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Cards for the Diva
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Whiskers Wednesday
33 comments:
Happy Whiskers Wednesday right back at you!ReplyDelete
Great whiskers!ReplyDelete
Hari OMReplyDelete
May it be bright and beautiful, Madi darlin'!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
You have very long whiskers, Madi!ReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday back at all of you. Sure hope everyone has a wonderful day.ReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday... your whiskers are beautiful... and they make the best car antennas ;o)ReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday to you dear Madi....oh, and you have VERY impressive whiskers!ReplyDelete
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Happy W. Day right back to ya!ReplyDelete
it looks to me like you are YELLING MOMMMMMM really loud... of course I do believe you were only yawning, kinda sorta. MOLReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday, Madi and Mom! Those are some very pretty whiskers, Madi!ReplyDelete
You sure look like you are screaming at somebody Madi. You have the most beautiful green eyes.ReplyDelete
That picture really shows off your beautiful whiskers Miss Madi. Were you telling your mom to hurry up and fix your dinner? BOL!ReplyDelete
You have long beautiful whiskers Miss Madi!ReplyDelete
Puppy Growls,
What long whiskers you have!ReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday to you too!ReplyDelete
You are a cutie, Madi!ReplyDelete
Oh Madi - your whiskers are just beautiful!!!ReplyDelete
Woos - Lightning and Misty
...and a happy whisker Wednesday to you! Those are some impressive whiskers :)ReplyDelete
Pretty whiskers indeed sweet Madi!ReplyDelete
What beautiful whiskers for whiskers Wednesday, Madi!!ReplyDelete
Oh, we must have misinterpreted you! We thought you looked a bit growly. That is an impressive set of whiskers.ReplyDelete
You do look like you are having some words with someone Madi!ReplyDelete
Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel
Wow! Your whiskers are so long! Very pawsome photo. ♥ReplyDelete
oh you cutie! Happy Wednesday to you too! xoxoReplyDelete
Hello Dear Madi and Mom;ReplyDelete
Heh heee we lovee your whiskers. That's such a cute picture of you talking to your Mom. (We also love your NC flag) ~,^
Molly and my Mom @The Fast and The Furriest
madi....frank lee... we gotta bee honest heer ...coz we thinked ya was askin yur mom.... wearz de crankee ass cat chow; my bowlz emptee ;)ReplyDelete
Well of COURSE you are. Did someone even dare hint otherwise? How dare they-- assuming they did.ReplyDelete
We thought that was what you were saying!ReplyDelete
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Great photo Madi! XOReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday to you, Madi. Those are some impressive whiskers!ReplyDelete
HOLY CATFISH!!!!! Gurl those are some mighty impressive whiskers you gots there!!!! I can see why your Pops wanted to use them for his trains!ReplyDelete
Ruby ♥
You look hungry! Are you hungry? Maybe it's dinner time. Is your mom late feeding you?ReplyDelete
Please leave a meow or bark for Madi...her assistant (aka Mom) will respond in a timely fashion. =^..^=
Life is short, spend it with those who make you laugh
"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." (Leo F. Buscaglia)
Cecilia and Angel Madi
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Grant Proposal Writing Process
University of Phoenix Axia College
Name, Title (Grant maker Contact)
Foundation, Bank, Corporation (Grant maker)
City, State, and Zip Code
RE: Name of Grant (PEACE: A safe house)
Grant Proposal Summary:
It should provide details of your background, all information t o help contact you, the reason why you are seeking the grant, a brief introduction of your project, your experience in previous projects, and how the project will be helpful to the community as a whole. Asking the funding for $150,000 for 3 years would be enough to fund the program I am asking. Proposal Summary
* Limit to one page.
* State the organization making the request and link organizational background to the proposal purpose. * State your project purpose.
* Briefly state how your project will be implemented. * State the results you expect from your project.
Include your total budget amount, other funds that are committed and the amount of your request.
The body:
1. Next is the body of the proposal. This contains information about the safe house you want to set up. It should clearly outline the vision of your organization, its past successes and a brief description about the management and staff. In case you had taken any other funding for your company, details of these funds should be furnished in your proposal. A proper assessment should be presented about how you plan to utilize the money. If the project is addressing any social problem, then you need to project how it will solve the problem. The realistic goals and objectives of the company need to be defined properly. This will require a specific as well as overall understanding of the entire project. You also need to write about the methodology to be used including the tasks to be performed and the resources which will fund them. A detailed report of the number of people working on the project, the equipment needed and the...
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subset: commoncrawl


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Home » Columns »
The Employee Ownership Update
Loren Rodgers
January 3, 2017
Happy New YearThe staff and board of the NCEO wish all readers of this update the very best for the upcoming year. May it be joyful and prosperous, and may it bring many opportunities for us to work with you to create and strengthen employee ownership.
China Considers Increased Employee Ownership in State-Owned EnterprisesChina's long-running effort to strengthen state-owned enterprises includes "mixed-ownership reform" intended to change these companies' ownership structures and make them more market-focused. One component of mixed-ownership reform includes what ECNS.com in a December 23 article calls "employee stock ownership plans," although such plans are more similar to U.S. employee stock purchase plans and may be restricted to senior employees. China has about 150,000 state-owned enterprises, employing over 30 million people.
India May Increase Employee Ownership IncentivesIndia's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has proposed that equity compensation plans be taxed when the shares are sold and that the capital gains holding period be reduced from the current period of 24 months. These changes are expected to be introduced in the federal budget draft, scheduled to be released on February 1.
Employee Ownership in the MediaIn a New Year's Eve post in the Indiana Business Journal, Greg Andrews writes: "Year in and year out, a parade of central Indiana companies sells to out-of-state buyers. Such deals aren't necessarily bad... Yet it's also great to see a local company follow a different path—one aimed at positioning the firm for long-term independence. Such was the route recently taken by the Indianapolis construction firm Shiel Sexton Co., which finalized a transaction Sept. 30 making it 100 percent employee-owned."
In blog post in the Washington Examiner, Dean Zerbe encourages President-elect Trump to encourage employee ownership.
An op-ed in WilmingtonBiz discusses the various forms of equity compensation that can be effective in start-up companies.
Ballot for NCEO Board Is OpenNCEO members in good standing received an invitation this morning to fill out a ballot to elect new directors for the NCEO's board. The nine candidates are:
- Rich Armstrong, Great Game of Business and SRC Holdings Corporation
- John Brown, Business Enterprise Institute [incumbent]
- John Case, author
- Kevin Long, Chang, Ruthenberg & Long, PC
- Sandra Reid, The Davey Tree Expert Company
- Glenn Ripley, Mission Bell Manufacturing
- Bill Roark, Torch Technologies, Inc.
- Mary Stenvig, Realityworks, Inc. [incumbent]
- Joanne Swerdlin, Swerdlin & Company
Members may vote until 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Thursday, January 26, 2017.
Author biography and other columns in this series


