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The most searched for celebritiesfrom across mid Essex havebeen revealed in an interactive map.

The map links place names with their most searched-for public figure on Wikipedia.

It includes a wide-reaching spectrum of celebrities, and counts 18th-century poets and wrestling champions among its pinpoints.

The link between the location and the celebrity ranges from their place of birth, their current home or a connection.

Produced by The Pudding, an online publication which debates culture in visual essays, the map covers villages, towns and cities across the UK.

And replacing Braintree on the map is The Prodigy.

The band hail for Braintree and was formed in1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett.

Lead singerKeith Flint sadly died two years ago.

Witham has been replaced on the map by singer Olly Murs.

The number one hitmaker, 37, was runner-up in the 2009 series of X Factor.

He has since gone on to have a successful recording career.

Witham was replaced by Olly Murs. Picture: PA

Halstead takes the name of Matt Cardle.

Cardle, 38, who won X Factor back in 2010 grew up in the town.

Bocking, meanwhile, has been renamedAugustine Courtauld after theyachtsmanand BritishArctic explorer who was born there in 1904.

Black Notley is replaced with John Ray theEnglish naturalist born in the village in the 17th century.

Coggeshall is given the nameDavid Nightingale Hicks after theinterior decorator and designer born in the town.

Matt Cardle features on the map

Kelvedon is renamedCharles Spurgeon after the 19th centuryParticular Baptistpreacher.

Earls Colne is replaces withHugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford, and Sible Hedingham withEdward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford.

Not surprisingly, the Queen is the most searched for person connected to London's upmarket Mayfair district, while Margaret Thatcher has the honour in Grantham, Lincolnshire, which was her birthplace.

Ed Sheeran is the most searched for person in Halifax, while its Winston Churchill with Aberdeen and Bristol.

The Bee Gees have the most searches for Manchester, whileThe Beatles are tops for Liverpool.

The Pudding map states: Person/city associations were based on the thousands of People by city or town pages on Wikipedia.

The top person from each city was determined by using median pageviews (with a minimum of 1 year of traffic).

We chose to include multiple occurrences for a single person because there is both no way to determine which is more accurate and people can 'be from'multiple places."

The People Map of the UK website is based on data collected and processed using Wikipedia from July 2015 to May 2020.

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Wikipedia map reveals most searched for celebrity in Braintree | Braintree and Witham Times - Braintree and Witham Times

Choosing a new water heater can be challenging, especially when you have several criteria to fulfill. You need to take into consideration the fuel type or energy source you intend to use and the annual operational costs you would incur as a result of the consumption. Secondly, the size of your household and the space constraints will play a major role in your decision. Being on your own or living with a partner in an apartment would most certainly mean that your day-to-day water requirements would be much lesser than a family of 5 people living in a house, for instance.

Also, space comes at a premium when you are residing in an urban setting, so its an important factor when choosing a water heater. It is also essential to know how energy-efficient or cost-efficient the water heater is before purchasing it. Installing the right water heater according to your needs is the only way to spend winters without any disconcertment. So lets break it down and help you find the perfect water heater based on your preferences and needs.

Conventional water heaters have for long been a prevalent water heating option worldwide. They are designed to feature a decent-sized insulation tank that is used to store warm water. These heaters have a low initial cost when compared with all their competitors unless youre going for the latest model.

Conventional water heaters also work efficiently in different climates, unlike the heat pump, solar, and tankless water heaters, which require certain conditions as a prerequisite to perform optimally. One of the drawbacks that conventional water heaters have is that they cause increased energy waste in order to keep the tank of water warm. Whereas tankless heaters heat up water only when it is needed. These heaters are made to store a large quantity of warm water, so one cannot get around their size.

The most obvious problem with this appliance is that if you miss any regular maintenance checks, it could cause you to end up in a situation where you would have to deal with corrosion and rust, which could lead to dramatically expensive damages to your house. So proper maintenance of this type of heater is critical for long-term usability.

Tankless water heaters heat water without having to store it and provide warm water almost instantaneously. A couple of considerations when deciding on what tankless heater to buy is the size that you want. They are usually compact, however, which means you wont have to worry about having a bulky storage space. Also, reduced energy requirement keeps the water warm results in lesser energy consumption, which means you can fully enjoy this power-saving appliance.

