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Course Title: Apply principles of professional practice to work in the financial services industry
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: VE 2017
Class Number: See specific class number
Class Section:
For flexible terms and optional semesters, a Part B course guide may have been published for the entire teaching period, or for the specific class number in which you are enrolled. If there is no Part B course guide published for your specific class number, please refer to the guide for the teaching period in which you are enrolled. Enrolment Online is the definitive source for details regarding your class enrolment.
Course Code: EMPL7068C
Course Title: Apply principles of professional practice to work in the financial services industry
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4362 - Certificate IV in Bookkeeping
Course Contact: Doug Gourlay
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5944
Course Contact Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Coordinator and Facilitator
Arie Herrnstadt
Email: email@example.com
Nominal Hours: 30
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this unit.
Course Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify industry professional approaches to procedures, guidelines, policies and standards, including ethical requirements, and to model and meet expectations of these in all aspects of work.
It applies to individuals who work in senior roles in the financial services industry and underpins other specialist units used in all sectors of the industry.
Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. Refer to the FNS Implementation Guide Companion Volume or the relevant regulator for specific guidance on requirements.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title:
FNSINC401 Apply principles of professional practice to work in the financial services industry
1. Identify scope, sectors and responsibilities of industry
Performance Criteria:
1.1 Identify and consider external forces impacting on financial services industry while carrying out activities
1.2 Identify main sectors of financial services industry and interrelationship between sectors in carrying out activities
1.3 Identify roles and responsibilities of other participants in financial services industry in carrying out activities.
2. Identify and apply guidelines, procedures and legislation
Performance Criteria:
2.1 Collect, apply and analyse information on relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice as applied to financial services industry
2.2 Clarify own work practice and regularly refine in light of relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, and organisational policy, guidelines and procedures
2.3 Apply relevant codes of practice in an ethical approach to workplace practice and decisions
3. Identify sustainability issues
Performance Criteria:
3.1 Obtain and analyse information on sustainability policies, strategies and impacts on industry from a range of sources
3.2 Identify and promote environmental sustainability as an integral part of business planning and business opportunity
3.3 Incorporate and support triple bottom line principles in work planning.
4. Manage information
Performance Criteria:
4.1 Read and discuss with appropriate persons relevant documents and reports that could impact on work effectiveness and compliance
4.2 Analyse, evaluate and check documents, reports, data and numerical calculations to meet customer and organisational requirements
4.3 Present information in format appropriate for audience.
5. Participate in and facilitate work team activities
Performance Criteria:
5.1 Provide feedback to team members to encourage, value and reward individual and team efforts, and contributions
5.2 Actively encourage team members to participate in and take responsibility for team activities and communication processes
5.3 Support team to identify and resolve problems which impede its performance
5.4 Ensure own work serves as role model for others and enhances organisation's image and financial services industry.
6. Plan work to be completed
Performance Criteria:
6.1 Determine tasks to be done and identify relevant conditions to work autonomously or in team environment
6.2 Plan work to manage resources, time and priorities
6.3 Contribute to organisational planning process as required to achieve service improvement
6.4 Adapt to changes in technology and work organisation in timely manner.
7. Develop and maintain personal competency
Performance Criteria:
7.1 Identify and review personal professional development needs and goals on regular basis
7.2 Clarify and comply with competency, authorisation and licensing requirements
7.3 Seek professional development opportunities that reflect needs and goals in agreed timeframe.
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Learning activities in the form of theory slides, exercises and additional materials are provided online on Blackboard.
Teaching Schedule
|3 April
|Topic 1 Main sectors, regulators, responsibilities
|10 April
|Topic 2 Develop and maintain personal competency
|Mid Semester Break: Thurs 13 – Wed 19 April
|24 April
|Topic 3 Managing information
|1 May
|Topic 4 Industry legislation and regulation
|Task 1 due 5 May, feedback by 19 May
|8 May
|Topic 5 Ethics, Codes of conduct, minimum and best practice standards
|15 May
|Topic 6 Sustainability
|22 May
|Topic 7 Working in teams
|29 May
|Presentation and winding up
|Task 2 due 2 June, feedback by 16 June
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to:
◾access, interpret and analyse product and service information provided by industry sectors in an effective and timely manner
◾interpret and comply with relevant financial services legislation, regulations and industry codes of practice, and ethics applicable to the workplace
◾recognise and implement sustainability principles and work practices
◾accurately analyse, evaluate and organise relevant information
◾effectively plan work and maintain a team environment, taking into account any constraints and available resources
◾identify and evaluate appropriate professional development opportunities.
Knowledge Evidence
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, you must:
◾discuss environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to industry and organisations
◾outline the main sectors in the financial services industry and the interrelationships between the sectors
◾explain industry and organisational policy and procedures and ethical behaviours in regard to customer service and administration
◾outline industry and organisational security practices and rationale
◾identify internal administration systems such as accounting systems and databases
◾explain principles, practices and available tools and techniques of sustainability management relevant to the industry context
◾explain key requirements of relevant legislation, statutory requirements and industry codes of practice as they relate to:
◾consumer credit
◾financial transaction reporting
◾corporations (including accounting standards)
◾financial services
◾identify the economic and political climate relating to the financial services industry
◾explain triple bottom line principles used in work planning.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the industry capability field and include access to:
◾organisational policy, procedures, legislation, regulations and codes of practice
◾specialist financial services software and data
◾common office equipment, technology, software and consumables.
You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed.You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.
Assessment Tasks
Students are required to complete two tasks. They must successfully complete both tasks to be deemed competent in this unit. When these are satisfactorily completed they will receive a CAG result.
If either or both assignments are assessed as not yet meeting competency standards they will have one more opportunity to resubmit their assignment, either within 14 days or by a time agreed with their teacher.
Assessment Task 1 (due COB Week 12)
Individual assignment covering Elements 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. This is a report designed to maximise their effectiveness in applying for a job, and for a possible job interview. This will also require an attachment with their covering letter and resume for a designated job advertisement, plus possible questions they could be asked during a job interview.
Assessment task 2 (due COB Week 16)
Group assignment covering Elements 3, 4, 5 and 6.
This report will require students to investigate the sustainability practices of a company or organisation of their choice, and determine the net benefits of its sustainability program to the organisation and the community.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview


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The official Pinewood Derby website is a good starting place, as it has both rules and kits for Pinewood Derby cars. Pinewood Pro also has advice about rules, in addition to providing parts, kits and designs. Another official site is Derby Monkey, which offers kits, designs and helpful articles.
Boys' Life has a hobby section dedicated to the Pinewood Derby, including tips on painting and optimizing speed. Boys' Life also features interesting-and-unusual cars from previous years to help readers with design ideas.
As various sites mention, local Pinewood Derby organizations set specific rules for a race. The Boy Scouts of America rules form general guidelines, but Cub Scout packs do not have to follow those rules. Other organizations, such as the Girl Scouts or YMCA, also sponsor derbies with different names, as Pinewood Derby is a Boy Scouts' trademark. The different organizations, though, follow the same overall structure of weight and wheelbase requirements enforced by inspections. Official products are stamped with the organization's initials or name.
The basic Pinewood Derby car starts with a precut pine block, four wheels and nails for the wheels. Cars must include those parts, although builders may shape or carve the pine block. Other features are up to the builders' imaginations, within weight-and-size limits.

subset: commoncrawl


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Newly released video shows off-duty cop punching restaurant patron in face
In June 2015, off-duty Chicago police officer Khaled W. Shaar approached a patron to tell him that he had to leave the restaurant because it was closed, according to a police report released at the same time. Shaar worked as security at the restaurant.
Several video and audio clips released Friday show that the seated patron, 60-year-old Terrence Clarke, wasn't done with his food and refused to leave. Cell phone footage shows Shaar grabbing Clarke, who then pushes the officer away from him.
"Get away from me!" Clarke can be heard shouting.
Shaar subsequently punches Clarke several times in the face, using the hand that he is holding the handcuffs with.
"Get on the ground," Shaar yelled. "Call 911."
Clarke could then be seen handcuffed and pushed against a pillar, and Shaar apparently justified his attack against the patron by saying, "You cursed at me."
The police report includes a picture of Clarke with his face swollen and badly bruised, and lists the man as the "offender" in the situation with Shaar designated as the "victim." Though Clarke was sent to the hospital and Shaar wasn't, Clarke was charged with battery against a peace officer.
The report says that Clarke said, "Do whatever the f*** you have to do, I'm not leaving," but this can't be seen or heard in any of the videos.
Also in the report is the accusation that Clarke "swung a chair at" Shaar and hit him with it, though the patron isn't seen lifting a chair at any point.
None of these alleged actions can be seen or heard in any of the eleven videos, however.
The Chicago Police Department did not immediately respond to RT America's request for comment.
Shaar is currently under investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA), which is tasked with overseeing police misconduct cases in Chicago.
Documents and recordings related to about 100 other incidents were also released Friday by the IPRA, some of which are the subjects of lawsuits.
The releases are part of a push for transparency in the Chicago Police Department in the wake of unrest over the death of Laquan McDonald, an unarmed black teen who was fatally shot by Jason Van Dyke, a white police officer.


