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Can you find recycling on the Gold Coast? Mining pollution in Logan Square? A vegetarian restaurant in the far South Loop? Over the last seven years, Nadine Bopp's students at the School of the Art Institute have. Their 21 neighborhood "green maps," available on the school's Web site, constitute one of the 400 registered projects in 51 countries that are officially part of the international Green Map System.
According to Bopp's statement at artic.edu/webspaces/greenmap, the neighborhood maps seek to "help residents and tourists make ethical consumer choices during their daily experience of the city." But don't take them at face value. Like all maps, they look simple, straightforward, and objective. And like all maps, they're complex, extremely condensed, and subjective.
The Gold Coast map's color scheme is gentle blue and green, with yellow streets and an intricate border. It could be a Chamber of Commerce map, but there's no marker or label for the Marriott or Nordstrom. In between them, on the south side of Illinois between State and Wabash, two red arrows chase each other. That's the Green Map System icon for "reuse site," so I looked under "renewable resources" in the map's index. The Jardine Water Purification Plant just north of Navy Pier heads the list, followed by 11 more names and street addresses. The icon that caught my eye was identifying "Afterwards New and Used Books" at 23 E. Illinois.
You might wish that the map were clickable. You might quibble with the spelling (it's "After-Words") or with its comprehensiveness (the Enterprise car rental at State and Ohio gets a double-arrow icon but the Hertz at State and Kinzie doesn't). You might wish it were dated, so you could tell how current it was. What you can't quarrel with is that this is a map unlike any you can buy at a bookstore or pick up at City Hall.
What makes it part of a movement is that the School of the Art Institute has signed up to use the internationally recognizable Green Map® icons. At Green Maps's 1,200-square-foot office in New York's East Village, founder Wendy Brawer oversees four staffers, four interns, and a worm-composting bin. The group's Web site, relaunched in May, is viewable in English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Indonesian. Recent blog posts discuss the new Compost Green Map of Manhattan, announce (in Chinese) the launch of the "China Green Map Newsletter," and display a YouTube video on the green map launch in the western Colombia city of Pereira. The group's budget, mostly from foundation grants, is under $150,000 a year, which doesn't include the volunteer and barter help it relies on.
Would-be mapmakers—students, professors, agencies, tourism boards—can apply to be licensed users of the icon system and pay for the privilege on a sliding scale. Aside from this legalism, Green Maps operates as a benevolent anarchy, a wiki with lenient admins. Brawer said the staff rarely turns down an applicant, although it may suggest seeking out a local partner. Similarly, there's no overall grading of maps after the fact, and any comments are kept positive. "There have been a couple of maps we've been disappointed with," she said. "We try to mention possible changes when the mapmakers can address them—for instance, when they're converting a map to PDF format."
I mentioned that Pittsburgh's green map showed just a single brownfield in the 11-county area. Brawer immediately recalled that the sponsoring group's goal had been "to encourage people to stay in the area after graduation," so it mostly listed environmental goods and didn't tackle tougher issues. "We hoped they'd do another project," she says, "but I'm not sure the group still exists." In Shanghai, where unofficial maps are forbidden, local would-be green mappers await governmental approval.
Writing 15 years ago in The Power of Maps, Denis Wood foresaw none of this when he summarized cartography in two sentences: "What gets mapped is what makes money for those who have money. And all the rest of it is a kind of technical handwaving."
Building on geographic information system technology as well as environmental enthusiasm, Brawer says that these days "what gets mapped is what the view of the mapmaker is." Or as Nadine Bopp puts it, "This map is a voice."
In the winter and summer terms at SAIC, Bopp and each class of 20 students exercise their voice by producing a neighborhood map in an intensive course spanning 15 three-hour days.
Day one: "We talk about sustainability and urban planning and where they're from. We get a lot of international students here, and so our maps reflect their perspective as well as just a local one."
Day two: They look at the Chicago Architecture Foundation's own colorful map, which identifies 222 vernacular neighborhoods such as Bucktown and the Gap (the city officially recognizes only 77 community areas). Working within the constraints of mass-transit travel time and student safety, they "vote and vote and vote" on which neighborhood to map, with the lowest finisher on each ballot being eliminated until a decision is reached.
Day three: "We all go to the neighborhood together" to get acquainted. On the following days they split up into groups of four and each walks every block of its piece of the neighborhood, making notes and taking pictures. The students rarely visit or consult with local residents or community organizations, and with three weeks from start to finish, there's little time for revision. Landscape architect David Tulloch of Rutgers University, who does green map projects on a longer timeline, has written about his difficulties in convincing undergraduates to revise their work and community groups to help them do so, but those are problems that Bopp can barely think about. "We're kind of in our own bubble here," she says.
I thought there was some mistake when I saw a row of crossed pickaxes along Milwaukee Avenue on the Logan Square map. Isn't that the Green Maps icon for mine pollution? No mistake, says Bopp. Those pickaxes represent jewelry stores: "There are no mines in Chicago, but they support mining and slave labor elsewhere."
Of course, some of these shops do jewelry repair as well. Might they not qualify for the benign double-arrow reuse icon—as does the Gold Coast car rental agency, because it promotes reuse of another product environmentalists have serious reservations about? Every dot on every map distills dozens of arguments like this and renders judgment.
Are those judgments right or wrong? That's not quite the point. The point is that the multitudes now make the maps.v
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$ 81.00 – Sold Out
This athletic skirt is made for optimal movement. The front and back skirt panels are in a fun and versatile polka dot print that has antimicrobial and wicking properties. Side panels made from a lightweight stretch mesh allow for side to side movement on those technical trails or on the court. The under shorts are made from an eco friendly recycled polyester/spandex and are super lightweight and wicking. A side pocket on each short leg will hold your phone, fuel or tennis ball. The waistband is wide, sits comfortably at your waist and has a zipper pocket in the back big enough for your phone too. A continuous drawstring will allow you to adjust the waist size without fear of losing the drawstring in the wash. Available in a 5" inseam under short with a soft elastic around each leg so thigh chafe is a thing of the past. Hit the trail, road or court with confidence!
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subset: commoncrawl


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**LINK EXPIRED** Thank you for participating in the February Besties freebie, but the festivities are over and be sure to be on the lookout for our next gifts! Besties & coordinating freebies will be available for purchase in our Scrap Orchard shop on 3/7/12.
Click on the image above to download today's freebie! If you're wanting to see where each day's gift will be, there's a calendar and more information HERE.


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Persons that utilize Pathfinder Community Supports Supported Living Services are able to do many things for themselves, but still need some assistance in independent living. Supported Living services range from one hour to 24 hours per day. Supported Living staff provides assistance to those with disabilities in areas where they need assistance utilizing person centered planning.
Pathfinder Services Inc. provides Supported Independent Living service to adults in Huntington, Marshall, Wabash, and Allen counties of northern Indiana who have developmental disabilities.
Pathfinder Services Inc. utilizes person centered planning which is defined as information specific to each client as provided by them and other stakeholders in their life who know them best.
Adults utilizing the Supported Independent Living services of Pathfinder Community Supports embrace these principles:
- Stability
- Independence
- Availability and continuity of support
- Easy access to the community
- Flexibility of lifestyle
- Personalized environment
- Individual empowerment
- Quality assurance
- Maintaining a home or apartment
- Privacy, respect and dignity
- Community acceptance
- Enhanced social relationships
- Community integration and participation
- Economic independence
Family Support
Family members appreciate the flexibility and responsiveness they find in Supported Independent Living staff. Family members play an important role in helping customers adjust to living on their own and encouraging their loved ones to become more self-sufficient.
Pathfinder Community Supports encourages all clients to keep in contact with family and friends.
Funding for Pathfinder Community Supports Supported Independent Living program comes from:
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver


