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Payment is processed ONLINE through DPS PxFusion. We accept MasterCard, Visa & Visa Debit.
Payment is accepted through MasterCard, Visa, EFTPOS and cash.
The Fitting Room Gift Vouchers can also be redeemed in store, expiring 12 months after date of purchase.
All orders are charged in NZD.
If you use a credit/debit card registered overseas, the total will be determined by the card issuer, based on the exchange rate at the time your card is charged.
Please be aware that your card issuer may charge a fee for currency conversions – if you are unsure, please contact them before placing your order.


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Acting childish during a remodel?
I don't mean to make fun of these adorable children dressed up like adults. Really I don't. They're precious.
But this image got me thinking about what happens when people involved in a remodel — homeowners, designer, contractor, craftsmen — act like children. Is that not frustrating?
So what kinds of childish behaviors are there?
For inspiration, I looked at the postings on Answerbag.com in response to this question:
What forms of childish behaviors annoy you the most?
Here are some of the responses:
• Bullying
• Over-competitiveness
• Bad losers
• Name calling
• Excessive attention-getting behavior
• Selfishness
• Crybaby
• Throwing fits and tantrums
• Doesn't listen to sound advice
For all our projects, leaving behind childish behaviors and embracing adult behaviors — logical, rational, disciplined, compassionate — will make the experience much less stressful.
(Photo credit: I can't recall where I found this photo. If it is yours, please alert me so I can give credit where credit is due!)

subset: commoncrawl


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No Guarantor Loans– Explained and its positive impact
March 20, 2017 | Loans for unemployed, No Guarantor | No Comments
Financial imbalance at best puts you in a difficult situation. When your financial situation is going through a bad patch, things tend to get complicated. The crisis is not going to be resolved, until and unless you look for appropriate means. But securing the funds with a low credit score is never easy. In all likelihood, you will try to find a way to manage the crisis, which is not possible without having any active assistance. The possibility of availing loans rests upon how you want to resolve the crisis. Since it is all about acquiring funds to bring about the desired stability, you will have to look for the viable alternative. Given the scenario, no guarantor loans in the UK might seem to be a great medium through which you can borrow the funds to improve the overall situation.
The fact that you have run into a bad credit situation is often induced by external factors. Unemployment is one such factor, which hinders your ability to clear the past debts on time. This is because you are not having the resources to deal with the past issues. It is in these circumstances that you can subscribe to guarantor free loans, which to a large extent will reduce the financial burden.
Availing Unemployed Loans with No Guarantor
First of all, you must go for the loans with a clear motive. Check out if you can really afford the loans or not. All the aspects should be taken into account. The best way to move ahead lies in evaluating your expenses. When you correlate your expenses with that of the amount you need, it then helps to manage the crisis in a more viable manner.
Being unemployed, you will need immediate funds and for this reason, the no guarantor loans appear to be a logical option. To begin with, you are not necessarily required to present any guarantor or any collateral. This will of course reduce the stress. Other than these, the basic application procedure usually takes place online. Since most of the lenders have their own websites, all that you have to do is to provide the relevant details. Once the verification is done and your loan application is approved, the amount will be made available at a short notice.
It is with loans for the unemployed that you have a chance to deal with the temporary expenses like clearing unpaid medical dues, house rent, minor house repair and other such needs. In short, you get to make a fresh new start.
Improving the Credit Score
Apart from taking care of the basic expenses, you will also look for ways to enhance the credit score. This is indeed possible, if you do make it a point to repay the amount sourced, within the allotted time period. Just make sure to borrow the funds within your repaying ability. Always make it a point to compare the various offers, before finalising any loan deal. When you do avail the loans within your limits, it allows you to handle the repayments with considerable ease. Upon clearing the dues on time, you will have an improved credit score and this always helps.
Final Conclusion
The score of no guarantor loans in the UK is immense. These loans really provide you the means to overcome the temporary crisis. Besides providing adequate funds, the loans do help you to retain the financial credibility.finance, no guarantor loans, service, unemployed loans


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Those readers who saw my last article on UDC may have been prepared to be disappointed at their earning release on Thursday, February 23rd. In fact, it looked like the market in general was prepared to be disappointed, as the stock dropped more than 5% during Thursday's trading. But unlike their Q3 earnings release, their Q4 earnings release and conference call pleased investors, and the stock jumped as much as 22% in Friday's trading, peaking at an all-time mid-day high of $82.50 before settling to end the day up 20% at $81.00.
In addition to the earnings release, UDC announced its first-ever dividend of 3 cents per share, and indicated that they intend to issue quarterly dividends going forward. Although undoubtedly a positive sign, the value of the dividend (a yield of 0.15% at a stock price of $80) is trivial compared to the signal it sends that UDC intends to continue to grow profits and return cash to shareholders.
The bigger news, of course, was the earnings release, and clearly UDC had a strong Q4 with earnings of $26 million or 55 cents per share, compared with street expectations of 44 cents. Revenues came in at $75 million, leading to full-year revenues of $199 million, near the top of UDC's guidance range of $190-200 million.
The figure below shows the main income statement highlights for UDC for the last two years. The see-saw pattern in revenues and earnings stems from the Samsung royalty deal, which pays out in Q2 and Q4 of each year, and amounted to $60 million in 2015 and $75 million in 2016.
UDC Quarterly Income Statement Highlights, 2015-2016
It should surprise no one with knowledge of the display industry that UDC saw 94% of its Q4 revenues come from South Korea, with the two biggest customers being Samsung Display and LG Display. Perhaps the surprise comes in the other direction, that they managed to pull 6% of revenues from sources outside of South Korea. Material sales and royalty revenue from China came in at $1.8 million for Q4 and $7.2 million for the full year, growing 122% year-over-year as panel manufacturers BOE and Tianma are accelerating their efforts to bring OLED displays toward volume production. Revenue in the US was $1.9 million, mostly technology development and support revenue resulting from UDC's acquisition of Adesis in July. Adesis continues to bring in contract revenue, and UDC CEO Steve Abramson indicated that while it was not likely to grow, it was likely to continue at a pace similar to that in the 2nd half of 2016, which would amount to $6-7 million per year.
While UDC does not disclose details of its transactions by customer, they do show the percentage of revenues from top customers, allowing us to construct the picture below of major revenue streams by customer:
UDC Quarterly Royalty & Material Revenue by Customer, 2015-2016
It would appear that the material sales pattern is only loosely connected to the panel maker production, and this is consistent with what we know about the product and its use in the production process. However, the total annual figures for the two companies provide some insight to OLED industry costs. Total revenues from Samsung in 2016 were 63% of all UDC revenues, or $125 million. Based on an estimated total output of 375 million panels, this translates to a revenue of 33 cents per panel. From LGD, 2016 revenues were 28% of the UDC total or $56 million, and assuming that nearly all of this was for TV (it's fair to say that LGD shipments of OLED for the Apple Watch and other products were negligible compared to TV) then for the 900,000 OLED TV panels shipped in 2016 UDC recognized $62 per panel.
Looking at material sales, UDC reported total material sales of $29.2 million, up 5% over Q4 2015, with an unusually large portion of the sales coming from developmental material. UDC states that their margins on material sales have consistently averaged 70-75%, and this is consistent with their reports on commercial material sales, but margins on developmental materials are lower, only 46% for the full year 2016. UDC commented that materials costs increased in Q4 2016 largely because of the introduction of new phosphorescent emitter products, but also commented that this start-up or ramp-up cost factor would not persist in coming quarters.
In UDC's earnings call late Thursday afternoon, CEO Steve Abramson and CFO Sydney Rosenblatt highlighted UDC's opportunity as the OLED industry grows. Abramson listed the many panel makers with plans for new capacity, and the beginning of a "multi-year capex cycle". On OLED TV, Abramson said that LGD's production would be increasing from 900,000 in 2016 to 1.5-1.8 million in 2017 to 2.8 million in 2018, lining up closely with DSCC estimates. In our white paper on Quantum Dots issued earlier this year, we estimated OLED TV as 1.7 million in 2017 and 2.6 million in 2018.
In much of their communication before this week's earnings release, UDC had indicated that after two successive years with little to no growth (0% growth in 2015 and 4% growth in 2016), the company could expect significant growth in 2017. Abramson referred to "double-digit revenue growth" in his comments, and Rosenblatt issued the following main points for 2017 guidance:
One of the questions on the earnings call asked UDC management if they were being conservative in their revenue outlook. Based on my pre-earnings analysis (from one week ago), I had the same question. With 50% growth in OLED input area, we should expect more than 18% growth in material sales revenue. The high end of UDC's guidance would represent about 26% growth in materials sales, while with a 50% increase in area even with quarterly price decreases of 3% we should expect 32% Y/Y growth. Abramson correctly stated that material sales will depend on the timing and ramp of new capacity, and we agree that there is some uncertainty about the specifics, but I found the UDC guidance too conservative.
There are a few items on UDC's balance sheet worth noting. First, they have a big pile of cash: $328 million, or $7 per share, equivalent to more than a full year's revenues and more than two years of expenses. UDC has said in the past that this cash would be used to fund acquisitions and improve its IP portfolio, and in 2016 UDC consolidated the acquisition of the portfolio of BASF and also acquired the contract research company Adesis. On Thursday's earnings call, although CFO Rosenblatt highlighted the cash on the balance sheet, he did not mention acquisitions, so perhaps that activity will not be a major part of 2017. One the other hand, the cash will be used to pay dividends, but not very much is needed: the $0.03 dividend will cost UDC about $1.4 million.
UDC carries a surprisingly high amount of inventory, which is consistent with their strategy on capacity to highlight their ability to reliably supply the customers' needs. Longer-term investors may remember, though, that UDC took a $33 million inventory write-off in Q2 2015 as they decided to exit the host material business. While the current inventory level is much lower at $17 million, it still constitutes more than 6 months of inventory on a forward-looking basis. As UDC introduces new emitter materials, they may have a risk that older materials also become obsolete and require write-offs.
UDC certainly faces challenges in 2017, but clearly benefits from the coming wave of OLED products and capacity. As announced earlier this month, UDC will be doubling capacity at PPG's manufacturing facility for phosphorescent OLED materials, and the company will need to manufacture new materials cost-effectively while managing a more complex product line. Perhaps no task on their annual checklist is more important than a renewal of the Samsung licensing agreement, which will continue to supply 38% of UDC revenues in 2017 per the mid-point of their guidance. The existing agreement expires on December 31, 2017, so look for UDC to announce its renewal soon, and look for UDC to benefit this year from the tremendous increase in the OLED display market.
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Ross Young
November 2019


