text:
The parity in the league is apparent this season, as half of our teams have the same record. Also, each week has been higher scoring than the last. Will either trend continue?
Top Scoring 3FL Teams:
ray ray haw & Yuengling Brewers - 74 points
Matt Hasselbeck (QB/Sea) - 28 points
Brian Westbrook (RB/Phi) - 25 points
Clinton Portis (RB/Was) - 19 points
Yahoo! Projections: 9/18 - 50%
Only 8 of our 12 teams voted again last week. It will only take you a few minutes.
Sunday Night: Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears
Monday Night: Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Bye Week: Denver, NY Giants, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay
The Comm-nosticator's predictions for week 4:
Baltimorons (-1/2) vs. Yuengling Brewers
Assuming the 'Morons have a complete roster this week, they are getting a gift. The Brewers are a mess right now, with Shaun Alexander out and TO doing whatever it was he was doing. Baltimore's Defense could still keep this one interesting, though.
Misfits (-1) vs. Lightning
How does the team with the most points in the 3FL have a 1-2 record? Two straight high-scoring losses by one point, that's how. Maybe this week the 'Fitz will be on the winning end of a late night comeback. And if Westbrook doesn't play, maybe not.
This will be a close game, as both teams have interesting matchups to exploit. But it will come down to how the Qs end up for the weekend. On a side note, can someone please explain to me how Maurice Morris fell to the 5th team in waiver priority?
Dumbbums (-1) vs. Rough Riders
The Steelers are off this week, and the 'Bums are probably better because of it. Some key Riders are also on the bye. The big difference is that Coach Coaldog will fill his starting roster with players who actually have games.
Renegades (-1/2) vs. Spiked Vipers
One of these two will reach the .500 mark this week, and it's going to be a battle. It really could go either way, as the players on each team have either been hot or cold. Michael Vick will be the difference, as he is ready to make up for last week's performance.
ray ray haw (-1/2) vs. The Comfy Chair
This is going to be a good early season test for both teams. Expect a tight game with three things to watch - the haw's RB running against his own Defense, the battle of Philly TEs (with the edge going to the one you've heard of), and Philip Rivers (filling in for Eli Manning) running for his life all game long.
Go vote.
Week 2 showed us some more drama, with a Sunday night tiebreaker and a Monday night standstill. You just never know what's going to happen.
Top Scoring 3FL Team: The Comfy Chair - 79 points
Eli Manning (QB/NYG) - 23 points
Donovan McNabb (QB/Phi) - 20 points
The Comm-nosticator: 9/12 - 75%
We had 8 of our 12 teams vote last week. It will only take you a few minutes. Exercise your right to vote on 3FL games!
Sunday Night: Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots
Monday Night: Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
Bye Week: Dallas, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego
Rough Riders (-1/2) vs. Lightning
This one looks to be a good matchup, and having both starting TEs on a bye will add to the drama. Even though Coach Bev only starts 8 of 9 active players, the Riders RBs will pick up the slack, and the Lighting will be left waiting for a Sunday night comeback. And hoping that benching Carson Palmer does not lead to frustration.
Renegades (-1) vs. Marauders
Coach Hoss is hoping that week 3 doesn't bring loss 3 to the Marauders. But RB injury issues and the need to cover his Defense's bye week make that a difficult task. Plus, Michael Vick is capable of "pulling a Cooley" and securing a last minute victory during a Prime Time game for the Renegades once again.
Baltimorons (-1) vs. ray ray haw
Daunte Culpepper should break out against Tennessee this week, and he may be the difference in this one. They'll both be interested in the Steelers game, too; between these two teams I think that every important player in the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati matchup will be utilized. Except for Carson Palmer - he's on the Lightning's bench.
The Comfy Chair (-1/2) vs. Dumbbums
Always an interesting battle, Chair vs. 'Bums will not disappoint. But the two most prolific RBs in the NFL are both on a bye this week, one for each of these two teams. Instead we'll have to follow some different storylines. First, the debut of Coach Skrabby's fourth round pick. And second, the ongoing question of whether any of the 'Bums WRs will even catch a pass.
Yuengling Brewers (-1) vs. Spiked Vipers
The Vipers pulled out a surprising victory against the haw last week, but the Brewers matchups this week make that difficult to repeat. Still, you never know what Coach Googullymoogully's two Saints will do in their emotional return to the Superdome. We'll all have to tune in to Monday Afternoon Football to see (kickoff is at 2:30pm Hawaii time).
Misfits (-1/2) vs. Predacons
Interestingly enough, Coach Sinkerbeam and the External Consultant to the Misfits are also locked in a battle for the FMLB title right now. With a team at its peak and some soft matchups in both sports, the extended Misfits organization should sweep the weekend. McNabb to Ichiro is a lethal combination. Don't the Argyle Sox know that the #1 seed never ends up the champion?
Posted by sinkerbeam @ 7:31 AM 1 comment
The NFL's first week had a little of everything - surprising players, compelling games, and fireworks being launched from buildings in the middle of the city of Pittsburgh. And after the 3rd lowest scoring week in 3FL history, things will only get more exciting from here.
Top Scoring 3FL Team: Misfits - 73 points
Charlie Batch (QB/Pit) - 20 points
Sunday Night: Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys
Monday Night: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
ray ray haw (-1/2) vs. Spiked Vipers
Coach Haw has already matched his win total from last year and we're only through one week of the season. But it isn't going to be easy for him to double the W's, as the Vipers look like they'll have a decent week. Get out the antacids - the Steelers D on MNF might be needed to complete a comeback.
Misfits (-1) vs. Renegades
The Misfits are off to a great start after a high-scoring win last week, while the Renegades scored the least points in the league. Only Indy's Defense will make this one moderately interesting.
Predacons (-1/2) vs. Rough Riders
This one will be a lot closer than Yahoo's prediction. Especially if the Preds once again leave as many points on the bench as they put on the field. And if the Riders actually start someone at TE.
Yuengling Brewers (-1) vs. Marauders
Both of these teams had a tough week 1. The Brewers scored enough points to beat every team in the league other than their opponent. The Marauders had their QB knocked silly and had to leave Portis on the bench because the information came in late about his MNF readiness. Things don't get any easier for Coach Hoss this week. Not with Alex Smith at the helm.
Lightning (-1/2) vs. Dumbbums
Roethlisberger might be back this week, which may be good or bad for the 'Bums. Plus, Carson Palmer can't be held to zero points again, can he? Not against the Browns.
The Comfy Chair (-1/2) vs. Baltimorons
This game has two evenly matched teams going head-to-head in what could really end up as a tie. Both Sunday and Monday night's games are extremely important for the final result. It's just a shame that Coach Drew probably won't have cable tv hooked up in his apartment yet. Hey, there's always StatTracker...
3FL Standings (after S6: Week1)
Posted by sinkerbeam @ 9:35 AM 2 comments
Can Coach Skrabby defend the title? Will ray ray haw return to greatness? Are the Predacons finally going to miss the playoffs? Only the 3FL season will have the answers...
Remember to have your starting lineups set 5 minutes before the games start this week. Any players in the Dolphins vs. Steelers game will be locked in whichever lineup position you have them at 8:25pm EDT on Thursday.
Voting is Back!
You can once again vote on who YOU think will win each 3FL game. Click on "Matchup" beside the games on our main page and vote for the winner at the bottom. I'm assuming that votes need to be in before the Thursday night game, so vote soon. I'll keep a tally again this year and we can see how the predictions turn out. It won't take you long...
Thursday Night: Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday Night: Indianapolis Colts @ New York Giants
Monday Night Early: Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Redskins
Things are getting interesting in this dim-witted matchup. The tables have turned with some off the field news and the installation of Charlie Batch as a starting fantasy QB. Roethlisberger's Appendectomy: 0. Baltimorons: 1.
Predacons (-1/2) vs. Lightning
This one should be as close as they come, but the Preds get the nod because their RBs aren't sharing time. Or are they? We may have to wait until late on Monday night to see if the Lightning can come charging back.
The Comfy Chair (-1) vs. Spiked Vipers
The Vipers were unlucky in not being able to attend the live draft. It's a good thing that they just signed up for all of the high speed internet they can handle. There is going to be a bunch of add/dropping to do, especially after meeting last year's champ in week one.
Marauders (-1) vs. ray ray haw
After last year's disappointing season, Coach Haw could use an early pick-me-up. But his new HDTV will be set up just in time for to watch Clinton Portis run away with this one for the Marauders. If Portis is deactivated (shoulder) though, I'm changing my pick.
Rough Riders (-1/2) vs. Renegades
Even though Coach Bev is starting early with leaving starting spots empty, her sneaky good WRs give her an edge. Is anyone else excited to see that these two are going to play each other twice this season? A twin billing? Get it? I'll stop now.
Misfits (-1/2) vs. Yuengling Brewers
The Brew Crew had a great draft, but Coach Jules and the External Consultant have some soft matchups this week. Either way, neither of these teams will know what happened until Tuesday morning. That 10:15pm MNF game is past everyone's bedtime.
What a night! Ten of the league's twelve teams were on hand for our first attempt at a live draft, and it seemed like everyone had a good time. The message board was lit up through all 13 rounds and we even remembered to pick a player every now and then. I think a live draft will likely become an annual 3FL event.
With less than one week to go until the start of the NFL season, here is the first installment of the 3FL Notes - the draft analysis (in draft order).
1. Dumbbums: Coach Coaldog had the benefit of having the first pick in our first keeper draft, allowing him to select the NFL's top WR and hold on to one of the league's top RBs. A few Steelers might make or break this well-rounded team. Grade: A-
2. Renegades: Thanks to a few timely picks, Coach Val's team had a quality draft. She just has to hope that no one in the starting lineup gets hurt. Grade: B+
3. Baltimorons: How Hines Ward and Willie Parker made it on to a team from Baltimore, I'll never know. Coach Drew also picked up a triumvirate of QBs, just in case one of them gets too old during the season. Grade: A-
4. Spiked Vipers: The team from the Pacific scored some great WRs. Questions remain, however, about their backfield. And having three Dallas Cowboys on the starting roster. Grade: B
5. Rough Riders: It appears that Coach Bev did a bit of research before the draft. After finishing as the top team in the regular season last year, the Riders look really tough again. Don't say I didn't warn you. Grade: A
6. Lightning: A seven page color-coded spreadsheet of names and numbers (and more numbers) served as the backbone of Coach Thadtotti's draft strategy. The results compute to a pretty decent squad with some RBs by committee. And a surgically repaired QB's knee. Grade: B+
7. Yuengling Brewers: Coach Brew was watching (and updating the league about) an episode of COPS that was on during the draft. Maybe that's why he ended up with T.O. and the Ravens Defense on his team. Grade: A
8. Predacons: Peyton Manning will once again lead Coach Sinkerbeam's squad. But bad news is already trickling in about a few of the other starters. Maybe picking five RBs was a good idea. Grade: A-
9. Misfits: Other than choosing a solid overall team, the Misfits are most proud of including Wali Lundy on the roster this year. It might actually be better if he never needs to see any 3FL playing time. Grade: A
10. ray ray haw: After missing the playoffs for the first time last year and enduring the worst season his team had ever experienced, Coach Haw appears to be back. Rooting for the Steelers Defense on two different levels, however, will be gut wrenching. Grade: A-
11. The Comfy Chair: Our league's defending champion ended up with another quality squad. If Deion Branch would sign a contract with an NFL team it would be even more helpful. Plus, it's good to see Brian St. Pierre at least getting some reps again in the 3FL. Grade: B+
12. Marauders: Coach Hoss has a list of high-flying WRs that have the ability to take over a game. So much so that he may not even need to care about Clinton Portis' shoulder. Grade: A-
Stay tuned for the first predictions from the Comm-nosticator for 2006...