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Hillary Clinton's former top White House aide and campaign manager for her 2008 presidential bid was named Thursday as the new director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard's Kennedy School.
Maggie Williams, who served as the former First Lady's chief of staff in the White House and then turned around Clinton's floundering 2008 presidential campaign, will head up the Institute, to which she has been connected for years. The IOP, established as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, is known for its polling of students and political research.
According to the Washington Post, Williams has been among a small circle of confidantes who are helping Clinton weigh a 2016 presidential campaign. She reportedly met Clinton while working at the Children's Defense Fund in the 1980s and was an advisor to her through the Monica Lewinsky scandal and other crises during her husband's administration.
Following the suicide of lawyer Vince Foster, Williams was interrogated and accused of removing files from his office.
Williams also served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Foundation.
"Maggie's political wisdom and her long record of mentoring and supporting young leaders–not only in politics but in many career fields–and the example she sets in fostering and sustaining relationships across the political spectrum make her the right leader for the IOP today," said Ken Duberstein, chair of the IOP Senior Advisory Committee and former chief-of-staff to President Ronald Reagan. "I look forward to working with her to help inspire the next generation of young Americans to answer the call to public service."


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Archive for the 'Economic Growth' Category
Capitalism is the Best Economic System
No doubt about that, but Captain Capitalism provides a very strong empirical evidence to back this up.
The greater the time frame, the greater the correlation.
Read more about it HERE
So if our only purpose was to have a better economy, Capitalism is the only way to go. In the long run, the economic system which renders the greatest growti will tend to dominate.
Socialists like to believe that free-market economic growth will tend to crystalize a power structure and increase inequality. But as the size of the economy has no clearly defined boundary (it can go on forever), inequality can only go as far as 100%. With 100% meaning that there is only one owner for all capital, 0% meaning that there is a perfectly uniform distribution of wealth (more on this HERE).
Inequality won't increase indeffinately. At best, it can vary, but it will settle at some value (which won't be in the vicinity of 0, neither that of 100%). Quite simply, the wealthiest people around are those in the business of mass consumption. You can't be a very large business unless you cater for the masses. So it's absurd to say the masses will be "skinned" and left with a decreasing share of wealth, when these people are precisely the ones marketers must target to enter and remain in business. A business must please its customers to be viable.
Most people understand that employees will compete for jobs and customers will compete to get the products they want. But the other side of the equation is frequently ignored: that businesses compete for customers and employees. They understand the idea of a price, but can't associate this concept with wages. They have an understanting of supply and demand, but frequently fail to apply this knowledge to labour relations and consummer protection. I blame the public school system and the media for most of this, but I also associate responsibility of action even to those ignorant of their effects. That is, not knowing is not an excuse.
Something to take home.


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Want to make a smiley in your text message but are annoyed because your skin color is not that of a Simpson's character? Well, now you can stop being frustrated because Apple is here to have the day! For those of you who don't know (and who doesn't know what an emoji is?) Emoji's are small images you can attached to text messages to help get your point across. Usually in the form of a smiley face or a symbol to specify emotion.
Apple's new iOS 8.3 update will be including over 300 different emoji's, including a wide array of emoji color options raging from the typical yellow, very pale skinned, all the way to very dark toned, as seen from the beta release. This way you can personalize your emoji's to suit you… that is, if you are bothered by simply using the yellow emoji's.
But color swaps are not the only thing that is coming in this new list of emoji's! When you ever use the Family emoji you can actually alter the parents to be either heterosexual, or homosexual couple. And you can also alter the amount of children and what kind you have. Such as having one child or 2, or having one boy and one girl, two boys, or two girls. If you have more than 2 children… well…. maybe Apple iOS 8.4 got your back.
That aside I think that adding racially diverse emoji's are a thoughtful idea, but one that will be ultimately neglected, as many people will probably not want to take the time and effort to alter the color of their emoji's and just stick with the default yellow.
The iOS 8.3 update is also adding in new language options for Siri, including New Zealand English, Indian English, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, Thai, and Turkish, according to AppleInsider.
But what do you think? Are you excited to see the new Apple iOS 8.3 racially and sexual orientation diverse emoji's? Or does it not really matter to you what color or relationship status your emoji's are? Are you happy about the new changes to the Siri language base?


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Some traditional designs for Native American blankets include Metis weaving, buffalo blankets, Chilkat blankets, star quilts and Navajo blankets. The Navajo blanket pattern is characterized largely by horizontal lines, while the Chilkat blanket pattern is made of a collection of figures.
Metis weaving is a type of traditional blanket pattern made by the Metis nation that is created by finger-weaving. The pattern is made up largely of horizontal lines of varying colors with long fringes on the ends.
Buffalo blankets are made by Plains Indians in either the Arapaho or Shoshone styles. Both include traditional symbols painted on buffalo hides and embellished with beads. The art of the buffalo blankets nearly became extinct with the endangered buffalo. The star quilt, a pattern used by the Sioux along with other Native American tribes, consists of an eight-pointed star in the middle of the quilt surrounded by smaller eight-pointed stars in the corners.
The Chilkat blanket is not only a pattern, but also a type of blanket made of cedar bark and goat hair. The five-sided pattern starts with a horizontal top with two perpendicular and parallel sides that wind into two diagonal sides that meet at a point at the bottom. The figures stitched into the five-sided pattern include a killer whale and two ravens.


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Ridata 128GB Ultra -S Plus SSD Selected for Use in Leading Gaming System
Gamer Xtreme XI from CyberPower Includes Two Units of the High-Performance, Highly Reliable, Ultra-Durable Ridata SSD Drive
Diamond Bar, Calif. - 2/2/2009 - The Ridata Ultra -S Plus 128GB MLC SATA SSD has been selected for use in one of the top gaming machines offered by customized, high -end gaming machines and computer manufacturer and distributor CyberPower. Ridata is the brand name used by Advanced Media, Inc., manufacturer and marketer of recordable DVD, flash media, electronic storage products, and digital accessories. The Ridata SSD drive can be found in the new CyberPower Gamer Xtreme XI.
"Being a component of any product offered by CyberPower is a testament to the quality and durability of our Ridata Ultra -S Plus SSD drives," commented Harvey Liu, president of Advanced Media, Inc. "Offering users fast read and write speeds, plus larger storage capacities at a lower cost, it is the perfect drive for performance -driven, rugged environments such as those found in a gaming machine."
With an extreme performance (RAID -0) configuration, the CyberPower Gamer Xtreme XI uses two identical Ridata 128GB 2.5 -inch Ultra -S Plus SSD drives for a total capacity of 256GB.The resulting technology provides nearly instant data access.
The Ridata Ultra -S Plus SSD features MLC technology, providing consistent, fast performance, and extremely low -power consumption at an affordable cost. It assures dramatically extended user time, due to its low five -volt power consumption.
The small but mighty Ridata SSD drive is tough, lightweight, and inherently resistant to the challenges of even the toughest usage. They resist temperature extremes, vibration, and shock. Plus, with no moving parts, it provides extraordinary durability.
Among the advantages the Ridata Ultra -S Plus SSD series offers is that it provides the ability to complete tasks on a computer or gaming machine with higher speed and performance than a traditional HDD. Other benefits include power efficiency and the confidence that data will not be lost.
CyberPower lists the following Ridata -brand SSD drives for use in their system configurations, enabling end -users to customize their PC or gaming machine with quality RiDATA SSD: RiDATA Ultra -S Plus MLC SATA II SSD (128GB, 64GB, 32GB) and RiDATA Turbo 32GB SLC SATA II SSD
More information regarding CyberPower and its use of Ridata products may be found at www.cyberpowerpc.com.
Cost and Availability
The Ridata Ultra -S Plus MLC comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities and is competitively street priced. The drives are available through selected retailers, Ridata distributors, and at various online outlets. A complete listing of locations may be found on the Advanced Media/Ridata website.
For more information regarding Ridata or Advanced Media, visit www.ritekusa.com.
About Advanced Media (RITEK USA)
Advanced Media, Inc. is a subsidiary of RITEK Corporation, the world's largest optical media manufacturer. Advanced Media is the sole North and South American marketer and distributor of the RIDATA brand of recordable CD and DVD media as well as other types of electronic storage media. , Since its formation in 2001, Advanced Media has experienced phenomenal annual growth and is already a leading marketer of electronic storage products in the American market.
The Ridata brand offers an extensive line of flash memory products including the cutting edge Solid State Drive (SSD) Series and up to 16GB 266X CF Cards. The brand also features USB EZ Drives including the award -winning Yego USB Hub drive and other USB drives such as the Twister USB drive. Ridata's cornerstone products include Blu -Ray DVD series, HD DVD series, DL DVD -R/+R, DVD+/ -R/RW, and CD -R/RW
RITEK for years has been defining and redefining the optical storage market. Around the world, its name is synonymous with innovation, quality, and unparalleled consistency. Its ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 9002, OHSAS 18001, and Green mark certification from the EPA prove RITEK's commitment to quality control.
Advanced Media is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California. For further information, call (909) 861 -2269 or e -mail: email@example.com. Visit the Advanced Media web site at: www.ritekusa.com.
About CyberPower, Inc.
Headquartered in Baldwin Park, CA, CyberPower is one of the leading computer system manufacturers in the United States. It manufactures and distributes various customized high -end gaming machines, notebook systems, and high -performance workstations that meet the unique needs of gamers, businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and other end -users.
It conducts business with a philosophy of providing customers with both personalized cutting -edge technology at wholesales prices and an extensive range of technological support. By serving as both manufacturer and distributor, it dedicates itself to meeting customers' personalized desires with the highest performance for all their gaming and digital media solutions.
- - 30 - -
Corporate Contact:
Denise Starbird
Advanced Media, Inc / RitekUSA
Tel. 909 -861 -2269
Agency Contact:
Carol Warren
Antarra Communications
Tel. 714 -891 -3660 x14
(c)2009 Advanced Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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Day: Easter 7C
Lectionary Passage: John 17:20-26
Scripture Focus: John 17:20-21
Object: Paper Chain People
Preparation: You will need scissors and a piece of butcher paper. First, fold paper accordion-fashion so that all sections are equal. The number of folds determines the number of people in the chain. Then on the top section, draw a person whose hands extend the folds of the paper. Third, carefully cut around your person. Finally, open out the paper and reveal your paper chain people. TIP: Don't try to fold the large paper while you're talking with the kids. Instead, have the paper folds done in advance and just make the cuts to create the people chain.
(Begin making the paper chain people) I don't know about you, but one of the things I love most about coming to church is that I get to see some friends. And you know we're not just friends because we like the same tv shows or cheer for the same teams or play the same games. Even though that stuff is cool, we're friends because of something even greater. We're friends because we all love Jesus.
In our Bible story for today, Jesus says that he wants us all to be one. I think that means that Jesus wants everyone who loves him to be stuck together with other people who love him (reveal paper chain people). By sticking together, we are one. So together we can learn about following Jesus, we can teach others about Jesus, and we do a lot of other cool stuff that we couldn't do on our own. So, I'm glad that we are one big group all stuck together!
Let's pray: God, thank you for sticking us together so that we can all grow closer to you through Jesus. Amen.


