TA Digital - How Long Can I Stay on Magento 1?
How Long Can I Stay on Magento 1?
Magento has announced that support for Magento 1 will be extended through June 2020. Does this mean that operators can remain on their existing platform for another year?
Although it sounds reassuring, the support that Magento will provide from here on out is limited to critical security issues only and perhaps a functional update or two for the Enterprise ("Commerce") version. If your business experiences any disruption it will probably be on you to foot the bill for writing any code necessary to keep the orders flowing.
With the frequent changes in online commerce one needs to protect the ability to fight the tide of obsolescence or to adapt to recent trends in order to maximize profitability.  Critical changes in hosting environments and web technologies can pop up unexpectedly, threatening the ability of your site to perform – leaving you with declining orders and rising costs.
Contact Todd Young to begin your complete migration from Magento 1 to Magento 2 in under 120 days.
The bulk of custom code in the average Magento 1 website was written years ago by people who are now unavailable.  In the years since, many people may have come-and-gone leaving a myriad of surprises waiting to be discovered if the site should go down.
Additionally, many Magento 1 sites are still running on older versions of hardware, servers and programming languages.  The farther out we are from today's technologies, the more likely that the next problem or crash for a Magento 1 site will be a "special snowflake" that is just not a common-enough problem for Magento to address at the highest levels.
Most authors of community extensions and plug-ins have moved on to supporting Magento 2 and rarely support their legacy Magento 1 extensions anymore.  Critical functions necessary to the livelihood of a Magento 1 site can become obsolete overnight due to changes in shipping, taxes, security protocols, integration standards or countless other factors.
As many Magento professionals say from time to time, "nobody wants to work on Magento 1 anymore!"  As fast as Magento 2 has moved in its first few minor versions, along with the growing demand following the Adobe acquisition and the need for thousands of developers to re-certify, it is getting increasingly difficult to find qualified support for Magento 1 sites.
Although it seems as if Black Friday 2018 is hardly behind us, site operators that want to have a stable, performant website ready for the 2019 holiday buying season must start planning today and they need to have their new platforms ready and launched by the end of summer.
Sign up today for the latest news about your Digital Transformation. || Learn how our certified experts will guide in selecting the best Digital Commerce platform for your business.
Quite a few businesses made the decision to defer upgrading their Magento sites last year for one reason or another. However, it is simply unavoidable this year; waiting until 2020 to upgrade to Magento 2 means that the existing Magento 1 sites will reach end-of-support while they are still running. This leaves a very risky transition (not only of website but of the operations built around them) to occur right into the peak buying season, a scenario that has proven disastrous for many site operators in years past. Don't be one of them!
Download our full offerings summary for more information on how TA Digital offers complete site migration to the latest version with no risk by providing a fixed-rate, fixed-duration project solution.
Learn how our certified experts will guide you through selecting the best Digital Commerce platform for your business.
Talk to our certified Magento commerce professionals who will help you deliver amazing seamless B2B, B2C shopping and service experiences.


Berkshire Hathaway Inc. TJX Companies, Inc.
Where is Zalando SE on the journey to sustainable cotton?
Zalando scores 1 out of 100 points in this ranking – showing no significant performance on more sustainable cotton, and has therefore not yet started.
Zalando has no public policy on sustainable cotton in place and makes no mention of any intention to reduce harmful impacts of cotton production on its website. Issues regarding water use, pesticide use and biodiversity in cotton cultivation remain unaddressed as do labour and human rights violations. One point is provided for Zalando's zLabels brand, which sells sustainable products containing organic or recycled cotton.
Zalando does not publish any information about volumes of more sustainable cotton sourced, either in percentage or absolute volume.
Zalando does not publish information on the absolute volume and origin of the cotton used in its products. The company does not provide information on its suppliers (finished product, fabric manufacturers, yarn spinners).


text:
package org.effectivejava.examples.chapter05.item27;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

public class GenericStaticFactory {
	// Generic static factory method
	public static <K, V> HashMap<K, V> newHashMap() {
		return new HashMap<K, V>();
	}

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		// Parameterized type instance creation with static factory
		Map<String, List<String>> anagrams = newHashMap();
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using Internal.NativeFormat;
using System.Diagnostics.Contracts;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using System;
using System.Runtime;

using Debug = System.Diagnostics.Debug;

namespace Internal.Runtime.CompilerHelpers
{
    [McgIntrinsics]
    internal static class StartupCodeHelpers
    {
        [RuntimeExport("InitializeModules")] // TODO: Change to NativeCallable
        internal static void InitializeModules(IntPtr moduleHeaders, int count)
        {
            IntPtr[] modules = CreateModuleManagers(moduleHeaders, count);

            foreach (var moduleManager in modules)
            {
                InitializeGlobalTablesForModule(moduleManager);
            }

            // These two loops look funny but it's important to initialize the global tables before running
            // the first class constructor to prevent them calling into another uninitialized module
            foreach (var moduleManager in modules)
            {
                InitializeEagerClassConstructorsForModule(moduleManager);
            }
        }

        internal static unsafe void InitializeCommandLineArgsW(int argc, char** argv)
        {
            string[] args = new string[argc];
            for (int i = 0; i < argc; ++i)
            {
                args[i] = new string(argv[i]);
            }
            Environment.SetCommandLineArgs(args);
        }

        internal static unsafe void InitializeCommandLineArgs(int argc, byte** argv)
        {
            string[] args = new string[argc];
            for (int i = 0; i < argc; ++i)
            {
                byte* argval = argv[i];
                int len = CStrLen(argval);
                args[i] = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(argval, len);
            }
            Environment.SetCommandLineArgs(args);
        }

        private static unsafe IntPtr[] CreateModuleManagers(IntPtr moduleHeaders, int count)
        {
            // Count the number of modules so we can allocate an array to hold the ModuleManager objects.
            // At this stage of startup, complex collection classes will not work.
            int moduleCount = 0;
            for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
            {
                // The null pointers are sentinel values and padding inserted as side-effect of
                // the section merging. (The global static constructors section used by C++ has
                // them too.)
                if (((IntPtr *)moduleHeaders)[i] != IntPtr.Zero)
                    moduleCount++;
            }

            IntPtr[] modules = new IntPtr[moduleCount];
            int moduleIndex = 0;
            for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
            {
                if (((IntPtr *)moduleHeaders)[i] != IntPtr.Zero)
                    modules[moduleIndex++] = CreateModuleManager(((IntPtr *)moduleHeaders)[i]);
            }

            return modules;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Each managed module linked into the final binary may have its own global tables for strings,
        /// statics, etc that need initializing. InitializeGlobalTables walks through the modules
        /// and offers each a chance to initialize its global tables.
        /// </summary>
        private static unsafe void InitializeGlobalTablesForModule(IntPtr moduleManager)
        {
            // Configure the module indirection cell with the newly created ModuleManager. This allows EETypes to find
            // their interface dispatch map tables.
            int length;
            IntPtr* section = (IntPtr*)GetModuleSection(moduleManager, ReadyToRunSectionType.ModuleManagerIndirection, out length);
            *section = moduleManager;

            // Initialize strings if any are present
            IntPtr stringSection = GetModuleSection(moduleManager, ReadyToRunSectionType.StringTable, out length);
            if (stringSection != IntPtr.Zero)
            {
                Contract.Assert(length % IntPtr.Size == 0);
                InitializeStringTable(stringSection, length);
            }

            // Initialize statics if any are present
            IntPtr staticsSection = GetModuleSection(moduleManager, ReadyToRunSectionType.GCStaticRegion, out length);
            if (staticsSection != IntPtr.Zero)
            {
                Contract.Assert(length % IntPtr.Size == 0);
                InitializeStatics(staticsSection, length);
            }
        }

        private static unsafe void InitializeEagerClassConstructorsForModule(IntPtr moduleManager)
        {
            int length;

