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I suspect the FPR folks will accuse me of poaching a post from them, but this has popped up twice now in my email account, and I think it's interesting. It comes from an interview with biblical scholar Bart Ehrman, who grew up as a biblical literalist, went to bible school, and after years of studying the differences in the variant manuscripts of the New Testament, embraced agnosticism. In the interview, Ehrman mentions Mormons:
Do people contact you, e-mail or send you letters, and say, I really wish I'd known this? Do they say they're going through some doubt themselves? Do you get personal response like that?
Tons. Just before you came, I read about six letters from people. Here's one from a guy who had a very similar experience to what I had, went to Moody Bible Institute and then went to a Presbyterian seminary and lost his faith and became an agnostic. And he's written me a four-page hand-written letter. He left his e-mail address. Frankly, I don't answer snail mail because I just don't have time, but I get dozens of e-mails every day and I answer just about every e-mail except for e-mails that are antagonistic I get a lot of people who have a similar spiritual journey who are interested in hearing somebody speak out about it. I get people who tell me they're sad to hear that I've lost my faith and they want me to change my mind. I get a lot of e-mails from people who agree with me, with what I say about the New Testament, but if I would just join their religion I wouldn't have these problems. Those people tend to be either Muslim or Mormon. [Laughs.] A couple days ago I got something from somebody who was Baha'i who thought I should join the Baha'i faith.
I assume Ehrman is referring to Mormons who write in saying that we as Mormons believe in the bible as far as it is translated correctly (ergo, there can be differences in the manuscripts, but that's explainable), but as a friend of mine who is both Mormon and a Hebrew Bible student at TCU mentioned to me recently, contemporary Latter-day Saints seem to be moving more in the direction of literalism at the folk level. I seem to recall that Mauss argued similarly in The Angel and the Beehive. I also remember that Robinson made some statement about how he believes all of the bible literally, but matt b. will have to help me out there.
Am I reading Ehrman right? Or are there other ways to interpret what he's saying? Judging from the anecdotal evidence that we have, are Mormons just paradoxical in our approach to the bible, vacillating between seeing the text as literal and seeing it as flawed, depending on the context?
For the complete interview, click here.