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Friday, December 14, 2012
Wells Fargo involved in race discrimination
Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $175 million to resolve allegations that the financial institution discriminated against qualified black and Hispanic borrowers in its mortgage lending according to the U.S. Justice Department.
In the second-largest settlement of its kind, the biggest U.S. mortgage lender will pay $125 million to borrowers who were allegedly steered into higher-priced subprime loans or who paid higher fees and rates than white borrowers.
Wells Fargo also will contribute $50 million to homebuyer assistance programs in eight metropolitan areas around the country. The government identified those areas as needing the most help in recovering from the housing crisis.
The settlement, which needs approval from a judge, would end the investigation into whether the fourth-largest U.S. bank knowingly targeted minorities between 2004 and 2009 for risky mortgages that came with higher costs, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The U.S. assistant attorney general for civil rights, said at a news conference in Washington, D.C. that this a case about real people, African-American and Latino, who suffered real harm as a result of Wells Fargo's discriminatory lending practices, people with similar qualifications should be treated similarly. They should be judged by the content of their credit worthiness and not the color of their skin.
The government investigation found that loans submitted to Wells Fargo by mortgage brokers had varied interest rates, fees and costs based only on race and not correlated to the borrowers' creditworthiness, according to the court document.
The Obama administration has mounted a campaign to closely monitor banks in order to ensure loan discrimination practices that were a part of the housing bust and led to record defaults are eliminated. Bank of America's Countrywide Financial unit agreed in December to pay a record $335 million to settle similar charges.
Wells Fargo said it was settling the matter solely for the purpose of avoiding contested litigation with the U.S. Justice Department. In the consent order with the government, Wells asserted it treated all its customers fairly and without regard to race and national origin.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage president said in a statement that he believes it is in the best interest of our team members, customers, communities and investors to avoid a long and costly legal fight, and to instead devote our resources to continuing to contribute to the country's housing recovery.
Homebuilding looking up
KB Home, one of the leading homebuilding companies in the U.S., recently acquired lands for 100 luxury homes in the sought after community of Playa Vista in Westside, Los Angeles. The construction of homes will start in spring.
The company intends to build three story detached homes of 2,800 square feet. The homes will have four bedrooms and three and half baths. The company also intends to build single floor condominium homes of 2,000 square feet with private elevator access for each home.
For simple or more complex bathroom remolding projects, consider an outstanding grand rapids bathroom remodeling company that does quick, professional work.
Owing to its operational business model KBnxt, KB Home always begins construction only after a purchase agreement is executed. As such, the consumers buying KB homes in Playa Vista will get the liberty to plan their homes according to their preference.
This process also helps the company turn over its inventory more quickly than its peers, thereby supplying capital for reinvestment. In the long run, this reduces the risk of unsold inventory leading to higher returns on invested capital.
Playa Vista is one of the most sought after luxurious communities in Westside, Los Angeles. The acquisition of land in Los Angeles' Westside is in line with KB Home's strategic shift in its geographic footprint. The focus is to place the communities in highly desirable land-constrained submarkets that enable it to sell larger, higher-priced homes, thus driving a strong increase in average selling price.
The rising demand for new homes has led to a favorable situation in the housing market, where inventory levels are dropping and prices are moving up. The demand has been particularly strong for luxury homes. Toll Brothers, Inc., another leading luxury homebuilder in the US, has been witnessing strong overall growth over the past few quarters.
Therefore, building adequate number of new homes is necessary in order to maintain the required level of inventory to meet the growing demand for homes. Acquiring lots and lands in the Playa Vista community will help the company to capitalize on the increasing housing demand.
With housing market recovery gaining momentum, KB Home believes its strategic initiatives including overhead reduction, margin expansion, and land investments in higher-priced, better-located communities; and increasing backlog will help it achieve profitability in the upcoming quarters. Though we have faith in KB Home's strategic initiatives, we believe that it may take time to achieve sustainable profitability as the housing market recovery process is erratic and uneven.
We currently have a Neutral recommendation on KB Home. The stock carries a Zacks #3 Rank (a short-term Hold rating).
Thursday, October 27, 2011
MyElderLawPlanning Michigan Probate Court
Elder law is becoming more important as baby boomers approach their golden years. Elder law is a distinct practice, designed to assist the elderly in protecting their assets from probate expenses, federal estate taxes and nursing home expense.
The Elder Law professionals at Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center (JBELC), are dedicated to providing intelligent, compassionate and timely information about estate planning, probate, Medicaid and all other issues pertaining to elder law.
These are the areas of service that the Jordan Balema Elder Law Center provides:
Estate Planning — Throughout the years you have built up an estate and achieved success. Now your focus shifts from accumulation to preserving these assets for your care and eventually distribution to your loved ones upon your death. That is what estate planning is all about.
Medicaid Planning — Do you have a loved one in a nursing home or hospital? Or are you thinking long-term care may be inevitable? The professionals at Jordan-Balkema Elder Law Center can assist you with planning for long-term care costs.
Guardianship & Conservatorship — Guardians and conservators are appointed by the court for persons who lack the physical and/or mental capacity to care for themselves and are found to be incapable of caring for themselves or their property. At the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center we help you understand the laws and in setting up the proper course of action for your need.
Probate & Trust Administration — The attorneys of the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center have provided assistance to hundreds of families who have required the legal knowledge necessary to manage the probate procedure maze. MyElderLawPlanning will make the probate process as easy as possible by giving detailed explanations and by promptly addressing any concerns you may have.
For more information on how an Elder Law Attorney can help you, visit www.myelderlawplanning.com.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Lending Standards Hurt Housing Economy
Home buyers such as Bob and Janet Zych have fueled the U.S. housing market for decades. They have excellent credit with scores that top 800, life-long careers and investment portfolios that have set them up for a comfortable retirement, they say.
But this year, after faxing a ream of paper about their finances, they got so fed up applying for a home loan that they simply wrote a check for their new, $85,000 vacation condo in Phoenix.
Trying to get a loan was just a nightmare, says Bob Zych, 65, a manager for Mohawk Industries in Omaha.
Following the greatest housing crash since the Great Depression, home lending standards have tightened to their strictest levels in decades, economists say. And people such as the Zychs and others nationwide are paying the price.
Tight home loan credit is affecting everything from home sales to household finances. Many borrowers are struggling to qualify for loans to buy homes. Others can't take advantage of some of the lowest interest rates in 50 years because they don't have enough equity in their homes to refinance. Those who can get loans need higher credit scores and bigger down payments than they would have in recent years. They face more demands to prove their incomes, verify assets, show steady employment and explain things such as new credit cards and small bank account deposits.
Even then, they may not qualify for the lowest interest rates.
The National Association of Realtors says lending standards are too tight and are hurting the housing industry's recovery.
The lending industry counters that standards are where they need to be, given still-falling home prices and the shaky economy.
Down payment amounts rise
The change is evident in the higher quality of loans held by government entities, which now buy or guarantee most new home loans.
Lenders that originate loans seek to meet their standards so that they don't have to hold loans themselves.
Through June, single-family home loans bought by government-backed Freddie Mac, for example, had an average down payment of 29% and an average FICO credit score of 751, the agency says. That's up from average down payments of 23% for loans originated in 2007 and average FICO scores of 707, Freddie Mac says.
FICO scores top out at 850. The national median is 711, FICO says.
New Federal Housing Administration loans, popular with home buyers who lack big down payments, likewise are being made to borrowers with higher credit scores.
From January through March, those loans went to borrowers with an average credit score of 704, up from 631 four years ago, FHA data show.
Even the worthiest borrowers have to put down more money than a few years ago to get the best loan terms.
Real estate website Zillow analyzed 3.6 million loan inquiries made through its website to mortgage lenders since 2008.
In July, prospective borrowers getting the best loan rates had average down payments of 28%. Three years ago, before the worst of the financial crisis, such shoppers averaged down payments of less than 24%, according to data from Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.
A struggle to close
Sometimes, even borrowers with seemingly pristine finances are struggling to close home loans.
Stephanie, 45, and Brian Poore, 46, of Hubert, N.C., went through two lenders this year before the third extended them a loan on an $86,000 condominium in Wilmington, N.C. The couple bought the condo for their daughters, ages 19, 16 and 15, to use during college.
The first lender went overboard on income questions, Brian Poore says, asking him to prove that he didn't pay for room or board while living on an Army base in Iraq, where he works as a contractor.
Another lender qualified the couple for a loan, given their credit scores above 780 and other financial resources. But then the lender backed off, saying it couldn't resell the loan to Fannie Mae because the condominium homeowners association didn't have enough cash reserves for maintenance and repairs.
With the third lender, the Poores had to put 25% down — not the 15% they originally intended.
The process took five months. The loan was for $67,000. One of the Poores' relatives recently bought a new car and got a $55,000 loan in less than a day, Stephanie Poore says.
The Zychs were hamstrung by lenders' concerns about their previous investments.
During the past five years, they acquired three rental properties — all in Omaha — that were leased and produce a positive cash flow for the couple. When the Zychs went to buy the Phoenix condo, lenders balked, saying they had too many properties, even though their finances were solid.
Roberta Fernandes, 24, a first-time home buyer, got a loan. But not without help. She needed almost 50% down to get a loan to buy her Miami condo in June. Fernandes is an assistant to a financial adviser at a brokerage firm. Her short work history hindered her ability to get loans with smaller down payments.
Her parents put up more than half the required down payment. Without their help, getting a loan would have been impossible, Fernandes says.
Jose, 40, and Ivelte Hidalgo, 35, also recently bought in Miami. Jose started a medical research consulting business in 2007. Ivelte works in the business, too.
Because they were newly self-employed, the couple were turned down by two lenders for home loans in 2008 and 2009.
They finally secured an FHA loan for a $280,000 house, which they purchased this summer. The couple put 3.5% down, the FHA's minimum.
With higher down payment requirements and tighter standards for conventional loans, the FHA has become a major player in the home-lending market.
For the first six months of this year, almost 51% of loans to buy homes were done through the FHA. That's up from 3.4% in 2007, says Inside Mortgage Finance.
But FHA loans aren't always the best deal.
Although they have smaller down payment requirements than conventional loans and credit criteria that are not as strict, there are limits on how big FHA loans can get.
FHA borrowers also pay a 1% upfront fee that conventional borrowers don't pay. And if buyers have enough money for larger down payments, they can avoid higher FHA premiums for mortgage insurance, which protects against default.
It can also take longer to get rid of mortgage insurance on an FHA loan than on a conventional loan, says Keith Gumbinger of mortgage tracker HSH.com.
Conventional loans with less than 20% down are available. However, such borrowers need mortgage insurance. In general, the lower the down payment, the more one pays in mortgage insurance. Interest rates also rise as credit scores drop.
For some properties — including those needing bigger loans, condominiums and homes in areas hard hit by the real estate crash — 20% or more down payments are the norm, says Greg McBride of Bankrate.com.
Nearly all borrowers are facing more documentation requests.
Except for a few years leading up to the real estate crash — when some borrowers got loans while providing little if any documentation of their assets and income — borrowers have long had to supply two years of tax returns, pay stubs and financial statements when applying for home loans.
Now, lenders want tax records to come directly from the IRS, as well as from borrowers. The IRS releases the records after applicants sign forms giving it permission to do so. Instead of two months of bank statements and pay stubs, lenders may want them for each pay period until the loan closes.
Howard Landa, a California physician, purchased a $900,000 home in Moraga, Calif., last year and refinanced it this year. The refinance lender wanted pay stubs for every two weeks as the loan was in process, which took almost two months.
Landa also had to explain a new Macy's credit card line, which he opened to qualify for a discount on a suit he bought from the retailer.
When he bought the house, Landa had almost enough money to pay cash for it. He also had an outstanding credit score of 810. Even so, the lender carefully checked his income, even requiring copies — front and back — of several $500 and $1,000 checks he deposited in his checking account after being reimbursed for travel expenses.
Reduced risks = fewer defaults
Higher standards do appear to be reducing loan defaults, which means fewer foreclosures in the future.
Fewer than 1.3% of loans originated in 2009 that were resold to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae went into default after 18 months, government data show. That's down from more than 22% default rates for 2007 loans and about 3% default rates in 2002.
Avoiding defaults has become a primary goal of wary lenders, says Walters, the Quicken Loans economist.
They fear loans will go bad and the investors that buy them — such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or others — will discover mistakes and sue the originating lender.
Many such lawsuits are underway.
Walters says their line of defense is to cross T's 42 times and dot I's 52 times. With home prices continuing to fall across much of the nation, lenders realize that any mistake could be fatal, he says.
Yet, the National Association of Realtors, and a number of consumer groups, say the tight standards are also a drag on the economy.
The NAR estimates that home sales — stuck at anemic levels — would jump 15% to 20% if lending standards simply returned to where they were a decade ago, before they got so loose they helped create the real estate bubble that later popped.
However, lending standards are unlikely to loosen until home prices stabilize, says mortgage loan expert Jason Kopcak of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald. Nationwide, home prices are down 30% from their 2006 peak and are expected to fall more this year.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Associated Press reported on Monday that county officials in at least three states - Massachusetts, North Carolina and Michigan - say they have received thousands of mortgage documents with questionable signatures since last fall. That's when forged signatures and false affidavits - also called robo-signing - led to a temporary halt to foreclosures. Banks and mortgage processers promised to stop the practice. But the findings of the county officials indicate that robo-signing is still a widespread problem.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio., chair of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, said the subcommittee will hold a hearing on the robo-signing issue.
Wall Street and some in Washington want the public to believe that robo-signing is a thing of the past, but the same risky practices that put our economy on the brink of collapse continue to infect the housing market.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., a senior member of the House Committee on Financial Services said the lenders who continue the practice need to be investigated and prosecuted. She believed regulators should step in and that the absence of stronger regulation is the reason why the system broke down in the first place" She said the county officials' findings show lenders will not stop
County officials, who are responsible for keeping land records, including property deeds, say that they have received thousands of robo-signed documents filed in their offices since October.
In Essex County, Mass., the office that handles property deeds has received almost 1,300 documents since October with the signature of "Linda Green," but in 22 different handwriting styles and with many different titles.
In Guilford County, N.C., the office that records deeds says it received 456 documents with suspect signatures from Oct. 1, 2010, through June 30. And in Michigan, a fraud investigator who works on behalf of homeowners says he has uncovered documents filed this year bearing the purported signature of Marshall Isaacs, an attorney with foreclosure law firm.
Early Tuesday, an official from the office of Minnesota attorney general, Lori Swanson, contacted the Essex County's John O'Brien to get more information for its own investigation into robo-signing. The Massachusetts attorney general's office also confirmed that it is meeting with several of the state's 21 registers of deeds to assess the extent of robo-signing in the state.
Also on Tuesday, nine recorders of deeds in Illinois held a press conference to say they will assist the state's attorney general Lisa Madigan who is investigating robo-signing in her state.
Rep. Waters, meanwhile, says the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or the OCC, is the main federal regulator for banks. As such, it's the OCC's responsibility to investigate the banks.
The OCC has been criticized by lawmakers and consumer advocates for going easy on banks in the past. The same criticism has resurfaced since the robo-signing scandal broke in September. Last fall, The Associated Press found that robo-signed documents led to banks wrongfully foreclosing on people who had paid their mortgages in full. When asked about the issue, an OCC spokesman flatly denied that any such thing had ever occurred.
The OCC partnered with other federal regulators and conducted a review of bank procedures including robo-signing in December. In April, the 14 largest national banks entered into a consent decree with the OCC in which they vowed to submit action plans as to how they would address such systemic issues as robo-signing.
Last week, the banks delivered those action plans to the OCC, which is now reviewing them, a spokesman said.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
U.S. Steps Up Help For Homeowners
WASHINGTON -- The chief executives of Detroit's Big Three auto makers appealed in dire language for U.S. taxpayers to help their industry, but couldn't dispel doubts in Congress that have clouded prospects for a government-led rescue.
In appearances Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee, the leaders of General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC, together with the head of the United Auto Workers union, argued the shaky U.S. economy couldn't withstand a collapse of any of the companies.
The chief executives of GM and Chrysler said they could run out of funds without the government's support. GM CEO Rick Wagoner said the package is needed to "save the U.S. economy from a catastrophic collapse." Many markets however are doing well, these markets include; Raleigh Real Estate, Durham Homes, High Point Homes, Greensboro Homes, Home Inspection, Wilson Homes, Wilson NC Real Estate, Home Warranty, Raleigh Estate Homes, Triangle Homes, Chapel Hill Farms and Farms Chapel Hill.
That the companies were convening -- "hat in hand," as Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) said -- before a congressional panel reinforced the depth of their difficulties and the possible diminishment of their political clout. Extending a helping hand to Detroit auto makers, long a central part of the nation's manufacturing base, doesn't appear to be a given.
One question is whether the auto makers can muddle through to January when a new Congress convenes with strengthened Democratic majorities and a Democrat in the White House. The complexity of a possible intervention -- and the political divisiveness it has wrought -- could be too great to overcome this week.
On Monday, Senate Democrats introduced legislation that would set aside $25 billion to help the industry, drawing from the $700 billion fund created to stabilize financial markets. The legislation would allow the auto companies and parts suppliers to receive "bridge home loans" of at least ten years with favorable interest rates. But there is resistance among many senior Republicans and the White House. If no decision is made this week, the issue will be kicked over to the new 111th Congress.
In the late afternoon session, Republicans largely condemned the industry's request. Even some Democrats committed to helping the auto makers showed little enthusiasm for the task at hand.
While noting he backs aid, Senate Banking Chairman Mr. Dodd denounced the companies for failing to move more aggressively to reverse their sharp declines in market share. "They're seeking treatment for wounds that, I believe, are largely self-inflicted," Mr. Dodd said, adding the industry has failed to adapt and "we're all paying the price for it."
As the hearing stretched past its third hour, the top executives disclosed how much they might each apply for if Congress approved the $25 billion loan package: $10 billion to $12 billion for GM; $7 billion to $8 billion for Ford; and $7 billion for Chrysler.
The companies said they would use the money to pay employees, cover current operating costs and develop new products.
Both GM and Ford are on a pace to use up $2 billion each a month, based on their third-quarter earnings. Not getting funding immediately threatens GM most directly because the firm is operating close to its minimal funding requirements. The supply chain is shared among the Big Three, so a bankruptcy filing of one could spell problems for the other two.
Some analysts suggest GM, Ford and Chrysler can cut costs enough to survive until January. But if the U.S. auto market continues to sink, the companies' cash drain could outpace their ability to cut costs.
GM has said that without government aid, the company would run out of operating funds as early as early 2009.
Chrysler joined GM for the first time in linking its survival to a federal bailout. "Without immediate bridge financing support, Chrysler's liquidity could fall below the level necessary to sustain operations in the ordinary course," Robert Nardelli, the company's chairman and CEO, said. He added that the company was currently spending about a $1 billion a month more than they were taking in, leaving the auto maker with slightly more than $6 billion cash on hand.
Only Ford says that while the loan package is necessary for the betterment of the U.S.-based auto companies, it could withstand the downturn without government assistance.
The auto makers and the union sketched their companies' far-reaching impact. They also argued that Chrysler, Ford and GM are on the right track to compete with foreign-based auto makers, but that turmoil in the broader economy foiled their good planning. The companies together employ 239,000 people in the U.S.
Under pressure from senators over the issue of executive compensation, Chrysler's Mr. Nardelli said he would be willing to accept a salary of $1 a year as part of a federal bailout. Lee Iacocca made the same commitment when he ran Chrysler and secured federal loan guarantees in 1979. The chief executives of GM and Ford declined to make the same commitment.
The Banking Committee testimony is part of a broader lobbying campaign that includes parts suppliers and dealers. The executives will appear before the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday. All told, the companies are seeking $25 billion to weather the weakening economy, which has dampened demand for autos and restricted consumer access to home loans.
In another indication of the industry's problems, the world's three dominant credit insurers now consider the U.S. auto industry among the riskiest sectors for default.
Few lawmakers in either party doubt the economic challenges facing the Big Three. At issue is how -- and whether -- Congress should get involved.
Sen. Jim Bunning (R., Ky.) said a rescue proposal by Senate Democrats would give the industry "virtually a blank check," and doesn't require the companies to improve productivity and lower labor costs. "Major changes are needed, if federal dollars are to be made available," he said.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.) said he has doubts about whether the money will be enough to meet the industry's needs: "Is this the end, or just the beginning?"
Industry supporters, such as Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.) want action this week. "The stakes are great and time is short," said Sen. Levin, who is scrambling to find the 60 votes needed to overcome objections in the Senate. Sen. Levin drafted the legislation that would set aside $25 billion to help the industry using bridge home loans.
To qualify, companies would have to accept limits on executive compensation, allow the government to take stock in the firms, and submit a detailed plan showing how they intend to return to sound financial footing and improve their capacity to produce fuel-efficient vehicles.
It wasn't clear whether Congress would demand management changes as a condition to any bailout, although the topic was on the minds of some lawmakers. Sen. Bob Bennett (R., Utah) predicted the jobs of hourly workers and executives are on the line as the industry restructures itself. "Everybody's going to get hurt in the process," he said, adding that the idea "that we in the Congress can prevent that from happening is wishful thinking."
The proposed assistance would be on top of $25 billion in already-approved home loans intended to help the industry retool to meet higher fuel-efficiency standards. The White House is pushing a rival plan to speed release of the previously approved home loans, by removing certain restrictions.
In testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Tuesday the collapse of one of the auto companies "would be something to be avoided." But he said giving the industry access to the $700 billion fund isn't the answer. "I don't see this as the purpose" of the bailout program, he said.
Some Democrats aren't showing enthusiasm. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) said she has problems with helping the industry without first receiving "a new business plan" that shows how the companies will return to competitiveness.
Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.) said the idea of additional government intervention isn't popular with voters: "People in Montana are experiencing bailout fatigue."
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
'Underwater' Need Not Mean Foreclosure
The number of underwater homeowners -- those who owe more on their mortgages than their home is now worth -- has been growing sharply since 2006 as real-estate prices have tumbled. By some estimates, between one in six and one in eight homeowners are in that position, most of them people who bought homes in the past few years or who put down small or no down payments.
This worries economists and policy makers, since owing more than your home is worth is the first step toward foreclosure. And it's a concern to the rest of us because foreclosures are roiling the financial markets and, closer to home, they drag down our neighborhoods. (Most people who still have equity, by contrast, would rather sell their houses at a loss than lose what's left of their investment.)
In response to concerns about rising foreclosure and delinquency rates, federal regulators are studying possible new programs aimed at needy homeowners. There are concerns that such programs could attract a flood of applications from those who don't truly need assistance or encourage lenders to push homeowners into foreclosure. At the same time, lenders such as J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America have committed to working on new loan terms for the most-distressed homeowners.
But experts who have studied previous sharp housing downturns in Texas, California, New York and Massachusetts say that being underwater, while unpleasant, doesn't lead huge numbers of homeowners to default on their mortgages and end up in foreclosure.
Christopher L. Foote, Kristopher Gerardi and Paul S. Willen of the Boston Federal Reserve Bank studied more than 100,000 homeowners who were underwater in Massachusetts in 1991 and found that just 6.4% of them lost their homes to foreclosure over the next three years, according to a paper published in the September Journal of Urban Economics. The vast majority of homeowners simply continued paying as usual because they focused on the affordability of their payments, not on what they owed, and they believed home values would eventually recover.
The economists found that homeowners typically lost their homes only after at least two things happened: Their home values dropped and they either couldn't afford the payments or stopped making payments after losing hope that prices would eventually recover.
Homeowners in California also were more likely than expected to keep paying during the deep 1990s slump, says Richard Green, director of the Lusk Center for Real Estate at the University of Southern California. More people turned in their keys in Ohio and Michigan during the difficult 1980s downturn because they lost faith in an economic turnaround.
Typically, homeowners fall behind after a job loss, divorce or serious illness. In the current downturn, foreclosures are higher than in previous cycles because more homeowners reached beyond their means to buy their homes and simply can't keep up the payments. As a result, the Boston economists project that up to 8% of underwater Massachusetts homeowners could lose their homes between now and 2010 -- a significant amount, but still not catastrophic.
So what does this all mean for you?
If you have a low-interest fixed-rate loan, you have a valuable asset that might be hard to replace in the current market, no matter what your home's value is. Keeping that mortgage current has some value, even if it means cutting other household expenses.
In addition, the penalties for defaulting are great. In most cases, walking away from a mortgage can knock a top credit score down to the cellar, says Ethan Dornhelm, a senior scientist at Fair Isaac Corp., which sells credit-scoring formulas to credit bureaus.
A person with a stellar credit score from the high 700s to the top score of 850 would see it drop more than 200 points. A person whose credit score is lower may see it fall by fewer points, but still end up with a score in the mid 500s. At that level, reasonably priced new debt, from credit cards to car loans, will be out of reach. In addition, a default could lead landlords and utilities to require more cash up front and even affect your job prospects.
If the borrower continues to pay other debts on time, the score will climb gradually, though it may take three to five years to return to "good" scores, from the mid-600s and up. Scores of 790 or more -- which are rewarded with the lowest interest rates -- won't be attainable for at least seven years, when the default blemish finally disappears, Mr. Dornhelm says.
Fannie Mae requires borrowers who have lost their homes to foreclosure to wait five years before it will accept a loan from them, though borrowers who had extenuating circumstances, such as an illness or job loss, may requalify within three years.
What's more, lenders in most states can go after homeowners for an unpaid balance on a mortgage. That's a real risk, especially if you have other assets.
The longer you stay in your house, the better the chances of making it through this down cycle. Though a return to peak prices may take five or 10 years, some housing markets may start to bounce back once credit becomes more available. Meanwhile, you'll be reducing your mortgage as you make your payments.
Lenders aren't going to renegotiate just because prices have fallen, but if you truly can't afford your payments, contact your mortgage servicer to see if you can rework your interest rate or work out new payment options. The federal Hope for Homeowners program, which began Oct. 1, is intended to provide some relief if lenders will agree to reduce the loan amount to 90% of the home's current value.
If you can't get help from your lender, try contacting a credit counselor certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These counselors have direct access to lenders' loss-mitigation departments, which consumers don't, says Natalie Lohrenz, counseling administrator for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County, Calif. A list of HUD-certified counselors is available through Hope Now, a consortium of lenders and counselors. (Call 888-995-HOPE or go to www.hopenow.com.)
If you need to sell the property and can't afford to cover the shortfall, your lender may agree to a "short sale," in which you sell at a price below the mortgage amount. This is a much more complicated transaction to pull off than a regular home sale, though, and it may hurt your credit score if the lender reports that you failed to pay off the whole obligation.


