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Regulatory capture
From Riski
In 1913 Woodrow Wilson wrote: "If the government is to tell big business men how to run their business, then don't you see that big business men have to get closer to the government even than they are now? Don't you see that they must capture the government, in order not to be restrained too much by it? Must capture the government? They have already captured it."[1]
For public choice theorists, regulatory capture occurs because groups or individuals with a high-stakes interest in the outcome of policy or regulatory decisions can be expected to focus their resources and energies in attempting to gain the policy outcomes they prefer, while members of the public, each with only a tiny individual stake in the outcome, will ignore it altogether.
When this imbalance of focused resources devoted to a particular policy outcome is successful at "capturing" influence with the staff or commission members of a regulatory agency so that the preferred policy outcomes of the special interest are implemented, then regulatory capture has occurred.
Regulatory capture theory is a core focus of the branch of public choice referred to as the economics of regulation; economists in this specialty are critical of conceptualizations of governmental regulatory intervention as being motivated to protect public good. Two often cited articles are Laffont & Tirole (1991) and Levine & Forrence (1990).
The theory of regulatory capture is associated with Nobel laureate economist George Stigler, one of its main developers. Two other cited references are Bernstein (1955) and Huntington (1952).
"Unmet Duties in Managing Financial Safety Nets."
- Source: But Who Is Watching Regulators? New York Times, September 12, 2009
Edward J. Kane, a professor of finance at Boston College and an authority on the ethical and operational aspects of regulatory failure, has some ideas about how to do this and right our damaged system in the process. He outlined them in a recent paper titled "Unmet Duties in Managing Financial Safety Nets."
This ugly financial episode we've all had to live through makes clear, Mr. Kane says, that taxpayers must protect themselves against two things: the corrupting influence of bureaucratic self-interest among regulators and the political clout wielded by the large institutions they are supposed to police. Finally, he argues, taxpayers must demand that the government publicize the costs of efforts taken to save the financial system from itself.
"That authorities and financiers could so callously violate common-law duties of loyalty, competence, and care they owe taxpayers and financial-institution customers is evidence of a massive incentive breakdown in industry and government," Mr. Kane writes. "This breakdown cannot be repaired merely by replacing the governing political party or by changing the jurisdictions and mission statements of regulatory agencies."
It's tough, however, to assign responsibility to regulators who routinely fend off or stymie anyone attempting to scrutinize how the cops on the beat functioned in the years preceding the financial meltdown. So everyday Americans need to kick and scream if they want some light shed on this critical epoch in our financial history.
To bring accountability to regulatory performance, Mr. Kane suggests that financial supervisors take an oath of office in which they agree to perform four duties. First is the duty of vision, under which they would promise to adapt their surveillance practices to respond to the creative ways financial institutions hide their dubious practices. Regulators must also promise to take prompt corrective action, and to perform their work efficiently. Finally, there is what Mr. Kane calls the duty of "conscientious representation," whereby regulators swear to put the interests of the community ahead of their own.
This last promise gets to the heart of a continued erosion of trust in our system, Mr. Kane argues. "If real world supervisors were perfectly virtuous, they would make themselves politically and financially accountable for the ways in which they exercise their discretion," he writes. "Perfectly virtuous supervisors would fearlessly bond themselves to disclose enough information about their decision making to allow the community or interested outsiders to determine whether and how badly they neglect, abuse, or mishandle their responsibilities."
Instead, our regulators refuse to produce complete documentation and accounts of the actions they took during the crisis. And keeping taxpayers in the dark isn't exemplary ethical behavior. Rather, it is characteristic of what Mr. Kane calls an elitist regulator, one who uses crises to cover up mistakes and expand his or her jurisdiction.
"According to this standard," Mr. Kane writes, "Fed efforts to use the crisis as a platform for self-congratulation and for securing enlarged systemic-risk authority sidetracks, rather than promotes, effective reform."
To ensure that regulators live up to the promises they make, Mr. Kane suggests that inspectors general at each agency be charged with regularly auditing the performance of financial overseers. A crucial component of those reviews would be exploring attempts by regulated entities to influence the officials who oversee them. That's because in financial crises, Mr. Kane explained, crippled institutions pressure the government to rescue them and force other parties (usually the taxpayers) to share their pain.
"We've got a very comfortable equilibrium here where Wall Street praises the authorities and the authorities give Wall Street more or less what it wants and they hope that the public really doesn't understand the depth of the cynicism involved," Mr. Kane said in an interview. "You keep reading about how wonderful it is that we didn't have a Great Depression. Well, if they can sell that point of view, then nothing will change."
Congress should fund regulators
Source: The President's Blueprint for Reforming Financial Regulation: A Critique: Part II FinReg21.com, Richard A. Posner
"Second, it would probably be a good idea to finance the financial regulatory agencies out of congressional appropriations rather than fees paid by the regulated firms. The fee system puts the agency and the regulated firms in the approximate relation of seller to customers, and let's not forget the slogan that the customer always knows best. The particular danger is that a firm will, by configuring its structure in a particular way, bring itself under the jurisdiction of an agency that, desiring to increase its fee income, offers (implicitly of course) a softer regulatory touch. There is the further danger, when an agency is supported out of fee income, of a mismatch between the penalty function of fees and the revenue function. Fees set at the right level to deter risky practices may generate too little or too much income to finance the agency at optimal size."
Regulatory capture at the SEC
Norman Posner on SEC failure
Source: Why the SEC Failed: Regulators Against Regulation Norman S. Poser, Professor of Law Emeritus, Brooklyn Law School, Pg 9
"...Beginning in the 1980s, the SEC largely abandoned its role as an active monitor of the markets. Increasingly, it embraced the climate of deregulation that has pervaded the government. The Commission's main focus changed from protecting investors to protecting the companies and investment firms that the SEC was required to regulate.
The SEC's change of direction was given an air of legitimacy by Chicago-school laissez-faire scholars who argued, for example, that regulation of the markets is not needed and is even harmful because the markets are best left to regulate themselves, that mandatory corporate disclosure is unnecessary because the profit motive will give companies a sufficient incentive to make accurate disclosures,36 and that regulation of market manipulation is futile because manipulation is a myth. Others argued that the "moral hazards" that existed when commercial bankers engaged in investment banking also were a myth. The latter argument questioned the basis premise of the Glass-Steagall Act, which mandated separation of these two activities, and provided a theoretical basis for the gradual erosion of the Act and its ultimate repeal in 1999.
Wall Street and corporate America welcomed anti-regulatory theory because it gave them a justification for the unfettered pursuit of profit, unburdened by fear of guilt or government prosecution. Their attitude was famously summed up by the fictional financier Gordon Gekko in the 1987 movie Wall Street, who said "greed is good." The catastrophic events of 2007 and 2008 have, to say the least, cast a shadow of doubt over these ideas...
...During the past decade, the SEC made important regulatory changes that weakened the regulatory system and turned out to be a disaster for investors, significantly contributing to the 2008 financial crisis. First, the SEC exempted the largest investment banking firms from the minimum capital requirements imposed on broker-dealers.
Second, the SEC repealed a rule designed to prevent manipulative short selling of securities. At the same time, the Commission's other deregulatory actions included limiting shareholder access to the proxy voting system and repeatedly urging the Supreme Court to limit investors' ability to recover their fraud losses by means of private lawsuits."
SEC revolving door
- Source: SEC Lawyer One Day, Opponent the Next Wall Street Journal, April 5, 2010
"The revolving door can turn swiftly at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Steven Richards left the SEC in July 2008 as a top accountant in the enforcement division to join the global business advisory firm FTI Consulting. Five days later, he signed on to represent a client involved in a "nonpublic investigation" by his old division.
In August 2008, Andrew Dunbar left his job as an enforcement lawyer in the SEC's Los Angeles office to take a job with the law firm Sidley Austin. Eleven days later, he was tapped to help a client answer an "informal request for information" from the same office.
Mr. Dunbar didn't respond to requests for comment and Mr. Richards declined to comment, as did both of their employers.
The two ex-SEC men were among 66 former SEC employees who filed 168 letters with the SEC secretary in 2008 and the first nine months of 2009 disclosing clients or new employers they planned to represent before the agency, according to documents obtained through a public-records request. SEC regulations require such letters if a former employee represents a client before the agency within two years of leaving.
Some former employees disclosed routine matters, such as assisting clients filing SEC forms; 79 said they would be representing clients in "ongoing nonpublic investigations," including 36 who said the SEC's enforcement division was involved. Of the remaining forms, 73 gave no indication about the issues involved or which office at the SEC was handling them. The SEC redacted, or removed, the names of the clients and the titles of the matters before releasing the documents.