            // Run eager class constructors if any are present
            IntPtr eagerClassConstructorSection = GetModuleSection(moduleManager, ReadyToRunSectionType.EagerCctor, out length);
            if (eagerClassConstructorSection != IntPtr.Zero)
            {
                Contract.Assert(length % IntPtr.Size == 0);
                RunEagerClassConstructors(eagerClassConstructorSection, length);
            }
        }

        private static unsafe void InitializeStringTable(IntPtr stringTableStart, int length)
        {
            IntPtr stringTableEnd = (IntPtr)((byte*)stringTableStart + length);
            for (IntPtr* tab = (IntPtr*)stringTableStart; tab < (IntPtr*)stringTableEnd; tab++)
            {
                byte* bytes = (byte*)*tab;
                int len = (int)NativePrimitiveDecoder.DecodeUnsigned(ref bytes);
                int count = LowLevelUTF8Encoding.GetCharCount(bytes, len);
                Contract.Assert(count >= 0);

                string newStr = RuntimeImports.RhNewArrayAsString(EETypePtr.EETypePtrOf<string>(), count);
                fixed (char* dest = newStr)
                {
                    int newCount = LowLevelUTF8Encoding.GetChars(bytes, len, dest, count);
                    Contract.Assert(newCount == count);
                }
                GCHandle handle = GCHandle.Alloc(newStr);
                *tab = (IntPtr)handle;
            }
        }

        private static void Call(System.IntPtr pfn)
        {
        }

        private static unsafe void RunEagerClassConstructors(IntPtr cctorTableStart, int length)
        {
            IntPtr cctorTableEnd = (IntPtr)((byte*)cctorTableStart + length);

            for (IntPtr* tab = (IntPtr*)cctorTableStart; tab < (IntPtr*)cctorTableEnd; tab++)
            {
                Call(*tab);
            }
        }

        private static unsafe void InitializeStatics(IntPtr gcStaticRegionStart, int length)
        {
            IntPtr gcStaticRegionEnd = (IntPtr)((byte*)gcStaticRegionStart + length);
            for (IntPtr* block = (IntPtr*)gcStaticRegionStart; block < (IntPtr*)gcStaticRegionEnd; block++)
            {
                object obj = RuntimeImports.RhNewObject(new EETypePtr(*block));
                *block = RuntimeImports.RhHandleAlloc(obj, GCHandleType.Normal);
            }
        }

        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        internal static unsafe int CStrLen(byte* str)
        {
            int len = 0;
            for (; str[len] != 0; len++) { }
            return len;
        }

        [RuntimeImport(".", "RhpGetModuleSection")]
        [MethodImplAttribute(MethodImplOptions.InternalCall)]
        private static extern IntPtr GetModuleSection(IntPtr module, ReadyToRunSectionType section, out int length);

        [RuntimeImport(".", "RhpCreateModuleManager")]
        [MethodImplAttribute(MethodImplOptions.InternalCall)]
        private static unsafe extern IntPtr CreateModuleManager(IntPtr moduleHeader);
    }
}


Minor injuries are a part of childhood, but no family is prepared to deal with the extreme difficulties of a serious child injury. The professional and empathetic attorneys of Yeboah Law Group, P.A. understand the impact these cases have on entire families. That's why we diligently work to secure the best possible outcome in each and every case. We strive to set ourselves apart from other Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys by providing a high level of representation that centers on the client. If your child was seriously injured by the actions of another, trust our law firm to seek compensation for your family.
Motor vehicle accidents. On average, 1 in 4 children in this country die in an auto accident. If a negligent driver causes a crash that injures or kills your child, our compassionate team will fight for justice for you.
Defective or dangerous products. Toys with small pieces are required to be labeled, and children's clothing needs to be flame-retardant. If a defective or dangerous product – from car seats to choking hazards to washing machine detergent packs – harms your child, you may have grounds to seek compensation through a product liability claim.
School accidents. Defective playground equipment, poor supervision on trips, bullying by others students: when school officials are negligent, and that negligence harms your child, we are there to help.
Childcare negligence. Childcare professionals have a responsibility to provide children with adequate care. A negligent or abusive caretaker, day care or teacher can be held accountable for his or her actions against your child.
Recreation accidents. Kids often get hurt playing, but some injuries have life-long repercussions. If your child was injured playing sports, on a trampoline, by an animal, or in any way that resulted from an act of negligence, you may have options.
With more than 20 years of personal injury experience, our lawyers are particularly knowledgeable about the unique elements of a child injury claim. We use this knowledge to assist children and families across Miami-Dade and South Florida.
Your child is precious. When seeking to protect his or her rights, you want an aggressive, but empathetic South Florida personal injury lawyer in your corner. With Yeboah Law Group, you receive representation from experienced attorneys who actually care about the well-being of your family. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers solely dedicated to furthering the company's interests in any court case. Don't face these challenges without your own team of powerful attorneys.
We strive to provide South Florida communities with affordable representation. Towards that goal, we take personal injury cases on a contingency basis. There are no fees until your case is settled. You focus on healing your child; we'll focus on seeking the compensation your family deserves.
The challenges of a child injury can prove overwhelming for a family. Along with medical expenses, you also deal with the mental and emotional injuries that may accompany the incident. Contact Yeboah Law Group to set up a meeting to begin the process of seeking compensation for your child and your family. You can call us at 1-800-TELL-SAM or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.


Two Awesome Write Here, Write Now events in May!
Get a discount if you go to both!
May 4, 2019, in Salem, Oregon, at the Scottish Rite Center (4090 Commercial St. SE).
Find Your Inner Lion: Tips on how to write fearlessly and become the writer you were always meant to be.
Write Here Write Now is an intense day-long workshop that focuses on getting more of your own writing done! Our 10-minute mini-lessons will provide you with tips on how to overcome some common writing-related fears and productivity difficulties. Each mini-lesson will be followed by a 45-minute writing block where you can either focus on your current work-in-progress, or use our writing prompts as inspiration to write something new. Either way, get ready for a fun-filled and informative day that will bump up your wordcount and boost your confidence!
The cost is $40 for members and $45 for non-members.
Discount if you attend both events! Be sure to use the code "BOTH" when purchasing each ticket.
Keynote: Eric Witchey has made a living as a freelance writer and communication consultant for over a quarter century.
Kate Ristau is a writer and folklorist who writes middle grade and YA fantasy.
Matt Haas is a writer and teacher.
Benjamin Gorman is a writer and publisher at Not a Pipe Books.
Heather Ransom writes YA fantasy novels.


For all your paving solutions in Fairfield Florida, call the name you can trust. Call Duval Paving, LLC at (904) 201-2161.
Duval Paving, LLC paves Fairfield driveways with the chip seal paving method. (Also known as Tar and Chip Paving). Fairfield residents can call (904) 201-2161 to receive a free quote.
Asphalt paving services in Fairfield, FL since 2011 by Duval Paving, LLC.
Call Duval Paving, LLC at (904) 201-2161 for your recycled asphalt millings project in Fairfield.
Fairfield, FL resurfacing by Duval Paving, LLC since 2011.
Duval Paving, LLC provides residential and commercial sealcoating in Fairfield, Florida. We've been in business since 2011.
Need your blacktop sealed. Call the sealcoating experts of Fairfield at (904) 201-2161.
Duval Paving, LLC has been in the commercial paving business since 2011 in Fairfield, Florida.
Duval Paving, LLC specializes in asphalt crack repairs in Fairfield, Florida. Call (904) 201-2161 for your free estimate.
Have potholes in Fairfield that need filling or asphalt in Fairfield that needs patching? Duval Paving, LLC has specialized in pothole filling since 2011. Call (904) 201-2161 for a free quote.
Since 2011, Duval Paving, LLC has been pouring concrete in Fairfield, FL.
For dirt work in Fairfield, call the specialists at Duval Paving, LLC at (904) 201-2161.
The expert paving professionals at Duval Paving, LLC also specialize in delivering sod to Fairfield businesses and homes. Call (904) 201-2161 for great pricing on sod delivery and installation.


text:
package com.intellij.usageView;

import com.intellij.openapi.components.NamedComponent;
import com.intellij.openapi.components.ServiceManager;
import com.intellij.openapi.editor.colors.EditorColorsManager;
import com.intellij.openapi.editor.colors.EditorColorsScheme;
import com.intellij.openapi.util.InvalidDataException;
import com.intellij.openapi.util.JDOMExternalizable;
import com.intellij.openapi.util.WriteExternalException;
import org.jdom.Element;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.NonNls;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;

public class UsageTreeColorsScheme implements NamedComponent, JDOMExternalizable{
  private EditorColorsScheme myColorsScheme;
  private final EditorColorsManager myEditorColorsManager;
  @Deprecated
  @NonNls public static final String DEFAULT_SCHEME_NAME = EditorColorsManager.DEFAULT_SCHEME_NAME; // it is API, let's do not break it and do not inline constant

  public UsageTreeColorsScheme(EditorColorsManager editorColorsManager) {
    myEditorColorsManager = editorColorsManager;
  }

  public static UsageTreeColorsScheme getInstance() {
    return ServiceManager.getService(UsageTreeColorsScheme.class);
  }

  @NotNull
  public String getComponentName() {
    return "FindViewColorsScheme";
  }

  public EditorColorsScheme getScheme() {
    return myColorsScheme;
  }

  public void readExternal(Element element) throws InvalidDataException {
    if (myColorsScheme == null){
      myColorsScheme = (EditorColorsScheme) myEditorColorsManager.getScheme(EditorColorsManager.DEFAULT_SCHEME_NAME).clone();
    }
    myColorsScheme.readExternal(element);
  }

  public void writeExternal(Element element) throws WriteExternalException {
    throw new WriteExternalException();
  }
}


