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A while back I was having a conversation with a business associate when the subject of relationship with God came up. While it was apparent that she considered herself a Christian, I wasn't entirely sure what her perspective was on things like religion, church, and so on, so I just began to offer some of my own perspectives and the ball started rolling.
My friend from work quickly told me why she could no longer stomach church in general and why she was not a regular attender by any means. It wasn't because of false teachings. It wasn't because of abusive leadership. It wasn't because of judgmental Christians. It wasn't because she didn't like the music or the pastor or tithing or some program. What she said to me was simply that she gets enough "organization" at work. This was a simple yet quite impressive statement to me, especially coming from a non-church-goer that isn't likely even aware of an "out of church movement". I could tell this wasn't her trying to wax eloquent by expressing observant contradictions between the Ecclesia and man-made church, or even with any intention to complain in general. There was no attitude of complaint in her voice whatsoever. It was just a simple response… "I do all that stuff at work, all day long, day after day… why would I want to do that at church too?" It struck me that, while most of us have realized this problem with churchianity (the incessant infatuation with organization and all the legalism that comes along with it), I don't often think of this as a response people normally give for why they don't go to church. Some express exhaustion with the lifeless routines. Some talk about false teachings, abuse by leaders, arrogant or hypocritical people, boring sermons, etc… but few simply point out the obvious reality that church today looks almost exactly like the corporate world.
There was no attitude of complaint in her voice whatsoever. It was just a simple response… "I do all that stuff at work, all day long, day after day… why would I want to do that at church too?"
This was a statement I certainly related to, since my job involves plenty of organization (since I work at an organization). One of the most refreshing things about my relationship with Jesus is that it bears no semblance of some kind of corporate structure at all. It is, after all, a RELATIONSHIP! Generally, people who attempt to approach their friends with the same attitude as their job, don't usually have those friends for too long. Certainly God is much more than a close friend. Why on earth would someone presume He can be organized into a clever little program (as though He were a product to be packaged and marketed)? This is GOD we are talking about!
When I first made my exodus from organized religion, I remember talking with someone online about aspects of the Christian faith and the term "orthodoxy" came up. Now, up until that time I had always presumed I held to orthodox Christianity, because my understanding of orthodoxy was with regard to the doctrine established by Jesus Christ and His apostles in the first century. I still hold to that ideal; However, as I began to re-examine the actual definition of the term orthodox, I found that embracing this concept was not as simplistic as I once presumed.
Here is this literal definition of orthodox from Webster's Dictionary:
- or•tho•dox
adjective \ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks\
1. accepted as true or correct by most people : supporting or believing what most people think is true.
2. accepting and closely following the traditional beliefs and customs of a religion.
This is the dictionary definition of "orthodox" and was a bit of a shocker to re-read… "Accepted as true or correct by most people…" What? I could care less about what "most people" think with regard to the Christian life. What the Lord Jesus says is true is the only truth I desire to accept! Orthodox refers to "supporting or believing what most people think is true…" What they THINK is true? Since when has the Lord Jesus called anyone to support and accept what most people THINK is true? If you don't mind me saying, that's likely one of the major reasons why we have so many church organizations today that are all over the place with doctrine. It's not that there is a problem with doctrine; The problem is that they are basing their doctrine on orthodoxy – what most people think is true… rather that drawing the truth from out of the Scriptures as plainly as Jesus spoke. We have pastors and teachers everywhere, giving their twist on doctrine and these become divisions apart from the sound doctrine once delivered to the saints, as we read about in Scripture.
Hebrews 10:25 (William Tyndale's Translation, 1526)
The following was taken from a letter I wrote to someone a long while back about the subject of "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25), which is a common verse cited by many Christians who believe that if you're not attending weekly religious meetings of some sort or plugged in to a church organization that you are somehow out of sync with Scripture and, for all practical purposes, "backsliding". Some refer to the "out-of-church" crowd as isolationists, rebels, or walking wounded and this verse is often given as the prescription. But is "attending church" really what the author of Hebrews had in mind here? I don't think so. For those interested, I thought I'd share my (not so) little rant.
P.S. Much of the information in this letter is drawn from other articles I have written as well as books and resources from other researchers and friends who have written on this topic.
My desire is to embrace God's truth (not just for truth's sake, but because I love Him and desire to grow evermore close to Him) and I, quite honestly, do not care if the traditions of men (even my own) are offended by His truth. If a person is honest, they will have to admit that when flesh is confronted by the Spirit of the Living God and the truth of Scripture it often resists submission and humility. But my response to that conviction of Christ and His Word must be to repent and yield, otherwise I only end up hardening my heart and increasing in stubbornness as well as blindness. I want to see clearly with spiritual eyes and walk full in the grace and liberty of Jesus Christ whose precious blood was shed for me.
We Christians tend to throw around a lot of terminologies as well as operate under a lot of religious mindsets that are, quite honestly, the primary product of human tradition and not biblical design. This is not to suggest that all organization is "evil" but sometimes it is counterproductive to true and essential spiritual growth. Sometimes our traditions can make God's Word to seemingly have no affect and can even move us to actually reject His commands. Jesus Himself noted this reality. Just as we read in Mark 7:5, so are there "Pharisees" today who are asking the question of those who refuse to follow erroneous traditions at the expense of biblical truth: "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders?" You know well, I'm sure, Jesus' bold reply:
Mark 7:6-9 – He told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. As it is written, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines.' You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition." Then he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your own tradition!"
Before I can answer the question of what I believe Hebrews 10:25 specifically has in mind concerning "assembling", I feel it is important to look closer at what "assembly" is all about in the body of Christ as Scripture presents it. Too many Christians have been raised with a traditionally-inspired definition of some of these terms and this has served to make them embrace many Biblically-inaccurate concepts. First I would like to look closer at the popular concept of the word "church"as it is understood today in comparison and contrast with the biblical meaning.
The following article was written by me a few years after I left the organized church system in late 2001. I had just come out of a church that strongly, manipulatively and even oppressively (at times) emphasized the unbiblical doctrine of monetary tithing (and I had become aware of how widespread this same mentality was among so many churches all over). It won't be too difficult to recognize my zeal concerning this matter and, while I may have softened my approach slightly since then (because of God's work of love and grace in my heart), this is still very much the conviction of my heart and I do believe the Lord was revealing His truth to me in these things. I do not suppose I am any person's judge where matters of money may interchange with Gospel work so I hope I will not be misunderstood here, but I think it's good for us to "check ourselves" and invite the Holy Spirit to weigh our motives and direct whatever change He may desire in our hearts and lives. For some, this will present a difficult view to consider and some may even find this offensive. So long as it is man's religious inventions that circumvent truth that are offended, then I say GOOD if those notions be offended. They have no place among the Family of God and ought to be discarded. I also understand that some will simply feel that my conclusions are perhaps over-zealous in their application. I always encourage every believer to weigh everything against the study of Scripture and the voice of the Spirit of God, who is the One that guides us into all Truth. I pray that this will challenge and provoke people to righteousness, not anger or offense. My sincere desire is that Christians flee religious captivity and error and embrace the full Gospel of Jesus Christ and all which He has purposed for the Family of God to walk in. If you don't agree with me, I hope you will still love and pray for me… and, by all means, feel free to share your comments in response. God bless! -Dave
Matthew 21:10-13 (NIV) – When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were BUYING and SELLING there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"
Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV) – He (the anti-Christ) also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell UNLESS he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
These two passages are curious aren't they? The first one describes Jesus entering into the "holy place" and casting out all who bought and sold. This "holy place" had been turned into a marketplace. The business of religion was in full swing and money was the primary concern of the events transpiring here. In fact, regardless of all the other "legal" activities going on here, Jesus is at once consumed with this one thing that has literally ruined every other aspect of this place's intended purpose! He does not softly speak about preserving the good and giving a little bit of advice about the rest… This is no minor detail to Jesus! John's account of this event (2:5) says that Jesus fashioned a whip and drove the moneychangers (BOTH BUYERS AND SELLERS) out! He turned over their tables and scattered their money all over the place!
NOTE: The following post is an article I wrote back in 2008 (modified and updated). It contains some of my personal opinions on fasting and my own experience. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you attempt to follow any of the activities described in this article, it is recommended that you first consult a physician for medical advice.
Most Christians who are familiar with the topic of fasting are basically trained to believe it has some kind of supernatural element attached to the activity. How often (during my church-attending days) I have sat in services where the congregation was encouraged to fast and pray so that the hand of God would "move" in their situation. The activity of fasting was virtually implied as some kind of "magical" formula to entice God to do certain things. If you really wanted something from God, you added fasting to your prayer.
For years I believed in "the power of fasting" (I still do) but I never really understood why. For the most part I was just aware that the Bible referred to it, Jesus did it, several of the patriarchs did it and called others to do it, etc. I heard preachers say things like, "If you really want to see the hand of God move in your life, start fasting." So it did seem to be some kind of mysterious formula that, apparently, God really liked. On occasion I did add fasting along with prayer to my daily routine and, I must confess, I experienced things I did not experience otherwise. For example, a greater clarity of thought and ability to focus on spiritual things. It also seemed to add a kind of euphoria while praying. I felt closer to God and equally more energized, alert and focused. So it appeared, based on my own experience, that fasting worked. But why? More on that in a moment.
Note from Dave of TruthForFree: The following was originally a post on my friend Johnny's Facebook page (November 10th) "Hard Truth". The original two-part post has been combined into a single post for viewing here. Follow-up comments are welcome and Johnny also welcomes personal comments or questions directed to his email.
TRANCE'DANCE in Church-world
Which Witch is which?
Part 1
by Johnny Johnson
I rarely mention names in my posts because I know God can save people involved in the occult and I'm not on a witch-hunt. The information I will share may be all one needs to know and flee from Charismatic Witchcraft. That being said, if you want to know the name of this person I am exposing on this page let me know. Perhaps your own teens may be involved and this post might trigger some "catch phrases" you've heard them say.
Satan's capacity for wicked imagination seems bottomless. Furthermore, he is not the least bit intimidated by today's postmodern church leadership. And just when I think the devil can't get any more brazen introducing his dark spiritual substitutes for revival into the spiritually empty sanctuaries of church-world, he pulls another rabbit out of his hat.
Currently there is a female "prophet" who has made quite a name for herself in the USA and abroad she proudly admits that she is a "New Mystic." In my opinion she is none-other than a witch; a witch who is unleashing one of the most powerful manifestations of evil upon an unsuspecting and spiritually blind generation of believers.
Just got some really great news today… Mom is being released from the hospital to go home! Thank you all so very much for praying for her!!!
My wife and I were able to get out of town and over to see her the last couple of days, which was a big shot in the arm for her. My sister from Chelan, WA (along with the kids; my awesome nieces) also made the trip and my sister from Seattle was there too and we were all together with her and had a wonderful time.
When we first arrived, the news was not so great… at least from the nurse that was attending her. She painted quite a dismal picture for us and didn't supply much hope at all. Mom was also in quit a bit of pain and discomfort. I read to her from my phone, all the comments from those of you who shared emails with me that you'd be praying and also the comments from friends, family and acquaintances from off Facebook that were praying. She was so moved by this. My wife and I also prayed for her.
As we were there visiting, along with my family, the doctor came in and gave us an update on her situation and looked her over a bit and said he was impressed with how well she was recovering. The damage caused by the internal bleeding (something to do with her blood-thinning medication) was beginning to heal. I don't remember all the technical terms he used, but her blood was improving even as we were there in the room. The doc said she was mending well and should be able to go home before too long. By the next day, mom was also looking and sounding more like herself and the nurse that had been so dismal before, literally changed her tune and was suddenly more positive.
Then, today, my sister let us all know that the doc has released her to go home! Even better, Lord-willing, she might be able to spend the holidays with us!
I know that God heard all the prayers and I thank all of you so very much for that!
Mom still needs more healing and I know we would appreciate your continued prayers. My mom is now 80+ years old and she's quite a lady! I love her so much! She is one of the great reasons I am serving Jesus today. The doc said she is showing some early signs of dementia… but I know, especially after seeing how rapidly she has been recovering from this present incident, God is able to heal this too!
Thanks again, everyone, for your love and prayers. I really cannot say enough how much it means!
God bless you all my friends!!!!
In His grip,
Hi everyone, I would like to ask you all to please pray for my mother as she is presently in the hospital. She started experiencing some severe swelling and pain over the weekend so my sister and her husband took her to Urgent Care last night and discovered that there is some internal bleeding going on (quite a bit actually). Her condition is serious but stable. She will be in the hospital for at least a couple of days while the doctors try to get this under control and help her, but I know God knows exactly the problem and how to heal it so I'm requesting that you guys could all pray if you would.
I don't have too much more information than this right now (and by the time this post goes out via email, more may have changed, so rather than issue a new post each time, I'll just leave updates in the comments on the blog).
Thanks for your love and concern and prayers. You guys have all prayed before when I've shared requests and I've seen God answer those prayers so I'm asking my family in Christ once again. Please also pray for my family (my sister, Kristine, and my bro-in-law, Jason, and the kids) because they need the Lord's strength and comfort and are there with her right now. I'm 250 miles away from home at the moment and can't be with them all unless God provides a way for me to get there.


