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Research Interests
My research interests are in the fields of micro development and econometrics, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Uganda). My main areas of interest are:
- Agriculture (mostly on technology adoption)
- Mobile money (e.g. M-PESA) or more generally financial access (including credit markets and insurance)
- More recently, political economy, including some work on slums and urbanization
Published Papers
"Selection and Comparative Advantage in Technology Adoption", Econometrica., 79 (1), pp. 159-209, January 2011.
NBER Working Paper #15346; EGC working paper version; Web Appendix Tables
Teaching slide deck for this paper
"Risk Sharing and Transaction Costs: Evidence from Kenya's Mobile Money Revolution", with William Jack, January 2014, American Economic Review, 104 (1), pp. 183-223.
Press: MIT News; Wired; Slate; Business Week; Voxeu; The World.
Blogs: Freakonomics; FTAlphaville.
Resources: Slide Deck (2010); "The Economics of M-PESA"; Latest Data; Web Appendix
Teaching slide deck for this paper
"The Economics of Slums in the Developing World", with Benjamin Marx and Thomas Stoker, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 27 (4), pp. 187-210, 2013.
Press: The Economist; The Atlantic Cities; Economist Blog; Bloomberg
"Endogenous Emergence of Credit Markets: Contracting in Response to a New Technology in Ghana", with Rahul Deb, January 2012, Journal of Development Economics, 101, pp. 268-283.
"Transaction Networks: Evidence from Mobile Money in Kenya", with William Jack and Adam Ray, January 2012, American Economic Review, Papers and Proceedings, 103 (3), pp. 356-361.
"Documenting the Birth of a Financial Economy", with William Jack and Thomas Stoker, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 2012.
"Monetary Theory and Electronic Money: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience", with William Jack and Rob Townsend, Economic Quarterly, Volume 96 (1), First Quarter, 2010.
"Paths to Success: The Relationship Between Human Development and Economic Growth", with Michael Boozer, Gustav Ranis and Frances Stewart, World Development, 39 (4), 506-522, 2011.
Working Papers
"The Perils of Building Democracy in Africa", with Benjamin Marx and Vincent Pons.
Survey instrument for field experiment here and project description here
"Diversity and Team Performance in a Kenyan Organization", with Benjamin Marx and Vincent Pons. Working Paper Coming Soon.
"There Is No Free House: Ethnic Patronage in a Kenyan Slum", with Benjamin Marx and Thomas Stoker.
"Strategic Voting in the Kenyan Election", with Eleanor Wiseman. Working Paper Coming Soon.
"Agriculture Technology and Nutrition in Sierra Leone", with Rachel Glennerster. Working Paper Coming Soon.
"Expanding Access to Micro Credit: The Role of Asset-Collateralized Loans", with William Jack, Michael Kremer, Joost de Laat. Updated Draft Available Soon.
Project Description here
"Rural Roads and Intermediated Trade: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Sierra Leone", with Lorenzo Casaburi and Rachel Glennerster.
Videos: treatment road (with a bridge); control road (with a bridge); another control road
"Estimating the Extent of Local Risk Sharing Between Households" (previously titled Spillovers in Village Consumption: Estimating the Extent of Partial Insurance), July 2011.
"Household Information: Implications for Poverty Measurement and Dynamics", with Michael Boozer and Markus Goldstein.
Projects in the Field
"Electing to Vote: Strengthening the Credibility of the New Kenyan Electoral Institutions", with Benjamin Marx and Vincent Pons. [Project Description here]
"Powering Small Business: Understanding the Impact of Solar Energy Under Different Pricing Schemes", with William Jack.
"The Role of Mobile Banking in Expanding Trade Credit and Business Development in Kenya", with William Jack and Chris Woodruff. [Project Description here]
"Promoting the Adoption of New Rice Varieties: Addressing the Costs of Early Adoption", with Rachel Glennerster. [Project Descriptions here and here]
"Diffusion of Technologies Within Social Networks: Evidence from a Coffee Training Program in Rwanda", with Esther Duflo and Daniel Keniston. [Project Description here]


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WEATHERSFIELD - Crews worked late into the night Friday cleaning up an oil spill on the Mahoning River.
"I've been with the HazMat team for 15 years and this is the biggest spill I have seen," said Jason DeLuca, interim chief of Trumbull County HazMat, about the spill that originated at a Warren Township coke plant.
DeLuca said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was setting up booms to trap the oil as far south as V&M Star in Youngstown. He wasn't sure of the volume of oil involved but said it covered a wide area.
Article Photos
Tribune Chronicle / Margaret Thompson
A worker from Shafer Industrial uses a vacuum to remove oil Friday afternoon near the ArcelorMittal plant in Warren Township. The spill was blamed on a water-oil separator that failed at the plant.
"They needed to get to a point that hadn't been contaminated yet in order to stop the flow south," DeLuca said. "That's really why I say I haven't seen one like this before. It isn't so much the volume of oil, because we don't know that yet, but how far and fast it has moved."
The spill was reported to the Niles Fire Department about 1:30 p.m. by someone on the bike path. Fire Capt. Todd Thomas said he sent two men out on a four-wheeler to check the river, where they confirmed the presence of oil.
Thomas said they contacted the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency and HazMat and traced the source upstream to the ArcelorMittal plant off Main Avenue in Warren Township. According to Weathersfield fire Chief Randy Pugh, a water-oil separator failed at the plant, allowing oil to flow into a nearby stream and the Mahoning River.
Calls to ArcelorMittal - which converts coal into coke for the steel-making industry - were not immediately returned Friday.
By about 2:30 p.m. Trumbull County HazMat set up camp where the river passes under West Park Avenue in Weathersfield, about two miles downstream from the plant. Crews from the Lordstown Fire Department and Mahoning County HazMat also were on the scene as workers used absorbent booms to gather the oil.
In addition to the booms, workers with cleanup company Shafer Industrial were vacuuming oil from where the separator failed.
"It's a strong current, it's carrying it like crazy," DeLuca said.
By 5:30 p.m. Pugh said that the source had been stopped. However much of the oil that escaped was already a distance down the river.
"We're working on each piece of the puzzle, little by little," DeLuca said.
Niles residents Susan Wolfe and her sister, Wendy Emmer, noticed the spill about 5 p.m. while walking down the bike trail in Niles.
They were walking with their grandson and nephew along the river and said they stopped to look for turtles and other wildlife, but it wasn't until they strolled by the river again later in the day that they noticed the slick sheen of oil flowing downstream.
"It wasn't like that before," Wolfe said. "I'm really shocked."
Cleanup is expected to continue today.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, May 8, 2014
CHARLESTON- The Musical Theater Center (MTC) is proud to present, Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr., May 24th at The Charleston Music Hall. This show based on the zany musical that took Broadway by storm, and is a high-spirited musical romp that has all of New York dancing the Charleston!
This energetic musical production arranged by Musical Theater International (MTI) features a seasoned all-kid cast ranging in ages from 9-15 years old. Tickets are available now for two performances on Saturday, May 24th at 3:00 and 7:00. Tickets are $20 for Adult and $15 for Students w/ID. These tickets can be purchased by liking Musical Theater Center on Facebook or check out ShowTIX4U.com
In the fast-paced 1920s, Mille Dillmount from Kansas moves to New York City to find a new life for herself and to marry a rich man. She samples the "thoroughly modern" flapper life, makes friends, and finds unexpected romance in this stage version of the 1967 film musical. Filled with fun flappers, dashing leading men and a dragon-lady of villainess audiences will love to hate, Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. is a perfectly constructed evening of madcap merriment.
Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. features the Senior Company from Musical Theater Center who receive conservatory training in ballet, jazz, tap, vocals, and acting, in addition to rehearsing for the show. Talent runs deep with this group, who shine at delivering polished, professional level productions that will delight audiences of all ages!
Musical Theater Center is the non-profit division of Once Upon a Ballet. Allyson Lewis is co-founder of The Musical Theater Center, along with director Courtney Sarre, and producer of Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. MTC shares the joy of children's theater through free public performances which include visits to nursing homes, and participation in community events and fairs. MTC also works with the Charleston Public School District by bringing performances to individual schools, thereby allowing all children to experience the joy of live theatre, regardless of financial capability. Musical Theater Center inspires the community through powerful and exceptional stage productions made up entirely of child actors, including enhanced design backgrounds, costuming, make-up, and strong leadership.
For more information visit our website at http://www.once-upon-a-ballet.com, on the Musical Theater Center Facebook page, or by calling the studio at 216-6671. Check out all of the exciting classes and camps we have to offer that will inspire your child!
© 2016 Moultrie News an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


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Tia Juana's Mexican Cantina is easy to spot from its upstairs location at the entrance to Kaanapali. So is its partner, Donavon Frankenreiter's Margarita House, situated below.
Both have been rockin' diners with their south-of- the-border cuisine for lunch (Donavon's) and dinner (both) since they opened Sept. 18. Now, you may also enjoy breakfast.
"Tee it up at Tia Juana's," says owner Robert Diehl, who owns a 10,000-square-foot establishment with the same name in Irvine, Calif. "We're now serving the golfer's special in the downstairs Margarita House Saturdays and Sundays.
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photos
"Everything here is fresh," says Brad Prescott, general manager. "We make all of our own sweet and sour mix for the margaritas. It explains why it all tastes so good."
On weekends starting at 7 a.m., golfers may drive up to the taco window, and order freshly brewed coffee and breakfast burritos for $7.95.
Or dine in and check out the amazing collection of albums, eight-tracks, recording devices, guitars and surfboards. The Huevos Rancheros is a crispy tortilla tower with refried beans, rice and eggs "over easy," all topped with salsa ranchera, sour cream and slices of fresh avocado.
"In a couple of weeks, we'll start serving breakfast seven days a week," says General Manager Brad Prescott. "Right now, we serve lunch and dinner from 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. I modeled our Baja fish tacos off an authentic recipe from a taco cart in San Felipe, Mexico. They are soooo good."
For more details, call Tia Juana's at 667-4080.