A couple of drawbacks that you may deal with are that it has quite a small capacity of hot water, which entails that it wont be a good option if you have a large family with a lot of consumption. Secondly, this heater has a significantly higher initial cost than its alternatives; the lowest-priced heater option starts from around $1,000. This high initial cost would certainly deter some people from investing in this appliance when there are much cheaper alternatives in the market.

These hybrid water heaters are made to move heat from one place to another without actually generating heat in the process. Theyre efficient enough to utilize the surrounding air and ground heat and then use minimal electricity to transfer the heat energy from one point to another. Multiple consumer reports have shown that heat pump water heaters are extremely efficient as they tend to use around 60% less energy than any conventional heater in the market.

Unlike conventional water heaters, the heat pump provides incredibly consistent performance and is not fussy when it comes to maintenance. A couple of drawbacks that one faces with heat pump heaters is that they typically dont have a very impressive life span which averages out to about 10 years. In comparison to tankless heaters, which span up to 20 years, and conventional heaters that average at 15 years, the heat pump water heaters just fall shy in their longevity.

There is usually a lot of qualitative research that goes in when deciding to install a water heating unit for your apartment complex or household. After analyzing the modern market and developing a well-rounded understanding of your needs through consultation with a local plumbing professional or manufacturer, you can be certain you are making the most informed decision.

Excerpt from:
How to Find and Install a Perfect Water Heater - Floridanewstimes.com

Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

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Theres nothing quite like taking a dip in crystal clear, refreshing water, especially on a hot summer day. Taking care of an inground pool does take time and effort. The last thing you want when you go to take a swim is a bunch of dirt and debris floating around.

An easy way to help keep your pool clean and efficient is with an inground pool cover. However, finding the right one can depend upon various factors including your pool shape, size and the intended purpose for the cover.

Although pool covers are not a required piece of equipment when owning a pool, there are many reasons why you should consider getting one. When your pool is not in use during prolonged periods, a pool cover will help save you time and money. Here are some more reasons why you should invest in one.

Keeping out twigs, leaves, toys, bugs or other random objects that may find their way into your pool is one obvious reason to get a pool cover. By covering the water when not in use, youll save time by not having to scoop the debris out of the water the next time that you want to swim. When you are ready to take a dip, just remove the cover and jump in.

Although swimming pools lose energy in various ways, evaporation is the largest source of energy loss. Covering up the pool helps reduce evaporation. According to the EPA, a typical uncovered pool in the United States can lose between 12,000 and 31,000 gallons of water due to evaporation every year. By using a pool cover, you can reduce evaporation by 95%.

For those who heat their pools, pool covers help retain heat after youve turned the heater off. Specialized solar covers help collect the suns heat and direct it into the water to warm it naturally for extra energy savings.Reduces Chemical Use

UV light degrades chlorine, the active chemical used in a pool to kill bacteria and microbes. Pool cover reduces the amount of UV light that comes into contact with the water, which means you wont have to use as much chlorine to keep your pool safe. Buying less chlorine also saves you money.

Some pool covers are designed to serve as safety barriers that keep people or animals from falling in. These covers are usually made from a sturdy mesh or solid material and have specific weight limits, depending on the cover. These covers are secured with sturdy straps to help prevent animals or small children from falling through.

Now that you know some of the benefits of having an inground pool cover, you can choose one that will help address your specific needs. There are four main types of pool covers:

Solar covers are an inexpensive way to keep your pool clean and heated at the same time. These covers are also referred to as solar blankets or bubble covers because they resemble a large sheet of plastic bubble wrap. Solar covers are available in various colors, thicknesses and sizes.

Most pool owners who use pool covers choose to use safety covers. These covers are designed to prevent drowning and are invaluable when you have young children or pets in the home. Safety covers are constructed from a solid, rigid material and typically have an anchor system around the pools edges to keep it in place.

Security covers come in both a mesh and solid form. Mesh covers are lighter in weight and allow rain and melted snow to drain into your pool. Despite their lighter weight, mesh covers can support thousands of pounds.

