text:
An investor briefing from the desk of Olivier Garret, The American Debt Crisis Panelist, CEO of Casey Research
Washington's Efforts to
Will destroy the wealth of millions
of hard-working Americans...
Including you!
We're serious, and so is the situation.
Take these six simple steps NOW
to protect yourself (and profit) as
the economy falls apart around you.
Dear Friend and Reader,
Thank you for attending The American Debt Crisis online event. As I hope we made abundantly clear, America's debt and deficit spending situation is completely unsustainable and will be disastrous for the economy.
Right now Washington reminds me of Wile E. Coyote spinning his legs after he's run off the cliff. They can debate the debt ceiling, double up their stimulus efforts, and shout and wave their arms all they want – but there's only air beneath them... and a hard landing waiting far below.
They ran us off the cliff a long time ago – and we're about to get a serious lesson in gravity.
We do, however, still have a chance to cushion ourselves before we hit bottom.
Take action now – including taking the steps recommended during the event and the six steps I recommend below – to protect yourself from the unfolding crisis. Even better, you'll likely collect substantial profits as a result.
However, if you choose to minimize or even ignore the problem like Washington and the mainstream media, you will pay dearly. Your savings, your investments, your life's work – they'll all be in jeopardy as this debt crisis goes into free-fall. And it'll just get worse as Washington continues to do all the wrong things in response.
I'll give you six specific steps you can take to protect your financial well-being in a moment. But first, a quick reminder of why it's critical to your financial well-being to be taking action now...
Collapsing Confidence in US Debt
China's People's Daily
China trimmed holdings of US debt again... Concerns have arisen that the United States may default on its debt."
Central banks have good reason to buy gold. The dollar is no longer a safe asset for backing currencies. Treasuries are not a sound investment."
PIMCO started betting against US government-related debt in April... on concerns about the US fiscal outlook."
[Jim] Rogers says the Treasuries market is one of the few bubbles that he sees in the world today."
Smart Investors
Take Their Money and Run
It's clear – the investor confidence that kept the US at the top of the world's economic pyramid is collapsing.
Months ago, central banks in China, Russia, Mexico, and beyond started systematically liquidating their investments in the dollar and US Treasuries.
Big name investors have been selling, too – most notably PIMCO's Bill Gross, who runs the world's largest bond investment fund. And Jim Rogers, co-founder of the Quantum Fund with George Soros, was recently featured on CNBC for his short position in treasuries.
These are among the smartest investors in the world, and they didn't wait for the S&P downgrade of US debt to know it's time to get out. I'm watching what they're doing... and I think you should be paying attention, too.
Of course, Washington is chiming in at the eleventh hour and finally admitting this collapsing confidence in the dollar and Treasuries could spell disaster – not only for the stock and bond markets, but perhaps for life as we know it.
From US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner:
If we leave our debt problems unaddressed, those who lend us the resources to fund our past and future commitments will eventually demand higher interest rates... Higher borrowing costs for American households and businesses will discourage future private investment, lowering our capital stock, reducing our economic growth and depressing our standard of living.
Geithner is a bona fide expert in sweeping Washington's financial mess under the rug. If even he's admitting the system is broken, we must be in trouble.
But rest assured...
Washington Will do Everything
They Can to "Save America"
But the truth... and what they want you to believe... are two different things.
What will Washington do to save us from this debt crisis? (And by "us" they mean themselves and their friends on Wall Street.) What impact will it have on us as individuals, and the economy as a whole? Let's look at the options...
Option #1: Overt Default. If the US defaults on its debt, it would be catastrophic for the Treasury market. And not only would bondholders get fleeced, the market for US dollars could easily dry up just about overnight. So anyone holding dollars when it happened would be in severe financial pain.
The bad news is this is probably the best long-term solution to our debt problem. In fact, it may be inevitable. The good news (for bond holders, at least) is that Washington knows an overt default – simply not paying obligations – is political suicide. So they've proven before and they'll prove again that they're going to go to great lengths to prevent it.
Option #2: Austerity plus higher taxes. Another real solution to our debt problem is to own up to it and pay it down. But they have to take it more seriously than they did during the debt ceiling talks. This means slashing (not just cutting) military spending, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and tons of other government entitlements.
Yet there's just no way Washington's going to reduce spending in any way that would really matter. After all, you can't win elections by killing Social Security. But some cuts plus higher taxes for the "rich" are already coming down the pike... which means if you either rely on government help or have or make any money to speak of, you're a target.
Option #3: Rampant inflation. This is both the easiest and hardest way to deal with a debt problem. You see, we have the advantage that all our debts are denominated in US dollars. And we control the supply of US dollars. So we can print our way out of debt. Easy, right?
Of course, there are problems with this. Monetary inflation – printing money – inevitably leads to price inflation. This makes inflation an invisible tax that hurts everybody... especially savers. Every dollar you own is losing purchasing power by the day. It's the reason a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk costs many multiples of what they used to. The bread and milk aren't gaining value: your money is losing it. But the printing press is like a drug for Washington. The more they use it, the more they want it. Hence TARP, TALF, QE1, and QE2. All were spun politically as "Saving America" from crisis – but really they're just a guise for inflating away the debt. Sure, they stimulate the markets while they last, but long term they're leading us down a path to destruction.
The way we see it, these are the only options Washington has on the table... every one guaranteed to eat away at your wealth – until either the national debt or your money are gone.
And they won't stop at just one option.
You can only inflate so fast without creating another Weimar Germany or Zimbabwe – where money's no longer worth the paper it's printed on, and even billionaires are beggars.
So while they run the printing presses, Washington will also pass one tax after another to squeeze every red cent possible out of us productive members of society – for as long as we still have anything to our names. And when that's not working fast enough, they'll look at strategic defaults on their debt – foreign investors are likely to lose out on interest payments first. But when that's not enough, anything and everything will be on the table.
Of course, none of them have any real answer that will bring our economy back to life. The left's solution of higher spending can only be done with more borrowing and more inflation. The right's austerity measures would pull the rug from under the economy and likely crash the investment markets.
It's two sides of the same coin – and no matter how it lands, we all suffer.
The Exact Opposite of the Right Thing
As my friend and colleague Doug Casey likes to say, Washington not only does the wrong thing, they do the exact opposite of the right thing. This just makes things worse. And the worse things get, the more havoc Washington will wreak.
Take The Fed's recent decision to hold press conferences, claiming a sudden desire to become "transparent." All these press conferences do is set the stage for Fed Chairman Bernanke's overt market manipulations. Who needs stimulus when all that's required is for Big Ben to open his mouth?
Take, for example, Bernanke's appearance before Congress in July:
On the first day of his two-day testimony, Ben Bernanke reassured members of Congress the Fed was prepared to take decisive action to stimulate the economy. The market spiked within minutes on the news.
In the next day's testimony, Bernanke's position turned 180 degrees as he said, "We're not prepared at this point to take further action." Accordingly, the market dropped sharply.
This is flagrant manipulation. And while it may save Wall Street's quarterly profits, it doesn't live up to their PR promises that they're going to turn America's economy around for the benefit of you and me.
- Our jobs picture is still decidedly negative
- Home prices have fallen more than they did in the Great Depression
- And inflation has driven prices up, even while Washington tells us it's under control
Yet, even though their policies are a major cause of all these problems, it's going to be more of the same from Washington as they claim to try to fix the mess.
And that's why The American Debt Crisis will be bigger than we can imagine... worse than we can imagine... and why it's so important to protect yourself now.
How to Protect Yourself from
The American Debt Crisis
During our The American Debt Crisis event, we presented some simple steps you can take now to position yourself to avoid the worst – including both investments and actions you can take personally. Below, I'll expand on those – and even show you a few opportunities to collect substantial profits as the crisis unfolds.
Over the last two years I have been able to take control of my future financially, and feel more confident and more ready to tackle the undoubted challenges that lie ahead thanks to access to your research and analysis. I look forward to a fulfilling and prosperous future for which Casey Research is at least partly responsible. Many thanks and keep up the good work."
– Andy H.
Thanks to you and the team for helping me (a technically inexperienced investor) find the confidence necessary to bag a 75% overall return in five months, with exponentially bigger gains likely to follow."
– Karl R.
But before we get to the six steps to protect yourself and profit, I should tell you about our unique methods of research and analysis.
Casey Research's approach is based on a big-picture view. From our most niche-specific alert services to The Casey Report, our monthly big-picture investing newsletter, every decision is influenced heavily by cultural, political, and economic forces at play.
We look at the primary players in the market – by cash flow, political power, and a general ability to move the market. (And of course, nobody has a more powerful market impact than the US government.)
We watch these market makers like a hawk. Because the market reacts to their every move, we want to be able to anticipate what their next move will be. And there's one thing you need to know if you want to predict what they'll do next: They'll protect themselves at all costs. Investing accordingly has given us handsome returns many times before and will continue to do so for ourselves and our readers.
Another thing that makes Casey Research unique is just how much time we spend combing through economic data looking for the next big economic trends. We look behind the data to find the underlying trends – that's how we get readers in early for maximum gains.
Of course, there are all manner of "black swan" events that even we can't predict with certainty. But if you know what to look for you can often see pressure building for something big to happen.
For example, economic downturns announce themselves many months in advance when you know that spiking oil prices have a high correlation with recessions... Or, if you take a look at historical data sets, you'll quickly see that there's a strong link between big drops in housing sales (like the 8% drop in September 2007), consumer spending, and GDP.
History doesn't necessarily repeat itself, but it often rhymes. In any emerging crisis, it's usually those investors who insist that "this time it's different" who get hurt the most. That's how we've been able to accurately predict many, many times before how a current trend will play out.
So with that in mind, these are the investments we like best for this stage of the crisis...
This Investment Will Pay Off
for Years to Come
A core tenet of crisis investing is that "stuff" maintains real value while everything else goes down. What do I mean by stuff? Commodities, precious metals, and prime real estate bought on the cheap, for example... These have real value independent of the currency in which their price is denominated.
It doesn't matter whether you denominate them in dollars, euro, rubles, renminbi, or seashells... A bushel of corn, a tank of gas, and an acre of farmland all maintain real and usable value that doesn't depend on the currency you use to buy it. But even then, some "stuff" investments pay off better than others in crisis.
Looking back in history, one such investment has made more tycoons than any other, in both good times and bad.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the world has run on oil. Our modern world was built on "black gold," and those who discovered it and brought it to market struck it rich. Yet this trend is far from over. Even as the West gets "greener," China, India, and other growing markets are consuming oil at a faster pace than ever. China's oil consumption, for example, more than doubled between 1998 and 2009 – from 4,105 barrels per day to more than 8,300. All of this while worldwide production has been stagnant for much of the last decade.
Despite Al Gore's arm-waving, the world is still addicted to oil – and there's not enough to go around.
Increasing demand and constrained supply will lead to higher prices, even without inflation and political instability in oil-producing nations also pushing prices up.
In The Casey Report portfolio, we have an oil-and energy-related fund we recommend because:
- It has among the lowest expense ratio of funds with similar holdings
- It gives you exposure to high-quality oil producers with more upside than oil itself
- And it gives you critical diversification in an industry constantly under fire from environmentalists and politicians (you saw what this did to BP)
Whether you choose our recommendation or find your own, putting at least one well-selected oil investment in your portfolio is a smart way to stay ahead of the crisis.
But oil is only part of the total energy picture.
Some of the best profits in energy in the next few years are likely to come from one of today's most overlooked forms of energy available: natural gas.
Natural gas is so overlooked because new technologies like hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") have opened up gas deposits in the United States that were previously hard or impossible to get to. The result: a supply glut of natural gas that led to the bargain-basement prices we see today.
While the current low prices are keeping many investors away, we see a buying opportunity. Natural gas is currently discounted by 75% compared to oil when measured by heat generation. Prices are bound to go up.
In fact, natural gas is so underpriced it could go up by 300% and still be on par with today's oil prices. This is the type of market anomaly where profits are less a matter of "how much," but rather "when."
This opportunity is much like uranium in October 1998, when Doug Casey was the only analyst with a contrarian enough bent to cover it. At the time, "the other yellow metal" was selling at just $9.50 per pound – a price Doug recognized was bound to go up due to a number of converging factors. Over the next nine years it took a trajectory to the moon, eventually topping out at $136 per pound in 2007. Along the way, Doug recommended a number of uranium stocks that handed readers exceptionally large gains, including International Uranium (now Denison Mines) and Paladin Resources, which both gained more than 2,000%.
One rather low-risk way to get strong upside exposure to what we see as an inevitable upshot in natural gas prices is through utility companies. They're relatively safe plays because utility companies have strong cash flow – even during a crisis, customers will pay to keep the heat and lights on. Utilities often pay strong dividends. And there are additional opportunities to profit above and beyond price increases in natural gas itself.
Our favorite is a large, financially strong natural gas utility:
- It has a sizeable customer base spread across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast
- Even with low natural gas prices, it maintains high profit margins and a healthy dividend greater than 5%
- And it's undergoing a promising merger to nearly double its customer base plus acquire an additional profit center that also gives it a power position in the natural gas storage industry
This company will continue to be profitable whether or not the price of natural gas goes up in the short term. In fact, they have profit strategies in place whether gas goes up, down, or sideways.
Again, like our oil-market pick, this play won't make you rich overnight – but it has strong upside potential with little risk. And it's a "stuff" play to protect your portfolio in the crisis, with additional profit potential based on smart business practices. In The American Debt Crisis, this is exactly the type of investment you'll want in your portfolio to protect yourself... and collect solid profits, too.
Gold for Protection and Profit
Ben Bernanke says, "Gold is not money." Yet for thousands of years cultures across the globe have used gold as a means of exchange and store of wealth. Not one government-backed currency has endured like gold.
