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Pivot Health is proud to offer quality health insurance plans to West Virginians. These plans, described below, offer West Virginia individuals and families the ability to choose the benefit structure that best meets their insurance coverage needs and budget.
- Short Term Health Insurance – Temporary health insurance, also known as short term medical, provides comprehensive benefits coverage for physician visits, in-hospital care, urgent care facility visits and much more. With no provider network restrictions, you have the freedom to seek treatment from any doctor or hospital to access benefits. Thanks to Pivot Health's fast, user-friendly online application process, you'll know within minutes of applying if you've been approved for coverage. And qualified applicants may choose coverage to start as soon as 24 hours after applying.
- Supplemental Insurance Coverage – If your major medical insurance plan's high deductibles and costly coinsurance rates are a drain on your budget, then supplemental insurance may provide you the financial support you need. Supplemental coverage provides you cash benefits that you may use to help pay out-of-pocket medical costs, such as insurance deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or any other expenses you incur due to a serious illness or accident. Designed to work with your primary major medical coverage – whether you have an individual plan or employer-sponsored coverage – a supplemental insurance plan helps you protect your financial security from costly expenses related to medical care.
With your Pivot Health short term temporary plan, you also will receive many non-insurance benefits, such as:
- Unlimited access to discounted telehealth doctor consultations.
- Don't spend your valuable time sitting in a waiting room to speak to a health care provider. Instead, connect directly with a doctor at whatever time of day works for you – telehealth is available 24/7. And it saves money compared to a standard office or urgent care facility visit.
- Discounts on eye care and eyewear.
- Save between 15 to 40 percent on eye exams, eyeglass lenses, frames for eyeglasses and contact lenses. It's never been so affordable to maintain good eye health!
- Savings on prescription drugs.
- Enjoy valuable discounts of up to 75 percent on prescription medications at thousands of pharmacies across the nation.
Health Insurance Market Challenges in West Virginia
According to a recent County Health Rankings report, approximately 17 percent of West Virginia residents under the age of 65 have no health insurance – almost twice the national average uninsured rate of 9.1 percent. Uninsured rates vary by county: Putnam County has the lowest rate at 13 percent, while Hampshire County's uninsured rate is even higher at 22 percent.
The individual health insurance exchange in West Virginia has experienced several challenges, which point to the need for affordable alternative health insurance options for uninsured residents. In 23 of the state's counties, only one insurance carrier provides individual exchange plans, leaving enrollees with limited plan selection. Exchange enrollees in West Virginia's other 32 counties have only two insurance carrier choices.
In addition to limited carrier and plan choices, West Virginians are dealing with whopping premium rate increases for 2017. The West Virginia Department of Insurance approved average premium adjustments ranging from 35.81 to 49.8 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average premium increase of 25 percent.
Nearly 88 percent of West Virginians receive federal premium subsidies to help pay for their exchange plan premiums. Those subsidies are adjusted each year to compensate for coverage pricing increases. However, West Virginians who purchase exchange plans but don't qualify for federal premium subsidies, as well as those who buy off-exchange plans, will have to cover the entire rate hike amount on their own.
The two insurers who offer individual exchange plans in West Virginia point to several factors driving up premium rates. High claim costs for the individual major medical plans are outpacing premiums paid at a rate of $1.19 paid for every $1 received. Insurers are also finding that exchange enrollees, who are no longer subject to pre-existing condition limitations, are sicker and using more health care services than anticipated. Adverse selection – enrolling, using health care services, and then dropping coverage before paying premiums – also is driving up insurer costs. And finally, a lower-than-anticipated exchange participation rate of younger, healthy millennial consumers has not provided needed stabilization for the individual exchange market.
A much higher-than-national-average rate of uninsured residents, limited insurance carrier and plan options, and skyrocketing premium rates all underscore the importance of offering West Virginians access to a broader range of health insurance choices.
- Pivot Health's short term health insurance provides West Virginia residents the opportunity to buy comprehensive coverage at a fraction of the cost of major medical insurance coverage – with no provider network restrictions.
- Pivot Health's supplemental health insurance offers West Virginians supplemental insurance designed to provide financial support for the costly expenses associated with high deductible major medical insurance plans. This type of "gap" coverage helps insureds pay for high deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, coinsurance, copayments, and other costs that they typically incur before their high deductible major medical plan begins to pay benefits.
A Report on Well-Being in West Virginia
The recent Gallup-Healthways State of American Well-Being report examined how well-being varies by state. West Virginia ranked last out of the 50 states, based on survey responses to questions covering different categories of well-being.
West Virginians reported the lowest ratings (each ranked 50th) for the following categories:
- Purpose
- liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals
- Financial
- managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security
- Physical
- having good health and enough energy to get things done daily
Ranking slightly higher at 49th was well-being for Community: liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community. The most positive ranking for West Virginia was 45th for well-being in Social: having supportive relationships and love in your life.
The State of Health in West Virginia
The 2017 Commonwealth Fund's Scorecard on State Health System Performance gave West Virginia an overall ranking of 38 out of 51 (the 50 states plus the District of Columbia). This is the most recent version of the organization's scorecard of its comparison for states in the U.S.
The Commonwealth Fund's Scorecard rated West Virginia in several areas, including:
- Uninsured adults aged 19 to 64: 8th ranking (8 percent in West Virginia, compared to U.S. average of 13 percent)
- Uninsured children ages 0 to 18: 3rd ranking (3 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 5 percent)
- Adults who went without care because of cost in the previous year: 33rd ranking (14 percent in West Virginia, compared to the U.S. average of 13 percent)
- Individuals under age 65 with high out-of-pocket costs relative to annual household income: 41st ranking (17 percent, compared to U.S. average of 14 percent)
- At-risk adults who did not have a routine doctor visit in the previous two years: 7th ranking (10 percent in West Virginia, compared to U.S. average of 13 percent)
- Adults that did not visit a dentist in the previous year: 48th ranking (20 percent, compared to U.S. average of 16 percent)
- Adults with age- and gender-appropriate cancer screenings: 39th ranking (65 percent in West Virginia, compared to the U.S. average of 68 percent)
- Hospitalized people who said the hospital staff managed pain well, were responsive to calls for help and who explained medications and their side effects: 33rd ranking (67 percent, compared to U.S. average of 68 percent)
- Breast cancer deaths per 100,000 females: 40th ranking (22.4 in West Virginia, compared to U.S. average of 20.6)
- Colorectal cancer deaths per 100,000 people: 49th ranking (18.8 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 14.3 percent)
- Suicide deaths per 100,000: 40th ranking (18.1 percent in West Virginia, compared to U.S. average of 13 percent)
- Adults who report fair or poor health or activity limitations: 51st ranking (34 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 26 percent)
- Adults who smoke: 50th ranking (26 percent in West Virginia, compared to the U.S. average of 17 percent)
- Adults who are obese: 48th ranking (37 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 29 percent)
- Children (ages 10-17) who are overweight or obese: 37th ranking (34 percent in West Virginia, compared to U.S. average of 31 percent)
- Percent of adults who have lost 6 or more teeth due to decay or disease: 51st ranking (22 percent, compared to U.S. average of 10 percent)
West Virginia scored positively in these key health categories:
- Children with medical and dental preventive care visits in the past year
- Children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems who received needed mental health care in the past year
- Home health patients who improved at walking or moving around
2017 Health Insurance Plans in West Virginia
Individual plans on the West Virginia exchange in 2017 are available through these insurance companies:
- CareSource (offered in 32 of West Virginia's 55 counties)
- Highmark (offered in all 55 West Virginia counties)
Pivot Health offers in West Virginia:
- Short term health insurance
- Supplemental health insurance
Medicaid in West Virginia
West Virginia expanded its Medicaid program effective January 1, 2014. All non-disabled adults with incomes at or below 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are now eligible to enroll in Medicaid.
There are more than 554,000 Mountain State residents enrolled in the program – approximately 3 in every 10 West Virginians. The 30 percent Medicaid enrollment rate in West Virginia is significantly higher than the U.S. average of 23.4 percent, and only six states have a higher Medicaid enrollment rate than West Virginia. The high percentage of program participation is attributed to West Virginia having the lowest workforce participation rate and the 6th highest unemployment rate in the nation.
Because West Virginia expanded its Medicaid program under the terms of the Affordable Care Act, the federal government agreed to pay all costs for new program enrollees through 2016. Starting in 2017, the government began scaling back its funding portion and will plateau to a 90 percent funding rate by 2020, with states funding the remaining 10 percent of program costs.
Despite the current level of federal funding, West Virginia's costs for funding the state's Medicaid program have increased by almost 25 percent since 2012, according to a joint report from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, and West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. Already facing a potential $400 million budget deficit for 2018, West Virginia lawmakers are becoming increasingly concerned about the estimated $40.8 million necessary for additional Medicaid funding in the coming year.
The uncertainty of how Washington will proceed with any changes to the Affordable Care Act and related Medicaid funding issues makes it critical that low-income West Virginians have access to affordable health insurance options.
Your Health Care Coverage Choices
If you live in West Virginia and do not have health insurance: Pivot Health's short term health insurance offers you the choice of comprehensive medical coverage to meet your benefit and budget needs.
If you are a West Virginian and have a high deductible health insurance plan: Pivot Health's supplemental insurance can provide you financial support for costly out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles, coinsurance, copayments and more.
Pivot Health: offering you choices and flexibility that pivot with your insurance needs over time.