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Bees swarm trash can on Stearns Wharf
Pest control called in
POSTED: 06:56 PM PDT May 03, 2013
A swarm of bees found their way to a trash can along a busy walkway on Stearns Wharf this morning.
The area was closed off with yellow tape while a pest control worker was called in.
No one was hurt.
The walkway remained open, but some people moved through noticeably fast.
Copyright © 2013 KEYT - NPG of California, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Advice From Google Insiders On How To Be A Great Manager
Google is run by engineers, but it still needs a lot of people to manage the teams and make sure things are running smoothly.
Enter the product managers — a batch of executives who sit between the top brass and the teams for each product like Chrome or advertising.
A few former Google product managers and engineers have chimed in on Quora about what makes a good product manager at the traditionally engineer-centric company.
Since it's a company as well run as Google, you should probably take note — a lot of them are just best practice for any tech company.
Here are the top traits of a Google product manager >> »
Comments on this post are now closed.


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Frederik Bjerre Andersen
Frederik Bjerre Andersen is a Danish poet and "word artist." Hovedpersonen (The Main Character, 2010) marked his literary debut, though he has been a mainstay in the Danish poetry scene for the majority of the past decade. His writing has appeared in various anthologies and poetry journals in Denmark.
» Visit Frederik Bjerre Andersen's Website


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THREE representatives from the Clonakilty Chamber of Commence who were all victims of the recent flooding in Clonakilty, were accompanied by the Town Mayor Cllr Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, when they attended Cork County Hall yesterday to lobby councillors and officials for assistance to put the town back on its feet.
Ger Harte, owner of Eurospar and the nearby Courtyard businesses; Robert Walsh of Walsh Printers and Con O' Neill of O' Neill's Sports are part of a new Flood Group within the Chamber of Commerce.
The delegation met with the Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour groupings before the full County Council meeting at 11am.
They impressed upon the councillors the urgent need for money and human resources in the form of 'men on the ground" to expedite the urgent repairs in the town and surrounding areas, and also the requirements to put in place both freshwater and tidal flood defence structures.
Cork County Council also published report into last month's flooding across the county which noted that a striking feature of all three worst affected areas, Clonakilty, Douglas and Glanmire, the short and steep nature of all three catchment areas.
This, the council said, combined with the already saturated ground conditions and the heavy rain on the night, was a major contributory factor to the flooding.
The report said that two flood warnings were issued by Met Éireann at teatime on Wednesday, June 27th, warning of torrential and possibly thundery downpours of up to 70mm, leading perhaps to localised flooding.
The report says these warnings were passed on to the appropriate staff within the local authority, according to the Council's standard procedures and their flood response plan was activated at 4.09am on June 28th.
Festival donates merchandise profits
Despite recent floods Clonakilty is well and truly open for business and more alive than ever with a number of events going ahead as planned in the town including the annual Clonakilty Waterfront Festival, the town's biggest annual event.
Mayor Ó Súilleabháin said, "The community effort has been amazing with a huge amount of volunteers helping those affected and is a big reminder of why our town is such a popular tourist location."
The festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend has brought huge crowds to the West Cork town in the past, and organisers are confident the event will give local businesses a much-needed boost.
Kate Crowley from the festival said, "With all the festival team from Clonakilty, we understand the importance of community spirit and are delighted the festival will bring such a lift during times like this.
"All funds from the festival t-shirts and other merchandise will be donated to the Clonakilty Flood Relief Fund".
See www.clonfest.ie for more.


