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2 Reasons Dell Is the Riskiest Stock in the Market Today
Shares of Dell fell as low as $12.71 on Friday, even as founder Michael Dell's proposal to buy the company for $13.65 goes before shareholders two weeks from now. At first glance, Dell might seem like a no-brainer "buy" candidate (invest $12.71 now, get $13.65 after the proxy vote on July 18).
However, this is far from being the whole story. An activist campaign led by Carl Icahn's Icahn Enterprises investment fund has made Dell perhaps the riskiest stock in the market. Icahn believes that Michael Dell's proposal to buy the company significantly undervalues Dell. Yet while Icahn probably has the heft (and the votes) to scuttle Dell's go-private deal, he is unlikely to garner enough support to implement his proposal to increase shareholder value through a $14 tender offer.
The results are likely to be very disappointing for Dell shareholders. If this "clash of the titans" between Dell and Icahn ends in a stalemate, the company will find itself without a clear strategic direction and its valuation could revert to a much lower multiple, in keeping with Dell's uncertain prospects.
1. Dell-Silver Lake buyout on the rocks
Investors can debate whether the $13.65 buyout offer from Michael Dell and hedge fund Silver Lake Partners recognizes the "full" value of Dell. However, one thing cannot be disputed: Until Michael Dell and Silver Lake came along with a proposal to take the company private, Dell stock was worth much less, bottoming below $9 in late 2012.
Dell 1 Year Price Chart, data by YCharts
The rapid rise in Dell's stock price in early 2013 was a direct result of the buyout offer. Indeed, as Dell's "Special Committee" pointed out in a shareholder presentation released Friday, the PC industry outlook has been revised lower numerous times in the past year. Company fundamentals have also suffered, lagging those of competitors like Hewlett-Packard .
This hasn't stopped Icahn from making the rounds on TV to tell anybody who will listen that Dell is worth far more than $13.65. Yet as the Wall Street Journal recently noted, Icahn has not offered to buy the company at any price; he wants Dell to fund a $14 tender offer with the company's cash on hand and new debt.
In late 2012, when Dell shares were mired below $10, most shareholders would have taken $13.65 in a heartbeat. Icahn's muckraking has clouded the waters; many shareholders now seem unwilling to sell at that price. Indeed, the Special Committee of Dell's board recently advised Michael Dell and Silver Lake to raise their bid in order to improve their chances of winning the upcoming shareholder vote. However, according to a Bloomberg report on Friday, Dell and Silver Lake will not budge.
2. Icahn's tender offer: a long shot
Shareholders voting against the Dell-Silver Lake buyout offer are probably doing so because they have been convinced that Icahn's tender offer plan would offer more value. However, investors need to understand that even if the Dell-Silver Lake buyout is rejected, Icahn's plan has a very low probability of being implemented.
The problem is that Michael Dell owns approximately 16% of the company. While he has to remain "neutral" in the buyout vote, he can vote as he pleases if the buyout offer fails. This means that while Icahn only needs to muster 42% of the shareholder vote to scuttle the buyout offer, he needs a full 50% to elect his slate of directors and proceed with his recapitalization plan.
According to AllThingsD, there is a good chance that the buyout will fail but Icahn will also fail to gain control of the company, leaving the company in no-man's-land. It has been very clear from the recent verbal sparring in the press that Icahn and Michael Dell have very different ideas about how to turn the company around. If the two sides are forced to share control of the company, prolonged bickering seems more likely than concerted action.
Foolish bottom line
If the "deadlock" scenario emerges, where neither Michael Dell nor Carl Icahn can take full control of the company, Dell stock could plummet. Dell's special committee noted in its recent presentation that if Dell were to trade for the same earnings multiple as HP, shares would be worth just $5.85-$8.67 across a range of plausible scenarios.
Dell shares are trading at a significant discount to Michael Dell's buyout offer ($13.65) and Carl Icahn's proposed tender offer ($14) for good reason. Shareholders are so closely divided that it is very possible that both proposals will fail. Even if you are willing to sell your Dell stock for $13.65 and Michael Dell wants to buy your stock for $13.65, you'll only be able to sell at that price if enough other shareholders are of the same mind.
While virtually every shareholder favors either Dell's plan or Icahn's plan over the status-quo, the two sides may be reaching a deadlock that keeps the status-quo intact by default. Ordinary shareholders are just pawns in this high-stakes game. The growing likelihood of stalemate makes Dell an incredibly risky stock for investors -- one that should probably be avoided.
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The article 2 Reasons Dell Is the Riskiest Stock in the Market Today originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Hewlett-Packard. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Blowing strong
The oil and gas state is bullish about a new sort of energy
"THAT'S the future, right there," says Randy Sowell, a land manager for Cielo Wind Power in McCamey, which proclaims itself the "wind energy capital of Texas". He is staring up at a giant wind turbine, towering several hundred feet high above the bleak desert mesa. Amid a forest of gently spinning white blades, this one is the latest technology at three megawatts—enough to power about 800 homes. Even Enron built some turbines here, in one of the company's last acts before bankruptcy.
In 2005, Texas was second only to California in terms of installed wind capacity, with 1,995 megawatts. Now, "we may actually be number one", boasts Jerry Patterson, the state land commissioner, who is aggressively pushing wind—still only a sliver of total Texan power supply but growing fast. Most wind farms are on private land in west Texas and the even more blustery Panhandle, but this spring the state signed a lease for the largest offshore wind farm in America, in submerged lands near Padre Island national seashore.
Another Gulf of Mexico agreement, off Galveston, was signed last autumn. Offshore wind farms are plentiful in Europe, but none has yet been constructed in America. They are in many ways more promising than onshore projects because the wind blows more consistently over the water, and at times of peak electricity use (afternoon in Texas, as the air-conditioning revs up). In McCamey, by contrast, the wind is intermittent: best at night, and in spring and autumn.
Economics, not environmentalism, has driven the boom in Texas. "Oil and gas is a diminishing resource," notes Mr Patterson. For Texans wanting to stay in the energy business, wind is an obvious step—especially with the ten-year federal tax credit for wind producers of 1.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. The high price of natural gas has also made wind more competitive. McCamey showcases the change. During the 1970s the town thrived on oil; now the oil is mostly gone, and wind has created dozens of new jobs for an otherwise withering town.
Wind is not without hitches. Turbine manufacturers have not kept up with demand, creating shortages. A bigger problem is transmitting the energy over the grid. Texas is a huge state—it is several hundred miles from McCamey to Houston or Dallas—and the utilities cannot build transmission lines as fast as the wind farms go up. That is especially true in the Panhandle, which operates on a different grid from most of the state. The offshore projects, by contrast, are conveniently close to big population centres, though hurricanes will be a problem.
Despite the difficulties, Texans, led by Mr Patterson, are bullish. Texas boasts that it lacks the red tape of other states (read, California). Offshore, too, the projects are easier to develop because Texas, uniquely among coastal states, owns more than ten miles off its coast. Credit goes to Sam Houston, the Republic of Texas's first president, who insisted on maintaining control of offshore waters as a condition of joining the union. Elsewhere the federal and state governments split control of offshore land, and this complicates the leasing process.
Texan officials are baffled by other states' worries about wind power. A row about an offshore wind farm in Massachusetts is regarded as high entertainment. (A project off Cape Cod has been opposed by the Kennedys. They say it will hurt local fishermen; conservatives sniff that the clan does not want the view from their posh waterside home sullied.) "People here just kind of scratch their head and say what's their problem? Get a grip," says Mr Patterson. The Pentagon's concerns about wind farms' interference with military radar—an issue in the upper Midwest, where projects have been halted—have not been raised in Texas, he says. Anyhow, having spent 2,000 hours in supersonic fighter planes, he thinks "it's bogus."
The fate of birds is a more immediate source of contention—especially in the Gulf, which is on the migration path for neo-tropical birds. "There are going to be some seagulls popped," admits Mr Patterson, adding that "after several generations we'll have smarter birds." In fact Texas will try to minimise bird deaths, perhaps by shutting the machines down for maintenance when the birds migrate (conveniently, the migrations occur in spring and autumn, while peak usage is in summer). New paint—easier for birds to see at night—should also help cut mortality, says Mr Sowell in McCamey, who takes steps to prevent birds from nesting on his turbines.
And Texas has even grander plans. Rather than importing wind turbines from Europe, why not manufacture them locally? Mr Patterson is actively scouring the Gulf for interested port towns. The goal, he says, is "not just to be the number one producer of wind power in the US, but number one in all facets of wind." Then, perhaps, it will be on to solar.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "Blowing strong"
From the July 1st 2006 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Engadget - Listener, it's been a weird week. Big Brother's inside your phone, a tasty new OS is inside your phone, and now it's even easier to livestream your life from your phone. How do all these revelations change the way you'll go about your gadgety business? There's only one way to find out: listen, listener, to the Engadget Podcast.


