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"From this it follows that all methods or exercises for kindling and preserving the spirit of zeal can be briefly stated thus: after awakening, go with in yourself, stand in your place in the heart, go through all the spiritual life activities and, stopping with one or another, remain there without leaving. Or, even more briefly: gather yourself and instruct yourself secretly in the heart.
"By this method, with the help of the Lord's grace, the spirit of zeal in its true tone will be upheld, even warmed and flaming. This is the inner way. Note that this is the most direct path to a salvific disposition. One could abandon everything and practice only this activity, and everything would go successfully. On the contrary, even if we think to do everything else but pay no attention to this, we will see no fruit.
"He who does not turn within and ignores the spiritual activity only delays the work. True, this work is extraordinarily difficult in the beginning, but it is direct and fruitful. This is the why a guiding priest must as quickly as possible lead his spiritual children into this work and confirm them in it. He could even leave then in it first of all externally, but he should comply with it however he can – and he not only may but should do this. This is because the seed for this activity was planted at conversion, during which all of this was experienced. It is left only to explain it, interpreted as something important, and lead them through it. Then the external part will also go smoothly, quickly and rightly. However, without this the external alone, like rotten threads, will all fall apart. Note the rule that it must not be done suddenly, but by degrees. Great limitations should be placed on it, for it may not lead to this inner work, which is the essential work, but to external rules. Therefore, regardless even of the fact that there are people who go from the external to the internal, this should remain an irrevocable rule -- to go quickly within and there enkindle the spirit of zeal.
"It would seem to be a simple thing; but not knowing about it you can labor at it for a long time, with very little fruit. This is because of the nature of bodily activity. It is easier, and therefore becomes a habit, while the inner work is difficult, and therefore is pushed away. But if you become attached to bodily labors as to the material world, you will yourself become material in spirit and therefore cold, slow, and consequently, more and more removed from the interior world sometimes it happens that one abandons the interior work at the very start, as if waiting until he has become ripe for it. The time comes, but afterwards he looks around, and the time has passed; and instead of preparing himself for it he has become completely incapable. Again, the external should also not be neglected, for it supports the internal, but both should proceed jointly. It is obvious that only the internal should predominate, for we should serve God in spirit and worship him in spirit and in truth. One and the other should be in mutual submission according to each one's measure of worthiness, without doing violence to one another or causing compulsory separation" (St. Theophan the Recluse, The Path of Salvation, pp. 237-238).


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(Last Updated on April 12, 2022 by zimdaily)
HARARE – Zanu-PF's social media brigade, Varakashi4ED, has petitioned attorney general Prince Machaya compelling him to expedite the drafting of the controversial patriotic bill. If passed into law, the bill will, among other things, criminalise criticism of the country. Varakashi4ED's move comes just as President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration is trying to silence critics, most notably journalist and activist Hopewell Chin'ono who strongly criticised it for its glaring failures at last week's United Nations (UN) human rights summit in Geneva, Switzerland.
Chin'ono ruffled feathers within the ruling party and government circles when he detailed failure by Mnangagwa's administration to invest in the health sector, its disregard for human rights and corruption. The patriotic bill would be similar to America's Logan Act.
"As Varakashi4ED we are outraged and concerned that in spite of the destructive effect of the sanctions to Zimbabwe being so obvious and so acknowledged by majority of the international community, there are some Zimbabweans who have proved to be unpatriotic malcontents hell bent on begging for the sanctions to stay on," reads the petition.
"Recent cases of Zimbabweans begging for sanctions are the MDC-CCC's sanctions begging trips they made to the USA congress and the UK Chatham House in 2018 and subsequent years. The latest case being that of one Hopewell Chin'ono who on 6 April 2022 in Geneva misrepresented the Zimbabwe situation in a shameless attempt to beg for more sanctions against Zimbabwe," they said.
"We are also outraged and concerned that there has been no law made to discourage sanctions incitement in spite of the obvious toxicity of the sanctions and relentless calls for the enactment of a law to criminalise such unpatriotic acts like sanctions incitement, colluding with foreign powers and misrepresenting the Zimbabwe situation."
"We therefore call upon your esteemed office to do its part pronto and assist the government of Zimbabwe to enact the Patriotic Act which should be equivalent of the USA's Logan Act which in essence prohibits and criminalises Zimbabwean citizens and residents from engaging in unauthorised foreign negotiations, parallel diplomacy, foreign lobbying, sanctions incitement and foreign political and economic relations with countries in dispute with Zimbabwe or hostile to Zimbabwe."