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If you've paid off your credit card after the winter holidays, why not put your card away in the drawer now? If your goal is to live within your means and even get some savings behind you, I would suggest that the regular use of a credit card may not support this goal.
Can you be masterful with money without a 'MasterCard'?
Some folks use a credit card for all of their discretionary spending, paying off the bill in full when it arrives at the end of the month. I'm not too comfortable with this. It means that your income is immediately devoted to paying off last month's costs, so you're always on the back foot.
Use cash
Here in the UK, the CAP Money Course is well-respected way of helping people break the cycle of debt and get on top of their finances. CAP advocate a cash system: withdraw the money you need for each item of discretionary spending (e.g. food and groceries), place the cash in an envelope and only spend the amount of money in the envelope until next week comes around.
I use 'cash' but with a debit card, tracking daily my spending against different budget categories, which I anticipate and plan for every month.
Emergencies only
I have one credit card account. I once cut up the actual card completely, but realised that this was probably an extreme move, as I do some international travel and having a credit card can be useful.
I now retain that single card but I use it only for genuine emergencies. Here's one such example. Around Easter 2015, we took a trip to Dubai as a family. We all became very poorly, which we attributed to a meal we ate in the desert. My husband subsequently collapsed because of dehydration and gastroenteritis, following which he spent a night in one of the city's hospitals where he was put on a drip to recover. Moral of the story? Keep a credit card for genuine emergencies. That was a real emergency, involving blue lights and a lot of other 'excitement' that I'd rather not repeat.
What if I've got more than one card?
There are varying different views on this.
If you are familiar with the work of Dave Ramsey, you'll know that consolidating credit card debt onto one card (or onto a loan) is a no-no. Ramsey's view is that you should work to pay down the smallest debt first, which results in a positive 'snowball effect' of paying down each debt one by one. Although you'll keep paying the minimum payment on any other card/s you have, once you've paid off card 1, all of your efforts can be devoted to paying off card 2 and so on.
Another possible option is to buy yourself some breathing space by transferring your credit card debt onto an account where you pay zero interest for a given period. This could allow you to divide the money owed into manageable chunks, paying off the balance before the credit interest kicks in.
What I do see from Ramsey and others:
No debt is good debt. If you need to use a credit card to buy something, that suggests you can't really afford it.
What's your view? How does becoming minimalist support your financial goals?
Join the Midlands Minimalist Community
If you're a regular visitor to the blog, consider Joining the Community. With access to new resources that aren't available via the blog, Community members also receive my newsletter, delivered straight to their inbox (just two or three times per month).
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|Urban, Joseph
Submitted to: Parasitology Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2006
Publication Date: 2/1/2007
Citation: Uston, P.I., Urban Jr, J.F., Ashraf, M., Ampy, F.R. 2007. L3l4es antigen and secretagogues induce histamine release from porcine peripheral blood basophils after ascaris suum infection. Parasitology Research. 100(3):603-611.
Interpretive Summary: Ascaris suum remains as a parasitic infection of swine that causes considerable loss to the industry because of poor efficiency and secondary microbial disease. There is recent information that also indicates affects on the vaccination efficacy against microbial pathogens. Worm infections generally skew the immune system to control the worm infection at the expense of mechanisms that target microbial pathogens. This study shows that the blood circulating basophil is increased during worm infection of pigs and that the level of histamine contained in these cells also increases. This suggests that the systemic circulation of cells that can release relatively large amounts of histamine when confronted with worm parasites can affect the normal health status of the pig, and could negatively affect growth and production parameters. This information would benefit research to optimize the health and performance of food animals since it would reduce the expression of disease.
Technical Abstract: The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of porcine basophils in protective immunity. Experimental pigs were infected with 1,000 Ascaris suum eggs daily for 21 days. Control pigs were maintained helminth-free. Circulating porcine basophils were isolated from the anti-coagulated whole blood of A. suum-infected and non-infected pigs by dextran (4.5%) sedimentation of erythrocytes or by the centrifugation of dextran-isolated leukocytes through discontinuous Percoll gradients. Results showed that 2.2% of the isolated leukocytes, stained with May-Grunwald Giemsa, were basophils. Each basophil from infected pigs contained 1.30×10-2 to 1.20×10-1 pg of histamine. Peripheral blood basophils (PBBs) from infected swine released 49% specific histamine when induced with A. suum-derived antigen (L3L4ES), 55% with anti-immunoglobulin G, and 62% with calcium ionophore A23l87. During A. suum infection, the number of isolated basophils and histamine levels peaked at 14 to 21 days post-infection and then showed a significant decrease. Percent-specific histamine released from PBBs by infected swine was significantly greater than that released by control pigs. The L3L4ES antigen and secretagogues effectively induced specific/nonspecific histamine release from PBBs and should facilitate future investigations of porcine basophils.


text: to be is to be perceived: "But besides all the endless variety of ideas or objects of knowledge, there is likewise something which knows or perceives them, and exercises divers operations, as willing, imagining, remembering about them. This perceiving, active being is what I call mind, spirit, soul, or myself. By which words I do not denote any one of my ideas, but a thing entirely distinct from them, wherein they exist, or, which is the same thing, whereby they are perceived; for the existence of an idea consists in being perceived." -George Berkeley, The Principles of Human Knowledge (1710) G.N.A. Vesey, Body and Mind, editor, George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1964. Image: Fermilab National Accelerator. Published 13 April, 2013 at 1966 × 1436 in ( 0 ) dimension esse est percipi


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Our top moments of the week:
13. Lamest Return: Chad Michael Murray makes his much-anticipated return to One Tree Hill when Lucas comes to town to pick up his niece and nephew for a vacation to distract them from their dad Nathan's abduction and... well, that's it. Not only do all of Murray's scenes take place in the airport, but would Lucas Scott really come to Tree Hill after two years away and not see his other friends? We're glad Murray came back for the show's final season, but our imagination of how Lucas, Peyton and Sawyer are was much more exciting than reality.
12. Most Outrageous Reveal: After surviving their river plunge on Castle, Beckett and Castle re-team with his former muse, CIA agent Sophia (guest star Jennifer Beals), to figure out that a mole in the CIA has planned to kill the daughter of a Chinese kingmaker — a death that would trigger World War III (yeah, just go with it). As they arrive at the building to stop the assassination, Sophia and her cohort push the two into an empty room, where she reveals herself to be the mole and a sleeper KGB agent. "This was never my country," Sophia says in laughable Russian just before her No. 2 — whom she framed as the mole — predictably shoots her dead. The whole plot is completely ridiculous, but the one good thing to come out of it? Just before she's killed, Sophia hints that Castle's mysterious dad may have been in the CIA.
11. Parents Just Don't Understand Award: On The Bachelor, Ben visits the ladies' hometowns. When he arrives in Tennessee to meet Kacie's conservative parents, she immediately warns Ben, a winemaker, that her dad doesn't drink, but that doesn't stop him from bringing a bottle of wine as a gift anyway. (Way to listen!) The clashing of cultures continues when Kacie's dad makes it clear to Ben that he won't approve of a proposal and that Kacie's mom would be disappointed if the two lived together before marriage. "Don't rush into anything. I don't want to see anybody get hurt," he tells Ben. "If Kacie is not the one, I would hope that that would be communicated to her very soon to prevent her from getting hurt anymore." Turns out Kacie is not the one, so Ben sends her home — but not before she yells some profanities from the limo. Wonder if her parents would approve of that?
10. Most Obvious Bias: As part of Top Chef's Fire & Ice challenge, Sarah makes a frozen mousse that is supposed to melt into a sauce, but it winds up too icy and almost inedible. She's a total goner, right? Nope! Tom Colicchio, who's championed Sarah all season, excuses the mishap as "not her fault" and she books a place in the final two. Um, if it isn't her fault that it became ice-hard, then whose is it? And how do you overlook a component that failed to serve its purpose? Hell has frozen over.
9. Funniest Case of Nerves: Just before he meets with the judges to learn his fate on American Idol — he made it into the Top 24, by the way — a visibly shaken Heejun Han takes one of Ryan Seacrest's questions the wrong way. When the host asks, "What are you sweating?" — as in "What are you worried about?" — Heejan doesn't miss a beat and answers, "Mostly water," before Seacrest tells him what he really meant. What else, besides water, is Heejun sweating exactly? Do we even want to know?
8. Creepiest Ex Factor: Orson returns to help Bree put her life back together on Desperate Housewives, but it is slowly revealed that her ex-husband is not the white knight he appears to be. When Bree inquires about Orson's newfound confidence, he says it came from learning how to drive again after his paralyzing accident. Orson is then shown in flashbacks stalking Bree from behind the wheel — including when she and the girls buried Alejandro's body. The worst part? We learn that Orson is the one who sent Bree those disturbing I Know What You Did Last Summer notes. We think we liked Orson better as a kleptomaniac, and we didn't like him as a kleptomaniac.
7. Best Lady Macbeth Impression: On The Walking Dead, Lori decides that perhaps the best way to deal with Shane (who's become erratic and dangerous, all the while professing his love to Lori) is to take him out for good. Cue an intimate scene between Lori and hubby Rick, where she tells him how scared she is of loose-cannon Shane. The icing on the cake: Lori says Shane believes Rick isn't fit to lead the group anymore. To borrow from another Shakespeare play: Doth the lady protest too much? From the seething look on Rick's face, he doesn't seem to think so.
6. Knowing When to Move On Award: Ted gets the green light from Barney to pursue Robin (again) on How I Met Your Mother, so he treats her to a date/trip down memory lane (blue French horn!). But just when it looks like déjà vu, Robin is not feeling it and tries to assuage the pain by reminding Ted of their "if we're single at 40" back-up plan. "I can't do that anymore," he says. "As long as the door is a little bit open, I have this feeling that I'll just be waiting around to see if I win the lottery. I think you know how you feel about me now." Crestfallen, Ted tells Marshall that he knows that he and Robin are better off as friends, sending Marshall to tell Robin something he knows his best friend can't: "You gotta move out." So... can we meet the mother now? (Bonus moment: Did you catch Conan O'Brien lumbering around MacLaren's?)
5. Most Heartbreaking Delivery: She took her into her home. She gave her food. She helped her study. But months of Julia's hoping, wishing, praying and hard work convincing Zoe to let her and Joel adopt Zoe's unborn child on Parenthood fall apart when Julia goes to the hospital to pick up her new son — only to find Zoe in the nursery cradling the baby in her arms. No words are exchanged between the two, but when Zoe sees Julia, she starts crying and holds the baby closer, and it is immediately clear with whom the baby is going home. Maybe Zoe is just saying goodbye? Sigh. Just pass the tissues already.
4. The Blind Side Award: We've seen a footrace, an ill-timed pee break and a lost passport during Amazing Race Pit Stops, but none will top the absurdity on the Season 20 premiere. With the final spot in the Top 10 on the line, sisters Misa and Maiya rally from last place and appear on their way to safety at the Pit Stop behind the building. But they inexplicably miss seeing Phil Keoghan — not to mention the Pit Stop greeter and the whole camera crew and production team — who are visibly standing 80 yards to their right. As they hysterically search the grounds, friends Joey "Fitness" and Danny check in. The girls chalk up their blunder to tunnel vision and, later, to not knowing what to look for. Uh, how about people?
3. Best Sexy Time Shenanigans: In an effort to spice up her sex life with hubby Lamar Odom, Khloe Kardashian decides to get a sex swing on the Season 2 premiere of Khloe & Lamar. Instead of calling in the pros, she installs the contraption herself, but sadly it is not built to last. Right as they're about to get it on, the swing breaks, dropping them on to the bed. "I guess I didn't install it right," Khloe laughs. "I couldn't even rock!" Lamar laments. Our biggest question: Why were they letting cameras film them having sex? Oh, wait. Never mind.
2. Best Twist: After years of watching Will Gardner cut corners on The Good Wife, most fans assumed he had narrowly escaped conviction once again when he was not indicted for judicial bribery. Wrong! Instead, Will's 15-year-old, $45,000 loan from a client resurfaces and, rather than face possibly losing his law license forever, he chooses a six-month suspension from being a lawyer or going near his firm. Judging from the baseball bat in his hand as he walks out the door, apparently he's going to use some of that time to work on his swing?
1. Worst Twist: Rachel and Finn decide to get married on Glee, but Rachel insists on holding up their civil ceremony to wait for her very belated bridesmaid Quinn. Five minutes before City Hall's closing time, Rachel urgently texts Quinn to get there now. While driving, Quinn texts that she's on her way just as a huge truck is about to plow into her car — and the scene fades to black. (Don't text and drive, kids!) And here we thought the pink hair would be her low point this season.
What were your top moments?


