Popular Cloud Monitoring Tools

The cloud is becoming our present and the future of IT for many businesses.  As more and more apps are deployed on cloud, the need for a third party monitoring software that provides tools to monitor the performance of hosted apps on the cloud or keep watch over public clouds becomes more and more important.  Below is a list of a few reputable cloud monitoring services.

Cloudkick

Cloudkick ( acquired Rackspace) is a leading infrastructure management tool for the web-based IT, built to help meet all the demands and needs of managing infrastructure. Cloudkick helps its customers manage and monitor their servers across multiple providers from a single dashboard. Cloudkick’s products include a centralized server monitoring tool for multiple cloud server providers, as well as dynamic server management tools.

SentiNet

SentiNet³ is a unified application and network monitoring system capable of monitoring the entire IT infrastructure: network, systems, applications and environmental parameters.   It provides a powerful analysis engine that enables interactive visualization of data in real time.

SentiNet³ monitors application at all levels for fault, performance, and configuration monitoring.

SentiNet³ does Environmental monitoring to control all the datacenter vital parameters like temperature, humidity, power energy, smoke or other collected using software or hardware probes.

Zenoss

Zenoss is a single, integrated product that monitors your entire IT infrastructure, wherever it is deployed – physical, virtual, or in the cloud. Zenoss manages your networks, servers, virtual devices, raid storage, and cloud deployments and provides visibility and predictability into the performance of your IT environment

Amazon CloudWatch

Amazon CloudWatch is a web service that provides monitoring for AWS cloud resources, starting with Amazon EC2. It provides customers with visibility into resource utilization, operational performance, and overall demand patterns—including metrics such as CPU utilization, disk reads and writes, and network traffic.

Hyperic/Cloud Status

Hyperic’s CloudStatus BETA is the first service to provide an independent view into the health and performance of the most popular cloud services, including Amazon Web Services and Google App Engine. CloudStatus gives users real-time reports and weekly trends on infrastructure metrics-including service availability, response time, latency, and throughput-that affect the availability and performance of cloud-hosted applications.

LogicMonitor

LogicMonitor gives you everything you need to monitor your physical and virtual infrastructure — dashboards, trending, alerting.

Monitis

Monitis is a spin-off from Web portal Lycos Europe/Bertelsmann. It provides monitoring of Amazon EC2 and S3 cloud data storage systems. Monitis agents can be automatically installed on new servers to monitor performance metrics. It can generate notifications when resources are low or if a server is lost in the Amazon cloud, or if thresholds are being broken. Monitis also provides system monitoring, performance testing, and configuration management from the cloud.

Nimsoft

The complete monitoring solution for critical public cloud infrastructure, cloud service providers, Vblock and other private clouds, as well as data centers. Nimsoft is not only the best solution for monitoring a complete cloud environment, but also provides the tools to integrate monitoring of cloud-based resources with local data center, Vblocks and private cloud monitoring.

Soasta

Is available as an on demand service in the cloud or as a physical or virtual appliance, SOASTA CloudTest’s seamless integration of test design, monitoring, and reporting offers everything you need to test and deliver high quality Web applications and services at an affordable price.

CloudTools

Tools for deploying Java Spring and Grails applications in the Cloud. Cloud Tools is a set of tools for deploying, managing and testing Java EE applications on Amazon’s Elastic Computing Cloud (EC2) and VMware environments.

GFI

GFI MAX RemoteManagement makes it easy to monitor your clients’ servers, raid disk array, remote offices, ISP connection, bandwidth usage, and their website – simply put, you can monitor the key parts of their network infrastructure and proactively take care of your clients, keeping hardware costs to a minimum and preventing costly downtime.

LoadStorm

Load testing allows web developers to know how their applications respond under heavy volumes of HTTP traffic. LoadStorm puts massive cloud resources in the hands of web developers to enable them to improve the performance of their web applications. Create your own test plans, and generate up to 50,000 concurrent users in realistic scenarios.

InterMapper

Amazon Web Services (AWS) delivers your business-critical services and InterMapper makes sure your services are continually operational and therefore cost-effective. Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) CloudWatch technology collects performance metrics for the virtual servers running in its cloud. InterMapper queries these metrics to monitor the status of an Amazon ec2 Instance.

Source(s):

Top Seven Cloud Monitoring Services
Top 10 Cloud Computing Load Test and Performance Monitoring Companies

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How to Automatically Login and Lock Server or Computer – FREE

Have programs that need to run automatically on your machine and need to autologin and lock your server or computer at startup?  Here’s a simple way with the use of a couple free programs.

Autologin

Install Autologin by Sysinternals.

Autologon enables you to easily configure Windows’ built-in autologon mechanism. Instead of waiting for a user to enter their name and password, Windows uses the credentials you enter with Autologon, which are encrypted in the Registry, to log on the specified user automatically.

Autologon is easy enough to use. Just run autologon.exe, fill in the dialog, and hit Enable. To turn off auto-logon, hit Disable. Also, if the shift key is held down before the system performs an autologon, the autologon will be disabled for that logon. You can also pass the username, domain and password as command-line arguments:

Download Autologin by Sysinternals

Autolock

While Autologin by Sysinternals provides an encrypted way to autologin with your credentials, you may still want to autolock your server or computer after bootup.  Auto Logon & Lock provides a way to both autologin (PCs) and autolock (PCs and servers) your system after bootup and autologin.

1) Run “Lock.exe” from the archive to test if the application runs without errors. If all is well your desktop should lock. Logon again and Windows Explorer should be open. You might want to create a System Restore Point before proceeding just to be safe.

2) Copy the files “Lock.exe” and “LockCMD.exe” to your Windows directory. (Ex: C:\Windows)

3) Run “lockcmd.reg” from the archive and click Yes in the dialog box. You must run this while logged on to the account which you want to enable auto logon for.

lockcmd.reg contains the following script which runs the .exe to autolock your computer at startup.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System] “Shell”=”%windir%\\lock.exe”[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot] “AlternateShell”=”lockcmd.exe”Download Auto Logon & Lock

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Legacy Instructions:

Need your pc/server to autolock after rebooting? Here’s another way:

1. Create vbs script; this script will auto lock your computer after 30 seconds. Save as lock.vbs
   <code>
   Wscript.Sleep 30000
   Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
   WshShell.Run “rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation”,1,false</code>
2. Next, create a string in your registry for lock.vbs to autorun during startup.
   Go to: HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1123561945-1060284298-839522115-500SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   or if unavailable:
   Navigate to any of the following path according to your requirement and then add a new “String key” and store path of the Program to be run in this key’s value.For Local Machine-
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows
   CurrentVersionRun
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows
   CurrentVersionRunOnceFor Current User-
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows
   CurrentVersionRun
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows
   CurrentVersionRunOnceCreate a new string value called lock.vbs. Set the value data to C:pathlock.vbs (assuming path is where you saved lock.vbs
3. Your computer/server most likely requires a login. So that services automatically startup, you probably want it to automatically login. Download and install Tweakui from http://ift.tt/147VDrE
   Once installed, run the Tweakui from START > Programs, expand Logon in the left window pane, select Autologon and enter your system credentials in the right pane.For Windows 7, to autologin
   1. Click on Start and then enter the following command in the search box:
      netplwiz
      Press the ENTER key.This command will load the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel applet.
   2. In the Users tab, uncheck the box next to Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.
   3. Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the User Accounts window.

Your system should now be able to boot up automatically and lock itself!

More:
Registry Startup Paths

Thank you for reading IT Blog

Originally posted 2015-09-12 08:19:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Are You Paying Too Much for Your Mortgage?

Nobody wants to pay more for their mortgage than they have to. However, nearly ten percent of couples who file for their mortgages jointly could be saving a thousand dollars or more in interest payments each year because they don’t know how the minimum FICO rule works.

