You can use the packages directly. Since version 2.6.X, Ganesha supports binding only on specific interfaces and has been introduced in the latest RPM packages.
We used this method because we needed a feature that allows binding the service only on specific ports, at the time only available from the latest source releases.
# Press the c, e, c, g keys to create and generate the config and make files.
packages did not work) Install the listed packages before compiling as well.
Configure HAPROXY. A great source that helped with this part.
# Turn on kernel parameters. These allow keepalived below to function properly.
virtual_router_id 80 # Set to last digit of cluster IP.
Configure keepalived. A great source that helped with this as well.
easy to work with using just these commands.
# Default_Log_Level is unknown token??
Path = "/n"; # Path of the volume to be exported. Eg: "/test_volume"
volume = "gv01"; # Volume name. Eg: "test_volume"
Pseudo = "/n"; # NFSv4 pseudo path for this export. Eg: "/test_volume_pseudo"
[root@nfs01 ~]# cat /etc/fstab|grep -Ei "brick|gv01"
[root@nfs01 ~]# mount|grep -Ei "brick|gv01"
[root@nfs01 ~]# ps -ef|grep -Ei "haproxy|keepalived|ganesha"; netstat -pnlt|grep -Ei "haproxy|ganesha|keepalived"
Since you compiled from source you don't have nice startup scripts. To get your nice startup scripts from an existing ganesha RPM do the following. Then use systemctl to stop and start nfs-ganesha as you would any other service.
Enable state dumps for issue isolation.
Samba permissions to access NFS directories, fusefs and allow export.
We can also enable SMB / Samba file sharing on the individual cluster hosts and allow visibility to the Gluster FS / NFS – Ganesha from Windows.
[root@nfs01 ~]# kinit admin # Or the user you permissioned above.
Pull in principals from your IPA / KDC Server.
Configure log rotation for the ganesha log files. They can get big.
Distribute the log rotate file to the other nodes.
Hacked It. Gluster, NFS Ganesha, HAPROXY, keepalived scalable NFS server.
[root@nfs02 n]# ps -ef|grep -Ei "haproxy|ganesha|keepalived"
[root@ipaclient01 n]# df -h .
128 dr-xr-xr-x. 21 root root 4096 Feb 18 22:24 ..
1 drwxr-xr-x. 3 nobody nobody 4096 Feb 21 00:26 .
So we bring the second node back up. And that concludes the configuration! All works like a charm!
You can also check out our guest post for the same on loadbalancer.org!
Alternately, create the keytab entries manually using ktutil above.
Name resolution for the name <URL> timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded.
Ping request could not find host HOST. Please check the name and try again .
Ping request could not find host HOST. Please check the name and try again.
Alternately, stopping the caching daemon (DNS Client) in Services also works. Also check Event Viewer -> Custom Events -> Administrative Events for any failures. After doing the above, disable and reenable the network interface.
After all this, the issue was resolved on our side.
This post is very lengthy and goes over quite a few details on the way to configuring this setup. We document virtually every step including how to build out a GlusterFS filesystem on both physical or virtual environments. For those interested in a quick setup, please skip to the SUMMARY or TESTING sections at the bottom for a summary of commands and configuration files used. If you run into problems, just search the page for the issue you have, as it's likely listed, and read the solution attempted.
FreeIPA replication failes for about 13 minutes with no activity on the first IDM server. Not clear why at first.
Feb 12 10:20:01 idmipa01 systemd: Created slice user-0.slice.
Feb 12 10:20:01 idmipa01 systemd: Starting user-0.slice.
The problem was again with NTP and time/date settings.
[root@idmipa01 log]# cat /etc/rc.local |grep -Evi "#"
[root@idmipa02 log]# grep -Evi "#" /etc/ntp.conf | sed -e "/^$/d"
[root@idmipa01 log]# grep -Evi "#" /etc/ntp.conf|sed -e "/^$/d"
in /etc/krb5.conf. It will then prevent from asking a password. Using the server's FQDN will work without issues.
Note that PEERDNS is set to no. This is important or your config will be overwritten on reboot or network restart. If you can't set it to no for some other reason, simply change the immutable bit on /etc/resolv.conf using chattr -i /etc/resolv.conf .
Meaning your NTP daemon hasn't synced up the clock yet. Give it some time. Then try again.
and the subsequent failure in Promotion of a Server to an Active Directory Domain Controller was due to the two nics on each host having DNS settings other then 127.0.0.1. Two nics were present, one was a LAN and the other NLB on each host. Once fixed, AD DC promotion went along further but still failed.
This ended up being a DNS issue between the two AD DC's. First AD DC had a DNS server as well so had to have itself as a DNS server. So enter first DNS server's IP into the DNS 1 field and enter the router's (usually 192.168.0.1) into DNS 2 field.
The Directory Server detected that the database has been replaced. This is an unsafe and unsupported operation. The service will stop until the problem is corrected.
Restore the previous copy of the database that was in use on this machine.
In the future, the user is strongly encouraged to use the backup and restore facility to rollback the database.
This error can be suppressed and the database repaired by removing the following registry key.


text:
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Assembly (lower house); and the Legislative Council (upper house). The Parliament meets at Parliament House in the state capital Melbourne.
The two Houses of Parliament have 128 Members in total, 88 in the lower house and 40 in the upper house. Victoria has compulsory voting and uses preferential ballot in single-member seats for the lower house, and single transferable vote in multi-member seats for the proportionally represented upper house. Government is formed in the lower house while the upper is a house of review. All members serve four-year terms.
The incumbent Labor Party government, elected at the 2014 election, holds a 3-seat majority in the lower house as of the 1 December 2014.
Prior to 1851 the area of Australia now known as Victoria was part of the colony of New South Wales and was administered by the Government of New South Wales in Sydney. On 5 August 1850 the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Australian Constitutions Act 1850 which made provision for the separation of Victoria from New South Wales. Enabling legislation was passed by the Parliament of New South Wales, and Victoria was formally created a separate colony of the United Kingdom on 1 July 1851.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Parliament_of_Victoria
officeofsecretaryofstate.com
theartofflamenco.com
cultureofcorruption.net
portofnewcastle.org
portofhastings.org
registerofyachts.org
delhischoolofarts.com
ageofdiscovery.net
weightofgoldbar.com
astoryofyou.com
revolutionofthepresent.com
lossofemploymentinsurance.com
benefitsoffailure.com
houseofparliament.net
planetsofmars.com
cityof1000planets.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Defiled, The (2010)
Written and Directed by: Julian Grant
Starring: Brian Shaw, Kathleen Lawlor, and Alden Moore
We are all meat.
Plenty of post-apocalyptic zombie movies have attempted to put us in the place of those who managed to survive an undead outbreak. But how many have asked us to ponder what it�d be like on the other side? What would it be like to slowly lose your soul to the ravages of a virus that has turned you into a shell of your former self? That�s the question posed by The Defiled, an ambitious film that chronicles an undead odyssey.
It�s probably more accurate to say that the �zombies� here are really some sort of infected humans that have become savage cannibals. They�re rather mindless creatures, but they�ve managed to retain some human qualities; for example, they still travel as families. Our unnamed protagonist seems to be wandering the countryside with his own family, and his female companion is pregnant. She eventually gives birth to the child, but she is soon killed by an apparent military strike. This leaves the man alone to travel with the newborn child; during his journey, he encounters a human woman and saves her from a pack of cannibals. Together, they wander in search of an unknown destination that seems to hold out some hope for the man and his baby.
If anything, I can at least say the concept behind The Defiled is interesting. The final product doesn�t work out completely, but there�s some ambition here. I think it must have been a difficult film to pull off, as there is actually no dialogue--only grunts--so it�s up to the few actors to deliver the story. Lead actor Shaw especially does a fine job of conveying a sense of urgency behind the journey he undertakes; there is very clearly something going on in his head that would give some method to the madness going on here. Unfortunately, we never quite can figure out what is going on or what the point of it all is. The ending doesn�t help to really illuminate anything either, and, in the end, it all seems to signify nothing.
Of course, such nihilism is germane to a film like this and has been an effective tool for other films. However, it doesn�t quite work here because the journey itself is just as dull as the ultimate destination; oftentimes, these odyssey-type films work because what is revealed during the trip rather than the end. That isn�t really the case here, as our two mute protagonists just sort of wander around and repeatedly encounter some cannibals and scenes of random violence; there is one nice moment where they happen upon a ravaged church, and the female lead seems rather appalled by it all. There�s a sense of loss felt here that seems to capture what Grant was aiming for with the film; it�s just that most of it is just a bit too tedious and poorly paced to keep its momentum.
The Defiled fares much better from an aesthetics standpoint. The photography is a washed-out, art house take on nuclear winter, and it captures a world that�s faded, which is appropriate for the bleak, desolate tone carried by the film. This also seemingly invokes previous gothic horrors (and perhaps even Night of the Living Dead), and the overall effect transports us to a place that feels otherworldly and even dreamlike at times. It�s just a shame that the interesting visuals don�t have an equally compelling story to match it. Grant could be a director to watch out for if that happens because he has a keen eye behind the camera, and he admittedly does squeeze as much as he can out of this film�s limited concept.
There�s not much to squeeze, though, and this is just another case where the concept outshines the execution. It�s a highly symbolic tale in many ways (with the baby operating as a symbol of hope, I suppose) about what we�ll do to maintain our humanity, which is often a fine tale; however, this doesn�t seem to be the best vehicle for it. At any rate, Chemical Burn Entertainment will release the film on DVD on March 22nd; the disc will boast a nice anamorphic transfer and a stereo soundtrack. Special features include a commentary, slide show, and the film�s trailer. If you�re in the mood for a different take on the zombie film, The Defiled is worth a look, but you shouldn�t exactly be chomping at the bit. Rent it!


