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Solicitor gets three years for borrowing €900k in 'an elaborate deception'
A SOLICITOR who fraudulently borrowed more than €900,000 in mortgage bridging loans in an "elaborate and sophisticated deception" has been jailed for three years.
Mother-of-two Mary Miley (56), along with mortgage broker Noel Ryan (67), used forged documents to take out loans as part of a plan to buy and develop residential property. All the money borrowed is now gone.
Miley, of Duncairn Avenue, Bray, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sample charges under the Theft and Fraud Act between January 2006 and February 2008.
Ryan, of Ballinapierce, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty to a single charge under the same act, namely that he aided and abetted Miley.
Judge Leonie Reynolds suspended a jail term of 18 months on Ryan on condition that he fully pay back the money he stole within that time.
Miley used a false passport and driving licence to apply for three loans totalling €750,000 from Secured Property Loans Mortgages (SPL) in October 2007 and February 2008.
She also obtained a short-term mortgage from Start Mortgages of €179,100 in January 2006.
Now retired and in receipt of an old age pension, Ryan was the mortgage broker who acted as an accomplice to Miley.
Judge Reynolds said that Miley had violated her position of trust in a most reprehensible manner.
Both mortgage companies had relied on the assumption that she had provided independent legal advice to her client, had checked the veracity of the client's documents accompanying the application and had provided an undertaking to the companies that the documents were accurate.
In all cases no separate client existed. In two cases Miley had forged documents in her maiden name.
Detective Garda David Coyne, from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, told Shane Costelloe BL prosecuting, that Miley was pretending to be two different people.
In the other cases she had forged documents in other people's name. In one case she used a completely fictitious name.
For one of the loans of over €200,000, intended for the purchase of land in Clonroche, Co Wexford, the signature on the passport had been forged.
A P60 revenue document was also forged, as was the site valuation, which included a picture of a house next door.
Some of the loans taken from SPL were taken to make repayments on the loan fraudulently obtained from Start Mortgages in 2006.
Counsel described this as "borrowing from Peter to pay Paul".
Together Miley and Ryan drew down €750,000 from SPL. Ryan received €11,400 as commission.
The court heard that none of this has been repaid and the money was spent in the buying and building of development sites which the pair had hoped to sell on for profit.
Judge Reynolds said: "She (Miley) engaged in a sustained duplicity over time as part of an elaborate and sophisticated deception".
She said that there was no evidence that Miley had made any material gain or enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. The judge said that before her "fall from grace" Miley was a hard-working and well-respected solicitor.
She said that Miley suffered from anxiety and depression but that these conditions had not impeded her ability to carry out the offences.
Judge Reynolds imposed two concurrent sentences of three years' imprisonment on Miley and ordered that she receive psychiatric assessment as a matter of urgency.
Ryan brought €4,400 to court as compensation and indicated that the balance of the money he had taken would be repaid.
Irish Independent


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wikiHow to Break a Minecraft Addiction
With millions of players, Minecraft is a very addictive game. It can be very hard to break away from, and you may waste a lot of your time. But fortunately, there are ways to overcome it.
1See if you are addicted. If you are spending excessive hours on Minecraft and or the game takes up too much of your time and gets in the way of you doing things, especially blowing people off or not doing things to play Minecraft, then you may have a problem.
2Find a point when you are bored with the game. Minecraft players will every now and then come to a point where they are bored. If you're at a time when you can't seem to be entertained by Survival, Creative or by Minecraft servers, just exit the game and find something else to do. (Preferably something that isn't a video game- but it's up to you.)
3Time how long you play the game. Try and set a limit for yourself- try to cut down how long you're on Minecraft. You can do this by setting a timer on your phone, or with Parental settings on your computer that can kick you off at a certain time.
4Find other things to do. Be more social, sign up for a club or a sport, get more involved. Or play a different game.
5Delete Minecraft. If all else fails and you think it is necessary, you can delete Minecraft from your computer. You can do this by deleting Minecraft.exe as well as the .minecraft folder located in %AppData%. If you think you are tempted to download it again, you can use software to block the file from running on your computer.
Community Q&A
I'm completely addicted to Minecraft. I can't concentrate on school or any other activities. What should I do?I suggest you find the worst possible server and play on it for a week or two. Try 2b2t.org, it's full of hackers and little kids and there are no rules whatsoever.
I feel like I don't get enough time to play Minecraft. Does that mean I'm addicted?wikiHow ContributorNot necessarily. It depends on how much time you already spend playing Minecraft. If you feel like 2-3 hours a day isn't enough time, then you could be addicted. However, if you only get 20-30 minutes to play per day, then it's understandable and normal to wish for more time.
Ask a Question
200 characters leftSubmit
- You can always move your world saves before deleting .minecraft in case you want to come back to the game.
- On the PC/Mac edition, you can use the log (the window that pops up along with the game) to track your time. You can remind yourself to check the log every ten minutes or so using a timer, and the time shown at the beginning at the log (the time you launched the game) can be used to see how long you've been playing! But if you have to close and reopen the game, make a note of the amount of time played so far.
- To track your time on the Java Edition, keep the logs up. Use a timer to remind yourself to check the logs every few minutes. Look at the top to see when you started, and you will be able to see how long you have been playing!

subset: commoncrawl


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President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is preparing the first actions of his presidency, planning to lift embryonic stem cell research funding restrictions and rules which prevent international organizations that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion.
The latter rules, known as the "Mexico City Policy," were developed under the Reagan administration, revoked by the Clinton administration, and restored by President George W. Bush's administration.
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America said her organization had been communicating with Obama's transition staff almost daily. "We expect to see a real change," the Washington Post reports.
John Podesta, Obama's transition team co-chair, spoke about these changes on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.
"I would say that as a candidate, Senator Obama said that he wanted all the Bush executive orders reviewed, and decide which ones should be kept, and which ones should be repealed, and which ones should be amended," Podesta said.
Podesta characterized Bush's stem cell research policy as "probably not in the interest of our country," also naming oil and gas drilling policy and health care.
"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action," Podesta continued, "and I think we'll see the president do that to try to restore the — a sense that the country is working on behalf of the common good, that we're going to try to restore wages, give people the right kind of ways that they can build on their own lives, and when they work hard that they'll be rewarded for it."
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, responded to the reversal of the "life affirming executive orders" with a "profound sense of disappointment."
"If Mr. Obama reverses the 'Mexico City Policy,' which forbids groups that receive American aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion, it would greatly increase abortions around the world. It would also create a scenario in which American evangelicals and Catholics would be paying for abortion referrals through their tax dollars.
"If President-elect Obama reverses this policy, it would show a complete and blatant disregard for the faith values of millions of American Christians as well as expanding the violence and tragedy of abortion worldwide. America should be exporting justice and human rights not brutality and violence.
"Is this what President-elect Obama means by hope and change?"
Mahoney charged that the reversal of the ban on federal funds for embryonic stem cell research would show "a lack of respect for social justice and the deeply held beliefs of millions in the faith community."
"Embryonic stem cell research is the tragic destroying of human life and with modern breakthroughs in stem cell research is no longer needed. We invite President-elect Obama to step into the world of modern medical technology and move away from archaic barbaric medical practices."


text: Hello, I am requesting knowledgeable ideas of a reasonable price for a specific repair. I got one from a gunsmith and I thought it extremely high, but have nothing to compare it to. Your answers will give me a base of information. I want a precut and milled wooden Steven's Favorite 1915 buttstock, finish fitted and replacement buttplate installed and the stock finished to look close to the fore stock color. I can put the stock on the rifle, but it needs final fitting and finishing. What do you think a reasonable price to expect for this amount of labor? Thanks in advance for any assistance. pascal


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Hello. Could you please make some suggestions for an upscale Sunday Brunch? It can be either a buffet or served Brunch - though buffet would be nice. A view isn't important either.
We're more interested in high quality rather than food quantity and we'll ignore price for the time being. :)
Thanks for your help -