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Exclusive Interview with Marc Martel of Downhere and Winner of the Queen Extravaganza
Exclusive Interview with Marc Martel of the Christian rock band Downhere and Winner of The Queen Extravaganza contest.
The Christian Post: Where did you develop this passion for music when you were younger and who did you dream to be?
Marc Martel: Definitely my passion for music came from my mom. She is a piano player and a choir director at my church. My earliest memories of music and just really loving the sound of music itself was her playing the piano for me and my brother and sister at night as we were falling asleep at night, and she'd play Beethoven to us and I think that's where it all started to me. I ended up taking piano lessons at a really young age, I took like years of piano lessons and I always loved to sing.
My biggest influences when I was a kid – I listened to a lot of top 40 radio, so whatever the big artists were so like the mid 80s. I think of artists like George Michaels, but my biggest influence at that age was probably Keith Green. His passion and his piano playing and his singer was something that I always wanted to strive toward.
CP: You're also in the band Downhere, when you guys started why was it important for you to come to the U.S. as Canadians and how did that whole process of getting signed work out for you?
Martel: We started our band in college, at a college called Briar Cliff College in Saskatchewan. None of us are actually from Saskatchewan, but we kind of all met there and started there. We got signed to a record label in Nashville in 2001 and before that all came about we were all just planning on moving to Toronto or something and trying to make the best of it there and staying in Canada.
We never saw it as kind of a thing to do, to move to the states and when we got that offer from this big record label in Nashville we thought "Well this is a door that either God was opening for us" and we were very careful about it and very prayerful about it and after eight months of negotiating to make sure it was really worth it for us, we moved down in 2001 and that's when we kind of went full time.
CP: Where does the name Downhere come from?
Martel: The name Downhere comes from a song I wrote after a friend of mine died in college and it was kind of the first time I was dealing with loss and you know real mortality and it was a song of how down here on Earth we don't have the big picture. We rarely know why things happen and why God allows certain things, but it's a song of faith that God is in control and has a purpose for everything that happens in our lives. As hard as it is to believe at certain times.
Later on when we were looking for a band name we thought we wanted something that had a lot of layers of meaning. The name also means just being down here. When Christ was down here and the example he set for us as a way of life and trying to emulate that as much as possible. We want our music to be a soundtrack for down here and obviously our world views are Biblically based and obviously that's where our music is centered on. So yeah, just being down here on Earth and trying to figure it out like everyone else.
CP: When did you guys finally start to feel established as a band?
Martel: The first year and a half in Nashville we actually all shared a four bedroom house and there were two married couples and three single guys trying to figure out how to live in community and learning to take care of the daily schedule, "Who's cooking what?" "Who's cleaning what?" That really was kind of a pressure cooker for us trying to figure out if this was going to work for us. That first year and a half we had to live together because we didn't have any money. I was making about $300 a month back then and we made it work and that's when we really gelled.
CP: Who pushed you to try out for this and what were your initial thoughts, what did you think would actually happen by you trying out?
Martel: The whole Queen thing came around in a really timely fashion. I was thinking about what I was going to do in 2012, our families were growing in the band and that's always been our first priority, so we planned to take some extra time off the road so the guys can be with their families.
My wife and I don't have kids yet so I figured "Well while we still have no kids I have the freedom to travel a little more than the other guys probably" and I figured, "Well instead of trying to get some other part-time jobs to supplement the loss of income from not being on the road, I'll look into singing with other bands or do some session work whatever it may be."
Right around that time I got this email from a friend of mine here in Nashville. I pretty much got that email the day the Queen Extravaganza started in late September. I read the contest rules and the vision behind and seeing that it was an official thing put on by the band Queen themselves I thought, "It has never been my dream to be in a tribute band. I love to write my own music, I love what I do in Downhere and hope to keep doing it for a long time," but just the timing of the whole thing and the fact that people have been telling me for years that I sound like Freddie Mercury, it just was kind of a no brainer for me.
I still had some self doubt about the thing and I haven't heard a lot of guys sing like Freddie Mercury, I know there's a few of them out there for sure, but I felt like I had a good chance of at least moving on to one of the vocalist spots. They were looking for three singers, so I thought I had a decent shot at it so I thought, "Well if I win this what is it going to mean for Downhere?" And at the time I really had no idea what it meant for Downhere and whether it was the potential of taking the place of Downhere. I had the video all ready to send and submit, I was sitting there on the couch next to my wife and I was like, "Yeah I don't know if I really want to do this. I love what I do, if I win this I don't know what to do with my band" and she's like "Marc, this is like cut out for you. This is a no brainer for you."
And so I'd have to say that the final word went to my wife, and I listened to her, as a good husband should and here I am today with a new job, for next year.
CP: When you started getting viral feedback for the Youtube video, what were your first impressions of that?
Martel: A little bit of fear honestly, excitement obviously. I had no idea that was going to happen, you can't predict a viral video. It doesn't really happen to a lot of people. I submitted the video on the 21st of September, and the next morning I checked what the views were at and I remember specifically it was at 303 at like nine in the morning and I thought "Well that's about what I expected," I honestly didn't expect much. That's about what a Downhere video gets.
Then in the afternoon, it's funny because it had exactly doubled in views. It was at 606 and I was like well that's kind of funny. Well this is going to be a small thing if I win, who even knows if they'll carry on with the whole Queen Extravaganza, maybe they are hoping for more views than that.
At the same time the contest had just started and maybe they haven't gotten the word out. I had no idea what was going on, and in the evening around 9 p.m.
I went to check and all of a sudden it was in the thousands and in the tens of thousands, I think it was around 18,000 views and I had noticed that the comments were coming in almost every second, and people were saying "Hey the Internet has arrived welcome to the Internet guy, dude you've gone viral" And I was like, "What does that even mean, viral video? Let's see if this is really true, maybe it'll just spike after a few hours and then stop."
Sure enough the next morning it was in the hundreds of thousands, and for probably the first week or two it was just really surreal all the attention I was getting. I mean people have told me I sound like Freddie Mercury for years and I didn't really think it was that big of a deal honestly. I thought "Well, I know there's other guys who can sound like Freddie Mercury, it's not terribly unique, sure I can do that, but what does it all really mean in the end?"
It caught on so crazy over the Internet, it surprised everybody, it was kind of an outer body experience. I keep telling people it's so weird being the one guy that can join in with everybody and say "Hey way to go this is so exciting for you, this is awesome." It's kind of weirdly lonely in a way. Just being the center of attention in that way, it's a strange thing. I think I've seen enough people have their 15 minutes that I can sort of manage my 15 minutes of fame with it. I knew it would eventually die down, but it was sure fun while it lasted.
CP: How did it feel when you got the phone call from Ellen to go on her show?
Martel: That was crazy because a lot of the comments that were being left early on in the viral thing were saying we need to get this guy on Ellen. I didn't know my wife was such a big Ellen fan at the time, and I said 'Hey check out what this guy said, he said I should be on Ellen.' She freaked out and said 'What you're going to be on Ellen!' And was like, 'N o, no, no, he was saying that I should be on Ellen, there's a big difference.' But obviously I got the call from my manager a few days later saying I got Ellen.
Yeah that was kind of the next step up from that whole thing, it kind of made the whole thing real. Up until then it was just kind of people commenting on Youtube and videos, that was about it. The Ellen thing was the first real world, yeah this is changing my life. I'm going to actually go to L.A. and be on a television show, this is really crazy.
CP: What does your job entail and do you feel any pressure?
Martel: I feel really oddly well prepared for it. Being a professional musician with Downhere for 11 years now, I feel completely at home on stage. Obviously a lot of people are going to have expectations as far as my performance on stage whether I'm expected to emulate Freddie Mercury on stage. Which I don't think is expected of me from the Queen people. A lot of tribute bands have Freddie look a likes, even though a lot of people tell me I sort of look like him, you know they grow the mustache and wear the same costumes and all that and try to act like Freddie. I think it helps that I'm not expected to be Freddie Mercury, I think what they want of me is to sort of bring my own artistic self into this thing.
Obviously, I sound remarkably like him and that's definitely an advantage, I think people are going to always be critical when you're in the public eye like that. People are going to say whatever they want especially on Youtube where there is no accountability and complete anonymity. People have a chance and do take that chance to do and say whatever they want. That really doesn't bother me, I'm just excited to do something a little different than what I've done for the last decade or so. It's going to be a really fun time to branch out and play some other music that just so happens to be some of the greatest music ever recorded, so that doesn't hurt either.
CP: How long is this actual gig with Queen, and what happens when you are ready to do stuff with Downhere again?
Martel: I think so far what I know, the Queen thing is supposedly a three month tour in the middle of next year going possibly into the fall a bit, sort of playing it by ear as to how long they are taking this tour out on the road. It's going to depend on the success of it. Obviously touring is a lot harder than it used to be. Maybe do a test run in the beginning. They're really wise about it, I don't think anyone knows how long this Queen Extravaganza thing is going to be. My guess was temporary, which is great because Downhere is still planning to tour next year and we are going to be doing a second leg of the "Called Love Tour" with Aaron Schust and Jason Gray which was really successful last fall. We are already planning gigs for that in the spring, then Queen Extravaganza from then through the summer and the fall is kind of up in the air. All I can tell you now is that Downhere is definitely not breaking up. Still planning on recording some music sometime next year, that's pretty much all I can tell you at this point.
CP: What was your biggest rock star moment before any of this?
Martel: It's kind of funny to put it that way because we have been the anti-rock star band in a way. Even our biggest fans know this about us. They respect us as humans and don't objectify us. Our demeanor as musicians when we are on stage kind of squelches that desire for people to elevate. We've always managed to remain humble and down to Earth as much as possible when your job involves being under lights and people watching you.
Probably the biggest moment we've had as a band throughout the years was in 2006 when we played in Morocco which I believe was in front of 60,000 people. That was a very surreal moment just to see a sea of people in front of you. People that didn't even know our music at all, but I'm sure about 99.9 percent of them never heard a single Downhere song. But yeah just to play in front of that many people is mind boggling.
CP: What's your biggest failure?
Martel: I don't think I could point to one, there have been far too many of those to count. And everybody has their own idea of what a rock star moment would be and the antithesis of that might be sleeping on someone's floor because our promoter couldn't afford a hotel or a place with a spare bed. We've done that plenty of times. Breaking down on the side of the highway in your 15 passenger van is a lot of fun. Having to unload your gear on the side of the road because your trailer broke down. There's so many of those moments that I'm actually really thankful for because they have prepared me for the realities of what comes next.
I think I have some pretty good expectations. And the whole fame thing which I've tasted in a very small amount is a weird thing. Not that I think I'm really famous or anything like that, but just this small amount of attention I've gotten with this viral thing. Comparing myself to the ultimate rock star of today (Justin Bieber), I feel like all the things that have happened over the years and being around the other members of Downhere who really have their heads on straight, because of that I think it has helped me keep my head on straight and I can keep it in stride and really focus on what the important things are in all of this – my relationships first with my wife and God, and the people I come in contact with. The rock star thing is all kind of fluff.
CP: Last thoughts?
Martel: Finally I'd like to say I'm really excited for what's about to happen in 2012. There's a lot of questions as far as what it's going to look like. If you're a praying person, pray for me that I make good and wise decisions with all of it and be the representative of Christ I'm called, we are all called to be in situations. We'll keep you posted as much as possible on my website, Marcmartelmusic.com, Downhere.com, come out to a show it'll be fun to see you.