text:
No Pony For You!
Dec 1, 2013 | 0
Growing up I have never wanted a pony for my birthday or Christmas. A jackalope perhaps. That would have been cool.
To Love Anew (Sydney Cove Book #1)
Bonnie Leon
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Religious & Inspirational Fiction | Religion & Spirituality
Hannah Talbot has no one. Forced to leave the only home she's ever known, she works for a cruel employer who brutally takes the one thing she has left–her dignity. When she is banished from London, she is certain God has turned his back on her.
John Bradshaw was a successful businessman whose untamed spirit sometimes wanted more. When he is betrayed by those closest to him, he loses everything–his wife, his business, even his freedom.John's and Hannah's paths are about to cross. Aboard a ghastly, nineteenth-century prison ship from London to Australia, John and Hannah must keep hope alive and trust God's unconditional love.
(also available from Amazon. FR IT ES )
The Dark Side of the Dream
Alexander Grattan Dominguez
Two Mexican brothers, Jose Luis and Francisco Salazar, and their families migrate to the U.S. shortly after the U.S. entry into World War II. The story depicts their struggles as they come to grips with a new, often hostile environment. Later, the family prominently figures in two of the most tragic, yet stirring incidents in Mexican-American history.
The first involves the all-Hispanic rifle company that as part of the Texas Volunteer Division lost its colors at the Battle of the Rapido River in Italy during the Second World War, when 156 badly-mangled Hispanic soldiers were ordered to cross the Rapido River against a known German force of more than 3000 men. Only 23 U.S. soldiers came back, and of those, ten would later die. Yet before the war was over, that unit would win more medals for bravery than almost any other rifle company in all of American history.
The second calamity came in the early 1950's, when some 200 Mexican-Americans, African-Americans and Filipino migrants went on strike in the harvest fields of South Texas. Though the movement was washed away by the winds of history, within the seeds of that defeat were the victories that came a generation later in the San Joaquin Valley of central California.
It is in California that "America—The Promised Land" finally begins to live up to its billing as a new generation of Salazars at last succeed in fulfilling the dreams they had fought for so long to enrich their lives in soul-satisfying ways.
Sharky's Machine
Italy, 1944: A squad of American soldiers on a dangerous secret mission is ambushed and slaughtered . . . and a fortune in gold vanishes.
Hong Kong, 1959: An aging American colonel, haunted by his wartime past, is brutally murdered in a luxurious brothel.
Atlanta, 1975: The last survivor of the fatal World War II ambush in Italy is executed at point blank range in a parking lot.
Blowing away a crazed, gun-wielding drug dealer on a crowded city bus gets police detective Sharky bounced from the narc squad into the dreaded dregs of the department–vice. That's where he stumbles on a high-priced call girl and her pimp who are fleecing rich johns in an even higher-priced blackmail scam. Together with his "machine" of hard-bitten vice squad veterans, Sharky closes in for a big sting. He doesn't count on falling for Domino, his alluring target. Or falling into the middle of the murderous design she's a part of–involving a hot presidential candidate, the shadowy multimillionaire who's backing him, and the ice-cold assassin they're using to wipe out the past . . . before it blows their future to hell.
Un.Requited (Claimed Series #1)
Reese Morgan
Genre: Fantasy | Teen & Young Adult
Across Hayden's neck sat an ugly scar, a vivid reminder of what she'd become. She looked horribly wild, untamed, her eyes too bright and focused, like an animal. In order to keep her family safe from both herself and the enemies she attracts, Hayden must trade a life of normalcy for one of constant uncertainty and threat.
Expecting to find her place among others like her, she soon realizes that even among werewolves, she's an exception. Burdened with constant discrimination and falling into a dangerous attraction, Hayden must struggle to find her footing after being made a pawn in a game between two powerful Alphas.
The Sneezing Christmas Tree
Aaron Kerr
Genre: Children's eBooks | Religious & Inspirational Fiction
A story to read with your family in an hour. A message to learn and live for a lifetime.
When Alice and Tommy welcome a Christmas tree, Emily, into their home, she seems like a perfectly ordinary tree. That is, until the sneezing starts. They soon discover there is far more to Emily than they ever imagined. But everything changes when Alice realizes they may have made a terrible mistake.
The entire family will enjoy this story and its timeless message of the love of Jesus and the unique purpose for which each of us is made.
The Sneezing Christmas Tree is a story you'll return to and cherish year after year.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: User-defined structs with a MATLAB mex function I'm trying to link my C code to MATLAB through the use of a mex function, and I'm afraid I'm quite confused. Specifically, I want to know whether I can use my own user-defined data types (such as the Person struct in the example below). I haven't come across anything in the documentation to suggest that I can, but it would be unfortunate if this were not allowed! Here's what I have in the way of a gateway function:
void mexFunction( int nlhs, mxArray *plhs[], int nrhs, const mxArray *prhs[])
{

 int *inA;
 int *inB;
 const mxArray *people;
 const char *fieldnames[5];
 int numFields, i;

 inA = (int *) mxGetPr(prhs[0]);
 inB = (int *) mxGetPr(prhs[1]);

 numFields = 5;
 fieldnames[0] = "home";
 fieldnames[1] = "work";
 fieldnames[2] = "mode";
 fieldnames[3] = "loc1";
 fieldnames[4] = "loc2";

 people = mxCreateStructMatrix(1000, 1, numFields, fieldnames);
 for (i = 0; i < numFields; i++)
 {
    mxSetField(people,i,fieldnames[i],mxDuplicateArray(prhs[2]));
 }

 makePeople(inA, inB, people);

