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Here's the beauty of the banking industry: Banks are similar enough that once you learn how to analyze one, you're pretty much set to analyze 500 of them.
That's about how many banks trade on major U.S. exchanges.
Now, the details get messy when you factor in complicated financial instruments, heavy regulations, byzantine operating structures, arcane accounting rules, the macro factors driving the local economies these banks operate in, and intentionally vague jargon.
But at their core, each bank borrows money at one interest rate and then lends it out at a higher interest rate, pocketing the spread between the two.
And as investors we can get far by focusing on four things:
- What the bank actually does
- Its price
- Its earnings power
- The amount of risk it's taking to achieve that earnings power
To give a concrete example, let's walk through one of the banks I've bought in the banking-centric real-money portfolio I manage for the Motley Fool: Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB).
As quick background, Fifth Third is a regional bank based out of Cincinnati whose 1,300+ branches fan out across 12 states. It's large enough to be in the "too big to fail" group that gets stress tested by the Fed each year but still less than a tenth the size of a Bank of America or a Citigroup -- and much simpler.
Alright, let's start with...
What the bank actually does
When you read through a bank's earnings releases, it's easy to get sidetracked by management's platitudes and high-minded promises -- guess what, EVERY bank says it's customer-focused and a conservative lender!
Words are nice, but in banking, you are your assets -- the loans you make, the securities you hold, etc. They're the things that will drive future profitability when they're chosen carefully, and they're the things that will force you to fail (or get bailed out) when you get in trouble.
Here's the asset portion of Fifth Third's balance sheet. Take a look, let your eyes glaze over, and then I'll let you know the numbers I focus on (until we get to the "Its price" section, I'm using the financials from Fifth Third's last 10-K because they're more detailed for illustrative purposes).
Loans are the heart of a traditional bank.
In my mind, the greater a bank's loans as a percentage of assets, the closer it is to a prototypical bank.
In this case, two-thirds of Fifth Third's assets are loans (87,032/130,443). This number can range far and wide, but Fifth Third's ratio is pretty typical. For context, note that Fifth Third's loan percentage is double the much more complex balance sheet of JPMorgan Chase.
If a bank isn't holding loans, it's most likely holding securities. You'll notice Fifth Third's various buckets of securities in the balance sheet lines between its cash and its loans. There are many reasons a bank could hold a high percentage of securities. For example, its business model may not be loan-driven, it may be losing loan business to other banks, or it may just be being conservative when it can't find favorable loan terms. In any case, looking at loans as a percentage of assets gives you questions to explore deeper.
The next step of digging into the loans is looking at what types of loans a bank makes. You can see in the balance sheet that Fifth Third neatly categorizes its $88.6 billion in loans. Clearly, Fifth Third is a business lender first and foremost: When you add up "Commercial and industrial loans," "Commercial mortgage loans," "Commercial construction loans," and "Commercial leases," almost 60% of Fifth Third's loans are business-related. Also, given the almost $40 billion in "Commercial and industrial loans" (as opposed to mortgage loans), a lot of Fifth Third's loans aren't backed up by real estate (though other forms of collateral may be in play).
For simplicity, I'll stop here. The one-line summary: On the assets side, look at the loans.
Let's move on to the rest of the balance sheet:
Just as the loans tell the story on the assets side, the deposits tell the story on the liabilities side. The prototypical bank takes in deposits and makes loans, so two ratios help get a feel for how prototypical your bank is: 1) Deposits/Liabilities 2) Loans/Deposits.
Deposits are great for banks for the same reason you complain about getting low interest rates on your checking and savings accounts. Via these deposit accounts, you're essentially lending the bank money cheaply. If a bank can't attract a lot of deposits, it has to take on debt (or issue stock on the equity side), which is generally much more expensive. That can lead to risky lending behavior -- i.e. chasing yields to justify the costs.
Fifth Third's deposit/liabilities ratio is 86%, which is quite reasonable and leads to an equally reasonable 89% loan/deposit ratio. All of this confirms what we suspected after looking at the loans on the asset side. Fifth Third is a bank that, at its core, takes in deposits and gives out loans with those deposits. If that wasn't the case, we'd want to get comfortable with exactly what it's doing instead.
We're now ready to take a quick peek at the income statement:
The big thing to focus on here is the two different types of bank income: net interest income and (you guessed it) noninterest income.
Still lost in that mess above? See the lines "Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan and Lease Losses" (3,332, or $3.332 billion) and "Total noninterest income" (3,227, or $3.227 billion).
I told you earlier that at its core, a bank makes money by borrowing at one rate (via deposits and debt) and lending at another higher rate (via loans and securities). Well, net interest income measures that profit.
Meanwhile, noninterest income is the money the bank makes from everything else, such as fees on mortgages, fees and penalties on credit cards, charges on checking and savings accounts, and fees on services like investment advice for individuals and corporate banking for businesses.
For Fifth Third, it gets almost as much income via noninterest means ($3.2 billion) as it does from interest ($3.3 billion).
Like most of what we've covered so far, that's not necessarily good or bad. It furthers our understanding of Fifth Third's business model. For instance, the noninterest income can smooth interest rate volatility but it can also be a risk if regulators change the rules (e.g. banks can no longer automatically opt you in to overdraft protection...meaning they get less of those annoying but lucrative overdraft fees).
There are many, many line items I'm glossing over on both the balance sheet and the income statement, but these are the main things I focus on when I'm looking over the financial statements. As you'll see, many of the things I've ignored are covered a bit by the ratios we'll look at in the other sections.
Next up is...
Its price
The oversimplified saying in banking is "buy at half of book value, sell at two times book value."
Just as if I told you to "buy a stock if its P/E ratio is below 10, sell if it's over 25" there are many nuanced pitfalls here, but it at least points you in the right direction.
If you're unfamiliar with book value, it's just another way of saying equity. If a bank is selling at book value, that means you're buying it at a price equal to its equity (i.e. its assets minus its liabilities).
To get a little more conservative and advanced than price/book ratio, we can look at the price/tangible book ratio. As its name implies, this ratio goes a step further and strips out a bank's intangible assets, such as goodwill. Think about it. A bank that wildly overpays to buy another bank would add a bunch of goodwill to its assets -- and boost its equity. By refusing to give credit to that goodwill, we're being more conservative in what we consider a real asset (you can't sell goodwill in a fire sale). Hence, the price-to-tangible book value will always be at least as high as the price-to-book ratio.
In Fifth Third's case, it currently has a price-to-book value of 1.3 and a price-to-tangible book value of 1.5. In today's market that's a slight premium to the median bank.
Like any company, the reason you'd be willing to pay more for one bank than another is if you think its earning power is greater, more growth-y, and less risky.
Our first clue on Fifth Third's earnings power is also our last valuation metric: P/E ratio. Fifth Third's clocks in at just 10.7 times earnings. That's lower than its peers. In other words, although we're paying an above average amount for its book value, we're seeing that it's able to turn its equity into quite a bit of earnings.
Let's look further into that...
Its earnings power
I talked a bit about how Fifth Third has a lower than average P/E ratio despite having a higher-than-average P/B ratio. The metric that bridges that gap is called return on equity (ROE). Put another way, return on equity shows you how well a bank turns its equity into earnings. Equity's ultimately not very useful if it can't be used to make earnings.
Over the long term, an ROE of 10% is solid. Currently, Fifth Third is at 12.3%, which is quite good on both a relative and absolute basis.
Breaking earnings power down further, you can look at net interest margin and efficiency.
Net interest margin measures how profitably a bank is making investments. It takes the interest a bank makes on its loans and securities, subtracts out the interest it pays on deposits and debt, and divides it all over the value of those loans and securities. In general, it's notable if a bank's net interest margin is below 3% (not good) or above 4% (quite good). Fifth Third is at 3.3%, which is currently higher than some good banks, lower than others.
While net interest margin gives you a feel for how well a bank is doing on the interest-generating side, a bank's efficiency ratio, as its name suggests, gives you a feel for how efficiently it's running its operations.
The efficiency ratio takes the non-interest expenses (salaries, building costs, technology, etc.) and divides them into revenue. So, the lower the better. A reading below 50% is the gold standard. A reading above 70% could be cause for concern. Fifth Third is at a good 58%.
There are nuances in all this, of course. For instance, a bank may have an unfavorable efficiency ratio because it is investing to create a better customer service atmosphere as part of its strategy to boost revenues and expand net interest margins over the long term.
Meanwhile, ROE and net interest margins can be juiced by taking more risk.
So that brings us to...
The amount of risk it's taking to achieve that earnings power
There are a lot (and I mean a LOT) of ratios that try to measure how risky a bank's balance sheet is. For example, when the Fed does its annual stress test of the largest banks, it looks at these five:
- Tier 1 common ratio
- Common equity tier 1 ratio
- Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
- Total risk-based capital ratio
- Tier 1 leverage ratio.
If you think that's confusing, you should see their definitions -- they're chockfull of terms like "qualifying non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock instruments."
Personally, I rely on a much simpler ratio: assets/equity.
When you buy a house using a 20% down payment (that's your equity), your assets/equity ratio is at five (your house's value divided by your down payment).
For a bank, I get comfort from a ratio that's at 10 or lower. My worry increases the farther above 10 we go. Fifth Third's is at a reasonable 8.7 after its most recent quarter (8.9 if you're doing the math on the year-end balance sheet above).
We can get more complicated by using tangible equity, but this is a good basic leverage ratio to check out. If you're looking at a bigger bank like Fifth Third, it's also a good idea to check out the results of those Fed stress tests I talked about.
That leverage ratio gives us a good high-level footing. Getting deeper into assessing assets, we need to look at the strength of the loans. Let's focus on two metrics for this:
- Bad loan percentage (Non-performing Loans/Total Loans)
- Coverage of bad loans (Allowance for non-performing loans/Non-performing loans)
Non-performing loans are loans that are behind on payment for a certain period of time (90 days is usually the threshold). That's a bad thing for obvious reasons.
Like most of these metrics, it really depends on the economic environment for what a reasonable bad loan percentage is. During the housing crash, bad loan percentages above five percent weren't uncommon. In general, though, I take notice when a bank's bad loans exceed two percent of loans. I get excited when the bad loan percentage gets below one percent (so Fifth Third's 0.8% is looking good).
Banks know that not every loan will get paid back, so they take an earnings hit early and establish an allowance for bad loans. As you've probably guessed, banks can play a lot of games with this allowance. Specifically, they can boost their current earnings by not provisioning enough for loans that will eventually default. That's why I like to see the coverage of bad loans to be at least 100%. Fifth Third's is at a conservative-looking 202%.
Finally, I use dividends as an additional comfort point. In an industry that has periods that incent loose lending, I like management consistently taking some capital out of its own hands. I like to see banks paying at least a two percent dividend. A bigger dividend isn't a foolproof way to gauge riskiness, but I get warm fuzzies from a bank that can commit to a decent-sized dividend. As for Fifth Third, it pays out about a quarter of its earnings for a dividend yield of 2.3%.
Putting it all together
I've tried to simplify analyzing a bank as much as I can. I've left out many metrics and concepts, but you've still been bombarded with a lot of potentially boring information.
What's important to remember is that a bank (through its management) is telling you a story about itself. It's our job to figure out whether we believe the tale enough to buy it at current prices.
Because most banks share similar business models, the numbers will go a long way to help you determine if those stories hold water.
If a bank says it's a conservative lender, but half of its loans are construction loans, it has a 10% bad debt ratio, and it's leveraged 20:1, I'm trusting the numbers not the words.
Look at the numbers over the last decade or two and you'll see many clues. When a bank has been able to deliver large returns across a few economic cycles while keeping the same general business model, that's a very good thing. Even better if the same management team has been there the whole time or if the bank clearly has a conservative culture in place that stays in place between management teams.
It's easy to get lost in the minutiae of analyzing a bank, but going in with a framework helps you keep your eyes on the big picture. What I've shared today are the four tenets of my basic framework...I hope it helps clarify yours.