Hemp can be used to build and renovate buildings with healthy, local, renewable and sustainable materials. Several products are already available and used, such as hempcrete and hemp insulation. They are ecological alternatives proven since the beginning of time that we rediscover and improve with today's techniques!
It is the inner part of the stem, the hemp, that is used for construction. One hectare of hemp produces, in addition to seeds and fiber, four to five tons of hemp seeds. With its high cellulose and silica content, hemp combined with lime forms a half-mineral half-plant material. It combines the advantages of wood and concrete without their disadvantages.
Abundant, affordable and rapidly renewable resource (grows in 3 to 4 months).
Natural and healthy (without emission of VOCs or other harmful or allergenic products).
Breathable: It prevents condensation and allows air exchange.
Carbon well, it stores CO2.
Thermal mass, it stores heat then irradiates it.
Very good thermal and acoustic insulation.
Resistant to rodents and insects.
Hemp concrete is a mixture of hemp (the inside of the shredded stem), lime and sand. Chipped in molds, it allows the creation of a one-piece building, thus avoid thermal joints and bridges. It is seven times lighter than concrete, it can be worked with a concrete mixer and can also be used for floors.
The concrete blocks are the preformed version of the above mixture. Lightweight and standardized in size, they are easy to assemble with mortar joints.
Insulation panels made out of hemp fibre offer a great alternative to synthetic insulation products such as glass wool or foam. They are available in different thickness, including flooring underlay.
The bulk insulation for filling is made of hemp stabilized with lime. It is a natural and durable alternative to any insulation type "filling" (ex: roof insulation or others).
Finishing coatings are made of a mixture of hemp and lime generally applied by trowel. They are at the same time aesthetic, insulating and soundproofing.


"If the students can't come to the school, then the school should come to them," said Rezwan, who is the executive director of Shidhulai Swarnirvar Sangstha.
Shidhulai Swarnirvar Sangstha is transforming waterways into pathways by floating classes and curriculum through the flooded waters to children.
Rezwan's boat designs are one of the 25 projects featured at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center's "Design with the 90%," an exhibition showcasing design solutions for a more equitable world that aims to increase access, improve health and empower marginalized communities around the globe, according to Gates Foundation Discovery Center.
"Design with the 90%" will be at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center through May 11, 2019.
One-third of Bangladesh floods annually during the monsoon season, causing extreme flooding covering majority of the country according to Shidhulai Swarnirvar Sangstha.
Rezwan said he grew up in a lowland area, and the regular flooding made it hard to accomplish anything in the villages.
After graduating from college 20 years ago, Rezwan became interested in architecture. Wanting to do something good for the people, he was inspired by a famous building in Dhaka by an American architect.
"I wanted to build schools and hospitals for the people in my village, but it was a challenge," Rezwan said.
He knew the buildings in the flood-prone area often would be underwater during the monsoon season.
In 1998 he began his journey on his own, with about $500 and a single computer.
"It took me four years to build the first school boat," Rezwan said.
The first school boat set sail in 2002. Now 23 school boats travel to villages picking up students where they would for two hours and get dropped back to their homes.
He calls the boats "floating schools," but he also has built floating medical clinics and boats that teach farmers about sustainable agriculture methods to help local landless farmers continue to farm and secure their income.
Rezwan said the local people build the boats using his design and local materials. The boats should last from 50 to 100 years.
"It takes about four to six months to build," Rezwan said.
The boats include wireless computers with internet and small libraries.
Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha — which means "a self-relying village organization" — is a nonprofit organization working to combat accessibility issues in the most flood-prone regions of Bangladesh. More than 40 percent of Bangladesh's population are considered landless by the government and 31.5 percent live below the poverty line, according to the Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha website.
Tags: Bangladesh, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, education, Gates Foundation.


