text:
Share this Story: No 'code of respect' as thieves steal all work gear belonging to Vancouver paramedic
No 'code of respect' as thieves steal all work gear belonging to Vancouver paramedic
She says she's still in disbelief and expected some sort of "code of respect" from thieves who must have known they were making off with supplies belonging to a paramedic.
Mar 31, 2020 • March 31, 2020 • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Thieves have stolen all the vital equipment of a Vancouver paramedic, putting her out of work until she can replace the gear. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG
VANCOUVER — Thieves have stolen all the vital equipment of a Vancouver paramedic, putting her out of work until she can replace the gear.
Annelie Van der Heyden had just completed a nearly 12-hour shift late Sunday and decided to leave her gear in her car, rather than carry it and possibly the new coronavirus, into her home.
No 'code of respect' as thieves steal all work gear belonging to Vancouver paramedic Back to video
She discovered Monday that thieves had broken into the trunk of the car, stealing a bag filled with two uniforms, boots, masks, a stethoscope, helmet and everything else she needs to do her job.
It's all replaceable, but Van der Heyden says she'll have to pay for everything and until then, she's unable to work.
Van der Heyden says the toughest loss is the theft of a coveted pin awarded to paramedics who assist in the birth of a baby.
"I was like, 'Oh no, the stork pin'," she said of the award she earned last summer.
She said she's optimistic that the pin and the rest of her gear will be returned.
"Here's hoping I can get it back maybe, when they realize it's of no use to them and of really important use to me," said Van der Heyden.


The Story Behind That Picture: "Thank you, Singapore"
By: Thorsten Overgaard. December 5, 2015.
We made $10,000 for the children of Cambodia on the opening night of my exhibition in the Leica Gallery Singapore which was also the best-selling ever in the gallery history.
Exhibition von Overgaard opening night in the Leica Gallery Singapore.
I'm proud to say that the exhibition already is the best-selling photo exhibition in the history of the Leica Gallery Singapore already before the opening night had ended. You can buy the prints and get them shippwed to anywhere in the world (see PDF below).
Thanks to the enthusiastic crowd there was sold for $10,000 signed prints and all proceedings are going to the children of Cambodia through Caring for Cambodia.
Present was the Singapore president of Caring for Cambodia, Ms. Tracy Dowell who told how buying one print for $500 will keep one child in school for 2.5 years and also give that child two meals a day so they can stay energetic and awake during their school life.
Ms. Tracy Dowell also told how $1,500 will supply a water pump that supply a village with fresh water for many years without further energy or maintenance required. "Feeding a school kid in Cambodia is $30 a year!" I tell my own children, "that is three drinks from Starbucks" she told the cheering crowd.
As topping of the cake, all children gets a school uniform which is almost as significant in their life's as a crowning of a king.
Ms. Tracy Dowell and Thorsten Overgaard presenting the 14 prints in the gallery and the story behind them. Photo: Joy Villa with Leica Q.
Apart from the many supporters who bought signed prints on the opening night, the hero of the evening was none other than store manager of Leica Store Raffles, Mr. Ray Tan who lead the sale of signed prints and made a very personal plea to support the children of Cambodia. And Leica Camera Singapore also bought two prints for them self!
The hero of the day, Leica Store Manager Mr. Ray Tan making sure everybody gets home with a print in support of the children of Cambodia!
You can buy the prints by downloading the PDF below and avail yourself of a Thorsten von Overgaard signed print for about half the normal prize, knowing that every cent of your donation reaches the children of Cambodia.
Besides looking pretty on a wall, each print also symbolizes 2.5 years of school and food paid for, for one child in Cambodia (or 7.5 years - a whole school life for a child - if you buy the large, signed and limited print!).
Buy prints online via the PDF below, or visit the exhibition at the Leica Gallery Singapore at Raffles Arcade in Singapore (open throughout December).
The Exhibition von Overgaard is on till January 2016 in the Leica Gallery Singapore in the raffles Arcade.
Thank you in advance, and also a big thank you to CEO of Leica Camera Pacific Asia Mr. Sunil Kaul and Store Manager Mr. Ray Tan and their staff of Leica Asia. Their support to this unique event and project is much appreciated! Please buy a lot of Leica cameras from them!
Also a big thank you to Caring for Cambodia and board member Ms. Elizabeth Cowle who originally todl me about the project when she did my workshop in Paris.
Click here to download the PDF of the 14 prints available in two sizes. You can make order to thorsten@overgaard.dk or Mr. Ray Tan of the Leica gallery Singapore.
It's very simple: A SG$ 500 signed print in A3 size or a SG$1,500 signed limited A2 print. All the money from sale goes 100% to the children of Cambodia.
Joy Villa and Thorsten Overgaard. Photo by Elizabeth Cowle.
Grammy-considered recording artist Princess Joy Villa performing at Leica Gallery Singapore.
Only $47 - NEW 2nd EDITION - 87 Pages.
Amanda Valentine and Joy Villa . Photo by Elizabeth Cowle.


Mono Pumps Ltd is part of National Oilwell Varco, a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of equipment to the oil and gas industries. Manufacturing and distribution plants are located in the U.K., France, North America, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and China, and supported by a global distribution network.
Mono Pumps range of Pressure Sewer Systems are cost effective and environmentally friendly.


Satish Kini is a corporate partner, Co-Chair of the firm's Banking Group and a member of the Financial Institutions Group. Mr. Kini is based in the Washington, D.C., office and advises domestic and international financial institutions on a wide range of regulatory and transactional banking issues. He has represented large financial services firms in transactional matters, including to secure regulatory approvals for transactions from U.S. bank regulatory agencies, counseled banks and securities firms in money laundering and other types of examination and enforcement proceedings, and worked extensively with clients on data use, privacy, and data security issues.
William Spiegel, managing director of private equity firm Pine Brook, and Satish Kini, a partner and co-chair of law firm Debevoise & Plimpton's Banking Group, discuss shifting opportunities, risks, and more.


The mine-resistant vehicle was born in South Africa and the modern Matador offering showcases the bloody lessons learned.
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Paramount Matador model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.
ENGINE: 1 x MAN or Cummins 6-cylinder turbo-diesel engine developing nearly 300 horsepower.
Variable: 7.62mm machine gun installations and Remote Weapon Station (RWS) (20mm automatic cannon).
Detailing the development and operational history of the Paramount Matador Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicle. Entry last updated on 2/21/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com.
The growing need by national armies for more Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles spurred Paramount Group of South Africa to develop a line of such trucks for military and security service. The "Matador" is one offering intended to serve in the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) role. It features such MRAP standards as a V-shaped hull, a specialized armor scheme, and specialized seating - all designed to protect the occupants within. The Matador was introduced in 2008 and is currently marketed by Paramount Group - having found operators in Azerbaijan and Jordan to date (2017). Azerbaijan reached an agreement with the company to fabricate the vehicles locally.
The general layout of the Matador is conventional with the engine fitted to a front compartment, the driver's position just aft of this, and a passenger section seated over the rear of the hull. Thick, rectangular windows line the front, sides, and rear of the truck while the roof line remains flat. Each window also contains circular gun ports to allow occupants to engage enemies through small arms fire from personal weapons. Various entry points are fitted for proper crew entry/exit. The vehicle maintains a high ground clearance (420mm) which supports both cross-country travel as well as placing the occupants further away from potential ground-based dangers. Four suspended roadwheels are featured across two axles and these are well-spaced from one another, set close to the extreme corners of the vehicle. Internally, there is seating for a standard crew of two with twelve passengers. A spare roadwheel is carried along the starboard side of the hull.
Mine protection is STANAG 4569 Level III which is suitable against small arms rifle fire and some mines. STANAG 4569 4A / 4B is also available for increased protection against anti-tank mines.
Overall weight is 23,760lb (base) with a combat weight tipping the scales at over 33,500lb. Power is served through a Cummins ISBe4 diesel-fueled system delivering nearly 300 horsepower or an alternative MAN-produced engine. Road speeds reach 75 miles per hour with operational ranges out to 435 miles. A payload of up to 11,025lb can be hauled.
As with other MRAPs in service, the Matador can field a variety of 7.62mm light and medium machine guns as well as full turreted weapons installations involving larger-caliber automatic cannons. In addition to this, the hull supports installation and operation of various other battlefield weapon systems including heavy-class field mortars and Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) launchers.
Variants of the Matador line include an armored ambulance (with applicable equipment), a dedicated command vehicle (with applicable mission equipment), and infantry fire support vehicle (with hull roof machine gun mounting).


