text:
System for selecting liability products and preparing applications therefor
A system is disclosed having a graphical interface for interactively interviewing and educating a customer regarding their credit needs and the available products. The system also inquires, for example, about the customer's opinion regarding the future of interest rates or the importance to the customer of steady monthly payments. Using the information gained and unique selection processes, the system determines which of the available credit products will result in the lowest average monthly payment or lowest average interest rate over the expected holding period of the product. The selection is based on updated interest rate and product information. Once the customer selects a recommended product, the system generates an electronic credit application, requiring only information germane to that customer's transaction. The system also automatically completes as much information as possible on the application. Once the customer finishes the minimal information remaining, the system generates a completed application to be submitted to the financial institution for processing and approval in any of a number of formats. If the customer already has asset or liability accounts with the particular financial institution offering the credit products, the customer's information is also automatically retrieved and incorporated into the selection and application generation processes.
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This invention relates generally to systems for processing financial information and customer profile data. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for processing customer data to assist in the selection of credit programs and to assist in the creation of an appropriate credit application.
The credit industry is highly competitive, with many different credit sources offering a multitude of credit packages tailored to meet almost any conceivable financial situation and need. Even within one financial institution, there may be a wide variety of credit products, varying in their interest structures, qualifying requirements and governing rules. Each credit product might also be affected by the various states' statutes and regulations, so that one particular product might appear different to a customer in one state compared to a customer in another.
Matching a customer with an appropriate credit product would be a difficult task if left to the customer alone. Thus, in the past, financial institutions have used their own personnel to assist customers. There are basic customer service representatives (CSRs) or loan officers, who are capable of answering simple, technical questions, such as those relating to filling out forms. One financial institution further utilizes financial consultants (FCs) who assist customers by discussing the customer's overall financial position and credit needs and then selecting and recommending products that seem to fit with that particular customer's situation. Sometimes, these recommendations are based on one or two simple calculations, perhaps based on assets and needs. FCs also may inject their own personal opinions, even when they may not be the most appropriate. Otherwise, the selection of products would often be based on the subjective and often uninformed opinions of the customer.
Unfortunately, FCs have historically been highly trained to assist customers with their asset management, but are only recently addressing liability and credit issues. The resulting variability in FC recommendations due to individual subjectivity may therefore also lead to erroneous decisions by customers. These decisions can obviously have a significant effect on the customer, since an improper credit product translates into a lower overall net worth for the customer. To date, the only attempts to decrease the variability of FCs recommendations have involved personnel education, which still leaves the individual FC's subjectivity as a significant factor in customer recommendations.
Beyond the issue of what recommendations are given, after the selection of a credit product has been made and agreed upon by the customer, a lengthy application process lies ahead for the customer, beginning with a blank set of application papers sent to the customer by the FC or CSR. Because of the increasingly cautious nature of underwriting credit, these applications are overwhelming to customers who need to fill in page after page of exacting financial and personal information. Also, these applications tend to be universal, including much information that does not apply to a particular customer's transaction, lengthening the application completion process. In fact, this step is often the crux of closing a transaction relating to credit, in that many of these applications go uncompleted by the applicant. This not only leads to the financial institution's loss of the interest income on that customer's credit, but also a waste of valuable manpower, measured by the FC's time, and administrative resources, measured by the recordkeeping burden for the FC's and the costs associated with producing and forwarding applications.
In an attempt to increase the closure rate among credit applications sent to customers, some financial institutions have begun to simplify the application preparation process. FCs not only have the capability of assisting with the selection of an appropriate credit product, but also now assist with completing the application itself. Using the customer profile data obtained from the customer, either over the phone, fax or in person, along with information relating to the specific credit product selected, the FC would prepare an application form with as much information as possible already completed. When the customer receives the application, his/her overall burden will be reduced, as there will be fewer "blanks" on the application form. With less to do, the applicant is more likely to complete the application and forward it back to the financial institution for processing and, perhaps, approval.
However, even with this added assistance from the FCs, the customer's overall paper and records preparation process is a multi-step, fairly burdensome procedure. For customers who need the credit, the burden is a necessary evil, although one financial institution with an easier process might attract customers from an institution with a more onerous process. For customers who do not have an immediate need for the credit, but can nevertheless benefit from consolidating their credit or moving to another product, the burden might dissuade them, denying them those benefits and denying the financial institution the benefits of interest income, closing costs, and/or origination fees.
In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for assisting a sales force and customers in objectively selecting liability/credit products by using techniques termed "Liability Management.SM." to maximize net worth and also for automatically generating credit applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that gathers various information from a customer on which to base the selection of credit products for that customer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that selects credit products based in part on the customer's personal opinion as to the future of interest rates.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system that includes a graphical, interactive interface for use by a customer in entering information and selecting credit products.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system that automatically uses information gathered during the credit product selection process to automatically complete portions of a credit application and that automatically generates a completed application.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system that has access to updated information relating to the various credit products available to the customer.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a system that has access to any available information concerning the customer and automatically uses the information both in the product selection process and the application generation process.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, a system is provided having a graphical interface for interactively interviewing and educating a customer regarding their credit needs and the available products. The system also inquires, for example, about the customer's opinion regarding the future of interest rates or the importance to the customer of steady monthly payments. Using the information gained and unique selection processes, the system determines which of the available credit products will result in the lowest average monthly payment or lowest average interest rate over the expected holding period of the product. The selection is based on updated interest rate and product information. Once the customer selects a recommended product, the system generates an electronic credit application, requiring only information germane to that customer's transaction. The system also automatically completes as much information as possible on the application. Once the customer finishes the minimal information remaining, the system generates a completed application to be submitted to the financial institution for processing and approval in any of a number of formats. If the customer already has asset or liability accounts with the particular financial institution offering the credit products, the customer's information is also automatically retrieved and incorporated into the selection and application generation processes.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with a review of the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic hardware diagram of a system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic software diagram showing the overall organization of various software components of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a high-level logic flowchart of a home purchase submodule of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a lower level logic flowchart of the home purchase submodule of the system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a logic flowchart of a refinancing submodule of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a logic flowchart of a personal credit submodule of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a Best Use of Funds screen of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an Economic Outlook screen of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a Recommendations screen of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a Product Information screen of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is an Application Builder screen of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a Mortgage Application screen of the system of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a Checklist Builder screen of the system of the present invention; and
FIG. 14 is a Calculator screen of the system of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the hardware of a system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Three different operational structures are shown in the figure, although many are contemplated. All three require the main component of the system, which is a personal computer or other workstation 10a,10b,10c, on which the system software is accessed by a customer or FC. In general, the operation of the system is identical for the three workstations, although each has a different means of accessing the financial institution supporting the system. Preferably, each workstation has at least a 486-type processor with a VGA display and multimedia capabilities, although the exact configuration is not critical. The Windows operating system is preferred, although any graphical user interface may be used similarly.
Since several of the submodules of the present system may access databases not resident on the workstations 10, as will be discussed further below, each workstation 10 has a network connection to the financial institution offering the products stored in the system. In the case of workstation 10a, this connection is preferably a constant connection over a local or wide area network (LAN/WAN) to a server 50. In this configuration, the workstation 10a would be used by a CSR or FC within the financial institution. Workstation 10b is preferably a mobile, laptop-type computer and is preferably connected to the server 50 through a standard modem connection over the public telephone network, but it is also contemplated as an ISDN, X.25 or any other data transfer protocol network. This telephone network connection to the financial institution first passes through a firewall system 60 for security purposes, as is known in the art. Workstation 10b would most likely be used by an FC at a remote site, perhaps a customer's residence. Workstation 10c is preferably connected to the financial institution over a global network, such as the present Internet. In this situation, the workstation 10c would only include standard internet access software, such as a World Wide Web browser, while the system software would be maintained on an internet server 70, within the financial institution, downloading information to the workstation 10c as needed. Such a setup could be used directly by a customer at his/her residence or business. The internet server 70 would then be connected to the main system server 50.
Once the workstation 10 is connected, through whatever means, data as needed may be retrieved from the financial institution servers 50 containing the databases described below. For example, the server 50 preferably includes a database containing interest rate information and customer profile data. It is also contemplated that the server 50 could contain any updates to the software resident on the workstations 10abc, downloading it to the workstations 10abc as necessary.
Each workstation 10a, 10b, 10c is then also preferably connected to a printer (20, 30, 40, respectively) such as a standard laser printer, for outputting a completed credit application generated by the system resident on the workstation 10abc (or through the internet). Although it is not in any way critical to the system, the system implementation on workstations 10a and 10b are preferably accomplished using the Visual Basic, C++, MS Access and SQL server programming environments.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the overall system component organization is shown schematically. The central processor 200 receives input from various sources, including the customer, and generates outputs to the display 210, mortgage/credit application generator 220, and alternatively, as discussed below, to the financial institution. The processor includes the various drivers and operating system routines necessary to operate the system, such as generating the multimedia interface and communicating with the financial institution. The processor 200 receives data from potentially two database sources within the financial institution; namely, a database 230 containing updated product interest rate and parameter information, and a database 240 containing customer data if the customer using the system already has accounts with the financial institution.
The processor 200 also receives input from the customer through a keyboard and mouse 250, in response to the interactive interface 260, which is displayed as appropriate. For selecting its recommended credit products, the processor 200 accesses static information (non-volatile parameters) about the products, which is stored in an internal database 270 as part of the present system and is preferably resident on the workstation. The processor also accesses a database 280 of state-specific rules and regulations that apply depending on the property's state. Since this database 280 is also generally non-volatile, it is preferably stored on the workstation 10. Both databases 270, 280 may be updated as necessary, such as by access to a financial institution server 50.
The interactive interface includes video clips of a "guide" to help the customer navigate through the interview process by which the processor obtains information necessary to recommend products. Throughout the interview and selection processes, the customer is presented with screen buttons, input fields and charts to easily enter information or respond to the system inquiries. As an example of the ease of using the system, the customer is often presented with a choice of "I don't know" in response to specific questions. Upon selecting "I don't know," the interactive interface presents the customer with worksheets or other assistive information to allow the customer or the system to accurately estimate the answer. For further background information, a Bookshelf submodule is included in the system, which provides descriptive material on the available products from the financial institution.
If the FC or customer is unsure which of the submodules described below would be most helpful to the customer, a brief interview may be conducted by the system, gathering basic financial data on the customer's properties, assets and debts. Once gathered, calculations are performed to determine if any of the financial institution's products would improve the customer's overall portfolio. If so, the appropriate submodule described below is initiated.
Home Purchase Submodule
Referring now to FIG. 3, a high-level flowchart showing the logic of the Home Purchase submodule of the present invention is shown. This particular submodule concerns the purchase of a home and selecting an appropriate mortgage product for that purchase. To arrive at product recommendations and ultimately generate a credit application for a particular product, the submodule performs five major steps: (1) The Property/Years in Property 310; (2) Best Use of Funds 320; (3) Down Payment 330; (4) Economic Outlook 340; and (5) Financial Picture 350. Once those steps have been performed, the system calculates and then displays its recommendations 360, allowing the customer to review each recommended product's features, make a selection and ultimately generate an application. Other submodules, described below, for Refinancing and Personal Credit, have some steps in common with the Home Purchase submodule, as will be seen. Thus, the Home Purchase submodule will be discussed in the greatest detail, while the description of the other submodules will refer back to portions of the Home Purchase submodule. The calculations used in making recommendations, described more fully below, focus on whether a particular product is available to a customer and if the customer is eligible for that product. Each step of the process will be described in more detail, as follows.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the Home Purchase submodule is shown in greater detail than in FIG. 3. When the system is initiated by the customer or FC, the processor 200 accesses the interactive interface information 260 and displays the video guide, who presents the submodules available to the customer. Once the customer has selected the Home Purchase submodule, the processor initiates the interview/selection process (at block 400, FIG. 4). The system first inquires as to whether the property to be purchased has been selected 405. If not, the system will later in the process suggest how large of a mortgage the customer can qualify for. If property has been chosen, the customer must input the details of the property 410, such as the price, the property state/county, the property type and whether the property is a first or second residence or investment property. The system next inquires how long the customer intends to stay in the property 415. If known by the customer, he/she inputs the number of years 425. If not known by the customer, the system asks further questions and then estimates the number of years based on national averages 420. For example, someone who answers that they intend to move frequently will be estimated to stay three years, while if it is the customer's final home, the estimate jumps to 30 years. Once determined, this figure is stored in memory as the holding period, which is referred to below. Logic blocks 405-425 are represented by block 310 in FIG. 3.
As part of the interactive nature of the system, and consistent with the overall strategy termed Liability Management.SM., the system also educates the customer concerning the best use of his/her available down payment money, i.e., whether the money should be invested separately or put into the downpayment for the mortgage 430. The system calculates the return on investments relative to the holding period made instead of a down payment and then displays comparisons for different rates of return, preferably 5, 10 and 15 percent. This allows the customer to recognize in plain, visual terms, that with a high enough rate of return, investing a down payment may be a wiser investment, even though the amount financed in the mortgage will be greater. The system then gathers information from the user so that it may display graphically how much the customer might actually gain by investing their intended down payment. The system asks for the rate of return the customer expects 435. It is contemplated that the system would also display various indices average return for the customer to select, if needed. The system also asks for the customers tax rate 440. It is contemplated that the system could include a tax rate estimator, including the formulas used by the Internal Revenue Service. By the customer inputting his/her income and deduction figures and married status, the tax rate may be calculated. The system then displays a graph 445 of the effects of investing the down payment for the period determined in block 420 or 425. Referring now to FIG. 7, an example is shown in which the customer's gain by investing the money would exceed the additional interest that would be paid. In other words, it would be wiser for the customer to invest the money rather than put it in a down payment. Blocks 430-445 are represented by block 320 in FIG. 3. As an aside, as seen in FIGS. 7-10, a tool bar 710 is shown in the upper right hand corner for the FCs or customer's use. The button with the gavel is intended to allow the FC or the customer to access any legal disclosures required with respect to the products offered. Depending on the applicable regulations, the button may flash when such disclosure is required, allowing the FC or customer to view the disclosure and potentially preventing further activity in the system until the FC or customer acknowledges reviewing the disclosure.
Returning to FIG. 4, the system then gathers information about the customer to determine if the customer is eligible for a low or no down payment program. At block 450, the system inquires about the customer's liquid assets. If the customer is already a client of the financial institution offering the credit products, which the system will know by asking initially for a client account number, the system will cause the workstation 10 to automatically access the financial institution's server 50 and download (represented by the open arrow into block 450) the value of the customer's accounts from the customer data database 240. In this way, the customer's task in completing the overall interview process is diminished because there is less information to manually gather and input. It is also contemplated that the system might retrieve financial information about the customer from the customer's personal computer. Further, it is contemplated that the financial information might be retrieved from any central source, such as a credit bureau or the Internal Revenue Service.
The system also inquires about other investments 455, 465, or investments of the customer's parents 460 that may be used as collateral to decrease the down payment needed for the mortgage. If the customer or his/her parents own other property that is not currently for sale, the market value, state and lien information are entered at block 470. Blocks 450-470 are represented by block 330 of FIG. 3.
The next step in the interview/selection process is to determine the customer's personal opinion of the economic outlook, since this alone may seriously impact the recommendations made by the system for that customer. The economic outlook has two major components--interest rates or stability of monthly payments.