The employee disclosures, along with a recent report by the SEC's inspector general, demonstrate the work that agency employees do after they leave. The inspector general's report documents how a former SEC enforcement director helped Allied Capital Corp., a business-development lender, as it headed off potential fraud charges.
Treasury Secretary and Goldman Sachs
- Source: Paulson revealed policy at Goldman Sachs meeting, book alleges The London Times, October 22, 2009
Henry Paulson, the former US Treasury Secretary, held a meeting in Moscow with Goldman Sachs's board in which he spilt sensitive details of forthcoming government policy, a new book has alleged.
The meeting, which is certain to raise further questions about Mr Paulson's close relations with Goldman Sachs, is described in Too Big To Fail, a heavily anticipated rundown of the months leading up to Lehman Brothers' collapse, written by Andrew Ross Sorkin, the New York Times columnist.
Mr Paulson is said to have met with the Goldman Sachs board even though he signed an ethics agreement when appointed Treasury Secretary in 2006, under which he promised not to contact Goldman Sachs, the bank for which he worked for 32 years and which he ran for seven years.
In June 2008, Mr Paulson went to Moscow to encourage Russian investment in the collapsing US economy. Goldman Sachs's board was also in Moscow, to attend a dinner with Mikhail Gorbachev.
Mr Sorkin describes how Mr Paulson asked Jim Wilkinson, his chief of staff, to organise a social get-together for him with the board. Nervous that news of the meeting would leak, fanning the flames of conspiracy theories about Goldman Sachs's undue influence on the Treasury, Mr Wilkinson sought permission from Bob Hoyt, the Treasury's general counsel.
According to Mr Sorkin's book, Mr Hoyt said that the meeting would not contravene ethics guidelines as long as it remained a "social event".
But Mr Sorkin writes of the meeting: "Paulson regaled his old friends with stories about his time in Treasury and his prognostications about the economy. They questioned him about the possibility of another bank blowing up, like Lehman, and he talked about the need for the Government to have the power to wind down troubled firms, offering a preview of his upcoming speech."
Ethics experts yesterday called on Congress to investigate Mr Paulson's actions.
Melanie Sloan, executive director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-profit body, said: "It's hard to imagine why [Mr Paulson] thought such a meeting would be OK. It wasn't purely social — purely social is when you don't discuss business. That's basically inside information that the Goldman board received".
A spokeswoman for Mr Paulson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In August, Timothy Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, denied that Mr Paulson gave special treatment to his former employer.
"We have been forced to do just extraordinary things and, frankly, offensive things to help save the economy," he said. "I am completely confident that none of those decisions ... had anything to do with the specific interest of any individual firm, much less Goldman Sachs."
Banking sources said that Mr Paulson has spoken several times following the March 2008 collapse of Bear Stearns, about his desire for more power to deal with failing companies.
Goldman Sachs received $10 billion during the $700 billion bailout of the biggest US banks last year, which it has since repaid.
The dog that didn't bark
- Source: The dog that didn't bark The Economist, Oct 1st, 2009
"THE summitry never stops. After the G20's meeting in Pittsburgh on September 24th and 25th, the jawboning now moves to Istanbul, for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Policymakers seldom tire of talking about distorted incentives in the private sector--pay packages that encouraged bankers to think only about the short term, for example. But they should look in the mirror, too. The public sector is also affected by huge incentive problems, which help explain why regulators were unable to clamp down on finance during the bubble and why it is so difficult to withdraw the implicit promise of state guarantees.
Perhaps the biggest problem is something that economists call "time inconsistency". Monetary policy is the best-known example of this phenomenon. Central banks try to anchor inflationary expectations by sounding tough. But if the private sector raises wages anyway, central banks are reluctant to tighten policy and cause unemployment. The knowledge that monetary policy suffers from this inconsistency over time undermines the credibility of the initial, hawkish announcement.
The same sort of problem affects financial regulators and supervisors. They have incentives to announce a no-bail-out policy in order to encourage their charges to behave prudently. But as soon as crisis strikes, the optimal choice for policymakers differs from the pre-announced policy: the authorities will usually offer support. The banks anticipate this behaviour and run even more risks as a result.
Two other incentive distortions reinforce this bias towards bail-outs.
The first is that most supervisors--with the notable exception of America's Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which both regulates deposit-taking banks and administers their insurance fund--do not put the capital of their own institution at risk. The second is that a policy of regulatory forbearance may save the supervisor as well as the bank: hiding losses in financial institutions from public scrutiny may also help conceal regulatory and supervisory failure.
The quiet coup
- Source: The Quiet Coup The Atlantic, May, 2009
"...In its depth and suddenness, the U.S. economic and financial crisis is shockingly reminiscent of moments we have recently seen in emerging markets (and only in emerging markets): South Korea (1997), Malaysia (1998), Russia and Argentina (time and again). In each of those cases, global investors, afraid that the country or its financial sector wouldn't be able to pay off mountainous debt, suddenly stopped lending. And in each case, that fear became self-fulfilling, as banks that couldn't roll over their debt did, in fact, become unable to pay. This is precisely what drove Lehman Brothers into bankruptcy on September 15, causing all sources of funding to the U.S. financial sector to dry up overnight. Just as in emerging-market crises, the weakness in the banking system has quickly rippled out into the rest of the economy, causing a severe economic contraction and hardship for millions of people.
But there's a deeper and more disturbing similarity: elite business interests—financiers, in the case of the U.S.—played a central role in creating the crisis, making ever-larger gambles, with the implicit backing of the government, until the inevitable collapse. More alarming, they are now using their influence to prevent precisely the sorts of reforms that are needed, and fast, to pull the economy out of its nosedive. The government seems helpless, or unwilling, to act against them.
Top investment bankers and government officials like to lay the blame for the current crisis on the lowering of U.S. interest rates after the dotcom bust or, even better—in a "buck stops somewhere else" sort of way—on the flow of savings out of China. Some on the right like to complain about Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or even about longer-standing efforts to promote broader homeownership. And, of course, it is axiomatic to everyone that the regulators responsible for "safety and soundness" were fast asleep at the wheel.
But these various policies—lightweight regulation, cheap money, the unwritten Chinese-American economic alliance, the promotion of homeownership—had something in common. Even though some are traditionally associated with Democrats and some with Republicans, they all benefited the financial sector. Policy changes that might have forestalled the crisis but would have limited the financial sector's profits—such as Brooksley Born's now-famous attempts to regulate credit-default swaps at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in 1998—were ignored or swept aside.
The financial industry has not always enjoyed such favored treatment. But for the past 25 years or so, finance has boomed, becoming ever more powerful. The boom began with the Reagan years, and it only gained strength with the deregulatory policies of the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. Several other factors helped fuel the financial industry's ascent. Paul Volcker's monetary policy in the 1980s, and the increased volatility in interest rates that accompanied it, made bond trading much more lucrative. The invention of securitization, interest-rate swaps, and credit-default swaps greatly increased the volume of transactions that bankers could make money on. And an aging and increasingly wealthy population invested more and more money in securities, helped by the invention of the IRA and the 401(k) plan. Together, these developments vastly increased the profit opportunities in financial services.
Not surprisingly, Wall Street ran with these opportunities. From 1973 to 1985, the financial sector never earned more than 16 percent of domestic corporate profits. In 1986, that figure reached 19 percent. In the 1990s, it oscillated between 21 percent and 30 percent, higher than it had ever been in the postwar period. This decade, it reached 41 percent. Pay rose just as dramatically. From 1948 to 1982, average compensation in the financial sector ranged between 99 percent and 108 percent of the average for all domestic private industries. From 1983, it shot upward, reaching 181 percent in 2007..."
- Scholars for hire Reuters, December 21, 2010
- Is Regulation Really for Sale? Project Syndicate, December 20, 2010
- Our Peter Orszag problem The Economist, December 14, 2010
- Silent partners Boston.com, November 21, 2010
- The Revolving Door New York Times, September 29, 2010
- Senator Ted Kaufman's Final Remarks On Market Structure And Integrity ZeroHedge, September 29, 2010
- Would You Hire Larry Summers? The Daily Capitalist, September 28, 2010
- Regulatory Capture Of Oil Drilling Agency Exposed In Report Huffington Post, September 8, 2010
- Ex-Regulators Get Set to Lobby on New Financial Rules New York Times, July 27, 2010
- July 17 2010: Settlements and Tragedies The Automatic Earth, July 17, 2010
- OCC's Donald Lamson Joins Shearman & Sterling Financial Fraud Law, July 12, 2010
- SEC & MMS: A Tale of Two Failures New Deal 2.0, July 8, 2010
- SEC-Wall Street 'Revolving Door' on Hiatus? The Street.com, July 8, 2010
- Standing Up to the Unholy Alliance Between Washington and Wall Street Huffington Post, June 20, 2010
- Markets and Government Before, During and After the 2007-20xx Crisis Alea, June 27, 2010
- Brown & Whitehouse Op-Ed: Protecting Our Government From Corporate Influence Huffington Post, June 24, 2010
- Political risk premium soars BBC, May 4, 2010
- Sachs Appeal The New Republic, August 12, 2009
- In-Depth Look - Goldman's Ties To Paulson Bloomberg video, (running time - 6:30 minutes) Aug. 10, 2009
- Filling the Financial Regulatory Void Baseline Scenario, August 8, 2009
- The Great American Bubble Machine Rolling Stone, Matt Taibbi, July 9-23, 2009
- Regulatory Capture in Banking Daniel Hardy, International Monetary Fund (IMF), January, 2006