Solid covers are heavier and are an impermeable barrier on top of the pool. These covers do not allow water to seep into your pool, thus water must be pumped off the top of the cover regularly.

Also known as tarp covers, winter pool covers are the most basic type of pool cover. Made from polyethylene, this cover is used for protecting the pool during the cold season. This cover is the least expensive option.

Automatic pool covers use a series of interlocking gears to move over a pools surface. Once activated, it will start rolling on or off the pool to cover or uncover it. It does make covering a pool more convenient, but its expensive to install because it requires two parallel tracks to be mounted on the inside edge of the pool or pool deck.

Although pool covers have their advantages, using them properly will also help prevent accidents. According to Safety.com, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for young children ages one to four. However, keeping the pool covered is an excellent way to help prevent accidents. Pool covers should completely cover the surface and be securely strapped down so a child or animal can not slip under the sides. Rigid covers block water access better and automatic covers are often the safest and easiest to use.

The best pool cover depends on your most urgent needs. If you have small children or pets, a rigid or automatic cover is the best choice. For those who live in a cooler climate, a solar cover is a good choice. A basic security cover keeps debris out of your pool without breaking the bank. Consider your most essential needs, and pick a cover that addresses them the best. No matter your needs, its important to invest in a high-quality cover that will last you years to come.

Free, No-commitment Estimates

See the article here:
Inground Pool Covers: How To Choose The Best One For You - Forbes

EPCOTs new flagship merchandise location, Creations Shop, is set to open this summer, as well as Club Cool. Construction and painting at the World Celebration site have sped up in recent weeks as the opening approaches.

Tarp remains over most of the Creations Shop windows. Weve had a few glimpses inside thanks to Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley on Instagram.

Pavement is now cleaned up around the new popcorn stand at one end of Creations Shop. The buildings color-blocked exterior is being painted over.

On the other end of the building, much of the roof overhang has been painted with grey primer.

Windows and walls have yet to be installed on this side of the faade.

Most of the supports have been painted with primer as well.

Windows are now being installed on the section closest Spaceship Earth.

This is the future location of Starbucks and an unnamed quick-service restaurant.

New transparent tarps hang across the Innoventions East bypass that will house Club Cool.

Scaffolding still surrounds much of the building as work continues on the roof overhang.

On the other side of the construction site, there has been significant progress on the Journey of Water walkthrough attraction, where construction only went vertical earlier this month.

Scaffolding surrounds new walls.

As always, keep following WDWNT for all of your Disney Parks news, and for the absolute latest, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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PHOTOS: Window Installation and Painting Continues at World Celebration Construction in EPCOT - wdwnt.com

Microsoft's Windows 11, expected to debut at a company event scheduled for June 24, has leaked online and is now appearing in screenshots on various websites.

The leaked Windows 11 'About this OS' page showing off Windows 11 Pro. Source: Baidu

Windows 11 build 21996.1 showed up on Tuesday in pictures on Chinese mega-site Baidu. A Windows 11 disc image (an ISO file) has also been circulating.

Behold, what the Windows 11 desktop will purportedly look like judging from the leaked build. Source: Hunter Rossi

The images of Sun Valley, as the release has been dubbed, reveal a visually appealing interface refresh and the conspicuous absence of Live Tiles in the Start menu, centered as it was in the cancelled Windows 10X project.

The Start menu includes a space for Pinned apps at the top. Below that, it features a Recommended section that lists recently used files and apps in a manner reminiscent of the Taskbar's Timeline feature.

A screenshot of the Windows 11 widgets menu

The Taskbar, centered or left-aligned per user settings, no longer includes Timeline and adds a Widgets button that presents a menu of Widgets (mini-apps) that do things like display the time, weather, stock prices, and news. Widgets replace news and interests in the Taskbar that have started showing up for Windows 10 users.

The new look implements rounded corners in context menus, apps, and File Explorer. It also makes effective use of animations when windows and apps open, close, or get moved around. In addition, touch gestures have been expanded to make interacting with touch interfaces easier and more intuitive.

There's now a window organization tool, similar to third-party macOS app Magnet and to Windows' built-in stack and snap window management functions, that's been attached to the window maximize button. It automatically arranges multiple windows next to one-another in several preset grid patterns.

