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We know you have questions. We have your answers.
*These responses cover most but not every scenario. If you have additional questions or want to discuss your individual case, feel free to contact Curry, Pearson & Wooten P.L.C. We are here to help you.
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What are the grounds for the annulment of a marriage in Arizona?
An annulment is different from a divorce or legal separation in three main ways: grounds to terminating the marriage, effect of meeting those grounds, and property rights.
First, Arizona law states that a court may dissolve a marriage and determine it null and void "when the cause alleged constitutes an impediment rendering the marriage void. But what does the Court mean by "the cause alleged constitutes an impediment rendering the marriage void"?
In some instances it means that one spouse made false statements or concealment to the other spouse that were fundamental to that spouse entering into the marriage. It could also mean:
- One spouse lacked the mental capacity to enter the marriage,
- The spouses did not have a valid marriage license,
- Refusal to engage in intercourse,
- Underage and without consent, or
- Undissolved prior marriage.
Second, an annulment dissolves the marriage and invalidates it from the date of inception (date of marriage). Therefore, an annulment establishes that the marriage never existed. Whereas a dissolution and legal separation state the marriage was valid but is now terminated.
Lastly, community property laws apply in dissolving or separating a marriage. However, in an annulment, the court divides property based on their interests in the property in accordance with the spouse's respective contributions and efforts.
Regardless of whether you desire the court to annul your marriage, you have to meet an annulment's grounds. If you cannot, you can still dissolve the marriage through a divorce or legal separation.
If you have questions about annulment in Arizona, we have answers. Contact our office today at 1-888-929-5292 or 602-258-1000 to speak with our family law attorney. If you'd like to know more about us and what we do, request a free copy of our book, Arizona Family Law – The Essential Arizona Divorce Guide.
I'm a 68-year-old retiree with significant debt—can I file for bankruptcy even though I have a decent amount in my retirement accounts?
Today's seniors and retirees are facing an increasing amount of financial pressure, especially considering the current state of Social Security. For many, the imagined stigma of filing for bankruptcy to escape debt is unbearable, so many continue to chip away at their savings that took a lifetime to build.
A common fear among retirees considering bankruptcy is whether they will be forced to liquidate their retirement savings, leaving them with nothing when their case is over. Fortunately, this fear is mostly unfounded—thanks to bankruptcy law overhauls in 2005, retirement accounts and income are mostly exempt under both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, including:
- Social Security income
- Pensions
- 401(k)
- IRA accounts up to $1,245,475
- Profit-sharing plans
Filing for bankruptcy does consider your retirement benefits paid as income, but in general, your retirement assets are protected under bankruptcy law. You cannot be deprived of retirement income that is used for your basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, but amounts beyond that can be taken to repay your debt in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you choose a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, this income amount will be used to determine your repayment schedule.
As is the case with most bankruptcies, credit takes a significant hit after filing for bankruptcy. For many seniors in financial trouble, however, this is the lesser of two evils. Emerging debt-free (with the exception of federal tax debt and select other debt) from a bankruptcy may be considered preferable to leaving loved ones with leftover debt, and credit can easily be rebuilt over time with careful spending and credit use.
While bankruptcy may not be the right solution to for every retiree in debt, it can also be an extraordinarily helpful financial tool. To learn more about how filing for bankruptcy will affect you, speak to our Phoenix bankruptcy attorneys today.
I am facing DUI charges, and I am the first to admit that I drove drunk. Is it even worth hiring a DUI attorney?
When it comes to DUI arrests, there is no one "type" of person that gets caught driving drunk. From college students to business professionals, making one poor decision can lead to a lifetime of regret, shame, and guilt. Many people want to face the music and admit their mistake in an effort to take responsibility and move forward, and may consider skipping out on a DUI defense attorney altogether.
The problem with this mentality is that in the criminal justice system, there are many influencing factors behind every sentence. In DUI cases, there is usually an incredible amount of evidence that passes through a long chain of custody under the strictest protocol—any mishaps could drastically change the outcome of your case. When it comes to possible jail time and a criminal record, it is important that you are represented by an experienced, aggressive DUI defense attorney that knows how to use the law to protect your rights.
Hiring a defense attorney does not mean that you are trying to "get away with something" or deny your wrongdoing—it simply means that you are taking measures to protect yourself and ensure that your rights are upheld in court. While you made a serious mistake, you still deserve fair representation in front of a judge.
In a state that treats DUI charges very seriously, you are defending more than your record and wallet—you are defending your future. At Curry, Pearson & Wooten, our DUI defense attorneys have successfully represented clients throughout the state, and can help ensure that you are not on the receiving end of an unjust sentence. If you still have questions, contact our firm today to learn what we can do for you.
One of my friends recently fell out of a golf cart in Old Town Scottsdale and suffered minor injuries—who is responsible for her medical bills?
On any given night—and especially on weekends and during big events—you will see pedicabs and golf carts shuttling merrymakers and tourists from place to place. Drivers typically operate for tips only, driving patrons from bar to bar or even home, so these fun substitutes for taxis have become a popular DUI deterrent in places like Old Town Scottsdale, Glendale, and Tempe.
While pedicabs have only recently been regulated throughout the Valley, golf carts for hire have always been held to certain standards in order to be street legal. These regulations include mandated lights, front seat belts, regular MVD inspections, and liability insurance. Golf carts are also prohibited from driving down roads with posted speed limits over 35 mph. Drivers are not able to load the golf cart over capacity, and must comply with all traffic rules.
Of course, while accidents involving these golf carts are rare, they do occur. It is not unusual to see a cart stuffed beyond capacity, with people standing or sitting on other passengers' laps as they shuttle around town. Many carts may bend the rules of the road a bit to avoid being caught in a tangle of cars and taxis, and while local police are in charge of enforcing the rules governing these carts, it can be difficult to stay on top of every cart that is operating.
When accidents like your friend's occur, it is most likely that the company or individual that owns the cart will cover medical costs through their own liability insurance. Your friend will submit a claim to the golf cart operator's insurance company, and with the insurance companies of any other negligent drivers that may have been involved in her accident. For more information, feel free to contact our firm by filling out our online contact form or by calling our downtown Phoenix office.
My wife and I are getting divorced, and I am concerned about a fair custody agreement—do courts usually favor the mother?
In the last century, courts and judges have often given mothers unquestioned full custody and left fathers in the dust when it comes to custodial arrangements. These cases were based on antiquated psychological studies that led to a legal presumption known as the tender years presumption. This legal mindset—backed by science at the time—assumed that children under the age of sixteen would be harmed if they were taken away from their mother's care.
Of course since then, science has concluded that children benefit most from equal contact and relationships with both parents. Arizona is one of the few states that has custody laws that support that theory, so your odds at being granted equal custody are good if it is in the best interests of your child. While reaching a co-parenting agreement with your ex-spouse can be challenging at first, in the end, everyone benefits—especially your child.
Another antiquated notion that is fortunately being abandoned over time is that a child's father should bear the brunt of financial support, both spousal and child. Courts now place a higher priority on ensuring that both parents share the financial burdens fairly.
Seeking Joint Custody? Avoid Court and Reach an Agreement With a Mediator
With the shift toward co-parenting, the methods used to reach these agreements has also shifted. Unlike sole custody, both parties are looking to benefit, so going straight to court can automatically put an air of aggression over the proceedings. Discussing a joint custody and co-parenting agreement can often be solved amicably with a mediator outside of court, which can help your custody agreement get started on the right foot.
For help and advice regarding your child custody matters, our Phoenix family law attorneys can help ensure that your role in your child's life remains equal and active—contact us today for a free consultation.
My daughter has said that she does not want to live with me, but she is very young and has been confused by the divorce process—will I lose all custody of her because of this?
The weight a court places on a child's custody wishes depends on several factors, but usually, your child's wishes will not make or break your bid for custody.
When courts consider custody, there are two primary factors that are considered before all the rest. First, the child's adjustment to their home and school life is examined. For very young children, moving to a new school district may not impact their lives much at all. New friends can be made, and scholastically, younger children have an easier time adjusting to new teachers and activities. Older children may be more established in sports, extracurriculars, and social circles, so a custody arrangement may be carefully designed to accommodate their life.
The other primary factor considered when determining custody is a child's own needs. Many children require regular doctor visits or other medical appointments, so a custodial agreement will need to be reached that accommodates those needs, including special care for disabilities or other special needs.
Your concern about your daughter's wishes is valid, but it is not likely to ruin your chances at a fair custody arrangement. Her age and maturity will be considered, and typically, very young children are not able to make informed decisions on such important matters. Some exceptions where a child's wants are more heavily weighted involve matters of domestic violence and other criminal record issues.
For more information about child custody matters in Arizona, contact our Phoenix family law attorneys today by filling out our online contact form or calling our downtown office.
What can my creditors repossess if I default on my loans?
When you start to fall behind in your loan payments, it is a slippery slope. When finances are tight, it can be very difficult to regain your footing in your payment schedule. Many people fear losing all of their belongings when creditors come to repossess your property to recoup their losses on their loan, but fortunately, there are very strict rules in place for what creditors can and cannot take.
Safe From Creditors: Your Items That Cannot Be Repossessed
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to repossession is that creditors cannot take what has not been expressly named as collateral in your loan agreement. Many people confuse repossession with bankruptcy, assuming that they have to give up anything to settle their debts with creditors.
Fortunately, this is far from the truth. Even if you have multiple loans with the same bank—say you have both of your cars and your home financed through Bank of America—the bank could only repossess the collateral for the specific loan you defaulted on. So, should you default on the loan for your second car, the bank can only repossess that car; your first car and home are immune unless you default on those loans.
Another common misconception is that your credit card company could repossess items that you bought with your credit card. Credit card debt is unsecured, which means it is not attached to collateral.
What Is at Risk for Repossession
You probably sense the trend—anything named as collateral for a loan can be repossessed if you default on that particular loan. These loans commonly involve mortgages, car loans, and car title loans; this means that cars and homes are often repossessed to recover the lender's losses on the loan.
While defaulting on loans is not a sure-fire sign that you should file for bankruptcy, it is often a red flag for the financial conditions that may lead you into further trouble. Many times, filing for bankruptcy can help alleviate your overwhelming debt. For more information about what bankruptcy could do for you, contact our firm today for a free consultation.
If I am ever involved in an accident on my bicycle, how will the insurance company handle it?
Accidents and near-misses involving bicycles in the Valley are becoming fairly common occurrences as more people turn to two-wheeled transportation to get them from place to place. Especially in cities like Tempe, which is home to tens of thousands of students, there has been a concerted effort to make the streets bike-friendly, which typically means adding bike lanes. While this has made biking more appealing to many, increased numbers of bicycles on the road has also led to more accidents.
After you are injured on a bicycle, the circumstances of your accident will determine how damages will be paid. One of the more common scenarios in a car/bike accident is that the driver of the car will be found primarily at fault. In this situation, just as in a car accident, the driver's auto insurance should pay your medical bills and other damages.
In the matter of a hit-and-run or uninsured driver, your own auto insurance may cover your damages under its uninsured/underinsured coverage, even though you were not driving a vehicle at the time.
In an accident on your bicycle that was your own fault, your own injuries will need to be covered by your own health insurance. As far as damage to the other driver's car, you will need to check your homeowner or renter's insurance along with your auto insurance to see if there is coverage included for accidents you cause with your own property.
Bicycle accidents can be tricky as far as insurance goes, but unless you have waived your policy down to the bare minimum, there is likely a small amount set aside—albeit with a decent-sized deductible—to cover damages incurred in bicycle accidents in which you are at fault.
If you have been seriously hurt in an accident on your bicycle and another driver was to blame, you deserve compensation for your injuries. To ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your claim, contact the Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Curry, Pearson & Wooten today.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company after an accident?
As personal injury attorneys, we often find ourselves advising potential clients to be very wary of insurance companies. The truth is, most insurance companies are not "bad guys," per se, but their job is to ensure that they do not overpay you for your claim. This means that they will be doing their research on your case, and if you hand over the wrong information, it could spell the end for your case.
The first thing the other insurance company will do is try to get you to make a recorded statement for their records. While this is fairly standard practice, if your accident involved an injury or significant property damages, it may be best to consult with an attorney beforehand. Many people will often reflexively admit that they were driving a few miles over the speed limit or were momentarily distracted, which the insurance company can then use to increase your liability in the case.
Another common thing for insurance adjusters to request is that you either send copies of your medical records. While you will eventually need to show the records associated with your accident, many times they may have you sign a medical release form that will give them access to your entire medical history—which could allow them to find preexisting conditions or previous injuries that they could link to your current injuries.
These two examples are not anything sneaky or underhanded that insurance companies try to trick you with—they are simply standard requests that can often damage your case. If your accident resulted in injuries, hiring a personal injury attorney can help ensure that you do not hurt your ability to collect full damages. For more information, contact the Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Curry, Pearson & Wooten today.
How do the insurance companies assign a value to my injuries?
If you have ever been in an accident, you know how frustrating it can be to go back and forth with the insurance companies and their adjusters over your damages. In minor accidents that only involve property damage, the process typically involves your repair bills being forwarded to the insurance company. The auto body shop charges for labor and parts, and that is what is covered. You may have a slight out-of-pocket expense, but these cases are usually straightforward.
When injuries are factored into an accident, the claims process becomes much more complicated. With injuries to people, the process is not as simple as a damaged car—there is no set market price for repairing a broken femur. Remember, with a personal injury claim, the following damages are considered:
- Medical expenses
- Property Damage
- Lost income related to injuries
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering
Of that list, property damages and medical expenses are the only damages that may have clear monetary value. For other damages, the insurance company has specific equations to get a "ball park" of what a reasonable settlement should be. Typically, the adjust will add up all medical expenses, and depending on the severity of the injuries, multiply that figure as much as 10 times. This is how "pain and suffering" and other non-economic damages can be estimated.
After reaching a figure, lost wages and future potential earnings are also calculated and added to the amount. After a final amount is determined, adjustments will be made to accommodate for any comparative negligence on your behalf. Arizona practices pure comparative negligence, meaning that if you were 25% at fault for your accident, you will only receive 75% of the amount the insurance company agrees on.
In order to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries, it always helps to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side—contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can strengthen your case.


