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Mapwing.com for Virtual Tours
2007-03-02 16:32:05
I stumbled across an interesting alternative for creating Virt ual Tour s today. Mapwing.com enables anyone to build, share, and explore virtual tours online and for free. Mapwing turns digital photos into interactive tours that include a placed or drawn map, images, and comments. Finished virtual tours can be embedded into blogs or other Web sites.This could be a very useful tool for commercial brokers (and residential Realtors). It only took me about 30 minutes to photograph, scan, and create a tour online of my Maxsell Real Estate office building. I created this tour using the free version, but they do offer enhanced features for a yearly fee of $39 or even more features for $15/tour (still a great savings for Realtors using other services). I'd be curious of feedback from other agents and the real estate buying public.Resources: Mapwing Press Release, Mapwing Website
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Big Business brings Money and People to Atlanta
2007-03-02 16:32:05
Michael Wright of Home in ATL has an interesting take on why people are moving to Metro Atlanta ...because Big Business is here.Many BIG businesses call Atlanta home - so should you! When big businesses call a city home, it is for a reason - there are good neighborhoods and an economy to support them.Here are a few Fortune 500 companies calling Atlanta Home: The Home Depot United Parcel Service The Coca-Cola Company BellSouth Delta Air Lines The Southern Company Sun Trust BanksThese companies contribute significantly to the states economy.Resource: Michael Wright of ATLagent.com
More About: People , Money , Big Business

No More Taxes in Georgia!
2007-03-02 16:32:05
Mitch Seabaugh, a Republican from Sharpsburg, has introduced a constitutional amendment that would eliminate state ad valorem taxes, corporate taxes and personal income taxes in favor of a higher state sales tax on goods and services. Called the Georgia One Tax , it could be on the ballots for voters in 2008 and be effective Jan. 1, 2010.Baiscally, this is a State version of a fair tax plan, similar to John Linder's FairTax proposal. Although Linder's FairTax proposal would tax goods and services at 23 percent -- a proposal he's been trying to get passed for seven years -- Seabaugh's One Tax would not exceed 6.5 percent. Currently, the state sales tax is 4 percent. The move to cap the tax at that level, Seabaugh said, would be a "revenue neutral" plan and would not add any additional money to state coffers. State Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, who helped Seabaugh with the plan, says the proposal is nothing new, as several states don't have income taxes. Other states that do n...
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When Harry met Martha...
2007-03-02 16:32:05
When I read the Dear Editor letter in the Cherokee Tribune, I had to laugh. Here it is...Commissioner too restrictive in zonings Thursday, March 1, 2007 2:56 AM EST DEAR EDITOR:I went to the Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 20 in Canton and discovered we have our very own equestrian design expert holding a seat on the board.The applicant for the Beavers Road zoning should in fact thank Commissioner Harry Johnston for writing his neighborhood covenants for him right down to the style of the houses, the color of the fencing, what should be landscaped, the type of entrance monument, and an unnecessary 50-foot buffer. Mr. Johnston did everything but require the applicant to buy a horse for each house.Mr. Johnston also offered many suggestions; I mean requirements for the applicants on Salacoa Road. Aga...
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When Harry met Martha...
2007-03-01 22:47:00
When I read the Dear Editor letter in the Cherokee Tribune, I had to laugh. Here it is...Commissioner too restrictive in zonings Thursday, March 1, 2007 2:56 AM EST DEAR EDITOR:I went to the Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 20 in Canton and discovered we have our very own equestrian design expert holding a seat on the board.The applicant for the Beavers Road zoning should in fact thank Commissioner Harry Johnston for writing his neighborhood covenants for him right down to the style of the houses, the color of the fencing, what should be landscaped, the type of entrance monument, and an unnecessary 50-foot buffer. Mr. Johnston did everything but require the applicant to buy a horse for each house.Mr. Johnston also offered many suggestions; I mean requirements for the applicants on Salacoa Road. Aga...
More About: When , Martha

