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What can we expect for the future of the mortgage note investment industry with uncertain financial times? First, it is important to understand the world is not ending, it's evolving once again.
I'm not a prophet and I could have never predicted COVID-19. But this piece which I originally wrote in 2016, is more relevant than ever.
The original piece titled "Foreclosure in a Gig Economy", was meant to be an anchor for dealing with loss mitigation in a world of uncertainty. I wrote it in a time when new technologies were pushing our industry into unknown territory.
The good news is, the more things change. The more they stay the same. And the ideas, thoughts and solutions I wrote about four years ago, are more applicable than ever.
This isn't meant to be some kind of a cheesy philanthropic initiative piece. Or a self-righteous attempt at encouraging soul searching, but rather a thought-provoking set of ideas that could potentially revolutionize our industry and help thousands in the process.
Here are the two main topics this article will address:
- How the proposed model (particularly in a COVID-19 world) can substantially change the behaviors of consumers, users, and borrows alike.
- How we can harness this model to insert new energy into our industry and help thousands avoid foreclosure through principles like trust and technology.
In 2016, government programs aimed at preventing individuals from losing their homes like the Home Affordable and Home Affordable Modification Programs came to an end. Instead, the government tasked service providers with taking over the reins and implementing creative solutions to mitigate loss.
Foreclosure Prevention
"The foreclosure prevention programs established by Treasury, HUD and FHFA in response to the financial crisis have transformed the way in which the mortgage servicing industry has interacted with and assisted struggling homeowners," said Mark McArdle, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
"While MHA and other crisis-era homeowner assistance programs are ending, their impact will endure. Servicers and investors will need to leverage new or existing loss mitigation programs, but they should build on the best practices and guiding principles that have led to positive outcomes for all parties."
The question that we should be asking ourselves as investment professionals is what does this mean for our businesses? How can we adapt our organizational structure and systems to address the new behaviors of consumers, users, and borrowers?
Before we delve into answering these questions, here are some ideas, topics and terms you should keep in the back of your minds:
– It's about matching the "haves" with the "wants".
- Using community co-ops and or platform co-ops as central hubs
- Harnessing collective accountability
- The role of micro-entrepreneurs
- How to use "reputational capital" and how it can transform the way we think about wealth, economy, markets, and personal identity in 2020
- How peer to peer relationships will become the new default to satisfy a diverse list of needs
- The growing influence of open-sourced technologies
- The role that collaboration, sharing and social participation will play in a post-COVID-19 world. These mechanisms will ensure that our society is able to thrive and grow in the aftermath of this crisis
And most significantly, how we can use technology to build trust between lenders and borrowers, helping people hold on to their homes while revitalizing our industry.
The Trust Litmus Test
If we look at online marketplace lending and peer to peer sites, default rates are substantially lower than those of traditional lending avenues. This could be related to technology's role in creating trust between lenders and borrowers. The internet leaves no stone unturned in giving us information about individuals that we need to make healthy economic decisions. We can look at an individual's business history, personal data, transactions, reviews, and more all at the touch of a button.
The internet, where everything is put out into the open for all to see, has probably been one of the most powerful trust builders when it comes to the mortgage industry because lenders and borrowers alike can evaluate one another and determine if the individual passes the "trust" litmus test.
What We're Seeing Today
As I stated at the beginning of this article, this article isn't just a social impact pitch (although the model I will share has the potential to help our most vulnerable clients), rather I believe that these ideas can completely change and improve the way in which we approach loss mitigation. Therefore I ask you, to forget everything you know about mortgages for the next couple of minutes and to approach what I'm suggesting with a completely open mind.
Today's Economic Climate
Let's start with the evolution of what we call the "Sharing Economy" and what it means in today's economic climate. If we look back at the early 2000s when the recession completely disrupted the financial sector. We can see a number of new businesses and startups that start to emerge. Strange right? In the midst of a crisis, how can new businesses suddenly thrive?
Take for example startups like #Airbnb and #Uber which are some of the world's most profitable companies today. Built on the concept of shared participation. Both of these ideas were born out of the recession. A time when people were looking to save money and make the most out of each dollar. Crises can be an incredible tool for creativity, pushing people to think outside the box. Find solutions for the broken systems that exist in the business ecosystem.
John F Kennedy once said: "The Chinese use two brushes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger, the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger but recognize the opportunity."
In a COVID-19 world, this concept is more relevant than ever. Right now it probably feels like everything's falling apart. But I also think in a few years we'll look back and credit this period with inspiring us to create life-changing ideas.
Sharing Economy
I started to think about what it would look like if we applied the Sharing Economy to the loss mitigation side of the mortgage industry. How could this affect our most vulnerable borrowers who are at risk of losing their homes?
But, before we explore this further, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with these terms:
Unused Value
This refers to the period in which products and services remain inactive. An example of this is a car, which is unused 92% of the time. Instead of leaving the car unused, why not make a profit off of this very expensive resource by sharing it? Companies like BMW are already doing this through car-sharing initiatives that charge customers who wish to use a car for a period of time.
Social Media
This is the lifeline that allows the sharing economy to exist. Social media refers to a series of open-source platforms that supply users with unlimited knowledge on a diverse range of topics. Allow users to interact with one another, and facilitate business transactions between people online.
Information Technology
The use of technology to store, retrieve, edit, and share information at little cost and with minimal experience.
Reputation Capital
The reputation maintained by individuals, based on the value of online and offline behaviors and transactions across communities and marketplaces. This is one of the biggest changes to our industry. Which has affected how we view status, wealth, markets, and personal identity.
Micro Companies
1–10 individual entrepreneurs who come together and establish companies fueled by creativity and innovation.
Social Responsibility
An ethical framework in which an entity (an organization or individual) is obligated to act for the benefit of society at large. Social responsibility results in a balance between economics, society and a range of other ecosystems.
Presence (in virtual reality)
Derived from the original term "telepresence," presence enables people to interact with one another via technology without moving or crossing physical boundaries.
Platform Co-Op
A digital platform — a website or mobile app — which provides a service or sells a product and is collectively owned and managed by its members.
One Man's Hardship is Another Man's Blessing
Sometimes we forget that the majority of people who default on their mortgages aren't criminals. They're people who have fallen on hard times way beyond their control and guess what? It could easily be one of us.
Hardship and pain are relative to each person. We don't know to what extent a person is suffering and we're not in a position to decide what meets our "hardship meter". Disqualifying potential borrowers because of what we determine to be below the hardship threshold is not just unfair but can be unethical.
Because so many borrowers have experienced this kind of humiliation, they've lost faith and trust in the mortgage industry. So how can we fix this?
Putting the Us in Trust
One of the basic principles for establishing trust in a relationship is communication. Raise your hand if you've ever had a borrower ghost you after receiving a phone call from an unknown number. We've all been there. When communication isn't as smooth, clear or open as it should be, both sides suffer.
That's why we've made it a priority to create platforms for our lenders and borrowers which are easy to navigate. The easier and more seamless the avenues for communication are, the more likely both sides will be able to reach a resolution.
An Empathetic Approach is Needed
We have to remember that borrowers who are on the verge of defaulting on their loans have often reached the lowest point in their lives. As human beings, we should always keep this in mind and approach their circumstances with the utmost respect and sensitivity. As professionals, we should never pursue intimidation tactics, but rather do our best to help them move forward. Unfortunately, some of the systems meant to help our most vulnerable customers avoid foreclosure, have had the opposite effect.
A good example of this is the HHF (Hardest Hit Fund), a federally funded program which was created to help individuals catch up on mortgage payments. In theory, this sounds like a wonderful initiative which can ensure that individuals avoid losing their homes. In reality, the process is extremely complicated, making it difficult for applicants to get the financial assistance that they desperately need. It took almost a year of hard work to secure HHF funding for our first borrower. This shouldn't happen, especially when something as important as a home is at stake.
Let's Make Trust a Thing Again
Let's be real. All of us could be a lot better at giving our customers the confidence and support they need to trust us. We've seen a decline in trust amongst some of our industry's most vulnerable customers and we need to do better.
How can we explain this? Well, increased regulations and red tape mean that big institutions to small there are huge increases in spending avoiding breaking the law, leaving little to no resources to invest in R&D. R&D helps develop the necessary communication platforms and mechanisms in order to help customers know that they can trust us and there are better ways. Instead, our methods and systems remain stagnant, evolving at a snail's pace. This leaves many of us and our clients (specifically in fintech) frustrated and disappointed.
Technology is Pushing Us to Evolve & Adapt
But not all hope is lost. There have been breakthroughs in technology that are pushing industry leaders to evolve and adapt to the needs of our current ecosystem. I recently spoke with the CEO and co-founder of DIGS, Patrick McLoughlin. His company is a financial platform for homeownership. In our phone conversation, I was blown away by what his company is doing. Particularly, because he's making the very thing I've been dreaming of a reality.
Companies like DIGS are a huge step in establishing the trust that we've been lacking between lenders, investors and borrowers. Creating easy to use platforms which allow for open and safe communication between users.
You know who else is in a position to build trust in our industry? Micro companies. Thanks to increased flexibility and outsourcing, micro-companies have enough resources to navigate red tape and regulations. And invest in the R&D needed to adapt to customers needs.
Treating trustworthiness as our most important priority can dramatically transform what was once a traumatic and unpleasant experience for customers, into a beacon of hope and progress.
With Great Power Comes Great Social Responsibility
This is where the social responsibility and "let's be decent human beings" pitch comes in. What I'm about to suggest is not only an opportunity to add some positivity into the world can ultimately improve the way in which we conduct business.
The idea that our actions matter and that our businesses can benefit society as a whole should guide our organization philosophy
Socially Responsible Investing with Mortgage Note Investing
In the past few years, the concept of what we call "social responsibility" has permeated from sociology classes and mindfulness gurus into our industry. And that is a very good thing. Studies in human psychology have shown that a sense of responsibility to our community, motivates us to work harder and be more creative. Thanks to technology, it's easier than ever to incorporate social responsibility into our businesses. By staying attuned to our clients' needs and letting them know that we're here for them. Trust is a huge part of this process and in helping our clients understand that they can depend on us.
This brings us to to the concept of Reputational Capital:
As I mentioned earlier, reputational capital is based on the value of an individual's online and offline behaviors.
The way in which people view our reputational capital will ultimately determine whether or not they trust us. To put it mildly, the internet does not forgive nor forget. If you do something dishonest, manipulative or shady, thanks to the world wide web, it will follow you forever and your customers will find out about it. This may sound daunting but it also pushes us to be the best version of ourselves, both as human beings and as professionals.
There's No Time Like the Present
Think about someone you know who has recently retired: a parent, grandparent or neighbor. To put things into perspective, there are more than 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day.
They've spent their whole lives working and raising families. But suddenly they have a lot of time on their hands and for many, the golf course or babysitting their grandchildren won't cut it. Now think about what they could be doing with their time. Why should their talents and years of professional experience go to waste? This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of their "unused value". Imagine how their passions and skills could benefit our industry and help lots of people along the way.
But this idea doesn't only apply to baby boomers looking for ways to pass the time.
So many people across the United States have extra hours that they would like to fill. And with COVID-19 keeping large numbers of Americans cooped up in their homes, this is more relevant than ever.
Companies like Task Rabit which "matches freelance labor with local demand" have been especially successful at finding ways for people to make the most of their time. Pair the desire to maximize the use of time with a passion for helping others. And boom, we may have found the next big thing for our industry.
Impact Communities through Mortgage Note Investing
Let me help you visualize this. John, a moderately successful communications specialist, finds himself with some free time in his schedule. And is also looking for ways to impact his community. What could be more meaningful than potentially helping someone save their home? All you need to do is to take one look at Upworthy's Facebook feed to understand how much people love random acts of kindness.
Let's Apply This to Loss Mitigation
A great example of how this could work in our industry is LetGo, a mobile app that connects local sellers to local buyers, based on where they live. The process is extremely simple. Once a user finds a product that he/she is interested in he/she can then view the seller's entire history with the touch of a button. This includes everything from past transactions, to reviews from other buyers, to a list of all items sold. If there is any additional information a customer is looking for, they can then contact the seller directly. This kind of communication automatically creates a level of trust between buyers and sellers.
Technology & the Mortgage Note Industry
Apps like these also allow us to avoid situations that make us comfortable or put us on the spot. As a personal anecdote, I hate talking on the phone. And if you make me do it in order to finalize a purchase, you've lost me.
Imagine if we could apply this kind of technology to families struggling with mortgage payments. Let me paint a picture for you. This kind of platform would be open to anyone who would meet certain qualifications and could serve as a sort of virtual matchmaker between lenders and borrowers. Individuals who are looking for financial support to save their homes could instantly be connected with those who are interested in earning money while helping a worthy cause in the process.
Data Privacy through Mortgage Note Investment Fund Platforms
And all of this, while protecting the privacy of users. So how will this work? Borrowers will be able to anonymously answer questions that pertain to their financial circumstances such as "are you on the brink of missing your mortgage payment?" Potential "saviors" who see these responses can then contact the borrower and offer assistance in some form. This data gathered is extremely valuable to big banks portfolios as now they wouldn't just be reacting. They could put a plan in place before symptoms of default start showing up. Since it's generally too late at this point.
This is the first step in building a trustworthy and open relationship between all parties. That's where we come in to help facilitate the terms and conditions needed to finalize this agreement. Market research supports our idea that borrowers are much more receptive when an intimate and sympathetic approach is used.
A platform like this would be ideal for micro-companies who unlike larger institutions can rely on outsourcing and freelance workers to develop the proper technological systems for this kind of a project while navigating all of the red tape put in place by regulation guidelines.
So, How Do We Make This Happen?
The goal would be to match the "haves" with the "wants", by using the platform to connect borrowers, lenders and small investors etc, all while protecting the dignity and personal identities of our most vulnerable users. We could also take it a step further by adding a level of competition to the platform, by encouraging lenders, investors etc to submit proposals on courses of action which are then reviewed by borrowers. This would be the equivalent of the way in which Lending Tree creates a competitive environment for mortgage companies.
Financial Independence through Mortgage Note Investing
Most importantly, this element could empower and liberate borrowers by giving them the independence to make their own choices and control their own fate within reason. On the flip side, a platform of this kind could also persuade big companies to better spend their time and resources dealing with their business plan and market, instead of focusing on the kind of loans or situations that don't make sense or fit into their bucket.
As this network grows, we can also consider offloading small to medium balance loans to micro-investors or micro-entrepreneurs.
Scenario 1:
Harry is a recently retired accountant, who's looking to earn a bit of money on the side, so each morning, he starts his day by logging on to the platform and looking to see if there are borrowers that catch his attention.
He comes across an ad that says "hardworking individual that got in over his head and lost his job is looking for some help getting back on his feet. I have a wife and four kids and am reaching out to any kind soul who could help me avoid losing my home."
Harry is moved by this plea and then contacts the anonymous borrower. Once they both agree to move forward, the anonymous buyer can connect Harry to a specific bank with a click of a button.
The bank or institution can then choose to sell this debt to a private fund like the MWMfund and Harry can take over the debt. Before notices like these are ever put on the site, they have already been fully audited and reviewed to ensure that all of the details are correct and in full compliance with regulations.
Valuable Data
The data that is gathered from each user can also be extremely valuable to big institutions who can access the information at a later time to assess whether or not to grant the borrower a loan or assistance.
This kind of platform is well beyond a cry for help from homeowners on the brink of foreclosure. It's an opportunity for those who have reached the lowest levels of despair to take ownership of their lives and determine their own destiny.
Some of you may be worried about potential borrowers taking advantage of this kind of platform. But collective accountability and a well-structured ecosystem will ensure that those who attempt to undermine the platform be held responsible.
It would be naive to discount those who don't have the best intentions, but I'm a cautious optimist who believes that there are more good guys than bad guys. These are exactly the kind people we're trying to serve: Low to middle-income folks who are just looking for one more chance to keep their families afloat.
The Proof is in the Pudding
We put this idea to the test through a case study of 100 small balance NPLs nationwide which took place over the span of five-plus years. During this time the question was should we scale our efforts? The answer was yes.
Our team created a fund (Regulation A+ Tier2) MWMfund.com which allows us to crowdfund some of these efforts, create an investment for all investors to participate directly online. We've been buying the kind of notes mentioned in this article and applying a concept which I like to call "The Frankenstein System".
The Frankenstein System for Note Investing Strategy
This system consists of gathering a slew of information and developing SOWs, flowcharts, a list of potential strategic relationships, relevant servicers etc., creating an in-depth database that allows us to make educated decisions about how our platform should function. In tandem, for the past two years, we've been developing a platform called Paperstac.com which will facilitate the resale of loans between all kinds of investors from big to small.
A Work in Progress…
It's definitely a work in progress, so far both platforms (MWMfund.com and Paperstac.com) have proven to be very effective within the small scope we're using it for, specifically in handling online digital transactions from a-z and in building trust between(investors) along with bringing much-needed transparency to processes.
Thank you for reaching this point in the article and for actually listening to what I have to say. This article was more than just me thinking out loud, but a call for all of us to rethink the way in which we approach our industry. This is in no way a panacea but I would love for you to comment on this article and share your own perspectives, thoughts, and constructive criticism so that we can brainstorm and work together to help millions of Americans hang on to their homes and create a better economy.
We at the MWMfund.com are on the path to making this happen, but we need your support to get to the finish line.
Technologies & Business Practices to Help Revolutionize the Mortgage Note Industry
Before I wrap this monologue up, here is a list of technologies and business practices that could substantially revolutionize our industry in a post COVID19 world.
Remember the world is not ending, it's evolving and it's time we evolve with it.
1.) Virtual Reality
I just had my first virtual reality experience and it was more than just trippy, it was mind-blowing. When participating in a virtual reality experiment, we feel what is called "presence." Presence is used to describe the way in which we experience virtual reality as if we were experiencing the moment in the real world. VR can evoke very real emotions like empathy, happiness, or anxiety. I recently read a story about a VR film about a girl in a refugee camp which was shown to world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Some of the leaders were moved to tears without ever meeting the girl in person.
Imagine what this would mean for our industry. In 10–20 years we could create virtual reality opportunities in which borrowers share their personal hardships with lenders in a format which makes you feel like you are sitting right next to them. Think about what this could do for building trust and personal relationships.
2. Asset Tokenization
The process of converting all kinds of physical assets (such as real estate, art, wine and cars) into digital assets on a blockchain.
3. Digital Currency
Yes, it's time to start taking this seriously. Physical money is just dirty and spreads germs like crazy (shoutout to Covid19).
4. Virtual Meetings and Conference Technology
Self-explanatory. God bless the people at Zoom.
5. Telemedicine and Healthcare
Can potentially save millions of lives.
6. Blockchain (as related to healthcare)
A report by BIS Research suggests that health-related blockchain spending is expected to climb to $5.6 billion by 2025 — up from $177 million in 2018. Blockchain has a wide range of applications and uses in health care, including managing patient records, coordinating medical supply chains and streamlining clinical trials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses blockchain to monitor diseases and report outbreaks in real-time and is presently working with IBM to develop a blockchain-based surveillance system so that public health agencies can more effectively gather data about patients and prescriptions.
7. Online Fundraising
Using online platforms to raise money isn't just a nice idea, it's the future of our entire industry. Raising capital, virtual deal rooms, and online roadshows may be hard for veteran investors to swallow, but they will become a staple for anyone dealing with fundraising and investments in the years to come.
I've left you with a lot of food for thought, but hey, it gives you something to chew on while in quarantine. Stay safe!
Have questions about investing with MWMfund? Reach out to us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Be sure to check out The MWMfund Learning Center for more educational content.