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Happy Friday everyone....
It's been awhile since I've posted in FWF. Been so busy puppy sitting my grandpuppy while my son works at nights. She wears me out.
So here is my card. A nice pretty card using the Itty Bitty Single Flower Miracle and a sassy sentiment.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Huge Number
Posted by SherylK at 1:13 PM
12 comments:
BEAUTIFUL floral piece, they coloring is just amazing!ReplyDelete
Very pretty card.ReplyDelete
lovey card Sheryl! Cute puppy I bet he/she keeps you busy!ReplyDelete
Pretty floral card. Love it!ReplyDelete
LOVE your card. The witty sentiment and the soft feminine touch ;)ReplyDelete
I love that puppy! Does it have German Shepherd in it?(I had one)
Cute puppy and lovely card.ReplyDelete
Beautiful card!ReplyDelete
What a precious pup! I can imagine the energy! As for this pretty card, I love that sentiment!ReplyDelete
Beautiful grandpuppy. Love him. Glad you could make it to this FWF.ReplyDelete
Stunning card and that puppy face is irresistible!!ReplyDelete
Puppies can be a handful! Your card is very sweet, Sheryl.ReplyDelete
Gorgeous card! OMG, your grandpuppy is SOOOO cute! How fun!!!ReplyDelete
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'Starbucks Spelling' is an entertaining blog on Tumblr that showcases photographs of different Starbucks beverages on which the names of customers have been written in some absurdly incorrect ways.
While the concept of having a store personalize its customer's orders is very appealing, 'Starbucks Spelling' captures how quickly that plan can backfire. The site features images of some of the most simplest and common names written incorrectly on cups of coffee, tea, cappuccinos and lattes. My favorite misspelling on 'Starbucks Spelling' has got to be 'Jay' spelled as 'Jei' and 'Deb' spelled as 'Death.' This site is a great stop for some quick laughs!
Implications - Humor is one of the most effective marketing tools a business can utilize when trying to appeal to potential clients. Comedic branding or advertising is a simple way for a business to present itself as a smart choice for consumers as it will be perceived as highly approachable.
52 Gifts for Caffeine Addicts
21 Starbucks Branding Moves
Coffee-Guzzling Statistics
Unbranding Parody Graphs
Exoticized Coffee Cakes
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The 'Starbucks Spelling' Blog Portrays Some of Coffee King's Shortcomings
- By: Jaime NeelyJul 7, 2011
References: starbucksspelling.tumblr & buzzfeed
References: starbucksspelling.tumblr & buzzfeed