}
My makePeople function is defined below:
void makePeople(int* A, int* B, Person* people)
{

 int MANHATTAN, BRONX, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, STATEN;

 int i, j, k, p, q, n;
 int count, home, work, mode;
 double* loc1;
 double* loc2;
 Person oPerson;

 n = 5;
 count = 0;

 MANHATTAN = 1;
 BRONX = 2;
 BROOKLYN = 3;
 QUEENS = 4;
 STATEN = 5;

 for (i = 1; i <= n; i++)
 {
     for (j = 1; j <= n; j++)
     {
          for (k = 1; k <= 2; k++)
          {
               if (k == 1)
                    q = A[n*i+j];
               else
                    q = B[n*i+j];
               for (p = 1; p < q; p++)
               {
                    home = i;
                    work = j;
                    mode = k;
                    if (home == MANHATTAN)
                    {
                          loc1[0] = 2.4;
                          loc1[1] = 2.4;
                          loc2[0] = 3.7;
                          loc2[1] = 3.4;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                          loc1[0] = 3.4;
                          loc1[1] = 4.4;
                          loc2[0] = 3.7;
                          loc2[1] = 3.4;
                    }
                    oPerson = Person_new(home, work, mode, loc1, loc2);
                    people[count] = oPerson;
                    count++;
                    }
              }
        }
  }
  return;

}
Finally, here's the person.h file:
 #ifndef PERSON_INCLUDED
 #define PERSON_INCLUDED

 typedef struct Person_str *Person;

 Person Person_new(int home, int work, int mode, double* loc1, double* loc2);

 #endif

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

A: In MEX, MATLAB structures are of type mxArray, which is nothing like your custom C structure Person. Therefore you cant just assign:
people[count] = oPerson;

// people is defined as: mxArray*
// oPerson is defined as: Person

You will have to fill the MATLAB struct field-by-field, the same way you did in the beginning of your code, through mxSetField

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It is an exciting time to join Wakefield College, staff, students and Governors are celebrating following a successful Ofsted Inspection where the College achieved a rating of 'Good' across all inspection areas. Significant investment in our estate enables the College to provide modern teaching spaces which includes the recent opening of our Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre in addition to the acquisition and renovation of another prestigious historic building in the heart of our Wakefield City Campus, which is due to open in Summer 2019.
As the Head of Curriculum, you will have responsibility for the areas of Computing & Digital Industries, Business, Sport, Public Services and Travel & Tourism which are renowned for strong teaching and learning resources. The College is proud to have helped develop many students from these areas into successful professional careers, across the district.
A passion for helping people achieve their potential and progress to further studies or employment.


text:
Huawei P20 Pro Triple Camera Smashes DxOMark High-Score Record
By David Cardinal on March 27, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Huawei, which has been pushing the limits of what is possible with dual-camera smartphones with its P9 and P10 family, push things even further with its new triple-camera flagship the Mate P20 Pro. In addition to the monochrome and color sensor design found on earlier models, there is a dedicated telephoto lens as well. The new camera design is coupled with improved "AI-based" image synthesis and stabilization. All of this results in shattering the previous high scores of 99 for the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, 98 of the Google Pixel 2, and 97 of the Apple iPhone X. The Photo sub-score is even more impressive, at 114.
Unique Triple-Camera Design
It was only a matter of time when smartphones started moving beyond two cameras. While the 16 cameras of Light's device may be a little too futuristic, going from two cameras to three makes a lot of sense. The form factor of smartphones make it very difficult to increase sensor size, or add variable-aperture or zoom to a single camera, so multiple camera become a great way to add new capabilities. Multiple cameras also allow for depth estimation, and make possible artificial Bokeh and more pleasing portraits.
The P20 Pro has a 40MP relatively-large 1/1.78-inch sensor color camera, a 20MP monochrome camera, and an optically stabilized 3x telephoto (80mm effective focal length) camera to assist with zoom. For comparison, the main sensor is almost twice the size of the one in the Galaxy S9, although it's slightly slower at f/1.8. The main camera is designed to bin groups of 4 pixels together on chip, so the output is a more traditional 10MP. The 3x telephoto also provides more reach than the 2x versions on the flagship Apple and Samsung phones. Its 8MP native image resolution is upscaled to 10MP to match that of the color camera. 3x works because the phone can get up to 2x by using a fusion of the two main sensors. The P20 Pro also features laser-assisted and phase-detect Autofocus.
The Huawei P20 Pro smashes the previous high score at DxOMark Mobile
As is becoming standard in flagship phones, the second camera (in Huawei's case the monochrome camera) is used for depth estimation. If the performance of the Mate 10 Pro in this area was impressive, the P20 Pro is well-beyond that, scoring 73 in DxOMark's Zoom sub-score and 70 in its Bokeh sub-scores, which are both eye-openers compared with competitors.
Long-Exposure Stabilization, Slow Motion, 4K Video
Our colleagues at PCMag were able to go hands-on with a P20 Pro at the press event, and came away very impressed by how good even four-second hand-held long exposures looked thanks to the P20 Pro's new advanced stabilization. Rounding out the phone's imaging capabilities are 960fps slow-motion recording at 720p and 4K video recording.
The P20 Pro's less-expensive sibling, the P20, also does a remarkably good job, although it scores lower because it doesn't have the unique third camera. Instead, it has a monochrome and color dual camera like other recent Huawei models. Improved hardware and software help bump its DxOMark score up to an impressive 102 — above every other tested smartphone besides the P20 Pro.
Huawei continues to be enmeshed in controversy here in the United States, so consumers here won't find it the easiest phone to buy. But for anyone who wants the best smartphone camera you can buy, it is looking like that will be the Huawei P20 Pro, at least for now. We look forward to getting some direct experience with it in the field.
DxOMark Mobile
DxOMark Image Labs


text:
FWKBS
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Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Sr.
Biography Lists Also Viewed
Birth 26 November 1845 (Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii, U.S.A.)
Death 7 January 1881 (Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, U.S.A.)
Star sign Sagittarius
Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Sr. (November 26, 1845 – January 7, 1881) was a Hawaiian high chief, who served as Governor of Kauaʻi from 1880 to 1881.
He was born at Waimea, on November 26, 1845 to William Charles Malulani Kaleipaihala Beckley and Kahinu o Kekuaokalani i Lekeleke. His father was one of the son of Captain George Charles Beckley, a British sea captain and advisor of King Kamehameha I, who married the High Chiefess Ahia. His mother Kahinu was the daughter of the High Chief Hoʻolulu. He received a good education.
On December 3, 1867, Beckley married part-Hawaiian Emma Kaili Metcalf (1847–1929) and had a total of seven children including son Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Jr. (1874–1943) and daughter Sabina Beckley Hutchinson (1868–1935). His wife remarried to Moses Nakuina and was later appointed curator of the Hawaiian National Library and Museum.
He worked as a purser on the steamship Kilauea and was later appointed second clerk in the land office after King Kalākaua's accession in 1874. Upon the death of Edwin Harbottle Boyd in 1875, he was appointed the Royal Chamberlain which he served for a time before resigning to pursue business in the booming sugar business on Molokai. In 1880, he ran successfully as a representative for Molokai and Lanai. After John E. Bush resigned to assume the post of Minister of the Interior, Beckley was appointed to succeed him as the Governor of Kauaʻi by King Kalākaua in August 16, 1880, a position he held until his death.
After a period of illness, Beckley died on January 7, 1881, in Honolulu, from dropsy, at the age of 36.
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
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text:
Home News Seddon begins work on £7.5m housing development in Wednesbury
Seddon begins work on £7.5m housing development in Wednesbury
Seddon has begun work on a £7.5 million development, which will see 50 new council homes being built in Wednesbury, Staffordshire.
Developed in partnership with Sandwell Council, it will comprise four two-bedroom apartments, 28 two-bedroom houses, 15 three-bedroom houses and three four-bedroom houses.
The site was previously occupied by a high-rise block, Carisbrooke House and two maisonette blocks which were demolished by the council some years ago.
Duncan Williams, housing director at Seddon, said: "Delivering quality new-build properties that enhance the community together with our local authority partners is central to what we do.
"Friar Park will bring a range of affordable housing into the Sandwell area for local residents and we look forward to bringing the scheme to life."
Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for housing, visiting the site with local councillors said: "It's good news that work is starting on another housing development in Sandwell.
"This is another example of the council working with a partner such as Seddon to increase the quantity and choice of housing in Sandwell.
"Schemes like this are part of the council's wider affordable housing development programme to increase the number of council-owned homes available."
The homes are scheduled to be completed by June 2019.
Previous articleSkanska builds patient bed tower in North Carolina, USA, for USD 189 M, about SEK 1.6 billion
Next articleUniversity of Winchester becomes first UK University to secure green finance for campus development


