text:
Cash Settlement of Credit Derivatives: A Cure or a Nostrum?
Thinking about credit derivatives makes my head hurt–and I get the feeling that goes double or triple for most central bankers, who view them as the nitroglycerine of modern finance, powerful, useful, and highly unstable (and destabilizing). I am less concerned than they about the adverse consequences of the CD market, although the well-documented shoddy back office practices are worrisome. I have not made a detailed study of the implications of CDs for the stability of the financial system, but they are facing one problem that I do know a lot about.
Specifically, some of the recent credit blowups (e.g., Delphi, Calpine) created a situation where the supply of bonds deliverable against credit derivatives contracts was far smaller than the open interest in these contracts. This has caused disruptions in the market, and raised the specter of squeezes–and squeezes are my meat.
Here's the basic issue. Many credit derivatives call for the bonds of a bankrupt firm to be delivered to settle the contract. For instance, if I sell default protection against company X's bonds, if X goes belly up I have to settle my credit derivative position by delivering X's bonds. Well, what happens when there are $10bn of CDs outstanding, but there are only $1 bn of bonds available to be delivered against them? In the case of Delphi, things were even more extreme–the open interest in Delphi CDs totaled $25 billion, but there were only $2 billion of Delphi bonds available for delivery against the CDs in the event of a default. (There is some uncertainty over what goes into this $25 billion. It may be all in single name Delphi credit default swaps. It may include, however, Delphi notionals included in collateralized default obligations and default index swaps, both of which are written on multiple names.)
If the market is competitive, that isn't an issue. It happens in futures markets all the time. It is not unusual for the maximum open interest in a futures contract to exceed the deliverable supply by orders of magnitude. A competitive futures market can liquidate quite nicely under those conditions as long as there isn't too much concentration in long positions. The futures contract will settle at the marginal cost of delivery/marginal value of the deliverable asset with few deliveries being made. (The lack of a centralized market mechanism for trading credit derivatives may make the liquidation process somewhat more cumbersome, but the main parties all have each others' phone numbers, so liquidation of a large open interest under competitive conditions still shouldn't be that challenging.)
The problem arises when one firm or colluding group of firms obtains a long position that is bigger than the supply that can be delivered at the competitive price. Under those conditions, the long can squeeze the shorts, and refuse to liquidate unless the shorts pay a supracompetitive price to settle their positions.
This could happen in the CD market. Somebody goes way long in a CD and demands delivery of more bonds than are available at the competitive price. Or goes "Texas"–i.e., goes way long the CD and the deliverables–and demands delivery of more of the remaining float. Could happen. May have already happened–It's an issue that's worth looking into.
Squeezes like this are an exercise of market power. In several articles and my manipulation book, I refer to them as "market power manipulations." They might actually be more of a concern in CD markets as compared to futures markets because in the latter, when delivery will occur is known and hence market participants can mitigate (though not eliminate) market power by preparing to make delivery in advance. However, in CD markets, the timing of delivery is random–it depends on when the credit event occurs, and credit events arrive randomly. Thus, there may be a possibility of a mad scramble if a credit event occurs earlier than market participants had expected.
Many major CD players think they have come up with a solution to this problem–have an auction for the deliverable bonds, and use the auction price to settle the contract. That is, make CDs cash settled, rather than delivery settled. Working through ISDA, parties to CDs tied to Delphi that should have been settled by physical delivery agreed to implement a cash settlement mechanism instead. The cash settlement prices were based on auctions of the bonds underlying the CDs.
The conventional wisdom in derivatives markets (and not just CD markets) is that cash settlement can eliminate the possibility of a squeeze. Sorry to break it to you folks, but as usual the CW is wrong. A paper I published in the Journal of Business in 2001 shows that I can always design a delivery settled contract that is less susceptible (or at least no more susceptible) to a squeeze by large longs than any cash settled contract you design.
The intuition is pretty straightforward. A corner in a delivery settled contract works by the long demanding too many deliveries. This forces shorts to bid up the price of the deliverable above the competitive level in order to satisfy the long's excessive demands. Similarly, somebody long a cash settled contract can force up the spot price against which the contract is settled by buying too much of the reference instrument(s) in the cash market himself. Either way, the long can liquidate the futures position at a higher price.
If there is one instrument deliverable against the delivery settled contract, and the price of the same instrument is used to settle the cash settled contract, the contracts are equally manipulable. However, if there are multiple reference issues used to determine the price of the cash settled instrument, I can design a delivery settled contract allowing delivery of these same reference issues that is less subject to manipulation.
Why? The delivery settled contract usually gives the shorts the choice of what to deliver. They will deliver the instruments whose prices are least responsive to additional buying pressure. In contrast, somebody long a cash settled contract can concentrate their buying activity on the instruments whose prices are most responsive to buying pressure in order to maximize the price impact. Put differently, when there are multiple deliverables/reference issues, cash settlement gives more power to the longs, but delivery settlement gives more power to the shorts. Since it is long market power that is the danger in most circumstances, it's pretty obvious that delivery settlement is preferable.
As I demonstrate in my JOB piece, to be less susceptible to manipulation, the delivery settled contract must have price differentials (delivery premia and discounts) that reflect competitive price differentials. For instance, if value of deliverable A is $.10 greater in a competitive market than deliverable B, the delivery settled contract should give a $.10 premium to delivery of A. Otherwise, B is the "cheapest to deliver" and all of the large long's delivery pressure is concentrated on that deliverable until its price is distorted by $.10. Nonetheless, a judicious choice of delivery premia/discounts results in a delivery settled contract that is less susceptible to a squeeze than a cash settled one. Put differently, the supply of bonds is more elastic in a delivery settled contract with appropriately chosen delivery differentials than is the case with a cash settled contract.
Thus, the CD fix isn't a panacea. Indeed, it could make things worse! The next time somebody goes way long CDs on a name that defaults, the fact that the issue is cash settled will not reduce the susceptibility to the squeeze. The large long can buy a lot at the auction, drive up the price, and enhance the value of the long position. So much the better (for him) if he's already gone Texas and can withhold securities from the auction.
Now I understand that setting delivery differentials on a CD may present some challenges. The difficulty of setting delivery differentials on government bond futures contracts has created the potential for squeezes in those markets. (Merrick, Naik & Yadav's RFS paper "Anatomy of a Squeeze" illustrates how this happened in the UK Gilt futures market.) Nonetheless, this analysis suggests that it would be better to devote resources to specifying appropriate delivery differentials than to creating a cash settlement mechanism.
There is some information that is consistent with the hypothesis that Delphi CDs were squeezed in spite of (or because of!) the auction. According to a Nomura Fixed Income Research report, immediately after the auction the price of Delphi bonds fell from 68 to 64. This is consistent with a "burying the corpse" effect that is characteristic of a squeeze.
If squeezes like this are perceived to be a problem, deterring them will require doing something else other than cash settlement. I don't know what legal options are available here. Would the Commodity Exchange Act's or Securities Act's anti-manipulation provisions apply to credit derivatives? Are CDs "commodities" under the terms of the CEA? Does the fact that a manipulation in the CD market would induce "artificial" movements in the prices of registered securities bring such conduct under the aegis of the Securities Acts? Would large market participants have recourse to lawsuits–individual or class action? Any legal eagles have any answers?


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Candy Crowley: How did she do as moderator of the presidential debate?
| New York
Candy Crowley's signature moment as moderator of Tuesday's rough-and-tumble presidential debate came when she was called upon to referee a dispute over President Barack Obama's description of the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya as an act of terror.
When Republican Mitt Romney questioned whether the president had done so, Crowley said, "He did, in fact, sir."
"Can you say that a little louder, Candy?" Obama said, as the debate's audience broke into applause.
Similarly, there was applause when Crowley suggested that it also took others in the administration as much as two weeks to abandon the idea that the attacks were related to protests over an anti-Islam video.
"I was trying to bring some kind of clarity to the situation," Crowley said later. The CNN chief political correspondent was moderating her first presidential debate and was the first woman to do so in 20 years.
It was a town hall-style debate, with a panel of 82 undecided voters brought to a Long Island college stage to put questions to the two candidates.