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Mike Sempert "Good Morning Young Artist"
Burnt Toast Vinyl is going to be releasing the vinyl version of Mike Sempert's forthcoming album Mid Dream. Our good friends over at Velvet Blue Music will be releasing the album digitally and on cd which will arrive on 6 May. The vinyl should be ready in time, as well.
Filter Magazine has debuted the track "Good Morning Young Artist," so take a listen.

subset: commoncrawl


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At this guy's age, and if you have been doing things right, you can just kick back and have fun. That's what he was doing, chilling out on terrace and ending up playing with his filthy horny dick - right there and then! Too bad his son's fiance was around at that time. It was too late to stop so he literally buried his face in her crotch, and who wouldn't? See how the girl yields to the demands of the horny bastard and lets him poke her wet pink for the entire world to see. For her boyfriend too, and imagine what the guy felt when he saw them!
All guys with a hot girlfriend should keep her away from their fathers! Wanna know why? We at My Son's Gf reveal what happens when a guy's father is a horny old dog. Toe-curling hookup stories, dirty promiscuous sex - and loud scandals in the end! You can't imagine what can happen when a guys father gets the hots for his own boy's sexy girlfriend. Get ready for your mind to be blown, we got tons of HD videos!
Dad defiles son's gf with his... 25:06min
Family in debt, girlfriend... 26:00min
Slutty girlfriend gets plenty... 22:15min
A night out ends with dad... 25:34min
Dad applies sunscreen and... 29:12min
Father goes rock'n'roll and... 23:40min
Dad was sick but not in the... 29:20min
Bf's dad got lucky after... 20:56min