Doug Casey often refers back to Aristotle's criteria for sound money as to why gold maintains this status. In Doug's words:
- It should be durable (which is why, say, wheat isn't a good money – it rots)
- It should be divisible (which is why artwork isn't a good money – you can't cut up the Mona Lisa for change)
- It should be convenient (which is why lead isn't a good money – it just takes too much to be of value)
- It should be consistent (which is one reason why land can't be money – each piece is different)
- And it should have value in itself (which is why paper money leads to trouble)
You don't buy gold to get rich. You buy it because it purchases the same amount of stuff now as it did 100 years ago... while the purchasing power of the dollar has fallen by 98%.
You buy gold because Bernanke and friends have proven they'll do anything to keep interest rates low and "fight off" the debt crisis – even if it means complete debasement of the dollar.
In 1935, when an ounce of gold was worth $35, you could buy:
- A high-quality tailored suit for $19.75
– or 0.56 ounces of gold
- A family car for $500
– or 14.3 ounces of gold
- A house for $7,150
– or 204.2 ounces of gold
With today's prices around $1,800 per ounce, let's see what that same gold would buy you today:
- 0.56 ounces of gold is now worth $1,008 – about the price of a Signature Gold suit from JoS. A. Bank
- 14.3 ounces is worth $25,740
– enough to drive home a Toyota Camry
- And 204.2 ounces is now worth $367,560
– which gets you an above-average home in all but the most expensive areas of the country
The purchasing power of the dollar has dropped like a stone – but gold has endured and still buys you today about what it always has.
Of course, you can profit from gold, too. And that's why we recommend a three-pronged approach to investing in gold in this stage of The American Debt Crisis:
Invest in Gold, Part 1: Get Physical
Putting a portion of your savings in physical gold protects you from the song and dance of negative real interest rates, as the Fed devalues the dollar to help Washington manage its debt. Store your gold somewhere safe, and history has proven it should buy about as much when you take it out of storage as it did when you put it in – no matter what happens to the dollar between now and then.
For physical gold, we recommend most investors start with the most popular forms available: Eagles, Maple Leafs, and similarly mainstream bullion coins. They have established market value, and because they're so widely known they should be easiest to sell if you ever need to do so.
Invest in Gold, Part 2: Pad Your Portfolio
In The Casey Report, we follow a select gold fund that allows you to buy gold from within your IRA and other retirement or investment accounts. This is quick and easy, so you can get invested in gold right away, to begin padding your portfolio against inflation. This type of fund shouldn't be your only gold strategy, mind you – because there are many benefits to having the metal in hand when you need it. But it can be an important part of your gold holdings.
This investment has had a lot of upside recently – gold's been on a ten-year winning streak that Casey readers have profited from tremendously. But that's not the only reason to hold it in your portfolio. Think of a gold fund as an alternative place to stash your cash between investments – when you can't stay ahead of inflation by holding cash in money market funds.
Invest in Gold, Part 3: Profit Opportunities
It's one thing to invest in the metal itself – either directly by buying physical gold or by proxy through the gold funds. But the current gold bull market will also make a lot of people far wealthier by the time it's done. The key is to invest in gold mining and exploration companies. Put very simply, if a company is able to produce gold at $400 per ounce which many do – and the price of gold goes from $800 to $1,600 or $2,600 per ounce, its profit goes through the roof. Share prices tend to follow in kind.
For investors who want to invest in this trend without maintaining an active portfolio of gold mining and exploration companies, there are a number of ETFs available. But even in a bull market there are downside risks, especially in smaller companies without active projects. Whether via direct investment or ETFs, you only want to invest in high-quality gold companies – and we have a favorite fund that will help you do just that.
But is it still a good time to get into gold?
We know gold is a popular investment today. Many analysts are recommending it because, well, it's on a ten-year winning streak. When Doug was recommending it in the late 1990s, it was for the exact opposite reason – the price had simply been too low for too long.
Sure, today's popularity makes us cautious... but no matter how we cut the deck, the big picture still points us strongly toward gold. The US continues to debase its currency, as does just about every other government on the planet. They have to, in order to pay for decades of debt and overpromising. Their only way out of years of mismanagement is to destroy the currency in which debts are denominated.
As currencies go down, the price of "stuff" goes up. And gold is the most enduring "stuff" to hold for folks who want to maintain their wealth. So even with today's record-high prices of gold, we still see it going considerably higher as paper currencies continue their downward spiral.
Besides, gold's recent run has not generated anywhere near the mania you see at the end of most bubbles. Around 2005, everybody and their brother was flipping houses on the weekend to get in on the record-high prices. We know what came of that. Until you can't open Newsweek or turn on Good Morning America without hearing about how everyone must buy gold now – and until you see pawn shops with signs that say "We Sell Gold" instead of "We Buy Gold" we're not in a mania... And gold still has room to run.
And as long as The American Debt Crisis endures, this three-pronged approach to investing in gold should be a critical part of your saving and investing strategy... both for the protection it provides against bad monetary policies, and for the profit potential it gives you thanks to gold's ongoing historic bull market. Once you subscribe to The Casey Report, you'll get instant access to our portfolio and the gold recommendations it includes.
The Only Way to Make Money in Bonds for the Next Few Years
As I mentioned above, some of the biggest players in the US Treasury bond market have been selling for months – some even building substantial short positions in treasuries.
Yes, it's still the largest, most liquid investment market in the world... and still holds sway in the establishment as the "safe haven" investment.
But here's the thing – what Bill Gross from PIMCO and others like him realized months ago...
Even if the US government doesn't overtly default on these debt obligations, they're still playing a dirty game of "soft" default. As long as their printing presses keep inflating away the value of the dollar faster than you can make money with the interest rates offered on treasuries...
Bonds are the safest way to lose 1%, 2%, 3% or more of your purchasing power every year.
These negative real interest rates can wreak havoc on your retirement plans. Let's say, for example, you retire today at 65 and buy 20-year bonds, hoping to maintain purchasing power until you're 85. Losing 3% of your purchasing power every year doesn't seem like that much until you calculate it out over the life of the bond – and realize that by the time the bond hits maturity it can only buy you 56% of what it could have bought you the day you purchased the bond.
This simply can't go on for long.
Interest rates are at 50-year lows. Using the last crisis as an excuse, Washington has been able to force the cost of its new debt down to simply unsustainable levels:
Yes, the Fed has used quantitative easing (QE) to act as a "buyer of last resort" to ensure that even at these low rates the Treasuries are scooped up every time they're offered. But this stimulus just drives real and expected price inflation. Which means all the other buyers in the market will want higher interest on their investments – especially as Washington struggles to keep up in the debt crisis. And even though the Fed has been able to control short-term rates with QE, long-term rates are far less controllable and could rise quickly.
If you're buying bonds at today's low rates, this is bad for you, because as rates go up, the value of your bonds go down. So you lose two ways – first, from negative real interest rates; and second, from the depreciating value of your investment as market conditions change.
Short-term upticks may look good, but historically speaking today's bond market is headed for a major swing in the other direction.
Which leads to "the only way to make money in bonds in the next few years."
Put simply: You don't want to bet on bonds, you want to bet against them. But shorting bonds can become expensive, because unlike shorting stocks you are required to make the interest payments on the bond for as long as you hold the short position.
We've uncovered a couple of unique investment vehicles that allow you to short bonds while avoiding interest rate payments... and take advantage of the large upside we see in the coming months and years as interest rates swing back upwards toward a more historically "normal" level (with the added benefit that if interest rates take off due to inflation like they did in the 1970s, you'll be looking at even bigger gains).
Here's the expected performance of our two favorite picks as interest rates rise:
|Potential Net Gains - Inverse Interest Rate Instruments
|For subscribers only
|For subscribers only
|100% Inverse 20-30Y Note
|125% Inverse 30Y Note
|Interest Rate Rise:
|Medium Risk/Reward
|High Risk/Reward
We've already seen it throughout Europe: When a sovereign debt crisis hits, there's little the borrower can do to control interest rates. Lenders simply want more for their money. Before The American Debt Crisis is over, we expect to see much higher rates. And this is simply one way to shield yourself and profit.
Become a Global Investor
Without Leaving the US
If you want to protect yourself and your money from the coming crisis, you need to "get one foot over the border." For some, that includes offshore trusts and other similar investment vehicles. For others, that includes purchasing property overseas, such as at Doug Casey's La Estancia de Cafayate in Salta, Argentina. And it can even mean getting citizenship in multiple countries.
Most people's first reaction is, "But that's for people who have a lot more money than me!" And that's understandable – although it may be much easier and more affordable than you might expect.
Yet with just a few thousand dollars to invest you can start to get one foot over the border financially – to insulate yourself from the US market's volatility in the crisis. And you can do it from within your IRA and other retirement or investment accounts.
How? Simple. You can get quick global diversification by buying one of hundreds of funds traded openly on the New York Stock Exchange. These funds typically follow an index of companies in one or more countries, and often have a specific focus such as industry or company size.
For example, a single investment in the BKF ETF gives you exposure across the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China – with investments in a number of large companies in each country, representing a number of different sectors. Or with SCJ you can invest just in Japanese small-cap stocks.
Of course, without thorough research into the countries, economies, political situations, and companies in question, this can be tricky. After all, most of the world's economy is tied in directly to the US economy. In The American Debt Crisis, much of the world will suffer.
That's why we prefer resource-rich countries, insulated to some degree from the US economy, that also have low political risk.
For example, our first global diversification recommendation:
- Outperformed the S&P 500 by many multiples since the 2008 crash, showing it moves independent of the US markets
- Has tight monetary policy, a growing economy, and a strong pro-business climate
- And is rich in resources – the "stuff" investments that perform well in crisis
And our second:
- Has high labor immigration, enabling fast economic growth without fueling price and wage pressures (an anomaly among similar mature economies)
- Gives you exposure to a country that runs budget surpluses instead of deficits
- And is also resource rich, with a heavy concentration in energy
This type of "one foot over the border" investment is easy to make, and is a no-brainer for investors looking to pad their portfolio against the impact The American Debt Crisis will have on US investment markets.
The Anti-Bernanke Savings Strategy
Keeping your savings in US dollars is a losing proposition. Ben Bernanke and the folks at the Fed are more interested in "saving" the American economy with ongoing stimulus than saving the dollar. This means traditional savings vehicles are toast when it comes to keeping you ahead of inflation.
But what options do savers in the US have?
Most people simply aren't aware that there's a US-based bank named EverBank that allows you to diversify your savings into foreign currencies, starting with accounts as small as $2,500. Depending on your preference and account size, you can open a deposit account, CD, or basket CD in well over a dozen different currencies. Some even pay much higher interest rates than accounts in US dollars.
One important consideration when saving in foreign currencies:
These foreign currency savings vehicles are subject to normal fluctuations in exchange rates. That's exactly what makes them so attractive if you pick the right currencies. If you're saving in a currency that gains against the dollar, when you convert your savings back you get more dollars. Of course it works the other way around, too. Yet it's worth noting that in heavy inflation the difference between suffering and staying financially comfortable can simply be moving some of your assets into another currency.
As I recommend this savings strategy, I also need to share that it's our firm belief that all fiat currencies are eventually headed to zero. Some, however, are headed there much more quickly than others.
So how do you pick which currencies to save in? We tend to look to resource economies, of course. But that's not enough. On a monthly basis we closely monitor central bank policy decisions out of a number of countries. Based on the strength of the economy overall and on their government's commitment to maintaining a strong currency, we choose our favorites.
In The Casey Report we're following two currencies we like best right now. Every month we keep readers posted on developments related to these currencies... and will also provide updates in the monthly issue should our recommended currencies change.
A brief note: Many people I speak with initially balk at putting their savings in foreign currencies. In 1913, before World War I, many Germans felt the same way. At that point, the German mark, the French franc, and the Italian lira were all worth about the same. Then the famed Weimar Republic hyperinflation happened. By the end of 1923 the exchange was one franc or lira per one trillion marks. The few Germans whose savings maintained value through that period were those who put at least some of their savings in currencies other than the mark.
Most people don't think we could ever see inflation in America anything like that of Weimar Germany. Yet this illustrates exactly why a savings vehicle like those offered through EverBank is so important to consider – especially when Bernanke and the Fed have shown such a willingness to prop up every market downturn with more inflationary monetary policies.
The Single Most Important Investment You Can Make Today
I've just given you five solid investments to help you weather The American Debt Crisis, both personally and financially. And frankly, if you do nothing else today for your financial future, making these five investments will be a smart way to protect yourself and profit in the crisis.
But there's an even more important investment you can make today... to help you weather The American Debt Crisis, plus come out on the other side as a more successful investor and economic thinker.
of many newsletters
The Casey newsletters are hands-down the most valuable of many newsletters I've subscribed to since becoming aware of the precarious state of the US economy and dollar about two years ago. The stock picks are invaluable... and provide an invaluable insight that cuts through the noise of so much other information that I sift through on a daily basis. Great job and much appreciated."
– Russell W.
And that's investing in The Casey Report.
The Casey Report is not like most other financial newsletters and publications you may encounter. Of course, as I've said, The Casey Report is unique in its big-picture perspective on the economic and political climate, and insight into how they drive the investment market.
But that's just the beginning.
The Casey Report stands out in the world of financial publications in many other ways.
For one, you may think of financial newsletters as just stock picking services – that is, each issue picks a stock or two and tells you why to buy. While we think the "stock picking" model can be valuable, the Casey Research organization was created to do far more than provide simple stock picks.
Our goal is to provide thorough research, analysis, commentary, education, and insights to help you achieve personal freedom through financial freedom. And that takes far more than giving you a ticker symbol and a buy price.
And while each issue does have a "How To Invest" section with actionable investment recommendations, it only comes after two or three thorough articles (often as long as – and more thoroughly researched than – entire issues of other investment newsletters) giving you in-depth insight into the economy, political climate, and investment markets... plus specific how-to instruction that will help you become a better investor with every issue you read.
For example, just one recent issue of The Casey Report contained:
- A bird's-eye view of the current crisis, with an eerie comparison to hyperinflationary Weimar Germany, from Managing Editor David Galland
- Doug Casey sharing fundamental lessons on making and keeping your money... the same no-hype lessons that helped him build his multimillion-dollar wealth independently
- Senior Economist Terry Coxon on why the recent so-called recovery has been the slowest economic comeback in living memory, despite the fact that the economy has been given the biggest dose of fiscal and monetary stimulus ever administered in the US
- Chief Economist Bud Conrad on the fundamentals of the world energy market... And the developing "Second Cold War" – this time with China – over energy (plus what it means for investors)
- And an interview between Casey Research's Washington correspondent, Don Grove, and leading voice for free-market economics, Dr. Walter Williams of George Mason University in Virginia, on the legalized theft Washington is committing against Americans
Plus "The Data Farm," a monthly feature covering today's critical economic and market data with analysis on what future economic trends the data suggest.
... All in a single issue.
(With all this valuable content, you can see why each issue runs 50 pages or more!)
And here's the thing. Because we're not beholden to any advertisers, media, politicians, nor any other outside influences...
You'll find that each issue of The Casey Report pulls no punches. While the mainstream financial media may cover some of the same topics in covering the debt crisis, they end up sugarcoating the latest government figures or legislation to appease their advertisers, the politicians they've bought and paid for, or simply just to stick to the party line... Or, quite often, they simply end up parroting what they've been told out of sheer ignorance.
Casey's editors find and tell the truth as they see it, without fear of reprisal.
Perhaps this dedication to truth is why they're also so accurate at forecasting future economic trends – because once they've found what's going on, it's one small step to see where it leads us...
Calling the Trends, Again and Again
There is no working team in any investment research organization with a stronger record for identifying life-changing investment trends at their outset than the editors of The Casey Report.
From urging subscribers to buy uranium stocks back in 1998 when uranium was trading for $9.50 a pound (and then urging subscribers to sell most of those stocks before the uranium stock crash of 2006)...
- To repeatedly urging readers to get in on the buying opportunity gold presented in 2000, at the giveaway price of $270...
- To recommending energy investments while oil was still trading at $35 a barrel...
- To warning readers that the world was on the edge of a financial crisis back in August of 2005 in an article titled Profit from the End of Western Civilization.
- And in the same article, alerting subscribers to the inevitability of rising oil prices and the collapse of the housing bubble. To quote:
"What's going on now in the residential real estate market is much like the tech bubble, but potentially much, much more serious than what went on in stocks a few years ago."(August 2005)
I don't believe that I have ever come into contact with an individual or an organization quite as thorough, knowledgeable, committed, down-to-earth and downright prescient re: any investment sector, as Doug Casey and his senior executives..."
– Thomas M.
The team at Casey Research uncovers these trends early, alerts readers to the best ways to profit, and then stays on top of the trend's development in an ever-changing investment landscape.
Day Traders
Need Not Apply
It's worth noting here: While we do look to generate outsized investment gains for our readers and provide specific investment advice to help you achieve these gains, we don't offer "trading" recommendations.
These trends take time to develop – and never go in a straight line... particularly in crisis markets subject to distortion at the hands of Washington and other major players.
Investing with major market trends – while it can help you become wealthy – is not "get rich quick." Our recommendations are often on a two- to five-year timeline, sometimes longer. If that's not for you, we won't be offended if you move on.
But if you do want to "get rich slowly," using the time-tested method of riding major market trends and growing your wealth through time... you're putting yourself on the right track when you invest in The Casey Report today.
That said, money moves fast in crisis conditions.
Take, for example, when the mortgage market was starting to fall apart in 2007. Though the mainstream was still hot on real estate, Doug Casey saw the underlying market instability. Predicting the collapse of the mortgage banks and insurers, he recommended shorting MBIA in September 2007 at $61.92. By July 1, 2008, MBIA share prices had collapsed to just $4.18.
With this simple recommendation, Casey readers collected 93.3% gains in 10 months.
Yes – investing in the trend is the slow and sure way to increase your wealth many times over during your lifetime. But a crisis – like our recent credit crisis and the growing debt crisis – presents "few and far between" opportunities for big gains, quickly. And this can make you far wealthier in the long run.
That's why in addition to recommending a core portfolio that stays on top of the big-picture trends, The Casey Report also features regular recommendations that are designed for shorter-term, higher-risk speculation with the potential for a more explosive upside.
Speculator's Corner:
How To Invest a Little to Make a Lot
Most investors are their own worst enemies. We want to chase big upside with all the money we can throw at it. After all, who wants to double a small fraction of your portfolio when you could double all of it? But unfortunately, experience shows the type of "sure thing, high upside" bets we think will double our money are often very risky – and can just as easily wipe us out as make us rich.
That's why another fundamental tenet of The Casey Report's approach is to put most of your money in lower-risk investments that still give you high upside by following the long-term trend, while setting aside a small fraction of your portfolio – somewhere around 10% – dedicated to achieving much bigger gains.
And for that small corner of your portfolio, we offer Speculator's Corner.
For example, in the July 14, 2011 issue of The Casey Report, the Speculator's Corner recommendation was to buy VIXY – an ETF that tracks movements in the VIX measure of market volatility – below $46. The upside target was from $55 to $60. Buy orders at $46 were filled July 21st. Then on August 4, as a perfect storm in the euro debt crisis shook world financial markets, VIXY rocketed through the entire target range, trading to almost $77 on August 8. Readers who sold within the range collected gains of 19.5% and 30.4%. Those who held on longer and exited at the August 8 close of $75.07 achieved a return of 63% in less than a month.
A couple other open trades from recent issues of Speculator's Corner include:
A two-part trade to profit as the European Central Bank continues debasing the Euro to bail out the rapidly-decaying member states... while also protecting yourself from the dollar's downside with a double-upside play on gold's continued climb... along with specific exit instructions to ensure you have $3 to gain for every $1 you risk. The gains on this trade were 19% within two months... with far more upside expected.
Which stock to short (or buy put options on) for home-run potential as The American Debt Crisis drives US cities into financial dire straits. When this recommendation was issued on May 12, 2011, this stock closed at $16.24, and has already fallen below $11. Shorts are now sitting on over 39% gains in less than three months... and options traders have seen the recommended puts go from $1.25 to $3.75 for a quick 200% gain and a "Casey Free Ride" on further upside in the coming months as the debt crisis intensifies.
Even with just 10% of your portfolio in this type of speculative play, you can imagine what type of enormous impact a few of these wins start to have on your wealth.
All of This, Every Month
While we pride ourselves on how The Casey Report helps investors increase their wealth through intelligent investments, we've also worked to make it far more than an investment newsletter. In each issue, you'll find...
A Monthly Roundtable of Independent Thinkers
For one, The Casey Report cuts through the noise, clutter, and oftentimes downright ineptitude you get from the mainstream media. We bring you the research, insights, and opinions of a monthly roundtable of independent and liberty-minded thinkers covering economics, politics, and more. These issues impact your life (and will do so even more as the crisis deepens). Having the right information is the first step in protecting yourself.A Guide to International Diversification
Also, The Casey Report features unique advice on diversifying yourself and your wealth internationally. Doug Casey, contrarian investor and author of The International Man, regularly shares "how and why" info on global living and investing. Senior Economist Terry Coxon is a leading authority on offshore trusts and self-directed IRAs that let you invest in overseas companies and markets. Many of us at Casey Research have homes, financial assets, and even citizenships in at least two countries. And we'll share with you how you can take advantage of these strategies to reduce your sovereign risk.
Just to recap, each month's issue of The Casey Report features...
- An introduction to the issue, providing a monthly bird's-eye view into what's important in the economy and on the political scene... pointing out important developments you'll want to watch for in the near future... and informing and framing the rest of the issue.
- Two or three additional feature articles covering the economy, money, specific markets and investments, war, personal and financial protection, and whatever else we feel is important to your ongoing independence, wealth, and happiness. Doug Casey regularly writes one of these feature articles, with additional articles coming from David Galland, Bud Conrad, Terry Coxon, and frequent guests.
- How to Invest – our monthly update on recommended investments, including new investments, important developments in the core portfolio, closing positions, and the Speculator's Corner for high-risk, high-reward speculations.
- The Data Farm – our monthly recap of data worth paying attention to, with our thoughts on how these impact major market trends going forward.
- Obama Watch – Don Grove, our Washington insider, with interviews and commentaries straight from the belly of the beast.
- Special Features – Recent special features have included: The Casey Research team covering the investment opportunity in natural gas... Constitutional law expert Dr. Edwin Vieira on our corrupt monetary system and the US descent into fascism... Free-market expert Richard Maybury on the fall of the US empire state... Even an interview with presidential candidate Ron Paul on the dangers of the Obama administration.
- And finally, the End Note, a monthly perspective from Doug Casey you'll see nowhere else.
In addition to all of this delivered to your email inbox every month, you'll get immediate access to every archived issue of The Casey Report as well as an up-to-date portfolio page with all recommendations, so you can see all past commentaries on the economy, events, and most importantly current portfolio recommendations.
So How Much Does It All Cost?
The fee for an annual subscription to The Casey Report is $349 retail... though as part of The American Debt Crisis event, I'm offering an annual subscription for just $279. This is the best deal we offer on The Casey Report, and you're guaranteed to receive this same low price for as long as you remain a subscriber.
Take it as my "thank you" for joining us for The American Debt Crisis event... 20% off for a $70 instant savings.
But there is a way to get started for even less...
Pay Just $75 Today and
Try It for the Next Three Months,
In addition to the "best deal" $279 annual subscription, we also have an easy quarterly subscription. Pay just $75 now to get started and for the next three months you get all the benefits of the annual subscription at a 14% savings off retail. Plus you lock in the same low rate for as long as you subscribe.
And it's all risk-free. Whether you opt for the annual or quarterly subscription, you get to test drive The Casey Report for the next three months, at our risk:
The Casey Report
Three-Month "Test-Drive" Subscription
As CEO and Partner in Casey Research, it's my reputation on the line if we don't deliver on every promise we make. I fully stand behind the value of The Casey Report.
So I want you try it out for the next three months, with the risk completely on me. Browse the archives. Get the latest issues. Weigh the value of our research and how it can impact you going forward. Follow our recommendations and see how they perform.
Then, any time in the next 90 days, make your decision. If you don't feel it's worth the fee many times over, let our customer service department know. They'll provide a prompt and courteous refund of every penny you paid, whether you ask for it tomorrow or in 90 days.Try The Casey Report Today
In Today's Crisis, It's Worth a Look...
We've been warning of the inevitable debt crisis in America for years. In recent months we've warned it was not only inevitable, but imminent. And now the crisis is upon us... But it's only getting started.
The American Debt Crisis is here, it's bad, and it's about to get a whole lot worse.
It's risk-free to try The Casey Report for the next 90 days to decide for yourself that it will be a valuable tool in helping you personally and financially cushion yourself from the crisis.
And of course you'll get...
- Ongoing coverage of The American Debt Crisis
- Specific recommendations for protecting your savings and investments
- Speculative profit opportunities you'll only find in crisis
- Regular research and insights into the economy, markets, and political situation
- Additional special features for independent and liberty-minded thinkers
And you can try it all risk-free for the next 90 days, whether you choose the quarterly or annual option.
You Can Get Access in Minutes...
It's easy to order. Simply fill out the order form. Click the "Get Started Now" button. And you'll get an email directing you to the most recent issue of The Casey Report, plus the archives and current portfolio information.
You will also receive a special report I've put together called Investing in The American Debt Crisis that details all the recommendations covered above.
And here's what you'll want to do immediately:
- Read the special report on the recommendations from this Investor Briefing.
- Browse through the archives and especially our most recent issue to learn more about these investments.
- Decide for yourself how these investments can fit into your strategy for navigating The American Debt Crisis... And take action now.
Put all appropriate recommendations to work immediately. In this crisis, every new day can bring new developments that move the markets tremendously.Try The Casey Report Today
Before I Sign Off...
The American Debt Crisis is just getting warmed up. By the time it's over, millions of savers and investors will find themselves far worse off than they are today.
Because you've read this far, you know how important it is to protect yourself... and how profitable it can be to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
This is how you'll come out ahead on the other side of the crisis.
The information in each month's issue of The Casey Report is first and foremost designed to help you protect yourself and profit from our debt crisis.
So take this opportunity now: Try The Casey Report risk-free for the next 90 days. Then decide for yourself how valuable this information will be for you and your money going forward.
Thank you,
Olivier Garret
CEO, Casey Research
What our readers say about The Casey Report
The crux of our business is giving you, our reader, the research, analysis, and investment recommendations you need to find personal freedom through financial freedom. Fulfilling on this promise is what keeps us in business – and, in fact, put us on Inc. Magazine's list of America's fastest-growing private businesses.
It's also why we've received hundreds of unsolicited notes from readers about how we've helped them, including those in this Investor Briefing.
Life-altering: The money and his changed worldview
I would like to thank the whole Casey Research Team for the great product that they produce. I first heard Doug Casey speak a few years back at a financial planning seminar in Tampa. I have to say it was a life-altering event, not only from the fact of the money I have made on Doug's recommendations, but from the way I view the world today. Thanks for all you do for your clients."
– Mike H.
An anchor of hope in today's rapidly-decaying world
Thanks to all at Casey Research. Your research and reporting give me an anchor of hope and sanity in today's social, cultural, financial, political and legal environments, which are all decaying rapidly, compared to what we used to have and take for granted in this country. You have guts and courage and principles, and you articulate your arguments intelligently and logically, and thus with authority. I salute your work and journalism and I encourage you to continue to 'swim against the stream' of this steadily degenerating 'LiLo' culture."
– Bruce S.
The confidence to grow old without worry
I wanted to take a moment to drop you a note letting you know that Casey Research has changed our fiscal future and my view on the geo-political scene in a very positive and productive way. Your team has given me the confidence to grow old in this world without the need to worry about people, policies and places negatively affecting myself or my family because I'm far better prepared. You and your team have given me the education and advise that I've been searching for and I and my family thank you."
– Jason C.