text:
Mongrel Empire Press
An eclectic publishing house established in 2007
Nonfiction & Anthologies
Twin Territories
Hot Off the Press!
From the Extinct Volcano, A Bird of Paradise
by Carter Revard
Review from Transmotion
BN.com
Carter Revard's newest collection, From the Extinct Volcano, A Bird of Paradise, sings through poetry and prose "to celebrate our creatural selves." Revard draws from a lifetime of experience that started on the Osage reservation during the Depression era and has continued through his role as a distinguished student, teacher, scholar, and poet. In this book, he illustrates how culture, which is not restricted to the human species, has survived through the practice of singing. In showing us this, Revard skillfully blends narratives of nonhuman animal behavior, scientific studies on the nature of language, and literary allusions. From the Extinct Volcano, A Bird of Paradise demonstrates how survival ultimately depends on song.
© Mongrel Empire Press 2014


text:
Analysts Anticipate Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS) to Post -$0.22 EPS
Posted by Danessa Lincoln on Jan 15th, 2022
Brokerages expect Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS) to report earnings per share of ($0.22) for the current fiscal quarter, according to Zacks. Four analysts have provided estimates for Xeris Pharmaceuticals' earnings, with the highest EPS estimate coming in at ($0.17) and the lowest estimate coming in at ($0.32). Xeris Pharmaceuticals posted earnings of ($0.41) per share in the same quarter last year, which indicates a positive year over year growth rate of 46.3%. The business is expected to issue its next quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 8th.
On average, analysts expect that Xeris Pharmaceuticals will report full-year earnings of ($1.26) per share for the current year, with EPS estimates ranging from ($1.40) to ($1.17). For the next year, analysts expect that the firm will post earnings of ($0.51) per share, with EPS estimates ranging from ($0.57) to ($0.45). Zacks' earnings per share calculations are a mean average based on a survey of analysts that follow Xeris Pharmaceuticals.
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Xeris Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XERS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 9th. The company reported ($0.39) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.37) by ($0.02). Xeris Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 382.91% and a negative net margin of 267.90%. The business had revenue of $11.04 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.43 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.35) EPS.
A number of analysts have commented on XERS shares. SVB Leerink upped their price target on shares of Xeris Pharmaceuticals from $6.00 to $8.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, December 31st. HC Wainwright upped their price target on shares of Xeris Pharmaceuticals from $4.25 to $5.40 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, December 31st.
Shares of XERS opened at $2.22 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.34, a quick ratio of 2.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.62 million and a P/E ratio of -1.47. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $2.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.67. Xeris Pharmaceuticals has a 12 month low of $1.77 and a 12 month high of $7.94.
In related news, insider Paul R. Edick acquired 20,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 15th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $2.28 per share, for a total transaction of $45,600.00. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 4.01% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Xeris Pharmaceuticals by 8.5% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,980,367 shares of the company's stock valued at $12,131,000 after buying an additional 234,322 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in Xeris Pharmaceuticals by 29.9% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,963,018 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,749,000 after buying an additional 682,050 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Xeris Pharmaceuticals by 16.9% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,236,595 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,033,000 after buying an additional 178,932 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Xeris Pharmaceuticals by 22.9% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 704,170 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,725,000 after buying an additional 131,207 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Granahan Investment Management Inc. MA increased its stake in Xeris Pharmaceuticals by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Granahan Investment Management Inc. MA now owns 465,049 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,139,000 after buying an additional 14,635 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.37% of the company's stock.
Xeris Pharmaceuticals Company Profile
Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc is a holding company. It offers a novel formulation technology to bring ready-to-use, liquid-stable injectable to patients to remove many associated treatment burdens. The company was founded on May 20, 2021 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.
See Also: Return on Investment (ROI)
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The land of the free also has to respect human rights. Otherwise we should just kill the prisoners because they cost the society too much money.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME IN CANADA; TERRORISTS GET MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PAYOUTS INSTEAD OF THE VICTIMS?


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If you want to protect the files on your computer, as well as your personal information, you're going to need to take measures to defend yourself. Choosing the best internet security software isn't just a case of finding out which is the most popular at the moment. You have your own unique needs, and your choice of product needs to reflect this.
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The services business just isn't what it used to be.
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Jason Maynard, Executive VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, illustrated just how prominent services have become by sharing an eye-popping statistic: Services now generate 59 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, compared with just 27 percent for industry and 14 percent for agriculture. The figures represent a sharp reversal from several decades ago.
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Representatives of thousands of teachers, nurses, and human service workers plan to present a letter Tuesday at the Massachusetts state pension board's investment committee meeting, urging the panel to consider scaling back investments in fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
The letter, a copy of which was provided to the Globe, is signed by the Service Employees International Union, Local 509; two teacher groups; and the Massachusetts Nurses Association. The workers are participants in the $62 billion state pension fund.
The authors said they are submitting the letter because "we believe the board has a fiduciary duty to incorporate climate change concerns into its investment policy decisions in the interest of not only pension beneficiaries, but in the interest of the taxpayers that indirectly contribute to the pension system."
Other groups signing the letter are Divest Our Pensions Now, which says it represents teachers and state workers interested in divestment, and Educators for a Democratic Union, whose members are part of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
The letter asks the retirement system managers to "address the risks of continued investment in oil, coal and gas companies."
The pension fund recently adopted new proxy voting guidelines on stocks, including provisions calling on companies to increase recycling, invest in renewable energy sources, and report on energy-efficiency targets.
It also was among 62 large investors that signed a letter in April urging federal securities regulators to require greater disclosure by publicly traded oil and gas companies of their climate-change-related risks.
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who chairs the state pension fund, was one of six state treasurers to sign that letter, calling climate change "a critical economic issue."
A spokesman for the state pension fund declined to comment Monday.
A 2013 bill filed by state Senator Benjamin Downing, a Pittsfield Democrat, called for divestment from the fossil fuel sector, estimating $1.4 billion in holdings at the state pension fund.
Beth Healy can be reached
at beth.healy@globe.com.
Follow her on Twitter @HealyBeth.


The newly redesigned Local 2507 website will launch in October 2018. This union represents emergency medical personnel serving New York City and all five Boroughs. KC Ellis is proud to be able to work with the members and their union leaders on this website redesign project.


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Later this week we'll be able to pick the first of the courgettes and french beans and the strawberries are still going strong.
There are flowers too - I do so love this time of year in the garden!
Summer has really arrived here - it's turned hot and sunny and Amy and I couldn't pass up the opportunity that came our way last week for a girls only weekend at the seaside. We set off at the crack of dawn on Saturday and arrived with our friends in Walton on the Naze for breakfast.
The day at the beach was perfect and we topped it off with a visit to the pier, fish and chips and an evening at the kids club. It was so nice to get away and relax but lovely to come home again yesterday and see our menfolk who had pottered around the garden all weekend. Although we were only away for 18 hours it felt like a much longer break and I feel very relaxed this morning - hope that feeling lasts a little longer!
We had a busy weekend with a lot of ballet rehersals for Amy. There's only a week to go before her ballet school perform Cinderella at the local theatre and Amy is Cinderella's shadow (as you might imagine she's very excited!) So that meant a lot of sitting around for me - not too bad when you've got a bag full of crochet to keep you busy! I'm working on lots of different bits at the moment which I hope will one day become a collection of cushions!
There was also a little garden time. Everything is growing like mad and there are loads of strawberries ripening.
We learnt our lesson from last year and picked them quick before the birds or the slugs could tuck into them.
Thanks to a generous voucher from a friend I have treated myself to some gorgeous new yarn for a cosy autumn scarf (bought from first4yarns). It's really soft and beautifully marled.
Luckily for Toby it has fixed easily with a dab of superglue or he'd be in the doghouse for sure!