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This article compares three flicker metrics regarding percent flicker, flicker index and SVM. The comparison includes the definition comes from which organization, the definition of itself, calculation formula and the description of the range. If you want to know more about which products have related measurement functions, please click on the relative products tab.
|Defined by
|Definition Point
|Index range
|Percent Flicker
|Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
|A relative measure of the cyclic variation in the amplitude of a light.
|0% ~ 100%
The lower the percent flicker, the less substantial the flicker.
|Flicker Index
|Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
|A measure of the cyclic variation taking into account the shape of the waveform.
|0 ~ 1
The lower the flicker index, the less substantial the flicker.
|SVM (Stroboscopic Effect Visibility Measure)
|Time domain → frequency domain.
Summation of weighted Fourier components
|SVM < 1,Not Visible
SVM > 1,Visible
SVM = 1,Just Visible
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Duration: 365 days
Failure and Success: True Greatness
Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.—Matthew 20:26-27
The essence of His teaching is that true greatness lies in character, not in ability or position. Men in their blindness had always thought that superior talents made a man great, and so the vast majority believe today. To be endowed with unusual abilities in the field of art or literature or music or statecraft, for instance, is thought to be in itself an evidence of greatness, and the man thus endowed is hailed as a great man. Christ taught, and by His life demonstrated, that greatness lies deeper….
While a few philosophers and religionists of pre-Christian times had seen the fallacy in man's idea of greatness and had exposed it, it was Christ who located true greatness and showed how it could be attained. 'Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.' It is that simple and that easy—and that difficult. Born After Midnight, 50.
"Lord, this truth is indeed contrary to the philosophy of the world-which the church has unfortunately bought into. Stimulate my heart this morning to desire this true greatness-for Your glory. Amen."
Reprinted from Tozer on Christian Leadership by A.W. Tozer, copyright © 2001 by Zur Ltd. Used by permission of WingSpread Publishers, a division of Zur Ltd.
Tozer on Christian Leadership is protected by copyright and may not be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, translated, transmitted or distributed in any way.
Tozer on Christian Leadership was compiled by Ron Eggert.


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Creating an RTS title and setting it in the world of Halo may seem like a cheap way to make some cash, but the Halo series has long enjoyed a deeper backstory than many realize. If you've read the enjoyable—if pulpy—novels and noticed how many recognizable units and vehicles the past Halo games have contained, creating an RTS experience starts to make sense. Plus, when you see your first Spartan in the game, accompanied by the series' music, it's hard not to get pulled back into the experience. In short, Halo has the depth to mine for a game of this kind.
Besides, why not try to create a real-time strategy game for the consoles, built from the ground up to use the Xbox 360's controller? While nothing will ever beat the mouse and the keyboard for granular control of your units and base, Ensemble did a bang-up job with the controller. With a little practice and a tutorial, you'll be able to jump around the battlefield, select your units, and send specific commands with ease. So why does it feel like Halo Wars is barely half the game it could have been?
|Halo Wars
|Ensemble Studios
|Xbox 360
The game takes place across fifteen missions in a human-centered campaign that weaves a pretty decent story, even without Master Chief. You will have Spartans fight both with you and under your control, and the units are powerful; watching a Spartan take control of a Covenant vehicle and having it fight for you is quite the thrill in the game. These battles between units make up the bulk of the game, as there is almost no base building or management.
You receive special, locked down areas on the map where you can build a base, and each base has a limited number of nodes on it where you can build factories, barracks, vehicle shops, etc. There are no units needed to grab resources, the more factories you have the more resources you have, and by blowing these up the enemy can limit your production. That's it. Each "base" is one building with other structures attached. There is some strategy that comes into it when you decide what to build and in what number, and defending your base is important, but you're going to have to wait for StarCraft 2 for any serious RTS action, it seems.
You can build different vehicles, use secondary attacks, and climb the tech tree by upgrading soldiers and vehicles, but all these things are much simpler than what PC gamers will be used to. That doesn't make this a bad game, or a lesser game-it just makes it a game that's much more focused on action than anything else. In fact, in multiplayer there is a "deathmatch" option that gives everyone a fully-built base and a wad of cash; this allows online matches to become simply a matter of building units and attacking each other. Depending on what you're looking for in a game like this, you're either disgusted or you're salivating.
The other issue that jumped out was the lack of a Covenant campaign. You can play as the Covenant during online skirmishes against other human players, and it would have been great to see some of the events of the game, if not other stories from the Halo world, from an alien set of eyes. I miss the days when you bought a game of this kind and got a full campaign for every playable race. Even StarCraft 2 is getting rid of this aspect of the purchase; Activision Blizzard is splitting the title into three separate releases, one per faction. You can argue about whether or not that's a cash-grab, but I'm going to sorely miss the ability to play a compelling story with each of the races to learn their tech tree and to simply enjoy playing the game and picking up strategy.
The lack of a Covenant campaign is annoying, but what's the real heartbreaker is the lack of a campaign with the Flood as a playable race. It's easy to see why it wasn't done: balancing a third race is a nightmare in terms of logistics, time, and budget. But when I think about what could have been if Microsoft threw some money and time behind this and did it right, I want to find a corner and cry. If you'll allow me a moment of "what could have been," the idea of this game on the PC with a mouse and keyboard, as well as three full campaigns for the Marines, Covenant, and Flood makes me a very happy gamer. I'm not saying the actual game that Microsoft released is bad, but it's just that with the right budget and time put into development, it could have been so much more.
It's a good time, but is that enough?
While it's easy to have somewhat unrealistic expectations of Halo Wars, what is there is some pretty good stuff. The controls work very well with the Xbox 360 controller, and with the proper practice you'll be flying around the map in no time. The units look good, in general, although I couldn't help feeling everything looked a trifle bland. There just didn't seem to be a ton of detail to the units or the vehicles, and since we already know what everything looks like from the graphically superior FPS Halo titles, the difference was more noticeable than it would have been with another property.
The missions are also smartly put together. You'll be defending civilians as they attempt to evacuate in a memorable encounter, and the action is suitably desperate-you'll grit your teeth through many sections. Without the fun and thoughtful work of "design the perfect base before branching out," the action better be stronger than other titles of this kind, and luckily Halo Wars keeps the pace moving very well. If you're social, you can also play the game's campaign with a friend via online co-op. Adjustable difficulty makes sure that gamers of different skill levels can be challenged appropriately.
Ultimately, I had a great time playing Halo Wars, and the music, presentation, and design all work together to let you know that you're playing a Halo title. Indeed, this is a world that works better in the RTS genre than anyone would have thought. Secondary objectives, a scoring system, and online play also give you plenty of reasons to hone your game and replay the game's single campaign, which makes the $60 price tag easier to swallow. Still, there could have been more here, and the cynical gamer in me knows that Microsoft was aware of how little they had to give us to get the sales they were looking for.
The Good
- This is a Halo game through and through, and fans of the series will eat it up
- Smart controls for the console
- Missions are well designed, pacing is nearly perfect
- Story fits into the world of Halo well, game includes timeline of events to make sure you don't get confused or to allow you to catch up
- Online modes add longevity, including action-friendly "Deathmatch" mode
The Bad
- Base-building is disappointingly basic
- Graphics can look bland at times
- No Covenant campaign
- 15 missions can be beaten rather quickly
The Ugly
- The idea that RTS versions of games could become the new Kart-racing cash-in
Verdict: Rent