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I've been thinking a lot about labels, definitions, the comfort of duality that many of us live in. Perhaps this is prompted by my yoga teacher training. The more I learn about the philosophy of yoga, the idea of balance and wholeness, of the lack of separation between you and I, us and them, the… Continue reading Breaking my mold
Category: leadership
Expand Your Business Reading List
I've been reading a lot of literary fiction this year. I always enjoy escaping into a different world, meeting diverse characters and the underlying complexity that informs their choices. Storytelling that challenges me to understand a different perspective or imagine another person's motivations doesn't just fulfill my leisure pursuits it stretches my mental muscle. And there's… Continue reading Expand Your Business Reading List

subset: commoncrawl


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AheadProduct design
A smart time and schedule management app that stays one step ahead of you and knows your day-to-day habits.
For the user experience design phase we had a very focused process that was oriented towards developing a very complex and smart system while at the same time making it easy for the users to understand and use on a daily basis.
Designing the interface of the app was no small feat either because of the many use cases that needed to be covered while still staying true to the visual identity and keeping everything tidy and clear.


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It's hard to watch a group of teenaged boys screaming about who gets to lead a society and not think about the Republican presidential candidate debates. In America, it seems William Golding's dark bildungsroman, Lord of the Flies, stays forever relevant with its portrayal of power attainment and the violent divisiveness thereafter.
WaterTower Theatre's aggressive production, directed by Kelsey Leigh Ervi, of a book familiar to many high school graduates opens with the sounds of a plane crash. Parachute-like curtains drop to reveal eight boys, one by one, staring out into the crowd. A few of them sing a choral piece about the promised land, remnants of which float above the commotion of the crash and the tribal thump-thump-thumping of Kellen Voss' sound design. The boys find their way to the beach, where Ralph (Henry Greenberg) and Piggy (a near-perfect Matthew Minor) are discussing the merits of the landscape — Ralph admires the water and the beach; Piggy notes he can't swim because of his "assma," The two of them get along swimmingly until a number of new boys show up led by Jack Merridew (a sparkling performance by Anthony Fortino).
The most interesting moments in Lord of the Flies happen when the boys attempt to work in unison. Eventually, they faction off with one group building shelter and following rules laid out by Ralph and Piggy, while the other group accepts Jack as "chief" and explore a more animalistic existence, hunting wild pigs and chasing off the "beastie." But the power dynamic and self-governance is far more complicated and interesting when the groups hold meetings and try to speak in turn and take care of one another. It's difficult — they can't seem to evolve past screaming matches, power grabs and they always resort to insulting the fattest, poorest member of the group, Piggy, and the thoughtful, moral Simon (an adorable but mumbling Kyle Montgomery) — and they eventually give up the community entirely.
What makes this even more interesting is pairing it with the currently-running Second Thought Theatre's Martyr, a tale about an adolescent boy who seeks refuge in Christianity, where he finds a rigid orthodoxy allowing his developing ego a refuge in self-righteousness, eventually leading to extremism and acts of terrorism. It's yet another exploration of the path to human depravity with young boys as a metaphor for violence and war. It works because the cusp of adulthood is made up of staking claims on life, all the while beginning to fear the dark side of life — the meaningless of it. But it also works for an American audience because of our recent history of young white men and their relationship with gun violence.
On opening night, numerous audience members could be heard describing Lord of the Flies as a "boy's story" — a dismissive aside about the sheer number of young boys at the heart of the narrative. It's an easy description of a thorny tale about the unstitching of a society — these boys were shipped from their homes in the UK at the heart of World War II to avoid the threat of bombings — and what happens when you try to rebuild in the rubble. Like every young person fumbling into adulthood, there are decisions you make, or don't make, about morality. Do you pursue structure and peace, or do you rise up with spears and hunt?
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Throughout the play Jeff Colangelo has choreographed athletic fight numbers for the boys when they get into disputes or chase after a pig. The very first number is an excited dance, their attempted grimaces look friendly as they mime plunging a spear into the heart of their prey. This dance is mirrored later in the play when the actions become real, first in pursuit of a pig, and then in pursuit of one another. It's a brilliant device employed by Colangelo and Ervi to illuminate the way in which actions practiced become actions realized.
Lord of the Flies has always had this impossible-to-look-away-from plane crash quality, something this production capitalizes on with both an immersive set design by Bradley Gray (the set is tremendously detailed; the lights inside the crashed plane blink on and off) and with an energetic cast of young actors. Near the end the script gets bogged down in Jack's unrelenting monologues about the "beastie," which is the childish language he uses to describe the need for an enemy. It's hard to swallow this baby talk about monsters in a play that's so physically mature and brutally violent, but it serves as a reminder not only that the actors are playing young (a device which dramaturg Kyle Bradford penned a great essay about in the program), but also that the characters are way out of the confines of youth.
If the chaotic nature of the story resembles in any way the current landscape of political conversation in America, it points to humankind's continual struggle with civilized discourse. But it seems particularly compelling in a time when subjects like immigration, gun control and cultural equity are shaping the dialogue. In America, we've once again ripped at the foundational fabric and that crack is like a deserted island on which some people are choosing to take up arms in fear and others a more reasoned approach with meetings and rules.
Lord of the Flies runs through February 14 at WaterTower Theatre (15650 Addison Road, Addison). Tickets are $22-40. More at watertowertheatre.org.


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The season of Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne has come to an end after he tore a patella tendon in his left knee during Sunday's win over the Saints.
Clairborne went down in the first quarter after falling to the ground on a non-contact play.
It had been a tumultuous week for Claiborne who was demoted with the return of Orlando Scandrick. Claiborne made a game sealing interception against the Rams a week ago but also was burned for two touchdown passes.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said that Claiborne would undergo in a few days.


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Information Session – Legal Professions Internship- Summer 2018
Posted March 5, 2018 in Pre-law
Information Session – Legal Professions Internship- Summer 2018
UB's Millard Fillmore College will be holding an information session for UB students who are interested in learning about new internship opportunities in legal professions.
This internship is developed in response to many student inquiries and has become a very popular addition to the UB Millard Fillmore College Paralegal Studies Program. All students are invited and encouraged to attend.
Millard Fillmore College is offering a 3-credit course in Summer 2018 that features unpaid legal studies internship experience for undergraduate students.
The legal studies internship was created and will be supervised by Olga Posse, J.D., MFC adjunct faculty. This experiential learning course will require 5 hours per week at the internship site plus online coursework. Professor Posse secured commitments to internships through the Buffalo City Court, the Attorney General's Office, the District Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Federal Public Defender's Office, Erie County Family Court and two private law firms.
This internship experience could prove to be very valuable to students with an interest in entering the legal profession. Any UB student seeking to gain legal knowledge and experience would find this internship to be a valuable addition to their UB degree.
Prof. Posse will hold information sessions for interested students
March 2 10-11 AM Baldy 107
March 3 10-11 AM Capen 257
March 5 10-11 AM Baldy 107
March 6 6-7 PM Capen 257
March 7 6-7 PM Capen 257
March 8 12-1 PM Baldy 107
March 9 12-1 PM Capen 257
• Any student who is interested in an internship MUST attend one of these meetings.
• Bring a copy of your resume and unofficial transcript.
• Prof. Posse will review the applicants and select the most qualified because of the limited number of internships available.
• Interested students should RSVP to email@example.com to let her know they are planning to attend either of the above-mentioned dates.
• Prof. Posse will also respond to any questions concerning students may have concerning the course and internship opportunities.
There are limited opportunities for Legal Professions Internships available for Summer 2018 and selection is competitive. If you have any questions about the class, you should contact Prof. Posse at 716-829-2904 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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In a gesture meant as a nod to the direction of their alma mater with its focus on sustainability science and divestment from investments in fossil fuels, Mike Koutelis '77, a business development manager for Budderfly of Shelton, Connecticut and his wife Rose have donated a wind turbine to Unity College in Maine. The turbine will be used as an instructional tool.
Mike Koutelis personally delivered the turbine to the environmental college in December, and was pleased to learn from Professor Mick Womersley, a sustainability expert, that it would have an immediate impact.
"The main components will be brought into the physics lab later today for investigation and some preliminary re-manufacture," Womersley said after unloading the wind turbine. "It will be extensively used in the upcoming Sustainable Energy class and perhaps in future classes."
A resident of Epping, New Hampshire, Koutelis is an engaged alumnus who praised his alma mater for its strong position on a host of environmental issues. In recent years, Unity College became the first college in the United States to adopt a central focus on sustainability science, the leading-edge of 21st century transdisciplinary (collaborative) environmental problem solving. In addition, the College became the first in the nation to divest from investments in fossil fuels, touching off a growing nationwide movement.
"I embrace the vision that Unity College has offered for 21st century students to make sustainability a key component of their learning experience," noted Koutelis. He fondly recalls the sense of idealism that permeated the College community when he and his wife, Rose Koutelis '77, were students.
"We came to Unity in the '70s when the environmental pollution awareness movement in the United States had reached a new consciousness and some of us embraced our heroes like Scott and Helen Nearing, John Denver, and others who called for change of thinking about the environment," Koutelis said. "The professors back then knew us personally and the small classroom setting gave us a great learning experience that was unique."
He feels that the supportive, committed environmental learning community of his time as a student is still a feature of life at Unity College.
"There was a common bond then between all students and teachers and it is the same today," noted Koutelis. The community of students is focused on learning to become the next generation of wise environmental stewards, he says. The alumni of Koutelis' era, many of whom went on to become environmental leaders and leading-edge green entrepreneurs, are also supporting Unity College because of its environmental leadership and unflinching commitment to its strong environmental mission.
"We all loved being outdoors and were attracted to the natural beauty that surrounded us in such a quaint town that was safely tucked away in Maine," Koutelis said.
Though many seasons have passed since Koutelis bid farewell to campus life, the commitment to preserving the natural world that led him to study at Unity College is still its most prominent calling card for students.
Koutelis has been involved in energy efficiency technologies for over 30 years, providing utility consulting and development of new energy emerging technology to the marketplace. His wife Rose is a licensed Bowen Therapist. They have four grown children: Heather, Megan, Robert, and Ben, and one grandchild, Samantha.