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This Article Will Show You How To Instantly Restore Ventrilo From Backup Vault
How To Restore Your Ventrilo Server In Our Original Control Panel
Remember this is for the TCAdmin 2 control panel. The new control panel has 8 less steps:
- Please be sure you are at the Payment Area before you proceed
- Click the Payment button under the website banner, on any page
- Once logged in, click the the My Ventrilo button, at the top right of the website
- You are now at your Ventrilo Service Record
- Next, click the - Login To Control - Panel Button
- The system will log you in automatically in the Ventrilo Control Panel
- Click The Blue Actions Tab
- Then click - Restore Ventrilo From Backup - Link
- Choose one of the dates from within the dropdown menu
- Each date represents a snap shot of that day
- After you have chosen a Date to restore, press the Execute Button
- Your service will go offline, we will switch the files and restart your service automatically
- Keep in mind we do 6 daily network backups. You will always see the latest file in your backups folder
- Your backup folder stores the last 21 days of backups
- A backup is dropped in your backups folder every 4 - 5 hours
- The new backup will over write the previous backup
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Every Ventrilo Server comes with a Money Back Guarantee so please order with confidence.
Publisher: VentriloServers
Website: www.ventriloservers.biz
Date: Feburary 21, 2013


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Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes and other Cookies topics.
Chocolate and peanut butter go hand in hand. This delicious flavor combination comes together with this simple cookie recipe.
8 ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 bags peanut butter chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together the sugars, butter, and egg. Add in the vanilla, melted chocolate, and kosher salt. With a mixer, blend together well.
In a separate bowl, mix the remaining dry ingredients except the peanut butter chips. Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture and combine well. Fold in the peanut butter chips.
Drop spoonfuls onto a non-greased cookie sheet. Place in the oven and adjust the temperature to 325 degrees. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to continue to "cook" on the hot pan for another five to seven minutes. Remove from the cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.
|Guru Spotlight
|Heidi Splete


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Saying goodbye
C'était très bien voyager en France. La famille d'accueil était très gentille et accueillent.
I loved every bit of the trip from waiting at the airport to travelling around France and Belgium. My host family were very kind, they took me and Lilly far and wide to experience their culture. The most memorable part of the trip for me (well I got a few but to narrow down) was the bag pipes band at the ceremony in Belgium and the Longueval ceremony. To listen to music from New Zealand all the way in France was amazing. I love the full bang of the drums and the high continuous sound of the bag pipes that stirs everyone's emotions. To even meet the band who played those instruments all the way from Liverpool, London, England. One could say that I jumped up and down inside during the ceremony.
The ceremony in Longueval was a moving ceremony that commemorated the first world war respectively and gracefully. I participated in the afternoon service, Lieutenant General Timothy Keating kindly let me take his place in the ceremony reading the ode in Te Reo Maori. After the ceremony L.G. Keating gave me a chief of defence force coin. Then moments later the young ambassadors and I met with Prince Charles.
The biggest challenge of the trip was trying to find time to sleep. Yes, I could have slept during the day but I didn't want to miss anything. I didn't want to miss the sights and sounds that France had to offer. So I did end up sleeping on the bus quite a lot but everything was worth it.
We attended 3 different schools. Since Lily and I didn't have a host brother or sister that were our age we couldn't make a connection between schools. But we did have a good time meeting new people and going to different class'.
I'd discovered walking around Paris how much people work to live and not live to work. Confusing as it is, it took me while to get it too. I saw people rushing with their lives, wondering, worrying and questioning. I didn't see much smiles on the Parisians, just determination to get tasks done. The atmosphere felt different, it felt rushed and everyone worked. Coming from New Zealand where we have a relaxed atmosphere. Even so we do come from the other side of the world. In saying that, I found that I don't want to live my life in that kind of atmosphere and environment. I loved France, the people, the food and culture but to me I'm used to living and then deciding to work my way through things not splashing out then finding time to live.
Another thing I found that there are many homeless people in the streets of Paris, sitting. No one that I saw looked at them or cared, they walked by like they were not even there. That's the reality so many people have to face. One question that's always in my mind and I seem to can't let go of was when me and my friend went to go get a drink. It was hot outside and from all the shopping down the champs-elyees, I needed to cool down. On the way to a bar, I walked past a homeless man sitting on the edge of a building, staring at the world as it goes past. I felt pity because I couldn't give him anything but like a sheep, I walked past and carried on with my task. I brought a coke-cola and walked back, I saw the man as I walked towards him then slowly walked past him I thought to myself, "if I'm hot, I wonder how he feels, obviously in this weather he would be too." So I turned around and gave him my drink, he hesitated to take it, but I sort of forced the drink to him politely. The friend I was with asked why I did that and I said what I thought as I walked towards him then past him. Later as we continued I thought about her question. Instead of her saying "that was kind of you" she said "why'd you do that?". I thought to myself, why wouldn't I do that, if I'm boiling hot I wonder how he feels. If I was in his position and I was hot, I would wish for someone to come past and give me a cold refreshing drink in the hot sun.
It's the small things in life that makes life worth living.
In saying that I would like to thank the Christchurch RSA and Christchurch Sea Cadets for funding my trip and making me experience new cultures and get a better understanding of the world that we live in. I would also like to thank Ngai Tahu for gifting precious Toanga's for the young ambassadors. Also I would like to thank my family who also gifted Toanga's for the Young Ambassadors.
Cashmere High School
The following members are online:


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Season Five Premiere Of "Project Runway" On Bravo Marks The Network's Highest Rated Premiere Ever
"Shear Genius" Posts Explosive Growth Breaking Two Million Mark, And More Than One Million Viewers Flip For "Flipping Out"
NEW YORK � July 17, 2008 � In a record breaking week for Bravo, three of the network's creative competition and docu-series, "Shear Genius," "Project Runway" and "Flipping Out," have reached new milestones posting explosive growth across the board. In a first for both series, "Shear Genius" broke the two million viewer mark and "Flipping Out" attracted over a million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The fifth season premiere of Bravo's Peabody Award-winning and twelve-time Emmy-nominated creative competition series "Project Runway" became the highest rated season premiere ever in the network's history in total viewers.
Bravo was the No.1 ranked cable network in the 9-10 p.m. hour in all key demographics and "Project Runway" was the top ranked cable telecast for the day among adults 18-49. With "Project Runway" and "Shear Genius" in the 9-11 p.m. time period, Bravo ranked No. 1 among adults 18-49 and total viewers versus its cable competition.
In its new time period (Wed 9-10 p.m.), "Project Runway" had the network's highest delivery in adults 18-49 (1.81 million) and total viewers (2.915 million). "Runway" also posted gains in 41 markets over its Wed 9-10 p.m. time period debut in 2005.
Continuing its trend of increasing viewership week after week in its second season, last night's fourth episode of "Shear Genius 2" became the fifth Bravo program ever to break the two million viewer mark � others include "Queer Eye," "Top Chef" "Project Runway," and "The Real Housewives of Orange County." "Shear Genius" reached a series high, attracting 1.293 million adults 18-49 and 2.164 million total viewers. Versus the prior season's episode, the series was up 92 percent among adults 18-49 (1,293,000 vs. 675,000) and a whopping 125 percent among total viewers (2,164,000 vs. 960,000).
On Tuesday night at 10 p.m., "Flipping Out" shattered records delivering over one million total viewers for the first time in the series' history. The series delivered 1.136 million total viewers and hit series highs in all key demos. Versus the prior season's episode (8/28/07)," Flipping Out" was up 67 percent among adults 18-49 and 67 percent among total viewers. With the series breaking the one million total viewer mark, Bravo now has 11 original series that have had telecasts hit a million plus total viewers in 2008.
Bravo's growth story continued online where BravoTV.com witnessed a Wednesday spike of 35 percent in page views compared to the season four premiere of "Project Runway" (3.1 million vs. 2.3 million). The show's site also garnered 1.8 million page views, up 38 percent compared to the season four premiere (1.8 million vs. 1.3 million).
"Shear Genius" is produced by Reveille Entertainment. Mark Koops, Julie Laughlin and Howard T. Owens serve as executive producers. "Project Runway" is co-produced by The Weinstein Company and Miramax Films. Magical Elves' Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz ("Top Chef," Project Greenlight," "Last Comic Standing") and Rich Bye are executive producers. Klum is host and executive producer and Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha of Full Picture are also executive producers. Barbara Schneeweiss oversees the production on behalf of The Weinstein Company. "Flipping Out" is produced by Authentic Entertainment, with Lauren Lexton and Tom Rogan serving as executive producers.
Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer, Live + Same Day; 7/16/08: Nielsen Fast Nationals, Live + Same Day. Online tracking by Bravo Internal Web Logs (Omniture)
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com.