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Family Medicine Residency Program
Baton Rouge General's Family Medicine Residency Program is dedicated to addressing the health care needs of Louisiana by training new family physicians, contributing to the body of knowledge of family medicine and providing quality health services to the community. With a focus on prevention, health education and psychosocial concerns, the program is committed to developing health care providers who collaborate with families in preserving and enhancing complete wellness.
Balancing the art of the doctor-patient relationship and the latest science and technology, residents become providers of coordinated, comprehensive and accessible medical care to patients of all ages. The program places an emphasis on residents becoming ambulatory care experts and trains residents in effective collaboration with other clinical disciplines and segments of the community. Creating a unique learning environment that fosters individual growth and personal balance, the program is characterized by an atmosphere of collegiality, active decision making, innovation and scholarly inquiry.
Why Choose Us
Living in Baton Rouge
Resident Life
Why Choose Us
- Highly competitive compensation package for the Southeast region that includes health insurance for you and your family.
- Numerous job opportunities available in the region upon graduation.
- Affiliated with Tulane University School of Medicine.
- Six months of elective time built into the curriculum – providing flexibility based on your interests and career plans.
- Flexible maternity/paternity leave policy designed to help individuals adapt elective schedules to minimize any delays in program completion.
- Affiliated with Baton Rouge General's Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.
- Outpatient clinical training in a real world practice environment.
- Community, culture and cuisine – located along the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is the capital city of Louisiana and offers a semi-tropical climate, excellent food and a rich history.
Living in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers abounding options for shopping, dining, family-friendly entertainment and boasts an idyllic location on the banks of the Mississippi River. With a strong sense of community and a rich culture, it's no wonder our residents love to call Baton Rouge home.
From Cajun to Creole, the Capital City has a diverse selection of unique cuisine. It also offers a thriving art and music scene with regularly scheduled live performances, independent movie showings and comedy shows at the Manship Theatre. Local artists are regularly featured in gallery shows and events, such as Art Melt. Each spring, Baton Rouge hosts Bayou Country Superfest, a 3-day concert series featuring superstar performers.
The city has many opportunities to get involved through volunteer organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and professional medical organizations such as the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians. It is home to two major state universities – Louisiana State University and Southern University. You'll enjoy strolling through the majestic oak trees that decorate these campuses or taking a jog or bike ride around the beautiful lakes that surround the LSU campus.
Baton Rouge is convenient to many nearby getaways. New Orleans is just an hour away and offers world-class dining and shopping. The Big Easy is also home to the Audubon Zoo, WWII Museum, historic French Quarter, and national football and basketball teams the Saints and the Pelicans. Located four hours from Baton Rouge, Houston has an abundance of shopping, food and fun activities for all ages, including museums, amusement parks, the renowned Minute Maid Park and the Houston Zoo. Just a half day's drive away, the Alabama and Florida coasts are great options for a weekend beach trip. They offer some of the most pristine beaches in the world and adventure activities such as parasailing, jet skiing and ocean cruises.
Resident Life
- Celebrations: Holiday Party, MATCH Party, Welcome Party, and Commencement
- Tailgating at local sporting events such as LSU football games
- Annual Resident-Faculty Retreat
- Monthly Journal Club Meetings
How to Apply
US Graduates
IMG Graduates
How to Apply
Baton Rouge General's Family Medicine Residency uses the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). We will only accept electronic applications.
Applicants to the Family Medicine Residency Program must have completed and submitted the following through ERAS:
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty or practitioners with whom you have worked and who can comment on your personal and professional qualifications. One letter should come from a family physician who can directly address your potential ability to become a family physician.
- An application with a Personal Statement
- USMLE/Comlex 1 and 2 dates and scores
- Dean's letter
- Transcript
- Curriculum Vitae
If applicable, please address the following points:
- Prior participation in a residency program
- Current or prior medical licensure in any state
- Current or prior suspension or revocation of licensure
- Current or prior participation in biomedical research that has resulted in a publication or presentation
- Current or prior interruptions in your medical education
- Any aspect of your candidacy that might limit your ability to carry out the requirements of the house staff position within the time frame of the program
- Plans to participate in the couples match
Your application must be completed and received by Monday, January 4, 2016. Incomplete applications may result in delay or elimination of the pre-screening interview of an application and subsequent invitations to interview.
U.S. Graduates must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
- Significant clinical experience in a primary care setting in the U.S.
- Have a U.S. mailing address
- Time out of medical school cannot exceed 1 year
International Medical Graduates (IMG) must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
- Be ECFMG certified when applying if you have already graduated from medical school. If you're currently in medical school, you must have your ECFMG certification to start the program.
- Significant clinical experience in a primary care setting in the U.S.
- Have a U.S. mailing address
- Time out of medical school cannot exceed 1 year
Interviews will begin on Monday, October 17, 2016 and will conclude on Friday, January 6, 2017. Please allow the entire day for your interview. Part of the day will be a group tour and information session, allowing you the chance to ask questions and begin to develop a feel for the program and our personnel.
Benefits Summary
Professional Liability
Additional Benefits
Benefits Summary
Housing Allowance
Residents receive three weeks paid vacation each academic year, plus five days for approved continuing medical education leave in each of the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years. Vacation is allowed in one-week blocks only and may be prescheduled by the Program for PGY-1s. Vacation does not accrue if unused.
Excused Absences
Accumulated at a rate of 1 day per month, up to a maximum of 12 days per year. Excused absences are granted at the discretion of the program director and do not accrue.
Health Plan
Comprehensive health coverage for the resident and his/her dependents through the General Health System Health Plan - paid by Baton Rouge General. Optional medical spending account, dental insurance plan and dental discount plan can be chosen at the resident's expense.
Life Insurance
Term life insurance coverage is provided to the resident in an amount equal to annual base salary - paid by Baton Rouge General. Optional life insurance and disability benefits can be elected.
Professional Liability
House staff are covered through the Louisiana Patient Compensation Fund and General Health System's Professional Liability Plan for all duties performed as a resident - paid by Baton Rouge General.
Professional Fees
The Program pays dues for residents to belong to the American and Louisiana Academies of Family Physicians.
The Board Exam fee will be paid for each third-year resident in good academic standing during the PGY-3 year.
BLS, ACLS, PALS, NALS & ALSO will be provided or paid for (up to $150) one time during residency.
USMLE Step 3 practice test and examination fee will be
Additional Benefits
CME Fund
Each resident receives a fund, currently $1,800, from which they may draw $600 during the PGY-1, PGY-2 and PGY-3 years to support attendance at Continuing Medical Education meetings or for personal professional books, journals or materials - paid by Baton Rouge General. Approval criteria will apply to use of the funds.
Moving Expenses
New residents may receive reimbursement of up to $1,000 for actual incurred expenses - paid by Baton Rouge General.
Financial Management
Personal retirement savings funds with unique and valuable tax advantages are available through the General Health System Tax Sheltered Annuity program. Regular share savings account by payroll deduction and other savings and loan programs are available at Bayou Federal Credit Union.
Other Discounts
Residents receive discounts on prescriptions and discounts for services, programs and facilities of General Health System.
Other Benefits
White coats and laundry service are provided - paid by Baton Rouge General.
Resident Center – Located in the Family Health Center, the Resident Center is available exclusively for our residents. It includes phones, computers, TV, a shower and lockers, as well as comfortable furniture. Each resident has their own email address, plus internet access and other computer resources.
Physicians' Lounge – The physicians' lounge is open for residents to relax, privately access telephones and dictate records using the hospital's centralized dictation telephones.
Complimentary meals are available for breakfast and lunch. Complimentary meals are also available while on-call and at many conferences, as well as in the physicians' lounge. Residents will receive a discount at the hospital's cafeteria.
Complimentary covered multi-tiered parking is also provided in a secured lot conveniently connected to the hospital by a crosswalk.
The curriculum structure combines a traditional rotational approach, with an emphasis on ambulatory training.
|Block Rotations - First Year
|Internal Medicine Inpatient Service
|3 months
|Pediatrics Inpatient
|2 months
|Emergency Medicine
|1 month
|Inpatient Family Medicine - Night Float
|6 weeks
|General Surgery
|1 month
|Obstetrics/Newborn Care
|3 months
|2 weeks
|Block Rotations - Second Year
|Inpatient Family Medicine - Night Float
|6 weeks
|2 weeks
|1 month
|Pediatrics Ambulatory
|2 month
|Practice Management
|1 month
|1 month
|1 month
|1 month
|Internal Medicine Inpatient Service
|1 month
|Critical Care (ICU)
|1 month
|1 month
|Block Rotations - Third Year
|Family Medicine Inpatient Service
|6 weeks
|6 weeks
|Emergency Medicine
|1 month
|Ambulatory Medical Subspeciality
|1 month
|Sports Medicine
|1 month
|1 month
|Board Review
|2 weeks
|Surgical Subspecialty
|2 weeks
|4 months
|Outpatient Family Medicine Experience
|1 - 2 half days per week
|2 - 3 half days per week
|3 - 4 half days per week
|Total Time Spent in Each Care Type:
|Inpatient Medicine Experiences
|8 months
|Women and Children Care Experiences
|7 months
|Surgical Specialty Experiences
|4 months
|Ambulatory Medicine or Primary Care Experiences
|5.5 months
|Emergency Medicine Experiences
|2 months
|5.5 months
|Other Experiences
|4 months
Child Care
Advanced EMS
HIV Primary Care
Sports Medicine (LSU & Southern)
Rural Primary Care
Aarti Attreya, MD
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Stephanie Coleman, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Janice Dara, MD
LSU School of Medicine Shreveport
Rachael Kermis, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Cory Lemoine, DO
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Matthew Mann, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Devin Owens, MD
LSU School of Medicine Shreveport
Lorene Wiley, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Michelle Becnel, MD
St. George University School of Medicine
Audrey Billeaud, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Brian Callihan, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Monali Pandya, MD
American University of the Caribbean
Andrew Parks, MD
LSU School of Medicine Shreveport
Roxanne Varnell, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Katherine Whittaker, MD
American University of Antigua
Carita Winn, MD
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
Class of 2017
Matthew Bumgardner, MD
LSU School of Medicine Shreveport
Timothy Durel, MD
University of Queensland
Lauren LaCoste, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Edith Mbagwu, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
Daniel Naul, MD
LSU School of Medicine New Orleans
MaryAnn Sandy, MD
American University of the Caribbean
Jason Schrock, MD
American University of the Caribbean
Kristen Thomas, MD
LSU School of Medicine Shreveport
Brian Harrell, MD, CAQSMFamily and Sports Medicine Physician; Program Director
Dr. Harrell specializes in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. A native of Louisiana, Dr. Harrell is a graduate of the Texas A & M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine. He completed his residency training in Family Medicine at LSUHSC Residency at Lake Charles, Louisiana, and completed his fellowship training in primary care sports medicine at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Dr. Harrell serves as Associate Program Director for the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program as well as a faculty member with the Family Medicine Residency Program at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine.
Robert Chasuk, MD, FAAFP, CFCMCFamily Physician; Associate Program Director
Dr. Chasuk, a California native, is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego Medical School and the Family Practice Residency at State University of New York, Stony Brook. He practiced for several years with the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans where he was an active member of their residency faculty. Dr. Chasuk currently serves as Associate Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program and Graduate Medical Education at Baton Rouge General. He has been a member of the Family Medicine Residency Program faculty since 1994, and served as Program Director from June 2006 until May 2009. He heads the development of learning resources within the program and his interests include evidence based medicine and the treatment of infertility and gynecologic problems using the Creighton Fertility Care System. He and his wife, Patti, have four boys and one daughter.
Jennifer Burch, LCSW-BACSBehavioral Science Faculty
Jennifer Burch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Approved Clinical Supervisor. She was the recipient of the Title IV-E Child Welfare stipend while obtaining her Bachelor of Social Work degree and has substantial training in child welfare laws and family preservation. Jennifer received a Master of Social Work degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She has over twelve years of experience as a social worker in Baton Rouge in practice areas including administration, consultation, and direct practice. She served as a board member for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the National Association of Social Workers. Jennifer's primary areas of interest include advocacy, healthy aging, evidence-based practice, and interventions with high-risk populations.
Thomas Caton, MDFamily Physician
Thomas Caton, MD is board certified in family medicine and completed his fellowship in geriatrics. He is practicing at Family Health Center - South and is a faculty member at Baton Rouge General Medical Center's Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Caton earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean, and completed his residency training at Baton Rouge General Medical Center's Family Medicine Residency Program. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians.
Wayne Gravois, MDFamily Physician
A Louisiana native, Wayne Gravois, MD, ABFP, attended LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his Family Medicine Residency at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge. He practiced for 28 years at Zachary Family Practice in Zachary, Louisiana before joining the residency program in 2012. He currently serves as the Medical Director for the Family Health Center. Dr. Gravois served as president of the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP) in 2000 and continues to serve on the LAFP Foundation and legislative committees. He has been very active in anti-tobacco campaigns and education. In 2009, the LSU Health Sciences Center voted him AOA Preceptor of the year. Dr. Gravois is married and has one daughter and son-in-law.
Lacy Little Knowles, DOFamily and Sports Medicine Physician
Lacy Little Knowles, a native of Louisiana, received her Bachelors in General Studies from Louisiana State University and her medical degree from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She then went on to complete the Family Medicine Residency Program at the Baton Rouge General, serving as chief resident her third year. Dr. Knowles joined the residency as faculty in fall 2016 after completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine with the Baton Rouge General. She continues to serve as team physician at Louisiana State University and Southern University. She is board certified in Family Medicine.
Brian Schulte, MDFamily Physician
Dr. Schulte joined the Residency Program in 1997. He came to us from Washington D.C. where he had served as director of the Family Practice Residency Program at George Washington University. He trained at the Main-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency Program. Dr. Schulte has consulted on the development of Family Medicine in Russia and Estonia. He currently has lead responsibilities for Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. Dr. Schulte has two daughters.
Vincent Shaw, Jr., MD, CAQSMFamily and Sports Medicine Physician
Dr. Shaw, a native of Opelousas, Louisiana, received his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Southern University A&M College and his Medical Degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his Family Medicine Residency training at the Baton Rouge General Family Medicine Residency Program, and also completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Shaw currently serves as the Program Director for Baton Rouge General's Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. In addition, Dr. Shaw serves as a physician with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and was recently named Captain in the United States Army Reserve. He is a team physician for a local high school and Louisiana State University. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine.
Acting Internship/Sub-internship
Title: Family Medicine Outpatient Preceptorship
Available for: 3rd year medical students
Length of Time: 4 weeks
Description: During this rotation, the third year or senior student independently evaluates patients in the outpatient setting at the Family Health Center (FHC) and presents them to faculty members or senior residents that they are paired with. Educational opportunities also include participation in Outpatient Teaching Rounds, Morning Report and our Thursday Afternoon Teaching Conferences.
Students follow patients admitted to Baton Rouge General Medical Center's Mid City and Bluebonnet campuses under the supervision of the senior resident and rotating family practice faculty member. Students attend and actively participate in Morning Report. They are also assigned two half-days each week to see patients at the FHC, precepted by a faculty member that they are paired with.
Expectations for Honors:
This candidate is expected to distinguish his or herself by completing a short term project during the block. Past projects have taken the form of a literature review and case presentation, a health promotion/disease prevention research topic, or a Quality Improvement/Practice Management project, for example, "The Care of Asthma Patients at the FHC." Other project suggestions include writing patient education materials, videotaping a patient encounter or participating in a family counseling session.
Evaluation Process:
The rotation supervisor will conduct an end of the rotation feedback and evaluation session, which will include a review of the clerkship evaluation and forms that residents, faculty and outside preceptors have returned.
Click here to apply online.
Acting Internship/Sub-Internship
Title: Family Medicine Acting Internship
Available for: 4th year medical students only
Length of Time: 4 weeks
Description: During this rotation, the senior student independently evaluates inpatients at Baton Rouge General Medical Center and outpatients at the Family Health Center and presents them to faculty members or senior residents that they are paired with. The experience includes Morning Report, rounding with the hospital team, bi-weekly afternoon clinic sessions and weekly didactic conferences. Students will be placed on the call schedule as required by their institution or preference.
Expectations for Honors:
This candidate is expected to distinguish his or herself by completing a short term project during the block. Past projects have taken the form of a literature review and case presentation, a health promotion/disease prevention research topic, or a Quality Improvement/Practice Management project, for example, "The Care of Asthma Patients at the FHC." Other project suggestions include writing patient education materials, videotaping a patient encounter or participating in a family counseling session.
Evaluation Process:
The rotation supervisor will conduct an end of the rotation feedback and evaluation session, which will include a review of the clerkship evaluation and forms that residents, faculty and outside preceptors have returned.
Click here to apply online.
Q: What is the call schedule like for residents?We are committed to a call frequency that does not exceed every fourth night for PGY-1 house staff. Call for PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents will be less frequent, and may include some back-up call. There may be certain elective rotations that expect call at a greater frequency
Q: Do we allow moonlighting?
Moonlighting is allowed during the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years for licensed residents in good academic standing in the program, as per the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). All moonlighting will be monitored by the program Director. Moonlighting must not interfere with a resident's primary responsibilities to the program, his/her patients and his/her colleagues in the program. Prior to moonlighting, residents must be ACLS certified (and, in some circumstances, ATLS also) and provide proof of malpractice coverage. Residents will be required to register their hours and work sites with the program. Sanctioned "in-house" moonlighting within the General Health System may be offered as well at times when available. When available, this would not usually require additional malpractice coverage.
Q: What are didactics like?
Our program fosters a learning environment. Residents meet every Thursday afternoon from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. for lectures and workshops from specialists in their respective fields.
Q: What are the pay and benefits?
Please review the benefits we offer here.
Q: What is life like for residents in Baton Rouge?
Learn more about the tight-knit community we offer our residents here.
Q: Do you have a graduation cut off?
Applicants must have graduated within the past year prior to the start date of residency for both U.S. and IMG graduates.
Q: What are your USMLE/COMLEX requirements?
Applicants must pass USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and 2 CS prior to starting residency. The cut off score and minimum number of attempts varies yearly based on the applicant pool.
Q: Does your program accept International Medical Graduates?
Q: Does your program sponsor visas or accept EADs (Employment Authorization Documents)?
No. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.