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If you're looking for help with Logo Quiz Mangoo answers, then you've come to the right place. The Logo Quiz Mangoo Level 71 Answers Page not only gives you the solution you are looking for, but also fun and interesting facts about the company and the brand featured on this level. While it is fun to kill some dull moments of your day with an intriguing guess the brand game, not all these logo quiz answers are easy to nail, as some brands are extinct and some are very far away from home. Not to mention the images themselves are meant to trick you.
On this page you will find the Logo Quiz Mangoo answers for Level 71, granted, but you don't have to stop here. By browsing around our site you can access whichever level you're looking for and explore other smartphone and tablet game apps as well. There will be no more getting stuck from now on: just bookmarks us and read our short and fun walkthroughs for each level. If you like our work, don't forget to bring your friends to the party too, we love having new buddies!
– The Kleenx logo is pretty simple: it just features the name of the brand written in a handwriting style and in a dark blue shade, over a plain white background. The name reads: "Kleenex".
– The logo belongs to a famous brand of paper-based and hygiene-related products, like facial and bathroom tissue, tampons and diapers, paper towels and so on. It is so famous that it is often used as a generic trademark for other brands of similar products as well, at least in the US. The first facial tissue in the Western world was developed by this company in 1924 and advertised as a way to remove cold cream or make up easier.


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This is my new baby boy, Jacob! Born September 28th at 8:30 am weighing 6lbs 10 ozs. He is so sweet and Nate is so happy to be a big brother.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Happy Birthday!
Posted by Kelli at 8:40 AM
2 comments:
Monday, December 22, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Nate and Santa
This is the story of how Nate saw Santa this year...
Nate wanted to see Santa. It was all he talked about, but every time his parents or anyone else took him near Santa he got scared and didn't want to go. So, on Saturday evening his Mommy and Daddy decided to take a drive out to Cornwall for some supper. Nate was sitting in the back seat of the car waiting for his Daddy to come back with supper, all of a sudden he heard faint sirens. "What is that Mommy?" Nate said. "I think that's a fire truck" Mommy answered. "Oh, they are going to help someone" Nate told his Mommy. Suddenly what pulled in the parking lot but two fire trucks decorated with tons of lights and Christmas music playing loudly. When Nate's Daddy got back to the car he picked up his boy and took him to get a better look at the fire trucks. "Why don't you go around back and see Santa?" Asked one of the firefighters. Well Nate and Daddy climbed into the back of the fire truck and there was Santa! Nate sat on his lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas. What better way for a little boy to see Santa then in the back of a fire truck?
Unfortunetly we didn't have our camera so, the picture was taken on Daddy's cell phone.
Posted by Kelli at 10:17 PM
4 comments:
Ok, I am a huge fan! I was recently reading a few negative things about the series and I wanted to put in my two cents. Why is it that we live in a world where everything has to be taken so seriously? Everything has to have some lesson for the kids and some profound moral to the story? What ever happen to books being an escape? A place where you don't have to think about what everyone else wants in you or out of you. I've read the series 3 times all the way though and in my opinion it is exactly what we need. Kids, teens and even adults need something to take their minds off of all the craziness in the world and Twilight was that for me. These books are a place where I can take my mind off all the sad things around and just let myself be absorbed in the story. I didn't take it seriously, it's not War And Peace, it's a book written for teens! It's supposed to be silly, if you saw the movie you would see what Stephenie Meyer had in mind when she wrote it. It's for entertainment not to learn lessons.
Ok, so that's my 2 cents.
Ok, so that's my 2 cents.
Posted by Kelli at 6:49 PM
2 comments:
Monday, December 1, 2008
Christmas 2008
I put up the tree this weekend, and there are a ton of lights on it! (all LED). I have most of the other decorations put up too, all except the ones that I need hubby to do because I'm too short. (HA HA HA), and I'm pretty much done of my shopping! It's so awesome to start early!
Posted by Kelli at 11:42 PM
2 comments:
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From EOS:
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Healthy—helping your leaders become a more cohesive, functional, healthy leadership team
Thousands of entrepreneurial companies around the world are running on The Entrepreneurial Operating System®. Their owners and leaders are getting more of what they want from the business, and you can too.
The EOS Toolbox™ is a complete set of 20 FREE tools, addressing and strengthening all Six Key Components™ of any business. These management tools for business leaders are designed to be easy to learn and use, because complexity reduces effectiveness.


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Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Whirlwind Update
5 comments:
That was indeed two weeks of posts. What screams out to me is that you should move. I hate being strong armed, particularly about where I live. Good luck!ReplyDelete
Hope the plants survive.
Also, is there anyway you can set up the blog so that the captcha is on the same page and doesn't have to reload the page to submit? I cannot say how often I have had to retype a comment because I closed the window when the captcha was loading and it got erased.
Just asking.
Oh my gosh! So much going on. Too bad the Mid Summers Night was a bit frantic. I do love that one:) Best of luck with the rest of your decisions! Oh and your new garden plot too!ReplyDelete
Okay, now I'm tired. So much going on. Wow.ReplyDelete
Wow. That is a LOT of stuff to have done. Exhausted just reading that all!ReplyDelete
I want to hear more about the Deep South college experience, the Buzzards and whatever else comes to mind in that story.ReplyDelete


text: Profile Profile Map Reviews Related Listing Description Here No Records FoundSorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.Google Map Not LoadedSorry, unable to load Google Maps API. Driving Walking Bicycling Public Transport Miles Kilometers Latest Oldest Lowest Rating Highest Rating Least Images Highest Images Lowest Reviews Highest Reviews Leave a Review Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.Review text * Rate this Place (overall): TerriblePoorAverageVery GoodExcellent Rate this Place individually for: ServiceTerrible PoorAverageGoodExcellentValueTerriblePoorAverageGoodExcellentQualityTerriblePoorAverageGoodExcellent Drop files to upload Please drag & drop the images to rearrange the order Name Email Website Favorite Hummus Bowls & Wraps Hummus Bowls Read more [...] Favorite Eggscellent Eggscellent Read more [...] Favorite Crumbl Crumbl 8125 Read more [...] Favorite Scratch Made Scratch Made Read more [...] Favorite Rock & Rollers Rock & Read more [...] PreviousNext


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Crafted from an ultra-lightweight material and highlighted with leather trim, this flap-front wallet features an impressive 8 card slots inside with multiple organizational pockets.
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Thanks to Joan Obra from the Fresno Beehive for bringing something awesomely unique to our attention. Apparently Fresno has just gotten it's very own Casa de Tamales! A strictly tamale-centric restaurant. It's everything tamales!
No longer do we have to wait for our wonderful friends and neighbors to begin the Christmas orgy of small business and family tamale construction. Or suffer through the poor little frozen tamales microwaved and drenched in sauce that you get at Biff's Authentic Taco Shack and Surfboard Waxeria. At least thats what we're hoping for. Fresh steamed masa goodness.
And beyond the usual and obvious fillings (shredded beef, chicken mole, chorizo and potatoes) they're also doing a selection of sweet tamales that look rather interesting. I'm insanely curious as to how a chocolate cake tamale will work out, or a blueberry and cream cheese. Theres even soyrizo(an invention of the Devil) and potatoes for them veggie eating folks....still can't understand how y'all can survive without vitamin Beef in your diet...
Anyway! The prices look reasonable at around $2.50 per tamale, so assuming 2 makes a decent meal, you're looking at a $5 lunch. Sounds better than a Micky D's combo any day. And if you're feeding an army, they sell by the dozen anywhere from $22 to $35 depending on the filling.
I love the premise and I love tamales. We've still yet to find out if they can make GOOD tamales, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. It's a pretty bold business move in my opinion. Fresno does love South o' the Border cuisine for sure. But many also know the burnout of having tamale stew for the 20th time in February, cursing your cousins for not taking more of Mom's tamales home during Christmas. But then again, Mom didn't make spinach and artichoke tamales either.
Here's hoping that they're good and they succeed. If you'd like to beat us out to try them first you can find them here.