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Speaking Tips
By AndyBaker on May 12, 2014
As a consultant I am frequently standing up and performing presentations to groups, meetings, customers or workshops both internally and externally.
However this weekend I had to do something different, I had to perform a 40th birthday speech
for my wife and so thought I would record some tips and advice for those in a similar position.
Please note that this is not 100% the complete guide but just some useful points I have found over the years of doing similar and I hope helpful.
Speech construction
1. The speech needs to be short. Whenever speaking make sure the length of speech is appropriate. For a party speech it should never exceed 2-3 minutes.
2. The speech should always be broken into sections starting with an introduction (thanks, purpose, set the scene).
3. The speech should then move to main content (if easier think of 2-3 short stories or points and build around this).
4. Finally a catchy conclusion to sum up. (use lines from a song or you might use a joke or big point to finish).
Speech Performance
1. When performing the speech although it is useful to have initially write out the whole thing in full, you probably will never actually read it word for word / line for line. The reason for this if reading it then you lose the effect of your voice and adopt a reading voice, you also will not be able to have eye contact and engage with your audience.
So after reading it through a few times just to practice, write out only the main point lines and have this as your cues to talk around. You will find the summary lines keep you moving along and allow you to remember more of the initial detail than you think from what you practiced earlier. Another point is if you get a little stuck or finish a point you can easily just pick up the next one and follow the cue.
2. Remember that any cue cards you use need to suit the environment you are performing in. For example if in a darker low light room then you need a larger font to be able to see!
3. Remember you may have a microphone in one hand so need to be able to hold any materials like cue cards in the other. Think about implementation! How can you turn pages with one hand?
4. Always speak to the people at the rear of the room to be loud and heard. This also helps with focus and eye contact issues. Everyone will think you are looking at them and your voice will be the appropriate volume as you are focused to the people furthest away.
5. Always try to speak clearly and take your time. Nerves will always make us rush, so remember to breathe and slow yourself down to come across relaxed and control any mistakes. If a mistake occurs just enjoy the moment and either pick up or move along. We are all human and mistakes happen, it is how you deal with them that makes us all different.
6. Always remember we all get nerves and these are actually a good thing not a bad thing. We need the nerves to help us have adrenalin to actually perform, just remember to breathe and control the nerves so that they don't take over.
7. With practice be aware of any bad habits such as rocking on the spot, waving hands or the classic "ummm's". It can help to have someone else listen to you practice and look up the tricks on any obvious issues to stop these occurring.
If you ever do a formal presentation course as I have had to do previously you will find that they will make you present to one or more video cameras and then review with the instructor. Nothing works better than by actually watching and listening to yourself as it means you see all those irritating habits and can then work on them.
There are so many solutions to each issue or habit, for example people that rock or walk about or wave hands too much find it easier to hold onto something to prevent those issues.
8. Finally and most importantly enjoy the attention and time, smile and relax, pretend it is a conversation with a friend and people will engage with you.
If you have to do something similar and are struggling, please let me know and I would be happy to assist you. Although even now nerves occur for me in these situations due to the number of presentations and stand up roles I have had to perform it is like everything and practice brings confidence as well as ability.