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Fall On Hospital Grounds Is Health Care Liability Claim, Texas Panel Affirms
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subset: commoncrawl


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*For this show the VPAC will be offering a $20 Valet Service, available on our front drive island.
Bridging the gap between retro funk & soul, while keeping a focused eye on the future of funk, The Motet blasts off with their latest single, Supernova. The recent addition of singer Lyle Divinsky, who joined the band in 2016, fans the flames of this already hot band. His sinfully soulful voice and rich lyrics are powerfully prevalent throughout Supernova and light up the performances of the 7-piece funk powerhouse.
The Colorado-based band, who will be headlining Red Rocks for the second time on Fri June 2nd, along with Jurassic 5 and The California Honeydrops, will also be ramping up for Red Rocks by making a splash across the state – releasing "Motet Mocha" ice cream at Sweet Cow locations, dishing out treats at the Sweet Cow at Stanley Marketplace as part of a benefit for the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts on May 22nd, and singer Lyle Divinsky will be performing the National Anthem at the Rockies game on May 30th.
The Motet began in 1998 in Denver, Colorado, where the band's then-rotating cast of musicians amassed an enthusiastic and loyal throng of hometown fans. The Motet took their infectious dance parties on the road about four years ago, and their national fan base has been growing exponentially ever since. Today their shows sell out from coast to coast at iconic venues Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Fillmore in San Francisco, Tipitina's in New Orleans, Brooklyn Bowl, Chicago's Park West, Portland's Crystal Ballroom, and Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. A favorite along the festival circuit, The Motet has performed at Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Summer Camp, All Good Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Peach Fest and many others.
The Motet are Lyle Divinsky (vocals), Dave Watts (drums), Joey Porter (keyboards), Garrett Sayers (bass), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), Gabriel Mervine (trumpet), and Drew Sayers (saxophone).
Learn More at: www.themotet.com / facebook.com/TheMotet / twitter.com/TheMotet
$99 Room Rates at 4-Star Beaver Creek Hotel FOR THIS SHOW ONLY! Make it a night out! For this show only, 4-Star Hotel, Beaver Creek Lodge will be offering $99 room rates. To book use code MOTET at www.beavercreeklodge.net **This promotion includes complimentary parking. It does not include a $20 resort fee and 10.99% tax.**
$99 Room Rates at Christie Lodge in Avon FOR THIS SHOW ONLY! Make it a night out! For this show only Christie Lodge in Avon will be offering $99 room rates. To book you must call 888-899-8917 and mention THE $99 RATE FOR THE MOTET SHOW AT THE VILAR www.christielodge.com **This rate does not include room tax.**
COCKTAIL SPECIAL: $7 Jim Beam Rye Whiskey Mixed Drinks available at VPAC lobby bar.
Watch The Motet