Varakashi4ED are allegedly part of the ruling party's social media propaganda team that is being paid to counter anti-establishment narratives on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's fine if you have an axe to chop wood as long as the splitting tasks are very little. But what if the volume of work is too much?
It is time to considering the best log splitter for the money. For those woodworkers who fall to this case, look no further, our experts will give you the most informative advice. Start with this reviewing list:
Here are the best log splitters for the money you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: WEN 56207
- Best For Heavy-Duty Use: Boss Industrial ES7T20
- Best For Smaller Logs: Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60
- Most Durable: PowerSmart PS90
- Best Overall: Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SLS20825
- Best For Smaller Logs: Champion 7-Ton Compact Horizontal Gas Log Splitter
- Best For Heavy-Duty Use: YARDMAX YU2866
- Most Powerful: NorthStar GX270
Top 8 Best Log Splitters For The Money | ||
Best Overall | WEN 56207 | Read Our Review |
Best For Heavy-Duty Use | Boss Industrial ES7T20 | Read Our Review |
Best For Smaller Logs | Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60 | Read Our Review |
Most Durable | PowerSmart PS90 | Read Our Review |
Best Overall | Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SLS20825 | Read Our Review |
Best For Smaller Logs | Champion 7-Ton Compact Horizontal Gas Log Splitter | Read Our Review |
Best For Heavy-Duty Use | YARDMAX YU2866 | Read Our Review |
Most Powerful | NorthStar GX270 | Read Our Review |
Electric Log Splitter
Best Overall: WEN 56207
- The cheapest in price and lightest in weight out of the 4 options in our list
- High power engine <– give you 13,000 pounds of log cracking force to capably split through a big log of wood, no matter how hard it is
- Easy to transport <- feature never-flat wheels, lightweight design, and on-board pull handle
- Unclear manuals
- The ram is slightly short
When choosing an electric log splitter, users should carefully consider its all features. The good news is, this Editor's Choice winner strikes all the right balance of weight, power motor, and log capacity.
While offering the lowest price tag out of the four picks, we're pleasantly surprised by its performance.
The tool gives us a powerful 2HP motor for over 13,000 pounds of log cracking forced to go through a 20.5"x10" logs, which is not hard to guess.
The best thing is with the 16-square-inch push plate, 14.75-inch cylinder stroke, and 20-second cycle time, it can handle even the hardest of woods – something that rarely happens in an electric log splitter.
WEN 56207 Specifications | |
Weight | 98 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 15-amp 2HP motor |
Cycle Time | 20-second cycle time |
Capacity | 20.5-by-10-inch Log Capacity |
Highlight Features | Powerful 15A motor provides over 13,000 pounds of log cracking pressure Split logs up to 10 inches in diameter and 20.5 inches in length |
If transporting and pricing are two of the biggest concerns of yours, this log splitter is a great option.
Best For Heavy-Duty Use: Boss Industrial ES7T20
- Can go through any 20"+ logs <- Feature a 2HP motor with 7-ton of splitting capacity
- Work faster <- 12-second cycle time
- Reliable and safe for single-handed usage
- Expensive
- Very low to the ground -> not good for woodworkers with knee issues
- Wish the splitting edge was a bit higher
Although electric splitters can't be as powerful as the gas, this model by Boss Industrial still allows you to work in heavy-duty tasks, all thanks to its seven tons of splitting capacity.
The 2HP motor easily goes through wood logs bigger than 20 inches in diameter.
Its 12-second cycle time and automatic ram return cut off work time significantly, while the 3500-psi hydraulic pressure makes the tool stand out from the rest of the pack.
While featuring a front handle for easier maneuvering, its built-in side rails keep logs stable when splitting. According to that, it's reliable and safe enough to be used as a single-handled splitter.
Boss Industrial ES7T20 Specifications | |
Weight | 117 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 2 HP |
Cycle Time | 12 seconds |
Capacity | 20+ inches |
Highlight Features | Powerful 2 HP electric motor 7 tons of splitting force 12-second cycle time |
Looking for a robust yet safe single-handed wood splitter for your woodworking projects, the Boss Industrial ES7T20 will never let you down.