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Though we will have to wait till June 2012 for Chanel's Paris-Bombay Metier D'Art Show collection to hit the shelves, last week's pre-fall show offered up a high-wattage glimpse at the goodies to come. Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, brought out several of the Indian-inspired products to dress up the models for the show.
And what a show it was – especially the dramatic eyes that form the cornerstone of a traditional Indian look! Philips created the classic-with-a-contemporary twist statement look by circling the eyes with the black-brown Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Nirvana and then merging it into a thick triangle at the outer corners. He further amped up the effect with generous helpings of the Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ebene and layering it with Le Crayon Khôl in Black on top. The lashes were played up with the Mascara Inimitable Intense in Black.
In keeping with the Indian penchant for creamy complexions and a touch of bling, Philips also added golden highlights on the cheeks and eyes using Route des Indes de Chanel – a limited edition palette that he created especially for the show.
And as for the Chanel Le Vernis fans, this was the debut of the Le Vernis Nail Colour in Diwali – a light golden shade "inspired by the famous 'festival of lights' that takes place in India".
Karl Lagerfeld's use of "Bombay" rather than the contemporary "Mumbai" is deliberate as his India "is of an era where the glamour is imperial, rather than Bollywood."

subset: commoncrawl


text: On Sun, 2005-01-16 at 22:39 +0000, Ross Burton wrote: > On Sun, 2005-01-16 at 22:06 +0100, Murray Cumming wrote: > > I'd rather wait until 2.11/2.12 to add sound-juicer because I think it's > > only worthwhile when it can be a replacement for the CD player that > > happens to rip CDs too. > > As strange as it seems that would be my vote too. I suck at getting > stuff done and have been rather busy recently, and would like to make SJ > a player as well as a ripper. People seem to want sound-juicer even though it can only rip, and not play as well. And I guess that would not prevent the integration of rhythmbox and sound-juicer, if that is indeed what we want later. So, would you still like to have it in 2.10 given that you might not then be able to add CD-playing to it? -- Murray Cumming murrayc murrayc com www.murrayc.com www.openismus.com


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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quBCjo2rUZg]
No not them.
This week saw RUSH debut at the Toronto Film Festival. Oh how I wish I had been there, I cannot wait to see this film...
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPjWmHciU08]
This is not a Hollywood blockbuster. This is an independent British film that just happens to be directed by Ron Howard!
Set in the high octane world of Formula 1 in the 1970s, this film documents the on and off track relationship between the playboy James Hunt and the fanatical Niki Lauda, two men who could not have been more different in temperament and appoach to their sport of choice
This is the true story about these hard-driving Formula One rivals James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), whose clashes both on and off the racetrack made the 1976 season one of the most thrilling and memorable in the sport's history.
Rush revisits one of the most thrilling seasons in Formula One history: that of 1976, when two young drivers contested fiercely on and off the track. Austria's Niki Lauda , the reigning world champion, was cool, detached, methodical; a kind of Teutonic metronome, perceived as being ruthlessly efficient but colourless. Across the grid from him was Englishman James Hunt, the hard drinking, drug taking ladies man, who looked every inch the part. What turned their duel into the stuff of legend was the ferocity with which they competed — literally to the edge of death.
"The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel."
If this film has even 10% of the visceral intensity of the superb Senna, then this is going to be a very special film.
A winning film in fact...
Queen Marie


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Auburn mayor Linda Blechinger and city council members were updated on the current budget at a meeting held May 21.
According to city administrator Ron Griffith, Auburn has received approximately $48,000 more revenue than was received at this time in 2014. The city has spent approximately $187,000 less than had been expended at this time last year.
"We are collecting a little more in LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) than we did the previous year," said Griffith.
Auburn's city administrator also said collection of property taxes is at the same level as in the past.
The city anticipates an increase in revenue in the water fund during the next six months, due in part to collection of more than $200,000 in water connection fees from the Autry Pines development.
"Overall, looking at the six month report, we are right on target," said Griffith. "I think we are going to finish another year in the black."
Auburn sees more revenue
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text: It is important that Milwaukee County Supervisors hear your support for removing the Estabrook Dam and to know you're paying attention to how they vote on this critical environmental and taxpayer issue. Use the tools below to contact your County Supervisor via phone, email, or letter. You can download one of our sample letters, or feel free to write one of your own and share your personal story about why saving the Milwaukee River is important to you.


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Woven rhinestone garland with ties
Enchant your partner with a gorgeous, shimmering hair vine. A weaving design of sparkling wired rhinestones on a delicate garland with organza ties creates an elegant accent. Pretty up your look with wedding-worthy glamour by adding a stunning veil and sparkling jewelry.
Available in silver.


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Fans of classic footwear with an unapologetically modern bent, listen up. Today, none other than Mark McNairy joins the ranks of Club Monaco-approved designers featured in the brand's ongoing "Makers and Muses" series. As part of the collaboration, the CM folks are giving us a behind-the-scenes look at how the Mark McNairy New Amsterdam line of shoes and boots comes together, plus offering up nine of the designer's distinctive styles. They're all (obviously) stylish as hell, but if we had to pick three favorites, we'd go for the pebbled leather tassle loafers, the army green derbies, and a particularly fall-friendly pair of sand suede cap-toe boots. Check 'em out, below.
Tassel loafers ($450)
Suede derbies ($375)
Cap-toe boots ($425)


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The man - who' />
A father is worried Auckland police covered for a colleague who breached the force's computer system to lift information about him.
The man - who the Herald on Sunday has agreed not to name to protect his son's identity - alleges police lost complaints, mislaid reports, and brushed aside his concerns about Senior Constable Terry Beatson.
Beatson is married to the man's ex-wife and there was a custody battle, which has been resolved.
The man is concerned reports that Beatson accessed his file 17 times in four years might make people think him a dubious character. Beatson has been disciplined.
"I have no record with police and never have had," he said. "Everybody in New Zealand with a driver's licence has a file in the NIA."
The man's troubles began several years ago when he asked police to step in because of issues with his former wife .
"As soon as they found out that he was a police officer, they were more interested in whether my dog was registered, than my access."
He alleges police declined requests for a copy of the information Beatson accessed.


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Welly Weekend | Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th October
10am - 4pm
Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens will be supporting national welly week which aims to raise money and awareness about RABI's national farming charity through having fun. Wear your wellies for £1 off entry.
Draw your own Snowdog | The Gallery, Gateshead Library
Saturday 8th October
10am - 12:30pm
Using the Central Library Snowdog as inspiration, this is your chance to get creative and design & draw your very own Snowdog. Art materials will be provided and the finished pieces will be displayed in a mini exhibition in the library next week. FREE event and no booking required, simply drop in.
Apple Weekend | The Walled Garden, Gibside
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th October
11am - 3pm
Head to the Walled Garden in Gibside this weekend and celebrate the rich variety of apples that grow in Great Britain. There will be stunning displays and games for the whole family to play including juicing and bobbing. FREE event but normal admission applies.
Hey Presto | The Barbour Room, Sage Gateshead
Sunday 9th October
11am & 2pm
New Writing North and Sage Gateshead present a brilliant new production featuring original live music, magic tricks and lots of laughter for children aged 7 and under plus their families. Presto and Monty join the town's carnival with their magic show in this story of friendship. Tickets are £5.36 each including booking fee.
Scooby Doo visits Alnwick Garden | Near the Poison Garden
Saturday 8th October
Various intervals between 11am - 3pm
Pop into Alnwick Garden and meet Scooby Doo as he takes a break from solving mysteries. He'll be appearing at various intervals throughout the day. FREE event but normal admission applies.
Last weekend we took advantage of Tyne & Wear Metro's Snowdog Travel deal - for £10 you will receive a travel card which is valid for one day across all metro trains, the Shields ferry and local train services between Newcastle and Sunderland for 2 adults and 3 children. You'll also receive free limited edition Snowdog wristbands. I think it is probably too late to order these for this weekend, but it's something to think about for next weekend. Check out our video below to find out which Snowdogs we found:
Don't forget to join our North East Days Out Facebook Group for more ideas of what's on in our region and let me know in comments what you're up to.


