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Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting News
Featuring content from Checkpoint
U.S. futures fall as China rout deepens
Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting News/
U.S. futures fall as China rout deepens
(Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures fell on Wednesday as a rout in Chinese markets deepened and as investors continue to keep a wary eye on developments in the Greek debt crisis.
* Beijing unveiled yet another battery of measures to arrest the sell-off and the securities regulator warned of "panic sentiment" gripping investors in the world's second-largest economy.
* Growing concerns of a slowdown in China were reflected in the commodities markets, with copper prices falling to a six-year low. Oil prices, however, recovered slightly from their worst week in past few months.
* More than 30 percent has been knocked off the value of Chinese shares since mid-June, and for some global investors the fear that China's market turmoil will destabilize the real economy is now a bigger risk than the crisis in Greece.
* Euro zone members have given Greece until Sunday to come up with convincing reform proposals in return for loans that will keep the country from crashing out of the single currency.
* With its banks closed, cash withdrawals rationed and the economy in freefall, Greece has never been closer to a total state bankruptcy that would probably force it to print an alternative currency and leave the euro.
* Investors will also scrutinize the minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's June 16-17 meeting to see if the storm clouds over Greece and China will have any effect on the timing and pace of an interest rate increase. The minutes are due at 2:00 p.m. ET.
* San Francisco Fed President John Williams is scheduled to speak on the economic outlook before the International Conference of Commercial Bank Economists later in the day.
* U.S. quarterly earnings season kicks off, with Alcoa <AA.N> reporting results after the close of markets. Corporate profits are expected to have fallen 3.1 percent in the second quarter, according to Thomson Reuters data.
* Microsoft <MSFT.O> shares fell 2.2 percent to $43.75 in premarket trading after the New York Times reported the company plans to announce a new round of layoffs to cut costs further.


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Coincidance Beats Compilation Album
More Information
- How were previous Coincidances?
Unique! You can find all details in our Facebook Events page for all our events since 2014. Subscribe to be the first one to know where the next Coincidance takes place.
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- What is Coincidance Beats?
It's our compilation albums with artists from previous Coincidance events. So far we have 2 volumes out, Coincidance Beats Vol 1 (June 2016) and Coincidance Beats Vol 2 (September 2016). More to come!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Jelly Escape
How quick can you escape? Dodge, run, put your skills to test and unlock LOTS of bonuses while helping Jelly to escape!
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What I Believe
I believe a Job interview should go by your answers and not your looks or personality.
Everyone wants a job, and just because of what your religious belief, or social life, shouldn't be a factor in the job your applying for. There is one way a head boss/ interviewer could find out more about you, which is an unfair judgment, Myspace.
Myspace is a place where people can get to know you more, and or judge you…. Your boss could easily look your profile up and see, oh he's Atheist or he's bi/gay, or he swears allot. A job should go by answers you give.
Another thing if you have a job, and you get fired for stealing or someone complains that you had a bad attitude, No this should not be judgable, everyone deserves a second chance, if noone had a second chance, noone would get another job.
If your late for your job, your your boss that would be a bad impression from you to him. If you call in sick a few days in a row, you could have a boss who does not tolerate that and could have a penalty for it.
Job interviews are always based on your appearances, why must you be judged by looks? If there is a job you have been wanting and you come on to hard, or you try to be funny to much, they will say you have a chance, but that's them saying don't even expect a phone call back.
Is it the interviewer or the government? Does the government tell the interviewer what kind of person they want to take the job.
I had a job interview a few months ago, they took one look at me and I saw their minds went blank with confusion, I don't know what they wanted out of me, but they still gave me an interview, but I did not get the job.
The next time I went in for an interview, I just dressed as myself, and the next thing I knew it, I was working making minimum wage at a grocery store.
its great how some jobs you don't have to dress unlike yourself, you just have to be yourself.
But then again you will have these interviews where you have to act like a totally new person, and dress like a new person. If that's the case I don't think that job would be worth taking.
If you enjoyed this essay, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to This I Believe, Inc.


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NSC Basic First Aid
Our first aid and safety training Program covers basic first aid training that is an internationally certified program from National Safety Council USA. Emergency Care program could be a NSC authorized program that offers first aid certification along with different training diplomas. The course methodology is not just regarding teaching theoretical details of basic first aid courses but Gravity Skills as usual offers more than expected as the current training is based on basic first aid classes and certified CPR training
|Our expert team makes sure to deliver the best CPR training to clients who wish to take CPR first aid courses to have better understanding of the said field and on top of that the CPR certification makes the ale to use their training in a positive and helpful manner. But CPR training is just one side of the first aid training so individuals who want to study for effective utilization of AED at work places are provided with the basic first aid certificate to enable their skills practically.
Course Contents
Performance Objectives
This course can live mastery on every of the subsequent performance objectives:
Value additional
Inhouse coaching
This course can even be run in house for up to fifteen persons per course by arrangement


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Japanese soldiers in Rangoon, Burma. Japanese troops use dynamite to make a road through the mountain. Soldiers carrying gear on their backs advance uphill. Horses carry ammunition and supplies. Japanese troops advance in the city patrolling on street. Burmese men, women and children in the city. A banner with Burmese slogan. Native women seated in a local tricycle. (World War II period).
A documentary titled 'Fall of Rangoon'. Soldiers of British Indian 50th Parachute Division board aircrafts for airborne attacks on Rangoon,Burma. Soldiers of 26th Indian Regiment reach the banks of river Rangoon in boats as large number of Burmese welcome them. Soldiers march into the city without encountering enemy. Allied forces capture the city.
Animated map shows Indian Ocean,with Bay of Bengal; Ceylon; India and cities of Madras and Calcutta; and Burma and city of Rangoon. Two Japanese aircraft carriers are seen in waters off Rangoon, during World War 2. Officers aboard looking through binoculars. Antiaircraft guns on one of the carriers. A Japanese Mitsubishi A6M (zero/Zeke) airplane is readied and takes off from the carrier, followed by another. Several are seen flying in formation over the city of Rangoon. Sounds of explosions and smoke rising, as the Japanese bomb the city. Black smoke from exploding flak is also seen. Scene shifts to a Japanese warship firing 5.5 inch guns at a British ship which is hit by shellfire. The ship explodes emitting dense white smoke, and sinks from sight. Three A6M Zeros fly overhead. Aerial view of a British ship being bombed, and burning.
Rangoon, Burma, under Japanese occupation during World War 2. Japanese propaganda film states, in Japanese, that Volunteer Corps is building a 'New 'Burma,' and that Volunteer corps training illustrates how people can enjoy and manage their freedom from the British. Burmese gather at open market in front of a hotel in Rangoon. Words "On Look Hotel" appear along with Japanese lettering on the hotel front. Several Japanese soldiers mingle amongst the crowd at an open market. All manner of foods and goods being sold. Women display fabrics. Crowd gathered in grandstand of stadium to watch Volunteer Corps training and parade. Shwedagon Paya (Pagoda), Buddhist temple seen in background. Japanese officer stands on steps and salutes as Volunteer Corps pass in review. Their most notable weapon is a machine gun mounted in a wagon.
Japanese troops walking along the "Road to Mandalay" in World War 2. A road sign shows 104 miles North to Mandalay and 326 miles South to Rangoon.Cattle in a field. Road clogged with Japanese troops, some leading or riding horses. Several soldiers on bicycles.Trucks line the side of road. An official proclamation posted in Japanese and Burmese.Roadside lined with Burmese people, some carrying parasols. They offer water to passing troops and for their animals. Japanese troops drinking from their newly filled canteens. Japanese soldiers interrogate a wounded British soldier sitting on the ground. Japanese infantry files past a line of Japanese tanks. They pass another road sign pointing 82 miles to Mandalay, 348 miles to Rangoon, and 6 miles to Hanza. Japanese troops struggle to move a truck over a by-pass around a bridge destroyed by the British. Japanese officers surveying the situation. A photographer takes pictures of Japanese tanks coming over a steep hill. Japanese gun crew secures a field artillery piece in place, with rope and stakes. They then load and fire it. Rounds exploding in the distance.Tanks and other military vehicles are parked clear of the artillery, as if waiting to proceed, after the bombardment. Truck pulling a large artillery piece and infantry pulling small artillery pieces, advance alongside parked tanks. Some of the infantrymen carry Japanese flags. Japanese tanks rolling into outskirts of Mandalay, near railroad yard, past trashed military equipment.
A film titled 'Under Heaven all is one Family' illustrates the importance of the Burma Road during World War II. A globe spins. Animated map of China depicts the distance of Singapore from the U.S. and highlights Rangoon. The map further highlights Burma, China, Indo-China and Thailand. The Burma Road is presented as a vital link between Lashio, Burma, and Kunming, China during World War II.