text:
Coaches Committee
LSU Bat Girls
Postseason History
Tigers in the Majors
Tigers in the Minors
2019 LSU Baseball Junior Announcer
Visit Alex Box Stadium during the 2019 LSU Baseball season for your chance to be the Junior Announcer presented by The Dairy Farmers of Louisiana.
One lucky youngster (7-12) will be selected at random prior to each regular-season home baseball game to serve as the public address announcer for the bottom of the fourth inning.
Please check back during the season for images from the Junior Announcer promotion.
To easily find this page, visit www.LSUsports.net/juniorannouncer.
First Game: Feb. 15, 2019
Images are typically added to this gallery within 24 hours of the game.
Baseball Individual-Game Tickets on Sale Thursday, February 2
LSU Baseball 2023 individual-game tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. CT on Thursday, February 2. Fans may purchase tickets online at www.LSUtix.net, or by calling 225-578-2184 or 225-578-0100. Online ordering is encouraged in order to avoid long wait times on the phone.
Jay Johnson 2023 Preseason Press Conference
Coach Johnson discusses the 2023 outlook for the top-ranked Tigers as they officially begin preseason practice.
Top-Ranked Tigers Open Preseason Practice Friday at "The Box"
Jay Johnson is in his second season as LSU's head coach after leading the club to a fourth-place finish in the SEC in 2022, marking the Tigers' first Top 4 league finish since 2017. He addressed the media Friday in the Champions Club of Alex Box Stadium and outlined his formula for handling high expectations that come with a No. 1 ranking.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Culture & SocietyHistory, Religion, PoliticsBeauty & FashionClothes, Hair, BodyCelebrationHolidays and OccasionsTravelVacations and ExcursionsWeddingsEverything but the groom
Reasons to Learn Spanish as a Second Language with How to Guide
by jblack
Discover some of the benefits of being bilingual and learn some good ways to learn Spanish as a second language.
Reading Menus in Spanish is Easier if You Know the Language
By Ruth L (CC BY-ND 2.0) via Flickr
Si habla Español
According to a 2010 New York Times article, only nine percent of Americans speak a foreign language. In comparison, the article notes that 44 percent of Europeans are bilingual. Those figures are not particularly surprising. It is really no big secret to the rest of the world that Americans have never been particularly inclined towards learning other languages.
The U.S. receives many visitors and immigrants each year who have a primary language other than English. Many Americans hold the rather backward view that those who want to come to America should learn English if they want to visit or live here. Yet those who embrace such a philosophy are prone to becoming frustrated when they visit a country where English is not the native language and they can't communicate effectively due to language barriers.
There are a number of good reasons to learn a second language. The very proximity of the U.S. to Mexico makes Spanish perhaps the best language to learn for Americans seeking to become bilingual. There are a great many methods available that enable people to learn Spanish as a second language. Learning Spanish is not nearly as difficult as many might believe and resources for learning the language abound.
Good Reasons to Learn the Spanish Language
A vast number of Americans visit Mexico each year, about 10 million, according to U.S. Department of State figures. In addition, more than 18,000 U.S. companies operate in Mexico which accounts for a lot of business travel to the country. The State Department also reports that around one million American citizens live in Mexico.
Some Americans relocate to Mexico during the winter months to take advantage of warmer temperatures in tropical areas. A significant number of American retirees become expatriates by moving to Mexico permanently because their retirement dollars stretch further due to the lower cost of living there.
Doing business in Mexico, vacationing there, and living there is all made easier and more enjoyable for Americans who take the effort to learn Spanish. Mexico however is simply one of the countries where Spanish is the official language.
As observed by Gerald Erichsen in his article, "10 Facts About the Spanish Language," there are 329 million native Spanish speakers in the world. There are more people who speak Spanish than English as a first language. Erichsen also notes that there are 44 countries in the world with 3 million or more native Spanish speakers. Only Chinese ranks ahead of Spanish as a first language. The ability to speak and understand both English and Spanish expands exponentially the potential number of people a person can communicate with, share ideas with, and do business with.
There are equally good reasons to know how to speak Spanish right here at home. There is a large and growing population of native Spanish speakers in the U.S. According to infoplease.com, in 2008, "35 million U.S. residents spoke Spanish at home" and Spanish speakers represented "12% of the U.S. population." Being conversant in Spanish enhances cultural understanding between English and Spanish speakers and helps neighbors with different first languages get acquainted.
Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: A Creative and Proven Approach
Anyone can read, write, and speak Spanish in only a few short weeks with this unique and proven method, which completely eliminates rote memorization and boring drills.
Spanish For Dummies Audio Set
3 hours of lessons on 3 CDs!The fun and easy way to communicate effectively in a new language!Want to speak Spanish? Don't have a lot of time? This practical audio set is ...
The Spanish Language Speed Learning Course Speak Spanish Confidently in 12 Days or Less!
About this LEARN SPANISH Book:Spanish Language Book - LEARN SPANISH in 12 DAYS - Speed Learning CourseThe Spanish Language Speed Learning Course Book for the Kindle will help ...
Ways to Learn to Speak Spanish
There is an almost an infinite list of methods for learning to speak Spanish. The costs involved in the study of Spanish ranges from free Spanish lessons to Spanish immersion programs abroad that require a substantial investment of both money and time. Suffice it to say that learning to speak Spanish as a second language is within the reach and budget of anyone. Everyone has a different learning style so there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to a method to study Spanish that is better than all others. A few popular ways to learn Spanish language skills include;
learn Spanish online courses,
community college or university Spanish courses,
how to speak Spanish audio tape programs,
computerized interactive Spanish study programs on CD,
conversational Spanish instruction books,
Spanish immersion programs,
one on one tutoring from a Spanish speaker.
Many Spanish language course websites like Spanish Programs.com offer basic introductory courses free but charge for more complete and advanced lesson programs.
Enrolling in Spanish courses at a local community college or university is one method people use to study Spanish but for many people it isn't the best option. These types of courses often concentrate on the memorization of long lists of vocabulary words and learning grammar rules before a person ever gets started with the actual business of learning to speak Spanish.
A veritable maze of courses that utilize books, CDs, and audio tapes or some combination thereof exist for people intent on learning how to speak Spanish. These courses vary a great deal in quality, effectiveness, and price. Doug Bower, an American expatriate living full-time in central Mexico and author of the book, The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico, recommends unreservedly, Learnables®, as an introductory course. The interactive course, published by the International Linguistics Corporation, is available on CD-ROM or in book format with audio CDs. Bower stated that he used that course himself and found it the most painless, natural, and effective way to acquire fluency in Spanish.
Another popular but relatively expensive interactive self-study program to learn the Spanish language is available from Rosetta Stone. The program is available through the purchase of online access or learning modules can be purchased either individually or as a set for installation on a home PC or MAC. Topics Entertainment offers a Spanish interactive, self-study program, Instant Immersion Levels 1, 2 & 3, that is similar but simpler than that of Rosetta Stone, and available at a fraction of the cost.
Spanish immersion programs, though they require a greater investment in terms of money and time, represent one of the most effective methods of learning how to speak Spanish. For those with who want to be speaking Spanish in hurry, these programs may be the best option.
Immersion programs involve stays of a week, two weeks, or longer in a Spanish speaking country where students study the Spanish language and culture for up to 25 hours per week. These programs can include home stays with a native speaking host family that provides students the chance to practice what they learn and to gain deeper insight into the culture of the host country. AmeriSpan Study Abroad, a leader in language study abroad schools, offers Spanish immersion programs in Spain, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Complete details including costs for study abroad programs offered by AmeriSpan can be found by accessing the company website (www.amerispan.com), writing the company at P.O. Box 58129, Philadelphia, PA 19102-8129, or by telephoning toll free from the USA & Canada 1-800-879-6640.
Regardless of how a person chooses to approach language training, learning to speak Spanish as a second language is worth the time, effort, and expense. It is isn't nearly as difficult to learn another language as some might expect and becoming bi-lingual can open up whole new world views and insights into other cultures.
"Will Americans Really Learn Chinese?" The New York Times. 07 Feb. 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2012.
"Hispanic Americans By the Numbers." infoplease.com. 2008. 12 Jan. 2012.
"Mexico." U.S. Department of State. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.
Erichsen, Gerald. "10 Facts About Spanish Language." About.com. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.
Bower, Doug. The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico: The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or Just Hanging out. Boca Raton: Universal, 2005. 125-134. Print.
"Language Immersion Programs." AmeriSpan Study Abroad. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.
Interactive Self-Study Resources
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Instant immersion spanish levels 12 & 3 (win xpvistawin 7/mac 10.3.9 or laterub/dvd software)
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New TOPICS Entertainment Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe 2.0 Popular High Quality
Updated: 01/13/2012, jblack
Winterfate on 08/01/2012
This is a great read! I am bilingual myself (English/Spanish), and it has opened lots of doors for me.
Liked and tweeted!
Ragtimelil on 07/30/2012
I've tried to learn Spanish, but I keep forgetting to study.
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Japanese Expressions You Have Never Heard Before
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Stavanger2018 was an art project in the public space of Stavanger, launched 15 September 2005 by the artist Trond Hugo Haugen. The aim was to discussed long-term effects and future opportunities for the region of Stavanger after the year as the European Capital of Culture in 2008 through art, debate, dialogue, happenings, parties and campaigns.
This is the case: Stavanger is the European Capital of Culture in 2008, along with Liverpool (UK), a culture party that last until 31 December 2008.
It is Norway's largest cultural arrangement with a budget of 300 mil. Nkr (c. 38 mil. Euro) and shall provide spectacular experiences and entertainments of a high international quality. There will be fireworks and parties throughout the year from 12 January 2008.
But, 355 days later, it's all over.
Stavanger is the fourth largest city in Norway, with 110,000 residents, and has been the country's centre for the oil industry since the 1970s.
On the 15 September 2005 the artist Trond Hugo Haugen launched the project Stavanger2018, an initiative to draw attention to the need for an infrastructure to support the visual arts in the region. In the end the project had grown to include many other cultural categories within the website www.stavanger2018.no and the campaign KA DÅ ITTEPÅ (What About Afterwards).
The aim of Stavanger2018 was only to focus upon what shall happen after the European Capital of Culture year. The project was a wholly independent body to Stavanger2008 and was not a protest to the European Capital of Culture event.
The first phase (2005/2006) of the Stavanger2018 project drew attention to constructive ideas and healthy criticism via the website www.stavanger2018.no, as well as entering a dialogue with Stavanger City Council about long term strategy and planning for after 2008.
The second phase (2007) involved launching the debate on the streets using t-shirts and stickers; these presented a simple query KA DÅ ITTEPÅ (What happens afterwards). This was followed by a two month program of events focused upon open debate at several prestigious arenas.
The third phase (2008) involved a blog in the city's largest newspaper, Stavanger Aftenblad, and an independant critic. During 2008, Stavanger2018 achieved in excess of 100 articles in the media about the project itself, and, articles including the query KA DÅ ITTEPÅ.
The fourth phase (2009) began with a big opening party for all the years to come – Åpning av Ittepåland (The opening of the land afterwards) - at Tou Scene on 31 January; exactly one year after the opening ceremony of the Stavanger2008 year of culture. Over 350 people from the culture scene gathered together to talk about the years to come, to see project presentations, to debate and experience the handing out of six borgerbevis (proof of afterwards citizenship) to representatives of leading institutions; the city mayor, newspaper chief editor, managing director and so on. During 2009, Trond Hugo Haugen organized various meetings, continued his as a independant critic and was a member of Kulturfondet (Stavanger City's Culture Fond). This is a committee (3 national and 2 regional members) that will distribute 18 million NOK during 3 years, each distribution follows an open application process.
In September 2010 Trond Hugo Haugen and his project was elected as the fourth most powerful person in the region's culture scene. The poll was carried out by the newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad. Haugen was preceded by two full time politicians (the mayor and the chairman of Department of Cultural Affairs), and, the director of the Department of Cultural Affairs at Stavanger City Council.
The fifth and last phase (2011) was the program DETTE ER ITTEPÅ ITTEPÅ (This is after afterwards) in connection med the local election. This was the first election after the European Capital of Culture-years. Stavanger elected a new mayor after sixteen years. Indeed, this new mayor will be in charge of the real ITTEPÅ (AFTERWARDS).
The centre of Stavanger2018 activities was the website www.stavanger2018.no where interviews, texts and news items was published during the years 2005-2011. All the material was aimed at Norwegian audience and had a welcoming and ironically humoristic tone about the serious content.
One of the most important aims of the website was to promote a constructive discussion about cultural sustainability, and, to raise the contents up to a national level. There was a wide criticism and healthy scepticism to 2008 as a year of culture, but this was not been visible to the whole of Norway. The need for long term results remains local, despite the fact that Stavanger2008 has national status.
Stavanger2018 had ambitions to raise awareness to a national level via its website and local & national media attention.
With the aim of focussing attention upon long term solutions Stavanger2018 started the campaign KA DÅ ITTEPÅ (What about afterwards).
These three simple words are marketed through 800 free t-shirts and 7000 stickers throughout the region. The marketing has been dramatically successful: Today the saying (in local Stavanger dialect) has become almost synonymous to the project, and, the years after 2008.
The campaign was built up to a series of KA DÅ ITTEPÅ arrangements between 1 August to 30 September in Stavanger. The aim of the program was to hold debates, lectures and workshops upon the theme.
A total of 14 arrangements were held, amongst these Phil Wood from the English Comedia Consultancy Team was invited to the region for a 3 day residency that concluded with a lecture upon Creative Cities & Stavanger.
There were also held 5 arrangements under the title KA DÅ SOFA; Politicians alongside representatives from the local culture sector were invited to meet for informal public conversations seated on a leather sofa.
The program concluded on 29 September with a beautiful party that included cocktails, music, Ka Då Ittepå archive presentation & an art installation – all with a high celebration factor.
The main aim was, and continues to be, to increase awareness and attention regarding the years after 2008. It has been successful.
In an interview in a local paper, strategy director of Stavanger2008 Rolf Norås described Stavanger2018 as "Stavanger2008's most important external alliance".