Home Guides Auctioneer Cheats: Tips & Tricks to Get the Highest Bid Ever!
Auctioneer Cheats: Tips & Tricks to Get the Highest Bid Ever!
Cherry's Auctioneer game that has just been launched on the App Store for iPhone and iPad is an extremely well made, great looking and insanely addictive game, despite its really simple concept: you play as an auctioneer trying to sell different works of art to the highest bidder. But, you see, there are a ton of people bidding for the art and you have to be really careful when you choose the winning bid: it has to be the highest, otherwise it's game over.
We can agree that there is not much you can do but try your best to get there, but we still have a few Auctioneer cheats and tips to help you get even better at the game, anticipate the highest bids and get as far as possible. Because, as impossible as it might seem right now, you're not that far away from getting to at least a bid of 50,000! So let's see how to do it!
1. Try to anticipate the bids: so far, all the bids in the Auctioneer game follow the same rules and you can anticipate the general number of the bid: we're always starting, for example, with two bids, one below 10 and one above. The next is in the low 200s and so on – with them increasing slightly in value as you unlock new auctioneers. But the idea is that they always follow the same pattern, so when you see after 5 bids a large 1022, you know that you'll find better.
2. When you reach bids of 10,000 and above, it's already too difficult to compare the entire numbers, so only look at the first three – they are usually enough to give you the highest bid and you win precious time!
3. New auctioneers will give you bigger bids faster, so do your best to unlock them ASAP: an easy way to get there is by accepting all free coins that you can get (they appear as a gift box under your coin rewards each level). Take them and soon you'll get to huge bids in no time!
4. Don't look at the timer – ignore it, as you will usually have enough time to check out all the bids and they start wobbling when the time is running out. Try to forget the pressure of the timer and take your time to analyze all the bids. Of course, you need to be fast, but there's no problem if you tap the highest one in the last second!
5. Take short breaks every 15 minutes or so as the game will be very demanding on your eyes and you'll get really tired. You will perform much better when well rested, so take these breaks and get back to the game fresh and strong to get that huge super bid!
This is it for now. If you have other Auctioneer tips and tricks, let us know!


A Carrollton man was charged with murder Thursday after police said he shot his girlfriend at his home.
Joshua Caleb Potter, 27, is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend during a dispute, police said.
The fatal shooting happened around 2 a.m. at a house in the 1600 block of Francis Street, police said.
Joshua Caleb Potter, 27, called police to tell them he shot 29-year-old Angelica Talbot during a dispute, police said.
Talbot died at the scene, police said.
Potter surrendered at his home, according to officials. He's being held in the Carrollton Jail, but his bail was not set as of Thursday afternoon.


text:
Buhari needs to find new funding methods to improve Nigeria's health care
Published: October 20, 2015 11.27pm EDT
Felix Abrahams Obi, University of Nigeria
Felix Abrahams Obi
Research Uptake Officer of the Health Policy Research Group, University of Nigeria
Felix Abrahams Obi is affiliated with Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria; Public Health Foundation of Nigeria , and Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vaccinates his three-month-old granddaughter with oral polio vaccine earlier this year. EPA
The health system that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari inherited is not performing at an optimal level. It is a fragmented system, with poor governance at the primary healthcare level and weak collaboration and co-ordination.
Buhari has since promised to revamp Nigeria's health sector. Setting up efficient and functional performance management and clinical governance systems will go a long way in improving the quality of services delivered and co-ordinated by the health ministries and the hospitals across the 36 states.
But one major challenge the Buhari administration will grapple with is how the health sector is funded.
Although Nigeria is not regarded as a donor-dependent country, most critical public health interventions in the country are largely funded and implemented by donors. With a huge debt burden and depleted foreign reserves, the government faces the challenge of how to creatively source funds to provide critical public health services and sustain ongoing programs to save the lives of women and children.
Poor support from government
In 2010, the Nigerian government made commitments to release US$3 million annually to procure family planning commodities. This would be matched by contributions from donors. In 2012, at the London Family Planning Summit, the government made an additional commitment of US$8.35 million annually for four years for reproductive health commodities, including contraceptives.
But these commitments have not, to a large extent, been met by the government. Poor funding of key public health programs has remained a concern to health advocates. Like Ghana, which graduated to medium-income country a few years ago, Nigeria now has to look for alternative sources of funding other than official development assistance and grant aid.
In the spirit of transferring responsibilities to the home government, some bilateral donors such as USAID have gradually been withdrawing part of their financial support for HIV/AIDS programs. The gradual withdrawal is to allow federal and state governments to take more responsibility in funding public programs, which is part of their current engagement plan with Nigeria.
Donor funding is running dry
Despite the pervasive poverty, Nigeria is not a poor country that needs donors to stand on its feet. While donor agencies have no immediate plans to withdraw support from Nigeria completely, their focus is to support the government in building and strengthening institutions and structures that will help deliver good governance.
And following the rebasing of the Nigerian economy and the resultant upgrade from a low-income country to a low-medium income, most donor countries no longer see Nigeria as a country that needs grant aid for financing critical public health interventions.
With this upgrade, Nigeria no longer qualifies as a recipient of grants for purchasing vaccines and supporting routine immunisation services from the GAVI Alliance. The reality hit home a few months ago when it became obvious that Nigeria could not set aside funds for the purchase of vaccines for children in 2015.
It took the intervention of Bill Gates, who is committed to the eradication of polio virus in Nigeria, to strike a deal through which the soft loan provided by the Japanese government and World Bank could be converted to grant aid if some key deliverables are achieved by the federal and state governments.
In the last couple of years Nigeria has attracted considerable attention from the global health community for the wrong reasons. It has one of the worst health indices in Africa despite its leadership position on the continent.
Nigeria records about 800,000 under-five deaths every year. This accounts for about 11% of total global under-five deaths. Up to 40% of these deaths are from vaccine-preventable diseases and can be averted through routine immunisation for children and infants.
The country's 2015 millennium development goal targets is to reduce under-five mortality to 70 deaths for every 1000 live-births and 250 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births. But the findings of the current National Demographic and Health Survey show that under-five mortality is 128 per 1000 live births. And the maternal mortality rate stands at 576 deaths for every 100,000 live births.
Nigeria also has the highest burden of malaria globally, and a high burden of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis – among others. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cancers are also on the rise.
Expectations are high that Buhari will bring a turnaround. Hope is rising that things will change for good.
One of the first steps is to find new ways to fund the healthcare sector. One of Buhari's options to increase the fiscal space to improve domestic financing of critical health programs will be strengthening and enforcing tax regimes.
Buhari will need to sustain and deepen the current partnerships between the government and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria. Through this, private sector resources have been used to finance healthcare interventions across different states in the country.
Innovative funding mechanisms such as a sin tax and a tax on phone calls need to be explored. The funds earmarked for basic healthcare services in the 2014 National Health Act need be effectively used when operational.
If, after four years, little change is seen in the quality of health services delivered or there is no progress in improving the health status of Nigerians, Buhari will go down as a leader who made promises that were not delivered.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: how do I import all the classes in a jar file? I have a jar file named protocol.jar and I want to import all the class in the jar file. My OS is Ubuntu and there is no GUI on it.
I had known how to set jar path.
javac -cp ".;/home/ubuntu/workspace/protocol/protocol.jar;" MyJavaFile.java

A: You can import a single class of a package by
java.io.BufferedReader;
While if you want to import all classes of a package you can do by
java.io.*;
Read it here the official documentation.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We all start developing an enlightened view of the world from one kernel, one flashpoint.
It's taken me nearly two decades to admit to liking Nevermind in public again. In celebration, I've decided to reprint my original review.


text:
package org.jabref.logic.pdf.search.retrieval;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.util.Collections;

import org.jabref.logic.pdf.search.indexing.PdfIndexer;
import org.jabref.logic.util.StandardFileType;
import org.jabref.model.database.BibDatabase;
import org.jabref.model.database.BibDatabaseContext;
import org.jabref.model.entry.BibEntry;
import org.jabref.model.entry.LinkedFile;
import org.jabref.model.entry.types.StandardEntryType;
import org.jabref.model.pdf.search.PdfSearchResults;
import org.jabref.preferences.FilePreferences;

import org.apache.lucene.queryparser.classic.ParseException;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.io.TempDir;
import org.mockito.Mockito;

import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertThrows;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;

public class PdfSearcherTest {

    private PdfSearcher search;

    @BeforeEach
    public void setUp(@TempDir Path indexDir) throws IOException {
        FilePreferences filePreferences = mock(FilePreferences.class);
        // given
        BibDatabase database = new BibDatabase();
        BibDatabaseContext context = mock(BibDatabaseContext.class);
        when(context.getFileDirectories(Mockito.any())).thenReturn(Collections.singletonList(Path.of("src/test/resources/pdfs")));
        when(context.getFulltextIndexPath()).thenReturn(indexDir);
        when(context.getDatabase()).thenReturn(database);
        when(context.getEntries()).thenReturn(database.getEntries());
        BibEntry examplePdf = new BibEntry(StandardEntryType.Article);
        examplePdf.setFiles(Collections.singletonList(new LinkedFile("Example Entry", "example.pdf", StandardFileType.PDF.getName())));
        database.insertEntry(examplePdf);

        BibEntry metaDataEntry = new BibEntry(StandardEntryType.Article);
        metaDataEntry.setFiles(Collections.singletonList(new LinkedFile("Metadata Entry", "metaData.pdf", StandardFileType.PDF.getName())));
        metaDataEntry.setCitationKey("MetaData2017");
        database.insertEntry(metaDataEntry);

        BibEntry exampleThesis = new BibEntry(StandardEntryType.PhdThesis);
        exampleThesis.setFiles(Collections.singletonList(new LinkedFile("Example Thesis", "thesis-example.pdf", StandardFileType.PDF.getName())));
        exampleThesis.setCitationKey("ExampleThesis");
        database.insertEntry(exampleThesis);