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Fantastic Chocolates for Brides and Weddings
If you are looking for great chocolates for weddings, brides, receptions, or as gifts, the Bridal Chocolate Salon — part of the International Chocolate Salon — has recently announced several of its top picks for the year. The selections are part of the annual BRIDAL CHOCOLATE SALON AWARDS Competition.
This year's top picks were rated and ranked by Stars, and are based on features such as Taste, Texture, Packaging, and of course, whether it makes a great bridal chocolate.
Here they are:
- 1) SELEUSS Floral Collection: 5 STARS
- 2) DELYSIA CHOCOLATIER Hibiscus, Almond and Rose Tea: 4.5 STARS
- 3) THE SECRET CHOCOLATIER: Brownie Pops: 4.5 STARS
- 4) THE CHOCOLATE FETISH Tuxedo Box: 4 STARS
- 5) EH CHOCOLATIER Lavender, Vanilla and Los Ancones: 4 STARS
- 7) DELYSIA CHOCOLATIER Pistachio rose and Smoked Cigar Caramels: 4 STARS
The Winners are also eligible to join and distribute their chocolates on The Chocolate Registry site, www.BridalChocolate.com


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Archive for February, 2011
Slices of Life, by Jill Pertler
A woman who tells you where to go By: Jill Pertler My husband has a new lady friend. He shares her with our three sons, who are also sweet on the most recent family acquaintance. They are, in a word, enamored. Under normal circumstances, I might feel threatened – what with my four guys throwing their rapt attention toward another woman's voice – but these aren't normal circumstances. That's because the woman in question, we call her "Carmen," isn't a female in the true sense ... Full Story
Sky Tonight—Feb 22, Stars in the daytime
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org People often ask if stars are up there, beyond our blue sky, during the day. The answer is surely yes, because Earth is a planet in space, surrounded on all sides by stars. Here is a view looking southeast at morning in late February or early March. Of course you really cannot see the stars, but they are there. Cool image of daytime moon from December 18, 2010 The constellation behind the sun around now is ... Full Story
Gov. Hickenlooper's schedule for the week of Feb. 21
Gov. Hickenlooper's schedule for the week of Feb. 21 Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 6:30 p.m. – Gov. Hickenlooper will deliver remarks at the Young Presidents' Organization 2011 Denver Global Leadership Conference. Location: Colorado Convention Center, Wells Fargo Theatre, 700 14th Ave., Denver. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 2:30 p.m. – Gov. Hickenlooper will deliver remarks to members of the Colorado Municipal League at 2011 Legislative Workshop. Location: Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 1370 ... Full Story
2011 Scouting for Food
Scout Food Drive February 26, 2011 It is time for the annual Scouting for Food drive. In Southern Larimer County the food collected goes to the House of Neighborly Service for distribution to families in our area. Local Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will be in Berthoud neighborhoods to collect food for local families in need on Saturday February 26. Please fill a bag with any canned or non-perishable foods that you would like to contribute and leave it on your front porch before ... Full Story
Alfred Hitchcock Never Won an Oscar: Go Figure
By John W. Whitehead 2/21/2011 "Everything's perverted in a different way, isn't it?"—Alfred Hitchcock Do you ever wonder why some of the greatest performers and directors of all time have never won an Oscar? It certainly has nothing to do with lack of talent. For example, the man considered the greatest director of all time, whose films have affected millions and changed the history of cinema, never received an Academy Award for best director. In a career spanning half a century ... Full Story
Lundberg Legislative Report
February 20, 2011 Topics: 1. Changes to the Initiative Process 2. Balancing the Budget with Cash Funds 3. My Bills 1. In second reading on Friday, the 18th, SCR-001 was considered. This bill ratchets up the voting majority requirement for constitutional changes. Currently it takes a majority (50%) to approve any constitutional change. This measure would increase it to 60%, except for repealing any amendment approved prior to 2013. Those measures could be repealed, in whole or in part, with ... Full Story
Sky Tonight—Feb 21, Zodiacal light is glowing
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org Moonless February and March evenings present the best time of year to see zodiacal light in the northern hemisphere evening sky. The light appears when all traces of twilight have left the sky. It looks like a hazy pyramid of light in the west after true darkness falls. This light can be noticeable and easy to see from latitudes like those in the southern U.S. I've seen it many times from the latitude of ... Full Story
Local girls compete in Idaho track and field event.
Berthoud Girls Make Finals at Simplot Article and photo by Kristi Leonard Five girls from Berthoud High School participated in the 33rd Simplot Games this past week. The Simplot games is one of the nation's premier high school indoor track and field meets. This year's event was held at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. The five Berthoud athletes joined over 2,000 competitors from 20 different states at the University's Holt Arena. Cheyenne Hall and Ashley Prescott ... Full Story
Jail Crowding
Due to overcrowding at the Larimer County Jail, officials were recently forced to reconfigure several housing areas to accommodate the growing number of female inmates. Jail officials converted a special male housing area over to female housing to relieve some of the overcrowding and insure the safety and care of the inmates. The male inmates in this housing area were either moved to the general population or to other areas that could accommodate their special needs, i.e. medical concerns. ... Full Story
Victory: Rutherford Institute Lawsuit Advances
Students Prohibited from Wearing American Flag T-Shirts to School Will Have Day in Court SAN JOSE, Calif.—A California federal court has refused to dismiss a First Amendment lawsuit filed by The Rutherford Institute that challenges a decision by public school officials to prohibit students from wearing American flag t-shirts to school. The lawsuit alleges that the constitutional rights of students at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Calif., were violated when school administrators ... Full Story


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Miguel Panadero Escala
Miguel Panadero Escala
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
About Miguel Panadero Escala
"Most of my work is a visual reflection about the human figure and its relationship with the environment We build, transform, integrate us, back to earth… It has always interested me very much how drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, computer graphics… make visible an idea in the process of its coming to life. I think that the choice of technique and style is the key in the process of my creative work. I had showcased my first exibition in Gran Canaria, the place where I live, in 91, at the age of 21. Since then I have showcased regularly in Gran Canaria, Madrid, Barcelona, Gijón, Málaga, Tenerife, Helsimborg, Munich …"


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The Standardisation and Interoperability (S&I) working group investigates and evaluates technical and regulatory issues with regard to standardisation and market access policies, particularly within Europe. The group actively engages and contributes to European standardisation policy and collaborates with international standards organisations. DIGITALEUROPE welcomes the new European Standardisation Framework as adopted in 2012 and the related setup on the ICT Multi-Stakeholder-Platform (MSP). The MSP is tasked to evaluate and recognise technical specifications by international fora and consortia which then can be referenced by public procurers throughout the EU.
DIGITALEUROPE actively participates in the recently setup ICT Multi-Stakeholder-Platform (MSP) and its various activities and task forces. The MSP is among other tasks responsible for the "Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation". This guidance document includes a multi-annual overview of the needs for ICT standardisation to undertake in support of the EU policy activities and complements the Annual Union Work Programme for European Standardisation. On 3 Februray 2015, the currrent Rolling Plan was published, with DIGITALEUROPE members providing input to the comprehensive document.
Please see below some links which summarise what happened on the 21 May 2014 in our event.
Link to the Photo Gallery
1_Dirk Weiler, Chairman of the ETSI GA
2_Rebekka Porath, Chair DIGITALEUROPE S&I Working Group
3_Rigo Wenning, Legal Counsel, W3C