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Do you want your business plan to be considered favourably by funders?
You will need to demonstrate the following in your business plan.
Show that you have the right management team
A bakery must have someone who excels in making confectionery. Without this somebody, it may be difficult to make products that are any different from what is already in the market. And, it may be difficult to produce products that are consistently good.
This goes for any industry, you need to have someone with good technical skills, someone who will lead the production effort.
Selling is also a must-have skill in any business. You may have the best product in the world, but if you cannot sell, it will never fly.
If you don't have these skills in the business, build a team that does. The team could be a co-founder who has the required skill. It could be people you employ in your business.
Show that you have the right management team in your executive summary.
Show relevant industry knowledge and experience
Someone wanting to start a bakery needs to know the baking industry. You need to know how big it is, the value chains and distribution channels used.
You need to know what is trending in the industry, for example changing preferences for 'green' confectionery, if there is anything like that, the increasing use of technology to improve customer service. This will help you to see where opportunities are.
Funders want to see if you know what you need to have in place to improve your chances of success, what they call key success factors. If you wanted to open a gas station, you would have to put it up next to a busy road. Location is a key success factor for the fuel station. In the bakery example, you need to have someone with very good confectionery making skills to build a successful confectionery shop. It is a key success factor for any business that wants to be successful in that industry.
Weave evidence of this knowledge into your business plan and summarise this knowledge in your executive summary. If funders go through your executive summary and do not see this information, they may decide to stop reading the rest of the business plan.
Show meaningful traction for your product
The last time I checked my dictionary for the meaning of traction, it told me traction has the same meaning as grip. In everyday use, we could say 'my car tyres have no grip on wet roads, I need to replace them'. In business it also means more or less the same thing. It specifically means the amount of grip a product has on customers. A product that has traction or grip on its customers will fly off store shelves, customers cannot do without it. And funders love products that have traction. I am sure it's clear why.
Before raising capital, use the resources that you have to make a sample or prototype of your product. Pool your savings together with your co-founders, borrow from friends and relatives, sell your idea to business people you know, get a second mortgage on your home, get a personal loan.
Start testing your product with your customers by selling it. If and when customers buy your product again and again, you have got traction. If they don't, listen to what they are saying, go back and work on the product until people begin to love it.
Capture all sales, preferably through a bank account. Bank all receipts from your sales. Over a 6 to 12 month period, your bank statement should tell a good story of a business that is showing growth.
In cases where you are not able to make a sample or prototype of your product because it is expensive, at least do talk to potential customers and get letters of intent to buy the product from you.
Ability to repay the loan
You need to provide proof that your business will generate sufficient cash flows to cover its costs and to repay the loan.
Own investment
There is no greater turnoff to funders than having nothing to invest in your business. At the minimum, be prepared to contribute at least 10% of the total funding that you need. Sometimes this requirement falls off if you have invested money in your business. For startups, however, you will need to make provision for that. After all, if you as the business owner are not willing to invest in your own business, why should anyone else.
A good credit history
A clean credit history is important. If you don't pay your accounts, what comfort does a lender have that you will repay them this time around? If your credit profile is poor, repair it. Talk to your creditors, make arrangements to pay off outstanding debt, and have that arrangement in black and white.
Providing security for business loans is a challenge for entrepreneurs. Funders prefer property as security.
You can also get someone to stand as surety for your loan.
Investments and policies with a surrender value can also be used as security.
Development funders like the IDC and the NEF are less stringent than banks on security requirements.
Compliance with regulatory requirements
Register your business with CIPC, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. If you do it yourself, it will cost you less than R200.
Open a business account with a bank of your choice.
Apply for a tax clearance from SARS. It's free.
You can also get your BBBEE certificate for nothing, you simply feel an affidavit that you sign before a Commissioner of Oaths.
Have you applied for funding before? Do any of these tips resonate with you? Share with us your experiences with funders in the comments box below. I will personally respond to each comment.


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If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have learned the hard way that there are some relationships that are just…wrong. Thankfully though, I've also discovered that there are also relationships that are just…right. Looking back, I know there were signs in my first relationship. Signs that I clearly ignored. Read More
Tag: marriage
Tell Me Something I Don't Know About You
Tell me something I don't know about you. A question I ask Hubs all the time. Usually at intimate moments. A quiet dinner just the two of us. After supper, on the couch, when the kids are in bed. When we're in bed…my head on his shoulder, my fingers playing with the hair on his Read More
Should I Have Waited to Marry?
Marriage advice will usually tell you that "marriage is hard work"—and with my first marriage, I certainly found that to be true. Keeping up with my husband's demands were exhausting. Trying to be the wife he felt I should be was a lot of work, and I'm sure that he found I was similarly demanding. Read More
I'm NOT The Divorce Whisperer: Have You Become 'That' Girl?
Have you become a divorce mentor? Not an official one, with a shingle. I mean unintentionally – did you become someone that it seems that everyone who is contemplating/going through a divorce feels the need to speak to? Not the Divorce Whisperer, but sort of like the Divorce Yoda…"The divorce is strong with this one". Read More
I Had A Dream
I had a dream. Let me make this clear – this is no MLK speech. As I was awakened this morning, I was yanked out of a dream that I was very much enjoying…that left my lady bits tingling. Now before I tell you about the dream, I should let you know that my husband Read More
False Comfort
Today's prompt on haiku horizons is the word "safe". The word evoked all sorts of images – a physical safe, a baby safe in her mother's womb, a sense of security. I chose to go with a description of what I thought at the time as a "safe" choice. I finished college Thought marriage was Read More
Chinese Fortunes and Being Aware of Your Fears…
We had Chinese food the other night. I don't generally take stock in Chinese mystisism as touted by a badly made cookie, but as I shared with the children, I pulled a fortune that had a deeper meaning. Being Aware of Your Fears Will Improve Your Life I had a dream the night before. In Read More
The Only Way to Win is Not to Play
I don't like confrontation. I never have. I would prefer to roll into a ball with my hands over my ears than be yelled at. I withdraw. Although I've taken courses in management, I'd rather continue to be a "cog", because I detest confrontation. I know it's a weakness. Overall, I have a very good Read More
Am I Good Enough? What Would My Mother-In-Law Have Thought?
I've written a few times about what an amazing woman my MIL was and how much I would have liked to meet her. I must admit though – I sometimes wonder if she would really have liked me. A friend of mine posted the other day that it's the drunk family gatherings that remind her Read More
My Journey to Motherhood
I had two miscarriages with my ex prior to my pregnancy with my eldest. I spent a lot of the pregnancy trying to do things I hadn't done in the previous two. I somehow got it into my head that I'd done something "wrong" that caused the miscarriages. Logically, I was aware that one out Read More


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When Singapore was expelled from Malaysia on Aug 9, 1965, the Malays went overnight from being part of a majority in the Federation to a minority community. Apprehensions about the future loomed large.
But 50 years on, the Malay/Muslim community has progressed in ways it never imagined, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said on Friday night.
Its people have contributed significantly to a vibrant, harmonious nation, and have done well for themselves, he added.
"We are what we are today - with higher household incomes, high home ownership, talents in many fields, movers and leaders in our own right - not because of subsidies, but because we persevered and gave our best."
Dr Yaacob was speaking at an annual Hari Raya gathering attended by, among others, community and religious leaders as well as Cabinet Ministers, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The journey, however, was not all smooth sailing, he noted.
"We have had low points, such as under-achievement in education, the drug problem, families caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and debt, and even distortion of the teachings of Islam."
Still, the community has not done too badly in these tests to its resolve and spirit, said Dr Yaacob, who is Minister of Communications and Information.
He gave credit to the community's pioneers. Led by the late President Yusof Ishak, they backed the Government and rallied people to come together as one.
"Their commitment helped shape an entirely new outlook for the community and defined who we are today,'' he said.
Dr Yaacob cited examples to show the community has always been progressive in finding ways to move forward.
These include creating wakaf or religious endowments of property to benefit the community and setting up Harmony Centre at An-Nahdhah Mosque to promote inter-faith understanding.
"We can definitely take pride in the strides that we have made," he said, while announcing that Istana Kampong Gelam, the historic residence of Malay royals that is now home to the Malay Heritage Centre, will be gazetted a national monument on Aug 6.
But he warned against being complacent: "New and more complex problems will emerge as we move forward."
Growing affluence could place the community at risk of becoming stratified, and social media and globalisation bring diverse views, including varying intepretations of Islam, he noted.
Despite the challenges, Dr Yaacob brims with optimism that his community will keep progressing.
Key to this, he said, is to "stay united as a community, and to stay true to our faith and culture".
"Imagine what we can achieve in the next 50 years, given that today we have a more educated and competent community."
His confidence stems not just from statistics, but the stories of Malays who exemplify the community's values, he said.
These include: the courage of teacher Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed who died in the Sabah earthquake and the perseverance of former madrasah student Amalina Ridzuan, 22, who went on to junior college, polytechnic and is now a medical student at the National University of Singapore.
They reflect the values and spirit that have brought the community to where it is today, said Dr Yaacob. "It is this spirit, faith and confidence that will see us through... to an even brighter future,''