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ETC's Aircrew Training Systems awarded contract to supply United States Air Force with spatial disorientation flight trainers
For Immediate Release
SOUTHAMPTON, PA, USA, April 16, 2014 - Aircrew Training Systems ("ATS"), a division of Environmental Tectonics Corporation (OTC Pink: ETCC) ("ETC" or the "Company"), announced today that it signed a contract with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center ("AFLCMC") to provide up to four spatial disorientation flight simulators following a competitive bidding process. The AFLCMC selected ETC's GYRO IPT II (Integrated Physiological Trainer) to fulfill the requirements of their new Spatial Disorientation (SD) Training System Program. The GYRO IPT II will support the SD training requirements in the Air Education and Training Command Student Undergraduate Pilot Training syllabus. The system will expose undergraduate pilots and aircrew to typical vestibular and visual illusions found in aviation, enabling them to recognize, confirm, prevent and recover from SD. The four units are scheduled for delivery to Sheppard AFB TX, Laughlin AFB TX, Columbus AFB MS and Vance AFB OK, with installation expected to begin in the spring of 2015.
"We are thrilled to be selected as the contractor for such an important program," said Alper Kus, Vice President of ATS. "Spatial disorientation is still a major contributor to aircraft mishaps. This system will help pilots to better handle the effects of SD and ultimately lead to a safer flight environment for all aircrew."
ETC's GYRO IPT II provides pilots with a hands-on, realistic, full motion, spatial disorientation flight training experience. While in control of a simulated flight, the pilot can be exposed to a variety of selected disorienting illusions. Unlike simple disorientation demonstrators, a pilot in the GYRO IPT II has full closed loop control of the simulation before, during and after the illusion. This capability creates a fully interactive flight training environment where the pilot must maintain control of the simulator and fly through the illusion to a successful resolution during training.
This acquisition marks the fourth contract awarded to ETC by the USAF in the past five years. During 2009 and 2010, ETC was also selected to provide its Authentic Tactical Fighting System (ATFS-400) and a suite of four Altitude Chambers to Wright-Patterson AFB OH. In 2012, ETC received an additional contract for an Altitude Chamber to be delivered to the Spanish Air Force via Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
About ETC:
ETC designs, manufactures, and sells software driven products and services used to recreate and monitor the physiological effects of motion on humans, and equipment to control, modify, simulate and measure environmental conditions. Our products include aircrew training systems (aeromedical, tactical combat, and general), disaster management systems, sterilizers (steam and gas), environmental testing products, hyperbaric chambers, and other products that involve similar manufacturing techniques and engineering technologies. ETC's unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. ETC is headquartered in Southampton, PA. For more information about ETC, visit http://www.etcusa.com/.
Forward-looking Statements:
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management's expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and these statements may include terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "future", "predict", "potential", "intend", or "continue", and similar expressions. We base our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events or future financial performance. Our forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about ETC and its subsidiaries that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
|Mark Prudenti, CFO
|215-355-9100 x1531
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: ETC via Globenewswire


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Looks good.
Results 1 to 3 of 3
04-22-2012 #1
Prototype 2 - First 30 Minutes of Gameplay
Once more into the fray.
Into the last good fight I'll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day.
04-22-2012 #2
As much as I love P2 and wanna watch this, that's too much spoilers even for me.
04-23-2012 #3
Muuh. I wanted to watch it but it got removed...
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Gourmet presents an interesting new silhouette as part of their Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. "The 32" is a low top sneaker, coming with the same air sole as some of their previous styles. For Spring 2011 it comes in two premium leather versions.
Detailed images of both the brown and the beige sneaker follow after the jump.
Via Dunk.


text: Comment #11 on issue 432 by kubaracz... at gmail.com: Module for linking workspaces in a multihead setup http://code.google.com/p/xmonad/issues/detail?id=432 Hm... now it does compile (BTW, the latest patch does not contain the change you mentioned), but it does not do anything (it seems). I guess the usage should be: - two screens are visible (say [3][4]) i press mod+p (as in your config) - i change at least one of the screens (say now i have [5][6]) - i press mod+3, both 3 and 4 jump to place. Right? If so, then it does not do it yet :) K


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If you imagined that the DA's decision to not prosecute Danny Bonaduce meant the end of the saga that begn with his on-stage encounter with Jonny Fairplay, think again: Jon "Jonny Fairplay" Dalton has decided to sue Bonaduce.
He's also decided to sue the Fox Reality Channel, which sponsored the award ceremony; the production company, Natural 9 Entertainment; and the venue at which this took place, Boulevard3. "Instead of immediately calling an ambulance to care for [Fairplay] or taking other action, the defendants — the television channel, the producers and the owner of the venue hosting the event — did nothing," his lawsuit claims. TMZ has the full document [PDF], and says that Dalton is claiming "battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and negligent supervision."
The lawsuit reads like great fiction, or at least a version of reality written by a soulless lawyer. It explains Fairplay's behavior like this: "Mr. Dalton, in an effort to minimize the akwardness of Mr. Bonaduce's unscripted interruption and unprovoked insults, playfully jumped into Mr. Bonaduce's arms."
Aw, poor baby; all he wanted was some love and instead he got his face smashed. The lawsuit does not mention the face humping or Dalton's drunkenness. But as a result of both, he now wants monetary damages, asks for his expenses to be paid, and wants to be compensated for his earnings.


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This product is no longer available.
You can try these similar gifts instead.
La Fiesta Grilled Taco Rack
Serve up yummy Mexican food for your friends and family with this metal taco rack that has 2 handles and holds 4 hard shell tacos to keep them warm and toasty on the grill while holding them upright and together.


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Shoulder improving, Lowrie returns to lineup
Shoulder improving, Lowrie returns to lineup
Lowrie, who suffered the injury on May 29 in a collision with Carl Crawford, was in the lineup Saturday, but after an 0-for-5 performance at the plate, the team decided to give the utility infielder a breather.
"I think the rest is good for him," manager Terry Francona said. "The good news is that it wasn't more than a bruise."
Lowrie entered Wednesday's game hitless in his previous 11 at-bats, but he isn't using his shoulder as the reason for his recent struggles.
"I'm not going to make any excuses," Lowrie said. "I'm just going to continue to work to make it better and know that I'm going to be where I should be."
The bruise is still bothering Lowrie, but he is just focusing on regaining the strength in his left shoulder.
"It's not pain free," he said, "but we're working on getting the strength back up and getting it feeling better. Knowing that with what they told me with the MRI results, it's just a matter of getting the strength and the flexibility, and the pain out."


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Joan Rivers Planned Her Own Funeral?Will her actual funeral live up the red carpet event she had planned for herself?!
Hot Right Now: Kim And Kanye Ready For Baby #2, Joan Rivers Slams Jennifer Lawrence, Mariah Carey Disses Nicki MinajCould South West be on the way? According to US Magazine, Kim and Kanye are already planning baby #2.
Joan Rivers On Adele: "She's Fat"Did Joan Rivers take things too far with her "fat jokes" about Adele?
Kelly Osbourne Rushed To The Hospital
Gilbert Gottfried Apologizes For His Jokes Regarding The Tsunami In Japan!
Did 50 Cent Get Dumped By Chelsea Handler?


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It's inconceivable that the U.S. Senate could approve immediate construction of the Keystone XL pipeline during the same week that the National Climate Assessment report was released, documenting that the effects of human-induced climate change are already being felt across the nation.
The Senate could vote this week on the 1,700-mile Keystone project. A handful of Democratic senators who are up for re-election in November are wavering under pressure from Republicans touting the number of jobs the project will create.
Approval would mark the most shortsighted and misguided energy policy maneuver of the last decade. The Keystone XL project overpromises the number of jobs it would deliver, underestimates the risk of a significant oil spill and represents a huge step backward in the U.S. effort to wean itself from its dependence on fossil fuels.
Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, has noted that while the project promises thousands of temporary jobs during construction, the Keystone pipeline will support only 35 permanent jobs after it is completed. Pipeline proponents fail to mention that a similar pipeline already in existence routinely leaks — more than a dozen times in 2012 — and that a spill from the tar sands oil pipeline in Michigan in 2010 released 800,000 gallons into a creek that feeds the Kalamazoo River, costing hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up.
But those arguments pale in comparison to the most compelling reason to dump the project: The scientific evidence is overwhelming that the extraction and burning of the oil resulting from the Keystone XL project would contribute significantly to the pending global warming disaster.
"Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," said the authoritative report, which represents years of study by more than 200 climate scientists.
The report documents that the nation's dependence on fossil fuels is the largest single contributor to global warming. Scientists say that California's drought will only worsen unless the nation takes steps to slow the pouring of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The same Republican senators who want to build the Keystone XL pipeline also want to remove protections to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the largest estuary west of the Mississippi, which supplies more than half of Silicon Valley's water supply.
But building the pipeline will only make the drought worse. The report predicts that unless we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, California will get hotter, and the Central Valley and Southern California will get drier, creating an even bigger demand to send Delta water south.
Republicans argue that building the pipeline is essential to the nation's economic future. The climate study report proves that the environmental costs of constructing Keystone XL will dwarf any benefits it might provide.
Opponents need to stand their ground.


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Phillips-Kleiner VFW Post 5627
5051 Branchville Road
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 474-3512
Our Mission:
To promote fellowship among United States Veterans of Foreign Wars. To promote programs dedicated to ensuring that all of our veterans and their families receive the benefits that they are entitled to. To stand behind and proudly campaign for those who have served our country with dedication, courage and pride.
Proudly We Serve!
Post Officers
Sr. Vice Commander:
Jr. Vice Commander:
Post Adjutant:
Post Chaplain:
Service Officer
3 Yr. Trustee:
2 Yr. Trustee:
1 Yr. Trustee:
Larry Williams
Joseph E. Ruth
James A. Hontz
William Dunn, Jr.
Charice M. Shellahamer
Charles J. Wyatt
Carlos Fuentes
Katherine A Keleher
Carlos U. Fuentes
Richard L. Coluzzi
Regular Membership Meetings - First Monday of the Month - 7:00 PM
Auxiliary Meetings - Second Wednesday of the Month - 7:00 PM
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sign-up for Event Email Notifications
Hall Rental
Perfect for Smaller Groups
Reasonable Pricing
Pavilion and Grill
Friendly Staff