Atlanta: Best Place for Value Vacation in 2007
2007-02-28 13:52:00
Georgia on your mind? Well it should be. Atlanta tops the list because of its deep discounts (81), affordable entertainment and wide variety of quality hotels (68). Atlanta is home to some of the country's largest cultural institutions. Enjoy these great bargains: The World of Coca-Cola Tour (free to $9)CNN Studio Tour, a behind-the-scenes look at the 24-hour news service ($9 to $12)Centennial Olympic Park, an open-air park where the 1996 Olympic Games were held (free)TripAdvisor has a detailed list of things to do in Atlanta.The Hotwire Travel Value Index ranks the 50 most-visited places* in the U.S. for visitor value. Each destination is scored in three categories (on a 100-point scale): Low rates on air, rental car and hotelDiscounts on air, rental car and hotelAffordable entertainment and overall appeal Take a look at how the top 10 destinations scored in each category: Top 10 Leisure Markets Travel Value Index Discount Rating Low Price Rating Affordable Entertainme...
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Mapwing.com for Virtual Tours
2007-02-27 20:51:00
I stumbled across an interesting alternative for creating Virt ual Tours today. Mapwing.com enables anyone to build, share, and explore virtual tours online and for free. Mapwing turns digital photos into interactive tours that include a placed or drawn map, images, and comments. Finished virtual tours can be embedded into blogs or other Web sites.This could be a very useful tool for commercial brokers (and residential Realtors). It only took me about 30 minutes to photograph, scan, and create a tour online of my Maxsell Real Estate office building. I created this tour using the free version, but they do offer enhanced features for a yearly fee of $39 or even more features for $15/tour (still a great savings for Realtors using other services). I'd be curious of feedback from other agents and the real estate buying public.Resources: Mapwing Press Release, Mapwing Website
More About: Wing

Big Business brings Money and People to Atlanta
2007-02-25 13:49:00
Michael Wright of Home in ATL has an interesting take on why people are moving to Metro Atlanta ...because Big Business is here.Many BIG businesses call Atlanta home - so should you! When big businesses call a city home, it is for a reason - there are good neighborhoods and an economy to support them.Here are a few Fortune 500 companies calling Atlanta Home: The Home Depot United Parcel Service The Coca-Cola Company BellSouth Delta Air Lines The Southern Company Sun Trust BanksThese companies contribute significantly to the states economy.Resource: Michael Wright of ATLagent.com
More About: People , Money , Big Business

No More Taxes in Georgia!
2007-02-23 15:14:00
Mitch Seabaugh, a Republican from Sharpsburg, has introduced a constitutional amendment that would eliminate state ad valorem taxes, corporate taxes and personal income taxes in favor of a higher state sales tax on goods and services. Called the Georgia One Tax, it could be on the ballots for voters in 2008 and be effective Jan. 1, 2010.Baiscally, this is a State version of a fair tax plan, similar to John Linder's FairTax proposal. Although Linder's FairTax proposal would tax goods and services at 23 percent -- a proposal he's been trying to get passed for seven years -- Seabaugh's One Tax would not exceed 6.5 percent. Currently, the state sales tax is 4 percent. The move to cap the tax at that level, Seabaugh said, would be a "revenue neutral" plan and would not add any additional money to state coffers. State Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, who helped Seabaugh with the plan, says the proposal is nothing new, as several states don't have income taxes. Other states that do n...
More About: Taxes , More

5 Reasons Real Estate Invesmtent is more Comfortable than Stocks
2007-02-23 04:30:04
Main Street is better than Wall StreetJason Hartman, Founder & President, Platinum Properties Investor Network has a good breakdown of the 5 Comfort Factors that make real estate investing more attractive than the stock market. They are...COMFORT FACTOR #1: Tax benefits Most of the tax benefits associated with investing in real estate are fairly straightforward. To summarize, sell stock in which you have a gain and you'll be paying taxes - there's just no way around it. But sell appreciated property and if you do it right, you can defer your tax indefinitely. COMFORT FACTOR #2: Cash flow Most stock market investors will pay 100 percent of the share price for a stock (investors who don't mind the risk of margin calls can buy many stocks for 50 percent down), while real estate investors typically need to put down only five to 10 percent with no risk of margin calls. COMFORT FACTOR #3: Risk management and control For de...
More About: Stocks , Estate , Real Estate , Stock , Tabl