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I'm also stopping in over at Faded Charm for the White Wednesday party!
I had a very WHITE house until 3 years ago when we built this house.
There are still some favorite white spaces as hold overs. :-)
A quiet space by the claw footed tub.
Beautiful vignette. I love the pink rose.ReplyDelete
I love the pink roses and the mirror!!ReplyDelete
Very pretty! I love the mirror! Can't wait to see the whole bathroom!ReplyDelete
Such a beautiful mirror and your chest vignette is gorgeous. Love the lamp and the tray for your jewelry. Such a beautiful dressing table area. Love it. Thanks so much for joining the party. Hugs, MartyReplyDelete
Thanks everyone, I do so appreciate you coming by for my contribution to Marty's weekly party! Hope to see you all again soon.
What a clever and creative tablescape. Well done!ReplyDelete
What a lovely spot! I love that gorgeous pink rose!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Very relaxing photos - beautiful, all!ReplyDelete
Love that rose on the mirror!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for coming by for a moment of calm.
Closing the door and taking in the quiet is sometimes a very good thing.


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I don't have much to say today - here's what's on the wall.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Design Wall Monday
6 comments:
Your pieces look like party hats with sparklers on the tops. :) Beautiful work!ReplyDelete
WOW! Those look like Dear Jane blocks and they are awesome. I see a lot of work went into making them.....well done!!ReplyDelete
Beautiful blocks!ReplyDelete
Very pretty. I haven't done any of the triangles. Yours look great!ReplyDelete
Triangles! Cool! Are these your own designs?ReplyDelete
So fun that you are doing a Dear Jane. Mine is temporarily on hold at the moment, hopefully seeing yours will inspire me to get moving again.ReplyDelete
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Alliance Credit Union was founded in 1984 and Voyager Credit Union was founded in 1992. The two Credit Unions merged in September 2006 to become Voyager Alliance Credit Union.
In 2008 Wayfarer Credit Union based at Manchester Airport also merged with Voyager Alliance to form the Credit Union we have today.
The head office is located in Manchester, we also have an office in Manchester Airport. Additionally we have 135 volunteer representatives at work places throughout the country.
Voyager Alliance has grown steadily over the years and is now one of the UK's largest credit unions offering a wide range of financial products.
In 2016 a report from Co-operatives UK recognised the significant role the credit union movement has played in the growth of the wider co-operative sector. British credit union membership has doubled over the last decade to more than 1.2 million, while the sector's assets have trebled to more than £1.3 billion.
Voyager Alliance Credit Union aims to provide financial services that meet the needs and expectations of our members, with integrity, and in a caring and professional manner to improve the financial well-being of our members.
It was fantastic to meet with Voyager Alliance Credit Union and hear about their great success story. This is clearly a credit union that is close to its members and provides a welcome service close to their place of work.
Robin Walker , MP Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Credit Unions, 2015


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When women get diagnosed with uterine fibroids they often think about a difficult life ahead. It is true that the symptoms of these most common benign tumors of the female reproductive tract can be painful and challenging but with the right treatment you can get your life back on track again.
Let's examine some of the most common myths about uterine fibroids:
Myth1. The only treatment option for fibroids is a hysterectomy!
This is not true. There are many other treatment options available for fibroid treatment. At USA Fibroid Centers we offer an FDA approved minimally invasive and non-surgical fibroid treatment for symptomatic fibroids-Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) where the blood supply to the fibroid is blocked due to which the fibroid tumor is reduced in size and the symptoms gradually disappear.
Myth 2. Fibroids are Cancer!
Only 0.01% of fibroids become cancerous. It is important to note, however, that-regardless of age simply having fibroids doesn't increase a woman's chances of developing cancer in her reproductive organs.
Myth 3. If I have fibroids I will never have kids!
There are several ways uterine fibroids can reduce fertility. Changes in the shape of the cervix can affect the number of sperm that can enter the uterus. Changes in the shape of the uterus can interfere with the movement of the sperm or embryo. However if fibroids are treated, fertility may be restored.
Myth 4. Fibroids can go away on their own.
There are certain factors which increase the risk for uterine fibroids but interestingly each of a woman's fibroids may grow or shrink at different times. Hormones may also affect fibroid growth. But if the symptoms of fibroids are left untreated they can lead to more serious complications. Therefore, it is important to evaluate your treatment options and receive fibroid treatment to prevent the risk of even more serious health problems.
If you are suffering from painful and prolonged menstrual periods that continues for more than a week, frequent


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Don Valley Academy
Don Valley Academy Sixth Form is an integral part of an increasingly successful and popular 11-18 school. We aim to provide all our students with the opportunity to realise their full academic potential while developing their interests and skills outside of the classroom. As a Sixth Former you will have your own sixth form centre with its dedicated study room, common rooms and computer facilities. You will be encouraged to play an active part in the wider life of the school taking advantage of a broad range of enrichment activities including sport, DoE and drama.
We expect our students to have a positive attitude to study and to meet the school's expectations. In return, we will provide a stimulating, mature and friendly environment in which you can thrive and succeed.
Contact Details
Jossey Lane
Tel No: 01302 781 528
Website: http://www.donvalleyacademy.org.uk
Key Contacts
Mr Danny Whaley
Head of Sixth Form
Centre Location
Please use the interactive map below to view the location of the academy and click on the marker to view the details of the academy.


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Header Image
Meet the Kids
In this online photolisting, you will see many different faces of youth in Indiana foster care. Their introductions only tell a partial story. Their biography is not complete in order to protect the child's privacy and sense of well-being.
Once you have completed the adoption preparation process and have received a recommendation from the Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP), then you may be provided more detailed information about a child. If you are just beginning that process or have not yet begun, a child you see here may be matched with a family before you complete the process. You will see an ID number at the bottom of each child's introduction. Please refer to this number when making an inquiry about a child. NOTE: If you live outside of Indiana, your inquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate individuals, but you will only be contacted if out-of-state placement is being considered for the child(ren).
Children who have experienced foster care all have one thing in common: they have had to leave their home. And by that very fact alone, their need for healing, stability, and nurturing requires attention. Children who have had to endure neglect, abuse, or trauma can face many challenges. To learn more about common challenges of children with special needs, click here.
We encourage you to use our website to learn about the children waiting for a home in Indiana. If you would like more information about the adoption process, you can also call 1-888-25ADOPT or visit www.adoptachild.in.gov. We trust you will find it an informative and useful guide as you make this most important decision to parent a child.
To Meet The Kids:
- Please visit our photolisting to view profiles of Indiana's waiting children.
- If a child has a video icon, click on his/her photo then click the Video/Audio tab that appears above their photo in the new window.
- Write down the name and identifying number of the child(ren) about whom you would like more information, and click "Make Inquiry" on their profile page.
- Visit AdoptUSKids.org to view a national photolisting of waiting children.