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Big Winner in the Trump Budget? ISIS.Posted: May 24, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: landmines, State Department, Trump Administration, United States 1 Comment
At an event hosted by the United States Institute of Peace and the HALO Trust earlier this month, a State Department official, Jerry Guilbert, told the audience that the Trump Administration's foreign policy priority is defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) and that the focus of US support for mine action would be clearance of land liberated from ISIS. Guilbert mentioned increase support for clearance in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen and repeated that mine action funding would advance national security and foreign policy interests. The release of the Trump Administration's budget confirms this shift in resources.
On the surface, the allocation for mine action under the Trump Administration is increased by 6% over the last confirmed Obama budget, from $185 million to $196.9 million. But the distribution of the budget is very different and reflects the "America First" mandate as described by the State Department.
| FY16 Actual
(in thousands)
| FY18 Request
(in thousands)
|% Change
|$ 12,600
|$ 13,000
|East Asia & Pacific
|$ 41,085
|$ 23,000
|Europe & Eurasia
|$ 8,530
|$ 10,000
|Near East
|$ 30,900
|$ 88,900
|South & Central Asia
|$ 25,090
|$ 24,000
|Western Hemisphere
|$ 3,500
|$ 20,000
|$ 45,874
|$ 0
|$ 17,421
|$ 18,000
|$ 185,000
|$ 196,900
Whereas the Obama administration focused on Cold War legacies and matching resources to the needs, the Trump Administration is focused on ISIS-affected countries and current threats. The US Ambassador to Cambodia had given a hint of this change in focus in an interview in Phnom Penh a couple of weeks ago and the proof is here. Mine action support in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) is basically halved, dramatically reducing Obama's recent commitment to clearance in Laos. At the same time, support for mine action in Iraq and Syria increases 350% from $23 million to $81.5 million. Guilbert had mentioned additional support for Libya and Yemen, but funding for Yemen is flat (well, the Trump Administration did just promise $100 billion in new Saudi armaments to continue the war there, so it's probably a net negative) and funds for Libya are reduced from $2.5 million to $1 million.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the funding appears to be flat ($12.6 million to $13 million), but again the allocation changes greatly. Support for mine action in Angola is cut by more than half and Senegal would receive no support because neither country figures into conversations of national security or fighting Islamist terror groups. Those funds are re-allocated to other countries. A positive is to see Chad get a $1 million allocation as is the quadrupling of funds for the Democratic Republic of Congo (form $500K to $2 million). Countries of the Sahel affected by Al Qaeda also had flat (Somalia) or increased funds (Mali, Mauritania, Niger). Nigeria, despite the presence of Boko Haram, receives nothing, so clearly all Islamists are no equal in how they figure into the Trump Administration's prioritization scheme.
Also, spare a thought for the Vulnerable Populations Funds, like the Leahy War Victims Fund which was one of the first sources of landmine victim assistance support. In the Trump Administration budget, the Special Populations Funds are eliminated and replaced with this:
DISABILITY PROGRAMS SEC. 7047. (a) ASSISTANCE.—Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading "Economic Support and Development Fund" may be made available for programs and activities administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to address the needs and protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities in developing countries.
The Trump Administration's budget for mine action reflects its singular foreign policy priority: ISIS. For Syria and Iraq, this is good news (or at least the parts of Iraq liberated from ISIS; the rest of Iraq may not benefit. And it is unclear how mine clearance will be handled in Syria since the US does not have the ability to operate there in any significant manner), for the rest of the world not so much. By allocating the budget according to foreign policy priorities and not humanitarian needs, the Trump Administration has dealt as serious blow to the vision of a landmine free world in 2025.
Michael P. Moore
May 24, 2017
moe (at) landminesinafrica (dot) org
Trump Administration proposes 10% reduction in Mine Action supportPosted: April 4, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: landmines, United States 1 Comment
Today is the International Day for Mine Action and Awareness. From Great Britain, we are looking forward to new commitments to the the goal of a landmine-free world by 2025, but in the United States, the proposed budget from the Trump Administration threatens that goal.
The Trump Administration's FY18 budget includes a nearly US $3 billion cut in State Department funding (Politico). That includes a 10% reduction in the line for Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism and Demining Programs, from $505 million in FY17 to $451 million in FY18:
According to the Administration, this reduction will have "minimal impact" upon programming. Well, what would "minimal impact" look like? Let me paint one scenario.
According to the State Department's 2016 report on mine action, "To Walk the Earth in Safety," the State Department invested $154.6 million in landmine clearance and risk education activities across dozens of countries. However, $63.2 million went to just five countries (Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Laos and Syria). If we assume that the commitments for these five countries will remain unchanged (because the Obama Administration made landmine clearance a priority for Colombia and Laos; and the Trump Administration's rhetoric suggests that Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria will remain priority areas as part of the fight against Islamic State), the 10% cut, or $15.5 million, will be made across the rest of the portfolio. Support for African countries (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe) totaled only $13.5 million and any reduction there, especially with emerging needs for mine action support in Mali and Nigeria, could hamper clearance efforts.
Rex Tillerson, the current Secretary of State, spoke of the importance of landmine clearance in Iraq as a means of helping people return to their homes after the ouster of the Islamic State from Mosul (State Department). Mine action has been used as a soft power tool; peacebuilding efforts in Burma, Colombia and Senegal have benefited from US commitments to mine action. The US support for landmine and UXO clearance in Southeast Asia has helped heal some of the wounds from the US involvement in the wars of Vietnam and Cambodia. But the current Administration values "hard power" in the form of the military over soft power efforts like mine action, despite Tillerson's remarks.
Cutting mine action funding would be short-sighted and leave many thousands of people exposed to the threat of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. At a time when other countries and actors are re-affirming the pledge to a mine-free world by 2025, the US should improve upon its past investments, not reduce them.
Michael P. Moore
April 4, 2017
moe (at) landminesinafrica (dot) org
The US Military has moved on From Landmines and Cluster Munitions, You Should TooPosted: December 28, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cluster munitions, landmines, United States 1 Comment
Memo to the New Administration
During the campaign, Hillary Clinton made reference to the Ottawa Treaty and her support for joining the Treaty as well as the lingering effects of cluster munitions in Laos. Donald Trump was silent on these subjects and so while representatives of the Heritage Foundation and the Lexington Institute have suggested that a Trump Administration should reverse current US policies on these weapons, please allow me a few moments to make the case for continuation of those current policies.
First, the US military has moved on. Since the 1991 Gulf War, the United States has not used victim-activated, anti-personnel landmines because after-action reports showed that US laid mines injured more American soldiers than Iraqi soldiers. In the mid-1990s, the Clinton Administration launched a search for alternatives to anti-personnel landmines that would be detectable using basic metal detectors and self-deactivating. That effort, combined with the Bush Administration's 2004 landmine policy, has encouraged the defense industry to develop new munitions that are fully compliant with the Ottawa Treaty and nearly ready for deployment (Defense News).
The US Army has developed the "Spider" munitions system that will be put into use by the US Army in 2018 with improvements to its control mechanisms available in five years. The Spider replaces anti-personnel mines as an area-denial and defense tool and fits into the Army's emerging tactics of "terrain shaping" in which the military uses munitions to constrain the movement of opponents into areas more favorable for the US forces. As part of the modernization process, the US army is also re-furbishing the Volcano system and developing a second landmine alternative, the "Gator." With these changes, the Army will possess a "common munition that can be delivered in a variety of methods to meet the ground commander's intent and provide maximum flexibility as operational requirements evolve" (Defense News). In other words: the US military has no interest in landmines, anti-personnel or anti-vehicle, which are not compliant with the Ottawa Treaty.
As for cluster munitions, the US government has, since 2008, asserted their military utility, but also recognized the potential civilian harm from indiscriminate use and high failure rates. The Obama Administration re-affirmed the Bush Administration's policy, which is available here. To achieve a failure rate of 1% or less, thereby meeting the standard set by Department of Defense in 2008, contractors have developed new cluster munitions that not only adhere to the DoD's policy but are also compliant with the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The "alternative" warhead will leave "zero unexploded ordnance on the battlefield" according to its manufacturer, Lockheed. These new warheads may already be in use by the military, beating the landmine alternatives to the battlefield (National Interest). Again, long story short: the US military has new tools which are compliant with the Convention on Cluster Munitions and no longer needs non-compliant cluster munitions.
The United States has not joined the Ottawa Treaty which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines. The United States was the first country to call for a ban on these weapons in 1994 and was the first country to ban exports of these weapons. The US has committed to never use persistent landmines, anti-personnel or anti-vehicle; to prohibit the sale or export of non-detectable, non-self-destructing mines; and to increase funding for humanitarian mine clearance. Those were the policies of the George W. Bush administration from February 2004 (State Department). The current policy, published by the Obama Administration in 2014, does not differ much from the Bush policy, and can be found on the State Department's website here.
Ted Bromund, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, called the Obama Administration "foolhardy" for restricting the United States use of landmines, leaving only the Korean Peninsula exempt from that restriction. Mr. Bromund complained that the Ottawa Treaty has not had much impact on the number of landmine casualties each year, stating that landmine casualties are linked to the number of wars and that the number of wars has gone up (Forbes). As Mr. Bromund said, "let's go to the tape":
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the number of wars in 2014 was 41 compared to 32 in 2006.
In that same time period, the number of casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) declined from over 6,500 to less than 3,700.
Yes, the number of conflicts increased from 41 in 2014 to 50 in 2015, but the four conflicts that contributed to substantial increase in landmine and ERW casualties – Libya, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen – all began in 2014 or earlier (Washington Post; BBC News). So Bromund's assertion that landmine casualties are linked to conflicts is false.
Bromund also fails to note that victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the ones that the Landmine Monitor counts, are banned by the Ottawa Treaty. If you only count factory-made landmines, then the number of landmine casualties decreased from 2014 to 2015, which is a success of the Ottawa Treaty as fewer and fewer such mines are available for use. But the Ottawa Treaty bans all victim-activated anti-personnel landmines, factory-made and home-made. Victim-activated mines cannot discriminate between civilian and soldier and so however they are made, they violate the laws of war related to the principle of distinction.
Cluster Munitions
Daniel Goure of the Lexington Institute called the United States's policy on cluster munitions, "'bat poop' crazy," saying the Obama Administration had bared the US's "throat to the enemy's knife" (National Interest). Mr. Goure acknowledges that Obama Administration has publicly stated the utility of cluster munitions, a continuation of the George W. Bush Administration's policy. The Bush Administration's policy also clearly stated that the US recognizes the need to minimize civilian casualties (Congressional Research Service), which is the part that Mr. Goure gets very wrong.
In 2008, the US government declared that it would not export cluster munitions which had a failure rate greater than 1% and the US has long had a policy not to export weapons to countries which the US fears will use them in contradiction to international humanitarian law. When the Obama Administration cancelled transfers of cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia, that decision reflected Saudi Arabia's indiscriminate use of cluster munitions civilian locations. The burden of evidence of Saudi Arabia's bad behavior simply became overwhelming and the US had to cancel the shipments. Recently, Saudi Arabia admitted to using British-made cluster munitions, but claimed only to have used them on legitimate military targets (The Guardian).
Mr. Goure understands the concern about cluster munitions, saying "The argument against cluster munitions is that those that do not explode on contact with a target or the ground can lie around posing a threat to civilians. Even when they are designed to become inert after a period of time, some small number can fail to go dud." Note that Mr. Goure does not say what that "small number" might be and seems to accept the risk to civilians posed by unexploded cluster munitions. And the problem is worse than "some small number;" cluster munitions fail at rates of 20 – 40% leaving thousands of submunitions which become de facto landmines. In Laos, Lebanon, Kosovo, Afghanistan and now Yemen, hundreds if not thousands of civilians are killed or injured every year by cluster munitions dropped by the US or its allies. That is unacceptable.
Lastly, Mr. Goure's statement that the Obama Administration has disarmed the military is patently false. The US military has received ample support to develop new weapons that would replace indiscriminate landmines and cluster munitions with high failure rates (in fact, the National Interest, which published Mr. Goure's opinion piece, also published the article on alternatives to the cluster munitions which he advocated for). The military has newer, better, more reliable weapons at its disposal, making the older munitions obsolete. Like Mr. Bromund's and Mr. Goure's arguments.
The anti-personnel landmine and cluster munitions trains left the station a long time ago, Ted and Dan. Stop trying to get the Trump Administration to acquire weapons the US military doesn't want.
Michael P. Moore
December 28, 2016
moe (at) landminesinafrica (dot) org
Landmines are not the solution to any border problemPosted: November 24, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Borders, China, Finland, India, Kenya, landmines, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Ukraine, United States Leave a comment
I monitor Twitter on a daily basis for news about landmines. In the wake of Saturday's massacre of 28 people riding a Nairboi-bound bus near the Kenyan border town of Mandera by members of the Al Shabaab militia (Reuters), I saw several posts on Twitter suggesting radical measures to close the border between Somalia and Kenya:
The anger of the writers and posters is understandable: many of their fellow Kenyans have been killed by a militia that is based in another country. The use of landmines to secure the border is an easy-sounding solution, but one that will result in many more civilian casualties and not protect Kenyans. As examples, the French and Rhodesian governments placed "cordon sanitaires" on the borders which, despite multiple layers of minefields, barbed-wire, machine gun emplacements and electronic monitoring, completely failed to prevent incursions by rebel groups which seized power in Algeria and Zimbabwe. Two modern minefields, on the Korean Peninsula and in Western Sahara, also fail to prevent people from crossing the borders or provide a lasting solution to the conflict between the peoples on either side.
Kenyans are not the only ones to suggest using landmines to protect borders. Others I have seen recently include Indians:
And Americans:
I doubt that those recommending the use of landmines are representative of their fellow citizens, but I do find it troubling to see any proposals to secure borders with landmines. Landmines are not the solution to any border issue. Civilians are inevitably the victims of these minefields and if anything, active minefields harden the conflict and make finding a permanent resolution more difficult (again, see Korea and Western Sahara). Fences and minefields do not make good neighbors. Communication and understanding make good neighbors while minefields make enemies.
Michael P. Moore
November 24, 2014
Moe (at) landminesinafrica (dot) org
The Choices We Make: How Chad Uses its Demining CapacityPosted: October 3, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chad, demining, landmines, Mine Ban Treaty, Tchad, United States Leave a comment
Article 5.1 of the Mine Ban Treaty commits States Parties to clearing all known anti-personnel landmines from their territory. In full, the clause reads:
Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than ten years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party.
Too many countries have not met this obligation. Some have missed the deadline due to the extent of contamination, e.g., Cambodia and Afghanistan, but others have simply failed to put forth the effort to clear their minefields despite having the capacity to do. Blaming mismanagement and shortfalls, Chad has requested an additional ten years to clear its minefields; a request that has been granted despite the country's ability to complete the task faster.
Chad's minefields, almost exclusively found in the northern area of the country, come from the 1973 invasion of Chad by Libya and decades of internal conflicts and cover some 128 square kilometers, about double the size of Manhattan Island in New York City. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is found in the north, east and west of the country, but only covers a little more than 3 kilometers. Despite this limited area of contamination, roughly 0.01% of the country, Chadian officials have talked about minefields covering "vast swathes of territory" (AP Mine Ban Convention; The Monitor).
The limited landmine contamination in Chad has had an outsized impact on the population. More than a hundred people are killed or injured by mines every year due to the highly mobile nature of Chad's population, many of whom are pastoralists. Chad also has a very large refugee population with nearly half a million refugees, equivalent to almost a tenth of the country's population, fleeing conflicts in Sudan and the Central African Republic, and refugees are one of the most at-risk groups for landmine injuries (IRIN News; ACAPS). In the past, Chad has explained its inability to address the landmine issue as the result of mismanagement and absence of central leadership on the issue. While there may be some truth to that and certainly the changes in ownership of the mine action issue in Chad would affect the government's ability to prioritize landmine clearance, it doesn't not explain the whole story.
The United States government, as part of its counter-terrorism and regional security initiative has identified Chad as a key partner. Since 1993, the US government has provided US $11 million to Chad to address its landmine problem and beginning in 2010, AFRICOM has helped "to build capabilities within Chad by instructing local forces on demining, stockpile management, and medical first response." As a result of that training, "the Chad National Demining Authority assists their American instructors in teaching demining operations to personnel from other countries in the Sahel and throughout the African continent" (State Department). Therefore, the government of Chad has used its newly increased capacity not to address its own landmine contamination, but to train other countries. Instead of first getting its own house in order, Chad has decided to deploy these valuable assets elsewhere.
The government of Chad is obligated by its ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty to clear all anti-personnel landmines "as soon as possible." The training from the US government should be used to meet that obligation before helping other countries to meet their obligations. With a determined effort, Chad could complete its landmine clearance long before its current deadline of January 1, 2020. The US, as a prime supporter of Chad's landmine clearance work and trainer of its deminers, should encourage Chad to focus on its mines before asking Chad to help neighboring countries.
Michael P. Moore
October 3, 2014
One Step Closer…Posted: September 24, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: landmines, Mine Ban Treaty, North Korea, South Korea, United States 4 Comments
Yesterday the Obama Administration announced another change in the United States's landmine policy (Washington Post). This change, which bans most uses of anti-personnel landmines by the US, builds upon previous policy announcements while specifically carving out an exception for use on the Korean Peninsula to defend South Korea from a North Korean invasion.
In his speech at the Clinton Global Initiative where he discussed the policy change, Obama also quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." In the history of the US effort to ban landmines, that arc is very long, more than two decades and counting and spanning four presidencies. Yesterday's announcement was another small step towards a complete ban on landmines. To quickly cover that history, here's a summary of the steps to date:
1992 – George H.W. Bush bans export of anti-personnel landmines (legislation written by Sen. Patrick Leahy)
1994 – Bill Clinton calls for the eventual elimination of anti-personnel landmines (address to the United Nations General Assembly)
1996 – Bill Clinton bans use on non-detectable ("low-metal" or plastic) anti-personnel landmines (Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons)
2004 – George W. Bush bans use of all persistent ("dumb") landmines, anti-personnel and anti-vehicle (published US Landmine Policy)
June 2014 – Barack Obama ends all procurement and production of anti-personnel landmines (announcement at Maputo Review Conference)
September 2014 – Barack Obama bans all use of anti-personnel landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula, pledges to destroy all mines not needed for the defense of South Korea (White House announcement)
At this point, the US could now be fully compliant with the Mine Ban Treaty except for the Korean reservation. Until that reservation is removed, the US cannot achieve the stated goal of accession to the Mine Ban Treaty. One more step, Mr. Obama. The world is waiting.
Michael P. Moore
September 24, 2014
The Month in Mines, August 2014Posted: September 4, 2014 Filed under: Month in Mines | Tags: Angola, Kenya, landmines, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, United States, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe Leave a comment
Do you take your vacation in August? I sure wish landmines would. But they don't. They don't ever take vacations or mercy.
In the breakaway region of Puntland, the former chief of police was killed when he drove over a landmine (All Africa). In Mogadishu a crew of women cleaning the streets as part of a city beautification project detonated a landmine that may or may not have been deliberately placed in the trash. Three women were killed and another eight were seriously injured (All Africa). In the Lower Shabelle region, an AMISOM vehicle struck a mine in the roadway with at least peacekeeper killed and several wounded (All Africa). A five year-old was killed and his two friends injured by a landmine that they thought was a toy (Radio Goobjoog). An International Committee of the Red Cross vehicle drove over a mine in Kismayo, but no casualties were reported (Radio GoobJoog). Also in Mogadishu a massive firefight broke out when AMISOM forces and local police and military tried to disarm a local militia leader who possessed a massive stockpile of weaponry including landmines. At least five people, some innocent bystanders, were killed in the operation (All Africa).
Tunisian soldiers tracking Islamist fighters in the Kasserine area along the Algerian border set off landmines in separate incidents. No casualties were reported from the first blast, but two soldiers were injured in the second. Additional landmines were discovered during the operations (All Africa; Middle East Eye). In response to the frequent landmine blasts and casualties suffered by Tunisian forces, the United States government provided a military aid package that included equipment to detect mines and improvised explosive devices (All Africal).
French and United Nations peacekeepers and relief workers in northern Mali have been subject to multiple landmine attacks as Islamist fighters, routed by the French forces, have turned to mining the roads around the cities of Kidal and Gao. Peace talks between the parties had been planned for August, but those talks continue without resolution to date (All Africa; Voice of America). Several peacekeepers were injured, three severely, by a mine in the roadway near Aguelhok (Global Post).
South Sudan
The fight between Salva Kiir's government in South Sudan and rebels led by his former vice president Riek Machar continues. Neither side has adhered to a Cessation of Hostilities agreement and peace talks amount to farcical opportunities for the negotiators to collect per diems. This month, the rebels accused the government of placing anti-personnel landmines along routes used by refugees trying to flee to Sudan. Should this be true, South Sudan would be in violation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The government of South Sudan responded by saying that the rebels were restricting access to deliveries of humanitarian aid to persons displaced by the conflict. The government also reported that all stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines had been destroyed. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), already viewed dubiously by Salva Kiir and his allies was mentioned by the rebels as a witness to the landmine usage to which a government spokesperson demanded that if UNMISS had evidence of landmine use, UNMISS should present it (All Africa; Radio Tamazuj). The whole situation is tragic because hundreds of thousands of innocent lives are threatened by violence and hunger whilst Salva Kiir and Riek Machar continue to fiddle as Rome burns around them.
The last two major rebel movements from Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) and the Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Arko Minawi (SLM-MM), both named for their leaders, signed the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment pledging not to use anti-personnel landmines. With their signatures, all parties to the conflicts in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan should no longer employ anti-personnel landmines. Darfur is littered with explosive remnants of war, possibly including mines, and the rebel leaders called on civilians to report any mines they might find (All Africa).
To prepare for the construction of some 40 industrial plants in Bie Province with an investment value of US $25 million, Angolan deminers cleared over a thousand acres of land. The project will serve as the core of a larger development in the area (All Africa). In Cunene Province, demining work focuses on clearing the roads between Chiulo and Manquete to allow the free flow of goods and people (All Africa). In total, 70% of the Angolan countryside has been demined to date (All Africa).
Angolan deminers received training from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (All Africa) and are making plans for providing demining services to other countries, should it be requested (All Africa).
Rumors continue to fly about the presence of landmines in and around areas controlled by Boko Haram. The most recent report is from the town of Banki in Borno State near the border with Cameroon where residents have run out of food and no aid can be delivered due to the fear of mines in the roads (All Africa).
Western Sahara
Development + Cooperation published an extensive article on the landmine issue in Western Sahara and the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities in the refugee camps in Algeria. The article notes that while 352,000 square meters of land has been cleared, some 7 million landmines remain along the berm built by the Moroccan army and 1,400 persons have been killed or injured by landmines. Of those, some 450 have undergone amputations and thanks to the prosthetic center run in the camps, amputees have their choice of olive, brown or grey for the color of their artificial leg.
In addition to the physically disabled, the article described the plight of persons with developmental disabilities: "'Years ago, when the Sahrawis were still nomadic, disabled people were tethered in tents all day long, for their entire lives. And if the tent happened to catch on fire, no one tried to save them,' Castro [founder of the only school for persons with developmental disabilities located in a refugee camp] recalls. 'Even relatively recently, intellectually disabled children spent their days tied in tents and were only let out at night on a leash because their families were ashamed of them'" (Development + Cooperation).
Also in August, a young man was killed by a landmine in Madalchiat, about 50 kilometers east of the coastal city of Boujdour (All Africa).
In addition to rampant poaching from Mozambique and Zambia, Zimbabwe's national parks are rife with landmines. Many of the parks are along the Mozambican border where Rhodesian forces laid minefields in the 1970s and three specific parks, Victoria Falls National Park, Zambezi National Part and Gonarezhou National Park are affected. The presence of landmines reduces the parks' viability as tourist destinations (News Day).
Two landmines probably left over from World War II were found by herders in Wajir County in northeastern Kenya. The herders informed security forces who quickly disposed of the mines. Residents reported many injuries from similar mines and called for the government to survey and clear the area (Citizen News).
After the African Leaders' Summit in Washington, DC, Senegal's President Macky Sall made a side trip to visit Vermont. No, he wasn't there to stock up on maple syrup (but I'm sure he could have picked up a bottle or two), instead he was seeking to expand the relationship between Senegal's military and the Vermont National Guard. Since 2008, the Vermont National Guard has been providing military training and support to Senegal including landmine detection expertise. A spokesman for the Guard noted Senegal's participation in peacekeeping missions across Africa but failed to note Senegal's own landmine contamination (Burlington Free Press). That contamination, resulting from the decades-long independence fight in the Casamance region, was highlighted when a wedding party struck a mine, killing seven and injuring three. Despite ongoing peace talks over the conflict, neither the government nor the rebels have made a strong enough commitment to clear the mines that are present (Jollof News).
United States
In advance of the expected publication of the State Department's annual report, "To Walk the Earth in Safety," the Department has published a number of blog posts about its support for landmine clearance and conventional weapons destruction. Key takeaways from the series include the fact that the United States has supported landmine clearance in 31 African countries and helped Burundi, Nigeria and Uganda to become mine-free with the expectation that Mozambique will do so in 2015. Current funding supports landmine clearance in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe (All Africa). Individual posts focused on work in the Sahel, Angola, South Sudan, Somalia and the Mozambique – Zimbabwe border.
Michael P. Moore
September 4, 2014
Moe (at) landminesinafrica (dot) org