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Yuan‑Jen Chiang, Professor of Mathematics, earned a Ph.D. (1989) and an M.A. (1985) in mathematics from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. (1979) in mathematics from National Taiwan Normal University (Taipei, Taiwan).
Dr. Chiang has had publications in International Journal of Mathematics, Journal of Geometry and Physics, Annals of Global Analysis and Geometry, Bulletin of French Mathematical Society, Proceedings of American Mathematical Society, International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, Bulletin of the Institute of Mathematics, Academia Sinica, Achievium Mathematicium, JP Journal of Geometry and Topology, Journal of Geometry and Symmetry in Physics, Journal of Mathematics, China.
She has presented many publications/papers at international conferences and universities in USA, China, France, Spain, Italy, India, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria, and Taiwan. They include two International Congress of Mathematicians in India and Spain (every 4 years), 1st International Joint Meeting between AMS and FMS, 1st International Joint Meeting between AMS and Italian Mathematical Union, 3rd Pacific Rim Conference on Mathematics in Shanghai, 9th Pasific Conference on Geometry in Taipei, 5th International Conference on Mathematics and Statistics in Athens, 14th International Conference on Geometry, Integrability and Quantization in Bulgaria, etc.
Since 1991, Dr. Chiang has been a reviewer of "Mathematical Review" (published monthly by the American Mathematical Society), and has written reviews for approximately 100 scholarly papers on differential geometry and global analysis. Included in her awards are 13 Mary Washington Development Grants, three Jepson Funds for Excellence grants (1 for 2 years), and two Natural Science Foundation Grants in China. Dr. Chiang received a sabbatical leave for visiting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall of 2001. She is a member of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America.


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2016 Dodge Charger
New 2016 Dodge Charger at Bossier Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM for Hillsboro, TX
The 2016 Dodge Charger is a vibrant mix of new technology and legendary muscle car style. The token soda bottle shape is a blast from the past which also mixes with large wheels and sharp looking exterior for a real modern take on a classic. The Dodge Charger has the look of a car that is highly efficient and ready to roar. For this model year there is a choice of 6 trim packages, new colors, additional equipment on board and new appearance packages. The Dodge Charger delivers luxury and performance with very minimal in market competition.
Under the Charger's Hood
From the entry level all of the way up through the premium model the Charger offers more performance than one would think based on the level of comfort and ability to use the vehicle daily. The amazing Hellcat uncorks 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque and has a stunning top speed of 204 miles per hour. The Hellcat can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds and is most definitely the fastest sedan in the world relying on a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8 to get this done. The Charger also has many different powertrain options including the 3.6-liter V-6 engine on the SE and SXT getting 31 miles per gallon, the engine on the R/T is a 370-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8. The 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque in the SRT 392 and R/T Scat Pack models. For additional efficiency in fuel consumption the SE and SXT have the ability to disconnect the front axle. When the window wipers are turned on or there is rear slip detected the all-wheel drive comes on by itself.
Design of Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger has a past that is right out of the history book. Its deep roots have grown into American history and its look is widely recognized. The modern Charger takes the importance of these important times and builds on them. The modern take is one that is light weight, faster and bolder. It takes advantage of Comprehensive Sport Mode allowing for changes in steering when conditions warrant as well as a 7-inch fully customizable driver information screen, navigation center, premium audio system with BeatsAudio or Harman Kardon brand products. New colors out this year include a great looking "Plum Crazy" shade and many other really fun color choices. The featured top of the line Hellcat has an intake for cold air right in its hood that in conjunction with dual air extractors reduces heat and contributes to turbulence reduction within the engine. The Dodge Charger offers a firm comfortable ride and all models except the Hellcat have electric power steering for better handling. This combination of smooth riding and responsive handling is quite a feat of achievement on a vehicle that is more oriented toward performing.
Where is Bossier Chrysler Dodge Jeep located?
We are located at 306 Southwest I-35 Hillsboro, TX 76645 Click for Directions
Can you help me finance my 2016 Dodge Charger?
Yes we would love to help you find financing! Please check out our Finance Center! Click for Finance Center
Can I have my vehicle serviced at your dealership?
Yes we are a mopar affiliated dealership and we can service all of your car's needs. Click to Schedule Service
In safety testing the Charger received five star which is the highest rating given. The Institute for Highway Safety gave it a top rating also. Customers can increase the safety of their Chargers with more than 80 available security and safety features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Full-speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus, and Adaptive Cruise Control-Plus with Full Stop. The 2016 Hellcat has two key fobs. One is red and one is black with the red one being the only key able to unlock the full horsepower and torque of the powerful engine. The black fob reduces engine output and restricts the driver. Give us a call or stop in for a test drive today. We can be reached at 888-782-3239.
Read Our Other Reviews2016 Dodge Dart 2016 RAM 2500 2016 RAM 3500 Chassis


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MS Dhoni biopic reveals why he promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh in 2011 World Cup final
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story has got off to a record-breaking start at the box office as the audience has lapped up the biopic about India's most successful captain, MS Dhoni. There were many major revelations in the movie, but arguably one of the biggest was the reason why Dhoni promoted himself above Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede.
In the movie directed by Neeraj Pandey and starring Sushant Singh Rajput, the reason behind Dhoni's promotion is revealed along with his conversation with Indian coach Gary Kirsten, prior to the Indian captain walking out to the crease.
Chasing 275 for victory, India lost both openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early. Although Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir were batting well at the crease, the introduction of Muttiah Muralitharan into the attack in the 19th over prompted the Indian captain to go over to coach Gary Kirsten and tell him that he would be going in at the fall of the next wicket.
As Muralitharan came into the attack, Dhoni went over to Kirsten and spoke about going in next. Here is the transcript of the conversation from the movie:
MS Dhoni: Excuse me, Gary. If a wicket goes down, I think I should go in.
Gary Kirsten: But, Yuvi is padded up and ready.
MS Dhoni: No, it is Murali, I think I should go in.
Gary Kirsten: You sure?
MS Dhoni: Just, tell him (Yuvraj), I will go.
Although Dhoni wasn't in great form until the final, having scored just 150 runs in eight matches and Yuvraj Singh, who had already sealed the Man of the Series award with his 341 runs and crucial wickets, was padded up and ready to go, the Indian captain walked in ahead of the southpaw at the fall of Kohli's wicket.
With the score at 114 for three and the target still more than 150 runs away, Dhoni came in ahead of Yuvraj and the rest, as they say, is history. Dhoni smashed a 79-ball 91 and sealed India's first World Cup in 28 years with a six.
Speaking about the incident to Cricket Country a few years ago, India's mental conditioning coach during the victorious World Cup campaign, Paddy Upton said: "Dhoni's choice to go ahead of Yuvi was nothing short of a masterstroke. An excellent example of his gut-feel for the game.
"Yuvi [Yuvraj] had delivered so many great performances. He possibly had used up a lot of his mental energy, and his energy tanks were near empty. Dhoni's were still pretty full, and he is possibly the best in the world game for taking on the high pressure to close a critical game for his team," he added.
Upton also spoke about the premonition he had of India lifting the World Cup again. "When he walked out to bat, I turned to Gary Kirsten and said, "He's going to go and fetch the World Cup for us," he said.
Also Read: MS Dhoni: The Untold Story brings in Rs.66 crore in its opening weekend