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Rodolphe Lindt was successful with his chocolat fondant – and gained the recognition of noble Bernese society. They all ordered his chocolat fondant. And kept on ordering more. But they waited. Patiently at the beginning. Then irritated later. And ultimately furious. His old factory, down by the Aare, was much too small; it creaked and groaned.
And what did Rodolphe Lindt do?
But all that didn't bother him: He enjoyed his life, hunting, at vernissages, in parlours. Sold the chocolat fondant to the noble daughters at boarding schools in Neuenburg and Berne. He only went to the factory when he felt like it. And he accepted the offer from the confectioner Jean Tobler to ensure even fuller order books for Lindt as a travelling salesman.
Thank you but no
At the same time, everyone was trying to uncover his secret, but fortunately they were unsuccessful. And so the offers came. The secret recipe was worth an audacious three million marks to a German company. But hand it over? Rodolphe Lindt rejected the offer.
In the mid-1890s, his small factory was ready for demolition; modernisation was vital. And there was the pressing question of how to reduce the pile of orders. Rodolphe Lindt's forehead started to show the first signs of worry. And they were precisely the things that caused him to meet a man who had travelled especially from Zurich to meet him.
Knowledge of people
It was the spring of 1898. Almost twenty years after the invention of the chocolat fondant. In Olten, half way to Zurich: That was where Rodolphe Lindt met this man who was famous for his own chocolate, but much more so for his entrepreneurial spirit. This man knew: Rodolphe Lindt would have to be able to continue to tinker and, which was just as important, have a say in what happened to his chocolat fondant.
An offer
So he suggested to Lindt that he buy the brand off him. And this brilliant secret of the conching as well. For a good price, obviously, and with a say in what happened, of course, and without obligations. And yes, also the employees of Lindtsche Berner Fabrik – they would all be taken over.
Yes please
The rest is history. Today, you would call it a classic win-win situation. After all, each one of them got exactly what he wanted to get from the other one: here the manufacturer and wealthy businessman from Zurich; there the creator of the chocolat fondant and holder of the secret recipe from Berne. They had an inkling, but didn't yet know for sure: The company was about to embark on an unparalleled success story.
New era
When Rodolphe Lindt revealed the secret to Sprüngli junior and senior, they were both highly amazed – and sworn to secrecy. The secret was placed in a safe, where it remains today. And very soon, chocolat fondant was produced in a modern factory in Kilchberg near Zurich. For unauthorised persons, it was "No entry".
Latest stories
- Clean drinking water for cocoa communities In order to increase the cocoa farmers' quality of life....
- Responsible Procurement Lindt & Sprüngli has close ties with Ghana....
- Cocoa – The food of the Gods… This pleasant-sounding Latin name of Theobroma cacao was given...
- The Invention of the Conche It was 1879. Rodolphe Lindt wanted to make chocolate. Soft, fine chocolate, chocolate to enjoy.


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A brief explanation of a term, word or name related to outdoor activities. Click on the links to get more information.
Ebla - A smal pot or jar used to drink the ebla beer.
Bibliography - Books and other publications related to the term Ebla.
Origin of the term - Sumeria.
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Typhoon Wutip (20W)16.6N 107.9E
At least 70 people have been reported missing after a typhoon caused three fishing boats to sink in the South China Sea, Chinese state media say.
Five boats carrying more than 150 people encountered strong winds from Typhoon Wutip on Sunday, Xinhua news agency says citing maritime officials.
A rescue operation is under way and reports say 14 people have been found.
The storm is expected to make landfall in central Vietnam on Monday and thousands have been evacuated there.


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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC) review
"Not often does a game come along that simply knocks you off your feet. A game so massive and involved that it hooks you from the word go. A game that you can't get enough of, one that makes you sit back and just go 'whoa'. "
Community review by karpah (August 27, 2004)
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Mobile apps for viewing and controlling Raymarine MFDs remotely.
Apps available for Raymarine LightHouse 3 Multifunction Displays. Download select LightHouse Apps and install on your Axiom via microSD card.
It's time to fish smarter: Find local fishing reports, log catches and spots on interactive fishing maps, and connect with local anglers!
Seapilot was the first navigation app in the world to implement features such as Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, which makes it easily to see other vessels moving on nautical charts.
Voyage Planner is a powerful, easy-to-use, home-planning and data management software solution for Raymarine multifunction displays.
Take your PC onboard and access radar, digital sonar, charts and navigation data instantly with compatible Raymarine multifunctional displays.


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SACRAMENTO . (AP) — Officials with California's health insurance exchange on Thursday clarified the level of initial interest shown in the website, saying more than 514,000 people visited the online marketplace on its first day.
Covered California spokesman Oscar Hidalgo said those individual visitors showed a high level of interest in the exchange.
The website had more than 5 million page views Tuesday, when exchanges opened for enrollment nationwide, he said. That was the official figure reported to media outlets until the number of unique visitors was announced.
Exchange officials clarified the numbers after conflicting media reports began to surface.
"No matter how you count it, we had an enormous amount of interest," Hidalgo said.
In addition, the state's service centers in Concord and the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova received 19,000 telephone calls Tuesday. A third service center will open in Fresno sometime in November.
Hidalgo said the exchange is planning to release figures for the first week of operations next Wednesday, although enrollment data is not expected to be available until mid-November.
The enrollment portion of the website went offline Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning to fix several technical issues with web browser compatibility and problems with health plan logos displaying incorrectly. Online enrollment has not been disrupted since those issues were resolved, Hidalgo said.
Under the federal Affordable Care Act, virtually all Americans will be required to have health insurance beginning in 2014 or they must pay an annual penalty to the government.
Californians who have health coverage through an employer will be largely unaffected by the opening of the insurance exchange, which is primarily for the poor, low-income earners, and individuals and families who already buy their own health insurance.
California accounts for about 15 percent of the nation's uninsured people. About 5.3 million Californians are eligible for coverage under the new health law, about 1.4 million of them through expanded access to the state's health insurance program for the poor, called Medi-Cal.
Consumers seeking health insurance on the exchange must enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage to begin Jan. 1.


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Learn About the Devastation of Our Forests
Thousands of intense fires, insect infestations, disease and severe weather have all take their toll on forests around the nation. Take a closer look at the devastation.
Causes of Forest Devastation
Learn about the 4 major natural causes that lead to the need for reforestation.
Historical Fire Data
See how wildfires destroy forests year after year.
The Urgent Need to Replant
Find out why it's so important to get involved in reforestation efforts.


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I got to choose from a few of the great toys at Maukilo.com, and picked the HABA Sand Bucket Scooter to review because the sand pail has wheels and Angelo loves to push stuff around. I figured he might enjoy it more than a regular sand pail. I had no idea just how much he would love it! He honestly tries to bring it everywhere with him! He even requests to hold it on his lap while riding in the car then gets upset when he drops it.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Processing Time: 7-9 business days
Metal: Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Pendant Dimension: 3cm W x 1.2cm H and is 1.2mm thick
Chain Thickness: Cable Chains - 1.5mm. Bead Chain - 1.8mm
Sterling Silver Engraving Limitation: 9 Characters
Available Characters: Letters A-Z, Numbers 0-9, Symbols (a Heart and a Flower)
Things to Note
- One letter is one character
- One number is one character
- One symbol is one character
- One space is one character
- Type letters in capital letters e.g. MY LOVE
- Type symbols in common letters with the word symbol e.g. heart symbol
- Please adhere to the character limit
Engraving Example: I heart symbol YOU
The engraving above has a total of 7 characters.
PAYMENTWe accept the following payment methods:
- All major Credit Cards
- Apple Pay
- PayPal
- Bank Deposit/Online Transfer (Jamaica Only)
Bank Deposit/Online Transfer: Payments can be made to our National Commercial Bank or Bank of Nova Scotia account by selecting our "Local (Jamaica) Bank Deposit / Online Transfer" option. This payment option can be selected during Checkout. Once your order is placed, the order confirmation page will include our banking information. An invoice will also be sent to your email containing our bank account information and instructions. All bank deposits / online transfers must be made within 24 hours of ordering.
This service is offered by Tara Courier Services Ltd. Your package will be delivered directly to your doorstep. Delivery time is 1-2 Business Days AFTER your order has been processed.
This non-insured service is offered by Jamaica Post. Shipping time is 3-5 Weeks.
Shipping time is between 1-3 and 3-5 Business Days (depending on the destination country). The shipping cost includes freight cost and Jamaica Customs Agency Export Declaration fee.
Processing Time: The length of time between when an item is ordered and paid for and when it is ready for shipment. Please allow us 7-9 business days to make your pieces.
Shipping Time: The period taken by the shipping company to deliver your package AFTER your order has been processed. Siwatu Jewelry is not liable for delays caused by the shipping company, destination country customs or customs fees (if applicable).
Business Days: Mondays to Fridays. Our business day ends at 6 pm Eastern Time. Please note that the following days are Jamaican public holidays and as such, do not count as business days.
Jan 1, Feb 26, April 10, May 25, Aug 1, Aug 6, Oct 19, Dec 25, Dec 26
All items are packaged in a natural burlap pouch that is perfect for gift giving. You will be provided with polishing cloths/pads with your order as well as tips on jewelry care.
Disclaimer: Please note that NONE of our jewelry is plated, coated or gold-filled.
- Our gold pieces are made from solid gold.
- Our sterling silver pieces are made from .925 silver.
HERE is all you need to know about caring for your jewelry.