Along with 6 other colleges, Leeds College of Building is part of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC) Joint Venture (JV) partnership.
WYCC's vision is to seek funding, influence, support leadership and collaborate with businesses on behalf of the seven West Yorkshire colleges.
increase collaboration between businesses and training providers to improve the skills of the workforce (The Skills Service).
Launched in June 2018, The Skills Service offers a unique package of training and support for businesses in the Leeds City Region.
*Courses from the Skills Catalogue will be considered for WYCC European Social Fund funding if participants are 18+, in employment, have the right to work in the UK. Businesses must operate within the Leeds City Region. Funding of up to 40% may be available. Conditions and eligibility will be discussed with your Skills Advisor following your enquiry.
The Reach Higher and More Skills Better Jobs contracts will launch later in 2018 with a variety of projects, courses and opportunities for businesses and organisations.


As Christians, we are all parts of the one body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). With a multitude of talents and specialties, each person can be Christ to others in a unique way. To which ministry are you being called?
If you would like to get involved with any of these ministries, you can call the parish office (701-572-6731) or call the contact person noted in the description of each ministry.


Daffodil Design - Calgary Design and Lifestyle Blog: kind over matter free printables.
kind over matter free printables.
i stumbled upon kind over matter in my surfing adventures. Focusing heavily on the handmade community, kind over matter's blog is dedicated to kind acts, inspirational art & kind projects.
they have a plethora of adorable printables including these modern abc art prints & darling bunting art!


VVS is expanding our Corporate Offices in Cozad, Nebraska. Shelley Arndt, VP of Admin Services, explained how the expansion would allow VVS to better serve our clients: "The new office area will be cubicles that support up to 16 employees and allow for easier networking on projects. This will help us to respond faster and be more proactive on projects." Growth is good!


Speak to the MBA recuiter or program advisor for planning assistance.
Instructors typically use CI Learn for the Online Classroom. Zoom may be used as an alternate. Online Classrooms are held in real-time video conference format. You will need to be able to view documents, hear and speak with your instructor and classmates. Therefore, the equivalent to a computer and headset with microphone is required.
CI Learn Requires enrollment in the class and access via the MyCI student portal. Note: Enrollment activates after the system updates overnight so you may not be able to access the system if you were enrolled the day the class starts.


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Not only can you use the lastminute.com website to search low cost flights, but we have even preselected some flight offers from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta for you to save you time.
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The student then looked at the three of us for approval. As the faculty advisors for the Peer Leadership program at Moorestown Friends School (MFS), we initially expressed concern about leaving the 16 senior peer leaders alone in the midst of a challenge. But when a couple of peer leaders privately shared the broad strokes of the issue with us, we decided to leave the students to work things out on their own.
After the three of us left the room, the 16 peer leaders talked about how to approach the ninth-graders in their care. They began by addressing the rumors they had heard about the negative ways some ninth-graders were using social media. The seniors then designed a lesson plan including the consequences of using social media inappropriately. The peer leaders split into pairs and conducted the lesson with small sections of eight or nine ninth-graders.
When the three of us rejoined the group of senior peer leaders the following week to debrief what happened in their sections, we were pleased to learn that the peer leaders successfully handled the touchy situation and influenced the outcome for the better.
This real-life classroom lesson is one example of how our Peer Leadership program continually improves our campus climate and helps our students develop crucial leadership skills.
The Peer Leadership program, which began in fall 2014, evolved over a series of conversations about how to foster leadership development in the 300-student upper school of Moorestown Friends School (New Jersey). The time was ripe to reflect on our school's offerings, as we were in the midst of the Sustaining Excellence accreditation process with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
We wanted this program to delve deeply into leadership by exploring the overall concept and nuances related to school and daily life. The program would need to extend beyond the ways students can lead in extracurricular activities — ways such as being the lead in a play, captain of a team, president of a club, ambassador for admissions, class officer, and so on.
Several aspects distinguish the Peer Leadership program at Moorestown Friends School. In the yearlong course, the three of us guide a select group of senior students to study leadership theory and develop 21st century leadership skills. We focus on real-world scenarios when discussing theory and facilitating practice. In their peer leader roles, seniors mentor freshmen in their transition to high school, introduce them to high school traditions, and lead discussions on moral and ethical issues.
We maintain a thorough selection process for the program. First, interested juniors must submit an application with answers to the following questions.
Why do you want to be a Peer Leader? What strengths will you bring to the program?
MFS expects Peer Leaders to be positive role models for the community. What does this mean to you?
What would make MFS a more positive school environment?
Describe a team or group you were a member of that did or did not work effectively together. What did you learn about yourself and about teamwork from this experience?
Next, they participate in group interviews of six to eight applicants, where the three of us challenge them to answer questions about ethical dilemmas they face every day. Then, current peer leaders anonymously provide us feedback about the candidates. Finally, a selection committee meets — including the peer leadership team, the upper school dean of students, and the upper school counselor — to choose the 16 leaders. We employ the Quaker process to reach consensus.
For those chosen as peer leaders, the school year begins with a weekend training workshop, where we gather to discuss the goals for the year and teach the students how to facilitate team-building activities for a ninth-grade student Fun Day.
During the academic year, the Peer Leadership class meets twice during a six-day rotation. In the first class in the weekly cycle, the seniors meet with teachers while the ninth-graders go to study hall. In the second class of the cycle,seniors teach in pairs with a small group of ninth-graders. When the peer leaders meet with us, they draft a lesson plan for the ninth-graders with our help, debrief what happened during their small sections, and share overall thoughts on their progress.
Peer leaders then move their lesson planning to the digital realm via a Facebook page and group text message threads they create. This electronic approach allows them to document their planning and address issues about "their students" in real time.
As teachers, we have found these classes to be a barometer of our school's current climate, and student feedback has helped us adapt the program to mirror the student experience.
Within weeks of the first quarter of the year, we see an improvement in our school culture. The senior peer leaders display ownership and pride about their new role, and their positive behavior spreads through the senior class. The hallways become less intimidating and more welcoming spaces for all students. Ninth-graders, in particular, gain a greater sense of belonging. They're more comfortable navigating the hallways, talking with upperclassmen, and meeting with teachers. Teachers, too, have commented about the program's positive effect on the well-being of students school-wide.
Beyond the school day, we credit the program with boosting participation at a variety of school events. It helps that the senior peer leaders encourage their freshmen students to attend upper school activities. And thanks to the program, attendance remains high at the Snow Ball, our winter formal dance.
Now, we are teaching a new crop of 16 peer leaders and building on last year's success. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the first group of peer leaders did not stop advising their groups after they graduated. In addition, many members of the inaugural group have returned to campus to share their thoughts about college and provide support to this year's leaders. These interactions underscore students' commitment to the program.
The current seniors are role models outside the classroom, too. They encourage their students to get involved in extracurricular activities and serve as key contacts for ninth-graders needing support with school or family issues. Not long ago, one peer leader met with an administrator to address an incident of academic dishonesty he witnessed in class. He said he was compelled to come forward — so he would not contradict the lessons he taught his ninth-grade students.
The peer leadership program has become a draw for our school, as prospective families want to learn more about it, the admissions office reports. So the office now schedules most campus visits for prospective ninth-grade students on days when peer leaders teach current ninth-graders. The 16 peer leaders also work with the marketing and admissions offices to coordinate recruiting events for prospective students.
We continue to be impressed by the senior peer leaders' sense of purpose as they discuss with freshmen many challenging topics: stress management, ethical dilemmas, Quakerism, relationships, academic dishonesty, service learning, and peer pressure, among others. Their openness has given ninth-graders a safe environment to ask questions they would not dare ask teachers. It's been exciting to watch our peer leaders grow and positively influence our community. We can't wait to see how they amaze and inspire us next.
Bolman, Lee G. and Terrence E. Deal. 2008. Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership, 4th ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Dweck, Carol. 2006. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine Books.
Kouzes, James M. and Barry Z. Posner. 2008. The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations, 5th ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Smith, Robert Lawrence. 1998. A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons in Simplicity, Service, and Common Sense. New York: Eagle Brook.


text:
Fabespora nana is een microscopische parasiet uit de familie Fabesporidae. Fabespora nana werd in 1969 beschreven door Naidenova & Zaika.

Myxozoa

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Cloud Nine is pure silver vine powder processed in the USA. It is non-toxic, non-addictive and benefits your cat's overall health and well-being by adding enrichment into their life. When exposed cats enter a euphoric state that mimics catnip. Except, it is more potent, due to the presence of two cat attractants as opposed to catnip's one.
Until recently, the only silver vine sold in the USA came directly from China. Because of safety concerns, many cat owners steered clear of purchasing it. Cloud Nine is processed from the dried fruit into a course powder here in the USA and our supplier works directly with one of the largest USA laboratories to insure the silver vine fruit used is fully tested and completely safe.