Best For Smaller Logs: Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60
- Help you finish a huge pile of work faster <- Give shorter cycle time than other standard 6-ton log splitters
- Versatile <- Can be adjusted to handle smaller wood logs
- Highly maneuverable and easy to store
- Limited on dealing with the length of wood
- Have to hold both the power button and the hydraulic lever at the same time for advancement
Featuring just 6-ton splitting capacity and a 1.75HP motor, however, this Southland model exceeded our all expectations.
Not only able to do big splitting jobs effortlessly with an 18-second cycle time but it is also adjustable to a shorter stroke for smaller logs. Impressively, this model can make a high pile of work that would have been days off chopping and splitting with an axe into several hours of work, especially when you get in a rhythm.
We also find it to be highly maneuverable and easy to store based on the configuration to a vertical position and 7" wheels.
Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60 Specifications | |
Weight | 105.8 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 15 amp 1.75HP |
Cycle Time | 18 seconds |
Capacity | 10" |
Highlight Features | 1.75 HP 15 amp induction motor An 18-second cycle time 7" wheels and configuration to a vertical position |
Overall, Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60 is a great splitter for small logs at a fantastic price.
Most Durable: PowerSmart PS90
- Can be used in different situations <- Built with a wear-resistant steel design for extra durability
- Reliable and quality <- Have a 2-year warranty
- Long cycle time
Although there's nothing really outstanding about the splitting performance of this PowerSmart, it is a durable model made for abuse, no matter inside, outside, on the bench or on the ground.
You can move it to any different work area, even the most rugged conditions, all thanks to the durable wear-resistant steel construction. Furthermore, there is a 2-year warranty provided with the manufacturer's commitment and dedication to quality.
With a 1.75HP motor for 6-ton splitting capacity, this is an ideal choice for light-duty tasks or home use.
PowerSmart PS90 Specifications | |
Weight | 101 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 15 amp 1.75 HP |
Cycle Time | 20 seconds |
Capacity | 10" in diameter; 21" In length |
Highlight Features | 1.75 HP 15 Amp induction motor delivers 6-Ton maximum performance A 20-second cycle time Split logs up to 21" In length; |
If your woodworking projects need operating in various conditions, the PowerSmart PS90 is compact and durable enough to be a shining candidate.
Gas Log Splitter
Best Overall: Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SLS20825
- Long-lasting <- Have an internal oil delivery system to lubricate the internal engine bearings
- Convenient and versatile <- No lifting requirement when you want to roll big logs under the tool's wedge
- Assembly is a bit time-taking
Out of the 4 options of gas log splitters, this Southland is a perfect in-between model, in terms of both the price and performance.
The 208cc OHV engine helps it run durably in most rugged conditions and powerfully in most woodworking tasks by providing a 25-ton splitting capacity with a 17-second cycle time. The added automatic returns even make it more efficient and effortless.
Designed with longevity in mind, it features an internal oil delivery system to provide internal engine bearings with extra lubrication, therefore, extending the engine's life hugely.
The best thing is you can roll bigger logs under its wedge with no need to lift them due to its versatile splitting positions – vertical and horizontal.
Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SLS20825 Specifications | |
Weight | 474 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 208cc Southland OHV gas engine |
Cycle Time | 17 seconds |
Capacity | 25-ton splitting capacity 26-inch log length capacity |
Highlight Features | 208cc Southland OHV gas engine A 17-second cycle time and automatic returns 25 Ton |
The Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SLS20825 gives you a perfect in-between performance at a good price point, which helps it win our Editor's Choice award for the best overall gas log splitters.
Best For Smaller Logs: Champion 7-Ton Compact Horizontal Gas Log Splitter
- Powerful <- Can work with a 50-pound log easily
- The lightest and cheapest (in price) out of the four options
- High efficiency <- feature the skewed wedge
- Reliable <- Have a 2-year limited warranty and FREE lifetime technical support
- So low to the ground
- The hydraulic tank is smaller than other counterparts
You might be wondering, why to choose this when its splitting capacity is just the same as the Boss Industrial electric model above, not to say that its cycle time is longer and the weight is heavier.
Well, we picked it for many good reasons.
First off, as this is a gas-powered splitter, it doesn't require power cord length or an outlet to run, meaning for more versatile purposes of use.
Secondly, the skewed wedge of this model is significantly improved for higher efficiency, clearly proofed through the weight capacity of wood logs it can handle – 50 pounds.
There is also a 2-year limited warranty provided with FREE lifetime technical support and it's made by a world's leading brand of home tools, what else to ask?
