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Learn about the benefits of goat milk and the value dairy goats provide to the homestead.
Whether your property is one acre or several hundred, sloping or flat, crowded with brush or completely forested, you can still raise dairy goats for milk. Two goats will produce enough quality fresh milk — with each doe averaging 3 quarts a day for 10 months — to feed your family all year. Add a few more goats and you'll have enough milk for making cheese, yogurt and even ice cream.
Goat milk ice cream? Some of you might be raising your eyebrows right now because you've heard goat milk tastes funny. We could blame the funny-taste fallacy on a conspiracy concocted by those comical Far Side cows. But more likely it is because someone kept the buck among the herd, especially at milking time. A buck can be quite odoriferous, and his strong, musky scent can permeate the milk. The fact is, properly collected goat milk tastes just as good as cow milk. Some people believe it tastes better.
"I have a friend whose brother refused to drink goat milk because he knew he wouldn't like it", says 20-year goat veteran Gail Damerow, editor of Rural Heritage magazine and author of Your Goats and Raising Milk Goats Successfully. Gail's friend bought a carton of cow's milk from the store for her visiting brother. After he emptied the carton, his sister refilled it with fresh goat milk. The scenario continued until a week later, when he noticed the carton looked a bit worn around the edges. She admitted he'd been drinking goat milk all week. He became an instant convert.
More of the world's people consume goat milk than cow milk. Goats are hardy animals: They adapt well to heat and cold, productively forage and graze, require little space, and are inexpensive to keep. Since mature does (females) usually weigh between 120 and 135 pounds (dwarf breeds can weigh between 35 and 85 pounds), they're much easier to handle than hefty cows, which can weigh 1,000 pounds each. Goats may surprise you in other ways, as well. They're highly intelligent, remarkably friendly creatures. And, since they're active, extremely agile and very curious, their antics can amuse you for hours. With all that in mind, it's easy to see why dairy goats can be the ideal addition to today's family farm or homestead.
There are more than 200 different goat breeds worldwide; six primary breeds dominate the dairy goat arena: Alpines, Oberhaslis, Saanens, Toggenburgs, LaManchas and Nubians. While all breeds generally do well in most of the country, the first four breeds listed are well-suited to cooler climates since their origins can be traced to Swiss mountain regions. LaManchas and Nubians hail from tropical and desert climates where it's warmer, and they tolerate hot summer conditions better than the Swiss breeds.
You can recognize Alpine goats by their upright ears and long necks. This medium-to-large, hardy breed also milks well. Their coats are two-toned, with black and white the most common colors.
Oberhaslis have distinctive coloration, and are usually bay (reddish brown) with black markings or sometimes completely black. A beautiful medium-to-small breed, Oberhaslis don't produce quite as much milk as the other breeds.
Saanens are commonly referred to as the Holstein of the goat world. Noted as heavy milkers, they are often the breed used in commercial dairies. One of the larger breeds, amiable Saanens are usually all white.
Toggenburg coat colors range from fawn to deep chocolate. A medium-size breed known for long lactations, their inquisitive nature can sometimes become quite challenging.
LaManchas are unique from the other breeds in that they have no visible external ears. (The ears are actually just very small.) Another well-known trait is their calm and gentle nature. Also noted as a good milker, this larger breed comes in many colors.
Several characteristics distinguish Nubians from other dairy breeds: They have floppy ears, a convex, Roman nose and an energetic disposition some say is just plain stubborn. Another large breed with myriad coat colors, Nubians are known as the jerseys of the goat world for producing milk with high butterfat content.
Longtime goat breeders Ray and Dene Engeman, of Marcola, Oregon, raise Nubians and LaManchas on six sloping, forested acres. "When we first moved here 36 years ago, it didn't take too long to figure out a milk cow wouldn't be able to manage these slopes," says Dene. "We fell in love with the LaManchas' gentle disposition and calm nature, and chose Nubians for their pendulous ears and variety of colors," she adds. "However, LaManchas remain our personal favorite."
One up-and-coming dairy breed you might want to consider is the Nigerian Dwarf, a West African native that is turning out to be a surprisingly good milker. Cheryl Smith, editor of Ruminations, Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Magazine, acquired her first Nigerians about four years ago. The breed's smaller size — mature does weigh between 30 and 50 pounds — friendly personality and variation in coat color make Nigerians very appealing. Despite their small size, Nigerian does kid (give birth) very easily. But the best thing, says Cheryl, is the fact that Nigerian milk has extremely high butterfat and protein content. The higher protein means you get more cheese out of the milk. Toward the end of a lactation, Cheryl says, the butterfat can reach 8 to 10 percent, compared with about 3.5 to 6 percent for other breeds.
Depending on the breed you choose and your location, the expense of purchasing a goat can vary widely. Expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $500, depending on whether or not the goat is registered. Buy registered goats if you want to compete in shows. Above all, try to buy your goats from a breeder who lives nearby. That way the goats are already adapted to your climate, plus you can see the environment where they were raised.
There are many ways to find a goat breeder. Start by visiting goat shows at your county or state fair. Get a referral from your local feed store or county extension office. You can also contact the American Dairy Goat Association or the specific organization that promotes your chosen breed for a list of local breeders. It's best to avoid livestock auctions or sale barns. Most importantly, invest in the best quality goats you can afford: You'll be glad you did.
Goats are a friendly bunch and enjoy being in each other's company, so always start off with at least two goats.
Give your goats plenty of outside space where they can play, exercise and forage to their hearts' content.
As with any farm animal, certain needs should be provided for before bringing your goats home. For starters, goats need some type of shelter. It doesn't need to be anything elaborate, just a place that's clean, dry and draft-free yet well-ventilated. It can be anything from an old outbuilding to a small shed or barn.
In her book Your Goats, Gail recommends at least 15 square feet of housing per goat. Miniature goats can get by on less, about 10 square feet per goat. Stalls should be equipped with a rack for hay, a trough or box for grain, and a water pail holder. Include extra space for storing feed and other supplies, as well as a stand for milking. Separate the storage and milk areas from the goat quarters with a wall or partition that's 4 feet high. It's important to keep the goats' bedding clean and dry. Top off the bedding as needed with fresh straw and replace bedding that gets damp or soiled. And remember: Goat manure and bedding are great for the garden.
Give your goats plenty of outside space where they can play, exercise and forage to their hearts' content. While some experts suggest 200 square feet as the minimum, more space is even better, especially if you want to give your goats access to fresh forage. Of course, goats with room to roam come with a price: good, sturdy fencing. A fence that keeps in cows or even sheep doesn't guarantee goats can't wander beyond its boundaries. They can squeeze through openings, nudge their way through weak areas and hop a fence if a large rock or elevated ground is nearby. A woven-wire or high-tensile electric fence at least 4 feet high is best for property boundaries. Keep the spacing tight on the lower portion of the fence so the younger goats can't get through. An electric fence works just fine for dividing the pasture into plots.
It's best to allow your goats access to pasture and forage. They'll eat whatever is available: Goats are opportunistic feeders and appreciate a varied diet. This characteristic not only saves you time and labor, but helps reduce your feeding costs. Try to keep an eye on what's growing in your pasture, though; some types of plant, such as wild onions, can drastically alter the flavor of the milk. Make sure your goats have some type of roughage year-round, such as twigs, bark, leaves or pasture. Corn and sunflower stalks from the garden are another good source, as well as a fine-stemmed hay, such as alfalfa or clover.
In addition to pasture and/or forage, a milking doe should receive 2 to 3 pounds of commercial feed each day, such as a 16 percent dairy ration, along with 3 or more pounds of hay. The amount will vary depending on other food sources, quality of feed and your goat. Ask your breeder about their feeding program. Provide fresh water at all times.
Goat-proof any areas that might have plants growing that can be toxic to goats, such as oleander, yew and larkspur. You can find information about poisonous plants in your area by checking with your county extension agent, listed in the government pages of the phone book. Reference material on poisonous plants is also available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and your state's agriculture department.
Keep the milk supply flowing by breeding your does once a year, starting when they are 8 months old or when the does weigh at least 80 pounds (for regular-size breeds). Dairy goats are usually bred in the fall; however, they may be in heat any time from August to January. Does remain in heat for three days, usually on a 17- to 21-day cycle. Put your does and buck together at this time. Once bred, the buck should be separated from the does to ensure fresh-tasting milk. Kidding (giving birth) will occur about 145 to 150 days after breeding. Does usually have twins — sometimes triplets, depending on the breed. The doe will "freshen" and give milk after the kids are born. If kept milked, she will continue producing for up to 10 months. Allow her a dry period of about two months before she delivers new kids and begins producing milk again.