Good news writes white they say in the newspaper trade. Similarly writing upbeat songs that don't either go in one ear and out the other, or become ferociously irritating after a few listens, is harder than it looks. Not for Korpiklaani, though, whose sixth album title translates loosely as "party". Their best songs all sound like they should be sung on top of a table, preferably while spilling beer and bothering "wenches" with every stroke of the fiddle's bow. Unusually for a folk-metal band they're better at folk than metal but tunes like 'Vodka' and 'Isku Pitkästä Ilosta' are an (im)pure shot of scuzzy endorphins.


Day 0 to 3 weeks.
My girls aged 8 and 3 have been bugging me to raise quail for a year. I finally gave in. We purhased a Hova-Bator with egg turner from a store on-line. We then won an ebay auction for 45 eggs from a farm in Florida. It was late in the year but we hoped to hatch a few. The hatch was not great but since it was our first time incubating anything we were happy with our hatch. We ended up with 17 chicks hatching. It was kind of sad but 2 or 3 of the other eggs we could hear them chirping but they never popped out. On day number 3 one of our 17 chicks died. The 16 remaining have been doing great. They are hopping and trying to fly at 3 weeks old. I had them in my heated basement but due to the mess I built a bigger pen and moved them to the garage.
The pic below is of the new pen. The pen is 3 X 2 X 18" high. The pen currently has all 16 of my chicks in it but I hope to only keep 8 birds over the winter.


text:
Miami at New England - Sunday, December 29, 2019
MIA 3 7 7 10 27
NE 0 10 7 7 24
AFC East W‑L
New England 12-4-0
Buffalo 10-6-0
N.Y. Jets 7-9-0
Miami 5-11-0
Touchdowns D. Parker 9
Rushing R. Fitzpatrick 243
Passing R. Fitzpatrick 3529
Receiving D. Parker 1202
Sacks T. Charlton 5.0
Interceptions B. McCain 2
Total Yards 310 27
Rushing Yards 72.2 32
Points Allowed 30.9 32
14 R. Fitzpatrick
11 D. Parker
15 A. Wilson
42 P. Laird
81 D. Smythe
63 M. Deiter
70 J. Davenport
67 D. Kilgore
62 S. Calhoun
77 J. Davis
78 A. Pankey
95 J. Jenkins
56 D. Godchaux
94 C. Wilkins
48 C. Munson
43 A. Van Ginkel
55 J. Baker
97 T. Harris
30 N. Brooks
40 N. Needham
21 E. Rowe
36 A. Colbert
8/8/19 7:30 PM ET ATL W 34-27
8/16/19 7:30 PM ET @TB L 14-16
8/22/19 8:00 PM ET JAC W 22-7
8/29/19 8:00 PM ET @NO W 16-13
9/8/19 1:00 PM ET BAL L 10-59
9/15/19 1:00 PM ET NE L 0-43
9/22/19 1:00 PM ET @DAL L 6-31
9/29/19 1:00 PM ET LAC L 10-30
10/13/19 1:00 PM ET WAS L 16-17
10/20/19 1:00 PM ET @BUF L 21-31
10/28/19 8:15 PM ET @PIT L 14-27
11/3/19 1:00 PM ET NYJ W 26-18
11/10/19 4:05 PM ET @IND W 16-12
11/17/19 1:00 PM ET BUF L 20-37
11/24/19 1:00 PM ET @CLE L 24-41
12/1/19 1:00 PM ET PHI W 37-31
12/8/19 1:00 PM ET @NYJ L 21-22
12/15/19 1:00 PM ET @NYG L 20-36
12/22/19 1:00 PM ET CIN W 38-35
12/29/19 1:00 PM ET @NE W 27-24


text:
Q: Correct route for a singular nested resource I have 2 resources, one being a nested resource of another:
parent_resource and child_resource.
This gives me the following routes:
somesite.com/parent_resources/14
somesite.com/parent_resources/14/child_resources/1

However there is only ever going to be a single child_resource for each parent_resource, so to someone using the site this is very confusing. I would like the child_resource paths to look like this:
somesite.com/parent_resource/14/child_resource
somesite.com/parent_resource/14/child_resource/edit
etc

What is the correct way to do this?
My routes.rb
resources :parent_resources do

   resource :child_resource do
   end

end

From the rails guide to routing:
A singular resourceful route generates these helpers:

new_geocoder_path returns /geocoder/new
edit_geocoder_path returns /geocoder/edit
geocoder_path returns /geocoder

But what about show?
My routes generated by rake routes:
parent_resource_child_resource      POST   /parent_resources/:parent_resource_id/child_resource(.:format)                 child_resources#create

new_parent_resource_child_resource  GET    /parent_resources/:parent_resource_id/child_resource/new(.:format)             child_resources#new

edit_parent_resource_child_resource GET    /parent_resources/:parent_resource_id/child_resource/edit(.:format)            child_resources#edit

                                    GET    /parent_resources/:parent_resource_id/child_resource(.:format)                 child_resources#show

                                    PUT    /parent_resources/:parent_resource_id/child_resource(.:format)                 child_resources#update

                                    DELETE /parent_resources/:parent_resource_id/child_resource(.:format)                 child_resources#destroy

A: In your routes, define the child resource using the singular resource method:
resources :parent_resources do
  resource :child_resource
end