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The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse, located in the Ohio River town of Evansville, IN, was originally completed in 1890.
By the early 21st Century, the building was in critical need of restoration, updating and repair to ensure its place as a center of social and political life for new generations of southwest Indiana residents.
RATIO's preservation team, in conjunction with VPS Architecture, completed a preservation master plan that documented the existing conditions of the courthouse and developed a prioritized list of rehabilitation projects, beginning with a restoration of the Wedgwood Room and the installation of a new catering kitchen.
Work in the Wedgwood Room, the former law library, included restoration of the hardwood floors, marble wainscot and decorative plaster details. Replica light fixtures were installed and the room was repainted complete with gold-leaf gilding. The new catering kitchen provides modern equipment and facilities to support the activities in the Wedgwood Room.
The second project involved stabilizing of the plaster wall and ceiling surfaces in public corridors, stairwells, and the former Probate Courtroom.
The most recent project restored the Superior Courtroom to its 1920s appearance. This work included restoration of the floor, wall and ceiling finishes, refinishing the historic woodwork, repair and restoration of light fixtures, restoration of the room's historic furniture, and the sensitive installation of contemporary technology.


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From the LATimes:
Reporting from Sacramento -- The Obama administration is threatening to rescind billions of dollars in federal stimulus money if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers approved in February as part of the budget.
Schwarzenegger's office was advised this week by federal health officials that the wage reduction, which will save California $74 million, violates provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Failure to revoke the scheduled wage cut before it takes effect July 1 could cost California $6.8 billion in stimulus money, according to state officials.
The news comes as state lawmakers are already facing a severe cash crisis, with the state at risk of running out of money in July.
The wages at issue involve workers who care for some 440,000 low-income disabled and elderly Californians. The workers, who collectively contribute millions of dollars in dues each month to the influential Service Employees International Union and the United Domestic Workers, will see the state's contribution to their wages cut from a maximum of $12.10 per hour to a maximum of $10.10.
The SEIU said in a statement that it had asked the Obama administration for the ruling.
Of course, that was May 8, before the Obama administration backed down:
On Wednesday, the Obama administration said that California's decision to cut the state's contribution to home health care workers' wages will not affect the state's eligibility for $8 billion for Medi-Cal provided through the federal economic stimulus package, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
The wage cuts affect workers participating in the In-Home Supportive Services program. A provision of the state budget approved in February reduced the state's contribution to the workers' wages from a maximum of $12.10 to $10.10 an hour (Hotakainen, Sacramento Bee, 5/20).
Unions representing the workers complained to the Obama administration, arguing that the cut violated a provision of the stimulus package that bars states from shifting costs to counties.
However, in a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), federal officials wrote that the reduced state contribution to the wages does not violate the stimulus law because it does not require counties to increase their contribution to IHSS workers' wages (Freking, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 5/20).
You'd have to wonder why.
Of course it couldn't have anything to do with lucrative $15,200/plate Beverly Hills fundraisers.
But more importantly, you'd have to wonder how the possibility that the Feds might raise the same sort of issue in Delaware might play in the face of unified opposition from virtually all state employee labor unions.


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Penobscot Narrows Observatory
Fort Knox Park Inn
Fort Knox Park Inn
Fort Knox Park Inn
64 Main Street
Po Box 826Bucksport, ME 04416
$63 - $90
Hotel DescriptionThe Fort Knox Inn a Magnuson Hotels affiliate is located near Fort Knox State Park Penobscot Narrows Observatory & Bridge Verso Paper Company and Maine Maritime Academy; and a short drive to Bar Harbour and Acadia National Park.The hotel offers free continental breakfast free high-speed Internet access free parking and beautiful river views.All rooms feature free high-speed Internet access free local calls hairdryers coffeemakers and cable TV with extended stations. Many rooms have a breathtaking view of the Penobscot River.
Amenities(Additional fees may apply to some amenities)
- First Class Hotel
- Motel
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Kristin Kreuk
and finally able to use the pen pressure a bit.
Thanks to Tom (Phan-Tom)..although your settings didn't help much
but it pushed me to look harder.
Also played a bit with the border...
it's not perfect but hope you like it.
My DA: http://straycat27.deviantart.com/
CLICK to go to the LITTER BOX.


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Ever heard of Mumbaiya Rog?
At: 5.30 pm, Nov 10, Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point Call: 9004387573
One of the least developed districts of Nepal regards India's Maximum City with equal measure of longing and regret. Filmmaker Aditya Seth's -- Bahadur The Accidental Brave, tells us why
Bahadur The Accidental Brave opens with a watchman in plain clothes walking through a narrow lane and knocking on a friend's door. "I'm collecting money to send my brother back home to Nepal," he says. "He's unwell." His friend takes out a 100-rupee note, and Man Singh Pariyar, the watchman, walks on. To another friend, he reveals, his brother is HIV+. The man clenches his jaw and replies, "I earn only Rs 3,000 a month. How much can I afford to give?" but removes a 100-rupee note and hands it over to Pariyar.
Aditya Seth, the director of Bahadur The Accidental Brave
Later, talking to filmmaker Aditya Seth, Pariyar lays down the various problems he's facing. Being a Nepali immigrant, his brother has no ration card or legal documents that entitle him to free treatment at a government hospital. Anything other than a government clinic is, in any case, unaffordable. "Our employers don't give us money for treatment," says Pariyar. "The best thing to do is to return to the village. At least, we have our family who'll take care of us there."
Seth's 65 minute-long documentary reveals the irony of Pariyar's assertion. Every year, lakhs of rural Nepali men migrate to metropolitan centres in India, including Mumbai, to escape back-breaking poverty and with the hope of sending back money to take care of their families.
However, unfortunate lifestyle choices lead many of them to contract HIV, which is transmitted to their wives and, subsequent newborns, after which they, like Pariyar's brother, return home. Consequently, in the villages of Nepal, AIDS is referred to as Mumbaiya Rog (Mumbai disease). As young men prepare to make a similar journey across the porous national border, farewell songs mix caution with lament. "Don't bring back the Mumbaiya Rog," villagers tell those travelling for work.
"There is a small epidemic breaking out in the villages of Achham (where the migrants come from) and no one is doing anything about it. In another few years, we'll have a full blown epidemic on our hands," says Seth, who began shooting this documentary in 2008 and completed it earlier this year. "As a filmmaker, my job to be objective and dispassionate. No film brings about a revolution, but I'll be happy as long as this one gets people thinking," he said.
At: 5.30 pm, Nov 10, Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point
Call: 9004387573
'A micro-epidemic is breaking out'
Aditya Seth has been associated with the Indian media since 1986, and his documentaries cover a wide spectrum of topics. We speak to the veteran on his latest documentary - on the condition of the Nepali migrants in the city
What got you interested in making this documentary ?
It began with a radio show that I had worked on with Equal Access and Family Health International, Nepal, from 2005 to 2007. It was called Des Pardes and I worked on a 15-minute segment where I would interview people from the Nepali community staying in Mumbai, focusing specifically on the physical and mental health concerns that emerged from the lifestyle they led. They'd drink, gamble and visit brothels. They'd save too little to send money back home and their high-risk behaviour left them vulnerable to contracting the HIV virus. So after the radio show ended, I made this documentary to show the micro epidemic that's breaking out in Nepal's villages, particularly Achham, where I shot.
Sections of the Nepali press weren't too happy with the title of the film.
The film is called Bahadur The Accidental Brave, because I wanted to challenge the stereotype we have of the Nepali migrant. We think of him as Bahadur, and completely overlook the history of the word. The British gave the Nepalis the name because of the bravery with which they fought wars. I got both, negative and positive feedback from the Nepali intelligentsia that saw my film, and to those who had a problem with the title, I simply told them that the title is a reference to the point of view the average Indian has of a Nepali migrant worker.
You have to move beyond the title of the film, and discuss the issues being raised in it.
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Unlimited borrowing per card, however there are limits based on types of material, patron type and subject.
Library materials may be borrowed for the following lengths of time:
2 day for requested reference material.
|Material Type
|Loan Period
|Books, Book/Recording Sets, Recorded Books and Pamphlets
3 weeks
There is a limit of 3 books on one subject.
|Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Material
|2 weeks
|2 weeks
|Music CDs
|1 week
|5 days
|Video Games
|5 days
When are materials considered late?
All Library materials must be returned on or before their due date. Initial due dates are listed on receipts received at checkout. Due dates extended through the renewal of eligible materials are available by accessing your Library account for renewals performed online or by phone.
Overdue materials may be subject to late fines.
Borrowing privileges are suspended for users who have received a third overdue notice for any currently checked out item.
Where can I return Library materials?
Library materials can be returned either inside the library at the Circulation Desk or outside the library in the book drop.
I think I have returned an item, but it's still attached to my record?
Patrons are responsible for any library materials borrowed on their card until they are checked in at a Waterford Township Public Library and cleared from their list of checked out items. If you believe you have returned an item, you must call or visit the library to claim it returned. To expedite the process, it is strongly suggested that you visit the library and request staff to check the shelves for it.
If the item is not found, you will have until the end of the library's billing cycle to locate it and return it before a replacement charge is applied to your record. Until the item is found or replacement charges are paid, you will continue to receive overdue notices and the item will appear on your record with its status changed to that of a Claimed Returned/Disputed Item. This status will also be applied in cases where an item appears on your record that you do not recall checking out and the same notice and billing cycle apply.
The surest way to know that an item is no longer checked out to you is to request a return receipt at check-in.
Downloading from our digital collections
Cardholders have access to downloadable books, movies and music through online resources and other digital collections. For additional information, visit elibrary.
Accessing Library databases
The Waterford Township Public Library offers access to many electronic databases on a variety of topics from the arts and humanities to science and technology available both in the library and at home. Many of these databases include full-text articles, audio and video content, and resources in languages other than English.
Please note that many databases that can be accessed from outside the Library will still require you to enter your Library card number and PIN.