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In the database published by the International consortium of investigative journalists (ICIJ), there are records with names namesakes 16 of 77 Russian billionaires. Their companies were registered in offshore jurisdictions via the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, whose database in early April, came at the disposal of journalists.
According to the data from the database, a total of namesake Russian billionaires were 50 beneficiaries of offshore companies, most of which (47) are registered in the British virgin Islands. Two more were registered offshore in the Bahamas, one in the Seychelles. Most of these offshore companies in 2013-2015 acquired the status of "inactive" or closed, only 20 continue its work until now.
Among caught in the base of the namesakes of Russian billionaires is most common name is the namesake of founder and main shareholder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov. The namesake of the last of Russia's richest man according to Forbes in files opened 11 cards, which show his connection with the 15 offshore companies.
Usmanov followed by the number of offshore companies is the namesake of the investor Svetakov Alexander, who owned at different times by 11 firms. Five of these companies registered in the British virgin Islands, are closed or are preparing for liquidation.
For namesakes, the brothers Arkady and Boris Rotenberg were registered by three offshore companies. While Boris continues to function registered in the British virgin Islands company Kenrick Overseas, Arkady located in the same company and Baker Global Consulting Causeway.
The namesake of the head of "RUSAL" Oleg Deripaska in the British virgin Islands offshore company worked in 2003-2015. Our database also mentioned the namesake of the shareholder of the Bank of Cyprus is Dmitry Rybolovlev, who was registered in one offshore company.
In the database also featured the namesakes of the co-owner of Promsvyazbank Dmitry Ananiev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pipe metallurgical company Dmitry Pumpyansky, a partner of Usmanov's "metalloinvest" Vasily Anisimov (was listed as Vladimir Anisimov, head of Russian copper company Igor Altushkin.
On the evening of may 9, ICIJ released information about 214 thousand the companies registered in offshore jurisdictions through Mossack Fonseca. ICIJ called the publication database "the largest in history by publishing classified information about offshore companies and their owners". The array data was added to the existing three-year database, which contained information about more than 100 thousand offshore companies. While ICIJ notes that the ownership of offshore companies and trusts is not in itself evidence of a violation of law. "We don't want to give the impression that any of the aforementioned persons, companies or entities included in the database ICIJ Offshore Leaks violated the law or acted in a reprehensible manner", — reads the statement of the consortium.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Thunder Bay Bowling Awards, 1967-68 Sports Black and white photograph of members of a Thunder Bay Bowling Team holding their trophies at an award ceremony. Womens trophy is held by Elvira Dustin for High Three 883, High Single 366 and High Average 233 1967-68 Donor Elvira Dustin Public domain Photograph Still image PHIII-0021(iii) scan# BUD-0282 Women's 5 pin Bowling Finalists from Thunder Bay, 1974 Sports Black and white group photograph of the Women's 5 pin Bowling Finalists from Thunder Bay who competed in provincial tournament leading up to the World Championships. Back left or right, Helen Plaskett, Mattie Adams, Rachel Adams, Jean Beyko, Irene Sunohara, Lucille Harris. Front row left to right, Ada Becotte, Elvira Dustin, Hazel Eccleston, Louise Gauthier, Barbara Thompson. Finns on team, Rachel Adams and Elvira Dustin 1974 Donor: Rachel Adams Public domain Photograph Still image scan# TBFCHS-H242 MG8,D,2,26,H,I242 World Bowling Competition, 1975 Sports Black and white photograph of the World Bowling Competition Calgary, Alberta. Thunder Bay Team was the winning mixed team. L to R Back Jim Lee, Cliff Keenan, Frank Massaro, Ovide Dugay, Ron Stansfield. Front: Elvira Dustin (Lampi), Lucille Harris, Bev McCoal 1975 Donor Mrs. Elvira Dustin Public domain Photograph Still image PHIII-0021(v) scan# BUD-0284