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3407 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121Request info Add to list
To view building contacts please sign in with your Pro account or create a pro account.
Don J B.
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Building Details:
3407 Jefferson Hwy is a mixed-use property for lease in New Orleans, LA.
NEW Parking possibilities. New Price: $8.50 NNN with a 3 year lease.
After discussions with the Permits Department, parking availability approval is expected for Retail and Restaurant operations. All or part of the 4,100 sq ft available.
Great location on Jefferson Hwy. Other possible uses Pawn Shop, Auto parts, Hair Salon, Nail Salon, small Grocery Store
Owner will provide "vanilla box" move-in condition. Possible TI for long lease term.
6,000+ sf of second floor space available but will require sprinkler installation.
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Chandigarh, India (PressExposure) July 19, 2008 -- Without question, the most overlooked, under-valued and under-utilized asset in practically every business is its customer base.
The fact of the matter is that most businesses only look at each customer they acquire as being worth a single purchase. They simply fail to realize that the easiest money they'll ever make is selling additional products, upgrades and services to their existing customers.
Customers that already trust them, like them and will gladly buy from them again without the need for expensive incentives, bonuses, marketing/selling skill or otherwise effort of any kind.
Folks, almost ALL of your expense in business is acquiring new customers. So why in the world would you only sell to them one time!?
This is called the backend profit model - which is the simple strategy of upselling, cross-selling and recommending complimentary products to already existing customers. Did you know that many successful businesses will literally sell their first "entry product" at a LOSS - just so they can sell them again and again?
They take the loss (and the risk) for a reason. It works. In fact, this one easy "change" to your strategy will enable you to literally multiply your revenues without spending more money or "working harder". This is the difference between a business that's a glorified "job" and a wildly successful business that you can sell for a fortune...
Can you see the logic behind this?
Now, you might have an objection...
"Isn't it expensive and time-consuming to develop new products all the time?"
Yes, it is.
And this is where strategic alliances come to the rescue. You could easily build your own highly-profitable backend profit system in a matter of DAYS just by endorsing someone else's products and splitting the profits with them.
In fact, you could even fund the development of your own backend products just by endorsing someone else's in the meantime...
What if your average value per customer increased by 400% just by making this one change? Can you see how much easier this is in comparison to finding and acquiring 400% more customers?
This means your income would increase exponentially as well.
This isn't some "pie in the sky" theory. This is pure common sense. If you sell more, you will earn more, period.
Do I have your attention now?
Now, the other issue might have with endorsing someone else's products is that it might appear to be "tacky". Believe it or not, if the product is a quality and complimentary fit - and if it's truly going to benefit your clients - then you will actually build more rapport with your customer base.
They will see you as a business that looks out for their best interests. And yes, they will realize that you're profiting from this, but it won't matter if they can see the logical "fit" (and intention) behind it.
Don't be afraid to do this. Think about how many "Fortune 500" companies you see doing this all the time.
Heck, this morning I bought a box of cereal because it had a free movie-theatre ticket inside the box. Am I "skeptical" of my favorite cereal company now?
You can do the same thing, and multiply your revenues for very little effort while actually increasing your customer retention rate.
I'm sure by now you can see the tremendous benefits of using Joint Venture arrangements to make more money for practically no extra effort.
Now, let me end off with a statement that's likely going to keep you up all night...
What if you got just 10 partners to endorse YOUR product to their customers as well? Not only would you be making an easy fortune from your existing customers - you'd also be getting new customers without the hassle (or risk) of advertising - and they'd simply get plugged into your profit funnel.
The fact of the matter is that joint ventures are simply the most powerful way to make money in business - both on the backend (maximizing profits from existing customers) AND on the "front-end" (acquiring as many customers as you can handle at no up-front cost to you).
And this single strategy has the power to easily transform your business from a "bill-payer" into a multi-million dollar enterprise.


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Simon McGrath concludes his blog about the remarkable Prof George Davey Smith's smart ideas for understanding diseases, which may soon be applied to ME/CFS.
Discuss the article on the Forums.
Needed Logo for Phoenix Rising Forums
Discussion in 'Advocacy Projects' started by Cort, Feb 14, 2010.
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It's that time of year, where yet again, outdoor adventurers and whisky enthusiasts come together to experience the finest pleasures of life. Last year, for the very first time in
Japan, an outdoor whisky festival took place at the foothills of Nagawa-machi, . Back by popular demand, the Scotch Club in association with Mamoru Tsuchiya, the man behind the Whisky World magazine, will once again throw the event at the Blanche Takayama Ski Resort, which during summer opens up to picturesque blue skies and rewarding fresh air. Just as last year, it appears there will be yet again 150 domestic and international whiskies up for offer with the majority available for free tasting, with the exception of rare bottlings in which a small fee (generally 500 yen) is required (like most whisky festivals). For those lucky enough to be residing in Nagano , a 1-hour trip is all it takes to get to the outdoor festival. The festival, which is on September 16, appears to have the same entertainment as last year: BBQs, an evening bonfire, bands, soba making, contests, and various stalls selling food, so fun for everyone, considering making it a family day out. Tokyo
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 03-5774-4142
Price: Advanced 1500 yen - 2,000 yen on the day


text: Hey guys. I just got a WiFi IPad so i'm wanting to wireless tether. I already had PDNet for my notebook but of course thats not going to work for the IPad. I looked at the 3G Hotspot feature on the incredible and of course i tried it just to see if it would work and it doesn't. You just get a verizon page when you try to browse the web. I know in the past you had to root to be able to tether wirelessly. With Froyo does that still hold true or is there some type of app you can download off the android marketplace? I don't know if i'm big on rooting my phone. Verizon i think will charge $20 for the convenience right? thanks,


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Master X Master First Global Test Coming on March 9
Since it is called the "global test" (although not that "global"), maybe players can compete with players from Taiwan, Korea and Japan? Well, sounds fun if it is true. For the western version of Master X Master (official website: http://www.playmxm.com/), NCsoft announced back in January that the game will meet western players in the 2nd half of 2016.
MXM is an Action MOBA featuring high-completeness new combat modes "Speed Combat" and "Exciting Beating Feel". With a unique Tag System, MXM enables players to quickly swap between two chosen Masters (characters) mid-combat. The storyline of MXM is about alien invade the earth and human beings raise up to protect their hometown. Players play the role of Master who owns various powers and join in the battle to protect the earth. According to the different environment, players are able to switch their attack style freely.
Source: Steparu.com
You! +1


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My patient died today.
It was my first death as the senior resident on the team.
Couldn't help but think about what I could have done more.
After I was notified that my patient had passed, I went up to the unit.
The room was full of people. Slowly they trickled out. Two family members lingered, one was her brother who had been by her bedside for so many hours in the last few days.
I offered my condolences and offered my hand. He looked at me, his eyes red, and started shaking his head.
And then he hugged me. And thanked me. Thanked me for what I had done. Thanked me for my calmness through her dying.
And I hugged him back.