        PdfIndexer indexer = PdfIndexer.of(context, filePreferences);
        search = PdfSearcher.of(context);

        indexer.createIndex();
        indexer.addToIndex(context);
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForTest() throws IOException, ParseException {
        PdfSearchResults result = search.search("test", 10);
        assertEquals(8, result.numSearchResults());
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForUniversity() throws IOException, ParseException {
        PdfSearchResults result = search.search("University", 10);
        assertEquals(1, result.numSearchResults());
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForStopWord() throws IOException, ParseException {
        PdfSearchResults result = search.search("and", 10);
        assertEquals(0, result.numSearchResults());
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForSecond() throws IOException, ParseException {
        PdfSearchResults result = search.search("second", 10);
        assertEquals(4, result.numSearchResults());
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForAnnotation() throws IOException, ParseException {
        PdfSearchResults result = search.search("annotation", 10);
        assertEquals(2, result.numSearchResults());
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForEmptyString() throws IOException {
        PdfSearchResults result = search.search("", 10);
        assertEquals(0, result.numSearchResults());
    }

    @Test
    public void searchWithNullString() throws IOException {
        assertThrows(NullPointerException.class, () -> search.search(null, 10));
    }

    @Test
    public void searchForZeroResults() throws IOException {
        assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class, () -> search.search("test", 0));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Africa, Children on the Frontline, Development & Aid, Headlines, Health, Poverty & SDGs
MOZAMBIQUE: Quiet Progress Against HIV/AIDS
By IPS Correspondents	Reprint | | Print |
Jessie Boylan
COBUE, Mozambique, Oct 31 2009 (IPS) - When Dorothy Kakongwe smiles, her creases tell stories no history book can recount. This elderly nurse can reflect on numerous changes in the landscape and people around her.
Nurse Dorothy Kakongwe is seeing the fruit of basic training and education in rural communities of Niassa province. Credit: Jessie Boylan/IPS
"I've worked for 18 years in Cobue, and I've seen a lot of changes," said Kakongwe, who trained in Tanzania and is now working as a government nurse.
"During the war, everyone was living in the bush," she said. "It was very hard. The sick people would have to come to where we were hiding. Women would give birth in the bush."
With limited understanding of and education on health, many illnesses went undiagnosed and untreated, including AIDS.
"AIDS was there during the civil war," said Kakongwe, "but people didn't know anything about it. We know because people are going through the same experiences now as they were then."
In the years following the end of the civil war in 1992, people started to drift back into the region, bringing with them new knowledge from countries to which they had fled, like Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. With this influx and new policy from the FRELIMO government, development and education slowly resumed.
UGANDA: Village Health Teams – First Draft of a Solution
Rural Zimbabwe Fertile Ground for HIV/AIDS
AIDS-AFRICA: Some Signs of Progress
But Niassa Province has seen significant advances in health education, training and treatment over the past five years.
The number of people dying from or infected with HIV/AIDS has dropped significantly; the reasons behind this are an inspiring example of how a region can successfully work towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"Today a seven-year-old boy came in with his mother," said Kakongwe. "He has been feeling as if he has malaria for some time. We asked if we could take a blood test today, because he's been here a lot, and found that he is HIV-positive. His parents don't know yet. I have to go and tell them now."
It is a common story that children infected by the virus have parents who were afraid of or unaware of the implications of their own condition.
"I've been working here for five years," said Adriano Aidau, a volunteer nurse at the Cobue clinic, "since Dr Peg Cumberland started her programme here. I've never been to any school to study medicine. I've learnt all I know from Dr Peg."
Aidau is one of about 400 people trained by English doctor Peg Cumberland, who came to the region in 2004 after the Anglican Church told her of the severe lack of health education and services in the region.
"I've seen a big change in the understanding of HIV/AIDS in this area," Aidau continued. "I was born and grew up here, so I used to see the type of problems they had in the communities. There used to be a much higher death rate, from what we now know to be AIDS, and it has definitely changed."
The team of volunteers works in 43 communities, along 143 kilometres of the lakeshore, to deliver health services and counselling. Most of the villages can be reached only on foot or by boat.
Transport and access to health services are also huge factors for rural communities in getting tested and treated. Likoma Island in Malawi (a few hours' boat ride from Cobue) used to be the only reasonable health centre in the area.
"For people to come here (to Cobue) to get drugs or get treated from far-away villages is very difficult," said Aidau. "There was a man who came here from Ngofi, five hours' walk north from here. He was paralysed, and people had to carry him. We found he was HIV-positive and his immune system was very low. He had to stay here for three months for treatment, but now he can walk again and left just today."
In many communities there are health outposts which give basic medical care and counselling, and by the end of the year five of these outposts will be able to do HIV testing.
"A lot of people are HIV-positive due to promiscuity, but we have been doing a lot of training and education to widen the understanding, and we are seeing change," said Aidau. "Dr Peg's programme has helped a lot of people in this region, and made a huge impact."
Cumberland is held in high esteem throughout the region for her work: her approach has been simple, but required patience, perseverance and will. Some of the most obvious solutions to reduce the number of people affected by HIV are often the hardest to apply.
"What helped the huge turnaround," Cumberland said, "was just starting to talk about the issues, starting with the scientific facts. Also us identifying who is suffering from HIV, and the way that my colleagues have treated everybody – with acceptance, compassion and no discrimination. That's how we should treat this issue.
"As treatment has become available, people have realised there are huge advantages to getting tested and treated. And they see people able to be open about having HIV, yet still be respected and accepted members of the community."
Cumberland has always respected local customs and involved local chiefs in the processes, which has proved very useful and important.
"We had one situation where a woman found to be HIV-positive had been living in her mother's house, and her mother threw her out. We involved the chief and the health committee in sitting and discussing with the mother and other members of the family that it wasn't a necessary or appropriate way to act. The woman was welcomed back," said Cumberland.
Increasing knowledge and breaking down the stigma of HIV is a huge task which needs dedicated and consistent work. Mathias Hamouli and Maria Mcambula are two more Cumberland-trained volunteers working specifically with HIV/AIDS in the communities.
"At first there were many problems," said Mcambula, outside the training centre in Cobue, where many outpost volunteers have come for meetings. "People were getting sick and didn't know what was happening.
Although statistics are not precisely recorded, Hamouli and Mcambula have been keeping track of them. "In four years we have had a big drop [in HIV cases]. In 2005 we had 19 people die of AIDS, and in 2009 so far we've had four."
"The main cause is a lack of knowledge," Hamouli said. "But since we've done the training, people know about the ways they can contract the virus, which has helped."
Hamouli and Mcambula are clearly proud of their work, but believe more funding and volunteers are needed to further reduce HIV/AIDS infection rates.
Although the government provides test kits to the outposts and clinics, some people are still afraid to get tested. "If people say they haven't got the money for the tests or treatment, it's an excuse, because it's provided anyway," said Cumberland.
Perhaps the most important aspect of their success is that the infrastructure they've set up can be built upon. "It's having this infrastructure which gives people a way of accessing knowledge and services," said Dr Cumberland.
"I don't think we want to get a lot more sophisticated in terms of services that we have than we are already. It's more that about getting things working sustainably.
"I think the next challenge is how much can we move it out into other areas, and essentially without me being there. This is already happening – the volunteers do most of the training and treatment in the remote areas now, and that's great."
Reproductive and Sexual Rights


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text:
In a joint letter, civil society condemns excessive use of executive orders
Over 40 organisations have spoken out against president Jair Bolsonaro's authoritarian stance, in a joint public letter
(Brasília - DF, 07/05/2019) President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro signs an Executive order that applies to the acquisition, registration, licencing, possession, carrying and trading of arms - SINARM and SIGMA. Photo: Marcos Corrêa/PR
On the eve of completing his first five months of government, president Jair Bolsonaro had already issued 145 executive orders. This conduct is seen as autocratic by the majority of civil society organisations who spoke out condemning the current president's stance in a public letter. The president has attempted to override the power invested in the Brazilian parliament. The document is signed by 48 Brazilian organisations that are part of the Democracy Pact, a platform for joint action to protect the construction of democracy.
The publication of executive orders by heads of Executive Power is set out in the Federal Constitution. The objective of this legislative feature is to regulate legal mechanisms, in order to strengthen them and make sure they are carried out. In other words, in the hierarchy of legislative acts, an executive order cannot override laws created by Legislative power. It is meant to regulate them. President Bolsonaro has used this tool to modify laws and to serve his own personal interests.
"Legislating by means of Executive Orders, disregards and subjugates the role of the Legislative Power in a democratic regime. It is a way of undermining democracy from within. Democratic governing presupposes absolute respect for the powers and institutions of the Republic." The document stresses.
The letter also cites examples of authoritarian measures by the president that should be democratically debated by representatives from society at the National Congress, rather than being defined according to the decisions of a single individual, as were the cases of the Executive Orders to abolish public policy committees, to liberate gun control and the text concerning the nomination of deans of federal educational institutions.
Read the full letter.


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Home/Executive Moves/Greg Lewis to Become Honeywell SVP, CFO in August
Greg Lewis to Become Honeywell SVP, CFO in August
Jane Edwards May 2, 2018	Executive Moves, News
Greg Lewis, vice president of enterprise information management at Honeywell (NYSE: HON), will transition to the role of senior vice president and chief financial officer on Aug. 3 to succeed the retiring Tom Szlosek.
The company said Tuesday Lewis will serve as VP of corporate finance for three months to oversee the company's EIM, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, audit, tax, treasury and other related operations before he officially assumes the CFO role in August.
Szlosek will work with Lewis to facilitate the transition and continue to offer consulting support for five months following his retirement.
"During his tenure at Honeywell, Greg has gained a thorough understanding of our businesses, markets and customers along with a stellar operational finance skillset, and he has a track record of driving great business results in a variety of industries," said Darius Adamczyk, Honeywell chairman and CEO.
Adamczyk added that Lewis' finance and operational skills would help the company deliver on its growth plans.
Lewis joined Honeywell in 2006 and since then, he has held CFO roles at the firm's automation and control solutions business group, process solutions business and performance products business unit.
Prior to Honeywell, he also held finance leadership positions at Tyco International, The Stanley Works and Kraft Foods.
Tags CFO Darius Adamczyk executive move featured govcon Greg Lewis hon Honeywell Kraft Foods The Stanley Works Tom Szlosek Tyco International
William Conley, chief technology officer of Mercury Systems (Nasdaq: MRCY), has been named to the board of directors for the National Defense Industrial Association's Central Georgia chapter. He will serve as a board member for a term of up to six years, Mercury Systems said Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a request for proposals for its indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity Data Center and Cloud Optimization contract worth potentially $3.35B over 10 years.