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A simple outlined pattern on a household item is a perfect way to personalize an embroidered gift – whether its a gift to mom, a friend, or even to yourself! Personalized touches can be added simply and relatively quickly using different line stitches. Line stitches are used in most embroidery techniques, so whether you're going for something simple, or you're trying to make a cutwork or needlelace table cloth, chances are you are going to employ some line stitches. So here are the basic ones… Experiment with them! They aren't just for lines – they can also be used for fillings. If you have any additional uses for any of these stitches, feel free to share! And if you have any questions or corrections, post a comment – I'm all ears!
Running stitch: This is perhaps the most basic "sewing" stitch, and it can be used well for decorative effects in embroidery. This is the first stitch I teach in my embroidery classes, and even though it seems really basic, it makes for a good exercise in judging stitch length and spacing. To look "nice," running stitches need to be evenly spaced and of even length – though the space between the stitches does not always have to equal the length of the stitch! You can create different effects by using longer stitches, with smaller spaces between them. You can create a light fill with running stitch, by alternating the spacing in parallel lines, forming a kind of "brick" effect. The running stitch, when worked very small and very close together in fine thread on fine fabric, can be used for delicate vines and lines. It can also be "whipped" (explained below) to make a solid line with a rope-like effect.
Direction: For right-handers, work from right to left or top to bottom. For left-handers, work from left to right, or top to bottom. Bring the needle to the front of the fabric at A, and pull the thread through. Now, for the rest of your stitches, you can work them more quickly if you "run" them on the top of the fabric, without taking your hand to the back. Go down at B, and, using your fingers on your non-dominant hand (the one that's not holding the needle!) behind the fabric, encourage the needle to come up again at C. Pull the thread through. Work to the end of the line or curve in this manner, and try to keep your stitches straight and even! The more you practice, the easier it gets!
Whipped running stitch: The "whipped" part of this stitch is demonstrated in red. You can "whip" a stitch with a contrasting color, with the same color, or with a shade of the same color, all of which will give a different effect. The weight of the thread also determines the effect. If you are using one fine strand of floss or thread, your stitch will be very delicate. In this case, you should stitch a row of tiny, close running stitches.
Direction: Bring the needle up at the point where you began your running stitches. Take your needle down through each running stitch, passing between the stitch and the fabric, without picking up any fabric. When you reach the end of the running stitch foundation, take the needle to the back of the fabric at the same point where you ended your running stitches. Secure the thread in the usual way (by running it under the backs of your stitches) and snip. And there you have it!
Back Stitch: This is another easy outline stitch which can be used to good effect on delicate or heavy lines. This stitch is commonly used in counted cross stitch. The back stitch can be further decorated by whipping it, just like the running stitch above. The key to good looking back stitches – just like running stitches – is even stitches.
Direction: Left-handers: you're going to work left to right. Right-handers: work right to left, bringing your thread up at A, determining the length of your stitch between A and the starting point of your line. Take your needle back to B, insert and encourage it up at C (using a finger of your other hand under your work). Pull the thread through. Continue working in a backwards-forewards motion until you have completed the line. At the end of the line, take the needle down at the end of the second to the last stitch, thus forming your final stitch. On the underside of your fabric, whip the needle and working thread in and out of the stitches formed to secure it.
Outline Stitch: This stitch is a lot like the stem stitch in technique, but the outcome looks slightly different. In stem stitch (below), the individual stitches remain quite distinct, while in outline stitch, the stitches twist together, forming a solid line without clear distinction in the stitches. They kind of "twist together" and make a smoother looking "rope." I prefer the stem stitch (below) to the outline stitch, especially if I'm using it as a filling. You can use both of them as filling, by working rows close to each other, and you can achieve a nice shaded effect by switching to lighter shades as you go along. But for some reason, the stem stitch seems to work better for that than the outline stitch does. The outline stitch is great for nice, tight-looking, fine outlines. It takes curves well, so it's great for curly-q's.
Direction: For left-handed stitchers, you will stitch in the opposite direction, and keep the thread below the needle. For right-handed stitchers: outline stitch is worked from left to right, by bringing the needle up into the fabric at the beginning of the line to be covered. Put the needle into the fabric at the point that determines the length of the stitch. Without pulling through, pointing the needle back towards the beginning of the line and keeping the thread ABOVE the needle, push the tip of your needle through the fabric about halfway down the length of the stitch. Pull through. Continue in this "back and forth" manner, going forward, but always pointing the needle back towards the beginning of your work, and, for subsequent stitches, bring the needle up where you finished the last stitch. User the fingers on your non-stitching hand to encourage the needle back into the fabric. This way, you can avoid taking your hand to the back of the fabric. Try to keep your stitches even.
Stem Stitch: Like the outline stitch, stem stitch can be used to outline delicate lines, curves, and curly-q's. Unlike the outline stitch, the stem stitch produces a line of more defined invidual stitches. Like the running stitch, the stem stitch can be whipped. Stem stitch makes great stems (of course!) on leaves and flowers, as well as simple outlines on any design. Stem stitch can also be used as a thick filler, by working rows next to each other. You can add shading to your filling by changing the shade of the thread.
Direction: For left-handers, work this stitch right to left, keeping the thread above the needle (opposite of the diagram). Right-handers: Bring the needle and the thread through the fabric at your starting point (A). Take your needle down at B (which will determine the length of the rest of your stitches). Encourage the needle back up about halfway back along the stitch line, and pull the thread through. You can work directly on your stitch line, and just nudge your thread over as you come up. As you take the second stitch, the emerging
point of the needle (C) will be at the end of the previous stitch. You can reduce this distance, and only go back half the space (or even less), and elongate your stitches. You can also stitch on more of an angle (as shown in the diagram) to achieve a wider line.
Couching: another great way to achieve a neat line, as well as to fill an area. Couching is basically the stitching down of a thicker thread that is laid on the fabric, using usually a finer thread. It is an essential technique in most goldwork. But it doesn't have to be used only for goldwork! I teach my 10 – 14 year olds couching by having them fill in an area between two parallel lines with #3 or #5 perle cotton – usually in a nice, bright color – which is couched down with a contrasting bright color in a brick pattern (that is, alternating the placement of the couching thread in each line). They love the effect! Couching is used in the technique "Or Nue" (a goldwork technique) in such a way that the placement of the couching stitches determines the shading of the figure being embroidered. I have some links to examples of Or Nue on this page.
Direction: Lay your thicker thread (the thread to be couched) on your design. In some cases, you can thread a larger needle with your thicker thread and bring it up through your fabric. In other cases, you take the couched thread ends to the back of the fabric later, or not at all. Thread your needle with a fine thread. Use a contrasting color if you want your stitches to be seen; use a similar color if you do not want your stitches to be seen. If you are couching down gold or other metalics, you will want to wax your thread first. Take small stitches over the laid thread, perpendicular to it, and evenly spaced. Catch the fabric in the back at each stitch. When you fill a pattern, you usually alternate the placement of your stitches, so that, even if the couching thread is a similar color to the laid thread, you still get a kind of pleasing pattern.