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Posted by Katharine Crnko
For Marketplace Morning Report, Thursday February 24, 2011
As the unrest continues in Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen, the Chinese government has scaled up its control of the Internet to prevent protests in China. The government has called on search engines to block search terms related to the unrest in the Middle East, as Rob Schmitz reports.
New energy start up Transphorm says it can save up to 9 percent of US power by getting rid of those big, ugly DC conversion boxes.
Across the country, states are tackling rising budget deficits. And as economics correspondent Chris Farrell explains, health care is at the heart of federal and state deficits.
As violence mounts in Libya, people in neighboring Egypt have raised thousands of dollars to get food and provisions to those refugees.
Violence in the Middle East and North Africa has sent oil prices to a two-year high. Stephen Beard explains the finer points of oil refining, including the value of a light, sweet crude.
In the lead-up, rivals Boeing and EADS have been spending millions on print, radio and online ads targeted at just a few key Pentagon decision makers.
Jeremy Hobson speaks with Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial, on how the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa will affect the global economic recovery.
The Wall Street Journal reports today that the Obama administration is working to settle mortgage-servicing breakdowns that involved practices like robo-signing foreclosure documents. The settlement plan could cost America's largest banks billions of dollars. Janet Babin explains.
Steve Chiotakis speaks with Nick Timiraos of the Wall Street Journal on a plan by the Obama administration to help homeowners under water on loans and to settle with banks involved in the robo-signing debacle.
Here are the songs we played:


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The annual Academic Forum for freshmen and new transfers in our three colleges will take place on Monday, October 20, 2008 during the Commons Hour from 1:30-2:00 p.m.
Academic Forum
October 20, 1:30-2:00 p.m., Locations:
- College of Arts & Sciences - Cintas Center Arena
- College of Social Sciences, Health, & Education - Gallagher Theater
- Williams College of Business - Kelley Auditorium (Alter Hall)
Information to prepare students for priority registration will be presented. All freshmen and new transfers are required to attend. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences will assemble in the Cintas Center arena; students in the College of Social Sciences, Health & Education will assemble in the Gallagher Theater; and students in the Williams College of Business will assemble in Kelley Auditorium.
At 2:05 p.m., students will proceed to the Cintas Center Concourse to attend the newly expanded Career and Majors Exploration Fair conducted by faculty representatives from every academic department.
Career and Major Exploration Fair
October 20, 2:00-4:00, Cintas Center Concourse
Set sail for your future! The Career and Majors Exploration Fair will be in the Cintas Center Concourse from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Students will have the opportunity to speak with faculty about majors, including curriculum requirements, identifying potential careers, and whether graduate or professional studies are required for these careers. Information on the current and future states of the job market may also be provided. This event will be particularly beneficial to students undecided on a major, those considering a major change, and/or students wishing to add a minor. In addition to majors and minors, information on study abroad opportunities will also be available.
There will be a raffle with a chance to win Xavier gear, bookstore gift cards, and more!
Click here to download the free event flyer
So You're Undecided on a Major or Career...Now What?
October 16, 1:00-2:00, McDonald Library 1st floor, Learning Studio (CTE Classroom)
Presented by the Academic Advising Center and the Career Services Center, this workshop will help you determine the steps necessary to select a major/career. University policies and departments that can help will also be discussed. This is an excellent way to prepare for the Academic Forum and Career and Majors Exploration Fair on October 20.
Important Information for Students
- Xavier University Majors and Minors - A complete listing of the University's programs
- Xavier University Core Curriculum - An outline of the opportunities for liberal arts education
- Academic Advising - Find your individual academic advisor
- Career Services Center - Check out the Careers In... series and other programs for all students
- Student Success and Retention
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Social Sciences, Health, & Education
- Williams College of Business


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be one of a kind, like you. That's why we make each piece to order, one at a time, just the way you want it. Choose fire opal and rose gold or green amethyst and platinum: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from an engagement or Valentine's Day to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Celebrate her Bat Mitzvah with a brilliant gift of jewelry that she can enjoy for the rest of her life. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your yellow gold october birthstone birthstone jewelry design with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. October's birthstones are opal and tourmaline, gems that span the rainbow. Choose flame-colored fire opal, soft rosy pink tourmaline, or verdant green tourmaline: there's an October birthstone for every mood. Lustrous 14-karat yellow gold, which is 58.5% pure gold, is the most popular yellow gold alloy. It has superior hardness without sacrificing that classic golden glow. Our wide selection of yellow gold october birthstone birthstone jewelry by Randy Dixon, Gemvara Essentials, Damon Washington, and other talented designers means you can find jewelry that's exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Claddagh, Celebrity Style, or Bold Collections. The tradition of wearing jewelry set with your birthstone to bring good fortune and protect against harm is thousands of years old. Gemvara's fine quality yellow gold october birthstone birthstone jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Ronalee M.
Review for Big Cats of Serenity Springs Inc, Calhan, CO, USA
The first time my family went out to Serenity Springs, I didn't know what to expect. We had only been in the Colorado Springs area for about 3 years, and had not heard a lot of information about the place. At work, I had a discussion with some co-workers about the Ligers out there. I honestly thought they were some kind of mythical creature, bred for their skills in magic. I was instantly intrigued. My husband, 4-year-son and I made plans to go out there that weekend. When we got there, we were immediately amazed at how many cats were visible from the parking lot. Like true cats, the moment my son left the car they began pacing along the front of the cage tracking his every movement. It was incredible and captivating. I had to remind myself there were 2 layers of chain link fence between us and the cats. When the tour began, what stood out most to me was the love and respect the volunteers and owners of Serenity Springs have for each of these animals. Each cat has a story. Some are sad stories, but the happy endings prevail because Serenity Springs is the forever home for many of these former pets or show cats. None of these animals were born in the wild, and none could survive in the wild if they were released. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about each of these amazing animals. Watching them interact with the tour guides made some of them seem as gentle as house cats. It was easy to forget how powerful these animals could be. The experience of getting to know cats of Serenity Springs was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We had family come to town a few weeks later, and took them out to see the cats as well. After learning about the mission of this incredible organization, I can honestly say that I fell in love with the place. It would be easy to make an uninformed assumption about Serenity Springs. To decide that the animals are held captive against their will, and would thrive in their natural habitat. The truth however, is that many of these cats were once owned by humans who could not properly take care of them or control them. Without a place like Serenity Springs, these animals would end up euthanized because their humans chose to unsuccessfully try to make them pets. The one thing that is clearly seen from a visit to Serenity Springs is how majestic and regal these magnificent cats really are. Even after Colorado Springs is no longer my home, Serenity Springs and the amazing cats will always have a place in my heart. I am so grateful that this organization has the will and the skill to give these cats a home to live out the rest of their extraordinary lives.
More Feedback
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