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Home » Restaurants + Bars
Austin Food & Wine Festival Feedback
A Food Festival Recap: The good, the bad, the dust and C3's Charlie Jones setting the record straight
trailer food diaries
From Portland to your kitchen: Three gourmet trailer recipes for any home chef to enjoy
wine drinking 101
Everything you wanted to know about wine but didn't want to ask: We got the answers from Food & Wine expert Ray Isle
By Caitlin M. Ryan
Ray Isle
To imagine an expert in wine might be to imagine someone so sophisticated they're unable to have an easy-going conversation with the average Joe. However, Ray Isle, executive wine editor of Food & Wine magazine, eschews that staunchy stereotype by candidly and fluidly teaching we feeble-minded laymen the basics of wine by comparing it to cars, baseball and — what else? — milk.
"Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Wine But Were too Afraid to Ask" was pretty much everything I've always wanted to learn from a wine course but was never able to find. During this early morning panel (otherwise known as "Wine for Breakfast") at the Austin's inaugural Food & Wine Festival, Isle relaxed the crowd and swiftly disbanded any perceived pomp and circumstance.
"Wine is a little like baseball — as long as you know the basics, you can go to a game and have a good time. But you can have a different kind of good time if you know what a 'change-up' is," Isle told the crowd.
"If you know very basic things about wine, you can also have a fantastic time," he continued. "You can have a different fantastic experience when you know some details. Wine rewards you at all levels."
Each participant was served a sampling of six wines, from white to red.
2010 Poet's Leap Riesling; apple, acidic, sweet
2009 Bouchard Pere et Fils Reserve Bourgogne; stone, pear
2010 Beringer Reserve; vanilla spice, oaky
2009 Col D'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino; earthy, dusty, lighter red
2006 Col D'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino; more complex than Rosso (which is otherwise known as "baby Brunello")
2008 Laurel Glen Counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon; blackberry, black currant, lower acidity making it softer though heavy on the tannins
How do I "taste" a wine without embarrassing myself?
There are three simple steps to a successful wine assessment:
Look: Tilt the glass 45 degrees against a white backdrop (could be a table cloth or napkin). Look to see the way the color changes from the center of the glass to the edges. Different wines have different saturation characteristics. Whites vary from watery white or green to golden-amber; reds from purply-red (young) to brown-red (aged).
Swirl: Hold the glass on the table by the stem and swirl to aromatize the pour by allowing oxygen in.
Slurp: "Tongues can only do so much," Isle said. Once you take a sip, draw some air into your slightly opened mouth, activating your retro-nasal passages.
What exactly is a "full bodied" wine?
A full bodied wine generally has higher alcohol, which has more glycerin. "You feel that weight in your mouth," said Isle. "Think of it like skim milk versus whole milk."
Are aerators really necessary?
"I'm not a fan of spending thirty-five dollars on something that you can do yourself," said Isle. There is indeed validity in aerating wine, but instead of spending money on a gadget, Isle pours his bottle into a pitcher. No pitcher? Just pour a glass 30 minutes before you want to drink it. But don't jump to airing everything; an old burgundy (20 years or so) can fall apart with air, for example.
How can I tell if a red wine has a lot of tannins?
One way to test the taste is to steep a bag of black tea for 15 minutes and put it in your mouth. But that would kind of suck. Instead: Know how when you take a sip of certain reds, it feels like your tongue becomes glued to the roof of your mouth? Those are the tannins talking.
Should I look for a sulfite free wine if I get headaches from drinking reds?
Sulfites are actually not what cause headaches, and tannins aren't necessarily to blame either, Isle told the group. To get really geeky, biogenic amines are the main culprit to those head-y hangovers, and you're less apt to get them from light reds that haven't undergone a great deal of extraction.
What is the right temperature for a wine?
The more complex the white wine (remember — whole milk), the less cold you want it. Aim for 60 degrees. Also remember to treat a light red like a rose and chill it down a bit. The fastest way to cool a wine is by placing it into a bucket with ice and water to help circulate the temp.
Is it okay to cork a wine and drink it the next day?
Sure. Isle says he enjoys keeping a white wine for up to three days and discovering how it changes with time. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. It's not going to turn to poison.
How do I determine when a white wine is "oaky," once and for all?
An oak barrel allows oxygen to interact with the wine while it ages. To forever more have a crystal clear idea of what an oaky wine tastes like, Isle recommends asking to smell a new, unused oak barrel the next time you're at a vineyard. You wont forget it.
The basic rules for pairing wine with food?
The strongest point Isles made was: "When pairing wine with food, acidity is your friend." In other words, a Napa Cabernet will be more pleasurable to have without food (less acidity, a softer red though full bodied) than a hearty Italian wine like Brunello di Montalcino (very complex with lots of tannins).
Despite all of this excellent guidance, Isle recommends not trying to impress anyone with an elevated wine game. "Your own palate is the ultimate arbiter of what you should be buying," he candidly said.
Simply put, even a certified wine expert says that whatever you like to drink — however you like to drink it — is the right choice for you.
Now, isn't that as refreshing as a cold glass of Riesling on a hot summer's day?
Lake LBJ: Top-producing agent sells the lifestyle she lives and loves


This workshop will provide you with an opportunity to be exposed to the process of change identify the stage you are in within this process. Identify the effects change has on you personally. You will have the opportunity to troubleshoot and identify ways in which to deal with the issues at hand making use of group activities. A few tools to deal with change more effectively will be presented. A change action plan will be developed by participants.