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APS is again partnering with WebsEdge to bring APS TV to the March Meeting. APS TV is an on-site conference TV channel featuring a new episode daily. It is screened around the venue, as well as in selected hotel rooms.
APS TV FormatEach daily program has two features:
- Thought Leadership pieces are five-minute sponsored segments highlighting major programs and activities underway in the field.
- Conference News is a daily program of conference highlights, featuring "behind the scenes" interviews, coverage of conference events, and reactions to the day from attendees.
Watch APS TV 2015
View a selection of news highlights and featured films from last year's March Meeting on the APS YouTube channel.


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Lisa Evans, driver of pickup truck involved in fiery semi rollover, has died at Borgess Medical Center
BRADY TOWNSHIP, MI – In April, she was talking on her cellular phone when her pickup truck drifted into a front yard pond on South 36th Street.
Michigan State Police say Lisa Evans apparently was distracted again on Monday, when she ran a stop sign on the same road and caused a crash that killed Zachary C. Neal, 24, of Fulton.
Investigators said Evans, 42, of Vicksburg, was driving her 2004 Dodge pickup truck south on 36th Street at about 5:40 p.m. and failed to stop at the intersection of W Avenue, striking Neal's westbound tractor-semitrailer.
After the collision, Neal was pinned inside his semi truck, which caught fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Evans was taken from the scene to Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo and was listed in critical condition there Tuesday afternoon, MSP Trooper Brandon Davis said.
Davis, who responded to the crash Monday, said an off-duty Kalamazoo County sheriff's deputy arrived and told him he had worked the crash in April and that Evans was the same driver who ran the Dodge pickup truck in to a pond.
"He was familiar with her due to that incident," Davis said. "… According to the deputy, it was the same vehicle she ran into the pond."
Sheriff's deputies said Evans was driving north in the 11000 block of South 36th Street on April 30 when she decided to use her cellphone and ended up in the pond. Evans, who was not seriously injured, was cited for careless driving.
Davis said police are continuing to investigate Monday's crash and will be looking in to Evans' use of her cellphone in the moments leading up to it.
The trooper said that interviews he has conducted showed Evans is familiar with South 36th Street.
"Obviously, there was some type of distraction," Davis said. "… It's not like this was her first time down that road. She would commonly take 36th Street up to I-94.
"That intersection (36th Street and W Avenue) is heavily marked."
Contact Rex Hall Jr. at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter.
View Crash in a larger map


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Internet Software and Services
Company Overview of 7 Billion People, Inc.
Company Overview
7 Billion People, Inc. offers Website personalization software products. It offers MarketMaestro, which provides behavioral analytics to understand how the customers behave and why they abandon; and WebPersona that provides e-commerce marketers with previously unknown behavioral information. The company also provides WebLegend, which determines a customer's buying behavior from their clickstream and dynamically and automatically changes subsequent Web pages to provide content and layout that is relevant. 7 Billion People, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Austin, Texas.
9442 Capital of Texas Highway North
Suite 500
Austin, TX 78759-4819
United States
Founded in 2006
Key Executives for 7 Billion People, Inc.
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|"Atlantic Tele-Satellite, Inc.
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Our data partners will research the update request and update the information on this page if necessary. Research and follow-up could take several weeks. If you have questions, you can contact them at email@example.com.


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If you're stuck for quick Christmas fixes for friends and family, then check out our list of £10 treats.
Buying the latest gadgets doesn't have to be expensive, and these festive favourites are sure to delight your family as well as your wallet.
We have scoured the high street for the best sub £10 prizes.
And while we freely admit we stretched our budget in places, we think you'll agree it was worth it.
So this year take heed of our guide and put down those novelty USB cup warmers, and buy your loved ones something they really want.
SanDisk Cruzer 8GB - £9.85
Everyone needs storage, and it doesn't come much cheaper than this.
The SanDisk Cruzer is an 8GB flash drive with U3 technology built-in.
That means that you get a range of useful programs such as web browsing built into the device.
And it doesn't stop there.
The Cruzer comes from fine memory stock, offers excellent transfer rates, all for a great price.
Idisgo 512MB MP3 Player - £9.78
If you're looking for music on a serious budget then try a sub-£10 MP3 player.
There's enough room for a few albums and around 100 individual tracks.
And the benefit is that it's so small, it can be carried around easily.
It can play MP3 and WMA plus it has an impressive 8 hour battery life.
Creative Labs EP-630/A Earphones- £6.08
If your music loving friends are still using those awful supplied buds for their iPods or MP3 players then do them a favour.
Get them some decent earphones.
Creative has a good heritage in headphones, and these do a lot to cancel background noise.
This means they are better for the ears by allowing lower volume playback and are more comfortable to wear.
iPhone Screen Protector - £1.60
If your friends are seriously obsessed with their iPhone, then you may be getting a bit tired of the constant rubbing, cleaning and examining for scratches.
If this is the case then slip a pack of protectors into their stocking this Christmas.
The film is barely noticable, but saves the screen from even deep scratches, offering fantastic piece of mind.
Channel Changing Ray Gun £8.99
What kind of self respecting male wouldn't take delight in finding this gadget in his stocking?
A ray gun which changes the channel on the TV.
Useful for a joke, useful for changing the channel and even better, useful for running round the house shooting imaginary aliens when no-one is home.
Cyber Clean - £7.95
There are more germs on the average desk than on some toilets, and with all the grub, grime and spilled food, you need a way to clean up.
Cyber clean is like old fashioned silly putty.
But with a detergent built in which leaves whatever it touches germ free and squeaky clean.
Kensington WiFi Finder - £11.05
OK - so it's not under £10, but this is worth the extra £1. For the frequent traveller a Wi-Fi hotspot finder is the ideal stocking filling gadget.
There are more and more wireless hotspots popping up now, and this handy gadget helps sniff them out.
The Kensington is one of the simplest to use on the market, and is a handy key ring so it can easily clip onto bags and belts.
SanDisk 4GB SDHC Secure Digital Card - £3.41
Fill the avid photographers stocking with a 4GB SD card this Christmas.
It's a cheap and easy solution for people who constantly run out of memory on their camera.
4GB has enough room for hundreds of photos, so there's no excuse for missing that killer shot because there's no memory.
Belkin Rockstar - £8.11
If you like sharing your music, then you need the Belkin Rockstar.
It's a headphone hub which accommodates as many as 5 pairs from a single MP3 player.
It doesn't matter whether you're going on a long train ride with a group of friends, or sharing in the school playground, it's the perfect way to enjoy music.
We vote they are given out free on buses - by law.
USB Mains Charger - £5.95
More and more gadgets are now charged by USB, which isn't a lot of good when you're away from your PC, or there's no free ports.
The USB charger uses the National Grid to fill up your gadgets, no matter whether you're at home or away.
And it works for iPods too, which any user will be grateful for.
Article continues below