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The Hampton Illinois Library celebrates its 10th anniversary with a day of events Saturday, Aug. 6.
The library was built via a partnership with the city of Dallas and the Dallas Independent School District, and it serves as the school library for the adjacent Jimmie Tyler Brashear Elementary School. It cost $6.1 million to build and replaced the old library on Illinois.
The 24,000-square-foot library was designed by RBDR Architects; it has a black-box theater, two conference rooms and a silver LEED rating.
The anniversary celebration includes games, starting at noon, including Jenga, kerplunk and bowling in the hallway. A balloon artist entertains children from 1:30-3:30 p.m. A firetruck visits at 2 p.m., and crafts with kids start at 3 p.m. Find the library's full listing of daily events here.
More library news:
A nearby library, Highland Hills, welcomes poet Jamaal May from 1-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. The author of "I Love to Read" will read excerpts from his book of poems, "Hum."
The Arcadia Park Library is starting up a Lego club, and they need donations of Lego toys, particularly the smaller kind.


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Ross Bolleter: Secret Sandhills and Satellites
In his extensive sleeve notes, Bolleter writes that a piano is Ruined (rather than Neglected or Devastated) when "it has been abandoned to all weathers and has become a decaying box of unpredictable dongs, clicks and deboomps, with not a single note (perhaps excepting D) sounding like one from an even-tempered upright piano. Sometimes you push down one key and five or six others companionably go down with it, making for a surprise cluster and swathes of harmonics singing forever. The notes that don't work... are at least as interesting as those that do.
At one time there were reportedly some 700,000 pianos in Australia, when the population was barely three million, so it is maybe unsurprising that there are so many ruined pianos to be found there. Bolleter's description makes it sound like they are everywhere in Australialike dead cars or fridges elsewhere (certainly in London!).
The sound of these ruined pianos is often very close to that of a prepared piano, with their occasional unpredictable thuds and clangs. In a sense, they are prepared pianos, but the preparation has been natural (by the elements, flora and fauna), not man-made. When Bolleter includes real tracks of prepared piano, such as "Going to War Without the French Is Like Going to War Without an Accordion and "Time Waits (the latter studio-recorded on a prepared Yamaha Grand), they fit seamlessly into the flow of the album.
Bolleter certainly manages to extract the most from these ruined pianos, and he uses the results to produce music that is compelling and evocative. He frequently plays two instruments simultaneously, also supplementing the ruined pianos themselves with accordion, percussion and sound effects. By far the longest and most substantial piece here is "Secret Sandhills, at over 28 minutes. Unusually for music on Emanem (a bastion of improvised music), it is a constructed piece, the result of editing together Bolleter's playing on six different ruined pianos in six different locations, each with its own unique sound and idiosyncrasies. (Bolleter details some of the history of each one. For example, "Originally the bar piano from the Big Bell Hotel. Subsequently the Ruined Piano at Nallan Sheep Station, near Cue, 700 kms NE of Perth, Western Australia. Priceless stuff.) The end result is an entertaining and varied sound collage.
Highly recommendednot as a novelty, but as a unique listening experience.
Track Listing
Secret Sandhills (in memory of Timmy Payungka Tjapangati c1940-2000); Axis; Dead Marine (for David and Carol Kotlowy); And then I saw the wind
Ross Bolleter: ruined pianos.
Album information
Title: Secret Sandhills And Satellites | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Emanem


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Small-staffed churches are often called missional, because they intently focus on reaching the unchurched in their communities.
MBS seeks to meet the IT needs of those church staffs by providing private and secure cloud hosting of email and data file storage. We call it Missional IT.
Here are the details:
- MBS has an Exchange Server each Missional IT subscriber would get an account in. Those accounts would provide secure email with SPAM filtering, calendaring, task management, notes, and contact list management the subscribers could access via the web interface, Outlook, or almost any other app. The email address of the subscriber would have a number of domains they could choose from (like firstname.lastname@example.com, or @ChurchMail.net, or @GodLovesYou.net, or @OurChurch.net), and each account would be fully secure.
- MBS has a file server set up on which each subscriber could store up to 100gb of data (we limit this service to 100gb because it is not intended for storing personal pictures and video, but rather for storing sermons and other data files that need to be fully backed up and available in case of disaster). The files would be easily available via Windows Explorer (on a Windows computer) or Filer (on a Mac computer), as well as available via mobile devices.
- The cost is $10/month per user, or if paid annually $110/year per user to get one month free each year. We limit this service to three (3) users per church for two reasons:
- Once a church gets four or more on staff, its needs are such that the church should establish a domain and servers unique for only their use, and
- MBS is partially underwriting this service as a ministry to very small churches.
- Support:
- Unlimited incidents for anything that is MBS's responsibility via MBS' support portal (support tickets are created by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com)
- Up to 6 issues per year that are not MBS's responsibility via MBS' support portal, each additional beyond that would be $10 per incident.
- Unrelated support (for help with something like a crashed computer, etc) would be a minimum of $10.
This service does not facilitate having a domain name that is unique to your church or allows users to have access to each others' accounts from within their accounts. We have another service for that; click here.
Want to know more about MBS' Missional IT service? Email us with questions or use the form below to start your service! We will invoice your church for your service.