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Music and the Evolution of Culture
Why does music affect us? Why does this ability to enjoy sounds appear in evolution? Aristotle was the first to ask this question: "Why does music, being just sounds, remind us of the states of our souls?" If music helps in performing cognitive functions, this would be a perfect explanation for its origin and evolution. But no such cognitive function could have been found since Aristotle. Kant connected the beautiful to knowledge, but could not find any use for music. Darwin thought that his theory of evolution can explain everything within living world with one exception. He could not understand why ability for music evolved; he thought that music was a greatest mystery that future scientists would have to explain. But no explanation has been forthcoming. Distinguished musicologists and evolutionary psychologists participated in Nature's review in 2008; they concluded that music remained a mystery.
At this time I wrote a book on working of the mind. I understood why previous attempts at artificial intelligence failed. I developed a new mathematical theory, which could explain working of perception and cognition, the role of emotions and instincts, functions of aesthetic emotions, the nature of the beautiful, consciousness, symbols, emotionality of languages and cultures, the role of aesthetic emotions in cultural evolution, interaction of cognition and language. Yet, I could not explain the origin and evolution of music, and its role in working of the mind. I thought that music must be such a fundamental part of the mind that without it the theory could not be complete.
Chapter Download – Music and Culture: Parallel Evolution
A friend of mine, Jury Dimitrin, a famous Russian poet-librettist, author of the first Russian rock opera, suggested to me to pay attention to emotions. This suggestion was crucial. After several years of thinking I understood the cognitive functions of music by combining emotionality of cognition with interaction of cognition and language. The function of music was to help us overcome the contradictions of knowledge. These contradictions are emotionally unpleasant, and usually we discard them; if new knowledge contradicts previous knowledge, which usually happens to some extent, it is discarded without us even becoming aware of this contradiction. This discarding of contradictions is known as cognitive dissonance, it is recognized as one of the great discoveries of the 20th century. But it was not recognized that the discarding of knowledge must ultimately lead to the end of cultural evolution. Every new word, every new piece of knowledge would be subconsciously discarded before it was comprehended. Evolution of culture required a psychological mechanism for overcoming cognitive dissonance. And this mechanism is music. Music turns out to be responsible for the entire evolution of culture.
This explains why we cannot live without music, why we enjoy sad music, which cannot even be listened to without tears. Most popular songs help in overcoming cognitive dissonances of unrequited love, betrayed friendship. We live in a sea of cognitive dissonances, which helps explain a mysterious Biblical phrase: in much wisdom is much grief. Does wisdom cause grief? No, grief is not in wisdom, but in contradictions caused by knowledge. My book discusses which cognitive dissonances are overcome by the music of Bach, for example.
The book's content expands to a fascinating story of the joint evolution of culture and music from King David to the 21st century. It addresses the mysterious contradictions of contemporary culture: what is the psychological space of John Cage 4'33" – of silence. What is beauty? The book demonstrates that emotions of the beautiful are not related to sexual feelings or forms of art objects. Emotions of the beautiful are related to the meaning of life. These controversial conclusions and more follow from the new theory of aesthetics, they are also proven experimentally. Possibly, a new theory of psychology will have to be developed based on this book.
About the Author
Dr. Leonid Perlovsky is President of LP Information Technology, former Technical Advisor and Principal Research Scientist at the AF Research Lab, Visiting Scholar at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, at Harvard Medical School's Athinoula Martinos Brain Imaging Center, Visiting Professor at Northeastern University Engineering and Psychology Departments, Professor at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
Dr. Perlovsky has created a new area of cognitive mathematics, which has led to revolutionary capabilities in modeling the mind. He served as Chief Scientist at Nichols Research, professor at Novosibirsk University and New York University; as a principal in commercial startups developing tools for understanding text, biotechnology, and financial predictions. His company predicted 9/11 market crash a week before the event and supported the SEC investigation. He is invited as a keynote plenary speaker and tutorial lecturer worldwide, including to some of the most prestigious venues, such as the Nobel Forum at Stockholm Karolinska Institutet; he has published more than 500 papers including 140 referred journals, 20 book chapters, and 8 books with Oxford, Springer, Frontiers, and Elsevier. Dr. Perlovsky also serves on the boards of several academic societies. He founded and serves as Editor-in-Chief for "Physics of Life Reviews," an Elsevier journal with the IF=9.5, ranked #3 in the world. He has received prestigious awards including the INNS Gabor Award, and the John McLucas Award, the highest US Air Force Award for basic research. His most recent discovery explains the origin and evolution of music, solving millennial mystery.
If you found this article interesting, you may want to have a look at the author's recently published book Music, Passion, and Cognitive Function. The book examines contemporary cognitive theories of music, why they cannot explain music's power over us, as well as the origin and evolution of music. A new cognitive theory is described, a theory of musical origin based on the fundamental role of music in cognition: music unifies the inner world split by language, and enables the accumulation of knowledge and cultural evolution.
We are pleased to offer a complimentary chapter from ScienceDirect called, "Music and Culture: Parallel Evolution" below:
Chapter Download – Music and Culture: Parallel Evolution
Additional chapters from the book are available online now on ScienceDirect, or you may purchase a print or e-book from the Elsevier store.
Social Sciences
The general scope of social sciences is vast, and Elsevier's collection of journals, books, and eBooks examine in detail a wide range of topics in this area, from sociology, law, and cognitive science to political science, education, and linguistics. Our Chandos imprint in particular, known for high-quality scholarship in Asian studies, library and information science, and business management, reflects Elsevier's continuing commitment to these crucial areas of study.


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Sunday, 18 September 2011
No-Bake Sunday: Nanaimo Bars from The Boy Who Bakes
11 comments:
- Marianthi said...
Ooh, they look amazing, you genius. I'd like to make these for Sandy (hope she's not reading!). Do you think it'd be ok to use something other than coconut in them? Almonds or something? Also, how long do you think they'll keep for? x
- 18 September 2011 at 10:41
- Katey said...
Hey lovely! That's a lovely idea, you could definitely sub the coconut and just use extra biscuits and nuts instead. Chopped almonds would be great, and would probably taste nicer than walnuts to me. As they have fresh cream in them, I'd think they'd last a few days - maybe til the best before date on the cream? This recipe makes quite a large batch and you can also freeze them. Hope you're doing okay darl, thinking of you and your big day! x
- 18 September 2011 at 13:07
- Marianthi said...
Yay, thankyou! I'll give them a try tomorrow.
Big day approaching fast. I'm, quite frankly, shitting myself!
- 19 September 2011 at 02:51
- Marianthi said...
Amazing success! The Canadian loved it! Thank you Ms K. xx
- 20 September 2011 at 16:45
- Katey said...
Yay! I'm super pleased, glad you enjoyed them! x
- 20 September 2011 at 23:53
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The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (SPX) fell for the week as investors sold shares after the biggest annual gain in more than a decade, as an improving economy heightened concern about the Federal Reserve's schedule for ending stimulus.
Apple Inc. slumped 3.4 percent after Wells Fargo & Co. cut its recommendation on the stock. General Motors Co. dropped 3.4 percent on an unexpected decline in December vehicle sales. Bank of America Corp. climbed 4.7 percent as Citigroup Inc. advised investors to buy the lender's shares. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. rallied 11 percent after adopting a takeover-defense plan amid speculation activist investors were taking stakes.
The S&P 500 declined 0.5 percent to 1,831.37 in the holiday-shortened week, after completing 2013 with a 30 percent gain, the most since 1997. The Dow (INDU) Jones Industrial Average lost 8.42 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,469.99 for the week. The U.S. market was closed Jan. 1 for the New Year's holiday.
"All the data coming in have been consistently positive, but that put pressure on the Fed to increase the pace of tapering," Doug Cote, chief market strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management in New York, said in a telephone interview. His firm oversees about $200 billion. "It's the adjustment to that process that's going to create volatility. You have to be more discerning with your investments. It's not just a layup."
The S&P 500, which finished last year at an all-time high, sank the most in three weeks on Jan. 2, snapping a streak of rallies on the first session of the year since 2009. The Dow average climbed 27 percent in 2013 for its best performance since 1995.
Fed Stimulus
Three rounds of Fed stimulus and better-than-forecast corporate earnings have helped the S&P rally as much as 173 percent from a 12-year low in 2009. The Fed announced plans in December to reduce the pace of bond buying amid faster-than-estimated economic growth.
U.S. manufacturing grew in December at the second-fastest pace since April 2011 and housing prices jumped in October by the most in more than seven years, economic data showed over the week. Applications for unemployment benefits declined in the latest week to the lowest level in a month.
Investors will watch the monthly payrolls report, due next week, and corporate earnings to gauge the prospects for the stock market. The Labor Department report on Jan. 10 may show the economy added 195,000 jobs in December, according to the median estimate from economists in a Bloomberg survey.
Earnings Season
Alcoa Inc. will unofficially begin the reporting season when it announces results after the markets close on Jan. 9. Analysts forecast earnings for S&P 500 companies grew by 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Equity returns will slow this year, Wall Street strategists forecast. The S&P 500 will end 2014 at 1,955, according to the average of 20 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. That represents a 5.8 percent gain from the end of 2013.
The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, the gauge of S&P 500 options known as the VIX (VIX), advanced 10 percent to 13.76 for the week. The gauge finished 2013 with a 24 percent drop, the largest decline since 2009.
Eight of 10 main S&P 500 groups retreated for the week, with energy, utility and phone companies dropping at least 1.3 percent to lead declines. Exxon Mobil Corp. lost 2 percent to $99.51 for the worst performance in the Dow.
Apple sank 3.4 percent to $540.98. Wells Fargo analyst Maynard Um cut the rating on the stock to market perform from outperform, saying the iPhone maker's gross margin could come under pressure later in the year.
GM Sales
General Motors slipped 3.4 percent to $39.57. The largest U.S. automaker said its deliveries of light trucks and cars dropped 6.3 percent in December. Analysts, on average, estimated a 1.5 percent increase.
Bank of America climbed 4.7 percent to $16.41.Keith Horowitz, an analyst with Citigroup, raised the lender to buy from neutral, saying the company will benefit from a recovering economy.
Hertz surged 11 percent to $28.50. The largest publicly traded U.S. rental-car company adopted the plan after observing "unusual and substantial activity" in its stock. The board voted unanimously for the plan, which Hertz said wasn't adopted in response to any specific takeover bid or proposal to acquire the company, according to a statement.
CNBC reported on Jan. 3 that billionaire Carl Icahn may have acquired 30 million to 40 million shares in the company.
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) added 2.4 percent to $76.11 for the biggest gain in the Dow. Michael Morris, an analyst with Guggenheim Securities LLC, raised his recommendation on the world's largest entertainment company to buy from neutral.
Video Platform
Twitter Inc. jumped 8.2 percent to $69. The social-networking company has the potential to become a leading platform for video viewing, Ken Sena, an analyst with Evercore Partners Inc., said in a note. He boosted the stock's share-price estimate to $70 from $52.
Delta Air Lines Inc. increased 8.1 percent to $29.23 for the biggest gain in the S&P 500. The airline carrier reported that a key revenue metric rose 10 percent in December from a year earlier. The company said it expects to report more than $1 billion in operating cash flow for the quarter.
Source : bloomberg