During the milking period, you and the kids can share the milk; the doe should provide plenty. The best plan, says Gail, is — after the kids are 2 weeks old — confine them overnight and milk the doe in the morning. After her morning milking, leave the kids with the doe to nurse at will. Some people milk the does twice a day and give the kids bottles, which is labor-intensive but helps accustom kids to human handling.
Milking is easy to learn: Just ask anyone who's ever milked a cow or goat to show you how. Milking is easier if you feed the does grain as you milk them. Milk out both udders completely and milk at about the same time each day. If you milk twice a day, separate the milking time by about 12 hours. Keep your milking equipment and area clean. Once you've finished milking, cool the milk-filled container as quickly as possible by setting it into a large pan filled with cold water for about 15 minutes. Occasionally stirring the milk with a clean utensil will help it cool evenly. Once the milk has cooled, pour it into glass containers and refrigerate immediately.
Goat milk differs from cow milk in that the butterfat globules are smaller, so they disperse more easily, making goat milk naturally homogenized. Unlike cow milk, the cream will not separate on its own, so goat milk products will be much smoother and creamier. If you want to make butter, you'll need to buy or borrow a cream separator. Another difference you may notice is goat milk appears whiter than cow milk.
You can keep your goats healthy and avoid a lot of potential problems, such as pneumonia, diarrhea or parasites, by keeping the goat house and bedding clean and by providing draft-free housing with adequate ventilation. If you check your goats daily you'll be able to identify minor ailments before they become serious. Most likely, you'll need to worm and vaccinate your goats, although the amount and frequency needed will vary depending on your location and your goats. Some people worm their goats four times a year, others only once a year. Your county extension agent or breeder can give you valuable advice.
"Some herds suffer from excessive worm loads, to the point of dead goats, because their forage area isn't properly managed, and the goats aren't wormed often enough for their situation," Gail says. Worms can be a serious problem for goats, especially in humid or rainy climates. "By periodically opening fresh pasture and worming seasonally, we've been able to avoid that problem," she says.
You'll need to castrate any buck kids (usually before they're 2 weeks old) that you aren't keeping for breeding purposes. Some people opt to dehorn the kids, usually when they are one week old, with a tool called a disbudding iron, which looks like a soldering iron with the tip sawed off. Trim the hooves regularly: how often will depend on where your goats spend most of their time, on soft ground and bedding or on hard ground and rough surfaces.
Beyond the bounty of wholesome products they provide, don't forget to spend time with your goats and enjoy their friendly nature and jovial behavior. They're sure to put a smile on your face.
Dairy goats offer a goldmine of opportunity besides fresh milk for drinking. Having raised dairy goats for nearly 20 years, Gail Damerow says one reason she keeps a small herd of Nubians on their farm in Tennessee is for extra milk to make yogurt, simple cheese and ice cream — lots and lots of ice cream, in many flavors. Gail has compiled her large collection of ice cream recipes into her book, Ice Cream! The Whole Scoop. Gail also freezes as much milk as she has room for, which she later thaws when the does are dry. "We could produce milk year-round by staggering the breeding, but I like not having to milk during the worst of winter's freezing weather", she says.
At Dene and Ray Engeman's farm in Oregon, springtime often sees the goat population soaring to 100. "The high goat numbers don't last long," Dene says. The couple sells milkers to families and several dairies. Choice kids are kept as replacements or are sold for breeding stock, while the buck kids are made into wethers (castrated) and sold as pets, pack goats or for meat. "By the time fall comes around again, we're usually back down to 30," she says. Show and fair season can bring in extra money in the form of premiums.
Cheryl Smith became interested in dairy goats when she was in law school more than 12 years ago. A French professor invited Cheryl over to sample some of her goat milk cheeses, and Cheryl became hooked. Today she maintains a small herd of Nigerian Dwarfs and makes a variety of products from their milk. Naturally, yogurt and cheeses are on the list, but so is one inedible item: goat milk soap.
Your Goats: A Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing By Gail Damerow
American Dairy Goat Association
Spindale, NC
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
Fayetteville, AR
Offers several free publications about raising dairy and meat goats.
Dairy Goat Journal
Lake Mills, WI
$21 per year
Ruminations, Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Magazine
Cheshire, OR
$24 per year (6 issues)
Rural Heritage
Gainesboro, TN
Bimonthly journal on using draft animals in harness, including goats.
I'm buying 5 acres in Morongo Valley, CA. It gets very hot there during the summer. I think Nubian goats would be best for that climate. does anyone know where I can purchase them in Morongo Valley, which is in Riverside county, CA? I intend to grow them for milk and possibly cheese.
healthimpactnews.com/2013/state-threatens-to-seize-infant-fed-goats-milk-instead-of-approved-gmo-soy-formula A doctor reported a woman to child protective services for feeding her baby goats milk. This is because the goat milk folks do not lobby like the dairy industry does.
Hello all. To those of you wanting a doe that is already lactating, please note that to continue to get milk from a goat, you will need to breed her each year. Goats will give milk for 10 to 11 months, but do not lactate indefinitely. Biologically, they produce milk to feed their offspring. While their natural production cycle is extended to almost a year by milking, they WILL dry up. Obtaining a doe that is producing milk will be a delight, since you will be getting a goat supplying you the product you desire. Please know that you will need to let her give birth yearly to continue sharing her wealth with you. The young will be an added benefit, as you can sell them to help pay for feed, add to your herd, or utilize their meat. But do not invest in a goat thinking that she will be providing only what you want for the rest of her life. You will need to either send her out for mating, own a buck, or borrow a buck for his services. If you only want one or two milking goats (at least two are desirable since they are indeed 'social' aninmals), my suggestion is to either borrow a buck for a couple of months in late fall for mating season, or send them to someone with bucks not related to them for a couple of heat cycles in fall/early winter, so they will be bred. Otherwise, you'll be feeding a male goat all year for a few weeks of service. Also, if you 'own' him, expect him to become somewhat aggressive, as it is his nature- he will treat you as a rival, regardless of how 'nice' you treat him. You'll also have to house him and separate him from the girls to avoid the possible "off tasting" milk people refer to. We haven't had that issue, but it does happen. Please do not buy a doe, then dispose of her when she stops producing later this year. She is a relatively intelligent mammal. She will be affected by changing personal environment when you sell or give her away when she stops producing. Just know what you're getting into before obtaining a "milk producing" goat doe.
I am in the very early stages of research on obtaining a milk goat. If each milk goat has to be milked every 12 hours, how long does it take to milk a goat? What happens if you don't milk a goat every 12 hours? This is making me think of a large time commitment just to get the milk plus taking care of the goats and then making anything else with the milk. Any comments appreciated. Thanks!
We bought a couple of goats last year to raise for 4H. Our Toggenburg gives the worst tasting milk ever. We had no bucks, we fed the same hay as our neighbors gave to their goats, and used very clean utensils and milking practices and nothing helped. Our neighbors have great tasting milk from most of their animals, so I just think that some goats give off-tasting milk - maybe more so with Toggs. I have two more things to consider if you are thinking of getting a goat for milk - you will need to be home on a regular basis to milk 2x/day for up to 10 months of the year - and if you need to travel - who will know how to milk the goats when you're gone? Also, you need to breed your doe to get kids and milk, and that means finding a good buck and making those arrangements. Even though we enjoy our goats, both of these issues are causing us to rethink having them.
The key to fencing ANY animal: make life more attractive INSIDE the fence than outside it! If your goats are in a muddy, eaten-down hole, of course they're going to try to escape! Rather than put a lot of time, effort, and money into goat-proof fencing, we use cheap, easy-to-move electric fencing, and then we move it often. We control a small herd of Nubians with just two strands of electric, because we keep moving them so they don't get bored inside the fence. Since electric is so cheap, you can better afford making a "paddock" system by cross-fencing your pasture. Then rotate goats through the paddocks as needed -- daily to a few weeks, depending on how fast the browse recovers. Then you'll have goats that are not bored, and they'll stay put. Being both intelligent and highly sensitive to pain, goats are easily trained to electric fencing. The only ones we have trouble with are the kids and the bucks. The kids eventually stop challenging the fence, but the bucks need a "waterproof" fence, especially if you're trying to keep them away from fertile does!