By convention, the controller for the child will still be ChildResourcesController, plural.
Rails has a pretty good guide to routing. See the section on singular resources.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
John Horgan says he will work across party lines to find ideas that work for B.C.
NDP Leader John Horgan celebrates his election win in the British Columbia provincial election in downtown Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
VANCOUVER — Premier John Horgan says his majority New Democrat government is open to exploring new ideas that can help shape British Columbia regardless of their political or geographic origins.
B.C. followed New Brunswick on Saturday, becoming the second province to hold an election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters in Saskatchewan go to the polls on Monday.
The NDP's election win in B.C. will see a government guided by strong ideas, not politics, Horgan said Sunday.
"I'll be influenced by good ideas wherever they come from," said Horgan at his first news conference following the election result. "I don't care where an idea comes from, if it makes sense we're going to implement it. That's how I will approach working with all members of the legislature."
More than 500,000 mail-in ballots and 75,000 absentee ballots must still to be counted. But the results on election night gave the NDP 53 seats, the B.C. Liberals 27, and the Greens three. Four ridings remain undecided.
Neither Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson nor the Greens Sonia Furstenau held news conferences on Sunday. Wilkinson did not take questions on Saturday night after making a statement that didn't concede defeat and urged people to be patient in waiting for the final vote count.
On Sunday, Wilkinson sent out a statement on Twitter saying he had spoken to Horgan on the telephone and "congratulated him on his win. The people of B.C. have spoken."
The results show a geographically divided province with Liberal victories in many rural ridings and the NDP winning primarily in urban areas, a division that Horgan acknowledged.
Horgan said now that there is a majority government he plans to spend more time outside of the legislature meeting people across B.C.
"I would have liked to have seen better results in rural B.C.," he said. "I'm going to have to do some more work, clearly, to get to those communities. Clearly, having a majority government will allow me to get out of Victoria."
Horgan credited the NDP win with the party's political vision, saying that mainstream values are New Democrat values.
"People don't think of the world as left and right," he said. "They think of the needs of their family, the needs of their community and I think that's how you build big-tent politics by responding to the needs of people."
But political experts said Horgan's election win was more about the government's handling of the pandemic, which largely involved leaving critical health decisions to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
"I'm not surprised that they got the incumbent COVID-19 bump," said Prof. Kim Speers, a Canadian politics expert at the University of Victoria. "People are tending to vote for the incumbent government if they have done well handling the pandemic."
She said the election result appears to forecast brighter days ahead for the Green party despite winning just three seats, but a period of turmoil and introspection for the Liberals, who lost more than a dozen seats.
"They have four years to figure out who they are, who they want to be," said Speers, who expects Wilkinson to resign or face pressure to quit.
Prof. Sanjay Jeram, who teaches political science at Simon Fraser University, said the Liberals have a leader in Wilkinson who carries too much political baggage from past Liberal governments.
"He brought with him a legacy of the past and that really hurt them," he said. "They really need to rebrand. The rebrand may start with the leader."
He said the Green party, which increased its seat total by one with a win in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, has given itself four years to build its base after posting similar results to the 2017 election.
Adam Olsen, re-elected as the Green member for Saanich North and the Islands, said the party presented itself as a viable alternative to the traditional parties.
He said the Greens worked with the NDP minority government in the last legislature and will likely do so again, but now it will be different for Horgan and the NDP.
"For the first time in his premiership he's going to have to take responsibility for the decisions that they make and not try to shuffle all the ones that are more difficult onto us," Olsen said. "That's going to be a new world for him as well."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Horgan on the victory, saying he is looking forward to working with the premier on the response to the global pandemic.
— By Dirk Meissner in Victoria
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2020.


Dr. Hollmann became Academic Director of the Executive Master in Healthcare Leadership program in January 2017. With more than 25 years in healthcare delivery and medical management, he helps to ensure the quality and relevance of EMHL to professionals across healthcare. Dr. Hollmann is chief medical officer for University Medicine, a Rhode Island-based academic and patient care medical group practice with more than 200 physicians in a dozen medical specialties. He helps define the strategy and direction of the organization in the delivery of quality and cost effective healthcare services; performance improvement activities; and the development of innovative clinical programs. He is assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine in the Warren Alpert Medical School and maintains a geriatric primary care practice in East Providence, RI.


I pay $5.50 for the Blaze Orange model at John McCann's site.
I've become a big fan of that site, have ordered a ton of stuff the past few months. Several shipments. 110% satisfied. I now take the fact that they carry a product as a credible endorsement.
I would have to question the judgement of any company who sells the Burton Pocket "Survival Kit."
You're going to wish you had it after you go through the time portal.
One thing I've found is that the more compact whistles might not always be a good choice for everyday carry due to their durability. I have been carrying a classic Fox 40 on my key chain for a while and while I wouldn't mind a more compact whistle, the classic's durability has kept it around.
I did have one of the Micro Safety Fox 40s on my key chain for a while, but after a month or two the plastic where the split ring goes through the whistle body came apart. I'm not sure what other compact models may have a stronger design, but that one didn't work for me. I've run into similar issues with carrying USB flash drives; the connector to the key ring has to be pretty tough to survive.
Of course I guess it all depends on how it was going to be carried or stored and how rough you are on it. I do still have a Micro Safety in a kit, but I don't carry one.
That said, you can make the classic Fox 40 a little bit slimmer by filing off the extra material from the sides (mentioned here). It is still a bit of a bigger whistle, but it's strong and the minor modification seems to help its size a little.
My player-character has the most innovative pocket size survival kit on her person, the PSP.
For a long time now I have wanted to do real world experiments to compare how each model performs in the field. The goal is to order 5-10 models (two of each), separate the family by a known distance (~500m?) and do double-blind testing.
I like the flat whistle sold by TOPS but if you watch you can find the exact same type of Coast Guard $5.99 whistles for a $1.00 at dive shops or even on peg board displays but you must watch and know what you are looking at.
Don't laugh to much at the Brunton Kit, your right its not but the compass does work and the cards can sometimes remind you of things you already know but have forgotten due to the stress of the moment.
Who would be traveling with just a Brunton "Survival Kit?"
That's seems like a good idea. However, an issue I'm seeing is that some whistles may be preferable in certain environments, while others in different environments. For example, perhaps the higher frequency of a Fox 40 will cut through trees better, while a lower frequency of a Storm Whistle will sound louder on the open water. Perhaps a pea is preferable in certain environments. Who knows? Anyway, a comprehensive test in a wide array of different environments would be interesting to read.
Here's a testing of the Sharx Fox 40. I attended my nephews high school graduation in a gymnasium was filled with about 4,000 people. At the end, the crowd cheered so loudly that it felt right to cover your ears. At that moment, I pulled out my Sharx Fox 40 and blew it. The sound of the whistle was easily identifiable through all the noise. My nephew, who was about 200 feet away said afterward that he easily heard the whistle, and he wasn't particularly trying to hear it. By the way, using a whistle in a noisy crowd is foreseeable for survival purposes (signal a friend, prevent a crime, etc.).
I also have become a fan of this site, everything I have ordered has been very high quality and their service is outstanding.
It's more kit than most people carry.
Most of us on ETS probably don't just carry a Ritter PSK, either.
But we're abnormal. Or exceptional, depending on perspective.