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Nsanje and the far South
In 2009 Julian was approached by the leaders of a group of churches in Nsanje in the far South of Malawi and over the border into Mozambique. They had heard of Julian's preaching from a visiting church member from one of the Lilongwe churches and as a result, invited Julian to visit and preach the Gospel and teach their church leaders. Eventually this group of churches came under the care of Julian and Caroline and the leadership team.
It is a difficult 2-day journey and in the ensuing time, Julian and his team have visited on a number of occasions and, in turn, the church leaders (with financial help from Julian) have travelled up to Dedza to attend training conferences. Communication is not easy and in the deepening economic crisis and worsening hunger levels this link is stretched. We should continue to pray for these church leaders and their church members.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bigjigs Dinosaur train wooden fits Brio
Regular price £10.99
Tax included.
The Dino Train is the perfect accessory for the Dino Train Set, allowing youngsters to transport dinosaur bones and hatching eggs though a prehistoric land. Magnetic couplings ensure compatibility with all other engines and carriages in the Bigjigs Rail range. Most other major wooden railway brands are compatible with Bigjigs Rail.


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From seekingalpha.com
It came.
The dry Brazilian October weather, that is.
The same weather that seems to come every year – the same weather you heard about in the September issue of this newsletter.
October begins flowering season for next year's Brazilian coffee crop – a particularly crucial time for bean development. The October flowers will soon drop off the tree, leaving small "cherries" that will eventually ripen into coffee beans. Thus, the more flowers, the more coffee beans next year.


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There's a lovely food blogger in Seattle, called Tea, who writes the Tea & Cookies blog. She's done a food meme, which I'm stealing, since I'm obviously not done with making people hungry and wanting to come and live with me. Those of you who've requested adoption might look to Tea, who is a seriously foodie food person. Compared to her, I'm an amateur, a dabbler, a mere hobbyist.
Eight Food Things:
What are your favourite foods?
Green asparagus. We recently discovered (thanks to Loren) that this can be grilled on the braai. A revelation! A quick weekday supper, now that we have our electric grill, is a steak each and a pound of green asparagus braaied to perfection. In Baden, where we live, the white asparagus is a kind of white gold, but in comparison to the green, I find it flabby and tasteless. Plus, it requires peeling which is a horrid bore. I'm a green Spargel gal.
Soft fruits – raspberries, blueberries, strawberries. I'm eating them by the punnet at the moment.
Avocado, preferably squashed onto nutty brown bread with tons of salt and pepper. Apologies Herschelian, I know you loathe it.
What foods do you hate?
Offal in any shape or form – please no kidneys, livers, hearts or tongues. Don't do 'em. The only possible exception is chicken liver pate, but only in very small doses.
The mere thought of eel makes me gag. That scary combination of two legless beasts – snake and fish – is too much for me. I'd rather eat grass.
Slimy, pink, overprocessed meats. As my children say, bah!
Foods you like but are embarrassed to admit:
Salty popcorn. There's tons of it in The Post-Birthday World and it made me salivate. When I was a student, a friend and housemate introduced me to her family tradition of emptying a packet of Smarties into a cinema bucket of salty popcorn. I was immediately hooked on the combination of salt, sugar and chocolate. I won't countenance sweet popcorn though.
Treats of my childhood: orange chips called Niknaks, Peppermint Crisps, Zoo Biscuits and marshmallow fish. These are things I always buy when I'm in South Africa.
Salami sticks. Mad, bad and dangerous to know.
Strangest food you've eaten and enjoyed?
Warthog and crocodile. Warthog is like pork but better, and crocodile tastes like chicken.
Cooking failures that still rankle?
Nigel Slater's Demerara Lemon Cake from his Kitchen Diaries. I made it recently in an attempt to move away from the Lemon Drizzle Cake, and it was an abject failure. The syrupy lemon slices that were meant to brown delightfully on top the cake sunk into the middle and the mixture near them remained raw. The whole lot had to be consigned to the bin.
The first meal I ever cooked for my husband, long before he was the husband. I called it Pasta Arrabiata, but it was really just pasta, tomato sauce and whole green olives. Very yucky. Bravely, risking never seeing me again, he told me he couldn't eat it. I admitted I couldn't either. We had toast instead.
Ingredients you don't want to consider living without?
Lemons, olive oil, lemons, limes, lemons, flat-leaf parsley, lemons, chocolate, lemons, basil, lemons, cinnamon, rosemary and lemons.
Cuisine you'd like to know more about?
Moroccan, Iranian and Egyptian. I need to use up my stock of rosewater.
Foods you've hated but have grown to love?
Peas! I used to swallow them down with water as a child, or gather them in my mouth and later spit them in the loo. Now I love the little darlings.
Tomatoes – South African tomatoes are watery and floury compared to the firm, juicy, sweet European varieties. Barely a day passes without me eating a tomato.
Underdone beef and lamb used to make me shiver with horror, but now after 15 years of hanging around with my husband's family I have grown used to pink juices. Especially good with tons of mustard.
Current kitchen conundrum?
Space. My three kids really want to help in the kitchen, and I really want to encourage them, but the kitchen is so small that I feel claustrophobic when one other person is in there with me. One day I will have an enormous kitchen with a farm table, lovely chairs, a sofa, a huge workspace and bookshelves.
If this grabs you, consider yourself tagged!