New research from the Federal Reserve found that borrowers filing a joint application for a mortgage would have been better off applying in the name of the individual borrower with the best credit score. That is because, on a joint application, lenders use the lower score of the two to determine the interest rate—a practice known as the minimum FICO rule.

Joint income or lower interest rate?

An important reason many couples file joint mortgage applications is to take advantage of the increased income from two earners. That income level determines the debt-to-income ratio (DTI), one of the most important ways lenders determine if a borrower will be able to meet monthly mortgage payments. Higher income levels improve the DTI ratio and make it possible for a two-income household to qualify for a higher mortgage.

If the borrower with the best score does not have enough income to meet the DTI requirements for the loan, a joint application may be the only option.

The study found that nearly 10 percent of prime borrowers who jointly applied for their loans could have lowered their mortgage interest rate by at least one-eighth of 1 percentage point by applying in the name of the borrower with the best score, and they still would have qualified for their mortgage. Instead, they fell victim to the minimum FICO rule and ended up paying from $220 to $1,400 more each year.

Lower scores suffer more

Those with lower scores suffered more than other borrowers. Among the joint applicants with a lower credit score below 740, for whom mortgage interest rates are most sensitive to credit scores, more than 25 percent could have significantly reduced their borrowing cost by having the individual with a higher credit score apply.

Couples who appeared to have left money on the table tend to have lower credit scores and be much younger and less financially sophisticated. Middle-income borrowers both low-end high-income borrowers seem to have a greater chance of reducing borrowing costs by using individual-applicant mortgages.

Mortgage insurers, lenders and major investors such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac follow the FICO Rule. Lenders will check both of FICO scores when evaluating a loan application. Even though one spouse’s good score would qualify for a loan with a more favorable interest rate, under the “FICO Rule” lenders must use the lower score, which results in a higher rate.

The Fed study provides hard evidence that loan officers could do more to help their customers understand how the FICO Rule affects them—and win their trust in the process. Most borrowers, especially younger, first-time buyers, don’t know about the minimum FICO rule and may never realize that they could be paying tens of thousands of dollars less in interest over the life of a loan.

Talk to your lender

If you are considering a joint application, ask your lender whether you would better off with a single appliucaton in the bame of the borrower with the best score. Loan officers can review both credit scores on a joint application and determine how much more interest you would pay with a joint application. If the two FICO scores are close, you may not save much on a monthly basis with a single application and a joint application would help you qualify for a better home.

Whether you decide to go with a single or a joint application, you can make an informed decision once you know how the minimum FICO rule will affect you.

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Current Mortgage Rates for Friday, July 29, 2016

Happy Friday, and welcome to the TMS current mortgage rates blog. There’s some economic data out today, but first, your daily mortgage rate forecast/advice.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Where are mortgage rates going?

The Fed didn’t raise rates this week, but their statement did talk about a strengthening economy and the potential to raise rates in the near-term. The markets adjusted slightly to these hawkish overtones and the Fed Fund futures priced in a greater chance of a 2016 rate hike. Now, with second-quarter GDP coming in at a disappointing 1.2%, the gears have shifted and we’re back to a slowing economy with little chance of a 2016 rate hike. Such are the ways of the market. Yesterday, September and November both had a 25% chance of a rate hike; now, they both have a 12% chance. December (which has long been the only real candidate for a 2016 rate hike) got bumped down from 41.6% yesterday to 33.7% today.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

As for mortgage rates, poor economic data is almost always going to push rates lower, which is what we’re seeing right now. The U.S. 10-year yield–the best measure of where mortgage rates are heading–is back under 1.50%. Next week there is a solid amount of economic data out, meaning that there will be ample opportunity for the economy to assert itself. Of course, one week from today we will get arguably the biggest market moving report–the monthly employment situation. That will be the best chance to prop up December for a rate hike.

Freddie Mac PMMS has rates edging upward

On Thursday, we got the Freddie Mac Private Mortgage Market Survey. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage went up three basis points to 3.48% (0.5 points); the average rate on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage ticked up three basis points to 2.78% (0.5 points); and the average rate on a 5-year ARM remained at it’s previous mark of 2.78% (0.5 points).

As always, it’s worth checking in with Sean Becketti, the chief economist at Freddie Mac to see what he has to say about this week in mortgage rates:

“The 10-year Treasury yield remained flat this week in anticipation of the Fed’s July policy meeting. Mortgage rates, on the other hand, rose another 3 basis points to 3.48 percent. Nonetheless, home sales continue to benefit from the persistently low mortgage rates with June’s new home sales coming in at an annualized rate of 592,000 homes – its fastest pace since 2008.”

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

What does this mean for me?

Mortgage rates rose the slightest bit in the beginning of the week, but after today’s GDP release they are on the decline. My advice is simple: if you’re on the market for a new home or want to refinance into a lower rate, I think you’re better off acting sooner rather than later.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Today’s economic data:

Second-Quarter GDP Disappoints

Second-quarter GDP came in very weak this morning at 1.2%, compared to expectations for 2.6%. However, there are some positive signs from the report, such as consumer spending at 4.2%, slowing inventory, and strong net exports. Ultimately, though, the report is disappointing, especially with first-quarter GDP being revised 3-tenths lower to 0.8%.

Chicago PMI at 55.8

The Chicago PMI for July came in at 55.8 this morning. That’s slightly down from June’s reading of 56.8, but it is above the consensus for 54.0. Employment and inventories are both up.

Consumer Sentiment remains about the same

Consumer sentiment or July is at 90.0, according to data from the University of Michigan’s Consumer Survey Center report. That’s a touch up from the prior reading of 89.5.

Notable events this week:  

Monday:

• Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey

Tuesday:

• S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
• New Home Sales
• Consumer Confidence
• Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index

Wednesday:

• Durable Goods Orders
• EIA Petroleum Status Report
• FOMC Announcement

Thursday:

• International Trade in Goods
• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
• KC Fed Manufacturing Index

Friday:

• GDP
• Chicago PMI
• Consumer Sentiment

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

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Achieve the Highest Level of Email Security

Email security is an on-going concern for all businesses that rely on computers, but by employing the right services whilst educating your staff on the various issues surrounding it, you can keep threats to a minimum.

In the past, scores of companies have seen their operations grind to a halt after certain attachments have been opened or when emails have been sent without encryption, but businesses can greatly reduce the chances of such problems surfacing by investing in high-quality encryption and anti-virus software.

Keep your Staff Educated

It can be all too easy to take email for granted, firing off sensitive content without any second thought but what would happen if an unauthorized third-party got hold of the information? Emails can contain everything from bank details to business plans, and many businesses have been sued after unwittingly broadcasting sensitive information to others. When you use the best software available and ensure that your staff are trained up on viruses, malware and any other security threats you can ensure that email security levels are kept high. Of course, developments in email security are occurring all of the time, so it is important to stay aware of any threats that might be imminent.

Filtering Threats

Encryption can be worth its weight of gold and means that even if an email is intercepted; its content is scrambled, ensuring that hackers are unable to make any sense of the content in it. Of course, problems can be caused by emails sent externally too, but by investing in a reputable filtering package you can keep unwanted email out of your network. Some companies have even invested in content filtering software which makes it impossible for material that could be deemed offensive to be circulated round the workplace.

Always Use a Secure Connection (SSL) When Retrieving Mail

For best security practices, your email provider or company should use a secure connection when retrieving mail.  If the email account you’re fetching mail from supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, you can select this option when setting up your email client to have all information sent through a secured connection.

Email Was Not Designed With Privacy or Security in Mind

Encrypting the connection between you and your email provider means no one on the network in between can view email messages you send or receive.  Once the email reaches your  recipient however, and your recipient is on an email provider stores and transmits mail in plain text, there’s no telling whether your recipient will use a protected connection to receive or reply to your email.  The safest practice if you do not want any eyes on confidential information is to transmit messages over an alternate encrypted communication service or app that guarantees your privacy.