5 Reasons Real Estate Invesmtent is more Comfortable than Stocks
2007-02-22 14:01:00
Main Street is better than Wall StreetJason Hartman, Founder & President, Platinum Properties Investor Network has a good breakdown of the 5 Comfort Factors that make real estate investing more attractive than the stock market. They are...COMFORT FACTOR #1: Tax benefits Most of the tax benefits associated with investing in real estate are fairly straightforward. To summarize, sell stock in which you have a gain and you'll be paying taxes - there's just no way around it. But sell appreciated property and if you do it right, you can defer your tax indefinitely. COMFORT FACTOR #2: Cash flow Most stock market investors will pay 100 percent of the share price for a stock (investors who don't mind the risk of margin calls can buy many stocks for 50 percent down), while real estate investors typically need to put down only five to 10 percent with no risk of margin calls. COMFORT FACTOR #3: Risk management and control For de...
More About: Stocks , Estate , Real Estate , Tabl , Reason

Reducing Traffic Congestion STARTS Now!!
2007-02-21 16:28:01
In today's Capitol Report, issued by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, there is a Call to Action to support a $0.01 sales tax to pay for improvements to traffic problems in Metro Atlanta. While I think something must be done about the problem, I am not sold that sales tax is the answer. I believe other alternatives are worth considering before we go and raise taxes. I am curious to hear what my readers think on this one? Do you support the following?:State Representative Chuck Martin of Alpharetta and State Representative Richard Royal of the Southwest Georgia community of Camilla have introduced the State Authorized Regional Transportation Solution (STARTS) legislation that the regional business community has identified as its number one legislative priority this year.The bill enables regions across the state to come together and determine their transportation priorities and then submit the plan along with a 1-cent sales tax to pay for the improvements to a referendum before t...
More About: Traffic , Arts , Congestion , Start , Star

A Grand solution to manage your phone calls!
2007-02-21 16:28:01
Grand Central has an interesting solution to managing voice mails, screening calls, recording calls, never missing calls, and almost anything else to do with phone calls. You can manage greetings, ring tones, caller groups, and even block spam callers all from an internet connection. Their slogan, "One number...for Life." is accurate because your new Grand Central phone # will ring any phone you wish.This solution could be great for subdivision agents who may prefer to answer calls on their cell phone while on the road, but prefer to grab a land line while at the sales office. Grand Central will ring all phones at the same time and you decide where to answer it. You can even transfer calls from one phone to another, in case you need to run down the street and confirm something regarding a listing while still on the phone with the client.I really like the ability to record the call by pressing the #4. It's very handy for recording phone numbers to be called back later or an imp...
More About: Phone , Calls , Your , Call , Grand

Atlanta among 10 Best Cities for Rising Home Values
2007-02-21 16:28:01
Business 2.0 magazine ranks the top 10 cities for buying property now. Experts say that while these locales may not be immune to the current housing malaise, eventually property values in these places, for a variety of reasons, are likely to zoom.Here?s the list, along with the projected gain in home prices:1. Panama City, Fla.: 72 percent projected gain in home prices over five years. A new airport that will be built next year will open the area to vacationers and residents.2. Vero Beach, Fla.: 64 percent. Demand for housing along with moderate property taxes and beautiful weather will drive growth.3. Bridgeport, Conn.: 63 percent. Proximity and the staggering home prices in other parts of Fairfield County are making this hardscrabble area appealing to New York City commuters.4. Lakeland, Fla.: 59 percent. This growing area is only 30 minutes from Tampa via Interstate 4, but prices are 80 percent lower.5. McAllen, Texas: 57 percent. A Hispanic baby boom and rising incomes are drivi...
More About: Home , Cities , Atlanta , Citi , Best