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Social media continually presents new challenges to PR and marketing professionals. Video is now revolutionizing marketing communications and PR. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality promise to do the same in the near future.
That's one of the messages from HubSpot's 2017 State of Inbound report.
PR and marketing must deal with new social media network algorithms, learn to produce new types of content, and even master new networks. Since brands don't own the social channels and have little control over them, social media analytics and proving ROI is challenging. Trying to track and understand target customers across multiple channels is a complicated and challenging endeavor for most organizations.
Click here to view the rest of this article written by William Comcowich!
Latest posts by Social Media Association (see all)
- Staying up to date in social media, even during a pandemic - April 29, 2020
- Our Legal Experts Provide An UpLIFTing Experience - November 25, 2019
- A University Never Sleeps - January 28, 2019
- Social Media Association and Storytelling - November 3, 2018
- Using Visuals in Social Media Posts: Present and Future - October 10, 2018


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HE Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche at the Mahabodhi Stupa
- February 5, 2020
Highlights of HE Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche's visit to the Mahabodhi Stupa on Wednesday 5th February, 2020.
Rinpoche walked through the grounds and made offerings on behalf of Kagyu Monlam in the main shrine room. He was accompanied by Shelri Tulku, from Lava Monastery.
37th Kagyu Monlam Schedule
Tibetan / English / Chinese • French • German • Indonesian • Korean • Polish • Russian • Spanish • Vietnamese
Dharma Teachings
Meditation Instructions
Recorded during the 37th Kagyu Monlam, Bodhgaya, India. January 28-30, 2020.


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|Place of Origin:
|Brand Name:
|Model Number:
|Minimum Order Quantity:
|Packaging Details:
|Bare bundle / 40HQ
|Delivery Time:
|30-45 days
|Payment Terms:
|T/T, L/C, Western Union
|Supply Ability:
|12000 houses/year
|Frame Mterial:
|0.75mm/0.95mm/1.15mm Steel Frame With AZ150 Zinc Coating
|External Wall:
|100 Or 50mm ALC Panel/WPC Board/fibre Cement
|Glass Wool/EPS/XPS/PU Sandwich Panel
|Ceiling Material:
|MGOboard/ Gypsum Board+others
|Metal Security Door/Pvc Sliding Door
|EPS Sandwich Panel/steel Roofing/asphalt
|Other Fitting:
|Toilet, Washbasin,shower ,kitchen,etc
|High Light:
contemporary modular homes,
steel frame houses
Prefab Villa, Luxury Two Storey Light Gauge Steel Prefab Homes
Quick Detail:
prefabricated villa
Villa for living
white or other colors
1.quickly to assemble on-site;
2.good earthquake proof;
3.green and energy save;
|light steel and other parts material
Main structure: Light Gauge Steel
Wall material: ALC panel/fiber cement cladding/WPC
Insulation material: Insulation material
Ceiling material: MGO board/gypsum board
Floor/foundation material: laminate flooring/wooden/bamboo flooring
Door: steel security door/WPC or plywood door
Window: aluminum alloy/PVC
Roofing: steel roofing/asphalt shingle
Other fittings: toilet, washbasin, shower, kitchen, etc.
Lifetime: 100 years for structure
Product Description:
DeepBlue steel structural prefab villa is based on a light gauge steel frame system with high-performance finishing materials. The whole house can be assembled within a couple of hours by 4workers. the materials are the following:
1. Main structure: 89mm light gauge steel framing system based on AS/NZS 4600 standard. the structure can be design to resist 50m/s wind and 9degree earthquake.
2. Roof structure: 89mm light gauge steel truss system.
3. Chassis: 89mm light gauge steel flooring chassis
4. flooring: 18mm fiber cement board with vapor barrier and bamboo flooring or wooden flooring, PVC carpet, etc.
5.Wall cladding: 16mm PU insulated steel sandwich panel with beautiful decoration
6. interior lining: 9m fiber cement board,water-proof,termite-proof, security and healthy
7. ceiling: 8mm PVC ceiling panel
8. insulation: 89mm glass wool insulation with good soundproof performance.
9.windows: PVC sliding windows
10.exterior door: high-quality aluminum sliding windows
11.interior door: painted wood door
12.bathroom: shower, washbasin, toilet included
13. roofing: corrugated steel roofing with the gutter system
14. veranda deck: W.P.C veranda flooring.
ISO standard light gauge steel for the main structure. fireproof, heat insulation, wind, and earthquake resistance.green, energy saving. also economically.
Why Choose Light Gauge Steel Structure?
1)Lifetime for structure: 100 years.[0.75~1.2mm, Z275galvanized steel profile, strength:550Mpa ]
2)Earthquake resistance: mix more than 8 grades.
3)Wind resistance:max 60m/s.
4)Fire resistance: all the materials used can be fire resistance.
5)Snow resistance: max 2.9KN/m²as required
6)Heat insulation:100 mm in thickness can match 1 m thickness of the brick wall.
7)High acoustic insulation:60db of exterior wall 40db of interior wall
8)Insect prevention: Free from the damages by insects, such as white ants
9)Ventilation: a combination of natural ventilation or air supply keep the indoor air fresh and clean
10)Packing and delivery: 140SQM/ 40'HQ container for structure only and 90SQM/ 40'HQ container for structure with decorating materials.
11)Installation: the average is one worker one day install one SQM.
12)Installation guide: dispatch engineer to guide on site.
Production in DeepBlue factory:
Design code:
(1)AISI S100 North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members published by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in the United States.
(2)AS/NZS 4600 Australian/New Zealand Standard-Cold-formed steel structures jointly published by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.
(3)BS 5950-5 Structural use of steelwork in building-Part 5. Code of practice for the design of cold-formed thin gauge sections published by BSI in the UK.
(4)ENV1993-1-3 means Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures; Part 1.3: General rules, Supplementary rules for cold-formed thin gauge members.
Technology Details:
If You Need: prefabricated kit home; prefab kit home.steel structure homes.steel frame house
Only Need You To Provide Us: house area, how many floors and bedrooms, luxury or normally, or low-cost configuation.
We Can Provide You: villa; bungalow; low-cost house; granny flat; apartment etc.many buildings.
Your first choice, Deepblue Prefabricated house in China.
Contact Person: Vincent
Tel: +8619957023962


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I am glad to review a fantastic new plugin for Mac and Windows released by the Rob Papen team. This one is called Predator 2, it's the following product of the already beloved plugin Predator. I installed the VSTi 64 bits version of Predator 2 on Windows 7, using FL Studio as host.
In all the hours spent in front of Predator 2, I was really impressed by this new powerful synthesizer, modern, with a lot of innovations and new features included, ready for any today's modern producer.
The quality is just around the limit of the perfection, and not being joking I compared Rob Papen plugins to the smartest hypercars like Bugatti or Pagani cars (well these cars live in another world but maybe one day, someone of us will get one ?! 😉 The audio quality is just incredible, but the feeling the user will have in front of these plugins will be different even if the user is a pure musician or a mad scientist working in sound design.
It can be ok to select presets only and start making music, like for other big plugins on the market. If you go deep inside the GUI, you'll see that features can drive you to make music just inside the plugin like the other plugin from Rob Papen, like the Blue II plugin.
The Interface
The GUI (graphical user interface) may seem quite complicated at first sight, almost all controls are placed on one side. You could say there are too many controls at a first glance. That's why Rob Papen intros the Easy Page feature, this greatly simplifies the user interface so that only the most important things can be controlled.
The back side of Predator 2, letting you access settings. The backside of Predator 2 is simply PRO. When you click on the name logo on the top right area of the plugin, it will show you the back side with settings such as bank select on/off.
Predator 2 features 3 powerful dual oscillators. The very high flexibility on oscillators is amazing. The drawing and morphing waveforms are now possible. Behind the "WaveSet play mode" you will find the Wavetable system, where you can design your own waveforms.
In addition, the Preset Variation function provides an intelligent random number generator for more or less subtle sound variations at the touch of a button. In addition, there is now a virtual touchpad to control two parameters simultaneously in one coordinate system, a fresh new EQ as well as distortion per voice, and many more cool new features that I let you discover yourself.
If it deserves to have this plugin? I say definitely Yes. Why? I'll give you some of my personal reasons:
- Incredible work on provided features and thousands of high-quality presets – almost 6,000!
- The Quickbrowse feature to access any preset in any bank.
- The Record and Play feature on the plugins for XY pads and other elements (tempo-synced!)
- The tempo-sync features with great flexibility : time multiply and more.
- The beauty of the (not so simple) GUI.
- The nice quick access to menus with the left or right-click on elements and texts.
And these are just a few … believe me!
In the beginning, I want to congratulate Rob Papen and his team for having created this synth plugin, I think it will be a game-changer in the near future. Certainly, Predator 2 by Rob Papen it is one of the best synthesizers released this year. Expect you to hear a lot of producers using this plugin in the near future.
It is powerful, coming with tons of presets, is very flexible, and is quite intuitive for those who already have experience with this kind of software synthesizer. If you're new to music production and sound design, do not get discouraged, after several minutes you will be able to tame this beast!
Predator 2 is available for Windows and MAC OS in 32 & 64 bits AU, VST, and AAX plugin formats.