Referring now the FIG. 8, the customer is presented with five choices, represented by five buttons 810, as to what he/she thinks will be the future of interest rates (block 475, FIG. 4). A graph 820 on the screen shows in a simplified manner what the customer has currently selected. When a button is pressed, that direction for interest rates is shown in the graph 820. For example, in the example screen shown in FIG. 8, the customer has chosen that the interest rates will go down and then up. It is contemplated that the system will include recent news items discussing the future of interest rates to assist the customer. If the customer does not have a sense for the direction of future interest rates or simply chooses not to decide, he/she may select the "I don't know" button 840, which will allow him/her to instead decide how important it is to predict monthly payments (block 485, FIG. 4), described below.
The customer must also select the degree of rise and fall that the interest rates will move. The three choices 830 are gradually, moderately or extremely. Selecting one of the choices 830 causes the down portion of the graph 810 to change, reflecting the degree of movement--the example shows "gradual" degree. By selecting the duration 850 as short, the customer has indicated that the first down portion of the outlook will be short. The system translates a "short" duration into the first 1/3 of the holding period. A "long" duration would be 2/3 of the holding period. In the example of FIG. 8, the customer has also selected that the interest rates will then rise also in a "gradual" degree (at 860). In the final calculations, when the system will be determining which product provides, for example, the lowest monthly payments, the system will move any variable rates according to the customer's selections. For example, if the customer had selected that rates would go up, by also selecting "gradual," the system will move the interest rate by 1/2 point per year until the lifetime cap is reached. Selecting "moderate" will cause the system to move the rate by 1 point each year, while "extreme" will cause the system to move 2 points each year, both until the lifetime cap is reached.
At block 485, if the customer does not want to address the future of interest rates, the system inquires how important it is to the customer to be able to predict monthly payments. This is preferably measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important. With selections from 8 to 10, the system will only select products that offer fixed rates over the holding period. With selections from 1 to 3, the system will select products that offer variable and quick changing interest rates over the holding period so that the customer can take advantage of the possibility of lowering the average monthly payment. With selections from 4 to 7, the system will still select products with variable interest rates over the holding period, but only those preselected to have relatively small risks and thus, smaller movements in rate. Blocks 475-485 are represented by block 340 of FIG. 3.
The final step before the system makes its calculations and recommendations is to gather information concerning the customer's income and their cash needs (such as for improvements upon purchasing the house). A short list of categories is displayed for the customer to fill in, such as monthly income monthly debt payments, primary residence payments and number of family members (block 490). If such information is not immediately known to the customer, he/she may press a "Detail Worksheet" button to bring up worksheets with income or expenses broken down into specific categories, which once entered by the customer will be used by the system to calculate the overall income and expenses. The customer's cash need, if any, is also requested (at block 495).
After the five interviewing steps, the system now calculates preferably up to three recommended products for the customer, mainly based on the lowest average interest rate (if the customer should invest the down payment in the mortgage) or the lowest average payment (if the customer should invest the down payment in the market) of the mortgage over the holding period. By this point in the process, the system will have retrieved updated interest rates for the various stored products. The processor uses the financial institution's standard product eligibility formulas (or any other desired formulas) to determine and retrieve from the internal products information database 270 products for which the customer is eligible. Using the property's state, the processor also retrieves any applicable rules and regulations from the internal database 280, such as yearly or lifetime caps for a product. At this point, the system would access the financial institution's server 50 to download the most up-to-date interest rates for the programmed products. Then, using the mortgage amount, holding period, economic outlook information as described above, down payment information, and other parameters, the system performs hypothetical calculations with each product to determine the products with the least average payment or average interest rate over the holding period. Using the economic outlook information described above, the system calculates the interest rate for each year in the holding period and then calculates the average interest rate. Using that calculated rate and standard amortization formulas (for amortizing products), the system then calculates the average payment.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a Recommendations screen is shown in which three products have been recommended by the system based on the customer's information. These three recommendations are shown as buttons 910 that allow the customer to press a recommendation to learn more about the particular product by displaying a product summary retrieved from the interactive interface information 260. Such a product information screen is shown as FIG. 10. One button 1010 allows the customer to see more information about the product. A subwindow 1020 displays the reasons for the recommendations, generated by the system based on the customer's preferences, resources and needs. The calculators button 1030 allows the user to initiate the Calculators submodule, described more fully below, that provides more detailed financial information on the various available products and allows the user to change parameters and view the effects. The application button 1040 initiates the mortgage/credit application generator, described more fully below. Button 1050 causes the processor to retrieve from the interactive interface information 260 and display a brief vignette about how the product selected helped another customer minimize their liability.
Mortgage/Credit Application Generator
From either the initial introductory screens, the recommendations screen or any screen with the Application button, the customer may cause the processor to output data to the mortgage/credit application generator submodule 220. The generator 220 then initiates the Application Builder screen, shown as FIG. 11. As seen at areas 1110, the application builder presents an easy-to-use graphic interface (as with all of the submodules of the system) that allows the customer to select his/her particular application needs from the four main sections--Purpose, Income, Assets and Obligations. As each item is selected, it moves to the application list (area 1120) so that the customer can track his/her progress. In the example shown in FIG. 11, John selected that his income comes from salary, he is a client of the financial institution and that he currently carries credit cards accounts. He has yet to select a Purpose--this is done in the example for illustrative purposes, as once a purpose is selected most of the remaining choices are no longer possible and are not displayed. After he (or an FC) has selected all of the appropriate options, selecting "Next >>" will cause the system to create an on-screen electronic form containing all of the necessary fields for a credit application for the selected product. An example of the preferred on-screen form is shown in FIG. 12.
The application is divided into major sections 1210--About the customer, Assets and Liability, Property and Mortgage, and Other Required Info. Each major section 1210 includes subsections 1220 for easier organization. In the example shown, the subsections 1220 for major section "About John" are shown. Any fields 1230 that contain information inputted in any other portion of the interview/selection process are automatically completed by the application generator, such as the customer name shown in FIG. 12. For example, if the application is for a home purchase mortgage, the description of the property entered at the beginning of the interview process (block 310 & 410) is automatically entered on the form. The customer may change any entries that are automatically entered, if desired. These automatic entries significantly decrease the overall task of completing the application, and, just as important, eliminates repetitive entries by the customer of the same information inputted during the interview process. Further, from the application builder of FIG. 11, the form only contains those sections that are necessary for the options selected, also decreasing the time needed to complete the application.
During the application completion process, the customer may also press the "Checklist Builder" button 1240, which will scan all of the entered information, the product requirements and the state rules and regulations and then generate a checklist of support paperwork and any other forms that must be completed and submitted for the application to be processed, as seen in FIG. 13. For example, for any piece of property that is entered as possible collateral for a no-down-payment mortgage, the generator will create an entry on the checklist listing copies of the deed and lien papers for that property.
The generator 220 is also capable of determining how many of the fields have been completed and will generate a message that the "Application is already.sub.-- percent complete" whenever the customer switches from the application to another submodule. The processor stores any information entered on the form so that the next time the customer initiates the mortgage/credit application generator, they do not need to start from scratch. Once the electronic form on the screen is completed, the customer may cause the mortgage/credit application generator to print a hardcopy of the application, which then only needs the customer's signature and mailing to the financial institution. It is also contemplated that the customer might submit the completed application electronically. In that case, the processor 200 would cause the workstation 10 to connect to the financial institution's server 50. The application would then be submitted through digital data transfer. Any supporting documents would need to be sent in hardcopy, although scanned images sent electronically are also contemplated.
Refinance Submodule
Referring now to FIG. 5, a high-level logic flowchart for the Refinance Submodule is shown. This submodule is accessed from the initial main menu screen. As the Home Purchase and Refinance submodules both involve credit based on a specific piece of property, their operation has many similarities, as will be seen below.
Initially, the system requests information concerning the property to be refinanced at block 520 (similar to blocks 405, 410). The system then inquires about the current mortgage (block 530), which is not a concern in the Home Purchase submodule. The questions include the remaining balance on the mortgage and the months/years remaining. Then, depending on whether the current mortgage is fixed, adjustable or fixed to float, the system inquires about the starting interest rate, the yearly rate cap and the lifetime cap. If any caps are not known, the system preferably assumes a yearly cap of 2 percent and a lifetime cap of 6 percent.
The system inquires concerning the number of years the customer expects to hold on to the property 540. Similar to blocks 430-445, the system describes how the customer might save through refinancing and then asks similar questions to the Home Purchase submodule. Additionally, the system inquires (at block 550) if the customer intends to invest any savings received. If so, the savings are compounded and added to the benefits calculations.
Both the Economic Outlook and Financial Picture processes (blocks 555, 560) are identical to those regarding the Home Purchase submodule (blocks 475-495). The Recommendation process 565 is also similar to that described above, except the choices are selected based on the lowest average payment over the holding period and the eligibility for refinance.
To determine the actual recommendations, the system starts with the closing costs and origination fees for each recommended product. Using the inputted rate of return (from block 550), the system calculates the result of investing the closing cost and origination fees over the holding period. That value is stored as Refi1. Next, the system determines the difference in average payment over the holding period and multiplies it by the number of months in the holding period. This savings value is stored as Refi2. If the customer indicated that they will invest the savings monthly, the system treats the savings as an annuity with the savings as the contribution. The compounded contribution using the inputted rate of return gives a value stored as Refi3. If the customer intends to invest the savings and Refi1>Refi3, the system recommends that the customer not refinance at all, but take the refinance costs and invest it. If Refi3>Refi1, the system recommends refinancing into that product. If the customer does not intend to invest the savings and Refi1>Refi2, the system recommends against refinancing. If Refi2>Refi1, the system recommends refinancing into that product.
The Recommendations screen is similar to FIG. 10 for the Refinance submodule, and similarly provides access to the mortgage/credit application generator (at 570). The customer completes the application as described above, and submits it either in hardcopy or electronically.
Personal Credit
Referring now to FIG. 6, a functional flowchart for another submodule of the system using the techniques of Liability Management.SM. is shown. In this submodule, the system will assist the customer in determining whether his/her current credit products are resulting in the lowest costs, i.e., lowest average payment over their respective holding periods. If not, the system can select credit products of the financial institution and recommend them to the customer for lowering his/her overall personal credit costs.
First, it is necessary for the system to analyze the customer's present personal credit portfolio and thus, that information must be entered (block 600). If the customer has some or all of his/her portfolio with the financial institution, the system will automatically retrieve that information. Information on any other credit products, such as credit cards, credit lines and personal loans are manually entered by the customer or FC, including the remaining balance and monthly payments. Based on the information entered, the system then calculates the average interest rate on his/her debt portfolio (block 610).
To determine if any of the financial institution's products would lower the customer's cost, it is first necessary to gather some information about other aspects of the customer's financial situation. This includes any current cash need the customer may have (block 620), as well as any unused credit lines the customer may have, including the available balance and the interest rate that would apply (block 630). Next, the system requests information on any properties that might qualify as collateral to perhaps support more attractive credit products for the customer, rather than a basic, unsecured credit line (block 640). As indicated by the arrow entering block 640, the system will automatically retrieve any information on properties already stored by the financial institution. Of course, if such information had been entered at another part of the system, it would automatically be transferred to this part as well, eliminating the need for redundant entries by the customer or FC. Similar to the properties query, the system also inquires as to any non-retirement investments that might be used by the customer for collateral (block 650). The arrow again indicates that such information might be automatically retrieved from the financial institution or another portion of the system.
Once all the necessary information has been input, the system will make its recommendations. This will be done in a similar manner to the Home Purchase submodule, although additional personal credit products will be considered. The system will first select only those products for which the customer is qualified, based on his/her available collateral, credit needs, outstanding credit, residence state or any other criteria. Then, at some point before calculating the best available product, the system will retrieve updated interest rate information for the products from the financial institution. Once retrieved, the system can perform its lowest monthly cost analysis for the available products.
The products with the lowest average payment over the holding periods will be displayed as recommendations on a Recommendations screen (block 660), similar to FIG. 10 for the Home Purchase submodule, and similarly provides access to the mortgage/credit application generator (at 670). The customer completes the application as described above, and preferably submits it either in hardcopy or electronically.
Calculators Submodule
To assist the customer or FC in making selections, he/she may access the Calculators submodule from any other point in the system. This submodule provides the customer or FC with the ability to perform "what if" calculations for any of the available credit products. Referring now to FIG. 14, a Calculators screen is shown. One of the windows (area 1410, partially covered in FIG. 14) of the screen allows the customer to enter various parameters for a credit product to see the effect, for example, on the monthly payment. By entering the loan amount, interest rate, and term, but leaving the monthly payment box open, the system will automatically calculate the information in the open box. To assist in selecting the various products, they are categorized. By first selecting a major category in area 1420, the system then displays the subcategories in area 1430. Once a subcategory is selected, the system scans its product database to find all of the products within that subcategory and displays them (at area 1440) for selection by the customer. The system will limit the displayed products to those for which the customer is qualified based on set parameters, such as the property state (if the information is already entered in another submodule), but not on the customer's personal finances. If such information has not been entered, the system will inquire regarding the necessary parameters. The parameters of the selected product will then be used in the window (area 1410) for calculations.
The Calculators submodule also allows the FC or customer to view amortization schedules for various products, based on the financial information input in other submodules or in the Calculators submodule. The system also allows the FC or customer to adjust individual payments within the schedule to review the resulting effect on payments after the altered payment. The Calculator submodule also allows the FC or customer to enter information related to either a buy up or buy down of the interest rate and view the resulting payment schedule.
Thus, the system of the present invention provides a simple, interactive process for allowing a customer to select an appropriate credit product based on their own circumstances and opinions. The system also makes the application process itself more simplified, streamlined and less paper intensive for both the customer and the financial institution.
While the embodiments shown and described above are fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages of the present invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments are shown solely for the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being limited solely by the claims.
1. An interactive computer system for assisting a user in selecting a liability product from a pre-determined set of liability products, at least a subset of said products having differing variable rate structures, comprising:
- means for said user to select a first prediction for the direction of future interest rates;
- means for said user to select a second prediction for the rate of change of future interest rates;
- means for said user to input the duration that said selected product will be held; and
- means for calculating the variable rate applicable to each of said liability products over said duration based on said first and second predictions to thereby select at least one of said liability products having one of the lowest average payment and the lowest average interest rate.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second prediction may be selected from a first, second and third rate of change, said first rate representing 1/2 point per year, said second rate representing 1 point per year, said third rate representing 2 points per year, said means for calculating adding the selected rate of change to the variable rate for each of said liability products for each year of said duration.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- means for retrieving updated variable rate structure information for said liability products.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein said means for calculating applies said first prediction for a first portion of said duration, and further comprising:
- means for said user to select a third prediction for the direction of future interest rates during a second portion of said duration, said means for calculating applying said third prediction for said second duration portion.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:
- means for said user to choose one of said liability products selected by said means for calculating; and
- means for generating a liability/credit application for the chosen liability product, said liability/credit application being automatically partially completed with information regarding said chosen liability product.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:
- a checklist builder, said builder having a database of possible attachments to said liability/credit application, said checklist builder automatically generating a list of only those attachments necessary based on the chosen liability product.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:
- means for interactively gathering financial information from said user, said means for generating automatically completing said application with said gathered financial information, said checklist builder automatically altering said list based on said gathered financial information.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
|August 24, 1982
|March 15, 1983
|June 24, 1986
|Musmanno et al.
|June 16, 1987
|Kalmus et al.
|October 13, 1987
|Hagel, Sr. et al.
|September 27, 1988
|Musmanno et al.
|December 14, 1993
|March 22, 1994
|Trojan et al.
Other references
- Anonymous, MortgageWare Resource Guide, INTERLINK Software Corp, Chapt. MAI, QUA and CRG., Nov. 1992. Anonymous, A Man with Grand Visions, Banking Technology, pp. 30-32, May 1993. Emily Thornton, Going Belly-up In Japan, Business Week, May 5, 1997.
Patent History
Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 24, 1996
Date of Patent: Jun 9, 1998
Assignee: Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (New York, NY)
Inventors: Kimberly Larche (Middleburg, FL), Clemens Taeuber (Ridgefield, CT)
Primary Examiner: Gail O. Hayes
Assistant Examiner: Junghoon Kenneth Oh
Law Firm: Hopgood, Calimafde, Kalil & Judlowe LLP
Application Number: 8/669,080
International Classification: G06F 1760;


