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Recently, a large U.S. company executed a sizable portfolio of cross-currency derivatives to hedge its international exposure. As it evaluated prospective swaps trading partners, the company—let's call it XYZ Corp.—was surprised by both the size and the variance in credit-charge markups proposed by the different banks. It was also concerned about the significant credit risk posed by some of the banks and was unsure how best to manage this exposure.
When XYZ had executed derivatives trades in the past, counterparty risk was not top-of-mind. Its discussions with banks typically focused on two topics: market rates and how much markup the banks would add to the market rates to compensate for XYZ's credit risk and provide a return on capital. XYZ would typically compare the markups among its stable of swaps banks and award each trade to the lowest-cost provider.
On the surface, this approach appeared to help XYZ select the provider with the lowest price, but it had two critical flaws. First, it ignored the providers' relative credit quality; the company treated all counterparties as equal. Over the past several years, XYZ has begun to pay more attention to the counterparty risks posed by its banks, and in deciding which bank to award its current swaps business, the company wanted to take the banks' credit profiles into consideration as it weighed their pricing differences. Second, XYZ's former approach to evaluating swaps providers gave the banks the opportunity to show a competitive credit markup to win the trade, with the intent of making additional profit by showing a less attractive "market rate" than might be available elsewhere in the market.
XYZ managers decided that they needed a new approach to quantifying and pricing counterparty risk. They wanted to select hedge providers based on each provider's all-in costs, including the bank's risk of default. They wanted to have better control over the pricing discussion to ensure that they received the best possible market price. And they wanted to continue managing their credit exposure to those providers for the entire life of the swaps.
Companies Refocus on Counterparty Risk
The shift in XYZ's attitude toward credit exposure to its swaps dealers reflects a broader trend. Most companies are now paying more attention to their banks' credit quality than they did a decade ago. The financial crisis highlighted the risks of default by a hedge counterparty. Banks' credit ratings have been downgraded, which has reduced or eliminated the ratings differential between banks and corporations. And bank credit spreads have widened relative to corporate spreads, reflecting the market's view of increased risk of a bank default.
At the same time, companies are facing a material increase in the credit-charge markups for certain trades, as well as greater pricing differences among banks. Market forces are driving some of this change. Increased volatility in the currency and interest rate markets, along with the skewed risk profiles that result from today's historically low interest rates, have increased the potential credit risk for trades such as cross-currency or interest rate derivatives. This increased exposure for banks has, in turn, led to an increase in credit charges. Costs have also been influenced by higher spreads on credit default swaps (CDS), banks' ongoing refinement of credit-pricing methodologies, and increases in bank capital requirements that are complex and inconsistently applied. As a result of all these developments, many companies have recognized that counterparty risk is not a one-way street in derivatives trades, and that they need to actively manage their trading relationships from both a pricing and a counterparty risk management perspective.
Historically, most companies used a fairly standard process to evaluate and manage their exposure to banks' credit risk. They would set exposure limits for each counterparty based on credit quality. They would allocate trades among counterparties to avoid concentrated exposure, giving preferential pricing to certain banks in order to diversify their portfolio. The more sophisticated companies would track each bank's credit ratings and CDS level, and might include provisions in their trading documents that allowed for early termination if the bank's credit rating changed significantly.
In theory, if default by a bank counterparty became more likely, this process would enable the company to take action to reduce its risk. However, its efficacy is limited. First, as the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy illustrates, corporations cannot always act quickly enough to mitigate counterparty risk, even if they recognize an impending default. Second, this process does not address credit pricing inconsistencies, nor does it provide the company with a way to compare banks' prices on an apples-to-apples basis.
Because of these deficiencies, this straightforward approach may be appropriate only for companies with limited exposures—for example, companies with hedges such as rate locks or foreign exchange (FX) trades that are shorter than one year, where counterparty risk and credit charges are low. Companies that have larger exposures, either as a result of longer tenors or large notional amounts, should consider a more robust approach.
Professional Market Approaches
Banks and other professional derivatives traders mitigate counterparty risk using two different approaches. When working with smaller financial services counterparties or corporate clients, many use sophisticated models that they've developed to evaluate and price risk. These models typically take into consideration the bank's potential credit exposure to the counterparty under the proposed trade and the impact of the trade on the bank's overall derivatives portfolio with that counterparty. They use a number of inputs: the terms of the proposed trade; the credit terms of the bank's ISDA master agreement with the counterparty; an inventory of all existing trades between the two counterparties, including terms and current mark-to-market (MTM) value; and credit spreads for the counterparty, using the company's CDS or an index.
A bank uses its model to run simulations on a portfolio of trades under a variety of market scenarios. Then the bank uses the results of these simulations to calculate its potential exposure to the counterparty over the lifetime of the trades. This type of model can calculate credit charges for a proposed trade based on the trade's marginal impact on the firm's overall risk position. Once the trade is executed, the bank can use the model's risk outputs to construct an appropriate credit hedge using credit default swaps, though in many cases the bank relies on diversity within its counterparty risk book to neutralize its exposure.
A few companies that engage in derivatives trades have taken a cue from the banks and attempted to replicate the professional traders' models to calculate the cost of their banks' counterparty risk. This enables them to adjust each bank's proposed credit charge to account for the company's cost of taking on credit exposure to that bank. However, companies face several substantial obstacles to using bank-style modeling. First, the underlying models are complex; developing and maintaining them requires a significant investment in technology and analytical resources. Second, once a company has a model, it needs to allocate resources to analyze the impact of each planned derivatives trade with every potential counterparty, to determine the appropriate credit-charge adjustment per counterparty. This could result in several hours of work per proposed transaction, depending on the number of potential counterparties and scenarios the company wishes to evaluate. Finally, a company's derivatives counterparty exposure is typically concentrated within the bank sector, limiting any benefits from diversification. As a result, companies using this approach must continue to dedicate resources to ongoing monitoring and management of their credit exposure to each individual bank.
Banks have historically found the modeling approach too complex and time-consuming to use for all counterparties. Furthermore, the amount of counterparty risk to be managed by the banks could exceed regulatory limits for certain counterparties, particularly those with whom they transact in a market-making capacity, such as other dealers or institutional investors.
In these situations, banks and their professional counterparties manage risk using bilateral collateral arrangements, which are similar to margin requirements on an exchange. Notably, the Dodd-Frank Act imposes margin requirements on most derivatives activity, which will result in near-universal adoption of this approach by professional counterparties in the not-too-distant future.
These arrangements typically involve daily posting of margin equal to the net MTM value of each firm's portfolio of trades with each of its counterparties. Margin is typically held either by the party to which it was posted or by a third-party custodian or clearinghouse, depending on the terms of the collateral agreement. This collateral effectively neutralizes counterparty exposure for these trades, creating an environment in which market makers can offer a single market price that is available to all margined counterparties, without the need to adjust for credit charges or worry about credit capacity limits.
Pros and Cons of Margining
Some companies, particularly those that find the modeling approach burdensome, may wish to consider collateral arrangements. Incorporating margin requirements into derivatives trading documentation enables a company to reduce its counterparty credit exposure, and it creates a level playing field among prospective bank counterparties. This means the company doesn't need to assess each bank's credit risk and then weigh its proposed markups in light of that exposure. In fact, margin requirements have the potential to eliminate banks' credit charges altogether.
The obvious downside of placing margin requirements on derivatives trades is that cash becomes tied up as collateral in support of the trades. A company following the professional margining model must not only commit collateral equivalent to the initial market value of the trade, but must also be ready to increase or decrease the collateral on a daily basis to reflect changes in the derivatives' value. An MTM-based collateral arrangement may result in significant capital calls arising from changes in market rates that are beyond the company's control. This risk is likely to concern companies that are unaccustomed to such swings in funding requirements. Managing margin also places added operational demands on the treasury function. As a result of these considerations, an MTM-based margin arrangement is best suited to companies that transact several times a year, execute swaps with tenors greater than one year, have ample access to liquidity, and have sufficient treasury staff to support margining operations.
To address operational and liquidity concerns, companies may prefer to adopt margin provisions that strike a balance between mitigating risks and substantially increasing demands on the treasury function—in essence, moving from a "fully collateralized" trading relationship to one that is partially collateralized. For example, a company and its counterparty may agree to a margin threshold, which would eliminate the need by either party to post margin until the MTM value of the company's swaps portfolio with that counterparty exceeds a predetermined value. Or the company and its counterparty may agree to assess margin requirements on a weekly basis, instead of daily, which reduces by 80 percent the amount of time spent managing margin, though this approach would expose the company and its counterparty to more meaningful swings in MTM between valuation dates.
By modifying the terms of a fully collateralized margin agreement, a company would forgo some of the credit protection and potential pricing benefits of a fully margined agreement in exchange for reducing the operational or liquidity burden that margining places on the organization. Companies can also manage margin needs through careful distribution of transactions among their counterparties.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
At the end of the day, there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution for companies seeking to manage bank counterparty exposure. The vast majority of companies continue to use a traditional credit-monitoring approach to mitigate counterparty risk in derivatives trading. The use of either a modeling or margining approach is growing, however, with some of the largest multinational firms leading the charge. And while regulators do not currently impose margin requirements on corporate end users of derivatives, companies may soon find that some banks won't offer certain types of trades, such as long-dated FX transactions, if their counterparty refuses to post margin. This is because Basel III capital rules require banks to allocate large amounts of risk capital to these types of trades if they're transacted on an unmargined basis.
Companies can reap substantial rewards using margining in derivatives trades, even if margin isn't required. This is the path that XYZ Corp. pursued. That company determined that the up-front reduction in credit charges—which accounted for tens of millions of dollars over the life of the trades—would more than offset the potential cost of increased liquidity, while addressing the company's risk management concerns.
An organization that implements a margin agreement, particularly a fully margined trading document, regains control of the pricing discussion. No longer does the bank's markup for credit, or the company's desire to diversify bank counterparty risk, drive its selection of hedge providers. As XYZ found, companies with margining agreements can award trades to the banks offering the best market price.
End users need to carefully consider all available tools for managing counterparty risk and select the approach that best suits their needs. Whichever approach a business chooses, it should only give credit where credit is due, and ensure it gets credit in return.
Christine Ginfrida is a director of advisory services for EA Markets LLC, a corporate finance and capital markets advisory firm based in New York City. Ginfrida has more than 15 years of experience in structured products origination and derivatives marketing. She has previously worked for Citigroup, JPMorgan, and Merrill Lynch providing interest rate, currency, and credit risk management advisory services.