Thanks for sharing such a great article. Just bought a property want to run some goats.Your site has provided great information thanks
Well, I've been raising dairy goats for 15 years, have worked with and owned several breeds, and I have to disagree with a few things on this article. First, I keep my bucks with, or in adjacent pens to my does all year round. My experience (and I've owned several bucks over the years) is that when the bucks are raised IN a herd, and are kept in such close contact with others, they don't feel the need to 'perfume' themselves so much, and are MUCH less ordorous. I also have NEVER, and I mean NEVER had a problem with the buck making the milk taste bucky. Poor milking practices, handling, nutritional imbalances, and pasturizing (especially ULTRA pasturizing that the commercial dairies often use) are all contributors to making goat milk taste bad, and have been the main reasons goat milk has a bad rap. Second, the LaMancha goat did NOT originate in a warm, humid climate!! They were developed in Oregon state in 1930 by Eula Frey. They are the ONLY USA developed large breed of dairy goats that is registered with ADGA. And lastly, you DON'T need a separator to get your cream from your goat milk! Breeds with lower butterfat will take much longer, but my little dwarf breeds (Nigerian, Kinder, and Mini Lamanchas ~ all testing at 8% and higher), their milk after sitting in the fridge undisturbed for as little as 36 hours will have cream risen to the top. I have never owned a separator, but have made butter, sour cream and have plenty of creamer for coffee and tea. We also use the cream for making gravies and other heavy, creamy dishes. I hope this helps in correcting some of the mis-information here. Kim Smith ~ email@example.com Blessed Farm, WA
we just bought a home in kansas with some acreage and are interested in raising goats for milking. We would also like to make ice cream and cheese. However, I am a little confused on which type of goats we need to buy and which one is more suitable for the kansas climate. Can you give me any information?
If raising goats seems like too much, you can also buy goat milk products. I am lactose intolerant and I only eat laloo's Goat Milk Ice Cream when I need a sweet fix. it has less fat and calories than regular moo milk ice cream brands and it tastes just the same. (Its better if you ask me!) Check out their website to find a store near you.Trust me, this stuff will revolutionize your ice cream eating habits! www.laloos.com
I am interested in raising a few goats for milk & cheese. We already have a cow and some chickens, but I'm all new to the goat thing. LOL Can anyone give me some advice? Thanks!
Hi my name is Kasandra Griffin. I am looking for a milking goat. I wondered if you had any for sale.I'm looking for a Nubian with different colored patches on it.I need it this spring to milk.It needs to be milking already.Thank You,Kasandra.
Hi my name is Eli. I am trying to talk my mom into buying us a milk goat. What breed's milk taste the best to DRINK or most like cows milk? We are not interested in making cheese or butter, just to drink and have with cereal. Also do you sell goats? Thank you so much, Eli
hi my name is brenda prewitt, i live in caneyville ky . i have been digging the internet looking to buy a good female milk goat, that is ready to milk now , do u have any for sale thank u ,
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Livestock-and-Farming/2002-06-01/Want-Milk-Get-Goats.aspx On this page, when you are first listing the breeds of dairy goats most widley kept, you call my sweet saanens "sadness" goats. Please fix this...... Blessings......
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Alan Levan is un-distressed
by Mike Vogel
Posted 9/30/2013
Updated 5 yearss ago
In his long business career, 68-year-old Alan Levan has kept plenty of investments cooking simultaneously, but his main interest for nearly three decades was leading the holding company that owned BankAtlantic, one of the largest Florida-based banks.
Half a decade ago, BankAtlantic was riding high. The Fort Lauderdale-based holding company's market cap had reached $1.1 billion. The bank had expanded into Orlando and Tampa and offered branches open seven days a week. It employed 2,214 in 2007.
Then came the financial crisis.
By 2011, the holding company had gone three years without a quarterly profit and only turned one that year thanks to a $38.7-million gain from selling its Tampa branches. Employment shrank to 983. Its market cap fell to $30 million. Federal regulators hit it with a cease-and-desist order and told it to raise capital. Bauer Financial rated it two stars, "problematic," from 2009 onward.
Levan says he has seen recessions come and go. BankAtlantic would have weathered the storm, he says, but "in the last several years, the regulatory environment became virtually impossible and has forever changed the nature of the banking business. We always knew we would survive and prosper, but the biggest impediment to dealing with that was the regulatory environment."
Levan's strategy for surviving and prospering is to try to do the things that banks do, but outside that "impossible" regulatory environment. His vehicle is the bank's old holding company, now renamed BBX Capital and seeded with the proceeds of the sale of BankAtlantic that he engineered last year to BB&T.
The North Carolina-based bank paid double book value for BankAtlantic's 78 branches, $2.1 billion in loans and $3.3 billion in deposits. BB&T also agreed to pay Levan, his son Jarett, who was the bank's CEO, and Vice Chairman John "Jack" Abdo, $10 million in non-compete and severance payments, although the severance money hasn't come through because the FDIC hasn't approved the payments.
Most significant, Levan and BBX also kept $127 million of BankAtlantic's troubled assets, including every BankAtlantic delinquent loan. BBX and BB&T also agreed to share $356 million more in non-performing loans.
It's on those troubled assets that Levan — with 50 employees in downtown Fort Lauderdale — is building a new financial house. He's out to show that he and BBX can make a life after banking, using investments in non-performing loans and assets as part of the base for a move into operating companies, lending for real estate and real estate development. "We are filling a void that the banks are still not prepared to do," he says.
Levan isn't the first investor eyeing "toxic" bank assets for opportunity. Since real estate went south in 2007, Florida has been a major market for investors who buy non-performing loans from banks and others. Firms such as Sabal Financial, Colony Capital, Fortress, Lone Star and other major funds from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas have gone after loans here, as have Florida-based players such as longtime niche loan buyer St. Petersburg-based Directed Capital ["Playing in the Distressed Field"].
In hot pursuit
SEC Issues
While Alan Levan has eagerly taken over BankAtlantic's non-performing loans, he will have to contend with another legacy issue from BankAtlantic days. This month, he and BBX are scheduled to be tried on Securities and Exchange Commission civil securities fraud charges. The SEC alleges that Levan and BBX made misleading statements in 2007 in public filings and earnings calls about BankAtlantic's deteriorating commercial real estate portfolio. The SEC wants financial penalties and, most significantly, a ban on Levan serving as an officer or director of a publicly held company. Levan says the suit is "nonsense" and "frivolous" and that his company was the first in the country to announce portfolio issues connected to the economy.
Courtesy of BankAtlantic's sale, Levan and BBX didn't have to compete for a basket of distressed debt. And after he took over BankAtlantic's distressed assets, Levan made a statement about the seriousness of his intentions as he collected on one particular debt he had acquired — a $44-million judgment Palm Beach developer Daniel Catalfumo owed on loans taken out from BankAtlantic in 2005 and 2006. Catalfumo, who personally guaranteed the loans, had borrowed the money to finance a Palm Beach Gardens real estate project.
BBX went about collecting with vigor, pursuing the debt in five jurisdictions spread over three countries. Catalfumo countered by seeking protection in bankruptcy court, and in April the case between the two heavyweights rolled into a courtroom in south Florida.
Catalfumo accused Levan's company of "scorched earth" litigation — leave us alone to organize a payment plan and you'll get your money, his side essentially said. Levan and BBX accused Catalfumo of a bad faith filing and of trying to avoid paying what it was owed by making a "fraudulent transfer" of money to trusts in the Cayman Islands and the island of Jersey off the coast of France.
Three months after going to bankruptcy court, Catalfumo agreed to pay Levan's BBX $44 million in cash and property — "substantially in excess of our book value," Levan says — to settle the judgment, which includes default interest, legal fees and costs.
For Levan, whose firm put out a news release heralding the outcome, the settlement represented validation on multiple fronts — not the least of which is his belief that, absent the heavy hand of banking regulators, patient lenders can recover on loans classified as non-performing.
"We never could have done that in a banking environment," Levan says of pursuing the payment, which cost him at least $800,000 in legal fees. "We looked under every rock. We sued 15 companies. We went international. (Regulators) don't like when you spend a lot of money on legal fees. They don't like when you spend a lot of money on collections. In a banking environment, they just want the stuff off your books."
Catalfumo didn't respond to interview requests. His attorney, Bradley Shraiberg, of Shraiberg, Ferrara & Landau in Boca Raton, says that in a non-banking environment, borrowers also have rights, including filing for Chapter 11 protection to level the playing field. He says Catalfumo was pleased to be able to pay his creditors.
Meanwhile, Levan says he's "very happy" with BBX's remaining portfolio, which he got at values written down by "hundreds of millions" of dollars by BankAtlantic. He says he has a "magnificent retail site" in Orlando, for example, and a Miami-Dade parcel near I-75 suitable for 800 houses and 200 to 300 apartments. BBX plans to renegotiate the terms of a few loans, while foreclosing on most and developing the properties itself. He's already taken over a business that way — RoboVault, a high-end, robotic self-storage vault in Fort Lauderdale that BankAtlantic loaned money to and that BBX took in bankruptcy court and now operates as a long-term holding.
Other properties will be sold when the market is ripe rather than when regulators say. "In a non-banking environment, you can work the real estate to its highest and best value," he says.
As for the $356 million in non-performing loans it shares with BB&T, Levan says, "We don't think any of it was toxic." Many of the loans were current in payments but were considered distressed because the value of the collateral real estate had fallen below the loan amount.