subset: commoncrawl


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Christopher Lowell Computer Desk With Hutch for $79.99
coupon code "7a9fh6sayr8oob"
The Shore Mini Solutions Collection combines the best of both worlds — bold modern colors plus detailed styling with a hand-carved look! Its soothing finish and attractive hardware will welcome you every day with a dash of pizzazz. Furniture is made of durable engineered wood to last for years. Each piece is sold separately. Easy assembly instructions are included. Backed by the manufacturer's 5-year limited warranty.
CPU area conceals your computer. The CPU area can hold a vertical computer tower and is concealed behind a door for privacy.
Slide-out keyboard shelf saves space. The slide-out keyboard shelf is wide enough to also hold your mousepad, and it features metal runners and safety stops to help prevent hazards.
Hutch features cubbyhole storage for books, mementos and more. Offers handy storage as well as a back-panel board with cord access — and even beaded detailing for a professional look.
This deal expired on 2/4/2013. The desk is now 139.99


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Public Transit
BART Rapid Rail
BART operates rapid rail service to northern San Mateo County, San Francisco and the East Bay directly from SFO. The SFO BART Station is located on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal (Boarding Area G side). BART is easily accessed from any terminal by riding SFO's AirTrain to the Garage G/BART Station stop. There is no charge to board AirTrain. BART provides a connection to Caltrain at the Millbrae station. Tickets can be purchased at the SFO BART Station upon arrival.
Purchase BART vouchers in advance. Vouchers can only be redeemed at the SFO Information Booth located in the International Terminal G-side, near the AirTrain escalator, during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.
Caltrain Commuter Rail
Caltrain provides rail service between San Francisco and San Jose, with weekday commute-hour service to Gilroy. BART connects SFO to the Caltrain rail system at the Millbrae Station. Weekday express trains serve select stations during commute hours.
SamTrans Public Bus Service
SamTrans provides 24-hour bus service connecting SFO to San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco. Routes KX, 292, 397 and 398 stop directly at the Airport terminals. Routes 140, 292 and 397 stop at the Rental Car Center and the United Airlines Maintenance Center. Routes 292 and 397 stop on North McDonnell Road at the Airport Business Center and West Field Road.
At the terminals, SamTrans buses stop at:
Terminal 2: Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level, center island adjacent to Courtyard 2
Terminal 3: Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level, curbside adjacent to Courtyard 4
International Terminal: Level 1 at Courtyard A and curbside adjacent to Courtyard G