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Love them or hate them, lawyers are in many ways, a necessary part of life for countless individuals. The key to dealing successfully with lawyers is to take the time to educate yourself about what they can do for you and how you can make sure you get the services you desire. Keep reading for some terrific tips on doing just that.
Find out all that you can about lawyers that you are interested in. What sorts of legal organizations do they belong to, for example? Bar organizations often help to keep their members informed of the very lastest in legal news. You want a lawyer who stays abreast of current legal trends!
Define your case before seeing a lawyer. The first thing to consider is whether you really need a lawyer or not. You will need an attorney if you're going through a divorce, are being sued, or you are charged with criminal activity. Even if you are not involved in one of these areas, you may need a lawyers expert opinion on a business or financial matter.
Finding a good lawyer is a lot of work. You should put some time aside to do some research and give yourself a few weeks to compare different options. Meet different lawyers to get quotes and ask for advice. You should not expect to find a quality lawyer right away.
Speak with people you trust before trying to find a lawyer on your own. Friends and family may know of someone who really cared about their case and will show you the same respect. They may pay lots of benefits later and reduce your work.
Once you have decided to hire a particular lawyer, make sure you receive a written retainer letter that specifically defines the scope of representation, the details of the services you are to receive and the applicable fee structure. By doing this, you will stand a much better chance of getting precisely what you bargained for and you will have useful documentation of the intended relationship should you need to pursue the lawyer in a malpractice action at some point.
Most attorneys charge for their services by the hour, but hiring one with a lower hourly rates does not mean your total cost will be less. If your lawyer needs two hours to complete a job that some other lawyer can complete in an hour, you will pay more in the long run.
How friendly are the staff at the firm? Whenever you call, jot down how fast they return your call and how accessible the receptionist seems. If the office takes a long time returning your messages, that may give you a hint of how you'll be treated when you are actually a client.
Lots of people dread the idea of seeking and hiring a lawyer, even for the simplest personal or business tasks. However, if you acquire a thorough understanding of what lawyers do and how you can determine which one is right for you, the relationship can actually be extremely beneficial. Hopefully the advice found above has provided a strong foundation for you to use going forward.


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Environmental Protection and Waste Removal 540 RPM Trailer Pump -- Dolphin
GATOR Pumps are proven performers for entities and individuals who must meet regulatory compliance standards. Waste runoff, lagoon pond management, and acid mine drainage are just some of the areas where GATOR Pumps have saved their owners significant time and money.
GATOR Pumps are engineered to withstand abrasive and caustic fluid properties that other pumps cannot tolerate. We are often called to replace other equipment that meet early end of life due to inability to perform in hostile pumping environments.
GATOR Pump Applications For Regular and Emergency Operations:
Groundwater remediation – Water / wastewater treatment – Groundwater sampling – Pollution control – Landfill leachate – Condensate pumping – Drinking water clean up – Manure Lagoon Management – Mine Water Pond Transfer Pump
GATOR Pumps are steel fabricated with heavy duty structural steel tubing. Cases and impellers are made of 3/8″ steel plate.
GATOR Trailer Centrifugal Pumps supply large volumes of water using tractor, diesel, or electric power. Trailer pumps are available with either 540 or 1000 RPM PTO drive.
Operation includes backing the trailer in to the water, attaching flexible drive shaft between power unit and pump shaft and connecting industrial tubing to the discharge pipe with a clamp.
Trailer allows pumping from several sites and water levels. Maintenance is practically eliminated by a design without seals or priming devices.
High flow per horsepower combined with solid steel fabrication make GATOR the best trailer pump on the market.


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The yarn tension unit is the part of the knitting machine that feeds the yarn to the knitting carriage.
Its main job is to keep the yarn tension constant, since the tension directly influences the stitch gauge.
If the yarn tension is too low, stitches may even fall of the needles resulting in ladders or runs. Extremly high yarn tension exerts high stress on the needles, possibly bending and breaking them. These extreme cases may occur if the machine runs out of yarn, or the yarn gets stuck.
While industrial machines and automatic carriages have mechanisms to stop the machine when the yarn tension is out of limits, home knitting machines have a kind of antenna with a very long flexible wire providing the yarn.
This antenna is a dynamic yarn-storage, that makes sure the yarn-tension does not increase abruptly when the yarn gets stuck. It provides the knitting machine operator with enough time to stop moving the carriage, without destroying the machine.


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Monday, 1 October 2012
Movie Review: The Apartment (1960)
A dramatic comedy about sex, office politics and romance, The Apartment is a seminal movie. While superficially poking fun at a quirky love triangle, the film is much more about the imbalance of power between men and women in the corporate world, and the dangers lurking within a culture dominated by men that shoves women to the role of sexual playthings to be deceived and exploited.
In New York City, C.C. "Buddy" Baxter (Jack Lemmon) works as a lowly analyst for a mammoth insurance agency. Buddy is a bachelor and lives in a conveniently located apartment near Central Park. He curries favour with executives at the firm by allowing them to carry on affairs at his apartment, away from the prying eyes of their suburban neighbourhoods. The high demand for his apartment means that Buddy is frequently forced to spend nights away from his own home, but it's a small price to pay: in return for his hospitality, Buddy is on a fast-track to the executive floor.
Personnel Director Jeffrey Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) gets wind of the convenience of Buddy's apartment, and demands access in return for finalizing Buddy's promotion. Buddy is happy to comply, and from his newly minted position as a junior executive soon starts romantically pursuing Fran (Shirley MacLaine), the pretty elevator operator, not knowing that Fran is Sheldrake's illicit lover. Sheldrake has long been promising Fran that he will divorce his wife, but she finally realizes that he will never do so. Fran descends into a dangerous depression, and Buddy is left having to nurse her to health while sorting out his feelings towards her and protecting Sheldrake's privacy.
It's all comic exaggeration of course, but director (and co-writer) Billy Wilder did not invent the sexual and office shenanigans; he just enhanced them and held them up to the mirror. Fran gets her bum blatantly pinched by an executive on the way out of the elevator, and Sheldrake's wife and kids are unknowingly living a blatant lie in a suburban utopia, in reality a hell-hole of deception. It would not be long before women like Fran and Mrs. Sheldrake would start a revolution that demanded a total overhaul of the balance of power, both at home and at work.
The Apartment does suffer a bit from a slowish middle third. Fran's anguish and recuperation takes a long time to play out, and the film loses both its comic thrust and dramatic focus as she wallows in prolonged misery. MacLaine's performance, convincingly portraying a woman furious at being too easily seduced by the false promise of a rich man, helps The Apartment to pull through the soft mud of destroyed illusions.
Jack Lemmon never wavers from his amiable everyman persona, Buddy tolerating the inconvenience of frequent interruptions to his private life in return for a fast ride up to the executive floor. He only begins to care about himself when he falls for Fran, and even then he puts her needs and the privacy of Sheldrake way ahead of his own desire. Buddy is a career-defining role for Lemmon, the kind-hearted man with a smile ambling through life, doing favours for others and rolling with the punches until he recognizes the need to make a stand.
Joseph LaShelle's black and white cinematography captures a high-energy office environment and contrasts it with Buddy's lonely apartment. The cavernous office floor where Buddy works along with countless other insurance analysts, uninterrupted ceiling neon panels extending as far as the eye can see, is a perfect image for a bustling crowd of humanity in the service of soaring corporate interests, but with precious little personal interaction.
The Apartment is a gateway to the turbulent 1960s, a film that serenely anticipated the inevitable collapse of what appeared to be established rules for behaviour among men and women. It would take a few years, but women like Fran ended the decade riding the elevator upwards instead of operating it, as more caring guys like Buddy helped to shape a new social reality.
All Ace Black Blog Movie Reviews are here.
Posted by aceblackblog. at 21:04
Labels: Film Review, Fred MacMurray, Jack Lemmon, Movie Review, Shirley MacLaine
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Chicago Blackhawks Press Release
OHL's First Team All-Star and Leading Goal Scorer Signs with Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Blackhawks have signed forward Dave Bolland to a 3-year contract.
Bolland, 19, 6'0", 176 pound center was selected by the Blackhawks in the 2nd round, 32nd overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This season (2005-06), Bolland appeared in 59 regular season games for the London Knights scoring 57 goals and 73 assists for 130 points and 104 penalty minutes while posting a plus/minus rating of plus-7. He played in 15 playoff games this season recording 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points and 41 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of plus-4. Bolland tied for 1st in the OHL in goals (57) and ranked 2nd in the league in scoring (130 points).
Bolland also played for Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior Championships scoring three goals and two assists for five points and 14 penalty minutes in six games en route to capturing a Gold Medal.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Bolland spent four seasons (2002-03 to 2005-06) playing for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. In his four seasons with the Knights, he appeared in 254 career regular season games recording 135 goals and 164 assists for 299 points and 280 penalty minutes. Bolland also skated in 62 career playoff games for the Knights recording 31 goals and 34 assists for 65 points and 91 penalty minutes.
A member of the 2005 Memorial Cup Champion London Knights, Bolland was also honored with his selection to the 2005-06 OHL First Team All-Star.