text:
Monday, June 7, 2010
Dogs that Sled
19 comments:
- Buffy Andrews said...
Oh I love good news. Can't wait to hear all about it. Have a terrific day!
- June 5, 2010 at 10:27 AM
- Heather Kelly said...
It is sooo funny that the dogs 'sled' on their sides! I mean, it must work the best, but they look so comical! Good news is a WONDERFUL THING!!
- June 7, 2010 at 1:20 PM
- Cynthia Chapman Willis said...
That is hilarious! i had everyone in my family gather around my computer to watch it again. Too funny! AND, I can't wait to hear your good news!!!!
- June 7, 2010 at 6:44 PM
- My name is PJ. said...
That is equal parts HILARIOUS and the cutest thing!!! I've never seen dogs do that!
- June 8, 2010 at 3:13 AM
- Christina Lee said...
so funny and sweet!!!
oooh good news???? can't wait to hear!
- June 8, 2010 at 6:24 AM
- Tamara Hart Heiner said...
oh come on. you can't tease that way! tell the exciting news!
- June 8, 2010 at 1:09 PM
- L. Diane Wolfe said...
What a hoot!!! Who needs a sled?
Can't wait to hear the big news.
- June 8, 2010 at 3:03 PM
- Sharon K. Mayhew said...
I can't wait to hear your news!!!
- June 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM
- Paul Greci said...
Cool video, Terry!! Dogs, they know how to have fun!!
- June 9, 2010 at 2:25 AM
- TerryLynnJohnson said...
Glad everyone's enjoying the video. It made me laugh all the way through.
Can't wait till I can spill to all my blogging friends!
- June 9, 2010 at 4:23 AM
- Laura Pauling said...
That is so cute! And I can't wait to hear the good news!
- June 9, 2010 at 5:53 AM
- nanmarino said...
Looking forward to hearing the news. And the video is too funny.
- June 9, 2010 at 5:13 PM
- Susan Fields said...
What news??? I can't wait to hear!
I love the video, those dogs look like they're having so much fun. Who needs a sled when you've got a perfectly good back to slide around on?
- June 9, 2010 at 6:48 PM
They like to sled so much that they'll do it on their own.
I love good news.
- June 11, 2010 at 12:31 AM
- Ann Marie Wraight said...
HEY - no skis or sled? Very economical and HILARIOUS all in one!
OK - spill the beans on the FAB NEWS as soon as you can!!!
- June 11, 2010 at 4:05 AM
- Caroline Starr Rose said...
So excited for you! Here's a link that continues our KidsBuzz converstaion. I've followed this blog for a while and never realized it was part of the same group!
- June 11, 2010 at 6:28 AM
- Elana Johnson said...
Oooh, fantastic news? Intriguing! Can't wait to find out!
- June 11, 2010 at 10:56 AM
- Janet said...
Love the video, they are having so much fun! Can't wait to hear your news!
- June 14, 2010 at 12:49 PM
- Tamara Hart Heiner said...
I can't believe you still haven't blogged your good news!
- June 14, 2010 at 2:01 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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|Warming up the crowd
The format of Capriles visit was simple. He would arrive at the local private airport (no regular flights, only private small crafts) and have a caravan through San Felipe until he reached a central downtown spot for a speech. Then off he goes to another state (Aragua), as he is making closing appearances TWO states a day.
I called my contact in Caracas for some info but soon enough I realized that whatever happens in Caracas has not much bearing with the local organizing committees. So I went on my own, but still with the general description of the event. There were, I think, about half a dozen rallying points around San Felipe. That way people would be spread around the town and have a better chance to come and watch the guy as he went by. And those who wanted could go to a short speech on 5ta Avenida. I chose the big intersection of Ravell and Cedeño, where the McDonald and Burger King are located. Good parking, cold beverages guaranteed. It is the tropics, you know and at 11 AM you think about such stuff.
|Avanzada Progresiva parks next to McDonald
The wait was a tad long and unfortunately there were less interesting pictures to take than usual. It was, after all, possibly the most bourgeois rallying point though from the entertainment picture on the right the crowd is quite mixed. Yes, writing a known blog allows you to climb on stage for a picture. My contact were not that useful but good enough for that. I did send some tweet pics here, here and here.
The atmosphere was really cheerful. Though not free of incidents as an asshole chavista felt compelled to drive through the intersection with his Chavez posters plastered car. The car stalled, screams came and eventually oppo folk had to push his car uphill to clear up the intersection. He did not look a happy camper and I wondered what would happen if the situation were reversed... Surely tonight he will regale his red shorted comrades with tales of oppo violence even though he was the perfect agent provocateur.
|He will arrive that way
I think that after what I saw today (including what I saw in the streets on my way there) Capriles is going to win San Felipe handsomely. Maybe not Yaracuy as a whole, but San Felipe never looked so enthusiastic in the 14 days I have had to observe it.
By the way I finally got my own baseball cap today. It is now at 100 BsF, up 40 from the original 60. A sure sign that the Capriles value is going up.
Added later. The video of Capriles speech downtown San Felipe. You can see the huge crowd for such a small provincial city.


