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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF PASSWORDS
The 18 September 2019 edition of the Wall Street Journal published a Journal Report entitled "Cybersecurity". They provide an incredible overview of cyber security with a test relative to how much we know about passwords. I'm going to give you the test and to save time and "ink" the answers. I have to say I was somewhat blown away with several of the answers. Here we go.
How often do hacking-related data breaches leverage stolen or weak passwords?
10% of the time
Answer "d"
Common words and phrases are safe for passwords as long as they
Are easy for you to remember
At least 12 characters long and include a number and a punctuation mark
Are in a language other than English
None of the above: they are not ever safe
If you are struggling to come up with a secure password you should:
Use a password generator
Use your favorite song
Use a pattern of keys such as ASDFG on your keyboard
Ask a stranger for his wife's date of birth
Answer "a"
Should you use a password manager?
Yes, they are secure
No, one password can be used to access all of your other passwords
No, often they represent a backdoor scam to collect your passwords.
No, they are for lazy people who can't manage their own passwords
It's a bad idea to write passwords down because
You could lose your scrap of paper
Someone could find your passwords
Alexa can read your writing
Go ahead and write them down, it's OK.
Which of the following is a password once used by the magician, Teller of the duo Penn & Teller, and is it strong enough?
PennStateOfMind
Telleraboutit
Tellereverythingyoufeel
MofoKnows666
You can use the password for more than account. True or false?
True, but only if you have strong passwords
True, but only if you use it for passwords that are not important
Who is considered a father of computer passwords?
Fernando Corbato
Which of the following passwords is the very best?
Ilovecats
EyeLuvKatzs3MeatPlatter
iloveKatz123
EyeLoveKatzs3MeatPlatter!WithAllPastrami
Answer "b"
How much longer does it take to crack a 12-character password drawn from uppercase and lowercase letters, the 10 digits and 10 symbols verses one with just 6 lowercase letters?
62 times longer
62,000 times longer
62 million times longer
62 trillion times longer
On average, how many on-line accounts do people have that require passwords?
Answer "c"
What is the most common way Americans keep track of their passwords?
Writing them down on paper
Memorizing them
Saving them on their Internet browser
How many hours each year do employees spend resetting their passwords?
Roughly 3 hours
Around 18 hours
More than 24 hours
Tagged: Commentary, Computer Hacking, Cyber Security, Knowledge economy
USB DRIVES COULD PRESENT SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO SECURITY
My posts are not necessarily aimed to provide public service announcements but I just could not pass this one up. Take a look.
On November first of 2018, Honeywell released a study founding that forty-four percent (44%) of the USB drives scanned by their software at fifty (50) customer locations contained at least one unsecured file. In twenty-six percent (26%) of those cases, the detected fire was capable of causing what company officials called "a serious disruption by causing individuals to lose visibility or control of their operations". Honeywell began talking up its SMX (Secure Media Exchange) technology at its North American user group meeting in 2016, when removable media like flash drives were already a top pathway for attackers to gain access to a network. SMX, launched officially in 2018 is designed to manage USB security by giving users a place to plug in and check devices for approved use. The SMX Intelligence Gateway is used to analyze files in conjunction with the Advanced Threat Intelligence Exchange ( Exchange (ATIX), Honeywell's threat intelligence cloud. Not only has SMX made USB use safer, but Honeywell has gained access to a significant amount of information about the methodology of attacks being attempted through these devices.
"The data showed much more serious threats than we expected," said Eric Knapp, director of strategic innovation for Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security. "And taken together, the results indicate that a number of these threats were targeted and intentional." Though Honeywell has long suspected the very real USB threats for industrial operators, the data confirmed a surprising scope and severity of threats, Knapp said, adding. "Many of which can lead to serious and dangerous situations at sites that handle industrial processes."
The threats targeted a range of industrial sites, including refineries, chemical plants and pulp and paper facilities around the world. About one in six of the threats specifically targeted industrial control systems (ICSs) or Internet of Things (IoT) devices. (DEFINITION OF IoT: The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the use of intelligently connected devices and systems to leverage data gathered by embedded sensors and actuators in machines and other physical objects. In other words, the IoT (Internet of Things) can be called to any of the physical objects connected with network.)
Among the threats detected, fifteen percent (15%) were high-profile, well-known issues such as Triton, Mirai and WannaCry, as well as variants of Stuxnet. Though these threats have been known to be in the wild, what the Honeywell Industry Cyber Security team considered worrisome was the fact that these threats were trying to get into industrial control facilities through removable storage devices in a relatively high density.
"That high-potency threats were at all prevalent on USB drives bound for industrial control facility use is the first concern. As ICS security experts are well aware, it only takes one instance of malware bypassing security defenses to rapidly execute a successful, widespread attack," Honeywell's report noted. "Second, the findings also confirm that such threats do exist in the wild, as the high-potency malware was detected among day-to-day routine traffic, not pure research labs or test environments. Finally, as historical trends have shown, newly emerging threat techniques such as Triton, which target safety instrumented systems, can provoke copycat attackers. Although more difficult and sophisticated to accomplish, such newer threat approaches can indicate the beginnings of a new wave of derivative or copycat attacks."
