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In this Market Foolery podcast, Chris Hill and Bill Barker from Motley Fool Asset Management discuss how retail behemoth Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) managed to pop a whopping 8% on its third-quarter report; why J.M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM) saw a 10% pop this week, coming off a 40% rise this year, and why investors might want to take another look at the beaten-down food company; why Papa John's (NASDAQ:PZZA) has already come out with a public amendment to its comments about the NFL protests, and what this probably means for the company's next quarter; and why L Brands (NYSE:LB), parent company of Bath & Body Works, is seeing some bad luck this quarter.
A full transcript follows the video.
This video was recorded on Nov. 16, 2017.
Chris Hill: It's Thursday, Nov. 16. Welcome to Market Foolery. I'm Chris Hill. Joining me and studio today, all the way from Dubai from Motley Fool Asset Management, Bill Barker. Thanks for being here!
Bill Barker: Thanks for having me!
Hill: You had quite a travel day yesterday.
Barker: I did. It was a long day coming home.
Hill: [laughs] Thanks for making the effort.
Barker: I wouldn't miss it.
Hill: And I think it's safe to say, given your messed-up body clock, at any moment, this thing could just completely go off the rails.
Barker: I assume I'll be falling asleep during one of your questions.
Hill: This is going to be great. It's just going to be great. We have earnings news, we have retail, we have food earnings. We're going to dip into The Fool mailbag. We have to start with Wal-Mart, though. Holy cow, shares of Wal-Mart up 8%! This is like a small-cap stock. It's hitting an all-time high off of their third quarter results. E-commerce sales were up 50%. This is the 13th straight quarter of positive same-store sales. Doug McMillon is getting it done at Wal-Mart.
Barker: Yeah, I think you've highlighted what is the possible explanation for the stock price being up 8%, that 50% increase in online sales is by far the most interesting number that's out there. The rest of the story is positive. Continues to be positive. But it's in the range of 2-3% moves, the kind of things you would expect from a massive company. Comp sales were up 2.7%, it's a little bit better than inflation. Nothing really amazing there. But, that 50% online. If that online shopping ever takes off, I think they'll be in good shape.
Hill: Yeah, they just need that trend to continue.
Barker: If people would just wake up and start buying things online, they might be in the right place.
Hill: It's interesting. For a long time, they had their own e-commerce operation, and they would frequently report double-digit increases in online sales. And what you would hear all the time was, "Well, that's off of a really small base." And Doug McMillon went out and bought Jet.com, and apparently, he's making that work really well, because it's no longer off of a small base. And 50% is an enormous number.
Barker: Yeah. As he pointed out, McMillon in the conference call following the release of the earnings, that most of the 50% increase was through Wal-Mart.com rather than jet.com. Jet.com is also doing well, but it's the Wal-Mart.com side of things that's fueling growth right now, which is good news. They have about 70 million things they sell there.
Hill: About that.
Barker: Which seems kind of comprehensive. They are in a position to survive. One of the few in retail that seem to be thriving these days, other than Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN).
Hill: Amazon shares are up about 51% year to date. Shares of Wal-Mart, with this rise today, they're up 41% year-to-date, and I'm wondering what you see when you in you look at the stock in terms of how expensive it may or may not be. One of the things that always gets said about Amazon is, e-commerce as a percentage of overall commerce is still very small, maybe about 10% globally, so Amazon still has a long way to go. A lot of runway. And by that rationale, doesn't Wal-Mart as well?
Barker: Yeah, certainly in the online space, to be able to compete at all with Amazon puts them ahead of so many others out there. Of course, given the great logistics operations that they've always had, they're in a better position to do it profitably rather than just throw money at survival. So, in terms of valuation today, going for about 21X next year's profits, it's no bargain, but what is in today's market? It's not excessively priced given its position. But, up 40% so far this year, 21X forward earnings, I think it's had a great year, and that's already being appreciated and appreciated further by the market.
Hill: J.M. Smuckers' second quarter profits rose 10%, and that's basically what shares of Smuckers are doing today as well. That's a hell of a pop for a food company.
Barker: It's a pop. But this is a time when it's worth remembering, why is the stock price where it is? This is not hitting an all-time high like Wal-Mart. It's up 10% today, but this is just not even getting it close to its all-time highs, which way back around the middle of last year, it was trading for $155 a share. Got down to multi-year lows earlier this month at about $100 per share. It's now about $115. So, yeah, what is in the numbers today that's fueling that? It's not that they weren't profitable, it's just that they were slightly more profitable than people were fearing. It's a consumer staple company, largest coffee seller in the world, better known for its jams and jellies, which the company is named after. But it's a huge coffee and pet food company as well.
Hill: Do you think they need to go the route of a Procter & Gamble and start to get smaller? Would it make sense for them to shed some of their brands? Or have they just hit a rough patch where, you're saying that they just need to ride it out?
Barker: Everybody in consumer staples has hit a rough patch. That's one part of the story. They have been an acquisitive company, and they've done a good job at it. They're fairly insular. They're still run by the Smucker family. Over the long-term, this has been a very good performing company. But it has been a tough year for consumer staples of all sorts, they're still down for the year, really haven't returned much in the way of stock performance in the last three years. But, packaged foods -- the market has been up 10% a year over the last five years, packaged foods are up 5%. Smuckers just a little bit under that. They're not differentiating themselves from the greater trend, is one way to look at it.
Hill: Did you know that they have a store? They have their own branded Smuckers store in Ohio, which is, I'm assuming, where the company was founded.
Barker: Is it in Orrville?
Hill: It's in Orrville, Ohio. Is that where they're headquartered?
Barker: Yeah.
Hill: I'm assuming that's the only reason they would have a store. And I say this as a consumer of their products. There's no real need to roll out more than one of those things.
Barker: No, I did not know that. I assume it's the home of the original business more or less, and that's why they're still corporately located in Orrville, and they have a store there. It really wasn't a great quarter, it was just better than expected as of earlier this month. Net sales are up 1%, that's not even keeping up with inflation. Food costs have, in many categories, gone down. So, that's limiting the amount that you can charge, the price increases that can be taken. But, as I said, they're a good company operating in a space that has not been favored by macroeconomic trends.
Hill: So, this is not like the RV industry.
Barker: No. No, food, very different from RVs. For those who are confused about the two, don't go out eating RVs, is my advice, or trying to drive peanut butter. Neither will serve you well.
Hill: You're not getting insights like that on Bloomberg. You're only getting them here. No, where I was going with that was, you've studied the RV industry, and you've been to Elkhart, Indiana, which is the home of the RV industry, home of the RV Hall of Fame. I'm just wondering, if at any point, your travels as a working portfolio manager and analysts are going to take you somewhere close to Orrville, Ohio, because a little boots-on-the-ground research about what they're offering at the cafe would be great.
Barker: One can only hope that my travels will one day take me to Orrville, Ohio. But, I don't know when that will be. The domestic fund we run is called the Great America Fund. How many brands are there that scream out Great America more than Smuckers. This is an American, iconic brand.
Hill: It is. And they make legitimately good stuff.
Barker: Yeah, that everybody should be eating. Their favorite product of yours, I assume, is Dunkin Donuts coffee.
Hill: I'm always partial to the Dunkin Donuts coffee, but I just go straight to the source.
Barker: Well, you're not helping Smuckers out when you do that, because they only get the slice of the brand if you go to the grocery store. Do you ever make your own coffee?
Hill: I do. For whatever reason, the Dunkin Donuts hot coffee, not as popular with the person in my home to whom I am related by marriage.
Barker: Really?
Hill: Yeah. So, I have to leave the house --
Barker: Is that an issue?
Hill: It's not an issue, because as we've talked about before, there are battles that you're willing to have in your relationships, and then there are ones where you go, I'm going to let that go.
Barker: So, what brand of packaged coffee are you having at home?
Hill: Sometimes it's Starbucks, sometimes it's Pete's.
Barker: Smuckers does Folgers as well.
Hill: Not doing that.
Barker: Little too classy for that?
Hill: But I'm a loyal customer of their jam. Love the jam.
Barker: Jiff?
Hill: Sure.
Barker: If you had pets, would you buy some of their branded pet foods?
Hill: Are they paying you to try to drum up business for them? Because that's where this conversation is going right now.
We talked about Wal-Mart and their results and their stock pop, but that pales in comparison to the retail behemoth that is RH (NYSE:RH). And I don't know when Restoration Hardware formally changed the name of the parent company to RH, but it's now RH. They raised their guidance. I guess they didn't report earnings results. Shares of RH are up 23%. How much did they raise their guidance? And how well is this membership model working? Because that appears to be working much better than a lot of skeptics, myself included, thought it would.
Barker: So, what's going on today is, they are having an investor day in Palm Beach. In order to roll out the story that they are going to present in more detail, they have chosen to release the good news of the quarter they're currently in. They're increasing their fiscal guidance, so they're just going to be able to roll out a show that's all positive. And it's been a bumpy ride for Restoration Hardware and/or RH shareholders over the last several years, but not this year. It's quadrupled. It's up 25% today. Nice, but it's now a $100 stock. At the start of the year, $25, when it was knocking on death's door.
Hill: That's amazing.
Barker: Right. So, what they're talking about today is, a lot of it has to do not just with growth, which they are talking about and they are enjoying currently, but also a much more efficiently run business. Their press release is loaded with mentions of how much efficiency they are implementing in their operations. They're buying back shares and they're raising their guidance and they're raising their comp guidance. Everything is a good story for them today.
Hill: Do you remember when they changed their name? Because I remember Coach changing their name to Tapestry. But, as we were talking about earlier today, they were probably due for a name, change because if you've ever actually been into a Restoration Hardware, the name itself is not really lend itself to what is happening inside that store.
Barker: No, there's not a lot of hardware going on. If you go in there and say, "I'd like a hammer or a chainsaw," whatever --
Hill: Wrenches.
Barker: Paint, pliers.
Hill: You go to Ace Hardware, they have a lot of hardware.
Barker: "I'm going to need some nails today."
Hill: "Sorry, we don't have that."
Barker: RH is like, "Look at the name, we're RH."
Hill: And also, not a lot of restoration happening.
Barker: Like, why are there all of these leather couches here when all I want is some plumbing equipment?
Hill: I have my grandmother's chest of drawers, can you restore that for me? "No, we don't do that."
Barker: "No. We don't do anything that has anything to do with our name." And enough of these occurred, and people said, "Why don't you just change your name to something sensible, like RH?" And eventually management cratered. We don't sell any fools here.
Hill: You're saying we need a name change?
Barker: [laughs] I'm just saying, we're in that category of companies that, I don't know. Amazon doesn't take you down to the Amazon.
Hill: Not yet.
Barker: Not yet. But, getting back to the story of what's going on here, they are continuing to open stores in some pretty high-profile locations, and they're doing one of the things that you like best, they're adding hospitality, food and beverage into their stores.
Hill: I love it when retailers do that.
Barker: Yeah, like the Urban Outfitters thing, and now RH. Instead of going in and just buying a sofa, you can get a beverage, or some food, I guess.
Hill: You know what? Their stock is up today, and they're having a great year.
Barker: Yeah, they're taking a victory lap today.
Hill: It is not like L Brands, which also reported, the parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. Among other things, L Brands continues to struggle with the fact that they are largely anchored to malls. And traffic at malls is down, therefore, not surprisingly, same-store sales at Victoria's Secret are falling 4%.
Barker: Yeah. It is continuing to be tough times for Victoria's Secret. Part of that decline is explained by their elimination of swimwear and clothing from their offerings. They're focusing more strictly on the lingerie. So, down 4%, about 2% of that is explained by the categories that they eliminated. But, down 4% comps, which is a little bit better that how the first two quarters of the year went. But year to date, they're down 11% for the whole year. Last quarter is a little bit better, but it's been a tough year.
Hill: And Bath & Body Works --
Barker: Getting it done.
Hill: Are they?
Barker: Bath & Body Works, 4% increase. So, people are buying more and more of the candles and whatever else they sell there.
Hill: Here's the thing. If you're Bath & Body Works, and you're selling candles, which, last time I looked, that technology really hasn't changed in the last few hundred years, other than the scented candles, and they've clearly doubled down on that, tripled down. But, when you're selling candles at $27 a pop, you damn well better have some great profit margins, because I can't imagine that they're selling those things at a loss.
Barker: You're appalled by their candle selection. We've talked about this.