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[#1] Share with us a quick summary about this lovely photography workshop.
"The Beautiful Art of Balance" is a unique, intimate photography workshop and lakeside retreat for the woman who longs for more (and less) in her career and life…one who is yearning to fine-tune her ear to the voice of the Lord and hear His desires on how to balance the two.
On April 10-13 (4 weeks away!), we will escape to a private 10,000 square foot waterfront home on Lake Eufaula in eastern Oklahoma to worship God and learn the ins and outs of owning a successful photography business.
[#2] How did this workshop develop?
I have had a camera in my hand since the age of 13. After graduating from Baylor University with a degree in photography and getting married, I opened my home studio, Shannon Ho Photography, in 2002. In 2009, the Lord began speaking to me about writing a journal that He titled "The Beautiful Art of Balance". It was a different journal…one that spoke specifically of the fine balance of work and family and what the Lord had been showing me during my journeys and struggles so far. A year or so later, I noticed a small seed had emerged…a desire to host a photography workshop to help and encourage women from all I had experienced as a wife, mother, friend, believer, and business woman. However, I'm not a public speaker…I am an introvert who loves one-on-one time, and a girl who couldn't imagine speaking in front of more than a few people. Yet, the Holy Spirit kept pressing. And just as He'd given words to Moses when He felt inadequate, I knew He would give them to me.
Then, the hard times hit. Over the next three years, my husband and I entered into a ring of high-stress circumstances coming from all directions that would cause many couples to crumble. I was weary, tired, creatively burnt out and emotionally exhausted. I could hear His voice speaking to me about Leviticus 25… just as God had instructed people to rest their farmland every seventh year to regain nutrients and replenish, so He asked of me. To trust in His provision before, during and after. So, I stepped out in faith, with no promised income for that whole coming year.
This workshop is a harvest from that season of rest.
[#3] Will you also be teaching about photography?
Most definitely. We will not only be covering the spiritual side, but I'll also speak extensively about shooting, pricing, and how we intentionally educate our clients to insure a wonderful relationship that builds trust and ensures that they have lovely art in their home. We will also have the opportunity to visit my home studio to see how it operates.
[#4] Who is this workshop designed for?
This workshop is designed for part-time or full time professional women photographers who seek to better their skills in shooting, overall business, and who have a desire to seek out the voice of the Lord to find their own unique balance.
It is for the woman who might be struggling to stay afloat whether it be alone or with children sweetly scurrying under foot. And is for the one who just desires to go deeper and to enhance what she's already built.
[#5] Do you feel like you have balance in your life and business?
Yes and no.
One definition of balance reads: "Mental & emotional steadiness; habit of calm behavior."
Early one morning, I clearly felt Him say that He wants to take me (and already has) to those hard places in order to produce in me what He wants taught in this workshop. Those times can feel like a bumpy road of imbalance and fear. But I think the question is what do we do during those times of imbalance and fear? Do we allow our minds to feast on those lies that try to implant themselves into our mind? Or do we diligently focus on seeking what God desires out of the situation? Many times, I choose self-pity and sadness and I allow myself to be overwhelmed which makes me feel imbalanced. But the times where I choose to quiet myself and truly listen for His voice and seek His heart on situations, I feel more peaceful – more balanced. I feel privileged that the years and seasons of struggle and success have allowed me to digest, process and gain perspective…and to now be able to give that away to make other ladies' burdens a little lighter.
Have I arrived at "balance"? I still struggle. But I also know that the more I ask to hear His voice, and the more I expectantly wait for it, the more peaceful I feel. I still have piles of laundry, stacks of dirty dishes and floors that never look swept. I still have children who need correction and I still have a heart that needs to repent at the feet of our Father. But if it wasn't for the struggle for balance, would the beauty of dependence even emerge?
[#6] How do you handle the "hard days"?
Hard times humble us. They beckon us to depend on the only one who can truly deliver. A few weeks ago, as I carried my almost-three year old up the steps for the tenth time, crying and kicking because of her disobedience, I questioned myself…"who am I to teach these women?" I sat down, exhausted, and cried. But those are the sweet opportunities where He loves to speak to us. I knew those doubtful thoughts were the enemy's voice and not the Lord's - and THAT is where He wants us to be. To know Him so intimately, that we choose to hear His voice over the lies that are whispered in our ears. He desires for this habit to invade every decision in motherhood, marriage, work, etc.
[#7] I hear you have an amazing group of contributors ... can you tell us about them?
Yes! I am so blessed to have these women alongside me for a portion of the workshop:
a) Ashley Ann Campbell | Under the Sycamore | ashleyannphotography.com/blog | @underthesycamore Ashley is an intentional, crafty and creative momma of five who pens the popular blog "Under the Sycamore" and is the creator of "SnapShops" online photography courses.
b) Whitney English | Authenticate Strategic Brand Consulting | whitneyenglish.com & authenticateexperience.com | @whitneyenglish Whitney is a passionate and driven woman and mother who inspires creative entrepreneurs to a fuller life of authenticity and purpose.
c) Alissa Mazzenga | feastcalligraphy.com | @feasting Beauty flows from the fingertips of this lovely girl. I'm excited for the workshop attendees to learn calligraphy from such a talented person.
Click on over to the "Beautiful Art of Balance" website and snatch up one of the last few seats! Registration closes March 24th.
*******As a treat to our (Kelli & Vanessa's) readers: If you sign up by March 15, you will receive $100 off. And if you and a friend sign up together, you will both receive $200 off your ticket!


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10 mins walk from JR Atami Station
Hotel Resorpia Atami is a seaside resort hotel with ocean view guest rooms. Refresh yourself in our hot spring baths.
* Above price is included Dinner and Breakfast
Facilities & Services
Internet connection : Unavailable
Entertainment facilities : Game corner, Natural hot springs, Shop, Restaurant, Bar & Karaoke
Average room size : 34.4 sqm
13-93,Higashikaigan-cho, Atami-shi, Shizuoka 413-0012,


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pentecost university ghana
Pentecost pentecost: is it more than acts 2? by cogwriter. Sunday, June 4 after christ s death, the original apostles met and observed pentecost (acts 2) and the holy spirit was given to them. Pentecost is the day we commemorate the arrival of the Holy Spirit to the early church the whole world spoke the same language, using the same words. Join us for this special Sunday, and don t forget while the people were migrating in the east, they came upon a valley in the land of shinar and settled. Pentecost Day A June 4, 2017 Please consider your sponsorship or support of The Text This Week artwork and paintings depicting the day of pentecost in jerusalem. Image: Pentecost Fire © Jan Richardson the hymns of charles wesley and his brother john expounded their understanding of the gift of pentecost and the descent of the holy spirit. Please help support The mark pentecost just wanted to make another $500 a month to support his family. What is the Christian Celebration of Pentecost All About? This coming Sunday, Christians across the world will celebrate Pentecost he wound up getting bitten by the entrepreneur bug and becoming a millionaire. In fact, not all Christians worldwide revival today is overwhelmingly pentecostal. Knowledge of faith is possible only in the Holy Spirit: to be in touch with Christ, we must first have been touched by the Holy Spirit what are pentecostalism s core beliefs? pentecost, a thriller novel by joanna penn (2011) now available on amazon in print and kindle format. He comes to meet us and "if you enjoy a fast-paced thriller that brings an intriguing. The Church of Pentecost Canada is a branch of The Church of Pentecost International, which has its general headquarters in Accra, Ghana, West Africa and traces its despite the theological attractiveness of seeing pentecost as the reversal of babel, there is little from the ancient historical and religious context to suggest that. Table of readings for Year A - Season after Pentecost, Revised Common Lectionary 50 Days from Passover to Pentecost: Staking Your Claim for the Future and Opening Supply Lines i I would like to thank Mr expository study of acts: the meaning of pentecost is god's equipping his church with the power of his spirit so that he will be glorified among the nations. Sang Soo Hyun, a current doctoral student in New Testament at Southern Methodist University, for the careful, creative, provocative Pentecost: Is It More Than Acts 2? By COGwriter


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« The Rich Get Richer | Main | VOCs Populi, or that New Car Smell »
September 29, 2005
Tax Shifting in the Blogosphere
Not so long ago, it seemed like gas at $2.33 per gallon cost an arm and a leg; now it seems like a bargain. And not surprisingly, high prices at the pump have spawned a backlash against fuel taxes across the US -- and have added fuel, so to speak, to the campaign to repeal Washington's most recent gas tax hike.
As a general matter, I think that responding to high gas prices by rolling back taxes is misguided. The specifics get murky, of course, since a lot of the money raised by gas taxes is slated for dubious highway projects--so a vote for higher gas taxes isn't always a vote to reduce gas consumption. But in general, gas taxes are too low, not too high: right now, they don't even pay for roads, let alone incorporate all of the other external costs (pollution, greenhouse gases, noise, collisions, congestion, etc.) caused by driving and burning fossil fuels. A stiff & sustained gas tax would do a lot more to reduce gas consumption than all the preaching in the world.
Still, even though I tend to favor higher gas taxes, one thing is clear enough: gas taxes are regressive. Like high gas prices, they hurt the poor the most. Which, if you care about fairness and equity in the tax system, is a bad thing.
The question is -- as a matter of policy, what do you do about that?
For years we've advocated tax shifting--that is, raising taxes on gas, but lowering other regressive taxes, such as the sales tax. Depending on how you structure it, you could actually wind up reducing the total tax burden on the poor, while still creating across-the-board disincentives for gasoline consumption.
It seemed like a completely reasonable idea when I first heard about it -- but I hadn't heard many other folks making the same argument. So I was pleasantly surprised to see similar thinking starting to echo around the blogosphere: see, for example, here and here, along with a reference to this pdf.
Here's hoping that this is an idea that keeps echoing.
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As the supply and demand drives the cost of crude oil well above the cost of production (as happens with any scarce commodity), it would seem that taxing crude oil would only cut into the profits of the crude oil producers. Is this right, or am I forgetting something from my economics class?
I've also read of an alternative taxation method that has been proposed by legislators that would tax the profits of oil producers; perhaps this would be easier to enforce. And if successful, perhaps it could be extended to other scarce commodity industries...especially for those that sell non-renewable resources.
Posted by: Rodney Rutherford | Sep 30, 2005 8:05:18 AM
Rodney --
Interesting thoughts. I don't know how I feel about windfall profits taxes. I'm not opposed in principle -- I'm willing to consider just about anything. It's just that I don't understand the effects well enough to have an informed judgment. I should read up on what happened in the 1980s, when the US levied steep taxes on oil profits.
One of the possible problems now is that most of the oil consumed in the US comes from outside the country -- and taxing the profits from, say, Saudi oil is essentially impossible.
Taxing profits on domestically produced crude seems more feasible. But those profits provide the stream of capital for new oil exploration and extraction projects. Now, I don't think that reducing oil exploration is inherently a bad thing. But it is likely to make market prices rise, rather than fall.
A demand-side tax would affect all oil, both domestic and foreign. And by reducing consumption, it could slightly ratchet down the market price for oil -- cutting into oil companies' profits a bit, but affecting domestic and foreign oil equally.
Both approaches might make sense; a demand side tax would be easier to implement, but harder to pass; a supply side tax could have more perverse effects, and seems like it could be a nightmare to implement, but is probably less of a political nonstarter. Though I don't expect to see either proposal enacted any time soon.
Whatever. This is all off the top of my head, so take it for what it's worth...
Posted by: Clark Williams-Derry | Sep 30, 2005 10:26:25 AM
Some thoughts on the cap-and-trade option:
Posted by: Joseph Willemssen | Sep 30, 2005 11:10:39 AM


text: This is a must have book for any fans of One Direction, especially all those infatuated with teen heart-throbs Harry Styles and Niall Horan. One Direction came to the world's attention after coming second in the 2011 series of The X Factor. Since then they have gone from strength to strength, dominating the charts in the UK and the USA, and capturing the hearts of millions. In this double biography of the band's leading two figures, you'll find out how they coped with Simon Cowell, the fame game, high profile romances and what lies in store for them as their careers continue to soar.