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The late summer sun was warm, and the easterly breeze promised a comfortable boat ride.Read more
Now Williams has conducted a successful dive to 70mt / 229.6ft in a remote location in northern Norway. Williams confirmed that the Guinness World Records observed the dive and that he found it tough.,
One team is diving the cool beautiful waters around the Gulen Dive Resort in Norway, whilst the other team is exploring the pretty tropical waters of the Lembeh Resort in Indonesia.Read more
The first contest held in 2016 resulted in the narrowest of last-minute victories for Lembeh Team.Read more
The Eidsvold class was a class of coastal defense ships, two of which were built for the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1899. The class consisted of two ships, HNoMS Eidsvold and HNoMS Norge. Locally, they were referred to as panserskip.Read more
On 7 February 2014, a two-line report was posted on the forum, Rebreather World, advising of a Norwegian diving incident: "Sadly, two divers died in the caves of Plura yesterday. They ran into problems at ~130m.Read more
Lofoten is one of those annoying places where you can get in the water pretty much anywhere and still have a good dive.Read more
At the time of its sinking Rio de Janeiro was carrying a contingent of German soldiers meant for the invasion of Norway, which occurred on the following day, 9 April 1940. Of the 380 onboard, 50 were crew, the rest were soldiers.Read more
During a survey in 2009, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) located some twenty wrecks in the area. A recent search revealed an additional 15 wrecks, taking the total to at least 35.Read more
The Halifax bomber was struck by heavy flak and made a successful crash landing 600ft down a water inlet in northern Norway.Read more
Perhaps the captain takes a moment to think about his homeland, which just a few months earlier was plunged into war. He is safe here inside the Norwegian fjords; but, in international waters just off the coast, the Royal Navy is looming.
The oil company Statoil was working on a pipeline off the coast of Norway when they came across the remains of the sunken submarine.Read more
The area at the mouth of the Sognefjord is as rich in marine splendour as it is beautiful above the surface.Read more
On 26th December 1942 when Norway was occupied by German forces, a Heinkel 115B seaplane from the Küstenfliegergruppe 906 based at Sola, sets down on Hafrsfjord when one of the floats tears off, capzing the plane.Read more
The history of diving in the town began in earnest in the early 1960s when Egersund Frømandsklub [frog man club] was founded. The club folded a couple of years later, but in 1974, Egersund Dykkeklubb [diving club] was founded.Read more
The importance of Narvik as a strategic harbour increased immediately at the outbreak of World War II. Germany needed large amounts of iron ore for their armaments industry, and had a big advantage, in that the ships carrying the ore could use neutral Norway and Sweden to get safely through, without the British navy being able to attack. The export from Narvik went ahead therefore, with ore ships from many countries.Read more


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Your travel rewards could come with an option to kick back and relax even more.
World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem points on classes and services at participating locations of the boutique fitness and spa chain Exhale.
The details
- Your World of Hyatt and Exhale accounts must be linked before World of Hyatt points can be earned.
- World of Hyatt members earn 10 base points for each $1 (or USD equivalent) paid for eligible Exhale spend.
- Using a gift card does not affect the member's ability to earn points, but you cannot earn points from gift card purchases.
- Members do not earn World of Hyatt Tier Qualifying Night credits for Exhale activity.
- Point redemption options include covering future Exhale visits and saving for free nights at Hyatt hotels.
- Price out redemption costs: Most massage or spa services will cost you 12,000 points and most fitness classes are 2,000 points.
- Centurion Lounge Exhale locations do not participate in this partnership.
Status and cards
There's more to this partnership for certain credit card holders and World of Hyatt members with status.
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card holders earn four bonus points per eligible $1 USD spent at participating Exhale locations.
See the screenshot below to understand how the four levels of World of Hyatt membership break down.
Explorists earn one "Week of Wellbeing" per qualifying period of elite status, which includes:
- One week of unlimited fitness classes.
- 25% off spa therapies purchased and used during that week.
- 15% off Exhale retail purchases within that week.
Globalists and Lifetime Globalists earn the one "Week of Wellbeing" as outlined above, along with single-session fitness classes to participating Exhale locations during any night stayed, including reward stays, at Hyatt-branded properties.
How to maximize your rewardsYou want a travel credit card that prioritizes what's important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2020, including those best for:
- Airline miles and a large bonus: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
- Flat-rate rewards with no annual fee: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Premium travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Business travelers: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice:
This strategy is how I started earning major travel rewards
Travel loyalty program reviews
Here's how much your points and miles are worth


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Dr. Hale started practice in Scottsdale, Az in July of 1971 with a specialty in women's health. He is currently board certified in OB & GYN and a member of the American College of OB-GYN. His training was at the university hospital at the Oregon Center of Health Science in Portland, Oregon (rated in top 5 in the world for training of OB-GYN).
Since that time he has delivered thousands of infants to expectant mothers ("enough to fill a village"). He introduced fetal monitoring to Arizona upon his arrival, along with amniocentesis (when it was indicated). Since then he has continued in the service of women. By his efforts and through continuing education programs, his knowledge is up to date with the latest developments in obstetrics and gynecology.
When Dr. Hale began working in Scottsdale there was no laparoscope so he procured his own and showed it to others willing to learn the art. Currently the "scope" is being used in many other areas of medicine besides gynecology, but especially in the fields of gynecology. Currently it is used for treating infertility, cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, hysterectomy, fibroids, and many other diseases, all of these without a large incision.
He also has had extensive experience and training in vaginal surgery for bladder repair (incontinence), general pelvic reconstruction, prolapse, ("falling down and out") of the female genital tract and hysterectomy without using an abdominal incision. In addition to his busy hospital practice, he sees many patients as a "one on one" basis for office gynecology problems such as UTI, lag. infection, painful intercourse, hormone issue, or emotional counseling. Also many problems can be solved with minor office procedures such as hormone pellet insertions, IUD, freezing of warts, etc. Dr. Hale sees each patient himself and employs no physicians assistant to do his treatment.
His interest and dedication has extended beyond the state lines of Arizona. He has traveled on several "medical missions" including Ecuador, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to treat the gynecologic problems of the people in those regions. On many occasion the women waited in line for days ahead of time to have their surgical problems treated.


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Sheldon Silver Indicted
MANHATTAN (CN) – A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against recently arrested New York state Assemblyman Sheldon Silver.
The 25-page indictment generally rehashes the criminal complaint filed against 70-year-old Silver last month in connection with his arrest.
U.S. Judge Valerie Caproni will preside over Silver's arraignment at 3 p.m. on Feb. 24.
Silver, who kept his seat after his arrest but ended his 21-year run as speaker, is charged in the three-count indictment with honest services mail fraud, honest services wire fraud and extortion.
Federal prosecutors seek forfeiture, targeting eight of the assemblyman's bank and investment accounts, as well property in Woodridge, N.Y., and in Manhattan.
Prosecutors say Silver has been collecting millions in bribes and kickbacks since 2000, and masking the illicit earnings as legitimate income from his private-law practice.
Two law firms paid Silver more than $6 million since late 2002, according to the criminal complaint against him, which goes on to identify the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg as the source of more than $5.3 million in Silver's earnings.
Earlier this month, Maureen Koetz, a Republican who lost to Silver by a wide margin in November, filed a complaint in Albany to have either the court or the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) act on a complaint she filed with the agency two months before the election.
Koetz asked JCOPE to investigate "potential ethical violations" by Silver in three areas: his outside income from a high-profile personal injury law firm; his dealings with a former assemblyman disgraced by sexual harassment charges; and his relationship with the fired leader of a Jewish charity who pleaded guilty to stealing from the group.