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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, later this week, probably tomorrow or Thursday, we will consider an amendment which I will offer relative to the Bankruptcy Code. I can remember not that many years ago, when we reformed the Bankruptcy Code, I was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee--a new member--and the ranking chairman of the Subcommittee on Bankruptcy was Senator Grassley of Iowa. He had worked on this for quite some time.
I looked around the Senate Judiciary Committee and reflected on my colleagues, many of whom had served for years in the Senate and on that committee. But when it came to the issue of bankruptcy, 10 years ago, I realized something that was a little amazing. By virtue of the fact that I had taken a course in bankruptcy at Georgetown Law School 30 years before--a 3-hour, one-semester course--and had been appointed a trustee in bankruptcy in the Federal court in Springfield, IL, over a bankrupt gas station, I had more experience in bankruptcy than any member of the committee.
Nevertheless, we embarked on this reform of the Bankruptcy Code--a massive undertaking. It took years before it was finally accomplished, and during the course of that a lot of amendments were offered. Of course, I viewed bankruptcy then and now as the last resort of desperate people. But, sadly, many millions of Americans have found this to be the only thing to which they can turn. They have reached such a point in their lives and in their economic experience where they have no choice but to turn to bankruptcy court and try to wipe the slate clean and to start over.
The major reasons people go into bankruptcy are pretty obvious--the loss of a job; the No. 1 reason, of course, is health care bills. People end up with bills that aren't covered by insurance and have no place else to turn. Sometimes a bitter divorce will end in bankruptcy court. It is rare that people turn to it. I think many of the critics of bankruptcy think people are just looking for any opportunity to go to bankruptcy court. I don't think that is the case with the majority of those petitioners who file for bankruptcy.
So here I am again, some 10 years later, looking at the Bankruptcy Code, but this time in a different context altogether. At this point in time, more and more Americans are headed for bankruptcy court for a new reason. They are losing their homes. They fell behind in their payments on their mortgages, became delinquent, and now face foreclosure. You know what I am talking about--people who have lost their jobs, people who signed up for mortgages that were very misleading, people who ended up in a circumstance where the mortgage they signed ends up triggering a new interest rate they can't sustain. So the most important asset they have on Earth--their home--is about to be lost, and they are headed to bankruptcy court to try to salvage something out of their lives.
Now, if the person headed for bankruptcy court facing foreclosure on their home is well off and has other real estate, such as a vacation condo in Arizona or Florida, it is interesting what the bankruptcy court can do. The person who comes in filing for bankruptcy facing foreclosure on two pieces of real estate, the home and the vacation condo, finds out that the court treats them totally different.
When it comes to the vacation condo, the bankruptcy judge sits down, takes a look at the assets of the person filing for bankruptcy, and tries to determine whether at the end of the day they can ever make another mortgage payment. For some, it is hopeless; they have lost a job and they are so far behind it will never work. But for others, they are right on the edge. So the bankruptcy judge has the power, when it comes to the vacation condo, to rewrite the terms of the mortgage that is being foreclosed upon because the judge concludes that the person can make a mortgage payment, if in fact the person is given a new interest rate or a new term for the mortgage.
That is what they can do with the vacation condo. But what can the bankruptcy judge do when you file for bankruptcy facing foreclosure on your home? The answer is nothing. There is nothing the court can do. There could literally be a circumstance where a person could have a restructured mortgage coming out of bankruptcy to save that condo in Florida but lose their home. That is the way the law is written.
The same is true when it comes to farms and ranches. Not long ago some of the critics of my amendment were pushing in Congress and in the Senate a revision in the bankruptcy law which said, if someone goes into bankruptcy facing foreclosure on their farm, then we ought to let the bankruptcy judge see if they can rewrite the terms of the mortgage. We passed that into law. The same thing applies to ranches--farms, ranches, second homes, and vacation condos. The bankruptcy court has that power. But when it comes to your home it does not.
How do you explain that? Why in the world could someone turn to the bankruptcy court for relief for every piece of property but the most important one in life? The answer is that it is the law, and that is what the Durbin amendment would change.
Of course, there are some who do not like this change--the banks. They don't like this change because it means at the end of the day, if they will not sit down with someone facing foreclosure to try to work out and renegotiate the terms of the mortgage--at the end of the day that person may go to bankruptcy court and end up having a judge do it. That is the court of last resort when one is facing foreclosure under my amendment. So that is why many of the banks resist it. They don't want to sit down and renegotiate the terms of the mortgage.
Now let's take a look at where we are in America today. This is not the first time I offered this amendment. I offered it last year to give the bankruptcy court this power. When I offered it, the critics said: We don't need it. Mortgage foreclosure is not that big of a problem.
When I offered this amendment last year, we estimated that 2 million American homes would be lost to foreclosure. Since then things have changed dramatically. The best estimate now from Moody's, a group that most people trust when it comes to making economic forecasts, is that instead of losing 2 million homes to foreclosure in America we are likely to lose more than 8 million homes to foreclosure in America.
What would 8 million homes in foreclosure represent? It would represent one out of every six home mortgages in America.
Visualize your own street you live on or the building in which you live. Imagine how many people are paying a mortgage payment on that street. Now imagine that one out of six loses their home. What impact does that have on you as a neighbor? It is not good. The value of your home goes down if there is a foreclosure in your neighborhood. Even worse, your neighborhood could change.
A foreclosed home, 99 percent of the time, goes back to the bank. It is not sold on the market and reoccupied. It sits there. I have seen them. I have seen them in Chicago, and I have seen them in Springfield, IL. These are homes that are boarded up with plywood. The lots in front of them look like a trash heap. Many times vandals come in and rip out the plumbing if they can get some copper pipe out of it, and sometimes it ends up becoming a haven for criminal activity and drug trafficking. It can literally destroy a neighborhood, and I have seen that happen--one foreclosed home.
Why? The banks can't do anything with it. They can't sell it on this market. They certainly do not put the time in to maintain the home as you would your own home in that same neighborhood. And everybody suffers as a result of it.
In addition, the banks that go through mortgage foreclosure end up spending $50,000--that is about the average of what it costs a bank to have a home foreclosed upon.
It looks as if there are a lot of losers in this process I have just described. A family loses their home, a neighborhood sees a decline in value of all the real estate around it, and there is an eyesore at least, and maybe worse, and the bank ends up with a $50,000 debt. One would think under those circumstances that banks would be anxious to try to figure out if they could keep a person in their home.
I told a story last night which I think illustrates it. A flight attendant on a flight back to Chicago pulled me aside and said: I am a single mom with three kids. I have a home in the suburbs. My mortgage rate is too high. I can't make the payments anymore. I don't want to lose the home. If I could just renegotiate now to the lower interest rate I can make the monthly payments, and I could save my home. But what am I supposed to do?
And the answer I had to tell her was, basically: Beg the bank, and if they won't go along with renegotiating the mortgage, you are in a pretty sorry situation. You are facing delinquency, default, and foreclosure in a credit situation that is going to be absolutely horrible.
So we wrote this bill, not just to give the bankruptcy court the power to renegotiate the terms of the mortgage but also to set up conditions. Here are the conditions: The first one is, if someone is anticipating going to bankruptcy court, they are required to present to their lender, the bank with their mortgage, at least 45 days in advance of filing bankruptcy, the legal documentation of their economic circumstances: an indication of their income, a balance sheet on their assets and liabilities so the bank can take a look at them and see if there is a way to save this person who might otherwise face foreclosure.
I think about that flight attendant. She could prove that she has a steady job. She goes to work every day. She has been a model citizen, but she got caught in a bad mortgage, and when the ARM reset she couldn't keep up with it. At that point, if the bank offers her a renegotiated mortgage where she is paying at least 31 percent of her gross income as the mortgage payment--if the bank makes that offer, then this flight attendant and others, if they do not take the offer, cannot ask for the bankruptcy court to change the terms of the mortgage.
It is pretty basic. We put a limit on how much of a house someone can take into this process. It is about $729,000. We also say that only loans that originated before January 1 of this year are eligible for modification. The loans must be at least 60 days delinquent before they are eligible for modification, and only loans for which a foreclosure notice has been sent are eligible. So it is an emergency, a pretty drastic circumstance before a person would exercise these rights, go to a bank, put their documentation on the table and see if they could get a renegotiation of their mortgage.
I think it is a reasonable way to stop some of the mortgage foreclosures, and I think this is essential if we are going to turn this economy around. This recession started in the mortgage market, and it will not end until we straighten out that same market.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of smooth operators out there. Let me tell you the story of one woman in Chicago, and I think this is such a classic illustration. This lady had worked her whole life at a little factory, and she had saved up a little bit of money but she was counting on Social Security. She had basically paid off the house in which she lived and she was in retirement. She had the Social Security checks coming in and, of course, she believed she was in a secure situation.
A knock comes on the door, and a person says: Mrs. So-and-So, I just wanted to let you know you aren't living on one lot, you are living on two lots. You see, it turns out there are two parcels here. Your backyard is a separate real estate parcel and you have failed to pay the taxes on it and it has been sold at a tax sale.
This is a woman, a wonderful woman who worked her whole life. She wasn't a lawyer or an accountant or a real estate expert, and she went into a panic, to think that somebody was going to build something in her backyard.
She said: What can I do?
They said: You have to come up with money to buy back from the tax sale for the real estate taxes that went unpaid.
It turned out they had been mailing the notices of the taxes to another address. She wasn't aware of it.
So she looked around and saw on television an offer for a home refinancing. She called the 800 number, and the next day somebody showed up at her house and said: We can take care of this. This poor lady, 48 hours later, was brought into an office of a mortgage broker in Chicago. This is all happening in 72 hours. They sat her down at a table without asking for any evidence of her income or her net worth and handed her a stack of papers and said: Just sign these papers.