Champion 7-Ton Compact Horizontal Gas Log Splitter Specifications | |
Weight | 143.3 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 80cc engine |
Cycle Time | 20-second cycle time |
Capacity | 19 inches in length and 50 lb. in weight |
Highlight Features | Auto Return Features an integrated log cradle and low profile for easy loading 80cc engine |
For people who are seeking a reliable, versatile, and efficient gas-powered log splitter for small woodworking tasks, this is our top pick.
Best For Heavy-Duty Use: YARDMAX YU2866
- Extremely heavy-duty and fast <- Can split through 26" diameter of wood logs within just 13.2 seconds
- Superior durability, performance, and ease to use <- Stronger than typical i-beam design
- Really heavy
After giving these several tests, we can confidently assure you that no log on Earth is a match for this tool. It easily converts to an ordinary wedge for the monsters and with a 4-way splitting wedge, going through a 16" log isn't a thing.
The power is fantastic, easy to start, and not very loud. Its cycle time is also impressive with just 13.2 seconds and the log spinner footplate makes log rotating can't be easier.
The biggest selling point is its u-beam structural design. Compared to standard i-beam models, it is hugely stronger with less stress on the beam to hence provide more efficient performance.
YARDMAX YU2866 Specifications | |
Weight | 530.5 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 6.5HP, 208cc |
Cycle Time | 13.2 sec |
Capacity | 26" |
Highlight Features | 28 Ton 4-Way Wedge 6.5HP 208cc |
No matter what the heavy-duty woodworking task is, we confidently recommend this gem.
Most Powerful: NorthStar GX270
- Perfect for any heavy-duty tasks and any wood <- Offer the highest splitting capacity out of a bunch – 30" of diameter
- Quicker to make getting to/from the woodpile <- Easy to maneuver thanks to the smooth wheels
- Super-heavy
- Expensive
Making this NorthStar splitter outperform other gas-powered counterparts is its 270cc Honda GX270 engine which delivers up to 37-ton capacity and can cut through a 30" log within 14 seconds.
For sure, this machine significantly improves a person's ability of wood splitting, no matter which types of wood they work with, however, it comes with a hefty price tag.
It might be a worthwhile investment for professional woodworkers or people who have to deal with a huge pile of woods every day, but overkill for once- or twice-a-year hobbyists.
NorthStar GX270 Specifications | |
Weight | 625 pounds |
Motor/Engine | 270cc |
Cycle Time | 14 seconds |
Capacity | 30" |
Highlight Features | 37-Ton 270cc Honda GX270 Engine |
The NorthStar GX270 is a true heavy-duty log splitter that can work excellently in any big woodworking projects, no matter the quantity. A well-worth investment for pros!
How To Choose The Best Log Splitters For The Money?
Types & Power Input
- The first part of this puzzle is choosing the right type and power input of log splitter.
- There are basically three types of log splitters:
- Manual log splitters – require no fuels, which means its construction is much simpler and the price is cheapest out of a bunch. However, it won't be as fast and powerful as the two others so we highly recommend this type for people who occasionally do splitting every day.
- For people who desire power, pick either of these two power input options:
Electricity log splitters | Gas log splitters | |
Pros | Easier to store and maintain Eco-friendlier & emit less noise Cheaper price | More powerful than the electricity to work on heavy-duty tasks like a breeze |
Cons | Run at lower pressures and slower speeds Hard to handle heavy-duty tasks Consume electricity, require a high current socket to power it -> limited | Prone to leak -> you have to be more careful when storing them Expensive Release smoke when running -> not eco-friendly Noisier than the electricity |
Best for | Small to medium-sized wood logs People who desire power and economy | Medium to big sized wood logs People who want both power and mobility |
Figure Out The Right Amount Of Power Your Splitter Should Have
- The measuring unit of a splitter's power is tons.
- The higher the power of a splitter, the faster it'll manage to get through logs, which results in the increased ability to split thicker logs
- There are many factors influencing the power of a splitter, such as grain structure, dryness, shape, length, diameter, and type of wood. Our experience is:
- Grain structure: Logs with knots along the grain or closely spaced grains are difficult to split than those with loosely spaced grains.
- Dryness: Drier wood logs are easier to split than the wet ones
- Shape: It's easier to split log-shaped wood rather than the prism-shaped
- Length: The shorter the wood, the easier
- Diameter: The smaller the diameter of wood, the easier
- Type: Softwood is easier to split than the hardwood.
