 on 2021 departures
Explore Morocco's imperial cities and diverse landscapes from the Atlantic coast to the Sahara desert on this small-group tour (max 18).
Save £100 on 2021 departures
Explore Sri Lanka's cultural, archaeological and natural treasures on this small-group tour (max 18).
Choose a month to travel and discover the best places to visit at that time of year...
Compass is an online travel magazine, designed to inspire and inform...
Discover some of the unique benefits of choosing to travel with Cox & Kings...
Maldives holidays
Select an image to see larger
Accommodation rating: Superior
Please call 020 7873 5000 for more information or to make a booking.
Alternatively, discover other hotels and what to do in Luxury resorts in the Maldives
ExceptionalTruly exclusive and exceptionally luxurious.
LuxuryVery high class accommodation with superb facilities and service.
Superior High standard accommodation, service and facilities.
Good StandardGood standard accommodation, service and facilities.
SimpleClean and comfortable with en suite bathrooms but limited facilities.
BasicVery modest with shared bathrooms and minimal facilities
The Anantara Dhigu is a stylish resort set within a breathtaking tropical lagoon. It...
The serene Anantara Veli adults-only resort is set among a tropical island replete with...
The luxurious Atmosphere Kanifushi is located on the beautiful and sparsely populated...


text:
…at the Centre for Marine Socio-ecology (CMS).
The CMS has identified 5 key Post-doctoral research areas and 9 PhD research areas that are to be pursued in 2015 for 3 years.
Post-doctoral scholarships are currently available for 3 positions and PhD scholarships are currently available for 4 positions.
The CMS is built around multi-disciplinary expertise in the natural and physical sciences, social sciences, economics and law. Each of the projects has an identified supervisor team and successful candidates will be expected to integrate across disciplines as well as within the primary discipline. Successful applicants will be expected to become part of the broader CMS group and be prepared to work and be challenged beyond their disciplinary comfort zones.
Potential candidates are advised to contact the primary supervisor identified in each research area to discuss the project and its expectations in more Detail.
The CMS vision is to be a world leading institute in the provision of research to underpin the multiple use management of the marine Domain.
Please find more Information on: http://marinesocioecology.org/opportunities-2/


text:
The Time and Place of European Admixture in the Ashkenazi Jewish History:
The Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population is important in medical genetics due to its high rate of Mendelian disorders and other unique genetic characteristics. Ashkenazi Jews have appeared in Europe in the 10th century, and their ancestry is thought to involve an admixture of European (EU) and Middle-Eastern (ME) groups. However, both the time and place of admixture in Europe are obscure and subject to intense debate. Here, we attempt to characterize the Ashkenazi admixture history using a large Ashkenazi sample and careful application of new and existing methods. Our main approach is based on local ancestry inference, assigning each Ashkenazi genomic segment as EU or ME, and comparing allele frequencies across EU segments to those of different EU populations. The contribution of each EU source was also evaluated using GLOBETROTTER and analysis of IBD sharing. The time of admixture was inferred using multiple tools, relying on statistics such as the distributions of segment lengths and the total EU ancestry per chromosome and the correlation of ancestries along the chromosome. Our simulations demonstrated that distinguishing EU vs ME ancestry is subject to considerable noise at the single segment level, but nevertheless, conclusions could be drawn based on chromosome-wide statistics. The predominant source of EU ancestry in AJ was found to be Southern European (≈60-80%), with the rest being likely Eastern European. The inferred admixture time was ≈35 generations ago, but multiple lines of evidence suggests that it represents an average over two or more admixture events, pre- and post-dating the founder event experienced by AJ in late medieval times. The time of the pre-bottleneck admixture event was bounded to 25-55 generations ago.
I think this preprint is coming close to the answer. Why does a small ethno-religious minority in Europe matter? Well, that's a matter of historical contingency.
In any case, there were some good papers on Ashkenazi Jewish genetics which came out in the spring of 2010. They really moved the ball forward from the uniparental work. But they suffered from two major problems. First, the putative "parent" populations of Ashkenazi Jews are not that genetically distinct. Second, the hypothesized parental populations were often implausible; e.g., Northern Europeans and modern Levantines.
The likely parental populations of Ashkenazi Jews are Roman period peoples of the eastern Mediterranean, particularly the swath of territory from Alexandria up to Anatolia, and, the peoples of the western Mediterranean. That is, Levantines and Iberians & Italians. These two groups are distinct, but they're not that distinct.
Additionally, the more and more we learn about the Middle East, the more likely it seems that Muslim populations, who are often modeled as a parental group, are highly cosmopolitan compared to ancient groups. Recall that Neolithic farmers from the Levant resemble Sardinians more than they do locals, because of later migration from further east in Eurasia, as well as later African gene flow. Using imperfect reference populations will probably skew the results appropriately.
The major change in the past few years is the usage of more genetic information than common genotypes. This paper for example looks at haplotype information. Sequences of variants across the genome. This preserves more recent genetic variation. In other cases you can look at whole genome sequences, and focus on low frequency variants which are extremely informative of recent population differentiation.
Ultimately the only reason I'd suggest that this paper is lacking is the imperfection of Middle Eastern source populations. That's probably increasing the European and decreasing the Middle Eastern fraction somewhat on the margins. The contemporary populations of the Near East have changed a fair amount over the past 2,000 years, though there is still some continuity.


text:
Louisville shocks No. 1 Syracuse in Hall finale
Louisville gave Freedom Hall a memorable send-off.
Kyle Kuric scored all of his career-high 22 points in the second half and the Cardinals upset No. 1 Syracuse 78-68 on Saturday, providing one last highlight at their 54-year-old home.
Louisville (20-11, 11-7 Big East) may also have assured itself a return trip to the NCAA tournament by sweeping the season series from the Orange (28-3, 15-3). Their only other loss all season came against Pittsburgh, and Saturday was their first road loss.
Although Syracuse led by eight points late in the first half, Kuric was a one-man wrecking crew in the second. He made 9 of 11 shots - including four 3-pointers - to make for a happy ending at Freedom Hall, before Louisville moves to a new downtown arena in the fall.
Trailing 42-39 early in the second half, the Cardinals found their inside game with three straight baskets in the paint that gave them the lead for good. Kuric had two of them, a fastbreak dunk and layup.
In a span of just over five minutes, Kuric also had all four of his 3-pointers. After his second one, Syracuse's Scoop Jardine immediately answered with a 3, so Kuric simply answered right back with another one. Jardine finished with 20 points.
With under four minutes left, it was Kuric's dunk that pushed the Louisville lead to 10, and he got another one on a break that buried the Orange with under two minutes left.
It was a completely different game in the first half, when Syracuse dominated the paint, getting 26 points there compared to 12 for the Cardinals.
Syracuse took an early 21-20 lead with more than six minutes to go in the first half on a dunk by Rick Jackson, then stretched it to a game-high eight points a couple minutes later after a 3-pointer and fastbreak layup by Jardine.
Edgar Sosa nailed a 3 seconds before halftime to make it 35-30 at the break.
Although the Cardinals connected on 46 percent of their shots and the Orange 44 percent by the end, the two were cold from the gate, combining for 11 shots but no points over the opening three minutes. Jerry Smith finally hit consecutive 3s for the Cardinals, and later turned in one of the more dazzling plays of the game, grabbing a steal out of midair and cruising the other way to finish with a one-handed dunk.
Smith was sidelined the second half after injuring a finger on his right hand.
This one had all the pageantry of the final Louisville game in one of college basketball's most storied venues. The stands were filled long before tipoff, and fans waved towels with glowing red flashlights during player introductions.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino, sporting a bright red suit coat to match the attire of most fans in attendance, introduced the team's seniors before the game and expressed some sentimental thoughts about Freedom Hall.
"This building will close, but what our legends have done for our university will never pass and close," he said.
Freedom Hall has hosted six national championship games, a handful of NCAA tournament regional finals and 683 Louisville victories.
Denny Crum, who led the Cardinals to national titles in 1980 and 1986 and whose name is adorned on the court, was introduced at halftime alongside players from those teams.
"I love them all," Crum said. "It's just really fun to be here, be around them."