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Getting involved with CUPE means learning new things ... about yourself, your union, your community.
I encourage anyone who has thought of becoming a steward to give me a call or talk to their Chief Steward and let's get you registered for the next Intro to Stewarding course. If you are already a steward there are other course opportunities throughout the year so keep up to date here on our website Education space as courses are confirmed or call the union office immediately at 604-879-4671 to see the latest list. Sally Bankiner, Secretary-Treasurer, firstname.lastname@example.com
* See below for more information on the Steward Learning Series and click here for our CUPE Stewards Handbook.
If you want to attend a workshop, contact us at Local 15.
CUPE Locals and District Councils sponsor training workshops for their members throughout the year.
If you are a member and you are interested in a workshop but Local 15 isn't sponsoring it, contact us to find out if other members are interested and you might be able to get a workshop put on in your community or you might consider registering for a workshop being offered somewhere else in the province.
If you want us to sponsor a workshop please submit your request in writing on the CUPE Education Workshop Request Form found under the About, then Forms tab above. Requests can be faxed (604-291-6248) or e-mailed (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Click here for CUPE BC educational programming information.
Calling all stewards! CUPE is proud to continue with our exciting education program - the Steward Learning Series. This series recognizes that the steward has an important role to play in a number of areas in the workplace and the union. It provides an opportunity for stewards to explore a number of topics - all from a steward's point of view. This new series of three-hour modules will give stewards a wide range of knowledge and skills to represent members and respond to situations in the workplace. Some of these modules are mandatory for the Steward Learning Series Certificate, and some are optional.
Creating Harassment-Free Workplaces
It is the employers' responsibility to ensure a harassment-free workplace but the union also has a role to play. Learn how to recognize harassment, educate the members about harassment, and represent members who are involved in harassment complaints.
What Stewards Need to Know About Health and Safety
Stewards need to work with health and safety committee members and health and safety activists to ensure that the workplace is healthy and safe for our members. Learn about health and safety rights and how stewards can support this important area of union work.
Handling Grievances
A refresher on basic grievance handling, this module highlights the steward's role as educator. Participants teach each other "best practices" and share strategies for dealing with difficult grievances.
What's Our Duty?
Stewards' roles and responsibilities are covered by various labour laws. Where do stewards get their authority in the workplace? What is the duty of fair representation? What other legislation covers the workplace?
Being an Ally for Equality
Championing human rights in the workplace and the union is an important role for stewards. But what does it really mean to be a good ally?
Mobilizing Workers
Stewards can play a key role when the union needs to mobilize its members, whether it's to support the bargaining committee, or stop the employer's attempts to contract out union work. Learn basic mobilization theory and practice new skills by working with current CUPE campaigns.
Why do I have to take notes? What kind of notes should I take? What happens to my notes if a grievance goes to arbitration? Are my notes private? Is it better to take notes on a computer or by hand? What happens to the notes I take when the case is finished? This module answers important questions about notes, and provides practice time to work on note taking skills.
Resolving Grievances Without Going to Arbitration
The union wins most grievances without going to arbitration. In this module, stewards discuss the pros and cons of going to arbitration and develop strategies and skills to settle grievances.
What Stewards Need to Know about Arbitration
Although most grievances get settled, some do go to arbitration. In this module, stewards become familiar with the arbitration process, arbitration terms, mediated settlements, and the role of the steward before and during arbitration.
What Stewards Need to Know about Health and Safety
Stewards need to work with health and safety committee members and health and safety activists to ensure that the workplace is healthy and safe for our members. Learn about health and safety rights and how stewards can support this important area of union work.
Hot Topics/Current Issues
This module is an opportunity for stewards to learn more about CUPE campaigns and issues, such as privatization and essential services. Check your education calendar for more information.
Creating an Accommodation Friendly Workplace
Human rights laws require employers to accommodate workers who face barriers to employment. This module covers:
- the legal framework for the duty to accommodate
- what a good accommodation process and plan look like
- what to do if the employer is not willing to provide reasonable accommodation
Handling Discipline and Discharge
For many stewards, discipline and discharge cases are the hardest grievances to handle. Learn about:
- key legal concepts and terms
- the role of a steward during the employer's investigation
- when discipline is given during grievance meetings
- how to develop effective arguments
Representing Members in Front of Management
Stewards and supervisors are equals when they meet about labour relations. This module equips stewards to be proactive when meeting with management. Learn tips for effective meetings, and build confidence by practicing meeting situations.
Building Your Case
Good grievance handling means keeping well organized files. Learn how to research a case thoroughly; how to separate facts from opinions; and tips for taking good notes.
Challenging Homophobia in the Workplace
When homophobia goes unchallenged it leads to a toxic workplace. This module will explore what it is like for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to live in a world that is geared towards straight people.
Challenging Racism in the Workplace
Is there racism in your workplace? This workshop covers what racism looks like in the workplace, and your role as a steward in stopping racism.
Conflict Resolution Skills for Stewards
Conflict is a natural part of our lives. It often leads to positive change. Knowing how to handle it well will improve your relationships with members and the employer. Learn about the different responses to conflict and practice communication skills that will help in situations of conflict.
Connecting with Aboriginal Workers
As demographics shift, Aboriginal workers are playing an ever-increasing role in the workplace. In this workshop, stewards will explore strategies for making your locals more inclusive to Aboriginal members.
Creating Gender Equality
How do you know sexism is happening in your workplace? What does it look like? This workshop provides facts and figures on women's inequality and ideas for how stewards can challenge sexism in the workplace.
Disability Issues for Stewards
Disabilities can be physical or mental, visible or invisible, permanent or temporary. There are workers with disabilities in every workplace. In this module, stewards learn about different kinds of disabilities and what they can do to create accessible workplaces.
Green Action for Stewards
How will greening our workplaces impact workers? What does a green workplace look like? What action can we take to address important environmental issues? This workshop will explore answers to these questions and more, all from the perspective of a steward.
Mediating Member-to-Member Conflict
Helping members resolve day-to-day conflicts builds solidarity in the union. In this module, stewards practice coaching members who are in conflict with other
Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr…
- What are they and how can they benefit my local?
- How are groups using social media for activism?
- How can I deal with people's resistance?
- What are the guidelines for using social media?
Explore questions like these and get lots of hands-on practice in CUPE's Social Media workshop. Be sure to have accounts for both Facebook and Twitter already set up PP. Please bring your WIFI enabled laptop, or tablet for this hands-on workshop.
|CUPE Stewards Handbook.pdf