Backup and Archive your Email

Ensure that your email provider or company is backing up your email.  Archive your email at least yearly for performance and for the sake of keeping email records.

Shop Around

If you are looking for an email service and you’re not sure which email security packages to purchase, it can be a good move to read up on the various products and services available to you until you identify the right one for you.  This article, Microsoft Exchange: Onsite or Offsite, might help company decision makers to review the pros and cons of onsite and hosted email.  It is also important to consider the facility for secure large file transfer when investigating the best secure email service. To achieve the utmost level of network security within the whole of your operations, you can contact an IT contractor to visit your premises to perform a full IT audit. Weaknesses can stem from various parts of a network, and can be found in the form of inferior software and badly-configured hardware, to name but too. A high-quality IT auditor will be able to identify anything that could possibly be exploited, enabling you to close every potential loophole.

Stay Up To Date

When email security software is installed, it’s always wise to ensure that automatic updates are turned on too, in order for your business to constantly defend itself from the various threats that are being discovered all the time. Keep your workforce informed on your IT regulations and you should find that your IT framework stays prosperous.

Originally posted 2013-05-15 17:03:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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David Pastrnak Making A Sick Soccer Save That Would Be Make Tuukka Jealous (VIDEO)

Boston Bruins forward, David Pastrnak is having a nice summer for himself in the hub of hockey. We have seen him dining at his favorite restaurant and playing some street hockey. Well, the man they call “Pasta” tried his hand at a different sport, soccer. Mister Macaroni played some goalie and turned in this sick [...]

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Current Mortgage Rates for Thursday, July 28, 2016

Welcome to the TMS current mortgage rates blog. There’s some economic data out today, but first, your daily mortgage rate forecast/advice.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Where are mortgage rates going?

Fed stands pat on rates

The Federal Reserve concluded its two-day meeting yesterday afternoon with a statement that they will be keeping the Federal Funds rate at its current level of 0.25%-0.5%. Kansas City Fed President Esther George was the only Fed official who voted to raise rates by a quarter of a percent.

The decision came as a surprise to no one, and with no post-meeting press conference with Fed Chair Janet Yellen, fedwatchers were left to parse the written statement for monetary policy clues. Turning to the Wall Street Journal’s Fed Statement Tracker, we can see that this month’s statement is much more positive than last month’s. The Fed noted that:

“Labor market strengthened and that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate rate. Job gains were strong in June following weak growth in May. On balance, payrolls and other labor market indicators point to some increase in labor utilization in recent months. Household spending has been growing strongly…”

That’s a step in the right direction after the slowdown we saw talked about in the June statement. The rest of the statement was basically unchanged, and really gave little forward guidance on when the next rate hike will take place. All we got was the Fed’s favorite mantra:

“In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation.”

Fed Fund Futures

Predictably, the Fed Fund futures rose a few points overnight. September and November both now have about a 25% chance of a rate hike. Those aren’t great odds, and even if things improve further, it’s really hard to imagine that the Fed would adjust monetary policy so close to the election. That leaves only December left. The long-time main contender for a 2016 rate hike, December now has a 41.6% chance of a quarter-point adjustment and an 8.7% chance of a half-point adjustment. It’s a toss up right now. The Fed must be feeling the pressure to hike, and with the data coming in line it’s definitely possible they will take action in December. A lot can happen between now and then. For now, we can continue to enjoy the low rate environment.

Freddie Mac PMMS shows rates rise again

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time for another check-in with the Freddie Mac Private Mortgage Market Survey. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage ticked up 3 basis points to 3.48% (0.5 points); the average rate on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage rose 3 basis points to 2.78% (0.5 points); and the average rate on a 5-year ARM was unchanged from the previous week at 2.78% (0.5 points).

Here’s what chief economist at Freddie Mac Sean Becketti said about the rather slow week for mortgage rates:

“The 10-year Treasury yield remained flat this week in anticipation of the Fed’s July policy meeting. Mortgage rates, on the other hand, rose another 3 basis points to 3.48 percent. Nonetheless, home sales continue to benefit from the persistently low mortgage rates with June’s new home sales coming in at an annualized rate of 592,000 homes – its fastest pace since 2008”

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

What does this mean for me?

Mortgage rates moved higher this week, but they’re still at levels that are historically very low. They seem to be on the rise at the moment and I think that you’re better off acting sooner rather than later if you’re trying to purchase a home or refinance your current mortgage.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Today’s economic data:

International Trade in Goods

• The international trade deficit widened to $-63.3 billion in June. Exports did make some gains, but they couldn’t outmatch the gains of imports.

Weekly Initial Jobless Claims

• Weekly jobless claims are up 14,000 to 266,000. The 4-week average moved lower by 1,000 to 256,500.

KC Fed Manufacturing Index

• The KC manufacturing index is back in the negative in July at -6. New orders, back orders, and employment are all in the red.

Notable events this week:  

Monday:

• Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey

Tuesday:

• S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
• New Home Sales
• Consumer Confidence
• Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index

Wednesday:

• Durable Goods Orders
• EIA Petroleum Status Report
• FOMC Announcement

Thursday:

• International Trade in Goods
• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
• KC Fed Manufacturing Index

Friday:

• GDP
• Chicago PMI
• Consumer Sentiment

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

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Red Sox Report: Losing Skid

The Sox will win 2 out of 3 he said. At least I admitted my own homerism. With this afternoon’s loss to the Detroit Tigers, your Boston Red Sox have officially started a losing skid. Game 1 with Pomeranz went about as planned (6IP, 2ER), but the bullpen couldn’t hold it together and the Sox [...]

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Investing 101: A Guide for Fledgling Investors

Chances are good that you’ve heard some great things about investing, but you also might not have the first clue about investing, at least not proper investing. To clear up the confusion and help take the sting of intimidation out of the realm of finance, learn a few tips for first time investing to help you grow your wealth, retire with peace of mind, and meet your financial goals.

Understanding the Concept of Investing

The absolute best place to start when it comes to learning about investing is with learning exactly what investing is. Simply put, investing is the act of using your money, rather than your time, to build your money. Sure you can grow your wealth by working more, but there are only so many hours in the day. You can easily burn yourself out working around the clock; hence, learning about investing for beginners.

Compounding Your Returns

There’s no better feeling than watching your investments grow, all without lifting a finger or investing more money. Rather than pat yourself on the back and withdraw some of the money you’ve earned, it’s much better to leave it exactly where it is. Compounding is a financial term that simply means you’re stacking your return on investment, or ROI, the longer your investment is recycled and allowed to grow.

Let’s say you invest $20,000 today when interest rates are six percent. After a year, you’ll have $21,200, compounded annually. Rather than touch a cent of that money, you instead leave it where it is. In a few more years, you’ll have made thousands, all without having to put in a second of extra work. Now, let’s take a look at some options for investing for beginners.

Exchange-Traded Funds, Mutual Funds and Certificates of Deposit

Exchange-traded funds, often referred to as ETFs, are one of the most popular investment options. These funds can be either sold or bought on an exchange throughout the trading day. ETFs are linked to the U.S. stock market and make great investments for both beginners and experts.

If you’ve got at least $1,000 to invest, a mutual fund may be ideal for first time investing. Know that you’ll likely have to have at least a $1,000 in your fund in order for it to remain active. Mutual fund investments are an ideal choice for those who are looking to save money for retirement, and they’re even better if you’re currently contributing to either a 401(k) fund or an IRA.

Looking for one of the safest options investments out there? Consider a Certificate of Deposit, also known as a CD, which is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, which means you can’t lose money. That being said, this low risk comes with a relatively low return, possibly less than one percent a year. As a beginner, you’ll want to be rather conservative with your first CD.

The Right Amount of Risk

Due to the fact that there’s hardly any risk without reward, you need to know just how much risk you should take when it comes to investing for beginners. The best way to do this is to subtract your current age from 100. Someone who is 20 can invest 80 percent of his or her investment in a risky option, like the stock market. The remaining 20 percent should be funneled into a CD or a U.S. savings bond.