Cherokee County Road Projects
2007-02-21 16:28:01
Cherokee County Roadway Project UpdateBy: Geoffrey E. Morton, PE ? Cherokee County Public Works Agency DirectorCounty Projects (SPLOST Funded):1. Eagle Drive Widening· $6.0 million final construction cost.· Construction was substantially completed in August 2006.2. Sixes Road Widening· $9.5 million final construction cost.· Construction should be substantially completed by April 2007.3. Robin Road Sidewalk Project· Project included construction of curb and gutter and sidewalk along west side of Robin Road.· Construction was substantially completed in December 2006.4. Towne Lake Parkway Signal Timing· County will be replacing signal controllers and hardwire with fiber optic cable.· Cost will be funded with 80% coming from Federal funds.· Construction is expected in Summer 2007.5. Bells Ferry Road Signal Timing· County will be replacing signal controllers and hardwire with fiber optic cable.· Cost will be funded with 80% coming from Federal funds.· Construction is expected in Sum...
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Low Cost of Living and Low Home Prices drive growth in Metro Atlanta
2007-02-21 16:28:01
Neighboroo makes it very easy to see why Metro Atlanta, and the Southeast in general, is growing in population. Cost of Living is lower, houses cost less, property taxes are lower, climate is better, and job growth is good. See for yourself:
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Cherokee County Heat Map by Trulia
2007-02-21 16:28:01
Trulia Heat Maps help you visually compare prices & popularity by state, county, city or neighborhood.Here is a map showing average listing price for Cher okee Count y ZIP codes, week ending Jan 31. It's interesting to see that the Ball Ground region has the highest average List Price (could this be the Hawk's Ridge effect?). If you click the "Trulia Popularity" link below the map, you notice that Woodstock, Holly Springs and Canton still attract the most inquiries.
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Web 2.0 Video
2007-02-21 16:28:01
Everyone seems to be talking about Web 2 .0 these days (some are tired of talking about it). I have talked about it, they have talked about it, even your mom has talked about it, but some people just learn more by watching tv. (did I just say that?) Anyways, Dustin Luther over at Rain City Guide introduced me to this video and I think you'll enjoy the presentation style (it's very web 2.0).Whether you care about web 2.0 or not, it's a cool video (if cool is still cool in web 2.0).
More About: Video , Web 2.0

Atlanta among 10 Best Cities for Rising Home Values
2007-02-21 16:18:00
Business 2.0 magazine ranks the top 10 cities for buying property now. Experts say that while these locales may not be immune to the current housing malaise, eventually property values in these places, for a variety of reasons, are likely to zoom.Here?s the list, along with the projected gain in home prices:1. Panama City, Fla.: 72 percent projected gain in home prices over five years. A new airport that will be built next year will open the area to vacationers and residents.2. Vero Beach, Fla.: 64 percent. Demand for housing along with moderate property taxes and beautiful weather will drive growth.3. Bridgeport, Conn.: 63 percent. Proximity and the staggering home prices in other parts of Fairfield County are making this hardscrabble area appealing to New York City commuters.4. Lakeland, Fla.: 59 percent. This growing area is only 30 minutes from Tampa via Interstate 4, but prices are 80 percent lower.5. McAllen, Texas: 57 percent. A Hispanic baby boom and rising incomes are drivi...
More About: Home , Cities , Atlanta , Sing , Values

Cherokee County Heat Map by Trulia
2007-02-21 01:21:00
Trulia Heat Maps help you visually compare prices & popularity by state, county, city or neighborhood.Here is a map showing average listing price for Cherokee Count y ZIP codes, week ending Jan 31. It's interesting to see that the Ball Ground region has the highest average List Price (could this be the Hawk's Ridge effect?). If you click the "Trulia Popularity" link below the map, you notice that Woodstock, Holly Springs and Canton still attract the most inquiries.
More About: Hero

Web 2.0 Video
2007-02-20 13:47:00
Everyone seems to be talking about Web 2.0 these days (some are tired of talking about it). I have talked about it, they have talked about it, even your mom has talked about it, but some people just learn more by watching tv. (did I just say that?) Anyways, Dustin Luther over at Rain City Guide introduced me to this video and I think you'll enjoy the presentation style (it's very web 2.0).Whether you care about web 2.0 or not, it's a cool video (if cool is still cool in web 2.0).
More About: Video