Crowley was caught between trying to keep the candidates to time limits yet still being flexible enough not to cut off productive exchanges. The first debate moderator, PBS' Jim Lehrer, had received some criticism for not policing the debate. Online, Crowley was generally praised for her effort.
In a CNN interview Wednesday, Crowley said that during the Benghazi exchange, "I was again trying to move them on. They were hung up on this one thing."
She succeeded the first time in stopping Romney from trying to get in some extra words, but not the second time. That led to some social media suggestions that Romney could be hurt by appearing to look disrespectful toward a woman. Later in the debate, however, Obama talked past Crowley's two attempts to cut short one answer.
She said later that she expected such push-back during the debate and that it didn't bother her.
"I don't take it personally at all," she said in a CNN interview. "I think the first part was fun to watch and I hope enlightening."
Social media participants also split across party lines regarding Crowley's intercession in the Libyan questions: Democrats hailed it, while many Republicans called it out of line.
Crowley's role as moderator had also been a subject of discussion before the debate even started. An agreement between the candidates about the debate circulated online, where it stated that the moderator would not be allowed to ask follow-up questions, or play any role other than to introduce questions and enforce time limits.
Crowley said that the candidates' agreement wouldn't stop her from asking follow-ups, and she did so during the debate.
"What about long-term unemployed?" she asked following the candidates' reply to the first question, from a college student who wondered if he would find a job after graduating.
She also tried to steer the candidates back to the subject when the answer appeared to be wandering, such as when Romney discussed American guns found in Mexico after being asked about an assault rifle ban.
Crowley also surprised some observers with her talkativeness before the debate. Late Monday, she appeared on CNN and was asked by Wolf Blitzer what Obama needed to do avoid a repeat of his first debate performance, widely considered poor.
It was a natural question for CNN's chief political correspondent, but maybe not for a day before a debate she was moderating.
By contrast, Lehrer, who is semi-retired, turned down requests for interviews a week before moderating the first presidential debate. ABC's Martha Raddatz, who oversaw the vice presidential debate, also did not talk publicly about the debate beforehand. CBS News' Bob Schieffer, who is moderating the final presidential debate next week, has purposely stayed away from CBS' coverage of the first three debates to avoid being put in a position of commenting on the candidates.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wikimedia LGBT+/Portal
and represent LGBT+ content
across Wikimedia projects.
Communications |
Other links |
- CH Wikimedia CH
- GB Wikimedia UK
- RU Викимедиа РУ
- US-NYC Wikimedia New York City
- CAT Amical Wikimedia
- ESP-WE Wikiesfera Grupo de Usuarixs
- H-GAPS H-GAPS User Group
- MK-SK Shared Knowledge
- NGA-HA Hausa Wikimedians User Group
- NGA-IG Igbo Wikimedians User Group
- RU-Don Don Wikimedians User Group
- US-NE New England Wikimedians
- WJ WikiJournal
- WK? Whose Knowledge?
Wikimedia LGBT+ is a Wikimedia user group that promotes the development of content on Wikimedia projects which is of interest to LGBT+ communities and supports LGBT+ individuals who engage in Wikimedia activities. Wikimedia LGBT+ is a global, intersectional community that welcomes people of all races, religions, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and abilities. Wikimedia LGBT+ was first announced at Wikimania in 2012 and was approved by the Affiliations Committee in September 2014.
[edit]- Create and expand content of interest to LGBT+ communities on Wikimedia projects and to increase the overall quality of such content in all languages.
- Support LGBT+ individuals who engage in Wikimedia activities.
- Hold space for conversations about LGBT+ interests in Wikimedia policies
- Encourage organizations to use Wikimedia projects and to adopt the values of free culture and open access.
- Promote Wikimedia projects as a tool for strengthening LGBT+ communities.
[edit]- Improve the editing experience for all contributors by ensuring that LGBT+ related harassment is dealt with by simple policies in a prompt manner regardless of sexuality.
- Ensure that non-discrimination policies related to sexuality, gender, and sex are effective across all Wikimedia projects, and participate in discussions of discrimination of all types.
- Provide support networks for the LGBT+ community and allies, including welcoming IRC and VRT support.
- Provide a sympathetic appeal mechanism when dispute resolution has failed and a contributor would prefer a self identified LGBT+ mediator or arbitrator to handle their case.
- Create a safer environment for LGBT+ readers of Wikimedia projects, with a special interest in improving the experiences of LGBT+ youth on Wikimedia projects.
- Build greater community among LGBT+ Wikimedians.
- Coordinate cross-wiki efforts among WikiProjects engaged in specific LGBT+ content development.
[edit]Wikimedia LGBT+ will fulfill its mission in the following ways:
- Provide training to organizations and individuals so that they can contribute content to Wikimedia projects.
- Create, collect, process, and present the sorts of metrics which describe usage statistics and quality of content of LGBT+ interest on Wikimedia projects.
While Wikimedia LGBT+ members will always be welcome to contribute content of LGBT+ interest themselves, the scope of the work which the project seeks to complete can only be engaged if many LGBT+ outreach programs all contribute their expertise to developing the content in their fields. The general practice ought to be that any educator of LGBT+ populations anywhere who is performing outreach in any field ought to share their information on Wikimedia projects if any of their target demographic uses the Internet as a source of information. When such an educator recognizes this, then that person ought to be able to contact Wikimedia LGBT+ and get appropriate training to enable them to share their information on Wikimedia platforms.
[edit]- Increased participation and visibility by LGBT+ communities at Wikimedia events, building towards even greater engagement at future Wikimanias.
- Increased (open) participation by members of the LGBT communities on all Wikimedia projects.
- Coordination of LGBT+ WikiProjects:
- GLAM LGBT+ history and culture presentations.
- Increased quality and depth of LGBT+ articles.
- Representation of LGBT+ monuments in Wiki Loves Monuments.
- Guidelines on Outreach for recommending and improving policies across Wikimedia projects:
- Chapter and WMF safe space policies to cover all events specifically ensuring any complaints of apparent LGBT+ related harassment are dealt with effectively and promptly.
- Guidance for new LGBT+ editors (and those that edit LGBT+ topics) on how to stay safe and how to find help when things go wrong.
- Simple guide to responding to LGBT+ related harassment or threats on all Wikimedia projects and IRC.
- Access to LGBT+ specific help on-wiki, IRC and email (for example, access to LGBT+ identified VRT members via lgbtwikimedia.org).
- Independent and expert assessment of the Wikimedia projects and the Wikimedia Foundation's effectiveness at handling homophobic harassment cases.
- Commissioned surveys and statistical reporting on LGBT+ participation and perception of editing experience in order to support planned improvements.
- Model for future minority population based thematic organizations.
[edit]Activities associated with Wikimedia LGBT+:
- Community building and outreach, with efforts focused at LGBT+ events, Wikimania, and other Wikimedia events.
- Promoting collaborations with other Wikimedia projects and with external organizations, such as WikiProject LGBT studies (English Wikipedia), the LGBT Free Media Collective (Wikimedia Commons), and Wiki Loves Pride.
- Friendly space policies development, including a request for Wikimedia Foundation board resolution on homophobia.
[edit]- Wikimedia LGBT+ User Group Recognition – September 2014
- Renewals from 2015 WMCon Eligibility Renewal Sprint – December 2015
[edit]- "Wikipedia celebra el Mes del Orgullo LGTBIQ+ con un concurso para enriquecer la enciclopedia digital". El Universo (in Spanish). 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- Nacaru (2024-02-19). "Tenemos un Wikiepisodio". Spotify (in Spanish). - Nacaru speaks about the work of the Wikiproyecto LGBT+ at the Co3 Radiolab Podcast.
- Dorothy Howard, John Samuel, and Owen Blacker. WikiProject report: Wikipedians Convene for Queering Wikipedia 2023: The First International LGBT+ Wikipedia Conference, The Signpost, 22 May, 2023.
- MiguelAlanCS (2022-09-23). "Wiki Loves Europride 2022: un editatón por la diversidad de contenidos LGBTIQ+ en Wikipedia". wikimedia.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 September 2023.