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About the Monash University Medical Foundation
About the Monash University Medical Foundation
Since its inception in 2002, the Monash University Medical Foundation has been dedicated to connecting generous people with outstanding researchers, students and educators who share a common vision to change and save lives through health.
The philanthropic priorities of the Foundation are driven by the vision of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Achieving this vision requires a significant investment in the Faculty's most valuable resources – its students, its researchers, its educators.
Its people have a rich history of developing their bright ideas into big discoveries all to make a difference on the way people live across the globe.
We pioneered IVF research, achieving the first IVF pregnancy in the early 1970s, and Australia's first (and the world's fourth) successful IVF birth in 1980.
Our stem cell scientists were the first in the world to demonstrate that human embryonic stem cells could generate specific types of body cells in the laboratory.
Our scientists are making discoveries being used to develop drugs to treat malaria. A team of 15 Monash-based scientists worked out how to deactivate the digestive enzyme in our bodies used by the malaria parasite to sustain itself. The work of these researchers could eventually help the one million people this disease kills each year in Africa, Asia and South America.
We are in a unique position to consider research and education from a global perspective. We are the only Australian university active on four continents. And, our faculty is a foundation member of the M8 alliance that brings together prestigious medical schools and teaching hospital around the world, framing future considerations of global medical developments and health challenges.
Supporting the Faculty's human capital will ensure these outstanding people and the next generation of leaders in health and medical research unleash their full potential, to tackle the most pressing world health questions.