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By the Editorial Staff of CPE/MHN
Multifamily (Rates)
A year-over-year comparison of all asset classes across 30 major metros, provided monthly by Yardi Matrix.
National average includes 127 markets tracked by Matrix, not just the 30 metros listed above.
Source: Yardi Matrix November 2021 Monthly Report.
The U.S. multifamily market maintained a healthy performance, according to Yardi Matrix's November survey, sustained by robust demand and steady economic conditions. But rent growth has finally began softening, the average asking rent inching up by 'just' $4 in November, to $1,590. This slight uptick translates into a 13.5 percent year-over-year increase through November. Meanwhile, the occupancy rate in stabilized properties rose 1.4 percent in the 12 months ending in October, to 96.1 percent. The single-family rental market maintained its superiority to the multifamily industry.
The year 2021 maintained the unprecedented aura triggered by the pandemic: Nearly 590,000 units were absorbed in the 12 months ending in October, and more than 6 million jobs were added year-to-date through November. Inflation concerns intensify, despite wage growth.
—Posted on Dec. 21, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix October 2021 Monthly Report.
The beginning of the fourth quarter has registered new record growth in national multifamily fundamentals, according to Yardi Matrix's latest survey: The national average rent rose 13.7 percent year-over-year through October, to a new high of $1,572, while the occupancy rate in stabilized properties rose 1.4 percent in the 12 months ending in September, to 96.1 percent, an all-time high. September also marked the closure of the historical occupancy gap between the two quality segments. Meanwhile, single-family rentals also maintained a robust performance, the average rent rising 14.7 percent on an annual basis.
Since March, the average U.S. asking rent has risen by $179, which is nearly equal to the increase over the previous five years combined. Behind this outstanding growth is demand: Through September, some 475,000 units were absorbed nationally, already surpassing the all-time annual high. Even though office attendance is limited, gateway markets surpassed secondary and tertiary markets in the number of absorbed units, counting 108,000 absorbed units through the past three quarters. However, it's uncertain for how long this performance will continue, as each of these metros imposes a series of challenges, such as expensive rents, high taxes, crime rates, schools and, more recently, the corporate migration to tech hubs in the South and Southwest and the work-from-home policies.
—Posted on Nov. 22, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix September 2021 Monthly Report.
Multifamily rent growth remained unparalleled, according to Yardi Matrix's September survey of 140 markets, the national average rent rising 11.4 percent year-over-year through September, to $1,558. Even though on a year-to-date basis rents improved by a hefty 11.1 percent, the month-over-month rent growth points to moderation signs, marking a 1.0 percent increase (+$16), the lowest monthly rate since March 2021. Historically, fall is a slower period for demand, and September is the month when rent growth begins to soften ahead of winter. Even so, occupancy rose another 10 basis points in September to 95.9 percent.
Lifestyle rents continued to lead gains, up 13.4 percent year-over-year, while Renter-by-Necessity rose by 9.5 percent. So far, many renters were able to keep up with the higher rents in the upscale segment, but affordability concerns are likely to resurface if rents continue to increase. As the economy rebounds, the question will be how long the current performance trajectory can continue. Moreover, fundamental long-term issues from 2019, such as affordability, the scarcity of multifamily housing development and the aging Millennial population, will likely reappear, to which a new factor was added by the pandemic: the geographic preference for working and living.
On a month-over-month basis, rents increased 1.0 percent in September, 80-basis-point below August's rate. Typically, this rate would be a sign of exceptional performance, but at this time in 2021, it marks a significant slowdown—since February, monthly rent gains have been above 1.2 percent every month, and August's rate was nearly double the one in September. In addition, Seattle, Boston, the Twin Cities and Chicago recorded negative rent performance. Dallas (2.4 percent) and Nashville (2.2 percent) might continue to grow during the fourth quarter, supported by strong employment and migration trends.
Sun Belt tech hubs maintained the leading ranks, with rent growth fueled by accelerated domestic migration and job growth. The top 15 markets for annual rent growth were all in the Sun Belt with Phoenix (22.8 percent), Tampa, Las Vegas and Miami (22.6 percent each) in the top spots. Meanwhile, primary markets San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C., ranked near the bottom of the top 30 markets, with year-over-year rent gains between 4 percent and 8 percent. Record increases were posted in Baltimore (11.4 percent) and Philadelphia (9.7 percent). Looking beyond the top 30 markets, Florida secondary markets showed exceptional performance—West Palm Beach (28.8 percent), the Southwest Florida Coast (27.1 percent) and Jacksonville (22.6 percent).
The single-family rental sector continues to outpace multifamily, with nationwide rents rising 14.3 percent year-over-year through September. Occupancy was up 1.2 percent during the period. Mirroring the multifamily sector, Florida markets led in rent growth: Tampa (38.8 percent) and Miami (32.7 percent). Phoenix, Atlanta and Austin completed the top five. On the occupancy side, Texas markets Houston, San Antonio and Austin took the lead. Limited exiting supply and robust demand will likely sustain elevated growth in the sector.
—Posted on Oct. 26, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix August 2021 Monthly Report.
The national multifamily market continued its astounding performance, with asking rents posting the first-ever double-digit increase in Yardi Matrix's dataset, up 10.3 percent year-over-year through August to $1,539. According to the August survey, all but two markets had positive year-over-year rent growth, with Queens (-0.5 percent) and Midland-Odessa (-5.5 percent) being the exceptions. August also marked the first month of positive YoY rent growth since the start of the pandemic across all top 30 metros. Tech hub markets remained in the lead: Phoenix (22.0 percent), Tampa (20.2 percent) and Las Vegas (19.2 percent). New York (2.8 percent) and San Francisco (1.4 percent) occupied the bottom positions and have yet to reach pre-pandemic levels.
Lifestyle rents (11.8 percent) continued to outpace the Renter-by-Necessity asset class (8.4 percent). On the occupancy side, the dynamic shifted, with Lifestyle marking a 1.5 percent rise from a year ago to 95.6 percent, while Renter-by-Necessity inched up just 0.5 percent to 95.7 percent. Overall, the occupancy rate increased 90 basis points to 95.6 percent. There are debates whether the end of the eviction moratorium will trigger a wave of evictions, but according to data collected from the National Multifamily Housing Council's Rent Payment Tracker, in July, 94.9 percent of apartment households made a full or partial rent payment.
Even though gateway markets are rebounding, numbers are slightly misleading, as some of the YoY figures result from comparison to last August, when gateway metros were struggling. Comparing current rents to those in March 2020, five of the seven gateway markets surpassed pre-pandemic levels: Miami (16.2 percent), Boston (7.0 percent), Chicago (6.4 percent), Los Angeles (4.9 percent) and Washington, D.C. (3.9 percent). Miami and Chicago were among the leading metros in occupancy gains, marking increases of 1.7 percent and 1.4 percent. New York (-3.8 percent) and San Francisco (-3.2 percent) have a slower recovery due to companies delaying the return to office due to a Delta variant-generated surge.
On a month-over-month basis, rents rose 1.7 percent in August, with all top 30 metros posting positive rent growth and 26 of them had 1.0 percent growth or higher. Las Vegas (3.3 percent), the Inland Empire and Seattle (both 3.1 percent) registered the highest increases. Kansas City (0.2 percent), San Francisco (0.5 percent) and the Twin Cities (0.7 percent) occupied the bottom ranks. While San Francisco still deals with out-migration and limited supply (3.3 percent of stock delivered in the last 12 months, with the bulk concentrated in the Lifestyle asset class), Kansas City and the Twin Cities are returning to typical growth rates for Midwest cities.
The single-family rental segment continued to outpace multifamily, posting a 13.9 percent YoY rent improvement. All top 30 metros had positive rent growth, and 20 of them had double-digit increases. Tampa (38.4 percent) and Miami (26.7 percent) topped the list, but Orlando (5.9 percent) was second to last. The occupancy rate rose 1.1 percent nationally, with San Antonio (6.7 percent), Indianapolis and Houston (both 5.6 percent) in the lead.
—Posted on Sep. 28, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix July 2021 Monthly Report
The national multifamily market continued to post remarkable performances, with asking rents marking another record increase, up 8.3 percent year-over-year through July, to $1,510. According to Yardi Matrix's July survey, 50 markets had double-digit rent growth. Gateway metros also posted a steady comeback, with substantial month-over-month gains: San Jose (3.6 percent), Boston (3.2 percent), New York (3.0 percent), Miami (2.7 percent), San Francisco (1.8 percent), Chicago, Washington, D.C. (both 1.5 percent), and Los Angeles (1.2 percent).
Nationally, Lifestyle rent growth (9.5 percent) continued to outpace Renter-by-Necessity growth (7.0 percent). The trend was mirrored by occupancy: In June, the overall occupancy rate in stabilized properties increased by 60 basis points to 95.2 percent, led by Lifestyle (up 1.1 percent), while Renter-by-Necessity rose 0.3 percent. However, the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium at the end of July raises the question of whether evictions are imminent. Phoenix remained the poster child for rent growth, both for Lifestyle assets (20.7 percent) and overall rent (18.9 percent). Tampa (16.4 percent) and Las Vegas (16.1 percent) rounded out the top three.
On a month-over-month basis, rents rose 1.8 percent, with 26 of the top 30 metros posting rent growth of 1.0 percent or greater. San Jose had its best performance since the onset of the health crisis and led all markets with a 3.6 percent rent improvement. Raleigh followed with a 3.5 percent increase. In New York (3.0 percent) and San Francisco (1.8 percent), rent gains were still below their pre-pandemic period, but residents seem to be returning. If the trend continues, rents will likely return to 2019 levels by year's end. Midwest cities that posted sturdy performance earlier in the health crisis have now fallen to the bottom of the list—Twin Cities (flat rate), Baltimore (0.7 percent), Indianapolis and Kansas City (both 0.8 percent).
Single-family rents maintained the advantage over the multifamily sector, with national rents and occupancy up by 12.8 percent and 1.2 percent YoY. All top 30 metros had positive YoY rent growth and 19 even posted double-digit rent growth. Cleveland (16.7 percent), Columbus (12.7 percent) and Detroit (12.4 percent) marked solid performance over the last year, but Tampa (31.7 percent), Miami (26.3 percent) and Phoenix (24.2 percent) held the top spots on a MoM basis. On the occupancy side, 26 metros posted occupancy gains on an annual basis, with Tampa (3.5 percent) and Miami (3.0 percent) in the lead.
—Posted on Aug. 27, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix June 2021 Monthly Report
Multifamily rent growth has reached unprecedented levels according to Yardi Matrix's June survey. Asking rents in June increased 6.3 percent over the previous 12 months, to an average of $1,482, the largest year-over-year increase in the history of the dataset. Rents increased nationally by 1.6 percent over the previous month. All of the top 30 markets reported positive month-over-month growth for the third month in a row, and 27 of those also reported positive year-over-year growth. For the first time since 2011, Lifestyle rents (7.2 percent) grew faster than Renter-by-Necessity rents (5.3 percent) on a year over year basis.
Rent growth was bolstered by migration to the Southeast and Southwest markets. Phoenix experienced 17.0 percent rent growth over the last 12 months. Tampa and the Inland Empire both increased 15.1 percent over the same period. Also notable were Las Vegas and Atlanta, which grew by 14.6 and 13.3 percent. These markets were previously seen as lower cost alternatives to gateway metros. According to Yardi Matrix. this level of growth is not sustainable long-term, but the expectation is that above-average growth in these markets will continue for several months.
Double digit rent increases in markets in the Southeast and Southwest mark that their affordability has begun to decline. Phoenix rents rose by an average of $200 through the past 12 months. Much of the migration into the metro came from higher cost locations where residents were used to paying higher rents. This has put more strain on longtime residents causing, them to downsize or find lower cost locations to live.
On a month-over-month basis, Tampa and Phoenix showed the strongest rent growth, both at 2.5 percent. Urban cores showed strong signs of rebounding, with New York and Seattle reporting 1.9 percent monthly rent growth. Chicago and Washington, D.C., followed, at 1.7 percent. Month-over-month Lifestyle rent growth (2.2 percent) is also outpacing the Renter-by-Necessity segment (1.2 percent).
The single-family rental market also showed strong growth. Rents in the sector were up 11.1 percent year-over-year. All of the top 30 metros recorded positive year-over-year rent growth, with 17 posting growth rates in double digits. Markets with the largest rent growth were Tampa (31.3 percent), Phoenix (23.9 percent) and Miami (23.6 percent). Yardi Matrix believes that there is strong demand in the sector, as people are looking for more space. Occupancy was up 1.9 percent in May on a year-over-year basis. 24 of the top 30 metros had flat or increasing occupancy over the same period.
—Posted on Jul. 27, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix May 2021 Monthly Report
Positive momentum continued across the national multifamily market, with rent growth back to pre-pandemic levels, up 2.5 percent year-over-year in May, to $1,428. According to Yardi Matrix's May survey, of the top 30 markets, 22 had positive year-over-year growth rates. On a month-over-month basis, the national average rent rose 0.8 percent, posting the largest increase since June 2015, while all top 30 metros had positive growth, and 90 percent registered gains of 0.5 percent or more.
The best performing metros on a year-over-year basis were the Inland Empire (10.2 percent, the highest rate in the metro's history), Phoenix (9.6 percent) and Sacramento (8.3 percent). Of all gateway markets, Miami posted the strongest gains, up 6.0 percent. At the opposite end are San Jose (-9.0 percent), New York (-8.8 percent) and San Francisco (-6.7 percent).
All gateway markets showed signs of recovery—New York led all 30 top metros with an average rent growth of 3.4 percent on a month-over-month basis. Lifestyle rents led growth there, up 4.8 percent. The rebound in the metro is likely driven by the financial sector, with the banking industry mandating that workers return to the office this summer. Slower performances were recorded in Seattle (0.2 percent MoM) and San Francisco (0.3 percent MoM). The lag is attributed to the large concentration of tech workers that are more likely to continue working on a hybrid or fully remote schedule.
During the four months of 2021, almost 120,000 units—0.8% of stock—were absorbed nationally, pointing to one of the best years since the 2008 recession. Dallas (8,200 units absorbed), Miami (5,700), Atlanta (5,400) and Phoenix (4,600) occupied top positions by the number of units absorbed. Absorption based on percentage of stock was highest in Nashville (2.1 percent of stock), Miami, Charlotte and Chicago (all 1.9 percent). At the bottom of the top 30 metros stood the Inland Empire (0.3 percent of stock, or 531 units year-to-date) and Sacramento (0.2 percent of stock, or 209 units). The two metros are relatively affordable compared to other California markets, but robust year-over-year rent increases seem to narrow the gap in the cost of living.
May marked the launch of Yardi Matrix's data tracking single-family rentals, which comprises more than 90,000 units in 700 communities across the U.S. Rents in the asset class rose by 7.3 percent in May on a year-over-year basis, or by $14, to $1,761 with the Inland Empire (18.3 percent), Phoenix (15.3 percent) and Denver (13.5 percent) topping the list for year-over-year growth. Occupancy marked a 1.5 percent increase in the 12 months ending in April, to 96.6 percent.
—Posted on Jun. 29, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix April 2021 Monthly Report
The national multifamily market registered the best performance in rent growth since the onset of the pandemic, according to Yardi Matrix's April survey. Rents rose 1.6 percent to $1,417 on a year-over-year basis in April, which marks a $10 increase in overall rents, an amount last recorded in June 2015. For the first time since the beginning of the health crisis, all top 30 markets had positive month-over-month rent growth, with 24 of them posting rent hikes greater than 0.5 percent. On a year-over-year basis, of the 134 markets surveyed, 117 posted positive rent growth.
Rent growth was positive in all gateway markets on a month-over-month basis, and the rebound in gateway market rents is seen as the trustworthy sign of economic recovery—Miami (1.0 percent), Chicago (0.9 percent), Boston & San Francisco (0.8 percent), New York (0.6 percent), Washington, D.C., (0.2 percent) and Los Angeles (0.1 percent). On a trailing three-month basis, Miami posted a 0.8 percent increase, followed by Chicago (0.5 percent) and Boston (0.4 percent). Rent growth in Washington, D.C. (0.2 percent), New York, San Francisco and Seattle (all 0.1 percent) is expected to strengthen as the summer approaches. On a year-over-year basis, New York (-12.6 percent), San Jose (-10.8 percent) and San Francisco (-7.7 percent) remain at the bottom.
Leading markets for rent growth for the past few years—The Inland Empire (9.4 percent), Sacramento (8.4%) and Phoenix (8.1%)—posted extremely low rates five years ago; over this five-year period, rents hiked by 31 percent in the Inland Empire and by 34 percent in Sacramento and Phoenix. Meanwhile, on a national level, rents rose by 12 percent. Of the six markets that posted negative year-over-year rent growth, Austin (-0.1 percent) had strong month-over-month gains, which will likely turn rent growth positive next month.
The occupancy rate also improved in gateway markets, but properties in the downtown urban cores will likely face a recovery period of up to three years. According to a study of the Yardi Matrix database, one of every 14 multifamily properties has recorded occupancy rate declines of 5 percent or more over the last 12 months. The most significant occupancy drops were in New York, San Jose and Los Angeles. Expected new supply raises some concerns—when coupled with possible scarce demand, it could lengthen the recovery. In San Jose, stock is anticipated to expand by 2.0 percent in 2021 and by 4.2 percent in 2022.
Year-over-year, all asset classes
Source: Yardi Matrix March 2021 Monthly Report
The U.S. multifamily market marked a turning point in March, with multifamily rents rising 0.6 percent year-over-year, or up $6 to $1,407, according to Yardi Matrix's survey. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the U.S. average rent appreciated by 0.8 percent, posting one of the strongest quarters in a few years. On a month-over-month basis, rents increased by 0.4 percent, up 20 basis points from February. Of the 134 markets surveyed, 114 had flat or positive year-over-year rent growth. Of the top 30 metros, 19 had flat or positive year-over-year rent growth, and 26 posted flat or positive month-over-month rent performance.
Lower-cost metros in the West continued on an upward trend, sustained by strong demand for housing—the Inland Empire (8.3 percent) Sacramento (7.3 percent) and Phoenix (6.9 percent) led all markets on a year-over-year basis. Limited new supply and robust migration boosted the average rent in Tampa (5.0 percent) and Atlanta (4.7 percent), where inventories expanded by 2.3 percent and 2.5 percent in the 12 months ending in March.
Rents remained on a downward trend in the metros most impacted by remote work and out-migration—New York (-13.6 percent YoY) and San Jose (-12.0 percent)—but even here there are signs of bottoming out. San Jose marked a 0.9 percent increase on a month-over-month basis, pointing to a possible turnaround.
Stock expansion is a big factor in the recovery of many metros. The most completions as a percentage of stock over the last 12 months ending in March were registered in Austin (4.4 percent YoY), Raleigh (3.9 percent), Twin Cities (3.9 percent) and Denver (3.8 percent). Rents appreciated by 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent in the Twin Cities and Denver on a year-over-year basis. Most gateway markets reported limited completions but have robust construction pipelines: Miami led with 14.6 percent of existing stock under construction, followed by San Francisco (8.2 percent) and Los Angeles (7.8 percent).
In Raleigh, the robust stock expansion caused rents to decline 0.9 percent month-over-month, but it could be just a one-month dip as the metro is sustained by strong economic fundamentals. On a year-over-year basis, the average marked an uptick of 0.5 percent. In Austin, inventory additions kept rent growth struggling since the onset of the pandemic, but in March, rents appreciated by 0.9 percent on a month-over-month basis, posting the strongest performance over the past year.
—Posted on Apr. 26, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix February 2021 Monthly Report
The decline of multifamily rents continued on a softening trend, as signs of recovery become clearer according to Yardi Matrix's monthly survey of 133 markets. Even though the national rent growth was still negative in February—with year-over-year rents down 0.1 percent—on a month-over-month basis, the average rent appreciated by 20 basis points, up $3 to $1,399. If market conditions hold, February may well be the last month we see a national decline in rents. On a year-over-year basis, 16 of the top 30 markets remained flat or marked negative rent performance, posting a progressively moderating rate. On a month-over-month basis, 111 of the 133 surveyed markets had positive rent growth.
Lower-cost markets continued to outperform gateway markets—rents in New York, San Jose and San Francisco declined by 9.9 percent on a year-over-year basis, but even here month-over-month declines have moderated, hovering between -0.4 and -0.8 percent. Seattle (-7.7 percent YoY, -0.7 percent MoM) continued to struggle. Declines in gateway markets affected both Lifestyle and Renter-by-Necessity assets.
The Inland Empire (7.6 percent) and Sacramento (6.4 percent) maintained top positions for rent growth on a year-over-year basis through February. The two were also in the top three for occupancy growth, up 2.2 percent and 1.2 percent on a year-over-year basis as of January. Performance was sustained by strong migration and limited supply, of just 1.6 percent of total stock in the 12-months ending in February. Midwestern markets like Indianapolis (rents up 3.6 percent year-over-year) and Kansas City (up 2.3 percent) posted favorable performance on a year-over-year basis thanks to their affordability and limited new supply. On a month-over-month basis, of the top 30 markets, 23 had positive rent growth, with Phoenix (0.9 percent), Miami (0.8 percent) and Tampa (0.7 percent) posting the best rent gains.
The passage of a COVID relief bill in December 2020 boosted economic activity, and the recent $1.9 trillion stimulus bill is anticipated to galvanize the economy further, but the issue of high inflation is lurking. With spring marking the peak of leasing season, Yardi Matrix expects month-over-month rents to appreciate and even accelerate as the economy recovers.
—Posted on Mar. 24, 2021
Source: Yardi Matrix January 2021 Monthly Report
The decline of multifamily rents showed signs of softening, according to Yardi Matrix's monthly report of 130 markets. Rents dropped 0.2 percent in January on a year-over-year basis, while on a month-over-month basis, the average rent marked a 20 basis-point rise, or an increase of $3 to $1,392. Although the average national rent is improving, of the top 30 markets, 16 posted declines.
In some gateway markets, rents continued their descent, including New York (down 12.2 percent year-over-year), San Francisco (-9.8 percent), Boston (-3.8 percent) and Los Angeles (-3.0 percent); other gateway markets show signs of bottoming out, posting increases in the month-over-month rents, such as San Jose, where rents improved 0.9 percent, but were down 13.0 percent year-over-year. The best performers continued to be the Inland Empire (up 7.4 percent year-over-year), Sacramento (up 6.3 percent) and Indianapolis (up 4.5 percent), due to their location near dense and high-cost markets.
Rents in the Lifestyle segment rose by 0.1 percent on a month-over-month basis in January, marking the first positive movement in the segment since February 2020. Meanwhile, Renter-by-Necessity rents continued rising, up by 0.3 percent.
Job loss or growth has not been directly proportional with declines or gains in rents and occupancy across metros, instead, a correlation to migration trends and living costs has emerged. Markets with the highest percentage of jobs in "at-risk employment sectors"—which included Las Vegas and some of the Florida markets—withstood the pandemic's impacts aided by robust in-migration from higher-cost states like California and New York. Metros with the smallest percentage of jobs in at-risk employment sectors, like New York and Northern New Jersey, marked steep rent declines.
—Posted on Feb. 26, 2021