- MiguelAlanCS; Nacaru (2022-06-28). "Somos LGBT, y en Wikipedia también". wikimedia.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 September 2023.
- Wexelbaum, Rachel. (2020). Edit Loud, Edit Proud: LGBTIQ+ Wikimedians and Global Information Activism. Originally published by Wikipedia@20 and licensed CC-BY 4.0. Retrieved from The Signpost, 28 June 2020.
- Wexelbaum, Rachel. (2019). "Coming Out of the Closet: Library Advocacy to Advance LGBTQ+ Wikipedia Engagement." In B. Mehra (Ed.) LGBTQ+ Librarianship in the 21st Century: Emerging Directions of Advocacy and Community Engagement in Diverse Information Environments (Advances in Librarianship, Volume 45) Emerald Publishing Limited, pp.115 - 139.
- Jacobs, Julia (8 April 2019). "Wikipedia Isn't Officially a Social Network. But the Harassment Can Get Ugly.". The New York Times.
- Millona, Kristina (January 6, 2018). "WIKI LGBTI PROJECT: How contributing to Wikipedia became a new form of activism". Turmoil Collective.
- Caballero, Lucía (15 March 2017). "La española que ha llegado a vicepresidir Wikimedia defendiendo al colectivo LGBT". eldiario.es (in Spanish).
- Weaver, Madison (October 20, 2016). "Librarians work to make Wikipedia more inclusive with 'Wiki Loves Pride' event". The Bucknellian.
- Moore, Jason (June 17, 2016). "Help expand Wikipedia's coverage of LGBT communities during Wiki Loves Pride". Wikimedia Foundation.
- Wexelbaum, Rachel, Herzog, Katie, Rasberry, Lane. (2015). "Queering Wikipedia." In R. Wexelbaum (Ed.) Queers Online: LGBT Digital Practices in Libraries, Archives, and Museums. Sacramento, CA: Litwin Books.
- "Wikipedia Pride Month Celebrations in India culminate with edit-a-thons in various cities". Gaylaxy. July 20, 2014.
- Moore, Jason; Howard, Dorothy (July 18, 2014). "Wiki Loves Pride 2014 and Adding Diversity to Wikipedia". Wikimedia Foundation.
- Lasrado, Svetlana (July 15, 2014). "Wikipedia does its bit for sexual minorities". The New Indian Express.
- "Wikipedia Holds Wiki Loves Pride Event". American Library Association. July 10, 2014.
- Redmond, Jim (July 8, 2014). "Wiki Loves Pride Edit-a-thons Improve LGBT Content on Wikipedia". Towleroad.
- Milliken, Alice (July 7, 2014). "Wikipedia holds Pride 'edit-a-thons' to improve LGBT-related content". Pink News.
- Phadnis, Renuka (July 7, 2014). "Wikipedia edit-a-thons to add content on LGBTs". The Hindu.
- "Wikipedia Series "Edit-a-Thons"". Guru Mavin. July 7, 2014.


text:
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
So long and Thanks for Rajma Keema
"Give Thanks" said Meeta and I wondered, and wondered...
Should I give Thanks for driving for almost an hour through the drizzle after work only to come home and start dinner when all I want is to be served hot chai while I cuddle up in the couch to watch some "Saas-Bahu" stuff. Should I give Thanks that if I want a hot "chai" I need to make it myself and just forget the pakoris because there's so much left to be done or should I give Thanks because my damned cable does not serve up any "Saas-Bahu" stuff and denies me the pleasure of rotting my mind.
I wondered & muttered and the rain dropped pitter-patter...
And then, my little one jumped all over me, wrapped her arms around me and hugged. I thanked for that, to have her to come home to, to watch her, to love her. And as I mixed the ground chicken, popped open the can of red rajma and chopped up the onions I thanked for being able to do this, to have a family to feed and care for, to have enough food to cook, to take pleasure in what I was doing. And then my husband suggested to adjust the AWB on the camera, set the exposure, and I clicked & he clicked. I thanked for having such a good friend in him who not only ate the rajma I served but was benevolent enough to help me take pictures which looked better than the dish :)
I thanked for being a WOMAN, for having the power to give birth, to work, to feed, to cook, to create & to blog...
Thanks to everyone out there living your life & helping others live theirs. Thanks Meeta for letting me be thankful.
And I went back and cooked my Rajma with Keema. This is not a Bengali dish but I try to make it the way my Ma used to make Keema Mattar which again does not have a Bong stamp to it. But a very hearty meal can be had of this combination, it satisfies with it's quality & quantity, and there are different ways you can enjoy it.
You can have it with Rice, with Chapati, all by itself with some steamed veggies thrown in, if you make it dry use it as a stuffing for a wrap for lunch next day. I think this is the perfect dish to make if you are rushed and want to make something for dinner, next day lunch and a different dinner out of it on day 2.
What You Need
Rajma or Red Kidney Beans ~ 1 can, it said 1lb 13oz. I used this from Goya. If you are not using canned you might have to go through the process of soaking & pressure cooking the rajma.
Ground Chicken (Keema) ~ 1 lb. I used this from Perdue Ground Chicken. You can use fresh if you get them.
Onions ~ 2 medium grind to paste
Tomato ~ 2 medium blended (chopped does no harm either)
Green Chillies ~ 5/6 chopped
Corriander leaves ~ for garnish
For Marinating the Chicken:
Ginger Paste ~ 2 tsp for marinade
Garlic Paste ~ 2 tsp for marinade
Yogurt ~ 2 -3 tbsp
For Masala:
Garlic Clove ~ 1 clove chopped
Elaichi or Cardamom ~ 5
Laung or Cloves ~ 5
Darchini or Cinnamon stick ~ a small one
Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Ketchup ~ my all time fav or any other tangy sauce
Jeera or Cumin Powder ~ 1 tsp
Dhania or Corriander Powder ~ 1tsp
I dry roast Cumin seeds, Dhania Seeds, Dried Red Chillies and then dry grind them and store that for this and many other cooking. You can do that when you have time.
Garam masala Powder ~ I make this and store it too, but whatever you have is fine
Red Chilli Powder ~ your choice
How I Do It
Marinade the ground chicken with yogurt, 2 tsp of ginger paste, 2 tsp of garlic paste and little salt. Keep it aside for 2-3 hours. I often do it night before so it's just ready to be cooked by evening.
Make a paste of the onions. Quick Tip: I make a paste or chop onions when I have extra time. They stay in the fridge good for 3/4 days
Heat Oil in a Kadai /Frying Pan
Coarsely pound the Elaichi (Cardamom), Laung (Cloves) & Darchini (Cinnamon Sticks) and add it to the oil
Add the chopped garlic and the green chillies.
As soon as you get the fragrant smell of garlic rising add the onions.
Add a little sugar and fry them till they are light brown in color.
Add the tomato
Continue light frying till oil separetes from the paste.
Add the marinated Keema (ground Chicken)
Continue cooking till the Keema changes color. Stir so that the keema transforms to a granulated mass. Since ground chicken here is machine processed, when raw, they are like a soft paste.
Add the Cumin, Corriander & Red Chilli Powder. Mix well.
Add about 2 tbsp of the Maggi Sauce (or any other). Actually I didn't measure, I just poured till I got the tangy taste & color.
Add the Rajma .
Cook for some more time till the masala engulfs the Rajma as well as the Keema
Add little water, salt, Garam masala Powder and cover and Cook
Cook till Rajma is done. The Rajma I cook is not gravy based, it's on the dry side, if you want gravy go ahead.
Add a little Fajita Seasoning Mix or KitchenKing Masala if you feel the taste is lacking something. I do that.
Garnish with Corriander leaves.
If you want add chopped hard boiled eggs.
Enjoy hot spicy Rajma Keema any way you like.
Let me reiterate, I kind of cook by smell & taste & instinct so my measures stated might not be exact, feel free to innovate & deviate. I am trying to measure while cooking these days but on a busy day, nah-nah !!
This is my entry for Monthly Mingle at photographer cook Meeta's of What's For Lunch Honey. Her very interesting theme was Give Thanks. And as I eat my dinner I do just that.
Happy ThanksGiving.