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Home | Helmets For Sale | Belt Buckles | Breast Eagles, Collar Tabs, Shoulder Boards, Sleeve Insignia | Daggers & Bayonets | Field Gear, Flags, Uniforms & Accessories | Medals, Badges, Tinnies | Miscellaneous German WWII items for Sale | Sell Your German Helmet & Items | Contact | Fakes and Reproductions | History | Information| Testimonials| Links
Information on WWII German Helmets
Types of German Helmets
There are four main German helmets that were intended for combat use from 1935 through 1945. It is generally thought that Transitional German helmets only were used during the build up to World War II. However, I have seen a number of War War II photos where the German soldiers were still using the M1916-18 German helmet model that was used during WWII. Many M1916s, 17s, and 18's German helmets were used well into the War.
The M1916 German Helmet: The M1916 was the first German Steel helmet and it was developed due to the number of head injuries from shrapnel in the trenches. The earlier leather Pickelhaube helmet just did not provide the level of protection necessary for modern warfare. The M1916 German helmet was used through the duration of WWI and shells were later reissued during the early Third Reich era. The Austrian counterpart of the M1916 German helmet is often referred to as the M1917.
M1916 German helmet (World War I German Helmet)
The M1918 Transitional German Helmet: The M1918 is the final German helmet used during World War One. The difference between the M16-M17 German helmets and the M18 German helmets is that the lower Rivet toward the bottom of the right side and left side of the helmet are not present. The German economy was in shambles during the 1930's and it was cost effective to refurbish the World War One German helmets. Typically the transitional German helmets feature an M1931 liner as well, but you can find Early WWII German helmets with the early three pad WWI liners. Many of the Transitional German helmets were used throughout the War. I have had a number of Transitional German helmets that were US Vet captured at the end of the War.
M1918 Transitional German helmet
The M1935 German Helmet: The M1935 German helmet was introduced in 1935, hence the name, M1935. Compared to a Transitional World War I German helmet, the M1935 German helmet was much lighter and more compact, and offered more comfort. The air vents were made of separately inserted hollow steel rivets. The edge of the helmet was turned under or "rolled" on the undersides. The shells were distinctly more oval in shape from front to back when compared to the M1940 German helmet. The M1935 German helmet definitely brought a more modern look to the World War II German helmets.
M1935 German helmet
The M1940 Helmet: In 1940, the M1935 German helmet was modified into what is known as the M1940. The main difference between the M1935 and the M1940 is in the air vent holes. The M1940 has a stamped air hole made to look like a rivet, instead of the actual rivet found on the M1935. The M1940 was made of an improved steel made from manganese-silicon. The M1940 also was manufactured through a process of hot stamping the metal. The M1940 is like the M1935 with regard to the rolled steel edges.
M1940 German helmet
The M1942 German Helmet: The World War II German combat helmet underwent a third modification in July, 1942. As an economic measure the rolled edge was eliminated. The edge of the M1942 is flared a bit and the edge is an unfinished edge. Other than the lack of the rolled edge, the M1942 was identical to the M1940 helmet. In August of 1943, the factories also ceased to apply decals. This explains the lack of decals on many M1942's that have survived.
M1942 German helmet
The M1938 Fallschirmjager (Paratrooper) German Helmet: The World War II German Paratrooper helmet is quite different from that of the typical shaped German Helmets from WWI & WWII. They are more round in nature with a slight visor at the front. The initial design was to allow for a more aerodynamic shape to prevent injury when jumping, especially from the violent prop blast that a Trooper would experience when exiting the aircraft. These typically are manufactured by the ET firm and you will normally find these in size 66, 68, & 71.
M1938 Fallschirmjager German helmet
The M1934 Civic German Helmet
In 1934, the Middleweight German helmet was developed for service in non-combat roles. The M1934 German helmet was used many by the German Police & Fire personnel. These German helmets typically are black in color with a Police decal on the left side and the National party decal on the right side. The vent holes look more like what you see on a salt shaker with multiple small holes. These are the most common of the WWII German helmets and don't enjoy the same values as the German helmets used in combat.
M1934 Civic Fire Police German helmet
The M1938 Luftschutz German Helmet
In 1938, a German helmet was developed for service use by the Civilian Air Defense Corps known as Luftschutz. The Luftschutz personnel operated search lights, air raid sirens, assisting civilians into bomb shelters, and provided support to Flak batteries. This type of WWII German helmet is commonly referred to as the Gladiator helmet. These are the very common among WWII German helmets and the least expensive German helmets.
M1938 Luftschutz German helmet
The M1935-40-42 Beaded Luftschutz German Helmet
The Luftschutz German helmets can also be found in the beaded combat style. The Beaded Luftschutz helmets are essentially the same helmets as the M1935, M1940, & M1942 German combat helmets. Most of the Beaded Luftschutz German helmets are the M1935s or 1940s and they are occasionally found in the M1942 model. They are just like the combat helmets with the exception of the added bead. Some theorize that the beaded ring around the helmet was pressed into helmets that were rejected due to quality issues. I am not sure that I subscribe to that theory as I have encountered very high quality beaded Luftschutz German helmets. The Beaded Luftschutz German helmets are normally a really nice deep Blue paint color, and are the most desirable of the Luftschutz helmets.
M1940 Beaded Luftschutz German helmet
World War II German Helmet manufacturing plants
World War II German helmets will typically have a marking that will identify the plant in which the helmet was manufactured. Most original World War II German helmets will have the stamp either on the inside, back area, or on the left inside close to the chin strap. If a helmet lacks the manufacturer stamp, it may be a Post War German helmet or a reproduction. The Post War guard helmets are fairly easy to identify. The Air Vent stamp is somewhat bigger than those found on the M1940 or M1942. Also, the liner will have perforated holes in the front. Note that some M1942 German helmets received very weak stamps due to what appears to have been a manufacturing issue. Here are the correct factory markings to look for when evaluating a German helmet.
Marking Manufacturing Firm City
(FS or EF)-Emaillierwerke AG, Fulda, Germany
(ET or ckl)-Eisenhuttenwerke, Thale, Germany
(Q)-Quist, Esslingen, Germany
(NS)-Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, Schwerte, Germany
(SE or hkp)-Sachsische Emaillier u. Stanzwerke, Lauter, Germany
(Source: Baer, 1995)
In virtually all WWII German helmets you will also see the size stamp after the Manufacturing mark, such as Q66. In this case, you have a helmet manufactured by the Quist firm, size 66 cm. The sizes ran from very small of 60 cm, up to 70 cm. The majority of the WWII German helmets were manufactured in size 62, 64, and 66. Size 60 helmets as well as size 70 helmets are tough to find. There have German helmets that have surfaced that are in a rare size 72cm.
Shell Identification by Manufacturing Firm
(Chart by Nick Herpoel)
If you cannot find a maker mark in your German helmet, you may be able to identify the maker by the shape of the shell. This is a bit more tricky but if you study the chart carefully and your helmet at the correct angle, you should be able to note the subtle differences.
The Transitional German helmets and the M1935 German helmets typically had the National Colors decal on the right side of the helmet and the correct service decal on the left side. The National Colors decal is a Tri-color decal with Black, White, and Red. German helmets with decals on both sides are known as 'Double Decal' helmets. Some M1940's had decals on both sides. In March of 1940, the National Colors decal was discontinued through order of the German High Command. Service decals remained on the left side of the German helmets until August of 1943. The WWII German helmets with one decal on the left side are known as 'Single Decal' helmets.
National Colors Decal aka. Tricolor
The Service decals were placed on the left side of the German helmet. The regular German Army helmets are known as 'Heer' helmets and are identified by the Eagle and Swastika in Silver. The German Navy or Kriegsmarine service decal is exactly like the Heer decal, with the exception of the Eagle and Swastika are in a deeper Gold. They are fairly easy to identify under a loop as the Gold flakes are very prominent. The Kriegsmarine servicemen primarily served on ship board, submarine, and coastal artillery batteries as well as provided land based support roles. However, many Kriegsmarine units were activated into Front line combat. Only about 1/10th of German helmets manufactured were issued to the Kriegsmarine, thus making the Kriegsmarine German helmets rare. The Kriegsmarine was also very successful in procuring the M1935s German helmets when they became available in 1935. The speed in which they adopted the M1935 led to very few Transitional Kriegsmarine German helmets remaining in service. The Transitional Kriegsmarine German helmets are considered to be one of the more rare surviving World War II German helmets.
Early Gray Lined Heer Decal Big Foot "Q" Decal
Luftwaffe German helmets are easily identified by the Eagle with Wings spread, with the Swastika being held in the right talon. The placement of the decal is also on the left side of the German helmet. The Luftwaffe units served in many capacities but were primarily Air Field personnel and Anti-aircraft batteries. As German resources became stretched thin on the Eastern and Western fronts, many units of the Luftwaffe were activated into Front line combat infantry roles, as were Kriegsmarine units. The Luftwaffe units are often referred to as Luftwaffe Field Divisions.
Second Pattern Luftwaffe Decal First Pattern Luftwaffe Decal
The SS German helmets are identified by the Runes SS decal on the right side of the helmet. Early Double Decal SS German helmets were typically M1916s, 1917s, & M1935s. You can occasionally find M1940 German helmets in double decal configuration. Virtually all of the correct known examples of M1940 Double Decal SS helmets are those that were manufactured by the Quist firm in Esslingen, Germany. The left side of the helmets had the Nazi Party decal. The Party decal was a Red Shield, with the Swastika in the middle. Foreign volunteers made up close to half the the Waffen SS troops, and usually placed the SS Runes decal on the left side of the German helmet. There were also helmets used by volunteers with SS decals applied on both sides of the helmets. Waffen SS troops role were mainly front line combat, however they were also involved in concentration camp operation.
There are five variations of SS decals. With the exception of the decals by the CA Pocher (pronounced Poker) the SS decals will be based on the factory that issued the helmets. The Early SS German helmets regardless of the plant were normally issued with the decal known as the CA Pocher (poker). The CA Pocher SS decal was also used on most factory and field reissued German helmets. It is unusual to see a CA Pocher on an M1942 German helmet, so be careful. The ET style decal is sometimes referred to as the second pattern SS decal. The industry has evolved to the point that the ET decal is referred to as just that, the ET SS decal. German helmets manufactured by the ET (Eisenhuttenwerke firm, Thale) and German helmets manufactured by the SE (Sachische Emaillier und Stanzwerke firm, Lauter) will normally have the ET type SS decal applied. The ET decal is occasionally found on the EF (Emaillierwerke AG firm, Fulda) manufactured German helmets. A good estimate is 10-15% of the EF helmets received ET type Runic SS decals. There is not any information available that would explain this. I have had several EF made helmets with ET decals and most found with the ET decals were M1942 German helmets.
The Q made German helmets had their own unique style of SS decal similar to the Pocher. The Q (Quist firm, Esslingen) decal is distinctive and often has bronze pulver in the shield, creating a beautifully toned decal. The EF firm used it's own style of SS decal on the German helmets they manufactured. The EF decal is a collector favorite and had nice jagged angular Runes. Normally these will be found on M1940 & M1942 German SS helmets. There is no data to support any EF type decals on M1935s. The EF SS German helmets manufactured prior to 1940 normally have the CA Pocher decal.
SS Decal (Pocher) Early & Reissue helmets SS Decal - ET & SE helmets SS Decal - EF helmets M40s-M42s
SS Decal - Quist helmets Party Decal (Pocher)
Most of the earlier SS German helmets (M16-18, M34s, M1935s) were issued as Double Decal helmets with the Party decal on the left side. The party decal is characterized by the red shield with the canted swastika and white circle. The SS German helmets with both decals are very desirable and very scarce in comparision to the later issued Waffen SS German helmets with the single SS decal on the right side. Typically you will find the SS helmets with just one decal on the right side on the M1940 & M1942 German SS helmets.
The early SS helmets were painted black and normally issued to the Allgemeine SS and SS-VT organizations. The SS developed combat divisions as WWII approached and the organization became known as the Waffen SS. The earlier pre-war SS German helmets in black should be simply called SS helmets, or perhaps Allgemeine SS if attributed to that organization. The War time SS German helmets used by the Waffen SS received the same paint colors as the Heer (Regular Army) and are normally found in Field Gray with variations in color based on makers. The field gray also is somewhat of a misnomer as many are different shades of green. The later made M1940 & M1942 German helmets are often found with very dark green paint, whereas the M1935s are often a lighter shade of green (ie, Apple Green & Pea Green).
In Front line combat, many fought with valor. They also were responsible for the carrying out of Hitler's final solution with the extermination of the Jewish people. In spite of this fact, the combat reputation of the Waffen SS troops, has led to the Waffen SS German helmets being the most sought after by collectors. There are five distinct patterns of SS decals found on the period correct SS German helmets. Above you will see the five types of SS decals commonly found on the associated manufacturer. SS German helmets are the most heavily faked German helmets in the marketplace. I recommend only buying SS German helmets that have been authenticated by an expert. A very high percentage of SS WWII German helmets on the market are fakes. Don't let your desire for one cloud your judgment.
Bordered Combat Police Decal Un-bordered Combat Police Decal
Combat Police decals can be bordered and un-bordered. They are a number of variants of the Combat police decal. Police decals can also be found on Civic versions of the Police helmet, as well as the Military Police versions which were typically Combat helmets.
Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Decal
Kriegsmarine decals are very close to the Heer decals with the exception that they are a very deep gold. Often, Lacquer toned Heer decals are mistaken for Kriegsmarine decals. The Kriegsmarine decal found on WWII German helmets is very distinctive and is easily identified as Kriegsmarine due to the deep Gold. Also, if you notice, the Eagle is layered onto the black shield on a great number of known examples, especially on the earlier M1935s. You will not see this type of layering on a Heer decal.
Another good resource for decals is the database that has been compiled on the German Helmets Walhalla Forum. Just follow the link: http://www.walhalla.se/forum/76-original-decals-chinstraps-and-lotnumber-database/
Glossary of Terms
As new or beginning collectors of German helmets you will find a World of Terms being thrown around that you will be afraid to ask what they mean. The more advanced WW2 German Helmet collectors will assume you know what they are talking about. I thought a glossary of Terms may come in handy.
SD - (Single Decal)-quite simply put, it's a German helmet with only a decal on one side. Typically the Single Decal SS German helmets will have the single Runic decal on the right side, with the Heer, Kriegsmarine, and Luftwaffe single decal German helmets having the decal on the left side.
DD - (Double Decal) - again, maybe stating the obvious but the DD German helmet is one with a decal on each side of the helmet. Typically the DD German helmets are M1935s as in Mid 1940 the German high command ordered a cessation of the Tricolor on the right side of the helmets. You will find a few German helmets that were early M1940s in a DD configuration during the transition but I can assure you that those are very scarce. You will also find the occasional SS German helmet that is an M1940 with Double Decals. That is rare and you will note that these normally come from the Quist Firm. As a side note, the Combat Field Police German helmets were Double Decal through the entire WWII period. So you will find M35s, M40s, & M42s in DD configuration on Combat Police German helmets.