text: ELKHART -- Gateway Builders and Properties has announced that Lori Snyder will be the principal broker and Robert Coeling, a Realtor will specialize in commercial properties, for Gateway's new division, Gateway Realty, LLC. SOUTH BEND -- A national guide of the country's top attorneys has recognized 10 Barnes & Thornburg LLP attorneys in the South Bend office as well as one attorney in the Elkhart office. Two of the attorneys in the South Bend office, Nelson J. Vogel, Jr., managing partner, and Brian J. Lake, partner, have been recognized with this honor for the past 20 years. Timothy D. Hernly, Nancy L. Ickler and Richard L. Mintz have been listed for the past 10 years. Attorneys in the South Bend and Elkhart office include: Timothy J. Abeska, Douglas K. Dieterly, Timothy D. Hernly, Nancy L. Ickler, Brian J. Lake, Greta Roemer Lewis, Gerald F. Lutkus, Richard L. Mintz, Nelson J. Vogel Jr., Michael B. Watkins, and Samuel S. Thompson. MILFORD -- Thomas Rice has been named credit analyst with CTB, according to Jeff Crawford, vice president and treasurer for the company. Rice will be responsible for the application of daily cash receipts, help to resolve payment disputes, credit analysis of dealer applications and other functions in the credit department. CTB is a leading global, designer, manufacturer and marketer of systems and solutions for the poultry, hog, egg production and grain industries. MISHAWAKA -- The Mishawaka Business Association (MBA) board of directors announced the appointment of Bill Killilea as the new MBA executive director. Killilea will be responsible for membership development, member and government relations, and marketing and promoting of the MBA. The MBA board of directors also announced the appointment of Roland Morin as MBA managing director, which is a new position. Morin will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the MBA along with overseeing MBA events.


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Top Brands:
Read the Review Transcript: Hi, this is Emily. I just got off of the Volkl Aura. I give this ski a 4 out of 5 for an advanced, women's skier. It was a really ski for someone who likes to make long GS carves, but the reason I don't give it a 5 out of 5 is because, on the short turns, it wasn't very manageable. It takes definitely some effort to move from edge to edge, so if you like to lock in to those long GS turns, this definitely is that ski for you, especially in any kind of crud too, it really can plow through just about anything and would have some good float in some fresh snow as well. So, a 4 out of 5 rating for an advanced skier.


text: "I just got the Bergdorf Goodman spring shoe catalog the other day, and I'm inspired!" wrote Julie Dam, a People magazine editor, earlier this spring on her blog, Somelikeithaute.com. "I've been studying its contents even as the wind gusts outside my window. Who cares about the 45-degree weather? Get thee to the shoe department, I say!" Dam, 34, a music and celebrity weddings editor for the magazine in New York, started her shoe-centric blog almost a year ago as a promotional tool for her recently published chick-lit novel by the same name. Writing in the chatty voice of Alex Simons, Dam's alter ego and the novel's endearing shopaholic heroine, Dam accompanies each blog entry with a photo of her feet in a selection from her real-life designer footwear collection that includes Pradas, Manolos and Guccis. "I'm more well-rounded than people think," Dam writes. "I'm not just about shoes. I like handbags and sweaters, too." Dam's online diary of fashionable observations is among the vast number of blogs that continue to explode on the Internet. According to Derek Gordon of Technorati, a San Francisco-based search engine that tracks 31.5 million blogs, the number of blogs is doubling every 5 1/2 months. Although most Web logs are musings by a writer and meant as a private journal of sorts shared with a few select people, more and more have taken on a large following. 'Rock star bloggers' "Most blogs are written for the benefit of the individual and their close circle of family and friends," Gordon says. "Then there are the 'rock star bloggers,' about 5,000 in number, who have a large readership, advertising on their blogs, and focus on a single subject or developing an expertise." Among them are blogs about style, fashion and beauty. While some bloggers say they do it simply to share their sartorial passion, others like Dam have also tapped into blogging to further their writing careers. "Lots of authors have their own Web sites, but the blog is actually about them," says Dam, who gets an average of 750 readers per day. "Making the blog about my character was something new and different. It's helped get people who just like reading my blog to go buy the book, and it's helped with the press I've been getting online." Maggie Mason started the shopping blog Mightygoods.com in 2004. The San Francisco-based freelance writer had the idea after launching her personal blog Mightygirl.com in 2000 and seeing its readership grow. "Wear this long pendant with your favorite tank top, or let it peek out from a deep neckline. The perfect complement to your cleavage," writes Mason about a minimalist circle pendant necklace that she found online. Mightygoods.com, updated five days a week, is a collection of online retail finds and links to where they can be purchased. Products are selected with Mason's eye for the clean and modern, from jewelry and clothes to gourmet foods and housewares. "I really like stuff," says Mason, 30. "I thought it'd be cool to find a place where I could put all this stuff I was finding on the Web and have people click through and own it easy-peasy. Collecting it all in one place also satisfied my own acquisition instinct. It's a way to tell a bunch of people about something you've found that intrigues or touches you. It's an accumulation of my tastes." Mighty satisfying The blog has even attracted a few small advertisers, and while Mason would not disclose actual figures, she says she makes enough money to run the site and pocket a little extra. It averages about 3,000 readers each day. Mason's blogging habit also landed her most of her freelance jobs. Editing and writing assignments from online weekly magazine the Morning News to print publications such as the New York Times have come by way of editors who happened upon her blogs, she says. "A good blog can keep you at the top of people's minds," Mason says. "They think of you when they need to hire someone, because they read your stuff every few days." What does she think makes a good blog? "Good writing, quality content, frequent postings and a clean design can't hurt."


text: Orange Tuxedo goes shopping at Food Front Orange Tuxedo is the improv comedy team of Carla and Craig Cuckowski. They hired cinematic entertainment photographer Andy Batt to create a quirky scene that embodies their unique style. Andy brought his badass lighting techniques and his talent to a grocery store to create this moment in time, and the actor performers brought their emotion and authentic humor to set. everyone laughed and laughed at these real, awkward moments and the results are amazing.