Note: For Vegans out there, instead of using keema you can substitute keema with ground soy granules as in Egg paratha with twist
Trivia:Red beans and rice is an emblematic dish of Louisiana Creole cuisine (not originally of Cajun cuisine), traditionally made on Mondays with red beans, vegetables (onion and celery), spices (thyme, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf), and pork bones left over from Sunday dinner, cooked together slowly in a pot and served over rice. From Wiki.
22 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 16, 2006 8:04 AM
Love your style of integrating the personal perspective into recipes.
You should save these up for a book sometime in future. Meeta,
thanks for your lovely comments. Yeah it is an Indianized Chilli.
Sumitha, Pushpa
thank you and welcome to your blog
Thank you, it's nice with you bloggers around
Yeah sure, get me a publisher
Tomar Rasayan(tai to subj??) ar amar randhan shilpa, dutor amalgamation er "Rasayanik RandhanShilpa"
blogger beta ekhono ok, pore ki hoy dekha jak. shudhu comment niye ektu mushkil. Thanks tomakeo
Mandira, Asha
Thanks for your lovely wordsHi Sandeepa,
My first comment here. I don't know how I missed your blog all these days. I really like the way you write. My knowledge of Bengali food is limited to a few fish curries and some milk sweets. I look forward to seeing more Bengali recipes on your blog. Love the fact that you have trivia for all your posts!
Btw, your thansgiving post is lovely.
Best wishes.- AnonymousNovember 19, 2006 3:40 PM
Finally a different recipe using Rajma :)
Beautiful Pic !!


text:
A trailblazing development from Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Engineering is revolutionizing the world of health tech. Professor Doron Naveh and his team have unveiled a compact device that holds the promise of replacing traditionally bulky optical sensing devices. This innovative gadget is primed to facilitate blood sugar readings through smartphones.
This game-changing technology, currently in its proof-of-concept stage, is fueled by the potency of artificial intelligence and adaptive sensing mechanisms. As per the university's statement, the key intent behind this endeavor is to produce a user-friendly product that seamlessly integrates with everyday tech, making blood sugar measurements effortless and accessible.
The need for such an innovation is palpable. Existing optical sensing devices, essential for discerning light properties, are conventionally large, costly, and reserved for specialized testing, such as medical evaluations in hospitals. However, the research and development at Bar-Ilan University, a collaborative effort with experts from the U.S. and Austria, is ushering in a compact, AI-driven alternative.
For the uninitiated, optical sensing devices gauge material properties by transmitting or reflecting light through them. While they have primarily served medical and research realms, this new device's integration into smartphones could make them household staples. As Prof. Naveh envisions it, this opens up a world of possibilities he terms "the spectrum of things."
Diving deeper into the potential applications of this Israeli brainchild, one can measure diverse properties of consumables. This includes determining sodium concentrations in food, the color of items, and even deducing their chemical composition to a degree. In everyday scenarios, it could gauge drink contents, fat percentages in dairy, or verify the purity of products like olive oil, honey, or lemon juice.
But the marvel doesn't stop there. The future might see individuals wielding petite spectrometers within mobile gadgets, conducting a range of self-tests – from gauging antioxidant levels to checking blood sugar concentrations. Delving into the technical aspect, traditional optical device components are substituted with an adaptive sensor in this novel invention. This sensor, coupled with algorithms and data, facilitates the perception of light properties. This replacement obviates the need for mirrors, lenses, prisms, and cameras.
Elaborating on the mechanics, Prof. Naveh delineates the system's multi-faceted approach: Adaptive sensing that alters its response to various influences, data collection for measurement training, and an algorithm-driven neural network that interprets these measurements. This combination enables it to not only discern light's physical traits but also to undertake computations within an array of detectors.
Prof. Naveh is optimistic about the potential applications of this technology. "Looking ahead, these sensors will integrate into numerous systems that discern substance properties through light reflection or transmission, particularly in mobile settings," he commented. "Imagine the potential – measuring and analyzing the spectral signature of almost anything, even determining glucose, alcohol, or oxygen levels in our bloodstream through our phones."


text:
Our 2016 photo Christmas card featuring the Davison kids: Thomas (13), Claire (11), Elise (8), and Anna (6). Photos were taken (by me!) at a local park in November.
Me & my sister Aimee on Christmas Eve before church
Mom & Dad's Christmas tree after we played "Santa".
A silly "tiger" selfie on our Christmas morning walk: me & Aimee and her husband Josh in the background. It was COLD down by the icy Detroit River!
Anna & my husband Jim opening presents from my grandparents
Game night with my cousins!
Susan's Sparklers team gathering -- working on a sampler frame using the new Carried Away Designed Paper from the Sale-a-bration catalog. Watch for pics and details of this project in the next week! Thanks to everyone who came! I enjoyed visiting and participating in our yummy potluck!
Last but not least, here is a card I created with some leftover pieces earlier this month. I love this sentiment from the Frosted Medallions stamp set: "The best is yet to come". As we look forward to a brand new year, I have faith and hope that there are many awesome things in store for us and that the best is indeed to come! Happy New Year and holiday hugs to all of my stamping friends around the world!
Live in the United States? I would love to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!
Click HERE to Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!
Use Hostess Code CN7JNKWN to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Free kits are mailed at the end of the month. Limit one per person. Learn More
Year-End Closeout Sale: Up to 60% off holiday retiring products, clearance rack items, and current high-inventory catalog products. Shop the Sale


text:
More than 700 alumni living in the City of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County work in the healthcare field, according to EMU's alumni database. This represents a larger concentration of alumni than in any other field of local employment.
Sentara RMH Medical Center and its affiliated offices of healthcare providers, plus a plethora of private offices offering medical, rehabilitation and wellness services, employ the vast majority of our alumni. This community-themed Crossroads did not contain sufficient space to do in-depth coverage on the vast array of our alumni in local healthcare, so we chose to focus on their work at the heart of some unique healthcare services for often-marginalized people – the kinds of services that might not be readily found in other communities.
As its name suggests, all the necessaries for Harrisonburg's Healthcare for the Homeless Suitcase Clinic fit in a suitcase toted from place to place by the clinic's volunteer nurse practitioner on weekly rounds of the city's homeless shelters. At each one, the nurse practitioners offer free, on-site medical care to some of the neediest patients in a city population that ranks among the neediest in the state.
(The most recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau put Harrisonburg's poverty rate at 31.8%, nearly three times the statewide rate. Nearly one in five people below 64 years old in a several-county area that includes Harrisonburg lack health insurance, also according to the census bureau.)
This suitcase clinic traces its history back several years to when the director of a local homeless shelter called a meeting of health workers to talk about how to handle what they expected to be a bad flu season. Tammy Kiser '88, assistant professor of nursing, took a few students from her community health class to that meeting. Soon thereafter, a group of those students began visiting the shelter to provide foot care to some of the men staying at the shelter, and the idea snowballed. Soon, Kiser and like-minded people at James Madison University and other local agencies began talking about how they could give more comprehensive care to the city's homeless.
When the Healthcare for the Homeless Suitcase Clinic officially began in the summer of 2011, Kiser and others guessed they'd be seeing 50 to 80 patients per year. Instead, they saw 130. The following year, that total jumped to 245 individuals, and current year-to-date figures are on pace to remain at that level. Everything is free for the patients; the clinic's shoestring budget has been funded by a combination of grants, church donations, private support and fundraisers. It has one paid staff member, a case manager who oversees the work of several volunteers.
"This is genuine. It's grassroots," says Kiser. "[The clinic] is a good fit with the whole philosophy of the EMU nursing department. It's providing quality care to people whatever their situation is."
But a suitcase can only fit so much, and some patients have needs beyond the clinic's modest capabilities. When such an instance arises, staff refer them to several other providers – and hand them a bus ticket to get there – that also do their best to care for the many people in Harrisonburg who would otherwise slip through the cracks. These other agencies include the Harrisonburg Rockingham Free Clinic, the Harrisonburg Community Health Center and the local Virginia Department of Health office, all of which also have strong ties to EMU. Overviews of the work of alumni at each of these organizations follow.