- To give a simpler idea of how much power to choose for your log splitters, take a peek at this table:
Power of a log splitter required (tons) | Type of wood – Diameter |
6-10 | Greenwood – under 6" Seasoned wood – under 12" |
15-20 | Greenwood – 6" to 12" |
20+ | Seasoned wood – 24" |
30 | Greenwood – upper 12" |
- Two-handed operation: Although this is a controversial feature, we prefer the two-handed operation. Why? Because it's safer than the one-handed, especially for beginners
- Auto-return: We consider this is a time-saving feature because it will automatically bring the piston to the beginning position without your involvement after splitting a log. Meanwhile, you can prep the next piece of wood for splitting.
- Cycle time: It represents the time taken to finish one operation. For a sustainable rhythm, 10 to 15 seconds are ideal.
Which Brands Make The Best Log Splitters For The Money?
- Champion already holds a great reputation in the power generation equipment industry, and further, the log splitter range has helped it to carve a recognition in the world's woodworker customers. Their products are praised not just for variety of lines but also for the perfect combination of good prices and quality.
Boss Industrial
- Boss Industrial is by far one of the most famous power tool brands. This Australia-based company is well-loved for its top-notch extensive product ranges with excellent caring services and fast delivery times.
- WEN has always remained to be a reliable and affordable brand where you can find only high-quality power tools at a really budget-friendly price point. Although it has a successful chainsaw line, its log splitter is not less than perfect.
How many tons do I need for a log splitter?
6-30+ tons, depending on the wood type, shape, diameter, and so on. You can read our buying guide above to learn more about this thing.
Are manual log splitters any good?
They are only good for occasional splitting tasks per day.
What is a good cycle time for a log splitter?
It depends on the type of your log splitter's motor/engine. In general, it should be 10 – 13 seconds of cycle time while for the hydraulic models, it should be 12-20 seconds.
How do I split a large log with a log splitter?
This video will give you a complete guide on splitting large logs with a log splitter:
How much does it cost to hire a log splitter?
It varies between different places you choose to hire in as well as the chosen period.
For example, in COMPLETE RENT-ALLS ORILLIA, prices start off at $45/4 hours of use to $90/entire weekend. Or, in RENTAL VILLAGE, it has an additional pack of $1080/full month's rental.
For dealing with newly cut logs, log splitters are no doubt a useful tool that should be added to anyone's arsenal.
This article predominantly serves as a complete guide for you to get an idea about how to choose the best log splitter for the money. We're sure that you will find the right one in no time at all.
Thanks for reading!


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Library News: READ All About It!
March/April/May 2021
What is Corona Virus, Why Do We Wear Masks, Why Do I Have to Social Distance From My Friends, Why Do I Need to Wash My Hands?
EBooks are Now Available Through PISD!!!
I'm happy to announce that the Axis360 eBook collection for elementary students is live and ready to use.
The link to access the elementary eBook collection is here: http://pisdelem.axis360.baker-taylor.com I have also added that link to the elementary eBook page on our library resources website, along with links to instructions on how to log in and check out books. Our eBook page is here: https://www.pisd.edu/Page/24533
Quick basic information: students can only check out one eBook at a time, for up to 2 weeks. If they finish reading an eBook sooner than that, they can choose to return the eBook early and check out another eBook. You can check out/view eBooks and eAudiobooks on a web browser or if you have an Android/Apple device, using an app for this purpose.
Students should use their Plano ISD username and password to log in.
NEW Clickable Libraries! CHECK THEM OUT!
Bunnies are soft and cozy and fun book characters! Check out the new Rabbit Read Alouds on this awesome clickable library!
Saint Patrick's Day is just around the corner! Check out this awesome clickable library for all things green!
Be sure to check out this clickable library on maintaining good dental health...our teeth are so important!
Kindness matters...today, tomorrow, forever! Check out this clickable library on being kind. A small kind gesture can mean the world to someone!
The night before anything big can cause excitement and anxiety. Check out this clickable library about "The Night Before..."
Happy Clicking!
Library Grade Level Google Classrooms...Be sure to "check them out!"
If you have not joined my Google Classroom yet, please take a moment to do so. I will be pushing out great information, stories, activities, challenges, and so much more!