Additionally, you’ll be wise to go over your investing options with an experienced and trusted financial adviser who has worked with beginner investors like you. Know that you’ll have to pay for professional advice, which can be as much as one percent a year. Before deciding on an adviser and agreeing to any fees, check the FINRA BrokerCheck to make sure the individual is well-qualified and currently registered.

No matter your level of risk or your adviser, there are a few standards to adhere to when it comes to investing. Keep your costs low, diversify your investments and make sure you’re investing in a way that matches your level of risk.

If You’re Going to Invest, Start Sooner Rather Than Later

Going back to compounding, first time investing should be done ASAP. This isn’t to say that you should rush out and put down money on a mutual fund or CD, just that the earlier you start investing, the more you’ll be able to reap what you sow.

Let’s say you invest $15,000 at the age of 25 when annual interest rates are 5.5 percent. When you turn 50, that investment will have grown to $57,200.89. If you had waited until the age of 35 to invest that same amount of money at the same annual interest rate, you’ll only have $33,487.15 when you’re 50, a difference of $23,713.74. Let that sink in for a moment.

These are just the basics of your many investing options. Do some more digging on your own, and seek out family and friends who invest for more information.

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Why Computer Vision Tracking the Flow of People Will be a Huge Market

Current Mortgage Rates for Wednesday, July 27, 2016

 

Mortgage rates have not changed in any appreciable matter this week, and only rose slightly last week.  Although it is now very old data, Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey from last Thursday had the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.45% with 0.5 points.  Rates are only marginally higher now.  That said, there is some risk that we could see rates rise today following the Fed meeting this afternoon.

If the Fed statement is more hawkish than the last one, which I think is likely, we could see bonds sell off, causing yields to rise.  I think the Fed wants to prepare the markets for a potential hike in September or December.  Even if the chance of a hike is remote, it’s better if the markets are prepared for the possibility to avoid market turmoil.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Recent economic data:

 

The main event of the day is the Fed statement that will be issued at 2pm this afternoon.  In the meantime, a rundown of some of today and yesterday’s economic data:

• The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index for May showed that on a seasonally adjusted basis, the 20-city index showed a -0.1% month-over-month decline in prices, which was lower than the expected level of growth.  April’s number was revised down from 0.5% growth to 0.2% contraction.  This report reflects a three month average with a two month lag, so it’s a backward-looking measure, but it indicates that home prices were weakening.
• On the other hand, new home sales for June came in significantly above expectations.  On a seasonally adjusted annual rate, new home sales came in at 592k in June, compared to the consensus expectation of 562k.  May’s number was revised from 551k to 572k.  Pretty strong numbers overall.
• Consumer confidence was above expectations in July, with a reading of 97.3 versus the expectation of 96.0.
• Durable goods orders took a hit in June.  The headline number showed a 4.0% month-over-month decline compared with the expectation of a 1.3% decline.  May was revised from a 2.2% decline to a 2.8% decline.  Much of the decline is attributable to a dip in aircraft orders.  Core capital goods orders (which excludes some of the more volatile portions of the overall number) showed a 0.2% increase from May.  Manufacturing continues to limp along.

As we’ve said many times in this space, the markets have become very much disconnected from the day-to-day domestic economic data.  External factors (e.g. equity prices, global turmoil) have been the main drivers of bond prices for quite some time now.  In theory it is useful to keep an eye on the domestic trends to try to intuit what the Fed may do, but even that has been somewhat of a futile effort of late.

Today’s Fed Meeting:

 

While there is no expectation that the Fed will hike rates at this meeting, there is the possibility that we could see the groundwork laid for a hike in September or November.  The domestic economic data has been reasonably strong, and the market seems to have shook off the brief panic that followed the Brexit.  Job growth bounced back in June after a weak May report.  Many measures of inflation show inflation at or nearing the Fed’s 2% target.  The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow measure estimates second quarter GDP will be 2.4%.  The hawks certainly could make a case that a rate hike is appropriate in the coming meetings, lest we overshoot inflation goals.  If we look at the prices of Fed Fund futures, we can see that the implied probability of a hike has increased recently:

• September: 26.7%, up from 20% the day before.
• November: 28.2%, up from 21.6% the day before.
• December: 52.2%, up from 51.5% the day before.

While the increased probability of a rate hike has begun being priced into Fed Fund futures, we have not seen the same thing occurring in bonds. Yields remain very low, with yields on 10-year Treasuries sitting between 1.55-1.60% for about two weeks now.

The doves are likely to make the argument that the danger that a hike will stifle growth is greater than the danger that inflation will get out of control if the Fed waits too long to hike.  I tend to agree with this argument, if for no other reason than the hawks have been wrong about inflation for years now.  Until we see wages growing in earnest, it is hard to see how we’ll have sustainable inflation.

That said, I think we will see a statement that is mixed, but will be a little more hawkish than the last statement.  In turn, I think we will see yields rise at least a little bit this afternoon, and that mortgage rates will rise as well.

It’s time to see if you can save money. Contact us now.

Notable events this week:

Monday:

• Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey

Tuesday:

• S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
• New Home Sales
• Consumer Confidence
• Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index

Wednesday:

• Durable Goods Orders
• EIA Petroleum Status Report
• FOMC Announcement

Thursday:

• International Trade in Goods
• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
• KC Fed Manufacturing Index

Friday:

• GDP
• Chicago PMI
• Consumer Sentiment

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

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Here’s a paid version of Google Voice, with added features

Looking for a PBX system?  Phone.com is a simple way to set up a flexible, low-cost “virtual” number and PBX that keeps you connected where ever your life or work takes you.

Phone.com is like a paid version of Google Voice, with many more features that are not included in Google Voice.  This service works from any device, including mobile, standard phone, desktop, and web.

We particularly like the Business Virtual PBX that integrates can connects your team with both mobile and business IP phones. You get unlimited extensions, capability for Toll Free Numbers, additional numbers, advanced call routing, custom greetings, voicemail, conference calling, caller analytics, online management and more.

More Features of Phone.com:

Account Management
Address Book
After Hours Greetings
Call Blocking
Call Forwarding
Call Handling Rules
Call Logs
Call Notification
Call Recording
Call Screening
Call Transfer
Call Voice Tagging
Call Waiting
Caller Analytics
Caller ID (incoming)
Caller ID (outgoing)
ChatCalls
Communicator
Conferencing
Dial-by-Name Directory
Do Not Disturb
E911 / 911 Dialing
Extensions
Fax

Follow Me
Free In-Network Calls
Global Numbers
Greetings
HD Voice (High Definition)
Hold Music
In-Call Features
iNum Numbers
Local Numbers
Local Number Porting
Menus (IVR)
Mobile Office
Numbers
Professional Recording
Queues
Schedules
SMS Send & Receive
Text to Greeting
Toll Free Numbers
Transcription
Unlimited User
Vanity Toll Free Numbers
Voicemail

Originally posted 2015-07-13 01:29:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Talking Finance With Your Partner

In the US, no one really talks about their money. It’s taboo—impolite, embarrassing, rude. No one wants to sit at the dinner table comparing salaries and tax brackets.

But when the time comes to buy a house, money talk is a necessary evil. Such conversations are critical to getting on the same page financially as your partner. In fact, financial disparities between partners is a leading cause of divorce when not handled properly.

Fortunately, we have some tips about having this delicate conversation on money with your partner, and coming out of it with a better idea of what you two can afford in the housing market.

Planning Before the Conversation.

Before anything, it is important to plan your conversation ahead of time. Write down questions and responses you would like to have ready when you have the talk with your partner. If you don’t already know what their yearly earnings are, it is time to find out.