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Childs ABC Plate G H I ~ ZOO Giraffe Alphabet Adderley Staffordshire 1940
Rare Child's ABC Plate
Adderley & Co. Staffordshire England c 1940
This is a wonderful child's ABC or alphabet plate. Originally part of a complete child's nursery breakfast set, the creamy earthenware plate measures a perfect 7 inches in diameter. The decoration is applied in brown and colored with wisps of blue orange-red and green detailing, and green outlining on the rim. The plate features an amusing and imaginative presentation of three letters of the alphabet:
G is for GIRAFFE~~H is for HORSE~~I is for IBEX on a mountain course.
The plate was made in Longton in the Staffordshire district of England by Adderleys Ltd. as part of its Nurseryware Zoo Alphabet series. (The complete set included a feeding dish, porridge bowl, plate, juice beaker, and mug.) The series was introduced in 1939 and was made until 1947. The plate is marked with the maker's Adderleyware mark on the underside. The series is discussed and shown in the book Gifts for Good Children, 1880-1980 by Maureen Batkin.
The plate is in great condition, with no chips, cracks, repairs. Minor typical glaze crazing and firing flaws consistent with age. The plate is well potted and spotless clean, and the images are richly detailed. This great little feeding plate is a joy to behold!
Adderleys Nurseryware Zoo Alphabet piece are incredibly hard to find and quite desirable. This delicious little piece will make a fabulous complement to any collection of ABC wares.
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Whimsical quirky and irresistible antique gifts for children of all ages
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2 years ago
Apr 2, 2009
Anthropologie Philadelphia & Joan Shepp
Anthropologie's latest window visual, honeycomb! The lighting is really cool at night.
Joan Shepp has this awesome shoe display, I need to get some new shoes so bad! Pay day today I think :O! I've never actually been in this store because I could never afford anything in there but their visual merchandising is always pretty eye catching.
Posted by M.J.S.B at 4/02/2009 12:24:00 AM
1 comment:
- AnonymousApril 2, 2009 at 6:05 AM
wow that honeycomb window is amazing! :oReplyDelete
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Introducing Member Connect
Why is MPR changing from Member Services to the new Member Connect benefits program?
We are always looking for ways to put more of your financial contributions into news, music and cultural programming. One way we're doing this is by bringing the management of the member card benefits program in-house instead of outsourcing it. MPR's new member benefit program is called Member Connect.
How will the new Member Connect benefits program affect me as a member?
Member Connect Card
Member Connect Card
Key Fob
There will be several changes.
- You'll receive a different-looking Member Connect card along with two key fobs that you can share or use yourself. Here's what it looks like.
- Instead of mailing discount listings in printed books, up-to-date and complete listings of discounts from restaurant and business participants will be available on our new searchable Member Connect Web site.
- You'll have the opportunity to communicate easily with us to recommend new restaurants, bookstores, record shops, etc. for the Member Connect discount program.
Will I receive a new Member Connect booklet?
No, you won't. Instead of the booklet, we've determined that we can provide better, more up-to-date information through our new Member Connect Web site. It has a lot of information available to you including dining, event, retailer and entertainment discounts. It's easy to find out what you are looking for through the Member Connect search function. Try it out-you'll love it.
What should I do with my Member Services card?
As soon as you receive the new MPR Member Connect card, just toss the old card.
When will I receive my new Member Connect card?
We will begin sending the new cards at the end of the month, so you should receive yours within a couple of weeks of that.
Will all of the participants with the Member Services program be a part of the new Member Connect benefits program?
Some will be a part of the new program and others won't be. We're interested in providing participants that you will use. To that end, instead of us telling you what dining, retail, entertainment and event experiences are available, we want you to tell us what you want. Do you have a favorite restaurant, store or theater that you'd like us to contact? Please let us know.
How do I find out who is offering what?
We've put together a fantastic browse function. All you have to do is decide if you want to browse by category, name, city, zip code or date. Or if you prefer, you can go through everything.
Are there guidelines to using the Member Connect card?
We're proud to offer these benefits to our members-thank you for supporting us. Read the guidelines to make sure you're getting the most out of your MPR membership:
- You must present your MPR Member Connect card or key fob at the time of purchase to receive discounts.
- Discounts may not be combined with other coupons, special offers or sales unless otherwise specified.
- Discounts are per Member Connect card unless otherwise specified.
- Discounts are subject to change at any time without notice and valid at participating locations only; some restrictions may apply. Check individual participant listings for specific information.
- Discounts apply only to Web site purchases where expressly stated.


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Works Consulted
Zoobiquity brings together a tremendous amount of information from many different fields. To make the sourcing as user-friendly as possible, we've divided it into two categories.
In the published book(s), you'll find end notes that correspond to specific passages in the text.
Posted here is a more complete bibliography and reading list of the books, journal articles, reporting, and interviews that shaped and inspired our research.
Note: On page 41 of the hardcover version, the paragraph "Genomics researchers at the University of Pennsylvania tested this hypothesis by calculating the number of cells in the human colon and comparing it to the number of cells in the colon of a giant blue whale…" should be tied to this citation: A. F. Caulin and C. C. Maley, "Peto's Paradox: Evolution's Prescription for Cancer Prevention," Trends Ecol Evol 26 (2011): pp. 175-182. The citation slipped out of the manuscript during editing, and we sincerely regret the error. Caulin and Maley's creative and useful study can be accessed here.


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Holy Night
Yes, O' Holy Night!
It's shortly after one o'clock in the morning, and I've
just returned from a late night walk. What an
experience! Except for the shadows from trees, the
old gravel road is bathed in the full moon's light.
At one point, the moon was directly in front of me,
framed between tall spruce and maple trees lining
both sides of the road. I stood there, struck by the
beauty of the scene. I stared at the moon, then
closed my eyes, and inhaled several deep breaths,
visualizing the light filling every part of my body.
I wish some of you could have been with me tonight,
as you would have been amazed by the experience.
And, imagine this, it's free! That's a good thing, as it's
impossible to place a dollar value on such things.
Tomorrow evening is the Sweet Grass session. But,
rest assured, I'll be taking a late night walk, yet again.
My best wishes to everyone,