If you have ever been through a real estate closing, have you ever felt so hopeless in your life as with that stack of papers? As a lawyer I used to sit there and think: I hope I have looked through everything that is in there because it is page after page of small print, most of it in terms most people wouldn't understand.
She signed all of these documents. They gave her the money to buy the lot back from the tax sale, and they said we will give you a little extra money on the side. She thought everything worked out. The monthly payment was something she could handle.
Then came the reset. In a matter of a year or two the reset on the mortgage, this adjustable rate mortgage, drove the monthly payment up to the point where they were taking 80 percent of her Social Security check. She was about to lose her home, the whole thing now, because of what she had signed up for.
That is when I met her in this desperate circumstance, where she turned to people and said: Is there anybody who can help me out of this mess? She was in her late sixties and just beside herself to think that she would have to give up this home that she had hoped to live in for the rest of her life.
Thank goodness a bank did step forward, refinanced the whole project at a reasonable interest rate, and she was able to stay in the home. But her story is not unlike a lot of others where people got into a circumstance with a mortgage broker and a bank and ended up signing up for a mortgage they couldn't handle. It happened to a lot of people.
These mortgage brokers--incidentally, many of them were engaged in predatory lending; that is breaking the law--fraud, misleading people because it was a hot market. Boy, if you could move a mortgage as quickly as possible, the next thing you knew it was part of a big security arrangement off with some big bank somewhere.
When I talked to the banks about giving people a second chance facing mortgage foreclosure, the banks told me: These people made a big mistake. Why should we bail them out of their mistake? Why should we feel any responsibility to them for the mistakes they made?
It is a pretty heartless argument. It is even worse nowadays because the very same banks, such as the American Bankers Association, and the community banks--not as many of those, I might add, but the very same banks that are saying these people have to pay a price for bad decisions, many of these banks were in line to receive millions if not billions of Federal dollars because of the same mistakes they made. When they made a business mistake, they ended up turning to the Government and our taxpayers. All of us ended up trying to help our banks get out of the mess they created with these subprime mortgages and the instruments that followed.
So the same banks that made these terrible mistakes, built these rotten portfolios, facing bankruptcy themselves, about to go out of business, happily took the money in from the Federal Government and now, when we say to them: What about the victims on the south side of Chicago or Albany Park or near Midway Airport--what about them? Can we give them a second chance? No, sir. Don't you understand what a moral hazard is? People have to pay the price for bad mistakes.
Bankers, obviously, don't believe they have to pay the price. Sadly, the situation is one that will be manifest in the vote we are about to take in just a few hours--maybe in the next day or two--on the Senate floor. I have been working on this for 2 years. I thought this was unfair at the start, that the bankruptcy court could not sit and rework this mortgage as it can for so many other pieces of property. I didn't realize when I started this journey that 2 years later we would still be talking about millions of homes facing foreclosure and people desperate for it.
America is going to be a different place if 8 million homes face foreclosure. Unfortunately, a lot of towns are going to be different and a lot of neighborhoods are going to be different and these bankers are counting on the fact that at the end of the day, Uncle Sam will keep sending them money, trying ways to buy them out because they are too big to fail. The banks are too big to fail. These financial institutions, they know at the end of the day they are going to get a helping hand from this Government. But when we asked them to give a helping hand to people facing foreclosure, they walked away from the table. They walked away from the table. They would not negotiate with us, even though we put in reasonable requirements for people to do the right thing. They walked away from it. They feel no responsibility toward these people. That is unfortunate. It is unfortunate for the victims. It is unfortunate for our Nation.
This is not the last time we are going to visit the issues involving banks. I have learned the hard way that they are a pretty powerful lobby. One would think after what we have been through with this real estate bubble--the subprime mortgage mess with a lot of these banks, people trying to run away with multimillion-dollar bonuses in the midst of taking money from the Federal Government--one would think with all of that, the bankers wouldn't have the political clout in the Senate, but they do.
It is going to be a real test to see if we can come up with the 60 votes we need in the Senate to change this law and give these homeowners a fighting chance. I am not sure we can, but I think it is worth the effort.
I might say to the bankers, if you beat me this week--I hope you do not but if you do--hang on tight; we are coming back at you next week.
Do you know what we are going to talk about next week? Credit cards. We are going to talk about what these banks do with credit cards to consumers and families and businesses across America. And you know what I am talking about, situations where people face interest rates that all of a sudden mushroom overnight for no apparent reason.
I have had this happen. Send your payment in a day late. Watch what happens. You not only get a penalty for being a day late, they charge you interest on the penalty, and then interest again the following months. It just keeps coming at you.
You start adding it up and you think to yourself, this is an outrage. And it is an outrage. Time and again what these banks have done with their credit cards is to put people in a credit trap.
They had a feature on NOVA that I watched last year analyzing the credit card industry. It had this one fellow in there who is considered the wizard of credit cards. This man was the greatest mind in the world when it came to credit cards. A curious thing about him, though, they would not identify where he lived. They made a point of saying, he would only agree to an interview if we did not disclose where he lived. Very unusual, right.
Well, this man, in his infinite genius, came up with the following: He came up with the idea that the minimum monthly payment, instead of being 4 percent, should be 2 percent. Do you know why? Because if you pay 2 percent a month you will never, ever get out of debt. You are stuck. The minimum monthly payment is a guarantee that the interest is going to eat up everything you pay by the next month.
During the bankruptcy debate here, I had a simple little amendment. The amendment said this: If you have on your monthly statement a minimum monthly payment on the credit card, the bank issuing the credit check has to put below that minimum monthly payment: And if you make the minimum monthly payment, it will take you X months to pay off the balance and you will pay X dollars in interest.
The credit card companies refused to put that information on the monthly statement. And you know what they said to me: It is impossible to calculate that. Sure it is. It is impossible to calculate it, because they know if the average borrower, the person with that credit card, knew what that monthly minimum payment meant, they would think long and hard about whether that is all they are going to send in.
It is tough love in a way. Some people did get overextended in credit. But these credit card companies milked it for every penny it was worth. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut is going to bring us this credit card reform bill. The House of Representatives is about to pass one this week.
So next week, I would say to my friends at the financial institutions and the banking industry: Hold on tight. We are coming at you again. And this time we are going to try to help out the consumers across the country, to help out the families who are being ripped off by credit cards every day, every single day.
In a tough economy, people who turn to these credit cards in desperation sometimes are the most helpless victims. I think it ought to go beyond that. I would not stop there. I have legislation which does something that has not been done in a long time in this country. It establishes a usury rate. Usury used to be the established ceiling, the maximum, that you can charge for interest. We got away from that a long time ago. We said, we will let the market decide.
Well, I put in a bill that said: The maximum you can charge for interest for any 1-year period is 36 percent. That would be for mortgages, that would be for credit cards, basic loans. The reason I picked that number was that a few years ago we decided that members of the U.S. military and their families were being exploited so badly by the pay-day loans and title loans and installment loan operations that we put a limit on the interest rate that can be charged to our military and their families of 36 percent. Why? Because a lot of soldiers borrowing money, their family borrowing money, got so deeply in debt and could not get out of it, they had to leave the military service. After being trained and ready to serve our country, they could not continue. So we put this protection in of 36 percent.
If that is good enough to protect our military, why is it not good enough to protect every American? I think 36 percent is reasonable. But I learned something as soon as I introduced that bill. It is amazing that this industry, like the title loan business, and the pay-day loan business, it is amazing what they will come in, sit down in your office and say to you with a straight face. I said to this group in Chicago: Well, how much do you charge in interest at these pay-day loans and title loans?
The fellow said: Senator, you know it is the circumstance.
I said: How much do you charge?
Well, you know, on an annual basis somewhere between 58 and 358 percent.
What--58 and 358 percent?
Yes, but those are circumstances.
It gets down to the bottom line. Those people should not be in business. These poor people who think they are borrowing money are never going to get out of that hole. And we make it legal in this country. If you did it as part of some gangland activity, it would be extortion, and it might lead to criminal prosecution. But if you do it with a certain sign in front of your business, it is considered the free market at work. Well, I think it is the free market run amok. That is why I think it needs to be changed.
So we are going to face this vote this coming week. It is a very important one. It is one I hope will change the landscape. I hope that more homes will be spared from foreclosure. And I hope we can start stabilizing the real estate market.
I think when we do, we are going to find our way out of this recession. Until we do, we are going to keep looking for the bottom. How many homes will go in foreclosure? How many will sit vacant? And how low can the value of our homes go for those of us paying our mortgages every month?
That is what we are up against. We have not found that bottom yet, because the banks are not prepared to step forward and support any legislation that gives those people a fighting chance. They will have their opportunity this week in the Senate to speak.
Members of the Senate, tomorrow, I will go through State by State and show you what some of these States are facing. Mortgage foreclosures are bad in Illinois. Some parts of Chicago are horrible. But in some States it is devastating.
I think Nevada is a classic example of a State where mortgage foreclosures are out of hand at this point. We have got to do something. We have got to step forward. The President supports this proposal I am bringing to the floor. I hope we can find some Members on both sides of the aisle, particularly on the Republican side of the aisle, who will join us.
I yield the floor.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov


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AVP Credit Risk Internal Audit
- Base salary, bonus and excellent benefits.
- New York, NY, USA
- Permanent, Full time
- The Forum Group
- 20 Nov 17 2017-11-20
Our client, a global investment bank is seeking to add a talented audit professionals with experience with Credit Risk. The Principal Auditor CRM (PA) will be responsible for the risk assessment, planning, execution and delivery of audits covering the CRM area in collaboration with resources from other audit teams within the region and respective locations (case-by-case basis). The successful candidate will deal with CRM staff and senior contacts and will be expected to work in partnership with Group Audit colleagues globally to execute audits to fulfill coverage requirements.
• A Principal Auditor within the Financial Risks team covering Credit Risk Management will report into the Principal Audit Manager (PAM) Financial Risks in New York, who in turn reports into the Financial Risk Chief Auditor (CA). The CA has global responsibility.
• The candidate will be required to evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls relating to risks involved in the relevant business areas in accordance with Group Audit Methodology and the established risk assessment framework.
• The candidate will contribute to Risk Assessment Profiles / Business Monitoring and overall implementation of Group Audit Methodology.
• The candidate will be required, depending on skills and experience, to lead and successfully deliver CRM audits, or participate in Integrated Business and CRM audits both locally and globally.
• Plans audits e.g. documenting activity flows of the processes to be reviewed, identifies risks and the key actual controls in place to mitigate the identified risks and attends meetings with internal stakeholders as and when required.
• The candidate will be required to generate draft audit reports for review by senior Group Audit management and to facilitate issue tracking and validate closure of issues.
• The candidate will be required to complete all work assigned to them on a timely basis. This may also include ad hoc projects and special investigations.
• The candidate will be required to proactively develop and maintain professional working relationships with colleagues, the business and respective support areas. He/she will work in an integrated manner with fellow team members both locally and globally.
• He/she will understand the client's market place and respond to expectations and will continue to develop technical expertise relevant to the industry.
• Whilst the majority of the audit work is based in the US, as part of a global team, some travel may be required.
• May lead a team on individual assignments.
Skill Requirements:
The candidate will have a:
• Detailed understanding of practical and theoretical aspects of credit risk management and operations, best supported by formal certifications or practical experience in these areas operations.
• An appreciation and understanding of industry trends and their potential impact on credit risk management and credit operations.
• Accustomed to operating in a highly regulated environment.
• Experience in building and managing effective relationships.
• Strong communication skills, communicating with clarity, both orally and in writing, in a logical order and structured approach.