Additionally, it may be helpful to brainstorm some financial management strategies to cut down on existing costs. Do you really need that magazine subscription or the deluxe package of cable channels? If you are coming into this conversation from a position of power (i.e. you earn more than your partner) take time to carefully word your conversation to avoid gridlock and tension. Some good opening lines include:

• “We might benefit from meeting a financial coach together.”
• “We should spend the night going over our budget together. Would you help me get a sense of our spending for each month?”
• Where do you think we should start our housing search in terms of pricing? What is financial stable for you?

Where to Start.

The first step of the money talk is perhaps the most difficult step. It is important that you and your partner talk about relationship goals. You don’t necessarily have to ask the clichéd question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” but you should have a good forecast of where you will be in a year or two.

Further, where do you see this relationship going? Sometimes, a house is more than a purchase, but the next step in a relationship. If marriage or kids are on the horizon, that will certainly effect the size and location of your real estate search.

Next up, it is important to assess your current financial situation. Where are you both in terms of income and expenses, assets, debts, and credit ratings? Will your financial profile be strong enough to earn a favorable mortgage interest rate? Or will you have to plan to take on a little more debt? Alongside this conversation, it would be a good idea to think about ways to reduce any debts you have faster. This is where you and your partner should be getting into the nitty-gritty of financial transparency. Talk about retirement savings and compare credit scores; factor in family planning costs if that’s where your relationship is heading.

Once you have sussed out where you are presently in terms of money, it is time to look toward the future and discuss potential changes to how, where, and why you spend money. Budgeting together is the best way to start this conversation, identifying where each other can stand to shave off a few dimes.

Communication is key, especially if the money being put toward a home will come more from one partner than the other. That extra financial burden should be recognized and discussed. It is also time to compromise. Commonly, partners will have to find ways to balance the splurging problems of one partner with the intense frugality of the other.

Where to End Up.

Your conversation on financial planning should really culminate in a place of mutual understanding. You and your partner have a future ahead of you that requires, by necessity, time and money. Even if your financial situation changes in the next month or year, getting on the same financial page as your partner will give you a road map to fiscal solvency, and the ability to plan for your future years together.

With that knowledge in mind, you can come into the real estate market from a position of power, brokering deals that will suit you and your partner and provide a strong head start to a future together.

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Current Mortgage Rates for Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Welcome to the TMS current mortgage rates blog. There’s some economic data out today, but first, your daily mortgage rate forecast/advice.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Where are mortgage rates going?

The FOMC meeting begins today. Mortgage rates have been holding steady for about a week or so now, and there is little reason to believe that will change today. The Federal Reserve always has the power to sway the markets, and depending on what kind of statement they issue tomorrow, mortgage rates could fall or rise.

Financial market participants are yearning for some kind of hint on where monetary policy is headed. With the markets calming down after the initial Brexit panic, it’s possible that the Fed will try to set the state for a rate hike at the end of 2016. Then again, one could just as easily imagine that they will continue to march down the cautious path and put off any clear signals until their next meeting in September.

At any rate, we will find out tomorrow when they release their statement at 2:00 PM. To make matter more interesting, this is a meeting with no post-statement press conference with Fed Char Janet Yellen. The statement is all we get.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Fed Fund futures

The Fed Fund futures are still showing that December is the only hope for a 2016 rake hike. Right now, it has the odds of a quarter-point adjustment in December at 44.0%. The odds of a half-point adjustment are at 10.7%.

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

What does this mean for me?

Mortgage rates are still very low. There is some risk that they will rise after the Fed’s statement tomorrow, but it’s still a great time to purchase a home or refinance your current mortgage.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Today’s economic data:

S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index

The Case-Shiller 20-city index dropped by 0.1% in May, missing expectations of a 0.4% gain. On top of that, the April number was revised from 0.5% to -0.2%. The data clearly points to a softening in home prices.

New Home Sales

Home prices might not be rising but home sales are doing well in 2016. For June, new home sales came in at 592,000, which is 30,000 above the consensus. That’s a 25% increase from last June.

Consumer Confidence

Consumer confidence for July is strong, coming in at 97.3. That’s above the consensus for 96.0.

Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index

The Richmond Fed index came in at a 10 this morning. That’s a complete reversal from the -10 that was posted in June.

Notable events this week:  

Monday:

• Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey

Tuesday:

• S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
• New Home Sales
• Consumer Confidence
• Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index

Wednesday:

• Durable Goods Orders
• EIA Petroleum Status Report
• FOMC Announcement

Thursday:

• International Trade in Goods
• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
• KC Fed Manufacturing Index

Friday:

• GDP
• Chicago PMI
• Consumer Sentiment

 

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

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3 Ways You Unknowingly Invite Burglars into Your Home

Though you may not realize, many of the steps you take as part of your daily routine may actually make you more susceptible to burglaries. Here are 3 ways you unknowingly invite burglars into your home.

Image Source: Flickr

Noticeable Consumption
We get it, you are proud of your acquisitions and your possessions. There is no shame in that as you have worked hard to obtain all these items after all. However, remember a constant stream of boxes littered on obvious places in your house such as TV boxes scattered by the trash bin outside, online shopping shipments delivered to your homes, etc. is one way to get you noticed. Remember, robbers usually scout neighborhoods and mark potential homes as targets before committing a robbery and if you are constantly leaving traces of your purchases outside your home, you may be as well as pointing a big red arrow towards your house. Source: 63RealEstate

Leaving the Doors and Windows Unlocked
Over a third of burglars enter the house through the front door. After knocking to confirm no one is home, they’ll test the door to see if it’s unlocked. An alarming number of times they’ll discover they’ve hit the jackpot and walk right in. Keep your doors locked, even if you’re just running the kids to school or walking the dog. As a law enforcement officer, I took several reports of burglaries that occurred while the homeowner was right in the backyard playing with the kids. So don’t assume your presence will scare him away.
Don’t be fooled; the second floor of your home isn’t burglar-proof. In fact, he’ll use the ladder you left out last weekend to access your home’s second floor windows with ease. Keep all windows closed and locked, and be sure they are outfitted with window alarm sensors. Should a burglar attempt to enter, you’ll know right away. Don’t overlook securing small windows, like those commonly found in basements and bathrooms. An adult might not be able to fit through it, but sadly, some burglars will force their children though, who then unlock the front door for the burglar to enter. Source: SafeWise

Lack of a Security System
When keeping your home safe, it’s important to leverage all your assets. This could be neighbors, proper gardening, and the police. But with cops on call several miles away, it’s unlikely that a law-abiding passerby will report a break-in. A security system can help automate this whole process for you, using censors to detect intrusion and reporting the incident to the security company, who can contact the proper authorities. You’ll need allies in your fight against burglars, and a security system is your Bat Signal. Source: ProtectYourHome

Reconsider your daily routine to determine whether you are unknowingly leaving your home open to burglaries. If you want to know more about ways to secure your home, contact us now!

The post 3 Ways You Unknowingly Invite Burglars into Your Home appeared first on Mr Locksmith Abbotsford.

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How to Build a Startup & Understanding Venture Capital

Red Sox Report: Tigers Series Preview

Now nearly two weeks removed from the All Star Game in San Diego, the Boston Red Sox are putting together a July to remember. Coming out of the All Star Break, the Sox have won a series versus the New York Yankees, swept a two-game set with the San Francisco Giants and split an offensively [...]

The post Red Sox Report: Tigers Series Preview appeared first on Boston Sports Then & Now.

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Future of IPTV

According to the Digital TV Western Europe Forecasts report, 2015 is a landmark year for IPTV in Western Europe. The number of IPTV subscribers has finally overtaken the number of pay satellite TV users and is forecasted to grow by 27% between 2015 and 2021. So by 2021 the IPTV audience will count 32,5 million houses and IPTV revenues will reach $5.77 billion.

At the same time, the number of homes subscribed to satellite TV will fall by 300 thousand and providers’ revenues will fall by $1 billion (for 18 countries covered in the following report).

The pay TV will be getting a sustainable market position. Its penetration is forecasted to increase from 56.8% in 2015 to just 59.5% in 2021. It equals to only 6.9 million new subscriptions in 6 years.