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And its already a year!
Oh my goodness...its been a year. ITS.BEEN.A.YEAR.
I can't help but remember how a year passed by so fast that I got my hair shaved. I started reminiscing about how losing my hair also changed my life.
Okay so let's go back to when it all happened - May 31, 2015. It was a rainy evening that I decided to attend Kojie San's over at Valkyrie even though I received the news that my uncle passed.
I still attended because I made a commitment, and whatever happens I will do what I promised. So I got to the venue and a few minutes after I arrived the MC asked who is the bravest woman in the crowd. And as my usual self, I just shouted Meeeeee in the distance.
And then he asked who is willing to shave their hair for about 10k. One girl went in front and just when the shaver would go through she backed out. Then the bar was raised to 15k. I grabbed the chance and went to stage and got my hair shaved.
It all happened so fast that the aftershock came in the day after I got it shaved. It wasn't a bad decision though since I was able to help my cousins with some expenses during my uncle's wake.
Now let's go through the growing out phases shall we?
This is about a month into growing out my hair.
And I remember this was just a few weeks after I got it shaved so I was at awe on how fast my hair grows. I actually attended some events while my hair is growing out and I got a few stares from people and even asked me if I was a cancer patient that went cancer-free.
I actually didn't know how to respond at that time. But I just took it lightly and told them the whole story.
This was two or three months into the growing phase. I am starting to have the spiky hair stage.
I actually looked like a butch more according to some rude people. I don't want to sound too defensive to them but how can people be so judgement of one's looks?!
I think at this part of growing out my hair, I've also started to accept that people are judgmental no matter what you look. Beauty is very subjective that it might be painful for others to accept.
Take it as a compliment that they noticed you despite of other people around you.
I'm starting to have more volume in my hair! yey! This is around the 5th month of the growing out. I remember I was out of town more often because of work so I wasn't really doing much to slow the process.
These were back in January. My hair is more manageable at this point that I can just do the wash and go move.
I remembered that during this whole time I can seriously count with my fingers how many times I have used a comb. It was like 5 times since my hair started growing out.
This was also the moment where I had that awkward phase on not knowing how to style my hair. It was quite bothersome to even think about it so sometimes I just let my hair be itself for the day.
I know - WHY?!
There are days that I would just tie my hair like this (see picture above) or sometimes let it down (see picture below) And it would just okay.
Currently my hair is becoming more and more voluminous. And I can style it more that the usual! I have also learned to just work it with my hair than making a huge fuss all about it. If my hair is a mess let it be! Its just hair right?
So its been a year..and I will continue writing about my hair journey!
Currently I have started using Sunsilk Strong and Long shampoo along with the hair tonic my mama gave me to use. I do see some changes but maybe I'll do the update next time okay?
If you ask me for advise here is the best one I can give you - Don't be afraid to rock that look! It may not be the one you wanted but you can work your way in making it your statement look.
Be confident in any hair style you are having and people will see the beauty of it. Trust me, I went to long wavy tresses to na-da in a snap yet it didn't made me feel any less of a woman. Don't let a bad hair cut bring you down okay?
Much Love!


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Several people have inquired about the Pochade box I am building for my wife. A Pochade box is a painter's box that can be transported out into the field. Varying in size, shape and style they can contain any, all or none of the following: paints, pallets, brushes, solvents, canvases, etc. What a Pochade box really does well though is holds a canvas while one is in the field painting.
Mine is made of walnut sides with a bookmatched maple top. The base, sub-base and drawers are made of baltic birch plywood. The hardware is from Woodcraft. I began this project from a picture that I found online. I then made some alterations to suit my taste. Here is what I have so far. I'll keep posting as the project is completed.
I first milled out my pieces from Walnut. I cut the box joints and then routed dados for the base and sub base. Placing stop blocks on my router table I cut through slots into the sides to allow for the drawers.
The base is made from 1/2" baltic birch ply and sits flush with the bottom of the box. It holds not only the drawers but the drawer guide system and two T-nuts so that the box can sit atop a tripod for field use. The sub-base is made from 1/4" baltic birch and will be the base for the inside of the box. I cut finger slots into the bottom of the base and into the drawers so that they can retract into the box fully and stay out of the way during transport. The drawers are pulled out by reaching under the box, sticking a finger in the slide slot and pulling out from the middle toward the box sides.
I drilled four holes, two on the drawers and two on the base, for rare earth magnets to hold the drawers in place while they are retracted. I drilled four more and inserted magnets in the other places to hold the drawers in place when they are pulled out. The base and sub-base are close together, roughly 1/4" + 1/32" so that the drawers fit snugly. This allows them to have very little play when bearing weight and also to stay in if something heavy is placed on them that overcomes the pull from the magnets. The drawer sides will be capped with walnut strips and holes will be drilled in one of the drawers to hold paint brushes.
I drilled holes for two different sized T-nuts in the base and installed them. The larger T-nut is for a tripod and the smaller is for the tripod's swivel head. The swivel head will bear less weight but will allow the box to be easily tilted in all directions which may come in handy.
I did a preliminary cleanup of my box joints and fixed one finger that had, to my horror, broken off and vanished during the routing of the drawer slots. I then mortised my hinges in preparation for joining the top and bottom.
The top of the box will house the "mechanism". The top of the box has a maple top, hollow inside and a birch bottom. Inside the top I have connected two runners. Between the runners is, labled in pencil, a floater block and, to its right, a stationary block. Attached to each of these blocks will be eyebolts with a spring connecting them. On the floater block I'll attach a hook and another on the block to the right of the floater block. This will form a pincher with which to hold canvases to the lid while painting.
The birch base for the top of the box will have a slot cut to allow the hook on the floater and the hook on the block to the right of the stationary block to protrude from the inside of the top while hiding the mechanism. The birch base for the top will be screwed to the top via four screws to the blocks in the corners of the top. This is the "in-progress" top mechanism.


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SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAPC, the leader in training and certification for the business of healthcare, has launched an enterprise-centric brand—Healthicity (www.healthicity.com). As a sister company to AAPC, Healthicity will focus on creating software and services designed to drive simplicity and elevate an organization's operational performance.
Healthicity brings the knowledge and expertise from AAPC's 30 years of serving medical coders, billers, auditors, compliance managers and administrators to create solutions for enterprise businesses. This launch will allow AAPC to remain focused on training, certification, resources and professional community for its members while Healthicity will focus its efforts and momentum toward auditing, compliance and analytic solutions for enterprises.
Dr. Barry Johnson serves as president of Healthicity. Dr. Johnson brings over 20 years of experience building software companies in the healthcare industry. He previously co-founded HealthCare Insight (HCI), which provided payers with next-generation solutions for fraud, waste and abuse detection and prevention. HCI was purchased by Verisk Analytics in 2007, where Dr. Johnson served as president of the payment accuracy division until 2011.
"Healthcare is a very complex industry made even more complicated by the outdated and inadequate technology currently available in the market. At Healthicity, our approach is to elevate healthcare technology through elegant, intuitive design that will transform the way our clients work and interact with software," said Dr. Johnson.
"The launch of Healthicity reflects our firm commitment to both those we serve and our mission. AAPC remains focused on supporting members and advancing the business of healthcare," said AAPC CEO Jason VandenAkker. "Healthicity will concentrate on elevating organizations and driving simplicity across the healthcare system."
For a free trial or demonstration of the Healthicity solutions that are enhancing auditing accuracy and healthcare compliance, visit http://www.healthicity.com/solutions. Additional new and exciting products and services will be commercially available in the coming months.
About AAPC
AAPC (http://www.aapc.com) is the largest training and credentialing association for the business of healthcare. More than 150,000 members represent physician offices, outpatient facilities and payer organizations. AAPC certifications validate the knowledge and expertise of healthcare professionals in disciplines including medical coding, billing, auditing, compliance and practice management.
About Healthicity
Healthicity (http://www.healthicity.com) creates software and services designed to help physician groups, ACOs, hospitals and payers simplify their work and elevate performance. Healthicity provides a suite of solutions and services for healthcare compliance, auditing, coding, training and analytics.
CONTACT: Darin Johnson 800-626-2633 firstname.lastname@example.com:American Academy of Professional Coders(AAPC)


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Discuss the role of fascism in the interwar period. • What is fascism? • What characteristics distinguish fascist states from merely authoritarian regimes? • What were the driving forces that accounted for the rise in fascism during the interwar period in Europe? • Why did the average person allow fascism to take hold?
Why did the average person allow fascism to take hold?
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Follow-up care is important for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The frequency of clinical visits, laboratory tests, and CT scans or other imaging should be discussed with the treating doctor. Periodic assessment of the patient's state of health, blood cell counts and, if indicated, bone marrow, is important. Over time, the interval between assessments may be lengthened, but assessments should be continued indefinitely for most patients.
Click here for information about follow-up care, including what to expect, long-term and late effects of treatment, survivorship clinics, and other resources such as The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines.