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Since four days I've been attending third edition of the Formula Student Electric (FSE) competition that is taking place at the Hockenheimring in Germany. The electric race cars that students from all over the world have built and are racing here are in my opinion the most advanced electric race cars in the world. These guys and girls are not only engineering our future, they are engineering the present.
The bandwidth of quality in the teams is wide, but the top teams are venturing into unknown territory with their lightweight, battery powered, 4 wheel drive, software enhanced, electric vehicles. Just to give one example: though torque vectoring (a hot topic with Red Bull Racing recently) the teams claim that over and understeer are things of the past. Their software makes real time adjustments to the torque on every wheel to force the car into any corner.
The teams have been designing their cars from the ground up for electric racing, and with great effect. The character of the design competition makes that many different concepts are being tested and the development curve of the entire field is very steep. In the Formula Student competition for conventional cars the winning concepts have been determined. Every year more or less the same vehicles appear at the start, providing good learning for the students, but nowhere nearly as exciting and as important as the FSE cars' developments. The Conventional designs based on the internal combustion engine (ICE) are at the end of their S curve, whereas the electric class is just getting started. We are in for a very exciting development ride!
Today and tomorrow are the dynamic events so I'm really looking forward to seeing the vehicles in action. I'll be posting some more photo's of the vehicles in action later on. We saw some testing already and that looks very promising. Especially the acceleration of the Electric vehicles is awesome. And it's is also very interesting listen to the electric cars in alternation with the combustion cars. I think the sound of the EV's is super, especially since they are moving so fast and are handling so agile. I spoke with one of the students that is the driver of two cars, both ICE and and EV and he preferred the EV because of the long and powerful acceleration boost he got every time. When I asked him about the sound whether he didn't miss the sound in the EV he replied; "F**k the sound, give me the acceleration!" You've got to love these guys.
Godert van Hardenbroek
Latest posts by Godert van Hardenbroek (see all)
- FSE, The cutting edge of electric autosport - Aug 4, 2012
- On the issue of sound - Nov 10, 2011


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The coming of the monsoons in India is associated with good news, particularly with regards to the wildlife after long and difficult dry seasons. However, that is not always the case, and Assam is an example.
Every monsoon the Brahmaputra River, which runs through the Kaziranga National Park, bursts its banks flooding the local area. The results in many animals being swept away or being forced to retreat to higher ground. This park is home to the Indian rhino, as well as many tigers. I went to Kaziranga back in 2014, for more information on the park, check out the story I posted yesterday!
Teams of people monitor the situation in order to prevent loss of the wildlife and conflicts. "With the threat of floods looming large, the IFAW-WTI team based out of the Wildlife Rescue Center in the outskirts of Kaziranga National Park monitored the areas day and night until the water level reduced." Taken from an IFAW post by Subhamoy Bhattacharjee
The vast movement of the Kaziranga residents results in a large number of human conflicts as they stray into nearby villages. In order to reduce the possible dangerous to the animals and the humans alike, teams are going into local villages to educate the locals on the correct protocols.
"In the past, interactions with villagers, followed by Do's and Don't's distributed on handouts were the norm preceding the annual floods. This year's pre-flood awareness activities are more area specific and subjective, specifically targeting vulnerable localities where animals often cross over to high ground and villages believed to house poachers." Taken from an IFAW post by Subhamoy Bhattacharjee
For more reading, please check out this IFAW article.


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Unique Event Elements offers a wide of variety of drape for any event. Our drape heights range from 8ft. all the way to 80ft!
We also carry a variety of colors and textures such as sheer, velour, woven, and satin just to name a few.
Click to enlarge image.
Don't see a color or fabric you're looking for? Call us to see how we can add it to our inventory!
Contact us for a quote or to set up an appointment to see our showroom.
*colors may vary on different devices.


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Serving Raceland, Gheens, Lockport, Valentine, Larose, Cut Off, Galliano, Golden Meadow, Leeville, & Grand Isle
Sunday, September 22, 2019
NEW YORK (AP) — A source confirms to The Associated Press that Justin Bieber is no longer Selena Gomez's "Boyfriend."
The source is not authorized to discuss the split with the press and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The breakup apparently happened last week. Distance and their busy schedules were cited as factors.
Eighteen-year-old Bieber is touring to promote his latest album, "Believe," which contains the hit "Boyfriend." Twenty-year-old Gomez is filming a "Wizards of Waverly Place" reunion for the Disney Channel.
The pair made their relationship public in February 2011.
E! News was the first to report the split.
Bieber seems to be doing OK, at least publicly. On the red carpet of Wednesday's Victoria's Secret fashion show he said, "I'd rather be here than anywhere in the world."
Copyright 2012* Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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BEVERLY HILLS, CA--(Marketwired - May 31, 2017) - Rich Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (
Rich and CMIC are preparing submission packages for the Hospital's Internal Review Board (IRB) and the Thailand Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This package is near completion and the Company plans to submit it shortly. "The Company has purchased product liability insurance, the package is near completion and we hope to submit in the coming days," said Ben Chang, CEO.
In cooperation with the Hospital, Rich is seeking to conduct a study for the treatment of Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (AML) in refractory patients in a Phase I/II trial. Acute Myelocytic Leukemia is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that build up in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML is the most common acute leukemia affecting adults, and its incidence increases with age. Because the incidence increases with age, it is expected that incidence will rise as population rises.
About CMIC ASIA-PACIFIC, PTE. LTD.
CMIC ASIA-PACIFIC, PTE. LTD. is one of the leading Asian pharmaceutical service providers with Headquarters in Japan and operations in China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam. CMIC ASIA-PA- CIFIC, PTE. LTD. provides consulting services, clinical development services, post marketing research, commercialization and industry expertise from early phase studies to late phase studies to support global and local clinical development. CMIC ASIA-PACIFIC, PTE. LTD. also manages investigator-initiated trials, observational studies and registry studies. Find out more at http://www.cmic-apac.com
About Rich Pharmaceuticals:
Rich Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies in oncology, with initial concentration in treating Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (AML), Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) and other blood related diseases. It is currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of AML and HL. Rich Pharmaceuticals' goal is to extend refractory patients life expectancy and increase quality of life. Rich Pharmaceuticals' primary development stage product candidate, RP-323, is being designed to treat blood and cancer related diseases through non-evasive outpatient facilities. RP-323 is a phorbol ester, which induces differentiation and/or apoptosis in multiple cell lines and primary cells, activates protein kinase C (PKC), and modulates the activity of multiple downstream cell signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. RP-323 induces PKC to produce NF kappa, which then produces NF kappa B that has the ability to regulate cellular responses by entering into the nucleus of cells. NF kappa B binds to DNA and changes the nature of the cell and (1) induces differentiation; (2) induces proliferation; (3) cytokine induction; (4) and/or apoptosis. Find out more at www.richpharmaceuticals.com
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, references to novel technologies and methods, our business and product development plans, our financial projections or market information. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company, our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to commence clinical trials and to continue to pursue our business and product development plans, our ability to develop and commercialize products based on our technology platform, competition in the industry in which we operate and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov.
Contact Information:
Investor Relations:
Rich Pharmaceuticals
9595 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
424-230-7001 ext. 147