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Total Life Changes is looking for the best 'Total Life Changes'! Submit your original before picture and your current picture , and a summary of your success (text or video). For each stop on our You'll Feel It Tour 2019, (3) winners will receive FREE roundtrip airfare, 2-night hotel stay, professional makeover and event tickets for a live reveal on stage!
Please upload a side-by-side before and after picture.


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News releases
Schroders FTSE DC report starts to evidence investment diversification
Schroders is today announcing the details of its fourth FTSE DC report, which is, for the first time since its launch, starting to evidence investment diversification in some of the largest defined contribution schemes in the UK.
Schroders is today announcing the details of its fourth FTSEi DC report, which is, for the first time since its launchii , starting to evidence investment diversification in some of the largest defined contribution schemes in the UK. Key highlights, which can be found within the full report, include:
A typical default DC fund of a FTSE pension scheme has decreased its exposure in developed equities to three quarters (75%) of the overall fund allocation – down from 80% in March 2014.
FTSE 100 firms' default DC funds have decreased UK equity exposure by 3 percentage points (down from 32% to 29%) and global equities by 2 percentage points (45% to 43%). This takes overall developed equities exposure to 72% of the total allocation, the lowest proportion since our research series began.
FTSE 250 firms have seen the greater change, decreasing UK equity exposure by 5 percentage points (38% to 33%) and global equities by one percentage point (45% to 44%). This takes total allocation to developed equities to 77%, down from 83% in March 2014.
Fixed income and alternatives have both seen a slight resurgence, rising by two percentage points respectively in the last six months. The typical default DC scheme of a FTSE pension scheme now has 9% in fixed income and 10% in alternatives.
Over half of schemes analysed (26 out of 40) invest in alternatives, such as property, private equity and hedge funds, this asset class has seen the greatest increase in weighting range with the maximum allocation increasing from 34% in March 2014 to 43% currently.
Stephen Bowles, Head of Defined Contribution, Schroders comments:
"At a recent conferenceiii we asked attendees if they thought the increased flexibility announced in the spring 2014 budget was a good thing for DC pensions, 84% of respondents replied yes. We also asked if DC schemes will need to have multiple default investment strategies to target different outcomes i.e annuity, cash and drawdown. An overwhelming 78% of participants responded yes to this question.
It is very encouraging to see evidence of diversification starting to come through in the latest report findings. We firmly believe diversification is a key element in defined contribution default investment design."
i FTSE International Limited ("FTSE") © FTSE. "FTSE®" is a trade mark of London Stock Exchange Plc and The Financial Times Limited and is used by FTSE International Limited under license. All rights in the FTSE indices and / or FTSE ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and / or FTSE ratings or underlying data. No further distribution of FTSE Data is permitted without FTSE's express written consent
ii First DC Report findings issued March 2013. The DC default funds of 20 FTSE 100 and 20 FTSE 250 companies have been researched for this report. Data as at: Research for the 6 months to 31 September 2014.
iii Responses received from over 70 pension schemes, independent trustees and consultants
For further information and to receive a copy of Schroders' FTSE DC Default Report, please contact:
Estelle Bibby, Senior PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 7658 firstname.lastname@example.com
Notes to Editors For trade press only.
To view the latest press releases from Schroders visit: http://ir.schroders.com/media
Schroders plc
Schroders is a global asset management company with £271.5 billion (EUR339.0 billion/$464.1 billion) under management as at 30 June 2014. Our clients are major financial institutions including pension funds, banks and insurance companies, local and public authorities, governments, charities, high net worth individuals and retail investors.
With one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset management company, we operate from 37 offices in 27 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. Schroders has developed under stable ownership for over 200 years and long-term thinking governs our approach to investing, building client relationships and growing our business. Further information about Schroders can be found at www.schroders.com.
Issued by Schroder Investment Management Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For regular updates by e-mail please register online at www.schroders.com for our alerting service.
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Schroders FTSE DC report starts to evidence investment diversification 2 pages | 54 kbDOWNLOAD


text: Stephen has been working and guiding for Irish day tours for 8 years. He has a passion for Ireland and particularly loves mountain hiking and exploring the Irish countryside. He has a great interest in Irish historical people and a perfect day for Stephen would be in an old manor house learning the history of the family. Stephen is an amicable and friendly guide who will make sure that his clients have a wonderful time.


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A first read of the communiqué issued over the weekend by the International Olympic Committee after president Thomas Bach's urgently taken meeting with Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov might well prompt the response, "Atlichna." That's Russian for "excellent." Indeed, in the statement, the IOC quotes Zhukov this way: "The Russian Olympic Committee is determined that the clean athletes should compete in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Anyone found guilty of using illegal drugs or anyone who facilitated or was complicit in their use must be punished."
Atlichna, right?
Max Cobb wrote this guest column, published now at 3 Wire Sports.
Cobb is the president and chief executive officer of US Biathlon Association and the chairman of the International Biathlon Union's Technical Committee. He served as the technical delegate for the Biathlon events at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He has been a part of every Winter Games since 1992, including serving as biathlon competition chief at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Gone are the denials of a problem and gone are the accusations of a western plot to embarrass Russia. The leaders of sport in Russia recognize there is a problem and are eager to fix it so they can participate in the Olympic Games just nine months away.
But history and the very roots of this, arguably the largest-scale doping scandal ever uncovered, should give pause to those responsible for protecting the rights of clean athletes: the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
It is they who must carry out a full and independent investigation into doping in all sports in Russia, not just track and field. It is they who must identify and hold liable all athletes, coaches, and others who violated the World Anti-Doping Code.
The matter carries all the more import with the full WADA board meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to consider next steps.
Why not let the Russians do it themselves?
First of all, the Russians have had 16 years -- since the creation of WADA -- to put in place a successful anti-doping program. They failed. Is it reasonable to expect them to reform the system in just nine months?
Given the governmental funding structures and the level of involvement of the FSB, the successor organization to the KGB, in the Moscow lab, there seems little question that the conspiracy to dope athletes and protect them from anti-doping controls was known and condoned, if not ordered, by those responsible for leading sport in Russia. That includes the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Ministry of Sport.
Neither WADA nor the IOC should accept this effort by the ROC as anything but a thinly veiled attempt to find scapegoats and preserve the structure and positions of the very leaders who oversaw the creation of the largest and most sophisticated cheating syndicate ever to plague sport, one that evokes memories of the notorious East German regime of the 1970s.
Secondly, it is not just those "found guilty of using illegal drugs" who need to be punished.
It is all those found guilty of violating the WADA Code who need to be punished.
This includes those who evaded anti-doping controls.
Process can be, to say the least, boring. But in the legal world that surrounds the efforts to protect the rights of clean athletes, process is critical.
Whistleblowers within the Russian anti-doping agency, RUSADA, which serves all sports in Russia, have indicated that it was not just track and field athletes who were protected from anti-doping controls.
The scale of what was done, in the words of RUSADA staff member Vitaliy Stepanov, reached as well to "swimming, cycling, biathlon, athletics, weight lifting, nordic skiing."
Not only that, but the WADA-appointed independent commission report, published last Monday, reported both that RUSADA doping control officers routinely informed athletes days ahead of time that they would have a "no-notice" out of competition test, and then did not properly supervise the collection of a sample.
That means, simply, that athletes were given the opportunity to provide a stored clean sample, effectively avoiding the doping test.
RUSADA also failed to enforce the required reporting of accurate athlete "whereabouts" information, a requirement for all athletes in order to ensure that they are always available for no-notice testing. Repeated failure to submit accurate whereabouts information can result in a ban.
In short, the evidence strongly suggests that those who were doping in Russia colluded with RUSADA and the WADA-accredited lab in Moscow to ensure they would not "be found guilty of using illegal drugs," Zhukov's measure of guilt.
But all signs indicate guilty they are of serious violations of the WADA code.
As has been said again and again over this last week, track and field is not the only sport with doping issues; WADA must investigate the other sports as well to identify all those who violated the Code.
Failure to do so calls into question WADA's relevance and resolve to protect clean athletes.
As has also been noted repeatedly since the publication of the commission report, doping is not just a serious problem in Russia.
But make no mistake:
The shocking essence of this scandal is not that there was doping.
It is that the doping was thoroughly integrated into the elite sport culture in Russia, in a coordinated effort to perpetrate a fraud that anti-doping tests were being rigorously carried out, all the while using the most advanced scientific methods to dope the very same athletes to maximum effect.
And contrary to what Russian sport minister Vitaly Mutko has said, this was not a choice made by individual athletes. This was a system that compelled the athletes to dope or lose support of the sport organization funding their training and competition.
The WADA commission's report strongly suggested that the doping program was "state-supported." That means the Russian government.
The report also found that the FSB infiltrated the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow where the anti-doping tests were carried out during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. That means the Russian government knew about the conspiracy to systematically dope Russian athletes and fraudulently cover it up.
There is no credible way that any Russian sport or government organization can properly and objectively investigate this enormous corruption scandal.
The IOC and WADA should recognize the huge job they have in front of them. They should remember their pledge to protect clean athletes and dig deep into their war-chests to set up the independent commission needed to assess and punish those who have violated the WADA code in Russia while at the same time giving Russia the "road map" for clean sport they have asked for.
When this is in place, everyone will say, atlichna.
Then it will be time to welcome the clean athletes from Russian to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio.