Hill: Much like Mondelez and be running rampant with Oreo flavors, whoever is heading up the candle section at Bath & Body Works clearly had some level of success, must have amazing gross margins, and therefore said, "You know what? I get to do whatever I want. You can't mess with me because I have the best margins in this entire business. So, I'm just going to make whatever scent I want, it doesn't even have to make sense." And that's absolutely what's going on when you look at Peppered Suede.
Barker: Peppered Suede makes no sense to you. You claim.
Hill: [laughs] Does that makes sense to you? Again, this is an actual sent. There's a scented candle on the Bath and Body Works website that somebody can go buy if they, apparently, hate money and just want to light it on fire, for $27, you can get something that is called "Peppered Suede."
Barker: You've never been in the position of finding some suede and thinking, "What this needs is a little pepper on it?"
Hill: Yes.
Barker: Well, see, you are apparently not their customer. I would bet, if you really took the time, the hours necessary to scroll through all the candles that they have, I bet it's not even one of their top three most illogical scents.
Hill: I'm going to go top five, in terms of insane, "what is this?" It's one thing to be like, vanilla, OK. And then they match vanilla with something, like, oh, it's vanilla cherry, at least I know what that is. Peppered Suede, are you kidding me? Again, it's just power run amok at Bath & Body Works. Power unchecked.
Barker: How about Bourbon Butterscotch? Would you allow that to be lit in your house?
Hill: I might have to buy one.
Barker: See? They've got something for everybody.
Hill: A little bit, yeah. Before we get to the mailbag, I have to say one thing about Papa John's, which is back in the news. I think the last time you were in the studio, we were talking about Papa John's.
Barker: How about this. Frozen Lake?
Hill: Oh, god! Again! At least have one of the words in the scent make sense. Frozen Lake?
Barker: Frozen Lake. It makes no sense, because, you set a frozen lake on fire, first of all, it's not going to burn very well.
Hill: Not for very long.
Barker: You just have some lukewarm water at that point, and who wants to smell that?
Hill: Yeah, that's no good. Last time you were here, we talked about Papa John's and their quarterly earnings, where John Schnatter, who's the CEO, right out of the gate blamed the NFL for Papa John's bad quarter. I'm guessing there's been a little bit of blowback over the last couple of weeks, because he came out the other day and apologized for being divisive. That was his word. He apologized for being divisive over the NFL protests, and saying, of course players have the right to protest. I just sort of looked at that, and here's what went through my mind -- well, a couple of went through my mind. One was, wow, you must have had a really bad two weeks of business. There must have been serious blowback, and they must have done a bunch of channel checks in terms of, "How are things going?" and got some really bad news. Because, he strikes me as a pretty confident business leader, so I don't think he comes out, necessarily, and makes this apology unless sales since they reported earnings have taken a significant dip. But the other thing is, whatever you think of the NFL protests, and I've heard very intelligent people that I respect on both sides of that issue, whatever you think of that, that to me is separate from the investing standpoint. Regardless of what you think of the NFL protest issue, the fact of the matter is, for investors, he came out and blamed the NFL and their leadership for a bad quarter. And among other things, that's just stupid.
Barker: Yeah.
Hill: And inconsistent. I can't recall Papa John's ever reporting a blowout quarter and saying, "Well, right out of the gate we have to get all the credit in the world to Roger Goodell and the people at the NFL, because there's a reason our pizza sales are through the roof."
Barker: Yeah, I think that's fair. I think it's a series of bad messaging moments for the company, which culminated in their being anointed the pizza of the alt right. The benign version of this is, they had quarterly results to report and guidance to give, and they say, "We need to bring down our guidance, we've dedicated a lot of money and the marketing to the NFL and the ratings are down, and that's going to hurt the guidance that we can provide." And they didn't provide that narrative in a very effective way, by getting hostile to the NFL and blaming the NFL rather than saying, "This is a cyclical thing, sometimes your ads are in the right place where the eyeballs are and sometimes they're not, we'll fine tune it and get it right," rather than saying, "I blame the NFL for failing to squash this controversy." Having seemed to learn that the consequences of looking like you're siding with those who want the players to just shut up and play ball and stop whining, that crowd, what the rewards for that were the alt-right coming out and saying, "Papa John's is now the pizza that we endorse." Which is not endorsement that I think you want. And that is at least as much as getting ahead of that and squashing that narrative before it gets any legs, because that is not what you want your brand associated with.
Hill: No, absolutely. And they tweeted out, "We're looking to continue this conversation, and we'll take advice from anyone," and this is directly from their quote, "except for Neo Nazis." But, again, I look at the last two weeks and what has transpired, and one of my thoughts from the investing standpoint is, if there were a roulette table and I could take my chips and put them on a couple of squares to bet on, here's what I'm betting on. Their next earnings report is early 2018, I'm taking half my tips and putting them on the square that says, at some point, before that earnings report, they're going to cut guidance. And I'm taking the rest of my chips and putting them on the square that says, they're going to report falling comps. And I feel pretty confident about winning one or both of those spins.
Barker: Yeah. I think they'll go out and spend their money in some other places which are less controversial. I'm sure they didn't expect advertising on the NFL to be controversial. But, there are plenty of other sports that are willing to take their dollars. I think this will turn out to be a blip, because they've been a pretty well-run company, pretty efficiently managed, and they've done a very good job at extending their online operations to increase the comps, make it more efficient, easier for people, one-touch ordering a pizza. That, over the long-term, is going to be more meaningful, I think, than today's controversy, as long as they play their cards better than they have.
Hill: And, just, over the last few years, there are great examples in this exact industry of CEOs coming out and messaging in a really confident, positive way -- and I'm thinking about Patrick Doyle at Domino's when he took over, coming out and saying, "Do you know why people aren't buying our pizza? Our pizza isn't very good. We've heard what you said, and we're going to work on making it better." And Shaich at Panera, a few years back, when he said, "We've looked around, and we've come to realize that the experience inside our Panera locations is like a mosh pit, and we're going to do what we can to make that better."
Anyway. Our email address, firstname.lastname@example.com. From Greg Potts in Worcester, Massachusetts. He sent a link to a story about Oreo-flavored candy canes which are now hitting stores just in time for the holidays. Greg simply wrote, "I hope this is fake news." So, do I, but it appears to be yet another money grab by the people at Mondelez who just said, "Sure, we'll license the Oreo name and likeness, it doesn't matter how terrible these candy canes taste."
Barker: Well, that's one interpretation. Another is, they're responding to the pent-up demand for candy canes that taste like Oreos, which seems equally plausible.
Hill: We are, I'm going to say six to 12 months away from a Peppered Suede Oreo.
Barker: Your kids have never come home and said, "Dad, when are you going to bring home some candy canes that taste like Oreos?"
Hill: No. [laughs]
Barker: "Why are you depriving us of the joys that other kids get to experience?"
Hill: My kids are used to me disappointing them.
Barker: Now, this may be off-topic, but in going through the Bath & Body Works candles, I found that they have both Frankincense and Myrrh.
Hill: Really?
Barker: Yes. So, if you've always wondered what those things smell like, and I'm pretty sure you have, now is the time that you can set fire to them and find out what it smells like.
Hill: Well, Myrrh is a bitter perfume. Or so the song goes. So, I don't know that that's necessarily going to smell all that great. But, the Frankincense, I'm intrigued.
Barker: Yeah?
Hill: Yeah.
Barker: Well, now you can --
Hill: I can shell out $54 to buy those candles? [laughs] Speaking of the holidays, as we were, off topic, another bonus episode of Market Foolery is coming, and it will have a holiday theme to it. The last episode, for those who missed it, you can still go back on iTunes or Stitcher or marketfoolery.com. September 30th was the date of the bonus episode that Bill and Roger Friedman and I did. If you've got an hour and five minutes to completely kill, and you don't necessarily care what you do with that time, then, yeah, you can listen to that episode. But, we got enough positive encouragement off of that, a lot of nice emails and tweets about it, so we're going to be doing another one. It will not be Roger back in the studio with us. We'll save who it is, but it's another longtime Fool.
Barker: An all-star.
Hill: An absolute all-star Fool. Who, when you and I were talking like, "We should do another one, just before the end of the year, maybe we'll talk holidays," because in the years past, we've talked about holiday TV specials that come up. And we thought, "If we're going to do a holiday episode, there's just one person we need to bring in the studio," and we immediately agreed, and then we proceeded to not tell him for about a month or so. But, finally told him last week, "Oh, we've been talking about bringing you in the studio to do this." And he agreed immediately, which was great.
Barker: What'd you have to offer him? This guy is in high demand.
Hill: He is in high demand. Amazingly, I was prepared to offer him something, but I didn't have to. Which was great, because I didn't have anything particularly great to offer him. But, I just thought, maybe I could bribe him with some coffee or something like that.
Barker: You know what you could offer him? A Blue Cypress and Vetiver scented candle.
Hill: One of those words sounds completely made up.
Barker: [laughs] That's what I was thinking.
Hill: Vetiver?
Barker: Vetiver.
Hill: Is there a description for what that is?
Barker: No. It's a mystery candle.
Hill: [groans] You know, I've been bashing the drunk-with-power leadership at Mondelez in the Oreo division, and I think it might come in second place to whatever is happening at the leadership of Bath & Body Works.
Barker: Well, before you close the books on that, another one is called, But First, Coffee!
Hill: Isn't that just a coffee-scented candle?
Barker: We don't know yet, do we?
Hill: Again, people, go to the Bath & Body Works website, and if you have $27 you would like to light on fire, any one of these candles can be yours. Bill Barker from Motley Fool Asset Management, thanks for being here!
Barker: Thank you!
Hill: Drop us an email, firstname.lastname@example.com, you can send in your stock questions. Or, if you have suggestions for the holiday bonus episode of Market Foolery, firstname.lastname@example.com. As always, people on the program may have interests in the stocks they talk about, and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against, so don't buy or sell stocks based solely on what you hear. That's going to do it for this edition of Market Foolery. The show is mixed by Dan Boyd. I'm Chris Hill. Thanks for listening! We'll see you on Monday!
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Bill Barker is an employee of Motley Fool Asset Management, a separate, sister company of The Motley Fool, LLC. The views of Bill Barker and Motley Fool Asset Management are not the views of The Motley Fool, LLC and should not be taken as such.
Bill Barker has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Chris Hill owns shares of Amazon and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon, Starbucks, and Tapestry. The Motley Fool recommends Dunkin' Brands Group and RH. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Why Use A Hard Money Loan?
What is a Hard Money Loan and How Do They Work
The world of real estate investors could be quite funny at times as there are all those terms thrown around all the time. Yet often people don't fully grasp the concept of what they actually mean. That is also the case when it comes to a hard money loan. This is one of the most used terms, yet a lot of people need an explanation on the topic. Thus we will provide you with all of the needed information in the following article.
The Definition of Hard Money
As you know, people acquire loans based on their credit score. This is not the case when it comes to hard money lenders who actually give out loans based on the type of building or property the loan taker is willing to buy. The money which the person acquires is called "hard money". The catch is that the interest rate percentage is almost two times higher than what you would pay a bank. While a mortgage would be the better option, many people don't even have that offer on the table due to their credit score, which brings us to the topic of who needs hard money loans.
The People Who Acquire Hard Money
The usual audience of the service is in the face of house flippers and developers. They will take advantage of such deal because they would be able to borrow the full amount of the purchase price of the property, which is actually unheard of in any other type of deal. The money lenders, however, will not receive the full risk of the loan, as they generally tend to ask the loan takers to back it up with their own real estate assets.
If you need hard money for projects besides fix & flip's, visit our commercial page Omni Capital Solutions.
Many real estate investors have begun their careers as real estate agents. As they learned the business, they managed to pinpoint a few properties which were being sold on a price which is far less than the market one. What they have done is, they opted in for a hard money loan in order to buy the property and then managed to sell it with an insane profit which directly goes into their pockets. In such scenario, there would be no time to negotiate a mortgage deal as that requires going through quite a few different procedures. The banks usually operate quite slowly compared to hard money lenders, which makes the latter the best option to choose.
The more you use the services of such people, the easier a loan would be to acquire, and if you have a good eye on the property market, you could make quite a large profit on a monthly basis through the utilization of hard money loans.
Taking all of that into consideration we could easily sum up that hard money loans are extremely good for people that have a good understanding of the real estate market, however, do pose a higher risk when you compare them to mortgages as you will be putting your real current assets on the table.