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Frozen Islands
Tags: Adventure Games / Defense Games / Medieval Games / Action Games / Vikings Games
Publisher: Dojo.com
Video Walkthrough
Viking attack! Rescue the islands from the icy curse that has fallen upon them and take control of the map!
No Instructions Provided
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Archive for November, 2010
5×4 :: Keep Looking
Blake and Lyle break down the fourth episode of this season called "Keep Looking". Buddy Jr. is now back in Dillon, Luke is getting some recruiting attention (along with Vince), and Becky's dad comes back for a bit. A few questions for you: 1. What do you think has made Julie chase after this TA […]
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5×3 :: The Right Hand Of The Father
Join Blake, Lyle, and Russ as they jump into a discussion of the latest episode of Friday Night Lights. In Episode Three of this season's Friday Night Lights Vince's dad is back in town and to complicate Vince's world Jess takes on a role with the Lions. An online video complicates Coach Taylor's team while […]
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5×2 :: On The Outside Looking In
Russ, Lyle, and Blake discuss the second episode of Season Five. As always you can listen and and then leave feedback either here in the comments, by emailing at email@example.com, or by leaving a voice mail at 662-259-0185. You can also comment by way of twitter: @FNLpodcast. Remember that you can download or play just below, or subscribe on iTunes […]
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PSA to acquire Opel/Vauxhall from GM
General Motors' loss-making European operations under the Opel/Vauxhall brands are to be sold to PSA in an EUR2.2bn deal. PSA is aiming to leverage scale and synergies for the new, bigger group.
Opel/Vauxhall to join PSA Group
6 Mar 2017 | Dave Leggett
GM is to sell its loss-making European operations to PSA Group in an EUR2.2bn deal expected to close by the end of this year
Scale drives PSA's Opel ambitions - COMMENT
7 Mar 2017 | Dave Leggett
The deal is all but done, scheduled to complete this year. Opel/Vauxhall is to become part of the PSA Group. When the news broke last month that the two were in talks for a sale, my thoughts could be summed up in a simple question: Why would PSA want to take that on?
UK auto workers union to "fight" for GM plants' "future", UK welcomes assurances
6 Mar 2017 | Graeme Roberts
The key union representing British workers, Unite, has said "the fight begins now" to secure a future for the General Motors plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton which will be sold to PSA as part of the Opel deal confirmed today (6 March).
Hard Brexit could boost UK supply chain - Carlos Tavares
6 Mar 2017 | Simon Warburton
PSA Group says there could be significant opportunities for the UK supply chain following its proposed purchase of General Motors' Opel/Vauxhall division, if the British government opts for a so-called 'hard' Brexit.
PSA's Tavares plays down job cuts after Opel buy
6 Mar 2017 | Dave Leggett
PSA Group chief executive Carlos Tavares has stressed the opportunities ahead for Opel/Vauxhall plants in the new larger group and played down talk of plant closures and job cuts.
Spanish minister confident as GM/PSA unions fret
3 Mar 2017 | Graeme Roberts
With a deal between GM and PSA for the sale of Opel possibly to be announced on Monday, a Spanish minister has said his country's assembly plants were "well-placed".
COMMENT - Europe's race to the bottom and the squeezed middle
28 Feb 2017 | Calum MacRae
There's been a lot of talk recently about globalisation and the race to the bottom it engenders. Once costs have been ratcheted down so much through process improvement or a shift to the newest low-cost country, where do you go next? The whole globalisation rationale had been questioned recently, not least by the populist protectionism that helped get Donald Trump elected as US president.
Opel cannot continue 'burning cash' - Carlos Tavares
24 Feb 2017 | Simon Warburton
PSA Groupe says Opel cannot go on 'burning cash for ever,' insisting its proposed purchase of the General Motors subsidiary could create a European champion, but doubt continues to remain as to any future direction for its British arm, Vauxhall.
Unite rates Tavares Vauxhall meeting as "relatively positive"
24 Feb 2017 | Simon Warburton
British labour body, Unite, has issued a cautious appraisal of its meeting today (24 February) with PSA Group CEO, Carlos Tavares, rating it "relatively positive" as the French automaker seeks to take over the Opel operations including Vauxhall, from General Motors.
PSA chief eyes cost savings after Opel buy
23 Feb 2017 | Dave Leggett
PSA chief Carlos Tavares is looking for large and 'speedy' cost savings following the planned acquisition of Opel/Vauxhall, reports say.
Unite urges UK Prime Minister to support Vauxhall jobs
22 Feb 2017 | Simon Warburton
British labour body, Unite, is urging the UK government to match any political or financial commitment made by Berlin or Paris to Opel plants as PSA Groupe pushes the possibility of creating "a European champion with French-German roots."
PSA-Opel/Vauxhall deal raises Brexit concerns - COMMENT
21 Feb 2017 | Dave Leggett
We could see a framework deal for Peugeot's acquisition of GM's Opel/Vauxhall operations by the end of this week. The two are clearly at an advanced stage in the discussions and are reportedly at the point of putting a value on the deal.
PSA chief meets with Opel Works Council
21 Feb 2017 | Dave Leggett
PSA executives, led by CEO Carlos Tavares, have met with labour union representatives and the Opel/Vauxhall European Works Council for discussions on the potential acquisition of GM's Opel/Vauxhall operations by PSA Group.
PSA's Tavares to meet UK PM on Vauxhall concerns
20 Feb 2017 | Dave Leggett
PSA chief Carlos Tavares will meet with UK prime minister Theresa May to discuss the planned acquisition of General Motors' Opel/Vauxhall operations as fears rise over the implications of a deal for the company's two British Vauxhall plants.
UK union requests ugent PSA CEO talks
17 Feb 2017 | Simon Warburton
British union leaders are requesting urgent talks with the CEO of PSA Groupe as speculation grows any new Franco-German alliance could be at the expense of future UK commitments.
GM CEO wants Opel left independent after sale to PSA
17 Feb 2017 | Graeme Roberts
Opel should remain an independent company with current management in place after a possible sale to PSA Peugeot Citroën, GM CEO Mary Barra has insisted in negotiations with the French company.
GM downplays factory closures if PSA deal seals
16 Feb 2017 | Graeme Roberts
General Motors has downplayed the possibility of large-scale factory closures in Germany and Britain following any deal to sell its European brands to Peugeot maker PSA Group, officials in both countries have said.
What now for Neumann's electro-Opel plan?
15 Feb 2017 | Graeme Roberts
Opel's board was completely surprised by news of negotiations with PSA Groupe, according to Germany's Manager Magazin, learning only from a phone call on Tuesday morning, though CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann had been informed a little earlier.
English union digs in heels over Vauxhall and PSA
15 Feb 2017 | Graeme Roberts
Following his meeting with Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business and industrial strategy, the leader of the UK union, Unite said General Motors had a moral duty to stand by the UK workforce – and repeated his call for the backing given by government to Nissan, to ensure that it maintains its UK car production when the UK leaves the European Union, is offered to the rest of the UK car industry.
Has GM finally lost patience with Europe?
14 Feb 2017 | Dave Leggett
PSA Peugeot Citroen has confirmed that it is in talks over the possible acquisition of General Motors' European business unit that operates under the Opel and Vauxhall brand names. Why might GM want to offload and why might PSA be interested?
PSA talking to GM for potential Opel purchase
14 Feb 2017 | Simon Warburton
PSA Groupe is confirming it is in talks with General Motors for the potential purchase of Opel.
PSA urges caution as it mulls Opel purchase
14 Feb 2017 | Simon Warburton
PSA Groupe is warning there is "no certainty" at this stage its potential acquisition of General Motors subsidiary, Opel, will go ahead.
GM reports 2016 net income over $9bn
7 Feb 2017 | Dave Leggett
Although the result was slightly down on the previous year, General Motors has reported another bumper bottom line with 2016 net income at $9.43bn (2.7% down on 2015).
DETROIT INTERVIEW: General Motors determined to rescue Opel
9 Jan 2012 | Graeme Roberts
General Motors has no plans to give up on unprofitable Opel or axe the UK-only Vauxhall brand, international operations head Tim Lee said in a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the Detroit show on Monday.
GOLDING'S TAKE: Good poussin and nuggets of disclosure from a newly confident GM
19 Nov 2010 | Rob Golding
Rob Golding hears from GM Europe's CEO on how he sees the company's prospects.
GERMANY: GM chief insists Europe restructuring essential for profit
4 Dec 2009 | just-auto.com editorial team
Following an all-employee meeting at Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim today, Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly and works council chairman Klaus Franz said they were "united" in the goal of building a successful company again.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: GM and that U-turn
6 Nov 2009 | just-auto.com editorial team
Thanks, GM. Months and months of coverage, analysis and speculation and what happens at the board meeting Tuesday night? "Tell you what, boys, why don't we just keep Opel and restructure it ourselves?"


text: We are located East of the Cascade mountain range in Moses Lake Washington. We are a community of families and have been a resident owned community for over three years. We have 36 home sites. Our claim to fame- if you come to one of our annual meetings, we serve the most delicious home cooked Mexican food you can find in the state of Washington!