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Most builders have the same questions about the success rate of an Online Sales Program. How many leads do you get each month? How many of those are converted to an appointment? How many appointments end up on contract? What are your statistics etc…
I would like to share what numbers I have seen personally and also what many other successful programs experience. Keep in mind, every market and builder is different. Use these statistics as benchmarks but your numbers may vary slightly.
1-3% Leads captured from online sources
You will have many sources to drive traffic. What most builders use to determine this number is the new unique visits each month, not the total "hits" or even return visits. It is important to determine how many new users you attracted and how many of those requested further information. Your web host should have these statistics on hand – if not, they should be able to install the software to track this for you. A lead is qualified as one individual who submitted a request or called in directly from an online source. Many sources are included but only the total unique visitor stats from your website is used as the number to get your ratio. This is the easiest way to measure overall conversion.
20-25% Leads converted to appointments
The total leads are from both online sources and incoming phone calls. The conversion ration is based on appointments that are kept, not appointments scheduled and not kept.
30-35% Appointments that write a contract
This number is based on leads that go on appointment and then write a contract and close on the home. You will see some contracts fall through so do not count the totals until the home is closed.
5-10% Increase in overall sales
You can expect to see an increase in the first year of this successful program. This does not take into consideration additional sales that are created from a stronger web presence. It is hard to truly determine direct sources from the internet.
20-25% Of total sales will be generated by this program
You can expect to see a good portion of sales generated through this program. Keep in mind; these are additional sales or sales that you will not lose to your competition. You might have had some of these sales before – but now you will be sure to keep these numbers high.
Remember, these numbers will continue to increase as more people use the internet as the primary source for their new home search.


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Cryptocurrencies in retail, the future is now.
Bitcoin has gained traction in recent years. But what is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a new mode of payment, a new type of money that works as a worldwide payment method with low processing fees and fast peer-to-peer transactions.
Utilization of peer-to-peer technology allows Bitcoin to operate with no banks or central authority to control its transactions.
The issuing of bitcoins as well as the management of transactions is carried out through the network, collectively. In addition, Bitcoin is open-source making the design of Bitcoin available for public use.
No one controls or owns Bitcoin and the world can be a part of it. Bitcoin has a variety of unique properties allowing exciting uses no other previous payment system can top, especially maintaining privacy.
The only problem is because it is so new, few companies use it in retail as existing payment terminals and cash registers cannot support this new payment method so easily.
Well, PROBLEM SOLVED.
Netclearance mBeaconPay platform allows seamless integration with retail cash registers enabling Bitcoin payment acceptance in the popular world of retail, thus helping customer adopt it as a preferred method of payment.
Imagine, never having to use a bank account or credit card again? Bitcoins give you privacy and allow you to make purchases without fear of being monitored. Better yet, with companies like Netclearance providing the bridge between Bitcoin and retail, soon this innovative payment method will become the norm.
In fact, there are already deployments underway in Scandinavia that are paving the way for new digital currencies in retail.
Check out the Netclearance Blog for more information and make sure to Tweet them.


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Faculty Council
The Electrical Engineering faculty council is the advisory body of the Electrical Engineering faculty of the Eindhoven University of Technology.
Their task is to follow the affairs of the faculty closely, submit proposals and express positions to the faculty board.
Member of the faculty council are chosen from personnel (every two years) and students (every year) from the faculty. The employees and students each posses five seats on the council.
If you have any questions for the faculty council, please contact the chairman, Sander Stuijk.


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How Just Mortgage Brokers Can Help You
The government's Right to Buy scheme can represent a welcome boost for council tenants who want to get a foot on the property ladder. Under the scheme, anyone who has been a tenant for three or more years is potentially eligible, and those who are accepted can obtain a discount on the purchase price.
Right to Buy Mortgage Calculator
Fill out the few details below to see how we could help you achieve a mortgage
The Key Differences
The amount of discount awarded is dependent upon two things: how long you have been a tenant, and whether the property is a house or a flat. Different discount caps also apply to properties in London.
The initial discount offered to tenants with a minimum 3 year tenancy is 30% for a house and 50% for a flat. Additional discounts are offered for those whose tenancies have lasted 5 years or more – 1% per year for a house and 2% for a flat – up to a maximum total discount of 70%, or £82,800 (£110,500 in London) for both houses and flats.
|Type of property
|Discount due after 3 years' tenancy (qualifying level)
|Additional discount per year if you have over 5 years' tenancy
|Discount capped at
|70% or £82,800 (London £110,500)
|70% or £82,800 (London £110,500)
Assuming you have been a council tenant for 10 years and are buying a property worth £100,000, this would mean:
|Type of property
|Initial discount due
|Additional discount
|Total value of discount applied
|Final purchase price of property
As far as securing a mortgage is concerned, a tenant purchasing a property under the Right to Buy scheme is in the same position as anyone else buying a property – they require a deposit (although some lenders will generally accept the Right to Buy discount in lieu), and they need to be able to prove they can keep up the repayments. However, if the property to be purchased is a flat in a high-rise building, there may be some additional requirements to take into consideration.
Some lenders can be reluctant to grant mortgages for the purchase of high-rise flats, for a number of reasons: older council blocks can be hard to maintain; they may have concerns about the resale potential of such properties; the communal areas may be dilapidated, which both pulls down the value and reduces their desirability; and they may be concerned about the mix of owner/occupiers and tenants.
Due to these factors and a drop in the value of such properties following the credit crunch, certain lenders will not consider mortgages for flats in a building higher than 7–10 storeys. In some cases, where mortgages are granted on flats in buildings with more than, for example, 10 storeys, they may only consider lending against flats on the bottom 8 floors. You should also be aware that high-rise flats are often classed as a non-standard building, so specialist insurance may be required.
Whether you are in a council house, flat or a high-rise apartment block, you can improve your chances of getting a mortgage by enquiring early in the process and obtaining a mortgage decision in principle. By working with an experienced mortgage broker, you will potentially be able to access lenders beyond the high street, with the added advantage that the broker will be able to advise on which lenders offer mortgages that will match your own circumstances and the property type.