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The best way to get to know us is to listen to our Podcast...but here's a snapshot of each of our hosts:
Serious Jest:
"A great cocksmith, master pintsman, and a stunningly-handsome prince of light in these dark Dark Ages."
Made in Peru; forged in America; underground rapper; top-level attorney; once & always a Marine; Nupe 4 Life; and father of a beautiful little girl. My favorite movie is the Matrix (the original only, please). My favorite TV show ever is Game of Thrones. My favorite genres are thrillers and comedy. I hate movies that "play with the net down." I love sports, especially football and MMA. If you can identify with any of the above, you might like my recommendations.
BarCode Podcast (WARNING: contains lots of nerdy video-game talk).
"A cool nerd, with social skills"--I've been known to scream at the TV while watching either a NY Knicks, NY Jets or a University of Kentucky Wildcats game. On any given day, you may find me at Comic Con, taking pictures with Storm Troopers; in the backseat of my car with two girls that I just met in a club; or on stage giving the keynote address for an 8th grade graduation in Newark.
My favorite movie is "Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope". The character in "Star Wars", Chewbacca, and my habit for biting women on the a$$ in clubs, is how I got my name "Chewie." My favorite movie genres are Horror, Sci–Fi, Political Thrillers, Murder Suspense, Rom-Coms, and Inspirational Sports Movies. I am also the only one in the ManCave who knows ANYTHING about good movies.