At the same time the popularity of digital TV standard will increase. The audience of digital pay TV will grow by nearly 17 million subs (19%) and digital cable audience will welcome almost 10 million new subs.

The hardest task will be to convert remaining 9.9 million analog cable homes to digital standard, as many of these homes pay for basic analogue TV packages as a part of their rent. But when conversion finally happens, these homes are more likely to shift to free-to-air platforms such as DTT or satellite.

Actually, only seven of reviewed European countries had fully converted to digital standard by the end of 2015. These countries are Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain and the UK.

By 2021, pay TV penetration won’t be uniform as well. It will exceed 90% in 8 countries and will fall in Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland due to a large number of legacy analog cable subs. As for revenues, the UK will remain the most lucrative pay TV market. Despite having the biggest number of subscribers, Germany pay TV revenues will remain much lower. The same situation will prevail in France and Italy.

Advantages of IPTV

As we can see, the pay TV market tends to grow mostly due to new IPTV subs.  The popularity of this TV standard will be increasing in future creating new clients and business opportunities. The reasons of such growth lies in user benefits of the standard:

High image and sound quality
Most of IPTV providers support HD content and 5.1 surround sound. Also, IPTV set-top boxes manufacturers were among the first who reacted on 4K content extension.

Interactivity
A user can interact with content. For example, to see the movie teaser or to submit a review.

Additional opportunities
IPTV provides such features as time shift, archive and video-on-demand, etc. That makes watching even more convenient.

What happens to existing providers?

This growth opens a good scope of work for service providers. The most perspective may become niche services. They will be able to cover their audience almost without competition, and the abundance of content will allow to fully satisfy the viewers.

Another factor is development of client equipment such as set-top boxes. Manufacturers provide the market with variety of solutions from the simplest ones to UltraHD supporting.

One of the most attractive features of IPTV business is minimal outlay. All you need to launch a new project is content, servers and client equipment. Some companies even provide special solutions for those who start.
But even with such broad opportunities, operators and content providers should have a finger on a pulse. Rapid market and technology development can lead both to high profits and to absolute breakdown. So it’s important to follow the latest industry news and to find reliable partners.

The post Future of IPTV appeared first on Information Technology Blog.

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Secret advantages of LEDs revealed: another 3 reasons to use them indoors and outdoors

There is a lot of buzz around LED lighting. They are massively praised for their energy efficiency and eco-friendliness. But there are also some features that are not often told aloud. But still they make an LED lamp even more advantageous. Let us introduce them to you.

LEDs don’t attract insects

Blue and UV light attracts night-flying insects. It helps them to navigate and to look for the mate. They also like the heat produced by usual street lights. LED lighting does not emit any UV and the heat they create is so small that insects do not find this light attractive enough. So by using LED lights you will get rid of cleaning problems, and also avoid mosquito bites.

Lower charge on the main electrical grid

Electricity consuming devices can be evaluated by power factor that shows the proportion of incoming power which performs useful work by juxtaposing real power with apparent power. LED street lights with power factor close to 1.0 minimize unbalanced load of electricity grid as they have a good real/apparent power ratio.

This fact is as much important for indoor lighting, especially for old houses. The wiring there can be not so accommodated to huge power loads. So using low power LED light bulbs is a good solution for avoiding light cut offs.

Less air conditioning required

LED lights emit much less heat than incandescent and CFLs. This fact makes them so energy efficient that they can help you minimize power consumption by 90%. But what is more, because of less heat produced they can decrease the electricity consumed on air conditioning.  This fact is especially important for hot countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other MENA countries, there every way to lower the temperature is a treasure.

Considering these clauses, LEDs are really worth using. Any outdoor commercial project, neighborhood or community should think of using LED streetlights in order to create the better conditions for people attending these spaces and to cut down administrative costs. And the indoor application of LED lighting is also a good idea for wise householders, who wish to organize the family budget a better way and to forget about the constant maintenance.

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Current Mortgage Rates for Monday, July 25, 2016

Last week mortgage rates stabilized.  Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey found the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to be 3.45% with 0.5 points, up 3 basis points from last week.  There was little domestic economic data of import last week, few developments from a global perspective, trading volumes were subdued, post-Brexit worries seem to have dissipated for the time being, and we’re right in the heart of vacation season.

All that was a long way of saying that not much happened last week, and interest rates generally stayed in the same range throughout the week.  Yields on 10-year Treasuries pretty much sat between 1.55-1.60% after rising by about 15 basis points the week prior.  This morning yields are around 1.58%.  There is the distinct risk that we might see mortgage rates rise this week if the Fed takes a more hawkish posture than anticipated.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates.

Today’s economic data:

Today is the calm before the storm, there is a lot of data throughout the rest of the week.  But today, our only data point of any significance comes from the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey for July.  The results of the survey come out at 10:30am, and have been very volatile lately.

The week that was:

Rates plateaued last week, as I said above.  So very little happened (from the perspective of our markets) that this section is superfluous, and we might as well move on.

Looking ahead:

It’s a busy week.  In addition to a slew of economic data throughout the week, we hear from the Fed on Wednesday afternoon.  Nobody expects that the Fed will hike at this meeting.  That’s pretty much off the table.  What is unclear is whether or not the Fed will set the stage for a hike in the coming meetings.  If you follow the Fedspeak, there’s a pretty clear schism between the hawks and the doves (well, there always is, but it seems to be more apparent now than any time within recent memory).  At question is whether or not low interest rates could cause financial instability in the form of an asset bubble and whether or not the risk of an asset bubble is greater than the risk of raising rates and potentially snuffing out economic growth.

I won’t pretend to know the answer to that question.  I know that while some measures of inflation are trending upward, one measure that the Fed closely monitors – I’m sure they monitor all of them – the Core PCE Index has remained relatively flat, and below the Fed’s target rate of 2%.  I’m also pretty sure that inflation is not really sustainable unless wages are growing.  And while it’s picked up a bit of late, wage growth remains pretty sluggish.  There is plenty to back up the dovish position that rates should remain where they are for the time being.

The flipside is that domestic economic data has been relatively decent of late, and after a brief freak-out, the markets have shrugged off the Brexit repercussions, whatever they may be.  And there’s always the tired shibboleth that runaway inflation is just around the corner.  That argument has been wrong for at least five years now, but that doesn’t stop various Fed members from trotting it out periodically.  I don’t personally think it is appropriate to hike right now*, but there is an argument to be made for a hike.

For what it’s worth, the current implied probabilities of Fed hikes in the remaining meetings are:

• July: 2.4%, down from 3.6% the day before
• September: 20%, up from 15.1% the day before
• November: 21.6%, up from 16.9% the day before
• December: 46%, up from 44.6% the day before

*My opinion on monetary policy is worth exactly what you paid for it.  

It’s time to see if you can save money. Contact us now.

What’s the takeaway for rates this week?:

This is hardly groundbreaking insight, but the Fed announcement on Wednesday poses a risk to rates.  I think that it is more likely than not that the Fed statement will be a little on the hawkish side, or at least more hawkish than prior statements.  In the event this happens, the market will start pricing another hike into bond prices, and rates will rise.  It wouldn’t shock me to see yields on 10-year Treasuries to rise to pre-Brexit levels (around 1.70%) if this happens, and I could see mortgage rates moving accordingly.

Basically, if I were thinking about refinancing, I’d make some phone calls on Monday and potentially lock a rate in before Wednesday afternoon if it made financial sense for me to do so.  If you’re buying a new home, there’s obviously a lot more factors in play with regard to timing, but I would still make an effort to act sooner rather than later.

Don’t wait for rates to rise. Start your mortgage process now.

One more thing:

Tweet of the week:

Godwin’s Law is overthrown. A reality of American fascism overtakes dry rhetorical measure. The question now is whether good men do nothing.