text:
Loved to Death: The Most Overcrowded Tourist Destinations
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Caroline Morse Teel
Unfortunately for her bank account, Senior Editor Caroline Morse Teel is powerless to resist a good flight deal. Follow her on Twitter @CarolineMorse1 and Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.
Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's jumped out of planes and off bridges in the pursuit of a good story (and an adrenaline rush). She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.
Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.
The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"
Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."
Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."
E-mail her at cmorse@smartertravel.com.
See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel
cmorse@smartertravel.com
Imagine your city's population suddenly swelled by six times. You suddenly had to avoid areas near your home because of crowds, and your favorite restaurants closed to make room for souvenier shops. This is the reality for people living in Amsterdam, Barcelona, and some of the other most overcrowded tourist destinations in the world.
With travel more accessible than ever, tourists are pouring into destinations at unprecedented rates and some cities are at their breaking points. Rather than advertising to attract visitors, tourism boards for hotspots like Amsterdam and Venice are taking the opposite tack, and trying to dissipate tourists and reclaim their city.
Although each tourist only visits for a brief period, the locals feel the effects every day. I interviewed people who live in these overtouristed spots to see what it's like.
How Overtourism Affects Quality of Life for Locals
Konstantin Tronin/Shutterstock
The numbers are staggering. Just over 830,000 people live in Amsterdam, yet the city sees over 5.3 million tourists per year.
"Amsterdam's residents feel like their city is taken away from them; their tolerance is becoming thinner and they feel almost chased away to more peaceful areas," says Dana Marin, a writer for Amsterdamian.com. "Amsterdam was already a densely populated place, now it's becoming overcrowded. The quality of the residential areas has been affected by the short-term rentals (it's not nice to have someone who throws a party every night when you have to go to work the next day). The local shops are being closed to make space for souvenirs shop and pancake places. It's more difficult to find a place in a bar or a restaurant and not only on weekend nights. When I look for a place to go out, I try to avoid the center, and so do most of my friends."
In Venice, the 55,000 local inhabitants struggle to contend with the 30 million tourists the city receives every year.
Sara, a long-time Venice local, says that tourism "has had a great impact in our daily lives in many ways. Just to start with a comparison, I remember that 25 years ago, there were tourists but mainly from May till the end of September. Venetian people used to leave the city during the summer for the mountains, or to spend the day at the Lido and come back in the evening. From October until the end of April it was considered low season and there were just couples or very tiny groups."
But things have changed. "Nowadays, there's no low season: tourists come all year long in massive groups. It's hard and stressful to walk around the city … ferryboats, trains, buses, and trams are always packed with people, the parking lots are always full. Even if you're a resident you have to pay just to present an application form for a parking spot that it is very expensive and you have to keep your fingers crossed on a waiting list that can take years. I have a friend that has been waiting for 10 years. And prices are booming: tickets, fees, taxes, goods, houses, transportation."
In 2016, Dubrovnik set a tourism record when over 10,000 visitors bought tickets to walk the old city walls in a single day.
Daniel Slezak, an Urban Adventures tour guide and Dubrovnik native since 1978, feels the effects: "There are peak periods during the day when it can be difficult to get around. A rule of thumb is to avoid mornings until 1:00 p.m. when the cruise liners are in. Pedestrian traffic is insane when cruise ships are in and road traffic can be an absolute nightmare because Dubrovnik streets and roads are very narrow."
Secret Europe: The 10 Least-Visited European Countries
Lukasz Szwaj/Shutterstock
More than 32 million tourists descended on Barcelona in 2016, prompting the city to propose a plan limiting the number of hotel rooms and rental accommodations available—which doesn't help limit the mass number of day trippers.
In Barcelona, the large number of tourists has "pushed up the cost of housing as investors buy up whatever apartments they can get their hands on, for conversion to short-term (legal and illegal) holiday rentals," says Jared Lubarsky, a freelancer and author, has lived in Barcelona since 2005. "Hardest hit are pensioners on fixed incomes in areas like the Gothic Quarter and Barceloneta, driven out by the rent hikes. The city government promises to remedy this, but the remedies have been slow to take effect."
In Dubrovnik, hosing costs have skyrocketed, pushing out locals. Slezak of Dubrovnik tells me "a square meter in The Old Town is around 10,000 Euros, which means a one-bedroom apartment is around half-million Euros. As a comparison, in the capital Zagreb, a square meter will set you back around 1,000 Euros. Most locals sold their properties or they are renting them, and they are living somewhere else."
11 Things to Look for in an Airbnb Listing Before You Book
Ekaterina Kupeeva/Shutterstock
When your city's population becomes overwhelmed by tourists, it can make daily life a struggle.
Marin changes up her commute to avoid tourists in Amsterdam. "If you have to go through the city center, it's not very pleasant," she says. "If I have to cross the city I try to avoid places like Central Station, Dam Square, Nieuwmarkt, which are packed with tourists. I prefer to take a longer route if I have time, to avoid the crowds. Public transport is also overwhelmed during the peak season; trams and buses are more crowded with every year passing."
The rapid increase in tourism has dramatically changed Dubrovink's Old Town. "The Old Town used to be home to approximately 4,500 to 5,000 people, whereas now there are only around 900 registered people in the Old Town," Slezak says. "Cost of living is extreme, so a lot of people have moved out in the last 20 years or so. Everything is now expensive in the Old Town: groceries, restaurants, shopping, bars etc. Moreover there are incredible crowds in Dubrovnik almost on a daily basis from May to October. Dubrovnik's only industry is tourism, so without tourists in Dubrovnik, its citizens would be unable to support themselves. Therefore, tourism management is the key in my opinion."
The proliferation of vacation rentals has turned apartment buildings into hotels, impacting the quality of life for the locals who live there.
"We realized early on that we were living in a building of tourists. It was often very disruptive to our lives, with people partying late into the night, regardless of whether it was a weekend or not, dropping cigarette butts into our balcony, or even having water leaks spread into our house and not be able to communicate with the people in the apartment about it" Oriol, a former Barcelona resident, says. "Also, it was generally disconcerting to have a constant influx of new people coming in and out of the building. It made us feel like we were in a hotel with people speaking to us in English, French etc., as we climbed up to our apartment. There was no sense of having neighbors you could rely on."
Packing for Europe: 8 Items You Should Leave at Home
Tourism Regulations
Vladimir Korostyshevskiy/Shuttertock
The economy of many of these destinations relies heavily on tourists, so the solution is not to abolish the industry, but instead to manage it.
The tourism problem has become so enormous in Amsterdam, that the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions has moved away from promoting inbound tourism, instead shifting its focus to diffusing tourists by sending them to less popular areas of Holland.
Driving this change, according to Antonia Koedijk, Director, North America, Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions, is the fact that tourism is breaking new records, with the number of incoming international visitors predicted to explode by 50 percent over the next few years. "Pressure on the livability of our cities, regions and iconic locations will increase due to increasing visitor numbers, while other parts of the Netherlands do not or insufficiently benefit from the opportunities and socio-economic boost tourism can offer. If we want to manage the visitor flows and cash in on the opportunities that tourism offers, we have to act now," Says Koedijk.
Barcelona has implemented regulations to limit tourists. One blocks the construction of new hotels in the city center. The city is also attempting to moderate tourist behavior by enacting fines for things like wearing a bathing suit in downtown Barcelona.
In 2017, Dubrovnik launched a Respect the City plan that aims to limit the number of cruise ship passengers allowed in the city to 4,000 at any one time.
Venice is proposing an entry tax for day-visitors, which would charge tourists approximately $11. Whether these changes will help stem the tide of overtourism has yet to be seen.
10 Magical Canal Cities That Aren't Venice
How to Make Your Visit Low-Impact
Emmanuel Nalli/Shutterstock
These iconic destinations are popular for a reason, so you may be tempted to visit anyway. But the locals want you to remember to be respectful, and not to treat their city like an amusement park.
For Amsterdam, Marin advises: "Remember they are visiting a city where people live, work, and raise children, like everywhere else …Try to not make noise on the streets during the night, don't use the stairs of the beautiful entrances as open-air bars, don't destroy the gardens, and if you stay in a rental be respectful to the other people living in the building."
When visiting Venice Sara asks: "Travel as a couple or in very tiny groups. Venice is a piece of jewelry, it's a tiny place to live and simply can't cope with massive numbers of tourists. It is a fragile place."
Although it's easy to get swept up in the beauty of Venice, don't forget to "be respectful, walk on the right-hand side, cross bridges on the right, don't stop on them to take pics for ages, use garbage bins, drink and eat in local bars or restaurants, don't sit down everywhere, it's not a campsite. It has a millenary history, again it is an open-air piece of art. Don't pee in the canals, use public restrooms or go to a bar. Respect and be curious about the local people, take your time to talk to them. You can't appreciate Venice's beauty in a day or two."
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Caroline Morse Teel is a Senior Editor at SmarterTravel. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for inspirational photos from around the world.