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Date of Award
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Biological Science
Advisor/Committee Chair
Ewan C. McNay
Committee Member
Ben Szaro
Insulin resistance is the defining symptom of type 2 diabetes and a key risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Work from our lab and others has shown that insulin is a key component of brain pathways mediating cognition; specifically, mechanisms that transduce hippocampal memory processing. In the hippocampus, insulin regulates glucose metabolism through translocation of the glucose transporter GluT4 and modulates several other molecular cascades. Studies where insulin is studied as a cognitive modulator have generally used a formulation that contains zinc to stabilize insulin. However, zinc itself modulates molecular signaling pathways including AKT and GSK3β, which are both downstream of insulin; as well as having a known effect in modulating neuronal glutamate release, suggesting a role in memory. Hence, delivery of zinc as an artifact of administering treatment to insulin-treated animals may confound the impact of insulin on cognition and metabolism. This is especially true since in vivo, the insulin hexamer, stabilized by zinc and calcium, breaks apart almost immediately after being released from beta cells in the pancreas; thus, insulin delivery would not produce an increase in zinc at the site of action. This project therefore aimed to parse the distinct effects of zinc and insulin on hippocampal metabolism and cognitive processes. Sprague-Dawley rats received a microinjection guide cannulae into their left hippocampus and were then treated with intrahippocampal delivery of Humulin (a zinc-containing insulin), Apidra (a zinc-free form of insulin), artificial extracellular fluid (aECF; a vehicle control condition), or zinc dissolved in aECF. Post injection the animals were placed in a plus maze for 20 mins for a spontaneous alternation test, followed immediately by a novel object recognition test spread over one day, both of which test cognition 3 and short-term memory. Brain samples from the left and right hippocampus along with the prefrontal cortex were removed and were analyzed for the presence of key proteins in the activation cascades via western blots. Evidence from current literature indicates a strong possibility of finding a confound, to some degree, between the known actions of zinc and insulin in the hippocampus.
Recommended Citation
Piche, Anthony, "Effects of Zinc on Cognition" (2018). Biological Sciences. 52.


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From Rev. Robert Jones
"After a lot of prayerful consideration, I have chosen to accept the call to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Riverside, CA. It truly is a bittersweet moment as this means that I have to saw goodbye to Light of the Hills and hello to the people of God in Riverside. I cherish the brotherly fellowship that… Continue reading From Rev. Robert Jones


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Advanced Portfolio Construction and Analysis with Python (Coursera)
Nov 21st 2022
OAM's founder and CEO Vijay Vaidyanathan has a PhD in Finance and an MS (Risk & Asset Management) from the EDHEC Business School, France. He also has an MS in Computer Science from SUNY Albany and a MSc (Tech) from BITS Pilani, India and is an alumnus of IMD Lausanne, Switzerland. Previously, Vijay was the President, EDHEC-Risk Indices and Benchmarks North America where his research interests included smart beta and the role of factors and risk premia in equity markets. He holds several patents in financial micro-transactions in Digital Markets.


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118: DDR Earrings
My good friend Jami has a birthday today, and Megan and I wanted to make her a gift.
Megan suggested something involving the iconic arrows from Dance Dance Revolution (One of Jami's favorite games), but she wasn't sure how to implement that idea. I decided that earrings were the way to go, and set out to make them.
On our shelf, we have a box of He-Man themed Shrinky Dinks we got at a thrift store somewhere. That seemed like a pretty good place to start.
If you wanted to do this yourself, it's very important that you use He-Man Shrinky Dinks, and not just any kind you have on hand. Everyone has some Shrinky Dinks around their house, right?
I found some white space in the margins between He-Man and Skeletor and drew the arrows.
Once they were cut out, we baked them, and they shrank up quite nicely.
Before that arrow, we ran an oven test with Skeletor, but he didn't make it. Oh well, he was evil anyway.
Here's a side-by-side size comparison.
Then it's just a matter of attaching the posts. I put them close to the middle so Jami could point the arrows in her favorite directions on her ears.
And you're done.
Compliment with a nice jewelry box, and it looks like we spent actual money on this! But we didn't.
🙂 Happy Birthday, Jami.
We also made a cake:
Yay, Hamburgers!
See you guys next week!
June 23, 2012 6:46 pm
Where's the step-by-step for the cake!?
Jody permalinkJune 25, 2012 11:14 am
Did you know that you can use plastic from packaging to make shrinky dinks too? I knew someone who used to do that. It's just a matter of the right grade of plastic, but it's way cheaper.


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Discover even curvier routes with the Adventure Navigator PRO. Never lose sight of your destination with Offline Maps. Track your trips and reWind them on a 3D map. Let your loved ones know where you are with Live Tracking.
Enjoy the full Pack Ride experience with RISER PRO: Never lose your group and send or receive notifications.
Let others know where you are by sending them a secret link with your real time location.
Let RISER find supercurvy routes for you so you'll have even more fun on the road.
Never lose your way when there's no connection, even in the most remote areas.
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Get the RISER app and platform with its basic features.
Get your 6 months PRO and enjoy all PRO features for half a year!
Get all PRO features and enhance your experience!


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Estamos aquí para ayudarte. Contacto
Find all the help you need with detailed guides to the different aspects of BullGuard protection
Along with custom made files or e-mail backup profiles, you can create backups for the Windows default locations such as the Documents folder, Photos, Music, Videos and Desktop.
To setup your backup profiles, click on the (...) menu button from the Backup box in the main application and screen and choose Manage Profiles. This will take you to the profiles overview page. If you already have a profile created, you can select it from the list on the left and alter its settings from the right part of the window.
Otherwise, please follow the steps below to create a new backup profile.
Once you click on the Add Profile button, you will be shown a field where you can type in the new profile's name. Click Add to create the profile.
Choose the type of data you want to back up by ticking one or more of the boxes on the right, from the What tab.
Note that when you choose Documents, Photos, Music, Videos or Desktop, BullGuard will look for files in the default locations of your operating system. If you have stored files in other locations that you want to back up, choose the Other files or folders option and manually add them by clicking on the Edit button next to the option.
Edit: this button will open a new window, allowing you to edit the backup profile characteristics.
Edit: allows you to see what files and folders are included in the backup profile, as well as remove or add new ones.
Add: opens a new window allowing you to choose files or folders you want to include in the backup profile.
Select filters: allows you to define specific filters so BullGuard will only backup the type of files or folders you need to, saving you time and space.
In this step, you will need to choose the location you want to backup the files to from the Where tab. The backup can be stored on the Online Drive, Dropbox on a CD/DVD, on the local computer (usually using an external hard disk) or on a network location.
Backing up files with Dropbox requires an account with them. If you do not have one, you can create it through the BullGuard Backup interface.
A browser window is opened and your Dropbox account details are requested.
Once successfully logged, you need to allow BullGuard Backup to access Dropbox.
A confirmation message will appear in browser and also in BullGuard:
You can now backup files to your Dropbox account using BullGuard.
All Backup profiles can be scheduled to either be started manually when it is convenient for you or to backup important documents on a regular basis preventing information loss. This can be done from the When tab.
Never, I'll start it myself – you will need to run this profile manually to backup the information.
I want to select a schedule – you can set the profile to run automatically at set time intervals. This will ensure that any information included in the profile will be backed up on a regular basis.
Whenever files change (continuous backup) – this option is only available for the Default Backup profile which is used to keep your selected files in sync with the Online Drive. The Default backup profile will be created when using the Add to Backup option from the (...) menu or from the contextual right click Backup menu.
The Advanced Backup settings (the How tab) allow you to further customize your profile by adding special features such as encryption, versioning and backup compression. You can read more about the available options here.
The profile will now appear in the profile list accessible from the main Backup section > Manage Profiles.
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Dog License Kennel License Retail Cigarette Dealers License Vendors LicenseRead More
Conveyance Fees Standards & Rules Homestead Reappraisal Auditor Sale 2 1/2% Owner Occupancy Tax Reduction Board of Revision Deduction of Destroyed or Injured Property Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) Manufactured HousingRead More
The Pike County Auditor is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices used commercially in the county. A good Weights and Measures program saves the average household hundreds of dollars each year. The seal of the Weights and Measures Department protects the buyer and the seller...Read More
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Real Estate Search Pike County Engineer Property Maps Pike County Treasurer Tax Billing & Collection DataRead More