text:
Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp is an exclusive and intimate lodge under canvas. The camp is secluded in its own private concession within the Victoria Falls National Park so as to allow for close-up wildlife encounters, yet still within easy reach of Victoria Falls and all of its attractions. Nine luxurious tented suites offer sumptuous bedrooms and private lounges furnished to the highest standard. All are gorge facing and have a private viewing deck with a plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers and a separate bath.
Facilities: 9 Rooms / pool / dining area / bar / 15 km from airport / tea and coffee making facilities
Good For: families / couples / groups / activities
Grading: $$$
A property that has been indicated with $$$ offers luxurious accommodation and facilities as well as a high standard of service.


text:
Cowboys and Indians
"I think that this could still fail." Those words—uttered by a senior American officer in Baghdad in May—probably gave opponents of the war in Iraq, particularly those clamoring for a hasty exit, a bit of a kick. They should be careful what they wish for.
For history strongly suggests that a hasty American withdrawal from Iraq would be a disaster. "If we let go of the insurgency," said another of the officers quoted anonymously last spring, "then this country could fail and go back into civil war and chaos."
As many of the war's opponents seem to have forgotten, civil war and chaos tend to break out when American military interventions have been aborted. Think not only of Vietnam and Cambodia but also of Lebanon in 1983 and Haiti in 1996. To talk glibly of "finding a way out of Iraq," as if it were just a matter of hailing a cab and heading for the Baghdad airport, is to underestimate the danger of a bloody, internecine conflict among Kurds, Sunni Arabs, and Shiites.
Instead of throwing up our hands in an irresponsible fit of despair, we need to learn not just from past disasters but also from historical victories over insurgencies. Indeed, of all the attempts in the past century by irregular indigenous forces to expel regular foreign forces, around a third have failed.
In 1917 British forces invaded Mesopotamia, got to Baghdad, overthrew its Ottoman rulers, and sought—in the words of the general who led them, Sir Stanley Maude—to be its people's "liberators." The British presence in Iraq was legitimized by international law (it was designated a League of Nations mandate) and by a modicum of democracy (a referendum was held among local sheiks to confirm the creation of a British-style constitutional monarchy). Despite all this, in 1920 there was a full-scale insurgency against the continuing British military presence.
Some may object that warfare today is a very different matter from warfare 85 years ago. Yet the striking thing about the events of 1920 is how very like the events of our own time they were. The reality of what is sometimes called "asymmetric warfare" is how very symmetrical it really is: An insurgency is about leveling the military playing field and exploiting the advantages of local knowledge to stage hit-and-run attacks against the occupiers, as well as anybody thought to be collaborating with them. Indeed, if there is asymmetry it lies in the advantages enjoyed by the insurgents. The cost of training and equipping an American soldier is high; by contrast, life is tragically cheap among the young men of Baghdad and Falluja. Even if the insurgents lose 10 men for every 1 they kill, they may still be winning.
How, then, did the British crush the insurgency of 1920? Three lessons stand out.
The first is that, unlike the American enterprise in Iraq today, they had enough men. In 1920, total British forces in Iraq numbered around 120,000, of whom around 34,000 were trained for actual fighting. During the insurgency, a further 15,000 men arrived as reinforcements.
Coincidentally, that is very close to the number of American military personnel now in Iraq (around 138,000 at the time of writing). The trouble is that the population of Iraq was just over 3 million in 1920, whereas today it is around 24 million. Thus, back then the ratio of Iraqis to foreign forces was, at most, 23 to 1. Today it is around 174 to 1. To arrive at a ratio of 23 to 1 today, about one million American troops would be needed.
The United States also faces two other problems that the United Kingdom did not have to worry about 85 years ago. The British were able to be ruthless: They used air raids and punitive expeditions to inflict harsh collective punishments on villages that supported the insurgents. The United States has not been above brutal methods on occasion in Iraq, yet humiliation and torture of prisoners have not yielded any significant benefits compared with what they have cost the country's reputation.
Today's other problem has to do with timing and expectations. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has said that American forces should aim to work to a "10-30-30" timetable: 10 days should suffice to topple a rogue regime, 30 days to establish order in its wake, and 30 more days to prepare for the next military undertaking. I am all in favor of a 10-30-30 timetable—provided the measurement is years, not days. For it may well take around 10 years to establish order in Iraq, 30 more to establish the rule of law, and quite possibly another 30 to create a stable democracy.
Those American officers who say that it could take years to succeed in Iraq are therefore right. But the Bush administration has just three years left. Is it credible that American troops will still be in Iraq for even another four years after that?
The insurgents don't think so. They know that American democracy puts time on their side. Once again, the contrast with the British experience is instructive. Although Iraq was formally granted its independence in 1932, there was still some form of British presence in the country until the late 1950s.
So, if we acknowledge that the United States simply does not have the luxury of time that the British enjoyed and cannot be similarly ruthless, can it at least increase the manpower at its disposal in Iraq?
The official answer from Washington is that Iraqi security forces will soon be ready to play an effective role in policing. Few who have seen those forces on the ground find this strategy realistic. Some fear that the training that Iraqi soldiers are receiving may prove useful only when they fight one another in an Iraqi civil war.
What, then, of America's own resources? Almost no one (least of all the Pentagon) wants to go back to the draft. So could today's all-volunteer force somehow be expanded to double (at least) the troops available? That too seems unlikely. Indeed, the current system is already showing alarming signs of stress and strain as more and more is asked of the "weekend warriors" of the reserves and National Guard, who together account for roughly two-fifths of the force in Iraq. In December last year, the Army National Guard acknowledged that it had fallen 30 percent below its recruiting goals in the preceding two months. Many members of the Individual Ready Reserve have been contesting the Army's right to call them up.
How did the British address the manpower problem in 1920? The answer is by bringing in soldiers from India, who accounted for more than 87 percent of troops in the counterinsurgency campaign. Perhaps, then, the greatest problem faced by the Anglophone empire of our own time is very simple: The United Kingdom had the Indian Army; the United States does not. Indeed, by a rich irony, the only significant auxiliary forces available to the Pentagon today are none other than . . . the British Army. But those troops are far too few to be analogous to the Sikhs, Mahrattas, and Baluchis who fought so effectively in 1920.
No one should wish for an overhasty American withdrawal from Iraq. It would be the prelude to a bloodbath of ethnic cleansing and sectarian violence, with inevitable spillovers into and interventions from neighboring countries. Rather, it is time to acknowledge just how thinly stretched American forces in Iraq are and to address the problem: whether by finding new allies (send Condoleezza Rice to New Delhi?); radically expanding the accelerated citizenship program for immigrants who join the army; or lowering the (historically high) educational requirements demanded by military recruiters.
Yes, as that anonymous officer said, the Bush administration's policy in Iraq could indeed still fail. But too few American liberals seem to grasp how high the price will be if it does. That is a point, unfortunately, that also eludes most of this country's allies. Does it also elude the secretary of defense? If "10-30-30" are the numbers that concern him, I begin to fear that it does. The numbers that matter right now are 174 to 1. That is not only the ratio of Iraqis to American troops. It is starting to look alarmingly like the odds against American success.