Some aspects of the Windows 11 interface remain unchanged, but that's to be expected in an early build. Overall, the visual refurbishment has met with modest enthusiasm from the Twitterati, which is about the best anyone can hope for on the internet.

What the Windows 11 File Explorer will probably look like

The Twitter account Windows Aesthetics posted a poll soliciting opinions about the new look. With 860 votes cast, the breakdown was: it looks gorgeous (12.2 per cent); it looks nice (28.1 per cent); it's okay (37.7 per cent); and it looks garbage (22 per cent). Perhaps the new startup sound for the OS will change people's minds?

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more from the original source:
What Microsoft's Windows 11 will probably look like - The Register

Window air conditioners arent the most aesthetically pleasing appliances, but when the heat is on, theyre often the only option if you want to keep cool.

Consumer Reports just tested dozens of air conditioners. While not much has changed in how theyre installed, there is a newer A/C with a U-shaped design that allows you to open and close your window without the heavy unit falling out -- the U hangs over each side of the sill, with the window coming down into the space created in the center of the U. Installation is a little different from a traditional window A/C, however; it needs a special bracket to be installed first. Once you do that, you can slide the A/C into place, and the window closes down into the U-shaped groove. Just note that you might not be able to fit some windows with the screen.

And now the important question: Can it cool a room? CR testers cranked up the air temperature in a special chamber heated to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then measures how long it took a window A/C to cool the room by 10 degrees. Most of the window air conditioners do a pretty decent job. The best can do it quickly and quietly. And thats where two of the U-shaped units from Midea stand out, earning top scores for cooling and noise in CRs tests.

Consider the Midea U-shaped MAW08V1QWT for medium-size rooms of about 250 to 400 square feet. And for larger spaces, CR recommends the Midea MAW12V1QWT U-shaped unit. If you only need to cool down a small spaceanything under 300 square feetthe conventionally shaped LG LW6019ER will get the job done for about $280.

If your space cant accommodate a window A/C, CR also tested portable air conditioners. These typically cost more and dont perform as well as window units. To help you choose one thats the right size for your space, take a look at the BTU/HR sticker on the box provided by the Department of Energy on the box. This is often more realistic than the manufacturers BTU/HR. range.

Read more:
Choosing the Right Window Air Conditioner - NBC San Diego

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Now it pretty sure: Windows 11 will replace Windows 10, Win10 support will end in 2025 - AfterDawn

Friede & Goldman Ltd. (F&G) has introduced BargeRack, a new solution to the feeder concept of offshore wind turbine installation. BargeRackisa safe and simple method of installing up to 20-MW wind turbines using a self-elevating vessel.

F&G's BargeRack eliminates motions between the self-elevating installation vessel and the feeder vessel, removing the need for complicated, expensive, and heavy motion compensation equipment. Uptime is increased due to much larger allowable weather windows.

Furthermore, due to the simplicity, existing U.S. infrastructure can be used which eliminates the need for purpose-built feeder vessels and/or expensive and complicated feeder barges.

The new product utilizes a trussed rack fitted to the transom of a relatively small self-elevating vessel. The feeder barge, with its turbine component cargo, is floated over the submerged rack. Once the feeder barge is secured, the self-elevating vessel uses its onboard jacking system to elevate, while also lifting the feeder barge completely out of the water. From this position, the main crane installs the wind turbine components directly from the stationary feeder barge onto the turbine foundation. After turbine installation, the self-elevating unit jacks down into the water, submerging the rack, and re-floating the now empty feeder barge.

Friede & Goldman designs self-elevating vessels and jacking system equipment. There have been over 120 F&G designed jack-ups built to date.

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Friede & Goldman offers feeder solution to offshore wind turbine installation - WorkBoat

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the world of football, and while the summer transfer window will open as normal across Europe (just like the January window), this summer's budgets for clubs are expected to be hit hard again.

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Clubs spent nearly 1.5 billion less ($1.9bn) in summer 2020 than they did over the same period in 2019, according to FIFA, while Deloitte reported a 50% drop in activity across January 2021. However, there are still going to be plenty of loans, swaps, free transfers and even some permanent deals to keep an eye on.