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A combination of distinctive features makes the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center the ideal Complex for business meetings, trade shows, seminars and many other events. With its spacious theater and eight additional meetings rooms, the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center can easily handle the needs of any group up to 3, 500 - 4,000 persons. And, the network of enclosed patios provides the perfect setting for private community events, including weddings, receptions, banquets and more. Free parking for approximately 500 vehicles is available immediately adjacent to the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, plus limited additional parking is nearby.
From it's attractive lobby, complete with snack bar, to its professionally equipped stage, The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Auditorium is designed with you in mind. 1604 angled, luxuriously upholstered orchestra and balcony seats provide an unobstructed line of sight to the stage, making this venue ideal for concerts, ballets, musicals, pageants, conventions, lectures, films, variety shows and many other events.
The Oxnard and Ventura rooms are the perfect locations for your one-of-a-kind, special event. These banquet rooms and their complimentary outdoor patio areas are spacious and well suited to the needs of your party, wedding, shower or formal dinner. Work with one of our preferred caterers in creating a memory that will last your guests a lifetime.


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Contact Us
We always welcome questions, comments, and suggestions regarding our web site, parish, or the Orthodox faith in general. We will make every effort to respond to you within a reasonable amount of time, though please be aware that the number of inquiries received will affect response time.
Annunciation Dayton
500 Belmonte Park North
Dayton, OH 45405
Driving Directions»
Voice: (937) 224-0601
Fax: (937) 224-0173
E-mail Contacts
Rev. Joseph Gingrich, Presiding Priest
To add information to the website contact Maria Abboud
Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 05/27/2019
5th Monday after Pascha
5th Monday after Pascha; The Holy Hieromartyr Helladius; John the Russian of Evia; Theodora the Virgin-martyr & Didymos the Martyr; Venerable Bede
Visit the Online Chapel for more daily readings, hymns, a monthly calendar of saints and feasts, and more.