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This is my friend's personal experience. He told me these when I visited him after almost 10 years we graduated from school. I'm so sorry to hear about that his dad passed away last month. The main cause is about gambling. His dad addicted to the online gambling Malaysia and lose a lot of money. After that, his dad started to stop working and drunk daily because of losing money. His mum breaks down when his dad hit on his mum. I wonder why the gambling so addicted to somebody, people know that's not good but still trying. Many people gamble because it helps them escape other problems they have going on in their lives. People look it as a challenge and find it is actually fun. Many gamblers will say they have their own strategy and that will lead them to win big in the near future, but most gambling is completely down to chance. Unfortunately there might happen to win one game, but you'll probably lose the next. Therefore, they keep challenging. Especially for those who facing financial problem, gambling is one way which make money faster, at the same time, money losing faster as well. This is what my friend said, he dad said he worked so many years but never get rich. As long as he won the game, he can become rich. When he was 18, that is the stage for him to step into the university but his family is facing the financial problem. During that time, his dad looks gambling as a way to find money. His dad started spending an increasing amount of time gambling. At first his dad won a huge amount of money and eventually he entered the university. When his dad coming to the loss phase, he found that his dad cannot quit. Therefore, his dad started drinks frequently and realizes his stress to his mum. Gambling is their problem, but they see it as a solution. I am feeling sorry to his family problem. Hope he stay strong and work hard to support his home financial.
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My friends and I read Seventeen when we were tweens, but moved onto more sophisticated reading material like Jane and Cosmopolitan before we entered high school because there were only so many boy band profiles and "52 ways to have the best first kiss ever" articles we could stomach. (But not, apparently, too many "52 ways to have the best sex ever" stories — those provided endless entertainment.)
But research shows that the number of 18- to 24-year-old women reading Seventeen grew 17 percent in the last five years — thanks in part to events on college campuses and a number of college freshman bloggers, Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket told the New York Times — and now the magazine is making a concerted effort to hold onto their more mature readers (who probably don't have to ask for parental permission to buy a subscription): tomorrow, the magazine will release a "Seventeen College Style" supplement along with its August issue. This will include "articles on campus fashions, creative ways to apply eye makeup for rush week events and affordable ways to decorate a dorm room and make it the 'hangout, study haven, makeout spot of your dreams,' according to the magazine."
Shoket said the supplement's articles are tailored to women on different types of campuses: "We designed the stories so that it was drilled down to what kind of college you are going to." Ugh, but I always thought that was the most obnoxious thing about teen magazines: quizzes are cute and all, but girls are more multidimensional than "Are you a Berkeley babe? Wear Birkenstocks!" Why read Seventeen when you could read Rookie? Or, I don't know, any one of the zillion amazing and inspiring teen fashion blogs out there?
Of course, I haven't seen the supplement (and I'm not actually a teenager) so I'm just speculating — maybe it'll be awesome. I hope it is! And the NYT tracked down at least one 19-year-old girl (a Harvard student, no less; fancy!) who buys Seventeen. "Vogue, I cannot afford a single thing in there. But in Seventeen I can afford most of all of it," Danai Kadzere said. "In college, your parents aren't paying for your clothes anymore. Even with a summer job, it still doesn't come up to being able to afford a $100 T-shirt."
True that. I'm just honestly shocked that older young women still rely on Seventeen to figure out where to buy T-shirts and how to kiss. "We are the magazine that helps them go to college," Shoket said. Really?
Seventeen Reclaims Readers Who've Moved On to College [New York Times]


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That feeling when you didn't get out of the office until just before 21:00 and by the time you get home and eat dinner and breathe for a few minutes you suddenly finding yourself saying, "Shit, it's 23:30 already??!!"
This is why I'm not doing NaNoWriMo this month!
Here's another shot from Camarillo this last Saturday. Our P-51 was taxiing in from a ride, while behind it our yellow SNJ was taking off for one.
Both aircraft are a joy to take a ride in – for a very reasonable price, I can arrange that if you're in the Southern California area. (Seriously! Shameless plug and all of that. We sell rides, I'm the finance officer, and we can always use the revenue. And it really is a great ride.)


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I adored getting to know Cassie & Dustin on this beautiful summer evening!
I headed to Verona, ON where these two and their adorable little man call home, we started out with some family portraits before heading into their engagement session. Their little guy was so wonderful and sweet, I can't wait to see more of him on their wedding day!
After the family portraits we toured this little area where they often go on walks, finding the most beautiful light and capturing a ton of love.
I can't wait for these two to say "I DO" in August!
Here is just a sneak peek into many amazing photographs from this beautiful May evening!


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Williams 3, Connecticut 1
W A T C H Game Video
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- The Williams College Ephs (7-2, NESCAC 4-2) took down another NESCAC opponent today, topping Connecticut College (3-6, NESCAC 1-5) 3-1.
The Ephs started aggressively in the first half with 2 back-to-back shots on goal by senior Alex Bennett at 2:27 and 2:50, but Camel goalie Andri McGraw kept Bennett's fires away from the net with two great saves. Bennett and junior Libby Dolan made efforts again at 7:13 and 8:58, but couldn't find a way past McGraw
The ball moved in favor of the Camels for a moment with a good shot from sophomore Sophie Pollinger, but was tightly saved by Eph goalie Emma Santucci.
The battle for the first goal continued with four more shots, two from Bennett at 12:42 and 18:59, one from freshman Molly Lohss at 29:42 and the last from junior Meredith Wright at 31:59. Eph head coach Alix Barrale noticed the "high pressure defense" of Connecticut and stated, "It put pressure on us to make good passes and it took us a while to make it happen in the circle."
The first goal came for the Ephs at 32:03 on a hard shot from Bennett assisted by Wright. The last few minutes of play saw no shots from either team and the half ended with McGraw having 9 saves and Santucci with 1 save and the Ephs on top 1-0.
For the second half, sophomore Abby Lloyd took over in the Eph goalie box.The half started out quickly for Williams with a goal scored at 41:21 by Dolan off a 41:11 penalty corner. The shot was assisted by senior Hannah Goodrick and Bennett.
The Ephs looked to advance their lead with 2 hot shots by Bennett and Dolan at 46:19 and 52:04 but McGraw held them off. A hard shot from Bennett, assisted by Goodrick found the back of the net at 53:37 and set the Ephs up with a 3-0 lead.
At the 60-minute mark, the Camel offense hit Lloyd with 4 tough shots that she battled off those, but a nice ball from Conn's Cheyanne Asplundh found the net at 67:43 for a late goal for the Camels. With the time ticking down, neither offense found opportunity for shots and the game ended in a 3-1 victory with the Ephs.
Barrale praised her goalie noting, "Lloyd had an incredible second half with those great saves. This was our ninth game in three weeks, so I'm super proud of our ability to push through this game and get a solid win."
The Ephs next match-up will be against Skidmore at home at 6pm Tuesday evening.


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Want to do your own home energy audit?
At Tiburon Energy we love what we do, and we also enjoying sharing our knowledge with anyone who is interested. If you are interested in do your own energy audit we'll be glad to help you along the way. This article provides a great strategy for conducting your own audit and explains how to prioritize efficiency upgrades. "Once you have finished your do-it-yourself audit, consider calling in a pro to complete a more thorough assessment. Your self-assessment can help the auditor better analyze your home and potential areas for saving."
Comments for this post are closed.


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Welcome to the Algarve! Algarve is the region in the southern part of Portugal with the coast line of more than 150 km long. By far it is most popular place for tourism in Portugal. All across the region you will find cozy villages, picturesque landscapes and world famous beaches. Long story short Algarve is a unique place where the nature, culture and cuisine come together to create an exciting mix which will create lifetime memories!
Golden Triangle, as the name suggests, is the place where luxury developments such as Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and surrounding areas are located. These developments are very popular for the exceptional quality of service, prestige golf courses, blue water beaches and exclusive real estate. These luxury resorts are conveniently located only 20 minutes away from Faro airport and close to touristic towns of Almancil and Quarteira. Tourists and residents are not only coming here to play golf, but also to socialize, eat out in finest restaurants, visit night clubs and simply enjoy the vibes of Algarve. The resorts are absolutely self-sufficient. They have everything you need inside the resort, such as small boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks, medical centers, supermarkets, etc. In this area you will also find some 5 stars hotels with their own golf courses, tennis academies and other facilities.
Resorts such as Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are already more than 40 years old. Since the beginning Golden Triangle has become favorite vacation place for many British and Irish people, most of whom have been loyal to this area for some 20 years in a row. Saying that you will definitely notice that big supermarkets like Apolónia (in Almancil) offer a variety of products imported from UK and other European countries
Quinta do Lago is an exclusive residential and recreational estate situated in 800 hectares of verdant countryside and pine forests bordering the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. The Facilities within the estate offer a wide variety of activities including Golf, Tennis, Horse Riding and many fine Restaurants and Night Spots. The Main Lake is used exclusively for non pollution Water Sports, and, the Beach provides diversion and relaxation for all the Family. Purchase a Luxury Villa and enjoy a sophisticated lifestyle with 24 hours security in the tranquil surroundings of a Nature Reserve.
For more than 40 years Vale do Lobo is one of the first choices of the quality tourism of Europe. Set in the heart of the Algarve, this Resort offers luxury villas nested by Golf Courses, pinewoods and 2 km of beaches. Vale do Lobo provides numerous services, excellent Restaurants of typical and international cuisine and several sporting facilities. This Resort was carefully planned to ensure that the natural beauty of the area is left un-spoilt by construction, designed to blend in with the natural contours of the land and environment.


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Billy Crudup The Creepy Neighbor Of Ben Stiller In Neighborhood Watch
What happens when a neighborhood watch group goes snooping too hard after a local murder occurs and encounters aliens hellbent on destroying the world? You get the comedy Neighborhood Watch starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.
Billy Crudup, who has played J. Edgar Hoover (Public Enemies) and Steve Prefontaine (Without Limits) previously, is in final negotiations to join the Fox comedy. He joins the already mentioned Dodgeball duo, plus Jonah Hill, SNL's Will Forte and Rosmarie DeWitt.
Akiva Schaffer (Hot Rod, SNL Digital Shorts) directs, while Shawn Levy is producing.