When Jay and I decided to launch a podcast … we dragged our heels for six months. Then we turned to Steve Stewart for help.
He DJ'ed his way out of debt.
Steve and his wife wiped out their debts in 2007. Today they're 100% debt-free, including mortgage-free. But reaching this point … well, let's just say the road is messy.
We'll let Steve tell the story. Enjoy!
Had to stop listening half way through. Thought this was about Steve not Jay….
Oh no! And I thought I we talked about Dave Ramsey too much!
Did you at least get to the 25min mark where I share my coaching trick? If I gave you $250,000 and you could buy a house that fits your needs free-and-clear (no debt, no mortgage), what would you do with the money? I love that question.
I've been asking myself this question for some time and I would side with Paula. I would buy a rental outright to pay for my current rental. After that mortgage has been satisfied then proceeds from both would pay for my primary residence. It was nice meeting you Steve; Great story! Keep up the good work everyone!
Haaa…it's intentional. I'm the only one I know sporting one L and I feel awesome.
I also love that question. I ask a similar question to my clients all the time. If I gave you $25,000 would you go buy THAT car? Typically the answer is NO. It's like Steve said, it's not how much, it's how much per month. We don't really think it through when buying large ticket item things because we are more likely to convince ourselves we can "afford" the monthly payment.
If given the hypothetical $250k I would definitely side with Steve on this one and buy the house outright. We bought our home 2.5 years ago for $174k and I'm hoping to have it paid off within the next 5 years maximum. I'll have to liquidate my taxable Vanguard accounts once it becomes greater than the remaining principle but then I will free up an additional $1,000 minimum each month to rebuild those accounts. After running the scenarios for this I have found that this should allow me to reach my Early Retirement number just over 3 years sooner than keeping the mortgage and the Vanguard funds where they are.
You guys run through so many different situations and scenario and analyze it from so many different aspects. (Rent vs buy) (debt free vs debt leverage) (Dave Ramsey vs traditional advice). My favorite VS so far though is (Jay vs Paula)haha. LOVE IT.
P.S. I'm setting my calendar right now for 1 year.
we want an email when 1 year hits for an update please!
I know, right? Sometimes even Paula and J$ needs a coach to get them to work through some of the important money scenarios that could make them money or cost them money.
Make sure you Tweet your comment to @SteveStewartMe in 12 months!
I agree that he's the very best at getting people out of debt. Here is the controversy that you and your Ramsey representative missed.
1. Dave recommends going to go see a financial planner that sells mutual funds, pays a commission. Commissions aren't necessarily wrong, until you realize, Dave is compensated by those advisors he recommends and he never discloses the potential conflict of interest.
2. Dave recommends term insurance and using a specific agency, which he is partial owner. Again, the problem with this is non-disclosure.
I couldn't recall details of the investing stuff myself, but knew they were out there.
Hi Pete, it's Steve "that guy who does stuff" for J$ and Paula.
I have to respectfully disagree, but only on the basis that I've listened to hundreds of hours of his radio show and have worked with his company for a number of years.
1. Yes, he recommends commission investment advisors and does get a fee from them. He does disclose it on occasion during his show. I don't see the harm in this – BNI groups recommend people on the basis that there's "a guy" in their group and nothing else. At least the ELPs are vetted before he puts them in his pool.
2. You are correct, he does recommend a specific agency, Zander Insurance, when talking about term insurance. They are a sponsor, but that does not influence his decision for recommending Term (not sure if that was your point, I'm just adding that to this discussion). I was not aware he was part owner. It sounds like you and J$ know more about that than I do.
3. I'll check out the article. I won't claim to know everything Dave does or says, but I have worked along with his team from time-to-time for many years and know more than the average listener.
Have issues when I try to download this episode, it is failing half way. please look into that.
what are you listening to it in?
it's working for us here 🙁 but we can try and duplicate the error and look into!
I was listening to it in my phone's browser and was also having a hard time making it past the beginning of the Dave Ramsey conversation so I actually listened to the first half 5 times before making it all the way through (for some reason on my phone I can't select where to make it start from so I had to start at the beginning each time). I had just assumed that it was an error with my phone's browser or connection though.
will have Steve look into it and see what we can find out… what are the odds that on HIS show it gets wonky – hah!
FROM STEVE: Yes, go figure. I'm going to begin embedding a different player at the bottom of the page. Let's cross our fingers!
Hi Raj, it's Steve (that guy who does stuff for J$ and Paula).
I haven't been able to replicate the problem. Maybe it was a glitch in the interwebs?
How are you downloading it? Through a podcatcher (app) or on a PC or Mac?
I love your podcasts the chemistry between j and Paula is great, Paula giggles a little bit too much on air but I like it, about Dave Ramsey I have bin listening to his show for many years I've read two of his books the total money makeover and entreleadership, I think he is awesome, what Dave always says when people attack him for his advice is that he tells people what worked for him to get ahead in his financial life and business, he personally has done all these thing he talks about and it worked for him and for most of the people that followed his advice, witch numbers in the millions after being on the radio for 20+ years, every single thing he owns is paid for, all of his houses cars business investments personal belongings, he even paid cash for the building where the headquarters of his business and radio show is located he talks about it the entreleadership book he always says that he owns a ton of real-estate free and clear houses apartments offices that's the way to go in my opinion, but it takes a lot discipline and hard work to be on his plan, for those that have trouble sticking to daves plan I recommend David bachs advice from the the automatic millionaire where you can outsmart the budget and you're savings. anyway keep up the great work you're doing I love the show I've learned a ton….
Thx for listening to the show!
Keep paying attention – not interest!
I have to honestly say that this is now my favorite financial podcast. It's really accessible and I love the interplay between J. Money and Paula. I love the different points of view, humility and humor. I also love how real and down to earth you both are and not preachy. Thank you for the concrete tips on money and real estate.
Dude you rock! So glad I found out about you on Brandon's podcast.
Oh nice! That was a really fun show to be on – Brandon's a freakin' beast with this stuff.
I've never heard Dave once disclose his financial interest in his ELPs or Zander. Nothing wrong with making a profit, but always full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is a good rule. Makes me leary of Dave's vetting process if not even he abides by full disclosure.
Neverthless, the job Dave does to help get people out of debt out weighs his negatives imo.
In fairness, you did a bit more than just ask me what to do and then run out and do it. 🙂 I agree with Steve, no matter where the advice comes from you should understand it and why you feel it is right for you.
As I recall, you asked me a lot of good questions about the whys as well as the whats. As it should be!
Here's to your continued success: In investing and with the podcast!
Indeed! I'm crazy, but not THAT crazy 🙂 And you def. hooked a brotha up.
I liked the episode.. good job Steve. I am on the same path with 2yrs left on my mortgage. I had a few misses along the way but feel like I am ahead of most people my age (under 50). No rentals and mostly mutual funds but have been playing the dividend game. I listen to a lot of podcast and you guys are top notch.. I like the question episodes as well.
So Steve where you going on that exotic vacation??
Glad you're liking the show!!
We are going back to the place pictured above: 7D Ranch. No cell phone, no internet, and only a landline phone in an old stagecoach. The photo was taken on June 14, 2014 – and that is snow falling in the background.
I've listened to all the shows and like this one very much. Regarding the Dave Ramsey controversy, what many people find objectionable is that his ELP's (Endorsed Local Providers, his recommended financial advisors) put investors into front loaded, actively managed mutual funds that charge an upfront fee of 5.75% along with ongoing higher expense ratios than a typical Vanguard (or other brokerage) index fund. Dave recommends a 100% stock allocation for retirement accounts, according to the "quarters" that Steve mentioned, which may not be suitable for all investors. He also recommends only investing in Growth funds, instead of a mix of Growth, Blend, and Value funds, which is odd advice. You guys mentioned the other two complaints about his 12% stock return claim, and his advice on drawing 8% per year from your portfolio during retirement, which is quite dangerous. I think he's great on advice for getting out of debt, not so much on investing, but not horrible either.