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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.(Genesis 1:1-2) ESV
The writer of Hebrews describes the creation of the universe as thermodynamically balanced. Apparently God created the universe from things which are invisible. We (that's me and the Holy spirit) propose atoms and molecules.
Subsequently something happened to the message and it became that God created the universe from nothing. No doubt you've heard it said that the Lord created the universe from nothing. The thing is, that's not what the Bible describes nor what our passage tells us.
We're told elsewhere that the world that we can see was made from things that we can't see. We can't see atoms and molecules, but they're not nothing. Two worlds are going to collide: established Christian doctrine vs. what the Bible says, because they're not the same thing.
We all have the same evidence. Our choice of paradigm determines what we think it's evidence of.– Matty's Razor
Invisible isn't Nothing
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.(Hebrews 11:3) ESV
The doctrine that God created the universe from nothing is referred to as Ex Nihilo (from nothing), a Latin term. It doesn't appear to have ANY scriptural support. It may just be pastoral fudge which passed into established doctrine because nobody could be bothered to think it through. It's probably part of the strong delusion. We're about to see two worlds collide as established Christian doctrine face-plants into what the Bible says because they're not the same thing.
Our perceptions change over time but each one of us has an absolute frame of reference, or point of view. How we understand what we see from our frame of reference changes as we grow. We're going to show you the alternative Ex Abyssi (from the deep) using scripture, chemistry and physics.
We can clearly see in Genesis 1:1-2 that there's a body of water, the deep, present before the six days of creation begin. It was necessary to corrupt the deep in order to create the universe. Now, if a body of water called the deep was present before God said "let there be light" then obviously the water was used as the source of Hydrogen for nucleosynthesis. It turns out thatwe can use this as a plan for the physics of the universe and it gives us a theory of first cause.
Faith is believing in something that you can't see, because of evidence.– Faith, definition
What Happened to the Message?
2,000 years ago
- The Apostle Paul: God created the universe from things which are invisible.
- Ancient heathen: Wow, your God is powerful!
- Modern Christian: God created the universe from nothing.
- Modern heathen: According to the law of thermodynamics that's impossible, your God is a fraud. In fact, since you mention it, why would anyone believe in something so utterly ridiculous? You realize that it makes you sound like an idiot? If you think that saying something like that, which proves how uneducated you are, is going to make me want to believe in your God, then you really are an idiot.
- Call upon the name of Jesus Christ,
- believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
- confess your sin.
Simple Logic Prevails
Deductive Question 1
- Question:
- IF God created a perfect world which got ruined by accident,
- THEN why was the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden?
- Answer:
- God didn't create a perfect world.


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Article: Optical Strain for Precision Measurements and Certification
Tech Briefs Magazine featured a great article highlighting Optical Strain for Precision Measurements and Certification....
Optical 3D metrology has been established in the biomechanics & medical device industry for dynamic analysis of everything from implants and prostheses to bones, tendons, and ligaments. During strain, load, and fatigue tests, the mechanical properties of biomaterials and their behavior are analyzed. Major organizations in bioengineering, medical device manufacturing, medical research, and even athletic apparel use GOM systems to analyze new materials, and to develop innovative products from the new materials.
Athletic Apparel & Footwear
Trilion supports most major players in the athletic equipment, apparel, and footwear industries with our systems and services. Quasi-static ARAMIS 3D systems analyze innovative materials. High-Speed ARAMIS 3D systems capture and analyze athlete movement. No matter the system, GOM tools are used to perfectly inform sports engineers and their design of game-changing apparel and footwear. Examples include motion capture and dynamic analysis of athlete movement in:
Biomechanics & Bone Implants
Trilion supports companies and research groups in the biomechanics and bone-implant industries with our ARAMIS 3D systems and our consulting services. Examples of standard applications are:
While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, success in the beauty industry is in the hands of researchers using ARAMIS 3D systems. GOM products provide the ability to quantify the impact of products and procedures. Examples of standards applications are:
Dental & Orthodontics
Both research and practice of dentistry benefit from the GOM's ATOS 3D digitizer. ATOS 3D scan data is precise and can be downstream accurately to enable smooth and seamless integration in CAD software packages and rapid prototyping processes. Examples of use cases are:
Our ARAMIS SRX platform is extremely reliable and was designed with material testing in mind. It's rigid fixed camera base offer unparalleled calibration stability and ease-of-use.
Tech Briefs Magazine featured a great article highlighting Optical Strain for Precision Measurements and Certification....
If you missed our Webinar: Full-Field Optical Strain Measurement Systems for Materials and Structures Certification, we...
If you missed our Webinar: The Top Tools for Material Testing, we have you covered. Just click the button below, fill...
The team at FADI-AMT is world-class and their expertise using our Digital Image Correlation technology is impressive....
Our team can discuss and demonstrate most of our products and applications virtually to you today!


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Living alone was one of the dreams that I never knew I had. Living with friends, F.R.I.E.N.D.S taught me, was an even better dream to have. This living alone time came and flew away so quickly, I hardly got time to grasp it all. And here I am, thinking back and wondering if it's ever going to happen again.
I am about to complete one year since the time I came to visit home for 2 months, and I mentioned this to every person who asked me because I needed a constant reminder that I am not done with Hyderabad yet, that I'm gonna go back. 2 months turned to 3 to 4 and then reality struck that going back is not happening so soon. I left that city for good, while not even getting a chance to go back and say goodbye.
This city, perfectly balanced between happening and laid back, safe enough to never let me feel I cannot go somewhere because I am a girl, and empowering me in the process, will always remain special in my heart. Letting me make new friends, and helping in re-kindling old faded friendships, teaching to stay alone even in a crowd and also somehow making me feel whole when I used to be alone, this city has given me all kinds of days; good, bad, happy and sad.
From a timid college fresher, always second guessing herself and asking for reassurances, to a grown up, helping others fight the same battle; looking from this other end of the spectrum reminds me of the innocent and scared person I used to be. But I cannot separate that person from this city because that's where that person used to live. I am afraid that going back is never going to be the same (if it happens), because people, relationships, situations, and even I would have changed. I do look forward to more challenges that are gonna come in front of me, and I know I am a more mature person than I used to be to face them. But goodbyes are always difficult. Here's to the goodbye I never got to say, and one which I would like to say, even if I go back.
To the experiences I had, and the ones I couldn't,
To the person I was, and the one into whom I grew,
Hyderabad I miss you.
And I miss myself along with you !