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I am right now attending the blendercamp 2009 in Russia. And i have to say i do have a lot of fun thanks to the nice nature environment in the middle of the forest somewhere south of Nizhni Novgorod and to the great people and artists here. We all live together in an old house near a "soviet-time" obeservatory or telecommunication center (or is it maybe a long-range missile station?:-)
There some really nice conferences and artists, including my new friends Valery Grankov, russian master of physical and mechanical special effects (http://www.grankovsfx.ru/) and Andrey Izrantsev, writer and maintainer of the Vray/blender script. I have to say that i arrived in Moscow on thursday 30th july and stay in Valery's house with his family and Anrdrey for 2 days before moving to the blencercamp. Needless to say that after few bottle of vodka, we all spoke a mix of russian and english, and 3d with blender was suddenly much easier 🙂
They both work on some project of animatronic using blender as a tool to control servo motors, all this to animate some real object faces. They did a great demonstration animating in blender, and then playing back on 2 objects, one head (4 servos, up/down,left,right, mouth movement and eyes) talking to a fan (3 servos, up-down,left-right, and fan speed) adding some funny speech in the sequencer, the effect was amazing. I hope i can post a video of it soon.
Andrey showed how easy and nice it is to rendering using Vray. I am really definitevly going to investigate it. I also really hope he can make it to the blender conference this year.
Other great people include Igor and his good architecture classes, lots of small tips and shortcuts or tips i learned. And Michael, a young designer/animator who did a good masterclass on rigging a mechanical machine, including the chains. I think all these videos will be online after the end of blendercamp. Oh and i should not forget the talented teenager Luba, that showed us great models of dinosaurs,horses and panther, textures and animations. Oh and the great flying dragn. She is the future of blender artists. Unfortunately we could not communicate much as my russian is limited to saying thank you and asking where the bathroom is 🙂 I should not forget all the other people attending and making the camp so cool, i will definitively come back next year.
Oh and on my side i did show some making-of and production workflow of the H7 robot and New Ingenia movie.


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Even in good times, the four legislative caucuses in the General Assembly and governors have a tough time coming up with a budget they can agree on.
Given the ever-deepening recession and its impact on revenue, it�s going to take a Herculean effort on the part of state lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell to come up with a balanced spending plan by June 30.
Rendell will introduce his budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year in February, and his critics already are grumbling about his spending priorities and are putting forth their own plans on how the state�s shrinking amount of revenue should be spent.
That�s fine. It�s part of the budget process.
However, this is not a time for scoring political points; it�s a time for governing responsibly. As Stateline.org has reported, �It�s almost impossible to exaggerate the political and financial challenges facing state governments in coming months� as they work on their budgets for 2009-10.
Lawmakers and the governor need to keep things in perspective. In the midst of what could be the worst recession since the Great Depression, politics as usual won�t cut it.


text:
Whale Song - Limited Edition Signed Print - Framed
Saoirse changes into her Selkie form and swims with the other creatures of the ocean.
Limited edition fine art studio print, signed by the director, 100 copies only. The print is delivered ready to hang, beautifully framed in deep white timber and set on a floating mount.
The image is printed using Epson Ultrachrome HDR archival quality pigment inks on museum quality Canson Cotton Rag 320gsm fine art paper.
Throughout the printing process each step is carried out in a fully colour managed workflow thus ensuring that each print produced has the highest colour accuracy of any fine art reproduction. Framed in a beautifully crafted deep, black, timber.
Framing and delivery is included in the price quoted, there are no extra costs involved.
Print size: 510mm x 280mm (20" x 11")
Size of Frame: 690mm x 460mm x 55mm (27" x 18" x 2")


text:
Here in Wisconsin, spring fever is a given. We have endured and survived the winter. After living in California, I know that there is no feeling like the enthusiasm and rebirth of spring in Wisconsin. I love encouraging people to piggyback on this renewal, shedding depression and bad habits, embracing blossoms, freshness and joy.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, the Wood element and liver energy embody spring. A major pathology associated with this is wind. Wind is one of the "six evils" of Traditional Chinese medicine, things that cause disharmony and sickness. These issues involve spasms, twitching, allergies, colds, and reckless or ungrounded energy.
Luckily, many of the first greens sprouting can help us balance these: nettles and dandelion greens in particular are perfect helpers that emerge at this time.
Acupuncture points located around the neck and occiput can also expel wind, and can be stimulated with needles or massage. Protecting these wind portals with a scarf, particularly during breezy weather, is a simple and free way to protect yourself from wind evil.