It is consisted of one two-storied main building and six 2 two-storied buildings with 99 rooms in total, set at the complex*s most scenic point. all buildings dispose a lift.... ;the main building accommodates the reception, a spacious lobby-lounge with a satellite tv corner, the -arianthe- Lobby bar for an indulging variety of refreshing drinks and fine alcoholics. furthermore in the same building the -antiope- Indoor main restaurant offers choices of local and international cuisine in buffet style ;-open in low season-. at the pool side the shaded by a wooden pergola open-air restaurant -erofili- Is open day-long -in high season- Starting with an enlarged american-breakfast buffet- At lunch-time a combination of greek and international ;-a la carte menu- Is offered and ending with a dinner buffet that offers exquisite dining options. light and fresh snacks or just cold refreshments are offered at the ;-helios- Pool/snack bar. for the after dinner hours, on the first floor at the ;-asteroessa- Roof-top night bar with spectacular views over the cretan sea and the tranquil atmosphere guests can relax and enjoy drinks, cocktails and tropical fruit juices....... ;the mini market offers a range of local handicrafts and daily international press. there are two parking places one in the front of the hotel and one by the pool area close to the hotel buildings....... ; ;** cjsusv - Classic junior suite with sea view -2-4 persons-, approx 35m2 located on the 1st floor with double bed or -twin beds-, separate spacious living area with 2 sofas and have a large balcony -approx 11m2- Br spacious bathroom with bathtub and wc, a central controlled air conditioning -from 15th of june till 15th of september only-, a direct dial telephone, safe deposit box, a fridge/mini bar, a hairdryer, a satellite tv and music -2 channels-. ;amenities ;* balcony ;* bath tub ;* radio ;* satellite tv ;** dblpv - Standard double-bedded or twin-bedded room& ;amenities ;* balcony&&&&&& Wi - Fi internet connection -in the main building and the swimming pool area- ;internet room ;hair-dresser -up on request- ;car rental ;parking areas ;open air-amphitheater ; ;conference facilities ; ;next to the large hotel swimming pool there is a separate children pool -with fresh water- And just opposite a lovely and full of greenness children*s playground.


text:
MEET NATHAN
ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT
Need cash? Slap a magnet sign on your truck and say you're a roofer. Forget the roof. This is Texas
By Dave Lieber, The Dallas Morning News
What happens after a monster storm? Storm chasers show up from who knows where and charm desperate homeowners in need of a new roof out of that first insurance check. Then it's goodbye forever.
Texas is the only storm-prone state along the Gulf Coast that doesn't make storm-chasing roofers touch a stitch of paperwork. This is embarrassing for Texas, and especially the governor and our Legislature, both of whom could easily fix this longstanding problem. Their inaction allows crimes to flourish.
Unlike hair cutters and plumbers and tow truck companies, no roofers' license is required. No certification is demanded. There's not even a state-sponsored website that offers a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of known honest, reliable roofers.
This type of theft happens every day of the year in Texas, and now there's at least one guy saying enough is enough.
State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, has introduced Senate Bill 1481, which calls for a registration system for roofing companies who do post-storm work. For a minimal fee, these storm chasers would get listed on a state website.
The senator says, "You hand somebody $10,000, and you're not able to look up whether or not they're registered in the state and have a contact number."
It's notable that he mentions $10,000 because I spoke this week with Joe Dickens of Arlington, who gave his roofing company that amount. Then the roofers said goodbye forever. No roof for him.
"He took the money and ran off, OK?" Dickens says of former House of Tomorrow roofing company owner Jorge Garcia.
Dickens is still bitter about being a victim in a huge scheme involving more than 100 homeowners in Dallas, Arlington and Forth Worth. Victims lost a total of $500,000 in lost insurance claims.
For both Dickens and for me this matter is highly personal. We both discovered that storm-chasing roofers often behave as if they are members of a crime syndicate. In fact, my roofing experience changed my life.
The first roofer I hired after a hailstorm 15 years ago got confused and roofed the house behind me instead of mine. He tried to make my shocked neighbor pay anyway.
The second roofer I hired fixed my roof, but then declared bankruptcy, leaving almost a hundred other customers roofless. He was convicted of theft and served prison time.
After that experience, I studied what went wrong and what I could do to prevent it. This is why I created a consumer rights movement called Watchdog Nation that shows us how to protect ourselves. I was my own test case, and that's how that experience changed my life.
Ever since, I've watched storm-chasers pulling off their cons and nothing is done. This is considered normal in Texas, and it was reflected in an eye-opening video posted the other day by the Texas Department of Insurance. The video, called "Winter storm webinar," is available on YouTube. It was supposed to be a primer on how to handle insurance claims like busted water pipes caused by the February storms.
But something surprising happened in this video. Members of the public hijacked the discussion away from burst pipes to pleas for advice on how to find honest roofers.
The hashtags for the video are #insurance #storm #disaster. But they should be changed to #roofers #scams #disaster. Here are the public's questions, and the insurance department's answers.
Do contractors have to be licensed in Texas? (No.)
Is there a way to see if a contractor has been involved in fraud? (Nothing official.)
Is it OK to ask to see their driver's license? (Brilliant idea.)
Is there a place I can get information about my contractor for my piece of mind? (Check search engines to background the roofer.)
Is there a directory we can use to find good contractors? (Again, nothing official.)
How can we stop unsolicited phone calls and roofers coming to my door? (The calls are illegal, and little can be done. For door-knockers, TDI says ask to see their solicitor's permit. If they don't have one, call the cops.)
How can I do a criminal background check on a contractor and his staff? (Try a for-pay website.)
You can see from these questions what concerns the public. All of this could be solved with Sen. Johnson's Senate Bill 1481, and its companion in House Bill 2777.
The bills require re-roofers (those repairing existing roofs) to register their company's name with contact information. Any bad behavior would be reported. Violators could face a $500 civil penalty.
But the same lawmaker who killed the roofers bill in 2019 has told the state's roofers association that he vows to do it again.
Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., D-Fort Worth, stomped on the bill two years ago like it was a snake that tried to bite him.
Romero would not talk to The Watchdog this week. But in 2019 when I profiled his stomping, he told me one reason he objected was because the bill's author was not a contractor. "It really needs to be a contractor," he said. (Did I mention Romero is a contractor?)
Truth is anybody can introduce a bill. But thanks to Romero, two years ago, the bill lost a 99-33 House vote. Since then, more Texans have been ripped off. I blame him.
Sarah Burns, who runs the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, told me, Romero has "already made it abundantly clear that he intends to do the same in this session."
Before talking to me, Burns said she was on the phone with a San Antonio homeowner.
"They hired the cheap guy," she said, "and now they've got a $40,000 metal roof, and it leaks all over the place. They're going to have to move out."
If you're wondering why this registry is such a problem, it plays into the notion, pushed hard by Gov. Greg Abbott and others, that we shouldn't do anything that hurts business. And how about consumers? Meh.
"I understand we like Texas," Burns says. "The reason we're here is because we don't want government in our business. But, unfortunately, this is a situation with no recourse for consumers."
Johnson says his bill has a chance this year because the October 2019 Dallas tornado drew added attention to the crime spree. His bill awaits a hearing in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee. (Want to help? Call chairman Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, and say "Let's move on SB 1481." His office is 512-463-0109.)
The similar House Bill 2777 could use your help, too. It's stuck in the House Business & Industry Committee, where chairman Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, released a statement to The Watchdog, saying: "In terms of this specific measure, I have not reviewed it, but I support efforts to reform the roofing industry to better protect consumers." (Want to help? Promote HB 2777 for a hearing. Turner's office is: 512-463-0574.)
Remember our victim, Dickens? Other victims were not as fortunate as the Arlington homeowner who lost $10,000. NBC5 did a report on his plight. That changed everything.
"You're not going to believe this," he says. "After that, a roofing company contacted me. There was a good Samaritan. He donated my roof. Who that individual was I have no idea, but I would love to sit down, shake his hand and have a cup of coffee with him."
What an embarrassment. It takes an unknown angel to make up for what the Texas Legislature won't do for its own people.
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text:
about carl hart
MY PLEDGE
I am committed to the people who are sick and tired of seeing their tax dollars being used to fund unethical people, which ultimately perpetuates social inequality and does not lead to effective drug policy. A key element of my approach is the use of empirical evidence to guide public policy, even if it makes us uncomfortable. If we do this, we could have more humane and effective drug and criminal justice policies, and a healthier and happier society overall.
Carl Hart is the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Columbia University. He is also the Ziff Professor of Psychology in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry. Professor Hart has published numerous scientific and popular articles in the area of neuropsychopharmacology and is co-author of the textbook Drugs, Society and Human Behavior (with Charles Ksir). His most recent book, "High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society," was the 2014 winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. Professor Hart has appeared on multiple podcasts, radio and television shows including Real Time with Bill Maher and The O'Reilly Factor. He has also appeared in several documentary films including the award-winning "The House I Live In." His essays have been published in several popular publications including The New York Times, Scientific American, The Nation, Ebony, The Root, and O Globo (Brazil's leading newspaper).
Methamphetamine and adderall are the same drug
Dr-Carl-Hart's-TEDMED Talk
Dr.-Carl-Hart-Testifies-Before-Congress-About-Marijuana
He has won numerous awards including Columbia University's Presidential Teaching Award and the Humanitarian Award from Mothers Against Teen Violence. The city of Miami issued a proclamation declaring February 1, 2016 "Dr. Carl Hart Day."
Prof. Hart has testified before the United States Congress and in State and Federal courts as an expert witness on the effects of psychoactive drugs. He serves on multiple national and international committees and boards. Prof. Hart is frequently invited to lecture around the globe; he has lectured in Africa, Asia, Europe, and both North and South America.
SEE DR. HART IN ACTION
"Imagine what your country would look like if all those calling for peace were more vociferous in their calls for JUSTICE." – Dr. Carl Hart
Contact Carl Hart
for invitations, speaking engagements, & questions,