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Announcement of the Fall of Babylon
SYNOPSIS: Two more angels appear to announce the judicial sentence of God on "Babylon" and the "inhabitants of the earth" that give homage to the Beast - Revelation 14:8-11.
The angel "flying in mid-heaven with the everlasting gospel" is followed by "another angel, a second one" who announces the fall of Babylon. In turn, "another angel, a third one" appears to pronounce a judicial sentence on all men and women who give allegiance to the Beast.
The vision in this next section incorporates language from key Old Testament passages about ancient enemies of Israel that were judged by Yahweh. This includes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the forces of Gog and Magog after invading Israel.
The book of Revelation continues its contrast between the men and women who give their allegiance to the Beast and the ones who follow the Lamb. In this and the following paragraph, the book is contrasting the fates of the two groups – "torment" for one, "rest" for the other.
The language is figurative, not literal. By the first century, Babylon was no longer a center of regional commerce or political power and she was no threat to the fledgling churches of Asia. Babylon was a city but here it is portrayed as a woman who uses sexual enticements to trick "nations" into drinking her intoxicating "wine." Likewise, "wrath" is neither "wine" nor any form of liquid that is administered to the condemned by drinking it from a cup.
(Revelation 14:8-11) – "And another, a second messenger followed, saying — Fallen! fallen! is Babylon the great, who of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness hath caused all the nations to drink. And another, a third messenger, followed them, saying with a loud voice — If anyone doeth homage unto the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark upon his forehead or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; — and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before holy messengers and before the Lamb; And the smoke of their torment, unto ages of ages, ascendeth; And they have no rest day or night, who do homage unto the beast and his image, or if anyone receiveth the mark of his name" – (The Emphasized Bible).
This is the first explicit identification of "Babylon" in the book of Revelation, but it is not her first appearance. In the letter to the church at Thyatira, the Risen Jesus chastised the congregation for tolerating "that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and teaches my servants to eat things offered to idols. I gave her time to repent but she would not repent of her fornication" (Revelation 2:20-23).
In that earlier verse, "fornication" or porneia (Strong's - #4202) was used euphemistically for idolatry, "eating meat sacrificed to idols" (eidōlothutos Strong's - #1494). This "prophetess" was using her influence to seduce Christians to compromise with local idolatrous practices (compare – Revelation 18:3, 19:2).
The language from the letter to Thyatira echoes the later description of "Babylon, the "Great Whore" that John saw in the wilderness:
(Revelation 17:1-4) – "And one of the seven messengers who had the seven bowls came and spake with me, saying — Hither! I will point out to thee the judgment of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed lewdness — and they who were dwelling upon the earth were made drunk with the wine of her lewdness. And he carried me away into a desert in spirit. And I saw a woman, sitting upon a scarlet wild-beast full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed with purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls — having a cup of gold in her hand full of abominations and the impurities of her lewdness" – (The Emphasized Bible).
While the preceding passage describes how "Babylon" seduced the "kings of the earth" and the "inhabitants of the earth," Jezebel was doing the same within the congregation in the city of Thyatira in the first century. In other words, "Babylon" was already active inside that church busily seducing believers to compromise with the surrounding pagan society.
In Revelation 14:8, this figure is called, "Babylon the Great," a designation used elsewhere in the book. But she is also called "the great city." Thus, in Revelation 11:8, the corpses of the Two Witnesses were seen lying "in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt." This earlier passage opened the way for applying imagery from the story of the destruction of Sodom in the present passage (see also Revelation 16:19).
"She has caused all the nations to drink the wine of the fury of her fornication." This parallels the description from Revelation 17:1-4 ("they who were dwelling upon the earth were made drunk with the wine of her lewdness"). "The fury" translates the Greek noun thumos, meaning, "passion, fury, anger, fervor" (Strong's - #2372). It is a different Greek term than the one commonly rendered "wrath" for the "wrath of God," or orgé (Strong's - #3709 – Revelation 6:16-17).
The usage of thumos in Revelation is specific and, most often, applied to Babylon and the Dragon. Additionally, the Seven Bowls of Wrath poured out on the "inhabitants of the earth" in response to their dalliances with Babylon reads more correctly, the "bowls of fury (thumos)." In other words, "fury" or thumos is closely tied to Babylon and her activities. Note the following passages:
(Revelation 12:12) – "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great fury, because he knows that he hath but a short time."
(Revelation 15:1) – "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the fury of God."
(Revelation 15:7) – "And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the fury of God, who lives for ever and ever."
(Revelation 16:1) – "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the bowls of the fury of God upon the earth."
(Revelation 18:3) – "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication."
"Fury" or thumos is applied to God only when combined with "wrath" or orgé and used as part of a judicial pronouncement on Babylon. Thus, for example, at the end of the "Seven Bowls of Fury," Babylon came into remembrance before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fury (thumos) of his wrath (orgé). "Fury" heightens the sense of "wrath," in this case, against Babylon. Later, the Rider on a White Horse is seen treading the winepress of the fury (thumos) and wrath (orgé) of God, an act that takes place outside of the city of "Babylon" (Revelation 14:20, 16:19, 19:15).
The point is not two kinds of "wrath" but the heightened intensity of the wrath of God in response to the seductive activities of "Babylon" and anyone who drinks her "wine." That His "fury" targets Babylon adds irony to the narrative since she deceived the nations by the "wine of her fury." There is also the principle of lex talionis in play, the law of retaliation, for she will reap what she has sown – Fury for fury.
"Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great, who of the wine of the fury of her fornication has caused all the nations to drink." The sentence alludes to two judicial pronouncements against ancient Babylon by Yahweh for her idolatry and seduction of the surrounding "nations." The nations might be guilty of idolatry, but Babylon is responsible for deceiving them to worship her false gods ("For this cause have the nations been acting as men who are mad"). Note the following:
(Isaiah 21:8-10)- "Then cried he. A lion! On the watch, O My Lord, had I been standing continually, by day, And at my post, had I been stationed whole nights; — When lo! here was a train of men coming. With horsemen in double rank — And one began and said, FALLEN! FALLEN! IS BABYLON, And all the images of her gods are smashed to the ground! O thou My threshing! And the grain of my corn-floor! That which I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, Have I declared unto you" – (The Emphasized Bible).
(Jeremiah 51:6-8) – "Flee out of the midst of Babylon And deliver ye every man his own life, Be not cut off in her punishment — For it is Yahweh's time of avenging, A recompense is be repaying unto her. A cup of gold was Babylon in the hand of Yahweh, Making drunk all the earth — OF HER WINE HAVE THE NATIONS DRUNK, For this cause have the nations been acting as men who are mad. Suddenly, hath Babylon fallen and been broken" – (The Emphasized Bible).
"A third messenger, followed them, saying with a loud voice — If anyone is rendering homage to the beast and his image, and is receiving a mark upon his forehead or upon his hand." The third angel announces judgment on the men and women that give allegiance to the Beast. This group is identical to the "inhabitants of the earth" ("All the inhabitants of the earth will render homage to it, whose names are not written in the book of life" - Revelation 13:8).
The Greek verb tense must be given its full weight. It uses present tense verbs to describe ongoing processes – they are "rendering homage to the Beast," and they are "receiving its mark." In view is not a single past or future act, but what the "inhabitants of the earth" are doing now, in the present. Future punishment is based on present decisions. An inference is the possibility of a reversal of fortune if one ceases to "render homage" to the Beast.
"He also will drink of the wine of the fury (thumos) of God, which is mixed unmixed in the cup of his wrath (orgé)." As the book of Revelation clarifies later, the Beast is dependent on Babylon for its economic control over the nations; thus, in the end, to pay homage to the Beast differs little from drinking the "wine" of Babylon. Therefore, men who are rendering homage to the Beast will partake also of the punishment of Babylon, which is "mixed unmixed."
The image is that of wine not mixed with water; wine was normally diluted with water in the Greco-Roman world. Undiluted wine, obviously, would have the highest alcohol content. The wrath of God against Babylon is "unmixed" – His full fury is about to be unleashed on her.
The image is that of wine not mixed with water; wine was normally diluted with water in the Greco-Roman world. Undiluted wine, obviously, would have the highest alcohol content. The wrath of God against Babylon is "unmixed" – His full fury is about to be unleashed on her.
"He will be tormented with fire and brimstone…and the smoke of their torment ascends unto ages of ages." This sentence contains verbal allusions to two Old Testament passages, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and as follows:
(Genesis 19:24-28) – "And Yahweh rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah BRIMSTONE AND FIRE — from Yahweh out of the heavens: so he overthrew these cities and all the circuit — and all the inhabitants of the cities and the produce of the earth…And Abraham gat up early in the morning unto the place where he had stood before Yahweh; and he looked out over the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and over all the face of the land of the circuit, and beheld and lo! THE SMOKE OF THE LAND WENT UP LIKE THE SMOKE OF A FURNACE."
(Ezekiel 38:18-23) "So then shall it come to pass in that day, In the day when Gog entereth upon the soil of Israel, Declareth My Lord Yahweh, That mine fury (THUMOS) shall come up into my nostrils; Yea, in my jealousy, in the fire of mine wrath (ORGÉ), have I spoken…Then will I contend with him by pestilence and by blood - And an overflowing downpour and hail stones, FIRE AND BRIMSTONE will I rain Upon him, and Upon his hordes, and Upon the many peoples who are with him. So will I Magnify myself and Hallow myself, and Make myself known. Before the eye of many nations." [Note: In the Greek Septuagint version, thumos ("fury") and orgé ("wrath") are used in verses 18-19, further links to Revelation 14:9-10].
Previously, after the Beast killed the Two Witnesses, their corpses were left unburied on the streets of the "great city, which is called spiritually, Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord also was crucified" (Revelation 11:8-9). In His righteous indignation, God now inflicts the punishment meted out to ancient Sodom on "Babylon" and the inhabitants of the great city.
|by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
"Fire came down out of heaven and consumed them; and the Adversary that had been deceiving them was cast into the lake of FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, where were both the Beast and the False Prophet; and they will be tormented day and night unto the ages of ages" (Revelation 20:7-10).
The verbal parallels between chapters 14 and 20 demonstrate that the judicial sentence announced in Revelation 14:8-10 anticipates the destruction of "Gog and Magog," the "Great White Throne" of Judgment, and the "Lake of Fire" (Revelation 20:7-15 - "This is the second death — the lake of fire. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire" [Compare Revelation 21:8]).
The book of Revelation employs verbal allusions to passages that describe how Yahweh destroyed His enemies in ancient times; specifically, Sodom and Gog. The image of "fire and brimstone" is the primary literary link that connects the several passages and, so, their imagery is transferred to the passage in Revelation 14:8-10.
In their original contexts, no mention is made of any eternal punishment of Gog or the inhabitants of Sodom, only their immediate death and destruction. This means caution is in order before interpreting the reapplied images too literally. Note, for example, that in Revelation 14:10 the "smoke of the torment" of the condemned ascends forever, while in Revelation 20:7-10 the fire and brimstone "consume" the nations that attack the saints.
The differences in the descriptions reflect the different source passages from the Hebrew Bible. The passage in Revelation 14:8-10 derives its image from the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 19:24 ("and the smoke ascended). That is why the passage describes the "smoke of their torment ascending unto the ages of the ages," because the language is derived from the story of Sodom's destruction. It is not a literal description of the actual torments endured by the wicked.
Likewise, the destruction of Gog by fire in Revelation 20:9-10 is based on the passage from Ezekiel 38:18-23 combined with the story of the prophet Elijah who called down fire from heaven to "consume" the soldiers sent by Ahab to arrest him, a passage alluded to in the vision of the Two Witnesses when fire issued from their "mouth to consume" their enemies. Thus, in Revelation 20:9, fire fell from heaven to "consume" the forces of "Gog and Magog" (2 Kings 1:10-15, Revelation 11:5).
"He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb." "Tormented" (Greek - basanisthésetai), that is, the man or woman who takes the mark of the Beast will suffer torment. The Greek verb in earlier times was used for the testing of metals for their purity. Originally, it had the sense "rub" for rubbing a touchstone on a piece of metal to determine its purity. From this developed the sense of "torture, torment, harass, distress, trouble, disturb" (Strong's #928).
The point of the clause is not the everlasting "torment" of the wicked in the fires of Hell. Instead, the word is part of the contrast between the fates of the wicked and the righteous. In the next paragraph, the saints who keep the "faith of Jesus" through thick and thin will "rest" from their labors. But the "inhabitants of the earth" that give homage to the Beast will, instead, experience "torment." In other words, "torment" is contrasted with "rest" (Revelation 14:13).
The image of the wicked being tormented in the presence of the angels and the Lamb echoes a passage from the concluding section of Isaiah. However, the original passage described how the surviving remnant of Israel would go out to observe the carcasses of their enemies. In Revelation, instead, this takes place before the angels and the Lamb:
(Isaiah 66:22-24) – "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I am about to make, are to remain before me, Declares Yahweh, So, shall remain your seed and your name. And it shall come to pass that From one new moon to another, and From one sabbath to another, Shall all flesh come in to bow down before me, Saith Yahweh. Then shall they go forth and look upon the dead bodies of the men who had been trespassing against me — For their worm shall not die, And their fire shall not be quenched; So shall they become an abhorrence to all flesh."
The "torment" of them who take the mark of the Beast will be inflicted by the "fire and brimstone," and it is the "smoke of their torment" that will ascend forever. There are verbal parallels to two previous passages from the fifth and sixth seal openings:
(Revelation 9:1-5) – "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the Abyss. And he opened the pit of the Abyss; and there ascended a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace…And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was said to them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads. And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented (basanisthésetai) five months."
(Revelation 9:13-18) – "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men…And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates as of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of lions; and out of their mouths is proceeding fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three plagues was the third part of men killed, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths."
The Two Witnesses were also noted for "tormenting" the "inhabitants of the earth," who then celebrated their deaths, "because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth." The Witnesses executed this "torment" by the "fire that proceeds out of their mouth and consumed their enemies; and if any man desires to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed" (Revelation 11:5-10).
"And they have no rest day or night." The condemned do not experience "rest" because of the "torment" they endure. Their lack of "rest" is in contrast to the martyrs who were seen underneath the altar when the fifth seal was opened, as well as to the "saints" in the next paragraph:
(Revelation 6:11) – "And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course."
(Revelation 14:13) – "And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them."
The book of Revelation is continuing its comparison between the "inhabitants of the earth" that give allegiance to the Beast and the redeemed men of the earth who follow the Lamb. In this section, it is contrasting the different fates of the two groups and uses ominous-sounding language derived from the Hebrew Bible to communicate the horrific fate that awaits all who render homage to the Beast.
However literal or figurative the language might be, suffering, death, and destruction await every man and woman who follows the Beast; it is a fate to be avoided at all costs.