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Anybody can suggest tutorial or URLs where I can find information about how to create custom members area in WP ? I mean when member is logged in I would like to show him something that is different from standard WP members area interface (design).
When you will create a brand new area, than it is one solution to use the theme on frontend for the members and make an redirect for the members, maybe differnet in the roles, and leve all members on the frontend. But you can also create new backend-pages and redirect the members to this page. It give also many different plugins for this requirement and tutorials (two examples: 1, 2) for start an solution.
Cristian from Cosmolabs have post a great tutorial on how you can build a custom registration/login and profile page for use in the frontend of your theme, it also have some files to download.
hope it helps,
You may want to try using the WordPress Members plugin to do what you want. Depending on your requirements this can be tricky to implement if you are not too familiar with extending WordPress.
The plugin should provide the functionality you want however ie. a font-end page to manage their profile from.
Don't really get your queston! If you're going to put member area on front-end! You can do it as a widget, or as a page and use custom template for that page! Or you can edit theme yourself, and put that member section there! But better way is you define a sidebar at that position, and make a widget then assign it to that sidebar!
If you want to custom on admin panel! Looking at these links: http://www.noupe.com/wordpress/20-incredibly-useful-themes-and-plugins-to-boost-your-admin-area.html It has lots of resource for you!
Also, look at this links to understand about admin theme and how to custmize it http://codex.wordpress.org/Creating_Admin_Themes
Or look at this http://www.catswhocode.com/blog/10-wordpress-dashboard-hacks
It should be enough for your to dig into now ;)
The problem really is in the user sessions (in my humble knowledge about the subject). Because Wordpress already has user sessions for its own admin users, it's difficult to create a new login-session membership functionality and make it decent. If you wanted to compromise, you could make a login area for a page, and just let it "log the user out" whenever they refresh or move to a new page.


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Swatches ahoy!
Natural light outside:
Thank you for this! I think I need to get Nude, Rose, and Sand Pink. Pale Pink and Peekaboo Natural look like they'll be far too brown for my lips.ReplyDelete
You're welcome! Pale Pink isn't really that brown on me - it's more of a soft pinky nude. I'll try to do lip swatches at some point!Delete
That'd be great. I got the Boots No7 Nude pencil the other week and it looks very similar to the Pale Pink in your swatch, but it pulled really brown on my lips. Might try it anyway, see if it has less brown undertone. You're the best!Delete
I hardly wear lip pencils any more -- and I have a lot. But I agree with you on the colors, that pumpkin looks amazing.
Pumpkin is definitely beautiful! It's a highly unique color in my experience, and goes great with oranges, orange-reds, and orange-corals in my opinion. :)Delete
All comments are welcome, but if you are here to spam your link, your comment will be deleted. Please be respectful. Thanks!


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U.S. Sets Stage for Exodus from Afghanistan
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan—Camp John Pratt is preparing for an invasion. The 880-acre sprawl in this northern city will soon become a parking lot for a decade's worth of American military equipment on the way home.
Bulldozers, dump trucks and road graders are shuttling around the camp, rushing to complete a $27 million construction job in advance of the U.S. withdrawal. Prefabricated hangars and rows of general-purpose tents have been erected to accommodate an influx of military hardware and the personnel who will move it. Hundreds of vehicles in identical desert tan are already here, parked in rows and ready to be sent to their next destination.
"We've collapsed both in from the east and west as we transition over a lot of the security responsibilities to the Afghans," said Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John Bullard, the deputy commander for coalition forces in the north of Afghanistan.
The coalition's military mission ends in December next year, the deadline by which most of the 66,000 U.S. troops in the country are slated to go home. President Barack Obama is expected to outline the speed of this drawdown, and the size of a residual U.S. force that may stay in Afghanistan after 2014, as soon as Tuesday's State of the Union address.
The clock is already ticking. A mountain of equipment has accumulated in this landlocked country since the invasion that ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001. To move that mountain, the military has three options: It can fly equipment out, move it south to Pakistani ports, or send it north through Central Asia.
On a map, Gen. Bullard pointed to a primary geographical challenge: the Hindu Kush mountain range that bisects the country, roughly separating north from south.
"You've really got one way through it—that's the Salang Tunnel," he said, referring to the treacherous, high-altitude truck route that passes through a long, decrepit tunnel that has seen little maintenance since Soviet engineers built it in the early 1960s. The tunnel often shuts down because of bad weather.
That is where Camp John Pratt comes in. The U.S. military broke ground on the project last year to create a staging area for the withdrawal of U.S. troops on the northern side of the Hindu Kush. If a piece of kit belongs to the U.S. military, and it is anywhere north of Salang, it will likely end up at Camp John Pratt before it is packed up and shipped home. Otherwise, it will be sent to the scrap heap.
Named after a U.S. Army aviator, Camp John Pratt is adjacent to a commercial airport and railway line. The most sensitive equipment—certain weapons or communications gear—must be flown out. An hour's drive away is the Hairaton border crossing to Uzbekistan, which provides a link to a network of rail and truck routes that reach across Central Asia and Russia to Baltic and Black Sea ports.
U.S. officials negotiated use of the routes, known as the Northern Distribution Network, as an alternative inbound supply line for Afghanistan amid worsening relations with Pakistan and attacks on coalition supply convoys.
Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, the outgoing U.S. commander, said the overland exit routes remain largely untested.
"The Northern Distribution Network has been used coming in, but in large measure hasn't been used going out," he told The Wall Street Journal. "Pakistani ground lines of communication have not been flowing out, but flowing in."
Gen. Allen said the military was using test shipments to ensure that the routes, permits and agreements are all in place.
"What we want is for all three lines to be flowing by the spring and to achieve full velocity on all three [air and land lines of communication] in order for us have removed the preponderance of equipment out of theater for all 50 nations by the end of '14," said Gen. Allen, who is expected to become the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's chief military commander.
The government of Uzbekistan in particular is likely to "drive a fairly hard bargain" in negotiations with the U.S. over moving military cargo over its territory, said Frederick Starr, chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Countries along the northern exit route may also have an opportunity to bargain with Washington about acquiring some used, nonlethal military hardware to Central Asian nations "remains an option, but it is premature to speculate on what, if anything, might be provided," a State Department spokeswoman said. The transfer of equipment would have to be approved by the State Department.
Securing permits for the passage of U.S. military cargo opens the potential for friction with the Afghan government, which is increasingly assertive of its sovereignty—and short of funds.
Under an agreement between Kabul and Washington, the U.S. military can bring equipment in and out of Afghanistan without being subject to taxes or customs duties. But Afghanistan's Customs and Revenue Department still has to review each shipment of U.S. military cargo for export, said U.S. Army Col. Tom Collins, a coalition spokesman.
The Afghan government had issued directives to customs officers to help speed the process, said Mohammad Zaher Ansari, deputy director of the Afghan customs office in Hairaton, the crossing into Uzbekistan.
But Mr. Ansari said the U.S.-led coalition sometimes lacked documentation for items brought previously into the country. "It's fine that you are going to move your equipment out of the country," he said. "But you have to take it through our regulations—our customs law. You should present us with the customs documents you received when you imported them to Afghanistan."
Of course, when U.S. troops first arrived here in 2001 to oust the Taliban, customs regulations were the last of their concerns.
—Maria Abi-Habib contributed to this article.
Write to Nathan Hodge at email@example.com


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Sabbatical Leave
"A sabbatical leave is a professional leave of absence with compensation for tenured faculty members for a year or fraction thereof as determined by the appropriate dean, director, or vice president, and the Provost, for the purpose of renewing, updating, and broadening the individual's teaching, research, or professional skills and knowledge." (USU Policy 365)
Application for Sabbatical Leave (if you use FireFox and are having difficulties filling in the form please use Internet Explorer or Google Chrome)
Submit completed applications to the Provost's Office by February 14 for sabbaticals planned for the following full fiscal or academic year. Applications for sabbatical leaves of shorter durations or with other begin dates must be submitted to the Provost's Office at least six months prior to the beginning of the proposed leave.
For more information, please contact:
Janis L. Boettinger
Vice Provost
Utah State University
1435 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-1435
Phone: (435) 797-8176
Email: email@example.com


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Attwood Custom Mercury Motor Hood
New from Attwood comes the Custom-fit covers for Mercury engines. The official Mercury logo is displayed in brilliant white against a sleek black background. These covers protect and fit far better thana regular universal hood... plus they show your Mercury pride on the road.
Constructed of 2-Ply Laminated Polyester
- The outer shell is tough, abrasion-resistant polyester.
- Acrylic coating keeps the cover waterproof and UV-resistant.
- The inside lining is a soft, non woven polyester backing that provides a cushioned barrier around the engine cowling.
- A 1-inch polyweb strap in the bottom hem cinches the cover tight. Includes quick-release buckle for fast tightening and removal.
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New traffic signals are being activated on North 3rd Street. As part of the North 3rd Street Improvement Project, the old wire-hung traffic signals have been replaced at the Market and Princess Street intersections. The new signals are hung on black mast arm poles, as all of the above-ground wires and wooden poles are being removed.
The old streetname signs are also being replaced with new blue signs. Activation of the new traffic signals and removal of the old poles will continue all the way to Campbell Street in the coming days.
Click here for more information about the entire project.