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Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Many people are off from work today, and I'm using this time to thank the men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedom we enjoy in this very moment. My paternal grandfather served in WWII in north Africa, and he won the Purple Heart for saving two men from a burning tank. My pa was a kind man to my brothers and me, and his prayers were deep reflections into his heart for his love for God and family. His tears when he and ma departed from visiting were also heartfelt expressions of love I'll never forget.
I was a youth pastor years ago when pa was in Belmont Terrace, and I took the student ministry on a service trip to visit him. They also ministered to his roommate Moses. I have pictures from that trip, and those days are some of the many fond memories I have with ma and pa in this great city. Belmont Terrace is no longer there off of Wedgewood near Vanderbilt, but the memories from 12 South to Goodloe to Brentwood will always exist in my mind. The Big Band music that I love to this day is a soundtrack that commemorates an eternal love for all my grandparents, and when Carey and I would visit Fido or pa at the Terrace memories attached themselves in our minds that will go with us to our graves.
God's love is powerful, and its power transforms generations. Suffering makes us stronger, and the longing for family who have passed on makes that love even deeper. Death was never part of God's plan, but our sin is what drags into the reality of death. We have hope because God created hope alongside death, but because of Jesus hope will outlive death, hence the reason I write these words. Nashville, Tennessee is my home, and I've been part of this amazing city since my birth. Jesus continues to work among us to bring hope to those who despair, and even when we think darkness has won may there be a fraction of hope that sustains us.
Suffering is never welcomed, and waiting with no "prospect" for when the suffering will end know we have a Creator who sees so much more than we see. I don't understand why he allows suffering, and I understand even less for why he creates hope for us to rise. We have bitter sweet lives this side of eternity, and I'm no different than you in contemplating the time when death and suffering will be no more. As a believer I know why it is here, and I'll never not believe in the Bible, but that doesn't mean I'm not susceptible to the brokenness that is here.
Memorial Day will not be necessary when we enjoy our new bodies, but in some strange way I hope we remember the pain and anguish we went through here even if we are still here on a new Earth. There's no way of knowing what the new Earth will be like, but that's not the point. The point is that as we remember those who have gone before us is that Emmanuel defines us. My pastor shared with us Ephesians 1.15-23; 3.20 yesterday, and I encourage you to close this post by opening your Bibles to read those two passages.
I'll probably see you tomorrow. Grace and peace.


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Can You Transfer Video Tapes To DVD?
It is possible to transfer video tapes to DVD to create backups of home videos or to duplicate purchased videos. Making the transfer requires a VHS tape player hooked up to a DVD recorder, or a VHS/DVD combination player with recording facilities.
Is It Worth Transferring Tapes To DVD?
Video tape is an obsolete format and compared to modern Blu-rays, the resolution is low. Digitizing the tapes for conversion to a new format does not improve the resolution, so movies transferred from tape to DVD still could have the same picture quality. However, for people who wish to preserve a catalog of home videos of their friends and family, picture quality is a secondary consideration, and transferring the tapes to a more durable and modern format is a worthwhile venture.
What Are Photo Editing Services?
Besides duplication of storage media such as tapes and DVDs, another media service that is readily available online is photo editing. Common editing services include the removal of background images from photographs, and touching up poorly lit or badly framed shots so they look more professional. Photo editing services are a quick and convenient way to get a batch of quality images for use in magazines and on websites, and as it is possible to send digital images via e-mail, editing companies often have a rapid turnaround time.


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The last couple of weeks have been quite positive in terms of my transition. The headaches from the progesterone seem to have gone away, and I am experiencing plenty of changes.
The most important change has been the disappearance of my headaches. I started getting headaches shortly after starting progesterone. I would experience them almost every other day, and they would typically last the whole day. Around 3 weeks after starting the progesterone, the headaches stopped. It has been almost 2 weeks without any headaches, which is a very positive development. I am assuming that the headaches were a side effect of my progesterone levels gradually rising to a new baseline, but I am honestly just guessing. Frankly, I am just happy that the headaches are gone.
These last few weeks have also seen considerable physical changes. Most of the physical changes seem to occur in sudden spurts (it is probably gradual, but I only notice it in spurts). Nothing seems to happen for a while, then one morning an old shirt or pair of pants suddenly no longer fit. Both breast development and fat redistribution went through these spurts recently. I had increased chest sensitivity for the past month or so, but it was only recently that I actually noticed any change. A flannel shirt that I had used to hide any chest growth previously was suddenly no longer sufficient for that task. Fat redistribution has been more limited in the last few weeks. There is definite change (some pants are tighter than previously), but nothing as noticeable as the breast development.
I also restarted voice training a few weeks ago. I had given up on it early in my transition after getting discouraged. I had been unable to perform the basic voice training exercises at the time and got very frustrated. I recently started trying to voice train again and figured out a way past my earlier issues. I was able to hold a swallow if I use water instead of trying it dry. This opened up the possibility for me to get better at it and has given me a pathway forward with voice training, something that I did not have before.
The last few weeks have been very positive. Not only have my headaches gone away, but I had substantial physical changes and started voice training again. All I need now is to get my hormone levels correct. I have my next HRT appointment in early January. I am hoping that my hormone levels will be in the proper ranges at that time (and that they aren't too upset about me unilaterally changing my dosage).


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Well, if there was a day to have a drink to shake off stress, it would be this one.
I got woken up this morning by a phone call. It was from my eldest sister in Italy. She was calling to tell me that my dad was being rushed to the hospital with chest pains. My sister talks to my parents at the crack of dawn every morning from Italy, and for hours (no joke). She was on the phone with them this morning as my dad wasn't feeling so well.
I sprinted out of bed to get dressed as fast as possible because I had to pick up my mom on the way to the hospital. My mom doesn't drive. The whole ride down was a blur between the tears under my sunglasses and my brain taking me down scenarios that I am not ready for. And never will be.
We got to the hospital in record timing. We checked in with the ER and were asked to wait. And wait we did. After a bit of time, the registrar who checked us in approached us; he was a gentle giant. He notified us of their Covid19 restrictions for their patients. Only one person a day is able to visit with a patient, and only one person per patient is allowed to wait in the waiting room. Which meant my mom was the person to see my dad in the ER room as I waited in the waiting room.
So I waited.
And waited.
After a few hours, my mom got word that my dad was in great health. His heart is strong and all his vitals were perfect. He showed no signs of a heart attack but they wanted to perform another test. Apparently, his liver showed a high level of some enzymes. The test was to take up to three hours, so we took off for home to wait for results and chill out.
AWESOMELY, after this long day of exhausting emotions and tests, my dad is home and resting. He feels fatigued but good. They released him with a complete clean bill of health!
Just my two cents here… I am thinking that he had a bout of gastroesophegeal reflux, aka GERD. It can cause the feeling of having a heart attack in the middle of the ribs. It totally come on from bad eating habits. Ahem like my dad can be guilty of! He is 81 years old but thinks he is in his twenties.
I am so relieved my father is ok. He is one of my favorite people on planet Earth. We are more alike than unalike, which is good and bad. My joke and storytelling style come from him which is bad 😆. But my large heart, dedication to my children and agreeableness come from him, which is good. And don't tell anyone, but I am his favorite child. It isn't a secret really. He likes to tell me all the time and he is the reason my nickname is Sunshine. He says that I light up his world like the sun. ☀
I am really so relieved he is ok. 😊
Now I need to unwind and calm my nerves…with tea. And maybe cbd oil.
Goodnight! Thank you for reading! Till next time!