text:
Affectionately dedicated to Deb.
Being a wine lover, I couldn't resist this topic which originated from a comment on my other website.
Here's one of my favorite things that starts with "s."
The rule of thumb for wines labeled "Syrah" or "Shiraz" is this": Syrah wines tend to be labeled as such because of their similarities to "Old World" examples, Shiraz exhibits more of the "New World" patterns. The same grapes are used in both "elixirs". The Old World varieties are elegant in texture, restrained in flavor. The New World assortments are presumably riper and fruitier. Even this rule of thumb, however, is not evenly applied. Regardless, winemakers select one name over the other to indicate a stylistic difference in the wine they produce.
The grape, Shiraz, is named after the city Shiraz in Iran where wine making possibly originated some seven thousand years ago. The grapes were believed to have traveled to southern France from this region, but in 1998 a study conducted in California concluded the grape variety's "roots" stemmed from the vicinity of the Northern Rhone valley in France. The results showed a blend of Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche grapes were the ancestors of this popular "red potion" – a DNA analysis in 2001 mirrored the outcome.
The best manifestations of this wine are aged for decades – however – the younger adaptation may be enjoyed for their red and blueberry characters along with a smooth tannin structure.
Shiraz is often blended with other grape varieties to enhance the embodiment of other wine – such as Merlots, Cabernets, and Grenache.
A wine that is so powerfully flavored and full-bodied, undeniably, enjoys just as rich a history.
One of the Persian legends passed down from generation to generation is just as beguiling and colored as the wine itself.
The following interpretation is acquired from The Gurdies Winery:
"Jamshid, a grape loving king, stored ripe grapes in a cellar so he could enjoy [them] all year long. One day he sent his slaves to fetch him some grapes. When they did not return, he decided to go to the cellar only to find that the carbon dioxide gas emanating from some bruised fermenting grapes had knocked them out.
One of the king's rejected, distraught mistresses decided to drink this poisoned potion, only to leave the cellar singing and dancing in high spirits. The king realized that this fruity liquid had the wonderful and mysterious power to make sad people happy.
When Alexander overthrew the powerful Persian Empire, he entered Darius's palace in January 330 BC. During one of the conqueror's orgies soldiers raided the wine cellars. In a drunken moment, Alexander ordered the destruction of Persepolis."


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Need: A secure, reliable network
Solution: Nuwave360 (Private Cloud)
Capital Region International Airport's equipment was aging and unreliable, and technology installed by previous vendors was without a master plan. Because multiple vendors had installed different pieces of the network puzzle, their technology infrastructure didn't perform optimally.
With network security becoming ever more important—especially for an international airport—they were looking for a technology partner that could provide a technology plan that would achieve the network reliability and security desired and necessary.
A complete analysis of the entire technology infrastructure kicked off the project, starting with the structured cabling. From there, NuWave looked at the airport's existing investments and put together a plan that would provide a solid technology foundation—one that would accommodate future technology plans including secure wireless, voice over IP and an integrated emergency phone system.
In addition, NuWave continues to support Capital Region International Airport by providing ongoing patch management and 24/7 monitoring of their network through its proactive and reliable business solution, NuWave 360.


text:
Tithes & Offerings
Donation Letter request
New Covenant Church is a qualified charitable organization that is organized and operated exclusively for purposes and standards set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.
We are honored that you trust New Covenant Church with your assets, financial or material in nature, to further Kingdom work through this church body. As good stewards of these resources, we are providing all donation letters as "physical paper letters" that can be picked up in the front office of New Covenant Church.


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"I have had a chance to use the new Xbox Dashboard over the last week and the new Zune Music Marketplace has been by far my favorite. Docking your Zune to the TV worked but the UI was really awkward with that tiny remote. This solves everything as far as the 10 foot Zune experience in the living room. The Zune team has done a fantastic job with this and has really rounded out the 3 screen strategy for Zune Music. I will mention that this is all streaming and cloud based, you will need a Zune Pass to take advantage of this feature on Xbox. It will not connect to your PC or Home Server. It is unknown if or when that will happen, but for now, it is still a great addition to the Xbox."
An awesome overview video by my friend Grahm - there's lots of good stuff here, but guess what? It looks like it's mostly predicated on having a Zune Pass...which I still won't be able to get in Canada this year, and only some of Europe will be able to get. Sigh. Zune, you are so hard to root for right now!
Copyright 2006 - Thoughts Media Inc.


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When I received emails from all walks of life seeking my opinions on their issues, one thing stuck me the most is the confidence level of the writer. Like there are many things in life to be grateful of, there are many ways to boost up your confidence level and renew the faith in yourself. Other than having passion, confidence is something that will help you a lot in bringing your work to a higher level.
So how do you fake confidence, bad news is that you can't. Just like you can't fake passion. It comes within you, your heart. But…the good news is that you can increase confidence with the below easy steps:
You being you
Embrace who you are. You are who you are. Don't change that about you. You can improve what you do but the core of who you are, where you came from matters.
Believe it
Believe that you matter to the world. You can change the world. Small steps maybe but not impossible. Believe in yourself when nobody believe in you because you owe it to yourself and no one else.
Set a tiny goal for yourself everyday, something you can achieve easily, something within your control. The goal can be "I want to walk for 15 minutes after lunch today." to "I want to complete that article by hook or crook today." to "I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with at least one of my team members today."
Think Positive
Use positive adjectives in your sentences. Reduce words like 'can't', 'won't' or 'don't'. So instead of "I don't have time to do this." change it to "I might have time to do this if I try." or "I shall find time to do this even if it's not today."
Surround yourself with love
Hang out with people you adore and who adore you. Display a photo of your kid hugging you on your work desk. Dress in your favorite colors. Change your desktop picture to a photo of your pet. Text 10 friends to let them know you missed them and one (or more) bound to respond back they miss you too! We all need reminders that we are loved and treasured.
Treat yourself
I believe the quickest and easiest way to perk oneself up is to treat yourself to something delightful yet doesn't pinch your wallet. Like a stalk of sunflower, a 10 minutes shoulder rub by your partner, a quick hair trim, a new book, the chocolate cupcake in your cafeteria, the frappé from Starbucks (with whipped cream, of course!), download a new song from iTunes, even a new cup coaster from that swanky new shop opposite your office.
Go for a quickie
Spare yourself from lunch today and use the time to go and have a 30 minutes workout at the gym. No gym in your workplace? No worries. Put on your sneakers and run around the building thrice. You'll feel better after all the negative energy have been expelled and feel refreshed after a shower.
Have a chat
Talk to the most positive jovial person in your office that you know. I used to work at a place where they have this person whose only job is to talk positive to you. You can tell her anything and everything, and expect her to find something positive about the situation to respond to you. Suddenly you felt the world isn't as bad as you thought it was.
Room for growth
Today you made mistakes, today you learnt, tomorrow you will put the past away and apply what you learn yesterday.
Last but not least, love you
Don't expect anyone to love you if you can't love yourself. Self love is the key to boost your confidence level. If you love yourself, you will never say let down speech to yourself. If you love yourself, you won't look in the mirror and see a failure reflection of you. If you love yourself, you will give yourself a break when you did something wrong. If you love yourself, you will strut out there and owe it!
Think you can do it? Come and follow me on WordPress or Twitter MiddleMe_net.