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2019 Driver Education Program for Newcomers
Are you interested in getting your driver's licence? You may qualify for partial funding to complete your driver training course and get your Saskatchewan driver's licence!
Do you have a Saskatchewan learner's licence?
Have you had your learner's licence for at least 5 months?
Have you practised driving in a Saskatchewan city?
If yes, this program might be for you!
This program is open to Permanent Residents and Temporary Residents (certain conditions apply) in Saskatchewan, in the area serviced by Southeast Newcomer Services, who are required to complete a driver education program to obtain a Saskatchewan driver's licence.
The Driver Education Program for Newcomers covers the partial cost of the 6 hours in class and 6 hours in car commercial driver education program for eligible applicants.
In-eligible applicants:
Application Process:
Southeast Newcomer Services
1108-6th Street
Estevan, SK S4A 1A8
Fax: 306-637-3826
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
NOTE: In class session for Weyburn will be on Saturday, June 8, at Weyburn Public Library, and on Sunday, April 28, at the Days Inn (Evergreen Room) for Estevan. These sessions will be held at the Weyburn Public Library and Days Inn respectively. In car driving hours will follow the completion of the classroom training. For further information you may contact our office at (306) 637-4920.
Click the following link to download application form: 2019 Application Form with instructions revised


text: We propose a fuzzy hyper-prototype algorithm in this paper. This approach uses hyperplanes to represent the cluster centers in the fuzzy c-means algorithm. We present the formulation of a hyperplane-based fuzzy objective function and then derive an iterative numerical procedure for minimizing the clustering criterion. We tested the method with data degraded with random noise. The experimental results show that the proposed method is robust to clustering noisy linear structure.


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Darius and the Lions' Den
The account of Daniel 6 has been long labelled "Daniel and the lions' den." But what if, in actuality, this narrative has little to do with Daniel?
B.B. Warfield famously quipped:
The Old Testament may be likened to a chamber richly furnished but dimly lighted: the introduction of light brings into it nothing which was not in it before; but it brings out into clearer view much of what is in it but was only dimly or not at all perceived before.[1]
By this Warfield encourages us to read backwards: to use the lenses of the New Testament as spectacles through which we read the Old Testament. Again, the New Testament does not add anything to the Old Testament that was not intrinsically present beforehand. Rather, it illuminates and makes plain a layer of meaning that was previously obfuscated because the mystery, i.e., Christ, had not yet been revealed (Col 1:26).
Daniel 6
Daniel, a godly young man[2], faithfully served his king to the point that his honest, hard work was being recognized—he was going to get promoted. His fellow satraps, however, grew jealous that Daniel was quickly becoming the king's favorite. They wanted to depose him by exposing his faults. Unfortunately, they could find nothing. They conspired to trap him, and knew the only way to do so was to tread on Daniel's religion. They tricked the king into signing a law that forbade prayer to anyone other than him for an extended period of time. Daniel, after realizing this had happened, went to his home to showcase his civil disobedience by opening his windows and praying so that all could see.[3] He was found out, and sentenced to death by lion.[4] To the dismay of the king, Daniel was thrown in the lions' den. The king came to check on Daniel the next morning. To his surprise, Daniel was unharmed; an angel closed the lions' mouths. The evil satraps were then judged, and Daniel "prospered" (v. 28) during the reign of Darius.
The end.
At this point, we ask questions like: What is your "den of lions"? Is it your boss/coworkers? Are you putting your faith in God to rescue you and deliver you? Truthfully, I am not trying to pooh-pooh moral, practical, and relevant applications of this text. What I would prefer, however, is a better reading of the text that leads to the next level of application.
Reading Backwards
Before we begin to read backwards, I do want to point something out. After analyzing the narrative, I would suggest that the main character in this story (outside of God) is not Daniel, but Darius. Daniel's fate is tied to the law of the Medes and Persians, and the climax of this narrative is whether Darius would rescind his unjust injunction. Does this seem like a stretch? I don't think so. How do you determine the main character in a movie? It's the character the camera follows in the apex of the crisis. After Daniel is thrown in the lions' den, the author follows Darius home recording his emotional constitution, thereby choosing not to depict this supernatural deliverance—creating a disparity between Daniel 6 and its chiastic twin, Daniel 3 (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's deliverance in the fiery furnace). Therefore, we can confidently state that Darius—not Daniel—is the main character of this scene.
So what? How does that change anything when it comes to our reading of the text? Paul alludes to being rescued from the lion's mouth in 2 Timothy 4:17–18. After informing Timothy that he had been abandoned and harmed, he gives thanks to the Lord who stood by him and strengthened him, with the end that he was "rescued from the lion's mouth" (2 Timothy 4:17). Though this was the result of God's saving effort, Paul does not present this as the purpose of God's saving effort. Paul says that the Lord stood by him and strengthened him, but he adds this purpose clause: "so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it" (2 Timothy 4:17, emphasis added).
Along with the greeting, final instructions are often seen as the crust of the epistles. We typically glaze over them: "Grace and peace, yeah, we get it Paul. I know, you want to say hi to some friends, ask for a favor, and end with a benediction." But I believe that Paul's usage of this metaphor gives us insight into the true purpose of Daniel's salvation from the lion's mouth. Paul says that although he was persecuted and abandoned by all, the Lord stood with him and rescued him from the lion's mouth, with the intent that the message of the gospel would be proclaimed to Gentiles.
When we bring Paul's purpose clause back to Daniel our angle shifts. It evolves from "God delivers his faithful servant who refused to commit idolatry" (which is true!), to "Darius the Mede (a gentile), king of the known world, witnesses the saving power of our God, and then from his own hand proclaims it 'to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth.'" (Daniel 6:25)
Now the application questions break free from our personal solar system, where we are the sun and moon, and the gravitational pull is our joy alone. How can we suffer in a way that magnifies God's name, and makes him known to those around us? Knowing that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him—that means his glory and our joy—how does this change the way you see your past/present trials? How can we break free from the cycle of Darius, Herod, and Pilate of seeking the approval of men over God?
After the resurrection, Jesus walked alongside the road to Emmaus and taught two of his disciples how to do exactly this: reading backwards (Luke 24:13–31).[5] The reality is that we are just scratching the surface.[6] With the light of the New Testament, we can walk through the once "dimly lit chamber" and look behind the armoire, under the bed, and on top of the dresser.
Benjamin Breckinridge Warfied, Biblical Doctrines (New York: Oxford University Press, 1932; reprint, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 141–2. ↩
Though in reality, he was likely in his late eighties when this account took place. ↩
Daniel is oft cited as the paragon of civil disobedience. It is noted that his act was civil (both in scope and method) and public (he opened his windows). Despite the frequency of this claim, however, Daniel did not open his windows to showcase his civil disobedience. The text points out that he is doing what he has always done (v. 10). That it becomes a matter of civil disobedience is the satraps' issue, not his. We know that by this time, some of the Jews in exile had been permitted to return to their homeland under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Daniel longed to dwell in the Lord's land, with the Lord's people, and he opened his window "toward Jerusalem" to look out to the holy city (cf. 1 Kings 8:46–48). ↩
It is my contention, as well as a great deal of other commentators, that this incident with Daniel and the lions was an ordeal, and not an execution. An execution is an immediate death sentence of a condemned person. An ordeal, on the other hand, is a fatalistic test of sorts to determine culpability. Longman reminds us that there was a biblically sanctioned ordeal set forth in Numbers to determine whether a woman suspected of adultery was guilty (Num 5:11–31). An individual suspected of a crime is thrown into a river. If he or she dies, they are guilty. But if they survive, they are innocent and set free. One proof that this was not an execution: executions do not have time limits. Another proof is the language Daniel uses when Darius comes to ascertain the state of his friend. Daniel reports that the angel stopped the lions' mouths "because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm" (Daniel 6:22, ESV). He attributes the fact that he is unharmed as a proof of his innocence. And lastly, this explains why the satraps and their families were subsequently tossed to the lions: to ascertain their guilt. The glorious irony of it all, this law of the Medes and Persians "which cannot be revoked" (v. 8, 12) fails, and God's law prevails. In Deuteronomy, God's law states that if someone brings a false charge against a person, and his or her testimony is found to be false, then the punishment pronounced on the innocent party is carried out on the false witness (Deuteronomy 19:18–19). In Daniel 6, the instrument of ordeal assigned for Daniel was turned against those who first set out to trap him. As the law of the Medes and Persians flounders in impotence, God's law is fulfilled. ↩
For more on reading backwards, I would highly recommend Hays' book, Richard Hays, Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness (Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2014). ↩
Daniel being thrown into the pit of lions evokes the account of Joseph being tossed into a pit (Gen 37:24). The irony of Daniel's accusers suffering the instrument of torture they had intended for him mirrors the story of Haman being hung by the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. Daniel laying with lions unharmed illustrates "My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords…They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves" (Psalm 57:4–6, ESV). Daniel laid unharmed by these wild beasts, and Jesus "was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him" (Mark 1:13, ESV emphasis added). The satraps and officials plotted against Daniel, though he was said to be innocent. The pharisees and sadducees plotted against Jesus. Pilate, like Darius, sentenced an innocent man to death through much consternation. Before he was arrested, Daniel spent his time praying in an upper room (Daniel 6:10). On the night before Jesus was arrested, he, too, went into an upper room to have the Passover with his disciples (Mark 14:15). Daniel is said to have been placed in a pit, which was subsequently sealed by a stone: "And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den" (Daniel 6:17, ESV). So, too, the Son of man, after his death was placed in a tomb and it was secured by "sealing the stone and setting a guard" (Matthew 27:66, ESV) . In Daniel 6:19, Darius is said to have made haste to this sealed tomb at the break of day. In Matthew 28:1, at "dawn of the first day" the two Marys made haste to "see the tomb." Finally, notice that when Darius addresses Daniel, there is no mention of a stone. It appears as though, the angel rolled the stone away. We know Jesus' stone was rolled away, serving as a symbol that communicates the reality that the grave could not hold him. The fundamental difference in the two accounts: Jesus really did die and was raised, whereas for Daniel an angel shut the lions' mouths and when he emerged from the den "no kind of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God" (Dan. 6:23). Jesus trusted God, too, but he was bruised and pierced for our transgressions, and God's victory over his wounds and death was all the more overwhelming. ↩