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When you need a home inspection, you want to make sure you get a good one here in the Movico area. First, you need to know what a good home inspection is. Then you need to know how to find a home inspector who can, and will, give you the home inspection that serves you well. And last, you want to know how much you should pay for this quality home inspection by a good home inspector.
Quality Home Inspection: Does It Matter? What Should It Cost?
Congratulations on taking the first step for purchasing a home. But is the home inspected? Do you have a detailed property inspection report?
Results of a home inspection can make or break the sale of a home. Also, mortgage companies look closely at home inspection reports to ensure their investment is worthwhile. Inspecting the physical condition of a home is a very important aspect of the home-buying process. You should include the same in your purchase contract before closing the sale.
A qualified home inspector performs the home inspection using a checklist to ensure every aspect of the structure and its surrounding is covered. It is beneficial to cross check your home inspection report with the seller's inspection report to ensure nothing has been missed.
As a buyer, you can be armed with a checklist. Also compare it with a property inspector's list to ensure nothing is amiss.
Structural Inspection
It is vital for the home to be structurally solid and safe. Structural features inspected include roofing, floors, attic, walls, ceilings, columns, basement & foundation.
Roofing and exterior components refer to external features of the home. The inspection would cover the patio, deck, exterior windows & doors etc. The garage is also checked as a part exterior inspection. Water drains are tested for proper functioning.
HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Inspection
Air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical are examined for proper performance. The inspector checks all the utilities for the proper installation and function. This includes vent systems, water and waste drainage, water system, etc. Property inspectors examine the proper functioning of appliances to check for plumbing or electrical issues.
Interior Inspection
The interior house inspection covers ceilings, floors, walls & stairs. Every aspect of the interior inspection including steps, balconies, windows, doors, etc. are checked.
Insulation and Ventilation Inspection
The house inspection includes a check of ventilation in the kitchen, bathroom, and attic. Home inspectors check the foundation and subfloor for any issues. Every home is checked for possible problems based on the geographical location.
If the home inspection reports indicate that the house is in good condition, you can advance with the purchase, knowing you're getting a good deal.
Also, if the inspections bring some issues to light - such as electrical or plumbing damage, etc. - you can negotiate with the seller to pay for necessary fixes OR lower the purchase price. As a home buyer, you need to equip yourself with all the details about the home before you make the purchase. The home inspection process ensures that your investment is a safe bet.
Importance of Home Inspection
Ask a dozen Home Inspectors, or make it a bakers dozen if you will, what it is that makes a Home Inspection report a GOOD Home Inspection report, and you are just liable to get 12 or, make it 13, different answers. Well, maybe there wouldn't be that much disparity in response, but you get the general idea...there almost certainly wouldn't be any unanimous consensus. Because individual Home Inspection reports, just as with individual Home Inspectors, simply aren't created equally...one report absolutely is not (allow me to be repetitive here for emphasis)...is not just like the next...neither in content or in quality.
There are many differing opinions as to what constitutes a good Home Inspection report and this is evidenced by the large number of report formats and the myriad of various software programs that are used to create reports. Having been in the Home Inspection industry for more than 15 years, I was creating written (gulp...yes, hand-written) reports using carbon copy report forms, in triplicate (three copies...press hard, please) back when there weren't any computers involved in the process. In fact, I had to be drug, not quite actually by my hair, and not quite literally...but almost...kicking and screaming, into what I'll refer to as the modern computer age. In retrospect, it was a definitive change for the better (in most ways, anyway...I have yet to have my wrist "crash"...but I digress). As the owner of a Raleigh Home Inspection firm, I have my own professional opinion as to what goes into the production of a good Home Inspection, and as to what a good Home Inspection report should be.
There is differing opinion amongst professional Home Inspectors as to whether a checklist style of report should be used...or whether a narrative style report should be used. In the former, issues or problems (I have never have liked referring to issues as problems, even though an issue may very well be, and likely is, a problem for someone...) are conveyed to the reader using boxes that are checked off. In the latter, issues are presented using narrative, wherein each problem is identified by writing out those issues. In reality, most reports are a combination of the two. The combination style of report is the one that I prefer and recommend to other Home Inspectors; descriptive commentary e.g. materials or types of components, can be conveyed using a check box with the real issues conveyed using narrative.
So, what are the...ingredients...necessary to create and provide a good Home Inspection report?
To preface any discussion regarding this subject topic, and from a clients perspective (who is likely relying on the contents of the report to make a well-informed real estate purchasing decision), it is important that the Inspector be experienced, knowledgeable about most all related issues that might be encountered, and be entirely professional toward both the Home Inspection process as a whole and toward the client/buyer specifically. This must be, in my opinion, accepted as a given and be considered a baseline requirement. The overall philosophy of the Inspector should be to provide their client with not only a good inspection experience, but an excellent inspection experience. Of course, it should be herein acknowledged that if the home has a really large number of serious issues, then the experience may not seem like such a good one to the client at the time...but that's likely (or should be) the fault of the condition of the home itself rather than the fault of the Inspector. In the event of a less than stellar report resulting from an Inspection of a particular home, the client is able to revel in the fact that their professional Home Inspector, and their most excellent and professionally produced Home Inspection report precluded their buying the proverbial Money Pit and their having any number of unexpected or unanticipated expenses associated with their home purchase.
Obviously, any report absolutely must provide the client value...with, at the very least, a good representation of the condition of the property. If a report doesn't do that, then the report is likely not worth anything...it would be worthless even if it were free.
Among other things, a Good Home Inspection Report should:
* Be well organized and well presented; the report should layout and presentation should be logical...it should be organized so as to provide a sort of road map, if you will, around and through the home
* Be well written...and be readily understandable by anyone irregardless of whether or not they have ever been to the physical property and irrespective of their technical background. The report should, to every extent possible, be devoid of technical nomenclature that requires yet more explanation to be understood; it should be concise and clear. A report that has to be interpreted is of little overall value
* Provide enough detail, description and direction to provide not only the client, but anyone involved in the transaction e.g. real estate agents, attorneys, mortgage lenders, etc., with a clear representation of the physical condition of the property
* Contain enough, but not an excessive number, of digital photographs relating directly to significant or serious issues. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words...this is true of a home inspection report. Photographs make it immeasurably easier to identify and understand any particular issue. On the other hand, a report loaded with photographs that lend no additional value to a report and are provided as filler content, or to provide a CYB (Cover Your Buttocks..) function for the Inspector, are best left out of a report
* Be presented using plain, but grammatically correct language. There is no place in a professional Home Inspection report for misspelled words, fragmented sentences, and general misuse of the English language (or whatever language is appropriate). A report filled with these types of deficiencies is, and again in my opinion, directly indicative of the professionalism of the Inspector
* Be presented in a straight-forward manner...if there are reportable issues present, then they should be presented in such a way as to leave no doubt that they are, indeed, issues. There should be no Soft-Shoeing...no Song and Dance...no Weasel-wording...just straight talk, accurate description, and effective commentary. Further, there should be some commentary provided to explain why an issue is an issue, and how to go about correcting that issue or otherwise obtaining other professional opinion regarding its correction
* Contain a well-designed Summary Section...a section of the report where all significant, and potentially significant, issues are clearly identified. General information, suggestion regarding routine maintenance, or recommendations regarding the upgrade of the property should not be included in the Summary section of the report. That type of information should most certainly be provided in the report for the benefit of the client...just not in the Summary section of the report
A client in search of a professional Home Inspection should inquire of any potential candidate Inspector as to what type of report they produce...nor should they be at all shy or hesitant about asking that the considered Inspector to provide a sample of their inspection report. That way, a client will have a very good representative idea of what they can expect from the Home Inspector. The nursery rhyme that goes...Patty Cake...Patty Cake, Bakers Man...Bake Me A Cake As Fast As You Can...may have been good for Mother Goose; but when it comes to a Home Inspection and the resulting report, you may or may not want to get it just as fast as you can... but you certainly, absolutely, and most unequivocally want it to be just as GOOD as you can get it!
If a Home Inspection report incorporates all of the previously identified components, then it is highly predictable that the result will be a Good inspection report...and maybe even an Excellent inspection report. Isn't that what a consumer should be searching for...and be entitled to receive I might add, in exchange for their hard-earned dollars... a most Excellent Home Inspection report?
Home Inspection Checklist: What to Look for in a Home Inspection Company
Home inspections are important as they enable a buyer to learn about the physical attributes of the home. In almost all instances, homes are sold in less than perfect condition. Therefore, a buyer needs to be informed about the anticipated costs associated with maintaining the home post-closing.
As a result, the house inspection is a significant phase of the home buying process. An accredited and experienced home inspector investigates the home and writes up the inspection report after the inspection is completed. This detailed document becomes a very important tool in the real estate transaction process.
A property inspection typically includes an examination of the entire house including:
The typical cost of an inspection varies depending on the area, size of the home, and services provided by the home inspection company. As with most services, there is a strong element of getting what you pay for. Selecting the lowest priced inspector can often result in problems down the road.
Hire a licensed property inspection professional to represent your best interests-whether you are a buyer, seller or owner - to ensure the home is safe for you and your family, and that you are fully informed about major upcoming expenses.


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St Cadocs Youth Club had a special visitor on Tuesday night - Scotland legend James McFadden. The 800 strong Community Club were delighted that the former Motherwell and Everton star came along to take a training session for starry eyed 2006s. This came after the team's Eva Drummond had scooped the prize in a club raffle.
A St Cadocs' spokesperson said: "Nothing was too much trouble for James, happily posing for pictures, signing boots and chatting to the kids whose smiles said it all.
James joined in a game with the kids along with his own son. At time up he wanted to keep playing - and did!"
It was 10 years to the day since that famous goal in Paris and James reflected: "I loved playing for my country but like every kid I started at my local boys club team - West Park. I went to Hearts but left as I missed my Boys Club. I was so impressed tonight by the attitude of the kids. The weather was poor but their enthusiasm was there for all to see.
The coaches give up their time but you need that enthusiasm from the kids, it was brilliant to see. We agreed to just get them playing, running about and scoring goals . I loved it."
Asked about the facility at Eastwood High, James was full of praise. "My son plays on concrete at the moment and we need more of these 3G facilities. I was really impressed with the whole campus and the pitch itself. Credit to the council for supporting such a large community club.
"The fact there were 80 odd St Cadocs kids training on it and developing as potential players was brilliant to see.I 'm aware that Liam Lindsay (Barnsley FC) played with St Cadocs and he is going on to have a good career. I'm sure there will be many more as the years roll by."
St Cadocs 2006 Coach Paul O'Neill said: "We were very fortunate that James, who obviously has a great enthusiasm for the grass roots game in Scotland volunteered his services for this training session with our 2006 team. He had a natural way with the kids who revelled in being on the field with a Scottish football great. It just so happened to be on the anniversary of James stunning hit that won us the game against France... which the kids knew all about. Worth noting also that he stayed a lot longer than planned and was swamped by the kids coming to next training session."
"St Cadocs Youth Club thank James for giving up his time and wish him all the best at Queen of the South . He gained a lot of new fans tonight."


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Completing The Loop
Each of the three arrows in the recycling symbol has a meaning. The first arrow represents the collection of recyclables and the separation from the waste stream. The second arrow represents the manufacturers which take the recyclable material and make a new product from it. The last arrow represents consumers buying the recycled content products produced by the manufacturers. This is why many people say "you're not recycling until you are buying recycled content products."
Many common consumer products contain recycled content. In fact, it is very likely that you have "completed the loop" and bought recycled content products.
- Over one-third of the corrugated cardboard boxes produced in the U.S. have recycled content in it.
- Over 25% of the glass bottles produces in the U.S. have recycled glass content.
- Over half of the aluminum cans produced in the U.S. have recycled content.
- The Lincoln Journal-Star Newspaper contains recycled newsprint. Depending on the supplier of the newsprint the percentage of recycled content in the newsprint ranges from 25% to 30%.
The first step in buying recycled products is learning to identify the recycling symbolsA product labeled with a recycling symbol containing no background shading means that the product can be recycled after it is used.
Products labeled with a recycling symbol containing shading in the background means that the product was made from recycled content material.
Products Made From Recycled Content
Here are some common product packages made from recycled material that you can find in your local store.
Paper Products
- Sanitary tissue products
- Food packaging
- Paper towels and napkins
- Molded paper egg cartons
Office Products
- Printer ribbons, toner cartridges
- Pencils, pens
- Binders, paper, envelopes
- Desk top accessories
Construction Products
- Insulation
- Carpet
- Plastic patio decking
- Dry wall
Yard Products
- Wood chips, mulch and compost
- Soaker hoses
- Furniture, plastic fencing
- Patio blocks
Buying recycled products is important because it saves natural resources, energy, clean air and water, landfill space, money and it creates jobs.
Ways You Can Help the Recycling Process
- Read product labels looking for recycled content.
- Commit to buy recycled at home.
- Ask local retailers to stock more products made from recycled material.
- If one of your favorite products does not have recycled content, call the manufacturer and ask them to change it.
- Check your phone book about local recycling programs. Most phone books list materials that are being recycled in your community.
- Tell your friends about recycled content products that you like.