Thanks Charles, (this is Steve).
There is a lot of emphasis on the technicalities of Dave Ramsey recommending advisors. So I wonder: What are the alternatives?
1) If DR didn't make recommendations then the very people he helps get out of debt and starting to save for retirement would be left to their own devices to find an advisor – or would try to do it themselves without first learning what they need to become wise investors.
2) If Dave Ramsey did recommend only one thing, like and index fund, then he wouldn't be teaching what he believes which is to be diversified (plus, he can't recommend a single fund).
I love your podcast and I really love the interactions between your team. I'm also living in the DC area, so I can really relate to J Money's comments about housing prices and cost of living here.
1. Don't do it yourself. Use a pro.
3. Reject asset allocation. What you said on the podcast made sense (small cap, mid cap, large cap.) He rejects that. He actually says Growth, Growth and Income, Aggressive Growth, and International.
4. Reject Bonds and CDs. (Even beginners should be 100% stocks?).
6. Reject No-load mutual funds. If you're buying no-load, you're doing it yourself. You have to buy commissioned products, from an advisor.
7. Pick actively managed mutual funds. Only pick funds that beat the market. You do this buy picking funds based on their track record of the last 5 years, preferably more than 10 years.
He points you to who to use as a professional advisor. He does not disclose at any point on his printed material that he is getting a referral fee for using them.
Dave Ramsey is great for getting out of debt. His investing advice does damage to the people who trust him and follow it. He gets people out of debt and saving, but he enriches himself on the investing side. Even if you stay away from the ELPs, his investing advice is poor.
Thanks for pointing that out. Being an audio-only consumer (my reading time is usually soaked up with the books of those I'm about to interview on my own podcast) I haven't dug through that resource on Dave's site.
As you heard on the show, I also don't blindly follow what Dave says – even though I'm a sold-out fanboy. What you pointed out certainly makes me think twice about anything I am doing – which is good!
These conversations are important as they make everyone ask questions and learn in a way that works for their personality style.
Some people want to be told what to do, some people don't. The way I look at it: Following Dave's advice blindly WILL CAUSE THEM to save money and invest. If it costs them more in fees or they don't get the best of returns then they are still better off than following the advice of the media (FEAR! THE MARKET IS CRASHING!) or advertisements from late night tv (GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD).
Thanks for the link. I'm going to go check it out!
Thank you for responding. I was particularly interested in hearing from you because of your long immersion in the Dave Ramsey system. I used that link because it summarizes much of his investing advice in one place — however, it is exactly that same as what he says on his radio show, in his books, and in his Financial Peace curriculum. He is consistent.
Actually, following Dave's advice blindly will cause the average person to GET OUT OF DEBT and to have POSITIVE CASH FLOW so they have money to save and to invest. That is a good thing, and his message is so compelling and effective that any discussion has to give him credit for this.
However, his investing advice is the same as the worst of the Wall Street Media — Markets are scary, you have to pay someone to help you; Our experts can beat the market; Expenses, fees, and sales commissions don't matter; Don't force advisors to become fiduciaries.
Take the exact same concept and apply it to the higher fees you're willing to pay. Dave cites a 5% sales load as reasonable (http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/why-dave-prefers-up-front-fees/) and pushes actively traded mutual funds (previously cited, but active funds have an industry average annual expense ratio of 1.5%).
How much does it cost to follow his advice? Let's use his investing calculator (https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/investing-calculator/#/entry_form) to find out.
Assume someone starts with $0, expects a 7% average return, contributes $1,000 a month for 30 years, and stops at 30 years. The calculator states that the compounded return is $1,212,876.47. Not bad.
Now let's allow for the fees and sales charges. The 7% return must be reduced to 5.5% to reflect a 1.5% expense ratio. The $1,000/mo contribution is reduced to $950/mo to reflect the 5% load off the top. Running the calculator starting with $0, a 5.5% expected return, contributions of $950/month, over 30 years, results in $871,181.43.
The high expense ratios are doing negative compounding and working against you. If you stop adding savings at 30 years and let the calculator run up to year 50, Dave's advice will push your balance to $2,541,896, which isn't bad. Not following his advice would yield you almost twice as much, or $4,693,449.
Paul, Jay, Steve: Amazing podcast. It's the third one I've listened to, and I love it. Not sure while I'm out of order like this. Loved the discussion on credit scores. My understanding of credit scores is, when you are in Steve's position with no debt, decent income, and primary residence paid off, your credit score doesn't matter anymore. Ironically, if you can prove to a bank you don't need a loan, they are happy to give you one! I think it's a large misconception that it is important to have some type of revolving credit line, even if you don't want one, just to boost your credit score. I can't wait to keep listening!
Hi Rich! Thanks for being a listener. You aren't really out of order as each episode can stand on its own. If they refer to another episode then I'll pop in to mention which one it is or put a link here in the show notes. However, if you really do want to start with the first one (where Jay's mic wasn't working – actually the first 5 episodes are like that) then just look at the beginning of the title. The episode number is right there.
I agree with you on the irony of a bank qualifying those for loans who don't need them. I think that's how it all started and how the whole "debt is a tool" thing began: Rich people wanting to grow businesses with borrowed capital to create big things in our country's young age. I get it. I just don't like what it has turned into: Banks trying to get EVERYONE into a loan of some kind for a vacation via HELOC or a trip to Fazoli's on a stupid credit card. It makes me mad!
I appreciate you. Keep listening!
You better try to improve your microphone technique a little, the popping P's are mighty annoying!
sorry to hear – whose side is it coming in on? Mine or Paula's?
I love the podcast, But J talks way too much, he always interrupts. like on this episode, I almost stopped listening because he would not let Steve keep talking.
If I had the choice of $250,000 to buy a house or invest I would buy 10 rental houses. Each rental would cash flow from $250-$500 per month after all expenses including the mortgage. Tenants would pay down my mortgage and the value of the rentals would increase with inflation.
Assuming each home averaged $150,000 in value, I would control a cash flowing beast worth $1,500,000. Almost all the income would be tax free due to tax deductible interest, maintenance, management fees and depreciation. Worse case, I would cash flow at $2500 per month tax free. That's like earning $3,333/mo in a day job.
I'm a landlord and love real estate-ka-boom!
If you are an experienced investor, you are better off buying an apartment building. Same principle with higher returns and easier mangement. That's been my focus over the last few years after buying my first 10 homes.
Dave Ramsey is great at getting you out of debt. The problem is he doesn't show you how to invest or increase your income. His claim of 12% returns is dangerous and lulls people into thinking they can save less to retire on more. 8% withdrawal in retirement is nuts and will force you to spend down retirement assets in no time flat. Anyone who retired with a Dave Ramsey portfolio in the year 2000 at 8% withdrawals would be down to social security and living off their kids.
Good show. Like the banter!
I admire y'all real estate lovers – makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it all!
I would expect that kind of answer from a landlord! I'm being serious. I don't expect everybody to be their own car mechanics or doctors but if you have worked on cars for 10 years then you can make a better decision when buying a car than someone who has never changed their own oil.
Someday I may get into real estate investing, but for now I have retirement and my daughter's future to save for.
As for your note about Dave Ramsey's advice "lulls people into thinking they can save less to retire on more": If someone only saved $100 a month for 40 years then they would be following Dave Ramsey soundbites – not what he teaches. He advises 15% into retirement after being consumer debt free with an emergency fund. Then, when the house is paid off, save/invest even more money – not just $100.
It's great to have you along. Be sure to check out Episode 18 when Paula answers more real estate investing questions!