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October 26, 2020
October 27, 2020
October 28, 2020
9015 Grand Avenue
October 30, 2020
November 18, 2020
December 3, 2019, 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM @ Polly's Room
This 30-minute interactive program for Toddlers, 18 to 36 months, and their caregivers features stories, finger play, action rhymes, and songs. Toddlers will be introduced to sounds, letter recognition and new words that will help them grow into pre-readers. After the program, toddlers and their caregivers are invited to stay and play with other attendees.
December 3, 2019, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM @ Library Community Room
Chess Club meets every Tuesday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Hone your skills or learn the game from chess enthusiasts from ages 6 to 18. No registration necessary; just show up! Please call the Children's Department at 817-427-6818 for more information.
View all calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar.


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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (FOX) - Creator/executive producer Mitch Hurwitz is set to stick with the Emmy-winning comedy, as the writer/producer has inked a new deal with 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television to remain as showrunner through the 2006-07 season (pending of course FOX's renewal of the series through the length of the deal). Hurwitz reportedly turned down an offer to develop new projects as part of the deal in order to remain focused on "Arrested." Nevertheless with its showrunner-only component, Hurwitz could develop new projects elsewhere. The deal comes as "Arrested" goes through some minor staff shakeups: Brad Copeland has opted to leave the series in favor of NBC's "My Name Is Earl" while Ron Weiner ("Futurama") and Tom Saunders ("Method and Red") are set to join the series this season. Financial details about Hurwitz's pact weren't specified.
FASTLANE (FOX) - Court TV has purchased the off-network rights to all 22 episodes of the short-lived FOX series from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. Viewers will be able to catch two episodes every Saturday night beginning July 2 (exact times TBA). Financial details about the pact weren't released, although its likely less than the $50,000 per episode MTV paid to repurpose the series in 2002. It's understood the "Fastlane" repeats will serve as a testing ground for Court TV to explore buying even more off-network runs or even potentially develop its own scripted projects.
GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC) - Co-executive producer Peter Horton, who helmed "Grey's" pilot, has signed a two-year, seven-figure producing-directing deal with Touchstone Television. The pact calls for Horton to continue in his duties on "Grey's" as well as direct and executive produce one new pilot each year of the deal. In addition, Horton plans to direct the first and fifth episodes of "Grey's" second season.
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS) - DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler ("Committed") have been named executive producers of the freshman comedy, which will air Mondays at 8:30/7:30c beginning this fall. The duo will serve alongside fellow executive producers (and the show's creators) Carter Bay and Craig Thomas.
THE MAN WHO LOST HIMSELF (Lifetime, New!) - David James Elliott ("JAG") and Wendy Crewson ("The Beast") are set to star in one of Lifetime's upcoming original movies. The project, which is targeting a late fall premiere, is based on the true story of Terry Evanshen, a Canadian Football League player who lost all his memories after a car accident put him in a coma. Elliott will play Evanshen with Crewson set as his wife, whom struggles to deal with being married to a man who doesn't remember her. Helen Shaver ("The 4,400") will direct the project with Suzette Couture and Pierre Sarrazin executive producing through their self-titled production banner. Production is already underway in Toronto.
WHAT ABOUT BRIAN (ABC) - Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs ("life as we know it") have been named the showrunners of the midseason drama. They'll serve as executive producers alongside creator Dana Stevens and fellow executive producers J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and Thom Sherman. The pair's involvement stems from their overall deal with Touchstone Television where they're also developing new projects for the studio.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters


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What is the current status?
This project is upcoming.
How is this project being funded?
Funding for this project comes from the Street Fund. The Street Fund is financed through two sources:
1) Turn-back revenues from the State of Arkansas. The State collects motor fuel taxes, which are returned to the City on a per-capital basis.
2) Turn-back monies received from the County Road Millage Tax. The City receives 80% of the road millage levied by the Quorum Court on real and personal property located within the city.


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Life of Martin Garza celebrated at memorial
They watched ESPN together.
She cheers for USC.
He favored UCLA. Brawley High's colors, after all, are blue and gold.
There they were, mother and son, rivals in athletic fandom, watching sports together.
"Every moment that I spent with him," Yulil Alonso-Garza said, "we did something to connect our hearts, our love."
He was Martin Alberto Garza. In the early-morning hours of Jan. 6, the 17-year-old was fatally stabbed outside a party in El Centro.
On Friday night, his casket, painted blue and gold, was placed at the 50-yard line. Family members and friends had gathered to celebrate his life at Warne Field.
Here, he'd created so many memories, so many openings.
When Jon Self became Brawley's head football coach in 2011, he focused his immediate attention on the offensive line.
The Wildcats don't throw the ball much. The "35-lead" is their staple, an off-tackle running play that leans heavily on the left side of the line.
"I had to look for a guy that had size," Self said. "He wasn't tall, but he was gordo."
As a 5-foot-9 left guard, Martin "Gordo" Garza helped the Wildcats to a 10-2 record this past fall. They advanced as far as the San Diego Section semifinals, falling to eventual state bowl champion Madison.
"Had to look for a guy that would work," Self continued, "and he did that."
Last summer, Garza got a job working for Imperial Valley grower Jimmy Abatti. Each morning, he'd wake before sunrise to arrive at the fields by 6 a.m.
"Had to look for a guy that was unselfish," Self went on. "Check on that."
Garza told Abatti he wanted the job to help his parents with tuition. His sister and best friend, Yulinda, was beginning college. Garza himself was already planning for college. Last fall, he applied to San Diego State (Yulil's alma mater), Fresno State and Humboldt State.
"Had to look for a guy with character," Self said. "Check on that."
Garza told Abatti about his reasons for working while his friends slept, but he never told his parents. Only after Garza's passing did Yulil and her husband, also named Martin, discover their son's motivation.
"He didn't have to work," Abatti said, "but he wanted to work to help his parents."
They'd raised a son who delved into any sport. His first word was "ball." His first love: baseball. Then there was youth wrestling and rec soccer and, just this year, varsity basketball.
His last love: football. Besides the colleges he'd applied to, he considered braving the cold of North Dakota to continue pursuing that love at Mayville State.
But, for Garza, it went beyond sports. He shared his famous bear hugs with everyone — teammates, classmates, fellow field workers, strangers. His smile and personality won friends wherever he went — lunch, practice, work, all around the Imperial Valley.
That would explain why the memorial crowd was dotted with colors other than blue and gold. Why there were friends from El Centro and Calexico and Holtville and Calipatria and Palo Verde.
Why his initials and his football number, 73, were shaved into the sides of heads.
Why, in all, more than 50 pallbearers carried him through the chilly night air.
Why, on Saturday morning, after Mass at St. Margaret Mary Church, hundreds escorted him to his final resting place at Riverview Cemetery.
"This is God's child and he let us raise him," Yulil said. "He gave us the honor and the privilege and trust to raise a really great young man. And I'm not mad at God, because I know it was his child and it was his time to take his child back."
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It's official. The human arm is now a vestigial limb. It no longer serves a purpose now that you can search Google with naught more than the melodious sound of your voice.
Voice search is currently only available to Chrome users and requires—obviously—a microphone to work. But, in addition to normal Google searches, the service also works for Google Maps and Earth—simply speak the name of the city or place to pull it up.
And after a brief hands-on, I can say it works pretty reliably—even with my best Scotty voice and first addressing my computer as "Computer." [The Next Web]