In comparative tests, up to eleven percent (11%) of the threats discovered were not reliably detected by more traditional anti-malware technology. Although the type and behavior of the malware detected varied considerably, trojans—which can be spread very effectively through USB devices—accounted for fifty-five percent (55%) of the malicious files. Other malware types discovered included bots (eleven percent), hack-tools (six percent) and potentially unwanted applications (five percent).
"Customers already know these threats exist, but many believe they aren't the targets of these high-profile attacks," Knapp said. "This data shows otherwise and underscores the need for advanced systems to detect these threats."
CONCLUSION: Some companies and organizations have outlawed USB drives entirely for obvious reasons. Also, there is some indication that companies, generally off-shore, have purposely embedded malware within USB drives to access information on a random level. It becomes imperative that we take great care in choosing vendors providing USB drives and other external means of capturing data. You can never be too safe.
Filed in Business, Cielo Technologies, Commentary, Communication, COMPUTERS, Cyber Securirty, GLOBAL INTERNET AND COMMERCE, Global Technology, Global Threats, HACKING, Internet Hacking
Tagged: Business, Commentary, Computer Hacking, Internet Security, Knowledge economy, Malware
MOST HATED COMPANIES
The list of the "most hated American companies" was provided by KATE GIBSON in the MONEYWATCH web site, February 1, 2018, 2:20 PM. The text and narrative is this author's.
Corporate America is sometimes, but not always, blamed for a number of misdeeds, swindles, "let's bash the little guy", etc. behavior. Many times, those charges are warranted. You get the picture. Given below, is a very quick list of the twenty (20) most hated U.S. companies. This list is according to 24/7 Wall St., which took customer surveys, employee reviews and news events into account in devising its list: ( I might mention the list is in descending order so the most-egregious offender is at the bottom.
The Weinstein Company. I think we can all understand this one but I strongly believe most of the employees of The Weinstein Company are honest hard-working individuals who do their job on a daily basis. One big problem—you CANNOT tell me the word did not get around relative to Weinstein's activities. Those who knew are definitely complicit and should be ashamed of themselves. This includes those holier-than-thou- actresses and actors pretending not-to-know.
United Airlines. The Chicago-based carrier is still in the dog housewith customers after a video of a passenger being forcibly removed from his seat on an overbooked flight went viral last year. You simply do NOT treat individuals, much less customers, in the manner in which this guy was treated. I wonder how much money United has lost due to the video?
Fake news, deceptive ads, invasion of privacy. You get the picture and YET millions subscribe. This post will be hyperlinked to Facebook to improve readership. That's about the only reason I use the website.
I don't really know these birds but apparently the telecom, one of the nation's biggest internet and telephone service providers, reportedly gets poor reviews from customers and employees alike. I think that just might be said for many of the telecoms.
This one baffles me to a great extent but the chemical company has drawn public ire at a lengthy list of harmful products, including DDT, PCBs and Agent Orange. Most recently, it's accused of causing cancer in hundreds exposed to its weed killer, Roundup.
I'm a Comcast subscriber and let me tell you their customer service is the WORST. They are terrible. Enough said.
I have taken Uber multiple times with great success but there are individuals who have been harassed. Hit by complaints of sexual harassment at the company and a video of its then-CEO Travis Kalanick arguing with an Uber driver, the company last year faced a slew of lawsuit and saw 13 executives resign, including Kalanick.
Sears Holdings. Sears plans to close more than one hundred (100) additional stores through the spring of 2018, with the count of Sears and Kmart stores already down to under 1,300 from 3,467 in 2007. Apparently, customer satisfaction is a huge problem also. The retail giant needs a facelift and considerable management help to stay viable in this digital on-line-ordering world.
Trump Organization. At this point in time, Donald Trumpis the least popular president in U.S. history, with a thirty-five (35) percent approval rating at the end of December. That disapproval extends to the Trump brand, which includes golf courses, a hotel chain and real estate holdings around the globe. One again, I suspect that most of the employees working for "the Donald" are honest hard-working individuals.
Wells Fargo. At one time, I had a Wells Fargo business account. NEVER AGAIN. I won't go into detail.
The insurance industry is not exactly beloved, and allegations of fraud have not helped Cigna's case. Multiple lawsuits allege the company inflated medical costs and overcharged customers.
Spirit Airlines. I've flown Spirit Airlines and you get what you pay for. I do not know why customers do not know that but it is always the case. You want to be treated fairly, fly with other carriers.
Vice Media The media organization has lately been roiled by allegations of systemic sexual harassment, dating back to 2003. One of these day some bright individual in the corporate offices will understand you must value your employees.
The telecom gets knocked for poor customer experiences that could in part be due to service, with Sprint getting low grades for speed and data, as well as calling, texting and overall reliability.
Foxconn Technology Group. Once again, I'm not that familiar with Foxconn Technology Group. The company makes and assembles consumer electronics for entities including Apple and Nintendo. It's also caught attention for poor working and living conditions after a series of employee suicides at a compound in China. It recently drew negative press for a planned complex in Wisconsin.
Electronic Arts. The video-game maker known for its successful franchises is also viewed poorly by gamers for buying smaller studios or operations for a specific game and then taking away its originality.
University of Phoenix. I would expect every potential student wishing to go on-line for training courses do their homework relative to the most-desirable provider. The University of Phoenix does a commendable job in advertising but apparently there are multiple complaints concerning the quality of services.