Here are grades for all the major summer deals, with each day listed in order of highest transfer fee. All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk (*).

RB Leipzig: B+Bayern Munich: A

With a release clause inserted into his contract, there wasn't much that Leipzig could do to stop their star defender from departing. Upamecano is only 22 but has become one of the best young players in Europe after joining from FC Salzburg in 2017 for around 10m. The club have made their peace with letting him go and will move on.

Bayern edged themselves ahead of the rest of Europe's top clubs to land the Frenchman and should be very pleased. He is still developing but should be a fine addition to their multitalented squad as he was one of the most coveted players of this transfer window.

RB Leipzig: B+Liverpool: A

Another Leipzig star with an achievable release clause inserted into his contract. Much like Upamecano, Konate wasn't going to last long at the club before moving on to one of the top teams in Europe. Leipzig did well to get a big transfer fee and can rebuild with it.

One of the top young defenders in Europe, Upamecano took most of the headlines but Konate is equally deserving of a big move. Liverpool have struggled this season but should be set for the future if the 21-year-old can hit the ground running in England and stay free of injury.

Schalke: CJuventus: A-

Schalke's relegation after a dismal season ensured this move was always going to be on the cards. His loan to Juventus in August 2020 came as something of a surprise, and the German club may regret not keeping hold of him to help their battle against the drop. Though with the payments to Schalke split over three years, they have secured their financial future and could also bag an extra 6.5m in add-ons.

Juve have managed to get the best out of the United States midfielder and he impressed enough to earn himself a deal through to June 2025. Manager Andrea Pirlo says he is now "more professional than when he arrived" and his fitness and concentration levels have improved. He will only go from strength to strength at one of Europe's top clubs.

Man City: BRB Leipzig: B

"There is a big difference [between Man City boss Pep Guardiola and Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann]: One gave me the confidence and played me, and the other didn't. [Guardiola] killed me. Confidence is everything for me." That quote just about sums up Angelino's time at City, with the former Spain U21 international signing in 2013 but spending most of his time on loan. He left for PSV in 2018 and finally started showing his skills, but City used his buyback clause to return him to the Etihad, where he was loaned again.

Luckily, the 24-year-old had two impressive loan spells at Leipzig, which were enough to persuade them to sign him permanently. City got a decent fee, while Leipzig got a player who has shown himself to be a key part of their side. We just hope there's no buyback clause included this time.

Strasbourg: CRB Leipzig: B+

After failing to make the grade at the Marseille youth academy, two impressive seasons in Strasbourg's first team as a youngster showed Simakan was ready for the step up. He is still raw and developing, but his style of defending is similar to Lilian Thuram's, and one can't help thinking that Strasbourg could have held out for a bit more.

Let one player depart for 42.5m and use the cash to sign his replacement for 15m; Leipzig have got the hang of transfers. The club beat out competition from AC Milan to land the highly rated Simakan, who has bags of potential and is still only 21. He is a born organiser who should help fill the void of Upamecano.

Lille: CAC Milan: B

Having won Ligue 1 this season, Lille's exodus began with their star goalkeeper as Maignan made the move to Italy. Having built a fine reputation in France, the 6-foot-3 stopper left on the cheap as his contract was set to expire in 2022. Lille will struggle to replace him with similar quality.

Milan moved quickly when it became clear that Gianluigi Donnarumma wasn't going to sign new terms. The 22-year-old Italy international will leave on a free transfer and Maignan is his replacement. He won't win over the fans like Donnarumma did when he made his debut aged 15 but Maignan is a solid player who can help Milan get over the loss of their biggest young star.

0:53

Julien Laurens says Ibrahima Konate has improved massively under Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig ahead of his move to Liverpool.

FC Dallas grade: ARoma grade: B-

Reynolds moved to Roma on loan in January but has only played a handful of times since. He's still only 19, so the 6.75m obligation to sign him (plus 5m in add-ons) is a lot of money and Dallas can be happy with how they brought him through to progress his career. He will be missed, but it's better for the player that he move on.