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© 2017 Esquiremag.ph
The Extraordinary Life of Olympic Sweetheart Akiko Thomson Guevara
Akiko, now a wife and mother of three, is grateful for her many blessings.
by Yvette Fernandez
On Akiko: White asymmetrical top, HARLAN+HOLDEN. Her own white shorts. On Sachiko: Her own dress. PHOTO: JOSEPH PASCUAL
Some of Akiko Thomson Guevara's earliest childhood memories involve climbing trees in the backyard of their family home in Paco, Manila.
"We all had so much energy," Akiko says of her siblings, Julia and Josh, and herself. "I was a tomboy, definitely not the graceful girly type."
Today, in the town of Malabrigo, Batangas, Akiko, now 44, easily scoots up a rock that is at least eight feet high.
Woven shorts, FILIP + INNA. Her own t-shirt. PHOTO: JOSEPH PASCUAL
We are visiting the century-old Malabrigo Point Lighthouse, also known as Faro de Punta Malabrigo, one of 24 built during the Spanish Colonial period, overlooking Verde Island, Mindoro, and the Verde Island Passage.
More: Malabrigo Lighthouse: The Story Behind the Philippines' Oldest Working Lighthouse
In 2004, Akiko's father, Marsh Thomson, fell in love with the lighthouse, and, in an arrangement with the Philippine Coast Guard, the family adopted it, overseeing efforts for its preservation. Marsh built a home for his family right next door, where they spent many happy times gazing at the beautiful lighthouse that was designated a National Historical Landmark in 2006.
Malabrigo Point Lighthouse PHOTO: SANDY ARANAS
Till this year, the Malabrigo home was also home to the Thomsons' gibbon, Charlie Brown, another part of the Thomson family's collective memories.
"Our Dad brought Charlie Brown home when I was about five years old. He was a huge part of my childhood," says Akiko. "He lived in a treehouse, and we would spend afternoons grooming him. I would carry him into the kitchen and he would take a nap. He had really long arms and would reach out and carry our dogs by the tail. I always thought I would be a Jane Goodall because of him."
A young Akiko with her pet gibbon, Charlie Brown. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
Earlier, Marsh had lived 20 years in Thailand and had gotten used to having gibbons and other animals about the home. He was assigned to the Philippines to head the U.S. Peace Corps, and later, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
Marsh met his wife, Hiroko "on a plane and followed her around the world," says Akiko of her parents.
Hiroko is a survivor of the atomic bomb. She and her twin sister were infants in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was detonated to end the Second World War. Their home collapsed, and their mother assumed they had been killed. Thankfully, the babies survived.
The Thomson family. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
Julia, Josh, Hiroko, Marsh, and Akiko PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
"My Mom grew up with starvation, and her love language has always been that of service. Her life has been devoted to taking care of people, especially her family," says Akiko.
"Mom is nomadic. She paints, gets inspired by nature," says Akiko. That is how the Japanese Hiroshima survivor and the American Peace Corps bigwig ended up raising their family in the Philippines.
"We were three very active kids, so our parents got us into everything. Piano, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, ballet, choir. And then there was swimming next door at the Army Navy Club. We all took to the water really easily. Swimming really wipes you out, so that was good for our parents. Swimming consumed all our excess energy," says Akiko, who started swimming when she was six years old.
A young Akiko at the Army Navy Club. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
Before long, Akiko was part of the club's swim team, joining meets against other clubs around Manila. When she was 10, she was invited to join the Philippine National team, and at 12, she went off to Bangkok to join her first age group competition.
"I got my Filipino citizenship by presidential decree overnight. It all happened so fast," says Akiko. "My sister and brother wanted to be Filipinos too, but had to go through a process that went through Congress. They were approved in Congress but denied at the Senate. They would've loved to be Filipino."
Not long after Bangkok, Akiko was off to her first Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Jakarta in 1987, where she won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke and a silver in the 200-meter backstroke. A year later, she was off to the Olympics in Seoul.
Akiko at her first Olympics, Seoul 1988. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
"It all kind of just happened. It wasn't planned. I know my Dad didn't have it in mind when we first started swimming, really. It was just to get out of the house, to consume our energy," says Akiko.
In 1990, Akiko and her teammate Eric Buhain were sent to southern California to spend their summer training for the 1991 SEA Games in Manila and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The training program went so well, they decided to extend it, and Akiko ended up spending her senior year in high school in the United States.
At the SEA Games in 1991, Akiko won two gold medals (100-meter and 200-meter backstroke) and two silver medals (50-meter and 100-meter freestyle). Eric won five individual gold medals. The two were the toast of the Philippines.
Akiko during the medal ceremony at the SEA games in 1991. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
After the 1992 Olympics, Akiko found her way to the University of California at Berkeley, not too far away from where her sister, Julia, was studying.
Akiko at the University of California-Berkeley. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
Akiko (second from the left) at the University of California-Berkeley. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
"I majored in Anthropology and minored in Theater. My Mom would say I majored in swimming," says Akiko, who was co-captain of the university's swim team in her senior year.
After her final Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, Akiko moved back home to the Philippines. Not long afterward, she met Chips Guevara through her best friend, Len Cabili.
"We were friends for 10 years before we started dating. I must admit I kept him at arms' length. I had this image of the man I was going to marry, and Chips wasn't him. I thought I would marry an athlete, someone very tall, like me," says Akiko, laughing.
Green top, FILIP + INNA. Trousers, HARLAN+HOLDEN.
PHOTO: JOSEPH PASCUAL
"Chips and I were best friends. We did everything together. Then one day we took a bus ride up north to Palaui. Fifteen hours. And during that trip I decided, 'what the heck, why not give him a chance.' So I let my arm down, and that was that. It was so easy, no effort at all. At that point, we were so comfortable with each other."
Even Charlie Brown, who had always been jealous of males (he once bit Akiko's brother Josh on the nose), eventually warmed up to Chips over the years, and Charlie Brown allowed Chips to scratch him on the back.
On one of their first dates together as a couple, Chips the non-athlete joined Akiko the Olympian in a six-kilometer open water swim across the Olango Channel off Mactan. Akiko says that's when she knew Chips was a keeper.
Three years later, Chips and Akiko set their wedding for April 2009 in Maui, Hawaii, a big beautiful celebration with family and friends. That January, however, Marsh passed away very suddenly.
Marsh Thomson and Chips Guevara. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
Almost a decade later, Akiko's face crumples at the memory.
"We're a very close family, and we were in shock, devastated. It was a very hard time," says Akiko. "Growing up, I had different dreams for me and my Dad. One of them was for him to walk me down the aisle. Another was for my Dad to go on a date with my future husband. I'm so glad we were able to do that. About a year before he died, my Dad, Chips, and I spent a day at the Avalon Zoo in Rizal. It was a wonderful day. We visited a carpenter in Antipolo, and then we had dinner at Vieux Chalet. We were all very happy."
Chips and Akiko ended up marrying in June later that year, in a much simpler ceremony in upstate New York.
"Next year, we'll be married ten years. I must admit when I was younger, I'd always had a fear of marriage. I was worried it would be difficult," says Akiko. "I won't say my marriage has been without trials, but it hasn't been as hard as I thought it might be. Chips has made everything so easy. He is a great husband. Super duper. I just feel so blessed. My marriage, my kids, my life."
Akiko is currently president of the Philippine Olympians Association. She also runs the Akiko Thomson Swim School, which Chips encouraged her to start back in 2011.
"It wasn't something I wanted to do in the beginning. I felt there would be a lot of pressure and expectation because I'm an Olympian," says Akiko. "But Chips felt very strongly about it and said we should do it. It's been very educational and fulfilling."
In the past seven years, thousands of children have learned to swim via summer lessons, physical education classes, and after-school activities. The school also has a varsity and competitive program for children and teens of various ages.
"My boys enjoy swimming, they're very good and comfortable with it, but they're really more into football, which is perfectly fine with me," says Akiko of her two precocious boys, Noah, 8, and Elijah, 6. She has yet to teach her spunky daughter, Sachiko, 2, how to swim.
On Akiko: White kaftan with blue embroidery, FILIP + INNA. On Sachiko: White skirt with blue embroidery, FILIP + INNA. Her own top. PHOTO: JOSEPH PASCUAL
Amelia Sachiko Antoinette Thomson Guevara was born on a special day, June 13, 2016, Chips and Akiko's seventh wedding anniversary. June 13 has always been special to Chips because it is the feast of St. Anthony, his patron saint. (Chips' full name is Samuel Anthony).
June 13 is also the day in 1926 when Jérôme Jean Louis Marie Lejeune was born. He was a French pediatrician and geneticist best known for discovering that Down Syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.
Sachiko was born with that extra chromosome; she has Down Syndrome.
"When I gave birth to Sachiko, something felt different. It was my first Caesarean birth," says Akiko. "With my boys, I walked to the birthing room, but this time my legs were trembling, so I accepted a wheelchair. I kept praying to God to calm my anxious heart."
"When I first saw Sachiko, I noticed she looked different. I asked Chips, 'does she look like she has Down's?' And Chips told me the doctors suspected it. We had to wait almost a month before the blood test came back confirming it. The whole waiting period was really hard because we weren't prepared for any of it. It was the fear of the unknown. I was very worried thinking about what my daughter would be able to do and not do in the future. But God really took care of me. He was watching over us."
Akiko says that just two weeks before Sachiko was born, she and Chips had visited good friend Danny Dimalanta, a developmental pediatrician. They went to seek advice on how to work with children with special needs who enrolled in their swim school. That was how they were first made aware of caring for children with Down Syndrome.
Also, before Sachiko was born, Chips and Akiko had invited a good friend, Rocky Chan, to be one of Sachiko's godparents. Immediately after her birth, Rocky and his wife saw Chips praying and weeping in church. When Chips told them about Sachiko, Rocky immediately linked Chips and Akiko to his aunt who headed the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines. And just like that, the flailing couple had a support group to ground them.
Akiko's network continued to grow. When Sachiko was a few weeks old, a good friend put Akiko in touch with Michelle Aventajado, who ran a group called Best Buddies, where typical children spend time with children with Down Syndrome and other special needs. Michelle also does massage and special yoga with infants and young children.
"I am grateful to have a circle of support," says Akiko. "I think the hardest part was fear of the unknown. But now as we get to know more and more, it has gotten so much easier."
Sachiko is a beautiful child radiant with sunshine and joy. She toddles around the room, her bright, mischievous eyes filled with wonder.
Skirts, FILIP + INNA. PHOTO: JOSEPH PASCUAL
"I see God's hand in everything, and God gave Sachiko to us for a reason," Akiko says. "I'm blessed to be with her all the time. I'm blessed that I have an awesome support staff to help me out."
Sachiko has a full schedule—speech therapy twice a week, occupational therapy, physical therapy, play school.
"She's a very strong girl. It's a blessing she has two big brothers who toughen her up. They kick the ball and she kicks the ball. They love her. They smother her with affection," says Akiko.
"I don't think we ever realize what we all have the capability for until our lives are stretched beyond what we have ever imagined," says Akiko. "Sachiko has opened my eyes to so much more. She has taught my heart to be more tender and fuller than ever before."
"It's like an adventure, being with my kids, watching them grow," she says. "You don't know what's in store for all of them. I'm curious to see what Sachiko's interests will be. She loves music and dancing. Dance is like the purest expression of joy, and Sachiko is pure joy. Do you know what Sachiko means? It means 'child of bliss.'"
Akiko with her family. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AKIKO THOMSON-GUEVARA
Photographs by Joseph Pascual
Produced and styled by Paolo Chua, assisted by April Lozada
Makeup by Patrick Alcober for Make Up For Ever
Hair by George Aliben using Aveda
Additional art direction by Sandy Aranas, assisted by Grace Sacares
Shot on location at Malabrigo Lighthouse
The Truly Rich Lady's Guide on Taking a Better Family Christmas Photo
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olympics,
cover story,