I'm a little burned out with the NFL right now. My Falcons and Titans have had a rough year and I'm ready to move on to baseball. Each club sets their own spring training reporting dates each year, though all camps open the same week. Pitchers and catchers always arrive first. The position players don't have to show up until a few days later. Here are this year's reporting dates for the 15 Cactus League teams, the teams that hold spring training in Arizona.
Fox Entertainment Group. If you do not like the channel—do something else. I bounce back and forth across the various schedules to find something I really obtain value-added from. The Food Network, the History Channel, SEC Network. You choose. There are hundreds of channels to take a look at.
The consumer credit reporting was hit by a massive hack last year, exposing the personal data of more than 145 million Americans and putting them at risk of identity theft. Arguably worse, the company sat on the information for a month before letting the public know.
CONCLUSIONS: In looking at this survey, there are companies that deserve their most-hated-status and, in my opinion, some that do not. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As always, I welcome your comments.
Filed in Aircraft, BANKS, Baseball, Business, Cielo Technologies, Commentary, Communication, Culture, Cyber Securirty, Education, Finances, Food, Freedom of the Press, GLOBAL INTERNET AND COMMERCE, Global Threats, HACKING, Internet, Internet Hacking, Management, Privacy Concerns, Technical Writing
Tagged: Business, Commentary, Communication, Computer Hacking, Education, Knowledge economy, Telcoms


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Black takes gold and silver in World Seniors
Christine Black made up for her final disappointment of two years ago when she lifted the 60+ women's doubles title with Dutch partner Marjan Ridder at the BWF World Senior Championships in Helsingborg this afternoon.
The pair, who were runners-up in the 55+ in 2013 when top seeds, lived up to their No.1 seeding this week when they defeated Marguerite Butt and Ann Hurst 21-16 21-8. It meant they took the title without dropping a game.
But Black, who had reached the women's singles final without dropping a game, missed out on a golden double when the second seed was outplayed 21-15 21-19 by England's Christine Crossley.
Even so, Black, the only woman in the Scotland squad, comes home with two more medals to add to her already glittering array of senior successes. But Ridder takes home two golds after she and husband Rob won the mixed, beating England's Hurst and Graham Holt 21-13 21-10.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Inigo Martinez has accused Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay of blocking a move to Manchester City, after a transfer to Barcelona also fell through.
The centre-back caused a stir when he left Anoeta to join Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao in January as a replacement for Aymeric Laporte, who had joined City for a fee of €65 million (£57m/$76m).
Martinez had himself been linked with a move to the Premier League club, while it had looked likely he would join Barca in the previous transfer window only for the deal to collapse at the last moment.
The 27-year-old thinks the interest from Camp Nou cooled because of "internal" disagreements at the club, but he has laid the blame for his failed City switch at the feet of Aperribay.
"You see they [City] are really interested, they give the 'okay', but strange things happen," he told Diario de Gipuzkoa . "You're already pissed off and you wonder if it's chance. Well, no, it wasn't chance.
"The same thing happened with Barcelona, it seemed. If I was annoyed before, that finished me. The 'no' from Barcelona wasn't because of a Real issue, although they tried, but because of an internal issue at Barca.
"Here, though, the non-consideration on City's part was motivated 100 per cent by some position at Real that I prefer not to comment on."
Martinez's reported €32m (£28m/$37m) switch to Athletic caused great bitterness at his former club, who offered fans the chance to exchange any shirts bearing the player's name for a new jersey with the name of their choice.
Animosity among fans was increased when Martinez claimed he could not refuse the salary increase offered by Athletic and took a swipe at Sociedad's ambitions, adding: "I'm going to a big club; here, it's not enough to finish mid-table."
Now, the Spain international says he was also motivated to leave the club because Aperribay did not do enough to convince him to stay.
"He knew what might happen and it seemed as though he was the only person who didn't know or didn't want to know. He spoke to my people as if nothing was going on," he explained.
"It was another case of feeling deceived because at no point did he say: 'Let's get together tomorrow and talk'. Elsewhere, he was saying how important I was and how much he wanted me to stay, that I was a pillar of La Real… but in the end it was just talk and he didn't do anything. Or he just buried his head in the sand.
"But it was another kick in the arse because I could see that he wasn't going to do anything to try and persuade me to stay at Real Sociedad."
Martinez added: "He closed the door on me when he had always said that, if an offer came in, he'd listen to it. He didn't keep his promise and that annoyed me. I could see that the way I was being treated was completely different to other players.
"You take these things on board and there comes a moment when you have to make a decision. I'm a defender, I came through the ranks and they got a good price for me. Others have left for nothing and they've patted them on the back."


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Q: ASLR and NX-bit in modern Windows? How is NX-bit protection turned off when the attacker gains control over the instruction pointer in Windows on x86-64, protected with both NX-bit and ASLR? I'm assuming that the system call to disable this feature is simply at a non-ASLRed address, and can be called directly?
It seems that heap spraying is frequently used to exploit modern Windows machines (e.g. with bugs in Javascript implementations), obviously this entails an executable heap, so how is the heap made executable prior to the heap spray? Is there some paper that clearly shows how this is done, on Windows?

A: Usually exploits involve a ROP attack.  The ROP attack might directly invoke some system call (e.g., to spawn a shell), or might invoke VirtualProtect() to disable the NX bit.