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On Tuesday, I went to Wrightsville Beach in the middle of the day and was shocked to find it completely packed (for a winter weekday). Of course, my first thought was "doesn't anyone work in this town?" And then it hit me... spring break for ECU, UNC and App State (and who knows what other NC universities!?).
So, I learned a valuable lesson. When living in a beach town, it is important to know when universities are on spring break... or just be shocked when there's no parking and the beach is packed in the middle of the week in winter!
Clean Beach and Clear Waters: Wrightsville Beach from Wilmington and Beaches CVB on Vimeo.
... yup, first smoke-free beach in North Carolina. And, we're STILL excited about it!
Litter by weight: 2 lbs 9.1 oz
Cigarette butts: 5
Total cigarette butts removed: 57,760


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I'm getting ready for the weekend – and taking most of next week off before some big life changes. But I wanted to offer you some specialized inspiration.
One of the greatest problems that face creative individuals is being overwhelmed with ideas while lacking focus. Maybe you struggle with this too. There are so many things you want to learn, do, and achieve. There are so many things you want to create. But when you get some extra time or a moment of peace, you find yourself unable to act.
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HOME Skin Condition Cosmetic Surgery Medical Dictionary Skin Care Glossary How 1 to 10
Skin FoodsSkin Care Glossary Medical DictionaryHow 1 to 10
INDEX Skin Diseases Skin Care Dictionary Skin Food Cosmetic Surgery Medical Dictionary Skin Conditions How 1 to 10
Important Skin Molecules
Health, resilience and youthful appearance of the skin depends, among other things, on several key classes of biological molecules, just like the quality of a house depends on the quality of bricks, beams and concrete. The most important skin molecules are collagen, elastin, glycosoaminoglycans and proteoglycans.
Collagen is a protein forming the structural grid that holds other skin structures. It plays a role somewhat similar to that of steel rods in a reinforced concrete block. It gives the skin its strength and durability. As any other protein, collagen is composed of amino acids. However, it is unusually rich in a few specific amino acids, proline, hydroxyproline, lysine and glycine. Some experts believe that foods or supplements rich in these amino acids may benefit the skin by stimulating collagen production. There is a number of other ways to stimulate collagen production, including topical vitamin C and copper peptides. Increasing collagen production is important because age-related decline in the collagen synthesis is partly responsible for the signs of skin aging such as thinning, wrinkles and sagging.
Elastin is also a protein. It is more stretchable than collagen and helps maintain skin resilience and elasticity. Elastin contains two special amino acids, desmosine and isodesmonsine. When both elastin and collagen and abundant and undamaged, the skin easily regains its shape after being stretched or folded. Just as collagen, elastin deteriorates with age, leading to wrinkles and facial sag.
Glycosoaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans are special biological polymers whose key role is to hold moisture in the skin. In essense, they are extremely effective natural moisturizers - far more effective that common cosmetic moisturizers. Hydrated GAGs and proteoglycans help the skin stay plump and fresh and provide mechanical support for skin cells. GAGs are composed of special units (mainly water-holding sugars) such as glucosamine hydrochloride, N-acetyl glucosamine, and glucosamine sulfate. These units combine to form various types of GAGs, such as hyaluronic acid, keratin sulfate, heparin, heparin sulfate, dermatin sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate. Proteoglycans are larger than GAGs and are formed when certain types of GAGs are attached to a protein backbone. Since GAGs and proteoglycans are composed largely of water-holding sugars, supplementing one's diet with these sugars may enhance the skins production of GAGs and proteoglycans. In particular, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-glucosamine hydrochloride, and D-glucosamine sulfate are often used as supplemets to increase skin moisture.
INDEX Skin Diseases Skin Care Dictionary Skin Food Cosmetic Surgery Medical Dictionary Skin Conditions How 1 to 10
HOME Brain Foods Skin Condition Skin Foods Skin Care Glossary How 1 to 10


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Chapter 6 Global Management Information Systems and Marketing Research. Introduction. Understand the importance of information technology and marketing information systems Utilise a framework for information scanning and opportunity identification Understand the formal market research process
Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.
The major thing is, "One size fits all" is not true. CRM is designed to support the sales process, and if I develop a system that works in the United States, it might not work in Europe.
—Jim Dickie, Insight Technology Group
Consumer panels
Nielsen—TV viewing
Using people or cameras
Focus groupsResearch Methodologies
Tabulate the data using statistical techniques—ANOVA, regression, factor analysis, cluster analysis
Perceptual mapping, Conjoint analysisStep 7: Analyzing Data
Ethnographic in nature
Studies culture from within
Uses culture's own meanings and values
Etic analysis
From the outside
Detached perspective that is used in multi-country studies
Enhances comparability but minimizes precisionEnhancing Comparability of Data


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Driver crushed to death in rollover crash at North Side H-E-B
Man allegedly drugged woman at NW Side club and raped her...
SAPD: Woman caught 34-year-old man having sex with her...
Lytle woman wins $43.5M jury verdict in driving-while-texting...
BCSO: 2-year-old dies after being run over by relative's car...
Teen rescued from trafficking, prostitution in Houston on...
Paula Deen's Family Kitchen coming soon to S.A.
Police arrest man tied to string of San Antonio store robberies
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Your home is a unique space, a personalised sanctuary ideal for relaxing. Adding accessories to a room is the perfect way to add layers and dimension, colour and texture. Without breaking the bank you can transform your home into an exclusive space that is completely individual, a home to be proud of. Our interior designers understand the importance of accessorising your home. "Accessorising your room turns it from a house into a home", says Annie. "A few simple scatters, a co-ordinating throw, a feature mirror, or a wow-factor ornament is all it takes to make the transformation complete." Ask one of our qualified interior designers for help and advice, they love a challenge.
Holloways is a unique furniture store. We offer comfortable British-made sofas and armchairs for your living room, large dining tables for families to eat, work and play around, and garden room, conservatory and luxury garden furniture with individual style.
Not only furniture, we have lamps and lighting, curtains and blinds, rugs and carpets, cushions and throws, and all the delightful details that turn a house into your family home.
I am delighted with my conservatory furniture... and may I say your service was A+. Friendly sales staff, efficient administration and on-time delivery. It is a real treat to come across such a professional company!
Contemporary country living.
Sofas and dining tables, conservatory and garden room furniture, and outdoor furniture.
Emphasis on contemporary design, craftsmanship and quality materials.
Traditional, personal service - our team is second-to-none.
Furniture that both we, and you, can be proud of.
To help our customers live a more comfortable, functional and beautiful life in their home.


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Rangeland Reform Legislative Reform
Following attendance by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman at the Rangeland: Sustainable Economic Development in Western Australia Conference 2016 in March 2016 and the Perth Stakeholder Forum in April, the Executive determined it was important for Track Care WA Inc. to take the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Land Administration Amendment Bill 2016.
Useful Additional Background Information
The Department of Lands has completed research, consultation, analysis and then refined issues to progress the Land Administration Amendment Bill 2016, which will be introduced into Parliament during this term of Government. Further information from a Department of Lands perspective can be found at http://www.lands.wa.gov.au/Publications/Documents/Rangelands_Reform_fact_sheet.pdf.
The Modern Outback Report is a study by global research and public policy organisation The Pew Charitable Trusts found more people are needed in the Australian Outback to ensure one of the last immense regions of nature left on Earth remains healthy. This report provides another perspective that is interesting reading.
You can download a summary and / or the full report from Outback WA at http://www.outbackwa.org.au/about
Track Cares submission for download - click here!


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Midday Jazz Host and Producer,
Chris Cortez is immersed in music every waking moment of the day. He splits his time between working full-time at KCSM Jazz 91, operating his own music production facility, (Nice N Up Studios SF) and performing Internationally with his reggae band of 24 years (Native Elements).
Chris Cortez has been a part of the award winning KCSM on-air team for over 23 years joining the line-up in 1994 as host of The Jazz Oasis followed by Evening Jazz and currently Midday Jazz. He has literally spent half of his adult life at KCSM radio programming a wide range of jazz for various programs. He also produces the long running "I'm Talking Jazz" series.
Originally, from Pampanga, Philippines, Chris Cortez immigrated to the US at age 2 and has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area ever since. His love and pursuit of music happened in the 5th grade when he first saw a traveling musical review perform at his school. From that moment on he was hooked and has been pursuing music ever since. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Radio & Television from San Francisco State University and has worked at several commercial recording studios before accepting a full-time spot at KCSM. His combined experience as a veteran music producer, drummer and bandleader has kept his focus on all things music past and present.
Tune-in for an expertly crafted show that seamlessly weaves timeless classics and modern undiscovered gems hand-picked by Chris from one of the most extensive jazz radio libraries in the Nation.
Jered Ebenreck hosts Afternoon FreeForm on KUNM every other Tuesday from 1:30-4pm MST. Jered has been doing radio for over 2 decades and focuses on the sublime evoked by the mix. Making connections across genres is the mission and Jered loves doing so.
I've been a volunteer DJ at KUNM 89.9 fm in Albuquerque since a really long time ago, when I did my first overnight Freeform with barely a clue, after having attended the Oliver-Stone-teach-yourself-to-be-a-DJ class. Eventually, I learned the ropes well enough to graduate to Afternoon Freeform, where I've been ever since. Currently, I host every other Friday, alternating with Harry Norton.
I'm moderately obsessed with music, and I have a very particular sensibility. While that sensibility extends to all genres, I'm only interested in the tracks that strike me as extra good in some way, tracks that I love hearing again and again. That sensibility spills over into my shows of course, where every selection is hand-picked for your extra-good listening pleasure.
It's an eclectic, high energy mix, perfect for a Friday afternoon.


