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First, a disclaimer: I don’t like Windows XP. Microsoft’s current operating system, Windows 7, is slicker, safer, less annoying, and just plain better. I recommend it frequently, and wince when I find myself having to use an XP machine.

That said, I’m fascinated and, in a peculiar way, inspired by XP’s astonishing longevity. Microsoft formally introduced the software at a rather somber press event on October 25th, 2001 in New York City, just six weeks after the 9/11 attacks. A decade later, it’s still the planet’s most widely-used operating system. Absolutely nobody would have predicted that back in 2001, when an operating system that was more than three years old was considered to be long in the tooth.

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What is the loan amount I am eligible for? Can more than two of us take a joint home loan? BankBazaar.com answers all your queries.

I along with five others plan to buy a plot of land and construct apartments for us. We are considering a joint loan. I would like to know if: 1. We can get a joint loan? 2. Will there be any legal problem in obtaining such a loan? 3. Will we all get tax benefits for the loan amount? – Arnav

Yes, it is possible for a group of six people to take a joint loan. Banks allow anywhere between two and six persons to take a joint loan, depending on their respective credit profiles.

However, banks as a rule do not allow friends or even siblings to take a joint loan. A Read more…

Athens, Greece (CNN) — Greek lawmakers voted to approve a new round of tough budget-cutting measures Thursday, despite a second day of angry protests in which one demonstrator died.

Tens of thousands rallied outside the parliament building as lawmakers debated the unpopular measures, aimed at bringing down the country’s huge national debt.

After a peaceful start, violent clashes broke out between anarchist rioters and the police, and between the anarchists and some union demonstrators who wanted to keep the protest calm.

Tear gas was fired into the crowd, while rocks and fire bombs were thrown.

The protester who died was a member of the PAME workers’ union, lawmaker Makis Voridis told parliament.

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Verizon Communications, the second-largest U.S. phone company, reported third-quarter profit doubled as consumers snapped up iPhones and Android devices.

Net income rose to $1.38 billion, or 49 cents a share, from $659 million, or 23 cents, a year earlier, New York-based Verizon said today. Earnings, excluding some items, rose to 56 cents a share in the quarter ended Sept. 30. Analysts predicted 55 cents, the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The popularity of Android smartphones running on Verizons new higher-speed long-term evolution, or LTE, network helped give Verizon an edge on subscriber growth over rival AT&T Still, customer gains missed some analysts estimates as consumers waited for the latest version of the Apple iPhone, which became available this month.

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Many expats would really like to use a professional financial adviser but they are either scared by the industry’s reputation or have suffered a bad experience. This is often exacerbated by friends who share their own unfortunate and sometimes exaggerated past experiences.

The reality is that the industry has a number of unwanted people who ruin the reputations of the true professionals. This has become more apparent in countries where there are no formal regulations, leaving it open to the “cowboys” who were once used-car salesmen, electricians, etc, before they spent a week on an intensive course and became full-blown independent financial advisers (IFAs).

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jpodsada@courant.com

In the same week the Metropolitan District laid off more than a dozen support staff, including IT workers, the agency experienced a week-long shut down of its computer system, angering customers and frustrating customer service representatives who did not know when the system would return.

Customers who called the MDC this week with questions about their water bill or related issues were told the computer system was down and were advised to call back later in the week. MDC’s system has been down since Tuesday, and was still inoperative Friday afternoon.

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