Often one step in the ROP attack is to find at least some code at a predictable location (say, a DLL that didn't opt into ASLR) or to find an information disclosure vulnerability that lets the attacker predict the location of some code, so the attacker can find gadgets at a predictable address.  Once the attacker has the ability to execute arbitrary gadgets, usually it is game over: for instance, the exploit code can derandomize the address of all other functions, such as VirtualProtect(), and then call it.
You ask how the heap is made executable.  The answer is: the heap isn't made executable, as there is no need to make it executable when using a ROP attack.  Indeed, this is one of the reasons why ROP attacks are commonly used.
See also https://security.stackexchange.com/q/20497/971.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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The Standard – June 2012 Share
EPA Perchlorate Regulations
Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency decided to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Recent research has shown perchlorate to have potential endocrine disrupting effects in humans, with possible effects on the thyroid. Given perchlorate levels in water, the EPA has determined that there is an opportunity for health risk due to perchlorate levels.
Perchlorate in various forms is a pervasive compound. Ammonium perchlorate is used as a fuel for rockets, fireworks, flares and explosives. Lithium perchlorate is used as an electrolyte in certain batteries. Potassium perchlorate is used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Perchlorate can also be present in bleach and in some fertilizers. The US EPA has information on perchlorate available here.
EPA has made the decision to submit perchlorate for regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This decision considers input from public comments on multiple public notices (May 2007, October 2008, and August 2009) related to perchlorate. At current time, the EPA has not imposed any regulations on perchlorate levels in drinking water, but begins the procedure to establish primary drinking water regulations.
In response to the analytical community for isotopically labeled standards for drinking water analysis, Cambridge Isotope Laboratories has had a perchlorate standard available in the sodium salt form. We have both an 18O-labeled and unlabeled standards available, as well as many other standards for analysis of chemicals also found in drinking water.
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Turkey's Frigo Pak Becomes PE Target
Published in Latest
With a growing population and booming economy to cater for, Turkey's food industry is in excellent health. But it is also highly competitive and fragmented. Just 22 food and drink manufacturers are listed on the Istanbul stock exchange and there are relatively few well-established brands. The market is dominated by a large number of small and medium sized family run companies, buffeted by widely fluctuating margins.
So while international investors have been happy to invest in food retailing in Turkey, they have tended to leave manufacturing to the locals. Until now.
Frigo Pak, an Istanbul-listed family-owned fruit juice and soft drink maker, last week agreed to sell at 29 per cent stake to New York based private equity investor, Universe Capital Partners.
Haydar Guclu, founder and Chairman of Frigo Pak, said the decision to sell was an easy one.
"We managed 59 per cent growth last year and 50 per cent during the first half of this year and we couldn't see ourselves improving on that in the current climate ," he said, explaining that the company exports around 85 per cent of its production, making it less exposed to the fluctuations of the domestic market.
Targeting exports to markets across the EU, North America and the far east has helped reduce spread risks during the past few years of global economic crisis.
"If you are a reliable supplier as we are, and you have good quality products, you can always find a market irrespective of which economies are growing or not," he said, pointing out that Frigo Pak's exposure to individual markets is small.
Erdogan Cetin, managing partner at Universal, the capital increase involved may be small – it will see Universal invest a minimum of TL10m ($5.5m) this year – but it will enable FrigoPak to invest in new plant and machinery needed to target new markets.
"Food is a core commodity and the food sector is one of our top priorities. The opportunities for food manufacturing in Turkey are huge," he said, adding that Universal was actively looking for other food sector companies to invest in.
"For the time being we're looking at Turkey but if the right opportunities come along we could look at other emerging markets, for example India," he said.
Given the nature of Turkey's food manufacturing sector, Universal has no shortage of candidates to look at.
"Most Turkish food companies are family owned and would most likely be eager to sell if the pricing is attractive enough," said Melda Agirdas, food and retail sector analyst at Istanbul brokerage Ekspres Invest.
But Agirdas warns that, given the cyclical nature of the Turkish food sector, investors must be in for the long haul – and, given that most Turkish food sector companies get less than 15 per cent of their revenues from exports, they will need the nous to help develop new export markets.
She points to the purchase last year by Abu Dhabi investment group Aabar Investments of a 16 per cent stake in Banvit, Turkey's leading poultry producer, at a 25 per cent premium as indicating both confidence in the Turkish domestic market and a willingness to help develop new markets in the Gulf. (FT Times)
So while international investors have been happy to invest in food retailing in Turkey
they have tended to leave manufacturing to the locals. Until now.Frigo Pak
an Istanbul-listed family-owned fruit juice and soft drink maker
last week agreed to sell at 29 per cent stake to New York based private equity investor
Universe Capital Partners.Haydar Guclu
founder and Chairman of Frigo Pak
said the decision to sell was an easy one.?We managed 59 per cent growth last year and 50 per cent during the first half of this year and we couldn?t see ourselves improving on that in the current climate
? he said
explaining that the company exports around 85 per cent of its production
making it less exposed to the fluctuations of the domestic market.Targeting exports to markets across the EU
North America and the far east has helped reduce spread risks during the past few years of global economic crisis.?If you are a reliable supplier as we are
and you have good quality products
you can always find a market irrespective of which economies are growing or not
pointing out that Frigo Pak?s exposure to individual markets is small.Erdogan Cetin
managing partner at Universal
the capital increase involved may be small ? it will see Universal invest a minimum of TL10m ($5.5m) this year ? but it will enable FrigoPak to invest in new plant and machinery needed to target new markets.?Food is a core commodity and the food sector is
adding that Universal was actively looking for other food sector companies to invest in.?For the time being we?re looking at Turkey but if the right opportunities come along we could look at other emerging markets
for example India
? he said.Given the nature of Turkey?s food manufacturing sector
Universal has no shortage of candidates to look at.?Most Turkish food companies are family owned and would most likely be eager to sell if the pricing is attractive enough
? said Melda Agirdas
food and retail sector analyst at Istanbul brokerage Ekspres Invest.But Agirdas warns that
given the cyclical nature of the Turkish food sector
investors must be in for the long haul ? and
given that most Turkish food sector companies get less than 15 per cent of their revenues from exports
they will need the nous to help develop new export markets.She points to the purchase last year by Abu Dhabi investment group Aabar Investments of a 16 per cent stake in Banvit
Turkey?s leading poultry producer
at a 25 per cent premium as indicating both confidence in the Turkish domestic market and a willingness to help develop new markets in the Gulf.