It's two hours before the biggest game of the year. The rest of your teammates are already on the field warming up, but you stay behind to ease the stress. You throw on your headphones, turn up the volume and prepare yourself for the task at hand.
Music and sports: In our culture, the two words seem to naturally go together. But is there an aspect of music that actually benefits the brain during physical activity?
According to neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, a professor at McGill University, there is.
"[With] any athletic activity that involves some kind of timing, music—if it's carefully chosen—can help you to perform better," Levitin said in a lecture broadcast on YouTube.
Levitin studied the brain waves of humans while listening to music, and looked at the effect that it had on their performances.
The same goes for lifting weights and other types of exercising, as the constant momentum of music helps athletes push forward and continue working hard, according to Levitin.
Senior lacrosse player Nicky Bond has noticed the effect music can have on the field and in the weight room.
Music has proven to have such a beneficial effect on performance that USA Track & Field, the national governing body for distance running, actually prohibits athletes from using headphones and other portable audio players on the track for championship races because they see this technology as giving runners a competitive edge.
And in addition to being beneficial during physical activity, music helps the brain mentally prepare for a big game by effectively relieving stress, bringing positive emotions into the mind of the athlete.
Dr. Costas Karageorghis, the world-leading researcher on music's impact on performance, looked at the synchronization that Levitin focused on, but also found that music "may help in the attainment of flow, the zenith of intrinsic motivation," according to a 2008 study that Karageorghis published.
His study focused on the relationship between pre-task music and netball shooting performance of three collegiate players. The players who chose their pre-task music showed significant improvement in their shooting performances compared to those who did not.
"Self-selected music and imagery could enhance athletic performance by triggering emotions and cognitions associated with flow," stated Karageorghis in his study.
In other words, Karageorghis concluded that pre-task music helped the athletes achieve their peak states of motivation before their athletic trials, which in turn helped enhance their performances.
Senior football player Jacob Dayon uses music to bring positive emotions to mind, which help him prepare for the task at hand.
"Music before a big game motivates me, and helps me get all-around pumped up. It makes me energetic and passionate about what I'm about to do on the field," said Dayon.
While music can help "pump up" players before a big game, Levitin also noted that music can help relieve stress before a performance.
"Listening to pleasurable music releases dopamine, and can thus function in that sense as an antidepressant," said Levitin in his lecture.
By acting as an antidepressant, music can calm the body down, relieving any stress an athlete has prior to their performance, Levitin said.
Because music can help to both calm one down and pump one up before a game, there isn't a "right" genre of music to listen to, making it totally depend on the athlete.
As Karageorghis noted, pre-task music that brings positive emotions to the mind of the athlete proves to be beneficial for performance.
This is why people listen to different types of music before a game. Senior lacrosse player Sydney Paoletti, for example, prefers hip-hop/rap music to pump her up before a game.
Yet Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt has shown that listening to Zac Brown Band and other country music prepares him mentally before football games, as stated in his nationally televised Bose commercial.
There are many different genres that get athletes pumped-up before their games. Hard-hitting hip-hop may bring positive emotions to one person, yet something totally different, such as country music, may prepare another person. Overall, music proves to be beneficial no matter the genre, as long as what you're listening to brings positive emotions and thoughts to your mind.
So whether you know it or not, music can enhance your sports performances. The types of music listened to may vary from person to person, yet there is one thing music helps all athletes achieve: focus.


We don't only build custom homes and remodels; we also do a litany of commercial work, big and small. Our clients range from Grand Hyatt Hotel to Kauai Kailani, First Hawaiian Bank to St. Michael's Church, King Auto Center to Kauai Chocolate Company and many more. From building walkways, stairwells and railings to emergency duct work; full exterior facade remodels to drainage remedial work; new metal buildings to ADA bathroom compliance, and everything in between.
We're happy to Discuss, Design and Build for you. A small business with a big heart and a long list of completed jobs and happy clients. Don't know where to begin? Begin with us.
Condominium projects, as a whole, continuously need to be maintained and/or upgraded, especially those near the ocean. Condos usually have an AOAO to stay on top of things, a budget, and a financial reserve for improvements and maintenance of common elements. Individual owners of condo unit(s) where an interior upgrade is called for, can remodel at their own discretion and budget. Below is a snapshot of the type of work needed at condo projects: a pool and decking remodel, parking lot improvements, lanai handrail and gutter replacement, interior remodels, common area stairwell restoration, etc. Hover your mouse over the pictures for a brief description.
Hotel jobs create unique situations because of the nature of working around guests in addition to the nature of corporate bureaucracy. Ultimately the guests' experience is the hotels number one concern. And secondly, but not less important, the hotel as a corporation has a budget and protocol that need to be addressed. We appreciate our hotel clients and are happy to do all jobs big or small including difficult and/or emergency jobs.
This church was re-built after the hurricane using historic photos only. It had boulders for foundation blocks originally. A challenging rebuild to keep the historical look of the exterior with a new interior ceiling that has it's own personality. A must see for the architecturally curious.
Spalling work is internal concrete repair. When concrete cracks due to the decay of the rebar within; foundations, walls, walkways, lanais, structural beams, etc. Most of our work is done on condo and hotel projects on the water where a high rate of decay happens due to the salty environment. In addition, most Kauai condos were built in the 1970's and the life of the concrete stability is at its end. This work is very tricky because of the structural nature of it and should be done by someone who has experience and will do it right. Do NOT put lipstick on a pig in these cases! This is serious work, and can be costly. But the cost of not taking care of it is much greater. Public safety is at stake. Hover your mouse over the pictures for a brief description.