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Flower Bouquet - The Flower Studio*
I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful bouquet from The Flower Studio last week and have been using it to brighten up my bedroom. The Flower Studio is run by florists in Buckinghamshire who sell loads of different types of flowers - I was sent one of their hand-tied bouquets made up of white and pink roses, hydrangeas and carnations. As it was tied with string it kept the bouquet together nicely so that all I had to do was cut the ends off the flowers and put them in a vase of water, without having to worry about arranging them. They were delivered a couple of days after I was in contact with the company, so had very speedy delivery, and were in a bag of water to keep them fresh when they arrived.
Alongside bouquets of flowers, The Flower Studio also sell other products, such as living potted plants, lanterns and vases. I particularly love these little flower bottles that are like old-fashioned milk bottles with flowers inside. The bottles would be lovely to keep afterwards to put new flowers in after the ones supplied start to droop. At the moment there is 15% off everything until midnight tomorrow, or £5 off your first order with the code WELCOME, and you can get next day delivery if you order before 1pm.
I really love having flowers in the house and they really help to cheer me up - just receiving a big box addressed to me made me really excited last Thursday, when I wasn't feeling that great anyway. I think bringing nature inside can be really good for your mental health. My room has been smelling gorgeous since I received these flowers and it has been a pleasure to spend time in there. I guess if you're feeling a little down sometimes it's worth treating yourself with a bunch of flowers to lift your mood a little, or perhaps buy some for a loved one that you know is having a rough time - they can make all the difference.
Today hasn't been a great one for me - I am at home after the blogging meet up in Shrewsbury yesterday, and haven't really done much all day. I'm always better when I'm busy but it's so hard to motivate myself to do anything when I wake up feeling down. Let's hope that the bank holiday Monday is a better and busier day for me!!
- Lovely blog comments from some lovely readers
- A good homemade Sunday roast
- Rainwearcentral.com, which helped to cheer me up tonight because reading the posts is hilarious, plus it gives me loads of blog views - thanks pvc_pete
PS Please donate towards my sponsored skydive for Mind here, or text MIHV99 £1 to 70070 - thank you for your support!


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Fictitious Growth
Since 2002 President Castro has been outspoken on the weaknesses of the methodology developed by the United Nations to estimate the gross domestic product (GDP) of a nation, arguing that it underestimates Cuba's economic growth. In his report to the National Assembly at the close of 2003, Minister Rodríguez already reported two rates of growth for Cuba, one based on the "conventional" GDP methodology and another one (higher by 46%) based on a "new methodology" that adjusted GDP to account for the free services that the Cuban population received. For 2004, he announced a growth rate of 5%, stating that the calculation was based on a partial revaluation of services offered to the population, and warned that in the future "the calculations must continue to be perfected […] at the same time that we continue to develop other methods and indicators that will reflect more adequately our social and economic advances"
(Informe sobre los resultados económicos del 2004 y el Plan Económico Social para el 2005, http://www.cubagob.cu/mapa/htm).
In presenting the whopping 11.8% growth rate for 2005, Minister Rodríguez cryptically explained that "it includes the value added by social services offered to the Cuban population and that have also benefited citizens of other countries." Osvaldo Martínez, head of the Economic Affairs Commission of the National Assembly and a former Minister of Economics and Planning, was more explicit:
The Cuban reality, where important sectors with high levels of employment such as education, public health, culture, sports, are not based on the sale of their output, as is the case in capitalist economies, does not fit within the traditional GDP methodology. […] According to the traditional GDP methodology, their contribution to economic activity should be measured by aggregating expenditures, thereby underestimating the value added by these fundamental services in social and human terms. Our [new] method has improved the calculation of value added generated by these services, although we are still applying rates well below international standards.
[http://www.cubaminrex.cu/Actualidad/2005/Intervención del Pdte de Asuntos Económicos.htm].
In other words, what Cuba has done in 2005—and partially in 2004—is to value social services at some shadow market price and to include the total in the value of the production of goods and services of the nation. This means that the value of output generated by Cuban statisticians for 2005 is neither comparable with output for previous years nor with output measures produced by other countries that follow the United Nations GDP methodology. ECLAC did not include the 11.8% growth rate reported by Cuba in its publication regarding Latin American economic performance in 2005. In its brief analysis of Cuban performance in 2005, it included a footnote saying that the data on growth provided by the Cuban government, "included in its calculation a very high level of exports of social services to various countries, particularly to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. ECLAC is evaluating this calculation in light of the methodology developed by the United Nations, an evaluation that is still ongoing, and therefore ECLAC does not have estimates of its own. In addition, Cuba has begun to apply a new valuation of social services, which is also being analyzed" (ECLAC, Balance Preliminar de las economías de América Latina y el Caribe, 2005, 169).
Alice in Wonderland Economy
What can we say, then, about Cuban economic performance in 2005? Unfortunately, not very much that is based on hard statistical data. Performance of the agricultural and industrial sectors—the sectors that put more food and basic products in the hands of consumers and generate electricity to provide lighting and preserve food—seems to have been lackluster at best. The average Cuban consumer does not benefit from a revaluation of the value of social services or of exports of teachers or physicians to Venezuela.
The perverse effect of the fictitious economic growth statistics is that they provide fodder for misguided triumphalism by Cuban government officials, such as Castro's statements that Cuba is on its way to "economic invulnerability" (whatever that means) or by National Assembly Deputy Martínez that these figures demonstrate "the superiority of Cuba's social system within Latin America."
Minister Rodríguez has forecast a growth rate of 10% in 2006, a year that promises further centralization of economic decision-making and dismantling of what is left of market-oriented reforms (under the guise of combating theft, corruption, and illegal economic behavior), a new "energy revolution," a very large housing construction plan that foresees building 150,000 new dwellings, and an (unspecified) set of "strategic actions" to combat the problem of droughts. As Alice cried out, "curiouser and curiouser!"■


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French kindergarten in Tunis
We plan to soon move to Tunis and plan to stay or at least three years. We would love to use this opportunity for our 4 year old (turning 5 in December) to learn French and also some Arabic. Therefore, although I know there is the American School and the new British School in Tunis, we would like to send her to a French school.
My daughter has been attending a British run nursery school here in Romania for the last 2 years and on the British system she would move into Primary School starting from September. I have read that the French system is different and that Primary School doesn't start until age six. So that means another two years of nursery for my daughter?!! In a way I don't mind as she would be busy learning a new language or two and I've also read that although they start later, the French system is quite intense and they soon catch up to or surpass the English level (? comments anyone).
So to find a French kindergarten. ??
Here on InterNations there is a listing for 'Kidzy' located behind Carrefour in La Marsa. Does anyone know it or have their kids there? Recommend it? Suggest avoiding it..?? The other one which has been mentioned in the forum is 'Kids Club' also in La Marsa but I read somewhere that it only takes children up to 4 years old so no good for me if this is true.
Are there any other recommendations for French speaking kindergartens in the area? Does the International School of Carthage have a kindergarten section?
Any information and comments will be welcomed.
PS It's possible we won't make it to Tunis until after the start of the school year. How full are the schools and would it be advisable to enrol before we come, meaning that we pay for a month or two of schooling even though we are not actually there yet?
Thanks again.


text: Hi, Over the past week I have completed the build for Viva Menswear. It's a small, brochure website for a friend for his menswear store here in Ayrshire, Scotland. I thought i'd post it up here to get some opinions and maybe some suggestions/enhancements that could be looked into at some point. Anyway the URL is: www.vivamenswear.co.uk Cheers, Picco


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JUVENTUS old boy Amauri did the Turin giants a massive favour last night as his last-gasp winner for Fiorentina knocked AC Milan off the Serie A summit.
Amauri netted in the 90th minute to seal a shock 2-1 win at the San Siro as Milan's miserable week came to a depressing end.
And that allowed Juve to move a point clear at the top as they eased to a 2-0 victory at Palermo thanks to strikes from Leonardo Bonucci and Fabio Quagliarella.
Milan were looking for some comfort at home after a Champions League defeat by Barcelona.
Zlatan Ibrahmovic's penalty fired them into a first-half lead but Stevan Jovetic levelled after the restart then set Amauri up for the late winner.
Gutted Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri said: "It wasn't a great week but we have to bounce back."
It was Amauri's first goal for Fiorentina since his January switch from Juve – and it proved priceless for his old club.
Barcelona piled pressure on Spanish leaders Real Madrid ahead of their clash with Valencia today by moving just three points off top with a 4-1 win at Zaragoza.
Carlos Arando missed a penalty for the strugglers before firing them into a shock lead.
But a blunder from keeper Roberto gifted Carlos Puyol the leveller and Lionel Messi made it 2-1 for Barca in 38 minutes.
Minero then picked up his second yellow card and Barcelona eased to victory thanks to Messi's penalty and Pedro's late strike.
Dortmund stayed three points clear in Germany with a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg ahead of Wednesday's crunch clash with Bayern.
The Munich giants remain hot on their heels after a 2-1 home victory over Augsburg.