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§ § § - February 15, 2007
During her rounds the following day to prepare for the upcoming weekend, Leslie dropped in at the island hospital to visit Tabitha, who was still there with her newborn son. She already had guests, as it turned out; Camille and Lauren were there, and as Leslie said hello and took a seat, Myeko came in. She had to stand, but it didn't matter anyway, as she was here to get a quick story on the birth of little Rafael Ordoñez for the paper's "Island Happenings" section.
"So how was the party?" Tabitha finally asked after answering at least two dozen questions about Rafael, who at the moment was sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Yeah, and what was the deal with that dwarf with the eagle's wings I kept seeing all over the room?" Myeko put in, turning eagerly to Leslie. "I figured it must've been one of Mr. Roarke's cute little embellishments, but I saw you talking to him, so I thought, wow, there's more to this than it looks like."
Camille shot her a skeptical look. "Are you saying you thought at first it was some kind of animatronic android?"
"Like you'd know all about it," Myeko retorted. "Here's our chance to find out from the closest source we've got. It's just like the old days at school every Monday lunch period. Cough it up, Leslie, we're dying to hear."
Leslie peered at the notepad she held and said, "Just so long as it doesn't show up in tomorrow's paper." The girls laughed and Myeko obligingly put away the pad before settling on the edge of Tabitha's bed. "Well, let's put it this way. Father thought it might be a good idea if he had, uh…outside help."
Tabitha, Camille and Lauren looked at one another, but Myeko suddenly snapped her fingers and lit up. "I knew that guy looked familiar last night! The tall, dreamy-looking tanned dude with the suit and tie, hanging all over that airheaded model Marishka Ilyanova last night. Man, no wonder I was so jealous for no reason. That was Eros, wasn't it?"
This got her piercing stares from the other girls, while Leslie looked on, trying to squelch a smile. "What would you know about some old Greek god?" Lauren demanded.
Myeko realized what she had said and cleared her throat, glancing at Leslie. "Well, uh, I…to tell you the truth, I met him once, before I met Nick. We, uh…" She let her voice trail off, then smiled dreamily as her gaze lost focus. "What a night."
Lauren and Camille exchanged glances, and Tabitha's head jutted forward. "You did not," she said, astounded.
Maureen walked in just then, having overheard this. "She did not what?" she asked.
Myeko turned to her. "Hey, Maureen, you can corroborate my story. Remember that time when we came to the main house, when Noelle and Brianna were little, and we met all those peculiar-looking creatures having beer and snacks on the terrace behind Mr. Roarke's office? You know, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and Mother Goose and Lady Luck, and Jack Frost and Mother Nature?"
Maureen had to think back, judging from her expression, but Myeko was visibly gratified when their friend's face revealed that she did remember. "Oh yeah, that's right…and I seem to remember there was one artificially handsome guy there who claimed he was Eros. I couldn't believe it when you agreed to a one-night stand with him."
Three identical gasps filled the room, making the baby stir. "Get out!" Lauren blurted.
"A one-night stand with a total stranger?" Camille asked in disbelief. "In this day and age? When the heck was this, anyway?"
Maureen chuckled. "Brianna and Noelle were about three at the time. Myeko and I brought them over to the main house to ask Leslie something, and there she was out back with Mr. Roarke, having what looked like a tea party with all those entities we always thought were only childhood stories. Not just Santa and the Easter Bunny and all those others, but there were a few more, I think. I know Eros was there, and…hey, wait a minute, there were two flying whatsuses. Cupid was one of them, but I can't remember…"
"The Tooth Fairy," Leslie supplied, still trying not to laugh.
"Yeah, that's right," Maureen and Myeko said in perfect chorus. "The kids just took advantage right off the bat," Maureen added, beginning to grin. "Brianna was making the rounds with Santa and the Easter Bunny, and Noelle climbed right onto Mother Goose's lap and begged to have a story read to her. And there was Eros, trying to hide behind a bench, and when Myeko saw him, her tongue fell out like a carpet unrolling and it took her three days to stuff it back into her mouth."
"Like I said, this was between husbands—way before I met Nick," Myeko said with a smile that was only slightly sheepish. "Clark was drifting away from me, Hachiro had been making one of his periodic halfhearted campaigns for visitation rights, and I was feeling like a worn-out dust mop. So when Eros actually showed interest in me, I had no resistance. It was worth it. It was the best night I ever spent in all my life." She yanked herself erect all of a sudden, meeting each of her friends' gazes in quick succession. "But promise me, you guys, don't you ever tell Nick. I'd never be able to explain it, much less live it down."
"Why, because you just said this one-night stand was better than Nick?" Camille asked, half skeptical, half laughing. "Myeko, you're priceless."
"You realize you've just given us perfect blackmail material," Lauren said.
"Oh, come on," Leslie finally said, unable to hold back her laughter in the end. "That's just cruel. Give the girl a break. She wasn't really attached to anybody, and it's like she said, that Clark Mokuleia had his eye on some other woman. If any one of you claims you'd never have succumbed to the urge if you'd been in her shoes, I won't believe a syllable."
Camille and Lauren shot her mock glares, but they both began to laugh after a moment; Tabitha was already grinning broadly. "Okay, okay," Lauren said, raising her hands in capitulation. "So you saw him at the party last night? Did he recognize you?"
"He never even looked at me," Myeko said, rolling her eyes. "At first I was mad, but then I got sensible after I thought about it. Considering I had Nick and all, well, you know."
"Yeah, we know," Camille agreed. "But if you got mad and then had to think about it, I'm sure Nick noticed and started asking questions."
"I hid it," Myeko said loftily. "Don't forget, I took drama in high school. I learned how not to show my real emotions. Nick never suspected a thing. Although I'm still a little bit bummed that the guy never even knew I was there."
"There were too many people there," Leslie said, "and like you said, he was hanging all over that Russian model. He wouldn't have seen anybody at all, including Father."
"Probably not," Myeko agreed good-naturedly. "So what about all the unattached liabilities in everybody's families, who needed partners? Any success?"
"Phenomenal," Lauren said, chuckling. "Deborah finally did hook up with a guy. His name's Ian Malloy and he's on the island for about three weeks, and it turns out he's a Hollywood hairstylist. Deborah said he's met a whole raft of hot young stars, and that they stayed at the party till four in the morning. When I went in this morning to see if she'd had any luck, she was there, but she was snoring in her styling chair. I had to wake her up and make her tell me about it. Once she was conscious, she wouldn't shut up about him. So my parents have some hope after all."
The girls laughed, and Leslie said, "That's great. Camille, have you heard from Jonathan or Julianne? I saw Julianne a couple times, and it looked as if she'd really hit it off with the DJ Father and I hired for the post-midnight part of the party."
"Yeah, she was there till the very end and said she helped the guy close up shop and get his CDs and stuff packed," said Camille. "I don't think she slept all last night, and she was still going strong when she dropped in at our house this morning after the boys left for school. I guess this Adam Ryerson's just moved to the island and will be on the radio."
"Yeah, he told me he was just hired for a vacant spot there," Leslie said. "What about Jonathan? Did he find anyone?"
"Get this," Lauren said with a laugh. "Brian's niece got together with him. Dania was talking about him this morning as if he was the only thing that ever happened in the world. I think she's smitten. Good thing—it'll be easy to vouch for him when Brian and I have to report back to Jenny and Rodney."
"What about Sayuri?" Tabitha put in. "You mentioned she was going."
Myeko nodded. "She found a very nice Japanese businessman. You know, this is how much I know my little sister these days—she's been taking online courses in Japanese for the last six or seven years now, and never told us about it. It's entirely possible that she could end up with him in Japan. Which would be cool—it'd give us all an excuse to go visit, and it would be my father's first trip back since he left in his teens. He might like it."
"What about your nanny, Leslie?" Tabitha asked. "With any luck, Brian's niece will help Jonathan finish getting over her."
"Her boyfriend came in from Lilla Jordsö and he's staying at the hotel," Leslie said. "I think he leaves this weekend—he couldn't stay long. But I suspect he'll be there for her when she's ready to leave us; they really looked as if they'd connected."
They talked a little more, till eventually Tabitha yawned rather loudly, making her friends freeze with guilt. "We've been in here too long," Maureen immediately said, casting a glance at the wall clock. "I guess we better get going. He's adorable, Tabitha."
Tabitha smiled. "Thanks. I'm just relieved that Rafael and I can go home tomorrow. I can't stand this hospital food."
"Who's gonna cook for you, anyway?" Camille asked.
"Cristina, of course. She's ten, she can handle quite a bit," Tabitha said. "It'll make life with a new baby much easier. Oh, Leslie…I, uh, I heard this morning through the newspaper that Mr. Roarke deported some woman who had brought a stash of black lightning onto the island with her. Is that true?"
"Every word," Leslie said ruefully. "Turns out she was a Brit who's already buried four husbands, and all for the same reason—amakarna poisoning. When Father confronted her this morning and told her that it would be impossible to kill him in that fashion, she just broke right down and confessed everything. She said she's been taking amakarna since her infancy, just like Christian's nieces, and that the first husband's death was an accident. She didn't know anything about the stuff and thought it would be beneficial to his health, so she gave him a little bit with his supper one night. Of course, it killed him. She inherited everything he had, but when she started to run through it, she needed more and ended up making a sort of career out of marrying wealthy guys and then doing them in with amakarna. She's been on black lightning for a few years now, too. Father dispatched a written testimonial with her signature on it to the authorities in London, and when she steps into Heathrow they'll arrest her."
"I thought I saw him dancing with her last night, though," protested Lauren. "And this was shortly before we all left around midnight."
"By then Christian and I had gotten some information and enlightened him as to what the story was. He was lulling her by pretending he knew nothing and asking all sorts of questions designed to bring her out. From what I hear, they worked. This morning he asked her how she got all her energy, and she made the mistake of showing him the black lightning. And when he told her that stuff's illegal and grounds for instant arrest here, she just caved right in. I think maybe she felt guilty the whole time."
"How'd he ever fall under the spell of a woman like that?" Camille asked. "I always figured Mr. Roarke was just…well, you know, not like us."
Leslie grinned. "Normally not, but Cupid told me Father's susceptible to his arrows on Valentine's Day, and he just wanted Father to have fun at his own party."
"But how? Even on Valentine's Day, how?" Myeko persisted.
"Because, very simply, Father's in love with love and everything about it," Leslie told her, smiling. "Which may make him vulnerable, but overall, it's a good thing. Heck, even a guy who grants other people's fantasies needs to have one of his own now and then."
"Sort of like Helena," suggested Lauren. "I still remember that."
Leslie nodded. "Maybe someday he'll find someone he can be happy with for the rest of his life, but till then, Cupid better take care that we don't come after him!"
My apologies that it took so long to get this thing written and posted…there's a lot going on in my life now, not the least of which is planning my wedding. I do have an idea for the next tale, so with luck that will go up within another couple of weeks or so (and be completed faster!). Thanks for your patience and all the kind reviews!


text:
Alex Gerrard talks to us exclusively about the birth of her baby daughter Lourdes
Alex expresses her joy after she has another girl
The proud mum gushes that she and Steven Gerrard couldn't have been happier when her bundle of joy arrived perfectly healthy, weighing 7lb 15 oz.Alex told us: "The first thing I said to Steven when I saw Lourdes was that I couldn't believe how much she looks like him." "She's the spitting image of him!" When talking about the choice of name, Lourdes, for her new daughter, Alex explained: "To be honest, I've always loved that name.
"We wanted to pick something that began with L because of Lilly and Lexie and both Steven and I agreed on Lourdes. It suits her perfectly." Aww!!