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The Motivation Plus Marketing daily podcast is hosted by John Di Lemme, one of the most highly sought after high-end business consultants & strategic business coaches in the world.
The Conservative Business Journal podcast is hosted by John Di Lemme, founder of the Conservative Business Journal and strategic business coach for over 18 years. John shares real, unbiased news, updates on America and issues affecting the USA, and interviews Americans that are changing the face of America. Plus John highlights ... See More Conservative Businesses that continue to stand up for their values and America's free enterprise system.
Interested in producing record-breaking results in your life and business? Then this podcast is for you! John Di Lemme shares in your face, to the point motivation that will get you out of your Comfort Zone to get you to your next level plus proven, time-tested Marketing strategies that will produce tremendous results in your business ... See More that you've only dreamed of. No rah-rah nonsense! You also won't find old, rehashed junk here. John unleashes Each Day current, cutting edge wisdom that has produced over 100 Million Dollars with his clients including entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, small business owners, blue collar workers, CEOs, network marketers, and various other occupations that are thriving in a so-called bad economy. Are you the next record-breaker? Start listening to the Motivation Plus Marketing podcast today and radically change your life forever!


Van was a wonderful resource. My wife and I were relocating from CA and while we had previously lived in Atlanta 4 years earlier we were having to make our buying decision why flying back and forth to visit houses in only two weekends, one of which was a holiday. Coming from CA we could have easily over spent on a house because we were so used to the high prices. However, Van was excellent at shepherding us through the process. He came recommended by a friend and I have since recommended him to others.
I fear this review might be misconstrued by some to believe I was paid by this agent. Nope! I am excited about doing a review of Van and his wife Jeanne. I say without hesitation that you absolutely will not find an agent that works harder, has a greater level of expertise, and looks out for your best interest always. Van seeks to serve his clients to the best of his abilities and you benefit; this goes as being a seller and a buyer. I know that without following his advice on how to stage my house and how to negotiate on buying a new house it would have cost me more. Wow - that's all I have to say!
Van and Jeanne Purser are a great team. They guided us through the process of buying a new home and selling our existing home within 30 days of each other. Their expertise in the process and real estate in general is extremely valuable. Van's experience and connections as a licensed contractor provided us with a level of understanding beyond what a typically agent can provide and significant savings on repairs pre-sale on our previous home and enhancements to our new home.
Van is like have a 3 in 1 package. Real Estate Agent, Investor and General Contractor. He was very patient with us as we went full circle from wanting to sell our home to buy a lake home on Lanier, to deciding to take our home off the market and search a second home only. Van's expertise as an investor and general contractor came in mighty handy when we found a major fixer upper/foreclosure. Although this was our 8th real estate transaction this was uncharted territory, as we had never been through a foreclosure purchase.
Van advised us along the way and as we got to the bid stage we were well equipped to make an offer. Throughout the process, we were most impressed with Van's meticulous assessment of home values which helped educate us during the process. Van actually was all 3 in 1 for our transaction and the finished product is BEAUTIFUL!!! Thanks Van and Jeanne for always being there for us.
I did not know Van beforehand, so he came over to my house and we spent time talking and getting to know one another a little bit. During the listing and selling process, Van and Jeanne were very good at communicating, professional, and took care of things in a very timely manner. I was obviously very pleased when we had 2 contracts on my house within 4 days. Van and Jeanne continued to communicate via email, phone and text and ensured that everything went smoothly through the closing. I would not hesitate to recommend them for your real estate needs.
When Van helped my husband and me sell and purchase our homes, it was truly an enjoyable, collaborative experience -- like no other real estate transactions I've ever had. Van has valuable insight into the local market as well deep understanding of the financial aspects of home buying and selling. He worked diligently on our behalf and did so in a way that respected all parties involved. Negotiations and transactions were focused on meeting people's needs, not on creating an adversarial atmosphere. His advice about putting our home on the market was spot-on, and he went so far as to give us recommendations for contractors he knew to be reliable and affordable for some needed repairs. The home sold immediately at a price we were very happy with.
I recommend Van whole-heartedly and will definitely use his expertise and services again in the future.
Van Purser was wonderful to work with when he helped us find our townhouse in the summer of 2014. When we first met with Van and his wife/partner, Jeanne, they both asked questions and made comments to help us discover our key objectives in finding the style home, location, price point, etc. Van is a professional in every sense of the word, and he is excellent in coaching his customer to find out their priorities in choosing a home. We can't say enough about the step by step process Van led us through to help us be comfortable in the end result. Go with Van and Jeanne Purser, and you will be glad you did!
I've bought and sold four homes my family has lived in. If I were to choose between the four realtors for another transaction I would pick Van Purser. He guided us through the entire selling process including: how to stage our home, coming up with the best asking price, negotiations with the buyer, and closing. To price the house he provided very detailed comparisons of houses sold/for sale in the area. In evaluating the multiple offers we received he provided side-by-side comparisons of the details including an evaluation of the financial ability of the buyers to complete the transaction. There were NO oversights or surprises in the process. We believe we got the best deal for the time frame we asked Van to meet.
When we decided to start the search for our first home we were recommended to Van and Jeanne Purser by friends of ours who had just gone through a purchase with them the year before. Being first time home buyers we were unsure what to expect and what was realistic given the market. After meeting with Van and Jeanne and discussing their backgrounds and specialties we were quite confident that they would be able to help us find the perfect house.
We began the process by narrowing down what was truly important to us in a home. Van and Jeanne helped us develop a list of what was most essential to us and what would just 'be nice' to have. They went the extra mile to make sure our search was as thorough and informative as possible. It was important to them that we not settle on a house that had a great kitchen, for instance, but was missing some of the more essential items we needed.
When we finally fell in love with a house it happened to be a foreclosure that required quite a lot of updating. Van's background in renovations was vital as we had to decide to buy the house 'as is' from the bank and determine if the plans we had for it were realistic. Once we knew we wanted to move forward with an offer, Van and Jeanne's real work began as we went through a very long negotiation process. The bank selling the property is based in Texas and would sometimes take more than a week between correspondences. Van was relentless in pursuing the bank's realtor for information and making the process as smooth as possible. With the Purser's guidance and patience, we finally got the house we wanted and for the right price!
We have been in our house for 12 months now and are still extremely happy with our home and how the process went. We recommend Van and Jeanne to anyone looking to find a new home, and can't speak highly enough of their professionalism and hard work. We never would have made it through the process without Van and Jeanne's knowledge, expertise and patience.
Van is the hardest working realtor I've ever encountered! He is knowledgeable, sharp, responsive, insightful and of the highest integrity. His processes shared with my wife and I, saved us lots of time and funds. His follow-up continues even after the purchase and sale. A true professional!!
I contacted Van in October 2016 in regards to purchasing our home of 11 years in order to relocate for the North Gwinnett school systems. Our old home was in need of some updating, and my schedule just would not allow for it. Van purchased our old home "as is", which allowed me the money I needed to put down on our new home. Throughout the process, Van's attention to detail is what stood out to me the most. You can certainly tell he is an expert at what he does. He essentially takes the reigns and walks you right up to the closing table.
With 3 homeschooled children, aLabrador, no basement, and a very small backyard, we were experiencing some serious growing pains. Having owned only two houses in the last 11 years, dealing with real estate matters was not something either me or my wife felt very equipped to handle.
The approach Van utilized was completely different than our other real estate transaction experiences. His approach involved knowing what we were looking for and knowing what our objectives were. It was more than just finding out the number of bedrooms and baths. Since my wife home-schools our children, trying to keep our house "show-ready" was nearly impossible. With Van's counsel we were able to structure our deal where we bought our new home first and sold our existing home second. Needless to say, project management skills were greatly needed to accomplish both transactions in a relatively short time period.
On the buying side of our transaction Van's experience paid for itself. Having overpaid for our last house, I was determined this would not occur in our next house. Van did an excellent job of keeping me accountable to this concern. Had we not listened to his counsel, we would have paid about 4% more for our new house. We ended up with a home that met all of our needs and stayed with our stated objectives!!
At both of our closings, he was our representative throughout the entire process. He equipped us to be fully prepared at closing and assisted with any potential delaying issues from the other parties. He was instrumental in ensuring very smooth and timely closings.
I can't imagine using anyone else!
There are not enough words to describe how great the experience was working with Van. We had worked with 2 different agents prior to working with Van, and had no success in selling our house, even though we had above average showings and a few offers. But with Van, we ALWAYS knew where we were in the process, including what his follow up with other agents was, as we followed the strategic plan from start to finish.
No detail was over looked, from posting placards throughout the house highlighting benefits (many agents commented on those to us), to the closing table review of the transaction. For closing Van had prepared a financial statement with all the items in the closing as detailed as the closing attorney. It was easy to know that everything was correct, with no surprises, making it easy to sign the documents with confidence.
Even the other agent commented at the closing table how she had never had as great of an transaction experience as she did working with Van. Our only regret was that we didn't call him first.
Not to stroke your ego, but I'm refinancing my home and just ordered an appraisal. Your estimate of retail value based on the report you produced before we went under contract was around $227K. Well, our house just appraised at $227K. Again, appraisals don't mean as much any more, except for the fact that our appraisal used a comp on our street which sold 2/23/09 for $225K. So with that "perfect comp" you were dead on in my opinion!
You will not find a more quality and trustworthy agent than Van Purser. He goes above and beyond to make sure you get the very best. He has expansive and unparalleled knowledge about contracts, home building , geography, and suspicious behavior lurking around every corner of real estate that is working to make a profit off of you. Van always had our back and made sure we felt comfortable whenever it was decision time.