text:
Fifth Harmony's Ally Brooke Preps 'Perfect' Single
January 23, 2018
By Scott T. Sterling Ally Brooke has a new single coming soon. Related: Fifth Harmony's Ally Brooke Covers Tears For Fears' 'Mad World' The Fifth Harmony singer has revealed that she has a new track, "Perfect," and it's due to debut this Friday (Jan. 26). The track features German DJ, Topic. I am ecstatic to share with my friends that Topic a & I have a song coming out FRIDAY!!!!," Brooke shared on Twitter. "This one is very special to me." "Perfect" will be Brooke's second project outside of Fifth Harmony. Last year, the singer featured on Lost Kings track, "Look at Us Now" with A$AP Ferg. See Ally's announcement below.
[tweet https://twitter.com/AllyBrooke/status/955502812141670400]


text: Godiva Chocolate Martini By Cheryl Cirelli Check out more popular cocktails... For the chocolate lover, there is no better cocktail than a Godiva Chocolate Martini. Whip one up today and enjoy the decadent experience! About Godiva Chocolate Any chocolate addict will agree that Godiva chocolate is among the best. This brand of chocolate is known for its high quality and exceptional taste. The chocolate has a special silkiness that makes it stand out from many other varieties, and it's a favorite among chocoholics. Related Articles Classic White Chocolate Martini Recipe and Variations Baileys Chocolate Martini Recipe 8 Great Chocolate Cocktails Godiva Liqueur As if making superior chocolate isn't enough, Godiva has created a line of chocolate liqueurs that are sure to please any chocolate lover. The five Godiva liqueur variations available are: Original (Dark Chocolate) Caramel Chocolate White Chocolate Mocha Liqueur Milk Chocolate Godiva Chocolate Martini Recipes There is no better way to use a Godiva liqueur than in a delicious chocolate martini. A Godiva Chocolate Martini has become a popular drink choice at clubs or restaurants, but this martini can made at home as well. This tasty martini has several variations. Check out the following recipes. The Original Godiva Martini Recipe This is the classic recipe for a chocolate martini. Ingredients 1 ounce Godiva Chocolate Liqueur 1 ounce of your favorite vodka Instructions Mix the liqueur and vodka together and pour into a martini glass to enjoy! This drink is best served chilled, so use a martini shaker filled with ice to mix your drink before pouring. Crème de Cacao Chocolate Martini Try this variation on the chocolate martini for something different from the classic recipe. Ingredients 1½ ounces Godiva Chocolate liquor 1½ ounces crème de cacao ½ ounce vodka 2½ ounces half and half Instructions To assemble this drink, first fill a cocktail shaker with ice to chill. Next, mix all ingredients together and strain through the shaker into a martini glass. Sip slowly and enjoy the decadence! Mint Chocolate Martini This minty twist is sure to be a hit! It is the perfect choice to serve during the holidays. Ingredients 1 ounce Godiva Liqueur ¾ ounce vodka ½ ounce crème de menthe Instructions Combine the liqueur, vodka and crème de menthe and chill over ice. Pour into a martini glass and let this refreshing mix make your evening. Special Touches Why not add a special touch to your Godiva Martini? There are several ideas to consider when making a chocolate martini. Pick one of the following to jazz up your drink: Add a rim of chocolate powder to the edge of your martini glass. Dip the glass into water then dip into the powder to form a rim of chocolate. A variation of this technique is to use crushed Oreo cookies for the rim. Strawberries make a nice garnish for a martini. Simply cut a slice in one strawberry and hang it from the side of the glass. Cherries can also be used and floated on top of the martini. Add a few shavings of Godiva chocolate to your martini for an extra decadent touch. Add a touch of whipped cream to the top of your martini to make it a decadent dessert as well as a cocktail. If you want your chocolate martini to taster sweeter, try using a vanilla flavored vodka. Enjoy Godiva Chocolate Liqueur in Sweet Martinis Why settle for an ordinary martini when you can indulge in a Godiva Chocolate Martini? This cocktail is rich, silky and will let you enjoy the taste of chocolate while enjoying a martini. What could be better than that?


text:
Art Reed, Chief of Police
401 Main St.
West Newbury, MA 01985
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Office: 978-971-8101
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
West Newbury Police Department Awarded Full State Re-Certification
WEST NEWBURY — Chief Art Reed is pleased to announce that the West Newbury Police Department earned its re-certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) today.
The department was recognized for its achievement during an awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 3 at the Connors Center in Dover.
Certification is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the highest standards of law enforcement, and is considered the best measure of a police department against the established best practices around the country and region. The certification process is long and vigorous. It involves both an internal self-review and an external assessment by the Commission's team of subject matter experts.
Under the leadership of Chief Reed, the West Newbury Police Department was evaluated earlier this year by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for accreditation.
To conduct the initial self-assessment and prepare for the on-site review of the 246 mandatory standards and 83 optional standards by the Commission, Chief Reed appointed Sgt. Daniel Cena to serve as the department's Accreditation Manager and Officer Jay Johnson to assist him.
This is the second time the West Newbury Police Department received its certification through MPAC. They first earned the accolade in 2013.
"I am proud of all the hard work and dedication that has gone into achieving re-certification," Chief Reed said. "I especially want to thank Sgt. Cena and Officer Johnson for the many extra hours they put into managing the certification process."
The MPAC program requires that departments meet all the mandatory standards and percentage of the optional requirements. These carefully selected measures include: Jurisdiction and Mutual Aid, Collection and Preservation of Evidence, Communications, Working Conditions, Crime Analysis, Community Involvement, Financial Management, Internal Affairs, Juvenile Operations, Patrol Administration, Public Information, Records, Traffic, Training, Drug Enforcement and Victim/Witness Assistance.
Certification has been granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.