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The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption is a 2012 film about man who must defend his kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power.
Directed by Roel Reiné. Written by Randall McCormick.
Tsukai: You fight well, mortal. Perhaps we will take you with us.
Silda: Spend eternity with two mindless brutes and their pet witch? No thank you.
This page was last edited on 12 February 2018, at 21:47.


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You've heard of mommy bloggers? Get ready for the auntie blogger!
I started writing children's books for my niece and nephew after a trip to Africa in 2012. The first epistle was entitled "Stuck in Africa" and was an overnight success with a repeat readership of two people (my niece and nephew).
Fast forward five years and the original niece and nephew have been joined by several cousins and any number of children of friends all CLAMORING (that's right, clamoring) for Auntie Krista stories and photos.
So I decided it was time to move this project online in order to save some trees and allow for more regular updates. As in the hard copy editions, Uncle Richard makes frequent albeit grudging guest appearances when I write him into the story. I'm trying to get him to write on his own behalf but that may take some time.


The National Association of Home Builders reports that home remodeling is expected to modestly grow in 2015. Sophistication dominates 2015 home design trends, including spa-like bathrooms and outdoor living spaces. Tile accents in these spaces can help your clients achieve the high-end look they desire.
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NYPD Interrogated Record Number of Innocent New Yorkers in 2009, New Stop-and-Frisk Numbers Show
The NYPD stopped and interrogated at least 505,000 completely innocent New Yorkers in 2009, the most ever since the Department began collecting data on its troubling stop-and-frisk program. The new figures, released by the NYPD this week, represent a nearly 9 percent increase over 2008, when police officers stopped 465,413 innocent people.
Nearly 9 out of 10 of those stopped and questioned by police last year were neither arrested nor issued a summons. And 9 out of 10 were black or Latino.
"In just the past year, the NYPD has stopped enough totally innocent New Yorkers to fill Yankee Stadium nine times over," said Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "It is a stunning abuse of power. It is not a crime to walk down the street in New York City, yet every day innocent black and brown New Yorkers are turned into suspects for doing just that."
The NYPD recorded a total of 575,304 stop-and-frisk encounters in 2009. About 55 percent, or 316,417, of those stopped were black and another 32 percent, or 184,097, were Latino. Only 10 percent of people stopped were white. Over the past six years, NYPD has made 2,798,461 street stops.
The NYCLU is deeply concerned that the NYPD retains the name and home address of everyone it stops, which means the department is building a massive database of law-abiding black and Latino New Yorkers.
"Innocent New Yorkers who are wrongfully stopped and questioned and frisked by police should not suffer the added harm of having their personal information kept in an NYPD database, which simply makes them a target for future investigations," Lieberman said.
The NYCLU has for years objected to the Department's excessive use of street interrogations and has been fighting for details of the program to be released to the public for debate. In the summer of 2007, the NYCLU served the NYPD with a formal legal request to turn over the complete stop-and-frisk database under the state's Freedom of Information Law. The Department resisted transparency and so, in November 2007, the NYCLU filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court challenging the NYPD. In May of 2008, the NYCLU won that case and received the database.
The NYCLU requested the information to allow for an independent analysis of the Department's stop-and-frisk practices, which have been the subject of enormous controversy since the 1999 shooting death of Amadou Diallo.
The NYCLU's concerns about excessive numbers of stops are supported by the RAND Corporation study commissioned by the Department in 2007. That report estimated that, "[e]ven with the most liberal assumptions," one would expect the NYPD to have "roughly 250,000 to 330,000 stops" each year. Even when measured against the most permissive of standards, the NYPD conducted about 245,000 more stops than would be expected.
"Every year hundreds of thousands of innocent New Yorkers are stopped, searched and interrogated by police for doing nothing more than walking down the street," Lieberman said. "We are deeply concerned about this practice and about racial profiling by the police, and we believe the Department must take aggressive measures to address this problem."
Stop-and-Frisk Practices
Integrate NYC et al v. State of New York et al
Legislative Memo on the Equal Rights Amendment
EP-8: How Can We Fix NY's Housing Crisis?


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Stardew Valley Mac Review: Now with Local Co-Op & more
by Ric Molina | Dec 23, 2020
Stardew Valley became a sensation when it was first released in 2016 and quickly conquered Steam's charts to become one of the most played games of the year.
The critics' response was equally impressive. In fact, Stardew Valley's Mac version easily earned a spot among our top simulation games for Mac. But instead of simply enjoying the success, developer ConcernedApe continues to work hard on his game.
In this review:
The Test: Benchmarks on several Macs
The Results: Can your Mac run it?
Should you get it?
In case you haven't heard, Stardew Valley is a charming farming simulation that lets you build and manage your very own farm.
What's new with Stardew Valley? Stardew Valley just received another huge free update, its long-awaited Multiplayer update with split-screen co-op. ConcernedApe calls this Stardew Valley's biggest update yet.
You can read more about it below.
Considered by many as one of the best indies ever created, Stardew Valley is indeed an excellent simulation game that everyone should try.
Buy on Humble Bundle
First things first, is the game any good?
Stardew Valley is a pixelated farming simulator about a boy who inherits a farm from his grandfather. From there, the boy will have to learn how to care for it and bring it back to greatness.
You could easily discard it as simply a PC version of the Harvest Moon games, but the game doesn't stop there. Stardew Valley gives players more control over the design of their farms, the kinds of animals and crops to raise, and also introduces more interesting NPCs.
The incredible story of one man, four years, and fame
Stardew Valley is a good game, no doubt. But what I found truly fascinating is the story behind it. The game was quietly developed by one man over the course of four years.
From there, the game quickly earned a spot among Steam's top-selling games. It has a Subreddit with over 685,000 subscribers and glowing reviews from both the press and gamers:
An already great game, further improved
Since the game was released, it continues to receive top-notch support in the form of free updates. The latest update, codename Stardew Valley 1.5, is by far the biggest piece of new content ever added to the game since launch. Released on December 21, 2020, it includes tons of "late-game" content, and more importantly, split-screen local multiplayer for the first time!
You can read the official changelog for all the detail here, but these are the highlights:
New Game Options: Includes a new farm called "Beach Farm", Advanced Game Options, new hairstyles, and more
Split Screen (Local) Co-Op: Split screen works exactly the same as online multiplayer
New people to meet, new items, new goals, a new type of quest, and a new farm layout
New character events
A new Community Upgrade
Home renovations (after you've fully upgraded your house)
And every single one of these features supports macOS. Stardew Valley is the perfect example of a Mac port done right. The game is absolutely the same on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
But the question remains: Can you run it?
Into simulation games? These are our favorites:
Game ★ Best Overall Best for MacBook Best Value
Genre City-builder Life simulation RPG simulation
Release date 2015 2014 2016
Our rating ★★★★★
Full Review ★★★★☆
Full Review ★★★★★
Stardew Valley Mac requirements
These are Stardew Valley minimum system requirements:
OS: macOS 10.10+
Graphics: 256 MB video memory, OpenGL 2
Just by looking at the requirements, we know this should be an easy game to run. But why stop here? We test it on several Macs to give you a definitive answer.
The Test: Can you play Stardew Valley on Mac?
To evaluate how well Stardew Valley runs, we test it on the following machines:
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016): 2.0 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Graphics 540 (1.5GB)
iMac (5K, 27-inch, Late 2014): 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2GB)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2013): 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, Intel Iris 5100 (1.5GB)
Why these machines? We aim to have the most varied stable of testing machines. This way, there will always be a machine that, at the very least, somewhat resembles the Mac you have at home. It could be a:
A high-end Mac (like our 2014 iMac).
A recent entry-level Mac (like our 2016 MacBook Pro).
An older Mac (like our 2013 MacBook Pro).
These are the settings we used with the help of our in-house FPS counter, Count It, for a fixed duration of 5 minutes:
High Lighting Quality
100% Zoom Level
Why these settings? We usually test games at 1280×800 resolution (we have to give older MacBooks a chance!), but given how lightweight Stardew Valley is, we decided to go with a much higher (and therefore, demanding) resolution.
The Results: An easy game to run, as expected!
Our real-world results confirmed our initial impression:
The game locks frame-rates to a maximum of 60 per second. This is why all machines scored the same results.
As a reminder, this is how we describe the different levels of performance:
Below 20 FPS: Unplayable: Laggy gameplay, full of stutters and slowdowns.
20-30 FPS: Borderline: Can be OK in slow-paced games. Still, not optimal.
30-45 FPS: Playable: Acceptable for most (most gaming consoles do this).
45-60 FPS: Smooth: Fluid gameplay, with no perceivable stutters.
60+ FPS: Very Smooth: For hardcore and professional players, a luxury for most.
We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience for most.
Can my Mac run Stardew Valley?
In case this is not clear yet, most Macs should be able to run Stardew Valley. Even our older models managed to pull off 60 frames per second (FPS), the fastest possible performance.
The three of our machines did the maximum 60 frames per second when testing the game with our default 1280×800 resolution. That's we decided to test the game at a much higher resolution to push our older Mac to limits. That never happened…
Unless your Mac is 15 years old and doesn't support Intel processors, you should be able to run this game…
Can you play Stardew Valley on a MacBook Pro?
This might be the easiest Mac performance review we've done so far. After all, this was to be expected from a pixelated retro-looking game.
Both our MacBook Pros handled Stardew Valley without breaking a sweat. The same should be expected from a MacBook Air. And in case you find yourself with somewhat limited performance, you can always lower the game's resolution to something more forgiving than 2560×1660…
Bottom line: Stardew Valley is a perfect game for MacBook owners: It's both great and extremely easy to run on even the oldest MacBooks out there.
PS: These are our favorite accessories for playing/testing games on Mac!
Game ★ Best Mouse Best Controller Best eGPU
DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
Razer Core X
Why we love it? The G502 is Logitech's most accurate gaming mouse yet. Plus, it has a plethora of buttons and a killer design. The official PS4 controller just works on Mac. It's wireless, it's precise, it has an excellent grip and it's durable. The Razer Core X turns your MacBook or Mac Mini into a killer gaming machine by adding external graphics support.
Mac compatible? ✅ ✅ ✅
User Reviews ★★★★☆
326 Amazon reviews
9,678 Amazon reviews
74 Amazon reviews
Price From $56 From $39.99 From $299.99
Download Stardew Valley for Mac
If you're into simulation games or simply wonder why everyone loves Stardew Valley so much, you can grab a copy from most digital stores.
By the way, Humble Bundle's version includes all the nice Steam features you'd expect, such as Steam cloud saves and the ability to play the game on Windows, Mac, and Linux:
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills). This commission comes at no additional cost to you.