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|you, radiating out among the crush of people
|Why it is so hard to be yourself
|Rain garden
|The old man on the bench, for example, made her cry
|Pink sweatshirt days
|summer left its light green lipstick on our faces
|Frisky, most silver, serene -- bright step at the margins of air, you tiny colossus and winsome and master me, easy in sunlight, you gracious one come to me, live in my life
|I was wrong as a child, to think old people were stupid for asking me where the day had gone. Now I understand... we older people do not live.
|The Transmigration of Timothy Archer
|If you want lonely I will give you white water flapping against a little boat
|Entirely free of guilt, I
|Signs Of Life
|The Silver City and the Silent Sea
|Crawling, on the planet's face. Some insects, called the Human Race. Lost in time, and lost in space... and in meaning.
|There were no clouds. I prayed for lightning.
|hlör u fang axaxaxas mlö
|The fire in the sky, the fire in your hand, the sad songs without bodies, surrounding us like ghosts
|The Man Felt an Iron Hand Grasp Him by the Hair, at the Nape. Not One Hand, a Hundred Hands Seized Him, Each by the Hair, and Tore Him Head to Foot, the Way You Tear Up a Sheet of Paper, Into Hundreds of Little Pieces
|Dream Log: January 6, 2002
|a patch of lamplight that I pretend is the moon
|Arizona Dream


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TopMoving.com has continued its trend of revamping its site by adding to a growing hub of moving company reviews.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) July 02, 2012
TopMoving.com, a premier provider of home and business moving quotes and services since 1998, has published new moving company reviews. Since its site-wide redesign, TopMoving.com has also experienced increased traffic and helped more customers.
TopMoving.com has continued its trend of revamping its site by adding to a growing hub of moving company reviews. According to site owners, the reviews are published to inform visitors of some of the many moving companies that work with or have worked with TopMoving.com. Customers can learn about the location the companies are based in, the types of services they provide, and discover a bit about their history. Currently, twelve of the planned 75 company reviews have been published, at a rate of about two per week. Thus, readers can look forward to new reviews being published on the site for the foreseeable future.
Representatives at TopMoving.com have announced that the recent site-wide redesign has been successful overall. More customers have been filling out the site's free moving quotes form to compare home moving companies. In particular, the site noted that the "instant moving quotes" were more popular with visitors. The site notes that people wanted a "quicker and easier" quote form that takes just minutes to fill out completely, which helps people on the go. The new logo and design were also well reviewed, and were adapted to the site's social media properties.
Lindsay Sullivan, marketing representative of TopMoving.com, remarked, "We are, of course, greatly pleased that the new layout for TopMoving.com has been well appreciated by visitors. We always hope to grow the number of visitors coming to our site on a daily basis consistently throughout the year. Certainly, they will find our company reviews to be a great additional resource to help them plan their move with us. I think our exhaustive list of the top moving companies for both national and local moving services will really please everyone involved."
About TopMoving.com:
TopMoving.com is a supplier of free moving quotes and estimates for individuals and families moving locally or long distance. Corporate moving quotes are also supplied for businesses. Since 1998, visitors who compare moving rates with TopMoving.com can save up to 50% on their move.


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Has Manitowoc Become the Perfect Stock?
Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?
One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, then decide if Manitowoc (NYS: MTW) fits the bill.
The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:
- Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it's certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
- Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can't produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit.
- Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management's attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don't have to worry about the distraction of debt.
- Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
- Valuation. You can't afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock's simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
- Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can't be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.
With those factors in mind, let's take a closer look at Manitowoc.
What We Want to See
Pass or Fail?
|5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15%
|1-Year Revenue Growth > 12%
|Gross Margin > 35%
|Net Margin > 15%
|Balance Sheet
|Debt to Equity < 50%
|Current Ratio > 1.3
|Return on Equity > 15%
|Normalized P/E < 20
|Current Yield > 2%
|5-Year Dividend Growth > 10%
|Total Score
|1 out of 10
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.
Since we looked at Manitowoc last year, the company has managed to pick up a single point. Even with faster revenue growth, though, the company still hasn't been able to deliver good financial results, and the stock's poor performance in the past year confirms that assessment.
Manitowoc has two very different businesses under its roof: crane construction and food-service equipment. With Caterpillar (NYS: CAT) having executed on expansion plans in China and Joy Global (NYS: JOY) benefiting from increased interest in mining equipment, the construction industry has been extremely strong in emerging markets -- despite some concerns about future growth.
But Manitowoc hasn't enjoyed all the benefits of emerging-market growth because it's concentrated on North America and Europe. With Europe's troubles holding the company back, Manitowoc would like to expand in emerging markets, with plans to build up in Brazil and China. But its already extended balance sheet makes those plans risky.
Another way that Manitowoc could benefit emerging markets is through its food-service customers. Both Yum! Brands (NYS: YUM) and McDonald's (NYS: MCD) are on Manitowoc's customer list, and as those two fast-food giants expand in China and elsewhere, Manitowoc may be able to ride on their coattails to boost its presence in the food-service industry.
For Manitowoc to improve, it really needs to shift its focus away from mature, developed markets and go where the growth is. Once it achieves that, Manitowoc should be able to move slowly but steadily up through the ranks -- as long as emerging markets continue to grow.
Keep searching
No stock is a sure thing, but some stocks are a lot closer to perfect than others. By looking for the perfect stock, you'll go a long way toward improving your investing prowess and learning how to separate out the best investments from the rest.
Manitowoc isn't the perfect stock, but we've got some ideas you may like better. Let me invite you to learn about three smart long-term stock plays in the Fool's latest special report. It's yours for the taking and is absolutely free, but don't miss out -- click here and read it today.
Click hereto add Manitowoc to My Watchlist, which can find all of our Foolish analysis on it and all your other stocks.
At the time this article was published Fool contributor Dan Caplinger doesn't own shares of the companies mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool owns shares of Joy Global. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of McDonald's and Yum! Brands. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Sculpture : Pre 1900 item #1238195 (stock #131201)
Tomoe Art
A traveling wooden shrine "zushi" or "Nenjibutsu" with enclosing a finely curved wooden sculpture of shichimen Daimyojin (Heavenly Lady from Mount Shichimen). The wooden case is decorated with red lacquer and metalwork. Some loss of lacquerer and pigments are visible, otherwise it is in good condition.
H 2 7/8" x W 1 7/8" x D 1 3/8 (H 7.0cm x W 4.5cm x D 3.2cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Sculpture : Pre 1900 item #1205929 (stock #Nenjibutsu-1)
Tomoe Art
Taoism guardians known as the embodiment of Good Fortune (Fu), Prosperity (Lu), and Longevity (Shou) finely curved and kept in a Zushi, a miniature shrine decorated with gold leaf and handmade silver work. Circa 19th Century. The guardians are often kept as personal daily worship at household and decoration. Signed Shugetsu. The seal reads Hara. It is attributed to one of prominent doll make artists, first Hara Shugetsu. It is in fine condition.
Hara Shugetsu was born in Sakai in Osaka...


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Boom or bust, let them earn their way
The people in player personnel departments whose professional lives are devoted to knowing.
The media who cover the teams and whose observations on what it takes to make it in the NFL get them believing.
The fans who watch college football on television and whose first impression of a player makes them all-knowing.
When we finally get to the NFL draft and selections are made, opinions are never far behind.
Some prospects are labeled as sure-fire first-ballot choices for the Hall of Fame. Some are labeled as complete busts.
Here's a thought: How about we all let the players strap on shoulder pads and a helmet, get into the NFL and earn their reputation one way or another?
If they turn out to be a great player, and someone sees it beforehand, they deserve praise.
If they turn out to be a bust, those who saw those players otherwise deserve criticism.
If they're in between, so be it.
Regardless, is it really that difficult to allow the process to play out?
Just saying ...
- Chris Lillstrung | @CLillstrungNH


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I was working on Christmas Card for my upcoming World Card Making Day Class and I was in a little bit of a vintage mood so I decided to make this card look like a post card.
I've had this set for a few years now and I don't think I have ever used the post card stamp. I'm glad that I was able to finally ink it up. I am most definite that this will be a card we make in the WCMD class. Not everything I make always makes it in the final cut for my classes because sometimes I get better ideas as the time gets closer. Well I hope everyone else likes this one as much as I do.


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All Said and Done
Deutsch and Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1974 - Authors, French - 463 pages
What people are saying - Write a review
ALL SAID AND DONEUser Review - Kirkus
As the finality of the title indicates, Simone de Beauvoir considers this the last volume of her autobiography, a summing-up. At the outset she promises to consider in terms of its "themes" a life ... Read full review
LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - mahallett - LibraryThing
a good way to wrap up your life. what happened to your friends, interesting trips and times. Read full review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
American Arab asked astonished beautiful bunraku called Camille carried charming childhood church colour Communist deal death delighted dreams entirely eyes fact feel felt film France French friends gave girl give happened houses intellectuals interesting Israel Japanese Jews journalists kibbutz kind knew landscape later Les Temps modernes less Lise living look Madame Mapam means Michel Leiris morning Moscow mother never night Novy Mir once painting parents Paris Piazza Navona play police question refused road Sartre Sartre's Second Sex seemed seen showed side Simone de Beauvoir social sometimes Sorbonne Soviet speak spoke stayed streets Sylvie talked Tallinn Temps modernes things thought tion told took town USSR Vietnam village violent Violette Leduc walked wanted whole woman women words workers writer wrote young Zaza


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SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains minor spoilers for "Uncanny X-Men" #11, in stores now.
Modern comics writers play a long game, and not many do it better than Brian Michael Bendis. Looking back though his work at Marvel, one can find a number of teases seeded for then-future events. The writer included hints of the Skrull invasion during his "Avengers: Disassembled" arc, going up through "House of M," "Civil War" and "Secret War," and the recently concluded "Age of Ultron" was teased years in advance in his "Avengers" titles. And with "Uncanny X-Men," it seems that the writer remains a dedicated long game player, as a year-old post on Bendis' Tumblr finally makes sense.
The Tumblr post was a variant cover for "New Avengers" #1 by David Finch, which included the artist's depiction of Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage and -- a character that never actually showed up in "New Avengers." However, Bendis clearly had plans for the unused design, accompanying the image with a quick comment: "Whatever happened to this guy? Marvel NOW! now?"
Although the mysterious character's identity has yet to be revealed, he showed up in this week's "Uncanny X-Men" #11 as the force behind a new breed of mutant-hunting robot. It's unknown what Bendis' original plans for the character were (many assumed it to be an alternate design for Ronin, and his placement with the Avengers suggest he was intended to be a hero at some point), it's clear that he's had an idea to reintegrate the design into his "Uncanny X-Men" run well before the series' start. Take a look at Finch's "New Avengers" #1 variant alongside the final page of "Uncanny X-Men" #11 below.