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Openhouse and our partner organizations offer a wide range of resources for LGBT seniors. Click on any of these links below for more information.
LGBT seniors have become increasingly visible in communities across the country, but only a handful of studies have documented their needs. In 2003 Openhousecompleted a major study of more than 1300 LGBT adults in the Bay Area – the largest and most racially inclusive study of LGBT aging in the country. Our Research page includes a link to a summary of the Openhousestudy and to other research on LGBT aging issues.
Housing Resources
Our Housing Resources page offers information on navigating the maze to find affordable, mixed income and market rate housing in San Francisco. For additional information and help finding housing to meet your needs, please call the Openhouseoffice at (415) 296-8995 or email us.
Community Services
San Francisco and the Bay Area offer a wide variety of services for LGBT seniors. Our Community Services Directory provides a brief description and contact information for twenty agencies serving LGBT seniors with additional information about online resources and information.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) seniors are resilient and tenacious. Still, they often do not access the services they need most as they age. Openhouse offers an effective, comprehensive training to help service providers create welcoming, supportive and safe environments for LGBT seniors and the LGBT seniors who need services.
State law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in nearly every aspect of life, including employment, housing and public accommodations (access to services). California has also enacted specific legislation impacting LGBT seniors.
How many LGBT seniors live in San Francisco, the state and the country? Why do LGBT seniors need help? How is Openhouse addressing those needs?
New Guide for LGBT Elders in California
A pioneering new guide gives California's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elders comprehensive information about their rights and the services that are available to them as they navigate the system of public and social benefits. The guide is published by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Openhouse, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, Transgender Law Center and Planning for Elders in the Central City. The guide is an excellent resource to empower and help protect California's LGBT elders who often are targets of discrimination due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Read more…
Download "Navigating the System: A Know-Your-Rights Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders in California."


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West Midlands firms to prioritise staff training
2014 is set to be a strong year for staff training among businesses in the West Midlands. Companies across the region are preparing for an upturn in economic growth and this is encouraging them to invest in boosting the skills of their workforces. This is according to the latest Business Factors Index from Bibby Financial Services, which found that West Midlands firms are going to be turning their attention to training and development in the months ahead. It also revealed that six in ten hope to achieve substantial growth in the next 12 months, the Birmingham Post reports. The index noted that certain small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners are still struggling through tough economic conditions, with a lack of government funding holding them back from reaching their full potential. However, eight in ten admitted they had failed to seek financial support during the final period of the year. Despite this, it is a positive sign that an increasing number of organisations are expecting to provide more training, as a fully skilled workforce is crucial to improve company success. Sharon Wiltshire, a spokesperson for Bibby Financial Services in the West Midlands, said it is good news that businesses in the region are ploughing resources into future growth and it reflects their level of ambition. She continued: "Firms looking at staff development and training as a priority need the finance behind them to be able to make that investment in their staff. This is vital in underpinning a sustainable recovery both in this region and the rest of the UK." Business training is not just the focus of West Midlands companies, and it was recently reported that SMBs in Leeds are also set to receive a skills boost thanks to an initiative entitled the Response Project being launched by local organisations. This provides firms with advice on a number of areas, including recruiting apprentices, rolling out training to existing employees and coaching and mentoring.


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I'm writing this blog from a computer in the Delegate Lounge at the Rogers Industry Centre (U of T campus). The festival is winding down but there's definitely many people still buzzing about here. The Rogers Industry Centre houses all of the main industry panels, the Doc Shop, and more (plus free coffee and David's Tea!!!!!!).Day 8 was probably one of my favourite days at Hot Docs.
It began with a TDF visit at the Royal Conservatory of Music. TDF (The Documentary Forum) is an event where people with projects apply to pitch in front of a large panel (I think about 20-30 people) made up of all the heavy-hitting documentary industry players. It makes up a wide-range of platforms and broadcasters/networks/etc.. including CBC, CBC radio, PBS, TVO, NHK (Japan), Sundance Channel, and so many more. The production teams are selected and have a short amount of time to pitch their project, and also express what they're looking for (pre-sale, 30% funding, etc..). The industry members interested in the project will express so, and those who are called upon for their opinion, who are not interested, express so as well. It ranges from, "We'd love to talk more" to "Send us a rough cut" (which seems like code for passing, but there's hope down the road). Every pitch was pretty successful, and I was impressed by how positive an experience TDF seemed to be for. It'd definitely good for putting your project out there and getting honest opinions from key industry people about their interest. I had built up TDF as an intimidating and scary experience, but it wasn't at all and I'm glad to have been able to witness it.
Then it was off to the Victoria College chapel to visit a panel on The Poetics of Online Documentary. It was interesting, and featured people who worked on interactive components to films or television projects, or online documentary. It's definitely the direction the industry is going, but I feel like so many details are still up in the air. I think next year this panel will be even more enlightening, and who knows where we'll be next year in terms of the online world and documentary.
The DOC U group gathered back at our base camp and had a chance to essentially pitch and workshop our project with Gerry Flahive, Bob Culbert, and Michael Claydon. We got into groups, and my group was with Michael Claydon, and commissioning editor at CBC for Doc Zone. I knew my film was more festival oriented, as my next project will be another personal documentary, but it was really interested to hear what a television-oriented industry member thought about my project. The advice was really great and I found Michael to be extremely supportive of all our ideas, handing us some great constructive criticism that I know I'll definitely use and keep in mind.
I was pretty exhausted after this day but went to the Rooftop screening event, featuring The Parking Lot Movie. The film was awesome!!! I definitely recommend it. And the fact that we watched it on a rooftop parking lot....GOLD. The film was hilarious, but also opened up contemplative discussion on the service industry, and the effects it has had on our society.
Afterwards, I went off to bed in a bittersweet state, knowing Friday would be my last day in DOC U at Hot Docs, but excited as I feel like this week has really motivated me and I can't wait to get back to my film and other projects. :D


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TONI ERDMANN | feat. Peter Simonischek (aka Toni Erdmann) - The Curzon Film Podcast #57
We talk to Toni Erdmann himself about Maren Ade's instant cult smash that has swept up critics and audiences across the world.
Poignant, hilarious and utterly unique, Toni Erdmann is a stunning picture. Discussing this notorious three hour long German comedy are Sam Howlett, Helen Seymour, Harry Chapman and Jake Cunningham
Produced and edited by Jake Cunningham
Music supplied by incompetech.com
Studio services by csrfm.com


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Latest News
Parental control
It'll be a weekend of frantic cleaning and last-minute attempts to hide character-damaging material.
For example, everything.
The cleaning spree is a result of my family's visit, which begins Sunday. I know things will be stressful, which is why I'm kicking the weekend off with a trip to the Shanty Shack (4475 Warm Springs Road, Columbus).
The club offers an eclectic variety of music — think Michael Jackson and Gretchen Wilson — and a consistently packed dance floor. All in all, it should be a great time.
When I go back to cleaning, my biggest challenge will inevitably be removing all traces of black dog hair from both the carpet and sofa cushions. A nearly impossible feat.
So I'm going to attempt to distract my family from the fur by purchasing some cool new knick-knacks at Pier 1 Imports (5555 Whittlesey Blvd., Columbus).
Finally, when my family arrives, I'll surprise them with take-out from Thai House (5592 Whitesville Road, Columbus).
Making sure, of course, to remove all traces of Styrofoam so my mom still believes I can actually cook.