text: It's been nearly ten years since the iPhone debuted, and the opportunities to service, sell and create loyalty with your customers is now greater than it's ever been before. New trends that are driving consumer mobile behavior now should be used as a filter for re-looking at your customer's journey with your category and brand. But the consumer mobile experience ... Read More »


text: [i:Vibes] :: View topic - Lange pres. Intercity #108 now available, new weekly format Guidelines FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Bookmarks Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Main Menu Frontpage News Reviews Interviews Party Reports Artist Profiles Label profiles Diaries Tutorials What is... Links Radio-info Interactive Forum User Stats Info FAQ Crew-info i:Vibes Info Site Updates Lange pres. Intercity #108 now available, new weekly format [i:Vibes] Forum Index -> Radio Broadcasts View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message Lange RecordingsFeeling The MusicVibes: 34.14Joined: 16 Dec 2008Member #: 27,182Posts: 141 Post subject: Lange pres. Intercity #108 now available, new weekly format BIG NEWS! Intercity goes weekly in 2013! After 4 years and over 100 episodes, there has been increasing demand for a weekly show and in 2013, Lange has therefore decided to move Intercity in to a new format, involving some of the leading artists on his label, Lange Recordings. As ever, Lange will host the show, online exclusively at AH.FM, where during weeks 2 and 4 of every month he will bring an hour of his favourite tracks from trance and related genres. But now, during weeks 1 and 3 he will be joined by label artists showcasing their own brand of trance with a 45 minutes mix every other week in Intercity: Lange Recordings Sessions; each artist with their unique sound, adding extra variety to the format as they join Lange to explore the top tracks of the moment in the scene. The initial lineup consists of Alex Larichev (Russia), Deep Voices (USA), Lee Osborne (UK), Noah Neiman (USA), Steve Brian (Germany), and Tangle & Mateusz (USA) The first show of the year is now available to download as a podcast at http://podcast.djlange.com/ or tune in next Wednesday on www.ah.fm 21-22CET www.ah.fm www.podcast.djlange.com www.intercityradio.com www.lange-music.com Post rating: 0 Rate this post: Not logged in Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:22 am Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First [i:Vibes] Forum Index -> Radio Broadcasts All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Spam----------------Spam posts Music----------------Music discussion (trance, techno, progressive and other genres)EquipmentArtist and Label NewsRadio BroadcastsMusic Production and DJ Mix PromotionClub Listings Non-music related----------------Other discussionBuy & Sell [i:Vibes]----------------Site Feedback and Help Content Discussion----------------News DiscussionReview DiscussionInterview DiscussionTutorial DiscussionWhat is...Party ReportsArtist ProfilesLabel Profiles You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou cannot download files in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group


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After Sony officially dropped the price of the PlayStation Vita by about a third in Japan last month, Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida came out and said the US shouldn't expect a similar price drop. But US Sony retail stores seem to have a different idea about that, lowering the price of the more expensive 3G system by $100, to $199, ahead of a possible discontinuation of the cellular model.
Joystiq was among the first to notice the price drop, which seems to be limited to a dozen or so of Sony's retail locations throughout the US. Store representatives at locations in Denver, New Jersey and Las Vegas told Joystiq the 3G unit was being discontinued, but other stores had not even registered the price drop yet. Sony's own online store is now showing a reduced price of $249, down from the original $299 price from just last night.
Comparative sales for the 3G and Wi-Fi-only units aren't available for the US, but in Japan, the 3G model of the system is slightly more popular, according to recent data from Media Create. That may be due to both official and unofficial discounts provided by Sony and retailers on the 3G unit, which currently sells for the same suggested price as the Wi-Fi model in Japan. Sony has publicly admitted multiple times that overall Vita sales have been below expectations.
A 3G link for the Vita was always a bit of a dubious proposition. Sure, it's nice having another pocket device that can access a web browser and Twitter anywhere, but most people already have a smartphone for that, and the Vita doesn't make for a very good smartphone replacement. As far as gaming, many Vita games don't even support full simultaneous multiplayer over a 3G connection, thanks to bandwidth issues. Given the extra upfront cost and monthly fee associated with that cellular service, it never really seemed like a good value proposition.


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Each summer, the University of Houston is visited by future filmmakers, architects, authors and actors. This summer will be no different thanks to non-profit organization Wonderworks.
For the past five years, Wonderworks has presented a range of fine arts camps for Houston high school students. Taught by UH faculty members and industry professionals, these camps offer students pre-college learning experiences and hands-on training in university classrooms and studios.
Registration is open for this year's camps, which run June 13 - July 15, and scholarships are available. Wonderworks events are open to students in grades 10 - 12. For details on how to register for 2011 Wonderworks events, visit www.wonderworks.org or call 713-301-4882.
A list of this year's Wonderworks offerings is as follows:
By Design - Introduction to
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture
Students will work in UH's architecture studios designing building projects and learning about architectural history, building practices and prolific architects. Field trips will take students across the state to view historic buildings. The event concludes with an exhibition of students' works.
Literature - Stranger Than Fiction
UH's department of English and Creative Writing Program
This program will focus on non-fiction works in journalism, documentaries, films and radio. Students will read and discuss articles from authors such as Tom Wolfe, A.J. Liebling, Joseph Mitchell and Hunter Thompson. Films include "Dog Day Afternoon," "Grey Gardens," "All the President's Men" and "The Social Network."
Story Lines - Short Fiction
UH's department of English and Creative Writing Program
The works of authors Mark Twain, Ernest Hemmingway, Leo Tolstoy and others will be explored by students. Also, films adapted from short fiction will be screened including "Rear Window," "The Third Man" and others.
Poet's Corner - Poetry Written in
UH's department of English and Creative Writing Program
Odes, sonnets, mock epics, satires, elegies and ballads are among the poems students will learn. They also will listen to recordings of poems read by the actual poets and write a few of their own.
All Things Considered - Essays and
Other Reflections
UH's department of English and Creative Writing Program
Students will read and discuss essays by Henry Thoreau, Virginia Woolf, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nora Ephron and many others. They also will have a chance to pen their own essays under the guidance of UH's writing faculty.
- Moving Pictures - Filmmaking and Film
Jack J. Valenti School of Communication
Students will explore the art of crafting movies in this camp. They will learn the process from the ground up and ultimately, produce their own films that will be screened by summer's end. Afternoon sessions will focus on exploring film classics such as "Citizen Kane," "Casablanca" and "The Godfather."