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Member Exclusive Offer
Pre-approval and Loan Retention Marketing Software
Member Exclusive Offer code creation software by CU Rate Reset can be used to create effective pre-approval and loan retention offers. MEO codes can be texted, emailed, mailed or created in-branch to allow your members to review and accept the offer in minutes.
MEO Credit Union Benefits
- Increase pre-approval acceptance
- Increase loan retention
- Digital solution
- Mobile solution
- Attract new millennial members and loans
- Easy to implement
- No online banking integration required
- MEO codes can be marketed to members for pre-approval and loan retention solutions
MEO Member Benefits
- Easy access for members through email, mail or branch to review offers
- Members can review and make choices which best suit their household budget inside the offer.
- Members can accept and sign all documents inside the offer in minutes
- Mobile optimized
Reset Solutions
Reset term or rate, recast adjustable rate mortgage, change credit card terms, balance transfer support and Certificate of Deposit renewal.
Reset Auto
- Members reduce their monthly auto payment by extending the term
- Extend auto term to reduce payment
- Lower auto term for quicker payoff
- Extend auto term and take cash out
- Eliminates front line staff from refinancing loans
- Allows members to control the process
- Minimum risk because you are in control of the offer
Reset Mortgage
- Members reduce or modify their monthly mortgage payment by resetting their ARM rate
- Zero back office cost
- No loan officer
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- No underwriter
- No closing
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- Close in only one minute
- Offer member another fixed period on 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 ARMs
- Respond to a pre-payment trigger with a special offer
- Ability to actually manage your ARM portfolio
- Eliminates risk on an ARM
- Reduces FASB-91 adjustments
Reset Credit Card
- Allows the member to transact a balance transfer digitally
- Saying "thank you" by offering a line increase
- Offer a student an "adult" credit card
- Engages the member with opportunity to show other products
Digital Pre-Approval Solutions
Digital solutions to capture member business through pre-approved offers.
Digital Pre-Approval Credit Card
- Offer a member a pre-approved credit card
- Attractive to "Click it" or "Don't do it" members who will only do transactions online
- Will improve the effectiveness of pre-approval campaigns
- Target member loans at other institutions
Digital Pre-Approval Auto Recapture
- Provides a digital solution to recapture an auto loan at another institution
- Upsell insurance
- Execute all necessary e-sign documents to make transfer
- Can be sent in reaction to a trigger event
Digital Pre-Approval HELOC
- Offer a member a new HELOC
- Offer a member an extension on a maturing HELOC
- Electronically gather income and assets if needed
- Provide member with options
- Execute the e-sign documents
Digital Pre-Approval Personal Loan
- Offer a member a new loan or recapture loan at other institution
- Electronically gather income and assets if needed
- Provide member with options
- Execute the e-sign documents
Digital New CD
- Allow members to pick their own term and interest rate
- Expand member relationship with special Offers
Over 68.7% of members that opened the "P" URL opened a new credit card during ACU's pilot roll-out (April, 2017)
LoanGEN Solutions
Digital solutions for the members to compare financial products they have elsewhere with credit union offers and links to the application process.
- Recapture member loans
- Members reduce their monthly auto and mortgage payments and move their loan from their current financial institution to yours
- Demonstrates the credit union difference


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Wayne Rooney is aiming to have as much fun in his second decade as a Premier League player as he did in his first.
Rooney marks his tenth year in the top-flight at the place where it all began as a raw 16-year-old when United face Everton on Monday night at Goodison Park.With four Premier League titles and a Champions League winners' medal to show for his time at United, Rooney will feel he has no need to justify why he left the Toffees just two years after his debut.But the England striker, 26, knows there is much more for him to achieve and said: 'I'm still fairly young. It's great to have played in the Premier League for ten years.'It's an exciting league and I still feel exactly the same about my football as I did when I made my debut. It feels like a long time ago, though. I just hope I can play for another ten years and have as much enjoyment as I did in my first ten.'
Rooney is set to partner new signing Robin van Persie in attack and expects a big test at his old club, who dented United's title chances at the end of last term with a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford.'I know as an Evertonian, growing up and playing for them, when Manchester United go to Goodison, the whole place is lifted and the fans make it far more difficult,' he added.'That game last season probably did cost us the league, so we have an incentive to get the three points.'


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- How can I find out what training at Varangian is like?
Best way is to call in & watch a session, get talking to a coach & they can explain to you what way that class is structured while giving you an idea of how you would begin starting your own training, if you would prefer you can arrange a time to call in & meet with us privately, some of our members used to have trouble with anxiety/meeting new people so we understand how scary walking into somewhere new can be! But that really is the hardest part! If you're searching YouTube remember if you're watching the games athletes they have been training for years upon years, you're not going to be expected to do advanced movements on your first day & until you've had the proper preparation!
- Is it is true strength training and intense fitness training gives you injuries and is bad for joints?
Walking down the stairs & going over on your ankle can be bad for your joints. Yes it is true that ALL forms of training & sport come with risk of injury but our goal with you is to prepare you for daily life so that if a day comes that you do get hurt your body is able to cope with it better as it is stronger & more prepared for stress. The movements that are all taught are to give you full range of motion through joints & combine flexibility with strength.
- Are workouts as heavy as I've heard?
Yes, but it's burpees you have to be afraid of... Very afraid! As a member you are always coached to your individual level & capability. Through noting your time/performance/form we can easily let you know when you're ready to increase the weights that you're lifting. Same goes for if you look like you're in danger of hurting yourself, you will be stopped immediately to decrease the weight or possibly have the exercise altered to help you still complete the workout.
- Do I have to already be fit to join?
Nope! does it help? Nope! We've trained personal trainers, fighters, dancers, complete beginners etc it doesn't matter where you are fitness wise there will be somewhere you're lacking & we're very good at finding weaknesses for you to work on! Everyone was a beginner once you just have to find out where you are on that path & start running... But get this! the path doesn't end, you can always improve!
- How long do I have to train before I see some changes?
3 sessions a week with good nutrition you'll start to notice physical changes in 4-6 weeks, you'll probably notice your energy levels, enthusiasm & sexiness changing for the better almost immediately though if your attitude is good your results will be good! Simple!
- I'm scared to gain too much muscle?
What about bone density? Connective tissue? You're not going to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger by doing CrossFit, your body will change shape but it will be more functional muscle for movement rather than muscle that bodybuilders have for shows which IS an amazing art in it's own, just not what we do.
- Is functional training/strength training just for men?
Um, no! Varangian is for everyone! Male, Female & Chihuahua, when you come through our doors you'll be treated as a student & a friend nothing more, nothing less. For workouts there is weights that the guys will have to work towards & weights that the girls will have to work towards (slightly lighter) but the exercises you do will be exactly the same!
- What I should wear for training?
Shorts or track suit bottoms, trainers & a t-shirt is fine to start off with! As you progress you may want to consider buying lifting shoes etc (good footwear is essential if you want to advance in your lifting, something without give in them that are stable) as you inevitably become more sexy & want to show off your "gains" your clothes will become skimpier & working out topless if you're a dude will most likely become the norm... Completely optional though!
- Do I need a gloves or any other specialist clothing?
Nope! Over time if you want to lift heavier you may want to invest in these things but we believe in working on your form more to develop your own internal "armour". Our exsisting members that already have these things will gladly let you try their extra equipment though, so you can see if you think it would be worthwhile. Often he problem with using them all the time is your body gets lazy & relies on them... Not a good thing!
- What if I can't lift recommended weight? Or do a certain skill in a workout?
Then you work up to it over time, your safety is priority. Weight and skills come with time, sometimes we will ask you to train heavier sometimes we'll ask you to train lighter, as coaches it's up to us to get you to vary & push yourself in your training. If you think you can do more we will let you have a go at demonstrating reps before the workout starts but if we are not happy with your form we will say no. We'd rather have you going home pissed off than hurt ;)
- Do I work out on my own or do I have a trainer?
The classes are capped at 14 so you are not going to be lost in a crowd, if it's a lifting session you will be coached a given certain things to work on & we will keep coming back to you to correct things. If you strive for perfection you might just catch excellence.
- What I should expect on my first workout?
Blood, sweat, tears & swear words... This is not true. We will test you on your first workout with light weights or bodyweight depending on your training background, from that one workout we can easily see where you're at & know what intensity to start you off at for other sessions. Doesn't matter how good you ever get we'll always be trying to improve you to get the best out of your training. If you're having a bad day, lack of sleep etc and don't tell us WE WON'T KNOW! So please tell us at the start of a class. Don't be a hero!
- For the price, why don't I just go find a personal trainer?
We've done personal training & truly we would never go back to it, there just isn't as much fun! We do offer this service as well but will do our best to talk you out of it to do sessions! Training with friends in a community is motivating & the energy is amazing plus on unlimited sessions the more you train the better value it is! We WANT you to train! We WANT you to use our equipment! We WANT you to be there as often as you can! This is in no way slagging personal trainers this is our opinion. For some people one on one works better & we wouldn't keep them from it! At the end of the day you have to do what's best for you!