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I've had this site, for I don't know how many years and just now decided it was probably time to do an "about me" page. Well, some may think it's taken me that long to write it because I am into many different things.
First off, I do computer service in Asheville, NC. That literally translates to me doing most everything from building computers from time to time, keeping them running, replacing hardware, rebuilding, networking, sometimes more advanced networking areas, troubleshooting peculiar problems, some website design and webhosting, and the list goes on. I can't really describe everything I do in a given month in one short paragraph.
I also am afflicted with the genealogy bug. For those that know, this is a non-fatal obsession that occasionally goes into remission but when it flares up, it has the victim constantly researching family history. My North Carolina Genealogy and South Carolina Genealogy sites are a testament to that addiction. At one point in time when we lived nearer to the state archives I did genealogy research for hire, but I don't currently.
Among other things, I am fascinated by languages, the last several years I've spent studying spanish on my own. I picked up some copies of a familiar book in spanish and used that to build vocabulary. I also have been diagnosed with Meniere's disease in December of 2007. It's suspected that allergies are my main trigger and I'm currently undergoing immunotherapy (allergy shots) in an attempt to turn the corner there.


These hotels are ready to serve you and your family for Thanksgiving.
There are plenty of hotels in Myrtle Beach offering great specials for Thanksgiving. Many are offering great specials on weekend rates, too! Their chefs are whipping up traditional meals and some southern favorites. Don't spend your day worrying about cooking a feast - the work is done for you!
Whether you're in town visiting or you're a local, there are plenty of places to get a great turkey dinner this year.
Just Off Main is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meal will include Thanksgiving favorites such as deep fried turkey, honey glaze ham, and more, such as white truffle whipped potatoes, cornbread dressing, and other yummy items. The cost is $25 for adults; $12.50 for children ages 6-9, and free for kids 5 and under. Reservations are required and tax and gratuity is not included in pricing.
Join Beach Cove Resort for a fantastic Thanksgiving Feast at Tradewinds Cafe! The buffet will be held from 12-5 p.m. and will include carved meats, a greens display, gourmet mac & cheese station, plus tons of other Thanksgiving favorites included dessert! Pricing is $24.99 for adults, $17.99 for military, $12.99 for kids ages 4-12, and free for kids ages 3 and younger. Your meal comes with water, coffee, and sweet or unsweet tea. Beach Cove recommends reservations for this event. Note: tax and gratuity are not included in the listed prices.
Dunes Village Resort is hosting a Thanksgiving celebration that you and your family can enjoy! This public event includes and all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving Buffet in the Admiral's Room with seatings at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. The buffet cost is $19.95 for adults and $10.95 for children. There will also be a traditional plated meal in the Captain's Cafe starting at 6 p.m. The meal will include one entree, three sides, and a dessert. Pricing for the traditional meal is $14.95/person. Please note that tax and gratuity is not included in the price. Reservations are needed for the buffet.
Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 12-6 p.m. at Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach. A carving station will offer roasted turkey, honey baked ham and top round of beef. Fill up the rest of your plate with a variety of seafood, salads, sides and desserts. Select beverages are included with your meal. The cost is $19.95 for adults; $9.95 for children ages 4-11 and free for ages three and under. Prices do not include tax and gratuity.
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes is offering a great Thanksgiving package including a luxury stay for as little as $387 for a two-night stay for two adults and two children including their Thanksgiving meal.
If you prefer just to eat there, they'll be serving Thanksgiving dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Nautilus Ballroom. The incredible buffet will feature several action stations, extensive food displays, hot and cold salads, a carving board, kids' station and dessert station. The cost is $39 for adults; $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for ages 3 and under. Call now for reservations. Note: tax and tip not inlcuded in price.
Four Seasons Restaurant at Ocean Creek Resort is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet from 12-4 p.m. The holiday meal includes soup, salad, oven roasted Carolina turkey, baked pineapple glazed ham, carved top round of beef with all of the traditional sides you'd expect. A full dessert buffet will also be served with a make-your-own-sundae station! The cost is $26.95 for adults and $13.95 for kids ages 4 to 12. Call for reservations.