On those loans, BB&T will get the first 95% of any money realized up to $285 million. Levan's company gets the other 5%, plus all the gain after BB&T is paid off.
As of the end of the second quarter, Levan's company had paid BB&T $130 million of the $285 million owed, a pace that eclipses, after about a year, its benchmark in the BB&T agreement for three years.
"We are so far ahead of the benchmarks. Everyone was referring to these assets as being toxic, as the assets not being worth anything," Levan says. "We knew, based on our real estate experience, we had a gold mine."
Going forward, Levan is likely to find tightening yields in the loan-acquisition market ["Late Innings"]. BBX lost $2.85 million in the second quarter. Its stock, which bottomed at $1.50 in the last two years, reached above $13 per share in August.
Levan, who was paid $5.6 million in salary, bonus and stock in 2012 by BBX, plans in the fourth quarter to have the company absorbed into BFC Financial, Levan's other publicly traded company, which he controls with longtime business associate Abdo. BFC already owns a majority of Boca Raton-based timeshare company Bluegreen; BBX acquired the rest in April so the deal will put Bluegreen, operator of 61 timeshare resorts with 200,000 timeshare owners, under one roof.
The last 15 months also have seen Levan and Abdo bring about the sale, after plenty of contention with other parties, of Doral-based Japanese steak house chain Benihana to private equity firm Angelo, Gordon. BFC gained $9.3 million on its Benihana shares.
Levan gives a mixed answer to whether he misses retail banking. Bankers, he says, help people buy homes, get ahead and grow businesses.
But, he adds, "It's kind of like asking somebody how the marriage is going and they say, 'I've been happily married for 20 years. Unfortunately, I've been married for 25 years.' "
Late Innings'
The outlook for investors looking for opportunity in toxic bank assets is clouded. The FDIC isn't an active seller, and many banks have been reluctant to take the hit to their capital that selling entails. Improving bank earnings and financials, and a reviving real estate market, have slowed sales, too.
Real Capital Analytics reports $26.2 billion in troubled commercial real estate loans and foreclosed real estate has been worked out in Florida's major metros since the start of the recession, with recovery rates ranging from lows of 56% in Jacksonville and southwest Florida to a high of 66% in Miami. Through the first part of the year, in every market tracked, other than Jacksonville, the pace of resolutions exceeds that of new problem loans.
"There's less supply," says Joseph McBride, an analyst with Trepp, a New York-based commercial real estate and banking information firm.
A smaller supply, however, is relative. In south Florida alone, according to Trepp, $927 million in commercial real estate loans was 60 days past due in July, ranging from a Miami Beach boutique hotel with a $103-million debt to a small apartment building in Hollywood with less than $1 million.
Real Capital Analytics as of July still was tracking $12.3 billion in commercial real estate loans in default or in special servicing in Miami, Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Broward, southwest Florida and Jacksonville. Ernst & Young also notes that billions of dollars in commercial real estate loans will mature nationally over the next five years.
For investors in search of high yields, "you're in the late innings," says Kingsley Greenland, president and CEO of Boston-based loan advisory firm DebtX.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Walking St Ives to Penzance
The hike between St Ives and Penzance is a great way to experience Cornwall's industrial past, and if you cover a section a day it can be a unique way to spend a 5 day break. Both St Ives and Penzance are well connected, so you'll have no trouble getting back to your starting point or heading home once you complete the journey, and the route has a grading of easy. In fact, this is one of the most scenic areas of the South West Coast Path, and the route has a lovely feeling of remoteness.
The path winds its way along a wild landscape, passing some of the sites that helped shape Cornwall. The route also picks up the Granite Coast, taking walkers past the Levant Mine and Beam Engine, as well as the ruined engine houses of Botallack. Part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site, visitors can see this restored engine in action, so steam enthusiasts should leave time to explore this iconic location. You'll pass the jutting Cape Cornwall as you go, and until 200 years ago it was thought to have been Cornwall's most westerly point.
Take your time in this spot as there are clear views out to the Brisons, and on a very lucky day you can see all the way to Scilly Isles. This area of the coastline is a haven for birdwatchers, as Peregrine falcons, Cornish Chough and many more bird species are common sights. Other highlights of this walk include the Minack Theatre, the fishing port of Mousehole and St Michael's Mount.


text:
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text:
New Delhi: Mansi Parekh has been crowned the winner of Zee TV`s singing reality show `Star Ya Rockstar` and the television actress says after months of hard work, she feels more confident about herself.
"The entire feeling is amazing. It feels really good that my months of hard work and dedication have paid off," Mansi told reporters.
"This show happened to me at the right time. After wrapping up `Gulal`, I was itching to do a different show. It was very challenging and the show brought out a different aspect personality of my personality which was not previously revealed.
"Now I see myself as a better performer and have developed more confidence and trust in myself," she added.
Hosted by Mona Singh, `Star Ya Rockstar` started off with nine renowned TV celebrities - Ragini Khanna, Neha Marda, Vikas Bhalla, Sumeet Raghavan, Manish Paul, Chhavi Mittal, Manasi, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Debina Bonnerjee and Kapil Sharma.
Out of these, Sachin, Kapil and Mansi made to the top three. The show was judged by Anu Malik and Alisha Chinai.
The actress, best known for her performance as Chandni in TV show "India Calling", admits she has enjoyed each and every moment on stage as a performer.
"I was under pressure during my rehearsals but once I used to get on stage I used to let off all my inhibitions and have fun. My sole aim was to just entertain people sitting in front of me," said Mansi, who is a trained classical singer.
"This show has taught me to stay grounded. If you are praised don`t let it go over your head as the next time you might get panned. Both Anu (Malik) and Alisha Chinai have been very fair in their judgment," she added.
Mansi says after her stint in the reality show a lot of opportunities have opened up for her.
"A whole lot of newer opportunities are coming my way. I have been receiving offers for love shows. It feels really nice to see that people have started considering me as a singer also. I have also been approached to be a part of a musical play," she said.
Tamil superstar Dhanush, who became a nationwide rage with his song "Kolavei Di", graced the grand finale with the song`s composer Aniruddh, as the special guest.
The guest list of the finale included several other celebrity guests including Mithun Chakraborty, music composers Vishal-Shekhar, `Dance India Dance` judges Geeta Kapoor, Remo D`Souza, Terence Lewis, singers Master Saleem, Hardeep Kaur and comedians Rajeev-Saloni.


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As some of you know, i battled a bad bout of conjuctivitis over the past few weeks. It was the longest 2 weeks of my life, and i was sooooo miserable! I wasn´t allowed to do makeup, all i did was sit around the house and mope or stare at my eyes with a small mirror in my hand. I went to google and scared the shit out of myself, and then i sat around and moped some more.
Dindu got it first and of course i had to get it too because i examined his eyes, and i can´t remember if i washed my hands or not. Only his left eye was affected and he seemed not to be bothered at all. Anyway, kids are resilient and he healed before me. Mine spread from the left eye to the right eye and i felt horrible all through.
I couldn´t do makeup because the eyes were really bad, and i didn´t want to get my products infected. So yesterday, i was finally able to plaaaaay!
|My eyes are baaack!


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The kitchen is the last place that I have wanted to be for the past thee months. I have no complaints, I will take whatever this little one dishes up, but the morning sickness has been strong and cooking is not something that I have been able to handle.
Over the past four days, however, I have started to feel my taste buds coming back, and my stomach begin to churn for a home cooked meal by my own hands (thank you mama for helping to keep us fed over these last few months). For the first time all season, I ventured to the Farmer's Market yesterday. All alone, I simply peered at all the goodness that most people have been enjoying for weeks, but that we are just now putting our hands to. The tomatoes, corn, melons, green beans, and peaches, plums and pears. It was a true feast for the senses. Although I only took home a small bag, I still felt giddy at the idea of cooking for my family.
A few weeks back, my friend Sheryl had a birthday party for her son Everest, who turned six. I was not up for eating, and I believe that the only thing I kept down was Sheryl's incredible black bean gluten free chocolate cake (OK, it may not sound like a good combo, but it rocked!). However, my husband and children raved about the raw green bean dip that was served. Jacob and Joel love green beans, and normally just eat them raw as a snack. After picking up a basket at the market yesterday, I tried to recreate the dip that my husband described. Admittedly it was a bit hard, since the only thing Joel could identify were green beans and olive oil, but I did my best.
The result is quick, simple and perfect with bread, crackers or veggies. The sweeter the green bean the better!
Raw Green Bean Dip
Green Beans (I used about 60 beans, but simply adjust the rest of the ingredients accordingly to use less or more)
1 Tbsp Olive oil
Pinch of Kosher Salt
Pinch of Pepper
Parmesan Cheese (to taste)
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until well combined and the green beans are chopped into fine pieces.