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Alpine Community Theater Announces Auditions for 2017 Summer Show
Alpine Community Theater, 15 March 2017
Alpine Community Theater (ACT) sends out a call for AUDITIONS for their summer show, the 10th anniversary encore performance of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which will be performed July 21 through July 31, 2017. Open auditions will be held Saturday, May 13, at the Valentine Theater, 895 North 900 East in American Fork, Utah.
Audition times are as follows:
Boys and girls ages 8 to 12: 9AM to Noon
Adults age 19 and up: 12:30 to 4:30PM
Teens ages 13-18: 1:30 to 5:00PM
Please plan to spend two hours to complete the audition process. Contact Laura Snyder in advance at 801-404-0736, if a time other than what is outlined above is needed. All ages are needed, from eight to 88!
The following information will help you prepare for the auditions:
SINGING: Be prepared to sing 16 measures of an upbeat Broadway musical (nothing from Hamilton). Bring your sheet music. Karaoke tracks on electronic devices, such as iPods, iPads, or cell phones, will be allowed. Accompanists will also be provided.
DANCING: Be prepared to learn dance steps by wearing appropriate footwear and clothing (no flip-flops or sandals). You will be asked to perform the learned dance steps in a group during auditions.
ACTING: Some may be asked to read lines and do some improvisation. Presenting a one-minute monologue is optional at call backs only.
SPECIAL SKILLS: If you have special skills, such as gymnastics or acrobatics, please let us know at auditions. We would love to see these special talents!
CALL BACKS: Callbacks will be held May 16, 17, and 18. If we need you to return for a callback you will be notified as to which date and time. Not every role needs a callback, so please remember to check the final cast list, even if you didn't get called back.
FINAL CAST LIST: The final cast list will be posted on the ACT website on Friday, May 19, after 6:00 p.m. Please check the list, even if you did not receive a call back!
MANDATORY PARENT/CAST/STAFF MEETING: If you or your child is cast in this musical, you must attend this meeting with your child on Saturday, May 20, at the Valentine Theater from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
We need your help!
We need enthusiastic, energetic, community-minded volunteers to help us. We need assistant directors, stage managers, stage crew, costume designers, seamstresses, music directors, sound and lighting specialists, choreographers, hair and make-up specialists, set builders, set artists, set dressers, secretaries, audition coordinators, rehearsal supervisors, ticketing, publicity, fundraising, and much more! For more information contact Laura Snyder at 801-404-0736 or visit the ACT website at: www.AlpineCommunityTheater.org.


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Article originally published in solarbuildermag.com, on APRIL 30, 2015
How Solar Power Can Help Lower Operating Costs at Water Facilities
The growth of the U.S. solar industry over the past five years has been impressive. Since 2009, the annual amount of solar installed on U.S. homes, businesses, municipal and government facilities and utility-scale power farms has soared from about 382 megawatts to an estimated 6.5 gigawatts in 2014 — a nearly 1,700 percent gain, according to a recent U.S. Solar Market Insight report issued by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
What was once a small, boutique-like sector has become a thriving multi-billion dollar industry employing 174,000 people in this country, while other parts of the world are also enjoying the solar boom.
Many government and municipal entities have embraced solar as a way to sustainably lower their operating costs. In addition to thousands of schools, universities and hospitals now benefiting from solar power, a growing number of utility-owned water and wastewater treatment facilities have seen solar projects developed and built on their properties.
The recent interest in solar can be attributed to five main factors:
- Prodigious and continuing reductions in module and system costs — amounting to more than 50 percent over the past four years – as well as decreasing labor, permitting and other soft costs.
- Significant improvements in construction speed, while still maintaining installation quality.
- A growing suite of financing options and acceptance of solar as an asset class.
Increased awareness of the threat of climate change and the need to transition to clean energy sources.
- Varying levels of local, state and federal incentives and renewable energy initiatives.
As a result of these trends, solar is edging closer to — or has already achieved and even surpassed — price parity with conventional energy in many parts of the world.
Solar's Value Proposition Today
The value proposition for the solar power and water plant combination comes down to energy costs. According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide to solar for water utilities, wastewater treatment represents about 3 percent of the nation's energy consumption, with more than $4 billion spent annually for the energy needed to run those utilities. As a controllable operating expenditure, energy use is a sweet spot for cost reduction.
Dozens of water utilities and districts across the United States have embraced the cost-saving benefits of solar power over the past few years. Commissioned installations include the 7.5 MW solar power plant at the Lake Pleasant water treatment plant in Phoenix; a pair of solar systems operating for the Rancho California Water District; the E.M. Johnson plant in Raleigh, N.C.; and a ground-mounted array at the Gresham, Ore., wastewater facility. In each case, the customer expects to offset a sizeable percentage of its annual power usage, enjoy millions of dollars in energy savings over the lifetime of the system and significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
No Upfront Cost Solar Financing Methods
The most popular financing approach used by water treatment plants adopting solar is the third-party solar power purchase agreement (solar PPA). Usually stipulated for a period of 15 to 25 years, a solar PPA represents a long-term agreement between a water utility customer and an energy developer to provide electricity generated by a solar power plant at guaranteed long-term rates. As part of the arrangement, the developer offers design, financing, maintenance and related support of the solar system.
One of the most attractive aspects of the solar PPA approach is that the water utility avoids any upfront capital costs, since the developer partner designs and installs the system at no charge and a solar asset specialist maintains ownership. For the lifetime of the agreement, the water utility pays the system owner for the solar power generated on the property, while the owner maintains and operates the system. The kilowatt-hour cost of energy is locked in at a rate lower than what the power utility company would charge — a rate that is likely to increase in the future — providing a predictable cost trajectory for the duration of the PPA. The owner also assumes any project risk if the system underperforms or any cost overruns occur.
When deciding on which solar developer and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm to work with, the water plant owner should discuss which components they plan to specify for the solar installation. Although solar products in general are of good to excellent quality, not all panels, inverters, racking/mounting and other balance-of-systems components are created equal.
As the core component of any solar photovoltaic system, the choice of panels should be evaluated on several levels. Although pricing should be competitive, a matter of a few cents per watt on module costs should not be a deal-breaker; quality and performance are even more important considerations. Any panel eligible for procurement will carry at least a 25-year warranty and have the requisite IEC and UL certifications, denoting that it has passed certain required testing protocols.
Top-tier solar panel suppliers like REC Group that offer additional transparency and proof of reliability — such as meticulous manufacturing quality control, advanced testing beyond certification requirements and extensive field performance data — find favor with many developers and contractors and are more likely to be viewed as "bankable" by financial institutions.
The combination of a well-structured solar PPA, an experienced EPC team and high-quality solar panels has helped the City of Madera, Calif., enjoy energy savings at its wastewater treatment facility since a 1.16 MW solar power plant was completed in November 2010. With a PPA rate set below the normal cost of utility power, the city received substantial cost savings on the purchase of energy within the first year of operation. It has already saved hundreds of thousands of dollars each year since the system was commissioned, which will add up to more than $3.6 million over the term of the 20-year agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric.
The system — designed and installed by REC Solar Commercial with Peak Energy panels supplied by REC Group — has performed above expectations, generating an average of 2,500 MW hours of electricity per year, according to the city's public works department. Since its commissioning, the plant has produced a total of approximately 11,000 MW hours of electricity to date. The 5,267 solar panels, affixed on several dozen mechanical tracker systems that follow the sun over the course of the day, reliably generate enough power to account for 61 percent of the sewage plant's electricity needs.
There's an environmental benefit too, as tens of thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that would have been emitted from the use of conventional fuel sources have been avoided so far, thanks to the pollution-free solar power plant.
The value proposition of adding a commercial solar system to help offset the high energy cost of running a water or wastewater treatment plant has never been stronger. But now is an especially attractive time to capitalize on this opportunity, as certain local, state and federal incentives may be reduced or eliminated in the next few years.
One of the most important of these governmental programs, the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), could shrink from 30 percent to 10 percent at the end of 2016 if Congress does not amend or extend it. The ITC has been a financial linchpin that has helped fuel the current solar boom in the United States.
Although going solar will continue to be economically beneficial for an increasing number of homeowners and businesses, it makes sense to take advantage of the ITC and other incentives while they are available.
Christopher Masys is key accounts manager for REC Americas LLC, the domestic unit of REC Group, a leading global provider of solar energy solutions headquartered in Norway. He is a nine-year veteran of the U.S. solar electric industry, with experience in sales, sales management and business development, in both the downstream (EPC) and upstream (manufacturing) segments.
Christopher has a BS in industrial technology from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and has experience prior to the solar field as a manufacturing engineer specializing in automation. This combination of perspectives provides for a unique insight into the role of automated high-quality production of components, as it relates to reliable and consistent production of energy from an installed system. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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PepsiCo Moves Propel Water Brand to Goodby
SAN FRANCISCO (Adage.com) -- PepsiCo's Gatorade has shifted duties for its $70 million Propel enhanced-water brand to Omnicom Group's Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, from sibling Element 79, Chicago, a spokeswoman for the marketer said.
Element 79 will continue working on the Gatorade brand, said Mary Doherty, a Gatorade spokeswoman. "Since we introduced Propel in 2002, the business has achieved significant growth, while -- at the same time -- our Gatorade business continued to expand. Both businesses are now at a juncture where focused attention is what we believe is best for each," she said in an e-mail.
Gatorade spent $191 million in measured media in 2006 and $156 million for the first nine months of 2007, according to TNS Media Intelligence. Spending behind Propel increased from $68 million for 2006 to $70 million for the first nine months of 2007.
Crowded category
Propel competes in a category that consists of 130 or so vitamin-laced waters, including some other PepsiCo brands, such as Aquafina Alive, Sobe Life Water and the new G2, also from Gatorade.
Total sales for the bottled-water category in the U.S. for the 52 weeks ended Jan. 27 were $5.2 billion, with the bulk, $4.14 billion, sold as still water in small plastic bottles, according to data from IRI, which includes supermarkets, drug stores and mass-market retailers but excluding Wal-Mart, club stores, vending machines and convenience stores. Propel's total sales in the non-jug, plastic-bottle category were $227 million, down almost 1% from the same 52 weeks in the previous year.
Goodby Silverstein, the agency for Frito Lay's Doritos brand, has been growing its portfolio of PepsiCo assignments, last year adding Cheetos. The shop also worked in the past with Massimo Fasanella d'Amore, the newly named CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, when he ran the international business.
Executives from Goodby Silverstein and Element 79 did not return calls seeking comment by deadline.
~ ~ ~
Contributing: Jeremy Mullman