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CONCORD, NC - After a short hiatus from the National Karting Scene, the popular KA100 Throwdown returns, July 14 and 15 at Concept Haulers Speedway in Sheridan, IL. WKA, together with Franklin Motorsports, will host the competition during the fourth stop of the 2018 Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup. In additional to huge bragging rights that comes with this historical event, KA100 Senior Drivers will fight for a cash purse of up to $800 Saturday, July 14, and the all-important, one-of-a-kind Throwdown Sword Award Sunday, July 15. Previous editions have treated spectators to amazing racing, and this year's edition will certainly not disappoint.
WKA President Kevin Williams added, "The IAME KA100 Throwdown Sword was a popular award that drivers strived for in Midwest competition. I think it is important that we renew this special award and provide some fun for our senior level drivers. Offering cash awards for KA100 Senior drivers on Saturday, the premier field will race for 'The Sword' on Sunday in an all-out wheel-to-wheel battle."
"I am happy to bring KA100 Throw Down and the Sword back into competition," explained Franklin Motorsports' Jamie Sieracki. "Not that the Sword has any monetary value, but the bragging rights of winning this award is priceless."
In Saturday's competition, KA100 Senior drivers will be shooting for:
First Place - $200.00
Fastest Lap - $100.00
Oldest Entered Driver - $100.00
Youngest Entered Driver - $100.00
Prior to the main event, a random draw for a kart number entered for the weekend will take place. If your number is drawn, that driver will receive an automatic $50.00. If that kart number wins the race, the driver will also receive a $250.00 bonus on top of their $200.00 winner's purse.
WKA will be offering its temporary membership once again for the balance of the 2018 season. For only $20.00 for any person who has not been a member in the last twelve months or have not been a member in the past. At the conclusion of the event, any temporary members can become a WKA member can apply the $20.00 fee to a full membership.
Entry forms and additional information are available by following the series link to the WKA Manufacturers Cup on the WKA website at www.WorldKarting.com or by clicking the buttons below:


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Wish Book
Wish Book: Father of seven feels 'blessed,' but his van keeps breaking down
Andres Vazquez was rushing home from work to pick up his seven kids on a recent Tuesday when a tire on his old Dodge Caravan blew out. After coaxing the hobbled vehicle to his Miami Beach home, he turned the engine off. When he tried to restart it a few minutes later, there was only silence.
In near panic, the single father and full-time hotel cook who cares for his children only with the help of some family members, managed to borrow a car. An hour later, Vazquez and his brood poured out of the smaller Buick and were all smiles at Miami's Jungle Island.
It was a rare trip to a fun spot for the large family, thanks to the kindness of a stranger who supplied the passes.
"I stay positive because if the kids see me stressed out," Vazquez said, his sentence trailing off. "But I feel blessed. They're good kids. They all have their fair share of responsibility."
Vazquez said he doesn't have many needs. He supplements his $14-an-hour job at the Clevelander Hotel with food stamps. The kids, between the ages of 1 and 14, wear hand-me-downs. He has turned his two-bedroom apartment in North Beach into a three-bedroom pad, and everyone has their own mattress. He works during the day and picks his kids up from school every afternoon. He has created a unique filing system to remember each child's birth date: His arms are covered with tattoos, one with each child's name and their date of birth. He calls it his memo pad.
When pushed, Vazquez said his one Christmas wish would be reliable transportation — perhaps a van with less than 170,000 miles on it that the kids can fit into and that doesn't break down all the time.
"They've got to have a better childhood than I had. I grew up too fast," Vazquez said.
Obvious question: So how did it come to be that a 32-year-old male with a modest income, a Miami Beach Senior High student who attended the Boys & Girls Club and whose dad has been in prison for more than two decades, is the main caretaker of seven children?
Vazquez started having kids early. He had five — Christine, 5, Alvin, 6, Cymayra, 8, Christopher, 9, and Andres, 14 — with his teenage sweetheart. But the Miami Beach nightlife got to her, he said. After they split up, she would leave the home and return at odd hours. He would come by to visit and notice the kids weren't cared for properly. He took pictures. The Department of Children and Families got involved, and after drawn-out court fights he finally got the rights to his five children.
Then he had two more with another woman. They didn't live together, either. In April, the courts awarded Vazquez 1-year-old Dorian and 2-year-old Adrian. Some family members help with the kids. So does the mother of the babies. Local church workers help out, and so does the nonprofit Center for Family and Child Enrichment, which helps with child adoption and fostering services.
"I'm still going to family court to work out visitation rights. I'm going to parenting class. Whatever they want me to do, I'll do," he said.
The kids are sharp. They pay attention. They know their places in the family hierarchy. During their visit to Jungle Island, except for the babies in the double stroller, each older child took care of the one immediately younger.
Christopher wanted "alligator time." He got it when a Jungle Island employee gave him a small two-footer to hold, with its mouth taped. Cymayra was awed by four large cats — three white tigers and a lion — sleeping lazily in a glass-enclosed pen. "Look daddy, the Lion King," she said. Then she peeked around another corner and noticed a pair of turtles — doing who knows what.
"Daddy," she said. "Look at the turtles. They're on top of each other."
When 14-year-old Andres spotted a pair of disturbingly ugly warthogs eating old eggs and bathing in chocolate brown water they were urinating in, he pulled out his iPhone and started looking up the ugliest animals in the world. The proboscis monkey, and its unusually shaped nose, had the warthogs by a long shot, he said.
Then it was off to the petting zoo, where a goat tried to eat Christine's shirt. Later, most of the children piled into the small colored train that circles a field in the center of the Watson Island park. Then, back into the Buick, one by one, like the stereotypical clown car that tickles kids with laughter every year at the circus.
Vazquez said the mother of the two babies is still a big help. She loaned him the Buick Wednesday to get the kids to Jungle Island and sits in when he has to leave.
"She does stuff like the girls' hair," Vazquez said. "She watches them sometimes when I'm at work. She gave me two — and she got five for free."
How to help
Wish Book is trying to help hundreds of families in need this year.
▪ To donate, pay securely at MiamiHerald.com/wishbook.
▪ To give via your mobile phone, text WISH to 41444.
▪ For information, call 305-376-2906 or email email@example.com.
▪ Most requested items: laptops and tablets for school, furniture, accessible vans.
Read more at Miami Herald.com/wishbook.


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It's difficult -- in the wake of the intensity of building an aircraft, learning to fly it, and planning for forty days of flying in it -- to remember where you came from. Stumbling across this entry (from dark days past) jogged my memory immediately. I wouldn't have life any other way than it is right now and that, despite whatever is to come, is a wonderful acceptance.
Hashtag throwback; hashtag all of the feels.


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When I picked Boston as the city to spend my birthday, I didn't really think about what to do there. (I had so much going on with internships and the end of the college semester!) It didn't really matter anyways since my favorite way to explore is to just walk.
So I was pleasantly surprised when I picked the blue route on the Freedom Trail map which went through Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood. It's historic and super picturesque…
1. Walking out of Boston Common (a park in downtown Boston) to enter Beacon Hill
2. Townhouses while walking up the hill (there really are hills in Beacon Hill…)
3. So many trees everywhere and it was a beautiful day!
4. The neighborhood seemed to be well cared for. The majority of houses had flowers by the windows.
5. Those window shutters!
6. One of my favorites. Trees, windows, doors.
7. Did you know Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women) used to live in Beacon Hill? This was her house.
8. 1 Pinckney Street. Apparently it's one of the oldest, built before 1800!
9. So pretty.
10. Narrow roads.
11. Kept wondering what the real estate is like… can I live right here?
12. A sort of hidden house… surprises everywhere!
13. And coming out of the narrow roads. These buildings face Boston Common.
Have you been to Boston? Let me know your recommendations in the comments below. I'll save them for my next visit 🙂


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Dito sa southview homes three ay napaka accessible kung nag wowork ka sa manila dahil accessible ito sa southwoods exit at national highway. Land that is best for turkeys is not necessarily best for deer, though it can be. So when you getting browsing for low cost hunting land for sale in Kentucky, very first know what type of land you are interested in purchasing. You can also find them by driving by way of other parks and seeking for equivalent signs and phone numbers on homes for sale. The Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando is the occasion that the province of Pampanga is most recognized for.
If you're not sure who is accountable for the tax sale in your state, then consult my State Guide. All content material displayed on this website is restricted to personal, non-commercial use, and only for ascertaining details with regards to true property for sale. You can also order magazines for your local area to carry with you to uncover homes for sale. A flea market place booth might be a great choice if you have neat or unusual items to sale.
Barroeta is also located really close to the new highway creating it very handy to Atenas, San Jose and the Pacific Coast. Maraming Bus pa manila sa national highway sa san pedro or may pili naman ng bus sa umaga malapit lang sa southview homes three. Parol producing is not only a Christmas symbol, it is a symbol of hope for lots of Parol makers.
This is a list of lots obtainable in Waters Edge 2nd Addition Block two. The prices listed for the lots include specific assessments. You can uncover excellent offers on lots and land for sale if you know where to appear and Georgia just so occurs to be among the correct areas. The owner could be downsizing their residence and moving to someplace like an apartment exactly where the fridge is also large to match.
Our available lots let for spacious cottages, condos or duplexes that provide remarkable views of lovely Emerald Isle scenery. Many men and women will simply slow down and glance at your sale to establish regardless of whether or not it is even worth stopping for. Les Trois Chenes~ I can only think about the many great yard sale or barn sale issues you will uncover!