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« пЯОГЦОЩЛЕМГсУМщВЕИА »
every example which he performs, he is obliged to go through a complete demonstration of the principle by which he does it; and at the same time he does it in the simplest way possible. These observations apply to the remaining part of the book.
These principles are sufficient to enable the pupil to perform almost all kinds of examples that ever occur. He will not, however, be able to solve questions in which it is necessary to take fractional parts of unity, though the principles are the same.
After section sixth, there is a collection of miscellaneous examples, in which are contained almost all the kinds that usually occur. There are none, however, which the principles explained are not sufficient to solve.,
In section eight and the following, fractions of unity are explained, and, it is believed, so simply as to be intelligible to most pupils of seven or eight years of age. The operations do not differ materially from those in the preceding sections. There are some operations, however, peculiar to fractions. The two last plates are used to illustrate fractions.
When the pupil is made familiar with all the principles contained in this book, he will be able to perform all examples, in which the numbers are so small, that the operations may be performed in the mind. Afterwards he has only to learn the application of figures to these operations, and his knowledge of arithmetic will be complete.
The Rule of Three, and all the other rules which are usually contained in our arithmetics, will be found useless. The examples under these rules will be performed upon general principles with much greater facility, and with a greater degree of certainty.
The following are some of the principal difficulties which a child has to encounter in learning arithmetic, in the usual way, and which are seldom overcome. First, the examples are so large, that the pupil can form no conception of the numbers themselves; therefore it is impossible for him to comprehend the reasoning upon them. Secondly, the first examples are usually abstract numbers. This increases the difficulty very much, for even if the numbers were so small, that the pupil could comprehend them, he would discover but very little connexion between them, and practical examples. Abstract numbers, and the operations upon them, must be learned from practical examples; there is no such thing as deriving practical examples from those which are abstract, unless the abstract have been first derived from those which are practical. Thirdly, the numbers are pressed by figures, which, if they were used only as a con:
tracted way of writing numbers, would be much more dif ficult to be understood at first, than the numbers written at length in words. But they are not used merely as words, they require operations peculiar to themselves. They are, in fact, a new language, which the pupil has to learn. The pupil, therefore, when he commences arithmetic is presented with a set of abstract numbers, written with figures, and so large that he has not the least conception of them even when expressed in words. From these he is expected to learn what the figures signify, and what is meant by addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; and at the same time how to perform these operations with figures. The consequence is, that he learns only one of all these things, and that is, how to perform these operations on figures. He can perhaps translate the figures into words, but this is useless since he does not understand the words themselves. Of the effect produced by the four fundamental operations he has not the least conception.
After the abstract examples a few practical examples are usually given, but these again are so large that the pupil cannot reason upon them, and consequently he could not tell whether he must add, subtract, multiply,' or divide, even if he had an adequate idea of what these operations
The common method, therefore, entirely reverses the natural process; for the pupil is expected to learn general principles, before he has obtained the particular ideas of which they are composed.
The usual mode of proceeding is as follows. The pupil learns a rule, which, to the man that made it, was a general principle; but with respect to him, and often times to the instructer himself, it is so far from it, that it hardly deserves to be called even a mechanical principle. He performs the examples, and makes the answers agree with those in the book, and so presumes they are right. He is soon able to do this with considerable facility, and is then supposed to be master of the rule. He is next to apply his rule to practical examples, but if he did not find the examples under the rule, he would never so much as mistrust they belonged to it. But finding them there, he applies his rule to them, and obtains the answers, which are in the book, and this satisfies him that they are right. In this manner he proceeds from rule to rule through the book.
When an example is proposed to him, which is not in the book, his sagacity is exercised, not in discovering the operations necessary to solve it; but in comparing it with the exam ples which he has performed before, and endeavouring to dis
cover some analogy between it and them, either in the sound, or in something else. If he is fortunate enough to discover any such analogy, he finds what rule to apply, and if he has not been deceived in tracing the analogy, he will probably solve the question. His knowledge of the principles of his rules, is so imperfect, that he would never discover to which of them the example belongs if he did not trace it by some analogy, to the examples which he had found under it.
These observations do not apply equally to all; for some will find the right course themselves, whatever obstacles be thrown in their way. But they apply to the greater part ; and it is probable that there are very few who have not experienced more or less inconvenience from this mode of proceeding. Almost all, who have ever fully understood arithmetic, have been obliged to learn it over again in their own way. And it is not too bold an assertion to say, that no man ever actually learned mathematics in any other method, than by analytic induction; that is, by learning the principles by the examples he performs; and not by learning principles first, and then discovering by them how the examples are to be performed.
In forming and arranging the several combinations the author has received considerable assistance from the system of Pestalozzi. He has not however had an opportunity of seeing Pestalozzi's own work on this subject, but only a brief outline of it by another. The plates also are from Pestalozzi. In selecting and arranging the examples to illustrate these combinations, and in the manner of solving questions generally, he has received no assistance from Pestalozzi.
Mr. Wiseman, the schoolmaster, at the end of his sum mer vacation, received a new scholar with the following letter :
Sir,- This will be delivered to you by my son Samuel, whom I beg leave to coinmit to your care, hoping that by your well-known skin and attention you will be able to make something of him; which, I am sorry to say, none of his masters have hitherto done. He is now eleven, and yet can do nothing but read his mother tongue, and that but indifferently. We sent him at seven to a grammar school in our neighbourhood; but his master soon found that his genius was not turned to learning languages. He was then put to writing, but he set about it so awkwardly that he made nothing of it. He was tried at accounts, but it appeared that he had no genius for that either. He could do nothing in geography for want of memory. In short, if
he has any genius at all, it does not yet show itself. But I trust to your experience in cases of this nature to discover what he is fit for, and to instruct him accordingly. I beg to be favoured shortly with your opinion about him, and remain, sir,
our most obedient servant,
When Mr. Wiseman had read this letter he shook his head, and said to his assistant, a pretty subject they have sent us here! a lad that has a great genius for nothing at all. But perhaps my friend Mr. Acres expects that a boy should show a genius for a thing before he knows any thing about it—no uncommon error! Let us see, however, what the youth looks like. I suppose he is a human creature at least.
Master Samuel Acres was now called in. He came hanging down his head, and looking as if he was going to be flogged.
Come hither, my dear! said Mr. Wiseman-Stand by me, and do not be afraid. Nobody will hurt you. How old are you?
Eleven last May, sir.
No! Why, how do you think other boys do ? Have they more fingers than you ?
Are you not able to hold a pen as well as a marble ?
I see nothing here to hirder you from writing as well as any buy in the school. You can read, I suppose ?
Yes, sir.
Samuel with some hesitation read, WHATEVER MAN HAS DONE MAN MAY DO.
Pray how did you learn to read ?—Was it not with taking pains ? Yes, sir.
Well-taking more pains will enable you to read better. Do you know any thing of the Latin Grammar?
No, sir.
Why, you can say some things by heart. I dare say you cau tell me the names of the days of the week in their order.
No, sir.
Yes, sir, I know them.
And you could probahly repeat the names of your brothers and sisters, and all your father's servants, and half the people in the village besides.
I believe I could, sir.
If you were to have a penny a day, what would that make in a week?
Right. Why here you have been practising the four great rules of arithmetic, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Learning accounts is no more than this. Well, Samuel, I see what you are fit for, I shall set you about nothing but what you are alle to do; but observe, you must do it. We have no I can't here. Now go among your school-fellows.
Samuel went away, glad that his examination was over, and with more confidence in his powers than he had felt before.
The next day he began business. A boy less than himself was called out to set him a copy of letters, and another was appointed to hear him in grammar. He read a few sentences in English that he could perfectly understand to the master himself. Thus by going on steadily and slowly, he made a sensible progress. He had already jcined his letters, got all the declensions perfectly, and half the multiplication table, when Mr. Wiseman thought it time to answer his father's letter; which he did as follows:
I now think it right to give you some information concerning your son. You perhaps expected it sooner, but I always wish to avoid hasty judgments
. You nientioned in your letter that it had not yet been discovered which way his genius pointed. If by genius you meant such a decided bent of mind to any one pursuit as will lead 10 excel with little or no labour or instruction, I must say that I have not met with such a quality in more than three or four boys in my lisc, and your son is certainly not among the number. But if you mean only ihe ability to do some of those thing; which the greater part of man.


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Tag: speaking engagements
Speaking to Graduating Students at OLFU
Speaking at Life Academy: On Taking Notes | INGRID NIETO Talks
SPEAKING AT UP ChESS | INGRID NIETO Talks
I was invited to be one of the speakers for the corporate workshop for Chemical Engineering student delegates. Thanks UP Alchemes for the invite! It was great spending an early sunny morning imparting knowledge and stories to these future chemical engineers.
Your Online Presence as Your Personal Ministry
Grow Inside & Out Talk
I gave a short talk on appearance, poise and behavior for the ushering and welcome ministry of Focus on Christ International Ministries.
It's always a joy for me to speak at La Salle Greenhills. When I was first asked to give a talk (I was actually subbing for my very good friend Ginny), I WAS SO NERVOUS! I was overwhelmed with the thought of speaking in front of a huge crowd of boys! I sought advice from some of my teacher friends and really went in with tons of prayer. I give credit to God for everything–the boldness to speak, the ability to engage and influence them. Watch the video below and see how much I had with the Grade 11 boys.
Days before my One Gospel talk, my external hard drive got busted and I had to take it to the recovery center. While I was able to get my presentation together, my files refused to open even if I worked on a Mac and opened the same files on a Mac. It was stressful but I thank God that we were able to get the presentation to run on GUESS WHAT? A WINDOWS COMPUTER. Despite the tech challenges, it's still very evident that God is always in control. The session still went on as planned and I'm happy to have served Him through this engagement.
One Gospel is a missions conference for youth and young adults. One Gospel movement emphasizes the Gospel – its centrality and the responsibility we have to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God, both in our local and cross cultural contexts.


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24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — April
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field program hosts the 20th annual Musco Twilight Invitational on Saturday.
In 1999, former head coach Larry Wieczorek started it all as a way of spotlighting some of Iowa's great athletes.
"I started reflecting back to that first night, Tim Dwight was back from playing in the Super Bowl. He was still eligible for track at the University of Iowa. He competed that night, so people were lined up four-deep at the fence and in the stands," Wieczorek said. "Anthuan Maybank had just won a gold medal in the 4×400-meter relay and was back running as an all-star. It couldn't have been better, it was like a dream come true."
Wieczorek described the first Musco Twilight as the perfect night for the event. On Tuesday, as he reflected in the inaugural event, he wore the t-shirt that he said depicted the night perfectly.
"The first night is what [former Iowa athletic director] Bob Bowlsby called a 'chamber of commerce night,'" Wieczorek said. "Actually, a full moon came up that night. We were very fortunate."
Since then, the outdoor competition has been a constant on the Hawkeyes' schedule for 21 years, a tradition kept alive with the help of the Musco Sports Lighting company. The only exception was in 2008, when Iowa City was recovering from the 2008 flood.
"We were fortunate with Musco getting involved from the very beginning with them bringing their lights," Wieczorek said. "This is the darkest spot in Iowa City, if you ever drive by here. There's one little light above the track and field shed, an emergency light. Otherwise, you can't see anything here. They bring in the lights, and it's kind of magical, it transforms it."
The Hawkeyes will host seven schools Saturday, including Dubuque, Iowa Central, Loyola, Minnesota State, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and Western Illinois, on Saturday. For more information, visit hawkeyesports.com.