Roma beat Juventus to the U.S. right-back, and the club will offer him a clearer path to the first team. He's got a lot to learn and isn't the finished article yet, but he has bags of potential, and Roma will be hoping he has a similar impact to that of U.S. star McKennie in Turin.

Estudiantes: B-Man City: B+

A small, nimble, Argentine forward, Sarmiento has had the unwelcome distraction of comparisons with the untouchable Lionel Messi to deal with in his young career to date. He was handed his Estudiantes debut as a 16-year-old in 2019 and hasn't looked back since, impressing with his dribbling and direct running style. The club could have held on to him for a bit longer to see how he develops, but opted to take the money early.

It's a bit of a gamble for City and you may see Sarmiento sent on loan before he makes an appearance in the City first team. But the Premier League champions have not spent a lot to sign the 18-year-old, so they may reap the rewards if he turns out to be half as good as Messi.

PSG: B

PSG did well to land a quality midfielder like Wijnaldum from under the noses of Barcelona, and on a free transfer too. It's somewhat surprising that the Dutchman didn't see a future for himself under Barca coach Ronald Koeman, but PSG will reap the rewards and Liverpool will be sad to see him depart. He's not one for future, but can provide some much-needed experience to bolster the midfield and help the club's younger players to develop.

Barcelona: A+

Having left Barcelona in 2017 for City, Garcia made it clear that he wanted to return to Camp Nou and would not sign a new contract. His breakthrough came last season and he showed he has everything to become a top quality centre-back for years to come. Barca have done well to land him for nothing and the 20-year-old will surely blossom into the successor for Gerard Pique.

Barcelona: A-

With 260 goals in 389 games for Manchester City, Aguero is one of the best strikers to have ever played the game. At 32, and with a season of injury struggles behind him, he has opted for a new challenge and still has plenty to offer. If his body holds up, Barca will hope that he will have a similar impact to Luis Suarez but his arrival may be more important in persuading fellow Argentine Lionel Messi to sign a new contract.

Real Madrid: A+

Bayern will be furious that they weren't able to persuade one of their top defenders to sign a new contract, but the 28-year-old Alaba clearly had a new challenge in mind. Madrid have got themselves a world-class player who can operate in several different positions. They are paying him a lot in wages but the lack of transfer fee makes it completely worthwhile. If Sergio Ramos or Raphael Varane leave, the club have a natural replacement.

RB Leipzig: A-

Any player who has passed through the extraordinary Ajax youth academy usually goes on to have a decent career. Brobbey's goal scoring record at youth level saw him net 90 goals in 123 games during his time at the club, but he had grown tired of a lack of chances in the first team and opted to see out his contract before taking on a new challenge in Germany. Leipzig may have got themselves a real star if he can continue this development. They have been searching for a replacement for Timo Werner (after letting Chelsea sign him for 53m last summer) and Brobbey's versatility gives him an extra dimension up front. At 19, the forward has all the attributes to be a success.

Bayern: B-

The former England U21 international left-back chose to become the latest young star to move to the Bundesliga by seeing out his contract at Championship side Reading. At 23, he has plenty of room to develop, but it's a bit of a gamble for Bayern to take. Clearly the German club were impressed by his technical skill and ability to attack from the full-back role, but he'll have to perform exceptionally well to oust Alphonso Davies from the team.

Borussia Dortmund: B

It takes a lot of guts to swap clubs at the age of 17, but Coulibaly follows Dan-Axel Zagadou in joining Borussia Dortmund from PSG and is a left-footed centre-back. PSG were unable to offer him any first-team guarantees so, after suffering an ACL injury in training in mid-February, he opted to leave at the end of his contract. Coulibaly was helped in his development by fellow Frenchman Presnel Kimpembe and Dortmund will certainly be able to offer him the chances he needs, if he can show he is up to the challenge. "I'm grateful for my time at PSG, but there is the right step for me," he said. "I had other offers from other club, but I knew straight away that Dortmund was the right choice for me."