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All News Releases By Date
Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company to pay $378,000 penalty, address accident prevention and preparedness at Wyoming refinery
Release Date: 10/11/2012
Contact Information: David Cobb 303-312-6592, email@example.com Mathew Allen 303-312-6085 firstname.lastname@example.com
Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company to pay $378,000 penalty, address accident prevention and preparedness at Wyoming refinery
Company will pay $378,000 penalty, improve risk management and maintenance of equipment used to store and process hazardous chemicals
David Cobb 303-312-6592, firstname.lastname@example.com
Mathew Allen 303-312-6085 firstname.lastname@example.com
(Denver, Colo. – October 11, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a Clean Air Act settlement in which the Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company (Sinclair) has agreed to pay a $378,000 penalty, update process equipment operating procedures, perform required training to workers, improve maintenance of equipment and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels and piping that will reduce the possibility of an accidental release of hazardous chemicals at their refinery in Sinclair, Wyoming.
Hazardous substances of concern used at the Sinclair refinery include large quantities of propane, butane, and flammable hydrocarbon mixtures. Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that utilize hazardous and flammable substances above specified thresholds must develop and submit a risk management plan to assist with emergency preparedness, chemical release prevention, and minimization of releases that occur. In June 2010, EPA Inspectors found that the facility had not adequately implemented those regulations.
"Sinclair has had several accidents and releases of hazardous substances over the past several years that relate to process equipment," said Mike Gaydosh, director of EPA's enforcement program in Denver. "This settlement will help ensure the company is operating in accordance with industry standards to protect the environment as well as residents of nearby communities."
The consent decree was lodged in U.S. District Court and is subject to a 30-day comment period and final approval by the court. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice website at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
For more information on the Clean Air Act and risk management requirements: https://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/caa_faqs.htm
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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My Thoughts:
Babbie Mason has written a wonderful 21 days devotional to help readers to receive God's love for them. Embraced by God has helped me to meditate on the powerful promises of God. I have realized that I am God's favorite and that he loves me unconditional. When I sin, God still gives me mercy and forgiveness. The book reinstated that God has an awesome plan for my life and a destiny that I must step into. The book immensely helped me to accept God's love and that I must share his unfailing love with others. I especially benefited when Babbie would tell readers to personally scripture. For example, "For God so loved Andrew, that he gave his only begotton Son, that [if] Andrew believeth in him, Andrew should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. I would recommend this book to everyone because so many of us don't even understand the full love of Christ. We must first receive His love then give it freely to others! Imagine what would happen if the whole world believed God truly loved them. Many Christians don't even know God's unconditional love and they are without their love from the world. We tend to perceive God's love like man's love. Man is only conditional and that kind of love will always fail. But God has the healing power to change many lives with a huge sacrifice of love. If you are insecure and you don't know who you are in Christ then you need to read this book. It has changed my life and increased my joy. I now wake up with a purpose to be a blessing and serve others. Trying to fit in with the world won't fulfill the longing in your soul. I know I have tried it and it doesn't work! God's true love will assist you to accomplish your dreams and to help others along the way! The devil will try to stop you by causing problems to arise but God's love covers and protects you always. His love for you will never ever change! This book will change your life! When I finished the book, I finally believed in God's everlasting love for me! If you need some encourage in your life then read this life enhancing devotional!
"I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group for this review".
About the book:
Have you ever wondered, "Does God really love me? Do I really matter to him?"
As a matter of fact, God loves you just as much as he loves His own Son.
In the pages of this heartwarming, thoughtful and life-affirming 21-day journey, award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and teacher Babbie Mason reminds you, when you know you are loved by God and that you are in His eternal plan, you'll never again wonder if your life matters.
Click for more information:
About Babbie Mason:
Babbie Mason is a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter, author, creator of the Embrace: A Worship Event for Women ministry, professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and a television talk-show host. She was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs. Babbie has been honored perform for Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, Steve Forbes among many others. Babbie performs a holiday special at Carnegie Hall every year. Babbie lives near Atlanta on a farm with her husband Charles.
Link to buy the book: http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?id=141&pageid=677
Check out what others are saying about the book:
Embraced By God Book Trailer:
Win a Nook Tablet - Come to "Embraced" FB Party!
Enter Today and Save the Date-3/6!
Embraced by God is a 21-day encounter that shares the unconditional love of God. "If you watch what the media says as to where we should find our identity--" says Babbie, "--money, beauty, power and technology--you'll just be confused about who you are and what your purpose is. As a culture we are trying to buy or sell what can only be administered to the soul by Jesus."
Celebrate with Babbie by entering her Nook Tablet Giveaway and coming to her "Embraced Facebook Party {3/6}!
One beloved winner will receive:
- A Brand new Nook Tablet with Wi-Fi
- Embraced by God by Babbie Mason
- Babbie's Embraced by God Music CD
- Babbie's Embraced by God Note cards
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/5/12. Winner will be announced at Babbie's "Embraced" Facebook Party on 3/6. Babbie will be hosting an evening of chat, music, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, Embraced by God music CDs and Note cards, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club.)
So grab your copy of Embraced by God and join Babbie and friends on the evening of March 6th for an evening of fun.
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 6th!
Share this on Facebook:
Embraced by God by Babbie Mason, a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter and author, is a journey of discovering what it means to be unconditionally loved, approved, accepted, forgiven, blessed, cherished, treasured, and favored by God. To celebrate the book's relesase, Babbie is giving away a Nook Tablet an hosting the "Embrace" FB party on 3/6/12. Click for details: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13456906/embracedbygod.
Share this on Twitter:
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A good question came up during my daughter's Reformed Doctrine class at school. "Does God Love Everyone?" My daughter says "no" and her teacher says "yes." The difference of opinion may have to do with the meaning of the word "love". There is common grace and specific grace both taught in the Scriptures. I would be interested in seeing your answer to this issue.
Your question: 'Does God love everyone?' is not easily answered. Why? Because, as you rightly state, "The difference of opinion may have to do with the meaning of the word 'love.'" When the Apostle Paul says God loved Jacob and hated Esau (Rom. 9:13) it is very clear that there is a kind of love that is not shared equally by everyone. Only those who belong to Christ can say "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:4, 5) Yet it is also true that those who refuse the one and only Savior that God has provided can never honestly say that God never showed any love toward them.
Jesus Christ is the word of God made flesh (John 1:14), "the express image of his [God's] person." And the Bible says he had "compassion on the multitude" (Matthew 15:32). Compassion is simply another word for the kind of love that we ought to feel toward those who suffer. We even read that Jesus "loved" (Mark 10:21) the rich young man who refused to become our Lord's disciple. But that love was certainly not the same as his love for his believing disciples. When Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Luke 6:35) he gave, as a reason for doing so, a reference to the character of God! Since God "is kind to the unthankful and evil" we too are to be "merciful" toward them. And, according to our Savior, doing so is an act of love patterned after the character of the God who made us to be in his likeness, his images.
Does God love everyone in the same way, and to the same degree? No, he does not. But can anyone say that God did not love them at all, in any sense? Again the answer is No.
Thank you for a worthwhile question.
"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.
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text: Need for Geospatial Data Grows Across the Country This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from the USDA's rich science and research portfolio. During the month of April we will take a closer look at USDA's Groundbreaking Research for a Revitalized Rural America, highlighting ways USDA researchers are improving the lives of Americans in ways you might never imagine. Over the past several decades, satellite imagery has emerged as one of the most valuable new tools in modern agriculture. At USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), we strive to remain at the forefront of this technology to continually advance our statistical products in service to U.S. agriculture. To keep abreast of how our counterparts in other countries are implementing this exciting new technology, last month we hosted representatives from the Canadian and Mexican agriculture departments in a Tripartite meeting. As geographic neighbors and statistical collaborators, we are particularly interested in each others' work and how we can learn from each other. It was exciting to see that Statistics Canada, working with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, is researching new remote sensing-based yield models, using vegetative indices, agro-climactic data, and survey data for 21 crops. As a result of this innovation, Stats Canada is planning to use only remote sensing to set their official estimates for these crops rather than conducting traditional surveys. This is a tremendous step forward for a statistical estimates program that we will be watching with great interest. Rick Mueller, Spatial Analysis Research Section Head, National Agricultural Statistics Service Posted in Research and Science Feb 21, 2017 Respond to this story