While Social Security, pension plans, IRAs and Keoghs are vital for a comfortable retirement, many people will find it necessary to supplement these with other investments. An increasingly popular retirement supplement is the variable annuity.
An annuity provides a means of reserving certain funds for tax-deferred growth. A variable annuity allows you to select from a family of mutual fund portfolios. You, rather than the insurance company, decide where to allocate your money and how much risk to take.
Several features distinguish the variable annuity as a solid building block for your retirement security. While there are certain minimum amounts for the purchase of annuities and for additions, there are no maximums. This is a highly advantageous way to invest. You may begin with as little as $1,000, and subsequent investments may be as low as $25.
Annuities are issued through life insurance companies. The separate account portfolios (stock funds, bond funds, money market funds, global funds, etc.) are managed by professional investment management firms affiliated with the underwriting insurance company. An advantage of a variable annuity is that your assets are not commingled with the general assets of the insurance company that issues the variable annuity. Through a variable annuity, you may invest in as many separate accounts as are suitable for your investment strategy. You may transfer between separate accounts as often as you desire to accommodate your changing financial situation. Unlike transfers within a family of mutual funds, transfers between separate variable annuity accounts are not taxable events. This flexibility permits the owner to choose the most appropriate investment at any time. Considering your specific situation and risk tolerance, you may choose from a variety of mutual fund alternatives such as blue chip stocks, international stocks, growth stocks, and various bond portfolios.
Since an annuity allows you to delay paying taxes, you pay them at your discretion. If you invest in a mutual fund, you must pay taxes on the earnings of the fund, even if you are reinvesting. However, with an annuity, you do not have to pay taxes on the interest, dividends, or capital gains earned until you either make a withdrawal or choose to receive income from your annuity.
An annuity can provide you with an income which you can never outlive. At age 59½ or older, you can realize the benefits of your annuity without incurring a penalty. You could withdraw your annuity as a lump sum; or you could "annuitize" by withdrawing a predetermined amount every month for several years. This feature is especially attractive to retirees since it provides for a predictable monthly income stream. There are many ways to structure the payments. For instance, you can arrange to receive a fixed sum every month for 20 years, or until you die, or until you and your spouse die. If you die before starting to withdraw the money, most annuities provide that your beneficiary will receive at least as much as you contributed.
Variable Annuities have a variety of fees. The most common being mortality and expense, investment management and rider fees (i.e. death, living benefits). You will want to be sure you are familiar with them when purchasing the annuity. You should also be aware, if you cancel the annuity, there may be insurance company surrender charges that could apply. In addition, there may be a 10% tax penalty on the taxable portion of the annuity if you are under age 59½. It is always recommended you review with your tax advisor.


For many people, the time between the election and the start of the new year is the slowest part of the political cycle. If you have more time over the next few weeks, it's highly recommended to go ahead and get trained on Crimson 3.
While Crimson 2 will be around through the early part of 2019, it's smart to start transitioning as soon as possible and get used to the new platform. Sign up to join the next Crimson 3 webinar on Wednesday, November 28 at 2 p.m. EST.
Crimson 3 is a completely redesigned and enhanced version of Crimson that combines the same features and functionality that you've come to trust with a new user interface, updated dashboards, expanded search, and added functionality. Click here for more on the new features available in Crimson 3.
During this 60-minute training session, the Crimson Support Team will walk you through Crimson 3 to go over new features and show you updates to existing components. There will also be time for questions and answers at the end.