Serve with fresh bread, crackers, and veggies.
Perhaps my most prized possession yesterday was the bag of fresh ripe Colorado peaches that were perfectly juicy and ready to eat.
There is nothing of Summer that I love more than fresh fruit. Fruit pies, breads, cobblers, crisps, and eaten plain are just a few of my favorite ways to enjoy summer fruit.
Selecting the perfect peach and a gathering or fresh raspberries, I set out to create a peach pound cake for the boys and I. This recipe really was a bit of a test, but I like the texture of the pound cake set against the tartness of the raspberry glaze. It was a good way to introduce the little one inside me to the joys of summer fruit.
Peach Pound Cake with Raspberry Glaze
For the Cake:
1 cup of butter at room temperature
1/2 cup Honey
1 Cup of brown rice flour
1/2 cup of white rice flour
2 teaspoons baking powder (GF)
4 eggs
The puree of one peach
For the glaze
1 Tbsp heavy cream (if you are allergic to dairy, you can use almond, soy or coconut milk easily)
12 raspberries
3/4 cup of powdered sugar
For the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 and grease your loaf pan. Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until well combined (this can be down in a free standing mixer, in a food processor, or by hand).
Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes (since there is peace puree and honey, this cake tends to be moist. You can use a tooth pick to test for readiness, as well as placing a finger in the center to make sure that the cake bounces back when ready). Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
To make the glaze: Combine all ingredients in a food processor or by hand (you really want the raspberries to be pureed) and combine. Remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack. While still warm, drizzle the glaze on the top and sides of your pound cake, and allow to cool completely.
Please note that this glaze in not the traditional type that will harden after cooling.
It may not be much, but eating these two dishes yesterday felt like pure heaven.
What are you eating that is bringing you joy today?


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SOURCE: Trilliant Exploration Corporation
January 16, 2013 08:00 ET
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jan 16, 2013) - Trilliant Exploration Corporation (OTCQB: TTXP) ("Company") reports that the company and Copper Island Mines Ltd. ("Copper") have signed a definitive agreement for Trilliant to complete the acquisition of a 20% interest in Copper Island's Quadra Island Project ("Project") for Thirty Million shares of Trilliant's common stock.
Mr. Jared Lazerson, Chief Executive Officer of Copper Island Mines, stated, "The historic resource estimate (non-NI 43-101 compliant) for the Copper Island Property is 3.5 million metric tons grading 2% copper. With today's prices in place, the potential in situ resource is just over 500 million dollars. In October of 2011, Copper Island's board authorized management to proceed with the Copper Island Project and begin the acquisition process with TTXP. We intend to continue working closely with TTXP in bringing the historical resource into modern NI 43-101 compliance, and moving forward on confirmatory exploration with the goal, based on a sufficient resource, of commencing production by mid-2014 under the BC Small Mines Act."
The Project is located 15km NW of Campbell River, British Columbia. Copper Island Mines Ltd. is the operator of a 3000 hectare property which is known for high grade chalcocite mineralization. The area has been under regular development and small scale production since 1915. The area contains one of the highest densities of copper prospects in British Columbia and is rated high for mineralization by the BCGS (British Columbia Geological Service). Initial exploration on the Property was conducted by Dodge Copper in 1954 when 145 percussion holes were drilled outlining the Pomeroy areas. Exploration in the 1970s by Prince Stewart Mines and Quadra Mining resulted in a historic reserve estimate of 3.5 metric tons grading 2% copper. Exploration in the 1990s resulted in a historical resource estimate from all occurrences of 5.3Mt grading 1.98% copper. These estimates are used for historical reference purposes only and while produced by qualified engineers of their day are not compliant under NI 43-101. Copper Island Mines Ltd. is in the process of working with independent Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101, to produce a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate regarding the copper mineralization at Copper Island.
The company will file an 8k today outlining the transaction.
About Trilliant Exploration (OTCQB: TTXP) http://www.trilliant-exploration.com Trilliant Exploration is focused on a variety of strategic mineral acquisitions including Copper and well positioned to capture the next wave in mineral exploration, lithium and rare earth metals. Trilliant Exploration is a US based, high growth mining company focused on adding value through successful exploration, project development, efficient operations, and opportunistic acquisitions. Maintaining a low risk profile through project diversification, astute financial management and operating in secure jurisdictions are key priorities for Trilliant Exploration's Management team.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such Forward Looking Statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the viability of the company's business plans, the effect of acquisitions on our profitability, the effectiveness, profitability, and the marketability of the Company's products; the Company's ability to protect its proprietary information; general economic and business conditions; the volatility of the company's operating results and financial condition; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the company and the industry. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, management cannot assure the public that their expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
Mr. Mark Evans
Phone: (212) 203-0310
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.trilliant-exploration.com
Mr. Mark Evans
Phone: (212) 203-0310
Email: email@example.com
Web: www.trilliant-exploration.com
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text:
Nero CoverDesigner 12.0.02900
Related Software Categories: Animation and Video Tools | Authoring Tools | CAD | Cataloging | Compression and Palette | Editors | Fonts | Graphical text tools | Illustration | Image Viewers
Nero Cover Designer is a powerful application for creating custom cover elements such as booklets, inlays, and labels. Nero Cover Designer supports cover elements for a wide range of disc types, such as CD jewel cases, DVD cases, multi-boxes, maxi CDs, slim packs, business cards, and more. Nero CoverDesigner supports LightScribe and Labelflash recorders, which you can use to print labels directly on compatible media.
Platforms: Windows , Windows 7 , Windows 8 , WinVista , WinVista x64 , WinXP , Win7 x32 , Win7 x64
System requirements: 2 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 5 GB HDD
Versions History:
Tags: Cd Covers, Dvd Covers, Bd Covers, Design Labels
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text:
This beautiful lady makes the road to Mommyhood look adorably-glamourous! I loved how this last minute shoot came together so nicely. I think we had about a week to prep for this one. Momma definitely brought her A-game! Papa, a former professional MLB player, isn't to shabby either. It was so easy to capture the love and affection between these longtime lovebirds. All I had to do was say the secret "magic" word to bring out Mike's best smile! Congrats Jessica & Mike! I can't wait to meet your little bundle of love.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
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text: VCAL – Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning Page ContentVCAL is a hands-on option for Year 11 and 12 students, offering practical work-related experience and literacy and numeracy skills. Like the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), VCAL is an accredited secondary school certificate which is also offered at TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutes and a number of Learn Local organisations. Students can do VCAL in Year 11 or 12, with the option of doing a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship at the same time. Students who complete VCAL have several career options, including transferring to VCE, studying at TAFE, doing an apprenticeship or traineeship or starting a job once school has finished. Choosing VCAL studies VCAL students can choose studies from accredited modules within the following four compulsory strands: literacy and numeracy skills. Each VCAL program includes literacy and numeracy subjects selected from VCAL units, VCE units or other further education studies. industry-specific skills. Each VCAL program at the intermediate and senior level includes studies from nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) programs. Students can also do a school-based apprenticeship as part of VCAL. work-related skills. Each VCAL program includes work-related skills to make students employable. Students can do a structured work placement, a school-based apprenticeship or part-time work as part of VCAL. personal development skills. Each VCAL program includes projects and activities in students' community or school to help them develop teamwork skills, self-confidence and other skills important for life and work. Students start VCAL at the level that matches their needs and abilities. The three levels include foundation, intermediate or senior. Many VCAL students complete the program in one year. Options after VCAL Students who complete VCAL will have practical work-related experience and a qualification that is recognised by TAFE institutes and employers. This helps students move from school into work, an apprenticeship or traineeship and/or further training at TAFE. Alternatively, if students start VCAL at the foundation level in Year 11 and successfully complete it, they decide to go on to complete either the intermediate or senior level of VCAL in Year 12. Students can also reconsider their options and decide university is the right choice for them and transfer to VCE. Any VCE studies successfully completed as part of VCAL will count towards VCE. Intermediate and senior VCAL units also contribute to VCE. VCAL assessment and results VCAL is made up of accredited courses/certificates. It is assessed by the student's teacher in accordance with the requirements for each part of the program. If students successfully complete their learning program they will receive a VCAL certificate for foundation, intermediate or senior level, depending on the level they chose to complete. They will also receive a statement of results, listing all VCE and VCAL units successfully completed as part of their course, and a statement of attainment for VET or further education courses. More information For more information on VCAL and school-based apprenticeships, see: VCAL For career advice and information, see: Beyond School


text:
About Fold3Fold3 is an offshoot of Ancestry.com that specializes in helping members find information about the military histories of their family members. The company offers more than 438 million records and lets you search through images as well.