subset: commoncrawl


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Top 5 casino games - Gambling Deals reviews the best
At the heart of gambling there is meant to be fun, and trust us, there is plenty to be had, which is why casino games are constantly being developed and pipe up all the time - mostly online. New this; new that. But the spot for the best and most popular casino games still seems to be reserved for the classic games, that need not be ran online, which now has a dominant place in the market.


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Heroes of Horror Questions
This October, Heroes of Horror releases (from the product library: "Heroes of Horror provides everything players and Dungeon Masters need to play and run a horror-oriented campaign or integrate elements of creepiness & tension into their existing campaigns."
In October, the D&D website will also publish its product spotlight interview for this book. In the interest of helping ensure these interviews better present the information you're looking for, please feel free to submit any questions you might have regarding Heroes of Horror to this message board thread. Curious about what the book will contain? About decisions that went into its design? These questions will be collected and forwarded to the book's designers/developers. Not all of them may be answered in the forthcoming interview, but we wanted to offer you the opportunity to help take better part in the D&D website.


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Irrespective of the source server environment (physical, virtual or any cloud), RiverMeadow SaaS delivers a live clone and copy of a source Windows or Linux operating system instance to a AWS or VMware target cloud environment. All resident application and user data is copied, and device drivers are converted as needed to the target hypervisor environment. Provisioning of the target VM is automated along with the migration. Large data sets can be migrated online or offline in conjunction to the RiverMeadow workload migration capability.
Online Data Transfer with workload migration:
RiverMeadow deploys a virtual appliance in the source to intelligently replicate the workloads and data to the virtual appliance. For online data transfers, where time and bandwidth permit, this virtual appliance can be placed in the target cloud and reduce the number of steps needed to get your workloads into the cloud.
For offline data transfer, RiverMeadow deploys a virtual appliance in the source environment. This virtual appliance intelligently replicates the workloads and data to its disks. A second virtual appliance can be deployed with the first to create a mirror of the workloads and data. Once the sync between the two appliances has completed, the second appliance is shipped to the target location and brought online.
RiverMeadow completes the migration, and providing the appropriate network bandwidth is in place, the deltas between the workloads can be resynced online.