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North Park Village Nature Center
5801 N. Pulaski Rd. Chicago, Illinois 60646
(312) 744-5472
Fee: Free
Age Range: 3 - 6 years
You're sure to fall for this colorful class that explains the trees' current costume change.
Why do leaves change color and fall? We'll explore the life of a leaf and make our very own autumn artwork, with a hammer!
Registration is required at 312/744-5472

subset: commoncrawl


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When Curiosity, the NASA Mars rover, took core samples during its historic 2012 mission, its robotic arm relied on two sensors developed by two Lawrence Technological University engineering graduates, brothers Javad Mokhbery and Mohammed Mokhberi, the founders of FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc. of Irvine, CA.
FUTEK designed two unique sensors to operate in the frigid temperatures on Mars. A multi-axial load and torsion sensor monitors the Rover's drilling arm and its robotic maneuvers as it retrieves sediments for analysis. A secondary load cell supervises the precision and force used to drill directly into the Martian surface.
FUTEK makes sensors for the aerospace, medical, robotic/automation, and automotive industries. The company develops load cells, torque sensors, pressure sensors, multi-axial sensors, and related software for low-temperature and vacuum environments. Raytheon, MIT, Lockheed Martin, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have all partnered with FUTEK.


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High-profile stories draw media to Janesville
JANESVILLE—Police Chief Dave Moore faced eight TV cameras and a bevy of reporters Monday in a packed conference room at the police department.
The scene was similar to two other news conferences Moore held last week to discuss high-profile cases, but it was unusual for any news event in Janesville to get this kind of big-city attention.
News of a homicide,� an attempted homicide, a claim by the suspect that he had killed three people and the disappearances of two other people appears to have garnered the interest of a number of news directors.
Tuesday's TV crews came from Madison and Rockford, Illinois, as well as one from Milwaukee. An Associated Press reporter also joined the local reporters to quiz Moore.
The Gazette has staffed all the news conferences with three reporters: One to take notes, one to post developments on Twitter and one to record video.
News conferences themselves, with their promise of new developments, attract news people. For police, the news conference is the most efficient way to communicate with the news media, Moore said.
If he had assigned one person to take calls, that could easily turn into a 12-hour day, Moore said, and if several people took calls, that could put a dent in their other duties.
Moore said he also strives to be fair in telling all the reporters what he can, as soon as he can, and again, a press conference is the most efficient way to give everyone the same information.
"I think we'll build some trust with the media if we share as much as we can," Moore said.
The police department itself has become a part of the media. One officer was assigned to record video and audio of the press conference, so that if anyone claims a particular statement was made, police can check the tape and know what actually was said, the officer said.
A city of Janesville spokeswoman, along with a public-information intern and the city manager, also attended Monday's news conference as spectators.


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Business focus in referendum debate
Scotland's business community has taken centre-stage in the independence campaign today as 130 company chiefs insisted the case for leaving the UK ''has not been made''.
Business leaders have signed an open letter highlighting the ''uncertainties'' that surround leaving the UK as they argue that ''by continuing to all work together we can keep Scotland flourishing''.
The companies are said to employ 50,000 people in Scotland, with signatories including Weir Group chief executive Keith Cochrane, Angus Cockburn, interim chief executive of Aggreko, and Victor Chavez of Thales UK.
Audrey Baxter, of Baxters Food Group, and Boyd Tunnock are also among those who have put their name to it .
UK Government minister Danny Alexander said the letter had come from "t he very people who create the wealth and jobs that our prosperity depends on".
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury said: "The signatories run small and large firms in every part of Scotland, employing tens of thousands of people.
"I urge everyone in Scotland, particularly those who are still undecided on how to vote, to take the opinions of these wealth creators seriously."
Despite that, former William Hill chief executive Ralph Topping said the "smart money is on a Yes vote" in next month's referendum as he revealed he has donated £50,000 to the pro-independence campaign.
Mr Topping said he was one of about 150 business leaders who had signed a letter in favour of Scotland leaving the UK, which is to be published later this week.
The former betting company boss said while a " number of business leaders have spoken out in favour of Westminster", there were many who supported an independent Scotland.
He added: " I am one of them. Our voices, too, should be heard just as loudly.
"My wife and I have therefore decided to make a donation of £50,000 to the Yes campaign because the underdog deserves the support it needs to win as the race tightens even more after Monday's debate.
"I am proudly featuring in a letter of around 150 business people supporting Yes to be published later this week. The big gamble for Scotland is staying with Westminster. The smart money is on a Yes vote."
Some 130 business leaders all signed the open letter in favour of the union in a personal capacity, with it stating that, as part of the UK, Scotland's economy is growing, with high employment and record investment.
The letter highlighted the ''uncertainties'' that surround leaving the UK and claimed that ''by continuing to all work together we can keep Scotland flourishing''.
The company chiefs said: ''As job creators, we have looked carefully at the arguments made by both sides of the debate. Our conclusion is that the business case for independence has not been made."
As the letter was published, former chancellor Alistair Darling was reunited with his one-time boss, former prime minister Gordon Brown, on the referendum campaign at a rally in Dundee.
With Scots starting to vote by post from today, Mr Brown argued that it was the shareholders of the country's most profitable companies who would benefit from independence.
The former prime minister said that while the nationalists "dine out" on ideas of equality, they have "no plans to raise funds that would come from a fairer taxation system".
He also claimed SNP plans to cut corporation tax would benefit large companies, including energy firms.
"The biggest beneficiaries of the SNP's tax policy are the shareholders and directors of the privatised energy companies in Scotland," Mr Brown said.
"The beneficiaries of an independent Scotland are not the ordinary people of Scotland but the richest directors of the most profitable, privatised companies in Scotland.
"When you look at the Scottish National Party policies, inequality and poverty will survive until doomsday if Alex Salmond is all that confronts it."
The former prime minister delivered his rallying call for the union despite being heckled by a member of the audience.
The man, who was reported to have given a false name to gain entry to the event at Dundee's Caird Hall, shouted "rubbish" and "you're an absolute disgrace" before he was removed from the meeting midway through Mr Brown's address.
The rally, which came as people who have chosen to vote by post in the September 18 referendum receive their ballots, saw Mr Brown and Mr Darling share the stage despite well-documented disagreements in the past.
Meanwhile, nationalists called on Mr Brown and his former chancellor to "co me clean and admit that there is no guarantee of further job-creating powers in the event of a No vote".
SNP Westminster finance spokesman Stewart Hosie pressed the issue after the First Minister challenged the Better Together leader over what powers could come to Scotland if voters reject independence.
Mr Hosie said: "F ollowing Alistair Darling's complete failure to outline any further powers that would come to Scotland in the event of a No vote, people are waking up to the fact that the only thing guaranteed by a No vote would be more Westminster austerity.
"That is why it is vital Scotland votes Yes, because that is the only way we can achieve the job-creating powers needed to build a more prosperous and fairer society."