As a membership site, you create an account and link the information that you find back to that account. When you become a paid member, you can share the information that you find with others and even create a photo gallery of images you found of your relatives.
Fold3 lets you browse records from major American wars, including the War of 1812, World War II, Korean War and modern wars. You will also have access to records of what happened to your relatives after they left the military.
When you start out, you can simply enter your name and start tracing your heritage. Fold3 lets all new members try out the site for seven days before becoming a paid member. If the paid packages are out of your budget, look for promo codes.
Giving Assistant has coupons for Fold3 and other similar sites that let you learn more about your family history. The site will use its partnership with Feeding America to give back to other families.
|Total Offers
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text:
The Islamic State is pushing a new video through its propaganda channels that celebrates the Brussels bombing, urges jihadis to "rise up" and "claim your victory," and among several other media clips quotes Donald Trump describing Brussels as "one of the most beautiful cities in the world 20 years ago," but now "it's an absolute horror show."
The UK Mirror relates the full Trump quote as, "Brussels was one of the great cities, it was one of the most beautiful cities of the world 20 years ago, it was amazing actually, and safe. Now it's a horror show, it's an absolute horror show."
The UK Express translates the title of the video as "The Exile of Islam And The Brussels Attacks," and notes it is similar to a video posted to ISIS social media after the Paris massacre.
After the snippets from Western media at the beginning of the video, it segues into footage of the Brussels attack and its aftermath, with narration in Arabic. The Mirror translates this as follows:
"The regulations of Jihad in the cause of Allah are clear and there are no reasonable doubts about it. And Quran has decided waging Jihad against the disbelievers until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled and the Islamic State has asked them to give it but they refused."
"Yet the Crusade jets including the Belgian are still bombing the Muslims in Iraq, killing children, women, old, and destroying mosques and schools."
"But the calamity is the exile that the people of Islam live at tip most of them managed to deny jihad against the disbelievers and deny the blessed forays in Crusade Europe and other places, including the last foray of Brussels."
The Express notes the English subtitles appearing on the screen are a translation of the song playing in the background: "Brothers rise up! Claim your victory! Haha! Let's go for jihad!"
International Business Times notes that the presence of black-clad ISIS militants "practicing their shooting skills in the desert," and the onscreen translations provided in the video, suggest it is "meant for recruitment purposes."


text:
What's Your Selfie Technique?
Oh, don't pretend like you don't have one!
The history of my strangeness is well-documented.
My mom yelled at me for chopping up my clothes on a daily basis. There were also the midnight slick-gelled side ponytails, and getting my head washed out when I went to show her. I remember the smell of Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt with is pineapple-y warmth--probably the beginning of my obsession with piña coladas. If I didn't remember that night and that smell so clearly, I would have forgotten the way the hallway in my childhood home looked, the hall bathroom with the cat box and the pink porcelain sink.
We moved out of that house when I was only seven, so I cherish these memories. The times before the apartments, the fights, the many different-colored Ford Tauruses in which my father and step-father were ferrying us to and from one confrontation to the next.
I wouldn't say that I was the kind of troublemaker and weirdo that you would have been able to pick out of a line up. My well-educated sentences and ironclad intuition made you like me before I caused you annoyance, because I always eventually caused trouble.
It was in fourth grade that I had the hardest time in school. I had a teacher who physically assaulted me, but I also had another teacher, my English teacher. We were instructed to write book reports, summaries, essays, and all manner of things; but the best part, my most favorite part, was "embellishment time." A row of cubes in the back corner of the classroom held untold treasures: tulle, ribbons, paints, markers, pennies, popsicle sticks, glitter, pompoms, basically an entire craft aisle's worth of supplies awaited you when you finished the writing portion of your assignment.
I remember the gloomy lighting, the short brown and grey bob and glasses the teacher wore. But other than that, I only remember making the words of my stories come to life with glue, paper and gratuitous 3D manifestations of my tortured nine-year-old mind.
Life settled back down and we moved further south, away from New York, my magnetic pole. I was not just becoming stranger, but seeming stranger on the outside despite my efforts to hide it. I was jostled into putting all of my witchcraft and spirit into a bottle tucked away in my window seat, waiting to explode if shaken or disturbed, no longer allowed to decorate a corner of my room with an altar and forced to be Catholic.
My theory about my weirdness is that it is also my source of beauty. Conventional establishment and society has always seemed like a layer of permafrost, the suburbs, tundra, keeping my growth scant and limited. Even with my jeans and tees, I took home the title of HHS's most unique '05 superlative, so who was I fooling with my feigned normalcy?
New York always seemed like the center of the universe, and for a while, I couldn't handle it. When I first came to plant my flag, it was black. Black eyeliner, black band tee shirts, black hair, black heart, bleak outlook. How did I think that would be different from the sea of similarity, the packs of wolves?
I wanted to run with the wolves, but I wanted to find the multi colored ones, the bright ones, the true ones. But girls were being murdered in bars across the city, and I was heaps more naive than I initially thought. More vulnerable.
My at-the-time boyfriend hated the city, so I retreated to Jersey City. Commuting is so frustrating that it put the lid right back on my bubbling, keeping it in check for a few more years. I was two trains and walls of people away from classes and life at large.
About five years ago, I was still in a relationship that did not start out abusive, but due to circumstances beyond both our control, and alcohol, ended up being stifling and causing me endless anguish. My looks were the subject of many torments--my clothing, my creations, my hair, makeup, you name it. Nothing was ever cool enough, or it was too cool. Don't even get me started on liking music without guitars or dressing like a favorite vintage muse. That was also "really dumb."
My personality was so unrecognizable, it took much time to see all of these differences and identify them. As a child, I was always loud, hilarious, and enthusiastic. Now I was tired, angry, out of shape, and boring by my own definition. I was quieter, less adventurous, and neutered. I was also medicated for my ADHD, which exacerbated habits like cigarette smoking and stress, neither good for inner or outer beauty.
I think I was just as judgmental of others as I perceived them to be of me. This was extremely unhealthy. It doesn't matter if I was really being treated like a strange fruit; anger and aggression were not going to make that feeling go away. Those emotions tend to also attract like-behaving individuals, and I deserve more than that.
Learning to accept others enabled me to feel accepted by those who were open. This has built deeper and more meaningful relationships, further bolstering my confidence and allowing me to face negativity with grace. I once thought mostly everyone was ugly, and I too felt ugly. Now I see more beauty, and I allow myself to feel beautiful. I do not feel shame for myself anymore.
I could write 1,000 more words on how friends and family and herbs and love and yoga and a few days on a pristine beach will help you find yourself in a better place, but that would almost seem too easy. The real changes I know came from my mind. I learned to stop torturing myself about my imperfections, to not hold myself responsible for others' mistakes, to breathe! I learned to love my eyes without eyeliner, love my hair without dye, and to love my body, which I also learned was not fat, nor had it ever been, despite what I came to believe.
The beauty I feel that I have come to possess is from my personality. The ground has softened, my stems have pushed through the dirt, and I have burst into bloom, like a rare orchid. I am so thankful that circumstance kept me "down" for so long, or I never would have turned out to be so vividly peculiar.
Having retreated a bit from traditional society, I think that I am sparing myself from the bullying or regulation that pruned me in the past. I had always felt under siege and attack from peers; now, on the backstreets, I feel brave and at ease.
I am a sensitive Pisces, and the shocking things that people have said to me over the years have become easier to deflect, diffuse, and ultimately ignore as I have gotten older.
Fashion and adornment choices can be a litmus test in some ways, helping to filter out those who you may not feel akin to, but don't fall for those games. People may judge you based on what you wear, how you style your hair, makeup, your body, and numerous other appearance-based observations, but it is vital to not fall into that trap in your own choices. This practice extends to dating, friendships, and day-to-day interaction.
Learning to peel back the years of cliquey school-age genre-based separation and embrace not only my own individuality, but that of others as well, has been the keystone to feeling different AND accepted at the same time. We are all different, and that makes us the same. I learned that I am beautiful, and that is independent of whether or not I am conventionally pretty.


text:
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Human rights groups call for children to be taken off Nauru
Rights groups say children live in harmful conditions in Australian migrant centres on the Pacific island.
Asia Argento 'accused of sexual assault'
Italian actress and #MeToo accuser reportedly reached a settlement with a man 20 years her junior.
Radioactive device goes missing in Malaysia
It's not the first time a device like this has vanished but authorities say there's no reason to panic.
Colorado dad charged with killing pregnant wife and girls
But Chris Watts claims his wife strangled the children after he told her he wanted to separate.
UK wants 'malign' Russia to face action
The foreign secretary urges the EU to copy Washington's response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
Pope Francis condemns child sex abuse and Church cover-ups
He addresses the recent US scandal in an unprecedented letter to the world's 1.2bn Roman Catholics.