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One of the many wonderful things about working for SAP is to witness, first-hand, our commitment to each of the 28 unique industry markets we serve. As a Solutions Engineer who works in our US Higher Education and Research market I really enjoy talking to customers and finding out how SAP enables them to become 'Best Run Universities'. As much as I enjoy these conversations, I enjoy even more the fact that customers believe in our existing software and services enough to suggest areas where we could develop new ways to assist Universities in fulfilling their goals and objectives. As a result of such conversations with US customers SAP is proud to announce the development of a new software product related to what the Higher Education market refers to as Advancement.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a worldwide not-for-profit education association, defines advancement as: "A systematic, integrated method of managing relationships in order to increase an educational institution's support from its key outside constituents, including alumni and friends. . .and philanthropic entities of all types." A wide range of business processes fit underneath the umbrella of advancement but perhaps the most crucial are those related to fund-raising or development and SAP is pleased to announce we have signed a contract with Duke University, the 9th largest fundraising Higher Education institution in the United States in 2006, to develop SAP Advancement.
The project is underway with the specification document signed by both parties and the design phase of the software currently in process. The foundation for the new product is SAP's CRM software, which serves as an excellent starting point for Advancement business processes. Extensive time has been invested by both parties and it's the stated intent to make this software available to other SAP customers and prospects in the future. As committed members of this market we are intested in understanding additional business practices in this area and would like to ask you, our BPX members, to respond to this blog by giving us examples of your business processes and priorities concerning Advancement. As we reach major milestones on this project we'll post updates and seek to learn, on a world-wide basis, what your thoughts are on SAP undertaking this new effort.


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and CIBC team up to add value to Canadians' everyday purchases with new credit card
Customers can earn and redeem points for TELUS products and services with new CIBC TELUS Rewards Visa card
TELUS and CIBC announced the launch of CIBC TELUS Rewards® Visa* card, a new co-branded credit card that delivers reward options to TELUS and CIBC customers. Part of the new TELUS Rewards Program and an extension of CIBC's broad line-up of credit cards, the CIBC TELUS Rewards Visa card will offer TELUS loyalty rewards to clients on their everyday spending.
Customers can earn reward points on everyday card purchases which can be redeemed for a selection of TELUS products and services including the latest smartphones and tablets, charitable donations, travel passes and TELUS prepaid cards that can be used on a variety of products, including wireless accessories.
"As part our commitment to put customers first in everything we do, we are constantly looking for new ways to enhance our customers' experience while also making their lives easier," said Drazen Lalovic, Vice President, Emerging Markets and Capital Planning, TELUS. "Not only does this program bring customers more value for their everyday spending, it also gives them a new way to save on their next TELUS purchase, whether they're upgrading their device, activating a tablet, buying a new wireless accessory, donating to a charity or more."
"As a recognized leader in mobile innovation, we know how much Canadians love their smartphones and we're delighted to partner with TELUS to bring greater choice and deliver everyday value and rewards to our clients," saysJenny Fagg, Executive Vice President, Products and Payments, CIBC. "With our new co-branded card, clients are able to earn rewards that will allow them to upgrade to the newest smartphones, accessories and mobile services they want faster and at lower cost. Strategic partnerships like the one we have with TELUS enable CIBC to deliver banking that is easy, flexible and personalized to our clients."
Using the CIBC TELUS Rewards Visa card to earn TELUS Rewards points is easy and convenient. Customers can:
- Earn one point for every dollar spent using the rewards card
- Earn 1.5 points on all rewards card purchases at grocery and gas retailers
- Earn 1.5 points on TELUS purchases made on the rewards card – paying their monthly bill, purchasing accessories or mobile devices, etc.
- Earn additional points by signing up for pre-authorized payments and e-bill, or adding services to their account including Optik TV or adding additional subscribers
- Enjoy no annual fee
Customers can easily access their rewards account via the TELUS Rewards portal and view account information including point accumulation, points balance, activity on their rewards account and redemption options.
The CIBC TELUS Rewards Visa card is available now. For more information or to apply for the CIBC TELUS Rewards Visa card, visit www.telus.com/rewards, www.cibc.com, drop in to a CIBC branch or call CIBC credit card services at 1 800-465-4653. Customers will be able to apply for the card in store at TELUS locations across Canada later this year.
IAB Canada Announces New President
Sonia Carreno to lead Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada into exciting new chapter
The Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada (IAB Canada) announced today thatSonia Carreno will be joining as President to lead the association as it embarks on a new, broader mandate to support and celebrate digital and interactive advertising in Canada.
"We set out to find someone with experiences that mirrored our membership, a proven track record of thought leadership, deep digital acumen and a passion for leading," said Joe Strolz, Chairman of the Board, IAB Canada, and General Manager, AOL Canada. "Sonia brings all of this to the table and more, making her the perfect choice to lead the new IAB, and drive its mission to enable the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy."
With more than 15 years of integrated leadership experience including strategic brand and media planning, business relationship management, consulting, paid and organic search engine marketing and cross-media marketing, Carreno has a reputation for being an innovator in the field.
Barbara Smith, who has expertly led the organization through its leadership change, will now oversee the transition.
As the only organization fully-dedicated to the development and promotion of digital and interactive advertising inCanada, IAB Canada conducts original research, promotes standards and best practices, assists the industry in attracting, training and motivating professionals, hosts networking events, and acts as an advocate for the industry with the Canadian government.
With its mission to enable the marketing and media industries to thrive in the digital economy, IAB Canada will focus on three key pillars:
- Securing the digital supply chain – tackling fraud
- Making sense of measurement
- Advocacy – representing the interests of the industry to government
"I am honoured to lead the IAB Canada into this next chapter, as we focus on the many critical issues and opportunities in our industry. It is truly an exciting time for online advertising in Canada," said Carreno. "I've watched the IAB Canada represent this industry for over 15 years as it consistently delivered on its mission of providing education, research, guidelines, advocacy and exceptional events. I'm looking forward to continuing this tradition while helping to drive innovation with the same passion and enthusiasm its entire membership shares for this dynamic space."


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Fix extend customer state field and customer information dis
Budget $30-250 USD
Fix extend customer state field and customer information display.
1. The extend form for my website is a fillable field it needs to be a dropdown with state selections. Must understand magento and extend customer add-on. I will send the specific URL if you win the bid.
2. Fix showing of information in customer screen admin panel. Form mentioned above is for wholesale sign up. Information like business start date, VAT/tax id and number of stores needs to be shown on the customer edit screen in the admin panel.
I need a fast turn-around of this. The winning freelancer will need to have this completed within 72 hours of winning the job.
2 freelancere byder i gennemsnit $90 på dette job
Hello, I am very interested your project. Please check your inbox for more details, thanks.


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Want to be close to the Ole Miss Campus? Check out Golf Club Condos! Only a few miles from The University of MIssissipip and right next to the Ole MIss Golf Course. If you are looking for condos for sale in Oxford, MS 38655, let Top Agent Jody Black show you around! Call, text, or email! (662)832-3301
Listing information is provided by the North Central Mississippi Board of REALTORS® IDX. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.


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Forum Marketing Job/ Link Building (Full time job)
Budjetti ₹9000-12000 INR
I need you to work 8 hours a day 6 days a week in this capacity:
This job is about promoting our offers and website on social media like redditt, facebook, twitter, quora, forums, comments etc. You need to make 50 postings every day and send me a report at the end of each day.
I will like to know your idea on how you will perform this job and what results I should be expecting. To give you an idea of the type of website we will be promoting, please see http://www.humanproofdesigns.com. This is not our website but we are similar.
We are selling product & services targeted towards people looking to build an online business or earn additional passive income. To attract initial customer base we are having free & low cost offers. And we will count on you to get the word across far and wide on social media and bring more and more eyeballs to our website.
I expect you to post, comment, answer questions, be part of discussions on redditt, quora, facebook, comments sections of relevant websites, be part of every discussion anywhere on the internet when it is relevant to our niche.
Have you done anything like this before?
Let me know your experience, skills, and ideas for this job and we will take it from there.
5 freelanceria on tarjonnut keskimäärin %project_bid_stats_avg_sub_26% %project_currencyDetails_sign_sub_27% tähän työhön
Dear Hiring Manager, Hope you are doing well. As per my understanding that you re looking for an exprt SMM for your project. I feature as an SMM expert with 7+ years of experience in this field. I will prov Lisää
I am an SEO expert provide services are On page and off page SEO, I can with the help of my expert team will make your site on 1st-page ranking on Google as well as other search engines Services:- Google 1st Page Ran Lisää
Hello, I am a professional in social media marketing and SEO. I have a proven track record of significantly increasing the number of followers and the rate of engagement for lots of clients. I can develop conten Lisää
Hello, Seo specialist with over 3 years experience, from a technical perspective as a web/mobile web developer, Photoshop and also from marketing as SEO consultant and Google Adwords administrator. I will optimize y Lisää


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Like the rest of Metro Manila, we had no power for days. We thought the power would be restored quickly so we went to SM Southmall to pass the time.
Nag give up din ang generator ng SM probably beause people were charging their gadgets in every available outlet.
The next day we went around different malls to find a generator but it was out of stock everywhere.
Then my sister's boyfriend told us about this store in sucat that sells generators. Even though it was overpriced, pinatulan na din namin. Then nagkaron ng kuryente that afternoon. Talaga naman! Anyway I shouldn't complain I'm sure we will use that again in the future (what with 20 storms passing through the Philippines each year).
Anyway, I remembered last Saturday that had gift certificates for free buffet in Intercon and it's only valid until July. So that's where we spent our Sunday.
After lunch, we went around Glorietta and the stores were on sale. There were lots of good buys in Zara and Forever 21 but I had to control myself.
My favorite Rockstar cropped skinny jeans from Old Navy (seen here) were on sale. It's probably a good thing they didn't have any other colors in stock or I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from buying. I literally live in these jeans.
I ended up buying sandals for myself and shorts and shirt for Q.
|Sandals: PhP445 T-shirt: PhP495 Khaki shorts: PhP295
So that's how our week went. How was yours?
Have a good week ahead!