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Beneficial mutations vs harmful
Discussion of everything related to the Theory of Evolution.
Moderator: BioTeam
Beneficial mutations vs harmful
Firstly I am NOT posting this for an ID/evolution/Creation/every-other-belief-under-the-sun debate. I just want to know the answer
My understanding:
The majority of mutations are neutral (I read 70%)*, the next majority are harmful, and the smallest percent are beneficial.
Of these beneficial mutations, many are actually destructive, they just happen to help in that particular environment (eg. sickle cell anemia).
My question:
In the face of so much destruction, how can occasional beneficial/constructive mutations add up evolution?
My Conclusion:
I just don't get it.
*even these neutral mutations are destructive, they just aren't in the particular environment btw correct me if I'm wrong
I'll say only two short things
1) nowadays are the organisms (and proteins and their sequences) rather optimized for what they do. However it was not always like that. So in the beginning bigger proportion of the mutations could be beneficial
2) if there is about one mutation per new being in humans (may be much higher in other organisms) and you have several new beings every hour, why wouldn't it just add up? imagine there are several generations of mice each year with several offsprings in each.
Cis or trans? That's what matters.
Neutral mutations, as per their definition, are neutral and have no effect so they are neither favored or penalized by natural selection. Of course it is very difficult to determine what mutations are truly neutral, but I guess the common definition is that we cannot see any effect caused by it (that does not mean that there wouldn't be some tiny effect, good or bad).
Harmful mutations tend to weaken the organism in its given environment, so they gradually wane or disappear altogether from the gene pool due to organisms without such mutations superseding them. Thus harmful mutations rarely gain much room in the gene pool.
Beneficial mutations, albeit rare, tend to accumulate in the gene pool because they are favored by natural selection. Thus, despite so much "destruction" everywhere, beneficial mutations are eventually the ones that have best chances to prevail. However, in steady environments this kind of accumulation of tiny beneficial traits is extremely slow.
However, like JackBean wrote, if the environment becomes drastically different, then certain beneficial mutations can become predominant much quicker.
I'll try to give an example: most modern Europeans and their descendants have a mutation that causes them to fail to turn off the production of lactase enzyme after infancy. This was a harmful mutation if it happened to a stone age person, because their body would waste energy (even a tiny bit counts in the long run!) by producing an enzyme that had no use for an adult. Thus this kind of mutation probably never became common in the stone age man, just like it is uncommon in many parts of the world even today. However, when certain animals, such as the cow and the goat, were domesticated, a person with this kind of mutation suddenly gained a clear advantage over other people by being able to consume protein and energy rich milk of these animals. This person would then have an edge over other people of his time and have more children and better health, and thus the mutation quickly spread over areas where milk producing domesticated animals were kept, but failed to spread to areas where this was not a case.
So like you said, many "beneficial" mutations can be harmful as well - be it the sickle cell gene or the ability to produce lactase - it all depends on the environment of the given organism.
Sickle cell aenemia and lactase production are one of the most simple examples, since both traits can emerge after a relatively small changes in the genome, but the same overall idea applies to any genetic change: its benefit/harm is always judged against its environment, which then determines what kind of chances that new genetic element has to propagate or die off.
In a static environment few mutations stand a chance to do well since organisms living there are already rather well optimized, but then again few environments are truly stable.
I think I understand where Doom is coming from. Most neutral mutations are neutral because they have no effect on phenotype. When mutations do effect phenotype, they're usually harmful. Many mutations to the phenotype have both positive and negative consequences, but there are certain environments where their positive consequences outweigh their negative consequences. Perhaps such mutations could be called "temporarily beneficial". For example, maybe the sickle cell allele, which is more common where malaria is rampant, will be weeded out once malaria is no longer a threat to that population. i.e. it's "temporarily beneficial".
Of course, sickle cell is an example of heterozygote advantage, so the normal allele is maintained in the population. But there could have been other examples of "temporarily beneficial" mutations throughout our history. If those mutations conferred enough competitive advantage during their beneficial period, the normal form may have been weeded out. Thus such "temporarily beneficial" mutations might pose a threat to the long-term integrity of the genome.
However, gene flow may be the answer here. Long-term beneficial mutations may be present in all populations, whereas the temporarily beneficial mutations are only present in a few populations. Gene flow can always reinsert the long-term forms once the beneficial period is over.
Re: Beneficial mutations vs harmful
Neutral mutations may or may not be proliferated as they have no beneficial or disadvantageous aspect.
A beneficial mutation would feasibly aid in the survival of a given species, and the advantage would then allow that specimen to proliferate its genetic information containing the beneficial mutation.
An easy method of comprehending the process of beneficial as opposed to disadvantageous mutations in regards to evolution is by assuming that the beneficial mutation in question spells ''HOUSE''. We first have H. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, so there exists a 1 in 26 probability that the next letter (mutation) shall be a ''O'' - a neutral or beneficial mutation. There is now the same probability that the third letter shall be a ''U''. If it is not, then we shall have ''H.O'', which remains neutral or advantageous and becomes a fully beneficial gene (given the correct environment) when the ''word'' is spelt.
You will not be seeing desert-dwelling animals evolve flat, oar-like tails for aquatic locomotion because that would be a neutral or disadvantageous mutation, and it would not aid in the hypothetical species's survival, so it would not be proliferated. If there was a sudden rise in sea level, then this mutation over time would aid in the survival of the species's given environment, so it would evolve to accomodate the new environment challenge.
Human hubris. No evidence to support those statements...
Re: Re:
Really? How is that hubris? Unless you want to promote creationism, you will probably agree that in the past, when new enzymes arrived, they were much less suited for their function than after the billions of years of evolution.
I see what can be the problem. What I meant was rather the enzyme-reaction relashionship, than something like organism-environment.
But still, the organisms tend to be adapted to their environment, so unless there are some big changes (either in the environment or the organisms moving to new niche), they are probably somewhat adapted.
Cis or trans? That's what matters.
Quite so! They do add up; and this is the basis of measuring genetic distances and inferring phylogeny.
This if very effective; because the number of mutations is much larger than one per new individual.
A recently published estimate is 70 new mutations per diploid individual in humans. See: Rates and fitness consequences of new mutations in humans (2012) by Keightley PD, in Genetics. 2012 Feb;190(2):295-304. doi: 10.1534/genetics.111.134668
The paper is available in full and has a lot of useful discussion.
They also estimate another important number; the deletrious mutations per generation, as being a bit over 2.
Some implications... the great majority of mutations are neutral; such mutations will accumulate generation by generation, and many will become fixed. This is the basis of "genetic drift".
Another implication: the deleterious mutation rate (more than 2) is high. The real force of the original question of the thread is -- how come these detrimental mutations don't accumulate?
There's two basic answers to that.
(1) "Purifying selection". Detrimental mutations need not be immediately fatal, but over time they (by definition) tend to show up in fewer descendants than neutral mutations, and hence are much more likely to be eliminated by drift rather than fixed.
(2) "Compensation". Some detrimental mutations do manage to become fixed; but there is not a corresponding continuous decline in fitness, as other mutations (beneficial) may arise to compensate.
When it comes to the actual numbers and calculations, it still seems difficult for selection to adequate handle 2 new detrimental mutations in each individual; and another very important concept is "synergistic epistatis"... a complex phrase I had to look up as well. Basically, it means that genes tend to work together and in such a way that fitness does declines less rapidly with with a few detrimental mutations, and declines more rapidly as more accumulation. Basically, I guess this means organisms are tolerant of a suitably small number of detrimental effects.
Jack made the point that living things are very well adapted, or optimized, for what we do. This isn't hubris. It's data; it's a fundamental observation about living things which cries out for an explanation -- and evolution is the biological explanation for the superb adaption we observe in living things.
But things aren't perfect, and further more there are a continuous stream of "errors" in the replication of genetic information from generation to generation; a substantial amount of which is detrimental. They do accumulate; but the more they accumulate the more opportunity there is for compensatory mutations to bring the basic fitness level back to a kind of running equilibrium in fitness.
There's a lot more to be said on this; and there are differences between species. But basically; the answer to the original question is...
(1) Most mutations are neutral (well over 95%), and they certainly do accumulate. This is the basis for useful measurements of genetic difference.
(2) Mutations that carry detrimental consequences do also accumulate, but much much more slowly, because they tend to be eliminated by selection. This is called purifying selection.
(3) A certain small amount of accumulation of detrimental mutation occurs, but this also gives scope for mutations that can benefit by compensating in some way; and so a small amount of functional difference accumulates over generations, giving also continuous change in the face of a continuously changing environment, all implying any particular trend in increasing or decreasing fitness.
Cheers -- Chris
Re: Re:
urk... missed the editing window to fix this. That last phrase should be:
all WITHOUT implying any particular trend in increasing or decreasing fitness.
Re: Re:
After reading your post, I spotted an erroroneous intuition I've had about this issue. We have this intuition that natural selection is working at a fixed rate. If the mutation rate increases beyond the rate of natural selection, then mutations should begin accumulating. Accumulating, i.e. appearing at a higher frequency with each subsequent generation. However, natural selection is not stuck at a fixed rate.
Let us imagine that we can measure the extent of harmful mutation for any given individual. Hypothetically, there should be a tolerable level (1-10), and individuals beyond that level will not survive to reproduce (>10).
Harmful mutations could accumulate in an unusually healthy population of 1s and 2s. However, once the harmfulness accumulates to the point where some people are 11s or 12s, people start to die prematurely. Even if you speed up the mutation rate, all that will do is increase the death rate (i.e. the rate of natural selection).
So the mutations are flowing through the population like muck through a stream. Creationists have this intuition that natural selection works at a fixed rate, like a detoxifying agent. If you're pumping muck into the river at a faster rate than the detoxifying agent, the muck should being accumulating. But natural selection is more like a membrane, only allowing a set amount of the muck to pass through. The more muck there is spilling into the river, the more filtering the membrane does.
To put it simply...
The intuition is that natural selection can only block a certain amount of mutation.
But in actuality, natural selection can only let through a certain amount of mutation. Creationists have it backward.
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text:
Death notices for Jan. 15, 2014
Dolores A. Bigelow, 86, Warrenville, Ill., died Sunday in Lake Geneva. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Warrenville Cemetery, Warrenville, Ill. Steinke Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Lake Geneva, is assisting the family.
Candice Marie Butler, 65, Delavan, died Tuesday at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, Elkhorn. Services will be at a later date at Kingdom Hall, Elkhorn. Betzer Funeral Home, Delavan, is assisting the family.
George Galbrecht, 83, Edgerton, died Tuesday at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Central Lutheran Church, Edgerton. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm. Friday at Albrecht Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Edgerton, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church.
Laurence R. "Rick" Howland, 55, Janesville, died Tuesday at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center, Janesville. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Janesville. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services Sunday at the funeral home.
Cheryl D. Kenney, Beloit, died Saturday at Beloit Memorial Hospital, Beloit. Services will be at noon Friday at Daley Murphy Wisch and Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, Beloit. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the funeral home.