"We emphasize that it's an honor as a nurse to be able to care for people who are in vulnerable situations," says Kate Clark '07, an instructor in the nursing department. "That mentality makes our graduates more inclined to work with vulnerable or low-income people on a level that I don't know a lot of other programs do."
The Harrisonburg Community Health Center (HCHC) saw its first patient in 2008, opening as a federally qualified health center with a federal grant. A lack of providers in the area, particularly pediatricians, who accepted Medicaid was one of the major factors in its grant award. David Cockley, an adjunct professor in the nursing and MBA programs (as well as a professor in James Madison University's health sciences program), was among the group that applied for the founding grants and remains on HCHC's board today.
HCHC, which employed just one physician at the beginning, has seen its patient base expand rapidly. In 2011, it saw about 5,600 patients, in 2012 saw about 6,900 patients and in 2013, more than 7,400. A total of seven pediatric and adult providers – a mix of doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – now work at the health center. Because a significant number of the center's patients are non-English speakers, one full-time and two part-time Spanish interpreters work for the HCHC, and most of the center's nursing staff are bilingual in English and Spanish. The center also employs a part-time Arabic interpreter.
Although it receives federal grants to provide healthcare to "underserved communities and vulnerable populations," the community health center has a broader mission.
"As a federally qualified community health center, HCHC is committed to serving as a medical home for all members of our diverse community," says HCHC director of nursing Christine Reimer Wagler '08. "Providing comprehensive, excellent quality care, with the patient at the center of our practice, is the heart of our mission."
The center offers sliding scale fees to patients without insurance or ability to pay for their care, and it also accepts – and welcomes – all major insurances.
In 2011, HCHC partnered with EMU to launch a Community Health Worker program. Clark, the EMU nursing instructor, was then working part-time at HCHC and helped found the program (she is also David Cockley's daughter). Jointly administered by EMU and HCHC, the program employed four women to educate and support high-needs patients by visiting them at home. That year, HCHC also became the parent organization for the Healthcare for the Homeless Suitcase Clinic described earlier. (The homeless clinic has since spun off as its own outfit, and the grant that funded the Community Health Worker program has expired.)
The next year, HCHC opened a satellite office at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community that, like the main office on the east side of town, is open to the entire community.
Wagler notes that EMU's emphasis on peace and justice also have direct tie-ins to healthcare.
"Healthcare is a justice issue," she says. "There is no bigger issue, in my mind, than ensuring that every single person has meaningful access to quality care if they want it.
"Working in healthcare is not for the weary," she continues. "Navigating the brokenness within the various systems can be exhausting at times. Yet amidst all of this, there is change, which creates movement. It's an exciting time."
Wagler finds hope in there being so many others here in Harrisonburg doing their own bit to untangle one of our society's most difficult problems.
Nearly 1,000 patients per year come through the doors of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Free Clinic in downtown Harrisonburg. To qualify for services there, a person has to have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, be an authorized resident of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County, and have no health insurance.
The clinic focuses on treatment and management of chronic health problems; nearly two-thirds of its patients have been diagnosed with three or more chronic diseases, says executive director Keith Gnagey '76.
With just two full-time staff – Gnagey and an office manager – and 12 part-time employees, the clinic relies almost entirely on several hundred volunteers, who see patients, run lab tests, work the pharmacy and fill pretty much every other role there. The fact that volunteers perform the most skilled and fundamental roles at the Free Clinic distinguishes it from many other nonprofits.
"It's not just putting on stamps and folding mailings. It's about getting healthcare out the door," says Gnagey.
Among the doctors who volunteer at the clinic are Wes Ross '74, who sees patients there once per week and also serves as its medical director (a position that entails things like chart reviews and signing off on lab reports) and Don Martin, class of '79, a rheumatologist who sees patients at the clinic once a month.
"There's no way in our lifetime that all the inequities in our society are going to be resolved, but those of us who have opportunity to work on that should," says Martin. "We can't, as individuals, solve some of our bigger problems, but we can certainly try to address some of these things that are in our own back yard."
Internist Richard Stoltzfus '59, who used to treat coal miners in Harlan County, Ky., before he officially retired, sees patients once a week, working alongside his wife Elaine Stoltzfus, who is a health educator. (Elaine spent 1961-62 studying at EMU's seminary.)
Clinical services director Janice Good Gandy '87 said the rewards of working at the clinic include knowing that "you're really helping a very needy population, and you can really see it make a difference in their lives."
In her current role, Gandy manages the schedules of the volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners; before taking the part-time job at the clinic, she volunteered there and also taught at EMU.
The biggest challenge at the Free Clinic from a healthcare standpoint, Gandy says, is the fact that patients face so many economic and social barriers to maintaining healthy lifestyles.
"We just have to do so much education. Sometimes it's like we do all we can, and we just hit the wall," says Gandy, who often draws on lessons about holistic well-being, and viewing specific health problems in relation to other life circumstances, that she first learned at EMU.
Funding presents the clinic with another significant challenge. As the large majority of its budget comes in donations from people, businesses, churches and other organizations in the community, revenues took a significant hit after the 2008 recession. A "rainy-day fund" got the organization through a number of lean years, but the clinic also began to institute a modest fee structure for most patients (making the name "Free Clinic" something of a misnomer) as a way to ensure that it will remain open.
It is a confusing time to be in healthcare. Many people, Gnagey says, are under the impression that healthcare reform will eliminate the need for a place like the Free Clinic ("far from true," he says, particularly given Virginia's decision, as of press time, not to expand Medicaid eligibility). It's not clear what, exactly, the future holds for the Free Clinic. Uncertainty about healthcare abounds; this small organization, scraping along to provide needy patients with expensive services at little to no cost, is being swept along for the ride.
"I love working for a small, local organization serving an important local need," Gnagey adds. "It's a privilege." The former chair of EMU's nursing program and provost, Beryl Brubaker, class of '64, was a founding board member of the free clinic, serving 1991-98.
Job responsibilities for Laura Quass-Ferdinand '06, a public health nurse, include screening Medicaid patients for eligibility for in-home personal care or nursing home placement, working in the immunization and sexually transmitted infection clinics, and helping with the refugee health and baby care programs. Debbie Gullman '73, also a public health nurse, primarily works in maternal and child health.
While the health department performs a wide variety of functions – it also enforces health code in restaurants and has an entire environmental health arm – public health nurses like Gullman and Quass-Ferdinand mainly provide preventive healthcare to populations that otherwise would have none. (Undocumented immigrants, many of whom lack insurance and who are ineligible for Medicaid, for example, comprise much of the obstetrical practice.)
"I like that I can be involved with people who are at the margins," says Gullman, adding that public health nursing is "really nursing and social work [mixed] together." The EMU nursing program's strong focus on the social dynamics of health and wellness translate well to this kind of nursing, adds Quass-Ferdinand.
— Andrew Jenner '04


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Don't wait until fight or flight kicks in before minding your breath. Controlled breathing not only keeps the mind and body functioning at their best, it can also lower blood pressure, promote feelings of calm and relaxation and help us de-stress.
While the effects of breathing techniques on anxiety haven't yet been studied at length (at least not in a controlled clinical setting), many experts encourage using the breath as a means of increasing awareness, mindfulness or, for the yogis among us, finding that elusive state of Zen. To get to the bottom of the breath work, Greatist spoke to breathing expert Dr. Alison McConnell, yoga instructor Rebecca Pacheco and psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer. But follow closely: breathing easy isn't quite as easy as it sounds.
From the confines of a bed, a desk or anyplace where negativity finds its way, consider these six breathing techniques to help keep calm and carry on.
1. Sama Vritti or "Equal Breathing"
How it's done: Balance can do a body good, beginning with the breath. To start, inhale for a count of four, then exhale for a count of four — all through the nose, which adds a natural resistance to the breath. Got the basic pranayama down? More advanced yogis can aim for six to eight counts per breath with the same goal in mind: calm the nervous system, increase focus and reduce stress, Pacheco says.
When it works best: Anytime, anyplace — but this is one technique that's especially effective before bed. "Similar to counting sheep," Pacheco says, "if you're having trouble falling asleep, this breath can help take your mind off the racing thoughts, or whatever might be distracting you from sleep."