Reissue - you will often hear of a German helmet being a nice "reissue". These most often are M1935s that were brought back in from the field to either the depot or the factory, and were repainted with a dull rough texture field gray paint. Most M1935s German helmets issued before the War had a factory parade paint, which in many cases was polished to a shine, for parade use. In combat, the parade finish was reflective creating a dangerous situation for the wearer of the helmet. In virtually all "reissue" German helmets the National Colors decal (Tricolor) was completely painted over. Some reissued German helmets retained their original branch decal on the left side and the decal is painted around, some received a new branch decal on the left side, and some were just completely painted over and became a "No decal" helmet. Quite simply put, a reissue helmet normally is an M1935 German helmet with an overpaint, and often times, a 1940 type configuration with regard to liner, ie, a 1940 dated Steel banded liner.
ND- (No Decal) - this one is fairly self explanatory. These are for the most part, the later War M1942 German helmets that never received a factory branch insignia. You will typically find these with a 1943 or 44 dated liner band, with a higher lot number.
Camo - Camouflaged helmet - German helmets referred to as a "Camo" are those that have been painted in the field, most often by the German soldier himself. There are a number of known variations of camouflage paint schemes that were applied during the War.
The most popular are as follows:
DAK-Africa Corps/aka Tropical - these are German helmets that were worn in the fighting in North Africa and are characterized by a single coat of Tan paint. The Germans often used the same paint that the ME109 fighters were painted with, called Tan 79. This is a Tan paint with a nice pink hue to it, and is most often found on Luftwaffe German helmets. The German helmets worn by the Afrika Korps have been found in a number of shades of tan. Heer German helmets were also painted in DAK camouflaged paint as well. Of all the German camouflaged helmets, this is perhaps one of the hardest to find.
Normandy (Three Color) - during the Normandy campaign (1944), a good number of German soldiers, Heer & Luftwaffe were applying a three color camouflage paint scheme to their German helmets. Normally it consists of a tan base, either spray or brushed on, with greens spray camo in spots, as well as a dark red. It is worth noting that sometimes the red was more of a brown color. A common misconception is that all three color (tan, green, & red) camos are "Normandy" campaigns. It is most correct to refer to these types of camouflaged German helmets as Three Color camos, unless you know that the German helmet can be directly attributed to the Normandy campaign. Below is a nice example of a Normandy German helmet captured around D-Day in the Omaha Beach sector. Click on the helmet below to read more about this fabulous and rare WW2 German helmet.
Winter Camouflage - this one is simple. During the winter campaigns, the German soldiers often painted their helmets with a white over-paint. These normally are brush applied paints and often were what was called a "white wash" or "milk paint", which would scrub off in the spring. There are also examples of Winter camouflaged German helmets in which lead based white paint was used. The German helmets found with Winter Camouflage are rare and are highly desirable in the collecting community.
Italian Campaign Camouflage - the German helmets used in the Mediterranean or in Italy were often painted tan, and many would also have some lightly sprayed areas of green or brown. They could also just one base coat of Tan.
Regiment 6 FJ Camo - this is a unique camouflage paint scheme that was pretty much limited to use by the German Paratroopers with the Regiment 6 Fallschrimjagers, stationed in Normandy, France. These German helmets are characterized by a tan base with sawdust and/or wood chips with a green paint in spots. Typically they were larger areas of green paint and not real spotty. The green can be spray camo or brushed on. These are very distinctive and for the most part only found on the Reg 6 M1938 Paratrooper German helmets. Really a great scheme by the way. These are some of the most sought after WWII German helmets.
Half Basket Chicken Wire - these are German helmets that have had a period chicken wire cut out and affixed to the helmet by one larger gauge wire going around the middle of the helmet. The larger wire normally attaches to the German helmet by a larger piece of wire in three places, the right side, left side, and back. You will almost always find the correct wire helmets with the European chicken wire. The wire should be zinc galvanized and should show some oxidation and some marriage with the surface of the helmet. The German soldiers would stick branches and foliage down into the chicken wire. Below is a good example of the half basket chicken wire German helmet and you can learn more about this helmet by clicking on the picture below.
Full Basket Chicken Wire - These are also German helmets with Chicken Wire attached, but in this case, the Chicken wire covers the entire helmet, and simply folds around the edges. In some cases the wire is attached to the inner liner band.
Wood Chip Camouflage - These are German helmets with a camouflaged overpaint in which sawdust/wood chips are mixed into the paint. These can be found in various colors of paint, from standard field gray to three color Normandy pattern. They do make for a really nice texture and patina.
I know many of you own German helmets or other German WWII items that are named. The named aspect of a piece definitely adds to the collector appeal. Especially when the individual soldier can be identified through research. Suddenly the piece goes from being a piece of 65+ year old metal to a piece of history. I recently have made positive contact with the Westmoreland research group, based in Alexandria, VA. If you have a named piece, these guys may be able to help you find specific information about the German Soldier that wore the helmet or item in combat. I have seen their research first hand and it is very impressive. They can not only provide full name and service information, but often can give you copies of original photographs of the soldiers. Here's the link to the Westmoreland research group: http://www.westmorelandresearch.org/
The question that we are most often asked is do we buy German helmets! The answer is "Yes"! We buy the German helmets. If you have an Authentic German helmet and want to sell it. Please click on this link:
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 Some subroutines are written to recognize and to assign particular meanings to parameters which begin with a dash, e.g. to disambiguate user-chosen arbitrary strings which otherwise might match "real" parameters for the function. (I, the author, decree that ... "Anything beginning with a dash is a literal.") But, that is up to their authors, not Perl itself.
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Never before have America's banks been so wary of risking their cash deposits on U.S. government debt.
After holdings of U.S. debt surged to a record $1.89 trillion in 2012, lenders from Citigroup Inc. to Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. are culling for the first time in six years and amassing dollars. Banks' $1.8 trillion of the bonds now equal less than 70 percent of their cash, the least since the Federal Reserve began compiling the data in 1973.
With net interest margins falling to the lowest since 2006, banks are spurning Treasuries and hoarding unprecedented amounts of cash on prospects that loan demand will revive as a strengthening economy leads the Fed to reduce its own debt purchases. Five years of cheap-money policies also have depressed yields and made it less attractive for banks to buy Treasuries as a way to bolster income.
"Banks reluctant to lend were large holders of Treasuries," Jeffrey Klingelhofer, a money manager at Thornburg Investment Management Inc., which oversees $89 billion, said in a telephone interview from Santa Fe, New Mexico. "Like a lot of other people who have been moving out of fixed income, it's largely to avoid the fallout from tapering."
Corporate Bonds
Klingelhofer said Thornburg owns fewer Treasuries than their allocation in benchmark indexes and prefers investment-grade corporate bonds, cash and some asset-backed securities.
Treasuries, which returned 30 percent in the last five years as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression boosted demand for the safest assets, have fallen 2.33 percent in 2013 on signs the U.S. economy is gaining strength. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Index fell 0.43 percent last month, snapping two months of gains.
While the slump in Treasuries caused yields on the 10-year notes to soar a percentage point this year, they are still almost a percentage point below the average in 2008, when the Fed started its extraordinary measures to stimulate demand.
The 10-year note yield rose 19 basis points last month, or 0.19 percentage point, to 2.75 percent in New York, according to Bloomberg Bond Trader prices. The 2.75 percent securities due in November 2023 traded at 99 21/32. The yield reached 2.84 percent on Nov. 21, the highest level since Sept. 18. The yield was 2.79 percent at 10:43 a.m. London time.
Bank Boost
After banks boosted Treasuries and bonds issued by federal agencies by 69 percent in the last five years as the crisis depressed lending and regulations designed to limit risk-taking increased, they have pulled back on speculation the Fed will curtail its bond buying as soon as March.
Banks' stakes of Treasuries and federal agency bonds have declined more than $80 billion in 2013, data compiled by the Fed show. That would be the first annual decrease since 2007. At the same time, cash held by banks has surged by a record $882 billion this year to an all-time high of $2.59 trillion.
Government bonds now represent 69 percent of banks' cash, which would be the lowest on record and the first time lenders ended a year with a smaller proportion of U.S. debt relative to cash since 1980, the data show. Banks' holdings of assets consisting primarily of municipal bonds, asset-backed securities, company debt and equity investments have also risen.
Loan Demand
"There's more productive uses" for cash than investing in Treasuries, Jim Vogel, an interest-rate strategist at FTN Financial, said in a telephone interview from Memphis, Tennessee. The need for banks to hold "Treasuries on their balance sheet is pretty small."
Jeffrey Caughron, who advises community banks on investments exceeding $42 billion as an associate partner at Baker Group LP in Oklahoma City, says loan demand isn't strong enough to justify shifting out of U.S. government debt.
While consumer loan growth excluding mortgages has climbed back toward pre-crisis levels after contracting in 2009, gains haven't accelerated this year, according to data compiled by the Fed. Lending in September increased 6.1 percent from a year earlier, equal to the average for 2013.
For smaller banks "lending has not picked up a great deal," Caughron said. "They, by and large, are taking advantage of the steeper yield curve and putting more money to work in the bond market."
Negative Yields
Higher yields on 10-year Treasuries, used to set rates for mortgages, have already blunted the revival of the U.S. housing market. Home loan applications fell to the lowest level in 10 weeks, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Nov. 27.
Purchases of previously owned U.S. homes fell in October to a four-month low partly because of higher mortgage rates, according to data released on Nov. 20 by the National Association of Realtors in Washington.
Three of the four largest U.S. banks, which account for almost 60 percent of the industry's assets, have still reduced their holdings of government bonds this year.
Citigroup, the New York-based lender that received a $45 billion bailout during the credit crisis, has cut available-for-sale Treasuries and federal agency debt every quarter this year, paring its stake 10 percent to $82.6 billion as of Sept. 30, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Holdings at Bank of America, the second-largest U.S. bank, have plummeted by 88 percent this year to $2.97 billion, the biggest annual drop in more than a decade.
Shooting Blanks
The bank's government debt fell after the Charlotte, North Carolina-based firm had unrealized losses on the holding in two of the past three years, the data show.
Wells Fargo, which boosted government debt to $7.15 billion last year, has been trimming this year after incurring a $460 million unrealized loss on its investment, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
That would be the worst result for the largest U.S. home lender on an annual basis since at least 1999, the data show.
"Banks are shooting for yield and Treasuries don't have a lot of yield," Paul Miller, a banking analyst at FBR Capital Markets Corp., said in an interview from Arlington, Virginia.
Mark Costiglio, a spokesman at Citigroup, and Bank of America's Jerry Dubrowski, weren't immediately available for comment during the holiday-shortened week. Ancel Martinez, a spokesman for San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, didn't immediately reply for comment on the bank's debt holdings.
Margin Pressure
Banks are faced with excess cash and weakened loan demand after U.S. households more than doubled savings as a percentage of income since 2005. That's made them less willing to put the money into Treasuries at yields that are still historically low as they suffer the worst slump in profitability in at least three decades.
Net interest margin, or the difference between what banks earn in interest and what they pay in deposits and other borrowings, for U.S. banks has narrowed to 3.26 percent in the three months ended September, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data compiled by Bloomberg show. That's the least since 2006.
Since peaking at a seven-year high of 3.84 percent in 2010, bank margins have fallen in 13 of the past 14 quarters. The declines in the last seven quarters are the longest since the FDIC data began in 1984.
"We expect continued pressure on our net interest margin as the balance sheet continues to reprice in the current low interest-rate environment," according to Wells Fargo's third-quarter regulatory filing.
The bank's trailing 12-month margin, which rose as high as 5.21 percent in September 2009, has since dropped to 3.39 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Wells Fargo's margin has been lower only once since 1999.
Bank of America's margin decreased to 2.4 percent earlier this year, the lowest on record, the data show.
Taper Talk
While the Fed has maintained its target rate for overnight loans between banks at zero to 0.25 percent since 2008, the central bank has signaled its intention to cut its $85 billion in monthly purchases of Treasuries and mortgage-backed debt.
Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Oct. 29-30 and released Nov. 20 showed policy makers expected economic data to signal ongoing improvement in the labor market and "warrant trimming the pace of purchases in coming months."
Employers added 204,000 workers last month, exceeding all 91 forecasts in a Bloomberg survey, Labor Department figures showed on Nov. 8, while the government said last week that jobless claims unexpectedly fell to a two-month low.
'Run Over'
The Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators released last week rose for a fourth straight month in October.
The world's largest economy will expand by 2.6 percent next year and grow 3 percent in 2015, which would be the most in a decade, according to forecasters surveyed by Bloomberg. In a Bloomberg survey on Nov. 8, they said the Fed will pare its bond buying to $70 billion a month at their March 18-19 meeting.
The likelihood of higher Treasury yields as the Fed tapers may fuel more selling by banks to avoid further losses.
"The Fed talking about tapering means rates will have to go up, and banks are trying to get ahead of the move," Marty Mosby, a bank analyst with Guggenheim Securities LLC in Hernando, Mississippi, said in a telephone interview. "No one wants to get run over once higher yields come."
Since touching a low of 1.61 percent in May, yields on 10-year Treasuries jumped by more than a percentage point. Forecasters anticipate that yields will eclipse 3 percent in the second quarter and rise to 3.4 percent by the end of 2014.
'Good Day'
As the U.S. economy gains momentum, banks are making loans more readily available, easing lending policies to businesses as competition stiffens and relaxing standards on mortgages to buttress home-loan demand, according to the Fed survey of loan officers, conducted from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15. The survey was based on responses from 73 domestic banks and 22 U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks and released on Nov. 4.
"The theme in the banking industry has been about a way to boost margins, and frankly holding Treasuries is not a high-margin activity," said Guy LeBas, Philadelphia-based chief fixed-income strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, which oversees $11 billion. "Banks are paid to make loans, and loan growth has turned more optimistic for many banks. Any day a banker sells a bond to make a loan is a good day."
Even if loan demand remains subdued, banks are seeking out alternatives to Treasuries to boost returns.
U.S. commercial banks and savings institutions increased their holdings of structured financial products such as collateralized loan obligations to about $70 billion at the end of the third quarter, a 45 percent increase from the prior 12 months, FDIC data show. Holdings of asset-backed securities also increased by 7 percent to $174.8 billion.
CLOs, which bundle junk-rated loans and slice them into securities of varying risk and return, are often tied to floating rate benchmarks and provide a hedge as yields rise.
"Banks have determined that there is a greater likelihood for higher rates," Ira Jersey, an interest-rate strategist at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in a telephone interview from New York. "Banks are increasingly looking out the risk spectrum and holding less Treasuries."