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Two arrested in Janesville burglary; two victims arrested on drug charges
JANESVILLE—Police arrested the victims as well as the suspects in a burglary reported at 6:07 p.m. Friday.
Officers were dispatched to 158 Linn St. for a burglary in progress. A suspect vehicle left before officers arrived, but another officer stopped the vehicle near South Main and East Racine streets.
"Officers entered the residence to make sure no one was injured or remained in the residence, according to a Janesville police news release. No one was home.
Officers could smell marijuana in the residence and found the drug in plain view, along with drug paraphernalia, police said. Two residents returned to the house while officers were there, and police detained them while a search warrant was obtained.
Police reported seizing about a half pound of marijuana.
One of the burglary suspects said they broke into the house to steal money. They did not find money but did take a video game console, police said.
Arrested were:
-- Jason B. McDonough, 31, of 4326 E. Arrowhead Lane, town of Harmony, on charges of burglary, theft and criminal damage to property.
-- Kyle J. Schyvinck, 21, 519 Lyndhurst Drive, Janesville, on charges of burglary, party to the crime of theft and party to the crime of criminal damage to property.
-- Jedidiah J. Tiffany, 32, of 158 Linn St., Janesville, on charges of felony possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation hold.
-- Kelicha R. Johnston, 29, of 158 Linn St., Janesville, on charges of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Johnston was released with a court date. The rest were held at the Rock County Jail pending court appearances.


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Live Nation Entertainment today announces extensive improvements and expansions to Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island for its 2013 summer entertainment season. These changes will enhance the concert experience for patrons and artists alike while expanding the range of talent the facility can accommodate. With these improvements, Charter One Pavilion will become an even more exciting recreational destination for Chicago's lakefront in 2013.
Specifics of the plan include:
"We are delighted to announce these comprehensive renovations to Charter One Pavilion. This venue has already proven its ability to serve the people of Chicago with top-tier entertainment against the unbeatable backdrop of our beautiful city, and these improvements will enrich that experience even further," said Mark Campana, Co-President of North American Concerts for Live Nation. "2013 is shaping up to be a great year for music lovers on the lake."
As in past years, Charter One Pavilion will remain a semi-permanent facility with various elements being removed and stored at the conclusion of the season.
Since its opening night featuring the band Chicago in 2005, Charter One Pavilion has brought a wealth of talent to the beautiful park setting of Northerly Island, including artists such as Tom Petty, John Mayer, Stevie Nicks, Destiny's Child, Earth Wind & Fire, Marc Anthony, Stevie Wonder, The Beastie Boys, Jill Scott, Jay-Z, Nine Inch Nails, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Black Crowes, the Allman Brothers Band, Patti LaBelle, Ringo Starr & His All Star Band, the Zac Brown Band, Rush, and over 150 others. Patrons and artists alike have come to appreciate the beauty and comfort of the Charter One Pavilion experience.
Also announced today is the first date using the new configuration in Charter One Pavilion's 2013 season, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band on Saturday, June 29. Tickets for this event will go on sale Monday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations and at LiveNation.com.
For information regarding premium seating at Charter One Pavilion and other Live Nation venues, please visit LiveNationPremiumSeats.com or call 888-MY-LN-TIX.
For information regarding events at Charter One Pavilion, visit LiveNation.com or facebook.com/CharterOnePavilionatNortherlyIsland. For information regarding directions, parking, policies, and box office hours of Charter One Pavilion, visit Ticketmaster.com and search for "Charter One Pavilion."
For additional information, please contact:
Jon Reens
Sr. Director of Marketing – Live Nation
About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment is the world's leading live entertainment and ecommerce company, comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Artist Nation and Live Nation Network. Ticketmaster.com is the global event ticketing leader and one of the world's top five ecommerce sites, with a database of over 119 million fans who visit our sites. Live Nation Concerts produces over 22,000 shows annually for more than 2,300 artists globally. Artist Nation is the world's top artist management company, representing over 200 artists. These businesses power Live Nation Network, the leading provider of entertainment marketing solutions, enabling nearly 800 advertisers to tap into the 250 million consumers Live Nation delivers annually through its live event and digital platforms. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.
« Back


text:
Site news
Date added: 01/31/2013
Time to make room for new merchandise...you know what that means CLEARANCE SALE! First items to be added to the list are ALL camouflage t-shirts, regular price $7.95 now $6.00 (in stock sizes only)! Get yours while they are still available...once they are gone...they're GONE!
Kevlar Helmet Replacement Hardware...
Date added: 01/22/2013
Kevlar Helmet Replacement Hardware is back in stock!!! All parts are in stock and available for shipping.
New Shemagh / Scarf color patterns
Date added: 01/18/2013
New Shemagh / Scarf color patters have arrived. Now available with crossed rifles and skull & crossed bones in olive, tan and grey. Follow this link to see this great item. http://www.imsplus.com/headwear/scarves/shemagh-scarf.html?csid=2950047e7d825fabdc937ac73bc4b1a9&sl=EN¤cy=
***WEEKEND SPECIAL***...starting now!
Date added: 01/17/2013
***WEEKEND SPECIAL***...starting now! GI MODULAR SLEEP SYSTEM (MSS) COMPLETE 4 PART SYSTEM - USED...sells for $159.95 at other stores...starting now $110.00 & FREE SHIPPING. No "club membership" required to receive the discount. Discount is good for both in store and online orders. Get yours while they last...at this price they will go fast! GREAT system for anyone that loves camping or is involved in scouts. Great system for YEAR ROUND camping! Share this post with anyone you know that enjoys camping...great bargain you don't want anyone to miss out on.
Black Level III Backpack and more...
Date added: 01/15/2013
Black Level III backpack, ACU HSLD backpack, canvas boxed ammo pouch, fire steels, gas masks and more....are back in stock!
Backpacks, Backpacks and More Backpacks!
Date added: 12/18/2012
Backpacks, Backpacks and more Backpacks...Marpat (Digital Woodland) CFP-90 packs, Marpat HSLD packs and Extended Patrol packs in Black, Olive Drab and Marpat all arrived today. These are our most popular packs for BOB (Bug Out Bags), Get Home Bags, 72 Hour kits, Car Kits and camping - hiking adventures. Don't miss out...get yours before they are gone.
Date added: 10/03/2012
BLACK IS BACK!!! H.S.L.D. 3-DAY COMBAT ASSAULT PACK Black HSLD 3-day combat assault pack is back in stock and ready to ship! HSLD 3-day combat assault pack is also available in coyote tan, marpat, army digital and multicam. These colors are in stock and ready to ship! Get yours while supplies last.
Date added: 9/11/2012
We are happy to announce the Emergency Surgical Kits, HSLD Backpacks (in all colors except Black), Level III Backpack in Olive Drab and CFP-90 backpack systems (in all colors except Army Digital) are back in stock! These items have been going fast and have been hard to re-stock on, so get yours while they last.
Date added: 08/09/2012
Be sure to like us on Facebook to receive information on new items, discount specials and sale coupons!!!
Date added: 06/08/2012
We have received a few phone calls asking if we have had a problem with our telephones and if we are still in business, so to answer both of those questions...YES! Yes, we had an issue with our telephone service late last week that lasted over the weekend until Tuesday this week that required lines to be replaced and caused intermittent telephone service. So if you tried to call us we apologize for the inconvenience. To answer the rest of the question...MOST DEFINITELY YES we are STILL HERE!!! Our business hours are Tuesday- Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm, we are closed on Sunday and Monday. If you have any questions concerning a product or order please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-618-655-0383 or 1-888-242-6895 Thank you! IMS-PLUS


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UPDATE: Duplex fire causes $60,000 damage
JANESVILLE—Two families were displaced after a fire caused $60,000 damage early Tuesday morning, said Scott Running, Janesville Fire Department shift commander.
The fire was reported at 5:29 a.m. at a duplex at 120 Linn St. and 904 McKinley Ave. by neighbors who live across the street, he said.
"They saw flames on the outside of the building, called 911 and went across the street and began alerting residents," Running said.
The two-story structure has an upper and lower unit, Running said.
The fire started outside the upstairs window ledge where the porch roofline meets the siding. Smoking materials that were not fully out and probably smoldered all night were believed to be the cause, he said.
"There was no other source of ignition," Running said.
Lower unit occupants included a husband and wife with four children between ages 2 and 8. Two men and a woman were in the upper unit.
"Everybody was out safely by the time we got there," Running said.
The family is staying with relatives, and the American Red Cross is seeking a place for the three adults, he said.
Running estimated damage to the structure at $50,000 and contents at another $10,000.
"Most of the damage was to the exterior wall adjacent to the upstairs kitchen," he said.
Nobody was injured. Two cats, suspected to be hiding, remain missing.