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The Catford Wives
Posted by Andrew Humphrey on
A very long day. Fellow consultant Collette arrives at my place at 8:00 a.m. After rooibos tea and scrambled eggs, we head off to Luton by train. The Holiday Inn near Luton Airport is the venue for the first Jubilee meeting of Tupperware UK and Ireland since the relaunch a year or so ago. The Jubilee recognises the top consultants, introduces new products and the new catalogue, and generally gets us all fired up with the love of Tupperware.
I am the only male consultant. Marc from Blackpool is on holiday this week, so he can't make it. I do think I approach the work a bit differently to other consultants, both procedurally and philosphically. Maybe that has something to do with being a man. But probably it has more to do with other factors: as a gay man living in the centre of a very diverse city, my parties have a much broader range of social, ethnic and income demographics than many other consultants'. My parties are often run for groups of colleagues in their work place, or for friends who live wildly scattered, so I have to be prepared for anything and anyone. At one party, one of the guests turned out to be someone I had met on a dating website. He said nothing, and neither did I.
Summer has felt a bit slow Tupper-wise, so I am surprised but thrilled to be named number 6 consultant for summer sales in the UK and Ireland. I am rewarded with a new and improved Quick Chef, Tupperware's hand-operated food processor, to add to my demonstration kit.
Another new item in the Autumn/Winter catalogue is the Multi-Server, a Tupperware classic which has been off-menu for a while. Customers have been begging for it, but as a new kid on the block, I didn't even know what it was. When the Managing Director whips out a Multi-Server onstage and announces its return, my fellow consultants start whooping and screaming. So what is this thing? Well, it is a rice cooker, a fish poacher, a defroster, a cool box, you name it. I am told it cooks pasta without continuously boiling water, but my jury is still out on that one, and I am going to try it for myself this weekend.
Consultants are showered with gifts, prizes and a chance to buy all the new items for our demo kit. On the train home I am absolutely laden (see photo above): a BreadSmart bread bin with separate bread boad, Tupperware branded umbella, carrier bag of smaller items, my own backpack and my prize Quick Chef which is all dragged up in florist's wrap and a bow.
Back home, I have barely half an hour before I am boarding the 171 bus to Catford to run a party for Maria. I had already packed my big black kit bag last night, thank goodness. Sadly, my handy trolley-bag on wheels is history already: it has taken a lot of punishment these last few months as I hauled it through puddles, across cobbles and on and off buses and trains. It now has a dodgy wheel, the zips are broken, and a bag of flour leaked on the way home a few weeks ago. As it happens, a new trolley bag is the latest incentive Tupperware is offering for recruiting a new consultant, so I will see what I can do.
Maria is an ex-Tupperware consultant, and she intends to stay that way (I tried). Six of her friends barrel in, and the next few hours are a blur of scandal aired, bowls burped, ciggies smoked, consultant teased, salsa prepared, teenage daughters compared and contrasted, and a lot of Chardonnay poured. And it's a good party for Maria, she comes out with £100 worth of Tupperware for less than £50.
I am home just before midnight and go straight to bed. As I drift off, I hatch a plan to host a weekend Open House at my home in the next few weeks for everyone on my mailing list. I can show off the new products, bake a few muffins in the Silicone Muffin Form which is a special offer for September, and give away some of the bits and bobs I have picked up at the Jubilee (an orange peeler, an thing for lifting boiled eggs out of the pan, etc.). If you are on my mailing list, stand by for an invitation. If you are not on the list, feel free to join.
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Lowry believes he can win Masters - "There's no reason why not!"
Dustin Johnson might look unbeatable but Shane Lowry insists there is no reason it can't be his turn for major glory this week.
The Offaly ace believes he helpedJohnson break his major hoodoo at last year's US Open and gain the momentum that has seen him dominate the game ever since and soar to No 1 in the world.
But after celebrating his 30 birthday on Sunday with a practice round at Augusta National, Lowry believes that with a bit of Irish luck on his side, he can become Ireland's first Masters champion.
Asked if he believed he could pull on that green jacket on Sunday, he said after getting in 15 holes during Monday's storm affected practice day: "There's no reason why not!
"This is my third Masters, and myself and (my caddie) Dermo were talking about it today.
"There's nothing new to it. You know where to go and where not to go.
"Sometimes it is better not knowing where not to go but it is there in front of you now, and you just have to try to hit good shots.
"Sometimes you might hit a good shot and get a little bit of cruel luck, and sometimes you might hit a bad shot and get a decent bounce. That's kind of the way it is.
"It is one of those courses where you have to try and hit as many good shots as you can and see where you finish at the end of the week."
Having come so close to his maiden major win at Oakmont last year, Lowry is convinced that a good break at the right time could be all he needs.
He had a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the US Open but ended up carding a 76 to finish three behind Johnson in a three-way tie for second.
Looking at the American's meteoric rise to number 1 in the world since then, Lowry joked that he played his part in creating a monster.
Smiling, he said: "Yeah, I gave him the kick-start he wanted. I've played a couple of times with Dustin. He is possibly the most talented golfer in the world.
"He's the best at the minute. He just makes it look so easy, and he's obviously putting well at the minute as well.
"What he's doing is dominating the game, and he has done for the last few months. But the top players have all had spells like that.
"When Spieth was dominating, everyone was like, 'Oh there's no one will ever be as good.'
"When Rory was dominating, everyone was, 'Oh, Rory is going to be Tiger for the next ten years.' Jason Day the same.
"Dustin's having his time now, I suppose. It's up to him whether he keeps it going or not… It's his time now. It might be someone else's again."
Lowry is hoping it will be his this week and while he has played just five events in the build up after deciding to spend more time at home following the birth of his baby daughter Iris last month, he's optimistic.
He said: "I haven't had that many good finishes, but I feel like I'm doing all right. I had a few close matches in the Match Play, but that's the type of tournament it is. I got nothing out of them.
"I just have to keep trucking along and wait for my time to kind of come, I suppose."
Staying relaxed is key, and he's let off steam by playing hurling on the road outside the house he's rented with some of his entourage.
The only downside is that they are quickly running out of sliothars.
He said: "We actually burst one sliothar off the road and we've lost another one. We're not going great; we have only one left!
"If anyone coming over tomorrow could bring over a few, it would be great."


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A lung positron emission tomography (
Unlike magnetic resonance imaging (
Alternative Names
Chest PET scan; Lung positron emission tomography; PET – chest; PET – lung; PET – tumor imaging
How the test is performed
A PET scan requires a small amount of radioactive material (tracer). This tracer is given through a vein (IV), usually on the inside of your elbow. It travels through your blood and collects in organs and tissues. The tracer helps the radiologist see certain areas or diseases more clearly.
You will need to wait nearby as the tracer is absorbed by your body. This usually takes about 1 hour.
Then, you will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. The PET scanner detects signals from the tracer. A computer changes the results into 3-D pictures. The images are displayed on a monitor for your doctor to read.
You must lie still during test. Too much movement can blur images and cause errors.
The test takes about 90 minutes.
How to prepare for the test
You may be asked not to eat anything for 4 to 6 hours before the scan. You will be able to drink water.
Tell your health care provider if:
You are afraid of close spaces (have claustrophobia). You may be given a medicine to help you relax and feel less anxious.
You are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.
You have any allergies to injected dye (contrast).
You have take insulin for diabetes. You will need special preparation.
Tell your health care provider about the medicines you are taking. These include ones bought without a prescription. Sometimes, medicines can interfere with the test results.
How the test will feel
You may feel a sharp sting when the needle containing the tracer is placed into your vein.
A PET scan causes no pain. The table may be hard or cold, but you can request a blanket or pillow.
An intercom in the room allows you to speak to someone at any time.
There is no recovery time, unless you were given a medicine to relax.
Why the test is performed
This test may be done to:
- Help diagnose lung cancer
See if lung cancer has spread to other areas of the body
Help determine if a growth in the lungs (seen on a CT scan) is cancerous or not
Determine how well cancer treatment is working
Normal Values
A normal result means the scan did not show any problems in the size, shape, or function of the lungs.
What abnormal results mean
Abnormal results may be due to:
Inflammation of the lungs due to other causes
Lung canceror cancer of another area of the body that has spread to the lungs
Solitary pulmonary nodule
What the risks are
The amount of radiation used in a PET scan is low. It is about the same amount of radiation as in most CT scans. Also, the radiation doesn't last for very long in your body.
Women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding should let their doctor know before having this test. Infants and babies developing in the womb are more sensitive to the effects of radiation because their organs are still growing.
It is possible, although very unlikely, to have an allergic reaction to the radioactive substance. Some people have pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.
Special considerations
It is possible to have false results on a PET scan. Blood sugar or insulin levels may affect the test results in people with
Most PET scans are now performed along with a CT scan. This combination scan is called a PET/CT.
Other tests that may be done instead of a PET scan include a gallium scan, CT scan, or MRI scan.