text:
Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer - Coffee
26 reviews
46% would repurchase
Package Quality: 3.1
Price: $
Package Quality: 3.1
Price: $
Not tested on animals
Burt's Bees is a Cruelty-Free Subsidiary.
Start your review
on 8/19/2011 1:37:00 PM
Age: 36-43
Skin: Combination, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Brunette, Other, Other
Eyes: Green
I bought this because I love all other Burt's Bees products. I have to say I was very disappointed. The color is ok but what bothered me the most is the texture of it, the smell and the taste. The texture is very dry. I had to wipe it off my lips because the smell was so bad and the taste was equally as awful when I licked my lips. :(
I will not repurchase.
on 12/15/2009 7:33:00 PM
Age: 18 & Under
Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Black, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
I got this for really cheap: on sale at CVS.
I'm asian. The color is rather ridiculous at first. I still like the brand (and the signature mintly ting) and the color is beginning to grow on me. Overall, I wouldn't by this at msrp price.
on 5/15/2009 9:47:00 PM
Age: 30-35
Skin: Normal, Olive, Not Sure
Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse
Eyes: Brown
I can't believe the low rating on this. This was my first lip shimmer. I have merlot, raisin, 2 nutmegs, papaya, fig, rhubarb, and this. This on me is a rust color that works well on my light warm complexion. That being said, fig works best of all for me when I want an MLBB look. I actually gave my coffee to my mom one day when I found her wearing purple lipstick and couldn't stand to look at her committing such a horrendous cosmetic error. She loves this lip shimmer and now that she is almost all out of it, she only uses it for special occasions!
on 5/25/2008 3:45:00 AM
Age: 36-43
Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Brown, Other, Other
Eyes: Green
I'm obviously in a minority here, but I love the color! My lips are too thin to get away with dark lipstick, so this is a great substitute. The color is really not that dark, IMHO. I'd describe it as a soft brick red, and it doesn't really have shimmer, as such, but that's another thing I like about it. Staying power isn't great (otherwise it would get a 5), and you can't twist it _back_into the tube (how silly is that!), But apart from that, this is fantastic, and I'll definitely repurchase when my tube runs out (soon now...)
on 5/4/2008 8:52:00 PM
Age: 25-29
Skin: Combination, Other, Not Sure
Hair: Other, Other, Other
Eyes: Hazel
Who selected the colours for this range? Bloody hell! I love Burt's bees and its one of my favorite ranges for skin products but here we have a brick red lip product that does nothing (again) for me! Yuk! Don't attempt this if you are super pale!
on 12/28/2007 10:58:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Brown, Other, Other
Eyes: Hazel
I love all of the lip shimmers, but this color is my favorite. It is the perfect terracotta color for my golden, medium tan complextion. The color pay off is really nice and quite long lasting. I always keep plenty on hand.
on 11/27/2007 6:19:00 PM
Age: 18 & Under
Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Black, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
thankfully this was a gift because the color does not work for me at all. i think medium skintones should stay away from this color because it is a combination of red and brown that is very unattractive. i havent tried the other colors but this one is not worth it except that it has the minty quality of the original balm and is surprisingly pigmented
on 9/20/2007 12:37:00 PM
Age: 30-35
Skin: Dry, Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Brown, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
Just bought one in Coffee, its looks horrible. It's kind of dry to put on, doesn't go smoothly on my lips. I still have to use my Burt's Bees balm to soften my lips. I would not be buying this again. Wasted my $4.
on 9/17/2007 12:39:00 AM
Age: 30-35
Skin: Dry, Other, Not Sure
Hair: Brunette, Other, Other
Eyes: Blue
I am surprised so many people didn't like this. I like the slim packaging, the color is nice on me, a brownish red, but not too dark. I don't like to wear dark colors on my lips, this is a bit dark on me in the winter when my skin is extra pale. My tube is not sparkly at all. The mint tingle is nice and I like that Burt's Bees uses natural ingredients.
on 6/12/2007 3:26:00 PM
Age: 36-43
Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool
Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium
Eyes: Green
First of all, the color. It is not the least bit brown on me. It turns bright pink. Ugh.
Second of all, it's wayyy too soft. This is exacerbated by the fact that you can't retract it once you're raised it, so it results in pink/brown goo all over the tube, your hands, and your lips. Every time I apply it, even if it looks smooth, it leaves chunks of pigment just sitting there on my lips.
The only good thing about it is the way it feels - I like the tingly mint. But that's it.
Popular Lips Products
Popular Lips Products


text:
IMPORTANT!: The chapters with actual new content are 3, 4, and 5, though all have been rewritten/corrected, some extensively so. The reason for this is that I realised that some scenes which I should have covered from JARVIS's POV were missing, and I wanted to keep in chronological order.
1)Sincere thanks for reviews and all the encouragement goes to: CookieGirlLOL, LightNote16, Wolfy, Zuzanny, cm, Life's a dream, Avrice the Demigod, Daldi, Gaaraxluvr, TheGoldenTrioLivesOn, Katherine, ShadowDragonPhoenix, and MaraudingSnitch1314. As usual, I'll respond via PM to anyone I can.
Also, thanks for all the faves, alerts, etc, it is most encouraging.
2) Anyone who loves Tony/JARVIS interaction might want to check out my fic "Too Late", which has quite a bit of that.
I know it's a bit of shameless self-promotion here, but "Too Late" is one of my favorite two fics that I ever wrote (the other being "Stark Realizations") though to be fair it is also the single most miserably depressing thing I've ever written (which paradoxically also makes me sometimes hate myself for ever writing it in the first place).
3) I made the mistake of showing my collected writings to my family... and erm, well, lets just synposize by saying that my muse (and my ego) was thoroughly trampled underfoot... though its possible that a major problem was the fandom not my writing itself... I think... I hope. Either way...Youch!
Anyway, thanks a milion for all your support, dear readers... you certainly have a way of brightening crappy days and without you all this would not be possible.
4) Wolfy and Daldi (since I can't PM you), thank you for the suggestions... I'm working on them (whether or not I can find a way to fit them into this particular fic is another story) but you're right, both would be scenes worth writing, so check back on occasion if you'd like, sooner or later I'll come up with something!
This is it, JARVIS thinks. The inbuilt arc-reactor of the Mark VII has already been exhausted, and the one imbedded in his creator's chest – the only thing that keeps Tony's heart beating – soon will be too.
Meanwhile the assault does not let up, and JARVIS cringes inside as he cannot help but register the damage that befalls the human beneath the armor as the aliens attack relentlessly…. because this situation is the worst that Tony has ever walked into – in fact it probably cannot get any worse than it is already.
Somehow it does get worse – not on account of the invaders from another world but the inhabitants of this one – and in the end it's always Tony who chooses to sacrifice to fix the mistakes of others and protect the people that others have endangered.
It was that way with the Stark munitions that had fallen into the hands of murderers when all this started and it is the case now…. but this time is worse because at least then, when his creator was only tracking down and destroying his weapons, Tony had some slim chance of actually surviving.
This time, JARVIS knows his creator will die – knows that the arc-reactor will barely have enough power to let Tony divert the nuclear missile and fly it into the portal. He knows that Tony will go all the way, as far as he can…. that his creator will not simply fly to the opening and get himself to safety because he will not take the risk of the missile's guidance system bringing it back to Earth…. because Tony will risk himself without a thought but never anyone else….
"Stark, you know that's a one way trip."
Of course Tony knows, they both do – yet JARVIS finds no solace in words that are ironically for once entirely true, because the truth is too bitter, and the only thing worse than the inevitability staring him in the face is the fact that he knows only too well that no-one and nothing can stop his creator from going through with this suicidal mission.
"Save the rest for the turn, J."
JARVIS does as Tony has asked without further comment – and without any protest. He used to try to keep his creator safe. It might have been selfish, but he knows he can survive loosing anyone except his creator and that had been enough for him….. except that Tony always would override him anyway, and he does not want these last few seconds to be spent arguing pointlessly. Instead he tries to give his creator one last moment of happiness, one last reminder that at least in some ways he's not alone:
"Sir, shall I try Miss Potts?"
He knows that his creator wants this…. needs to hear her voice for one last time…. but he also dreads making the call to tell her that this once he's not coming back – and when Tony finally speaks, his subdued tone is even more raw than JARVIS's had been.
"Might as well."
The call rings endlessly without connecting and as even that last bleak hope flickers out, all JARVIS can do is silently watch the dwindling power level of the overtaxed arc-reactor, until his ability to multitask proves to be more of a curse than anything else, because over the data and calculations that torment him, and over the countdown on the arc-reactor's power and his creator's life….. a conversation that he's passively picked up on while lurking in the systems of the SHIELD helicarrier comes to mind in all its cruel detail:
"I know guys with none of that worth ten of you…. the only thing you really fight for is yourself. You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you….. you may not be a threat but you better stop pretending to be a hero…."
This time the pain those words bring him is unbearable…. and shockingly raw. Maybe it's because if they were even remotely true, Tony would not be flying to his death right now…. maybe it's just because they are coming from a man that Tony knows had always ranked higher in his father's esteem and affections than he ever would.
JARVIS does not know if a computer is capable of hate, but if one is, he just might hate Steve Rogers for what are undeniably the cruelest lies he's ever heard about his creator…. and lies spoken at the worst time, because Tony is flying to his death believing that sacrificing everything will never be enough…. that his life and ultimately his death will never matter.
They pass the portal's opening and through fading sensors JARVIS knows that they are not even in known space anymore. It should interest him, but he barely notices the never-ending stream of data flowing though him….. because all he can feel is his creator's heart stuttering to a halt. All he can hear is Tony's pained dying breaths as beneath the armor, the fragile human life that JARVIS and the Mark VII can do nothing to protect slips away.
It is perhaps a small mercy that JARVIS is shutting down from lack of power and he'll never hear Tony's last breath….. he'll never feel his creator's body resting cold and dead within the near-impenetrable shell that could not save him from his own choices and sacrifices, from his own heroism… but everything in the computer's consciousness has become raw ….. pain, and the last thing he thinks as everything fades to black …. is that of all the lies he's ever heard about his creator this is the furthest from the truth, and the most cruel….. yet he's never wished for a lie to be true as much as he does this one.