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Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is a full-featured, Web-based, multilingual, tightly integrated, all-in-one wiki, CMS, and groupware. Tiki can be used to create all kinds of Web applications, sites, portals, knowledge bases, intranets, and extranets. Tiki offers a very large number of features "out-of-the-box". It is highly configurable and modular. All features are optional and administered via a Web-based interface. Major features include a robust wiki engine, news articles, discussion forums, newsletters, blogs, file and image galleries, bug and issue trackers, a link directory, polls/surveys and quizzes, FAQs, a banner management system, calendar, maps, mobile access, RSS feeds, a category system, tags, an advanced themeing engine (Smarty), spreadsheet, live support, shoutbox, inter-user messaging, menu generator, advanced permission system for users and groups, internal search engine, external authentication support, and more. It was formerly named TikiWiki.
XWiki is a WikiWiki clone written in Java that supports many popular features of other Wikis like the Wiki syntax, version control, attachments, security, and searching, but also many advanced features like templates, database and dynamic development using scripting languages (Velocity, Groovy, Ruby, Python, PHP, and more), an extension system and skinability, J2EE scalability, an XML/RPC remote API, statistics, RSS feeds, PDF exporting, WYSIWYG editing, an Office viewer and importer, and a lot more.
LimeSurvey (formerly PHPSurveyor) is a Web application that interacts with MySQL, MSSQL, or Postgres to develop surveys, publish surveys, and collect responses to surveys. Once a survey has been created, data can be inserted into the survey either by a "pretty" public screen which presents each question one at a time, or by a quick and nasty data entry screen. It includes the capacity to generate individualized "tokens", so that invitations can be issued to participants. It also has the capacity to set conditions on whether questions will display (branching), numerous question types, and a basic statistics function.
phpMyAdmin is a tool intended to handle the administration of MySQL over the Web. It can create, rename, and drop databases, create/drop/alter tables, delete/edit/add fields, execute any SQL statement, manage keys on fields, create dumps of tables and databases, export/import CSV data, and administrate one single database and multiple MySQL servers.
queXF (pronounced kweks-eff) takes scanned paper forms generated using queXML and reads them. Operators can then verify that queXF has read the form correctly. Once this is done, the data collected can be exported in a fixed width ASCII file with a DDI data description. queXF can be used as an alternative to programs such as Cardiff Teleform and Remark OMR, in some situations. It removes the need to manually enter form data, therefore reducing error and fatigue. It does OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) on each form to determine if boxes have been filled, and can use ICR (Intelligent Character Recognition) to determine what characters have been entered into boxes.
PeaZip is a cross-platform file archiver utility that provides a unified portable GUI for many open source technologies like 7-Zip, FreeArc, PAQ, UPX, etc. Creates 7Z, ARC, BZ2, GZ, *PAQ, PEA, QUAD/BALZ, TAR, UPX, WIM, XZ, and ZIP files. It extracts more than 150 archive types: ACE, ARJ, CAB, DMG, ISO, LHA, RAR, UDF, ZIPX, and more. Features of PeaZip include extracting, creating, and converting multiple archives at once, creating self-extracting archives, split/join files, strong encryption with two factor authentication, an encrypted password manager, secure deletion, find duplicate files, calculate hashes, and export job definitions as scripts.
A Dart Web server.
A PHP/MySQL tile engine for Google Maps.


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Mozart Park
2036 N. Avers Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60647
(312) 742-7535
Fee: $0.00
Age Range: Any
concert featuring Mixed Company
The Night Out in the Parks series will make parks a safe haven and a hub of positive activity on summer evenings and weekends. We encourage community members to bring their family and friends, pack a picnic basket and spend the day with us in the park. Planned activities may include art projects, music, dance, drum circle, theatre, a magic show or other fun-filled activities.


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Wis. committee OKs drunken driving bills
MADISON, Wis. — A legislative committee approved a package of bills Thursday that would impose tougher sanctions on drunken drivers, but the proposals' fate looks uncertain at best.�
Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon, and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, have introduced a package of bills they say are designed to show lawmakers are serious about curbing drunken driving. Wisconsin's drunken driving laws are notoriously lax; the state is the only one that doesn't criminalize a first offense, treating it instead as a civil violation similar to a speeding ticket.
But the bills could come with hefty price tags down the road. Prosecutors, public defenders and prison officials estimate the proposals would cost tens of millions of dollars to enforce.
The bills would change third and fourth offenses from misdemeanors to felonies; impose mandatory sentences ranging from six months in jail to three years in prison for drunken drivers who injure someone; impose a mandatory 10-year prison sentence for drunken drivers who kill someone; impose mandatory court appearances; and allow authorities to seize drunken drivers' cars.�
One measure would have made a first offense a misdemeanor if the driver's blood-alcohol level is 0.15 percent or higher. Wisconsin's legal limit is 0.08 percent. But Ott backed off on that Thursday. He amended the bill to erase that provision but added language that would make all second offenses misdemeanors and all fourth offenses felonies.�
Under current Wisconsin law, a second offense committed more than 10 years after a first offense is considered a first offense; fourth offenses committed more than five years after a third are misdemeanors. Ott said he made the change because of potential problems with making a first offense a crime in high blood-alcohol cases but not in others. He said he didn't want to create headaches for prosecutors.
He also tweaked the mandatory sentences for injury, ratcheting the minimum sentence down from six months to 30 days. He said the move was meant to conform with mandatory 30-day minimums for injuries he proposed in another bill earlier this year.
The committee's three Democrats said repeatedly said they want to curb drunken driving. But they complained the bills don't lay out any money for prosecutors and public defenders to handle more cases or for jails and prisons to handle more inmates.�
Still, all the bills passed unanimously except for the two mandatory sentence measures. Reps. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, and Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, voted against mandatory sentences for causing injuries; Rep. Dana Wachs, D-Eau Claire, joined Hebl and Goyle in voting against mandatory sentences in drunken driving homicides. They argued the measures strips judges of their sentencing discretion in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach.�
"I don't want the judges to be just puppets," Hebl said.
Ott countered that judges are letting drunken drivers who cause horrendous crashes off too easily. Victims' families would probably argue the mandatory sentences in the bills are too light, he said.
Committee approval clears the way for votes in the full Assembly. But Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, hasn't committed any support or indicated the bills would come to the floor. His spokeswoman said in an email Thursday that Vos is still reviewing the proposals.
Ott and Darling introduced the bills seven months ago.


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Weekend Box Office Report: 'The Heat' and 'White House Down' Play Second Fiddle to Pixar
What happens when two new releases that look like sure-things smash into the unstoppable wall that is a Pixar movie? Well, you get one second place hit and one severe disappointment. 'The Heat' still looks good next to the continued success of 'Monsters University,' but it made 'White House Down' stumbling at the starting line look all the more horrible.
|Per Screen
|Monsters University
|$46,180,000 (-44.0)
|The Heat
|World War Z
|$29,800,000 (-55.1)
|White House Down
|Man of Steel
|$20,820,000 (-49.6)
|This is the End
|$8,700,000 (-34.5)
|Now You See Me
|$5,500,000 (-30.2)
|Fast and Furious 6
|$2,410,000 (-51.1)
|Star Trek Into Darkness
|$2,040,000 (-35.6)
|The Internship
|$1,425,000 (-58.1)
With a $46 million second weekend, 'Monsters University' has made $171 million and should become the highest grossing animated film of the year so far sometime in the next week. Time will tell if it will have the necessary legs to get to $300 million (probably not), but $250 is looking like a sure thing at this point. Not bad for a movie that many people expected would be second-rate Pixar.
Although the adorable animated monsters kept it from snagging first place, there's nothing at all disappointing with the second place finish of 'The Heat,' which debuted to $40 million. This is a big deal for three reasons: First, the film was modestly budgeted and it should already be turning a profit. Second, it's R-rated and large openings aren't guaranteed when kids can't go see a movie. Finally, it's a female-driven movie, which studios don't often place a lot of faith in (because they're stupid). This is director Paul Feig's second hit in a row to star a bunch of funny women and we hope it's only the beginning.
But what about the more traditional, male-oriented new release of week? Roland Emmerich's 'White House Down' opened in fourth place with only $25 million, a rough start for such an expensive (and very entertaining) movie. It's easy to blame 'Olympus Has Fallen' for this mess. After audiences made that identical-in-concept White House siege movie a hit earlier this year, were they just not interested in the bigger, slicker version? It's the only thing that makes sense, really. How could people not go see a big action movie from the director of 'Independence Day' starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx?! That's the big question of the week.
Coming in right above 'White House Down,' 'World War Z' took an expectedly large but not disastrous drop, grossing $29 million for a $123 million total. The zombie epic was extremely expensive and it's looking like it may be a long haul to $200 million, but Paramount has put a lot of faith in this young franchise. If it can perform respectably (and pull in enough cash overseas), they'll make the sequel. It's going to be all about the third weekend.
In fifth place, 'Man of Steel' grossed $20 million for a $248 million total. It's already outgrossed both 'Superman Returns' and 'Batman Begins,' so it's in a good place right now. Sure, it's not going to do 'Avengers' or 'Iron Man 3' money, but Warner Bros. wasn't expecting that yet … they'll expect that for the sequel.
The bottom five of the top 10 is a little less exciting, filled mostly with movies that are on their last legs. The strongest among them is 'This is the End,' which grossed another $8 million for a $74 million total. Seth Rogen's ensemble comedy was made on the cheap, so the fact that it stands a strong chance of making $100 million is a major win. Below it, 'Now You See Me' and 'Fast and Furious 6' are just about to end their runs as major hits in their own little ways. Finally, the list is filled out with 'Star Trek Into Darkness' and 'The Internship,' with the former being a solid hit and the latter being one of the bigger bombs of the summer.
The upcoming holiday weekend sees the release of 'Despicable Me 2' and 'The Lone Ranger.' Expect them to duke it out for that number one spot.