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Last night Kevin Readdean and I finished the studio sessions for the audiobook version of Financial Mistakes. Now comes the sound engineering, and hopefully we have something spectacular coming to MP3 within the next few weeks.
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This is a track/flange greaser…. Ugly isn't it?… It's purpose is to lubricate the wheel flanges on rail equipment as to help ease the wear on tight curves such as the one a few hundred feet upgrade. This greaser is located @ about M.P. 671.5 on the now Norfolk Southern Sunbury Line (Canadian Pacific Sunbury Subdivision at the time of this photo).
In a perfect world trains would show up when you wanted them to. In a perfect world the sun would always cooperate. And in a perfect world, flange greasers would operate the way that they were intended to operate. To be sure, if you ever come across one of these flange greasers, STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM IT AS POSSIBLE. Your shoes will be ruined FOREVER.
Now that I've made that little note clear, on with the post.
This Maine Central boxcar is rolling over the "trigger" that activates the flange greaser. Note how black and oily the rail sides are the closer you get to the greaser.
The purpose of flange oilers or greasers is to ease the passage of the train wheels around particularly tight curves (compound curves, compensated curves, reversing curves). They help to reduce wear to wheels and rails, and can also cut down on squeal. In theory….
If they're operating correctly then they shouldn't cause any operational problems such as adhesion loss. But problems do come up if they're faulty and applying more grease than they should. Then they can be a nightmare and it can be very difficult to stop a train if the greaser is near a signal or a station.
When they get out of adjustment and pump too much grease out, the ball of the rail gets coated too and becomes slicker than seal snot in an ice flow. It can get (and has gotten) so bad that a big heavy slow moving train (like Train 14R below) on a grade can stall out trying to get over the line, especially if it's raining and the rail is wet too.


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CERIAS Security Seminar Archive
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Dr. Seymour E. Goodman - Georgia Institute of Technology
International Coordination to Increase the Security of Critical Network
Dr. Seymour E. Goodman - Georgia Institute of Technology
The views, opinions and assumptions expressed in these videos are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CERIAS or Purdue University. All content included in these videos, are the property of Purdue University, the presenter and/or the presenter's organization, and protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. The collection, arrangement and assembly of all content in these videos and on the hosting website exclusive property of Purdue University. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any other way exploit any part of copyrighted material without permission from CERIAS, Purdue University.


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I am looking for a reliable man who will be a leader in a relationship, who knows how to treat a woman and also promises to bring bright colors into her life. [More]
I am social and easy-going and I can find something in common with different kinds of people! [More]
I enjoy bringing happiness to my close people. I always try to generous and open to the people. [More]
I am looking for a man who can listen to and understand me, with whom we can be real family. [More]
I am looking for someone family orientated, with a good sense of humor. Someone who can appreciate life at its best!!! [More]
I'm looking for a strong and attentive man who can be my hero. Who will be not only my husband, but my best friend. [More]
I need a man who is confident and mature. I value honesty and faithfulness in relations. [More]
I wish to be with a strong man, at the same time kind and sensual, the man with no limits!!! [More]
I'm looking for a person who will understand me better than he understands himself. [More]
I'm not looking for the perfect man. I am looking for a man who has traditional family values and who can love our future children. [More]
I think that sincerity is one of my best qualities, but I am also a honest, attentive, and caring woman! [More]
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text: This is the book I will read to my students every year at the end of the school year, no matter what grade I teach! Even if it has a 3.2 reading level. My 12th grade English teacher read our class this the day before graduation, and I remember how relevant and special it was. It is so encouraging and meaningful for youth who are about to cross over into a new chapter. I love this book!


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All Pages
Browse Issues
SpineOut : April May 2016
Amelia, Year 11 Penrhos College Perth WA Book Reviews Within These Walls Robyn Bavati Scholastic Australia R obyn Bavati's novel Within These Walls is a harrowing account of the hardships, a young Jewish girl by the name of Miri faces in Warsaw, Poland during the holocaust. Over the course of the novel, Miri loses much of what is dear to her and she is made to fend for herself in the treacherous ghetto that Jews were made to inhabit. It is a dark tale of loss and persecution, which was at many a time heart-wrenching and devastating, though it was still a compelling read. The book was very much a page turner, as Bavati crafted characters whom, despite existing in circumstances that are drastically different to what I am familiar with, were utterly relatable. Though the novel was off to a slightly of a slow start, it soon became a captivating story of pain, loss and prevailing familial love. All in all it was an 'awesome' read which would be good for book clubs. Rating: Awesome Rating: 8.5/10 The Sidekicks Will Kostakis Penguin 'You don't know how long you have, do what makes you happy. Live. Love and be remarkable.' Will Kostakis, The Sidekicks T he Sidekicks is a novel that follows three teenage boys on the verge of adulthood and how they deal with the sudden death of their best friend, Isaac; but more importantly how they overcome the grief that goes along with this unexpected loss. With its mix of brilliant well-rounded and in- depth characters that break a lot of stereotypes that are often found in the media today, Kostakis creates a beautifully compelling and emotional book that I fell in love with. Even though The Sidekicks does explore topics that could be difficult for many to read, I found it to be a quite an easy read and because of that, I really would like to pick up some of the other books that he has written. I would recommend this book to teenagers, especially those who are already a fan of authors such as John Green & Colleen Hoover. Ebony, Year 10 Montrose Bay High School Hobart TAS
February March 2016
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Long ago and not so far away... I was fortunate to be a part of the Jesus Movement*. It was customary at the time to pray for God to show you a "Life Verse" (I believe it is still popular with some Christians). I should have known my life would continue to be interesting when He gave me the above verse. I knew that was the verse for me, beyond any shadow of a doubt.
I can't tell you how many times I have meditated upon this verse, hundreds if not thousands of thoughtful ponderings through the years. Leaning on the Reformed side of theological thought, I truly do believe God allows circumstances, people, places, etc. in our life as we continue on the path He has planned for us. Of course, our own choices are the other side of the scale's balance.
Our summer of Job-like trial after trial sent me back to my favorite verse... my life's verse... and recently I have been thinking through each line at a time. I thought today I'd share some of my thinking... nothing deep at all, you know. :)
I think that is where so many of us fall short of His grace. Not unlike Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts, we hold back a part of ourselves (in their case, money purchased from a sale) and try to make God think we are giving Him our all.
Of course, He Who Created Us knows us fully and will not let us give in to self deception... for we are also and at the same time telling ourselves the same falsehood. In the process of trials, He shakes away the thinking that we are good enough as we are.
It is when you are trying to make sense of it all... how a loving Father would allow "this", "that", or "the other" in your life. That is why it essential to know the entire Word of God and not pick and choose various verses (which I am afraid even many denominations tend to do!)
Just stop trying to figure out God. Our finite brains cannot grasp hold the concept of a Holy God and the tapestry He weaves which in the end will result in a beautiful work of art to present His Father... that being you... and me.
There is a reason many great hymns of the faith take place in a garden. As I've written before... Man was created in a garden and born of the sod. I was on a business trip (in my former life) to San Francisco when I took the time to walk through Muir Woods before catching a red eye into Chicago. There was something about those woods and the giant trees that calmed me and helped me hear His voice about an life changing decision I was praying about.
Christians are not to worship nature but we can also recognize nature's cathedrals as being a gift from Him. How easy it is to acknowledge Him in those surroundings.
Having said that... I have little corners of my own house where I find it easier to stop and listen and do some acknowledging. Perhaps the easiest is at my kitchen sink with the aroma of 7th Generation dish washing soap arising from the hot suds, looking out the window to a forest thick with various shades of green (or the quiet white of winter).
Saints of old have transformed prison cells to sanctuaries by inviting His presence into the damp darkness. For it is He who makes the sanctuary... not our surroundings... even if we prefer the garden. Acknowledging Him is simply inviting His presence and His wisdom and His direction into our finite existence.
In the beginning of Hebrews 12, we are told that we are to look to Jesus as the "Author and Finisher" of our faith. He is the Author of our journey, the One who wrote the plot before the beginning of time and Whom we can trust... as we acknowledge Him and walk in obedience before Him to the best of our human-ness... will help us finish well.
When I began this journey of faith in my teens, I assumed everyone finishes well. It didn't cross my thinking that many begin the race and then drop out along the way. Perhaps when we first signed up for this adventure, we thought of the race as a sprint and became exhausted and depressed and frustrated when we realized it was a marathon.
But if we read the Book... all of it... there should have been no surprise. "Many are the tribulations of those who follow Him", we are told... but... "He also provides a way out, a means of escape"... from every trial, from every pit.
He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He is running the race not by our side but within if we have asked Him to be our Lord and Savior, as the Holy Spirit... the Third Member of the Trinity... provides to us all we need for the race.
We must acknowledge Him and that it is in the Destination that that we find Heaven. The journey is to prepare us for finish line. :)
* The Jesus Movement was a revival in the late 60's and early 70's made up mostly of young people but I remember a few old (probably only thirty!) guys and girls, too. Wikipedia calls it the "Christian element of the Hippie counterculture". It was also the birthing of contemporary Christian music. Many of those who became Christians through the Jesus Movement came from "unchurched families" (like me).
I met my husband at a Jesus People coffeehouse where I spent each weekend sharing with people about my coming to Christ and praying with people. I was eighteen and nineteen at the time. My future husband had just returned to college after a tour of duty in Viet Nam.