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|Modernist Architecture
Modernist Behavior
Edit: Have just received this from the Pine Curtain site and we are citing the stories below with supporting documentation linked to that site.
Two Monks who'd been previously mentioned here, Father Mel Taylor who has just fled to Ireland during a current investigation of multiple cases of misconduct, and Father Dan Ward, a canon and civil attorney for the Abbey who also counsels monks on dealing with sexual abuse. Father Ward figured predominantly in the initial accusations against the Modernist Monastery, and categorically denied them then. It's becoming increasingly difficult for them to avoid, or worse, to malign those who have called their conduct and status as Catholic figures into question.
Father Mel Taylor was expected to continue parish work in the United States after leaving the Bahamas where that monastery was closing down, but he will not be going back to parish work, owing to an investigation against him.
It's thought in some very well-informed circles, that certain Liberal institutions and figures within the Catholic Church have worked with the media to create the perfect storm.
Not to confuse things, but it seems that the disobedience, Leftist agendas and the promotion of a homosexual subculture by figures like Father Bob Pierson are intimately linked to the conditions at schools like St. John's where students are not only trained not to think, but are sometimes even used as playing pieces in a political and religious farce.
Here is the information we've received from the Pine Curtain with no editing, and the early video showing Father Dan Ward denying the allegations by the blog's author, Pat Marker, against Father Dunstan Moorse and other monks:
*** Father Dan Ward, OSB
Father Dan Ward, OSB served as assistant to the University president for legal service. (See file: 1978-1979 Winter SJU Alumni_Wollmering_Ward.pdf) He was also an Assistant Professor of Theology and Government at Saint John's University for over ten years (See file: dan_ward_education_1984.jpg).
Father Ward is a canon and civil attorney and a member of the Minnesota Bar (See file: ward_mn_bar.jpg).
In August of 1991, the first day that allegations against monks at Saint John's were made public, Father Ward represented offending monk Father Dunstan Moorse is a case of sexual abuse. See 1:50 mark of this video:
Father Ward now counsels religious on matters of sexual misconduct worldwide. (See file: RCRI_Web_Site.jpg )
I received notice that an investigation had been commissioned regarding Father Dan Ward on October 4, 2012. Abbot John Klassen and Bishop Kinney were cc'd to that email. (See file: 20121004_Airdo_Email.pdf).
At least five men and one woman (CSB student) have alleged misconduct by Father Ward.
One of the allegations against Ward (see file: Ward_1970s_2.pdf) was disclosed in my October 8 letter to Sr. Sharon Euart, executive director of the Canon Law Society of America. (See file: 20121008_Marker_to_Euart.pdf)
All six of the allegations against Father Ward were disclosed in my October 9 letter to the Minnesota Bar Association.
Father Dan Ward is scheduled to speak (on three of the four days) at RCRI's national conference in Orlando next week.
*** Father Mel Taylor, OSB
On June 8, 2012, Bishop John Kinney from the Diocese of Saint Cloud (MN) announced that Father Mel Taylor would be the next priest at Saint John the Baptist in Collegeville. Source:http://www.stcdio.org/the-visitor/official-announcements.html
Prior to that announcement, on June 3, 2012, Father Mel Taylor was confronted by one of his victims. The confrontation occurred during Father Mel Taylor's last mass in the Bahamas. Background and a video of that confrontation is available here:http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/video-of-confrontation-in-the-bahamas/
On June 26, 2012, I wrote an email to Bishop John Kinney, requesting that he, "reconsider the appointment of Father Mel Taylor as pastor at Church of Saint John the Baptist, Collegeville, Minnesota." (See file: 20120626_Marker_to_Kinney.pdf )
On June 29, 2012, Bishop Kinney wrote a letter (See file: 20120629_kinney_letter_re_Taylor.pdf) stating that Mel Taylor was under investigation.
Father Mel Taylor was a prefect, chaplain and residency dean at the Prep School in the 80s. (see file: Taylor_Res_Dean_82-83.pdf)
Misconduct against Mel Taylor is outlined in a notarized document dated August 30, 2012. (See file: 20120830_Misconduct_re_Mel_Taylor.pdf)
Just days after the Father Mel Taylor investigation began in August, Father Taylor fled to Ireland.


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Another great Hash in Nepal under my belt. Several photos from this trip and an additional hash really caught my eye and fell right in line with the Daily Post's weekly theme of work of art. The following are my top picks for the theme. Water and people walking away from me seem to be the most beau-tee-ful thing.
During a recent hash we visited the Changu Narayan Temple area. Aside from ending this particular hash lost and walking through a variety of farms with a raging hail and lightening storm it was one of my favorites. Seriously. Except for the frozen fingers, hail and lightening. Oh and our leader kept saying, "we really aren't lost."
These are some of the people we stopped to get directions from and some random men dancing.
An area directly around the temple.
The Changu Narayan Temple is a World Heritage Site and what was great about it is that it is a lesser known and more out of the way temple to visit. This is great because you can actually walk through the area and really look at things without being jostled by crowds of tourists.
Even the small city entrance to the two-tiered pagoda style temple was quite lovely. Steep steps with little shops along the way where you can watch local people gather their water, shop for trinkets or just watch people walk by.
All around the shrine there were lions, elephants and other animals I didn't recognize guarding the intricately designed structure.
There was a statute inside that shows Vishnu as Narayan, the creator of all life. There are so many beautiful and ornate decorations that I plan on going back to get a better look at the area.
I consider many things in life works of art. My favorite is that of nature and smiles. The following photos fit nicely into this week's Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of art. Even the area outside of the temple was quite beautiful. I hope you enjoy the photos. I've included some photos from one other hash that really show how beautiful many areas outside of the city here can be.


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Black Man, Running
"Black Man, Running" is a series of performances and public runs (as in a jog or a footrace) that address issues of race, public space, safety and democracy. We're organizing three runs in different U.S. cities, each of which will be part of a whole "package" of story-gathering and community dialogues. We'll be creating a template that other communities can use to produce "Black Man, Running" events in their own communities, and we expect to be the resource center for upwards of 25 runs nationwide.
Visit the "Black Man, Running" website!
Narrative Arts is grateful to The MAP Fund for support of "Black Man, Running."
- Documentary Production
- Techmoja Dance and Theatre Company
- Shoresides
- Free Movement Conference
- Coastal Youth Media
- Storm Stories
- Nation Inside
- "Storytelling and Social Change" guide!
- Prison Poetry Workshop
- "Who Are You?" — Encounters Between Very Different People
amplify andy goodman artistic activism audio audio walks big picture buzzwords climate change communications empathy evaluation FoST grantmakers grist guide Hatch health history humor India interviews journalism lgbt listening media museum nation inside pop culture prisons radio reenactment restorative storytelling science social change stickers storycorps story guide storyscapes storytelling theater Theatre of the Oppressed tours UNESCO virtual reality YouTube


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A maker of automotive lighting parts is planning a $16.3-million expansion that will create 150 jobs in the area.
Ventra Grand Rapids 5 is implementing a three-year plan to invest in equipment and purchase and renovate a facility in Kentwood, at 2305 Breton Industrial Park Dr. SE, according to The Right Place, a regional economic development nonprofit.
Ventra will expand the launch of an automotive lighting line at the facility, and it plans to secure new orders from automakers in Michigan.
Ventra plans to continue its operations at a nearby facility, at 3075 Breton Rd. SE.
Ventra Grand Rapids 5 is part of the Urbana, Ill.-based Flex|N|Gate group, a global supplier of automotive systems and components.
Ventra will receive $650,000 in Michigan Business Development Program incentives for the expansion.
The Right Place said the state incentives "played a key role" in Ventra choosing Michigan "over sites in other states."
The state incentives were announced today by The Right Place — together with the state's marketing arm, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and the city of Kentwood.
"Ventra Grand Rapids 5's investment is very encouraging to The Right Place and to the region, as this announcement demonstrates that West Michigan remains a competitive place for manufacturers to do business," said Megan Sall, business development manager at The Right Place.


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11-12 BMW 1 Series M Coupe E82 BC Racing Coilovers - BR Type
BC Racing BR Series Coilovers 11-12 BMW 1 Series M Coupe E82
The BR Type BC coilovers for the E82 BMW are the perfect choice for street driving and the occasional road course or auto-cross duty. With easily accessible adjustment knobs for fine-tuning compression and rebound, ride height adjustment independent of shock stroke and spring preload, having a performance coilover system has never been easier. The driver chooses how low or high the vehicle sits (no preset ride height here!) and a BC Racing patented concave lower locking ring keeps it locked securely in place. Most systems can be upgraded to pillowball mounts to provide the most feedback possible from the suspension and to sharpen steering response. BC Racing front camber plates also allow a driver to get the perfect alignment setup without compromise. Each of these features is offered, while providing a strong, attractive coilover system at a reasonable price.
Part Number: I-21-BR
Features and Benefits:
- Mono-tube shock design
- Linear piston and damping curve
- Height adjustment via shock body, not spring
- 30-clicks of damping adjustment (compression/rebound) simultaneously
- 1 year limited warranty against manufacturer defect
- Fully rebuildable with all parts available for purchase
Spring Rates:
- Front = 7 kg
- Rear = 12 kg
- Front = Standard
- Rear = Not available
Custom spring rates are available. You can request custom spring rates by entering the rates you want in the special instructions box after clicking add to cart. Spring rates up to 18K are available in BC Springs. Rates higher than 18K will require Swift spring upgrade.
All extreme low kits, swift springs, and custom rates are considered custom builds and will have a lead time of 2-3 weeks before shipping.


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I made this card for Lili of the Valley's Christmas in August challenge.
I stamped "Carol Singing" and coloured it in with alcohol markers, then fussy cut it out. I die cut a frame out of cream cardstock and inked the edges in tan, then die cut some vellum snowflakes and a poinsettia.
I glued the vellum down with glossy accents, hoping it wouldn't show through but it did. I've tried other means of gluing vellum with equally poor results, including a specialty vellum tape runner. Ah well. I used a regular tape runner on the frame and pop-dots on the image.
I think I should have added another backing paper as it feels too empty. I'll have to try that on the next card.