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Baking and Pastry Arts Management
Program Code: 1813
School: School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts
Credential: Diploma
Program Type: Post-secondary program
Program Length: 2 years/ 4 semesters
Start Date: Fall, Winter, Summer
Location: Progress Campus
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Telephone: 416-289-5000, ext. 2569
Program Overview
Our Baking and Pastry Arts Management program builds on fundamental baking and pastry arts skills, preparing you to work within the baking sector in a management role. Whether it is menu design, purchasing, planning or execution, baking management is an essential skill to convert your passion into business success.
In the Baking and Pastry Arts Management, courses you will work in baking and pastry labs, including Centennial College's one-of-a-kind commercial bakeshop as well as an on-campus cafe, restaurant and event centre. In these real-world environments, you will hone your skills before beginning a 14-week field placement with one of the College's industry partners.
You will graduate with important industry certifications such as Smart Serve, Safe Food Handlers and CPR, making you job-ready.
Many graduates from this commercial baking program have secured employment within major hospitality brands in the hotel, resort and restaurant industries, as well as positions within large-scale commercial baking companies.
Are you an international student? If so please note that you will not be eligible for your post-graduation work permit if you take a semester off from your learning. Always talk to our Student Advisor before planning your time with us. We want you to enjoy your entire experience and are here to help you with your learning journey.
Program Outline
|Course Code
|Course Title
|Baking and Pastry Arts Theory I
|Progress Campus
|Baking and Pastry Arts Skills I
|Progress Campus
|College Communication 1
|Progress Campus
|General Education Elective
|Progress Campus
|Introduction to Computers
|Progress Campus
|Math for Hospitality
|Progress Campus
|Food Safety, Smart Serve and First Aid
|Progress Campus
|Principles of Nutrition
|Progress Campus
|Culinary Skills
|Progress Campus
|Course Code
|Course Title
|Baking and Pastry Arts Skills II
|Progress Campus
|Commercial Baking Operations I
|Progress Campus
|Baking and Pastry Arts Theory II
|Progress Campus
|College Communication 2
|Progress Campus
|Human Resources
|Progress Campus
|Principles of Food, Beverage and Labour Cost Controls
|Progress Campus
|Principles of Hospitality Management
|Progress Campus
|Purchasing for the Commercial Kitchen
|Progress Campus
|Course Code
|Course Title
|Chocolate and Sugar Skills
|Progress Campus
|Cakes and Breads Skills
|Progress Campus
|Baking and Pastry Menu Planning and Development
|Progress Campus
|Commercial Baking Operations II
|Progress Campus
|Global Citizenship: From Social Analysis to Social Action
|Progress Campus
|Career Preparation
|Progress Campus
|Introduction to Hospitality Accounting
|Progress Campus
|Food Entrepreneurship
|Progress Campus
Semester NotePlease note: students starting in a January intake will have their externship in semester 3 (semester 3 and 4 switch)
|Course Code
|Course Title
|Baking and Pastry Arts Field Placement
|Progress Campus
|General Education Elective
|Progress Campus
|Career Capstone and Leadership
|Progress Campus
Career Opportunities
Program Highlights
- This Baking and Pastry Arts Management program features exclusive experiential learning opportunities in state-of-the-art baking labs, and a restaurant, cafe and event centre at Centennial College's Progress campus.
- Hands-on learning experiences will prepare you for the industry.
- You learn from knowledgeable faculty members who have years of industry experience.
Articulation Agreements
Qualified Baking and Pastry Arts Management graduates may be eligible to participate in pathway programs with partnering institutions. These pathway programs allow you to receive degree credit for learning obtained at Centennial College. Our partners include:
- Algoma University, Ontario
- Davenport University, USA
- Laurentian University, Ontario
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Ontario
- Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario
Career Outlook
- Pastry chef
- Bakery chef
- Food entrepreneurship
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission
After successfully completing the one-year Baking – Pre-employment program, you may directly enter the third semester of this program and earn a diploma in one additional year.
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
Are you an International Student? Apply directly to Centennial College here.
If you are applying through the Second Career Strategy, please apply at the Employment Training Centre for Second Career (Progress Campus). Second Career Strategy is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Second Career Strategy.
If you have previously attended a full time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $95 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
2. Submit Documents
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2017.
|Tuition (2 Semesters)
|Incidental Fees