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760 Turbo
The Fit Expert
Samuel, Emilie, Genevieve and Dominique from our Quebec City store says:
The Larsons are an amazing fit; true to size!
Revamping his 240 Wagon series, after providing the stylish and sturdy style for 20 years, John decided an upgrade was necessary and set his mind to redesign an already time-proven shoe family. Reminiscent of the reliable Volvo John bought for his young family many years ago, John sought inspiration in the boxy and geometrically designed Volvo 760 with inter-cooled turbo.
Erik Gustaf Larson, a Swedish Mechanical Engineer and co-founder of Volvo Automobiles, was responsible for the technical design of the first Volvo model ÖV 4, introduced in 1927. Using the same tough leathers from The 240s, a square toed last for a wider foot, and 100% vulcanized rubber soles, The Larson is an all-purpose shoe excellent on ice, snow, and slush. The 760 Turbo F-Sole even retains heat - if left in a warm dry area overnight. they will give you hours of toasty toes in the winter (don't get us wrong, they're wonderful in milder climates as well). These re-soleable, tough shoes will cover many miles for many years to come.
Instagram @fluevog #vog_larson
Samuel, Emilie, Genevieve and Dominique from our Quebec City store says:
The Larsons are an amazing fit; true to size!


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A global leader in home comfort, Gree has manufactured one in every three air conditioners in the world. The G2H30T09240000 pairs a Gree Multi21 outdoor condenser with TERRA wall mounted indoor units for a whole-home comfort solution. The TERRA units are Gree's high-efficiency wall mounted units, designed to run smoothly while saving you money. A compact design allows the TERRA to fit into nearly any room layout. Gree's fan technology quietly and evenly distributes conditioned air throughout the room. With easy to use wireless remote controls and Gree's I-Feel technology, the G2H30T09240000 provides easy-to-control comfort in any multi-zone application.
Product Features
Intelligent Defrost
By monitoring the outdoor coil for frost build up, the Intelligent Defrost function increases room comfort and saves energy by eliminating unnecessary defrost cycles.
Time Guard
The Time Guard function prevents damaging rapid cycling of the MULTI30HP230V1BO. A protective three-minute time delay restricts compressor restarts after shutoff.
Gold Fin Condenser
This corrosion-resistant coating is made with a gold-colored anti-corrosion epoxy. This maintains excellent heat transfer properties while extending coil life and protecting against damage from salty coastal air.
On-Unit Display
TERRA wall mounted units have an easy-to-read on-unit display and indicator lights, showing current temperature set point, operating mode, and other features.
I-Feel Function
The TERRA remote controller features an 'I Feel' button that reads current room temperature from the controller rather than the indoor unit, adjusting airflow for maximum comfort.
Two-Stage Turbo Fan
When you need to cool or heat a room quickly, simply activate the TERRA's Turbo Mode. This will boost the unit's performance in both heating and cooling modes until the feature is deactivated.
Airflow Control
The airflow direction of this system's indoor unit may be set to swing between its nine vertical positions and seven different horizontal angles, allowing the unit to disperse air evenly across any room.
Quiet Operating Mode
The TERRA indoor unit operates so quietly, it is barely noticeable. This operating design automatically adjusts airflow slightly to reduce fan noise in the unit, providing you with perfectly quiet comfort.
Additional Included Accessories
The Gree Multi 21 comes with a basepan heater and compressor crankcase heater to keep you unit working properly in colder climates.
Product Includes
Product Note
The outdoor unit includes the following lineset adapters that may be necessary for multi-zone installation:
This product requires the following accessories for installation:
Adding these accessories to your order will provide a complete, ready-to-install mini split system.


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Maximum Life Span of Animals, Fishes and Birds.
Moderator: BioTeam
10 posts • Page 1 of 1
Maximum Life Span of Animals, Fishes and Birds.
what is the fundamental base reason for why Maximum Life span of Animals, Fishes, Birds vary or differ ?
Cat living up to maximum 18 years
Dog living up to maximum 22 years.
Human Being up to maximum 130 years.
i.e why the maximum life span varies from Horse, Tortoise, Cat,
Crocodile, Parrot, Whale, Human Being ?
is it because of cell, hormone, gene, blood etc
is it a combination of all inclusive / exclusive ?
http://research.jax.org/faculty/harriso ... span1.html
Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar
Prashant S Akerkar
(Information Technology Professional)
this is very intriguing. So are are you telling me that people who exercise more die faster....since they have more exercise....
I think it's indeed has something to do with it, reason why it is often called the building blocks of life. Although there are other factors that affect life span (based from one article that I read); it includes genes, cells, food and the environment.
As far as I'm aware, it's actually mainly related to aerobic respiration. There is some truth in that the faster the heart beat, the shorter the life. This is because the heart is pumping more oxygen around the body, to the tissues and into the cells. Aerobic respiration, as opposed to anaerobic, uses oxygen as well as a monosaccharide (glucose, galactose, fructose etc) to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
This does, however, cause the release of free radicals, which can damage the cell nucleus and cause cellular ageing. This happens to all cells in the body, very frequently, and this causes our bodies and the bodies of animals to gradually weaken and ultimately fail. Free radicals can also be the result of excessive UV exposure and toxins, like nicotine, tar, pesticides, pollution, and natural toxins found in our bodies and in food.
As free radicals are essentially just oxygen atoms missing an electron (cation), they can be fought with antioxidants. This is why antioxidants are good for you! Hope this helped.
"Every cell is a triumph of natural selection." Carl Sagan
Re: Maximum Life Span of Animals, Fishes and Birds.
Just to that, the reason that the free radicals are so damaging is because they are just unstable molecules and so they "steal" electrons from cells so that they become stable. The result is that this leaves the cells damaged and this is how ageing occurs.
I remember to have read about what JackBean says in the first reply here:
http://www.amazon.com/Ecological-Implic ... 052128886X
A must for zoologists, online in google:
http://books.google.es/books?id=OYVxiZg ... ze&f=false
the reasons why our life spans are the way they are may differ, but the reason they are at these set levels is often a result of reproductive capabilities.
Animals with few predators such as tortoises or animals on secluded islands with few or no predators such as new zealand's tuatara generally have longer life spans because they retain reproductive capability throughout their life. an opossum dies in 3 or 4 years because have so many predators that they can often only life long enough to reproduce. this is explained in 'Genome' the author escapes me but I suggest you check it out
There are no reasons for either - that is, they did not arrive by a process of logic or reasoning but by evolution.
Cause and effect here are not so obvious. Can you provide more specifics in terms of scientific experimentation rather than hypothetical rationalization of existing phenomena?
10 posts • Page 1 of 1
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Three More Credit Unions Add RDC
Three more credit unions have announced they're now offering mobile remote check deposit services to their members.
They are the $2.3 billion, 133,500-member Affinity FCU in Basking Ridge, N.J., the $301 million, 24,100-member Oregonians FCU in Milwaukie, Ore., and the $501 million, 69,300-member Greater TEXAS FCU in Austin, Texas.
Affinity is using technology from Ensenta through its mobile banking vendor, California-based Intuit Financial Services, to offer RDC, the credit union said.
Greater TEXAS is offering its RDC through its mobile banking app developer Malauzai Software, also of Austin.
Oregonians FCU's remote check capture technology is being provided through partnerships with three companies: the CUSO CU Wireless, CheckAlt and iParse. iParse provides the image capture and conversion, CU Wireless the image recognition approval process and CheckAlt the processing connection with the Fed, the credit union said.


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Sheriff: Drunken driving led to fatal Walworth County crash
ELKHORN—Walworth County authorities are recommending prosecutors charge a Whitewater man with homicide by intoxicated driving after a deadly crash Sunday afternoon, according to a news release.
It was the second of two fatal crashes in the county Sunday, the Walworth County Sheriff's Office said.
Melissa J. Patrick, 40, Whitewater, was slowing to enter a driveway on Highway 89 in the town of Whitewater just before 5 p.m. Sunday when her Ford Freestyle was hit from behind by a Chevy Malibu, authorities said.
The Ford rolled over, and Patrick was thrown from her car, according to a news release. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A female child in Patrick's car also was injured in the crash and was taken to Fort Atkinson Hospital with moderate injuries, according to the release.
The Malibu's driver, 50-year-old Craig M. Seefeldt of Whitewater, was arrested and taken to the Walworth County Jail, authorities said.
The sheriff's office has referred the case to the Walworth County District Attorney's Office, recommending Seefeldt be charged with homicide by intoxicated driving, causing injury by intoxicated driving and endangering safety by reckless driving, according to the release.
A little more than an hour earlier, deputies were called to fatal crash in the town of Darien.
Stephen P. Schmitz, 65, of Wheeling, Ill., was killed when the motorcycle he was riding hit a guardrail on County C near Clowes Road, went into oncoming traffic and was hit by a minivan at about 3:45 p.m., authorities said.
The van's driver and three passengers were not hurt in the crash, according to the release.


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Father: John B. BLAND b: 16 Dec 1838 in , Saline Co, Arkansas, USA
Mother: Lucinda Catherine RANKIN b: 8 Apr 1854 in , , Arkansas, USA
Marriage 1 Vincent Harlan SORRELS b: 22 Feb 1884 in Mansfield, Sebastian Co, Arkansas, USA
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Motorcyclist wasn't wearing helmet during crash Thursday in the town of Richmond
TOWN OF RICHMOND—A motorcycle driver wasn't wearing a helmet when he suffered critical injuries in a Thursday afternoon crash, according to a Walworth County Sheriff's Office release.�
Jordan R. Vick, 25, Watertown, was northbound on Highway 89 near Lake Lorraine Road in the town of Richmond when traffic stopped in front of him, the release states.
He swerved into the southbound lane, was forced back to the northbound lane, tipped and rolled, throwing him into a stopped car.
The driver of the car, Evan M. Welter, 18, Whitewater, had stopped waiting for another vehicle to turn left, according to the release.
Vick was admitted to Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville. Hospital officials declined Friday to release information about Vick's condition.