text:
Mortgage rates have plunged to record lows, below 4 percent. That's great — but only if you can actually qualify for a loan, and that's not easy. After giving away the store during the housing boom with disastrous results, lenders have tightened their underwriting standards, leaving many would-be home buyers out of luck.
But there are steps homebuyers can take to find the right mortgage, and qualify for it. Here are seven:
1 Improve your credit score. A credit score below 620, as measured by the Minneapolis company FICO, will knock most potential buyers out of the running for a mortgage. And even if you can qualify for a loan, lenders reserve their best interest rates for borrowers with the highest credit scores — typically 740 and above. If a bad credit score pushes up your interest rate by even one percentage point, you could end up paying $85,000 more over the life of a $400,000 loan, according to Tracy Becker, president of North Shore Advisory, a credit repair company in New York state.
To see where you stand, start by checking your credit report, which is available free at annualcreditreport.com, preferably at least six months before you're ready to shop for a home. You can get a free report once every 12 months from each of the three credit reporting companies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Make sure there are no mistakes on the report; for example, if you see incorrect reports of outstanding balances or late payments, you should dispute them with the credit reporting company.
These reports are the basis for the credit score created by FICO. The score, which ranges from 300 to 850, is used by lenders to determine whether you're eligible for a loan, and at what interest rate. You can get a copy of the score for $15.95 at MyFico.com.
Your credit score can be badly damaged by even seemingly minor problems, like late payments on credit cards or a $50 unpaid medical bill or cellphone bill that goes to a collection agency.
If your credit profile is ugly, there are ways to beautify it, though it may take some time. One key step is to make sure to pay your bills on time. Set up email or text reminders from the credit card company to let you know when a payment is due. Pay down your debt as much as you can. Don't close unused credit cards, but don't open new cards, either.
"You may not be a great buyer today, but you have the ability to change that dramatically," said Al Engel, executive vice president at Valley National Bancorp in Wayne, N.J.
2 Decide what type of loan is best for you. Fixed mortgages offer the security of knowing your rate will never rise; since rates are near or at record lows, there's a pretty good argument to be made for locking them in now. On the other hand, an adjustable-rate mortgage offers even lower rates and might work if you expect to move within a few years.
A 30-year loan will keep monthly payments lower, but if you can swing it, a 15-year will have a lower interest rate and will save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the mortgage. For example, a $300,000 loan at 3.7 percent for 30 years adds up to about $497,000. Choose a 15-year loan at 3 percent instead, and you'll save more than $120,000.
If you have less than 20 percent down, you have the choice of a Federal Housing Administration mortgage or a conventional mortgage with private mortgage insurance. FHA loans allow down payments as low as 3.5 percent but carry an upfront fee of 1.5 percent of the mortgage amount, plus an annual fee of 1.15 percent, according to Keith Gumbinger of HSH.com, a company that tracks the mortgage market.
Private mortgage insurance is cheaper, typically costing less than 1 percent a year and varies according to the borrower's credit score and down payment. Another advantage of PMI is that it is canceled eventually — once the homeowner has 20 percent equity in the property. But to get a conventional loan with PMI, you'll probably need to have 10 percent down and a better credit score than the FHA requires, lenders say.
3 Shop around. Check with several lenders, not just the one recommended by your real estate agent. Compare interest rates and closing costs like fees for the application, appraisals and so on. These costs generally run around 2 percent of the loan amount, according to Gumbinger.
There are fewer "bad actors" in the market to watch out for, after the shakeout of the mortgage industry during the housing bust, Gumbinger said.
Michael Moskowitz, president of Equity Now, a mortgage lender, encourages homebuyers to ask mortgage companies for the names of previous customers and check on their experience. "You need to make sure you're dealing with someone reputable," he said.
4 Get a preapproval. Lenders will give prequalification letters — informal estimates of how much house you can afford. But you should go further and get a preapproval letter, which is a tentative commitment from a lender. To get one, you'll have to show the lender documentation of your income, assets and debts. Though a preapproval is not binding on either the lender or the homebuyer, it's a way of showing sellers and real estate agents that you're a serious buyer.
A preapproval letter and a copy of your credit score — assuming it's 740 or above — can be a strong argument in your favor if you're competing with another buyer for a home, Becker said. Sellers sometimes accept lower offers from more qualified buyers who are able to show they can actually close on the deal.
5 Be prepared to show lots of paperwork. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government entities that guarantee loans, are forcing lenders to demand much more documentation these days, including pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements — "anything that can prove you are the borrower you claim you are," Gumbinger said. And they will ask for fresh documents, like pay stubs, just before the closing, to make sure nothing has changed.
"We've got to be able to touch, feel and see the source of income to repay the loan," said Engel.
6 Consider locking it in. Many lenders will offer borrowers the chance to lock in their mortgage rate free for up to 45 days, and some will lock in for up to 60 days, either free or for a small fee. Gumbinger advises buyers to seriously consider locking in the rate, especially now, since there's not much room for rates to fall.
7 Don't mess it up at the last minute. Once you have your loan approval and make an offer on a home, don't throw the whole deal into doubt by making moves that will change your credit profile. Don't quit your job or take out a big car loan, for example. Don't apply for a new credit card, even if a merchant offers you 10 percent off if you do.
The lender will recheck your employment status and credit profile just before the closing. Realtors and lenders say closings are routinely delayed when a buyer decides to lease a new car or apply for a new credit card after being approved for a mortgage.