Looking to go green in your April travels for Earth Day? Look no further than HI Portland Hawthorne for your ecofriendly needs. Hawthorne is leading the way in sustainability and green initiatives. From rainwater harvesting systems to partnerships with Sustainable Travel International, Hawthorne continues to find new innovative ways to help preserve our natural surroundings.
Hawthorne has many features that help it land as a stop on the City of Portland's Eco Tour. Outside the walls of the hostel sits a well cultivated garden featuring sunflowers, kale, chard, summer squash, and marigolds. Guests can also find the hostel's Rainwater Demonstration Project that was funded by the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). The project utilizes methods of managing storm water to decrease the burden to the city's water system and pollution to the Willamette River. Don't forget to check out the EcoRoof (also funded by BES) and the side porch made of trex composite wood!
The sustainability efforts don't stop outside. The hostel is committed to a purchasing policy aimed to buy equipment, materials, and products that are recyclable and locally made. The common areas host the recycled jean insulation, bamboo floors, and salvaged windows and doors. Moving into the sleeping quarters, each room is equipped with the new GOTS (global organic textiles standards) certified bed sheets. Portland Hawthorne even takes sustainability down to the Biokleen cleaning supplies that are used throughout the hostel.
This 34 bed hostel is a prime example of how travel organizations and travelers can be conscious stewards of the earth. HI Portland Hawthorne is at the forefront of the new frontier of sustainable travel. Book your stay as you venture to the Northwest and settle into your eco-friendly home away from home.