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Are you sure?
This action might not be possible to undo. Are you sure you want to continue?
Thanks to her acclaimed volume of poetry and prose published in France in 1555, Louise Labé (1522-66) remains one of the most important and influential women writers of the Continental Renaissance. Best known for her exquisite collection of love sonnets, Labé played off the Petrarchan male tradition with wit and irony, and her elegies respond with lyric skill to predecessors such as Sappho and Ovid. The first complete bilingual edition of this singular and broad-ranging female author, Complete Poetry and Prose also features the only translations of Labé's sonnets to follow the exacting rhyme patterns of the originals and the first rhymed translation of Labé's elegies in their entirety.


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Sweet Potato & Chive Waffle With Poached Eggs
1 Large Sweet Potato, shredded (2 packed cups)
1.5 Tbsp. Chives, chopped, plus more for garnish
1 Large Egg
Salt & Pepper
2 Large Eggs, room temp
1 Tbsp. Distilled White Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Sea Salt
Smoked Salmon
Shred It:
- Heat waffle iron to high
- Using a thin kitchen towel, drain the excess moisture from your shredded sweet potato
- Mix in chives
- Season with salt & pepper
- Add your egg and mix to combine
- Spray your waffle iron with a little olive oil
- Distribute your sweet potato mixture evenly, and cook until your waffle iron says it's ready
- Using a heat-safe spatula, gently loosen the edges and carefully transfer to a plate (this part is tricky).
Poach It: (I use the method from The Broad Fork, it's everything!)
- Put 2 quarts of cold water & distilled white vinegar in your poaching pot & start to bring it to a boil
- Crack your eggs into individual ramekins
- Once boiled, add 1 tbsp. sea salt to your water
- Reduce your heat so your water is trembling, but not boiling
- Swirl the water a few times with a large spoon
- While the water is still swirling, gently pour each egg into the water individually
- Cook 4 min for a soft yolk
- Spoon out the eggs with a slatted spoon
Some Assembly Required:
- Top waffle with smoked salmon, poached eggs, and garnish with more chopped chives


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Build a sustainable and traceable agriculture supply chain with SAP Rural Sourcing Management
Designed for agribusiness companies and powered by the SAP Cloud Platform, this supply chain management (SCM) software connects smallholder farmers to the agricultural value chain – and offers full transparency into the source of your raw materials.
SAP Rural Sourcing Management is a cloud-based solution for enhanced management of sustainability data through digitally recorded information on producers, their farms, and their communities at every level of the value chain. Field agents collect data on farmer registration, purchasing and processing of produce, and transportation records.
Key Benefits
Full traceability
Link farm and logistics processes to ensure full traceability and keep improvements in output visible from farm to fork.
Data analytics
Access and analyze data about the source of your agricultural commodities.
Regulatory compliance
Ensure compliance with current and future agriculture regulations.
Key Capabilities
Mobile app for field agents
- Electronic traceability from the earliest stage of individual farmer deliveries to the weighing bridge
- Electronic data-capture with smartphones – no paper required
- Offline-enabled and bandwidth-optimized
Desktop and cloud apps for central operations
- Comprehensive agricultural supply chain management
- Direct exchange of information with market participants
- Immediate responses to quality incidents and other issues
- More efficient operations, including up-to-date information about storage and logistics
SAP Analytics Cloud for Analytics (for use by management)
- High-performance supply chain analytics for Big Data
- Acquisition, manipulation, and visualization of data from any source
- Highest security standards
- 100% offline-enabled
See how customers are succeeding with SAP
Cloud computing helps Uganda grow its agricultural sector and middle class
By supporting local farmers, subsistence farmers are becoming successful entrepreneurs. Kalangala Palm Oil Growers Trust is growing and using SAP Cloud applications to expand their organization, improve efficiency and keep all the major players connected digitally.
Technical Information
This product is deployed in the cloud and is available as software as a service (SaaS), so you can access your software from any Web browser.
Installation and setup
Follow the setup instructions so you can start running your SAP software quickly and confidently.
Optimize configuration of SAP Rural Sourcing Management with our comprehensive configuration guide.
Find out how you can seamlessly integrate SAP Rural Sourcing Management with your existing IT landscape.
Transform your business quickly and effectively by taking advantage of our holistic service and support plans, expert consulting services, custom application development, proven best practices, and deep industry and technical knowledge.
Get the support you need to keep your SAP solutions running at peak performance with our IT experts and support services, including long-term plans, embedded teams, remote technology support, self-service portal, and innovation strategies.
Security and Compliance
Focus on your business and customer relationships, while knowing that your data is safe and reliable. With a proactive, predictive approach, SAP helps ensure compliance and data security in the cloud and within an on-premise data center.


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Great development property located at the signalized intersection of Tracker Rd. and Main St. in Nixa. Intersection has recently been upgraded. Utilities are available to the site and the owner would consider dividing.
From Tracker and 160: East on Tracker Rd. to property at the Northwest corner of Tracker and Main St.
A real estate transaction is a multi-faceted process with many moving parts. That's why we offer a wide array of services to help you through the process. Whether you're buying your first condo or selling your third home.
Results from this calculator are designed for comparative purposes only, and accuracy is not guaranteed.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web page comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) of the Southern Missouri Regional MLS, LLC , Inc. Real estate listings held by Brokerage firms other than Murney Associates, Realtors are marked with the IDX logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing Brokers. The information being provided is for consumers' personal, noncommercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The information being provided is not guaranteed, and all information should be verified by the consumer. Any representation that a web site contains all listings shall only mean that the web site contain all listing available to the public through the IDX data feed. There may be other properties offered through a REALTOR® that have not been displayed on this site. © 2019 Southern Missouri Regional MLS, LLC All rights reserved.
Last Updated: April 30, 2019 3:11 PM
Copyright Disclosure


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Find the Unicorn...
So many things to share! I think constantly of ideas on which to blog, but, as evidenced by the lack of entries here, only about 1% actually make it to the computer. Here's one that finally got there.
I recently watched a movie with my kids that we rented from the library (free entertainment - YEA!): The Voyage of the Unicorn. One of the catch phrases of the movie was "Credendo Vides" - By believing, one sees. A magical thought for sure. Ironically, this ties into more mainstream ideas upon which I've been reflecting - namely, how our perceptions shape our world.
A quick example: Growing up I was most certainly not the popular child. I would often hear others talking about me behind my back. This grew into a habit of assuming people were always thinking the worst of me. When passing someone in the hallway, I'd "KNOW" they were judging me and always kept my eyes down to avoid the inevitable scowling stare.
Because I believed this, I saw only judgement around me. I felt only judgement from others. Until my more recent years as I started understanding how my views shaped actual experience, I didn't realize that I was making this so. By assuming everyone was judging me and didn't want to be friendly, I acted towards them in a distanced manner (in theory to protect myself). If the other person had no judgments originally, however, my distanced behavior could cause them to act towards me in an unfriendly manner...thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Today it is fun to take this idea much deeper. What if what we believe truly is what we see? If we believe the world is a beautiful place, despite all of the suffering and hate, we see the caring innocent nature of every human being we encounter (even though sometimes it may be hidden behind layers of fear and defenses). On the other hand, if we believe humans are ultimately selfish, uncaring creatures out for physical survival...well, it isn't a pretty picture.
Today, just for fun, try to believe in the good. Regardless of what you do, who you encounter, believe that is is all ultimately beautiful and that each person is ultimately desiring the same happiness you are. Who knows what could happen? If truly what we believe is what we see (and we act based on what we see)...imagine what life could become. And who knows - perhaps one of us will run across that elusive unicorn.


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Just when it's finally getting warm around here, today we're thinking about hot chocolate, chunky scarves and holiday shopping. We're so excited to share with you our plans for a bigger and better Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar this year. After hearing the same request from so many vendors and attendees, we are hosting a TWO-day event this year at 501 Union, kicking off on Small Business Saturday. Mark your calendars for November 28th & 29th!
Applications are open until June 21st for both local makers and food/drinks vendors. Our goal for the event is always to bring together the best of Brooklyn under one gorgeous roof. we are looking for makers who fit the Brooklyn Makers spirit and stand out for their impeccable designs, handmade quality and sustainable production. We are also looking for food and drinks purveyors to delight our hungry shoppers with sweet and savory bites.
Interested in hearing more? Ready to apply? Head over to the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar site.
Okay, now where is my iced coffee?