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Apparently Facebook Share doesn't pick up the title / description meta tags that are changed (via JavaScript) after the page load. It basically use the meta tags that are available upon load.
This is a simple example.
- The link will change the title / description meta tags upon click. You can confirm that using Firebug.
- Click the f|Share button: Facebook still always shows "A title that is available upon page load." and "A description that is available upon page load."
Anybody knows how to fix this?


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Last time I roasted green chilies, which consisted of charring the skin, I had a tough time peeling them. Is there an easy way to peel roasted green chilies, or some secret I'm missing?
The standard advice is a paper bag, but I don't think it is optimal. I always put them in the smallest bowl that will hold them, and put a plate over the top of that. The idea is for the peppers to sit in their own steam for a few minutes while they cool down. The steam seems to loosen the skins.
Whatever you do, don't take the skins off under running water, which is a tip that you will see sometimes. It makes it easier, but washes away a ton of the flavor!
Consider wearing food-grade latex gloves while doing this procedure if the chiles are at all spicy. It will save you from burning hands later.
I pop them into a paper bag and close the top for a few minutes right out of the oven. Shake them a bit. It seems to help loosen the skin which will then peel off in large sheets. If it still sticks a lot, try roasting them longer next time.
You may still miss a few (mostly small) pieces, but that isn't a big deal.
Don't recall where I learned that.
I use a tupperware with a lid that seals. Have had bad luck with paper bags. I give them a solid 5-10 minutes, and then use a sharp paring knife if the skin is still sticking or just to make lifting the (now very slippery) pieces of skin easier.
I was warned a long time ago that I might have a problem using a sealed tupperware as opposed to a paper bag, as the hot steam can't escape - two different people told me that my tupperware might explode, or that it might contract so much that it pulls itself out of shape. Neither has happened yet, thankfully, and I've been roasting peppers regularly for years now.
If you fully, fully char them, it should make it much easier, so if there's any possibility you're not blackening them enough, give them another few minutes on the fire.
Agree with Michael about not doing it under water, it definitely makes it easier, but you lose so much flavor!
Are you charring them over an open flame, and at high heat? If not, doing that should help. Also make sure that they are roasted enough. You could always but a chilie roaster. If you've never seen these in action, they can do entire sacks of chilie at a time over a propane burner, inside a rotating drum that take a lot of the skin off. I really miss the smeel of roasting chilie in the fall.
I use the heavy plastic freezer bags (similar to @stephennmcdonald Tupperware method) making sure to seal the chilies in their own steam for a couple minutes. Wipe the charred skin off with a clean dish towel or paper towel.


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Meet and Communicate with Fun Singles Near You on BBW Personals Plus
Register now to search thousands of members and post your FREE profile!
cocofan001 is a 55yr-old single woman in Colesville, MarylandView Profile
looking for someone who enjoys taking walks, discussing politics & current events, traveling and learning about other cultures.
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You are in our domestic store. If you live outside the United States, please view our store policies on this page, then visit our international store to place your order.
Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America by James A. Duke, 2008. After a brief introduction, each entry contains scientific and colloquial names, synonyms, reference to illustrations, notes, biological activities, medicinal indications, dosages, potential hazards, extracts, and references. This format supplies a starting point for determining which species can be used for specific targets. Covers nearly 500 of the most promising Latin American medicinals. Includes over 100 illustrations, a color insert, and references. Hardcover, 832 pp. B553
American Botanical Council, 6200 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723 Phone: 512-926-4900 | Fax: 512-926-2345 | Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The information on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. The American Botanical Council does not endorse or test products, nor does it verify the content or claims made, either implicit or explicit. ABC does not accept responsibility for the consequences of the use of this information or its most up-to-date accuracy. ABC is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt research and education organization under IRS section 501(c)(3). All text, images and content Copyright © 2016 American Botanical Council, unless otherwise noted.


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A snow blown sidewalk is covered in snow once again as the snow continues falling, on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, in Spokane, Wash., after a record breaking 17 inches fell over a 24 hour period. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
With December underway and winter officially beginning December 21, KHP is sending some reminders about traveling in the winter weather. Every year, whether it is the first winter storm of the season, or the last storm, the Patrol and our law enforcement partners from across the state work numerous traffic crashes related to the weather.
Some of the most important things to remember when traveling in adverse conditions are to slow down, turn off your cruise control, turn your headlights on, and dress appropriately for the conditions.
It is Kansas law that you must turn on your headlights if your windshield wipers are on continuously. By turning off your cruise control, you will have complete control of your vehicle's acceleration during adverse conditions on the roads.
As motorists venture out during one of the first winter storms of the season, the following tips are offered:
Prepare your vehicle for winter travel by replacing wiper blades; ensuring tires have good tread and air pressure; and by checking the vehicle's fluids, exhaust system, and other mechanical equipment.
You also may want to consider adding a shovel to your trunk, weight such as sand bags in the bed of a pickup (to help with traction and control), and carrying a sand/salt mixture in your trunk to help melt the snow and gain traction.
The vehicle should also be stocked with items that would be beneficial if you were involved in a crash, or your vehicle became stuck. Beneficial items would be: bottled water, blankets, non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, and a flashlight with extra batteries.
You should try to keep your gas tank full, as this adds additional weight for traction in adverse conditions, and lessens the possibility of running out of fuel if you became stuck for a long period of time.
Clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, and lights, and use your headlights to provide optimum visibility. Make sure the entire window is clear. Having only a small portion cleared could contribute to a crash if you don't see another vehicle. You could also be ticketed.
Accelerate and brake gently, and increase following distance between you and other vehicles. You should increase your following distance by at least one, if not two, additional seconds when driving in adverse conditions (Standard following distance for good weather is three seconds.). Be particularly cautious on bridges, and in curves, as they are often the slicker parts of the road.
If your vehicle loses traction and begins to slide, steer in the direction you want to go.
Allow for more time when traveling to and from work, home, school, or other activities. Check the weather before you go to bed, and set your alarm clock early if a winter storm is expected.
Always wear your seat belt, and properly secure children in the proper child safety seats.
Have a plan for your children should they get sent home from school early.
If you are involved in a traffic crash, or need assistance, call 911, or contact the Patrol at *47 from your cell phone. Call *KTA if you are on the Kansas Turnpike.
To find out road conditions, call 511 from a landline or cellular phone, or view conditions at: www.kandrive.org.


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Hoop Zone Hall of Fame
We've been playing hoops in Greater Waterbury and Litchfield County since shortly after Dr. Naismith invented the game in nearby Springfield, Mass. While basketball has become known as "the city game," it's embraced just as warmly in our small towns as it is on the playgrounds of Waterbury. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be honoring the best players of all time, boys and girls, at each of our area high schools as we begin the Hoop Zone Hall of Fame. The choices were made by the RepublicanAmerican sports staff after extensive conversations with coaches, athletic directors, players and fans.


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Bring the beach home with nautical decor.
Your coupon will be applied to the highest regular-price, eligible item in your cart.
Offer good for one item at regular price only. Limit one coupon per customer per day. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer is not valid with any other coupon, discount or previous purchase. One cut or one bolt of fabric or trim "by the yard" equals one item. Online fabric & trim discount is limited to 10 yards, single cut. Excludes Heidi Swapp™ Minc.™ Foil Applicator, CRICUT® products, Tim Holtz® Vagabond™ Machine, Silhouette CAMEO® Machine, candy & snack products, gum & mints, helium tanks, gift cards, custom orders, special orders, labor, rentals or class fees. Cash Value 1/10¢.
Bring the beach home with nautical decor.
Craft fun in the sun with shell-worthy DIYs.
Summertime designs with a side of sunshine.
Look here for exciting designs.
Pretty blooms & leafy greens for big days.
Poolside goodies for a head-turning spread.
Art starts with creativity & inspiring supplies.
Crafty days call for crochet projects.
Keep kiddos movin' with toys, games and more.
Jewelry making is bolder in colorful shades.
Totes, hats and scarves for vacation time.
Mark up your art with color! PB-70 Sand Prismacolor Art Maker is perfect for every level of artistic expertise. It offers an advanced ink formulation that provides rich color saturation with smooth, silky ink flow and coverage.
It also offers impress color laydown, and you can achieve different line widths with the brush and fine point tips. With a single ink reservoir, you will have color matching no matter which end you use. Colorize your world!
Non-toxic, conforms to ASTM D-4236.
102 Warm Grey 40%Select
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200 Mocha DarkSelect
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88 Dark BrownSelect
95 Light TanSelect
96 BlondwoodSelect
98 BlackSelect
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My mums laptop is not very well managed and I would like to clean it up and perform a fresh install on it and teach her the ropes from scratch as she is having a lot of performance problems with it at the moment.
Is there anyway i can reinstall it?
It is a Macbook Pro