Level of difficulty: Beginner
2. Abdominal Breathing Technique
How it's done: With one hand on the chest and the other on the belly, take a deep breath in through the nose, ensuring the diaphragm (not the chest) inflates with enough air to create a stretch in the lungs. The goal: Six to 10 deep, slow breaths per minute for 10 minutes each day to experience immediate reductions to heart rate and blood pressure, McConnell says. Keep at it for six to eight weeks, and those benefits might stick around even longer.
When it works best: Before an exam, or any stressful event. But keep in mind, "Those who operate in a stressed state all the time might be a little shocked how hard it is to control the breath," Pacheco says. To help train the breath, consider biofeedback tools such as McConnell's Breathe Strong app, which can help users pace their breathing wherever they are.
Level of difficulty: Beginner
3. Nadi Shodhana or "Alternate Nostril Breathing"
How it's done: A yogi's best friend, this breath is said to bring calm and balance, and unite the right and left sides of the brain. Starting in a comfortable meditative pose, hold the right thumb over the right nostril and inhale deeply through the left nostril. At the peak of inhalation, close off the left nostril with the ring finger, then exhale through the right nostril. Continue the pattern, inhaling through the right nostril, closing it off with the right thumb and exhaling through the left nostril.
When it works best: Crunch time, or whenever it's time to focus or energize. Just don't try this one before bed: Nadi shodhana is said to "clear the channels" and make people feel more awake. "It's almost like a cup of coffee," Pacheco says.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
4. Kapalabhati or "Skull Shining Breath"
How it's done: Ready to brighten up your day from the inside out? This one begins with a long, slow inhale, followed by a quick, powerful exhale generated from the lower belly. Once comfortable with the contraction, up the pace to one inhale-exhale (all through the nose) every one to two seconds, for a total of 10 breaths.
When it works best: When it's time to wake up, warm up or start looking on the brighter side of things. "It's pretty abdominal-intensive," Pacheco says, "but it will warm up the body, shake off stale energy and wake up the brain." If alternate nostril breathing is like coffee, consider this a shot of espresso, she says.
Level of difficulty: Advanced
5. Progressive Relaxation
How it's done: To nix tension from head to toe, close the eyes and focus on tensing and relaxing each muscle group for two to three seconds each. Start with the feet and toes, then move up to the knees, thighs, rear, chest, arms, hands, neck, jaw and eyes — all while maintaining deep, slow breaths. Having trouble staying on track? Anxiety and panic specialist Dr. Patricia Farrell suggests we breathe in through the nose, hold for a count of five while the muscles tense, then breathe out through the mouth on release.
When it works best: At home, at a desk or even on the road. One word of caution: Dizziness is never the goal. If holding the breath ever feels uncomfortable, tone it down to just a few seconds at most.
Level of difficulty: Beginner
6. Guided Visualization
How it's done: Head straight for that "happy place," no questions asked. With a coach, therapist or helpful recording as your guide, breathe deeply while focusing on pleasant, positive images to replace any negative thoughts. Psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer explains that while it's just one means of achieving mindfulness, "Guided visualization helps puts you in the place you want to be, rather than letting your mind go to the internal dialogue that is stressful."
When it works best: Pretty much anyplace you can safely close your eyes and let go (e.g. not at the wheel of a car).
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
While stress, frustration, and other daily setbacks will always be there, the good news is, so will our breath.
This article has been read and approved by Greatist Experts Dr. Ellen Langer and Rebecca Pacheco.
Do you use breath as a way to relax? Tell us in the comments below, or tweet the author at @jshakeshaft.
Greatist is the fastest-growing fitness, health and happiness start-up. Check out more tips, expert opinion and fun times at Greatist.com.


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World leaders are at the U.N. in New York this week to talk about some of the thorniest issues on the planet - Afghanistan, climate change and the pandemic. For NATO's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, you could add the future of the alliance he leads. It's been a rough month for the 72-year-old military and political alliance, from the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal to the surprise deal on nuclear-powered submarines the U.S. reached with the U.K. and Australia shutting out France. Secretary General Stoltenberg joins us from New York, where he's attending the U.N. General Assembly.
Good to have you back on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
JENS STOLTENBERG: Thank you so much for having me.
SHAPIRO: The dispute between the U.S., Britain and France was so serious that France recalled its ambassador to the U.S. Does this undermine your message that NATO is a strong alliance that can hold together in modern times?
STOLTENBERG: I understand the French disappointment. At the same time, the NATO allies agree on the big picture. We agree that North America and Europe has to stand together, and we also agree that we need to address a world with new threats, new challenges, including the shifting global balance of power and that we need to work more closely with our partners in the Asia Pacific - Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia. And that was the clear message from the NATO summit in June, and that continues to be the clear message.
SHAPIRO: It sounds like you're saying if the U.S. is pivoting to Asia and focusing on countering China, then that's a pivot that NATO needs to make, too. Are you saying that NATO and the U.S. are evolving in the same way right now?
STOLTENBERG: NATO allies agreed. A document called NATO 2030, which is a forward-looking program for how to continue to adapt NATO, there's no contradiction between building partnerships with countries in the Asia Pacific, like Australia, and, at the same time, strengthening NATO as alliance between North America and Europe. And that's exactly what we do. And that's also the very clear message from President Biden.
SHAPIRO: At the same time, the head of the U.N. this week said the U.S.-China relationship is completely dysfunctional. And he said he worries about an impending Cold War. If NATO follows the U.S. down that path, does it risk being sucked into an equally dysfunctional relationship?
STOLTENBERG: We don't regard China as an adversary, and we need to engage with China on important issues, such as climate change or arms control. At the same time, the fact that China soon will have the biggest economy in the world, they already have the second-largest defense budget, the biggest navy in the world - all of this matters for our security. And therefore, NATO as an alliance protecting North America and Europe has to address this change.
SHAPIRO: I'd like to ask you about Afghanistan, where NATO allies fought alongside the U.S. for 20 years. We last spoke to you a month ago as the evacuation was taking place. After the chaotic withdrawal from the country, U.S. military leaders are now asking NATO for counterterrorism help in Afghanistan. What do you see as the NATO role there going forward?
STOLTENBERG: The main reason we went into Afghanistan was to prevent the country from being a safe haven for international terrorists. For 20 years, we have achieved that no terrorist attack has been organized from Afghanistan against any NATO ally. And looking forward, we need to do whatever we can to maintain that significant achievement, demonstrating that our efforts in Afghanistan have not been in vain.
SHAPIRO: And what does that mean in practical terms?
STOLTENBERG: It means that we need to partly hold the new Taliban rulers accountable for what they have promised.
SHAPIRO: Diplomatically, militarily, with counterterrorism operations?
STOLTENBERG: With both, meaning that we need to hold them accountable for what they promised in the agreement with United States that led to the withdrawal. The agreement of February 2020 between the Trump administration and Taliban started the whole process. And in that agreement, Taliban promised to make sure Afghanistan doesn't become a country again where terrorists can operate freely. We will use our diplomatic leverage, economic leverage, political leverage, financial leverage to hold them accountable. Of course, we have less leverage now, but that doesn't mean that we have zero leverage, and we will use all those tools. Then United States and other allies retain the capability of striking terrorist groups from long distance - over the horizon, as it's called. And we have demonstrated in many places that we can strike terrorist groups without having thousands of troops on the ground. And of course, if needed, allies are ready to do that again. And...
SHAPIRO: I'm compelled to note, as you say, that we can strike terrorist groups without being on the ground. The most recent most prominent strike, the Pentagon has admitted, hit civilians, not terrorists.
But let me ask you - Afghanistan was the biggest NATO mission of the 21st century. As you watch the achievements of the last 20 years disappear under Taliban rule, can you say that this mission was successful?
STOLTENBERG: It was not in vain. We have paid a very high price in blood and treasure. Thousands of U.S. troops, but also more than a thousand Canadian and European NATO allies and partners have paid the ultimate price. Many have been wounded. And of course, tens of thousands of Afghans have lost their lives. And it has cost billions for United States and for other NATO allies and partners. But it has not been in vain. Partly, we have prevented Afghanistan, for 20 years, to be a place where terrorist organizations like al Qaida could organize something similar to what happened on 9/11 2001.