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Delivery information
- Delivery is normally by Royal Mail or Courier.
- Delivery is only available within the UK.
- If you would like to make an international order, please email email@example.com or call us on 0207 843 2552
Postage costs:
- Standard Postage is £2.00 plus £1.00 per DVD, £3.00 per Toolkit and £1.50 for other items. Maximum postage cost is £12.00.
We aim to deliver within 10 working days of receiving your order.
- Express Delivery is £5.50 extra, maximum postage is £17.50.
We aim to deliver within 3-4 working days of receiving your order.
Please contact us within 30 days of placing your order, if it has not arrived and we will endeavour to resend it.


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A memoir of a father's grief
Two or three weeks after his son Kadian died, Thomas Harding found himself at the checkout counter of the supermarket. It was the first time he'd been to the supermarket since his son's bicycling accident.
He looked down at the cart.
"I had four bottles of bleach and three packets of chewing gum. That's all I had," Harding remembers. "I was totally unable to carry out normal functions."
Harding, an investigative journalist, joined MPR News host Kerri Miller to talk about his path through grief, and his new book, "Kadian Journal." He started writing it in the days after his son's death.
"It was just in my head and it had to be on paper," Harding said. The book is a way of remembering Kadian, of examining the accident and of sharing his son with people who never met him. Kadian was 14 years old when he died.
"When we lost him, I found myself unable to actually describe what was happening. I found when people spoke to me about our experience, it didn't really compute," Harding said. "They'd be well-meaning, but they'd say things like: 'There are no words.' Of course, for me, there are thousands of words to describe him, to describe what's going on, and yet, I was struggling for exactly the right words."
Harding and his wife found themselves tripping over the terms that come with death and grief. Should they say "coffin" or "casket"?
"Do we talk about 'it'? His body?" Harding remembered asking. "Do we talk about Kadian's body?"
Harding, who was biking with his son at the time of the accident, thinks that writing and talking about these words was his way of handling the story.
"It was a moment of profound loss of control, as you can imagine," Harding said of his son's death. "Maybe that's why having these words was important. It's my way of trying to seize control of a situation that was no longer reliable, that was no longer within my reach."
For the full interview with Thomas Harding about "Kadian Journal," use the audio player above.


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We take pride in actively partnering with business leaders and entrepreneurs to successfully resolve their varied legal and business challenges. Whether working with a multinational or a two-person start-up company, we dedicate ourselves to protecting our clients' interests, and helping them gain a competitive advantage.
We serve as counsel to major corporations and a growing number of companies engaged in high-tech areas such as lasers, optics, digital imaging, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and the Internet. We also provide a full range of legal services to companies involved in retail, real estate development, health services, financial services, international trade, insurance, higher education and charitable organizations, as well as serving individual clients.
- Agriculture/Food & Dairy
- Auto Dealerships
- Building & Construction
- Design Professionals
- E-Commerce
- Financial Services
- Health Care Professionals
- Health Systems & Hospitals
- Higher Education
- Manufacturers & Distributors
- Long-Term Care
- Optic/Photographic Industries
- Real Estate - Retail
- Sports Law & Sports Facilities
- Technology & Software
- Telecommunications


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The Next 7Days
Monday, February 18, 2008
Coming soon...
There you have it. Now go on over and hug Doow.
Go on. Git!
Posted bythemikestand at 9:08 PM
Labels: 7Days, photography
3 stepped up to the mike:
- doow said... 6:48 AM, February 19, 2008
*waits with open arms*
- richgold said... 7:54 PM, March 13, 2008
MongoAdventurer is on the flickr project, I just keep my public (photography) identity very separate from that part of my life. ;-)
- themikestand said... 8:06 AM, March 14, 2008
Oh, richgold.. you'll have to email me with more details -- unless I can suss it out myself. :)
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urban bandits
A couple weeks ago there was a news story about a woman who was chased and attacked by a pack of raccoons. Apparently, they jumped from the trees like little monkey ninjas and tried to take her jewelry! They kidnapped her dog and then drove off into the night in their tiny '57 Chevy. OK, OK.. i made that part up. BUT! The story was nearly as ridiculous. Michelle and i LAUGHED as we heard the news report. Silly. Raccoons? Attacking PEOPLE?
Fast forward a week to the night before trash day. We were rolling out the bins to the sidewalk when we heard some weird scratching noises down the street. It was after sun down so it was hard to see. I could make out the shape of..........HOLY CRAP! A pack of raccoons were racing toward us!!!! They were pissed off!!! And wanted our jewelry. Remembering the news story we turned and ran as fast as we could to the house!
I just want to humbly apologize to the poor raccoon attack lady.
Those little dudes are really scary.


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A Lackluster Thrill
Source: Pensive
For the first and second part of this weirdass trilogy, clickity here and here.
"Why, you look like you're… deep in thought."
Jamie looked away from the window to find me standing near the door. As I made my way to the kitchen for a glass of water, he remarked, "You're off from work early."
"The boss decided everyone should be home early for Christmas eve," I downed the whole glass in one-go, "of course, I had to willingly oblige. Who the hell would miss a chance for a longer weekend?"
"Oh," he responded, rather disinterestedly, "that's good."
Weirded out by this melancholic-reflective act he's pulling, I decided to just ask him, "What's up with you? Something up with the studio? I mean, you would usually begin counting days to Christmas since July."
"Um, no, no, the studio's fine… I just got paid for finishing a project, actually," he began to wander off.
"Spit it out," I demanded, "It's been a while, but did the Drain Duchess screw you up somehow? Made you eat raw fish gills or something?"
Three weeks ago, Jamie and I set on an unlikely adventure in the sewers to save him from perpetually smelling like one and eventually be ousted from society. Mr. Nomura, our neighborhood fishmonger and guide, managed to set us an appointment to one of the Twin Sisters–whom I call the Drain Duchess for short–of this funky guild fish-merchants are members of, so that we can get Jamie out of his misery. Thing is, only he and Goh, the Guild's caretaker, may enter the chamber to see her. More importantly, the Duchess herself has requested that he would not tell anyone how she looked like and how the meeting went. At first, because Jamie is at least completely cured out of the weird curse, I did not even bother to ask. But since then, I seem to spot him looking somewhat pensive more often than not. Out of concern, I started bugging him with specific yes-no questions as to make sure nothing bad happened to him then; that way, he won't have to break the promise, should another jinx be put upon him if he blabbered out stuff. So far, I am sure that nothing violent happened to him, but I am yet to confirm if he needs to do or eat anything disgusting. As to the question I just inquired, he responded with an downturn on the sides of his lips.
"Ugh, no," he disgustedly replied, "even if she did, you know I probably need to struggle for hours with it. I was barely there for 15 minutes."
"I mean, the alternative is to have fish guts as your daily deodorant," I made a case for it, "You would not hesitate that long."
"Well, yeah, you've got a point," Jamie mulled, "but, no. That didn't happen. And that's not what's been bothering me."
"So, what is it?" I took a seat on the chair of our dining table, gesturing him to sit on the opposite chair. Slowly, he walked away from the window to join me.
"You know the deal with how adventures are portrayed in books and movies, right?" he began, "It's about overcoming hardships, but more than that it looked awesome. Some of the characters even got to do cool tricks and stuff…"
"And yours is about falling in the gutter, smelling even worse than just shit and venturing in the drain domain?" I interrupted.
"Let's be real, who would not be pissed? Who would want to hear a story that starts with, 'So once I fell down the ditch…'?" he retorted, "I'd bring this story down to my grave. You have promised not to tell anyone either."
"And you have my word," I asserted.
"Good. Anyway, what kinda upsets me is the fact that it all ended just like that. In a matter of minutes, problem solved. We went back to our simple lives."
I paused for a bit to process what Jamie had just said, and asked him, "You do realize that you were about to get stinky for life and missed the chance to be alleviated from it, don't you?"
"Then why would you bother thinking about how the adventure could have been more interesting?" I can't stop myself from laughing, "Seriously Jamie, wasn't it better that you didn't have to go through, what, trials or riddles to sort it out?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
"You were about to spend the rest of your life in the bathroom!" I exclaimed, "And if you tried explaining your predicament, not a single soul would believe you. You wouldn't even get away with branding yourself as a lunatic artist. You'd lose your job, be forced to live in the street… or maybe the sewers! And you'll stench forever…"
"Alright, enough with saying I'm gonna stink for life," he butted in, "I got a feeling you're enjoying that a little too much…"
I raised my hands up approvingly, "Okay, but you understand what I'm getting at, do you? Jamie, most people would want their problems to end as quickly as possible. You had a horrendously ridiculous one, and you got it taken care of, almost in a snap of a finger. That's a good thing."
He was silent, letting the words sink in. Then he nodded a couple of times before saying, "Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right. I mean, at least now I get to worry over if I will get another project for next year; not how to work and live in the bathroom…"
"Exactly!" I agreed, "And I lied to you earlier about being sent off early from work because, honestly, I just got fired."
"What?" Jamie widened his eyes.
"Well, I resigned and the boss didn't take it too well. But it doesn't matter. Now we get to sweat over jobs together! I got some money saved, so don't worry about my part of the rent…"
"No, no, let's rewind this for a bit," Jamie stretched his right palm in front of me, "I know you hate your job, Sam, but you actually quit?"
"I know, I know. I kept saying how I can't risk changing jobs because of the sweet, sweet money I get from this one, but I guess I'm done being patient. Besides, it's been 3 years and my supervisor understands. The big boss made a fuss of it, that's all."
Jamie doesn't sound convinced which makes me a bit conscious on how strongly I come off as a coward, but hey, business is business. But then he said, "Okay. It's just that I thought for a second you had raw fish gills for lunch," he smirked as I rolled my eyes, "Congratulations then. Welcome to the Jobless Bums club. You'll love it, for the first month, give or take."
"Sounds good. At least we are not jobless AND smell like ditch." We snickered at that comment. I was about to reach out for the cereal box and snack on it when Jamie beat me before I even touched it, putting the box away on the kitchen counter.
"Let's just eat out today. I don't reek like rotten fish anymore and you just came out of that tiger's den. We should celebrate," he stood up from the chair, "I just got paid, so my treat."
"Shouldn't say no to free food," I followed suit, as we made our way to take our coats and wear our shoes, "what should we have?"
"Anything but fish. I am forever grateful to Mr. Nomura for the extra he gave us every weekends, but I swear we're gonna smell like one soon if we have them any more often than that. No gutter needed."