Here are the invite links for each grade level for Mrs. Noble's Loveable Library
Kindergarten - https://classroom.google.com/c/MTIzMTgzNjU4NTA2?cjc=5toqc22
First Grade - https://classroom.google.com/c/MTIyODQwNTk1MzQw?cjc=5urburh
Second Grade - https://classroom.google.com/c/MTIzMTkwMjc0ODU2?cjc=siaj5xp
Third Grade - https://classroom.google.com/c/MTIzMTg3MzkzNDk1?cjc=g25m2c3
Fourth Grade - https://classroom.google.com/c/MTIzMTg3MzkzNTY4?cjc=mh6ftyq
Fifth Grade - https://classroom.google.com/c/MTIzMTcxNTQ5MTQ4?cjc=nrjhvue
I hope to see you all online!
Please email me with any questions.
Take care and keep reading,
Mrs. Noble
Epic! What is it?
I have created an Epic! Classroom where you may go and enjoy over 40,000 audio books with just the click of the mouse.
Be sure to enter our library class code neg6942 and select your name. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Happy Reading!
What Do I Have Checked Out From the Library?
The directions for checking your account are posted below. Be sure to email me if you have any questions. email@example.com.
2020-2021 Bluebonnet List is Out!!!
The Texas Bluebonnet Award Program is a state-wide program for students in grades 3-6. Texas Librarians nominate 20 new books each year from different genres to be on the Bluebonnet list. Its purpose is to promote free-choice reading and expose students to a variety of quality literature.
The rules are simple...read 17 of the 20 selected books, give a brief synopsis of the books read, and come to a breakfast to celebrate you and your incredible achievement! Below you will find the new 2019-2020 reading log. You can print it out or secure one from Mrs. Noble.
Virtual Field Trips!
San Diego Zoo https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos
Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam https://youtu.be/_6wbfVWVk8Q
Smithsonian's National Zoo https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
Reid Park Zoo Lion Cam in Tuscon, AZ http://reidparkzoo.org/cameras/lion-cam/
Ouwehand Park Polar Bear Cubs Rhenen, Netherland https://explore.org/livecams/polar-bears/polar-bear-ouwehand-twin-cubs-cam-2
Monterey Bay Aquarium https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-exhibits/live-web-cams
Georgia Aquarium https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/ocean-voyager/
National Aquarium Virtual Tour http://samuraivirtualtours.com/example/nadc/index.html
Virtual Tour of the Seattle Aquarium
World Travel:
Google Maps street view will allow you to visit almost any destination around the world. Check out this view from Pompei.
Visit the Great Wall of China https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
Virtually discover Yellowstone National Park https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Tour England through this 360 video.
Take a live look at Colonial Williamsburg.
Go on a virtual field trip to Ellis Island.
My Son Trace
Trace is a senior at Plano Senior High School. He is on Varsity Football and plays starting center. His number is #53. We are very proud of Trace, and all he has accomplished.
My Fur Baby, Ranger
Ranger just turned 6 this past April. He is my constant companion when I am home! His favorite toy is "Gary the Gator" and he carries Gary everywhere he goes!
My Sweet Husband, Mr. Noble
Mr. Noble and I just celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary this summer. He and I enjoy doing many things together. Watching Trace play football, visiting friends, going to the movies and the lake, and spending time with our extended family are just a few of the many!
Mrs. Noble
A little bit about me...
Hi Everyone! I am so excited to be back with you for another year! This is my 18th year at Mathews! I have seen lots of boys and girls go through my doors during that time becoming a lover of literature. It is my passion to share with you all the pleasures of what a visit to the library can bring! Welcome to the library! Picking out a book...check it in, check it out!
Mathews Elementary Library
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: https://www.pisd.edu/mathews
Location: 7500 Marchman Way, Plano, TX, USA
Phone: (469)752-2328


text: Basic Gear For Spear Fishing by jimrussell | Aug 10, 2019 | Fishing, Internationalisation, Kraken, United States, Video | 0 comments Huge thank you to Jameson Redding for putting together this awesome video and giving me a chance to talk about some of the basic gear I use for spearfishing out here in Northern California. Everyone has different ways of doing things so I encourage you to experiment and see what works best for the style of diving/spearfishing you do. Thanks for looking!! Sincerely, Jim Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ


text:
Charley survivors set to return
For most students, the first week of school consisted of attending classes, buying books and trying to find a parking spot. But for others, the first week of school was spent recovering from Hurricane Charley.
As the damages piled up and the first week of classes drew near, some university students affected by Charley became concerned about the first day of class mandatory attendance policy. Bob Sullins, USF dean of undergraduate studies, forwarded a note to Angela DeBose, university registrar, asking what the university could do to help these students.