Second, NATO has helped the broader international community to support social and economic progress, not least education. Millions of people, especially women, have got education, which was impossible before we went in. Some of this can be reversed, but much of this is very hard to reverse, for instance, the fact that millions have been educated. That is something which is a lasting achievement. So both in the fight against terrorism and at least some of the socio-economic progress is something that is very hard to reverse.
SHAPIRO: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in New York City for the U.N. General Assembly.
Thank you for speaking with us.
STOLTENBERG: Thanks so much for having me on. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Here is a great article from Working Ranch about the importance of getting your livestock the minerals they need during the winter months and the attention to the type of supplement quality and quantity.
Barn World also carries a large selection of mineral feeders and mineral licks to help ensure the proper nutrients are a part of the diet. A mineral feeder is an important part of facilitating the absorption of minerals.
From ground mineral feeders like the Dura Life to the wind vane style mineral feeders like the upright mineral feeder, Barn World has the tools to make sure your animals remain healthy all season long.
Make sure your cows are nutritionally ready
From Working Ranch
– by Gilda V. Bryant
– photo by Lucie Wiese
Minerals are important for herd health, reproduction and efficiency during winter. However, that is only part of the picture. Extra protein and energy are vital during cold, wet weather. Producers should also be aware of forage and by-product supplementation quality, as well as body condition scores.
"The challenge with minerals is there's just no single answer," says Rick Rasby, PhD, PAS (Professional Animal Scientist), Beef Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska (Lincoln). "Think about minerals as part of a total diet those animals are eating."
Rasby encourages producers to sample baled forages for moisture content, protein, energy and mineral profiles. Once a producer knows his forage quality, he can adjust the mineral package for his herd. He says, "Use the mineral as a supplement to bridge the deficiency gap in those forages that are being consumed."
He also recommends that producers analyze samples of supplemental feed such as gin trash, cotton seed, or distiller's grains.
Many regions with ethanol plants have distiller's grains available for the cow/calf sector. Rasby says, "It's an excellent feed, works well with forages, and is high in protein, energy and phosphorus as well."
Typically low in winter forages, phosphorus is a mineral that's vital for bone and teeth development, and metabolic, neurological and cellular functions in cattle. It's also one of the most expensive minerals to supplement. According to Rasby, reducing or omitting phosphorus from the mineral package when feeding distillers grains can save money. Get advice from a nutritionist or beef extension specialist about adjusting nutrient values when feeding these supplemental rations.
In addition to minerals, protein and energy, utilizing body condition scores (BCS) is a management practice that cow/calf operators can implement on a regular basis. Scores range between one and nine with one being a very poor specimen and nine being obese.
Rasby adds, "Having mature cows in condition score five at calving not only has an impact on what happens at calving, but also on how quickly those cows are ready to rebreed after calving. Those first-calf heifers probably need to be in a little bit better condition, say conditioning score six.
"Cows that breed early in the breeding season are in the right nutritional status. Their calves are older at weaning and generate more dollars," explains Rasby.
Is it right?
How can a cattleman determine if his mineral supplement and diet are on target? "Measure how they perform at calving," replies Rasby. "Are they good mothers? Do they give enough milk? Does the calf perform well while it's on its mother? How quickly does the cow get ready to rebreed?"
Providing minerals is crucial to the Thomas Angus Ranch outside of Baker City, Oregon. Located in a valley between two mountain ranges, and flanked by sagebrush hills, owner Rob Thomas says, "We have long, fairly hard winters."
He provides a custom mineral mix to his spring and fall calving herds, depending on forage analysis to fine-tune the supplement package. Thomas says, "We increased levels of zinc, copper, and selenium, the three minerals we're deficient in."
Beginning in November when snow is on the ground, he'll feed alfalfa and grass hay. He says, "We put up a lot of our own hay, so we feed what we put up. We test our feed to see what minerals we need."
As a result of their efforts he reports, "We have healthier cattle, better immune response, fewer treatments and a lower death loss. We see increases in reproduction and gain and better feed utilization, which is important right now. With extremely high feed prices, we want to utilize every bit of that feed, if possible."
Across the country, Kevin Yon raises Angus cattle in the mild winters of west central South Carolina. He provides three mineral mixes: summer, winter, and one for young growing livestock. Yon says, "Our winter mineral program doesn't differ drastically from our summer mineral program. We include a higher level of magnesium to prevent grass tetany. If all goes well we hope to have lush grazing on a limited basis, even in December and for sure in February and March."
His winter diet includes stockpiled forages such as Fescue or Bermuda grass. When possible, Yon likes to have rye grass or small-grain winter annuals on hand. He explains, "It could be a combination of those and sometimes we'll use a protein or energy supplement, which could be commodity by-products, such as whole cotton seed, dried distillers grains or corn gluten."
He analyzes feed, grains and commodity by-products, seeking advice from a nutritionist to adjust his mineral program as needed.
"It's important to have a year-round high-quality mineral program," Yon advises. "That's not always the cheapest bag of mineral, but it has the high levels that are needed for cattle in your area. The cheapest bag is not always the best."
Yon finds that his cattle have a more consistent consumption if he allows free choice at all times. He says, "Know what the consumption rate should be and monitor that. In our part of the world, a covered mineral trough is important so the mineral doesn't get wet, cake up and the cattle don't eat it.
"As a producer, I see the benefit of minerals." Yon explains, "The biggest for us is reproduction, cow herd efficiency, immune response, cattle health, and growth and development. At our place we try to feed a cow as cheap as we can because 60-70 percent of our annual cost involves nutrition. We don't see that minerals are the place to skimp."
Thomas also recommends feeding minerals, saying, "Do it based on science. Go ahead and get a forage analysis based on what you're feeding and do that every time you get a new batch of feed, so you know what you're feeding and what minerals you need to add to the ration."
Rasby says, "To be competitive, you're really going to have to watch feed costs. How you put together feeding programs to meet your herd's nutritional needs is going to be critical."
To find a list of certified feed testing laboratories, check out: www.foragetesting.org.
"Minerals don't do much if you're not doing a good job of covering your water, energy, and protein needs for those cows," advises Ken Bryan, PAS, and Ruminant Specialist with Cargill. "A balanced diet is important because you have the added stress of environmental conditions like cold, wet weather, mud and wind, which are going to increase the cow's nutritional requirements."
Adequate amounts of energy and protein are critical during winter conditions. "If a cow will eat twenty-four pounds of dry matter in forage, she's going to get all the energy she needs," Bryan explains. "If that rumen is functioning well, she'll break down the fiber and utilize that feed. That's your energy source."
Protein, a much-needed nutrient in cattle diets, is composed of true protein andnonprotein nitrogen. Protein in forages will gradually decline, providing less protein as winter progresses, with a higher percentage of fiber. "The nasty thing about fiber is a high fiber, low quality forage diet will restrict intake," Bryan says. "Now we're going to supplement with a protein source. The nice thing is, there are options for protein supplementation."
"There's the old standby, cake or range cubes, protein tubs or blocks and leftovers from oil seed products such as sunflower, cotton seed, or soybean meal and distillers grains from corn. Look at the most economical way to deliver protein to the cow."
Bryan cautions, "We've got to keep a minimum amount of fiber in that diet as we feed energy supplements. We're going to cause some long- term changes in that cow's rumen… we'll ruin her if we feed her like a feedlot steer."


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Joey + Rory's Little Girl Knows How to Enjoy the Summer [Watch]
Summer may be winding down, but Indiana Feek isn't ready to let go — she's living it up!
Joey + Rory singer Rory Feek shared adorable footage of his daughter filling up her kiddie pool, eager to escape the summer heat. Indiana uses water hose like a pro, attempting to fill up her sea creature-themed inflatable pool out on the front lawn, flashing a big smile at the camera in the process. But some sort of mishap must have taken place, as the next day Feek shared a picture of 3-year-old Indiana sitting on the grass in her bathing suit, pouting at the camera.
"... Somebody needs to work on her sharing skills," her dad says.