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Spanish In The Elementary Schools (SITES) allows Oberlin College students to teach Spanish to Oberlin public school students. For their final project, Mr. Codney's 4th grade class at Prospect Elementary School learned about community radio and then students planned, practiced and recorded their own radio program to show off what they learned this year. Parents, students, and anyone else can listen to the audio, which includes the following segments:
1. "Bienvenido"- A welcome from the class
2. "Introducción"- An intro about the date and weather
3. "La Familia"- Students talking about the members of their families
4. "El Alfabeto"-The call-and-response alphabet song
5. "Los Animales"- Students teaching each other how to say different animal names in Spanish
6. "¡Pies Pies Pies!"- A song that students sing about the body, "el cuerpo". Accompanied by an exhausting dance!
7. "¿Qué quieres ser?"- Students share what they want to be when they grow up
8. "¡Adiós!"- The "Goodbye" song
The piece was recorded by Spanish teachers Caroline Lewis and Chris Gollmar and produced by Caroline Lewis. Thanks to Professor Codney's class for a great year!


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Concerned that his mother and stepfather were not back from a party despite assuring him of returning well before midnight, Miles Morland set in search through the streets of Iran's shrine city of Mashhad. It was characteristic of his life – a career in finance without any background and then giving up a high-paying job to walk across France's Mediterranean coast to the Atlantic, pioneering stock markets in Africa and Middle East, taking up motorcycling at 47, and attending Madagascan funerary rituals.
He also has the distinction of witnessing an Iranian 'bazaari' mob at full rage, living in Baghdad when it was the safest city in the Middle East for Western nationals, being deported from then communist Romania at gunpoint, going on an unnerving taxi ride through Beirut where a shaky peace had returned and being saved from kidnapping and a torturous death by insurgents in Ethiopia by a plane crash (of a business associate).
Born in India in 1943 to a navy father and a "dangerous glamorous" mother, Morland spent his first few years in the country, coming back shortly after returning to Britain in 1946 as his parents divorced and his mother found the going tough in the post-war, austere homeland. His memories of India, including the snake in the bathroom which gives the book its title, are "collection of vivid mental snapshots, shot with heat, colour, light, tumult and the smell of spice".
Morland, now older, has more concrete details of his stint in Iran where his family moved in 1950 – of Iranian customs and shrines seen first-hand , of the difficulty of keeping pets (dog lovers, skip it!), attending the American School (where the pupils were taught to beware "the trouble around the corner"), the tension following the CIA-inspired coup that removed Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 and more. Also valuable are his recollections of Hashemite Iraq where they lived for a few years.
He then takes us to through his education including at Oxford (where he was a enthusiastic member of the rowing teams and participated in quite few of the traditional races against Cambridge), his lotus-eating period as a tour site employee in the Greek islands, the first pangs of love, an initial stint in media (and his first electoral opinion poll) and career in the financial industry, where his dedication led to his marriage breaking down.
But it is then the narrative picks up to a higher level of thrill – Morland's impetuous visits to (then) communist Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania in late 1989 to understand what was going on, his new career in financial consultancy and in revitalising bourses across Africa and Middle East after spectacular successes in Ghana, and Oman, (and some insights about Africa which upset conventional wisdom) and his new-found interest in motorcycling – and tours through Japan, south India and on Che Guevara's tracks through the Andes.
Also standing out are his recollections of the World Trade Centre and its chequered history while returning from new York where he was on that terrible day in September 2001 and of a surrealistic trip to Baghdad in 2010, when he and his associates came across some Incas to find they were an example of American outsourcing, were guarded by Pistol Pete and the Testosterone Tommies and then the Baghdad Bazooka Boys.
More poignant are the account of the last rites of one of his daughters who had committed suicide, and of a visit to Hiroshima and its sombre peace memorial.
Living his far from conventional life on his own terms, Morland has something for everyone – motorcyclists, sportsmen, pet lovers, development experts, international affairs aficionados, and more – from his sometimes quite absurd but always entertaining experiences recounted with candour and wit in his memoirs. Don't miss them.