Join Prince Resort at 3500 Ocean Grille for Thanksgiving dinner from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy specials like slow-roasted turkey, carved roast round of beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, and more. The cost is $23 for adults; $12.50 for ages 4 to 7 and free for ages 3 and younger. Reservations are required.
Sea Watch Resort will serve Thanksgiving Dinner with seatings at 12 and 1 p.m. in Captain's Cove Restaurant. The buffet-style meal will have starters, sides, entrees and desserts; all of your Thanksgiving favorites and more! The cost is $26.99 for adults; $13.99 for ages 4-7; and Free for kids under four. Gratuity and taxes are not included. Reservations are requested.
The Caravelle Resort is now taking reservations for a delicious Thanksgiving feast served from 12-3:30 p.m. at St. John's restaurant. They'll offer a variety of Thanksgiving foods and other delicious treats. The cost is $22 for adults and $11 for kids 10 and under. Meals include tea or soda. This public event requires reservations and the listed prices do not include tax or gratuity.


Up Front Entertainment Inc. was at the ROM today filming the installation for the upcoming feature show "Raja Deen" for the program "Museum Diaries" for TVO.
This is one of several wall murals printed by Screen Art and applied at the ROM's Raja Deen Exhibit.
ROM curator Deepali Dewan, on the right, confers with Up Front Entertainment's Linda Stregger at todays installation.
Up Front Entertainment's Brad Cherry zooms in on wallpaper he captured today on film.


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Fuel Prices Down in National Capital Again – A Hat-trick
Third time in a row, the fuel prices have again seen a dip in the Delhi region. According to the fortnight revision in the prices of fuel, the revised rates are – Rs. 61.09/litre for petrol and Rs. 52.27/litre for diesel, where petrol and diesel have seen a dip of Rs. 1.42/litre and Rs. 2.10/litre, respectively. These prices will come into effect from today, that is, August 1, 2016. Earlier the prices were Rs. 62.51 and Rs. 54.28 for petrol and diesel, respectively, which were revised on July 16, 2016 with a reduction of Rs. 2.25/litre in petrol and Rs. 0.42/litre in diesel.
This will bring a relief to the daily commuters who are travelling long distances, especially those who get chauffeured in luxury cars. After the three reductions in fuel price in a row, the cumulative decrease in the price of petrol is Rs. 4.56, whereas diesel has witnessed a dip of Rs. 2.92 in total. This is the scene when the diesel vehicles of more than 2000cc engine were banned in the national capital for more than a span of 6 months.
The first dip was noticed in the first week of July 2016 followed by a second dip in the mid and the third one by the end of the month. On the other hand, the months of May and June brought with them 4 successive hikes in the fuel prices, while April witnessed the mixture of both. The decrease in fuel prices is not limited to the national capital as major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Jaipur too have seen a price cut. Here is the chart:
Source:https://www.cardekho.com/
The Indian Oil Corporation Limited issued a statement, which says, "The current level of international product prices of Petrol & Diesel and INR-USD exchange rate warrant decrease in the price of Petrol and increase in the price of Diesel, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with this price revision. The movement of prices in the international oil market and INR-USD exchange rate shall continue to be monitored closely and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes."
Where the nation is on the verge of hitting inflation, we can expect further dips in the prices of fuels. But the situation in the Mayanagri (Mumbai) is about to get tensed as the petrol pumps in the city might run out of fuel shortly in a protest against new directive of the state, which states – 'No Helmet, No Petrol' – which is supposed to get implemented from the 16th of August, 2016. As per the reports from the trusted sources, the petrol pump owners in Mumbai are planning to stop purchasing fuel from the 1st of August, 2016, to protest against the to-be-law.
Source:https://www.icebike.org/
Ravi Shinde, Petrol Dealers' Association, said, "We will empty whatever stocks are at the pumps till July 31, after which there could be a shortage of fuel supply at the pumps." In case the protest carry on for a longer duration can affect 223 petrol pumps of the metropolitan city, which will go dry. According to the work-to-rule protest, the dealers earlier decided to open the petrol pumps from 9am to 6pm w.e.f. August 1, 2016, but after a closed meeting on the last Wednesday, the association has changed its mind and is now preparing to take an aggressive stand by suspending the purchase of fuel at the pumps. However, there is still a ray of hope, as Shinde further said, "In case, the government accepts our demands, we may not resort to this extreme step."
This extreme step was taken by the state government in order to bring an impressive down in the number of road accidents. The Petrol Dealers' Association is of the opinion that the police are not doing their job and, in turn, are delegating the petrol pump attendants to help them (police) out. The Association is also planning to lodge a case in Bombay high court, which can further delay the imposition of the directive in the city. In case the directive gets imposed, the rule offenders will have to face strict fines.
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Two thirds of GP partners in England say their practice feels less financially secure now than 12 months ago, suggesting most are yet to feel the impact of government pledges to reverse years of underfunding.
GP funding in Northern Ireland will rise £3.9m under a deal intended to deliver a 1% rise in GP income.
A new form of NHS organisation may be created to run the NHS's first "accountable care organisations", to avoid tax problems and potentially make them less controversial.
Move is part of the development of an accountable care system.
Dr David Wrigley urges GPs to support organisations in their fight against threats to NHS general practice.
A new programme to help school students understand what 'life is like as a GP' has been launched in Cumbria.
Is there a new NHS villain hogging the limelight?
© 2017 Libre. All rights reserved.