"We always try to accommodate students in emergency situations," DeBose said. "This is the first situation with weather-related significance on student lives. We created a mechanism to prevent being dropped and to preserve enrollment."
DeBose thought the most efficient solution was to put these students on a special hold in order to prevent them from being dropped for attendance reasons. The hold does not block registration/drop/add activity. Instructors were notified immediately and asked not to drop students whose name appeared on the list. The process was set up to flag the records of victims and, even if they are accidentally dropped, they will be reinstated.
Sara Spas, a senior majoring in mass communications, was on this list. The eye of Hurricane Charley passed over her family's home in Arcadia, Florida. Her family's electricity and water were restored Thursday, nearly two weeks after the storm.
"We're one of the lucky ones; half of our town is homeless," Spas said.
Spas missed her Monday and Wednesday classes, but managed to commute to her Tuesday and Thursday classes from her brother's house in North Port. She was not dropped from the classes she did not attend.
Members of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries at USF helped hurricane relief areas, including DeSoto County, where Spas' family lives. Fellow USF students ended up helping Spas' family clean up their five acres of uprooted land.
"The amount of support I have been given is incredible," Spas said. "Not having to go to class was a relief. The timing for everything got all messed up. I was supposed to be moving to Tampa and starting my senior year at USF. I was concerned about not graduating and having to postpone it. It makes me feel so good the way the professors showed care and came through for me. Everyone has worked with me. This next week will be a week of catch up, but things are starting to get back to normal. I think it might be a good year after all."
Approximately 20 students contacted the university and were placed on the list originally, but a total of 11 students, averaging three to four classes each, did not attend some or any of their classes the first week, according to DeBose.
"The real thing is people are faced with a situation and the institution is sensitive to specific issues. In their life it is important to them. It may only be 11 students, but it's still important," DeBose said.


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Piggy Riches is a 5-reel, 15-line video slot game that has NetEnt's two sophisticated swines. Lady Pig and Gentleman Pig are two wealth pigs that love the finer things in the life. You won't find these pigs lying or rolling in a pig sty. Piggy Riches offers you scatter wins, free spins and wild substitutions. Being rich pigs, they will allow you to click on a scatter to select the free spins and multiplier win of your choosing.
Hit a gentleman pig and it acts a wild. The gentleman can substitute all other symbols except the scatter for additional wins to your piggy bank. This gentleman pig has one last bonus for you. Any winning combination that uses a wild will have its prize money tripled, Oink, Oink! The lady Pig is the bell of the slot. She is the scatter symbol. You can get a maximum of 28 free spins, and the maximum multiplier x6.
Piggy Riches will hopefully increase your little piggy bank.


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Bracken Ridge Ward
The Bracken Ridge Ward comprises the suburbs of Bracken Ridge, Bald Hills, Carseldine, Fitzgibbon, and parts of Aspley and Zillmere.
Councillor Sandy Landers
Councillor Sandy Landers was appointed Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward in October 2019 and elected as part of Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner's Administration in 2020.
Sandy is a Brisbane girl who has lived the majority of her life on the Northside. She was raised in Brighton and went to Bracken Ridge State High School where she was School Vice-captain. She raised her two children, Courtney and Jordan in the district with both of them now working after obtaining their tertiary qualifications.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Post Graduate Degree in Teaching, Sandy taught in our state schools for over 20 years including, Craigslea and Albany Creek State High Schools.
Prior to becoming a Councillor, Sandy had extensive experience working in State and Federal Governments and understands what is required to get things done.
One of Sandy's core values is development of community which she has done through investing her time and energy into every community she has lived in. From playgroups, schools, scouts, music and community groups; to being a JP and to rolling up her sleeves with the hundreds and hundreds of other Brisbanites as part of the mud army when the devastating floods affected our great city.
Sandy sees being a local Councillor as an extension of what she's been doing as a volunteer for years. She also supports other passionate members of the community who have great ideas, in their aspirations for our local area.
Sandy wants the Bracken Ridge Ward to be the best place in Brisbane to live, work and raise a family.
Sandy is a member of the Council's Environment Parks and Sustainability Committee, is Deputy Chair of the Community, Arts and Nighttime Economy Committee and Deputy Chair of Council. In recognition of Council's commitment to representing residents and visitors of culturally diverse backgrounds, Sandy is also a Lord Mayor's representative for multicultural communities.