Continue reading here:
Summer transfer window: Grading every big signing from Europe's top clubs - ESPN

On taxes, be careful what you wish for

Something is wrong with how little we tax the richest | Column, June 14

Judging from the letters to the editor that I read, many people have a distorted view of net worth versus income. If your house increases in value, which is very likely in the current real estate market, do you pay income tax on the increased value? If your 401(k) or IRA is structured for growth and you realize some very good gains, do you pay income tax on those gains before you withdraw the funds? No. Only when you sell your home or take the gains in actual cash are you liable and obligated to pay those taxes, according to the current laws.

Many, if not most, Americans invest in themselves via property and retirement accounts. These are the two most popular ways of building wealth. After a lifetime of building net worth, do we pay our fair share when we actually take the money? You bet we do. Billionaires do the same, but on a much grander scale.

If our dear elected leaders ever decide to tax wealth, we are all doomed. No more retirement accounts, no more stock market, no more home ownership; the government would be there to strip away any gains you might accrue each and every year under the guise of fairness. Before you light up the torches and storm the mansions of the uber rich, beware you just might be burning your house down.

Steve Thomas, Tarpon Springs

Hiking USF preserve shows need to save it | Column, May 24

The Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Conservancy wishes to express our strong support for the permanent protection of the University of South Florida Forest Preserve. This property has received significant attention recently, resulting from the universitys exploration of potential future development of the 769 acres. The Tampa Bay Conservancy considers this property a critical link in the wildlife and natural area corridors of northeast Hillsborough County. The preserve provides a natural connection to Lettuce Lake Park through its common frontage on the Hillsborough River. That linear frontage also provides valuable natural shoreline, including large areas of floodplain that filter water for areas downstream. Because of the ecological, historical and research value, we are deeply concerned that the university recently elected to entertain development ideas for the property. There are many developed properties surrounding USF but only one Forest Preserve, an irreplaceable and critically important ecological resource for past, present and future students, alumni and the greater Tampa Bay community. The Tampa Bay Conservancy is a land conservation organization devoted to protecting the natural, agricultural and scenic heritage of the greater Tampa Bay region. As such, we strongly advocate for the protection of this property through a conservation easement, precluding future development, but allowing for continued research, educational and recreational use.

Ethel Hammer, Odessa

The writer is president of the Tampa Bay Conservancy.

The Times tallies its 13th Pulitzer | June 13

Outstanding work, Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi! This type of professional talent is why I subscribe to the Tampa Bay Times. The tenacious, dedicated, exhaustive work involved in these investigative reporting projects is so needed. How else would we ever learn the scope of these issues impacting us here in the Tampa Bay region?

Kathy Houck, New Port Richey

Outrage over billionaires tax returns ignores basic facts | Column, June 13

Somewhere between the two extremes of paying no taxes and confiscating assets is a solution to unjust taxation. Our current tax code is much like gerrymandering. It carves out loopholes and exceptions that favor one group only, in this case the rich. Wealthy people live lavish lifestyles based on realized gains, wages, and dividends. At the very least, that income should be fully taxed. Since borrowing against their investments portfolio loans is a common way to obtain funds without incurring taxes by selling stocks, lets legislate a tax on that income. And 1% on their entire portfolio, above a certain dollar amount, each year would not be unreasonable. If I sell a property and hold the mortgage, Im still liable for the entire gain (not just the cash down payment) in the year of the sale, realized or not. If I were wealthy, there would, no doubt, be numerous ways to avoid this tax. Wealth detached from the civic responsibility to contribute is obscene. Correction in our tax code is long overdue.

Diane Love, St. Petersburg

Im Sen. Rick Scott, and heres how Id rein in Washingtons reckless spending | Column, June 13

Id like to know where Sen. Rick Scott was when then-President Donald Trump was doing all the spending during his term. I dont remember hearing a peep out of him then.

Rick Cortese, Tampa

Selling? Easy. Fixing? Uh-oh. | June 14

I would like to add a tip to Susan Taylor Martins informative article on home renovations: Have your general contractor obtain all required permits, especially if renovations include electric, plumbing, and window replacements.A respectable, licensed, and insured contractor should have no problem getting a permit. If they refuse, hire somebody else. And while you are at it, have your contractor endorse their general liability and workers compensation insurance policies to you for the duration of the home remodeling process.

Lambros Papaeconomou, Tampa

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Soaking the rich isnt the answer | Letters - Tampa Bay Times