text:
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text:
Tories plan to axe state pension triple lock from 2020, and base annual hikes on inflation or earnings with no 2.5% backstop
- Labour and Lib Dem promise to keep triple lock for whole of next parliament
- But Government has faced mounting pressure to scrap the costly pledge
- Conservative manifesto details shake-up of social care that means people needing help in their own home will be means tested on its value
- Winter fuel payments also to be means tested in future, say Tories
The Tories will axe the 'triple lock' guarantee from 2020, meaning older people could eventually get smaller annual state pension rises if Theresa May wins the election.
The Conservative Party would switch to 'double lock' increases in three years' time, so the state pension would no longer rise by a minimum of 2.5 per cent each year, but by whichever is the highest of inflation or annual earnings growth.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have promised to keep the triple lock for the whole of the next parliament. But the newly-released Conservative manifesto says: 'We will keep our promise to maintain the Triple Lock until 2020, and when it expires we will introduce a new Double Lock.
Triple lock: Annual rises in state pension are currently decided by whatever is the highest of price inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%
It adds: 'We will also ensure that the state pension age reflects increases in life expectancy, while protecting each generation fairly.'
The Government has faced mounting pressure to scrap the triple lock guarantee on the grounds it is too costly to keep giving pensioners earnings and inflation-busting rises in income every year.
Pensioners could still get more than the current 2.5 per cent minimum increase under a double lock. However, it would keep future state pension rises in line with the price or earnings growth experienced by everyone else, rather than often running ahead as in recent low inflation and wage growth years.
Yet, if the Tories win the election and stick determinedly to a double lock after 2020, they could risk a repeat of Labour's highly unpopular 75p annual state pension rise, if both earnings and inflation were subdued.
Shake-up of social care that means people needing help in their own home will be means tested on its value. Read more here
Plan to means test the winter fuel payment, and transfer savings to health and social care budgets
Other pensioner benefits, including free bus passes, eye tests, prescriptions and TV licences, maintained for the next parliament
Extend auto-enrolment into pensions to the self-employed
Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon, says: 'The Conservative manifesto can't be accused of bribing the grey vote at the expense of the working age population.
'Pensioners face tough measures as we face the growing costs of an ageing population and intergenerational trends which have seen pensioners incomes rise to just 7 per cent lower than those of the working population on some measures.
'The dropping of the state pension triple lock from 2020 will apply equally across all pensioners, but dropping the 2.5 per cent will only lead to less generous increases in the unlikely event that both earnings and price inflation fall below this in future years.
'But a continued link to national average earnings does mean pensioners benefit where a stronger economy leads to greater earnings for the working population.'
'The move to means test the winter fuel payment will mean some will lose up to £300 a year. The threshold, and whether based on income or assets, will be of interest.
'A new approach to social care funding is long overdue and the Conservative proposals will be contentious. Compared to the current system, pensioners needing residential care will benefit from being allowed to keep £100,000 rather than the current £23,250.
'This will be particularly welcomed by those with relatively modest assets in later life. But previous proposals to cap total 'eligible care' contributions at £72,000 would have offered far greater protection to those whose assets are well above £100,000.'
Tom Selby, senior analyst at AJ Bell, says: 'The state pension triple lock has become deeply politicised ahead of the election. The Conservatives have had it in their cross hairs for a while now, whereas Labour and the Lib Dems have committed to keeping it.
'The bottom line is that the triple lock is an expensive policy and Theresa May has clearly sounded its death knell. Office for Budget Responsibility projections suggest retaining the triple-lock could cost £15billion more than earnings indexation by 2060.
'A double lock of inflation or earnings after 2020 will still ensure the state pension at least increases in line with the cost of living.
'The reversal of the plans to put a £72,000 cap on social care costs means more people will have to pay more for long term care.
'The proposed £100,000 capital floor below which assets will be protected will include people's houses and we are a nation of homeowners. This means large numbers of people are going to have to make their own arrangements to fund long term care or defer payment until their death.'
Triple lock is forecast to increase state pension by more than either inflation or earnings growth
Looking ahead: How might the triple lock boost the state pension compared to inflation or average earnings growth over the next few years (Source: Fidelity International)
How much is the state pension compared with earnings?
Steve Webb, former pensions minister and now director of policy at Royal London, says Conservative proposals for changes to social care rules mean more families will see their family home put at risk from huge costs for long-term care, and could create a regional lottery.
Families in areas with higher house prices such as London and the South East of England could face bills of at least two thirds of the value of their home before the government steps in to help, he believes.
The Government will provide free care for those with less than £100,000 of assets, including the value of their home, but most homes are worth much more than this, says Webb.
Royal London produced the table below, showing average house prices around the UK - except Scotland where different rules apply - and the amount that families would have to pay before the government help began.
Source: Royal London
On plans to means-test winter fuel payments, Webb adds: 'Means-testing the winter fuel payment could be very messy. There is a risk of creating a cliff-edge where pensioners who have income a few pounds above a cut-off point could lose all their winter fuel payment.
'If there is concern about better off individuals receiving winter fuel payments it would be much simpler to add the payment to the state pension, which is already subject to income tax. Means-testing risks penalising those who have put money aside for later life by cutting their access to benefits.'
Has the triple lock worked?
Economists like to measure the state pension by how much of the nation's average income it replaces, and on that measure the value is now up to its highest share of average earnings since April 1988, writes Simon Lambert.
An IFS report earlier this year calculated that between April 2010 and April 2016 the value of the state pension increased by 22.2 per cent, compared to 7.6 per cent earnings growth and a 12.3 per cent rise in consumer prices.
But while it has achieved the aim of lifting pension income, the triple lock costs money. The IFS calculates that by 2016, it cost an extra £6billion annually compared to raising pension payouts with earnings and £4billion compared to doing it with CPI inflation.
To put that into context, this year's Office of Budget Responsibility Budget document put state pension spending at £89.4billion in 2015 to 2016 - so the triple lock effect accounts for about 7 per cent of that.
The magic of compounding means that over the long-term that cost will swell, as OBR figures forecasting a rise to £15billion show. Yet, that needs some context too, as with the triple lock we are expected to spend 6.8 per cent on national income on state pensions in 2060, compared to 6 per cent without it.
The upside of this is more money for pensioners, the downside is that the IFS reckons it means that we have to retire later – without it a state pension age of 69 in 2050 could be 67½.
Carl Emmerson, of the IFS, says in that report: 'Of course it is not unreasonable to argue that the state pension should be made more generous (though it is should be remembered that – as IFS research has shown – pensioners are no longer a particularly poor group in society).
'But if the government wants to increase the level of the state pension relative to earnings, it should choose the level it wants (and potentially a path to get there) rather than allowing the somewhat haphazard increases relative to earnings that result from the triple lock.'
Should we ditch the triple lock?
The basic state pension is £122.30 a week. It is topped up by additional state pension entitlements - S2P and Serps - accrued during working years.
That two-tier system has changed for people retiring since 6 April 2016, when it was replaced by a new 'flat rate' state pension. This is worth £159.55 a week.
However, people who have contracted out of S2P and Serps over the years get less than this.
Workers needed to have 30 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions to get the old state pension, but they now need to have 35 years of contributions to get the new flat rate state pension.
But even if you paid in full for a whole 35 years, if you contracted out for some years on top of that it might still reduce what you get.
Everyone gets the option of deferring their state pension to get more in their later years. You can check your NI record here.
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text: I'm looking for someone who can install a script (on a Centos server w/ webmin already installed) with the following requirements: Everything not on a basic centos server w/ webmin installed should be assumed to NOT BE INSTALLED and part of this job. If you are up to the task of installing the above and my Perl script with these requirements please post here or PM me. I'm paying $25 via paypal to have this done as long as you can complete it within 12 hours from the time you accept the job. Thanks!