My wife and I chose Van to help us sell our home in Duluth and buy a home in Buford. Our goal was to sell at a certain price so that we could erase PMI on our new home. Throughout the very detailed process of preparing and showing our home to be sold, Van was with us every step of the way. He made sure our home was listed accurately and showed us his analysis, which gave us confidence as we received our many offers within a few days. Once we sold, we faced a very competitive buying market. We were very anxious to buy quickly after we sold. Van was able to see our eagerness, but helped us avoid impulsive decisions (we wanted to buy one home that would've been a huge money pit). When we found a home, Van (as always) acted swiftly to ensure the quality of the home and worked with the seller to make a quality offer.
Having known Van for 20+ years, when it came time to sell our home I knew I could trust him for advice on how to best maximize the selling price and achieve a quick sale. The results Van delivered were even better than expected. To help in our decisions, Van provided assessments of the market value of our home in as-is condition and with a range of moderate to extensive updates. After weighing the pros and cons of each, we went with his recommendations of moderate updates that would be most attractive to our targeted/most likely buyer. Van's guidance and market assessment proved to be spot-on… on the sixth day of listing we had an offer for 99% of our asking price (which I should add was much higher than we thought was possible before discussing with Van.) Van expertly guided us in turning the offer into a purchase agreement and we closed six weeks later. Again, Van exceeded our wildest expectations!
From our initial discussions to the closing table (a short ten weeks), the process couldn't have been any smoother. Van's experience with and knowledge of real estate shines through every step of the way. Van knows real estate as if he was born with the acumen and I recommend Van for any of your real estate needs.
Just a note to thank you for assisting us with the purchase of our home. I'm sure that many people are a little reluctant to sell their home to an investor believing that they will not be offered a fair price or that they may be subjecting themselves to an adventure filled with hassles. What a shock it was to find quite the opposite. Anne and I have already recommended your services to our friends and will gladly continue to do so. We could not imagine how it could have gone any easier or smoother.
You immediately made us feel very comfortable with your thorough examination of the house and taking the time to explain everything with us. The price offered was more than fair for the market and condition of our home. We especially appreciated the comparison spreadsheet that your provided and meeting with us to answer all of our questions. The entire sale went exactly as you outlined without any surprises.
Anne and I have driven by twice so far and love what you have done and how you have not intruded on the neighbors during the remodeling process. Your professional and personal attention to all of the details made this a very pleasant experience for us. If time permits, I hope that you will contact Anne when your project is complete so she can see all of the wonderful improvements.
My husband and I were looking to become first time homeowners, and as most first timers, we had a million questions! Not only were the Pursers patient and joyful in answering our many questions, Van and Jeanne also helped us narrow down what was most important to us and our future family. They gave us realistic expectations in the home-buying process and were quick to share all pros and cons of each property without "selling" us in either direction. Van and Jeanne are both honest and experts in what they do. We have already and will continue to recommend them to our family and friends. Thank you for making our home-buying experience a pleasant one!
If I could express my experience in one sentence, I will work with him to purchase another house! Great team, fast answers, supportive and he always was there at any time to answer any questions we had and guidance in the process.
We represented the Buyer in this transaction. He was referred to us by a former client that has referred numerous clients to us, even her daughter and her husband. Our client actually was renting the home; which provided some interesting nuances.
One of the hick ups was The FIRPTA Law regarding non-residents. Fortunately there was an exemption that allowed for the closing attorney not to withhold 15% of the sales price; which would be remitted to the IRS.
Around June 2011 we engaged Van Purser of Van Purser and Associates to act as our buyer's agent. At that time we were interested in purchasing our first home here in the USA. Despite owning properties elsewhere in the world we decided what we needed to navigate this process was someone with local knowledge and expertise. Most of all we needed someone who would be ethical and honest. Van came recommended to us by a local friend who had also happily purchased their home through Van.
Van was instrumental in advising us on not only what to expect (from him and others) throughout the buying process but he also gave us the benefit of his extensive working knowledge of what the local buyer is generally looking for in a home. This was important as homes here in Georgia are designed and constructed quite differently to those we have purchased in the past overseas. Van enabled us to make informed decisions whilst viewing properties thus avoiding potential pitfalls.
Once we had decided on a property Van did extensive research on comparable properties that were for sale at that time and those that had recently sold. He spent a great deal of time explaining his findings therefore allowing us to reach an informed decision on the true market value of our chosen property. This research provided the framework for price negotiation and then later supported the appraisal that was performed on the property. We were very pleased with Van's negotiations; he kept us informed every step of the way and this resulted in us purchasing the home at a price we were more than happy with.
The home we purchased had an unfinished basement and was in need of some repairs as identified in the building inspection report. As a result of the trust and integrity Van had demonstrated throughout the purchase process we asked his company to undertake both the basement finishing and the repairs. We knew this was going to be a messy, noisy process and with two small children and a dog very trying! Van personally supervised the whole process and each day gave us verbal reports, feedback and an idea of what to expect next. Both he and his team of tradespeople were very sensitive to our needs as a family living in the home during the repairs and building process. We did have some unseen issues arise along the way and Van took care of each to our satisfaction, every time keeping us informed as things were rectified. The whole job was completed in a very timely fashion and his attention to every small detail was just brilliant. We love our new home and basement!
We cannot speak more highly of Van and his wife Jeanne. We would encourage anyone thinking of buying, selling or renovating to contact Van personally. It is rare to find someone who genuinely feels like a friend at the end of a process such as this. If you are looking for a professional with both extensive real estate and building knowledge and integrity Van Purser should be the first person to call.
I strongly believe that my wife and I hit the lottery when Van walked into our lives! You can search the globe and assemble the top agents in every state to work with you, and they would all still come in second place to this guy. Responsive, attentive, intelligent, patient, compassionate, versatile, professional, hardworking, and driven are only a few words that encompass this man. Guided by strong ethics and fueled by his passion to see his client's vision come to fruition, Van delivered on everything he promised us, plus more! He waited patiently as my family and I changed our minds repeatedly and constantly adjusted his schedule to accommodate my busy work life and family changes. He guided our every decision in the home selling process, and again during the purchasing process, allowing us to make our own decisions, while preventing us from making costly mistakes. He sold our house and had us in our new home in under 3 months' time, allowing our family to adjust to their new home during the summer and be ready to start school in time, If/when i ever decide to sell and purchase another home you can bet that Van will be right their alongside me. If you're looking for an agent that possess one or two skills you can find them a dime a dozen, however if you're looking to be worry free and confident that you got the absolute best value for your time and money, look no further then Van Purser the definition of total package!!!!
Van is also a licensed contractor and I found his knowledge invaluable on helping assess a house's condition. Due to his knowledge he identified potential issues early, which were obvious once pointed out. I would have eventually noticed them later, or would have been found in a home inspection.
He tries not to influence you decision, but puts in great effort to make sure you have solid information to make a good decision. I believe this saved valuable time and effort in our search. I have worked with several real estate agents in the past, and working with Van and Jeanne was by far the best experience I have had so far. In the end we found and acquired a house that was above our expectations at a price point below our goal.
Anyone looking for a real estate agent to work with or to represent them could not go wrong with Van and Jeanne.
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Edna may be dead, but her book is not!
Just published on FiftyIsTheNewFifty.com. See all photos there.
It all started at BookExpo America (BEA) 2013, arguably the largest book publishing convention in the U.S., so it seemed fitting that I asked my mother, Edna Robinson, whose debut novel, The Trouble with the Truth, found a copacetic agent there, to accompany me to BEA 2015. The fact that she has been dead since 1990 is inconsequential.
I thank her. I hug her. We part.
Edna wrote The Trouble with the Truth in 1957–58, surrounded by three noisy children. It was pre-women's movement, but she never fit into the 1950s housewife role. When Donna Reed came on the TV, Edna would mince back and forth between us kids and the TV, with a phony "nicey smile," laughing about how no real person acted like that. She unapologetically disdained the PTA, disliked cooking, complained about having to chauffeur us anywhere, and gave off steam when she was writing.
In 2009, after getting laid off from my magazine job (where I had fought for a fair salary, and at the age of 50, realized perhaps I was worth it—don't get me started), I began freelance editing and pouring out the book that had been gestating for the last year—talk about giving off steam. The Last Will & Testament of Zelda McFigg is about a woman with none of my hang-ups: she feels entitled to work, acknowledgement, fame, and glory, and she doesn't care about rules or telling the truth. Writing it was exhilarating. And did I say, it's a funny story? So I laughed my behind off—a badly need release in the midst of the not-so-Great Recession.
In 2013, my agent hadn't been able to sell Zelda, freelance work had plateaued, and I thought about my assets—one of which was Edna's editable novel, sitting in my closet since her death in 1990, just as it had sat in her closet ever since the debacle with Harper Lee.
Allow me a slight tangent to explain.
The Trouble with the Truth was an expansion of a short story by the same title that was published in the 1959 edition of the New World Writing book series, selected as one of the "most exciting and original" stories of its time. And when Harper & Row optioned the novel, it seemed as if Edna's fantasy of becoming a successful novelist was at hand. However, in a writer's worst nightmare of bad timing, her book collided with To Kill a Mockingbird, and was dropped because there just wasn't room for another period piece about a single father with two peculiar children.
Okay, back to the present. When you edit, you virtually see through an author's eyes, feel what they felt, live their life. Mind-blowing when you are living through your young mother's eyes. So this was what all the steam was about. The book was great! Funny, charming, relevant today. I was so out of my mind, I posted on Facebook: "Talk about time warps! I'm a 62-year-old book editor working on the novel that 6-year-old me observed my 36-year-old mother writing in 1957. And the story takes place in the 1920s and 30s. Kerfuffled!" But head travel goes two ways, and Edna was, and remains, in my head.
Sometimes I think fruition is even sweeter when it happens later in life . . . or even in the beyond.
Betsy Robinson's new novel, The Last Will & Testament of Zelda McFigg, was published by Black Lawrence Press in September as the recipient of their Big Moose Prize. Learn more about Betsy and Edna Robinson at BetsyRobinson-writer.com.