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Fat Finger Dialing
The telephone equivalent of a Web typo site. If you misdial a carrier's collect-calling number, such as 1-800-COLLECT, you unwittingly get another carrier that charges a higher rate.
The study of the ethical questions posed by psychoactive drugs, imaging technologies like fMRI, brain-computer interfaces, and other advances in neuroscience.
Tool Piracy
Coined by tool supplier Stots to describe the illegal sharing of woodworking jig templates. Stots sells a template with a license agreement glued to it.
Rationing by Hassle
Health insurance company practice of denying services, then making the appeals process so convoluted and onerous that patients won't follow through with claims.
Identity Crisis
Hype List
Hacking: The New Crack
Professor Tetris
jargon watch
Don't Call It Darpa
Direct Current
Why Your Next Phone Call May Be Online
The Madness of Crowds
A Dissertation So Good It Might Be Classified
Big Brother's Keeper
Wired l Tired l Expired


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Somehow I forgot to post this when it was written in 2010. Of course it seems as relevant now as it did then. This piece is an excerpt from my 2010 book Unearthed: How Discovering the Kingdom of God Will Transform the Church and Change the World.
Father God,
Too many times we as Christians have been the loudest and most vocal voices and many times we have not represented or embodied the way, life, and teachings of your Son Jesus.
Our judgmental and condemning voices have become a poor representation of Jesus in the community and the larger world and have left many who do not know anything about Jesus with a bad taste in their mouths and a deep contempt for your Church.
Too many times we are quick to say that we are the "defenders of the faith," or the "protectors of our Christians heritage." Yet…
View original post 710 more words


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Having had my first appointment with the National Transplant team in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in January, I knew that I would be referred to their Infectious Diseases consultant and their Nephrologist before I could even think about being added to the transplant list.
This morning, I got the notification about my appointment at the Infectious Diseases clinic on Thursday 18th February 2021. It is at 09:40, so I will be leaving the house at about 07:00 to make it there via train to Heuston, Luas to Connolly, and then Bus from there. Unfortunately, I cannot get a cheap deal on the train fare as I have no idea when I will be coming back. The clinic length is not known. It could be anything from 15 minutes to an hour or more.
At least the hospital has a nice coat of arms to pique my heraldic interest as well. I wonder where the letters patent granting the arms are stored. Will they be on display?


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Why can't the season be here already?
- One reason I'm ready for football is because I'm ready for the "QB System" stories to stop.
- Whatever happens at QB, both Phillip Nelson and Mitch Leidner have said they trust the young wide receiver core.
- Coach Kill is happy with how key players have recovered from off-season knee surgeries.
- Speaking of Roland Johnson, Joe C takes a look at how his return will improve the defensive line. The secondary also has some lofty turnover goals:
The Gophers defense produced 20 turnovers in 13 games last year, tying Michigan State for seventh most in the Big Ten. This year, the Gophers have a goal of creating 20 turnovers, just from the defensive backfield.
Sophomore cornerback Eric Murray said the coaching staff has shown the team statistics showing how turnovers correlate to wins; defenses that create the most typically win the most.
Michael Carter led last year's team with four interceptions, followed by Derrick Wells (2), Brock Vereen (2), Cedric Thompson (2) and Martez Shabazz (1). Thompson, a junior safety, intercepted two passes in Saturday's practice.
"I feel like my ball-hawking skills and my breaks are a lot faster, so I feel like this year, I'm going to have a lot of interceptions," Thompson said. "Now that I get the defense, and it's like in the back of my hand, now I can react to the ball faster."
- If early reports are to be believed, the athleticism of the defensive backfield might not make that goal as far fetched as you might believe.
- Nate Sandell delivered Day 4 and Day 5 wrapups.
- Fuller talks to Josh Campion, who has had to overcome quite a bit to fulfill his dream of playing for the Gophers. According to Jon Christenson, tackle Josh Campion is a the leader of the O-Line. That last link has other notes from Tuesday's practice as well.
- Damien Wilson is working to be the Gophers man in the middle.
- Optimus Prime comes in at #15 on the WWL Blogs list of B1G players.
- Bennett over at the WWL Blog has his analysis of the Gophers schedule.
- CBS Sports has a 2014 NFL Draft primer on the Gophers.
- PHOTOS: Gopher Gridiron has Day 4 practice pictures.
Nearing the end of practice #5 Ski-U-Mah! #YEAR3 pic.twitter.com/32HsGiqwfZ— GopherGridiron (@GopherGridiron) August 7, 2013
- MOAR AUDIO: Day 4 comments from Coach Kill, Coach Miller, and Cedric Thompson. Day 5 comments from Coach Kill and Jon Christenson.
UNLV Game Controversy
- I meant to touch on this on Monday, but I ran out of time. For those who aren't aware, the tailgating situation for the UNLV game will not be a normal one. The Saint Paul lots will not be open for tailgating at all because of the fair (and the shuttles won't be running in case you were thinking of trying it anyway) and season parking pass holders for that lot will receive passes for the Washington Avenue Ramp instead. Additionally, tailgating will begin 4 hours before the game instead of the 6 hours everyone expected. This has led many Gopher fans to be displeased.
My take? The whole thing was poorly handled. If there was even a chance the STP lots weren't going to be open that should have been communicated to season ticket holders prior to the renewal process. If it was something they had no idea about until after renewals, it should have been communicated immediately upon becoming final. Instead, Gopher STH found out about it in the Game Day Guide that came with their tickets.
The same holds true for the tailgating hours. Fans found out about the change via the Game Day Guide, which didn't even include the newest info (said 3 hours when a change had been made to 4 hours already). This is something that could and should have been proactively communicated.
All of that said, I'm not going to completely savage the U over this or make assumptions that this is a sign of horrible decisions to come under Teague. While it appears that his current thought is that this is how the openers will look in the future...
@stp_highlander 4hoir, and it probably will not change in future years for this Thursday slot;we pressed hard on parking and the fair 4 this— Norwood Teague (@GoldenGopherAD) August 3, 2013
...there is always a chance for improvement and I'm willing to give him the chance to make that happen. Other B1G schools have recognized the importance of maintaining a gameday atmosphere for Thurs/Fri season openers (looking at you Michigan State), even when it inconveniences students, staff, and faculty. There is no reason the U can't do the same.
As I've mentioned before, I intend to touch on the wider gameday atmosphere issues/opportunities in more depth and I'll save discussion of where this game fits into the wider picture for a later day. In the meantime, I urge folks to keep a sense of perspective, recognize that this is one game, and to not let it get in the way of your excitement for the season.
Gopher Football Alums In NFL Camp
- The Daily looks at MarQueis Gray and his move to TE with the 49'ers.
- The Daily profiles U alum Antwan "Luv" Harris and the impact he's had on all levels of Minnesota basketball as the coach of the Howard Pulley AAU team.
- Four Gophers survived the camp cuts and are still part of the USA Hockey Juniors team.
The remaining players representing the Maroon and Gold are Michael Brodzinski (Blaine), Taylor Cammarata (Plymouth), Hudson Fasching (Burnsville), and Brady Skjei (Lakeville). Skjei is the only member of the five that skated for Lucia last season at Minnesota. The rest are all incoming freshmen that are expected to contribute immediately for the Gophers.
- The STrib takes a look at this year's Gopher volleyball team.
- MSU football player helps save a gunshot victim. Also, East Lansing is a place where football players can live in neighborboods where people get shot?
- New UW head coach Gary Anderson had a novel way to reach his players over the summer.
- WHO HATES IOWA? It appears the owners of the Iowa City Press-Citizen do, as there are reports that they are outsourcing coverage of the Hawkeyes to the Des Moines paper. If true, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
College Football
- HOT SEAT WATCH! Putting Kirk on here is just silly, especially when you downplay the money angle without noting just how out of hand the buyout money still is for Iowa.
- MGoBlog goes statsy on fumble luck.
- Ever wonder what scholarship letters look like from different college teams? There is quite a variety out there. My fave for ridiculousness? Arizona, where your scholly letter doubles as a diploma.
- Baylor goes shiny.
25 days, Baylor Nation. #SicEm #BUFootball13 pic.twitter.com/wWGuQ06zV8— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) August 6, 2013
- Iowa State will wear throwbacks for their game against Iowa this year.
- Adidas and Notre Dame didn't screw up their one off unis as badly this season.
- Illinois has a pretty unique campaign planned to get folks to show up for their Soldier Field game against Washington.
- Wilf is a bit of a cheat. Not a complete surprise given that he's a real estate mogul, but still.
- Clint Dempsey moved to the MLS. Here's some behind the scenes details of how that went down.
- Really neat NBC Sports video that looks at how important making the Premiership is to fans of lesser clubs.
- NBC Sports is going all out on NYC Premiership ads and they're pretty well done.
The Smorgasbord
- High school coach gets (sort of) profanely creative and is now suspended.
- Um, this bear is kind of crazy.
- DO NOT LOOK AT IF YOU FEAR SPIDERS. Everyone else, here are cool looking spider photos.
- Do you like photography? You'll probably like these.
- Oh yea, we're getting real eclectic in the Smorgasbord today. The history nerd in me found this site very interesting.