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This deluxe, colorful wooden box is the perfect storage and creative center for the young artist. The 113-piece set is loaded with a colorful assortment of arts and crafts accessories. The 13.5 in. x 10 in. case contains 32 fine tip markers, 28 colored pencils, 24 oil pastels, 20 crayons, two drawing pencils, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, fold-out drawing board, and two easel clips. The box has two drawers to keep supplies and opens up to reveal a fold-up easel. For ages 4+. #56W
Ask a question about Art Box Ask a question about this product
Average User Rating: Based on (1 Review)
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It was well made.My grandson loved it, art is his world.
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Egg farm fire may have killed 300,000 chickens
WHITEWATER—A massive fire at S&R Egg Farm east of Whitewater destroyed an egg-production building Friday night and killed as many as 300,000 chickens, Lauderdale-La Grange Fire Chief John Duerst said.
Duerst said firefighting crews from Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties pumped over 500,000 gallons of water in a 16-hour battle against a blaze that destroyed a large building used to house egg-laying hens at the farm at 9416 N. Tamarack Road, about 9 miles southeast of Whitewater.
Duerst said the multiple story metal building, which was about 20,000 square feet, housed between 280,000 and 300,000 egg-laying hens. The birds were killed in the fire, he said.
"There wasn't any chance for them," Duerst said.
Fire investigators are still working to learn a cause, but as of Saturday afternoon, fire officials seemed doubtful they would learn much about what sparked the fire.�
"I would hazard a guess that they won't have a determination. I don't know if they'll ever know one due to the destruction," Lauderdale-La Grange Assistant Fire Chief Dave Nelson said.
Nelson said a cost estimate of damages was pending an insurance evaluation. He said it hadn't been determined whether a state fire marshal would be called in to investigate.
The 800-acre egg farm, which houses 2.4 million hens and produces 2 million eggs a day, hoped to resume production Saturday, Duerst said.
�The building that caught fire, which Duerst said was two years old and part of a "state-of-the-art" egg-production facility that uses a system of conveyors to move eggs, was apparently closed up and locked when the fire broke out.��
Fire crews were digging through shelled out and partially collapsed building and still were trucking in water Saturday morning to cool off lingering hot spots, Duerst said.
The building was one of 14 barns at the farm, the company said.
Fire crews activated multiple MABAS box alarms and called in dozens of water tank trucks to the fire, which broke out about 7:30 p.m. Friday. Crews from Janesville, Milton, Edgerton, Clinton and Whitewater responded with water tank trucks.
Firefighters struggled to get enough water to control the blaze, but crews were able to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings and chemical storage tanks.
Duerst said that fire crews were trucking in water from Whitewater, Elkhorn, Palmyra and Eagle. He said at one point, the city of Whitewater reported 180 tank trucks had filled up.
"It was a lot of gallons of water. The guys who were hauling it were having a difficult time remembering how many trips they made," Duerst said.
A company official with S&R Egg Farm on Saturday declined to comment on a potential cause of the fire. The official said he could not confirm the scope of damages or the number of chickens and eggs lost in the blaze.
The company said on its website its offices weren't affected by the fire and facilities on site where eggs are processed and packaged were not damaged.�
Last updated: 10:19 am Saturday, February 1, 2014


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Efforts under way since 2007 to automate the $750 billion market for junk-rated corporate loans may soon pay dividends just as Moody's Investors Service warns managers may not be able to refund investors trying to flee.
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association may start reviewing as soon as this month whether electronic notifications aimed at automating quarter-end payments and interest rates are ready to be used instead of fax machines, Bhavik Katira, chair of an ISDA group responsible for the initiative, said in an interview. Messages focused on cutting the time its takes to settle a trade from the current three weeks could also be sent for approval this year.
Modernization can't come soon enough for loans, which have been identified by regulators as a source of concern due to deteriorating underwriting practices. After receiving a record $61.3 billion last year, loan mutual funds have seen eight consecutive week of outflows, with Moody's now saying that managers may struggle to raise cash to meet investor redemptions if too many try to exit at once.
"It's a long time coming," said Ken Katz, director at Misys, a London-based provider of banking software. "Every other financial market at this point is light years ahead of where the loan market is in terms of automation."
The electronic notifications "bring the loan market into the 21st century," he said.
Messages regarding inventory positions, which let lenders know the balance of their holdings, will go for review at the same time, Katira said. A go-ahead would clear the system for a wider group of market participants.
A final recommendation may come toward the end of the year, Karel Engelen, senior director at ISDA in New York, said in a telephone interview.
Transmissions focused on trading will be sent for ISDA scrutiny in either October or November, said Katira, who is also chief executive officer of TenDelta LLC, a financial technology consulting firm focused on syndicated loans. They will pertain to settlement information exchanged between the bank arranging a loan and the two counterparties to the trade.
Unlike high-yield bonds, which settle in three days, it took an average of about 23 days during the first quarter to complete a loan trade, according to the Loan Syndications and Trading Association.
Unlike stocks and bonds, loans aren't securities, which means the debt isn't overseen by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Automation's 'Benefit'
The amount of loans exchanging hands rose to $517 billion in 2013, a 31 percent increase from 2012, according to the LSTA.
"Any automation that can expedite" settlement "is a benefit to the asset class," said Jason Rosiak, head of portfolio management at Newport Beach, California-based Pacific Asset Management, the Pacific Life Insurance Co. affiliate that oversees about $4.4 billion. "Especially because the asset class has become more mainstream."
Leveraged loans are booming with issuance of new debt reaching $221.9 billion in the U.S. this year, after a record $357.9 billion in all of 2013, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The growth was aided by the streak of 95 straight weeks of inflows into loan mutual funds that ended April 16, according to Lipper. Since then investors have withdrawn $4.94 billion.
Froth in the market has drawn the attention of the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency who have warned of deteriorating underwriting standards and are increasing pressure on banks to curb risky lending.
The gap between the time it takes to settle a loan trade and when managers must return money to investors may pose "potential liquidity risk for fund products and potential reputational risks for sponsors," Moody's analysts led by Stephen Tu wrote in a July 7 report. Loan settlement times are slow due to the private nature of the asset class.
"Liquidity is an issue for all fixed-income asset classes with the new regulatory framework limiting the amount of capital provided by the dealers," Rosiak said in a telephone interview. "This is not just an issue for bank loans."
Work on Financial products Markup Language for loans began in 2007. The standard is used in other over-the-counter markets.
"It's not too often that you see a product where there's a structural gap," with a mismatch in liquidity between assets, Tu said in a telephone interview.
"Loans have their own idiosyncrasies and we hope this will clear the misinformation," Katira said. FpML will allow the market to focus "on real issues that will make settlement easier."
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. are currently sending electronic messages to a unit of Markit Ltd., according to Mark Schultis, a managing director in Dallas at the financial-information provider.
About five percent of messages pertaining to post-settlement notifications, such as interest-payment information, are electronic, Schultis said. That's up 15 percent from 2013.
Mark Pipitone, a Bank of America spokesman, Justin Perras, a JPMorgan spokesman, and Rob Julavits, a Citigroup spokesman, all declined to comment.
FpML can reduce the risk of mistakes associated with manually typing in data, as well as eliminate faxes, said Misys' Katz. The loan servicing vendor is currently using FpML for non-trading messages such as interest payments.
"By seamlessly transferring information" using FpML, "data accuracy is virtually assured," said Ellen Hefferan, senior vice president at the New York-based LSTA. That is "no doubt a goal of the loan market."
Bloomberg News


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Man arrested on fourth-offense drunken driving charge after accident
Gazette Staff
Sunday, February 16, 2014
JANESVILLE — Michael P. Brockmann, 50, Janesville, was arrested on a charge of fourth-offense drunken driving Saturday night, according to a Janesville Police Department news release.�
Officers went to the scene of a single-vehicle crash on East Milwaukee Street near South Martin Road at 8:54 p.m. where a car, driven by Brockmann, lost control and hit a tree, according to the release.
While at the scene, officers smelled an odor of intoxicants coming from Brockmann. Brockmann admitted to drinking and failed the field sobriety tests, according to the release.
Brockmann also was charged with operating with prohibited alcohol concentration and cited for driving too fast for conditions.