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Vackra klassiska Mini Drop Ring från Caroline Svedbom – så fina ringar som är justerbara och passar alla 🙂
Just as cute as it looks, Mini Drop Ring is delicate and feminine and fits to everyone with its adjustable opening back. This ring is a perfect detail for every occasion.
Size: 13 x 10 mm, adjustable
Plating: 18K Gold / Rhodium
Made with Swarovski Crystals
Engraved logo
Designed in Sweden, handmade in Greece


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The Future of Risk Scoring
The Case for Alternative Risk Scoring
The days of traditional credit risk analysis are numbered and alternative risk scoring is essential to keep up with the pace of a changing market. This change has been necessitated by the fact that companies face many obstacles in trying to determine a client's risk profile. A lack of data, data that is not clean and too little integration into alternative verification sources means that businesses are unable to build accurate and effective credit risk scoring models. Add to this the pressure of competing for quality customers whilst balancing regulatory requirements and you are left with an untenable situation.
The Inadequacy of Traditional Data
Alternative data can improve access to credit, or any form of lending, for the unbanked and non-traditional segments of consumers, an enormous untapped borrower market. Traditional scoring methods rely heavily on credit reporting agencies which makes it almost impossible for consumers without a credit record to obtain credit. These consumers are referred to as credit invisible due to a complete lack of any kind of data from which to draw a credit score. They may very well be an excellent risk and companies are missing out on the opportunity to market to them. Such consumers may be unable to qualify for car, and home loans although they are perfectly capable of meeting potential financial obligations.
It is undeniable that in order to address this issue lenders need to use advanced data analytics, machine learning and new sources of data. Traditional methods of determining credit worthiness are completely inadequate to predict default and alternative risk scoring is the only way to extrapolate a comprehensive credit profile. Moreover, leveraging social media data and integrating new technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the accuracy of more traditional risk assessment methods. Combining machine learning and scorecard approaches can produce a far more powerful credit risk model.
Leveraging Non-Traditional Sources of Data
Social networks provide a wealth of information about an individual, giving savvy businesses ample data to sell and cross-sell products, basically anything is possible with so much data. Besides your likes, dislikes and future plans, social media can be used to verify your identity and gain insight from your connections producing powerful models. Of course, lenders cannot only rely on social media data to guide their credit policies but it is certainly the way forward in developing a more well-rounded, comprehensive profile of potential customers.
The most obvious use of this information is to generate leads and make sales. Sales are the life blood of a business and all companies are constantly looking for a way to out compete their competitors. Businesses can use all this non-traditional data to identify new clients and customers that are ripe for cross-sell or up-sell opportunities.
Vizibiliti Insight's Solution
Vizibiliti Insight uses unstructured alternative data sources to build refined customer profiles segments which predict growth opportunities and risk concerns. We are able to build new segments based on an understanding of inherent personality traits to grasp attitudes, traits and the consumers' needs so as to respond to customer preferences.
Using proprietary algorithms Vizibiliti is able to identify early warning risk indicators and cross / up-sell opportunities. This leads to the predictions of various aspects of credit worthiness. Alternative data inputs can include transactional, telephony, lending, verifiable data to make informed real-time decisions.
Follow Vizibiliti Insight on one of our social media platforms to find out how we are delivering solutions to one of the world's largest telecommunication providers at the Viva Technology Conference in Paris next week.


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Parent Partnership Council
The Parent Partnership Council plans activities and purchases items that benefit students in the school. Currently the PPC is raising money for a new play structure. Volunteers are desperately needed. As little as 1 hour of your time can help the PPC accomplish more. You can volunteer a small amount of time or a make regular commitment as a member of the PPC. Your kids need your help to make the school better!
PPC Meeting April 4th, @ 7 p.m in the staff room at Barker. Please join us.


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Tenth anniversary of the first Einstein@Home discovery
Ten years ago, Einstein@Home published its first astronomical discovery. The radio pulsar J2007+2722 was found in July 2010 with our radio pulsar search, analyzing data from the Arecibo Radio Telescope. The discovery appeared in print on 10 September 2010. A more detailed article*about the discovery was published later.
read more


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The culinary scene in Jakarta is a peculiar one; meal quality seems to play a lesser role in attracting customers rather than being on-trend.
People talk about the various levels of pungency offered in ramen when the fad is all about this Japanese dish and ramen shops everywhere seem to be filled with customers. Later, when the trend has changed to coffee brewing, it is the coffee shops that are swarming with people.
This change in trends keeps going in Jakarta; people were once excited about yogurt, red velvet cake, non-franchised hamburgers, food trucks and sushi stalls.
When you look more closely at this trend-changing phenomenon, you might agree that novelty is the feature that Jakarta's foodies value the most. Hamburgers and sushi are not exactly new dishes; but a place somewhere comes up with a new, original or unusual idea on the menu and boom - an unexplainable cultural shift occurs and they rise into trend.
Online restaurant discovery guide Zomato has gathered seven relatively new restaurants that are rising fast on their review system.
You might want to keep an eye on this list if you want to be the first to post pictures on Instagram before everybody else is talking about them.
Cajun Claws
Seafood restaurant at the Cordoba shops on Jl. Marina Indah Raya in Pantai Indah Kapuk.
Positive points: There is no need for a plate at Cajun Claws when you order crab as everything is laid out on the table. The restaurant lets you have a personal battle with the food you eat, arming you with a bib and shell crusher.
Pao Pao
A restaurant at Jl. Senopati No. 16 specialising in dim sum.
Positive points: It opened merely two weeks ago and you can find people waiting in line to eat there. A reviewer from Zomato, Meidiana Wardhani, wrote, "Their siu long bao [steamed dumpling] is my favourite. The dumpling is soft, well-cooked and rich in flavor."
Tredici Ristorante
A two-story Italian restaurant at Jl. Suryo No. 42, Senopati.
Positive points: Reviewers from Zomato are applauding the work done in designing the place. The old brick ambience and semi- outdoor layout made them feel cozy and at home.
A casual dining place at Jl. Wijaya 2 No. 73, Dharmawangsa. Positive points: The place offers a large variety on the menu, ranging from buttermilk chicken burger to lobster roll. Combine that with their list of coffees and cocktails, and you might find yourself a new favourite place to hangout.
Bar At the Roof Top (hence the name) at Artotel Jakarta, Jl. Sunda No. 3, Thamrin.
Positive points: Being located on the seventh floor, BART customers can enjoy terrific scenery to look out on.
Village Coffee & Kitchen
You can choose whether to have a main course or a cup of coffee to hang out at this place at Jl. Taman Kemang No. 20, Kemang.
Positive points: Comfortable sofas and dining tables are the favoured seating here. The favourite on the menu seems to be their ayam taliwang (spicy young chicken) and chicken chili pesto, as reviewed by Renny Yusnita and Agung Priambodo on Zomato.
Avec Moi
Head to Office Park Thamrin City on Jl. Thamrin for a taste of French cuisine at this restaurant.
Positive points: The design and the menu are perfect for a French restaurant; classy. Jessica Gabriel, reviewer on Zomato, was certainly pleased during her visit as she loved everything from the sous-vide chicken breast to the bacon carbonara.


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The method of mini-punch is a practice of hair transplants. It is reported in the case where mechanical with the strip can be directed to the patient. The grafts are immediately removed with a mini-punch two mm in diameter with a cutting head and raised on an electric motor. Hundreds of mini-grafts assembled from five to eight hair are taken.
The technique of mini-punch takes place in three phases:
1. The contribution of slips:
Here we must catch the grafts at the crown with a mini-punch slice tortuous walking with electrical mechanics. The part of the hairy leather is first bored to support the action. The grafts are kept in solution by providing the implant. sixty minutes, six hundred grafts are removed, releasing a delicate imprint on the sampling zone.
2. The preparation of the removed part:
During this phase of thirty minutes, the bald area is set up to acquire the operation of the hair transplant by a punch of 1.5 mm in diameter, and then plant the grafts. In particular, the small pieces of leather are eliminated. To retain the dermal vasculature, it is essential to separate the openings. It is possible to dent two mm wide in the scalp skin to prevent regression of leather.
3. Fixing:
It is during this stage that the plugins are installed on the cleaned area with pliers. Depending on the situation, the grafts (mini or micro) are deposited in the cylindrical entries or dermal entail lions. For the establishment of six hundred grafts intrusion takes 2 hours. At the end of the operation, a pad is mounted on the input space and the graft surface, to be kept for 24 hours. Three days at the end of the initiative, the patient can complete its first shampoo. Pressure ulcers that appear can stay for eight to ten days at most. This technique of Hair Transplants admits growth grafts after 90 days at the end of surgery, thus giving delivery to small bouquets from May to August hair.