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The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water.
Economic development and a growing global population means agriculture and industry are getting thirstier and water-intensive energy generation is rising to meet demand. Climate change is making water more erratic and contributing to pollution.
As societies balance the demands on water resources, many people's interests are not being taken into account.
How we value water determines how water is managed and shared. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment.
If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource.Continue reading "Valuing Water 💧: 5 Different Perspectives"


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COVID-19: FSW Resources and Support
Counseling, education, support and resources are in high demand in Westchester County during this time COVID-19 crisis. See below for the COVID-19 support we have available including virtual therapy, grocery delivery and more.
Key Support and Resources Available
- Mental Health Services: Teletherapy (therapy via phone or video) is available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and more. Most insurance accepted, including Medicaid Managed Care. Sliding scale fee available. Learn more >
- Grocery Shop & Drop: We are providing grocery shopping and medication delivery for seniors and those that are immunocompromised. Learn more >
- Essential Transportation for Seniors: Our RideConnect program takes seniors to essential medical appointments like chemotherapy and dialysis. Learn more >
- Project Hope Helpline: We are a proud provider agency of NY Project Hope, New York State's COVID-19 Crisis Counseling Program. For emotional support, education, information and links resources, please call our free and confidential helpline at 914-727-0493 or visit www.nyprojecthope.org.
Ways to Help
We are one of the first places people turn in a crisis. Please help us meet the high demand of support to our most vulnerable neighbors.
- Donate Today: Your generosity will help us provide children, seniors and families with the resources they desperately need. Donate >
- Volunteer: We are recruiting volunteers to do shopping and delivery of groceries and medication for seniors. To learn more, click here. For other volunteer opportunities, click here.
- Create: Please send artwork, cards and letters to those in quarantine. Learn more >
Please stay connected with us for updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagr


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About us
Integra-A Ltd. Has been successful on the Bulgarian market since 1993.
The company is a distributor of two-way radios communications equipment and accessories – hand-held, mobile and base two-way radios, marine and air-band radios, license-free radios, receivers, cables, power-supply units, microphones; specialist police equipment.
We are representatives of leading manufacturers such as:
HYTERA – professional digital and analogue two-way radios
ICOM – the renowned Japanese two-way radios equipment manufacturer of professional, air-band, satellite, marine and amateur radios
YAESU - a pioneer in the amateur radios and marine equipment
Apart from the above, Integra-a also deals with many world-known companies:
Vertex-Standard – Motorola – Analogue and digital two-way radios equipment
Sepura – Tetra radio equipment and accessories
AOR – professional broad-band radio receiver equipment and accessories
TYT – Analogue and digital two-way radio equipment
Amphenol Procom – Duplex filters, diplexers, base and mobile antennas and accessories
Scan Antenna – Base and mobile antennas, duplex filters and accessories
Sonic Communications – Covert professional earpieces and microphone solutions
Our radio engineers have undergone specialist training with the manufacturing companies and they periodically visit seminars for mastering new developments in the field. The company employees visit annual exhibitions world-wide to master the new tendencies on the market. We offer warranty and post-warranty service to all equipment delivered. We deliver turn-key radio systems. We aim to offer specific solutions to different customers, depending on their needs.


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Tuscany wine tours | Lucca wine tour |Chianti wine tour | Bolgheri wine tour | Colli Pisani
Chianti wine tourFull day tour in Chianti Classico DOCG area: hilltop villages, castles, wineries and vintage wines
Chianti wine tour 1
Castello di Verrazzano
Chianti wine tour 2
...tasting "Chianti" wines
Hilltop castels, stone farmhouses, vineyards following the undulating land: this is Chianti. Here, everything tells enchanting stories about illustrious men and never ending passions, such as the homonymous precious wine, produced in this territory since centuries: Chianti was the first grape growing and wine producing area in the world to be determined by an official proclamation, made by the grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici in 1716. Many famous wineries, such as Castello di Verrazzano, Castello di Fonterutoli, Castello di Brolio, Badia a Passignano, welcome you to their ancient noble manors with wonderful views of the country, where you can sip good wine and taste the excellent local gastronomy. Greve, Gaiole, Castellina, Radda, are just some of the picturesque villages of the Chianti region, rich in art and traditions and caracterized by a high quality of life. Just outside their walls, you can enjoy views on the surrounding counryside: vineyards, fields of sunflowers, woods and unforgettable landscapes.
Badia a Passignano
Castello di Fonterucoli
Chianti farms tour
Prices and details
A typical Chianti wine tour offers you the possibility to visit some famous historical wineries, where you can both explore the world of wine and discover pieces of unknown history.
1)Castello di Verrazzano & Castello di Fonterutoli
During this tour you will visit two famous ancient wineries of the Chianti area (where wine is made since centuries), where you will be able to "touch" the Chianti wine history! Castello di Verrazzano was an etruscan then a roman settlement before becoming the property of the Verrazzano family in the VIIth century. Giovanni da Verrazzano, who discovered the bay of new York and the main part of the east coast of America, was in fact born here in 1485. The "vineyards situated in Verrazzano" are mentioned in a manuscript which dates back to 1170 and is preserved at the abbey of Passignano!
Tour details
- The car driver will come to pick up you from your accommodation at 8.00 a.m.
Chianti wine tour 1 Price starts from € 00,00
2)Castello di Verrazzano and Badia a Passignano
Another tour during which you will visit ancient and prestigious wineries!
Tour details
- The car driver will come to pick up you from your accommodation at 8.00 a.m.
Chianti wine tour Prices starts from € 00,00 PRICE INCLUDE ALL: PICK-UP AT YOUR ACCOMMODATION, MINIVAN MERCEDES + DRIVER, GUIDED VISIT TO VERRAZZANO ESTATE, LUNCH COUPLED WITH WINES TASTING AT VERRAZZANO CASTLE, VISIT TO GREVE IN CHIANTI, VISIT TO TENUTA BADIA A PASSIGNANO OF ANTINORI, VINTAGE WINE TASTING.
3)Chianti farms guided tour
The first stop of this tour is the little stone village Castello of Montefioralle, for a short walk on the circular main street and for a great view of the vineyards.
You will visit Greve in Chianti, the main town of the Chianti region, stopping in the famous Macelleria Falorni, an historical butcher with an incredible display of pork and wild boar hanging in full view from the ceiling, where you will discover how the typical Fiorentina steack is made by a special part of Chianina cow and will be impressed by a huge quantity of gourmet products: cheeses (kept in the ancient historical basement), salami, sausages, mushrooms, wines, etc...of course, you will be able to do shopping!
For lunch, our driver will bring you to the friendly Fattoria di Montagliari, a typical Chianti farm, where Mamma Bruna will cook her traditional Tuscan family dishes! You will leisurely dine on the outdoor terrace with a wonderful view of the countryside!
After lunch, Davide, the owner, will introduce you to the world of wine: a mini course on wines, balsamic vinegar and vin santo production.
The remainder of the afternoon, our driver will be pleased to discuss with you about what to do: perhaps a visit to a village or to another winery...You will be free to decide!
Chianti wine tour Prices starts from € 00,00 PRICE INCLUDE ALL: PICK-UP AT YOUR ACCOMMODATION, MINIVAN MERCEDES + DRIVER, GUIDED VISIT TO VERRAZZANO ESTATE, LUNCH COUPLED WITH WINES TASTING AT VERRAZZANO CASTLE, VISIT TO GREVE IN CHIANTI, VISIT TO TENUTA BADIA A PASSIGNANO OF ANTINORI, VINTAGE WINE TASTING.
All our tours are driven by licenced drivers with top class Mercedes minivans ().
*The wineries we propose to visit during our wine tours may change according to their
Not Ordinary Ways is part of Cicloturismo in Toscana T.O. - via Elisa 28, 55100 Lucca - ©2007-2010 All rights reserved.


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Let's get one thing clear: despite all the noise that's been made, there's never been a real threat against free speech at Canadian universities.
No topics have been banned and no departments have been silenced for covering a specific issue. What has happened is justified pushback against irresponsible ways of discussing issues. For example, take the Wilfrid Laurier incident, where a teaching assistant, Lindsay Shepherd, showed a video to her class as if it was just another piece of information.
Yet it wasn't. It was a debate about whether or not to respect pronouns of trans and non-binary students, a debate that included Jordan Peterson, who insulted and marginalized those students. That Shepherd presented the video as if both sides had equal merit and felt neither side needed contextualization not only lent legitimacy to the marginalization done, but sent a silent message to trans and non-binary students in that class that their very identity is up for debate.
Those who see academia as aloof from issues of social justice have confused freedom of speech, dissenting opinions, justifiable dissent, and constructive discourse. Any society built around free speech ought to let you hold and verbalize your own opinions, so long as they don't cause injury (mental or physical) to others. This means you can dissent on clearly accepted things in society, much like flat-earthers are allowed to dissent from the obvious proposition that the earth is round.
However, there's a difference between dissenting opinions and justifiable dissent. That's why we don't dedicate time or space to flat-earthers in academic discourse, because their views are scientifically unjustifiable. In a similar way, universities and student bodies should be able to reject unjustifiable opinions since they don't lead to constructive discourse. This should apply to people like Peterson, seeing as his views on trans* and non-binary folks, as well as women, have already been debunked through research disproving biologically deterministic views of gender identity. In situations like the Wilfrid Laurier incident, people like Lindsay Shepherd should be held accountable for presenting Jordan Peterson as if he was non-problematic, rather than as someone who's actively advocating to continue oppressing a marginalized group.
It hasn't been the case that applications of hate speech limitations on free speech have caused "a great deal of confusion." The issue is that there is a good number of folks actively trying to portray free speech limitations as if they are confusing, in order to open up debate around curtailing hate speech restrictions. Take for example the solution that we should draw the speech restriction line at violent speech. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but the issues with groups like the KKK or neo-nazis aren't solely about direct physical or verbal violence. These groups also inflict tangential or indirect harm through acts such as large-scale gas-lighting, spreading misinformation, dehumanization of minority groups, and otherwise working to undermine the rights of others.
Imagine that the Ku Klux Klan changed their slogan to "we don't want to hurt black people, we just think they're all lesser and should leave." That would still be fairly problematic despite not being "violent speech."
In the end, the issue isn't that dissent and free expression are under attack on campuses. It's that folks dislike having to be responsible for the implications their views have for other people. Ontario's universities aren't hovering on the brink of becoming opinion echo chambers. They're as vibrant and full of discourse as ever, and therefore don't need policies to ensure the protection of free speech.