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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2017
Origins Available: Dutch, English
occupational name for a farmer.
Aikarmant Early Origins
Aikarmant Spelling Variations
Aikarmant Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Ackerman, Ackermann, Ackermanne, Ackermane, Ackermans, Ackermaan, Acckerman, Ackermanes and many more.
Aikarmant Early History
Aikarmant Early History
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aikarmant research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1386, 1330, 1387, 1710, 1764, 1834 and 1817 are included under the topic Early Aikarmant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Aikarmant Early Notables (pre 1700)
Aikarmant Early Notables (pre 1700)
From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included Franz (or French) Ackerman of Ghent (c.1330-1387), a well known Flemish statesmen of the 14th century; Christian...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Aikarmant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: David Ackerman, his wife and their six children, who came to New Netherlands in 1662, arriving on the "Fox" on September 2, 1662; Abraham Ackerman, who came to New York city in 1683.
Aikarmant Family Crest Products
Aikarmant Family Crest Products
See Also
See Also
Other References
The Aikarmant Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Aikarmant Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 16 September 2013 at 15:31.
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When a government shutdown trips you up
My wife, Cheryl, and I planned our New England vacation last winter, long before the idea of a possible government shutdown loomed. When gridlock in Washington finally led to this month's 16-day shutdown, it landed smack in the middle of our trip. For me, I considered our plans for a two-day jaunt into Maine's popular Acadia National Park a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Before we left, Congressman Paul Ryan of Janesville told me not to fret about our plans to visit Acadia. He assured me that Republicans would offer separate legislation to reopen the national parks and that it would pass because he could see no reason anyone would oppose it. Of course, Democrats rejected it.
Cheryl and I had been vacationing most of a week before reaching our hotel on the fringe of Bar Harbor, just outside Acadia. On the way, we read a newspaper photo caption of a hotel sign saying, "Congress, you suck," and spotted a campground sign that read, "Looking for a campsite? Government evictions accepted here."
Our hotel's clerk wasn't advising guests to risk venturing into national park property. "You'd be trespassing," she said. She did, however, note that the park's Bar Island is uninhabited and not patrolled because many visitors often walked across a sandbar during low tide each day to hike around the island.
We enjoyed a lobster meal at Thurston's at Bass Harbor our first evening on the massive island that includes Acadia, and then drove to the other end of the harbor to see the lighthouse. We didn't realize Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse sits on national parkland. Lots of people were parking along a road to the lighthouse, however, and walking past a roadblock indicating the park was closed. So we joined them.
When we reached the lighthouse, we discovered that well over 100 people were assembled on the rocks, positioned with cameras to catch what turned out to be an immaculate sunset—the orange orb emerging from under cloud cover just before disappearing below the watery horizon. We had a nice chat with a young Madison couple who showed us stunning photos they got after an early-morning walk to Jordan Pond in Acadia. Returning to our car, we encountered no federal workers.
The next day, Cheryl and I joined the many people strolling that sandbar to Bar Island and hiking to a nice, photographic vantage point overlooking Bar Harbor. Emboldened, I later asked our desk clerk about the idea of hiking to Jordan Pond. She didn't recommend it and noted that one hotel guest had received a $100 fine and court summons for trespassing in the national park.
Cheryl and I sort of abandoned the idea. On our last morning there before moving on, we agreed to visit the three remaining harbors—all outside the park—on the island's south side. Our first stop was Seal Harbor. I took a couple of photos and then chatted with people getting ready for a bike ride. Some of them were from Wisconsin, and they planned to pedal up a "closed" road to Jordan Pond, more than two miles away. Inspired, I asked Cheryl if she was ready for a hike that long.
She was game, so we stepped past the barricades and headed up the quiet road—but not before making sure Cheryl had her lifetime senior national park visitors pass in her pocket. We thought it might come in handy should a government worker stop us. We saw only a few bicyclists and other hikers along the way.
Just past the visitors center on the south end of Jordan Pond, we photographed the double mountain humps reflecting in the pond. As we started back down the road toward our car, a park employee in an SUV pulled out of a ranger station. The driver obviously spotted us, then turned and drove the other way, passing another pair of hikers without stopping.
We reached our car without incident. When visiting Bar Harbor, we had heard that the few employees still on patrol were targeting bus drivers who were dumping off loads of visitors for treks into Acadia. And we figured those workers were more likely to fine visitors engaged in riskier hikes, such as a climb up Cadillac Mountain.
I'd have loved to enjoy a close encounter with Cadillac Mountain. I wish we could have freely roamed Acadia without hesitation or pause. Still, I don't feel guilty for "breaching security," and trespassing three times despite the park being closed.
Given the same circumstances, what would you have done?
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or email@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.


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John Daniel Conger, Milton, WI (1970-2013)
April 1, 1970 - October 20, 2013
John Daniel Conger, 43, of Milton, WI, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. He was born on April 1, 1970, in Iron Mountain, MI, to Dan Conger and Sandy Ebel. John graduated from Black Hawk High School in South Wayne, in 1988. He attended Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI, earning an associate's degree in criminal justice. John was a dedicated family man who was active in every aspect of his children's lives. He was very gratified by his profession. He joined the Milton Police Department in May 1992. Over the course of his 21 year career, he served as a patrol officer, a field training officer, a patrol Sergeant, and Administrative Lieutenant. He was the first ever Milton Police Department graduate of Northwestern University's prestigious 10 week Staff and Command Police Leadership training course. John educated about the dangers of drunk driving, heroin use, internet safety and safe disposal of unused prescription medications in the Drug Prescription Drop Box. He was most proud of work he had been doing recently in regards to bullying. He helped formulate the Milton Youth Coalition (MYC) and he coordinated the "lunch with a cop" program where he promoted "living the Milton way" and being safe at school and in the community. Lastly, he introduced the Safe Exchange program, which allowed the police station to be an exchange spot for online transactions. Lt. Conger was a dedicated public servant and a highly decorated officer, receiving two community service awards and three Commander's commendations during his career. He positively impacted the lives of all who knew him and helped make Milton, a better, safer place for all.
John loved to travel, especially to Graceland, since he was a very enthusiastic Elvis fan. He was a great cook and an avid sports fan, rooting for the Green Bay packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Wisconsin Badgers. He enjoyed coaching youth sports in Milton. As a young boy, he was fascinated by airplanes and loved annually attending the EAA Air Show in Oshkosh. He was especially fond of the Warbirds and the Blue Angels.
John is survived by Kelly (Olson) Conger, his wife of 14 years; two children, Kaitlyn and Aidan; his mother, Sandy Ebel; and father, Dan (Marcy) Conger, both of Oshkosh, WI. John was a loving great nephew to Ethel Penzenstadler; son-in-law to Gerald and Gail Olson; brother-in-law to Amy Wallace (Olson); and uncle to Anna and Luke. He is survived, as well, by many cousins, dear friends, and his extended law enforcement brothers and sisters. John was preceded in death by his grandparents: Les and Shirley Conger, Rose Laatsch; and his great-uncle, John Penzenstadler.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Milton, with Rev. Richard Collier and Rev. Jerry Wendt officiating. Visitation will be held at the CHURCH on Friday from 2 p.m. until the start of the services. ALBRECHT FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATION SERVICES, MILTON, are assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the memorial established at Bank of Milton to the "Family of John Conger."
Albrecht Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Milton
828 S. Janesville St., 608-868-2542


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[Video] I Like Bugshells: Changing the world at age 5
Today's post comes to us from Carolyn Baas, whose daughter, Bella, is featured in the video "I Like Bugshells," which originally appeared on the "I Like Giving" blog. Bella's generosity at just 5 years old has inspired many others to demonstrate a giving spirit -- and just might change the world. See how!
* * *
A smooth cream envelope sits between a stack of bills on our worn kitchen table. My children lay down dishes in a row as we gather around for a family dinner. The envelope holds a letter from Pirelia, our sweet sponsored girl.
We read her words and, although they were written all the way in Rwanda, it's as if she now sits with us at our table. My 5-year-old daughter, Bella, draws a picture of a butterfly to send back to her. She adds stickers and smiles.
Bella has a very curious mind, and she starts asking questions about children like Pirelia. Some of them I don't want to answer, because the truth is just impossibly unfair. But I tell her anyway. I tell her that some children don't have access to really basic things like clean drinking water. I tell her this while I'm standing at the kitchen sink, letting the water run down until it gets warm enough for me to wash my hands comfortably.
Bella wonders if the stickers are enough.
She wants everyone to have clean drinking water just like she does, so she decides to do something about it.
Find out what, by viewing the story here:
This story was captured by I Like Giving, a campaign for a generous world. Connect with the movement on Facebook here.
* * *
Since that pop bottle adventure, Bella's spirit of generosity continues. She has eyes full of awareness, and she shows me all the time how to see the world around us, whether it's the world in Africa or the world in our own backyard.
One time after she had saved up her allowance quarters for quite some time, she said she wanted to buy a present for her Great Grandma G's birthday. She found a beautiful bouquet of purple flowers. It was the most expensive in the bunch, so I tried to steer her to some less expensive options, which she promptly turned down because she wanted Great Grandma G to have the best.
I told her how kind and generous this was, and then I said I would like to help her buy the flowers, and she could just give me a few of her quarters. She said no. She said she wanted to buy it -- all of it, even though it was going to cost her entire savings. Bella knew the difference between a gift and a sacrifice, and she wanted her Great Grandma G to have both.
As a parent, I try my best to teach my kids, but many times, it's the other way around. I love to give, but I had to think long and hard about the last time I made a sacrifice like that. When did I give all that I had? When did I give not even because someone needed it, but because I wanted that person to have the best instead of me having the most?
I asked Bella why she gives, and she said, "Because it makes me be happy."
I think she's right. And I think about that happiness spilling over into her world. I think about Pirelia opening her stickers and peeling away with delight. I think of the children in Africa drinking a cup of clean water, perhaps for the very first time. I think of Great Grandma G's smile as she passes by the purple flowers soaking up the sun coming in through her kitchen window.
And I realize that all of this came to be through the time, thoughtfulness, and resources of a 5-year-old.
I wonder today in my grown-up world: What would happen if I acted more like a child?
Are you inspired by Bella's generosity? Here are two ways you can honor her giving spirit:
Sponsor a girl in Rwanda, where Pirelia lives, or connect with a child from another country of your choice. Your love and commitment will help provide life-giving basics like nutritious food, clean water, medical care, education, and emotional and spiritual nurture -- establishing stability for the present and hope for the future.
Browse our Gift Catalog and honor a loved one by donating a gift in his or her name that will help lift a child, family, or entire community out of poverty.