text:
- Home
- About Us
- Member Center
- Events & CME
- PA Students
- Career Center
- News
|Awards and Recognition
Share |
Every year the SDAPA seeks to recognize those Physician Assistants and a physician who serve our communities with excellence. Individuals you know with outstanding clinical achievements, professional accomplishments, who participate in civic activities, research, community service and mentoring. We are currently seeking nominations for awards.
For nominations, please provide: 1. a short letter of support detailing the qualifications of the nominee, and 2. a CV/ resume of the nominee.
Deadline for nomination submissions for 2019 PA of the year Award is July 1st, 2020. Please email your nominations to the SDAPA executive secretary, Michelle Noble at email@example.com
Criteria for Distinguished Service Award
Criteria for Collaborating Physician Award
Nominations are rolling for the Collaborating Physician Award. This award may be presented at the March CME conference in Rapid City, SD, or at SeptemberCME conference in Sioux Falls, SD.
Criteria for PA of the year Award
Nominations are rolling for the PA of the year Award. This award may be presented at the Fall CME conference in Sioux Falls, SD.
1/17/2018PA Role in Opioid Treatment Programs
10/15/2017Optimal Team Practice
The upcoming calendar is currently empty.


text:
Jamie Day Fleck was born in Florida but moved to Toronto, Canada at an early age. Her early photographic interests were fostered by her step-father who acted as her mentor. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Parsons School of Design in New York City.
Her project, Night Portraits, focuses on the beauty and isolation of urban living. She has exhibited her Fine Art work in New York, Toronto and Miami. Portraiture was the basis for her photographic exploration as well as the subjects' relationship to their environment. Jamie Day Fleck continues to push the envelope of versatility in her craft while cultivating her unique style and vision.


text:
Hey there all you TAYers, Ani-TAYers, and everyone else who have stumbled across this post. Kotaku East's Richard Eisenbeis here. As the year comes to an end, it's time to vote on your favorite anime series of 2015.
Tomorrow, I will be posting Kotaku's picks for the top five anime of 2015, but before that I am anxious to see your picks.
For an anime to be included in the poll below, I have two rules.
1) The series must have finished its run in 2015. This means that still airing shows like Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans are not eligible, but 26-episode anime that started in fall 2014 are.
2) Movies, TV specials, and OVAs don't count.
It's also important to note that, unlike previous polls, you can only vote once on this one. With all that said, get to voting! And feel free to post why in the comments below.
*Note: If I missed adding a series to the poll you want to vote for that fits the above criteria, please drop me a line in the comments and I will add it.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.
To contact the author of this post, write to firstname.lastname@example.com or find him on Twitter @BiggestinJapan.