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| 7.9°C Belfast
Zoo chiefs say they are at a loss to explain why a lioness was killed by a lion in front of horrified families.
Five-year-old Johari was bitten on the neck by one of the lions at Dallas Zoo on Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses saw two lions approach Johari at the Texas zoo.
"The male lion that started it just had his mouth over her throat, and everyone thought they were playing at first," Michael Henshaw told Dallas television station WFAA. "But then they could see she was struggling."
Zoo staff were seen throwing meat at the lions to try to distract them, and eventually security moved people away and closed off a restaurant with windows overlooking the lions exhibit.
Lynn Kramer, the zoo's vice president of animal operations and welfare, said a total of five lions were typically in the enclosure and never appeared to endanger each other before.
The three lions involved were in the same enclosure for three years, he said.
"I would have to think something caused the males to react that they don't normally see every day," Mr Kramer told The Dallas Morning News. "Lions can be aggressive, but they don't kill each other."
The zoo says the aggressive lions were not put down.


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Normally inflation works in favor of commercial real estate investors, driving up demand for hard assets as a hedge against a weakening currency. Because inflation typically occurs amid an expanding economy, the escalating corporate revenues and demand for space that accompany price spirals usually fuel rent growth, which in turn boosts real estate cash flow and property values.
That sort of boost to net income would validate today's lofty asking prices on commercial properties and help bridge the gap between buyers and sellers that has brought transaction volume to a trickle. Case in point: May's $2.6 billion in office property sales marked the lowest monthly total in five years, down 87% from a year earlier, reports Real Capital Analytics.
Unfortunately for investors, today's inflation reflects global supply problems rather than an expanding economy at home, so it lacks most of the characteristics that have benefited commercial real estate in previous inflationary periods. While crude oil prices hit an all-time high of $142.99 per barrel on June 27, U.S. wages are basically flat. Adjusted for inflation, personal income in the first quarter was up just 16 basis points from a year earlier, according to Reis.
The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of just 1% in the first quarter and the nation shed 232,000 jobs — hardly ideal drivers for real estate absorption and rent growth. In the second half of 2008, inflationary pressures are more likely to hurt than help property values because inflation leads to interest rate hikes, increasing the cost of capital.
Think of it as Round II in the investment slowdown sparked by the credit crunch, when higher borrowing costs left asset prices beyond the reach of many leveraged buyers.
"The risks are to the downside, that inflationary pressures would negatively impact investment activity," explains Sam Chandan, chief economist at Reis. "As those baseline interest rates go up, it's going to drive up the cost of credit."
At best, inflation will prolong market uncertainty, so investors waiting for better days may have a long wait. Active buyers say investors willing to shop today's offerings hold distinct advantages compared with this time last year. But first, investors need to consider inflation's implications for real estate.
Troubling signs
At $1.37 per pound, bread cost 15% more in May than it did a year ago. The price of iron and steel climbed 32.5% during the same period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mounting inflation around the globe threatens to knock the U.S. economy flat or into a full-blown recession, which would halt absorption and rent growth while quashing hopes for a timely end to the credit crunch.
That puts the Fed in a quandary as it tries to help banks regain their footing by keeping interest rates low, says Mark Dotzour, chief economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. "Every day that they keep rates low, the inflation genie gets further out of the bottle," Dotzour says. "I'm afraid global inflation will force the Fed to start raising rates before they intended, before the banks have healed enough to withstand higher interest rates."
Hikes in the overnight Fed funds rate increase banks' costs, which could reverse liquidity gains lenders have made while dealing with massive write-downs on bad loans. The Federal Reserve sounded the inflation alarm June 25 when it held the Fed funds rate at 2%, ending nine months of rate cuts intended to stimulate a flagging economy. The Fed is concerned that a combination of rising food and energy prices could weigh heavily on the economy for several quarters.
The core Consumer Price Index, which excludes food and energy costs, was 2.3% higher at the end of May than it was a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's already outside the Fed's unofficial comfort zone of between 1% and 2%, and most economists expect core inflation to remain near 2.5% through the end of 2008 (see chart above).
A more immediate problem for the economy is headline inflation, which includes skyrocketing food and energy costs. The overall Consumer Price Index was up 4.2% in May from a year earlier chiefly due to a 17.4% spike in energy costs. Food prices rose 5.1%.
Those prices stem from food shortages around the globe and a tight supply of oil, and from speculation that oil orders will outpace production. Demand from developing countries also contributed to a steady run-up in the price of steel and other commodities while the weak dollar has driven up the cost of imports to the United States.
Effects on real estate
Headline inflation will likely remain high throughout 2008 and pose challenges for commercial real estate, says Jamie Woodwell, vice president of commercial/multifamily research at the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Increased fuel costs can have a significant impact," he says. In May, the average price of oil used to heat buildings was $4.19 per gallon, up 63% from last year.
Consumers are already struggling under a negative wealth effect brought on by weak wage growth and high consumer debt levels, says Ben Breslau, research director for the Americas at Jones Lang LaSalle. Total household net worth declined 3% to $56 trillion in the first quarter from the fourth quarter, according to the Federal Reserve. Squeezed household budgets will reduce spending, weakening demand for retail space as well as office and industrial buildings catering to companies that sell goods and services.
Apartment landlords are especially vulnerable to fuel and energy price spikes, says Alan Fishman, chairman of New York-based financial services firm Meridian Capital Group.
In markets such as New York — where rents are regulated — landlords have a hard time increasing rent to cover high energy costs. Even for a fully occupied property, the resulting squeeze to cash flow can present problems in refinancing or for would-be buyers seeking an acquisition loan.
Most economists expect the price of oil to retreat by the end of 2008 to around $85 per barrel.
If $4-per-gallon gasoline lingers, however, tenants will weigh their employees' commute costs in their selection of leased space, according to Maria Sicola, executive managing director of research at Cushman & Wakefield. "People's ability to pay their mortgage will have a direct impact on where they will work," she says.
Investor's challenge
The University of Michigan's Year-Ahead Inflation Survey found that consumers expect inflation to reach an annual rate of 5.2% next year, its highest level since 1982. If that happens, commercial real estate may yet enjoy a surge of transaction volume as buyers seek investments that retain purchasing power. "When you get into an inflationary environment, there's only about three places to hide," says Dotzour of Texas A&M. "You can either buy an Andy Warhol painting, put it in gold, or buy real estate."
The ongoing credit crunch may keep commercial real estate out of reach for most investors, however, according to Robert Bach, chief economist at Grubb & Ellis. "I would look at the debt markets as a restraint against real estate's ability to fill those shoes in this cycle," he says.
Even for equity investors or those with willing lenders in tow, acquiring commercial real estate is a tall order in 2008. The re-pricing of risk has buyers and sellers in disagreement and there isn't sufficient deal volume to establish firm pricing. Investors who bought real estate at the peak of the boom can't recoup their purchase price in a sale this year, so most are choosing to wait for prices to rise, says Mike Meisenbach, a principal who covers the Orange County, Calif. office market at brokerage Lee & Associates. "Maybe in five years they'll be able to get out of it," he says.
Adapting to market conditions
A handful of investors are buying commercial real estate while most of their competitors wait on the sidelines for prices to stabilize. Houston-based Hines Interests has invested $1.09 billion in five office acquisitions this year and is still looking for deals.
For owners without a pressing need to dispose of an asset, it's probably not a good time to sell, says Charlie Baughn, CEO of financial markets for Hines. Baughn believes prices on fully leased, well-located office properties have dropped 10% to 15% from last year's peak, but so far only a few owners are ready to sell at a discount.
Persistence has enabled Hines to find willing sellers, however. And unlike early 2007 when investors had to make a non-refundable deposit and investigate a property quickly before entering a bid, today's market allows time for thorough due diligence before committing to the deal.
"If you can find assets you like at a reasonable price, you're better off going ahead and seeing if you can make a deal today," Baughn says. "If you wait for the price to come down, particularly on high-quality assets, I'm not sure they're going to."
Investment banker John Levy, president of John B. Levy & Co., encourages investors to capitalize on today's relatively low interest rates and stop waiting for wide mortgage spreads to narrow. "We would not encourage you to wait," Levy says. "Treasuries increase faster than spreads decline, and as a result as a borrower or an owner you actually pay higher rates."
Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors invested $451.2 million in 24 acquisitions across property types, including 13 office buys, in the first four months of 2008, according to Real Capital Analytics. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based investment subsidiary of Grubb & Ellis Co. has increased the number of potential deals under review by 70% over last year's pipeline, says Jeff Hanson, president and chief investment officer of Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors. Even so, the company is buying properties at a slower pace than it did in 2007, when it purchased more than $2.1 billion in assets in more than 70 transactions.
Selective buying
This summer's active buyers say they can afford to be selective and focus only on the best deals. "We're not wasting time with unrealistic sellers," Hanson says. "We're focusing on the real sellers that have a reason to sell."
Selectivity is a must in the troubled retail sector, which registered a national vacancy rate of 11.5% in the first quarter and is expected to reach 12.5% by the end of the year, according to Property & Portfolio Research. "It's a nervous time in retail," says Chris Robertson, chief acquisitions officer at Cole Capital Advisors Inc., a shopping center owner based in Phoenix, Ariz. "There's going to be a lot of store closures this year and I suspect there will be more store closures next year."
Cole Capital plans to complete $1.7 billion in acquisitions this year and has already invested $318 million to add 45 properties to its portfolio since Jan. 1. The company is confining its acquisitions to core locations in primary and secondary markets, Robertson says. "We focus on assets where even in a tough economic environment those retailers are going to succeed, or they're not going to want to abandon the trade area."
Like Grubb & Ellis, Cole Capital had to step up the number of deals it reviews in order to find a sufficient number of acquisitions and has doubled its staff in the past 18 months. "If you can touch enough deals, you can find the handful where the seller is willing to be fair and price the deal to reflect current market conditions," Robertson says.
Catalyst for opportunity
Commercial real estate investors face a rough road in the second half of 2008. Flat economic growth constrained by burdensome energy prices will do little to drive absorption, and if inflation persists, the Fed could institute rate hikes as early as its next meeting in August.
Yet those investors with the equity or debt relationships necessary to buy assets while credit is tight and prices are still in flux will at least find few competitors vying for their deals. Buyers who cull through properties on the market may come across genuine bargains realistically priced by motivated sellers.
Hanson of Grubb & Ellis points out that a real estate market in disruption provides an excellent hunting ground. "Dislocation in the marketplace for commercial real estate is really the catalyst for opportunity."
Matt Hudgins is an Austin writer.
NREI asked four forecasters to predict the near-term direction of key indicators. Here are their responses:
Robert Bach
Chief Economist, Grubb & Ellis
"Expect several quarters of rising office vacancy rates. Along with that will be softening asking rental rates, and the pendulum will swing away from the landlord's market."
Sam Chandan
Chief Economist, Reis
"Being the single- largest consumer of oil and gas in the world, slightly falling demand in the United States is significant and it will play into world oil prices."
Ken Simonson
Chief Economist, Associated General Contractors of America
"I'm an incurable optimist. I think we will start seeing improvement in residential construction and still be on the plus side for non-residential jobs."
James Smith
Chief Economist, Parsec Financial Management
"It will certainly be the spring of 2009 before financial markets go back anywhere near where they were in 2003 or 2004."
GDP growth rate: 1%
Core CPI inflation rate: 2.4%
Monthly job creation: -50,000
10-year Treasury yield: 4.5%
Crude oil price: $85 per barrel
GDP growth rate: 1.1%
Core CPI inflation rate: 2.5%
Monthly job creation: -50,000
10-year Treasury Yield: 3.9%
Crude oil price: $115 per barrel
GDP growth rate: 1.5%
Core CPI inflation rate: 3.2%
Monthly job creation: +10,000
10-year Treasury yield: 3.5%
Crude oil price: $115 per barrel
GDP growth rate: 4.1%
Core CPI inflation rate: 0.9%
Monthly job creation: +119,000
10-year Treasury yield: 4.43%
Crude oil price: $69.78 per barrel
Is a long, U-shaped economic recovery ahead?
While pundits debate whether the U.S. economy will tip into a full-blown recession, commercial real estate investors should resign themselves to the reality that they will be toiling in a flat business environment for the next 18 months. "We're looking at early 2010 before we start to see robust growth," says Sam Chandan, chief economist at Reis. "That's in contrast with any views toward a sudden rebound this year or in 2009."
Expect anemic growth of 1% in gross domestic product this year, according to the New York-based real estate research firm. Reis projects a modest recovery to begin in 2009, but GDP won't regain momentum of about 3% annual expansion until the following year. GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1% in the first quarter this year, up slightly from 0.6% in the previous quarter, according to the Commerce Department.
Chandan expects net job losses to the tune of 30,000 per month through the end of 2008 and an unemployment rate of 6%. The job losses will be concentrated in manufacturing and financial services. The unemployment rate increased to 5.5% in May from 5% in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Robert Bach, chief economist at Grubb & Ellis, believes the U.S. is in a recession that will be atypically shallow but long lasting. "Maybe what we're seeing is a flat economy," he says. "I don't see anything spurring the economy or the demand for commercial real estate for the next year and a half."
Josh Scoville, director of strategic research at Property & Portfolio Research, also thinks a recession is under way but that the economy will gain some momentum with annualized GDP growth of about 2% by the end of 2008. For commercial real estate, that suggests tenant demand for space will continue to be weak. Absorption already has decreased 25% to 40% in 2007 across the various property sectors, according to Scoville.
"The scenario that is a growing possibility is a long U," Scoville says. "The recession is mild, but it lasts six quarters. That's not a fun scenario for anybody because there's not a lot of opportunities created and there's not a lot of ways to make money."
— Matt Hudgins