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Christmas, as the song goes, is the most wonderful time of the year.
Decorating the Christmas tree, leaving out a carrot for Rudolph and going to the theatre as a family to see a big show.
These are all moments that make Christmas as a child memorable and special.
Aand this year, Lincoln Performing Arts Centre have two Christmas shows for all the family to enjoy.
But the clock is ticking in the countdown to Christmas and both Treasure Island and BRR! The Lost Polar Bear are both finishing this weekend on Christmas Eve.
The main house show is the adventure-filled Treasure Island.
Grab your pirate hat and treasure map and join Jem Hawkins as she is drawn into a world of swashbuckling excitement brimming with buccaneers and buried gold.
Performed by the Lincoln Company, the show is being staged it in-the-round.
This creates an incredibly immersive world where children will feel like they're sailing the seas with Long John Silver and his pirate crew.
Meanwhile, BRRR! The Lost Polar Bear is the story of Anja and the snowy adventure she embarks upon to find a snow bear.
Set in the venue's 60-seat studio theatre, this show is perfect for those aged three and over and is a great way to introduce little ones to theatre.
The small cast of just will transform the room into a winter wonderland with the help of songs, stories and silliness.
Holly Cox, front of house and bar manager at the venue said: "This year there really is something for all the family at Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.
"As well as our fairy lights and baubles, we have transformed our cafe bar into a pirate treasure map full of riddles and clues to help you solve Captain Flint's puzzles.
"Alongside that we have our Treasure Chest stall stocked up with toys and goodies including pirate hats and chocolate golden coins.
"Our staff will be modelling the pirate hats and we hope you dress up too when you come to see the shows."
Tickets and showtimes for both shows are available now from the box office on 01522 837600, online at www.lpac.co.uk, or in person at the box office in the Zing Cafe Bar.


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Personality disorders are a type of mental illness, and they are organized according to similar characteristics into subgroups called clusters. There are three clusters of personality disorders: A, B, and C. A person with a Cluster B personality disorder might be characterized as being extremely dramatic and self-centered, and illnesses including histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline personality disorder are in this group.
People with histrionic personality disorder, formerly called hysterical personality disorder, are characterized as being extremely emotional and dramatic. In addition, a person with this disorder wants to be the center of attention all of the time but is also quite sensitive. He or she may be incapable of being in a healthy relationship, may seem shallow to others, may not show care for other people's feelings, and may be inappropriately sexual in dress and actions. Treatment for this condition is complicated by the fact that many people who have this condition do not believe that they need help.
Narcissistic personality disorder is named after the Greek mythical figure Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection in a pond and died because he could not tear himself away from gazing at himself in admiration. People who have this disorder have an exaggerated sense of self-importance and will lie about their achievements. They have a sense of entitlement, may think that others are envious of them, and exhibit a lack of respect for others' feelings, ideas, and goals. Those who have narcissistic personality disorder can be treated with drugs and psychotherapy.
Men are more likely than women to have antisocial personality disorder, which has been called psychopathic personality disorder in the past. People who have this disorder may lie constantly, have trouble controlling impulsive behaviors, be aggressive, and may have a history of getting in trouble with the law. In addition, those with antisocial behavior disorder do not care about right or wrong and may have difficulty in holding down a job. These individuals can be aggressive with therapists and often refuse treatment.
Women are more likely than men to have borderline personality disorder, which makes people fear being alone. While a person who has antisocial personality disorder may direct aggression against others, a person who has borderline personality disorder is more likely to be aggressive against herself. In extreme cases, those with this type of personality disorder may become paranoid or hallucinate. This condition is treated with psychotherapy and drugs.
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Individuality should be something one strives for, not classified as a mental disorder. It has been proven throughout history that collective socialism is dangerous for society. People in large groups often tend to gravitate towards negative thoughts and tend to push for perverse ideas as they become the whole of one. In other words they tend to think alike. For instance, a friend sees a blue sports car and thinks it's just the most awesome vehicle she has ever seen, she reports this to her "friends" and quite a few like it too. Pretty soon said sports cars profits rise from sales based on opinion.
So no, never think for yourself, of course you need government, and big business and
the healthcare industry to do that for you. Why? Because it benefits their pocketbooks. Duh! Hitler got started the same way.
We perpetually as human beings, tend to repeat history, over and over and over again. No one noticed that Hitler wasn't blond; it was completely missed by the majority of society, yet he was supposedly promoting blond hair and blue eyes? He had neither, folks! How easily the masses are deceived. No critical, individual thinking skills are expected from the masses. That would be a mental disorder. There was heavy sarcasm dripping off of that last sentence.
Another example of "collective" thinking is found in the DSM in which it had classified homosexuality as a mental disorder. Of course, their accusations of psychosis changed drastically when the gay rights activists started making an issue of it.
Once again, you cannot be an individual unless a majority group tells you so.
Why do you think you are spammed every day on your television sets with tons of commercials? Have you ever
counted how many commercials there are during one show? Now get off your butts and go buy the things that big pharma and the industrialists tell you to. Getting the picture yet?
Individuality vs. Herd Conformity (Erich Fromm): which will you choose?
Post 2
It is interesting to note that you find more people with narcissistic cluster B personality disorder in certain cultures than in others. In America, our media and society emphasize various aspects which are considered cool or important: a strong fit body, looking good, and getting things done. People who do these things are prone to look at themselves as "special individuals." In Eastern cultures, individuality is not emphasized as much, and this type of disorder is less prevalent, while other disorders, such as borderline cluster B, may be more prevalent due to strong group-orientation.
Post 1
If you think you or a loved one may struggle with one of these disorders, it is important to get a professional opinion. While these disorders can go for years without being noticed or treated, a loving friend or relative can help one to recognize the seriousness of these disorders and subsequently seek treatment, improving their quality of life greatly. It is important to be both sensitive and firm in addressing these issues, and the more close friends approach a person about his or her disorder, the more likely he or she is to recognize that counsel may be helpful to them.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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Authority Compiler and OCR: Cut costs and time with these new enhancements
July 17, 2013
The process of writing a brief is anything but brief.
Before actually writing the brief, a great deal of time is required to conduct enough legal research to ensure that your brief has enough authoritative support – and, more importantly, so you actually know what you're writing about.
Unfortunately, the legal research doesn't just end when you start writing your brief.
As I'm sure you've experienced firsthand, additional questions about authorities or points of law arise as you're getting into your arguments. Perhaps you've noticed a weakness in your argument that you previously hadn't; or perhaps the authority you were prepared to cite isn't as supportive of your position as you initially believed.
Even if you don't necessarily need to do additional research while you're writing your brief, you'll almost certainly need to have your authorities readily accessible for your review while you're forming your arguments – if for no other reason than to cite points of law directly from the texts themselves.
If you happen to be responding to an opposing party's brief, you have the additional step of researching into the authorities cited therein to look for weaknesses in your opposition's argument or to verify that the authority was even cited correctly.
To save time and money, Drafting Assistant has a new feature for litigators: Authority Compiler.
Authority Compiler is exactly what it sounds like: a compiler of legal authority.
It scans a document for citations and then collects the full text of these authorities from WestlawNext. It then adds a link within the document at each point of the citation.
However, those links don't direct the reader back to WestlawNext. Instead, Authority Compiler creates an appendix (with table of authorities) with the full text of each citation integrated into it. Citations within the document direct to the full-text authority within the document itself – not to anything externally.
This is obviously valuable in more ways than one, but some of the more prominent uses are as solutions to problems mentioned above: as a method of compiling all of the pertinent authorities into one, easily- accessible document.
Even if you haven't finished your brief (or even made substantial progress on it), as long as you have the citations in a document readable by Drafting Assistant (e.g. Word or PDF), Authority Compiler can assemble the full-text of each citation into one document.
In addition, although they are certainly useful as a research tool, the appendices generated by Authority Compiler may also be helpful in submitting to the court (along with your brief).
Even if not all judges may appreciate having every single cited authority attached to your brief, many judges certainly will.
And if you have cited any unpublished cases in your brief, you will in all likelihood be required to attach a copy of the case to your brief (check the applicable court rules to be sure).
Since you can select which specific authorities to include in the Authority Compiler's appendix, you can easily assemble only the unreported cases in your appendix for filing.
Authority Compiler isn't the only new enhancement to make writing a brief easier. There's another that addresses some common issues faced by attorneys in the process of writing a brief.
For instance, what happens if you only have an image file of your opponent's brief – such that the text of the document isn't recognized by your system?
Case Notebook's solution? ABBYY OCR FineReader.
For those of you unfamiliar with this software, it's a godsend for attorneys. It allows the user to take an image document (TIFF, PDF, JPG) and convert it into a text file by identifying the characters in the image.
In other words, it lets you convert any image file into a text file that you can search through, and from which you can copy/paste portions of the text.
Apart from the obvious uses in being able to highlight and copy text from any document, Case Notebook allows you to send the now text-editable file into your word processor where you can use Drafting Assistant features such as "Insert Flags & Links" to quickly and easily validate the authority cited therein.
Apart from all of these benefits, the simplest advantages provided by Case Notebook OCR Technology and Drafting Assistant's Authority Compiler are that they automate and simplify processes that you (or someone you are paying) will have to do anyhow as part of your due diligence as a litigator.
And if you can save yourself time and money, what's not to love?