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Massachusetts Women Sound Off on Palin
Divided by their politics, mothers in Stockbridge find some common ground.
Sept. 16, 2008 -- It's happening at kitchen tables and office water coolers, over e-mail and at friends' birthday parties: People nationwide are reeling from two head-spinning weeks that have reinvigorated John McCain's campaign for the presidency with the selection of vice presidential pick Sarah Palin.
"I did want to learn a lot more about her because of that acceptance speech," said Democrat Tina Hamilton, of Acton, Mass. "And I was wowed. I absolutely was wowed."
Still, Hamilton is one of many people taking a closer look now that "the dust has settled a little bit for me," and she is reminding herself that she does not agree with Palin's politics.
Hamilton was also one of a group of seven women, from diverse backgrounds, that ABC News invited to the small town of Stockbridge, Mass., to discuss the governor, her interview with ABC News and her impact on the race. Thousands of miles from Palin's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, they formed an informal, if unscientific, focus group.
Divided by their politics but tied together by their home state, seven mothers came to some perhaps surprising agreements: Not only is Palin a conversation starter who has brought a new dynamic to the 2008 election, but the Republican governor of Alaska has also sparked common concerns.
Of the two Republicans, one independent supporting McCain, and four Democrats who participated in ABC News' roundtable, five shared concerns about Palin's lack of experience for the job of vice president.
The panel also largely agreed that Palin handled herself well last week when asked by ABC News' Charles Gibson about the balance between her life as a mother and her life in office.
When asked by Gibson, "Is it sexist for people to ask how can somebody manage a family of seven and the vice presidency?" Palin said, "I don't know. I'm lucky to have been brought up in a family where gender's never been an issue.
"I'm part of that generation where that question is kind of irrelevant because it, it's accepted," Palin said. "Of course you can be the vice president and you can raise a family."
By all accounts, the panel members, Democrats included, were satisfied with Palin's response, though they all felt the question was a sexist one that would never be asked of a male candidate. Still, they also agreed that it was OK to bring it up, since everyone in their neighborhoods and their groups of friends has been discussing it.
On Whether She's Ready – and on Palin Thinking She Is
Just days after Palin's interviews with Gibson, some of the women in Stockbridge said they were uneasy about Palin's lack of foreign policy experience and her decision to ask Gibson for clarification when he questioned her on the Bush Doctrine that calls for the right to anticipatory self-defense of America. Some said they were also bothered by how little Palin has traveled overseas.
"On the positive front, I just, I love her self-confidence and her belief in herself and for her party, and the fact that she thinks she can actually go and make a difference, and that's what energizes people," said Republican Lisa Robb, also from Acton. "They want 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' They want to see that."
"Obviously, on the flip side, she does come from a small town and, you know, fairly small state, economically and politically, and so the foreign policy is, is something that concerns me," Robb added.
Still, others said Palin's resume may not hold her back.
"This whole thing is an education process," said Republican Deb McMenamy, who said she first heard of Palin the day she was nominated. "I think Barack Obama has learned so much in the months that he has been campaigning, about national and international policy. And I think that's just the nature of the beast."
McMenamy said she felt McCain's selection "made a great first impression," as well as a terrific second impression while being interviewed by Gibson last week.
"I wanted to see, you know, you know, this — this firecracker, is she gonna maintain that spark?" said McMenamy, a Stockbridge resident. "And I think she truly held her own in that interview."
Democrat Aimee Griffin Nunnings of Springfield, however, strongly disagreed.
"I think that she's been well trained," Nunnings said. "I think that her responses to the questions were not exactly the response to the questions, but what the response was supposed to be."
Women on the panel also did not agree about whether Palin's confidence in her readiness to be vice president was appealing. The fact that Palin said she didn't even blink when asked to be vice president solicited mixed reactions.
"I think you have to show confidence, of course, when you're taking on a position such as this," said Democrat Pam Alcaide, of Acton. "But I'd like to see a little more introspection, a little more pause and I feel like it was a little too over-confident."
"I feel like she had no other way to answer that question, other than to say, 'Yes, I am completely ready, I knew it, I am wired to do this job,'" Hamilton said. "I think she had to do that. Nobody wants to vote for someone who's saying — a little wishy-washy about the job."
On Polarizing Social Issues
On social issues, the women revealed how polarizing Palin can be, especially when it comes to her anti-abortion stance.
"This is a major issue for me," Alcaide said. "And she talks about how she made a choice and how Bristol made a choice, her daughter, but she wants to take away choice from all the other women in America. That is what she has staunchly said over the years."
When Gibson asked her in the interview whether Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that guaranteed women's right to abortions, should be reversed, Palin said "I think it should. ... I think that states should be able to decide that issue."
Palin also said it's her personal opinion that abortion should be allowed only in cases where the life of the mother is endangered, whereas McCain has said it should also be permitted in cases of rape and incest.
Nunnings likewise emphasized that an anti-abortion rights pick could have considerable influence in selecting future Supreme Court justices who could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade. Alcaide agreed, "That's not a risk I'm willing to take."
On the other hand, the two Republicans on the panel, both of whom were in favor of abortion rights, said they thought Palin's answer on abortion reflected only her personal views and was not threatening to them. They made clear that even though they disagree with Palin's stance on abortion, they will support her.
All politics aside, women on the panel agreed that Palin had helped to bring a new energy to the race and they were excited about the level of engagement they're seeing in their communities.
"I'm so excited about it, about politics, for a change," Hamilton said.


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