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Sunday, September 8, 2013
A 20-year-old girl called police because three suspects from the north area of Charleston kept calling her and calling at her.
They would either say they were coming to beat her up or call and place the phone by a speaker with loud music.
She called police. The officer who arrived viewed her call log which indicated they had called at least 20 times in just a very short period.
The officer then used the victim's phone and called one of the numbers. A female answered and when the officer told her who he was, she abruptly hung up.
At that point they turned the phone off.
The officer told the victim to have the numbers blocked through her cell phone carrier.
He then tried to call the numbers back once he was back at the station.
The suspects would answer but then set the phone down next to a speaker paying loud music.
A trespass order will be issued if police can identify the callers.
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JSA Principal Contributes for Chanukah and Year Round
Microwave and toaster ovens, fleece blankets, adult diapers, Chanukah toys and grocery gift cards are just some of the on-going gifts homebound seniors in the JCS Meals on Wheels program have been receiving thanks to Gabriela Rascovsky, Hebrew and Judaic Studies Principal at Jacobson Sinai Academy (JSA), and her husband Adolfo "Fito."
With these gifts, Morah Gaby and Fito are making sure there will no longer be seniors eating defrosted meals they cannot warm up. They have also been grocery shopping for a 95-year-old client on a weekly basis. Every month, JSA students serve lunch to seniors at a JCS Congregate Meal Site and collect food for needy families through Kids for Kosher Food Bank. As Morah Gaby said, "The school is aware of the needs of others and knows what we can do to make people happy."
Starr Stein and Daughters Make it a 'Star' Luncheon
Approximately 40 older adults who participate in our Senior Nutrition Program at the JCS Congregate Meal Site in North Dade recently enjoyed a traditional Chanukah menorah lighting, chocolate treats and personalized home-made cards created by 6-year-old Daisy and 7-year-old Jade, daughters of Starr Stein.


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6 posts tagged with Chile and chilli.
Displaying 1 through 6 of 6. Subscribe:
I'm geting in the (chilli) jam
I need some chilli jam/chutney/relish/etc recipes that ACTUALLY FEATURE CHILLIES DAMNIT as I have lots and lots of chillis of varying heat (from none to lots), but most recipes seem to actually be built around other ingredients, with just a few chillis. That will not do. I need recipes that are mostly chillis. Peppers/capsicums are acceptable substitutes, too, I suppose. Thanks AskMe!
How does one cash in on the capsicum craze?
Supposing one wanted to cash in on the growing popularity of hot sauce, chiles, hot peppers etc...where should one look to invest? Which companies selling peppers, hot sauces and other fiery foods are publicly traded? Aside from stocks, how else might one invest in the pepper market?
Flavoured Milk.
Different foods and breastfeeding - looking for real evidence. [more inside]
Hot rabbit recipe
A chilli rabbit recipe from a 'Hemphills Herbs and Spices' book. [more inside]
Tips on cooking or brewing with hot peppers.
Tell me about cooking (or better yet, brewing) with hot peppers. [more inside]
How do people eat hot peppers at almost every meal?
How do people in certain regions (e.g. Sichuan, Korea, Thailand) eat super-spicy foods at almost every meal and not be in constant discomfort? [more inside]
Page: 1


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SANDUSKY- Betty Dunn, 88, of Sandusky, formerly of Salem, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 at the Commons of Providence in Sandusky.
She was born June 6, 1924 in Salem, Ohio, the daughter of the late Clara M. Dunn and stepfather, Carl W. Dunn.
Betty retired in 1989 from the Salem News as a Lino type operator with 26 years of service. She lived in the Salem area most of her life, moving to Port Clinton in July of 2004.
Mrs. Dunn was a graduate of the Leetonia High School Class of 1942 and attended the Salem Business School. She was a former member of the Square Wheels and the "Scampers" camping group.
Her husband, Kenneth C. Dunn Sr., whom she married Nov. 13, 1943, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Bonita (Carl) Claire Dunn Steele of Port Clinton, Ohio; a son, Kenneth C. (Janice) Dunn Jr. of North Olmsted, Ohio; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012 at the Stark Memorial Funeral Home in Salem. Friends may call from Noon to 1 p.m. prior to the services on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery in Salem.
This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to the family online at www.starkmemorial.com.
(Paid obituary)


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Crystal Marie Vermillion and Donald Wayne Spillman II were united in marriage on June 26, 2010, at the Hancock United Methodist Church in Hancock, Md.
The Rev. Duane L. Jenson performed the double-ring ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of David and Patricia Vermillion, of Falling Waters. The groom is the son of Jeff and Phyllis Showe, of Martinsburg, and Donald and Phyllis Spillman, of Salisbury, N.C.
Escorted by her father, the bride wore a white strapless A-line gown with a side-draped bodice and beaded pink metallic embroidery with a chapel-length train. She carried a bouquet of star gazer lilies and pink carnations.
Maid of honor was Veronica Vermillion, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Casey Pritchard, friend of the bride, Erica Bond, friend of the bride, and Tara Barney, friend of the bride. Junior bridesmaid was Gretchen Zies, daughter of the bride. All wore silver satin gowns and carried pink carnations.
Flower girl was Jadyn Hoffman, daughter of the bride, who wore a white satin dress with a silver sash and carried a basket of rose petals.
The groom wore a black tuxedo. Best man was Robert Betts, friend of the groom. Groomsmen were Shawn Fearnow, friend of the groom, Lonnie Bishop, friend of the groom, and Patrick Barney, friend of the groom. All wore black tuxedos.
Ring bearer was Zachary Zies, son of the bride, who wore a black tuxedo. Ushers were Aaron Vermillion, brother of the bride, and Gary Easton, friend of the groom. Guestbook attendant was Kim Easton, friend of the bride.
Photography was provided by Jennifer Potter, of Falling Waters.
Flowers were done by Special Moments of Falling Waters. A reception was held at the American Legion in Berkeley Springs.
The bride is a 1998 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and is employed at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Berkeley Springs.
The groom is a 1990 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and is employed at the USPS in Martinsburg.
The couple reside in Berkeley Springs with their children.


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This past summer we had a group of engineering students travel to Kenya to help develop a safe way to get water to the village of Lela. The story of their journey will be told in Kel Wer ("to bring song" in the native Dholuo language), a documentary that will debut at OMSI in a […]
Posts Tagged 'engineering'
OSU Engineers Without Borders DocumentaryThursday, April 4th, 2013
Engineering Expo 2012Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
Engineering students at OSU had the opportunity to showcase a lot of the projects and research that goes on in our College of Engineering last Friday. There were more than 100 student built programs and each specialization was proudly represented. This event was open to the public and free. Along with the showcase of projects, […]
OSU Grad Pettit Returns to Space!Thursday, December 29th, 2011
Last Wednesday, December 21st a spacecraft took off from Russia on its way to the International Space Station. Among the three astronauts inside of the shuttle was Oregon grown Don Pettit. Don was raised in Silverton, Oregon and received a Chemical Engineering degree from Oregon State University. This is not Don's first time in space; he has been part […]
RELENTLESS: A Documentary of OSU's Global Formula Racing TeamWednesday, November 30th, 2011
Oregon State University's Global Formula Racing Team has had great success in recent years and they continue on the pursuit of international championship bids. In 2010, they won 28 first-place awards and back to back No.1 World Rankings. This team is one of its kind as it is truly a global collaboration between the U.S.-based […]
OSU Alumni involved in amazing workThursday, July 21st, 2011
da Vinci Days this Weekend!!!Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Da Vinci Days is an annual three day event in Corvallis. The festival is a celebration of creativity and innovation. It was created to showcase Corvallis' community of artists, engineers, teachers, and visionaries. There will be various musical performances, a film festival, races, and other festivities showcasing science and technology. Tickets are required to participate […]
Sign up NOW for a Spring Visit Program!Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
Whether you are a senior trying to decide which college to attend or a junior just starting the college selection process, the Spring Visit program is a great way to learn more about Oregon State University. There four program dates : Monday, February 21st, 2011, Friday, March 25th, 2011, Friday, April 1st, 2011 and Friday, […]
Engineering Pro-school application is openFriday, October 1st, 2010
The Oregon State University College of Engineering professional application is available today through November 1 (at midnight) for Winter, 2011, admission. You may find the application at: http://engr.oregonstate.edu/students/apps. -bv
OSU Named a "Best Buy College"Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Oregon State University has been named a Best Buy School in the upcoming edition of "The Fiske Guide to Colleges†for 2011. The revised and updated 2011 edition features more than 300 colleges and universities, and names 45 institutions – 21 public and 24 private – as Best Buys. These institutions fall into the inexpensive […]
Scholarship opportunity for community college studentsThursday, December 31st, 2009
Note from Dan Arp, Dean of the University Honors College (UHC): To our Community College Partners: I want to bring to your attention a new scholarship opportunity for students transferring from a Community College in Oregon to the University Honors College at Oregon State University. This opportunity is supported by a grant from the National […]
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Western USA, All North America, All South Pacific
We found 11 trips matching your criteria.
We found 11 trips matching your criteria.
Save $150 per person.
Watch for wildlife while exploring the pristine beauty of the San Juan Islands and Olympic wilderness area aboard a comfortable ship with kayaking, fresh local cuisine, and a Jacuzzi.
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This voyage links numerous historic locations on Canada's east coast, including a known Viking settlement, a French-built fortress, several remote mission locations and isolated fishing ports.
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Explore the cultural, wildlife and scenic gems of the Pacific Northwest aboard a comfortable yacht with kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and a Jacuzzi.
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Hike, kayak and enjoy Zodiac cruises through the Columbia River Gorge and savor the region's cuisine, wine and craft beer.
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Add together mesmerising coral reefs, diverse island cultures, a great variety of historical sites and you end up with one truly amazing trip of a lifetime!
Set sail from Auckland to discover islands in the immense blue of the Pacific Ocean, and explore Vanuatu archipelago's long mountain ranges, vast tranquil bays and translucent lagoons.
Embark on a unique land-and-sea expedition to discover Mayan ruins overgrown with tropical rain forest and incredible, seldom-seen reefs.
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Visit the "Galapagos of the Orient" — the Ogasawara Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; swim and snorkel in clear blue waters; and discover the volcanic the Pacific Ring of Fire.
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Experience a rare expedition on a circumnavigation and exploration of the island of Newfoundland and outlying islands in the company of great naturalist guides.
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Mesmerizing coral reefs, crystal-clear lagoons filled with tropical fish this trip is truly a snorkeler's and diver's paradise. Plus, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea have more than 1,000 living languages!
Snorkel among gentle whale sharks on an exceptional expedition that includes optimal wildlife viewing with optional diving and helicopter excursions.