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Creative Arts Therapists
Creative arts therapists treat and rehabilitate people with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities. They use the creative processes of music, art, dance/movement, drama, psychodrama, and poetry in their therapy sessions to determine the underlying causes of problems and to help patients achieve therapeutic goals. Creative arts therapists usually specialize in one particular type of therapeutic activity. The specific objectives of the therapeutic activities vary according to the needs of the patient and the setting of the therapy program.
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In this collaboration, the two firms say they will work together to extend the technology to include carbon dioxide (CO2) containing gases from several sources, including refinery off gases and natural gas wells, to produce acetic acid. Investment terms were not disclosed.
Malaysian oil company Petronas has agreed to work with technology company LanzaTech to
accelerate the development and commercialization of
technologies to produce sustainable chemicals from carbon
dioxide (CO2) and natural gas, the firms said on Monday.
The companies said the agreement blends Petronas' deep
experience and assets in the petroleum industry with
LanzaTech's gas fermentation technology to create an economical
and sustainable source of high-value chemicals.
LanzaTech's fermentation process converts carbon monoxide (CO) in industrial
waste gases, reformed natural gas and gas derived from any
biomass source, into low-carbon fuels and chemicals.
In this collaboration, the firms say they will work together
to extend the technology to include carbon dioxide
(CO2) containing gases from several sources, including refinery off gases and natural gas
wells, to produce acetic acid.
Petronas and LanzaTech have the ability to
significantly impact the future of carbon capture by
fundamentally changing the way we deal with waste CO2," said
LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren.
Rather than trying to sequester carbon deep into the earth, we will
bury it in a chemical. In this way, companies can
not only comply with emissions reduction requirements,
but also generate revenue along the way.
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A searchable database of project activity in the global hydrocarbon processing industry
Engineers and designers are highly skilled individuals. Forcing them to enter design changes using tables, forms and spreadsheets is unproductive and uneconomical, and it increases the likelihood of human error—this is the way that most instrumentation software systems currently work. For too long, software vendors have denied engineers and designers the simple practicality of a graphical visual engineering interface with "drag and drop" capability and inbuilt intelligence, ensuring changes are automatically replicated into all the associated data and databases.
Is 2016 the peak for US gasoline demand?
Too soon to tell
July 2016


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can any one help me? the big problem of linux is that you have to type to install most of the apps! i'm searching for an application which can automatically install tarballs just by clicks(No linuxigeekly typing!) is there any thing like that???
I'm assuming you're using Ubuntu. If so, did you try Software Centre? does pretty much what you need. You select the software you want to install from a pretty graphical screen and it takes care of downloading and installing for you.
You mention that you'd like to install apps that are not available in Software Center. It'd be useful if you could provide examples. Most common-use applications are packaged and available in USC. Part of the reason is that apps distributed as source are considered of "intermediate" difficulty to install, you will need to use the command line for those, and even distros that compile everything, such as Gentoo, require someone to come up with a set of rules for how to compile each application.
That said, if you have specific applications that you'd like to see available in Software Center, and it's something that is likely to be of general use, you can request an Ubuntu package by following this procedure.
Yes, but not that I know of for Ubuntu. emerge (gentoo) and pacman (arch) are the two tools I am familiar with.
I think a better question is why are you installing from source code ?
Here is a great discussion about installing packages outside of your package manager
Yes it is a Fedora link, but the advice is spot on.
Other considerations are ;
LFS has some tools - http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/alfs/
Standard tools exist for configuring and building applications from source, e.g. autoconf and CMake. These tools are configurable and may not fit in your environment directly.
Take a car for example. You don't just go to a random seller and buy a random car from him. Instead, you try to find out what your preferences are and whether it suits you and your environment. (if you're very lengthy, you won't pick a small car).
Just install your software from the Ubuntu Software Center or Muon (for Kubuntu) if possible. Otherwise, have a look at the installation instructions on the website of the application, the README or INSTALL files. If you really want to use a certain program, you shouldn't be afraid of using the terminal if that's necessary. It does not bite you.


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STEUBENVILLE - Surgeons at Trinity Health System are days away from performing robotic-assisted surgeries they say will be less intrusive for patients and lead to shorter recovery times.
The hospital spent more than $2 million to acquire the da Vinci Surgical System, a state-of-the-art robotic platform that allows surgeons to perform complex surgeries through a minimally invasive approach.
The robotic platform consists of a computerized screen that allows surgeons to view surgical sites as a highly magnified 3-D image and a control panel through which they can operate miniature robotic "wrists" to perform surgical procedures.
Article Photos
FUTURE ARRIVES — Dr. Patrick Macedonia practiced robotic-assisted surgical techniques Tuesday in an operating room at Trinity Medical Center West. The hospital spent upward of $2 million on the da Vinci Surgical System, state-of-the-art technology that allows surgeons to view a magnified, 3-D image of the surgical site and use robotic "wrists" to perform the surgery. -- Contributed
"It's a new way to perform surgery with less pain for patients, and quicker recoveries," Dr. Sam Licata said Tuesday. "It's less intrusive for patients."
Trinity spokesman Keith Murdock said Licata and Dr. Patrick Macedonia championed the technology, helping to convince Trinity administrators that it was a smart investment.
"The kinds of procedures we'll perform with the robot are the kind we do every day," Murdock said. "The everyday surgeries we do here now we'll be able to do with the robot. It's really a step forward in caring for our patients."
Initially the focus will be on gynecological and general surgeries, but eventually they'll be doing colorectoral, thoracic, urological, and head and neck surgeries with it as well.
Trinity CEO Fred Brower said they have a dedicated robotics coordinator, and a highly trained support team has been assigned to the program, chosen by the surgeons "because of their enthusiasm, willingness to learn and commitment to making this a great patient experience."
Each surgeon on the robotics team is tenured, and the support staff trained individually as well as with the surgeon and the da Vinci simulator.
Macedonia, a gynecologist, said surgeons must log "hours and hours" in training with the robot and complete a full-day lab, "and then the company has to certify you before you're allowed to perform your first procedure." Experienced robotic surgeons will be in the room when the first surgeries are performed at Trinity, and going forward da Vinci will provide support to Trinity's staff to ensure staff remains current with the technology.
"You have to have commitments from the surgeons that they'll go through the training and that they'll utilize it once it's ready," said Licata, a general surgeon. "We've been training (to use it) for three months.
Macedonia said the robotic system is "less invasive and more accurate than laparoscopic surgery," giving surgeons improved precision, dexterity and control.
"We're still controlling all the instruments," he said. "(But) the computer in the robot takes away any type of tremor or unsteadiness, makes it more precise and visibility is much higher, using the 3-D camera."
And, from a patient's perspective, recovery times will be shorter because of the minimally invasive technique. "There's definitely improved outcomes," he said.
Murdock said the robotic technology allows Trinity to better serve patients throughout its six-county service base, "and to do it in a way that means less recovery time and less scarring."
"We started looking into it five or six months ago," said JoAnne Mulrooney, vice president of clinical services. "The two surgeons, they're the ones who were very interested in using purchasing it. You have to have the commitment of the surgeons or it doesn't do any good."
The first robotic-assisted surgeries are slated for March 12.


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Due to predicted poor weather conditions, Lansing officials have canceled the Lansing DAZE fireworks show scheduled for Friday night, May 3, 2013.
The schedule may be adjusted further due to weather. Please see Lansing's city website, www.lansing.ks.us or our Facebook page for updates on any additional schedule changes.
For other questions, call 913-727-5488.
Location, ST | website.com


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Is there a way make a pipeline that will play any video file (which will contain audio too)? I have tried linking elements like:
filesrc -> decodebin
along with
queue -> audioconvert -> autoaudiosink
queue -> autovideoconvert -> autovideosink
This causes two problems:
queuecannot be linked to an
- I have no idea how to implement a pad with the
"pad-added"event, especially when the pipeline supports both audio and video.
I would like to know how to do this without the need for
gst.parse_launch. Also, I want the pieline to work with any format I throw at it (like playbin), but cannot use a playbin as I will need to link other elements (
level and
Alternatively, is there a way to connect elements (such as
level) to a playbin?


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I am using Ubuntu 12.04 and I want to know is there a way to re-order the item in my navigation bar. In windows 7 it is possible to group elements and re-order their position.
To be more specific. When I new application is started, it is added in my right navigation bar (or bottom menu for windows).
Is there a way ti drag the "Chrome" icon for example, and to move it below to Firefox one? Now, if i try to drag a icon, the all icons move.


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Valentine's Date Outfit: Part One
Is there any bigger date night than Valentine's Day? You want the perfect location, the perfect date, and of course, the perfect dress! I set to work with my pals, blogger Scorpion Disco and designer Sophie Hughes to find some unique Valentine's Day looks. Today's style? The non-traditional. Don't want to wear yet another little black dress? Try the little navy sheath - in leather. Plenty of touch-me appeal, and plenty of room for a tasty dinner! Add some dramatic jewelry and makeup, and you've got an outfit that's romantic and edgy.
See Part Two of the TBF Valentine's Day series here, and see all of my V-day looks on Racked Boston!
DRESS: On loan from Cynthia Rowley, SHOES: Christian Siriano for Payless BAG: Second JEWELRY: On loan from Sophie Hughes MAKEUP: Elena Kucerova PHOTOGRAPHY: Silvergrain Photography LOCATION: Towne Stove and Spirits
12 comments :
loving that leather dress on you! it is sexy but still sophisticated!ReplyDelete
Thank you - I am also just crazy about this dress for the exact reasons you mentioned. It's so touchable, but so elegant...Delete
you looks AMAZING! I LOVE that dress. great smokey eyeReplyDeleteReplies
Elena is truly an amazing makeup artist - I loved the looks she gave all of us (though I maybe like my smoky eye the best!) :)Delete
You look GORGEOUS. Your makeup is perfection and that dress. THAT DRESS! I die.ReplyDeleteReplies
I am also crazy for this dress! The leather is so soft!Delete
Your makeup looks great! I also like the blue and black combo :)ReplyDelete
Crushing on your cat eyes!! Also, loving your midnight mix of navy + black. MEOW.ReplyDeleteReplies
Elena is an amazing makeup artist!Delete
This dress is amazing! It's such an amazing shade of blue, and the cut is stunning. I love the tough girl boots you paired with it. You are rocking this!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks, lady! I am loving the leather trend, and this dress is a great color!Delete