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If you scrolled thru Instagram on Sunday March 27th, 2016 then you saw a flurry of social media influencers posting these "Turn on Notification's" signs on their pages, begging their followers to follow the instructions due to the fear of the unknown algorithm change that was about to affect their precious Instagram feed…
Years ago, Facebook (the parent company of Instagram) changed their algorithm to display what they feel is relevant content based on what users "like" & "comment" on, instead of showing them the posts in chronological order as they're posted in real time.
What they didn't take into consideration, just like Twitter's recent algorithm change, and Instagram's newest change is that:
You're not forced to follow anyone on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. They have suggestions, but you don't have to follow anyone you don't want to! So that's that. If you care about seeing what someone posts, you follow them, simple as that. If you don't like their posts, then you click unfollow and life moves on.
Now let's take it a step further:
If you're only following an account for political reasons, like being polite because you have to, then Twitter has a "MUTE" button where you can still technically follow them, but not see their Tweets. Facebook has a similar function where you can stay "friends" with someone, but not see their posts in your news feed.
So why does this whole thing make me and so many others angry? Over 100,000 people signed the petition for instagram to not change their chronological news feed within days of the announcement. Click this link to sign the petition yourself.
It bothers me because I, Dan Fleyshman, live & breathe social media. My 1stSlice news site has had over 280,000,000 page views in under a year and my partner Branden Hampton (Who FORBES rated his @Notebook account the #1 most engaged on Twitter) & I have both negotiated millions of dollars in ad revenue for social media influencers ranging from fitness & beauty models to household name celebrities over the years.
Here's another major thing that the very well funded, Ivy League graduates, who are clearly smart & technologically amazing at building huge scale platforms are clearly not taking into account:
There's a ton of posts that I'm not gonna "like", "Retweet" or "comment" on for lots of reasons, but it doesn't mean I don't wanna see them any less!!!
There's posts from girls that I'm never going to like or comment on because I don't want my girlfriend to get upset by seeing it in her News Feed, or I don't want that same girl's boyfriend to read into my social media interaction with her post as anything suspicious or creepy. (There's been countless fights & breakups over this very thing.)
Under the same notion I follow a buff male fitness model and a funny puppy account and I just don't want the social media engagement to end up in my news feed for my followers to take notice, however I still want to see his workout tips and I still want to laugh at the cute puppy videos without an algorithm showing me what it thinks I want to see.
Just because I never like or share a Food Recipe's account video, doesn't mean that I don't want to see it and it definitely doesn't mean that some magical algorithm knows what I want to see, since myself & 100's of millions of other users don't give the platforms the data they think they have.
Many high school kids aren't going to engage on social media during school hours in fear of leaving a trail that could get them in trouble.
Same goes for employees in the work force that scroll thru social media for hours on end, but never engage with the content to be safe from detection.
Even Kendall Jenner and Alfredo Flores agree that this change to our feed is "Super Wack".
Kylie Jenner jumped in on the action to put in her two cents about the algorithm change while instructing her fans to turn on post notifications to her Instagram page.
Moral of the Story: For being so smart, these algorithms are really stupid for being imposed onto users that make the daily choice in whom they want to follow.
The social media algorithms are built with a great deal of misinformation and disregard for the human element behind each screen name. That being said; Dear Instagram, please keep my feed chronological and let me continue to choose what I know I want to see.


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This product is no longer available.
You can try these similar gifts instead.
Handcrafted Wood Air Force Sign
They'll be proud to hang this big 2' wide sign on their wall to show their service. All wood sign is silk screened with milled poplar trim, hand painted with gold pin striping. Add the hanging name board for that extra touch.


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The defeated Confederate army abandons Atlanta and retreats south, leaving the city to the Yankees. Scarlett goes to the depot to find Dr. Meade and encounters a seemingly endless trail of dead and dying soldiers. Dr. Meade cannot leave them to help Melanie, and everyone else is evacuating the city. Melanie goes into labor, and Prissy admits to Scarlett that she lied when she claimed to know how to deliver a baby. For the first time in her life, Scarlett strikes a slave, slapping Prissy across the face. Scarlett hurries to try to help Melanie.
After a long, painful labor, Melanie gives birth to a boy. Atlanta is nearly deserted, but Scarlett sends Prissy to find Rhett and tell him to come help them escape to Tara.
Confederate soldiers confiscate Rhett's horse and carriage, but he steals an old horse and cart and drives away with the women, Wade, and the baby. The retreating Confederate army has torched Atlanta's foundries and storehouses to keep the Yankees from looting them. Scarlett feels unutterably grateful for Rhett's strength and protection as they ride through the blazing streets. At last they make it out of Atlanta, and Scarlett repeats her desire to go to Tara. Rhett says that to do so would be suicidal, as the woods near Tara are full of Yankees. To Scarlett's shock, Rhett announces that he is abandoning her to join the Confederate army. He kisses Scarlett passionately, overwhelming her with unfamiliar feelings. Her fury at his announcement quickly returns, though, and she slaps him. He walks away, and Scarlett takes the reins.
The next morning, Scarlett finds herself in pain after a long night of driving and sleeping in the woods. Melanie seems near death, and Scarlett whips the sickly horse back onto the road. Scarlett longs for the comfort of her mother and Tara. They pass the neighboring manors, all empty and burned, but find Tara still standing. Gerald greets Scarlett with the news that Ellen died the previous day. Scarlett's sisters are still sick with typhoid fever. Gerald seems like a helpless old man, so Scarlett takes charge. Gerald tells her that the Yankees used Tara as a headquarters and have ravaged the plantation, stripping it of food. Dilcey recently gave birth, so she nurses Melanie's child. Mammy seems to lack strength and confidence without Ellen, and Dilcey tells Scarlett that the Yankees have burned all the cotton and that Ellen died crying the name "Philippe." Scarlett drinks some whiskey and sinks into despair. She remembers her proud family history and thinks of her ancestors who overcame hardships and won fortunes. Feeling strengthened by their example, Scarlett falls into a peaceful, drunken sleep.
Scarlett wakes in the morning with a headache. She realizes that Gerald, who seemed merely weary the previous night, is suffering from dementia and does not understand that Ellen is dead. Scarlett goes to Twelve Oaks to search for food and finds old turnips and cabbages. As she eyes the torched remains of the once-great plantation, she resolves to look forward rather than backward and vows to herself, "I'm never going to be hungry again." The war soon fades from Scarlett's mind as she devotes herself to feeding the hungry mouths at Tara, tending to the three sick girls, and struggling to stay afloat. Scarlett hardens and grows sharp-tongued under the strain and worry of being in charge, but she gains strength from her deep connection to Tara and her passion to hold on to the land.
Scarlett's whiskey-induced flashback to her ancestors' struggles illustrates the power of the human will to overcome even the most severe adversity. Mitchell's flashback technique, though less than subtle, reminds us that Scarlett's situation is not unique and that she must fall back on the human capacity to meet unthinkable challenges. Other characters also exhibit strength of will and help guide Scarlett's actions. As a child, Old Miss Fontaine witnessed the scalping of her entire family and survived. She recognizes the survival instinct in Scarlett and gives Scarlett advice based upon her own experiences. Rhett was thrown out of his house without a penny, but he manages to amass great wealth. Melanie gives birth almost unaided but never relinquishes her optimism. She exhibits incredible strength by doing hard work despite her physical weakness. Scarlett, Rhett, and Melanie could not be more different from one another, but they all possess wells of strength, and Mitchell celebrates their ability to survive the most difficult ordeals.
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Poor Ashley. He never quite fit in with the Old Guard, even though he embodied the traits they valued. It was a hard fall from Scarlett's pedestal.
"but as the novel ends she still has not reflected on her actions or learned from her wrongdoing. In some ways, she has not progressed at all."
She makes the most significant revelation in the whole novel, that she loves Rhett and was only in love with Ashley superficially, and that is not considered learning or reflecting? What more does she need to reflect on with regard to her actions?
It might seem ridiculous to classify the stereotypically ignorant and silly Prissy as a heroine, but if you shift the point of view from that of the priveleged upper class to the horribly oppressed slave population a different picture presents itself. Prissy has lived with her mother Dilcey all her life, following her mother's path as a servant but not midwife. Dilcey does not permit Prissy to observe a birth because Prissy is regarded as lazy, shiftless, stupid and untruthful. This is deeply frustrating to her owners as well as her mother
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AQ North
This view looks at the interior courtyard of the Academic Quadrangle (AQ). At the centre is the AQ pond which during most times of the year is full of Koi fish. In the distance are the North Shore mountains.
AQ South West
Mounted on the AQ rooftop, this camera view overlooks the drive up to the University. Center in the image is the Maggie Benston Building and Terry Fox field in the distance.
University Drive North
This is the view from the seventh floor of the Library at the Burnaby campus of SFU. The camera presently faces west-northwest along University Drive North and shows the roadway, with the West Mall Complex on the left. In the far distance you can often see North and West Vancouver and the north shore mountains.
Gaglardi Intersection
This is the intersection of Gaglardi Way, University Drive and Burnaby Mountain Parkway. The camera position changes often, but generally shows the intersection itself, with Burnaby and Vancouver beyond it down the mountain.


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SIHH 2013…platinum jubilee…
This exceptional new model from Jaeger-LeCoultre was inspired by the pocket-watch launched by the manufacture in 1907. A pocket watch which to this day remains the thinnest manually-wound mechanical pocket-watch in the world, but who's counting. The platinum case is a mere 4.05mm thick, making it the flattest manually-winding mechanical wristwatch in existence. A delightful combination of simplicity and elegance. More looks — including the 1.85mm thin JLC Calibre 849 — below.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Jubilee
ref. 1296520
platinum case, dauphine-style hands
Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 849
35-hour power reserve, 21,600 vph. 123 parts in a 1.85mm thick movement
This watch may be purchases alone, or as part of an identically numbered 3-watch Jubilee set which includes Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon 3 Jubilee and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique.


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Auto Loans' Latest Boost Driven by Aging Fleet
Member demand for both new and used vehicles is up due in large part to the aging vehicle fleet at dealerships across the country.
That's according to CUNA Mutual Group's April Credit Union Trends Report, which tracked data through February.
Total vehicle loans climbed 1.2% during the past year. However, even with this gain, loans are $16 billion off their previous peak, the data showed. After an early year surge, sales levels are expected to pull back as consumers adjust plans based on higher prices at the pump, according to Dave Colby, CUNA Mutual chief economist.
Meanwhile, used vehicle demand continues to improve in most markets. Year-over-year growth of 5.8%, translated into $6.0 billion in additional loans.
The current national average used vehicle loan rate is 4.45%, according to the trends report. The
6.3% decline in the new vehicle component is a $3.9 billion decline.
Colby said early forecast estimates show total vehicle portfolio growth above 2.0% in 2012, primarily due to less of a drag from the new vehicle component.