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Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guid to the Transsexual Experience
Artists:Kailey, Matt
Alas, it ain't that simple--that is, just adding hormones, stirring, then coming out on the other side of gender. Fortunately, Kailey explores the complexities of the female-to-male (ftm) transition he, then 42, started in 1997. Raised in a traditional two-parent home with a stay-at-home mom, he recounts the details of his change, including chest surgery, and options open to male-to-females (mtfs) as well as the more complicated, expensive surgeries now available to ftms (whose numbers, he notes, approximately equal those of mtfs). The self-proclaimed "transman" also explores the internal changes as he deals with gender resocialization, "passing" in the initial stages of transition, blending masculine and feminine personality traits in the new persona, and navigating postchange medical care (Kailey raised some eyebrows in his gynecologist's office when arriving for his pap smear). Including a list of definitions helpful for negotiating the world of trans-speak, this book is a natural for the gender issues shelves. Whitney Scott Copyright
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Don't let it get away!
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Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of biotechnology firm Ariad Pharmaceuticals, (NASDAQ: ARIA ) surged 40% today after European regulators recommended the continued use of its leukemia drug Iclusig.
So what: The stock plummeted last month after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration temporarily suspended sales of Iclusig due to blood clot risks, so today's favorable decision by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use naturally comes as a massive relief to investors. Of course, as my Foolish colleague Sean Williams noted after Ariad's big Halloween plunge, Iclusig's potential toxicity raises plenty of uncertainty over its adoption rate going forward.
Now what: Management remains positive about Iclusig's prospects.
"The conclusions reached by the CHMP, which were announced today, confirm a positive benefit-risk assessment for Iclusig after considering the most recent safety information," said Ariad's general manager in Europe, Jonathan Dickinson. "We expect that this will provide helpful guidance for patients and health care professionals as they consider the treatment options."
So while Ariad certainly remains too speculative for average investors, today's positive news, coupled with the fact that the shares remain well off their 52-week high, make the stock an interesting opportunity for biotech-savvy Fools.
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Annie Leibovitz The Library
The world's best known photographer has interpreted four single cask variantsView Images
Library Story
Behind the Scenes
In late 2011, The Macallan commissioned the world's best known photographer - Annie Leibovitz - to shoot a creative campaign featuring Scottsih actor Kevin McKidd. This creative campaign is framed around "The Macallan. The Last Word.' and reflects a 'dayt in the life' of Kevin McKidd (Grey's Anatomy), enjoying The Macallan at different times, with different moods/occasions...