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My name is Sara. About 3 years ago I left my Alpine home in Slovenia to study in the German capital of Berlin. One master's degree later and I am still here, sharing a home with a boyfriend and my mason jar collection. 😉
Why Untrashified?
Urban life is much different than where I grow up as there are more people living in Berlin than in my entire country. I live in Neukölln, a neighborhood famous for its streets trashed with the weirdest things. The frustration with my surrounding is what got me into a zero waste lifestyle. But zero waste improved my life in a different way: it forced me to slow down, become more local and live again like it's the countryside. So I started this blog in order to say:
A more sustainable lifestyle can also make you happier.
It's not just that we need so badly to rethink how we deal with our resources (because we really do). Looking around, I think the quality of our lives suffers too. We are hooked on consumption and trapped in our wasteful ways, not knowing that pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle could bring us peace and delight. What we needed all along might just be less trash and more thoughtfulness.
Want to keep reading?
Here are some popular posts:
- I have been washing my hair with water only. Here's what happened
- Eco-friendly laundry-washing: 3 cheap, zero waste alternatives
- Zero waste on the budget: 20 tips to save money without the trash
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- Quick solutions for less waste
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RaeLynnÂ's Boutique Earns Jovani High Fashion Award 3rd Year in a Row
Known for their elegant and sophisticated prom dress styles, Jovani has awarded RaeLynn's Boutique for a 3rd year in a row, for their excellence in selling their 2012 prom dresses, with the Jovani High Fashion Award. Jovani Fashions has been a recurrent top seller at RaeLynn's Boutique since opening in 2008.
Jovani's A-list designs have been seen on numerous high fashion magazine covers and at red carpet events. It has won the National Prom Association's Retailers Choice Awards for Best Manufacturer Quality and Best Prom Fashion Design, as well as the Debi and Diva awards for design excellence.
"To be recognized by a renowned designer is an honor for RaeLynn's," said Alison McDaniel, owner of the boutique. "Their dresses are always popular among our customers for anything from prom to pageants to military balls."
As one of the only stores in the Indianapolis area to carry Jovani, with their high quality designer gowns, it is no surprise that the dresses come and go quickly at RaeLynn's Boutique.
"Our customers who want a Jovani dress should shop early this year," said buyer, Bridgett Chittum. "They have some awesome new styles in their 2013 prom dress line that we think our customers will love."
New trends this year include corset tops, lots of lace, and brighter colors than ever before. Jovani will still have all the sophistication they are known for, but with a little more flare than years past.
Follow RaeLynn's Boutique on Facebook at:http://www.facebook.com/raelynnspromboutique
About RaeLynn's Boutique:
RaeLynn's Boutique is the largest social occasion dress boutique in Indiana, and a Top 10 Prom Store in the United States. RaeLynn's Boutique offers all of the top dress designers such as Sherri Hill, Jovani, Faviana, Blush Prom, Tony Bowls, Mac Duggal and more. Providing accessories, tuxedo rentals and even layaway. RaeLynn's Boutique in Indianapolis is a one-stop shop for social occasion needs. RaeLynn's is located on the south side of Indianapolis, Indiana, in Greenwood. Conveniently south of the Greenwood Park Mall, behind Kohls, on Fry Road, between US 31 and Madison Ave.


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Multiple is a metric used for valuation of companies.
Market Multiple, also known as trading multiples, is used to compare two financial measures, to determine the value of a company. It is another name for Price to Earnings Ratio (also called P/E Ratio)
It is a determinant of whether a stock is priced appropriately when compared to its financial status and gives investors an opportunity to forecast a company's stock price for better decision making.
Market Multiple, i.e., P/E Ratio= (Stock Price)/ (Earnings per Share)
For example, a company XYZ's current stock price is Rs. 30.00 and current earnings per share of Rs. Rs. 7.50.
Then its P/E Ratio is 30/7.5= 4
P/E Ratio has no unit.
Using the market multiple approach, investors can determine whether stocks in their portfolios will increase or decrease in price through the next term. Investors may then buy or sell stocks in order to maximize their expected gains calculated.
Advantage of using Market Multiple Approach:
Market multiples analyses are easy to understand, apply and use because there is no need for projecting cash flows. Information is also easy to obtain from published reports of publicly traded companies like 10-K submissions or annual reports.
There are many other market multiple ratios that are used, viz. EV/EBIT, EV/EBITDA, EV/Sales, etc.
Hence, this concludes the definition of Market Multiple along with its overview.
Browse the definition and meaning of more terms similar to Market Multiple. The Management Dictionary covers over 7000 business concepts from 6 categories.
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1983 - Children's Books, Fiction (Paperback)/
A Place Apart
By Paula Fox
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Current Publisher: Out of Print
Digital Publisher: Out of Print
Reading Level: Not Available
Children's Books, Fiction (Paperback) Finalists That Year:
- Judy Blume for Tiger Eyes
- Sue Ellen Bridgers for Notes for Another Life
- Lois Lowry for Anastasia Again!
Children's Books, Fiction (Paperback) Winners That Year:
- Paula Fox for A Place Apart
- Joyce Carol Thomas for Marked by Fire
Judges That Year: Not Available
The Year in Literature: Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt won the Newbery Medal.
More Information: Paula Fox was a Finalist in 1971 for Blowfish Live in the Sea, in 1979 for The Little Swineherd and Other Tales, and in 1981 for the hardcover edition of A Place Apart.
Buy the Book:


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Eurolot (K2) Airline Italy Flights
Eurolot (K2) Information
Eurolot S.A. (previously styled as EuroLOT) was a Polish regional airline based in Warsaw. Apart from its own flights under the eurolot.com brand, it operated short-haul flights for LOT Polish Airlines, as well as ad-hoc charter flights. Its main base was Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (when operating for LOT), whilst its own flights centre on its hubs at John Paul II Kraków Airport and Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport. The airline had its head office in the LOT Polish Airlines headquarters in Warsaw. Eurolot ended operations on 31 March 2015.
Airline Brand Name: Eurolot
IATA Code: K2
Eurolot Airline Italy Destinations
Below is a list of the most popular destinations Eurolot flies from Italy. Choose Eurolot airline, to receive world class service while travel or business trip.
Eurolot Base Firenze-Peretola Airport
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Target audience
The campaign starts with marketing in and outside stores (The employees at Carlings shall use Tshirt and Jeans Nudie during the promotional period)
The Effect of the campaign
The effect of this campaign is that whether you are Nudie fan or not, this is something you should be involved in.
By spreading the Nudie concept and showing how to use them, the audience will percieve another view on the Jeans.
Nudie important values appears in the campaign and this will show the customers why they should buy the pants and give a deeper understanding of the brand.
Nudie Jeans focuses on «repair, reuse, recycle.» Nudie Jeans USP is the Repair Shop, which is a store that repairs your pants, if they get worn out or get holes. The Repair Shop is going to be opened in Oslo, but to spread this campaign to the largest urban areas, we have issued a proposal to open pop up repair shops in Trondheim and Bergen as well.
This is a school project