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Chikoo Barfi | How to make Chikoo Barfi
- Prep Time
- Cook Time
- Serves
About Chikoo Barfi Recipe
Healthy dessert
Chikoo Barfi, a marvelous creation to spice up your day. The relishing flavours, the appealing texture and the amazing aroma of Chikoo Barfi is just mouth-watering. This amazing recipe is provided by Dhara joshi. Be it kids or adults, no one can resist this delicious dish. How to make Chikoo Barfi is a question which arises in people's mind quite often. So, this simple step by step Chikoo Barfi recipe by Dhara joshi. Chikoo Barfi can even be tried by beginners. A few secret ingredients in Chikoo Barfi just makes it the way it is served in restaurants. Chikoo Barfi can serve 3 people. So, the next time you have a get together or a party at home, don't forget to check and try out Chikoo Barfi.
Ingredients to make Chikoo Barfi
- 1 tbsp clarified butter
- 1/2 cup condensed milk solids (mawa)
- 1/2 cup chikoo puree
- 5-6 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cardamom powdered
- pistachio for garnishing


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Spirit Takes Delivery of First A320neo in the U. S.
Toulouse, October 7, 2016: Spirit Airlines, headquartered in Miramar, Florida (U.S.), took delivery of the very first A320neo to be delivered to a U.S. customer. It is the first of 55 A320neo Family aircraft the low-cost carrier has ordered (five leased from AerCap, 50 ordered from Airbus). All of Spirit's A320neo Family aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100-JM engines.
"This state-of-the-art technology will burn less fuel and lower our operational costs," said Ted Christie, Spirit Airlines Chief Financial Officer. "We continue to lead the industry in both reducing our carbon footprint and providing ultra-low fares on air travel. Spirit is thrilled to be the first carrier to bring this innovation to the U.S."
"We are proud to have delivered the first A320neo aircraft in the U.S. to our valued customer Spirit Airlines," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer – Customers. "The A320neo Family is the aircraft of choice among the world's airlines and we appreciate our customers' confidence in our leading single-aisle Family with its unbeatable productivity and fuel efficiency."
The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 15 percent fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020. With nearly 4,800 orders received from 87 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market. Including Spirit's A320neo delivered today, 26 A320neo aircraft have been delivered to nine operators.
Source: Airbus


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Today's technologically advanced world have been described by many as being a high-pressured and fast-paced world that is filled with uncertainty and ambiguity, a world that is oftentimes just plain stressful. At the workplace, employees are constantly confronted with important decisions and situations that yield feelings of anxiety, stress and tension. Employees who are involved in stress-producing situations frequently develop psychological, physical, or psychosomatic symptoms. (e.g, irrational thoughts, headaches, high blood pressure, diarrhea). When these symptoms persist or progressively intensify there exists a potentially serious threat to one's health and well-being.
This stress-management program is designed to help individuals cope more effectively with stress and to remediate a number of specific problems associated with stressful situations.
The methodology consists of presentation, group discussion, video, role plays, completion of the State-Trait Anxiety questionnaire, progressive muscle relaxation and systematic desensitization
Call 9886967344 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more details.


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Friday, May 21, 2010
She's Here! By God's Grace
6 comments:
Congratulations!! What a pretty little girl! It looks like her siblings are enjoying her! Love you. Uncle Bill and Aunt Delanita
- May 21, 2010 at 10:09 PM
So glad Flavia is here and you're both doing well! Your kids are sure growing up...so cute!
Love, Betsy
- May 22, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- Melanie said...
What a sweetie! And so fun to get to see pictures of the rest of your kids too. Praise God all went well with the birth.
- May 22, 2010 at 11:14 AM
You guys have a BEAUTIFUL FAMILY! CONGRATULATIONS on another BEAUTIFUL GIRL! Flavia is an interesting and very Brazilian name. Our Brazilian pastor friends loved that you named her that. His name is Eneyas Freitas also very brazilian.
Glad to hear and see that everyone is well.
Love you all.
Uncle Bill
- May 22, 2010 at 1:51 PM
- Joshua & Melissa Daniel said...
Congrats! She is soooo cute! Maybe we will get to meet her one day:) Pray you all are doing well! Melissa
- May 22, 2010 at 7:53 PM
- shirl rath said...
What a lovely family. You have grown since we last saw you here at North Creek, Bothel, WA. Look forward to a sweet reunion upon your return to States. May the Lord continue to bless the work you are doing there and may His wonderful Name be praised through it all. We keep praying! He is truly able. Shirl
- June 25, 2010 at 5:31 PM


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5. Naming and Anchoring Cells
Writing many formulas in Excel can get tedious and time-consuming. Naming and anchoring cells are two techniques that you can use to make the process faster and easier.
Keyboard shortcuts
ALT + M, H: Show formulas
F2: Enter formula in selected cell
F4: Cycle through anchoring cells when inside cell formula
CTRL + F3: Open name manager dialog box
Anchoring cells
- $A$1: Cell does not move at all when pasting.
- $A1: Cell does not move when pasting horizontally
- A$1: Cell does not move when pasting vertically
Naming cells
- Allow you to refer to a specific cell with a name (e.g. INTEREST_RATE)
- Will appear in the autocomplete, just press TAB to complete
- Make your formulas much more readable
- Need to be deleted if you're moving the location of the named value
Naming and anchoring cells are two techniques you'll use in almost all data sets and models when copying and pasting formulas.
In an earlier lesson, you might remember that we first wrote a formula in the cell F2 to calculate the Order Dollar Amount.
We then copied this cell and then we extended it to the remaining cells with the command Alt + E S F.
Let's examine how this paste works by using the show formulas shortcut Alt + M H.
As we move down the column, you can see that the pasted formula changes the inputs to correspond to the new row.
So D2 multiplied by E2 becomes D5 multiplied by E5, And so on right down to D24 multiplied by E24.
Alt + E S F, which pastes formulas, works great in this case, but sometimes we'd like to hold a number constant while pasting a formula, and this is when we anchor cells.
Let's return to our values again with Alt + M H and move below the data set where I'll show anchoring cells in a simple example.
It turns out that our US Company is actually a subsidiary of a European holding company that would like our monthly revenues converted back into Euro.
We'll be able to do this using the exchange rate in the yellow cell.
Let's start off by calculating the Euro Revenue for January, by taking the Dollar Amount and dividing by the Exchange Rate.
We can then copy the cell and paste it across February and March.
And unfortunately, we get a divide by zero error.
When we press F2 on the February calculation, we can see that the Exchange Rate cell has move to D30, because we have not anchored the cell and the formula.
Let's delete our two calculations, and go back into the first calculation by pressing F2.
When we get to C30, we can pres F4 which adds two dollar signs, one before the letter and one before the number.
This anchors the cell so it won't be moved when we paste formulas.
If we press F4 again, it shows only a dollar sign next to the number, which means the cell is only anchored within a column.
If we press it one more time, the cell will now only be anchored across rows.
This setting or the double dollar sign setting will work for us in this case.
So let's copy this formula, and Alt + E S F for February and March.
When we now look at the formula bar, we can see how the cell C30 stays constant for each cell.
Let's do another anchoring cells example, but this time for columns.
Again, we take the First Value and divide it by the Exchange Rate.
We then press F4 to anchor this cell.
I'll anchor with the double dollar sign this time.
We''ll then copy the formula and Alt + E S F for February and March.
In this scenario, I could have also anchored with the dollar sign just in front of the number if I wanted to.
As you can see, anchoring is pretty straightforward and very useful.
Sometimes however, it can get tiresome typing in the cell reference for commonly used constants such as Exchange Rates or Tax Rates.
This is where naming cells comes in use.
Lets return to our Exchange Rate, and to name the cell we'll press Ctrl + F3 to bring up the name manager dialogue box.
Press Enter to create a new name.
Make sure to capitalize the name, which signifies the constant, and then press OK to complete.
We can now use this new name in our formulas.
Let's go back to our initial example, and type in equals dollar revenue divided by USD.
Our constant appears, type Tab, and then press Enter.
We can then copy and paste this formula, and I'll have to worry about anchoring cells.
Naming cells are a great time saver when you've worked with multiple sheets, and they can save you a lot of time switching between Tabs.
They also make your formulas much easier to read.
To delete a name, navigate to the cell, press Ctrl + F3 and then Alt + D to delete.
And if you're sure, press Enter for OK and then Escape to leave the Name Manager.
We can now see that the name has been removed from the Exchange Rate and the Cell Number has been returned.
I'll just press Ctrl + Z to undo and return the cell name, so that my formulas work again.
To get some practice at anchoring cells, I've left an exercise at the bottom of this sheet with multiple Exchange Rates for you to try.
You should be able to fill all of the blue cells with just one copy paste action.
As always, I'll have the answer in the after file that you can access below this video.
2. Conditional Arithmetic
4 mins
4. Logical Operators
5 mins
6. Array Formulas
4 mins
7. More On Array Formulas
6 mins
11. Formula Auditing
5 mins
12. Fill Commands
2 mins
13. Information Functions
3 mins
14. Rounding Numbers
4 mins