Housing Decline Almost Over, Interest Rates to Remain Low !!!
2007-02-14 10:26:02
According to Wachovia Economics Group report for February 2007, the housing market may see bottom sometime after the middle of the year. The report also projects the Feds to hold interest rates at or near their current level for the entire year. These sound like good signs for the real estate industry nationwide!"We have raised our estimate for GDP growth this year to 2.6 percent, based largely on the recent strength in consumer spending and what appears to be the beginning of a turnaround in the nation?s trade deficit. Residential construction and motor vehicle assemblies will continue to be a drag on overall growth and business fixed investment will likely get off to a slow start this year.The major downside risk to the economy continues to be the housing sector. We expect the bulk of the decline in residential construction to be behind us by the middle of this year. That may prove to be too optimistic, however. In addition, inventories could pull-back more than wecurrently expe...
More About: Interest Rates , Inter , Main , Housing , Over

Cherokee Land Use Plan Meeting Announcement
2007-02-13 22:25:03
This announcement comes from Cher okee CPR:Last November Cherokee CPR members turned out big for the Citizens Round table (CRT) meeting to show our disapproval of the Proposed Land Use Plan that they had drafted. (View Proposed Land Use Map) The Board of Commissioners has appointed a new group, the Comp Plan Steering Council, who is taking over the task of completing the plan. The good news is, CherokeeCPR will have a representative on the new steering council. The bad news is, the council is half the size of the original CRT and is now dominated by slow growth activists. The Farm Bureau is out. The mayors of the cities are out. Who is left? Members of the Cherokee Coalition for Responsible Growth, SOS and the Hickory Flat slow growthers along with representatives from the largest subdivisions in each district. The deck is stacked! Our only hope is to protect property rights is to turn out in mass tonight, Tuesday, Feb 13th to show the new council we are not going away!C...
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What happens in Atlanta, stays in Atlanta?
2007-02-12 22:24:01
As Metro Atlanta grows to compete with other cities to attract conventions, tourists, and tax dollars, we are going to hear more and more about Casinos in Atlanta. While I am still undecided on this topic, much more research for me before I decide, I thought I'd share the latest news from the Atlanta Business Chronicle... Just one Las Vegas-style casino in downtown Atlanta could generate up to $1.7 billion in economic impact, create 10,800 direct jobs, fill tax coffers with $135.3 million annually and add nearly $3 million to the city's hotel-motel tax fund. Casinos -- according to a new study by Atlanta hospitality experts PKF Consulting Inc. obtained by Atlanta Business Chronicle -- could be the winning hand downtown needs to stay on top of the convention business, and add a strong leisure attraction. A downtown Atlanta casino could lead to a massive redevelopment of the central business district, spanning from near CNN Center along Marietta Street to Underground Atlanta. ....
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The Future of Real Estate Marketing... is hard to predict
2007-02-12 22:24:01
As real estate transitions from old school print to new school internet technologies, many agents and brokers find themselves lost on how to market their properties. Which is best for their client? Which is best for their agents? Which reaches the most consumers? Which is easiest to use? Which is most likely to stick around over time?I am constantly testing these new sites as marketing tools. Some I used yesterday, some I use today, but I am not sure what I will be using tomorrow? These are interesting times for agents and brokers and our clients and customers as real estate transitions from 1.0 to 2.0. With these thoughts in mind, there is an interesting debate going on over Rain City Guide about the value of these new online real estate portals and marketing sites. One commenter (afthree), makes some interesting points when he says,..."At the Inman conference in NY there was a great session for Brokers only, ie no web 2.0 companies allowed. Fantastic criteria came out of ...
More About: Marketing , Estate , Real Estate , Real Estate Market , Market