text:
How do I apply for admission to Indian Hills?
To apply for admission, complete our free online application. Many programs have additional admission requirements. You will receive additional information regarding what is required.
How do I apply for financial aid?
The first step in order to receive financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) Complete and submit the FAFSA online. It is important to file the FAFSA as soon after October 1st as possible to ensure you receive priority processing. Our school code is 008298.
How much does it cost to attend Indian Hills?
In-state tuition: $180 per credit hour
Out-of-state tuition: $240 per credit hour
Your total bill will be based on the number of credit hours for which you are enrolled. Some programs of study will require you to purchase a uniform, books, tools or other items, and it is important to budget for these costs as well.
Do you have student-housing options at Indian Hills?
Yes, we have a total of five residence halls including apartment-style and traditional style dorms.
Do your credits transfer?
Indian Hills has articulation agreements and transfer plans with many four- year colleges and universities. However, not all credits are guaranteed to transfer due to differences in programs and requirements among various institutions. An Academic Advisor will also assist you in your future academic plans.
Estimated class size at Indian Hills is 17-25 students.
What is the class length/format at Indian Hills?
Classes are scheduled during a 4-day academic week, within a 12-week term.
Does Indian Hills accept transfer credit?
Indian Hills accepts credits from other regionally-accredited, post-secondary institutions and will apply these credits, when appropriate, toward requirements of the program in which the student is enrolled.
How quickly can I earn my degree from Indian Hills?
Most degrees at Indian Hills can be completed in approximately 2 years depending on program and individual circumstances such as transfer credits and breaks.
What steps do I need to take for the Health Sciences admissions process?
All Health Sciences programs are screened so we require the following:
High school transcripts
ACT/SAT (completed within the past 5 years) or Compass/Accuplacer exam (completed within the past 2 years)
Official College Transcripts (if applicable)
**Additional documents are required for Nursing and Dental Hygiene programs
Have you received my… (transcripts, test results, etc.)?
The easiest way to see what documents have been received is to log into your account through the Apply Now link on the website. Otherwise you can contact either One Stop or the Admissions office.


text: In His Image Wellness is founded on the premise that our bodies where created to heal themselves. We are here to .educate, stimulate and motivate our new friends helping them provide their body with the tools it needs to do just that. We will be providing services and classes that help improve the body, soul and spirit. We believe that diet and exercise is always enough.


text: An oldschool funk & hip hop beat, in the classic 80s and 90s american style. Using a sharp hiphop synth lead, rhodes keys, a fat bass, r&b drums and a couple of instrument solos in the form of slap bass and flute. A very recommended track to use in several different projects, including cinematic background music, music parties, tv programs, television intros, show presentations, radio, film series and more.


text:
"Expect Loss, Plan Accordingly" 20x24 Archival Print
"Expect Loss, Plan Accordingly" 20x24 Archival Print
This listing is for a print of my original painting. All prints are professionally printed on single weight archival matte cold-press paper with a white border for easy framing. Signed by artist.
This product is shipped via USPS First Class mail. 8x10 and 11x14 prints will be shipped in a protective cellophane sleeve with a sturdy backing in a flat heavy board mailer. 20x24 prints will be shipped in a tube. International shipping is available on my Etsy shop. For more information see our store policies.
Feel free to send me a message with any questions.
Original artwork © 2019 Hannah Dansie. Photography by Nicole McConville


text:
A fresh face to the Lodge: Meet Lauren Duffy.
What is your role at Hunterlodge?
I'm an Account Executive.
And what projects are you currently involved in?
I am working across three very different accounts; Pearson, Victoria & Albert Baths and Mercedes-Benz Finance.
Where are you from originally?
Huddersfield in lovely Yorkshire – I still have the accent to prove it.
So why advertising?
Every project is different and there is lots to learn, which keeps it exciting. You are also surrounded by many inspiring, creative minds.
With such a strong focus on effectiveness at Hunterlodge, why does effectiveness matter so much to you?
Effectiveness is key. It is essential to have a clear goal in mind and work hard to achieve it. As a result, at the end of the campaign/project you can see the positive impact, and so can the client.
Some favourites now - favourite food?
Tapas, I enjoy a selection.
Favourite colour?
Favourite project you've worked on here at Hunterlodge or previously?
This is my first role in advertising, but I am particularly excited about launching new online programmes across international markets with Pearson.
Favourite thing to do with your spare time?
Modern calligraphy and seeing the world.
Tell us something we might not know about you?
I have taught over 300 children and would probably remember all their names.
How about a random fact about you or something you find interesting?
Your nose and ears never stop growing!


text:
It's October 30. Why can't I find any pumpkin pie in the stores? None! I had to put my tub of Cool-Whip back….
Friday, October 30, 2009
There's no Great Pumpkin.
Posted by Secretspineless at 12:58 AM
1 comment:
- Janie at Sounding Forth said...
Oh, no!
Hope they get some more!
- November 1, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Feeding Raw
The reasons to consider a raw food pet diet are numerous. Let's examine some of the most popular mainstream thoughts. It's very important to buy your raw food from a trusted source. A raw diet closely mimics the diet your pets ancestors thrived on since the beginning of time. Properly "minimally processed" raw food today contains most, if not, all of the vitamins, amino acids, and bone which provides the proper amount of calcium and phosphorus, minerals, and nutrients that your pet needs to maintain a healthy, happy, active lifestyle.
Some of the benefits of raw food for dogs and cats are they seem to have fewer health problems than their kibble fed colleagues and in our opinion visit their doctors on a less frequent basis. We are convinced that raw fed pets have less allergies, brighter eyes, shinier coats, healthier skin, no doggy smell, higher energy levels, and less shedding than their counterparts that are on a grain or gluten product. Their waste is considerably smaller for a few reasons; they lack the enzyme to digest much of what commercial feeds contain and with their extremely short digestive tract they assimilate raw food more efficiently.
Since 1990 "Love Your Pet," raw food has been sourced in the western United States and processed first in Washington and for the past 15 years in Utah. A few of you might still remember my golden retriever named Jackson. He lived to the ripe old age of 18. Jackson was poisoned when he was about 16 months old. After he was well enough to travel we went to CSU for a second opinion. The vet kindly recommended euthanasia. After saving his life, euthanasia simply wasn't an option. I started reading Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural health for Dogs and Cats" and employed the diet he recommended for Jackson. It worked; he started to thrive. Several golden retrievers, two cats, and a few years later all have been on "my diet," and that's when "Love your Pet" began raw food production. Our Bernese Mountain dog and all of our Newfoundlands have been on "Love Your Pet" raw food since puppyhood. Our passion for animal health propels us to be well versed in the entire vertical process of procurement, processing and distribution.