— David Simon (@AoDespair) July 22, 2016

 

Notable events this week:

Monday:

• Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey

Tuesday:

• S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
• New Home Sales
• Consumer Confidence
• Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index

Wednesday:

• Durable Goods Orders
• EIA Petroleum Status Report
• FOMC Announcement

Thursday:

• International Trade in Goods
• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
• KC Fed Manufacturing Index

Friday:

• GDP
• Chicago PMI
• Consumer Sentiment

Rates are still near record lows.  Contact us today to see if we can save you money on your home payments.

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How to Stay in Control of Your Meetings

Maritime Information Technology: Must Have Apps for People at Sea.

Mobile devices have become an integral part of seafarers’ lives, both at land and sea; after all they are always mobile.  Mobile apps are especially convenient for seafarers because they enable data sharing and storage, to help the interact with land and stay safe at sea. With the improvement of communications, Information Technology is evolving for seafarers.

Here are 12 must have Maritime apps for download today:

This application is Anchor watch, position logger, SMS alarm and Sound Alarm and it monitors device’s current location and inform you if the location of the device moves to far away from the set anchor. In that case, it will sound an alarm and (if you select so) send an SMS.

Download Anchor Watch

Named best knot-tying app by Outside Magazine! Learn to tie knots the fun and easy way from the creators of the web’s #1 knot site. Animated Knots by Grog is simply the best, most comprehensive teaching and reference tool for boaters, climbers, fishermen, scouts and hobbyists. Watch knots tie themselves in simple step-by-step photo animations, or go frame-by-frame as you learn each knot. Tap the info button to get detailed descriptions about each knot’s correct use, advantages and disadvantages, and other information.

Download Animated Knots

Looking for the most accurate Wind Forecast on the web? Trust the world leader – PredictWind • Highest resolution on the web. • Choice of top sailors and wind experts. • Incredible detail with tables, graphs and maps. • Zoom in on high resolution forecast maps. Incredibly powerful tools: • Weather Routing: showing you the fastest route with wind conditions. • Trip Planner: showing you the best day for departure. • Observations: real time live observations with graphs. • Forecast Alerts: get notified of the conditions that matter to you. • GPS Tracking: lets friends & family view your position and track.

Download PredictWind App

Hundreds of pages of boating information on your iPhone,iPod Touch or iPad! The Boater’s Pocket Reference caters to all levels of boating expertise with a wide variety of content including 800 illustrations and photographs and a myriad of charts and graphs. Boater’s Pocket Reference is a popular and useful printed book and the app is even better.

Download Boater’s Pocket Reference

MX Mariner is a basic mobile marine navigator / chart plotter featuring quilted offline raster marine charts.

Download MX Mariner – Marine Charts

The International Maritime Organization estimates that 90 % of the world’s trade is moved around the planet by sea. Get information for world ports easy and fast. This application contains more than 4000 ports in 191 countries. Fast searching capabilities by either country or port search selection aided by quick sorting tooltips.

Download Maritime World Ports

Hazcheck DGL Lite is a FREE mobile app for those that need quick and easy access to IMDG Code information contained in the dangerous goods list. The app now includes both Amendment 36-12 and Amendment 37-14 IMDG Code data (2015 is a dual amendment when either can be used).

Download Hazcheck DGL Lite

(Look up a Ship and Find an Inspector/Union) into one great app that provides a one stop shop for seafarers in search of vessel information, contact details for ITF inspectors/affiliates and the ITF Helpline.

Download ITF Seafarers

Shore Leave is an application thought for seafarers. Are you approaching a new port? Searching for the nearest seafarers’ centre? Looking for reliable transport to the city? Shore Leave is what you need. Store all seafarers’ centre contact details into your android phone, and keep them always with you, wherever you go. Once you arrive in a port, just switch on your phone, open Shore Leave, and in few clicks you will be able to get in touch with the nearest seafarers’ centre. Shore Leave is working properly without any internet connection.

Download Shore Leave

Equasis is a non-profit and public-driven international organization that promotes quality shipping and maritime safety through transparency and free access to the relevant information.

Download Equasis Mobile

This app is aimed at providing a platform acceptable for everyone to provide and share the best knowledge available on cargo transportation, thereby hoping to contribute to awareness and prevention of loss.

Download CargoHandbook

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, also known as “COLREGs”, “Rules of the Road” or “RoR”, prescribe rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea in order to prevent collisions between two or more vessels.

Download IMO Collision Regulations

Originally posted 2015-08-31 06:49:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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3 Ways to Strengthen Your Doors

There are many precautions you can take to boost your home security and ensure that your home is safer. In this short post we’ll cover 3 simple and effective ways to strengthen your doors, including: reinforcing the strike plate, improving the locks and securing your door hinges.

Image Source: Flickr

Reinforcing the Strike Plate
To further reinforce the doorjamb, install a new plate in place of the old lip strike plate that serves the doorknob lockset. Attach it with 3-in. screws. Make sure the screwheads seat flush with the face of the strike plate. We used No. 8 x 3-in. screws. No. 10 x 3-in. screws (used for the deadbolt plate) were too large. Remember to angle the screws back slightly to be sure to catch the framing (Figure A). Again, you may have to chisel a slightly larger mortise and predrill to drive the screws.
Remove the lockset’s lip strike plate and 3/4-in. screws. Predrill and attach a new plate with No. 8 x 3-in. screws that are angled in slightly to catch the stud. Predrill with a 1/8-in. bit. Source:FamilyHandyman

Improving the Locks
In a significant percentage of burglaries, the criminal enters the victim’s home through an unlocked door. Even the strongest locks in the world are useless if you don’t use them. Lock all exterior doors whenever you go out – even if you’ll just be gone a few minutes.
Install deadbolt locks. With the exception of sliding doors, all exterior doors should have a deadbolt lock in addition to the lock built into the doorknob. The deadbolt should be high quality (grade 1 or 2, solid metal with no exposed screws on the exterior), with a throw bolt (the bolt that comes out of the door) at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The lock should be properly installed. Many homes have lower quality deadbolts or throw bolts less than 1 inch (2.5 cm). These must be replaced.
Install a dead-lock. Adding an additional lock will provide extra security when you are home. The dead-lock, sometimes called an ‘exit-only deadbolt’ is a deadbolt that does not have an external key. It may be clearly visible on the door from the outside, but it cannot be broken into without destroying the door, frame, or lock itself. While this security won’t help directly when you aren’t home, its visibility may discourage an intruder from trying the door. Source: wikiHow

Securing Door Hinges
The hinges of a door are an essential part of the door that connects the door to the jamb. Most residential doors have hinges that are inward facing, because the door opens up inwards. Most of these standard residential doors can withstand attacks against the hinges of the door because burglars and intruders cannot gain access to them. However, not all doors work in the same fashion. For doors that open outwards, the hinges are usually placed on either the left or right of the doors exterior and this they are easily accessible by whoever is on the outside. If the hinges on your door are compromised, it will be relatively easy for burglars to knock your door of the hinges and gain entry to your home.
The hinges of your door can be secured by using safety studs, corrugated pins, and by using setscrews in your hinges. These are all minor additions to your hinges, which will go a long way to help strengthen your door and keep your family safe. The additions are simple and effective but because of how important the hinges are to the door, it is best to make sure that nothing goes awry and that your doors are made as secure as possible. Source: SafeWise

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Another Major Win for LA Tech

Repairing Locks on a Bell Helicopter

Repairing Locks on a Helicopter | Mr. Locksmith Blog. For futher information go to Mr. Locksmith Automotive.

Randy had a fun job the other day repariing locks on a Bell Helicopter. The Helicopter has 5 locked compartments and 3 of the locks needed to be reparied or replaced. It is not everyday we get to make keys to a Helicopter and hopefully next time we will go for a ride.

Mr. Locksmith Automotive Randy Bath Repairing the locks on a Bell Helicopter.

Repairing the locks on a Bell Helicopter.

Repairing the compartment locks on a Bell Helicopter.