I'm pleased to announce another hands-on, one day accelerated wetplate workshop. You will be taught by two experienced LF and Wetplate photographers and instructors, myself and Mark Sawyer. In Tucson, Arizona, one day, Jan 25th. By the end of the day, you will have learned everything you need to mix wetplate chemicals, pour plates, make successful exposures, and successfully varnish your plates. See the attached flyer for more on the curriculum.
Limited space, first come first served.
2 seats remaining! Please contact me if interested.


When I started putting together this lifestlye portrait session blog post, I quickly realized that I needed to do a Part I and a Part II because there is just so much goodness to share. I posted Abbe's teaser earlier this summer and it's been painful to sit on these photographs for so long because I have been dying to share them, so you can only imagine how excited I am to finally get them up. It's been a crazy summer thus far, full of shoots and new experiences; hence the tardiness of this post, but I couldn't be any more thankful for the people I have met along the way, including Abbe and Ricky and their adorable 'children.' And let me just say this…this was not a 'styled' shoot. Abbe has a style of her own and it's nautical inspired 365 days of the year. She is a true classic beauty and we didn't even plan for Ricky to be in the photos, but he showed up to help wrangle the kids and he just happened to be wearing these shorts with embroidered swordfish on them – seriously. Ricky's got style, too. I just love these two together.
And I can't wait to share Part II of Abbe's portrait session…on the way soon!
jennifer Weems - Nautical lovin'. GREAT photos!
Tosha - Very cute session! I love the location!
Andrea Dickherber - Lovely! I especially love the ones with the scarf. And those puppies. SO adorable!
Catherine from Open Shutters Photography - Love the light and pops of red and blue sky. The dogs are adorable!
Wedding Photographers near Barrie Ontario - Beautiful, such a cute pup!
Rebecca Anne - What a fun session! Love all the different angles.
jenn of hello|inspira - love the last image! and those puppies are way too cute!


text:
support@usa-immigrations.com
✔ Visas
➤ L-1 VISA
L Visa is a unique type of visa that was established to make intra-company transfers easier. If you work in a company that has a branch, subsidiary or parent company in the U.S., and have a transfer there, then you can apply for L-Visa. This visa works for intra-company transfers. It allows executives (managers) and specialty occupation pros to work in the affiliated company. There are two types of this visa:
For executives & managers;
For workers with specialized skills;
L-1 visas are issued for a period of 1 to 3 years. Its extension is available in 3-year increments. But the total period of employment in the affiliated company should not exceed 7 years. The family members can stay in the U.S. with the visa holder during the whole transfer period. The wife (husband) can apply for the work permit. Under certain circumstances, L-1 Visa allows getting a permanent residence status.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Legal employment in a foreign entity, not less than one year over the past three years;
The current company must have the affiliated, subsidiary or parent firm in the U.S.;
The specialist must hold a management position in the current company, possess specialized knowledge or skills;
The specialist must be employed in a management position in the affiliated, subsidiary or parent company in the U.S.
The specialist must be a full-time worker in the current entity.
There are some visa limitations:
L-1 visa cannot be extended after 7 years;
A new employee cannot be transferred if he or she hasn't worked one year over the past three years on the mentioned positions in the current foreign company;
The current foreign company should exist during the entire transfer period;
The wife (husband) and under-age kid(s) of the visa holder can reside in the U.S. The wife (husband) can apply for the work permit. The work permit for a kid(s) is not allowed;
The visa holders may stay in the U.S. as long as the U.S. company is considered the branch, subsidiary, or affiliated one to the foreign entity.
The foreign specialist may apply for L-1 Visa, but he or she must have a legal U.S. company. The L-1 Visa petition must contain evidence of the relationship between the U.S. company and foreign entity, such as:
Annual report;
Financial statements;
Copies of a stock certificate;
Letter from the employer, detailing the employment term, position, job duties, and salary;
Proof that the foreign specialist has worked for this employer at least one year over the past three years on the mentioned positions;
Description of the proposed job duties;
Evidence that the proposed position is one of the mentioned above;
The foreigner that is intending to arrive to the U.S. to open a new office should also file the petition. The copies of the following documents should be added:
Permission for the U.S. company to open a new office;
Clarification of the business relationship with the foreign entity;
Evidence of the financial ability to pay salary and do business in the U.S., such as the size of the U.S. investment, the structure of both companies, the financial state of the foreign employer and their intention to take the position of the executive (manager) for not less than 1 year.
The visa applicant must provide the following documents:
A passport that is valid for more than 6 months after the date of a planned departure from the U.S.;
The picture was taken according to the U.S. Visa requirements;
Page of the DS-160 confirmation and the bar-code;
Invitation letter for visa interview;
I-129 and I-797 form (for individual applications);
I-129S and I-797 form (for collective petitions);
Letter from the employer that confirms the transfer to the branch office or the promotion, including the duties and salary;
Links and contact information of the former co-workers, executives (managers);
Photos of the working premises;
CV copy;
If you have some questions regarding L-1 Visa / intra-company transfers, please fill the form below. We will get back to you at the earliest!