On this website we recommend many pictures abaout invitation envelope sizes that we have collected from various sites bennymarchant.com, and of course what we recommend is the most excellent of picture for invitation envelope sizes. If you like the picture on our website, please do not hesitate to visit again and get inspiration from our website.
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Travel will take you to places. You can go for business purposes. But you may also go along with your wife and kids to a nice holiday destination. You may be able to enjoy many wonderful and beautiful sights in such places. Travel is also said to broaden your thoughts, imagination and even your personal inner self. But while you enjoy the sights, you should not forget to insure yourself with some adequate financial assistance and guidance. This can be done with some good medical travel insurance. This helps to cover for all the medical expenses, which may be incurred in the event of any medical emergency.
The first type of medical travel insurance is known as a single trip insurance policy. This will be just perfect for people, who will be traveling to a specific destination one at a time. When the tourist will be going on a single trip, he or she can sign up an insurance policy at the airport. The person can sign for a specified amount which will be provided by the insurance company when some emergency takes place. The medical expenses will be amply taken care with such an advanced financial aid for the tourist. A single person can also opt to sign up a travel insurance policy for the family, which would travel along.
There is also an option for people, who are going on a tour around different destinations. They can opt for any of the multi-trip insurance policies. These policies cover for the tourists, who will be going to a number of places. Such insurance coverage will protect the individual and his family wherever they go. For such an insurance facility, the tourists have to mainly provide details of where they would be visiting. They should also provide details of the duration of the trips to any of the places listed and specified. This will ensure that the individuals will be protected for a long time throughout their trips to different destinations.
There is also facility for tourists, who choose to stay in a particular place for some time. It might be more than just a month or a week's holiday in a particular foreign place. For such people, a long stay in a place would be for education or even some medical treatment. For such people, there is the option of long trip medical travel insurance. This is perfect for people, who wish to stay for long in a specific place. The people seeking such an insurance assistance should clearly specify for what time they are going to stay abroad. When these details are provided, the people can enjoy some great financial aid and assistance for the incidental medical expenses.
When you are signing up for any medical travel insurance, you should nor forget to check out some important factors. One is that the medical travel policy should be valid for a long time. The travel insurance policy can be extended for more similar travels and trips in the future. Another factor is the coverage provided for emergencies. The policy should provide insurance and financial aid for a number of different accidents and emergencies. In this way, you will be protecting yourself fully without any fail. So, keep in mind to do such checks. You will get the best results as well with your medical travel insurance policy.


With Valentine's Day right around the corner I was looking for some whimsical and practical goodies that I could wrap up in a pretty, but easy-to-ship package and send a little love to some out-of-state family.
These pretty little soaps were perfect! They were easy, didn't take up too much time and I was pleased with how cute they turned out.
Two lessons learned that I would pass on – anytime you use flower petals in a beauty recipe, you should probably dry them first. I did not, and my gorgeous yellow petals soon had black edges developing inside the soap. Also, don't wait until the week before Valentine's Day to purchase flowers – I learned the hard way that the price for rose petals skyrockets by 150%!!
I'm pretty sure that this recipe can be tweaked to fit any holiday or occasion by switching out the scents, flower type and molds. I'm thinking about a summer version with Johnny Jump Ups in a round mold for the guest restroom.
First, put the soap base in a bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. The soap cuts easily with a butcher knife and I didn't have any problems with cleaning the bowl I melted it in later.
While the soap is in the microwave, fill your mold with rose petals.
Next, mix in the sweet almond oil (optional, but makes it a little nicer on your hands if you have it), essential oil (to your smell preference – start with around 15 drops) and almond extract (I didn't put much in, and afterwords, wish I had!) into the melted soap.
Just a note, there is soap colorant that you can purchase. Since I wanted a very faint color, I used food coloring. If you want a darker color, I would purchase the colorant.
Pour the soap into the molds, on top of the petals. The liquid pushed the petals to the top of each mold, so I filled each section halfway, let them sit for a minute, and then finished filling to try and keep the rose petals in the middle of the soaps.
Wait a few hours and pop your soaps out of the mold. Easy!
I used the rest of the rose petals to make a Rose Petal Foot Soak.
I found that using fresh petals was not a good idea, as they did start to blacken in the soap. You can dry them by laying them out on a towel for a few days.


Orange Info Solution is a one stop source for all requirements of contract staffing. Our clients can get single source management for all their staffing requirements. With our help, staffing is made easier, without sacrificing quality and competency. Demand for efficient staff members is ever increasing and companies always aim to fill their core positions strategically by choosing a candidate meeting stringent parameters. This is where we come in. Our expert team members provide efficient solutions, matching the right skills and talents to meet job challenges.


Bring out your inner glow and add a romantic sheen to your favourite features with this must-have palette containing Chloe's favourite hues. Super silky blush and eye shades bring that "in-love glow" to your complexion & lids. To finish off we included a trio of matte eye contour & liner shades that double as brow powders to define.


To gain you new-business leads, we email all your relevant prospects, phone those who have shown an interest, give further information to those that need it, manage all the information gathered and nurture the leads until they are qualified and ready to do business with you.
by nurturing prospects that are not immediately sales ready – because they are at the wrong stage of the buying cycle – with email marketing, inbound leads are generated when the prospect is ready to talk.
Setting up the plan for the year includes making sure all the groundwork for the systems we use are in place, the data is ordered and set up, we've agreed of the key questions you want answered from each prospect and making sure everyone is on the same page.
We'll be getting the emails ready to send, data on prospect customers loaded and the telemarketing team will be working out how best to position the calling for you to maximise opportunities and gather business intelligence. Your first call regarding web marketing has been diarised and your proverbial marketing feet are firmly in the blocks.
Emails will be sent and within 5 days, we will then follow up and speak to your decision makers. It's at this point we will start to build up a picture of how your offering is going to be received. Afterwards we should have a small list of people we need to call back and we're fitting our approach to your specific customers.
The initial results are in, we can see what went well, and what needs improving. We will discuss everything with you and position ourselves ready for the next round.
You can see all the analytics of the send and those who have opened or clicked on your email.
Our message is getting more specific, the 2nd email is prepped and ready to send. Using what we have learnt from the calling we have adapted the approach and we're feeling confident.
We're now in the flow of things and results should be very visible. At this stage, we'll work together and look at areas you may want to focus on that are giving your strongest results.
We're fully entrenched into your campaign and want to keep the results coming in. Your web presence has increased and the messaging all ties into the bigger picture so everything is on point.
A great opportunity to look at what we have achieved, how much business you have gained and how bright the future looks. We'll have an in-depth discussion on maximising opportunities and market feedback to further improve the message and approach.
We'll look at the customers you have gained, and make sure we are replicating the successes as effectively as possible. You'll be efficient in web marketing and there will have been direct benefits gained from your time spent with it.
Everything is looked at with a view to ramp up what went well and what needs to be replicated to further increase bringing in new business. We can scale to your needs in any area. We'll look at the return on investment and hopefully congratulations on both sides will be taking place!
We know what works, what doesn't, how best to get in front of your ideal clients. You've grown and we well and truly are an extension to your marketing team. Now is about ramping up and increasing sales and hitting some ambitious targets.