text:
Could freelancing be the future of work? It might well be.
Joining the "gig economy" is the in-thing in America at the moment.
It's become the new normal.
According to a recent study by Freelancing in America 2017, more than 57.3 million Americans are freelancing, many of them being freelance writers.
If the current growth rate continues, freelancers will make up the bulk of the US workforce by 2027.
More and more people are seeking greater flexibility and growth at work. And freelancing seems like the perfect fit.
If you're seriously considering being a freelance writer, allow me to give you the basics.
The term "freelance writer" has many permutations from what I've observed.
But to cut to the chase, a freelance writer is a writer who is contracted by an individual or a company to do a project-based work.
A project can take hours, days or even months to complete. But once it's over, a writer is free to work with another client. Therefore, a freelance writer is not committed to any particular client long-term.
That's what separates a freelance content writer, or any other freelancer, from the typical employee.
In other words, a freelance writer is, in a sense, self-employed.
A formal contract is usually signed, but this is not always the case.
Even so, I think it's always in the best interest of a freelancer to have a contract in place.
Aren't we all seeking more flexibility in the workplace? However, it is a luxury not afforded in traditional employment. You report to work Monday to Friday and work for a set number of hours, say 9-5.
However, things change when you become a freelance writer. You get to enjoy flexible working hours, location flexibility, and project flexibility.
As a freelancer, you set your schedule. You can weave your work around any prior commitments. Imagine slotting in your work between and around a morning visit to the doctor and afternoon trips to the bank and the grocery store and still beating a deadline.
You can also work at any time of the day or night. It doesn't matter whether you are a morning or a night person.
Better yet, you can take some time off for whatever reason.
Unlike in traditional employment, you are not stuck in a cubicle the whole day. You are free to work from anywhere you like. Again, it's all about meeting deadlines.
Need to visit your family in another city? No problem. You can travel and work from there.
Need to go on a holiday? No worries. You can travel and complete the work from any part of the world.
Bored from working at home and in need of inspiration? You can carry your laptop and go into a park, or even a cafe.
You can even move to a new state without any fear of losing your job.
As a freelancer, you are not caught up in the humdrum of daily routine that involves doing the same thing again and again. Each day is different.
You work on diverse projects. One day you could be writing about online marketing, and the next day you are writing about crypto-currencies.
Moreover, you are not stuck with one boss like in traditional employment. You could work with one client in one week and work with a different one the other week.
You also get to choose the projects you work on. For instance, if a regular client sends you a project you don't particularly like, you can turn it down politely and still keep that client.
Only someone who's had an experience with a bad boss can understand how frustrating and stressful life can be. It can take a toll on your career, personal life, and health.
A study by Woohoo inc. revealed that cases of bad days at work are increasingly becoming common among employees. About 2 out of every 3 employees have a bad day at work every week.
And guess what employees cited as the number one cause of unhappiness at work? Bad bosses!
There is also the case of office politics and annoying coworkers who can make life a living hell at work.
Imagine not having to deal with any of them.
As a freelancer, you work on your own terms. Although your clients are technically your bosses, there is no one to look over your shoulders, no one to micromanage you and no one to throw you under the bus in company meetings.
Moreover, you get to exercise greater control over your career because you are in a position to make executive decisions about your future. As an employee, you can't do that. Your control is limited to your job description.
That being said, I must warn you that being your own boss is not all rosy. It's a huge responsibility, and you have to be up for it.
If you're in traditional employment, your career progression path is pretty much set in stone. You compete for promotions with your colleagues, and there is a great deal of office politics to grapple with. Then, there's a limit to how far you can rise.
If you are ambitious, having to wait for years for a chance to climb up the ladder can be frustrating. Pay rises may also seem to take ages, and when they come, they may not be worth the wait.
It is, therefore, not uncommon to feel like your career has stagnated.
But when you become a freelance writer, your fate is in your hand. I think that's both a great and a scary thing.
It is a great thing because the career path harbors great potential. How far you can go is only limited by your willpower and proficiency. You can set what you want to earn and work towards that target.
It is scary because you have to prove yourself to your clients. And clients typically have high expectations. Therefore, you cannot ignore the need to continually hone your skills, market yourself, and continuously deliver high-quality work.
But when you become an expert, your income potential is immense.
You are more likely to find happiness as a freelancer than as a traditional worker. Surprised?
According to a poll conducted by ReportLinker, 97% of freelancers and contractors who responded said they were happy in their job.
However, only 48% of traditional workers who responded to a different survey by Personal Group considered themselves happy.
What could account for this disparity?
I reckon freedom, flexibility, and control are key ingredients of happiness. There is also a real sense of purpose working in doing what you love, and this brings about greater job satisfaction.
However, you cannot pin happiness to one, two or three things for workers in traditional employment. Happiness at work depends on much more than a good pay and benefits.
Employees also seek a good working relationship with colleagues and superiors. They also seek job security, learning and career development, appreciation at work, a financially stable company, a suitable physical working environment and of course purpose.
If one of these factors is missing, an employee's happiness levels can be negatively impacted.
Moreover, a typical employee only gets a bonus, a pay rise and maybe a pat on the back when they do well at work. However, when you become a freelance writer, you reap all the benefits of a job well done.
The modern world is fast-paced. It's becoming increasingly difficult for workers to achieve work-life balance.
People are spending more hours at work than before, and when they get a chance to spend some time with family or exercise, they are replying to emails and taking work calls.
Lest you've forgotten, a good work-life balance prevents burnouts and stress and promotes productivity, health and overall well-being.
I'm not saying that there is no real danger of burnouts for freelancers because there is. Gigs can sometimes pile up, and as a freelancer, you may be forced to work extra hours to meet deadlines.
However, freelancing still gives you the best shot at achieving the much-needed balance between work and other things that may be a priority for you.
For instance, a writer working from home has no problem finding time to spend with family. That may not be the case for a traditional worker who leaves early for work to beat traffic and returns home late at night.
Furthermore, a freelancer can take a break to recuperate after days of intense work. This may not be possible for a traditional worker who has already taken an annual leave and has no one to shoulder their workload at work.
Freelance writers will always be in demand. I frankly do not foresee a time when the services of writers will no longer be required.
More and more people are creating blogs. And more and more businesses are going online. All need quality and regular content to stand out, rank higher in search engines and attract web traffic.
And the higher the number of blogs and websites, the higher the demand for freelance writers becomes.
Even if there were no blogs and websites, writers would still have magazines and newspapers.
However, I'm not implying that things are easy when you become a freelance writer. If you want to attract and keep clients to ensure a steady stream of writing gigs, you have to first market your skills in the best way you can and deliver unique and high-quality articles when you get clients.
All you need to become a freelance writer is a computer and an internet connection. What else comes that easy?
If you are to start any other kind of business, you almost always need capital. However, you can become a freelance writer as soon as today.
Right at this very moment, you can visit an online job board and pitch for a writing gig.
Although there are a few job boards that you may have to part with a little fee to access, most of them are free.
If you love learning about new things, freelance writing is an opportunity to work and learn.
As I mentioned earlier, freelancers work on diverse projects. Many still have chosen to go niche, which is an excellent idea since you can never really be great at everything.
Nevertheless, as a freelance writer, each project you do is an opportunity to learn something new or understand something at a much deeper level than before.
Routine kills creativity. That has repeatedly been proven. A regular 9-5 job creates a series of habits which ultimately consolidate into a daily routine.
If creativity is crucial to your happiness, freelance writing can be a great outlet to harness your creative potential.
When you become a freelance writer, you get to cover a wide range of projects which feeds your imagination. You also brainstorm ideas. In a way, brainstorming unlocks your mind allowing it to wander far and wide.
In the end, you earn a living through your creativity.
I could go on and on; however, I thought these 9 points would suffice to explain why being a freelance writer can be a great career choice for you.
As a freelance writer myself, I've had the pleasure of enjoying all these benefits and I can assure you that it's something to look forward to.
Enjoying greater flexibility, attaining a good work-life balance and the prospects of pursuing an open-ended career have particularly stood out for me.
Hi, I'm Mercy Mmbone. My mission is to help beginner freelance writers find success online. Even if you don't have a degree, becoming a successful freelance writer is not as difficult as you'd think. The most important thing you'll need to get started is self-motivation.
I'm honored to have worked with many popular companies including Ring Central and Freelancer FAQs.
Quite a good advice, need to start writing.


text:
Hi, I'm Meg! Welcome to my blog!
I like thinking about science, writing code, and being outdoors. I'm a (bio)chemist by education, and a software engineer by trade. I like to travel, and should probably exercise more. Surfing is one of my favorite things to do, but I don't like big waves (yet).
My Ph.D. work was in glycobiology. You can read the specifics here.
I spent 6 months as an Assistant Professor at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh. My students and colleagues there were incredible. I can also say that I have experienced two Neglected Tropical Diseases first-hand.
In the past my code was mostly PHP/ MySQL/ JavaScript, but now I get paid to play around with Scala. Pretty cool stuff 🙂 You can check out my resume here. I'm currently plying my programming trade at Bigcommerce.
My github: https://github.com/megdesko (It's mostly "Learn Python the Hard Way" and other coding exercises and stuff that's hidden because it's for work).
I'm passionate about bringing more diversity to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields and about empowering women more generally.
I've been a TechWomen mentor for 4 years now; it's amazing, one of the highlights of every year.
I added some Amazon affiliate links just to see what happens. Not much so far 🙂