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Crime Stoppers Holds Weekend Film Experience
Crime Stoppers recently held its second annual Weekend Film Experience, resulting in "a resounding success with one sold out show and four others nearing capacity."
A spokesperson said, "From February 28 to March 3, the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute hosted the Weekend Film Experience of carefully curated high caliber movies. Programmed by Bermudian film professional Andrew Stoneham, his eclectic selection of films included The Guilty, Big Fish & Begonia, Disobedience, C'est la Vie and sold out show, The Favourite."
Vice Chairman Jahan Cedenio said, "We had such a high demand for tickets to The Favourite on February 28th that we decided to hold an extra showing at BUEI on Thursday, March 14. This movie recently received a 2019 Academy Award, awarded to Olivia Colman for Best Actress."
"So, if you missed your opportunity to see the film the New York Times calls 'a wildly entertaining, bracingly cynical comedy of royal manners' it's not too late. Tickets for the second showing of The Favourite are selling fast and can be purchased from ptix.bm. Cost is $15 for adults and $12 for students.
"Crime Stoppers' overall goal is to keep our community safe and, in doing so we encourage the community, business sector, and law enforcement to continue supporting Crime Stoppers Bermuda, as it helps to ensure the safety of us all. Chairman Carlnika Roser addressed the audience on opening night by thanking patrons and sponsors for their continued support of this charity."
MS. Roser said, "98% of funds raised from events like our Film Experience are redirected back into the promotion of Crime Stoppers."
"She then presented four Crime Stoppers Community Awards to:
- Dunkley & Pioneer Dairies, who display the anonymous reporting number and website on their milk cartons and delivery trucks.
- The Royal Gazette newspaper, who display the reporting platform information on the bottom of their front page, each day the paper is published.
- The Marketplace Supermarkets, who supply thousands of customers with paper bags which display the anonymous reporting telephone number and website.
- The Argus Group, who were our title sponsor of the Argus Crime Stoppers 5K Run and Walk over the past ten years, in an event which become our main awareness campaign and fundraiser.
Read More About
Category: All, Entertainment, Films/Movies


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Three months ago, the main question for Tesla's second quarter results was whether the electric-car maker was on a stable path to finally turn profitable. The answer, at the time, was not as Tesla not only missed on the top and bottom line, but the company slashed its capex outlook, suggesting that its vision for the growthy future has become far more cloudy. It also sent the company's stock tumbling.
Fast forward to today, when looking at Tesla's Q3 earnings the question for investors will again be more or less the same: will Tesla finally be able to turn a profit in a quarter in which Tesla delivered a record number of vehicles (yet coming light of expectations) with focus increasingly shifting to whether the company can sell cars profitably.
Tesla's margins have come under pressure in recent quarters, as the carmaker has been selling more lower priced, lower margin Model 3 sedans compared with the older Model S and Model X. A further squeeze could also come from rising battery prices, according to Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin. As a result, the average analyst estimate for Q3 gross margin had fallen sharply after the second quarter, and is down 27% over the past year.
Separately, revenue estimates suggest the company's top line will fall compared with last year, the first such drop for Tesla since 2012 when the Model S started production.
Another key metric will be cash flow with analysts expecting free cash flow to drop to $35.9 million for the period, which according to Bloomberg Intelligence is "The single most important number to track... Paying the bills, supporting global expansion and servicing the debt are the bottom line necessities. Almost all of the other metrics are just noise."
Also under the microscope will be Tesla's guidance - Musk has said he expects to deliver 360,000 to 400,000 vehicles in 2019, although many analysts believe it will be tough for the company to reach these numbers.
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So with all that in mind, here are the main numbers that Tesla reported for the third quarter, bizarrely in a totally different format to Elon Musk's previous investor letter, one which this time was not signed by Musk as is customary:
- Revenue as expected, was a disappointment, at $6.30BN, far below the estimate of $6.45 billion
- But it was EPS that blew investors away, as Tesla reported a mindblowing EPS of $1.91, orders of magnitude above the 24c estimate.
- Free cash flow was $342MM, also far above the estimate of $35.9 million
- On the other hand, automotive gross margin was 22.8%, below the estimate of 25.0%
- Capital expenditures also missed, and at just $385 million, it was far below the estimate of $562 million
For those who are shocked, you are not alone: the bottom line is that whereas consensus expected Tesla to report a net loss of $52MM, the company actually reported $342MM in non-GAAP income. Tesla explained that it was able to pull off this miraculous profit by making operating expenses the lowest since Model 3 production started. It also talked how cheap it was to build the Gigafactory 3 in China, roughly 65% cheaper than the Model 3 production system in the U.S., based on capex per unit of capacity.
As a result, the stock is soaring after hours, up 16% after hours and is set to post its biggest earnings-linked gain since last year's second quarter; the company impressed analysts with stronger-than-expected margins, positive cash flow and reaffirmed its expectation to turn a profit in the remaining quarters of that year. Then again, it has done all that before.
And while the results leave many questions unanswered, at least the company's new reporting format makes following the numbers somewhat easier:
And visually, revenues - as noted above, this was the first Y/Y revenue decline since 2012:
And EPS, which as the chart below shows, is absolutely bizarre and reeks of some truly impressive accounting gimmicks:
Speaking of the company's liquidity situation, TSLA's cash flow declined, and after Q2's dramatic rebound from the $920 million it burned in Q1, spiking to $614 million, it since shrank to $371MM, even as CapEx was only $371MM, nearly $200MM below the consensus estimate.
Regarding the company's cash flow, Tesla said quarter end cash and cash equivalents increased to $5.3B, driven by positive free cash flow of $371M.
And speaking of sources of funding, Tesla reported that its customer deposits actually increased for the first quarter since Q4 2017, from $631MM to $665MM.
Discussing the revenue decline, Tesla's letter said that compared to Q3 of 2018, "the percentage of leased vehicles has tripled and alone has impacted revenue by the majority of the YoY decrease." As Bloomberg clarifies for the non-auto geeks/New Yorkers who don't own cars, "that means more cars are coming back to the company, and it has to hold them on its books." As a further reminder, EVs have notoriously low residual values, because the tech is changing so fast. Tesla also cut prices to move out inventory, which also hurts the prices of the leased cars in the used market.
That said, Tesla is hoping to accelerate growth "through Gigafactory Shanghai, Model Y and also through increasing build rates on our existing production lines. These capacity increases will allow for higher total vehicle deliveries and associated revenue. We also expect to gradually release nearly $500M of accumulated deferred revenue tied to Autopilot and Full Self Driving features."
Commenting on its profit margin, TSLA said that GAAP Automotive gross margin improved by 393bp QoQ to 22.8% (up 3.66% QoQ excluding regulatory credits), which is bizarre since the average ASP actually decline notably in Q3, and here's how it justified the move:
Margin was impacted in part due to fundamental improvements in our operating efficiency, including higher fixed cost absorption, reductions in manufacturing and material costs and continued improvements in vehicle quality and in part due to Smart Summon-related deferred revenue recognition, FX and other non-recurring items. Improved gross profit combined with a decline in operating expenses resulted in material improvement of GAAP net income.
Bizarrely, Tesla dedicated no less than 8 slides in its reformatted "investor letter" to photos of Shanghai factory, such as this one:
The company also reported that "Trial production of Model 3 in Shanghai has begun, ahead of schedule. We are also ahead of schedule to produce Model Y and now expect to launch by summer 2020. We are planning to produce limited volumes of Tesla Semi in 2020 and are hoping to announce soon the location of our European Gigafactory for production in 2021."
And speaking of Shanghai, Tesla said it was already producing full vehicles on a trial basis, from body, to paint and to general assembly, at the Chinese Gigafactory:
"With Model 3 priced on par with gasoline powered mid-sized sedans (even before gas savings and other benefits), we believe China could become the biggest market for Model 3."
Looking ahead, Tesla repeated that "deliveries should increase sequentially... We are highly confident in exceeding 360,000 deliveries this year." It appears that Tesla has now removed the upper end, 400,000 of the range it had provided before.
Most importantly for investors, however, Tesla now forecasts "positive quarterly free cash flow going forward, with possible temporary exceptions, particularly around the launch and ramp of new products. We continue to believe our business has grown to the point of being self-funding."
The only problem with this statement: Tesla has made it before.
So while analysts are scratching their heads to figure out just how Musk padded results this quarter, the stock is exploding higher in a furious short squeeze, trading up 17% to just shy of $300, the highest since April.
Bizarrely, while Elon Musk didn't sign the actual quarterly letter - a first - he did Tweet his own summary of the company's results.
Tesla Q3 results:— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 23, 2019
- Shanghai Giga ahead of schedule
- Model Y ahead of schedule
- Solar installs +48% from Q2
- GAAP profitable
- Positive free cash flow


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Beautiful American Landscape Paintings By Elliot Essman
Life in the USA
Public Services I
The Telephone
Telephone Answering Machines
Telephone answering machines are widely used throughout the United States. When you call someone who is not home (or who is home but doesn't want to receive calls) you might get a recorded message from them. After a beep or tone, you can leave your own message. Some machines cut you off after thirty seconds or so, while some let you talk as long as you like. Machines can sometimes be programmed to give a message to callers but not to take one. These are commonly used in movie theaters for people calling in to hear the times a film will be shown.
You can screen calls using an answering machine. If someone you want to speak with starts to leave a message, you have the option of picking up the receiver to take the call. The technique for doing this will vary according to the machine.
Effective Outgoing Messages. If you have a telephone answering machine, leave a clear, quick outgoing message. Avoid the temptation to have music in the background since it usually doesn't reproduce well over the tiny microphone of a telephone answering machine.
Leaving Messages. When you leave your own message on someone else's answering machine, be clear, brief and to the point. In many cases, it pays to anticipate the need to leave a message, and get it ready in advance.
Next Section: Telephone Etiquette
Public Services I: Chapter Home
Life in the USA Home
The URL of this site is:
Building Yourself -
Stylegourmet -