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|Better known for his work at Gettysburg, renowned battlefield photographer
William Tipton took this image of veterans and their families at the dedication
of the 11th Connecticut monument at Antietam on Oct. 11, 1894.
(Connecticut Historical Society collection)
In the weeks and months leading up to the dedication of four Connecticut monuments at Antietam in 1894, the Hartford Courant was peppered with stories about the event. From the report of the approval of designs for the monuments in January that year to the breakdown of the itinerary of the Connecticut veterans' dedication day visit to Sharpsburg, Md., in October, the newspaper made it clear that this was a very big deal.
"Antietam's soul-stirring memories will be brought vividly to life this week by members of the Eighth, Eleventh, Fourteenth and Sixteenth regiments, Connecticut Volunteers, who fought on that field September 17, 1862, the members of the last named regiment having first scented the powder of the enemy in that battle," the newspaper reported on Oct. 8, 1894, three days before dedication day.
|Close-up of William Tipton's image shows a young girl with
a large American flag draped over her right arm.
(Connecticut Historical Society Collection)
Before the main events of the day, many veterans toured the battlefield, finding bullets and "grim reminders of the past," according to an account of the trip. (1) Even though 32 years had past, emotions undoubtedly were still raw for men who survived that awful battle. Some had friends killed in the farm fields and woodlots outside Sharpsburg. Even the wife of 16th Connecticut captain Frederick Barber, who was mortally wounded in farmer John Otto's 40-acre cornfield, attended.
At the dedication of the monuments, music was played, prayers were offered and veterans gave lengthy speeches, each of which was dutifully published in the Hartford Courant the next day. Perhaps the most poignant moment came when Nathan Mayer, a brilliant assistant surgeon with the 11th Connecticut at Antietam, read a long poem at the dedication of the 16th Connecticut monument. Bringing some veterans to tears, the poem read, in part:
Against the picked men of the South
Against the batteries' belching mouth
Against the fire-lined gray stone wall --
A living line to stand or fall --
They met their fate this martyr band
For Union and their Native Land!
|11th Connecticut monument today. It was moved to this location from
John Otto's 40-acre cornfield shortly after it was dedicated.
Also in the crowd that Thursday, a renowned 44-year-old photographer plied his craft, intent on capturing scenes for profit and perhaps for history. Best known for images of the Gettysburg battlefield, William H. Tipton shot several images, including this photograph of the 16th Connecticut monument. After the 11th Connecticut monument dedication at about 3 p.m., Tipton gathered some of the regiment's veterans and their families for a keepsake photograph. He recorded an image of 36 people, including veterans, several women wearing long dresses and one young girl with a large American flag draped across her right arm.
Perhaps the words of their monument dedication speaker, Samuel B. Horne, were still ringing in the veterans' ears.
"There were greater battles, with greater loss of life, but they were not fought out on one day as at Antietam, where the bloody work commenced at sunrise and by 4 o'clock in the afternoon it was over," he said. "You were there as active participants and willing spectators of that bloody scene.
"What a thrilling experience for mere boys!" (2)
(1) "Souvenir Of Excursion To Antietam And Dedication of Monuments of the 8th, 11th, 14th and 16th Regiments of Connecticut Volunteers," October 1894
(2) Ibid, Page 36


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Britney Spears partied with LeBron James before she walked down the aisle as a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding in Florida last weekend. Spears, her boyfriend, Jason Trawick,and her recently reconciled parents, Lynne and Jamie, held court in a private area at nightclub Liv at the Fontainebleau Hotel surrounded by four security guards. But at about midnight, James joined the foursome and hung out with the family until 2 a.m.
Additional Heat
By PageSix.com Staff
February 1, 2011 | 5:00am


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So having enjoyed the £12.95 pre theatre menu at Bistro Franc in my previous post and being lucky enough to have tickets to go and see Sheridan Smith star in Funny Girl at the Liverpool Empire last week, we decided to give their sister restaurant, Bistro Pierre a whirl. Their pre theatre menu offered a different selection of starters and mains so it's practically like visiting a completely different venue isn't it? Could Bistro Pierre offer a tasty trio of courses similar to that of Bistro Franc? We headed off to go find out.
Bistro Pierre was a lot busier than Bistro Franc when we arrival on a pleasant Thursday evening. Maybe it was because it was a nicer evening or maybe it's down to Bistro Pierre's more central location on Button Street that makes it more in demand but either way I was glad we had pre booked a table. The decor is again similar to Bistro Franc's with the dark wooden fittings and posters of traditional French artwork lining the walls. Bistro Pierre is a lot smaller than Bistro Franc which when you combine with the amount of people in the dining area does make for a rather intimate affair but I liked that as it felt like there was a bit more of an atmosphere.
So with our white wine ordered and the pre meal bread tucked into we ordered our courses. The £12.95 menu was once again too bargaintastic to resist and as mentioned above, the option's do vary between Bistro Pierre and Bistro Franc and so this time I ordered the Bleu D'Auvergne cheese croquettes. They do arrive at the table looking rather uninspiring sat on top of a bed of random rocket leaves but looks can be deceiving as they are rather delicious. So soft and cheesy with a nice crisp crunch they are further elevated with a dip in the apple compote on the side. I just wanted more!
Our other starter was the lemon and garlic hummus. This was a great little start to the meal. The hummus had just the right amount of garlic and lemon to work together perfectly so that there wasn't one flavor overriding everything. The marinated peppers on top added a nice sweet touch giving a further dimension to the dish. The flatbread was good but there was the age old problem (one similar to when you order pate at a restaurant!) of there not being enough meaning we were using everything we could to polish off the rest of the hummus. Make sure you save some of that bread you are given at the table!
The mains were like two sides of a coin. I'll be honest and say that we couldn't help but be a bit disappointed with the tofu on our first main. It was incredibly salty due to the amount of soy sauce it had been marinated in. This was slightly offset by the rainbow slaw which offered a lightly tangy, sweet respite from the tofu. It was delightful as was the avocado salsa hidden underneath which was refreshingly palette cleansing. Add a bit of the tofu, slaw and salsa together with a piece of the flatbread and you were fine. It's a shame the tofu was just a tad too overpowering; hopefully this was just a one off!
The second main on the other hand was absolutely spot on. A gorgeously cook piece of salmon with the most scrumptious crispy skin, I would of been quite happy just to have that as my meal. Add to it the fresh burst of flavor offered up by the roasted vine tomatoes and you take it up a notch. Add to that a creamy mushroom veloute that worked in complete harmony with the salmon and for me you have a perfectly delightful little plate of food. I devoured the lot alongside the sides of broccoli, yummy red cabbage and heavenly potatoes that were served between the two of us. Couldn't fault it!
Onto the desserts now and this is the only part of the menu at Bistro Pierre that was identical to the one we had in Bistro Franc so we decided to chose different puds to give them a whirl in case we missed something good the last time round. First up was the mulled winter berry mousse. It was huge but this is a good thing as it was delicious. The light and fluffy mousse on top hid a layer of sweet berry compote underneath and the combination of the two together danced on your taste buds. It's simple but ever so effective and the perfect fruity palette cleanser to finish off a three course meal with.
For those who are still a bit peckish you could go for our final dish of the evening which was the apple and pear crumble with custard and when I say custard I mean an absolute shed load! Not that I'm complaining as I love custard and I'm always annoyed when you get served up stingy portions in restaurants. The crumble itself was delish! The apples and pears were cooked perfectly so they were tender enough to be soft but still have a bit of bite to them whilst the crumble was super sweet and crunchy adding a different level of texture to the dish. To me, this was a proper little bowl of comfort food and it made me finish the meal with a smile.
So with our three courses polished off it was time to head off to the theatre. Bistro Pierre may had a wobble when it comes to that tofu but again for the £12.95 price tag, you couldn't really fault it. You might initially think that the portion sizes are stingy but I left feeling full and that is right, you don't want to roll out the door feeling bloated and sick. Pick yourself the right starter, main and dessert and you can have yourself a proper nice meal at a great price and who could ask for anything more? Would I come back to Bistro Pierre? On balance, Oui s'il vous plaît!
Fancy giving them a go? Head on over to Bistro Pierre to check out their menu or for details on how to book yourself a table by clicking here!
Fancy giving them a go? Head on over to Bistro Pierre to check out their menu or for details on how to book yourself a table by clicking here!


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occurs when a person can not stop using alcohol on their own. DIG specializes in helping people get free from alcohol and other illicit drugs. Intervention is all that we do and we are very good at it. We are considered a trusted authority in the industry.
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We all know that your credit score is a critical factor when applying for a home loan, but did you know that there are some steps you can put into action now to improve your overall score?
Your score can improve by managing your credit responsibly over time and following some basic tips:
- Make sure the information in your credit report is correct. You are entitled to one free credit report annually from the three credit bureaus – Experian, Transition, and Equifax. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain your free reports. You may also purchase a copy of your credit score report through this website.
- Review your credit report for accuracy (review the account-opened date, account balance, account limit and last activity information). Act quickly to correct erroneous information.
- Pay down high credit card and revolving account balances, but don't close the account. Don't apply for credit that you don't need – excessive credit report "inquiries" can lower your score.
- Avoid moving credit balances from one account to another just to take advantage of low introductory interest rates. The combination of "inquiries" and "new accounts" can negatively impact your score.
- If possible, avoid "finance company" type credit accounts, including "90-day" and "12 months same-as-cash" accounts. Mortgage loans, installment loans and revolving credit card accounts impact your score more favorably than finance company accounts.
If you would like more information about obtaining your credit report, or getting pre-qualified for a home loan, please contact us!