Understanding Commercial Real Estate
2007-02-09 04:21:02
Smith Real Estate Services recently highlighted 10 Things you need to know about Commercial Real Estate ...1. Most commercial ?brokers? are not brokers. They call themselves brokers because they broker the deal, but many hold a Salesperson?s license, which actually makes them an agent. By law, a salesperson or agent must hang their license under a broker. A licensed broker can elect to put their license under another broker; however, a salesperson does not have the option. 2. Most ?brokers? that work for commercial brokerages without a residential arm are not Realtors. A Realtor belongs to their local real estate board. Historically, the local and national real estate boards have done little to support commercial real estate, though that is changing. Consequently, commercial brokerage houses generally do not join the board of Realtors; 3. A title like Vice President generally means they have achieved a certain level of sales volume, not that they are managers of people; 4. Land is co...
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Commercial Investment Quiz
2007-02-09 04:21:02
You bought a piece of commercial real estate as an investment for $900,000 last month. You put 30% down. Because this was a former gas station site, you had to do some studies totaling $8,000. Your loan had 1 point. You collect $5,400 per month in base rent. It?s a triple net lease. Taxes are $9,100 a year, insurance $2,000 per year and CAM?s $2,400 per year. Your additional operating expenses on the property are $300 per month. You set aside 5% for future capital improvements. Your loan payment is $4,622 (PI) per month. 1. What is your initial investment? 2. What is the cash flow before taxes on this investment property? 3. What is the cash on cash return for this investment property? 4. What was your cap rate on this purchase? 5. What price should you pay to get a 7% cap rate? Deal or no deal? No deal.The answers respectively are $284,300; -$582; 0; 6.4%; $828,000.Thanks to Sellsius for highlighting this quiz created by Smith Real Estate Services.
More About: Quiz , Commercial , Investment , Men , Vest

Cherokee County: Gated Country Club for Slow-Growthers
2007-02-09 04:21:02
Wednesday, the Cher okee Tribune published the following "Dear Editor" letter...Cherokee needs to cap population Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:59 AM ESTDEAR EDITOR:When my wife and I moved to Cherokee a year ago, we assumed that the county would be like Cobb County, where we lived for 24 years. Relentless growth changed Cobb from a wonderful place to live to a suburban nightmare. It now has a population of 663,818 (2005 estimate).Cherokee went from 141,903 people in 2000 to 184,211 (est.) last year. Forty-two thousand new residents! Compared to little DeKalb County with about 678,000 residents, Cherokee might end up with 1.2 million people.As Cobb county grew, people were concerned about the problems: traffic, air quality, water restrictions, kids going to school in trailers, crime, and rising taxes. But the message from the media and county commissioners was that growth was a good thing, and also inevitable. So it is with great joy that I find that Cheroke...
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Top 5 of Atlanta 575: Posts that Reflect the 575 Community
2007-02-09 04:21:02
First-time readers who want to know what Atlanta 575 Real Estate is all about can get a good glimpse by reading the Top 5 Post s. Regular subscribers may enjoy taking a look back at some of heated topics, good tips, and good times. Cherokee County: Gated Country Club for Slow-Growthers How to Buy Raw Land (acreage) or a Vacant Lot An Open Letter about the Macauley Project LoopNet needs love too: the best commercial real estate websiteImpending Death for Private Property RightsThese will be posted on the right side-bar and updated as new posts get better feedback and response. There is no scientific formula for picking the Top 5, just a combination of reader comments, email responses, press coverage and general buzz about the posts.
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Cherokee Commissioners Pass Ordinance Banning Reproduction
2007-01-29 16:17:01
With the intent to slow or stop the growth of Cher okee County, I am just waiting for the Board of Commission ers to ban sex...or better yet, charge an Impact Fee! $5,000 per child reproduced in Cherokee County? Wouldn't this generate income and prohibit growth at the same time? I can't think of a more logical way to "slow growth".This week's Atlanta Business Chronicle shouts that 120,000 kids are on the way to Metro Atlanta. This means Atlanta is ranked 3rd in the nation for fastest-growing child population behind only Phoenix and Dallas in projected increase of children from 2005 to 2010. Overall, more babies are being born in metro Atlanta as the fertility rate for the 10-county area has gone up from 61 births per 1,000 women (age 15 to 44) in 1994 to 71 births per 1,000 women in 2004, according to the latest report from the Georgia Division of Public Health.Slowing or stopping growth just sounds like a terrible plan without banning sex. I can't wait to read the next BOC A...
More About: Product , Production , Miss