text:
Q: Execute code just before onComplete() in RxJava 2? I need to close socket connection in my observable before RxLifecycle dispose it. How can I do that?

A: if you want to do an action after all, just before the subscriber unsubscribe from the observable you can use operator doOnUnsubscribe
@Test
public void testDoOnUnsubscribe() {
    Integer[] numbers = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4};
    Observable.from(numbers)
            .doOnUnsubscribe(() -> System.out.println("Last action must be done here"))
            .subscribe(number -> System.out.println("number:" + number),
                    System.out::println,
                    () -> System.out.println("End of pipeline"));
}

It should print in this order
number:0
number:1
number:2
number:3
number:4
End of pipeline
Last action must be done here

A: You could try using doFinally

Calls the specified action after this Observable signals onError or onCompleted or gets disposed by the downstream.

http://reactivex.io/RxJava/javadoc/io/reactivex/Observable.html#doFinally-io.reactivex.functions.Action-

A: one can try this too in case if you're iterating objects using filter and map for combining result.
.doOnTerminate(() -> Log.d(LOGGER, "terminated"))


For this episode of Planet MicroCap Podcast, I spoke with Chris Abraham, Chief Investment Officer of CVA Investment Management. I met Chris at an LD Micro conference, and wanted to learn more about how he looks at the MicroCap Market. In this interview, we discuss Chris' value-based option strategy and his thoughts on what's been happening in the asset management space. The goal is to learn about how Chris runs his fund and how that has guided his MicroCap investing strategy.


The holidays are fast approaching. Are you ready? All done? Barely started? Is your list overloaded? Or are you the master of your calendar and your life? If so, I applaud you.
I've been almost overwhelmed juggling tasks like preparing for a new release, Leaving Cub Creek (the sequel to Cub Creek) along with family issues, a full time job, etc. LIFE. We all deal with this stuff, right? A list of what we're committed to doing, aspire to doing, that which we must do despite our wishes…and that list is always longer this time of year. Except for a few presents, I've done no Christmas shopping and I'm feeling the pressure to catch up. On the flip side, we won't be home for Christmas this year so I've scratched Christmas trees and other decorations from the to-do list. We are going to be in Hawaii for Christmas, so planning and packing must replace them on the list.
Have you ever felt the need to pare down and simplify your life? That thought brings Cub Creek to mind.
In Cub Creek, Libbie Havens left the city because she couldn't think amid the chaos. Some people love city hustle-bustle, but not Libbie because she has sensory issues that cause her to overload emotionally. A move to the country and acres of woods seemed the perfect solution. Removing the extraneous would reduce the chaos and allow her to focus on her life and live on her own terms. Unfortunately, most of her troubles were her own, inside her, not borne of the outside world. Many of her troubles went with her to Cub Creek. After many ups and downs, Libbie found love. In Leaving Cub Creek, Libbie discovers that love can be easier to find than to keep.
Libbie thought that removing the external chaos would allow her to better manage her life. I'd like to strip away the unneeded excess in hope of finding the peace and joy hidden within it. I really do want to stop and savor the moments of life—not to be consumed by checking must-dos off the list.
To return to the original question: How are your preparations for the holidays progressing? For those of you who, like me, are feeling over-burdened—I have learned a lesson over my many years of preparing for the holidays. Make up your mind that, at a certain point, that whatever hasn't been done, won't get done. Be okay with it. The truth is that, more than likely, no one will notice but you. By the time your family and friends start gathering, get your mind out of the list and into that happy space and cast off the must-dos and what-ifs.
The most important point of all: When you're looking to lighten your 'life' list, make sure you toss the truly extraneous and hold on to what's important—the joy.
Libbie Havens never fit in. She bought the old Carson place on Cub Creek and moved to the Virginia countryside to prove she could live on her own terms. In the process, she learned some truths about herself and found love ~ but love, acceptance and belonging can be easier to find than to keep.
While on a trip to Sicily with Libbie, Jim Mitchell must leave suddenly because his son is injured in an accident in California. Now alone, Libbie is surprised by an old friend, Dr. Barry Raymond, but Dr. Raymond is a reminder of her troubled past and she's glad to see the last of him when she leaves Sicily ~ until he shows up at her house on Cub Creek.
Years before, Dr. Raymond had told Libbie that if troubles weren't dealt with, they'd keep coming back. With Jim still away helping his son, Libbie's troubles are returning in force and wreaking havoc on her confidence and their relationship.
Libbie would rather hide than risk rejection, but she must face down the past and fight for what she wants, or the troubles that haunt her past and present will forever doom her future.
Grace Greene writes novels and novellas of Romance & Inspiration in her Emerald Isle, NC stories, and Love, Mystery & Suspense in her Virginia Country Roads novels that include Cub Creek and Leaving Cub Creek. Please visit Grace at www.GraceGreene.com and subscribe to her newsletter.
Thanks for visiting the Sweet Romance Reads authors. Please sign up for our Sweet Romance Reads newsletter right here on this page. We'd love for you to visit us on Facebook, too. Check out the Sweet Romance Reads Café and our Sweet Romance Facebook page, too. The authors would love to chat with you and you can participate in our contests and giveaways.
Since I'm not buying gifts since I can't afford to I'm done since I never had to start.
Hi, Susan and Diane - Thanks for visiting the blog. For some reason my laptop won't allow me to reply directly to your comments, but I wanted you to know I appreciate you stopping by!
We finished the shopping and wrapping. Packages and cards went out yesterday. Feeling better prepared this year compared to the last few years. For some reason trying to decide what to cook for the main meal has been difficult (we decided to go with tamales for our meal), but baking hasn't been an issue this year. We did wait for our daughter to get here to decorate the tree. That helped with the to-do list. Hope you have a great Christmas!
You are in great shape! Tamales! Excellent choice. Have a wonderful Christmas!


Cambodia has asked the United States to forgive some US$300 million of debt incurred by the Lon Nol regime that ruled Cambodia between 1970 and 1975, officials said. "We want to see the US cancel Cambodia's debts as China, Hungary and the [International Monetary Fund] have done," said Cheam Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly's finance and banking commission. He said the proposal was made during a visit by parliamentarians to the US from May 30 to June 9 that was organised by the National Democratic Institute. Cheam Yeap said the delegation was also soliciting US investments and requesting a review of quotas on Cambodian exports.


Collada Engine is package of libraries for loading and rendering digital content saved in collada document files. Libraries support loading geometry, nodes, transformations, textures etc. from .dae files. 3D content is rendered with use of OpenGL. Libraries support also shader loading, compiling and using in rendering.
Collada Engine libraries can be downloaded from this link.


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Return-orientated, close to the market, competent. Empira is an investment manager for institutional real estate investments in German-speaking Europe and specialises in engineering innovative and high-yield investment solutions. Our real estate and capital market experts cover the entire value creation process – identifying first-class investment opportunities of all property types, ensuring smooth acquisition process, and experienced asset management. We operate as a sole and reliable contact point for our investors and build upon sustainable investment solutions that are tailored to each unique set of requirements. Integrity and a focus on performance are among our most important values.