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TRIUMPH Triaction Bra - T542Regular price Rs. 949.00
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The Triaction workout sports bra is made of stretchable material with a wide elastic band that gives excellent support for an active lifestyle, providing greater ease & freedom of movement. DESCRIPTION: Non-padded. Wire-free for comfort and support. Full coverage for maximum support. 2 row varying column hook & eye back closure. Adjustable Shoulder Straps. Do Not Iron Hand Wash Allowed Do Not Bleach Dry In Shade Do Not Tumble Dry


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Financial crisis: Revisiting the banking rules that died by a thousand small cuts
Many have bemoaned the U.S. government's failure to do more to strengthen the financial system following the 2008-2009 crisis. In particular, Congress has not considered anything resembling a revival of the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated the humdrum deposit-taking function of commercial banks from the kind of dubious investment and trading activities that set up financial institutions for a fall.
In fact, Congress recently weakened The Volcker Rule, which aimed to prohibit some forms of risky trading by banks. And now the Republican-controlled House and Senate vow to further roll back the Volcker Rule and other provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reform.
All this makes it important to get the history, and specifically the history of Glass-Steagall, right. First put in place in response to the financial crises of the Great Depression, the Glass-Steagall Act was allowed to lapse in 1999. Many critics of that move argue that it enabled the orgy of financial risk-taking that followed. Others counter that the increased risk-taking was not coming from commercial banks freed up by the elimination of Glass Steagall but by the shadow banking system of investment firms, hedge funds, and commercial paper dealers that were never restricted by Glass Steagall in the first place.
In fact, the financial crisis of the late 2000s was not brought on by the lack of Glass-Steagall per se but instead by a whole set of measures that loosened regulation. The end of Glass-Steagall was simply emblematic of that process.
It all started in 1980 with the abolition of Regulation Q ceilings on deposit interest rates, which allowed commercial banks to compete more aggressively for deposits. That led to a cascade of unintended consequences. It intensified the pressure on Savings & Loans, which previously had been permitted to offer higher deposit rates than other financial institutions. To limit the damage, the Garn-St. Germain Act of 1982 allowed S&Ls to engage in a range of commercial banking activities, those related to consumer lending for example.
Garn-St. Germain helped set the stage for the S&L crisis because it allowed thrifts to take on additional risk but didn't do anything to restrain them. Meanwhile, as the thrifts began to offer more financial services to customers, traditional banks began to feel competitive pressure. Commercial banks had long been frustrated by their inability to underwrite corporate and municipal bonds. So, in response to a petition from J.P. Morgan(JPM), Bankers Trust, and Citicorp, the Federal Reserve creatively reinterpreted Glass-Steagall in December 1986 to allow commercial banks to derive up to 5% of their income from investment banking activities, including underwriting municipal bonds, commercial paper, and, fatefully, mortgage-backed securities.
In 1987, over the opposition of Fed Chair Paul Volcker, the Federal Reserve Board authorized several large banks to further expand their underwriting businesses. Under Volcker's successor, Alan Greenspan, the Fed then allowed bank holding companies to derive as much as 25% of their revenues from investment banking operations.
The pressure to loosen regulation intensified as a merger wave swept through the world of investment banking and brokerage firms in the 1990s. Investment banks had first been allowed to expand when, in 1970, the ban on publicly listing their shares was lifted. The response took time to gather steam, but they now expanded with a vengeance.
In 1997, Morgan Stanley (MS), an investment bank, merged with Dean, Witter, Discover & Co., a brokerage and credit card company. That same year, the trust company and derivatives house Bankers Trust acquired Alex. Brown & Sons, an investment and brokerage firm. The consolidation of investment houses, brokers, and insurance companies threatened to put banks at an even bigger disadvantage. So, the banks responded by lobbying even more intensely for the removal of the remaining restrictions on their operations.
By the 1990s, then, the Glass-Steagall Act was already significantly weakened. The fatal blow was struck in 1998 when Citicorp moved to purchase Travelers Insurance Group, notwithstanding Glass-Steagall's requirement that it sell off Travelers' insurance business within two years. The merger allowed Travelers to market insurance and its in-house money funds to Citicorp's retail banking customers. And it gave Citicorp access to an expanded clientele of investors and insurance policyholders. Its main shortcoming? It was not compatible with Glass-Steagall.
The chairmen and co-CEOs of the merged company, John Reed and Sandy Weill, mounted a furious campaign to remove Glass-Steagall's nettlesome restrictions before the two-year window closed. Their arguments received a sympathetic hearing from Alan Greenspan's Fed, the Clinton White House, and the Treasury Department, especially when Lawrence Summers succeeded Robert Rubin as secretary in mid-1999. And the executives were warmly received in the halls of Congress, where bank lobbyists freely roamed.
Glass-Steagall was finally euthanized by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which repealed residual restrictions on combining commercial banking, investment banking, and insurance underwriting businesses in November 1999.
It would be all too easy to claim that Glass-Steagall's death was a singular event that caused the financial crisis. In fact, its demise was the culmination of a decades-long process of financial deregulation in which both commercial banks and shadow banks were permitted to engage in a wider range of activities, while supervision and oversight lagged behind. Competition between commercial banks, investment banks, and shadow banks squeezed the profits of all involved. Many of the affected institutions responded by using more borrowed money and assuming more risk. The consequences, we now know, were disastrous.
The fact that much of the risky business that led to the 2008-2009 crisis was performed by shadow banks that had always operated outside the Glass-Steagall ring-fence does not excuse the ongoing relaxation of financial oversight and regulation. But simply putting Glass-Steagall back in place will not protect us from future crises. Re-regulating only part of the financial system will not be enough.
We need comprehensive financial reform to cope with 21st century financial markets. From this point of view, eviscerating the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as some in the recently inaugurated Congress propose, would be a step in precisely the wrong direction.
Barry Eichengreen is the George C. Pardee and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley and the author of the recently published Hall of Mirrors: The Great Depression, The Great Recession, and the Uses-and Misuses-of History.


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Hyperlite Mountain Gear is putting Dyneema into a packable and portable technical shell
A great technical jacket should obviously keep you protected from the elements, but an exceptional one should do all of that and more, but in a streamlined design that doesn't get in the way.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear is expanding their range with a new technical jacket that incorporates ultra-rugged Dyneema fabric with eVent to create a piece that's highly breathable, water-resistant, and packs away into a pouch that's about the size of a small bag of chips.
Depending on the size the jacket weighs an average of about 5.75 oz and it's loaded with features such as YKK Aquaguard zippers, a Polartec Power-Dry chin guard, and various adjustment points that add additional protection from the weather.
$450, hyperlitemountaingear.com


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St. George golfer Mike Hacker reflects on Utah Senior State Amateur Championship
Mike Hacker was all smiles after winning the Utah Senior State Amateur last week at the Glenwild Golf Club in Park City.
And for good reason.
The St. George resident won the Super Senior Division for golfers 65 and older with a 2-up victory over Dave Fischer in a tight match that came down to the last hole.
"It was a great match and a lot of fun," Hacker said.
And for Hacker, fun is what it's all about.
Hacker has represented the Beehive State in the Utah-Arizona shootout – a Ryder Cup-style team event that started in 1991 to showcase some of the top amateur golfers from both states – and has gone on to win a number of state tournaments over the last four decades too.
With some dominating play over the years, most people are shocked to find out that Hacker didn't pick up the game until he was 21.
The high school golf coach at Edgewood High School in Covina, CA, where Hacker attended, is probably still kicking himself about it too.
"It would have been nice to play golf in high school, but honestly, I didn't even know that it existed. My father taught me the rules and stuff when I was a kid, but I never really played. I do wish I could have played in high school looking back on it. I'm sure the high school coach would have loved it too," Hacker said, smiling.
When Hacker was 21, one of his friends took him out to the driving range and after practicing and playing a few rounds, turned into a golf enthusiast.
Reisbeck, Meti win Utah State long drive championships at Coral Canyon
Mesquite ready for close-up on national TV
JAG: Heslington fires 1-under, Thomas bounces back and Milne fires eagle at St. George GC
Because of his busy schedule, Hacker doesn't get to play as much as he would like, but if he did, there probably wouldn't be a tournament he would ever lose.
"I don't know how he does it," said Ilene Hacker, Mike's wife. "He doesn't golf a lot like most competitive golfers do. Instead, he just goes to the driving range every once in a while."
While most golfers his age are enjoying the retirement life and playing 18 holes every day, Mike keeps busy by waking up at 4:30 in the morning to get to work on time. And after working five days a week in Las Vegas, the 66-year-old is ready to hit the links.
"Most of the tournaments are up north and so it would be nice to go up and have a practice round, but it's just not possible with my schedule," said Hacker. "I love the competition aspect of the tournaments and trying to better yourself, but at the end of the day, I just like playing the game, having fun and not taking it so seriously."
After qualifying to get into the tournament, Hacker was put right to the test. In the opening round, Hacker needed 19 holes to edge out Heber Jacobsen.
JAG continues to pave the way to success
State Golf: Thomas wins playoff, Thunder win eighth consecutive 3A championship
How Dixie's Gracie Richens turned into a star
And then after cruising past Mike O'keefe in the quarterfinals with a 4-and-3 victory, Hacker had to turn around and play another round for a spot in the championship match.
After riding the momentum from his first match, Hacker jumped out to a 3-up lead on Dave Johnson on the front nine. But then it all came apart on the back nine as Johnson came roaring back to tie things up heading into the 18th hole.
"Momentum is a crazy thing. I thought I was going to lose it, but luckily I was able to recover," Hacker said.
In the championship match, Hacker found himself with another 2-up lead on his opponent on the back nine, but after bad holes on 15 and 16, the match was all square heading into the 17th hole.
But while most golfers start sweating it heading down the final stretch, Hacker enjoys it.
"I like those situations because you learn a lot about yourself," he said. "I've been in those situations before, including this event, and so I just reminded myself of that and just stay focused and went out and hit the best shot that I could."
And he did just that.
On 17 and 18, Hacker hit near-perfect tee shots to set him up nicely heading into the finish. The 66-year-old then followed them up with great approach shots that landed within 10 feet of the hole to seal the deal.
"Those shots won it for me that's for sure," Hacker said. "Those were my best shots of the tournament and it couldn't have come at a better time."
Follow Justin Giles on Twitter @Justingiles_ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JustinGilesSportsWriter.