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Social Media Mania
Are you a social media fanatic or maybe one who "doesn't touch the stuff"? Social media has taken the world by storm and somehow we all need to jump on the bandwagon for the benefit of our personal brands and our businesses. Almost all of us use e-mail but how many of us utilize the other sites effectively to promote ourselves? Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn allow users to set up business pages yet many women I speak to don't have their pages created. The biggest reason is time. It does take a fair amount of our so precious time to learn the features of each site and to get them up and running. Once they are established, time needs to be taken to "collect" friends, connections and members. Eventually, your sites will almost grow on their own. I can't think of a better way to promote your business but to people who "like" you best.
Fear is another reason that prevents women from joining the social media frenzy. For some it's fear of the unknown, others fear of loss of privacy and for some even fear of competitors gaining access to their hard work. The fear of not having a presence on social media, however, should be our biggest fear. If you own your own business, just think of how many times you are asked for your website address.
I hope you can join us on September 14, 2012 for a workshop addressing all of these points and more. We willed be joined by David Deutsh of SynergiSocial and IT Executive Ken Morris as we explore the benefits, risks and how-to's of social media. Seats are limited. Sign up now.
Judy Chapman
Latest from Judy Chapman
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- Happy Holidays from Garden State Woman!
- Centenary Stage Company's Family Holiday Spectacular Mary Poppins Continues Its Run At The Lackland Performing Arts Center.
- GSW Education Foundation (GSWEF) and Oasis Host Teen Girls Leadership/Success Summit


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Art portfolios created by four Otago secondary school artists last year have been selected to tour New Zealand in the 2014 Top Art Exhibition.
The annual touring exhibition features a selection of the NCEA level 3 visual art portfolios from 2013 which achieved excellence endorsements.
Five streams are covered: design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
Included in the exhibition are photographs by St Hilda's Collegiate School pupil Estelle Dippie, who received a Top Subject Scholarship; former St Hilda's Collegiate pupil Kate McDonald, who received an Outstanding Scholarship; former Wakatipu High School pupil Rosa Woods who received an NZQA Scholarship; and a painting by former Bayfield High School pupil Sarah Auckram, which was awarded an NZQA Scholarship.
Top Art provides an opportunity for secondary pupils and teachers to gain an understanding of what is required to achieve excellence endorsements in NCEA level 3.
It also allows members of the public to see the high quality of art being created in schools.
The artworks will be on display at the Dunedin School of Art Gallery (March 31-April 4), Blue Mountain College, Tapanui (April 7-11), Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Invercargill (April 14-24), Wakatipu High School, Queenstown (May 5-9) and Waitaki Girls' High School, Oamaru (May 12-16).


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Pay per click (PPC) marketing, also known as search engine sponsored links advertising is a online marketing technique that requires you to pay a fee for every time a person comes to your web site by clicking an ad you placed in the search engine results. Since PPC advertising begins delivering targeted traffic immediately, it has become a popular choice with business web sites new to the internet, or those that fall in a competitive keyword field and are waiting for their search engine optimization strategy to kick in.
Get your PPC campaign setup right: Using a professional PPC management company ensures that based on your budget, your campaign is getting the highest targeted traffic possible. This includes researching the most effective keywords, knowing how much to bid and writing creative ads.
Monthly Management: Our Pay per click experts routinely review & modify your keyword bids and PPC ads. We track their performance through free analytics analysis tools in order to ascertain the best performing keywords and ads. Each month you receive a full pay per click advertising report.
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Search Engine Marketing, Website Design and Printing Management Company in Vancouver, BC.


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This product has been discontinued. For information on a similar product or replacement please call us at (800) 338-2372.
Features: Weight Capacity of 300lbs. The new gel grip reduces hand stress and fatigue. 4 point base, combined with offset handle provides additional stability and support. Easy-to-use, one-button height adjustment with locking bolt, allows quick, safe fitting. Height adjustment 30" - 39". No assembly required. 300 lb. Weight Capacity. Limited Lifetime Warranty. 10378RC-1 10378BK-1 10378BC-1
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Manufacturer Drive Medical Shipping Method Ground Delivery Discontinued Yes
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London: Roger Federer claimed a hattrick of Wimbledon mens singles titles with a comfortable 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over American Andy Roddick on Sunday.
The Swiss world No. 1 joined Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras as the only men to win three singles titles in a row at the All England Club since tennis turned professional in 1968.
Federer, who was superb throughout, not only secured his 21st consecutive victory in a final but also extended his winning streak on grass to 36 matches.
I really did play my best, it was easier than the second time, said Federer, who collapsed in tears after sealing victory in 101 dazzling minutes. I came here with huge expectations... Sampras was one of my favourite players of all time, and Borg, to be in that group is very special. I hope its not going to stop at three.
Second seed Roddick was unable to put Federer under any sustained pressure and finished runner-up to his Wimbledon nemesis for the second year in a row. Im in the mood for a beer right now, said the 22-year-old. I put in the work and wanted it so badly but this guy is the best for a reason. He is such a complete player... maybe Ill just punch him or something, I dont know.
The top seed captured his fifth Grand Slam crown to maintain his perfect record in major finals and make amends for semi-final losses this year at the Australian and French Opens.
Only one point went against the serve in the opening five games of the match as both players quickly found their range on an overcast Centre Court.
It was not until the sixth game that Federer threatened his opponents thundering delivery, a majestic backhand pass giving him a break point that Roddick saved with a volley.
Sensing his moment, however, he carved out another opportunity with a wristy forehand winner and this time Roddick cracked.
Federer accelerated through the first set, clinching another break at 5-2 with a miss-hit backhand that landed plumb on the line.
A shell-shocked Roddick was desperate for a foothold and it arrived at 1-1 in the second set when a flashing forehand had too much-pace for Federer who dropped a volley into the net.
The American fought off a break point in the next game to move ahead 3-1 as the final sparked into life. Federer simply went up a gear, however, pressurising Roddick into errors with the sheer variety of his groundstrokes coupled with his telepathic court coverage.
The 23-year-old broke back when Roddick punched a backhand long and the alarm bells were ringing loudly for the American at 4-5 when his trusty serve was needed to fend off two set points. Roddick, whose only two defeats in his last 34 grasscourt matches have come against Federer, hung on grimly to force a tiebreak, but that proved a one-sided affair as the Swiss fired off winners all over the court to take it 7-2.
A 25-minute delay for light rain gave Roddick the opportunity to re-group and come up with a game plan. When play resumed he briefly looked capable of extending the contest but it was not enough to halt Federers serene progress.
In the sixth game, Federer played the kind of return game that marks him out above every other player in the world. Racing across the court he curled a delicious forehand down the line to punish a weak Roddick volley, won an exchange at the net and secured a decisive break with a dipping backhand that angled across the flailing American.
It was all too much for Roddick, who last year at least managed to wrestle a set off the champion. He went through the motions of holding his next two service games before Federer put him out of his misery with an unreturnable first serve on his first match point.


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Kids can take their Bible Memory Buddies anywhere with the Passport to Peru Carabiner. Easy to attach to backpacks, purses, and loops on jeans, the Carabiner includes an added metal clip to hold all five Buddies.
Package of 10
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.