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House for sale
House in Surfers Paradise, QLD
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This exclusive stretch of elite Commodore Drive faces north-east to a peaceful 6-knot river zone, with the majestic towers of Main Beach and Southport as a backdrop. Such a perfect location deserves an exceptional home and this 92-square modern mansion is sure to impress the most fastidious buyer.
Vast formal dining adjoins an elegant timber-floored lounge, while the nearby granite kitchen is complete with every imaginable appointment. Stacking blue glass doors open to a large sunlit terrace and mosaic-tiled pool. Additional luxurious features include a fully-equipped media room, large gymnasium, executive study and multi-car garaging.
7 double bedrooms, 5 with balconies & WIR's, 4 ensuites
Master with huge fitted dressing room & luxury spa ensuite
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Call to arrange a viewing today!
Last updated: 11:18AM on Nov 17th 2017


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Knee deep into women's hockey already, the men take to the ice beginning Wednesday morning with a double-shot of games. By the time the Czechs take on the Swedes, and the Latvians take on the Swiss, the Olympic hockey from Sochi will officially be in full swing.
Lost seemingly in the hoopla of the NHL ending, the opening ceremonies beginning, and medals already being handed out is the fact that one of our own home-cooked Oklahoma City Barons (current Oiler) is making his Olympic debut.
Set your alarm clock for 6:30am (CT) on Thursday morning as Martin Marincin laces his skates to square off against the United States in what promises to be a pretty entertaining game.
Despite the Chara-ing of the whole situation, the fact that young Marincin is playing in this game is quite the extraordinary feat. Making a headlong surge in the NHL this season with the Oilers, Marincin has shown promise. Enough to catch the eye of the Slovakian national team. When his name landed on the roster I was impressed. Not many 21 year olds have the opportunity to represent their country in this capacity, and for Martin he will bask in the glow of how incredible these winter games will be on the grand scheme of his career.
Join me for the #MartyParty at 6:30am on Thursday morning (NBC Sports / Live Extra – stateside).
Upcoming Men's Ice Hockey Schedule (CT)


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After allegedly taunting and bumping another driver, two women were killed when their car made a U-turn into traffice on an Interstate 5 offramp. Some people called it another example of "road rage" plaguing Southern California freeways. Why do driving's daily frustrations suddenly escalate into homicidal confrontations for some drivers? JIM BLAIR talked with a psychiatrist and a California Highway Patrol officer to find out.
California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles
Obviously, some people get angry and bothered. We have people on the road who could have a mental problem or very stressful situation. They could be underthe influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. But "road rage" is not a new phenomenon. In the past, people have gotten angry and used their cars as weapons. It isn't rampant, but it is getting more media attention, sometimes erroneously so.
Sometimes, a disagreement in a residence or a public place occurs and the people get into their vehicles. They pursue each other. A violent act may occur. The media classifies it as "road rage" and it is not. That's a terrible error.


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Centerville Homes is a full service design-build general contractor, modular home dealer located in Centerville, Wisconsin. Custom built modular homes are the center of our business. Every decision supports the needs expressed by our home buying customers. Because of our solid commitment to customer service, each of our custom built modular homes is designed and built to bring the satisfaction that you deserve. If you are looking for a new custom built modular home or site built home, check out our specials, see floor plans, and learn about our commitment to you.
What are the advantages with working with modular homes?
Now's the time to let your creativity soar so you can stop dreaming
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Contact Centerville Homes, Inc. for complete details
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Research Topics
Golgi Architecture, Biogenesis and Function
Principal Investigator: GRAHAM B WARREN
Abstract: [unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The biogenesis of organelles ensures propagation through successive generations but our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is patchy, especially for membrane-bound organelles such as the Golgi apparatus. There are two popular models. The first considers the Golgi to be an autonomous organelle, responsible for its own duplication and partitioning during mitosis. This is the model we favor. The second model considers the Golgi to be a dependent organelle, in dynamic steady state with the ER, and reliant on it for all aspects of biogenesis. In the last granting period we studied those proteins that tether vesicles to Golgi membranes and cisternal membranes to each other. Collectively, we termed these matrix proteins and were able to provide evidence that they constituted an underlying scaffold that is normally populated by enzyme containing membranes. In this renewal we aim to confirm and extend these observations, focusing on the GRASP family of stacking proteins. Our aim is to determine precisely how these proteins carry out their stacking function. We also want to understand the process of Golgi assembly, both at the end of mitosis when the partitioned Golgi is reassembled, and during subsequent duplication, when a new copy of the Golgi is made. In particular we want to know whether the process is "seeded" by matrix proteins and whether there is a precise order of cisternal assembly. Lastly, we have begun to study the process of Golgi duplication in two protozoan parasites, Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypanosoma brucei. Both have a single Golgi apparatus, the duplication of which can be followed in real time using video fluorescence microscopy. These simple systems are also medically important. [unreadable] [unreadable]
Funding Period: 2000-01-01 - 2009-01-31
more information: NIH RePORT
Top Publications
Scientific Experts
Detail Information
- Biochemical analysis of PIFTC3, the Trypanosoma brucei orthologue of nematode DYF-13, reveals interactions with established and putative intraflagellar transport componentsJoseph B Franklin
Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
Mol Microbiol 78:173-86. 2010..Thus, our biochemical analysis supports the model, proposed by genetic analysis in C. elegans, that the trypanosome orthologue of DYF-13 plays a central role in the IFT mechanism...
- Polo-like kinase is required for Golgi and bilobe biogenesis in Trypanosoma bruceiChristopher L de Graffenried
Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
J Cell Biol 181:431-8. 2008..These data suggest that the bilobe may act as a scaffold for the controlled assembly of the duplicating Golgi...


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the journey
We barely spoke on the way to the hospital. This wasn't because we don't like each other … it was simply because a) neither of us are morning folk, and b) it was going to be quite a Big Day and if my brain was churning out nervy thoughts then I'm quite AdamAnt that Blokey's was doing the same.
the research
At the appropriate clinic Blokey laughed when it became apparent I'd had our appointment letter on me but hadn't shown it to the receptionist. That was two minutes we needn't have wasted as she tried to find us on the system without our hospital numbers. Or something.
As we patiently waited a woman pounced on us.
Did you get my letter? she enquired.
Indeedy we did. We happily signed the forms, consenting to a bit of blood-stopping cuff-uncomfortableness prior to surgery. It can't damage the kidney but it could improve its chances; in other words, it's definitely not a negative and may even be a positive.
the put-it-in surgeon
Blokey finally met the living donor coordinator-lady. She introduced us to The Prof., a kindly man with a twinkle in his eyes. Blokey went first, there was gaiety and lots of talking, and then Blokey returned. Your turn, he said. I toddled in apprehensively, unsure what to expect. But it was just the standard chit-chat. Confirmation of who I am, a round of applause for my weight loss and a few basic questions which I have to answer (seemingly) every time. No, I don't smoke, I barely drink, Yes, I banged my head when I was six.
I KNOW THE F.CKING RISKS! (Another day, another post.)
Blokey returned. The Prof. smiled and said it was a Go-Go. I felt a little queasy. Blokey grinned. The Prof. spoke about the operation, its length, the risks, which kidney the take-it-out surgeon would remove, where Blokey would be whilst I'm away in Sleepy-La-La-Land … I just nodded, trying to take it all in, asking appropriate questions when I thought of them.
We agreed upon a date (October) and suddenly it all seemed so real, and yet so surreal, and very near, yet so far away. It was an odd sensation of hope and fear and happiness and relief and sadness and ohmyfuckinggod …
the living donor lady
She chatted to us afterwards. I already knew about the catheter (and it's the part I'm least looking forward to) but when she mentioned the enema I very-nearly hoisted up my skirts and ran. Oh, nononono!
The things we do for love.
She took our certificates and pictures so that she could photocopy them for the HTA (Human Tissue Authority) who are the only thing standing between us and No Dialysis! She also made our appointment to see them at the end of the month. As soon as we've seen them and they're happy that I'm not being coerced into this, or given money/expensive gifts, then Blokey will be officially removed from The List. Yikes! No pressure for me!
the vampires
No hospital visit is complete without a trip to see the
vampires phlebotomists. I think I had the work experience fifteen year old; he had to keep toddling off to his Masters to ask if he was doing it correctly. Six vials of blood later and off I went, proudly showing off my little cotton wool ball taped to the crook of my elbow with surgical tape. It's always my proudest moment!
the take-it-out surgeon
I received more weight loss adulation from the take-it-out surgeon. Yes, bow down and worship me. He felt the pulse in my groin (yes, I'd tidied up down there and I was even wearing matching bra and knickers!) before prodding my sides and belly and asking if it hurt whilst he bruised my ribs …
Once again I nodded my little head off as he asked if I knew the risks and then proceeded to talk to me about them in detail. I realise they have to do it but it does get irksome. Finally he said I was a good candidate. I thought that was jolly sporting of him and wondered if he realised that The Prof. had already Go-Go'd us, and if he did, was he just trying to be all-powerful and bestest.
the relief
I escaped from having to see vampires and kidney-stealing folk and wandered down to haemoD, where I enjoyed two hours in the company of my Blokey, who slept.
Yesterday he worked out that he has about thirty-seven more haemoD sessions … the countdown has begun.
*laughs* (possibly high-pitched and nervous)