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Is yours a website – or a business tool?
There's a bit of pressure on a business, any business, to have a website. Is your website there because you felt you should have one, or is it there as an active promoter for you and what you do?
Have a scan of your competition's websites. You'll quickly be able to rank them according to first-impression – the good, the bad, the ugly! Which ones do you think are a 'positive' for the business they are promoting? Which of your competitors have a website that encourages more business in some way? Put the competitor websites in order, best down to worst (find at least half a dozen).
Now take a look at your own website, and slot it into the rankings. Is it a website with a bit of information, or is it actually trying to 'sell'? Does it give a good first impression? Does it tell visitors what you do and equally importantly, what THEY should do next if they want to find out more or even buy your product/service?
Your website is a business investment, which by definition means you should be getting more OUT of it than you put IN. It's easy to say "measure everything", but if you don't already have a gut feel on whether your website is pulling in new business for you, then you need to find some easy ways to get that information. Ask people how they found out about you, whether they referred to your website, what they thought of your website if they did. Make it part of the conversation when you get a new enquiry or customer.
A poor website built just to tick something off a to-do list will lose you business as potential clients go elsewhere. A good-looking website built to encourage customers to do business with you is a business tool that builds and promotes and sells.
(Another way to look at website "investment" – how much do you need to sell to generate enough profit to pay for a $3,000-$5,000 website? Read the Price or Value blog-post to find out more)


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Brent, facing manslaughter charges, retires
Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent retired from football at the age of 25, saying "doing the right things in life" is more important as he prepares to defend himself against a manslaughter charge in the December 2012 drunken-driving crash that killed his teammate and close friend Jerry Brown.
Brent is charged with intoxication manslaughter and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He has also tested positive twice for marijuana while out on bond, and was briefly jailed after the second test.
Colts tight end Weslye Saunders, who sat out the first four games of last season for violating the NFL's banned substance policy, was suspended for eight games after another PED violation.
HOOPS: Cappie an All-Star, but Liberty lose
Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter learned she will start in the WNBA All-Star Game, to be held July 27, when the results of voting were announced hours after a 75-55 matinee loss to the Sky in Newark, their fifth defeat in six games. Rookie Elena Delle Donne — the leading All-Star vote-getter with 35,646 — scored 23 points for Chicago.
The NBA unanimously approved Charlotte's nickname change from Bobcats to Hornets at the league's Board of Governors meeting. The original Hornets entered the league in 1988 until they moved to New Orleans in 2002. It will take place after the 2013-14 season.
The Mavericks reached a deal with center Samuel Dalembert. Yahoo Sports! reports the deal is for two years and $7.5 million.
ETC.: Froome keeps Tour lead; Riblon captures stage
Christophe Riblon became the first Frenchman to win a Tour de France stage this year and Chris Froome boosted his overall lead despite a late struggle in yesterday's 18th stage. Riblon caught American Tejay van Garderen with about a mile left.
Six current college football players were added as plaintiffs to a high-profile anti-trust lawsuit, led by former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon, that claims the NCAA owes billions of dollars to former players for allowing their likenesses to be used without compensation.
Serena Williams cruised into the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open by beating Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, 6-2, 6-3.
The Kings agreed to an eight-year contract extension with captain Dustin Brown.


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For anyone with an addiction, grief and loss are significant triggers for relapse. What are the stages of grief and how can understanding the emotions associated with grief and loss help you avoid relapse?
The Stages of Grief: Not Necessarily In This Order
Elizabeth Kubler Ross's seminal work on grief is widely regarded as the gold standard in the field. What are the stages of grief in her model?
- Anger
- Denial
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Initially, Ross's model for grief was explained as a process in which people experienced loss and processed their grief in a series of stages. They experienced each stage in sequential order, completed it, and then passed on to the next stage. In the years since her initial work was published, more and more people have found that, while the model is useful for normalizing the wide range of feelings experienced during grief, these feelings are not always sequentially organized and predictable. On any given day in the midst of grieving over the loss of a loved one or a relationship that has ended, you may experience intense anger and deep depression, and also have thoughts of bargaining. These feelings tend to cycle rather than come in stages that resolve upon completion. In other words, the emotions we experience in loss and mourning are more like riding a roller coaster than walking up stairs.
Forewarned is Forearmed
How does this information about the grief process help you avoid relapse? Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for it. Here are some tips for managing the cycle of intense and overwhelming feelings that accompany loss while also staying clean and sober:
- Emotions are not behavior. Feeling the desire to pick up a drink or a drug isn't the same as doing it. Forgive yourself for having those feelings and understand that feelings just happen. They are part of the process. You don't have to act on feelings, just feel them.
- Express your feelings, no matter how raw or "ugly" they may be. Write in a journal, or draw, paint, sculpt with clay; use any other means that works for you to let the feelings out. Being angry at the person who left you might not be rational, but don't judge. Emotions aren't supposed to make sense.
- Be aware of triggers to re-experiencing this loss. Anniversaries, birthdays, and other special days may be triggers, as well as places, songs, even scents. The triggers may come fast and furious at first. Expect to be sideswiped by memories and emotions when these triggers hit.
There is no correct way to survive grief and loss; some days white knuckling your way through it is the best you can do. Make use of all your supports, including 12-step meetings and psychotherapy. You may never exactly "accept" the loss, but eventually it is possible to live with it and feel good again, despite the loss.