Ten hikers killed in flash flooding in southern Italy
A rescue official says walkers were "catapulted out like bullets" when a stream in a gorge flooded.
US dog walker killed in South Carolina alligator attack
Witnesses say the 45-year-old was attacked while protecting her dog from an 8ft alligator.
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The Board
Our Leadership
Our Board of Directors provides governance and strategic direction to ERA. With diverse backgrounds that include industry, government, academia and the not-for-profit sector, the ERA Board provides us with tremendous expertise and leadership.
Kathleen Sendall, C.M.
Kathleen Sendall, C.M.
Kathleen Sendall is a corporate director, serving on the Boards of CGG S.A., based in Paris, Enmax Energy Corporation, and Emissions Reduction Alberta. She is Chair of CGG's Appointments and Remunerations Committee and also serves on the Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability Committee. At ENMAX, she is a member of the Human Resources, Compensation and Safety Committee, as well as the Governance Committee. She chairs the Board of Directors of Emissions Reductions Alberta as well as the Human Resources and Governance Committee.
Prior to her retirement in 2009, Ms. Sendall led Petro-Canada's Natural Gas Business Unit, reporting to the CEO and was responsible for the company's North American conventional exploration and production activities and natural gas marketing. She has over 30 years experience in all aspects of upstream operations, downstream marketing, human resource management, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions and government relations.
Ms. Sendall is a former Governor and served as Board Chair of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
Ms. Sendall is a member of the Sustainable Development Technology Corporation (SDTC) Member Council. She has advised federal and provincial governments on issues related to the participation of women on boards, climate change, carbon capture and storage, environmental legislation, and Arctic foreign policy. Kathy also chaired the Canadian Council of Academies Assessment Panel on the State of Industrial R&D in Canada.
Ms. Sendall has contributed her time to a number of not-for-profit Boards, and is currently a Trustee of the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation. She is past president and former director of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
She has received many awards including the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the APEGGA Community Service Award, and two honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary in 2013. She has been twice named one of Alberta's 50 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture. She was named four times as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and has been inducted into Canada's Most Powerful Women Hall of Fame. She was awarded the 50 Key Women in Energy Global Award and the Women Who Make a Difference Award from the International Women's Forum. Ms. Sendall was named as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2011 and awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal in 2012. In 2014/15 Ms. Sendall was the Jarislowsky Fellow at the Haskayne School of Business.
Ms. Sendall graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Mechanical Engineering, and attended the Ivey Executive Program at the Ivey School of Business.
Brenda Kenny, PhD
Brenda Kenny, PhD
Brenda Kenny has extensive experience in energy regulation, sustainability and strategy development. Past President and CEO of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), she currently serves on the Member Council of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the board of the Canada West Foundation, and as co-chair of Nature Canada's Women for Nature. She is a Canadian Academy of Engineering Fellow, and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. Brenda holds a doctorate in Resources and the Environment, a Masters of Mechanical Engineering, and a Bachelors of Applied Science.
Robert Mansell, PhD
Robert Mansell, PhD
Dr. Robert Mansell served as Head of Economics, Dean of Graduate Studies, Associate Provost and Advisor to the President on Energy and Environment at the University of Calgary from 1996 to 2007. Robert is Emeritus Professor of Economics and continues to serve as Academic Director of the School of Public Policy at the University. He has authored over 100 studies on energy and regulatory issues, as well as many other studies on regional economics. His teaching includes courses on public-utility regulation, industrial development and regional economics.
Céline Bak
Céline Bak
She is a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation where she co-chairs of the Climate Policy and Finance Task Force which brings together 84 scholars from 42 global think tanks, 7 universities and 4 ENGOs to propose policies to the G20.
She sits as an independent director at Emissions Reduction Alberta, Green Centre Canada. She chairs the Core Evaluation Team for Genome Canada's Genomic Applications Partnership Program. She has worked in 25 countries and she has worked internationally for more than 30 years.
Céline Bak is also President of Analytica Advisors where she has authored and published seven national reports which have revealed that innovative clean technology firms in Canada provide a meaningful and measurable environmental and economic impact. In so doing, she has initiated an industrial transformation in Canada through $1.8 billion in investments in the 2017 federal budget.
Joseph Doucet, PhD
Joseph Doucet, PhD
Joseph Doucet is Dean of the University of Alberta School of Business, Canada's first and longest accredited business school, globally recognized for its excellence in research, teaching and engagement. A respected academic, Joe's research interests focus on the areas of energy and regulatory economics and policy; he also regularly provides strategic advice to firms and governments on these topics. Joe currently sits on the boards of the Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC), the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta (CMC-Alberta) and La Fondation franco-albertaine. He is also a member of the C.D. Howe Institute's Energy and Natural Resources Policy Council. Since 2015, he has been Chair of the Premier's Advisory Committee on the Economy.
Sara Hastings-Simon, PhD
Sara Hastings-Simon, PhD
Sara Hastings-Simon is the Associate Regional Director for Alberta at the Pembina Institute and leads the institute's clean economy program in Alberta. Sara has experience in cleantech, renewables, and energy efficiency, through the lenses of policy, business and technology. Her work has included research on success factors in the cleantech industry, international and domestic policy for climate change and emissions reduction, development of a detailed model of the North American power sector, and consulting work on key business issues in the cleantech sector with utilities, solar developers, venture capital firms and governments.
Prior to joining the Pembina Institute, Sara was the manager of the cleantech practice at McKinsey & Company, a global management-consulting firm. She holds a PhD in physics from the University of Geneva.
Sandra Locke
Sandra Locke
Sandra Locke is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Implementation and Regulatory Division of the Alberta Climate Change Office. The Climate Change Office is responsible for coordinating efforts to implement Alberta's Climate Leadership Plan, reporting on those efforts, implementing policies and reporting on Alberta's emissions.
Prior to working with the department of Environment and Parks, Sandra worked with International and Intergovernmental Relations as the Chief Assistant Deputy Minister, responsible for Alberta's network of international offices. Prior to that role, Sandra was the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Electricity and Sustainable Energy Division for Alberta Energy. Sandra has led initiatives to refine Alberta's electricity retail market, improve transmission cost oversight, develop an alternative and renewable energy framework and lead Alberta's carbon capture and storage initiatives. Since 2012 Sandra has chaired the International Standards Committee responsible for carbon capture, transportation and storage standards.
Sandra has an MBA from Memorial University and is a Chartered Accountant.
Clive Mather
Clive Mather
Clive Mather is the Chairman of Iogen Corporation, the Canadian company that is a leading developer of cellulosic biofuel technology and biogas projects. He is also the Chairman of Shell's Pension Funds in the UK and Chairman of Tearfund, the international Christian relief agency combating global poverty and injustice. He also works with NGO's and governments on both sides of the Atlantic on energy and environmental issues.
Clive was President & CEO of Shell Canada Limited from 2004 to 2007, presenting the business case for sustainable development through communications and example. He was a member of the Premier's Council for Economic Strategy in Alberta from 2009 until 2012. An advocate of leadership for good and corporate social responsibility, he has held many public appointments in the UK and lectures on ethical and environmental issues around the world. He is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Clive lives in Guildford, UK.
Patricia Mohr
Patricia Mohr
Patricia Mohr is the former Vice-President, Economics & Commodity Market Specialist at Scotiabank's Executive Offices in Toronto. Ms. Mohr worked closely with Corporate and Investment Banking – including the Oil & Gas team – and was responsible for preparing the commodity price forecasts for credit adjudication at The Bank. Ms. Mohr developed the 'Scotiabank Commodity Price Index' – the first index designed to measure price trends for Canadian commodities in export markets. Prior to joining Scotiabank, Patricia spent a number of years with Alberta Energy Co. Ltd. (now EnCana Corp.). She holds an Honours B.A. Degree and an M.A. Degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia and in 2013 was awarded the Metal Bulletin Apex Award for the most accurate gold and precious metal price forecasts of 2012. Patricia has recently been appointed to the Board of Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., serving industrial & clean-tech clients with lithium and specialty metals.


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Atlantic Classic UB45/
A professional undermount with style
The Classic undermounts have an elegant curvature to the bowls, creating a discreet sink solution suited to any kitchen scheme. Flexibility is also at the forefront of Rangemaster's undermount sinks, with the option of combining different bowl sizes to suit, in addition to both handed and reversible multiple bowl options. All come with a basket strainer waste provided, and a 25 year warranty.Download CutOut Download Specification
- Overall Size: 490 x 460
- Main Bowl Size: 450 x 420
- Finish: Micro-Sheen™
- Waste Kit: BSW Included
All Rangemaster stainless steel sinks have a Micro-Sheen, soft brush finish to the bowl and drainer and are supplied in new branded packaging designed to provide extra durability and protection.