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Victim dies after gas station stabbing
Disagreement began over barking dog
Albuquerque police are investigating a stabbing that happened at a Valero Gas Station at 98th Street and Central Avenue.
Customers called 911 after they heard yelling and saw two men attacking each other, according to police. The offender reportedly stabbed the victim repeatedly.
The victim was rushed to the hospital for surgery, but died a short time later.
Police say witnesses were able to get the offender's license plate number when he fled, and Ricardo Villanueva-Cordova was identified as the registered owner of the vehicle. Homicide detectives have put a warrant out for Cordova's arrest.
Neighbors of Cordova and the victim said the disagreement started over the Cordova family's dog barking. The family believes the victim may have injured the dog intentionally, police said.
The dog was taken for emergency veterinary services and is expected to survive.
Copyright 2013 by KOAT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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1st Quarter 2014 Commentary - ASTON/River Road Small Cap Value Fund
1st Quarter 2014
It was a benign quarter for stocks with most of the major U.S. averages posting modestly positive returns, including the broad market S&P 500 Index (1.81%) and tech-oriented Nasdaq (0.54%) exchange. The only exception was the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had a slightly negative return. Fourth quarter company earnings were generally in line with (reduced) expectations and, while severe winter weather negatively affected first quarter growth, there were relatively few macroeconomic surprises during the period.
The modest returns masked an increase in volatility, however, as a number of interesting cross currents and potential trend shifts emerged. Although indicators like the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Market Volatility Index ("the VIX") ended the quarter well below their historical average, most volatility measures trended higher during the quarter. The increase was largely associated with a nearly 6% drop in stocks (as measured by the S&P 500) between mid-January and early February—the largest correction since April-June 2012. The correction was triggered by weak data out of China, coupled with growing political and fiscal concerns in a number of developing nations. While the retreat was not particularly large or unexpected, the higher trend in volatility suggests that investors may be more reactive to negative data going forward.
Lagging Small-Caps
Small-cap stocks lagged large-caps for the second consecutive quarter, with the small-cap oriented Russell 2000 Index gaining only 1.12% versus 2.05% for the Russell 1000 Index. Mid-cap stocks were the top performer, with the Russell Midcap Index up 3.53%. The relative underperformance of small-cap stocks has historically been a reliable late-cycle market indicator. Although recent underperformance is not enough to conclude that a significant reallocation is underway, according to analysis by the well-regarded Leuthold Group, "If the S&P 500 is making new highs two months from now and the Russell [2000] isn't, bigger trouble will be afoot."
Market leadership also shifted late during the quarter. In mid-March, concerns about the economy and tension in the Ukraine weighed on stocks. During her first press conference, new Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen spooked investors by indicating the central bank may hike rates sooner rather than later. This triggered a sharp correction among the high-flying momentum stocks that have led the market over much of the past two years, including the soaring biotechnology industry. Growth and high-beta (a stock's volatility relative to the Fund's benchmark) leadership also retreated in March, affecting quarter-end style and factor performance. The shift in leadership generally favored our fundamentals-based Absolute Value investment approach.
From a sector perspective, eight of the 10 economic sectors in the Fund's Russell 2000 Value Index benchmark posted positive returns. Sectors with the highest total returns included Energy and Utilities, while the sectors with the lowest included Consumer Discretionary and Industrials.
M&A Boost
The Fund outperformed its benchmark during the quarter while maintaining its exceptionally low volatility profile (as measured by both the portfolio's relative standard deviation and beta of returns). A number of factors, including strong stock selection, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, and increased market volatility aided portfolio performance.
Strong stock selection helped overcome the negative affect of the portfolio's underweight allocation to Utilities and overweight to Consumer Discretionary. Our investment style does not favor the highly regulated and capital-intensive Utilities sector, thus the portfolio tends to have little to no exposure to that area. Conversely, our style does favor consumer companies. The portfolio's "off-the-beaten-path" consumer holdings historically have only a moderate correlation to the broader index-weighted consumer groups.
Heightened M&A activity has historically been a positive catalyst for the Fund's performance. Extending a major theme from 2013, the portfolio experienced four M&A events during the period, affecting five positions (Hilltop Holdings agreed to acquire another portfolio holding, SWS Group). Although all of the transactions occurred slightly below our assessed valuations (indicating that acquirers remain very value-conscious), each was well above our cost and a premium to where the stock was trading prior to the announcement.
Most investors rightfully view market volatility as a negative influence on investment returns, but low volatility in an overpriced market actually creates challenges for fundamental stock pickers like ourselves. Stock price volatility creates discounts in valuation that allow us to establish new positions to replace those we are trimming and eliminating. Volatility has been low for several years while stock prices have moved sharply higher. As a result, the portfolio has become increasingly concentrated. Fortunately, the volatility experienced during the first quarter, particularly in January and March, allowed the Fund to establish a position in a number of attractive new investments.
Holdings in Healthcare and Materials were among the biggest contributors to relative performance during the quarter, with Myriad Genetics and Nordion boosting returns within Healthcare. Genetic testing firm Myriad reported strong quarterly results with minimal market share loss from its BRCA test and published data demonstrating its new prostate cancer test, Prolaris, is an accurate predictor of disease progression. This strengthened our belief that the company's pipeline contains several tests that could become significant future contributors, though we trimmed the position as the discount to our assessed Absolute Value narrowed. Nordion reported in-line results for the quarter but gave strong guidance for 2014. The company expects strong revenue growth in its Medical Isotopes segment due to competitor reactor outages while its Sterilization Technologies segment is projected to deliver solid revenue growth as well. Very late in the quarter, the company announced an agreement to be acquired by a private equity firm at 90% of our calculated Absolute Value.
Innophos, a global producer of specialty phosphates, was the standout in Materials after delivering a solid quarter as the ill effects of an equipment failure at the company's Mexican plant earlier in the year dissipated and product mix improved. Management also boosted investor confidence by reaffirming its 2014 outlook. We trimmed the position as it approached our Absolute Value target.
Neustar Limbo
The sectors with the lowest contribution to relative return during the quarter were Technology and Consumer Staples. Both sectors underperformed owing to poor stock selection, led by Neustar. The company is the exclusive provider of telephone number portability in the U.S. This contract represents 50% of total revenues and expires on June 30, 2015. The contract is undergoing a new bidding process that has been marked with significant delays and lack of transparency. The winning bidder was to be announced January 20, but the announcement was delayed, not for the first time, to May 6. Investors now fear that NeuStar will lose the contract in its entirety to rival bidder Telcordia. Our research suggests that NeuStar will at least retain a large portion of the contract, but have to make pricing concessions. We maintained the portfolio's position during the quarter.
Consumer Discretionary stocks Ascena Retail Group and Rent-A-Center were also among the biggest individual detractors during the period. Ascena is the operator of the dressbarn, maurices, Justice, Lane Bryant, and Catherines specialty apparel stores. In a heightened competitive retail environment, it posted flat comparable same-store sales despite strong e-commerce growth. Margins compressed from new store growth and other investments. The company believes increasing cash flow from operations in fiscal 2014 will allow the company to pay down the majority of its remaining debt from its Charming Shoppes acquisition and fund transformational initiatives that should enhance future profitability.
Rent-to-own (RTO) operator Rent-A-Center reported disappointing results and initiated 2014 guidance well below expectations, causing a sharp decline in its stock. Core same-store sales were down due to increased promotions and continued product deflation in electronics, while the company continues to face significant headwinds in its core customer base. Due to the declining core results and a loss of conviction, we trimmed the position.
Finally, the end of the quarter saw performance for the first quarter of 2009 roll off the Fund's five-year record. Investors will recall that this period represented the bottom for markets during the financial crisis and was a period when our low-beta style shined. Given the sharp rise in equities since that time, the loss of that period makes the portfolio's relative five-year performance appear particularly negative. We think this snapshot of the Fund's performance will improve somewhat later this year when the third quarter of 2009 also rolls off, a classic early cycle period during which the Russell 2000 Value led by high-beta/low-quality stocks soared. The portfolio's performance during both the first and third quarters of 2009 reflect how our Absolute Value style can significantly dampen the volatility of the broader market without accumulating significant cash or overweighting fundamentally unattractive, but highly defensive sectors such as Utilities.
Portfolio Positioning
An increase in market volatility created greater value opportunities during the quarter, which allowed us to modestly expand the number of holdings in the Fund. Eight new holdings were purchased and five sold. Among the new positions added, two were in the energy & equipment services industry (Nuverra Environmental Solutions. and PHI), while the others represented a highly diverse group of industries. The market-cap of the new purchases ranged from $215 million to $3 billion, with an average of $1.2 billion.
Among the five companies sold, four had achieved their Absolute Value price targets (including one takeover—CEC Entertainment, operator of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants). Just one holding (hair salon operator Regis Corp.) was sold due to a negative fundamental change in our outlook.
We strategically increased the positions in 18 firms, the largest of which were in Murphy USA and American Vanguard. We strategically reduced 12 positions, most of which were related to price appreciation. The two largest reductions included Big Lots and DST Systems.
The largest changes to the portfolio's sector positioning were a decline in Consumer Discretionary and an increase in Industrials. It is worth noting that the Fund's Consumer Staples exposure remains near its lowest absolute and relative level since inception. In addition, from a relative perspective, the Financials sector also remains near an all-time low while Technology remains near an all-time high. This does not represent a change in strategy, but rather our pursuing the most attractive valuation opportunities among companies possessing the required fundamental characteristics we look for—a challenging task in the current environment.
The largest new position added during the quarter was Rovi, provider of interactive program guides (IPGs or TV Guides) built into set-top boxes to cable/satellite TV operators. Rovi is strictly business-to-business (B2B) and is primarily focused on content discovery, which includes search, recommendations, cloud data services, and access to its extensive database.
Essentially all major North American cable and satellite TV providers (approximately 97%) are Rovi customers. As a result, recurring revenue accounts for more than 85% of total revenues and gross margins are greater than 80%.
Technological innovation has changed TV viewing habits as more customers are cutting their cable services in favor of over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix or Hulu, and we believe this transition represents a great opportunity for Rovi. Traditional cable providers are upgrading their interactive TV offerings to compete better with the OTT market, while Rovi has had recent success with the OTT market in signing new licensing deals with Apple, Google, Vudu, Hulu, etc. The stock was trading at a 20% discount to our Absolute Value at the time of initial purchase.
Outlook: When Will Valuations Matter?
It's a Wall Street adage that valuation alone is a poor indicator of near-term market performance. That would certainly be true of the last 12 months. We first sounded the alarm on small-cap valuations about a year ago when our discount-to-Absolute Value indicator, which tracks the weighted discount to value for the portfolio's top-20 holdings, reached a new, all-time high, entering a range historically associated with market corrections. In the 12 months that followed, small-cap stocks soared 25%, experiencing only a couple of minor, mid-single digit corrections. This past quarter, the most richly valued stocks in the market did experience a "mini-crash." However, the damage was well contained. Indeed, as of March 31, the S&P 500 Index had gone 626 days without a 10% correction—the seventh longest rally since 1930. As a recent Bloomberg article noted, "Small-cap shares tracked by the Russell 2000 Index have rallied for seven straight quarters, the longest stretch ever, sending valuations 26 percent above levels at the height of the 1990s rally."
The lesson we learned in 2013 was that it is difficult to translate a fundamental forecast into a price expectation in a world where historical fundamental relationships have been rendered irrelevant by unprecedented monetary stimulus. We suspect that valuations may not matter, at least in their historical sense, until investors believe the Fed has exhausted its ability or willingness to stimulate the economy through higher asset prices. Given the weather-related soft patch in the economy and recent comments by Fed Chair Yellen, that day may not arrive anytime soon.
In our fourth quarter commentary, we stated that earnings expectations for 2014 were too high and would likely decline in the months ahead. Although we did not consult the Farmer's Almanac in making that forecast, earnings expectations have fallen largely due to one of the worst winters in recent history. According to Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Small Cap analyst Steven DeSanctis, first quarter earnings expectations have fallen from north of 20% to just 7%. While expectations for the remainder of the year remain high, we think those numbers will also moderate as we move closer to mid-year.
We also highlighted a number of "wildcard" themes that we expected to play out in 2014, including value over growth, low beta over high, and high quality over low. Although these themes may appear self-serving (as each would support our style of investing), the expectation for each was driven by a belief that high valuations, declining growth expectations, and an aging equity cycle would lead to at least a moderate increase in volatility and investor risk aversion. While it is too early to speculate if or just how these themes will unfold, each was present during the first quarter.
As we've stated before, it is philosophically difficult for us to anticipate positive returns in the face of historically high valuations and declining growth expectations. Our year-end analysis and experience with the first quarter, however, continue to support a modestly positive outlook for the year. Although our conviction in this year's outlook is unusually low, the Fed's unwavering commitment to supporting asset prices under Chair Yellen, combined with the relatively tame inflation outlook, lead us to look beyond valuation concerns. While small cap valuations are high, certain areas of the market (such as mega cap) are less extended.
This is not a time for investors to be complacent—just the opposite. Many of the trend shifts we saw during the first quarter correspond to late cycle themes. If volatility increases, as we expect, we believe value and quality will become dominant trends, investors will become more risk averse, and the broader small-cap market will come under pressure. It is too early to tell if the recent soft patch was largely, or just partly, weather-related. We will hopefully gain more insight during the upcoming earnings reporting season and calls with management teams.
River Road Asset Management
As of March 31, 2014, Hilltop Holdings comprised 1.48% of the portfolio's assets, SWS Group – 0.60%, Myriad Genetics – 1.21%, Nordion – 2.97%, Innophos Holdings – 1.75%, Neustar – 1.82%, Ascena Retail Group – 1.87%, Rent-A-Center – 0.94%, Nuverra Environmental Solutions – 0.76%, PHI – 0.37%, Murphy USA – 1.38%, American Vanguard – 1.26%, Big Lots – 1.62%, DST Systems – 0.78%, and Rovi – 1.87%.
Note: Small-cap stocks are considered riskier than large-cap stocks due to greater potential volatility and less liquidity. Value investing often involves buying the stocks of companies that are currently out of favor that may decline further.
Before investing, consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact 800 992-8151 for a prospectus or summary prospectus containing this and other information. Please, read it carefully. Aston Funds are distributed by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC.
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Canon PowerShot D20 Review
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