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|Politecnico di Torino
|Anno Accademico 2014/15
Modern design of control systems
Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Informatica (Computer Engineering) - Torino
Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Meccatronica (Mechatronic Engineering) - Torino
The course is taught in English.
One of the most useful qualities of a properly designed feedback control system is robustness, i.e., the ability of the closed-loop system to perform satisfactorily despite large variations in the (open-loop) plant dynamics. The aim of the course is to provide methodologies and tools for the analysis and design of robust feedback control systems.
Risultati di apprendimento attesi
By the end of this course, students will gain the following knowledge and skill:
- Knowledge of the concept of a dynamical system together with its mathematical representations such as state equations and transfer functions.
- Skill in deriving mathematical models of linear dynamical systems.
- Skill in computing the solution of the system state equations.
- Skill in evaluating the behaviour of a dynamical system through numeric simulation.
- Knowledge of structural properties (stability, reachability, observability) of dynamical systems
- Skill in studying the structural properties of dynamical systems.
- Knowledge of the concept of feedback control of dynamical systems.
- Knowledge of the main performance requirements of feedback systems.
- Knowledge of the main analysis techniques in the frequency domain for the study of stability and performance of feedback control systems.
- Skill in analyzing stability and performance of feedback control systems.
- Knowledge of the design techniques of feedback controllers based on lead and lag functions.
- Skill in designing feedback controllers for single input single output systems through lead, lag and PID functions.
- Skill in evaluating the behaviour and performance of controlled systems through numerical simulation.
- Knowledge of unstructured uncertainty models.
- Skill in deriving weighting functions from performance specifications.
- Knowledge of nominal and robust stability; nominal and robust performance.
- Skill in the study of nominal and robust stability; nominal and robust performance.
- Knowledge of the theory of robust control through H_infinity norm minimization.
- Skill in the design of controllers through H_infinity norm minimization.
- Knowledge of structured uncertainty modelling and the generalized plant.
- Skill in representing structured uncertainty.
- Skill in deriving the generalized plant.
- Knowledge of robust stability and robust performance analysis through structured singular values.
- Skill in the analysis of robust stability and robust performance through structured singular values.
- Knowledge of Mu-bounds computation
- Basic Knowledge of mu-synthesis.
- Skill in the computation of mu-bounds.
Prerequisiti / Conoscenze pregresse
Knowledge of differential and integral calculus of vector valued real functions. Basic results of complex numbers, functions of a complex variable, the Laplace transform and a good knowledge of linear algebra and the theory of polynomial and rational functions. Linear system theory. Knowledge of basic feedback control systems analysis and design. Skill in the design of controllers in the frequency domain. Basic skill of Matlab and Simulink.
Course organization. Prerequisites. Course description. Exam rules. Major topics and course outline (1.5 hr).
Control problem formulation and systems representations (3 hr).
Internal stability and Bibo stability (1.5 hr).
Frequency response representations (Bode plot and polar plot) and Nyquist stability criterion (6 hr).
Feedback control systems steady-state response to polynomial references and disturbances, and to sinusoidal disturbances (6 hr).
Transient requirements translation and the Nichols chart (1.5 hr).
Frequency domain controllers design through loop-shaping (3 hr).
Performance specifications and weighting functions (4.5 hr).
Unstructured uncertainty models (4.5 hr).
Nominal and robust stability; nominal and robust performance (4.5 hr).
Robust control through H_infinity norm minimization (6 hr).
Structured uncertainty modelling and the generalized plant (6 hr)
Robust stability and robust performance analysis through structured singular values (7.5 hr).
Mu-bounds computation and introduction to mu-synthesis (3 hr).
Exam simulation: guidelines and solution (1.5 hr).
Organizzazione dell'insegnamento
Theoretical and methodological lessons will be delivered, on a weekly scheduled basis, by face-to-face instruction in the classroom. Computer laboratory activities are scheduled in order to develop the student's skill through proper training. Each student is supposed to practice individually with the aid of laboratory work stations. The primary purpose of the laboratory exercises is to apply the methodologies presented in class, through the use of MATLAB, Simulink and the Control System Toolbox. During the last two weeks of the course will be offered two exam simulations in the laboratory
Testi richiesti o raccomandati: letture, dispense, altro materiale didattico
Selected chapters from:
(a) S. Skogestad and I. Postlethwaite, Multivariable feedback Control, John Wiley and Sons, 2010.
(b) J. Doyle, B. Francis and A. Tannenbaum, Feedback Control Theory, 1992.
Lecture slides will be available as well as laboratory practice handouts.
Criteri, regole e procedure per l'esame
Written examination in computer laboratory: based on computer aided analysis and design of a feedback control system, adequately documented through a written report. More precisely, it is required to (A) Understand and translate the design specifications into suitable weighting functions (12 - 14 points); (B) Design a controller that guarantees fulfillment of the assigned requirements, through H_\infinity optimization (6 - 8 points); (C) Report the obtained performance of the designed feedback control system (5 - 7 points); (D) Carry out mu-analysis to study robust stability and/or robust performance of the designed control system against structured uncertainty (5 - 7 points); (E) Provide orderly and clear presentation with legible handwriting (2 points). During the examination, lasting 4 hours, the student may consult the lecture slides provided by the teacher. Detailed instructions and rules will be presented in due course.
|Orario delle lezioni
|Statistiche superamento esami
Programma definitivo per l'A.A.2014/15