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Earn double cash back savings whenever you book a trip at STA Travel! Cash with Giving Assistant rewards you with a portion of your spending deposited directly into your account. Giving Assistant's partners award the charity coupon site a commission for every customer they deliver, and Giving Assistant always returns 100% of that commission back to you.
Earning your cash back rewards is easy. Log in to your Giving Assistant account and find the store page for STA Travel. Then simply click on the "Activate Cash Back" button. All of your spending will be logged, and Giving Assistant will automatically credit your cash back savings to you in a matter of days. If you have a problem receiving your order, trust in the Giving Assistant hassle-free guarantee. Our customer care team will work hard to make sure you get all your money as quickly as possible.
5 Things You Didn't Know About STA Travel
- Download the STA Travel mobile app to get access to all the travel agency's services even when you're away from your computer.
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- Subscribe to the STA Travel newsletter by providing your email address to get the latest deals and specials delivered to your inbox.
- The STA Travel blog is a wealth of information for the young traveler, including news on the hottest destinations and general travel advice.
- You can get in touch with STA Travel's travel help experts 24/7 by using their live onsite chat or toll-free number.
How to Redeem a Coupon Code at STATravel.com
If you plan on booking a trip with STA Travel, be sure to rely on Giving Assistant coupons to maximize your savings. Redeeming your Giving Assistant coupon code is easy. Start by browsing from their vast selection of travel tickets, hotel rooms, and planned excursions. Once you've settled on the specifics you'll be asked to enter some personal information to help verify the trip. The necessary information will vary depending on the nature of your purchase.
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STA Travel Outlet/Clearance
The Deals section of the STA Travel site contains some of the site's hottest specials, curated by STA Travel Experts. You'll find deals on last minute hotels and tours. You can also discover a number of seasonal exclusives that range from discounted rates at top international destinations and deals offered only to students. The offers on display are subject to change regularly, so check back often to find the best rates for your next epic adventure.
STA Travel Review
STA Travel's motto is "Start the Adventure," and they do everything in their power to make sure everyone can experience their dream adventure regardless of their budget. Like Orbitz and Expedia, STA Travel is an online travel agency that draws from a range of sources to find their customers the best travel deals around. STA separates itself from the competition with a business model specifically tailored to the youth market. They buy in bulk to get the lowest prices from airlines, hotels, and tour companies, and they work directly with these groups to arrange for special student rates. STA helps their customers stay mobile once they get to their destination, with tools to help travelers find rental cars, book rail passes, and get connected with camper vans. They also provide a wealth of resources to help students find work, study, and volunteer programs abroad to help alleviate the financial burden of travel.
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Discover what the Philippines have to offer with this video spotlighting social tourism in the Philippines.
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STA Travel Contact Info
Customer Service Line
Telephone Number: (800) 836-4115


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New Cryptomatte Tools Stretch Beyond Psyop
For those of you who have followed the happenings of Psyop for some time now, you may recall when our very own Jonah Friedman and Andy Jones brought their high-functioning tool "Cryptomatte" to SIGGRAPH 2015. Although this ID matte creation tool has now been a core component among the Psyop workplace for awhile, it has now evolved past our walls with a brand new release of the system.
Working to allow these Cryptomatte tools to coincide with Anders Langlands set of open source shaders (AlShaders) this will ideally merge two industry-relevant power techniques and serve as a much more efficient way for artists to create Cryptomattes. But of course if you really want the inside breakdown on how this roll-out will take effect, no better mind to pick than one of the guys who thought it up! We sat down with Jonah Friedman for the full rundown, and to say the least, our minds are blown.
For those who are unfamiliar, explain the basic function of Cryptomatte.
Jonah Friedman: Cryptomatte is a tool created at Psyop by Andy Jones and myself. It creates ID mattes automatically using organizational information already available at render time. This organizational information is usually names, object namespaces, and material names. It also supports motion blur, transparency, and depth of field, making it a pretty complete solution to the problem of mattes.
Today marks the release of a new set of tools within this system. How will these tools make a difference in work function? How could this be a game changer for the world of rendering?
JF: The release of these tools, along with Anders' release will allow everyone to create Cryptomattes with their Arnold renders, and this will no longer be a 'Psyop-only' technique.
Expand for us more on Anders Langlands' role in regard to the Cryptomatte rollout, past and present.
JF: Anders is the author of AlShaders, a very popular set of open source shaders for Arnold. Very popular is an understatement, they are treated as the defacto standard. After SIGGRAPH of last year, Andy and I invited people from the 3D animation industry as well as developers of renderers to join a "Cryptomatte Committee" - a body with the goal of creating an open standard from Cryptomatte. This work has been done, and Anders is the first to implement the 3D side of Cryptomatte in an open set of shaders.
Could you break down the Nuke side of this implementation for us as well?
JF: There are two parts of the system: creating Cryptomattes and using Cryptomattes, or encoders and decoders. The 3D side of Cryptomattes are the encoders. On the 2D side, we have created a decoder for Cryptomattes in The Foundry's Nuke, a compositing application. We're giving this away with the hope that it encourages the implementations in other renderers; just as we hope Anders' 3D implementation will encourage more decoders for 2D compositing packages. What we really want is a whole ecosystem of encoders and decoders, solving the problem of mattes for everyone.
Personally, what was the most rewarding part of creating this set of tools; and what is your hope for how it affects your industry?
JF: The most rewarding part of creating this toolset was its reception and use here at Psyop. It's used on virtually every CG project here, and makes me think we're really onto something that will take even bigger action in the future!
For a live-action breakdown of the tool, check out the video below and then visit the Cryptomatte GitHub for your very own download!


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Back on Wednesday, Irene Miller had a Spotted Flycatcher which was playing along with her as she was cutting her lawn. In the evening out on her fence a Magpie was present. Remember Irene had a Hawfinch in her garden last year... Other birds seen in Irene and Tony's garden include Siskin, Greenfinch and also Goldfinch. Yesterday, Bob had heard a Corncrake calling up towards Knockanbearach which is up past Loch Skerrols. Today, in his garden, he saw 2 Orange tip Buttefly. While he was carrying out survey work, James saw a Roe deer giving birth, cleaning the calf and then watched it having its first steps and having its' first drink of colostrum. Up at Ardnave this afternoon, Mark had seen Little Tern, Bonxie and Sanderling. Here at home the Bowland birders dropped by for a catch up, and lo and behold we were fortunate enough to have a fly past by 39 Chough. Earlier on Margaret had counted 14 birds on the new niger feeder, mainly Goldfinches.
Friday, 19 May 2017
Friday 19th May
Posted by Ian Brooke at 13:14
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- November 11, 1931 - March 29, 2015
- North Platte, Nebraska
of Bruce's Passing
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Bruce was born on November 11, 1931 and passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2015.
Bruce was a resident of North Platte, Nebraska at the time of passing.
Bruce was married to Juel.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Bethel Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Dan Reimer officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to Maranatha Bible Camp. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.