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An event every week that begins at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, repeating until 21 December 2021
An event every week that begins at 1:00 pm on Thursday, repeating until 23 December 2021
Mahjong is a traditional Chinese game, played by four people around a square table. The game is played with tiles rather than playing cards. The aim is to collect sets of tiles according to the number and type shown on the face of each tile. A player takes and discards a tile each turn and the first player whose hand consists entirely of a legal set or sets goes out or goes "Mah Jong".
The game is effectively the same as the card game Rummy, in fact. For what always appears initially to be a very complicated game, Mah Jong is remarkably simple when reduced to its basics and it is only the accompanying rituals and complex scoring that change this. One of these rituals, the process of shuffling the tiles at the start of the game, is known as "The twittering of the sparrows", presumably because of the accompanying noise.
Learning to play is easy, learning to win, however, is the tough part! There is only one way to learn to win: Play, play again and then play some more!
Mahjong Teacher (Tuesdays only): Sandra Hyde
Activity Leaders: Tuesday / Thursday – Phil Burns
Last Updated on 17 October 2020
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Seated (Chair) Yoga
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If you lived in Brunei instead of Bangladesh, you would:
live 3.9 years longer
In Bangladesh, the average life expectancy is 73 years (71 years for men, 76 years for women). In Brunei, that number is 77 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women).
be 3.9 times more likely to be obese
In Bangladesh, 3.6% of adults are obese. In Brunei, that number is 14.1% of people.
make 18.6 times more money
Bangladesh has a GDP per capita of $4,200, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $78,200.
be 72.5% more likely to be unemployed
In Bangladesh, 4.0% of adults are unemployed. In Brunei, that number is 6.9%.
In Bangladesh, approximately 176.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor. In Brunei, 23.0 women do.
In Bangladesh, the literacy rate is 72.8%. In Brunei, it is 96.0%.
be 69.7% less likely to die during infancy
In Bangladesh, approximately 31.7 children die before they reach the age of one. In Brunei, on the other hand, 9.6 children do.
be 26.7% more likely to have access to electricity
In Bangladesh, 60% of people have electricity access (90% in urban areas, and 49% in rural areas). In Brunei, that number is 76% of people on average (79% in urban areas, and 67% in rural areas).
be 3.9 times more likely to have internet access
In Bangladesh, approximately 18.2% of the population has internet access. In Brunei, about 71.2% do.
spend 76.0% more on education
Bangladesh spends 2.5% of its total GDP on education. Brunei spends 4.4% of total GDP on education.
see 72.2% less coastline
Bangladesh has a total of 580 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.
Brunei: At a glance
Brunei is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 5,265 sq km. The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
How big is Brunei compared to Bangladesh? See an in-depth size comparison.
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