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The Autonomous Systems Research Group (ASRG) in Oregon is intended to be a partnership between the academic community at Oregon State University and the unmanned aerial, under-and-on water, and land-based vehicles and systems sectors. This partnership is designed to support cutting-edge research that will be relevant to the growing commercial use of autonomous systems.
ASRG will promote safe and effective use of these systems, and support economic growth of this sector in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University, as part of the Pan Pacific Test Ranges, and FAA-designated set of test ranges in collaboration with University of Alaska-Fairbanks and the University of Hawaii. The ASRG's mission is to provide a research and development capability for the advancement of autonomous systems to promote economic benefit to the state of Oregon, and in concordance with federal and state aviation agencies and guidelines.


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Propper® Women's Uniform Polo - Short Sleeve
Your go-to choice when performance and value matter.
Availability: In stock
Propper® Women's Uniform Polo - Short Sleeve is rated out of 5 by 3.
The best value in tactical performance polos, the Women's Short Sleeve Uniform Polo is the perfect shirt for an entire team. Performance polyester dries quickly and will stand up without fading, shrinking, or wrinkling.
Rated 5 out of 5 by J. M. from Great shirt! This is a very comfortable polo that is light, very breathable and doesn't seem to wrinkle! Living in the desert where temps get "stupid hot", I needed something that would stand up to the challenge of keeping both myself and my crews comfortable, and this is definitely one of the best for helping to avoid/release that heat quickly. Pen slots/plackets are appreciated as well. Fit is true to size. For all of us ladies that hate tucking in a men's shirt (that goes to our knees), it's very nice to have women's shirts in this style available that are cut shorter. It washes well and doesn't need to be taken out of the dryer *immediately* to avoid wrinkling. (If it does wrinkle, throwing it in the dryer with a damp washcloth for a few minutes straightens it right out.) I had to order both men's and women's for my crew, and both genders agree with fit and style. Overall, I'm pleased with it, and feel that the shirt is a good value for the money. **The one "con" is that these seem to go on backorder a lot, so if you need them, allow for potential delays.**
Date published: 2018-01-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by Sdunc from Great purchase Loved the polo I ordered. Perfect fit and my order was processed quickly.
Date published: 2019-02-24
I'm wanting to know does the Med women's polo uniform shirt fit loosely? I do not want a fitted shirt Should I buy a large an also do they shrink. Thanks
- 4.2 oz 100% polyester piqué
- Ribbed knit collar and sleeve cuff
- Pen pocket on left sleeve
- Sunglass loop
- Imported


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Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty members Dr. Michael Haberman and Dr. Carolyn Seepersad, along with their students Conner Sharpe, Clinton Morris and Benjamin Goldsberry, recently received the award for Best Paper at the Design Automation Conference (DAC) which is hosted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Design Engineering Division.
The DAC, one of several technical conferences highlighting the different facets of design engineering, is held under ASME's annual International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE). This year's convention highlighted "emergent technologies that impact the critical engineering issues of product design and development, manufacturing, and the management and integration of information systems throughout the product life-cycle."
The paper, selected from among 175 submissions, was a product of more than six months of focused research, in addition to several years that the graduate students dedicated to working on the general topic. The submission, titled "Bayesian Network Structure Optimization for Improved Design Space Mapping for Design Exploration with Materials Design Applications" delineates the team's overall goal to "establish engineering design exploration techniques that allow engineers to explore complex design spaces efficiently and quickly identify promising designs."
The inspiration for this paper stems from their work on a DARPA-sponsored project that has challenged them to apply their techniques to higher dimensional and more complex structural and materials design problems. Under the DARPA program called TRADES (Transformational Design), the team plans to continue their work on this topic and build upon the success that they have had thus far.


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About Lisa Yount
|I am a 72-year-old artist, poet, and former nonfiction writer. I sell prints, greeting cards, and other items based on my digital collage art (see LionLight Galleries). Major themes of my work are nature, imagination, spiritual exploration, and the effects of time. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, Harry Henderson, writer and computer wizard extraordinaire, and several cats.
I no longer do craft fairs, but I display my art at several Bay Area venues and sell at local science fiction/fantasy conventions. To see my current show schedule, click here.
I also have talented friends and know some worthwhile organizations whose work I'd like to share. Click here to learn more about them!
|artistic resume'
|artist's statement


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Look what I picked up! Only the prettiest skincare ever! These two are (generous) sample sizes:
The packaging from this Jill Stuart Skincare had me from hello.
The Cleansing Oil is a smaller version of the full sized one – it has the princessy lid (reminds me of the Crystals from The Crystal Maze?) First impression – the cleansing oil is very nice, a little on the thin side and it smells fab and fruity but, I don't know if this will cause an allergy in the long run. I prefer unscented skincare….
Crystal Ball:
Mmmm, childhood. Back in my day (ahem) I'd crawl into a flammable sleeping blanket and eat a bowl of smash with lots of butter whilst watching this crap on Channel 4 after school then going out to play. That was childhood!Here is the foaming wash – once again its quite a thin texture:
It works to a lather easily, I would prefer a thicker cream foam I think. This makes me sneeze when it goes up my nose. But it does come in gorgeous packaging!
What do you think? Would you try this range?