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Another great idea I found from Googling was to have back up light sources. I was thinking candles, but I truly don't want my kids carrying candles around the house to go to the bathroom.
That's when I found an article that recommended solar powered/ battery powered landscape lights.
These are just $0.98 at Walmart so I grabbed one for each person in our home plus a few extra for when family is over.
There were so many resources and various types of safety bags on Google that I got a little overwhelmed.
But what I found to be consistent was to have lot's of batteries to power things you'd need in an emergency.
Of course, you'll want to have your Duracell Coppertops (print this coupon), but don't forget a mobile device backup battery too.
I intend to build onto our kit over time and create a designated place in our home for our safety kit.
Once I have it completely put together I'll come back with an update post showing you how I organize and store it.


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Arcadia North Ranch Homes
Community by Ryan Homes
- from $274,990 - $316,990 What does this Price Range mean?
The Price Range displayed reflects the base price of the homes built in this community.
You get to select from the many different types of homes built by this Builder and personalize your New Home with options and upgrades.
- 5 New Homes
- Last Updated 17 hours ago
Estimated Mortgage: $1,850/month . Go to mortgage calculator Estimated monthly payment does not include amounts for taxes, insurance premiums and home upgrades. $0 down for Veterans
Call 888-268-4619 to connect with the builder right now!
Request a Tour Today!
39 Bookers Court, Martinsburg, WV 25405
Hours Mon-Fri, 10-5; Sat, 11-5; Sun, 12-5;
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Same-day scheduling unavailable online. To request a same-day tour, please call the builder
Please be aware that current conditions may impact hours of operation.
Valued Partners
$0 Down VA Loan Eligibility for Veterans
Use the VA benefits earned through your military service to buy a new home with $0 Down. See if you're eligible today!Learn More »
Community Map
Community Map for Arcadia North Ranch Homes
Buying new construction allows you to select a lot within a community. Contact Ryan Homes to discuss availability and next steps.
Welcome to Arcadia North Ranch Homes, offering main-level living homes with all of the features you are looking for. Own a brand new single-family home for less than you thought possible. Everything in your home is within reach, starting from the upper $200's. About the Community: At Arcadia North you can explore walking trails through the community with your family or take your furry friend to the community dog park. When you come back home you can relax while enjoying the West Virginia views from your very own back porch. Here, you can have the peace and space you've always dreamed of. What's included in your new home? All the details have been taken care of for you! Wider doorways & hallways, Owner's bathroom with walk-in shower and seat, level-handled doorknobs, lowered light switches, and more. Main-level living has never been so convenient! Plus you'll enjoy loads of included features like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, truffle cabinetry and more. We can even help you save on closing costs! Receive closing cost assistance with the use of NVR Mortgage. About the Area: Arcadia North is located 1 mile off of Rt. 9, 4 miles to the MARC train station, 10 minutes to I-81, 20 minutes to Shepherdstown, 45 minutes to both Frederick, MD and Leesburg, VA! There are countless dining options nearby like Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden, or Brix 27. Enjoy a night out at the Hollywood Casino! When you need to run errands, you can head out to Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and dozens of other stores in nearby Martinsburg and along I-81. Plus, you'll live right around the corner from Martinsburg VA Medical Center. During your free time you can bike the C&O Canal, fish the Potomac River, or grab lunch in Harper's Ferry. There's so much to explore! You will have everything you need and more, plus the low property taxes of West Virginia. Click here to schedule your appointment
Map & Directions
39 Bookers Court
Martinsburg, WV 25405
Homes & Plans
Available Homes
Ready to Build
Martinsburg, WV 25405
from $316,990
Ready to Build
Martinsburg, WV 25405
from $306,990
Ready to Build
Martinsburg, WV 25405
from $296,990
Ready to Build
Martinsburg, WV 25405
from $284,990
Ready to Build
Martinsburg, WV 25405
from $274,990
Community & Neighborhood
Schools Near Arcadia North Ranch Homes
- Berkeley Co SD
Actual schools may vary. Contact the builder for more information.
Neighborhood Amenities
Grocery Stores
3.62 miles away
32 Trianigas Dr
- Crowell's Village Store Inc
3.72 miles away
805 N Queen St
- Weis Markets
3.91 miles away
1102 N Queen St
- MARTIN'S Food Market
3.92 miles away
1317 Old Courthouse Sq
Specialized Stores
- Season's Best Seafood
3.22 miles away
851 E Moler Ave
- Daily Grind
3.61 miles away
120 N Queen St
- Everything Cheesecake LLC
3.64 miles away
324 W Stephen St
- Mother Shuckers Crab Shack
4.04 miles away
1014 Winchester Ave
- Sweet Inspirations LLC
4.06 miles away
839 Winchester Ave
- Season's Best Seafood
- Aj's Cafe
0.76 mile away
244 Needy Rd
- Gypsy Soul Mobile Cafe & Personal Chef
0.85 mile away
2336 Charles Town Rd
- Subway
1.18 miles away
3058 Charles Town Rd
- Sara's Place LLC
1.18 miles away
3058 Charles Town Rd
- Shepherd's Whey Creamery
2.66 miles away
825 Jenny Wren Dr
- Aj's Cafe
Coffee Shops
- Dunkin'
4.32 miles away
980 Foxcroft Ave
- Starbucks
4.39 miles away
925 Foxcroft Ave
- Dunkin'
4.40 miles away
1294 Edwin Miller Blvd
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe
4.44 miles away
171 Retail Commons Pkwy
- Starbucks
4.44 miles away
901 Foxcroft Ave
- Dunkin'
- La Roberts Jewelers
3.62 miles away
146 N Queen St
- Martinsburg Optical
3.82 miles away
608 W Addition St
- Martinsburg Optical
3.85 miles away
226 Winchester Ave
- Family Dollar
3.92 miles away
1319 Old Courthouse Sq
- Super Shoes
3.92 miles away
1355B Edwin Miller Blvd
- La Roberts Jewelers
Bars & Nightlife
- Sara's Place LLC
1.18 miles away
3058 Charles Town Rd
- 5 Spot 3
2.35 miles away
4717 Shepherdstown Rd
- Green Frog
2.72 miles away
5476 Shepherdstown Rd
- Johnny's Boy Sports Bar
3.50 miles away
127 E King St
- Brix 27
3.59 miles away
131 N Queen St
- Sara's Place LLC
Please note this information may vary. If you come across anything inaccurate, please contact us
Builder Details
Ryan Homes
Home is where the heart is—yours and ours. Our passion—and our purpose—is making places people love to call home. What began in 1948 as a small, family-run business in Pittsburgh has evolved into one of the top five home builders in the nation. Today, Ryan Homes builds new homes in twenty-seven metropolitan areas in fourteen states and the District of Columbia. We're a proud member of the NVR family, a distinguished group that also includes NVHomes, Fox Ridge Homes, and NVR Mortgage. What is the secret of our success? There are several: unparalleled customer service, innovative designs, quality construction, affordable prices, and desirable communities in prime locations. Not to mention our industry-leading comprehensive warranty coverage and customer care after move-in. It's no coincidence that customer referrals are responsible for a large percentage of our home sales. First-time buyer, move-up buyer, empty nester—buyers of all ages and stages of life can find exactly what they are looking for in a Ryan home.
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Infiniti to Focus on SUVs and the North American Market
As part of Infiniti's restructuring plan announced this week, the brand said it will focus on its largest growth markets, specifically North America and China, while withdrawing from Western Europe in early 2020.
What's more, diesel powertrains will be discontinued globally as Infiniti shifts toward electrified vehicles from 2021 onward. And in a move that will surely please consumers in Canada and the U.S., the company will put more focus on its SUV lineup in North America.
- Also: 2019 Infiniti QX60: Versatility First
- Also: Infiniti QX Inspiration: The Brand's Future is Officially Electric
The launch of the next-generation QX50, which features an innovative variable-compression engine technology and a sophisticated interior, has been met with praise, while future models based on the sensational QX Inspiration concept are bound to draw more attention to the brand. Infiniti is doling out details for now, but we'll keep you up-to-date as they emerge.
By focusing on more advanced and more desirable products, Infiniti hopes to improve the residual value of its vehicles and become a top challenger in the premium segment.
The announcement also included confirmation that the Infiniti QX30 is to cease production by mid-2019 at the assembly plant in Sunderland, UK. Despite the huge popularity of small SUVs and crossovers, this one lasted just two model years in North America. Canadian sales dropped to a mere 357 units in 2018 and they're off to an even worse start in 2019.
In you happened to love the QX30's sexy look, don't worry: Infiniti will come back with another small crossover in the future, but this time, it will be the brand's own creation instead of a product that borrows many components from the Mercedes-Benz GLA.