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Two years have passed since Oklahoma's Flaming Lips last graced us with an album, with the last arriving in the shape of 'Oczy Moldy.' Calling anything the Flaming Lips do 'offbeat' at this point is a complete redundancy, but some of the criticism they received for that release doesn't seem to have stung them in the slightest. If anything, they've only become more obscure and experimental.
The Flaming Lips are, of course, anything but a band of young up and comers. They've been with us since the late 1980s and should by rights be settling into middle age comfortably, and sitting back on their riches. That isn't really the way of this band, though. While high-art concepts and openly pretentious visual and musical ideas are usually the preserve of the young, the Flaming Lips are still showing bands half their age how to employ such notions effectively. Make no mistake; they're still as weird as they ever were. If you were in any doubt about that fact, we'll submit the fact that the entire album is narrated by Mick Jones from the Clash as evidence to support our case.
This latest album, entitled 'King's Mouth' arrived on Record Store Day (which has now become an international celebration of new music, and our favorite day of the year), and it finds the veteran band doing anything but playing safe. The core elements of their identity are here, from the soaring synths to the 'acquired taste' vocals from Wayne Coyne, but they're once again arranged in a completely new order. It sounds a little lo-fi in places, but this is unmistakably a brand new sonic landscape of the type only the Flaming Lips can create.
Before we get to the content of the music, we should talk about the title. It comes from an art exhibition created by Coyne himself. Coyne, for those who don't know, is an accomplished surrealist artist who's been exhibited all over the planet. The art was created to be – by Coyne's standards at least – more accessible than his previous work. That tone is reflected in the music. This is a Flaming Lips album you could play to a non-fan, and find that they may actually like it.
That tone of inclusivity is set from the album's opening track 'We Don't Know How And We Don't Know Why,' which wouldn't sound out of place on mainstream radio – a charge you couldn't really level at anything on the previous album. Yes, it's psychedelic. Yes, the narration of Mick Jones and his tale of a Queen dying in the process of giving birth to her successor is decidedly odd, but the rhythm and hook are melodic and encapsulating. If there's one thing we've consistently found about the Flaming Lips, it's that they can make sad ideas sound somehow life-affirming, and this is Exhibit A.
As this is a concept album, we came into it expecting to hear the band explore different genres and variations on tempo, and we haven't been disappointed. Despite that, certain narratives surface again and again; we deal on the seldom-explored-in-music topic of infant mortality in 'Giant Baby,', which contains the lament "One night, I saw your face up in the sky, in a cloud across the moon, it made me cry, I could see my mother as she died. In my head and in my hands, in the dirt and in the land, and it made me understand that life sometimes is sad". As we're still processing that, we're jerked into the almost anthemic slow-rock-swagger of the absurdly titled 'Feedaloodum-Beedle-Dot.'
It's at this point that you're forced to sit back and consider what genre The Flaming Lips truly belong to. While it seems like anyone with a guitar gets classed as 'alternative rock' these days, lumping virtually any 'alternative rock' band into the same category as the Flaming Lips is insulting to both bands. They're entirely unique, and yet they've exhibited the same staying power as stadium-rock acts like Guns n' Roses. Both bands have the same 'rock' labels placed on them, and they've existed side-by-side for the same duration of time, but comparing the two would be absurd. Guns n' Roses are a rock and marketing machine, with a merchandising arm so enormous that they even have their own online slot game at Lion Wins. The idea of the Flaming Lips doing anything like that is utterly absurd; although we'd love to see Coyne invited to design such a game. We imagine it would contain reels made of song, and jackpots paid out in ennui. If he ever reads this review, we hope we've just given him an idea.
The album's one constant comes in the shape of Jones, and perhaps the genius of his presence is that he doesn't need to be there at all. Anyone could read Jones' words, but knowing that it's Mick Jones speaking somehow adds to the experience. We won't spoil the experience for you, but Jones is there to connect the ideas between the songs for you, and provide some context to the lyrical and musical labyrinth. Consider him your guide in a journey to the ethereal.
If the intention of Coyne and the band was to create an album that will welcome new listeners into the Flaming Lips fandom, they've probably failed. Try as they might, they can't escape who they are – a delightfully weird gang of artists who at times seem to masquerade as a band. You're no closer to knowing what's truly going on inside their minds at the close of the album's last track 'How Can a Head' than you were at its beginning, but if you're a fan, you'll have enjoyed the ride nonetheless.
Regrettably, if you didn't pick up a copy of the album on Record Store Day – when it launched with a limited run of 4,000 copies – you'll be waiting a while. The 'real' release will come in July, both in physical and streaming formats. Make a note in your diaries, and clear some time to sit down once again for a date with music's great unknowables.


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I think I have less value to add when things are going great. Lately things have been busy and I have focused more on other things. Also, when things are doing great, I do not see a need for me to be a cheerleader for uranium. After this week, I think it is timely for me to write another post.
When things are not great, I find it more helpful to focus on strategy and conviction rather than the everyday movement in the underlying companies. That is why I myself have used articles like "Would You Have Made a Fortune in Uranium?" to prepare already.
The Ghost of Fukushima
This week we have seen an article with the sensational title «US assessing reported leak at Chinese nuclear power facility» from CNN on 14. June. This was shared around a lot on Twitter, and for some uranium investors the ghost of Fukushima made them sell down some of their positions. (This article was not in a vacuum. Other commodities also sold down with other news. I am just following uranium the closest. Afterwards this article has been debunked as a non-story). I think Nick Jones @Grainjones made a great call on 13. June. He said that the sentiment in the uranium sector was very positive. With everything so positive, we were almost looking for a reason for a correction.
I have not checked the value of my portfolio once this week. I have been very busy at work, and a glance at my Twitter news feed has told me all I need to know. I do not need to check my portfolio going to red for more confirmation. I know it is down by a lot. Bigger drawdowns are scenarios I have been prepared for. The companies in my portfolio are not for sale for a long time, so why would I want to know what people are offering for them at the moment? If I am not seeing my positions being a good value in a year's time, I would look for new prospects. These are not "set it and forget it" positions (something I do not believe in anyway), but the exit triggers are not showing themselves on the horizon yet.
I still believe in a coming bull market for commodities and uranium. The uranium bull market does not have to go as far, or as high, as the last one. I think my heavy weighting to the sector will see me well rewarded by the time we hit $60.
If this is a short correction, or a longer consolidation period like we have seen the last year in gold, remains to be seen. We also have "Murphy's law" that says: "Anything that can possibly go wrong, does." Even though I like the Interstellar explanation better: "Murphy's law doesn't mean that something bad will happen. It means that whatever can happen, will happen."
This is very close to something one of my track coaches always told his athletes. "Anything can happen, anytime." (Maybe it does not work as well as a translation). He told us this so that we would not be afraid to try to break boundaries. There are still possibilities for bad news that kills our investment thesis entirely. There are also possibilities for more positive news than we dare to imagine. This can make the upside bigger than many of us are expecting. I still have my chips at the table. I am not yelling "buying opportunity", but I am not close to selling.
For my part I do not see us close to any target price for uranium. Some of the mines on care and maintenance will come back online around $45. However, we will need more than the care and maintenance mines back online to supply the market. I am also excited to see what Sprott (and YCA) will be able to do with the spot price when they start their buying later this summer.
We see a lot of positive news flow for the sector that implies higher demand for uranium in the future. Almost every week we see announcements for reactor restarts or for new plants proposed. Black Swan events are the only scenarios I see stopping this development.
Yes, there is an abundance of supply of uranium in the world. It is however not readily available for everyone at a price under $40. Some commodity investors think uranium mines can come online quickly to meet this demand. We will see, most of us know that getting any mine online is not done by a flip of the switch. In addition, the fuel cycle takes about two years from the ground until it gets in the reactor.
Our more technically inclined investors have said that some of the charts have been stretched lately. This correction therefore will get the price of the shares closer to the 50 and 200 day averages. (In many instances we are under the 50 day average). Nothing goes up in a straight line.
Again, nothing says the correction has to stop here, and we can't go further down, but we are at least digesting gains from the last couple of months.


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Porsha Stewart, housewives and 'Shahs' attend the "Bravo Upfronts"
After receiving devastating divorce news, a real Housewife of Atlanta stepped out for her first post-breakup appearance. Porsha Stewart who's been a hot topic of discussion for her impending split from Kordell Stewart, attended Wednesday's "Bravo Upfronts." The annual event announced the network's upcoming programming including Phaedra Parks' new show "Rich People's Problems." It details her life as an attorney to the wealthy which she celebrated alongside Kandi Burruss and "Millionaire Matchmaker" Patti Stringer.
The New York city event was packed wall to wall with reality stars including the Real Housewives franchises from Atlanta, Miami and Beverly Hills. As well as Mercedes MJ Javid, Mike Shouhed, Asa Soltan Rahmati, Reza Farahan, Lilly Ghalichi and Golnesa GG Gharachedagh of "Shahs of Sunset" fame.
Check out your favorite reality stars at the "Bravo Upfronts" below. -danielle canada


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There's a lot visitors like about Legian, especially its beaches and restaurants. Collect beach glass at top spots like Kuta Beach and Legian Beach. Popular sights like Seminyak Square and Seminyak Beach are sure to leave an impression.
Legian's Legian City-Centre neighborhood is known for its bars and monuments, and entices visitors with attractions including Kuta Beach and Legian Beach.