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Suzanne Chazin
printed copy
Suzanne Chazin
"An unforgettable novel that sets a taut mystery against a compelling exploration of innocence, obligation, and the redeeming power of love."--Sophie Littlefield
A split-second decision thrusts Detective Jimmy Vega into the epicenter of a disturbing case when a body is found in the frosty woods near upscale Lake Holly, New York. With tensions in the community at a boiling point, Vega needs the help of his girlfriend, activist Adele Figueroa, to pursue a dangerous murder investigation.
But just as Vega learns that Adele herself is harboring a secret, another body is discovered. It's clear no one is safe. No one is talking. And Vega and Adele are about to uncover a terrifying menace that lives deep within the heart of Lake Holly . . .
"This is a literary mystery at its finest, captivating, smart, romantic, and impossible to put down." --Jacqueline Sheehan
"In Jimmy Vega, Chazin has conjured a realistic character with depth, strengths, and weaknesses the reader can believe and celebrate." --Terry Shames
Land of Careful Shadows by Suzanne Chazin has been awarded the December 2014 Seal of Excellence by RT Book Reviews!
Suzanne Chazin won widespread acclaim for the Jimmy Vega series, including Land of Careful Shadows, A Blossom of Bright Light, and No Witness But the Moon. She is also the author of the Georgia Skeehan mystery series, including The Fourth Angel, Flashover, and Fireplay. She has twice been the recipient of the Washington Irving Book Award for fiction. Her fiction, essays, and articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, as well as the award-winning short story anthology, Bronx Noir. She lives in the New York City area.
Visit her on Facebook or at suzannechazin.com.
Photo Credit: Phyllis Garito
Based on 0 reviews


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Visit Hahn Air Lines dedicated website www.hahnair.aero for detailed information about route schedules, the all-Cessna business jet fleet and the Hahn Air Lines team on the ground and in the air. In addition, find out about the business charter offerings and the unique Connoisseur Concept which unites highest quality and safety with personalised service and great attention to detail.
About Us
We are a unique airline operating premium scheduled flights between Dusseldorf and Luxembourg and in the summer season also between Dusseldorf and Palma de Mallorca using our fleet of modern business jets. In addition, under the umbrella of our newly established Connoisseur Service, we offer executive charter flights featuring an array of exclusive services. We focus on quality and personal attention to customers, preparing each flight to the individual wishes of the passenger. On both our scheduled service and executive charter we ensure that our customers not only arrive at their desired destinations on time, safely and comfortably but also so that they can experience a memorable and enjoyable journey with Hahn Air Lines.


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A couple of weeks ago I released an article about some incredible humans that, despite their disabilities have managed to achieve some amazing things. And, that's the basis for my latest book, The New Savants – humans who were not conventionally normal. This week I'm taking a look at two pairs of conjoined twins.
Modern medicinal advances have made it possible for us to separate conjoined twins. In previous centuries, however, this could not be achieved and many of them ended up as members of the circus, mainly because they were unable to fit in anywhere else.
1. The Two-Faced Nightingale
Born into slavery on July 11, 1851, Millie and Christine were joined at the spine and, as they would be of little use to a slave master, they were sold (along with their mother) at the age of 8 months to a showman, John Pervis, for $1000. After exhibiting the girls for a few years, Pervis passed them on to a circus duo, Joseph Smith and Brower, for continued display. Shortly after, the girls were kidnapped and used as a medical marvel. Smith went to great lengths to recover their investment and Millie and Christine were eventually located in Birmingham, England, and released into the care of their mother. Unable to look after them on her own, she handed them back to Smith and Brower to continue their lives as circus freaks.
The outward appearance of the girls wasn't enough to attract large crowds by itself, and Smith and his wife began to teach them skills. These included proper etiquette, various languages and musical abilities. The girls had magnificent voices, with Christine singing soprano and Millie a contralto, and with the discovery of their musical talents their fame began to rise.
When his father died Smith's son, Joseph Jr, hit the jackpot by starting to advertise them as an individual, known as Millie-Christine, with two heads, four arms and four legs. This Two Faced Nightingale became a musical sensation, being able to play the guitar, piano and sing simultaneously. The girls even began performing for royalty, including Queen Victoria and The Prince of Wales.
In January 1863, they gained their freedom with the Emancipation Proclamation; but continued to perform until the age of 58, when they retired to Columbus, North Carolina. The sisters lived here until their death at the age of 61, with Millie passing first and Christine following 17 hours later.
2. The Siam Duo
Chang and Eng are considered the reason that conjoined twins are also referred to as Siamese twins. Born in Siam (modern day Thailand) on May 11, 1811, the brothers are considered the most famous circus twins ever. They were attached by a single stretch of skin on their chest and, even though they faced each other, their personalities were strikingly different. Eng was considered the dominant twin, while Chang played a calmer, more subservient role.
In 1829, Captain Abel Coffin 'discovered' the twins and began touring them in England and then America, where they were happily received. They continued performing in the United States and eventually bought a plantation, where they set up homes at opposite ends. The brothers married two sisters and fathered 22 children between them, and they would spend three days in each household at a time. After Chang suffered a stroke, in 1871, the twins' mobility was severely limited because he had controlled their legs. On January 17th 1874 Chang died at his home, with Eng following only four hours later.


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Day 20: Acts 4:1-4
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
How radical is the message of resurrection?
It seems like the news that God has defeated death, is alive and well, and is redeeming the world through His chosen Messiah is good news that everyone should be excited to hear–unless of course you were some of the people who were already in power and who had already rejected resurrection and condemned that Messiah. If you were one of those people, you might feel like this new movement was a threat to everything that you believed and taught.
In our scripture reading today we find Peter and John being thrown into jail because of this message. Resurrection is the belief that God is going to restore and redeem everything that has gone wrong in the world. For those longing for redemption this is very good news indeed, but for those already in power this is very threatening. It appears, like almost everywhere the disciples go with this message, there are riots and great upheaval.
What has changed in the last 2,000 years? Have we grown so used to the idea of resurrection that we have forgotten how radical a message it really is? Have we softened and individualized the message so much that those in power don't feel threatened?
Justin Lewis | Facilities Director/YAMs Pastor, Lima Community Church


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DESPITE beginning the better of the two teams, the Earls found themselves a goal down within ten minutes when a deflected free kick found its way into the net.
They were unlucky not to equalise though when a Tommy Cleaver lob hit the top of the police cross bar. But with 42 minutes on the clock, the Earls got the goal they were desperately searching for when Keith Rosthill's shot from just inside the area passed under the diving goalkeeper.
Both defences were on top in the second half and it took 72 minutes before the ball was in the back of the police net, only for it to be ruled offside. But with just nine minutes to go, Leon Mooney for the Earls put through sub Jacob Snipe, who had all the time in the world to side foot past the WMP goalkeeper.


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1320 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87505
4 beds, 4 baths, 4,000 square feet, 2 car garage, separate office/studio, tennis court, landscaped patio and so much more!
MLS 201300525, Offering price $835,000
Listing Agents, Karen Meredith, Keller Williams Realty, and Renee Edwards, Keller Williams Realty
Elegant pueblo style South Capitol home on a large corner lot with a walled private backyard, tennis court and basketball hoop.
Spacious great room with 13 foot coved ceiling and vigas, floor to ceiling windows and enormous fireplace, ideal for entertaining. Landscaped outdoor patio.
Master bedroom suite with kiva fireplace, cork floor and generous California style walk in closet.
Chef's kitchen has a skylight, island w/ bar stools, a Jenn-Air 4 burner gas stove and grill, wood paneled Subzero refrigerator and double oven.
Separate office/studio. 2 car garage and separate storage building that could be converted into a 3rd car garage space.
Hand trowel diamond plaster walls, antique light fixtures and 5 indoor fireplaces. Traditional
Santa Fe style and beauty just 1.5 miles from the Plaza!
For more information about this property, please contact one of the listing agents, Karen Meredith, Keller Williams Realty, (505) 603-3036 or Renee Edwards, Keller Williams Realty, (505) 470-7773 to schedule a showing!


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We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful week here. Cool temperatures and lots of nice sunshine. We stayed outside as much as possible!
|Claudia, impressed by the wind blowing a mess of walnuts out of their tree. She has collected quite a few, now we're trying to come up with a tasty treat to make with them.
|Patrick and one of his favorite toys... stick. He has finally agreed to go peacefully from Claudia's classroom in the morning, on the condition that I let him run wild through the fields by her school.
"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."