For full installation and aftercare instructions for this undermount sink please download the PDF.
Unpacked Dimensions
- Pack/Box Quantity 1
- Packaging -
- Material 18/10 SS
- Gauge 0.9
- Rev/Handed -
- Finish Micro-Sheen™
- Tap Hole No & Size -
- Waste Kit BSW
- Waste Kit Included Yes
- Warranty 25 years
- Min Base Unit 600
- Drainer Position -
Product Dimensions
- Length 490
- Width 460
Bowl 1 Dimensions
- Length 450
- Width 420
- Depth 190
Accessories Included


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Serving a legal document is an important procedural step in a formal legal dispute.
There are generally a number of different ways to serve a legal document across an international border.
The methods of serving a document depends on the country in which the documents are to be served. The financial and time constraints of the case will dictate the method chosen.
The following links may assist in identifying which methods of document transmission and service are available in a destination country.
Australia does not object to the use of private process servers, diplomatic channels or local agents. However, we have made reservations to article 10 of the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters 1965 (Hague Service Convention) with respect to the use of postal channels for the service of documents. We request that only registered post be used if documents are to be served by post.
Australia is a member of the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters 1965 (Hague Service Convention). The Hague Service Convention can be used to transmit documents for service between two countries party to the convention.
The following fact sheets may also assist in understanding the transmission process and filling out the model letter of request.
Australia is party to a number of bilateral treaties on judicial assistance. These treaties provide a method for the service of documents where the country is not a Hague Service Convention country and diplomatic channels or private process servers are not convenient or possible.
Diplomatic channels are used for the transmission of information between diplomats and foreign states. In Australia these communications are sent and received by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Transmission of documents via diplomatic channels is usually only used where existing arrangements such as a bilateral or convention arrangement do not exist.
Countries may object to service via diplomatic channels for reasons of sovereignty. Countries may also object to service via diplomatic channels on their own citizens or limit the scope of service to Australian citizens only.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised this department that France is the only country that currently prohibits service via diplomatic channels.
Private process servers, registered post and local agents may also be used in some circumstances to transmit and serve documents abroad. Service via these methods, however, is only possible if the country in which service is to be effected accepts this method of service. This department cannot provide information about private process servers' costs, or their contact details.
Countries may object to service via private process servers or registered post for reasons of sovereignty. Countries may also object to service via these channels on their own citizens or limit the scope of service to Australian citizens only. Service by registered post may also be limited to certain actions or judicial documents. Please also refer to the relevant Australian court rules to determine whether service by registered post will be sufficient.


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Blog Post
Washington State University Gets Schooled In Data Security
This year, Washington State University learned a hard lesson in Data Security 101. It was recently revealed that the university discovered a significant breach on April 21st, 2017. But WSU kept quiet about the crime until June 9th, when they began mailing out letters to the affected parties. Turns out, over a million individuals had their personal information stolen!
So, why did WSU stay tight-lipped for 7 weeks? The college's rationale behind the delay was that they needed time to consult local authorities and launch an internal investigation. Keep reading to discover which details were finally revealed by WSU's president, Kirk H. Schulz. Read More


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Episode 4. Dana goes on a big audition and Betsy applies for a teaching position. Meanwhile two-timing Josh makes his return. Sitting on Babies is a comedic mock-reality show based on the lives of babysitters in NYC. Created, Written, and Produced by Brooke Jacob and Becky... more »
- February 06, 2013
- 5.9k Views


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The Olympics are finally here! They give a chance for everyone to set aside politics, grudges, and the difficulties of life to celebrate human dignity and sportsmanship, and to cheer for the best achievers in a fair competition. Unfortunately, the anticipation of such emotional warmth is countered by a Winter Olympics atmosphere that is much "colder" than usual, with increasing waves of human rights violations, security concerns with extreme measures, and deep restrictions on the freedom of journalists and activists.
As millions, if not billions, around the world tune in to one of the largest and oldest events in sports, the 2014 Sochi Olympics, I can't help but have mixed feelings. The eyes of the international community are now fixed on Sochi, with teams from around the world competing, all the while not knowing it is the land of my ancestors, the Circassians.
Unlike the Vancouver Olympics and its celebration of its indigenous people, the Sochi Olympics turned its back on the Circassians, the indigenous people of Sochi and the North Western Caucasus. This ancient nation actually participated in the original Greek Olympics thousands of years ago. Circassians had to face the largest, bloodiest ethnic cleansing in Eurasia at the hands of Tsarist Russia in the 19th century. Mostly Muslims, Circassians refused to submit to Russian threats to give up their land, and in many reports refused to give up their religion at the wishes of the Orthodox Russian Tsar. As many as 1.2 million Circassians were killed and 1.5 million were exiled. Sochi was the last of the Circassian towns to fall, and it witnessed mass killings to the point that the next town to Sochi was named "The Red Hill". There were mass deportations of women and children through the Black Sea, where many drowned due to overcrowded ships. Circassians were forced to flee to the Ottoman Empire, where they found refuge in the neighboring Muslim lands. My great-grandfather was one of the last migrants at the turn of the 20th century, and my grandfather was born on the road before my family finally settled in what is now Syria. I was raised with many stories of how Circassians joined in struggle with Chechens and Dagestanis against the continuous Tsarist aggression for almost 100 years. Now, 90% of the Circassian diaspora live in Turkey, Syria and Jordan. And recently, as a result of the Syrian crisis, many Circassian Syrians have tried to flee the violence back to their homeland, only to be denied by the Russian government in an ironic turn of fate.
As the Olympic flame is set to be ablaze in Sochi, and for those who wish to move on from memories of genocide, since "no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another" (Qur'an 35:18), the story of Circassians is not over. Circassians who remained in the Caucasus up until now as its indigenous people endure human rights violations, religious intimidation (20,000 Muslims living in Sochi have been denied to date the basic right to build a mosque in the city), economic abuse, and unceasing Russian crackdowns on activists and journalists, topped with the recent arrest of eight Circassian public figures just before the Games.
This is why the Sochi Olympics are more personal to me as a Muslim from Circassian descent living in the free West. We now witness the most extreme Olympics to date—a 50 billion dollar expenditure in the backyard of an economically disadvantaged community, severe security measures turning Sochi into a pseudo-military base of over 37,000 Russian troops to protect the Games, documented forced evictions from homes with no compensation, and extreme environmental and animal rights abuse, including a mass stray dog killing campaign to clear Sochi.
The immediate response to all of this is that we should look forward positively to this global celebration, and that politics should be separated from sports. The Olympics, after all, should transcend politics and tensions. On the contrary, the Olympics charter makes it clear that a hosting country should comply with human rights requirements, anti-discrimination laws, and should uphold equal opportunities for all. You cannot simply ignore social and economic illnesses to reward sporting competition. If the Olympics are to celebrate human dignity, all of us should couple our love of the Games with our firm stand with the oppressed.
As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Muslims in the Caucasus are again targets to extreme Russian security measures. These measures have even reached American Muslims, including federal investigations and interviews with US residents from that region to prevent terrorist plots. We must constantly internalize our Prophetic values to stand firm against any disruption of peace or any attempt to tarnish the sanctity of human life, yet we must equally embody other values of standing in aid with the distressed. At the least, we must speak against practices that disrupt and disrespect communities and families just like yours and mine.
The Sochi Olympics are more of a reflection of our world reality, an extravagant, glamorous spectacle that is only skin deep, hiding many illnesses and fears of the other. Promoting knowledge, justice, and respect for one another is our only choice as Muslims. Recall that 'Umar ibn Khattab (may God be pleased with him), the Caliph of the biggest empire at the time, slept safely under a tree with no guards, an astounding and moving sight to the non-Muslim delegation that once came to visit him. They said, "You slept because you felt safe, and you felt safe because you were just."
This is the way for every "Caliph" on this earth. It's a choice for the people in charge of this world, but it is a duty for every believer running his or her personal affairs and caring for the wellbeing of everyone and everything.
We cannot solve our local and global issues with more guns and security measures. The need to reach out to one another and work on confronting injustice with diligent peaceful effort is more urgent than ever before. Prophet Muhammadﷺ described Muslims as one body that aches and stays awake for an injury to one of its limbs. Whether it be in Syria, Bangladesh, the Caucasus or elsewhere, it behooves us as Muslims to be part of that effort for positive change. If we do not make that effort, the Godly message it seems will be that we are always the first to suffer the consequences.
"Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." (Qur'an 13:11)
Wishing a safe and rewarding Sochi Olympics to the attendees with equal wishes of awareness and social justice to all!
By Ghuydar Bashmaf , 07 Feb 2014