Always one to tug at the heartstrings, Feek also posted a loving image of Indy sitting on a bench by her mother's graveside, which covered in beautiful flower arrangements. "... Visiting mama in papa's hat," he says alongside the heartfelt picture.
Indiana's mother, Joey Feek, died in March 2016 after a much-publicized battle with cervical cancer, which Rory chronicled on the couple's blog, This Life I Live. While he previously said he would not perform without his wife, he recently announced that he'll return to the stage for the first time since her death.
"I just feel a responsibility like I should," he says of performing solo. "I should just get on stage and see what's there. What's in store. What would I say? What would I sing if I were there by myself?"
Feek will take the stage for two shows inside the barn at his farm home in Tennessee on Sept. 8 and 9.
Beautiful Photos of Joey + Rory
5 Unforgettable Joey + Rory Songs


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Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the Philippine strongman who was ousted in the 1980s, has taken an early lead and appears to be on the verge of becoming the Philippines' next president. With more than 60% of the votes counted, Marcos has what looks to be a prohibitive lead over his main challenger, vice president Leni Robredo. Joining us from Manila is NPR's Julie McCarthy. Julie, so what's the trajectory numbers for Marcos?
JULIE MCCARTHY, BYLINE: Well, the numbers are preliminary, but it's shaping up to be a lopsided victory. As you said, more than 60% of the votes counted. Marcos Jr. has amassed well over a majority of those ballots, some 60%. And if that holds, analysts say it would be an unprecedented margin of victory in contemporary political terms. He's got an 11.7 million vote lead over his nearest challenger, Leni Robredo. You know, the election offered the country this stark choice. It was the vice president, Leni Robredo, who had largely served as a restraint on the outgoing president, Rodrigo Duterte, or Ferdinand Marcos, the son and namesake of the dictator who was driven from power in a popular uprising in the 1980s. And, you know, Marcos' pursuit of the presidency was a family affair to fully restore their once disgraced dynasty to power.
MARTÍNEZ: How did he do that? What was the strategy he used?
MCCARTHY: Well, the strategy really was to say little. I mean, he did not expose himself on public stages in debates with his fellow presidential contenders. He didn't provide access to the mainstream media. They were kept at an arm's length, while bloggers and vloggers and YouTube users were granted wide berth in his campaign. And they used disinformation to an extraordinary degree. And the Marcos social media army was relentless with Leni Robredo. Online trolls attacked her intelligence, the fact she's a woman. With the Marcos political machine, she was up against a juggernaut. Eugene Manalastas (ph) voted for Robredo today. It was personal for him. And he told us that cronies of Marcos Sr. had muscled his family out of its printing business years ago. And he says Marcos Jr. was just whitewashing all of these abuses. And he's worried that that revisionism worked for Marcos. Here he is.
EUGENE MANALASTAS: He was able to brainwash, convince or rebrand their family name. That's the problem. I think social media has a lot to do with this.
MARTÍNEZ: Julie, what do Marcos' voters say about that rewriting of history?
MCCARTHY: Well, you know, many accept the narrative that Marco Sr. led a golden age. Many are young voters born after the Marcos era and never learned their history. But, you know, Benjamin Ano Nuevo (ph), who is 67, didn't claim ignorance. He's interested in Marcos' promises to help retirees. And I asked him if it bothered him that Marcos had repackaged the family history, airbrushed out all these ugly episodes. And here's what he said.
BENJAMIN ANO NUEVO: (Non-English language spoken).
MCCARTHY: "I'm not bothered by what Marcos said, lying. For me, I'm resolved to vote for him," Benjamin said. And he did. And what that illustrates is how facts don't seem to matter here. And that has analysts and citizens worried about whether disinformation will now be the formula for political success.
MARTÍNEZ: That's NPR's Julie McCarthy in Manila. Julie, thank you.
MCCARTHY: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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While watching TV, Pete Hollister hears about a train robbery in New England. Masked bandits have stolen almost a million dollars in cash from a mail car!
At the same time, the Hollisters receive a request from their friend, Fritz, the old wood carver in Germany. Can the Hollisters go to a museum in nearby Foxboro and get him the dimensions of a wooden Indian called the "Settlers' Friend"?
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Lane County has pulled out all the stops on promoting Goshen as an up and coming industrial job center for Lane County. But before we go ga-ga over Goshen I'd like Lane County to answer a few questions. How much is it going to cost? How long is it going to take? We already know it's the public who gets to pay, but who is going to benefit? Are there other interests besides the landowners who will benefit at the public's expense?
Listening to the Lane County hype, one would expect hundreds, if not thousands, of high-wage jobs in Goshen in the near future. I only wish that were true. As a member of the Governor's Regional Solutions Team in 2011 and 2012, I participated in numerous team briefings and discussions on the Goshen project. The team was, well, less than enthusiastic about Goshen. As the regional business development officer for the Oregon Business Development Department, I visited the site several times. I doubt Lane County will be recruiting any large industrial clients to that site any time soon.
True, if the site were "shovel ready," it could be an ideal location for some kinds of industry. Distribution centers similar to the Lowe's that we helped recruit for the city of Lebanon might be a good fit. However, for a variety of reasons, it would likely not be a good location for the kind of campus industrial that Lane County has indicated it wants at the site.
But that discussion is premature. The site is not shovel ready, nor even close to it. No one knows how many hundreds of millions of dollars it will cost, or how many decades it will take, to make Goshen viable as an industrial site. The potential cost and time frame involved are ugly realities that Lane County officials apparently don't want to know.
No environmental assessment has been done on the site. Is there any contamination from previous uses? If so, what would be the cost of remediation? How long would it take to get DEQ approval for development? No wetlands surveys have been done. Are there wetlands and, if so, where are they? How much would it cost to mitigate? To my knowledge, Lane County has avoided even talking to DEQ or the Department of State Lands about these issues.
The site has significant transportation problems. Getting off and onto I-5 is just one problem. How much that would cost and how long that would take is anyone's guess. Once a project is on the ODOT project list it takes at least seven years before it is built. Meanwhile, Lane County officials have done everything in their power to avoid doing a traffic impact study.
Rail is touted as a benefit of the site. However, campus industrial generally doesn't like rail. In fact, they avoid it. Also, vehicles must drive over the tracks to get to the site. Even if ODOT Rail and the railroad would allow it, which they will not, it's a big problem for a business concerned about the safety of employees, contractors, clients or customers crossing the rail line to access the site. All alternative access options are expensive and time consuming.
The site has no wastewater system. Lane County admits to water and wastewater issues with the site, but it has not been forthcoming about how to resolve them, how much it would cost or how long it would take to fix. Lane County officials told me at one point that they might try to recruit businesses that could operate on a septic system. While some small-scale septic is already ongoing, there has been no assessment for an industrial scale septic system. There has been no determination or even discussions about whether such a system is viable or how much it would cost, or who would maintain it.
Lane County officials also talk about a wastewater treatment facility. Such stand-alone systems are notoriously expensive to build and to maintain. Just ask the city of Coburg. Again, how much would it cost, who would pay for it and who would maintain it? Another option might be to connect to an existing wastewater system. Assuming Lane County could overcome the political and legal challenges, which existing system would they connect to? Metro? The city of Creswell? Either would require very long pipelines with associated ownership and land use issues to resolve, and of course there is the cost.
Lane County needs the jobs and I personally believe it would be good thing for Goshen to become a regional job center. The problem is how to get there from here? It's premature to be going to the Legislature seeking a state law to raise dump fees to pay for Goshen. It's the right time for a reality check from Lane County. Is it going to cost $100 million, or more? How much more? Will it take a decade, two decades or longer? I think it's past time for a little honesty from Lane County about Goshen.


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So I suppose it's kind of silly to participate in the August Break when I've already half taken a break, but I thought that having a specific goal and planned target every day might motivate and inspire me to take pictures and come up with crafts again.
If you want to know more about the August Break, go and check out Susannah Conway's blog where you can read all about it, sign up, get the list of daily photo prompts (which I'm going to try my best to follow), and download badges, pictures, and more.
You'll see me posting more often as I follow the photo-a-day challenge (which it is for me, anyway) starting August 1!
(I think I'm already a little excited about this.)