text:
It has been quite a while since I signed up for this blog site and high time that something was posted. I have a list of topics that I will be working through and posting. Some I am sure will have been posted by others, but I will be sticking to the technical problems and challenges that I've recently faced, and the solutions that worked for me. My motto when learning something new has always been "My kingdom for an example!", and I plan on delivering useful examples here so others can learn from my efforts, failures and successes.
A bit of background about me… My name is Clayton Groom. I am a founding Partner of the consulting firm, Covenant Technology Partners, LLC, located in St. Louis, Missouri. I focus on SQL Server Data Warehouse design, Analysis Services and Enterprise Reporting solutions. I have been working with SQL Server since the early nineties, when it still only ran on OS/2. I love solving puzzles and technical challenges.
Enough about me… On to a real problem…
SSIS Connection Time outs versus Command Time outs
Last week, I was working on automating the processing for a large Analysis Services cube. I had reworked an SSIS package and script task originally posted by Vidas Matelis that automates the process of adding new and dropping old partitions to/from an Analysis Services cube. I had the package working great, tested, and ready for deployment. It basically performs a query against the source system to determine if there is new data in the warehouse that will require a new partition to be added to the cube, and it checks the cube to see if there are any partitions that are present that are no longer needed in a rolling 60 month window.
My client uses Tivoli for running all their production jobs, and not SQL Agent, so I had to build a command line file for Tivoli to use to run the package.
Everything was going great. I had tested the command file from my development workstation using an XML configuration file to pass in server-specific parameters into the package when executed using the DTExec utility. With all the pieces ready, I updated the dtsconfig file to point to the UAT environment and started working with the Tivoli developer to test the job. On the first run, the job failed, and from what I could see in the SSIS log, it had failed because of a timeout. Other errors in the log made me think that perhaps the connection string had not been passed into the package correctly.
We bumped the Connection Manager timeout values from 20 seconds to 120 seconds and tried again. The job still failed.
After changing the command line to use the /SET option instead of the /CONFIGFILE option, we tested again, and again failure.
After a number more failed attempts, and getting the Teradata DBA involved to monitor and see if we were connecting and failing or just failing to connect, we determined that the job was indeed connecting to the server and then disconnecting itself after 30 seconds. This seemed odd, as we had the timeout values for the connection manager set to 180 seconds by then. At this point one of the DBA's found a post on the Teradata forum that had the clues to the puzzle:
There is a separate "CommandTimeout" custom property on the Data source object that may needed to be adjusted for longer running queries. I opened up the SSIS package, opened the data flow task that generated the partition list table and right-clicked on the data source.
from the context menu, I selected "Show Advanced Editor" and found the property. Sure enough, it was set to 30 seconds.
The CommandTimeout property can also be edited in the SSIS Properties sheet.
In order to determine how long the timeout needed to be, I ran the query from the task in the development environment and received a response in a matter of seconds. I then tried the same query against the production database and waited several minutes for a response. This did not seem to be a reasonable response time for the query involved, and indeed it wasn't. The Teradata DBA's adjusted the query governor settings for the service account I was testing with, and we were able to get the response back down under a minute. Still, I set the CommandTimeout property to a much higher value in case the job was ever started during a time of high-demand on the production server.
With this change in place, the job finally completed successfully. The lesson learned for me was two-fold:
Both lessons seem pretty straight forward, and I felt pretty sheepish once I finally figured out what the issue was. To be fair though, In the 5+ years that I have been working with SSIS, I could only recall one other time where I had to set the CommandTimeout property, and that memory only resurfaced while I was penning this post.
Failed to execute IS server package because of error 0x80131904. Server: ., Package path: \My Folder\My Package.dtsx, Environment reference Id: NULL.Description: Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.Source: .Net SqlClient Data ProviderStarted: 1:57:04 PMFinished: 1:57:35 PMElapsed: 30.311 seconds


text:
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah called on Britain to apologize for the Balfour declaration that has aided the establishment of Israel on the lands of Palestine, instead of celebrating it….reports Asian Lite News
Hamdallah said that Britain "should undertake its responsibility and apologize for the historic injustice that it has caused for the Palestinian people and rectify it instead of celebrating it," Xinhua reported.
He described Britain's centennial celebration of the declaration as a "defiance of international public supporters of the Palestinian cause and supporters of justice, freedom and human rights".
November 2 marks 100 years since the Balfour declaration, which is the name given to the letter dated in 1917 from Britain's Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, who was then a leader of the British Jewish community, announcing British support for the Jewish people to build their state on the lands of Palestine.
Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, announced last Wednesday that her country "will certainly mark the centenary with pride."
"We must also be conscious of the sensitivities that some people do have about the Balfour declaration and we recognize that there is more to be done. We remain committed to the two-state solution in relation to Israel and the Palestinians," she added.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded during his UN General Assembly speech last September that Britain apologize for the Balfour declaration and compensate Palestinians for the occupation of their lands after that letter paved the way for it.


text:
Lehigh's Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences (IDEAS) provides students with a unique opportunity to combine the breadth and depth of two programs of study in a four-year college experience. Graduates of the program go on to work in a variety of fields and industries, tailored to their specific interests and strengths.
Why IDEAS?
Because you want to study diverse but complementary fields, such as bioengineering and religion, computer science and graphic design, industrial engineering and international relations, bioengineering and molecular biology, and music and computer science
Because you're interested in the intersection of ideas across traditional college boundaries
Because you don't want to choose a specific major but rather want the autonomy to build your own program based on your strengths and interests
What sets us apart
Jointly administered by the College of Arts and Sciences and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, IDEAS is a four-year honors program that allows students to earn a bachelor's degree with concentrations in both colleges. In close collaboration with IDEAS advisors and faculty directors, students admitted to this highly selective honors program develop an individualized academic plan tailored to their interests.
IDEAS allows students to study diverse interests such as bioengineering and religion, computer science and graphic design, industrial engineering and international relations, bioengineering and molecular biology, and music and computer science. Key features of the program include:
Rigorous honors program: Each year, IDEAS accepts 30-40 highly qualified first-year student candidates who have indicated an interest in the program. Students must maintain a 3.25 grade point average to continue.
Team-based and individual projects: Each student builds toward a capstone research project and thesis in their senior year, developed through a combination of team-based and individualized instruction.
Communication as key to bridging disciplines: IDEAS courses are writing-intensive and presentation-oriented. Participation in the program substitutes for some first-year courses in both colleges.
IDEAS graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree, conferred by both colleges. Students interested in pursuing a professionally accredited degree in their selected engineering disciplines may choose to do so in an optional fifth year of study. Some programs of study in the College of Arts and Sciences, mainly in the sciences, may also require further study to complete certification.


text:
Pau and Marc Gasol's younger brother will walk-on at UCLA
The younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol and Memphis Grizzlies forward Marc Gasol will enroll at UCLA and walk-0n the basketball team, Yahoo! Sports reports.
Adria Gasol, 18, is 6-foot-10 and played as a freshman and sophomore at Lausanne High School in Memphis then returned to Spain to play his last two high school years there.
A UCLA spokesman said the youngest Gasol brother will not join the Bruins on their exhibition tour of China next week, but he will begin practicing with the team this fall.


text:
0 items in Shopping Bag
Knitwear is a key trend during the winter months every year, and with the women's designer knitwear range at Whites Boutique it's not hard to see why. Not onlyt is knitwear a practical solution tov the winter cold, the stunning styles and designs make it a highly coveted fashion staple.
We offer ladies designer knitwear in a variety of styles, including shrugs, cardigans, polo necks, knitted dresses, jumpers and more, for a flattering style to suit every woman.
Choose from leading designer labels including Autumn Cashmere, Moschino Cheap & Chic and Schumacher, for guaranteed comfort and quality. Buy online today.
Currently Shopping by:


text:
Sign Up Here!
Already a member? Please login below.
Treatments For Menopause
Menopause Symptoms
Women After Menopause
Hi nearly 5 weeks ago I had vaginal swabs taken because I notice a small amount of blood in my discharge. No other symptoms and in fact I only noticed this the once. Anyway, they tested positive for BV and Chlamydia. I took the relevant antibiotics and also on the advice of my doctor visited the GUM clinic where they told me they couldn't rule out gonnorhea. I assumed if I also had this it would have shown up in the swabs taken in my treatment room but they said they couldn't b certain they where tested for gonnorhea and wouldn't b able to test me themselves for 6 weeks as I had recently had antibiotics. This concerned me and I spoke to a doctor in my surgery who said that all vaginal swabs where sent for a general O&S as well as chlamydia and something else (which I can't remember the name of) and that gonnorhea would have showed up in the O&S and therefore he didn't think I had Gonnorhea. Told the nurses in the GUM clinic this and they to said that if it was tested in this way they'd b pretty certain I didn't have gonnorhea and not to worry about it. However, 3 weeks after completing the antibiotics I now appear to have 'symptoms'. Mainly a heavy discharge and mild lower abdominal pains. The nurse in the GUM clinic wasn't concerned about the discharge (didn't have the pain at the time I spoke to her) and said the antibiotics would cause a heavier discharge for a while. Has anybody esle had similar experiences? I'm worried now that the doctor may be wrong and I actually do have gonnorhea. Does this sound like gonnorhea? Or could it be PID? I'm very concerned and worried - having chlamydia is far from ideal but I was reassured by the fact that it could be treated. But since taking the treatment things seem to be getting worse!
You must log in to reply.
Are you New to the forum? Sign Up Here! Already a member? Please login below.
How Long
Cervical Stimulation Is It Ok?
Help Plzzzzz...


text:
You can change the currency on the top bar to € US$ C$ or A$
Free UK Delivery on all retail orders over £75
Hand knit Gloves, Mittens and Handwarmers
We have a lovely collection of hand knitted woollen gloves all made by our fair trade knitters based around the Kathmandu Valley.
Our knitters are a mixture of local Nepali Women and Tibetan Refugees who knit the gloves in their homes. It is a great scheme as it stops the flow of women into the big city where they can often end up homeless
Showing 1 to 4 of 4 (1 Pages)
Phone us on + 44 (0)1223 606506 ( 9.00 - 5.30 )
email us firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Whether or not Michael Schumacher stays in formula one beyond 2012 is a hot topic. The seven time world champion has been more competitive in 2012 compared with the first two seasons of his comeback...
The seven time world champion has been more competitive in 2012 compared with the first two seasons of his comeback, culminating in pole at Monaco recently.
But luck has not been on his side, and he has only 2 points to show for his efforts.
Not only that, the 43-year-old's name has been a regular topic of conversation in the stewards room so far in 2012, with some rumours hinting officials are questioning the great German's age, vision and reflexes.
And he has been vocal about not enjoying the new emphasis on the heavily-degrading and difficult-to-understand Pirelli tyres.
F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone hopes he will stay.
"He's still a big name," the 81-year-old told Germany's Auto Bild, "even though we'd all rather have a successful Schumacher than an unsuccessful one."
Another supporter is McLaren's Jenson Button.
"Michael's come in for a lot of criticism over the last couple of years since he's been back," the 2009 world champion is quoted by AFP news agency.
"Sometimes it takes time to feel comfortable with a car and comfortable with the people you're working with, but I think he put a great lap together in Monaco, didn't make any mistakes and he obviously deserved it very much.
"It proved a few things too didn't it?" added Button.
Button's boss Martin Whitmarsh has also admitted he would like to see Schumacher back at the top.
"I am firmly convinced that Michael is going to win a race this year," the McLaren team principal told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.
"Particularly after the past weekend (in Monaco), anyone who underestimates him would be a fool.
"He demonstrated once again, especially to his critics, that he is far from being too old," said Whitmarsh.
And the Briton said any discussion about whether Schumacher was ever a great driver is "absurd".
"He is one of the best we have ever seen," Whitmarsh insisted.
As for a new contract for the Mercedes driver, Whitmarsh said: "Of course it would be good for our sport. He is a world renowned brand that people know in every corner of the globe."
Speaking to Kleine Zeitung newspaper, Schumacher's brother Ralf also insists that Schumacher's comeback has been good for "the whole of formula one".


text:
Remember when I was larger than life; everyone wanted a piece of me
You stood there right there in line to take your cheap shots hurting me
What if I came back? And the lights were brighter than before?
You are in denial
Cause I'm the King of the World!
That's the best I expect to do
Is to walk all over you
Every drop of sweat that pours from my skin is the salt of my soul
You don't expect me to trust, eyes as black as coal
I'm going to fly through the crack in the sky
Through the hole in the sun
To the center of the earth
I'll never be outdone
You wanna know why the change when everybody knows my name
Don't you worry your not to blame I just can't remain the same
Do you believe in torment?
I'm the touchstone of your soul
I just can't believe
In your hell any more


text:
Aloha, everyone!
My new website is UP!!!
For all my fans who've been along for the ride from the beginning, you've seen how far this has come from start to where we are now, and for those coming onboard now, welcome! I thank all of you for your support and sharing in my excitement! I have photos up in two places actually, on the blog and the photo page. I'm working on all these snazzy plugins and layout "snazzi-fiers," so I'm trying out new things, and having fun!
We are working out a few final details, but a firm release date for my first full-length studio album is coming soon. You will be FIRST to know when it it is coming out, and I hope it will be worth the wait. I am amazed at what can be done in a studio, and it has come a long way from the early days, for sure.
So to all in New York, stay warm, and all in Hawai'i, stay cool, and STAY TUNED!!! (wherever you stay… )