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Pros and cons of berms in Ocean Beach
Shelter for homeless, backwash for surfers – do they prevent flooding?
Delinda Lombardo 10:30 a.m., Nov. 18
Snooping for porn when I was a kid was more important to me than school or my friends or pets or damn near everything except breathing or eating. If given the choice, I would have opted to hold my breath or skip a meal now and then. It was a gamble. If my parents ever found out that I had been diving through other people's rooms, closets, and cabinets, they would've whipped my ass good. But when you're 13 and you happen upon a stack of slick covered nudie books, it's like finding ten Christmases and a birthday piled up in a nightstand cupboard.
The first cache of dirty magazines I'd ever nosed out was my grandfather's. It was only a few Playboys and one of the racier Penthouses. Although, I would've liked to stumble across something a little dirtier back then, I think about it now with relief. Nobody wants to know his Poppa is a pervy dirtbag, and his collection was thankfully tame.
The idea to snoop his room for porn came to me one day while watching cartoons. He was out in the front yard working on a motorcycle. Soon enough he came in to get his keys and his hat.
"I'm going to town to get a part for the bike. You want to go?" he asked.
In an award-winning bit of acting, I cocked my head to the side and looked up in deep thought. "Hmmm..." I touched my chin and pretended to mull the idea over, when what I was really thinking was, "BOOBS. BOOBS. BOOBS! THERE ARE MAGAZINES WITH BOOBS RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE!"
"Going to town sounds good," I answered. "But I think I'll stay and watch Bugs Bunny."
"Okay, watch your shows. I'll be right back," he told me before heading his truck down the driveway. Once it had disappeared from view I was doing an elated prance down the hallway.
I had them all spread out on the floor of his room, each one opened to the centerfold, and I was comparing them to find my favorites when I heard his boots clomp down the hallway and stop at the open door. I tried to get them back into a stack and shoved away, and my mind raced to think of some excuse for being in his room, but it was no use. He'd caught me.
"Put 'em away when you're through," the ol' man said and clomped his boots back down the hallway and out in the front yard. Grandpas are cool.
Thursday, April 13
Commander In Chief
ABC 10:00 p.m. Keep this a secret. I don't want it getting back to my dad that there's the possibility a woman can be president, even if it's only a television show. He'd work himself up into such a lather that he'd have a stroke right there in his front room.
Sumo Wrestling
ESPN 10:00 a.m. This is the perfect time to watch sumo wrestling. Everyone's had a cup of coffee and a smoke. We're all braced for the day. It's well after breakfast and before lunch. Let's do it. Let's watch some giant Japanese men in black thongs give each other atomic wedgies.
Friday, April 14
The Tony Danza Show
ABC 9:00 a.m. Tony Danza should fight Regis Philbin and Kelly Rippa in a cage match. They can battle it out to see who's in charge of morning TV. Also, there should be a monkey with a knife.
Saturday, April 15
Hot Rocks: Geology of Civilization
SCIENCE 12:00 p.m. WOO! Rocks! Yay, Geology! Science is cool! Woo hoo! Okay. I give up. I tried. Unless there are bikini models draped over them, I don't think a show about rocks is going to pick up much of a following.
The Ten Commandments (1956)
ABC 7:00 p.m. Charlton Heston crashes his spaceship in ancient Egypt and has to fight a horde of ape people to free the Jews from slavery. Or, maybe I'm mixing something up here.
Sunday, April 16
Robert Ludlum's Covert One: The Hades Factor (2006)
CBS 9:00 p.m. What? Is that English? It looks like English, but it looks like it's been translated into Japanese and then back again. "Party Good Good Love Dog: Do Hand Song."
Monday, April 17
The O'Reilly Factor
FNC 8:00 p.m. I knew I recognized Bill O'Reilly from somewhere. Oh, those days with that traveling Drag Queen Burlesque. All those towns we saw. All the empty bottles of wine and lines on the mirror. No one can rock a feather boa and pair of clip-on dangle earrings like old Bill, or I should say, Wilhelmina "Willy" Callmelater. He had this little dance he would do...oh, it was beautiful. You should've seen it.
Tuesday, April 18
Celebrity Cooking Showdown
NBC 8:00 p.m. What? This is a show? Who gives a fat rat's ass about Patti LaBelle's quiche? If you do, you need to GO OUTSIDE and talk to people, REAL people. Meet someone for coffee or ride a bike or something.
Wednesday, April 19
America's Next Top Model
UPN 8:00 p.m. In case I haven't been annoyed enough by Wednesday night, I'll be sure to tune in to get an assload of irritation.
Thursday, April 20
The Ultimate Fighter
SPIKE 10:00 p.m. If this season's Ultimate Fighter was a girl I'd hold her hand and pick daisies from a field for her. We could picnic in a park and name our future children. Wow, that's weird. Even for me that's a little weird. I've made myself uncomfortable.


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What America Would Be Like If Weed Was Fully Legalized
If weed was fully legalized, the economy would flourish, for the Cheetos and adult coloring book industry.
Most Millennials have their elaborate arguments on why marijuana should be legal for recreational and medicinal use. And believe me, I'm all aboard the THC train (or should I say strain), but I can foresee it getting a little sticky (OK that was the last weed pun).
People say the government is scared to legalize weed because it would have trouble taxing it. I'm scared for the government to legalize weed because of how it would get used.
All major corporations would absolutely pounce on the opportunity. There'd be gluten free weed, Kylie Jenner weed kits, "Finding Dory"-themed dope.
Another thing I hear a lot is, "Oh they just need to smoke weed." That's not always true! The president doesn't need to smoke, doctors don't need to smoke. Maybe you can afford to take the day off Tommy-from-the-car-wash, but other people's jobs actually matter.
I am all for letting the people toke up, but what I'm trying to say is don't do it on the job. Sure if you have a creative job, weed is great -- for some people an essential tool. The only problem with this is everyone would end up on drug dealer time, and we just don't have time for that.
The truth is, no matter the profession, people who want to smoke will find a way, and people who are against it, please turn off FOX News before your brain becomes too saturated with acid. They say a little dirt never hurt, well I think a little grass should get a pass.
Also total disclaimer: Not everyone was high in the making of this video.
GEN WHY is back for Season 7 to remind you to... remind them to... uh... um... give me a second I'll come back to me. Oh yes, do you have snacks?
For more Elite Daily original videos, subscribe to the official Elite Daily YouTube Channel and like the official Elite Daily Facebook Page.


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I am white British, went to grammar school in Bury, then to the University of Sheffield where I studied Accounting, Financial Management & Economics.
I began my career in Ernst & Young's Financial Services practice in London where I qualified as a chartered accountant. I focused on banking and capital markets clients and my EY experience included secondments to the New York and Sydney offices. I advanced to partner level. I then moved on to join Deutsche Bank where I held various leadership positions in Finance, including deputy CFO. I subsequently spent 3 years at Credit Suisse as Head of Group Finance and Chief Accounting Officer before moving on to join the board of Jupiter Fund Management plc as CFO.
I am married and we have three children; my husband is a Client Service Director at EY focused on global clients in the technology sector and is Head of Sales for EY's largest industry segments outside financial services.


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AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Nathaniel Prime wrote:AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I did consider MP Star Saber myself, not too long ago. I saw a review on YouTube and liked what I saw. But, being informed by those in the know on the forum that he doesn't have the relevant tabs or connections for a potential MP Victory Leo, my limited G1 MP collection will stand with Hot Rod alone.
Didn't KFC( the toy company, not the chicken)
That made me laugh far more than it should have.Nathaniel Prime wrote: In any case, Star Saber is one of the best Transformers Masterpiece figures ever made for the size and engineering alone. You will not be disappointed at all with him, and he's on sale at BBTS!
Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately I don't buy from BBTS. I once bought the Piranacon reissue giftset for about $20, a real bargain. Only to end up paying an additional £30 in Customs when it reached the UK.. As such it's not worth my while.
Glad I entertained you
But there are seriously a ton of people who come up to me like " But KFC makes chiken, not toys"
It's fine if you don't want to buy from BBTS, I myself haven't bought from them either, but I may just get that Shattered Glass MP10 from there, because I don't think I can get an MP10 with a trailer for 100$ or less without going for the KO anywhere else


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A four-legged quarterback? Aussie Shepherd intercepts American football
Two boys playing American football had the shock of their lives when their dog stole the ball and scored a touchdown.
The footage, filmed November 11 in California shows Maximus the Aussie Shepherd running onto the grass to steal the ball when he runs it back to the goal line.
"The dog immediately ran into the yard turned around and intercepted the ball from the boys," said their mum.
Like Sharedots on Facebook


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Hundreds of Iraqi volunteers have queued near an army recruitment center in Baghdad to join the Iraqi forces in their fight against the Takfiri terrorists controlling some northern areas of the Arab state.
Reports say Iraqi men have rushed to a recruitment center in the capital, Baghdad, voicing their readiness to assist the country's armed forces in combating terrorism.
"Young Iraqi people have started, since yesterday, ... [gathering in] the recruitment centers to volunteer and join the Iraqi army," said a senior army official, adding, "Hundreds of young people, and even old men, came to volunteer to defend Iraq and its sacred places and all of its areas."
The report comes hours after militants belonging to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) vowed to march towards the Iraqi capital.
The militants are now in control of some areas in northern Iraq. They have also threatened to spread the violence to the holy Shia cities of Najaf and Karbala.
On June 10, Iraq's northern Nineveh Province fell into the hands of the militants. The Takfiri attacks have reportedly forced more than half a million people in and around Nineveh's provincial capital, Mosul, to flee their homes.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has pledged to take tough action against the al-Qaeda-linked militants, adding that Baghdad "will never permit Mosul and Nineveh to remain under the shadow of terror and the terrorists."
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have also condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Mosul, which is the second largest city in Iraq.
Via SyndiGate.info
Copyright © 2019 Press TV. All rights reserved.