Last Updated 09/25/20 01:46:42AM
Form I-129 | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Form I-129S | Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
Answer a random question about the US Why does the flag have 50 stars? (question 97 of 100)
Because there are 50 states
Because the stripes represent the original colonies
Because there are 50 presidents
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I wanted to get political asylum in the United States, but I realized that it was not so easy. I was ready for the fact that I would have to collect a whole bunch of documents and answer many questions, but this did not stop me. The only obstacle for me was a complete lack of understanding where to start. I accidentally found Usa-immigrations.com on the Internet. All the information you need is there. I easily found and downloaded the form I needed, and also learned the entire list of required documents.
A very useful site for those who want to leave for America and do not know what documents need to be collected and how to arrange everything correctly. I had to face such a problem and I was able to solve it thanks to the site Usa-immigrations.com. All the information gathered here is not only useful, but also very necessary. In addition, the site staff constantly update it, so it is absolutely reliable.
It is not an easy task to issue documents to travel to the USA. Even if you know their entire list, that's not all. To obtain a visa, you must fill out the forms and if even a minor mistake is made, they will be returned to you. At Usa-immigrations.com there is more than a list of documents and forms that can be easily downloaded. Each form is accompanied by detailed instructions on how to fill it out correctly. It is very convenient. I liked the site very much, it is simple and easy to use.
I have been living in America with my family for a long time and am a citizen of this country. I decided to lure my mother to her. I began to find out what documents are needed for this. One friend advised the site Usa-immigrations.com, said that it had all the necessary information. Indeed, here I found out what documents are required. I needed to complete a Form I-130. I also found it on this site and downloaded it. Thanks to the instructions for filling it out, I was able to quickly complete everything and send the documents for consideration.
Спасибо работникам сайта Usa-immigrations.com за их работу. У меня при оформлении документов возникло ряд вопросов, ответы на которые я не мог найти. Я позвонил по указанному на сайте телефону, и сотрудник предоставил мне полную информацию, ответив на все мои вопросы. С его помощью я смог оформить все быстро и правильно.
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Form G-639 | Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Request Form G-1145 | E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance Form I-90 | Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Form I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) Form I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative Form I-131 | Application for Travel Document Form I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status Form I-751 | Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence Form I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization Form I-821 | Application for Temporary Protected Status Form I-821D | Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Form N-400 | Application for Naturalization Form I-131A | Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation)
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Pete Gardiner's Debut Album – 'ASHTRAY BLACK'
by Steve Holley	| Posted on 23/03/2017
So, imagine this scenario. You are given a bar of silver, which has been beautifully polished and shines in the light. You are so taken with this gleaming beauty that you can't stop picking it up and polishing it. Eventually, you suddenly realise that the beautifully produced silver coating is wearing away and not seeming so perfect but, revealed underneath is something so much better: a bar of solid gold. This is how Pete Gardiner's debut album 'Ashtray Black' will affect you: once your ears become accustomed to the perfect pop production, they will start to only hear the poetic lyricism and social comment of this excellent singer songwriter. So much so, that you wonder why you weren't given the solid gold bar originally.
Pete recently posted on Facebook about the trials that life had thrown at him in the time it had taken him to get his album released including heartbreak, alcoholism, moving house and ending up in A&E forty one times. All of these life experiences are poured into the lyrics of every song on 'Ashtray Black'. Even in the excellent opening track '11 o'clock', hidden behind the super catchy chorus and sing-along production is a tale of drinking away his pay check by closing time and alcohol throwing him like a rock to the floor.
I recently had the chance to host Pete in a house gig and when you hear the songs from this album in their stripped back form, there is a searing honesty in his lyrics. Listening to the recorded form, there is a nagging feeling that this may have been lost in production. However, there is a balancing act for a new artist that demands making things radio friendly and having had the opportunity to listen to some of the new stuff Pete is writing, I'm sure he will be around for some time to come. If this album can break into the playlists of local and national radio stations, the catchy production could yet provide the keys to open doors for Pete Gardiner. I hope so.
The album is available now to buy and stream and I'd recommend an early listen. All of Pete's very strong releases to date are featured, and songs like 'Idols' resonate as strongly now as they did when Pete originally released them. Give the songs time to settle and let the poetry wash over you. This is the sort of artist we need to succeed. Intelligent and wordy, Pete thinks he has too many words in his songs for them to be a hit. I hope we have not grown so shallow in our musical tastes that this is true!
The Man In Black once said "you build on failure, you use it as a stepping stone". Pete has taken life's trials and tribulations and the things that affect him socially and poured them into every word. It's no wonder that Nashville is courting this outstanding young artist, after all country music is sometimes described as "three chords and a story". Whilst I love country music and I'm sure he'd be a huge success, it would be nice that he's a success at home. As Pete says, "the cigar's been cut, the champagne's chilled, the poet's pen has been refilled!" Let's hope that's true!
'Ashtray Black' is available to download from Amazon and iTunes, and to stream on Spotify. Check out Pete Gardiner online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and his official website.
New ReleasesAshtray Black Branden Farm country house gig Idols Nashville new album new release Northern Ireland Pete Gardiner Steve Holley
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An advent calendar for justice!
most of us have wonderful memories of counting down the days till christmas with an advent calendar!
we invite you and your children to join us in having an orange advent!
check back after thanksgiving for daily bible verses, color sheets, and questions for families to talk about together.
Excited to take this journey of orange advent with my children and have access to extra resources. Thank you Midtown for breaking through to me and reawakening the heart that believes we can and are called to make this difference in the world.