text:
The Holiday 2011 Laptop Shopping Guide
Shopping for the Holidays
October, November and December are excellent months for laptop shoppers. The frenzy of shoppers means great deals for those in the market for a laptop, if you can shove through the crowd to claim your prize.
A great deal doesn't change the fact that you need to know what you're buying, however. In this guide I will educate you about the current laptop market, which means you'll be able to purchase a laptop that best suits your needs without over-spending.
So, let's dive right in!
The Basics Haven't Changed
Though new computer hardware debuts constantly, the basic size and shape of laptops hasn't changed much since the introduction of netbooks. Laptops are consistently becoming thinner, but consumers are still choosing 15.6" laptops above other sizes, and a laptop with such a large display can only be made so thin.
If you are looking for a laptop that will be the only system of the person receiving it, the 15.6" format remains a solid choice. The larger display is easy to use, and most laptops of this size offer excellent performance for the price. However, you must keep in mind this size of laptop will be a bit heavy and difficult to carry around.
Those looking for something more portable should consider 13" and 14" laptops. Both are much easier to stuff in a bag, and usually weigh four pounds or less. Battery life is also often better on these models, but some performance is sacrificed to obtain this.
If extreme portability is required, netbooks are still the answer for most users, though it's sometimes possible to buy a big extended battery for a 13" or 14" system. Netbooks are still inexpensive, as well – many retail for under $300. The trade-off for this is performance, as your average netbook processor is 5 to 10 times slower than an Intel Core i5 powered system, depending on the benchmark.
On the other hand, if you know that a laptop will be never taken outside of the user's home, you may want to consider a 16" or 17" laptop. These are extremely difficult to transport because they won't fit in most backpacks or messenger bag, and they often weigh over six pounds. However, they include larger displays with higher resolutions and more comfortable keyboards.
Enter the Ultrabook
One wildcard this holiday season is the ultrabook. In essence, it's a Windows rendition of the MacBook air. It's super-thin and light. Intel low-voltage processors are used in order to obtain maximum battery life.
This is a wildcard because the laptops are just now entering production. It's not clear how well these laptops perform, and early reviews likely won't become available until mid-November, with more in-depth tests extending into December.
Personally, I would advise staying away from these systems until reviews become available and more ultrabook options hit the market. They could be excellent, but at this point they're an unknown. Worse, they're rather expensive, with most models entering at around $1000. That's a lot to spend on an unproven design.
Avoiding the Bargain Trap
Every holiday season, some laptops are made available at outstanding clearance prices. It's not unusual to see full-size 15.6" laptops sold for $300 during massive sales designed to bring in hoards of customers.
At first glance, this may seem like an excellent purchase. However, you need to be careful about falling in to the bargain trap. Cheap computers are sometimes exactly that – cheap computers. There are still models lurking on store shelves with old-school Intel Celeron or AMD Turion processors and 2GB of RAM.
Often, the performance for these laptops is simply unacceptable. They tend to be as slow as laptops designed for portability, but without the benefits in battery life, as the batteries in these systems are usually small to keep costs down.
Remember – whatever laptop you do buy is most likely going to be used for several years, at the least. In some cases, it may be expected to function for five years or more. Although future-proofing is generally not a worthwhile idea, in the laptop market it's rarely a good idea to purchase the least expensive product possible, as it will most likely already be outdated by a significant margin.
Laptops are not as easily upgraded as desktops, so you are most likely stuck with whatever you purchase. This means you need to make the right choice the first time. There's also been some evidence in laptop reliability reports that less expensive laptops are less reliable than more expensive ones, which is another factor to keep in mind.
Processor Possibilities
The CPU in a laptop remains an important factor in its performance and battery life. The gap between the quickest and slowest processors on the market is significant, so you'll want to make sure that you purchase a product equipped with the right choice.
For most users, Intel's mainstream second-generation Core i3 and Core i5 processors are the best option. These processors are designated by the Core i3/i5 brand name, followed by a four-digit numerical identifier. If there is only a three-digit numerical identifier, then you're looking at a first-generation Core i3/i5. At this point, I don't see much reason to purchase one of those.
The second-generation Core i3/i5 is extremely quick, includes an adequate integrated graphics processor (IGP) that can play most 3D games at low detail settings, and is power efficient. It's simply the best combination of traits for most buyers.
One alternative in the mainstream market is the AMD A-Series Fusion APUs. Like Intel's Core i3/i5, these are processors that include an IGP as part of the architecture, but AMD's version is a bit more powerful than what is usually found on comparably priced Intel processors. The downside to the AMD A-Series is poor core CPU performance. Battery life seems equivalent to what Intel offers.
Those who need an extremely powerful laptop should consider the second-gen Intel Core i7 quad-core. This is the most powerful laptop processor that can be purchased today. In benchmarks that make proper use of the additional cores, it is almost twice as quick as a Core i5. Battery life does suffer a bit, but it's still possible to obtain four hours of endurance from many Core i7 quad-core laptops. The real downside is simply price.
Finally, we have the netbook processors. Atom is still popular in netbooks because it is cheap to buy and offers amazing battery life, with many netbooks offering over eight hours. The downside is graphics performance – Atom based netbooks have none. AMD offers an alternative in the C-series and E-series APUs, which are actually capable of playing older 3D games at low detail settings as well as 720p Flash video, but most netbooks with these processors have closer to six hours of battery life. Pricing is not substantially different between these competitors.
More Hardware Questions
Beyond processors, the basics of what you should look for in a laptop haven't changed much in the last two years. RAM should be at least 4GB, and a 500GB hard drive is still a good capacity to shoot for. If you want to play 3D games at medium detail settings or higher, you will likely need a discrete GPU in the form of either an AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce.
One pitfall to avoid is overkill. In some models it is now possible to purchase up to 8GB of RAM, for example. For most users, that is far more than will ever be needed. In fact, your average user will need bump in to the limits of the 4GBs found standard on most modern laptops. Similar criticism can be leveled at hard drives. Not everyone is going to need over a terabyte of storage, and there's no reason to pay for it if you don't need it.
One piece of hardware that is worth upgrade, if possible, is the display. It is sometimes possible to upgrade the resolution, which means there will be more pixels packed in to the same space. This makes it possible to display more information because the size of any object on a computer is measured in pixels rather than inches. In addition to this, games and movies will have a sharper appearance. I would only advise against a display resolution upgrade for consumers who are combating vision problems, as the higher resolution will make text appear smaller. There are ways to fix that, but they don't work well with all programs.
Back to the Battery
As mentioned earlier, the power efficiency of the mainstream Core i3/i5 processor is impressive. It's possible to obtain up to six hours of light-use endurance with one of those, but only if the battery is up to the task.
When it comes to batteries, capacity is king. Bigger batteries will offer more power. If possible, try to find the watt-hour rating of the laptop battery, which will be expressed in a term such as "65Wh." For a mainstream laptop, anything over 60Wh should provide solid endurance, while another under 50Wh should be considered small. Some ultra-portables have batteries rated at 80Wh or higher, while some budget laptops have batteries under 40Wh.
Remember, a battery's capacity diminishes over time. Reviews see laptops when they are new, so those figures are the best you can ever expect to obtain. If you absolutely need three hours of battery endurance, don't buy a laptop that just provides three hours, because after a year it will be providing two and a half. Instead, purchase a laptop that offers four or five hours.
A Good Time to Buy
The laptop market is currently favorable to buyers. Mainstream laptop processors are surprisingly powerful and efficient, which means that laptops are both faster and more portable. Prices are low, too. It's entirely possible to buy a satisfactory laptop for $500 if you just need a 15.6" desktop replacement, and more portable models can be had for $600 to $800. Only those in need of an extremely portable or extremely powerful laptop need to spend more.
Laptops are products that will be used for many years. Do your research, and don't buy the first one that looks like a great deal (unless it really does turn out to be a great deal). This will ensure that the laptop you purchase won't need to be replaced in two years.
- PC Perspective: AMD A-Series Llano APU Review http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Processors/AMD-Series-Llano-APU-Sabine-Notebook-Platform-Review
- Image Credit: Intel
- Bright Hub: Mobile Core i3 vs i5 vs i7 https://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/66776.aspx
- Image Credit: AMD
- Image Credit: Highway Laptop Batteries
- Image Credit: ASUS
- Smidgen PC: Laptop Reliability Ratings http://smidgenpc.com/2010/05/07/laptop-reliability-ratings-which-laptop-is-really-most-reliable/