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I'm not an early riser, I don't wake up at the crack of dawn and I usually skip breakfast. But, there are always exceptions. A breakfast sojourn to Uptown is one of them. Tell me about a nasi lemak crawl and I'll be there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Fancy some Nasi Lemak Bonnet?
When a friend enticed me with a Damansara Uptown nasi lemak crawl, I actually made the effort to brave the morning traffic to join her on this little excursion. The crawl consisted of kopitiams, a makeshift stall (and a car) scattered around Uptown. So loosen up your belts and join us on a gluttonous breakfast trail. You might end up yawning the whole day from a nasi lemak overdose but hey, you only live once, right?
The Perfect Balance
Nasi Lemak Bonnet
The set up of this stall amazes me. It's unbelievable how many things you can fit in your car's bonnet. Kak Zalina who handles and makes the nasi lemak here seems to be an expert in utilising small spaces. She arranges her wares neatly without cluttering her bonnet up.
Lauks and kuihs are arranged on the top tier of the bonnet while rice and sambal sits on the bottom. Using her husband's (Abang Jasman) family recipe, she's been selling nasi lemak this way for the past 3 years. They used to sell nasi lemak in a cafe nearby, unfortunately the cafe closed down and they lost their space so to solve this problem, they started selling nasi lemak from their car. Her set up might be small but her nasi lemak is big on flavour. Since it's sold from the back of a car, you have to 'tapau' and eat your nasi lemak somewhere else.
It's amazing how so many things can fit in the back of your car, you can even fit in a small nasi lemak business!
As soon as I opened the pack, I was hit by the aroma of pandan. It's incredibly fragrant so you know that they add pandan leaves when they're cooking the rice. I take a bite and it gets better. The rice is rich with santan, it's not starchy so the rice falls in separate grains instead of clumping up in a ball. This is great because when you mix in the sambal, the individual grain gets coated evenly and you'll get a perfect sambal-rice combo.
The rendang kerang is pretty awesome....
As for the sambal, the flavours are well balanced. Not too sweet, not too spicy and just the right amount of chillies and onions. Some sambals usually come swimming in oil but this one doesn't. It's moist without being oily. Another plus point is their crispy 'ikan bilis' and the choice of fried egg. You can choose to have the runny yolk or the well-fried version. Order the rendang kerang because they use fresh cockles and they don't overcook it so it has a nice and springy texture. It has a lovely rendang taste with plenty of turmeric leaves and kerisik. It will remind you of your school canteen nasi lemak, subtle but memorable.
In front of Country Farm Organics Pharmacy, Open daily, 7am - 10 am, Closed Weekends
The Best Lauk
Nasi Lemak Bus Stop ( Kak Hani )
The stall is located next to the main bus stop in Uptown. You will see cars stopping at the side of the road to 'tapau' nasi lemak from this stall. The friendly and bubbly proprietor is Kak Hani. I love the ayam masak merah here. It has an aromatic citrusy hint to it because Kak Hani actually adds kaffir lime leaves in the dish. She marinates the chicken well because the gravy sticks to the flesh, flavouring it with the lovely spices.
Sticky ayam masak merah liven up with kaffir lime leaves...
Her sambal is slightly oily with a sticky consistency. It's a very mellow sambal with a lot of onions. The rice is not as flavourful as the ones at Nasi Lemak Bonnet but it is still quite decent. The portions here are generous and she wraps it in a banana leaf to give it that extra aroma. Her nasi lemak is so popular that her husband has also set up another stall at the other side of Uptown to keep up with the customers' requests. They open all year round, even selling in Jalan Masjid India during Ramadhan.
In front of Beauty and Slimming Express, Open Daily, 7am - 10.30 am
The Fan Favourite
Village Park
How can we go on a nasi lemak crawl at Uptown without stopping at Village Park? They have a huge fan base. HUGE. Rumour has it that even a certain prime minister likes to have his breakfast here. The must-order dish here is nasi lemak and fried chicken. It is pricey compared to other nasi lemak places in Uptown but you do get a huge chunk of chicken with your rice so it's worth it.
Hi, fried chicken, can I eat you?
Sambal is sweet and the chicken has crunchy bits of fried onion and garlic along with the crispy skin. The plate is completed with the usual 'ikan bilis' and peanuts. The rice here is sufficiently fragrant and is cooked with just enough coconut milk to give it a smidgen of 'lemak'. I wish the sambal had more heat and not too much sweetness though. The downfall of Village Park is their inconsistency. There are days when their chicken and nasi lemak are not that great. But then that's just my personal opinion. I don't think my take would affect their popularity though because there doesn't seem to be an end to the stream of customers frequenting Village Park every morning. Besides nasi lemak, they also serve other kopitiam fare like half boiled eggs and roti bakar, check out the full review to see what else is on offer.
Village Park, 5, Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, GPS: 3.137784,101.623358, Tel: 03-7710 7860, Open from 7 am to 8pm daily, 7 am to 6 pm on Sunday/Public Holiday
The Hot Sambal
Killiney Kopitiam
If you're looking for sambal with a bounty of chillies, head over to Killiney. They make their nasi lemak bungkus in-house and it's a wonderful accompaniment to their coffee. Packed with heat, the sambal has a reddish colour instead of the brown/orange tones you find at other places. Be warned, the colour comes from the amount of chillies they put in the sambal, when it's red, it usually means that it's gonna be mucho spicy. Anchovies are also cooked together with the sambal to give it some extra flavour. One taste of the sambal and you get a heaty kick on your tongue. It has a slightly sour tinge which I think comes from the addition of tamarind. This is almost like a nyonya-styled sambal, sour and spicy.The rice is okay, it has hints of coconut milk although it's not as pronounced as some of the other places.
It's not as harmless as you think, pedas,yo!
The nasi lemak bungkus does come with a piece of fried chicken but it's pretty small so get a side order of otak-otak to eat with the rice if you want to bulk it up. With slices of cucumber and a thin sliver of boiled egg, it's a satisfying breakfast choice. The sambal is spicy so if your stomach can't handle too much spice in the morning, give this one a pass. They also sell an assortment of local kuehs and the karipap kentang is quite tasty so if you want a post-nasi lemak snack, the karipap is a good choice.
Killiney, 44 Jalan SS21/3, Damansara Utama 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, Tel : 03 7725 5130, 03 7725 5131, 10am to 10pm daily
The Cheap Option
Nasi Lemak Bungkus Kampung Kayu Ara
For a no-frills and cheap brekkie choice, why not try the nasi lemak bungkus Kampung Kayu Ara? It's a steal at RM1 a pack. You can see someone selling it by the side of the road, his plastic basket filled with packs of nasi lemak brought from the nearby kampung every morning. He's even there during the weekends.
The cute packets of nasi lemak bungkus...
The taste is not as rich as the other entries in this list but a pack is enough to provide you with a wholesome breakfast especially when your wallet is at its thinnest. A pack contains rice, sambal and cucumber slices. Tiny anchovies are cooked together with the sambal so it ends up chewy, some people like it that way, I prefer mine crunchy. The rice is slightly clumpy because I think they pack it while it was still warm. It only has a tiny note of 'santan' while the sambal has subtle hints of shrimp. It's value for money so if you're looking for a simple breakfast, give this one a go.
In front of Brother Peter Workshop, Opens daily, 7am - 10 am, Mon - Sun
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Saturday Fast-Track Degree program with a business Focus
Saturday Fast-Track Degree program for business students at Gaston College
A business-focused Associate in Arts degree can be attained in just 17 months through the Fast-Track Degree program offered by Gaston College. Students who enroll in the program for the fall 2017 semester, which starts in August, will earn the credits they need for the degree by the end of the fall semester in December 2018. They will attend Gaston College for a total of four semesters—Fall 2017, and Spring, Summer, and Fall 2018.
The program's classes meet on the Gaston College Kimbrell Campus in Belmont, and will be held on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Most of the classes are hybrid, meaning they combine in-class (seated) and online lessons. A few classes are online only, such as the two classes required during the summer semester.
The Fast-Track program was designed for working adults who are willing to dedicate Saturday mornings for in-person study toward obtaining their degree. Although some students may prefer the flexibility of a completely online program (an option that Gaston College does offer), the hybrid Fast-Track program gives students the opportunity to have some direct interaction with their professors. "We believe this model capitalizes on the benefits of both online and seated learning experiences," said Dr. Heather Woodson, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Gaston College.
Included in the program's business-focused curriculum are Introduction to Computers, Introduction to Business, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and Principles of Accounting. General education courses, such as English and Psychology, are also included.
The Associate in Arts (AA) is a transfer degree that is part of the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement, a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between community colleges and public universities within North Carolina. The objective of the agreement is the smooth transfer of students. All of the Fast-Track program's classes are fully transferable when students continue their education to pursue their bachelor's degrees.
In collaboration with Gaston College, Belmont Abbey College is beginning an accelerated Saturday morning format for business students. Gaston College students who have completed the Fast-Track Associate in Arts degree program can go on to Belmont Abbey for their bachelor's degree in business administration, and they can earn both degrees in a total of three years. "This is a partnership we're very happy to pursue," said Dr. David Williams, Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Belmont Abbey, "and the most exciting aspect is the way that it deploys hybrid and accelerated coursework in a BA program that fits the busy lives of working adults."
Information sessions have been scheduled for those interested in learning more about the Gaston College Fast-Track Degree program. The one-hour sessions will be held in Room 118 of the Gaston College Kimbrell Campus Classroom Building, 7220 Wilkinson Boulevard, Belmont, on Saturday, July 15, at 10 a.m. and on Thursday, July 20, at 6 p.m. Details about the program, including the class schedule and the enrollment process, will be shared, and representatives from Gaston College Student and Academic Affairs Divisions will be there to answer questions.


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The motto of Providence OPC is "...everything necessary for life and godliness..." Our motto is from II Peter 1:3, which says, "By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." Two verses later, the Apostle Peter says to make every effort to add to our faith seven things, including knowledge. In response to Peter's instruction, the following books are recommended, along with other resources found in the box on the left side of this page. May these resources serve to increase our "knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and goodness."
- "Redemption Accomplished and Applied" by John Murray
- "Saved By Grace" by Anthony A. Hoekema
- "Christianity and Liberalism" by John Gresham Machen
- "After Darkness, Light: Distinctives of Reformed Theology: Essays in Honor of R.C. Sproul"
- "Puritan Evangelism: A Biblical Approach" by Joel R. Beeke
- "Sermons on the Beatitudes" by John Calvin
- "Competent to Counsel: Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling" by Jay E. Adams
- "The Reformed Pastor" by Richard Baxter
- "Of Domestical Duties"(1622) by William Gouge


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NFPA 1730, Standard on Organization and Deployment of Fire Prevention Inspection and Code Enforcement, Plan Review, Investigation, and Public Education Operations to the Public is open for public comment. Deadline for submitting comments is May 16, 2014.
The NFPA Standards Council considered the request of Jim Crawford of Vision 20/20 Project that NFPA establish a standard that helps departments follow the process steps for a Community Risk Reduction plan. The Community Risk Reduction (CRR) plan is the identification and prioritization of risks followed by the coordinated application of resources to minimize the probability or occurrence and/or the impact of unfortunate events. After review of all the material before it, the Council voted to publish a notice to solicit comments on the need for the project, information on resources on the subject matter, those interested in participating if established, and other organizations actively involved with the subject. Deadline for submitting comments is June 23, 2014.


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Disney Offers Little Mermaid Interactive in Theaters
Kids who really want to be part of Disney's The Little Mermaid's world, will be able to check out a new interactive experience when the pic comes back on September 20th in select theaters.
Disney has created an app called Second Screen Live especially for The Little Mermaid, in which viewers can "interact with the film, play games, sing along, find new surprises, and compete with the audience." Viewers will be able to watch Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian while playing against other moviegoers on their device.
Seriously, do we really distract kids by letting them bring their iPads and tablets to theaters instead of focusing on what's going to the big screen? Is this a horrible scheme hatched by that sea witch, Ursula?
Here's Disney's trailer for The Little Mermaid Second Screen Live:


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Fire-ravaged BBMP to beef up security
It took a devastating fire to take the glasses of 'ignorance' off the BMMP's eyes that could not see the imminent security threat till the last month's blaze that reduced the BMTF office to ashes
It took a devastating fire to take the glasses of 'ignorance' off the BMMP's eyes that could not see the imminent security threat till the last month's blaze that reduced the BMTF office to ashes.
Firetenders outside the BBMP headquarters on November 19
Coincidently, the day when Deputy Mayor S Harish's Prada glasses worth Rs 70,000 went missing from Palike premises, the civic body decided to fortify its free-for-all headquarters on the lines of the Vidhan Sabha, spending Rs 1.5 crore.
Now the BBMP administration committee has decided to construct an 8 feet metal barricade around the office along with installation of CCTV cameras. They also plan to frisk of all visitors. The administration committee has been monitoring the security measures since the freak fire accident took place.
Ironically, at a meeting convened by the deputy mayor Harish to put an end to the criticism emerging from various quarters, he lost his expensive glasses. Presuming that it was stolen, Harish who has had no luck with the CCTV footage also.
"I had got my glasses for Rs 70, 000 and the lens alone would cost Rs 40,000. Hence, we are thinking to improve our security in Palike," said Harish.
He further added that the Palike will be made full-proof security zone. "Earlier, the fire broke out and now my reading glasses have gone missing.
Before things get even worse, we have decided to fortify BBMP. Other civic bodies in North India are very strict when it comes to security checks. Visitors will be subject to frisking," he added.
The opposition, which was waiting for another opportunity to embarrass the ruling BJP in council, attacked the decision to fortify the BBMP complex.
"No public has access to the Palike's inside affairs. Hence this expenditure is nothing but a waste of public money at this juncture when the Palike is facing acute shortage of funds," said Rizwan Nawab, deputy opposition leader, BBMP, adding that the move was 'nothing but eyewash, a waste of public money'.
Security lapse?
On November 19, a freak fire broke out in the BMTF station in the BBMP head office, the ruling BJP had to face criticisms from all quarters for the lapses. The security measures were the point of concern.
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Your first job after graduation probably won't make you a millionaire. For some grads, that makes the federal government's 10-year graduated student loan repayment plan sound ideal: Your monthly student loan payments increase every two years, so you pay less as you're starting out and more as time goes on and your career progresses.
In most cases, though, you'll pay more in interest over time on the graduated repayment plan than if you chose other repayment options, including refinancing. So if you picked the graduated plan, stay on it if you really need to pay less now because of your income. Consider refinancing your student loans instead if you have a high credit score and might want to pay off your loans in less than 10 years.
We'll lay out the differences between the plans so if you've narrowed your options down to these two plans, you can decide which is best for you.
Table of contents
- The basics: Graduated repayment plan
- The basics: Refinancing
- Which is best for you?
- How to take action
The basics: Graduated repayment plan
How it works
Remember that student loan exit counseling session you had to complete online when you graduated from college? That's when you signed up for a plan to pay back your federal loans. You also have the opportunity to choose a repayment plan when you consolidate your student loans.
The graduated plan is one of your repayment options. You pay less initially than what you'd owe on the default 10-year standard plan, which breaks up your loan balance into 10 years' worth of fixed payments. Graduated repayment is helpful if you're on a tight budget right out of school. On a $10,000 direct unsubsidized loan with an interest rate of 4.29%, for instance, you'll pay $58 a month at first on the graduated plan. You'll pay $103 a month on the standard plan.
Graduated repayment is less popular than standard repayment, though. Only 12% of the 20.3 million direct loan borrowers are on the 10-year graduated plan, while nearly 56% of direct loans are in repayment under the standard plan.
The benefits
Along with a lower monthly payment to start, the graduated plan gives you access to federal loan benefits you'll lose if you refinance. You can temporarily suspend or reduce your federal loan payments when you can't afford them, and you won't pay interest on your subsidized loans during periods of deferment. Public service employees can get the remaining balance of their loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program after they make 120 eligible payments.
The drawbacks
Not all borrowers can count on their incomes increasing every two years, so you might reach a point at which the graduated plan is unaffordable for you. For example, your initial payment on a $10,000 direct unsubsidized loan might be $58 a month, but that would rise to $173 a month later in your repayment term. That's $70 more than what you'd pay on the standard plan.
You'll also pay more in interest overall than you would on a plan with fixed payments, since you're accruing interest on a larger unpaid balance early in the plan. On that $10,000 direct unsubsidized loan, you'll pay $2,321 in interest and $12,321 total through standard repayment. You'll pay $2,904 in interest and $12,904 total — almost $600 more — through graduated repayment.
The basics: Refinancing
How it works
During the refinancing process, a private lender takes over your loans, so they're no longer owned by the federal government. The lender will pay off the federal loans you choose to refinance and replace them with a new private loan.
Unlike federal loans, refinanced loans are credit-based. Your new interest rate will depend on your credit score and other financial factors, which vary from lender to lender. Some require you to earn a certain income, while others have minimum or maximum loan balances you must meet in order to refinance.
When you refinance, you'll often have the opportunity to choose between a fixed interest rate and a variable interest rate, which fluctuates according to market conditions. Variable rates generally start out lower, but they're riskier; fixed rates might cost you more money, at least initially, but they give you the certainty you'll never pay a higher interest rate than what you start with.
The benefits
Congress resets interest rates on federal loans every year, so your loan might carry a higher rate than what you'd get if you applied today. Since the federal government doesn't allow borrowers to refinance their loans to current interest rates, refinancing with a private company is the only way you'll potentially receive a lower rate on the loans you have.
To get an idea of the interest rate you might get if you were to refinance, you could look to NerdWallet's partner Credible. It's a refinancing marketplace that gives borrowers loan offers from up to nine lenders at a time. The lenders that work with Credible offer fixed rates on refinanced loans starting at 3.74% and variable rates starting at 1.92%. (Remember that you'll get the best deal with a strong credit score.) Interest rates on federal loans are currently between 4.29% and 6.84%.
A lower interest rate also means a lower monthly payment. Remember that when you repay a $10,000 direct unsubsidized loan with a 4.29% interest rate on the graduated plan, your monthly payment increases from $58 a month to $173 a month over 10 years. Let's say you refinance when you have $8,000 in principal left to repay: A refinanced loan with a five-year repayment term and a 3.5% interest rate gives you a flat payment of $145.53 a month. You'll save nearly $30 a month by refinancing compared with what you'd owe during your final two years on graduated repayment — and you'll pay off the loan sooner.
The drawbacks
Not everyone is a good candidate for refinancing. The government gives all borrowers the same interest rate depending on the year and the type of loan they take out. Private lenders, on the other hand, take your credit history and other financial circumstances into account. You'll receive a lower interest rate if you have a high credit score, solid employment history and a steady income.
Taking your loans private also means they'll no longer come with the protections the federal government provides. You won't be able to utilize loan forgiveness programs or interest-free payment postponement, and you won't have the opportunity to switch to a different repayment plan; the amount you pay from the beginning most likely won't change.
Which is best for you?
Stay on the graduated plan if you'd only be able to afford your loans by paying the lower amount you currently owe each month. The graduated plan is best in those early years after graduation, when your income and job aren't as stable as they'll eventually be.
But as you progress in your career, the graduated plan will end up costing you money in interest. If you're having no trouble affording your rising payments, you might be a good fit for refinancing. You'll save money and have the option to choose a shorter repayment plan than 10 years, which would help you get rid of your loans faster.
Refinanced loans are best suited to borrowers who can count on a secure income and who don't qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness or other loan cancellation options. If you think you might take advantage of federal loan protections, consider refinancing your private loans only, if you have them.
You also have the option to switch from the graduated plan to the standard plan if you can afford the fixed monthly payments, or an income-driven plan if you need more flexibility. The standard plan will save you money in interest and income-driven plans will keep your monthly payments low.
How to take action
If you want to switch repayment plans, call your federal loan servicer. A representative from the company will walk you through how to do it, what you'll owe each month, and how the change will affect your loan balance. Check out NerdWallet's advice on how refinancing stacks up to the standard student loan repayment plan and consolidation, too.
If refinancing is best for you, Credible will let you you compare offers from multiple lenders at once.
Sign up for NerdWallet Grad's weekly newsletter to get career and money advice delivered right to your inbox.
Images via iStock.


text: New Studio for Horror Films Launches in Russia 11:32 AM PST 11/6/2015 by Vladimir Kozlov FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME AP Images Moscow Downtown - H 2015 Its first project is expected to go into production during the spring of 2016. Heads of Russian distributor Volgafilm and TV production company FMP Group are partnering up to launch the country's first company focused entirely on horror movies. Volgafilm's head Sergei Yershov and Vladislav Severtsev, co-founder of the TV production company FMP Group known for the show Bitva ekstrasensov (Battle of Psychics), are launching a new company called 10/09, Volgafilm announced. "This will be the country's sole studio focused on the production of movies in the [horror] genre," Severtsev said in a press release, adding that several projects are currently in development. The new company's first film is set to go into production during the spring of 2016 and be released by the end of the year. According to Yershov, 10/09 will focus on national archetypes and mythology, revisiting it with the use of contemporary film language so that films it produces will also have international appeal. Some of the Battle of Psychics archives could also be used as the basis for feature films, Severtsev said. Severtsev and Yershov recently co-produced the local horror movie Pikovaya Dama: Cherny Obryad (The Queen of Spades: Black Rite), which they referred to as a trial run before launching their company. Volgafilm is known as a Russian distributor of primarily foreign films and has worked, among others, with Lionsgate, StudioCanal, Focus Features and Pathe. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Vladimir Kozlov firstname.lastname@example.com @thr


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Tipperary Community Services Centre in St Michael Street, Tipperary town, affiliated to Muintir na Tire, is about providing a range of social services in and around Tipperary. The centre has been in operation for nearly forty years. Before that the building was a national school and continues to be owned by the parish. Management is in the hands of a voluntary committee and much of the work is done by members of a CE scheme. The central service operated in the building is Meals-on- Wheels, five days a week, together with an associated restaurant for restricted customers. Tipperary Mid-West Community Radio, Active Retirement and Tipperary Citizens Information are also based in the Services Centre.
Organisational Structure
(Affiliated to the National Organisation of Muintir na Tire)
Officers and members of Management Committee:
Breda Ryan: Chairperson
Brian Rafferty: Secretary
Tom Fitzgerald: Treasurer
Des Marnane: Assistant Treasurer:
Angela Lonergan
Denis Hartnett
Justin McCarthy
Elaine Fitzpatrick
Members of Meals-on-Wheels Committee:
Des Marnane: Chairperson
Tom Fitzgerald: Secretary / Treasurer
Mary Donovan : Nurse
Maureen Gleeson
Bryan O'Brien
Teresa Hinchey : Supervisor
Noonan 0'Cinnéide & Co,
St Michael's Street, Tipperary
St Michael's Street, Tipperary
Bank of Ireland, Main Street, Tipperary


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Submitted by Jasmina on Sat, 2006-12-09 23:29.
TORONTO, December 6, 2006 -- The Greater Toronto Area's resale housing market maintained its strong pace in November as 6,281 homes changed hands during the month, Toronto Real Estate Board President Dorothy Mason announced today.
November market on solid footing
"Existing home sales have remained very respectable through the first two months of the fourth quarter," Mr. Mercer said. "Home buyers have remained confident in their ability to purchase a home due to low borrowing costs and steady employment and wage growth, on average."
In the city's east end, Scarborough Town Centre / Woburn (E09) saw an increase in overall sales of 30 per cent compared to November 2005, led by a jump in condominium transactions.
A jump in transactions of semi-detached homes fueled an overall sales increase of 53 per cent in the York South area of Toronto (W03) compared to the same timeframe a year ago.
North of Toronto in Richmond Hill North (N05), detached homes were the most common housing type changing hands as the area saw an overall increase in sales of 29 per cent compared to last November.
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