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A Shifting Picture
While the child-poverty rate has declined steadily since 1993, it is well above its 1969 level. The poverty rate for young children is far higher than for any other age group.
*Refers only to children living in households headed by a relative.
SOURCE: Children's Defense Fund, Yearbook 2000: The State of the American Dream.
Vol. 20, Issue 4, Page 41Published in Print: September 27, 2000, as A Shifting Picture
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Find the below screenshots, which will show you the steps, to configure storage policy in NetApp SnapProtect backup software. As a first step, login to SnapProtect commserver and connect to commcell console using an admin account and continue, as per to the below screenshots Now you have … [Read more...]
About NetApp SnapProtect
The NetApp SnapProtect backup software provides snapshot based backup solution which delivers the faster backup and quick recovery solution which combines the capabilities of a traditional backup application with NetApp snapshot copies, replication and also integrates with NetApp aware storage supported technologies. SnapProtect backups will … [Read more...]
NetApp SnapProtect Oracle IdataAgent remote install via Commcell Console on Windows Machine
The below screen shots will show you the steps to install remotely the oracle idatagent via commcell console on a windows machine by pushing the agent from a commserve. Before pushing the agent from commserve, make sure there is no firewall blocking between the commserve and windows client machine. Please to note, as we do a snapshot … [Read more...]
Connecting to NetApp SnapProtect Commcell console
Login to Commserve server and connect to commcell console or if you have installed commcell console agent in your PC or laptop, then you can access it from the same with your id or by using admin account which is having a full privilege to manage and monitor the snap protect environment. … [Read more...]


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Social media, like kudzu, is an invasive species.
Daniel Newman is the CEO of United Visual Inc., writing on Ragan's PR Daily, has conveniently listed "12 obvious signs you're addicted to social media." He says the signs are "farcical," but I beg to differ.
6. You update your status while out with "real people."
Are you updating your status while on a dinner date with your spouse or significant other? You're obsessed. Do you tweet or post on Facebook #justmet or other @hashable content before you finish the meeting? One word: nutso.
Did I mention that I deleted Gowalla from my phone? Yep. And that I recoil when I see FourSquare check-ins in my Twitter feed? Yep.
Newman also addresses over-sharing. "If you feel the need to share your every thought and wish, and lose all inhibition on your Facebook page, please stop. You, singlehandedly, are the reason for my disdain of the platform."


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- Message
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- API returned error:
My order, my package
Who is online?
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Movies Malagasy rise gradually and tend to professionalize despite some mediocre for some publishers. Ranging from comedy, comedy, action .... Made in Madagascar movies are selling like hotcakes. They have a very short life, once again two weeks and the stock is exhausted. Whole community loves the phenomenon Tana tends to spread everywhere, including Saint-Denis de La Réunion and Saint-Pierre. This will soon be the turn of European cities.
The film Madagascar is being born. Huge small production houses popping up everywhere in Madagascar and movie collection Made in Madagascar in VCD close the 400, all genres.
Quality begins to emerge about the filmmaking Madagascar. Market settles and publishers tend to disappear corrupt.Avoko Volatiana, Noely Francis Turbo Rasamoely .... Names to remember for their professional maturity become clearer.VCD and DVD available online and delivered to your home free of charge.


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Will Park Chan-wook's Next Film Be a Remake of Costa-Gavras' Take on Violent Unemployment?
Posted on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 by Russ Fischer
So while we wait for Park Chan-wook to get to work producing Boon Joon-ho's film based on the French comic Transperceneige, the script for which should be underway now for a 2011 or 2012 release date, we may get to see Park tackle a story that mixes topical issues with hard-boiled noir. There's a report that he'll remake Le couperage (The Ax), a 2005 film by Costa-Gavras, which was based upon the famous (and late) crime author Donald Westlake's novel of the same name.
Twitch has the report, which was originally source from Korea's Star News. I haven't seen the film (I'm bad about following Costa-Gavras; I don't know why) but the plot topically deals with unemployment, albeit in a fairly unusual, genre-friendly manner. Amazon describes it like so:
[The] story [is] about a downsized executive who decides to kill off the competition. Burke Devore could be your neighbor: a laid-off paper company manager watching his life and family fall apart as he tries desperately to get a job. The plan he finally comes up with involves murdering seven men very much like himself, and Westlake's most impressive achievement is to make the serial killings understandable if in no way justified.
I can understand the knee-jerk reaction against a major filmmaker like Park Chan-wook remaking a film, especially one by a noted director like Costa-Gavras. (Even if it is a little-seen film.) But if Park goes back to the Westlake source novel, no doubt he'll end up with his own take on the story. If anything, my only reservation is that the film could end up being too much like the loose revenge trilogy that make Park's name. That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world; I'd just like to see him stretch.
Here's the trailer for the Costa-Gavras version of The Ax (in French, sorry):


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I noticed a tweet from the BAMwx twitter account which reminded people that even though a -WPO configuration will provide for short term cooler weather, the long term outlook isn't as pretty.
As a reminder, here are the EPO/WPO combinations at the 500mb level.
Upon seeing the tweet I went ahead and looked up the Bering Sea Rule aspect 19 days earlier below.
Throwing in my SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) research and this is what I came up with 19 days after a 3 day drop of 20 points! Yes...I know it was 17.15, but it also mimics the one day drop of 10 points in our research with AN over the top and BN off the East Coast.
|20pt drop in three days
|10pt drop in one day