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Longing for yesterday —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Reflections of yesterday: Simon Canfield and Angie Robinson were in love at seventeen, but Simon's wealthy parents paid Angie and her father to leave town. Now, twelve years later, Angie's got a fiancé and a successful ...
Season of love —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Thanksgiving prayer: Claudia Masters knows that Seth Lessinger is the ONE. Yet, for the love that will last a lifetime, is she willing to give up all she has worked for to be with him?
Finding you again —Macomber, Debbie, author.
White Lace and Promises: Back in high school, Maggie Kingsbury and Glenn Lambert were best friends. When they meet again years later at their friends' wedding, both are surprised by the strength of their attraction to ea...
Alaska home —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Lonely men in Hard Luck, Alaska, looking for women. Our town might be cold, but our hearts are warm. Location: north of the Arctic Circle. Population: 150 (mostly men). But the three O'Halloran brothers, who run a bush-p...
Looking for a hero —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Wedding planner Savannah Charles agrees to a marriage of convenience with cynical divorce attorney Nash Davenport, and romance novelist Bailey York finds the perfect model for her new fictional hero in Parker Davidson.
The inn at Rose Harbor a novel —Macomber, Debbie.
Jo Marie Rose opens the Rose Harbor Inn bed and breakfast in Cedar Cove in order to start a new life, but the inn and its first guests bring surprises into Jo's life.
Rose Harbor in bloom : a novel —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Sequel to The Inn at Rose Harbor. Jo Marie Rose has truly started to feel at home, and her neighbors have become her closest friends. Now it's springtime, and Jo Marie is eager to finish the most recent addition to her i...
Rose Harbor in bloom —Macomber, Debbie.
In Cedar Cove, three women -- innkeeper Jo Marie Rose, young Annie Newton, and high-powered businesswoman Mary Smith -- make peace with their pasts as they boldly welcome their futures.
1225 Christmas Tree Lane —Macomber, Debbie.
As the holidays approach, Christmas tree farm owner Beth Morehouse finds her life taking some surprising turns when someone leaves a basket filled with puppies on her doorstep, and her daughters invite their dad, her lon...
Texas skies —Macomber, Debbie, author.
In "Lonesome Cowboy," Savannah Weston pursues disenchanted cowboy Laredo Smith; and in "Texas Two-Step," Ellie Frasier leans heavily on her friends for support, until her relationship with rancher Glen Patterson deepens ...
Christmas in Alaska —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Mail-order bride: Caroline Myers goes on vacation in Alaska with her two aunts after she is right after she'd just been jilted by her fiancé? But Caroline didn't know that her well-meaning relatives had cooked up a sche...
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas : a novel —Macomber, Debbie, author.
"As the holiday season begins, Laurel McCullough could use some good news. She and her husband, Zach, have been praying for a baby that seems more and more like an impossible dream, and they've had to move in with her be...
Heart of Texas. Volume 1 —Macomber, Debbie.
Silver linings —Macomber, Debbie, author.
"Since opening the Rose Harbor Inn, Jo Marie Rose has grown close to her handyman, Mark Taylor. Jo Marie and Mark are good friends--and are becoming something more--yet he still won't reveal anything about his past. When...
The night we met —Macomber, Debbie, author.
"Starlight : Rand Prescott believes that his chances for happiness are limited because he's going blind. But when he meets Karen McAlister one magical starlit night, he begins to imagine a different future - one filled ...
Twenty-one wishes —Macomber, Debbie.
"Twenty wishes: At thirty-eight, Anne Marie Roche is childless, a recent widow, alone. She owns a successful bookstore on Seattle's Blossom Street, but despite her accomplishments, she struggles to find happiness. With s...
A Christmas message —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Christmas letters: Katherine O'Connor spends her days at a cozy café writing Christmas letters for other people. She's good at making their everyday lives sound more interesting. But for renowned child psychologist Dr. ...
Sweet tomorrows —Macomber, Debbie, author.
"The much-anticipated conclusion to Debbie Macomber's beloved Rose Harbor series, set in the picturesque town of Cedar Cove, Sweet tomorrows is a vibrant and poignant novel of letting go of fear, following your heart, an...
Christmas comes to Cedar Cove —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Together for the first time in one volume, two stories to celebrate the season with the good people of Cedar Cove. In A Cedar Cove After a comedy of errors on Christmas Eve, a five-month pregnant woman, traveling to Ceda...
Brides for brothers —Macomber, Debbie, author.
Hard Luck, Alaska. Location: north of the Arctic Circle. Population: 150 (mostly men!) But the three O'Halloran brothers, who run a bush-plane charter service called Midnight Sons, are heading a campaign to bring women t...


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Are pension rights for unmarried couples changing?
Berwins Blog
When one half of a married couple passes away, the survivor is often left with provisions from their late spouse's pension. At present, the situation is not as clear-cut for unmarried couples – even if they've lived together for several years and have perhaps bought a house together or started a family.
A recent court ruling could, however lead to changes. After an eight-year legal battle, the Court of Appeal has ruled that an unmarried partner can benefit from a deceased partner's pension.
Denied pension rights
The case involved Jane Langford, who had been living with Christopher Green for 15 years, when he died suddenly. Mr Green was a serving RAF officer and Ms Langford had always anticipated that she would benefit from his pension as the RAF pension scheme allowed unmarried partners of officers to receive pension benefits on their partners death. Ms Langford was horrified to learn that she was disqualified under the rules of the scheme as, despite separating from her husband for some 17 years, she had not formalised the end of the relationship with a divorce.
She was determined not to give up, she continued the fight and the Court of Appeal decided that the rule was a breach of her human rights and that she was entitled to benefit under the scheme. The rule in question is a common one in public sector pension schemes and will have important implications for unmarried couples who live together. Those who have in the past been refused pensions, might now wish to bring a claim which could be backdated.
In the past, Cohabitees have had very few rights against the other when the relationship has ended, either during their lifetime or on death. There is no such thing as a "common-law spouse". On death, the situation is a little better but still not clear.
Taking action to assert rights
As seen in Ms Langford's case, in certain circumstances cohabitees can benefit from the deceased partners pension. In addition, it might be possible to bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.
Resolution, the organisation of family lawyers that is committed to a non-confrontational and constructive approach, is actively campaigning for better protection for cohabitees. Resolution proposes a legal framework of rights and responsibilities that each would have to the other. There would be eligibility criteria and the rights that are acquired will be different from those that married couples will have. However, the law would be much clearer, and everybody would know where they stood at the outset rather than having to bring a difficult claim with a potentially small prospect of success.
At present, unmarried couples can enter into Cohabitation Agreements. These agreements do provide some form of protection in a legal system which provides very little protection in legislation. If you are unmarried and living with a long-term partner, I would strongly urge you to seek legal advice and consider one of these agreements.
Danielle Day is Head of Family law at Berwins and is recognised in legal directories Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.
To discuss your rights with an experienced cohabitation agreement solicitor, call Berwins' Family legal team on 01423 543 108 or email Family@berwin.co.uk
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Is the law fit for purpose for cohabiting couples?
Family law trends
Asserting Pension Rights for Unmarried Couples
Berwins News Analysis
Are Civil Partnerships really an alternative to marriage?
Marital status explored
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Q: Force text vertically centred in UILabel I have a UILabel whose size is determined by the distance of the view on top of it and the view at the bottom of it. The height of the UILabel will typically be different depending on the device. It seems that when Auto Layout stretches/crunches the UILabel's height, the text in it clings to the top of the UILabel as if the UILabel had a vertical alignment of text set to top. How can I force the text to be centred vertically?

A: While not understanding the perks of having Auto Layout stretch UILabel:s, I used an extra UIView in the place of my UILabel, and had Auto Layout stretch that one out instead. Then I put my UILabel centre of that containing UIView. No more constraints used for the UILabel. Seems to work great for now.

A: Click on the Label.
In the right side pane, select "Attributes Inspector".
For "Baseline" property, choose the option "Align Centers" to make the text centered vertically.


What is a 0% cash advance credit card? What is the correct way for a customer to use a 0% cash advance credit card?
Many UK credit card customers will know that credit cards allow customers to take a cash advance from the card. This is very often done, by using the credit card in a cash machine, to make a cash withdrawal.
However, any cash withdrawal taken in this way, will be charged interest at the very high rates reserved for cash advances. These types of cash withdrawals may also result in a fee being charged.
There is no 0% interest free period for any cash withdrawals made from a cash machine, using a credit card. The interest rate charged can often be 27% or more, from the time the cash is withdrawn, until it is repaid in full.
A 0% cash advance credit card, on the other hand, does allow customers to make a cash withdrawal using their credit card, and benefit from an introductory 0% interest free period.
A customer can use a cash advance credit card to make what is called a 0% money transfer. This transfers money from the credit card directly into the customers bank account. The customer can then make a cash withdrawal from their bank account to access the cash advance taken from the credit card.
When a cash advance is taken from a 0% cash advance credit card using a 0% money transfer, the customer pays no interest for the duration of the introductory 0% money transfer period. A 0% money transfer is sometimes called a super balance transfer.
Can You Balance Transfer Cash Advance?
If you have already taken a cash advance from your credit card, can you balance transfer that cash advance?
The answer is that you can balance transfer a cash advance. If a balance transfer is your preferred method of paying off the cash advance then you should make the balance transfer as soon as possible.
With the higher interest rates charged on a credit card cash advance, it make sense to apply for the balance transfer, as soon as possible. Balance transfers can take some time to clear, although most are now completed in a couple of days.
It is important to note that with a cash advance, after you have made your balance transfer you may still have a small interest payment to make on the old credit card due to the way the interest is paid.
Remember to check and make any payment required to protect your credit rating.
There are over 80 balance transfer credit cards currently available in the UK. However, credit cards that allow a 0% money transfer directly to their bank account, are now quite rare.
Only a very small number of UK credit cards allowed a customer to make this type of 0% cash advance. Many of the popular cash advance credit cards, that did allow a 0% money transfer to your bank account, have now been withdrawn from the market.
A range of alternative 0% credit cards can be found above.
Customers looking to benefit from 0% cash advance credit card offers do need to make regular repayments. Customers must make at least the minimum monthly repayment to the credit card company on time each month.
The credit card company will charge the customer a money transfer fee. This fee applies for each 0% money transfer a customer makes to their bank account. This money transfer fee is often also higher than the equivalent balance transfer fee.
A 0% cash advance credit card can also commonly be referred to as a money transfer credit card.