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[Note: if you are wondering why Apple's stock is mow trading at less than $100 rather than around $600 it's due to the stock split that happened at the beginning of June 2014]
In this article we guide you through the pros and cons of investing in Apple, explain how to buy Apple shares, assess what affects the value of AAPL, and examine who owns Apple shares. We also answer your questions about the Apple Stock Split which took place in the first week of June.
If you were to invest in Apple you would effectively become a joint-owner of the company and, along with all the other shareholders, you would have a say in the decisions the company makes.
As a reward, your investment could grow as the company enjoys successes. You will also benefit from a share in the profits of the company in the form of dividend payments every quarter.
However the value of your investment can also decline. Tying your money to the success of any company is risky business. Should you take the risk with Apple?
Should you invest in AAPL shares?
This is a big question that only you can answer. First things first: Apple's share price is incredibly volatile. Don't invest if you want to make a quick buck. And definitely don't invest if you can't afford to lose your money. We're talking about the company whose share price hit the heady heights of $700 (£465) in September 2012, only to plummet to $389.47 (£259) in April 2013. (Remember that these share prices would need to be split adjusted now that Apple's 7:1 stock split has taken place).
To find out is how much Apple is worth today click here. On 12 June Apple closed at $92.29 (to put that in perspective, pre split that would have been $646.03.
Should you invest in Apple? It depends on a number of factors. If you are hoping to make a fast buck then we wouldn't recommend Apple (at least not right now). To be frank, the only people who make short-term gains are the big funds who plough millions into the stock only to take it out again a few months later (more on them below). Over the long term it could be possible for normal investors to make money out of Apple stock, however.
Can you afford to invest in AAPL? Pre the share split we would have said that Apple shares aren't cheap. But now that AAPL shares have been adjucted in the 7:1 split, they are cheaper than they have been for a very long time, and a long way below their September 2013 price of $700. You can find out what Apple is currently worth at Yahoo Finance. The fact that an Apple share can now be bought for about £54 puts them in the reach of more people, certainly, but you need to factor in other costs of ownling shares. If you only buy one Apple share you may be paying almost the same again in fees.
Can you afford to lose your money? You should only invest in Apple if you don't mind the fact that you could lose some of your money. As with any stock market investment, you can lose as well as gain money. We have been lucky enough to have very low interest rates for some time (maintained at 0.5% by the Bank of England - changing soon). These low interest rates mean the rates of interest offered by many straightforward investments right now are very low. For example, some ISAs offer just 0.5% interest. In this current market, you could see much a bigger percentage increase on Apple shares. Then again, you could also see a loss in the value of your investment.
Are you an Apple fan? Key to your decision of whether to invest may be that you are an Apple fan with good knowledge in the company, and an interest in Apple that means that you follow the highs and lows of the company with interest. Nobody can predict the future, but at least you have good knowledge of what happened in the past.
What to believe: If you are serious about your investment you must take any reports claiming to have an insight into what Apple has up its sleeve, or claims that Apple's share price will hit $1,000 with a pinch of salt. Nobody has a crystal ball so don't believe reports that claim to be able to predict what will happen over time. It's nice that people have faith in the stock (some of the time) but they may well have ulterior motives in getting you to invest your money. As Asymco's Horace Dediu said: "The opinion of those who are highly paid should be treated with suspicion." Be wary of analysts who work for financial services, noted Dediu, their paychecks "are not tied to accuracy of foresight".
Unfortunately, reports based on the words of these analysts and other so called experts, along with supposed "leaks" from the Far East, may cause changes to the value of the stock. Apple's stock has been known to soar or plummet on completely unfounded rumours and speculation.
What does Apple's 7:1 Stock Split mean?
On Friday 6 June each share of Apple's stock was split into seven in a 7-for-1 stock split. In the run up to the change Apple's share price has been performing well, hitting a 52 week high of $625.71 on Tuesday 27 June.
Existing shareholders and those who bought shares before the 2 June were awarded six additional shares of AAPL stock (each worth a seventh of the original value, with the market value of the company remaining the same) when split-adjusted trading began on 9 June.
When Apple's split adjusted stock ended trading on Monday 9 June it was worth $93.70 per share ($655.9). Which was up from the $92.22 from the previous trading day ($645.54). By the end of the first week of trading the share price had headed back to $92.29 ($645.54).
You can read more about Apple's stock split here.
This isn't the first stock split for Apple. The most recent was in February 2005 and before that in 2000. The first Apple stock split was in May 1987.
How much will my stock be worth after the split?
If you owned five shares of Apple stock worth $600 each at the time the split took place, that's a total of $3,000 worth of Apple shares. After the split each of your shares would have been split seven ways, so you will have 35 shares, worth just under $85.72 each, but your total share of Apple will still be $3,000.
The stock split is not a certain way for Apple to increase the value of its shares - indeed after stock splits other companies have seen their stock decline sharply in value. However there are a number of reasons why splitting the stock could pay off for Apple's investors.
Why did Apple split its stock?
During a conference call with analysts in April, the company said: "We want Apple stock to be more accessible to a larger number of investors."
This may be to attract institutions that have a rule about the maximum price of a share. By cutting the price of its shares Apple stock may appeal to more potential buyers.
For individual investors the split might make the stock more appealing - if the value of Apple's shares had hit $1,000 each it might have ruled out a number of small investors. The change is unlikely to have any real impact on the value of the shares though.
However, the new value should give the stock more potential, because it's psychologically more appealing, and perhaps open Apple up to being included in the Dow index (which would add to the prestige of AAPL).
Why did Apple split 7-for-1?
Analysts had expected Apple to make a stock split announcement, but the 7-to-1 ratio was a surprise.
It is possible that Apple set on that number because when it hit its peek the Apple stock was worth $700 a share. Dividing that by seven gives you $100 - which is neat, and seems to be attainable in the current context based on the high prices we have been dealing with.
Another reason for this particular division might be to avoid any comparisons with Google. Google had hit $700 around the time that Apple did, but it headed on up to $1,000 after, while Apple plummeted. Now Google has split its stock 2-for-1, well, not exactly 2-for-1. Google performed a 'dividend adjustment' with the second share not having any voting rights; this means there are now two types of Google stock (GOOG was worth $560 and GOOGL was worth $569.35 on 28 May 2014).
What happened last time Apple split its stock?
On 28 February 2005 it went from $42.53 ($85.06) to $42.88. A year later the stock was worth $65.46. Obviously there are numerous reasons why Apple's share price increased that year.
As you will see if you read on, there are many things that affect the value of Apple's stock, and we advise that you try and keep an open mind when you read claims that the stock is going to rocket due to an unannounced product. It's a risky business...
The highs and lows of AAPL stock
No doubt, many of the new AAPL investors in 2012 decided to invest money in the company after reading reports that suggested that Apple's stock was set to climb all the way to $1,000 a share based on the success of the iPhone and iPad, while those who invested in 2013 were likely enticed by claims that Apple is working on new product categories including smart watches and television.
Over the past year or so the iPhone has continued to be popular, as has the iPad, but Apple has been criticized for failing to grow market share – particularly in the smartphone market. The issue is that in many countries smartphone ownership is at saturation point, while in emerging economies smartphone ownership is on the rise, but the iPhone is too expensive for these markets. Indeed, even in the UK there is a market of new smartphone adopters who are turning to cheaper Android devices because Apple doesn't offer a cheaper iPhone.
There is much debate to be had over whether Apple should be chasing marketshare with low cost devices, or focusing on selling higher priced products with bigger margins to fewer people. iPhone users are said to be worth four times more than an Android user because iPhone users spend more money online and on apps than Android users. Android phones have been described as "dumbphones" because users don't do anything financial with them. When it comes to deciding which platform to invest in third-party companies go where the money is. Sometimes less is more, after all.
That seems unlikely to change. Apple is a company that has always focused on quality products sold for higher prices, rather than marketshare, so it seems misguided to expect anything else from it. Not every Apple investor thinks that Apple should grow marketshare at the expense of profit.
Those who have concluded that there is no room for increased smartphone market share have looked to rumours that Apple will make a television or a smartwatch with hope that these new product categories could push up Apple's share price. It's impossible to make predictions about the success or failure of products that Apple hasn't even launched yet. Those markets are certainly ripe for innovation, but that doesn't mean that Apple will see the same success as it did when it launched the iPod, iPhone or the iPad.
Recently (on 20 February 2014) Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes downgraded Apple suggesting that the stock won't see any huge leaps and bounds any time soon. Reitzes wrote in a note to clients: "Frankly, we just couldn't quite bring ourselves to use smart watches or TVs as reasons to raise numbers – nor were we fully convinced that these products could move the needle like new categories did in the old days. As a result, we believe it is time to step aside, given a maturing smart phone market."
Similarly coverage of the decline in the value of AAPL shares will have given investors cause for concern. The ups and downs of Apple's share price over the past year will have given investors cause for concern and as a result many will have cut their losses and withdrawn their investments.
At the same time, a selection of high profile investors have make waves, buying billions of dollars of Apple stock and making demands of Tim Cook for bigger returns on their investments. At the heart of these demands is the fact that Apple is sitting on a massive cash hoard of around $150 billion (much of which is offshore so the company can't actually spend it without paying a fortune to repatriate it – more on this below).
Apple has been making some moves to appease investors, for example, every quarter it issues a dividend to investors (for example, on 13 February 2014 it paid investors $3.05 per share). This is part of a scheme to repurchase Apple stock, and the recent stock buyback saw Apple repurchase $14 billion of its stock (in comparison, in the December and September quarters combined, Apple repurchased 'just' $10 billion of its stock). Apple's dividend history is outlined here.
One of these high profile investors is Carl Icahn, who has about $4 billion invested in Apple. Described as an "activist investor," Icahn has had a number of meetings with Apple CEO Tim Cook in recent months, and has made various demands, including that Apple boosts its stock repurchases to $50 billion. These meetings have been behind closed doors and Icahn has revealed nothing, but he has now withdrawn this demands. Some think that Cook has been able to reassure Icahn, others that Icahn is manipulating Apple and positioning himself as an ally.
Either way, Apple's stock buybacks dividend payments have gone some way to appease investors while they await the launch of Apple's next big thing.
The best advice is to invest for the medium to long term – five to ten years – and expect the value of the shares to fluctuate. If you invest over a longer period you're in a much better position to ride out any fluctuations in the market.
In the short term investment in Apple is a sophisticated game, with many people (many of them fund managers) with huge resources putting their money in. Just remember, you're up against the big boys and girls.
Make sure you stay informed, create a short cut to Yahoo Finance.
How do I buy Apple shares?
Shares can be bought and sold by post, telephone or online. It's incredibly easy to buy and sell shares via the internet, plus it's often the cheapest option.
Note that internet share dealing is execution only. This means that the broker carries out your instructions on what to buy and sell without giving you any advice.
It is also likely your shares will be held in a nominee account - basically the stockbroker holds them on your behalf. This means your name may not appear on the company's register – and as a result you may not receive the company's financial report and you probably won't be able to vote. Dividends will still be paid into your account however.
Your internet share dealing services might buy and sell shares in real time so you know exactly the price you are paying for your chosen shares, but it is also possible that shares are purchased at certain times of the day, so you may not be buying at the price you thought you were.
Another thing to note is that if you don't hold the share certificates, you will have to sell the shares through the broker you bought them from. You will likely be charged a fee if you swap to another firm.
You can also invest through a stockbroker. You may have to pay them commission, but it is still possible to opt for an instant access execution-only stockbroker, who won't give you advice and simply process your requested transactions.
You can also make your share transactions through a investment ISA. That way you can save £11,520 a year, tax free.
Buying AAPL shares in the UK
If you are based in the UK there are some extra steps necessary before you can buy Apple stock. If you have never traded in US shares before, you will need to fill in the W-8BEN form. This confirms your foreign status for tax purposes.
If you are thinking of buying Apple shares get this form filled in now so that you can buy shares on the day you choose, not days later because you weren't prepared.
What does it cost to buy shares?
When you buy shares, you pay 0.5% stamp duty on top of the cost of dealing.
Any dividend income is also subject to tax. The dividend ordinary rate of 20% applies for basic rate taxpayers who earn up to £32,010, a rate of 40% if you earn up to £150,000 and 50% if you earn more than that, in the tax year 2013/14. When you receive dividend payments a percentage of tax has already been paid, and it will appear on your dividend voucher as a tax credit and may mean that as a basic rate taxpayer you have no further tax to pay. If on the other hand you are a higher rate taxpayer you will have an outstanding tax liability to pay when you make your tax return. There's lots of information about this here.
There's also capital gains tax to consider. If you sell your Apple share for more money than you bought it for, you're will have made a capital gain and it will be liable to tax at a rate of 18%, or 28% for higher rate tax payers. Before any tax is payable though, you have an annual tax-free allowance for Capital Gains Tax, which is £10,900 for the 2013/14 tax year. Read more here.
An exception to these tax rules is dividends from ISAs, which are tax-free.
For bigger investors there's also a mandatory £1 to the takeover panel (PTM) for all trades worth more than £10,000.
Another way to save money is to dealing with electronic share certificates. They are a lot less costly than dealing in paper share certificates.
We're not investment advisors so we don't recommend any particular brokers. There is this article about investing on the MoneySavingExpert site, but note it's a bit out of date. Or look here at this comparison of UK share dealing accounts.
Why is Apple's share price so volatile?
In many instances there is absolutely no connection between the actual economic value of a business and its stock price, and in the case of Apple this is certainly true. Apple is actually criticized for having too much money in the bank. In some ways it's success has made it the target of much criticism.
Speaking of the amount of money Apple has in the bank, tempers are raging over this. In 2013 a 'rogue' fund manager, David Einhorn, caused quite a stir when he claimed that Apple was trying to stop shareholder having a say in what it did with its money. As a result the company eventually agreed to return more of its $144.7 billion cash horde to investors. Doing so is no easy process because a lot of that cash is tied up overseas and the company will have to pay corporation tax if it returns it to the US (Apple's been in quite a lot of trouble recently over its tax practices). To avoid tax on this occasion Apple offered investors the chance to lend it money so that it can pay current investors back (at least that's one way of looking at it). Suffice to say Apple is getting a better rate of interest on this debt than it would have to pay the US government in tax. The bond sale happened in April 2013.
This is the sort of news that should please investors, and following the bond sale initially the stock incresed in value, but then it fell back on the 15 May. Why would that be? The following story is a good example of why it's the big fund managers who really control Apple's stock. There have been lots of examples of aggressive trading on AAPL, but in this case it appears that short-sellers had swarmed AAPL.
This "swarming" was identified by Canadian money manager and financial columnist Mal Spooner. He first noticed that short interest in Apple had swelled from 8 million shares in April 2012 to 20 million in April 2013 and likened this burst of short selling to a "swarming," a street crime where "an unsuspecting innocent bystander is attacked by several culprits at once."
Spooner highlighted that short interest in Apple also peaked between 15 April and 30 April 2013, to a record 41.6 million shares. During that fortnight - on 19 April (two trading days before Apple's second quarter financial report) Apple's share price hit its lowest price in 16 months ($385.10). Those investors then made off with their gains because by 15 May (there's that date), Apple's short interest had fallen to 26 million shares. More here on Fortune.
Spooner explains: "The irony is that short-sellers borrow the stock from real shareholders (via third parties) in order to sell it on the market. After the selling pressure wreaks havoc on the stock price, the short-seller then buys shares at a much lower price, returns the 'borrowed' shares to those real shareholders and keeps the profits."
Whether you understand all this doesn't matter as much as knowing that this is the kind of thing that goes on with Apple's stock.
Another example of how big funds can control the AAPL stock. In 2012 Apple saw massive declines when four of the biggest hedge funds dumped billions of dollars of Apple stock. The share price plummeted and no doubt a number of investors panicked.
Why did these big investors pull out? They could have us believe that they had lost confidence in Apple. Or perhaps these funds pushed billions of dollars into Apple in the Summer of 2012 and then pulled out months later when they had made sufficient short term gains.
You should always be aware that these big funds can rip money out of AAPL at any time. For example, on one Friday in January 2013 we saw what was described as a "premeditated unloading of some 800K shares (some $350 million worth) of AAPL in the last second, with the full knowledge it would shake the market."
Other suspicious AAPL activity on the NASDAQ earlier in January 2013 had coincided with the expiration of call options written the previous summer, and the Apple share price closed at exactly $500 that day. Coincidence?
How can you stay clear of being a victim of these big bullies? Mal Spooner's advice:
- Avoid owning stocks that have become darlings. When it seems nothing at all can go wrong, it will, and when it does there's sure to be a swarming.
- If there's evidence of a growing short interest in a company, best not own the stock.
- Instruct your financial institution that your shares are not to be available for securities lending purposes.
Apple did indeed become the stock market darling in 2012. Beware that while this may happen again, it isn't something you as an individual investor will have any control over.
So, should I buy Apple shares?
There are a few reasons why you might want to consider buying some AAPL shares.
Price to earnings ratio The PE ratio is the valuation ratio of a company's current share price compared to its per-share earnings (over the past 12 months). Apple's PE ratio was 13.17 on 20 February 2014, which meant it was relatively cheap compared to some of the S&P 500, which have an average PS ratio of 17.60 at that time. Google, who was trading at $1204.11 back in February, had a PE of 35.34 currently. Apple's PE was even lower in March 2013 though, around 9.7. You can track Apple's PE ratio here.
Analyst recommendations Most analysts in the spring of 2014 were giving Apple a Strong Buy or Buy rating, with some analysts suggesting that investors should Hold. You can see the consensus recommendation for AAPL here.
Apple's health The company has more than $137 billion in reserves – this is a good buffer in a tough economic climate.
Apple's focus There are concerns that Apple is too dependent on the iPhone. While smartphone ownership in the West is said to be reaching saturation, the emerging markets of China and India are said to be ripe. Now that Apple has a deal in place with China Mobile - the world's largest network, it may be able to make headway in China. Similarly Apple has been seling the cheaper iPhone 4 in the Indian market in order to put the iPhone in the hands of those who can't afford a more expensive model. However, because smartphone ownership is reaching its peek many hope Apple will move into a new area - such as wearable technology - which could potentially boost its shareprice.
Who owns shares in Apple?
According to a Fortune report, the most popular investment of billionaire investors is Apple. Fortune's chart show the top ten holdings of 21 billionaire investors, including Warren Buffett, George Soros and Carl Icahn. Top of the list is Apple, followed by Wells Fargo, AIG, Yahoo and Coca Cola. The only other IT company to figure is IBM in tenth place.
Some might suggest that if these expert investors own Apple shares there must be something in it.
Should I steer clear of AAPL?
Many consider that Apple's golden days as the leader in the smartphone and tablet market is over.
Apple's profit margins are now lower than they used to be, sparking fears that the company's earnings will start to shrink.
Apple's had a few run ins with the 'law' over the past couple of years. The company has been questioned over its tax practices and the Department of Justice is accused it of price fixing its eBooks. Either of these issues could bite Apple. And then there's the raging battle with Samsung which played out in courts around the world over the past few year and will continue.
However, there are hopes that Apple is set to ignite two new markets over the next few years with the launch of a smartwatch, dubbed the iWatch, and in what Steve Jobs in his autobiography would be the reinvention of the television set. Read all the rumours about the iWatch and the iTV Apple Television rumours here.
As we said earlier, we're not investment experts but if you wish to invest in Apple, good luck!
Follow Karen Haslam on Twitter / Follow MacworldUK on Twitter
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