Repairing the locks on a Bell Helicopter.

Repairing the locks on a Bell Helicopter.

Compartment / storage lock on a Bell Helicopter.

One of the locks on a Bell Helicopter.

Repairing the locks on a Bell Helicopter.

 

If you need to make keys for your Helicopter, Plane, Car, Truck, RV, Motorcyle, Quad, and all your Automotive Locksmithings call Randy at Mr. Locksmith Automtive 604-265-4033.

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Advanced Social Media

This article is part of a series put together by the Total Mortgage marketing team that provides loan officers and other sales professionals with a crash course in marketing and self-promotion. To read other articles in this series, click here.

Mastering social media isn’t all about sharing articles and favoriting posts. It becomes a whole different game once you factor in ads.

In this article you’ll learn how to decipher your target audience by analyzing your demographics. I’ll also show you some real life examples of case studies put into action. If this doesn’t satisfy your social craving, keep an eye out for our social media advanced training course!

LinkedIn

Understanding Your Audience

Generally, your LinkedIn audience is made up of your business interactions, former alumni, recruiters, and other professional contacts. Staying aware of the message you send is going to be important, and that means having a clearer picture of who it is uses LinkedIn. Here’s a hint: keep it professional.

Demographics

 

Social Media Network Use Cases

Let’s take a look at how different companies advertised on LinkedIn and reaped good results.

Example 1: CommVault had a powerful ad because it appealed to consumers’ emotions. They chose to stick to a single line of text,  keeping in mind that people have short attention spans these days. The picture chosen fits this ad theme because it gives off the idea that CommVault understands that technology can be stressful sometimes.

Take away: A simple line of text and a great image can go a really long way when capturing the attention of your audience.

Example 2: Salesforce Marketing Cloud did a great job of targeting a specific audience to get results. In the below ad they targeted not just any marketers, but senior level marketers. The headline asks a question and tells you how you can solve it.

Take away: This ad works because it’s highly targeted and captures the audience’s attention by asking a question that needs an answer.

Example 3: Prudential comes out on top because they embedded a video into this LinkedIn ad. Video is, to put it simply, the next big thing. Just look at Periscope, Vine, Boomerang, and Snapchat—all social media platforms built for sharing videos. Videos hold attention spans more than typical text ads and have been proven to have better click-through and conversion rates.   

Take away: Video is proven to work. You need to have the right targeting and message set in place.

Facebook

Understanding Your Audience

It’s safe to say that most people these days have a Facebook account. And that’s good news for you. Be aware that audience is still a key factor here, though, and will be on any platform.

There are two different types of profiles you can have as a single Facebook user—the personal Facebook account and the business related account. If you only choose to have one personal account, be wary of what you post. If your main focus for having a Facebook is using it for business related endeavors, then keep it professional. You don’t want to end up reminiscing with your college buddies at the expense of your potential clients.

Demographics

 

Social Media Network Use Cases

Example 1: This is a great Facebook ad because it’s very clear what the advertiser wants you to do. “Get 3 Bottles For $19!” It appeals to wine lovers and it’s simple. The discount entices you while the sub-text of the ad provides a strong call-to-action.

Take away: Doing the basics well goes far in a Facebook ad.

Example 2: NatureBox made great use out of the photo ad. The image shows exactly what you’re getting: a free trial and various health orientated snacks. The image is very colorful, and enticing enough to appeal to a large range of people. The hook is very clear in this ad, “Free Trial,” while the sub-head makes connects with the viewer?

Take away: Ads with good imagery and a strong hook really stand out with target audiences.

Example 3: In the above ad, Shutterfly used a multi-product ad perfectly.  This works because it has all the components that make up a great ad. It’s visual, relevant, enticing with great pictures, and has a good call-to-action. The gentle hues of blue and grey backgrounds mix well with the eye-catching orange logo and background. The hook is consistent throughout all the content as well:40% off. Plus, it has a cat.

Take away:  If you want to incorporate a multi-product ad into your social media strategy, than make sure you keep the components above in mind.

Twitter

Understanding Your Audience

Twitter has 310 million monthly active users. This means your chances of connecting with people in your industry are pretty good. Having a large following is always a step in the right direction, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that’s all you need.

Timing your tweets to reach the most people–and making your chances of retweets and likes more likely—is another important part of a good Twitter strategy. If you’re not sure how to even build a Twitter following you should check out my previous blogs (Social Media Basics and Maintaining your Social Presence) for tips on how to expand your following and reach the right kinds of people.

To really get the best results from your follower base, keep an eye on your Twitter Analytics. Thankfully there are tools to help with that. You can use Tweriod, Twitter Analytics, or Audience to analyze  your tweets, figure out which are performing the best, find out when your followers are online, and plan out your next moves. The best thing about these resources is that they have free plans available.

Demographics

 

Social Media Network Use Cases

Example 1: Papa John’s promoted tweet worked because it incorporated all the elements of a great Twitter strategy. It was timely, relevant, and could be shared easily. It incorporated a holiday all about love with a food most people love–pizza. The hashtag #HeartShapedPizza, meanwhile, gave fans and customers a way to interact with the brand and share.

Take away:  A good tweet is often part of a larger social strategy. However, if your sole purpose is just to promote your brand, Twitter could be a great place to start. Coming up with a creative way to stay relevant during a holiday is what makes brands stay on top.

Example 2: This Old Spice Twitter ad worked because it brought a past character, the Old Spice man, out of retirement. This ad was connected to another social campaign (Commercials/YouTube Commercials.) It also works because it incorporates a clever hashtag and a callback to ads on TV or the internet.

Take away: Being memorable is important. If done right, you’ll be able to trade on that recognition for a long time to come. Old Spice’s commercials, for instance, focus on bizarre and funny shenanigans to make a lasting impression.

Example 3: Just like the above examples, Volkswagen USA did a great job of incorporating a relevant tweet with a live social campaign. The above ad was tied into a commercial that unveiled the New Beetle, during the 2011 Super Bowl. This ad performed so well because Volkswagen is a known brand and everyone earns more, “social klout” airing commercials on Super Bowl Sunday.

Take away: Twitter ads perform the best when they are a part of a bigger social strategy. However, if  you’re just trying to stay relevant, try sharing tweets on holidays and including a catchy hashtag or clever wording.

Google+

Understanding Your Audience:

Though originally intended as a Facebook alternative, most users consider Google Plus a business-related platform where you can connect with other professionals in your industry and add them to groups, collections, or communities. This means you should expect your audience to be more professional, like with LinkedIn.

Demographics

 

Social Media Network Use Cases

Winning at Google Plus means having a killer page, content, and promotions. Below are a few pages that excel at all three.

 

Example 1: Android’s page is the most popular business page on Google Plus with over 140,000 fans.  They keep their audience engaged by posting frequently and using “flash” promotions such as their 10 cent app promotion and Google music promotions.  Every post they share gets around 2,000 shares and more than 3,000 +1’s.

Take away: Engagement, engagement, engagement is the key to any successful Google+ social campaign. As long as you constantly update your page and share relevant information about your brand you will be able to build a following and use social to your advantage.

Example 2:   The NASA page is another example of Google+ greatness. It is updated between 5 and 15 times a day with recent news, photos and videos which helps them stay on top.

Take away: Just like Android, NASA does a great job staying relevant to its fans by constantly posting content, videos, and pictures of NASA’s latest missions and experiments. They know their audience and always stay true to their brand which helps them get their content shared and +1.

The Next Steps

Learning what and when to post on social media is a skill you need to master before sharing content blindly. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

If this series of blogs didn’t answer all your questions, keep an eye out for our Social Media Advanced Course. During this course you will learn the nitty-gritty of social media and what it takes to truly crush it on social media as a loan officer or realtor. We’ll update this post with more info when it goes live.

You can also learn more about what the Total Mortgage marketing team does for our loan officers by checking out other articles in this series, or by visiting our career portal.

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