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2018 Italian GP: Ferrari Denied Glory in Monza
The 2018 Italian Grand Prix is always a special event simply by virtue of the enthusiasm of the tifosi, the die-hard Ferrari fans who come to the Formula One race in droves and then swarm the track during the podium ceremony to make it one of the best moments of the year (should you happen to drive for their team and actually make it to the top three).
Unfortunately for the tifosi, Ferrari hasn't won in Italy since Fernando Alonso's victory in 2010, and the last four years have been particularly depressing, with Mercedes leading every single lap since the start of the new hybrid engine era.
This time, though, there was hope. Ferrari had made major strides with its engine and looked to be the strongest team in 2018. It even locked out the front row of the grid, with Kimi Räikkönen taking a sensational pole position to mark his first since the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix.
Pit Stop: Why service your car at a dealership
But as seems to happen so often this year, optimistic Ferrari Saturdays tend to lead to a dire Sundays. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton touched at the second chicane and Vettel came out the worst of it. His car was spun around and he promptly found himself in last place.
This not only meant that his championship rival was going to increase his points lead, but that he couldn't help his teammate win the race. Once again Ferrari pulled the trigger too early, pitting Räikkönen several laps before he really should have, allowing Mercedes to keep Bottas out and use him to hold up the Ferrari driver while Hamilton eventually caught up on fresher tires.
After several laps of heroically keeping Hamilton behind, Räikkönen's tires finally had enough and the Brit came through to win his fourth Italian Grand Prix in five years. Thanks to a bit of risky driving by Max Verstappen, who earned himself a penalty, Vettel managed to finish fourth despite the first-lap setback, but is now a full thirty points behind Hamilton in the championship.
While not an insurmountable hill to climb, there are only seven more races to go, and the trend of late has been one of Vettel going backward rather than forward.
Auto Rumors: New Cadillac CT5 Coupe could be on its way
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We're located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what's trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.


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- Back to Home »
- Saudi Arabia imposes Tax on Electric Cigarettes and Sugary Drinks
Posted by : Aahil Shaik Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Saudi Arabia imposes 100% Tax on e-Cigarettes and 50% on Sugary Drinks
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has imposed a new special tax of 100 per cent on electronic cigarettes and 50 per cent on sugary drinks starting from Saturday as per the statement of The General Authority of Zakat and Tax. Trending : Saudi Arabia shoots down two missiles heading towards Makkah and Jeddah
Saudi Arabia introduced similar taxes called Selective Tax before two years in the year 2017 stating 100% tax on cigarettes, tobacco products and energy drinks and 50% tax on soft drinks. Similar : Saudi Arabia implemented Selective Tax
- The tax on e-cigarettes and sugary drinks fall under the category of selective taxes, which are harmful for the public health.
- Saudi Arabia introduced a 5 per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT) last year in January 2018, In order to improve the non oil revenue generation. The Kingdom was first to introduce in the GCC States. See Also : Imports of tobacco products dropped by 43% in Saudi Arabia
- Value Added Tax (VAT) introduction had been successful in Saudi Arabia, However the Saudi government is charging very less compared to the global standards.


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Ever since it became a HERO Registered Contractor in 2014, San Diego-based Tough Turtle Turf has touted the strong consumer protection measures provided by HERO, the nation's leading provider of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. "The thing about the HERO Program is they're going to check out the contractor you're working with," said Brandon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tough Turtle Turf, which has completed numerous projects throughout Orange County. "They're going to make sure the contractor is licensed, that their worker's comp is up [to date] — basically, they're going to do a background check for you," Johnson said.
"Not just any contractor can join the HERO Program, and that's a good thing." And now, thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 25, the already strong consumer protections in place through Renovate America's HERO Program financing just got even stronger. AB 2693, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017, codifies existing protections for all PACE providers, including requiring a new disclosure modeled after the federal mortgage Know-Before-You-Owe disclosure form, so that customers can easily understand all of the terms associated with PACE financing.
The new law makes the innovative financing solution provided by the HERO Program "more robust for homeowners," Renovate America Executive Vice President Ari Matusiak said. Among its provisions, the new law will make sure that homeowners move forward with their PACE project fully informed. PACE providers will be required to clearly spell out the interest and fees associated with the assessment; notify homeowners that they are adding a line item to their existing property tax lien; and inform them that unlike any other financing option, they may be able to transfer the financing to the next property owner when the home is sold, though some lenders may require the homeowner to pay off the total amount of the assessment.
Even before the new legislation, the HERO Program had numerous consumer-protection vehicles in place, including a HERO Protect™ team whose members include a handful of former police investigators and a former utility investigator — folks committed to making a difference when it comes to protecting consumers. Such services are provided free of charge to homeowners. Since its inception in 2011, Renovate America's HERO Program, which is now available to 88% of Californians, has financed $1.85 billion on nearly 80,000 residential projects — projects that have saved homeowners tens of millions of dollars on their utility bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and created thousands of clean energy jobs.
The HERO Program, which is made possible through a public-private partnership with municipalities and has been adopted by 433 communities within 48 of California's 58 counties, enables homeowners to make energy- and water-efficiency improvements and to pay for them over time through their property tax bill. ? No money is required upfront. ? ? HERO financing payments may have tax benefits, and many homeowners see immediate savings on utility bills. And the program ?keeps other existing credit sources available to help? homeowners meet goals and emergencies. With the strengthened consumer protections that came with Gov. Brown's signature, contractors like Tough Turtle Turf, who say the HERO Program has helped grow their business, likely will be getting even more homeowners to realize the benefits of PACE financing.
In just three years, Tough Turtle Turf has exploded from a three-person operation into one with more than 110 employees who service clients throughout Southern California. "HERO has definitely been a huge part of our growth," Johnson said.


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In the wake of marriage equality becoming the law of the land, Jenna Ellis told a talk radio show that the decision opened the door for "bestiality and pedophilia." She's since become a high-profile Trump campaign surrogate.
Jenna Ellis, a top adviser for President Donald Trump's re-election campaign, apparently thinks same-sex marriage is comparable to bestiality and pedophilia. She also supports criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual encounters.
When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide, Ellis told the Apologetics.com's radio show in May 2016, "It's setting the stage for polyamory, bestiality and eventually pedophilia…. We are saying any sexual urge is valid. So pedophilia, why is that any different than any other form of love? Love is love, right?"
Right-wing conservatives have long linked the LGBTQ movement to people who sexually prey on children, a connection that empowers others to exclude, harass, attack, and even kill queer people under the guise of "protecting kids."
In her 2015 book, The Legal Basis for a Moral Constitution, Ellis wrote that she disagrees with the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating anti-gay sodomy laws nationwide. While such laws theoretically criminalized oral and anal sex for all adults, police and state governments mostly used them as justifications for criminalizing private same-sex sexual encounters between consenting adults.
She said the 2003 ruling "ignored the immorality of homosexuality" and"set the groundwork for open celebration of homosexuality and all kinds of deviant sexual behavior with any coupling or grouping."
In short, Ellis was okay with arresting and throwing gay adults in prison for having consensual sex behind closed doors.
Ellis is also an attorney who worked as the director of public policy for the James Dobson Family Institute. Dobson is a longtime anti-LGBTQ evangelical bigot. However, her views as Trump's re-election advisor might find welcome among the approximately 81 percent of Evangelical voters who supported Trump in the 2016 election. Evangelicals remain the religious denomination most opposed to LGBTQ equality.
Written by Daniel Villareal, The New Civil Rights Movement. Photo via NCRM.


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Posted on June 7, 2017 by TravelCenters of America Inc.
Have you ever been off the road due to medical reasons? Or maybe you know a fellow driver who has? It can be a very scary situation for drivers and their families. Loss of income while shouldering the worry of medical problems makes for a much more stressful situation.
One driver who was helped by SCF explained, "I applied for financial assistance from the St. Christopher Fund the same month I had my triple bypass surgery and was given $700. Without this aid, my daughter and I would have been homeless. I honestly cannot express the relief it was to know that yes, the rent is paid. Yes, we still have a home. It may not seem that important to some, but the St. Christopher Fund has made a vital impact on my recovery." The St. Christopher's Truckers Development and Relief Fund help professional drivers and their families who have financial needs due to medical problems. Their assistance may be in the form of direct payment for medical services, prescription drugs, and household expenses. This can be a huge help for truckers that have no one else to turn to.
If you or a fellow trucker are in need of assistance or you want to donate, reach out to the SCF at 865-202-9428 or email@example.com and visit their website at www.truckersfund.org.
Overlooking the brake system on your truck is a mistake you don't want to make.
Read More


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To complete a minor in Theatre you must take a total of 15 credit hours in Theatre, 12 of which must be upper division.
THEA 1100 – Theatre Appreciation (3) Take as part of your Core Classes in Area C
Be aware that these classes serve as pre-reqs for upper division classes and you may need to take some of them as part of your general electives, depending on the classes you want to fulfill your minor.
*Contact the Department for upcoming upper-division courses.
Last updated: 10/9/2017
Communication Arts Department • PO Box 8091; Statesboro, GA 30460 • 912-478-5138 • email@example.com


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Author Archives: AHPadmin
Nature is Calling and I Must Go
Good early morning! This weekend is the beginning of my vacation. It will actually be a stay-cation because of all the things that need to be done around the homestead. We are planning to head up to the Smokies at … Continue reading
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Welcome to my Page!!
I have had this page up and running for a few years now. This started out as a way to share my pictures with other people and if they were inclined to buy any, we offered that option. We recently … Continue reading
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