Contact Ward Office
Bracken Ridge Ward Office | Phone: 07 3667 6000 Fax: 07 3667 6005 Email: email@example.com |


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It's a once a week, three hour course (evening). For the first week, I'll send them a questionnaire asking them which of the following texts they've studied or read. And I'll also send them a pdf of Sidney's Defense of Poesy, along with a reading assignment of some sort (like asking them to choose one image they find interesting or confusing or something. Maybe also a bit of Palladis Tamia or something?
That first week, we'll talk about what literature's for, and I'll give them their first real assignment, which will be to look at Wikipedia type entries for some literature, and to come the following week with choices about what they want to read and why. (I'll probably make that a group assignment. Or not.)
The second week, we'll start with Hamlet, which many will have read, but which it won't hurt to read and study a second time. We'll also go over the choice assignment, and decide on what to read for the rest of the semester. Then they'll have two more weeks of Hamlet and criticism and such, and then we'll start in on their choices.
For the final text, I'm thinking of ordering Oroonoko just to have something really different. We'll see. It's a bit up in the air.
Here's the tentative list for choosing their literary adventures (in no real order yet):
Spenser, The Faerie Queene, Bk 1 or 3 (2 weeks)
More, Utopia (1-2 weeks)
Montaigne, Castiglione, and Machiavelli (essays, exerpts) (1 week)
Surrey, Wyatt, Tottel's: lyrics and sonnets (1 week)
Lanyer, Jonson, ? Country House Poems, etc. (1 week)
Donne: Holy Sonnets, Lyrics (1 week, maybe 2?)
Herbert Lyrics from The Temple (1 week)
Shakespeare: Lear or Rape of Lucrece (2 weeks)
Marlowe, Faustus (2 weeks)
Milton, Paradise Lost (2-3 weeks)
Shakespeare/Sidney/Spenser: sonnets (not all, of course) (1 week)
What do you think? Are there obvious early modern pieces that I should give students a chance at?


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Happy holidays to you all! I hope that the turning of the political tide continues into next year and perhaps soon we'll see Bush and all his cronies are turned out for the lying rascals they are! Cheers! And to Anne, Thank you so very much for all you've done for us Whittemorites, Beare-heads, Stronbowians, and Stern-ies! And a very heart-felt thank you for the Whittemore calender. It is a thing of exquisite beauty with most excellent quotations. Thank you for taking the trouble for doing that. I for one say it was well worth it and I'm sure I am not in the minority opinion. Cheers! -Pat
Message Thread
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The controversy over the Food and Drug Administration's use of its accelerated approval pathway to make a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease available raises broader, fundamental issues about the purpose and management of our nation's health care system. Those of us who rely on this system believe that its purpose is twofold: mitigate our risk – for going to the hospital, for a disability, for dying – and improve our quality of life. There are powerful voices, however, that have a profoundly different view.
Rather than managing patients' risk, some are more focused on managing immediate health costs – in other words, financial risk. They do this by erecting barriers to treatment options that exist today and hindering advances in medical innovation that will provide better options in the future. The stark differences between the financial risk and patient risk approaches are, in fact, on display in this debate over the FDA's accelerated approval pathway.
The FDA developed this pathway to make treatments available more quickly for severe and often life-threatening diseases where existing medical options are inadequate. It has been an enormous success, including being critical in saving the lives of people with HIV/AIDS, and benefiting patients afflicted with a variety of cancers and rare diseases. Under the pathway, therapies go through rigorous clinical trials – just like drugs that are reviewed through the traditional FDA approval pathway – but the trials study the effects of the therapy by using a "surrogate endpoint" such as a lab measure or the effect of the drug on the size of a tumor, instead of how long someone lives.
The accelerated approval pathway brings innovative therapies to bedsides faster. For many patients with serious diseases, this pathway gives treatment options where there were once none.
Those who care more about financial risk, unsurprisingly, find fault with the accelerated approval pathway. We're seeing this in the controversy over the new Alzheimer's treatment. Despite the hope that it brings to a rapidly growing number of Alzheimer's patients and their families who have not seen a significant clinical achievement in this field in over two decades, many in the health care establishment are finding fault with the FDA's accelerated approval designation. But this sniping isn't new by any means.
The National Governors Association and individual states have asked the federal government to allow them to exclude accelerated approval drugs from state Medicaid formularies – essentially denying their poorest citizens access to innovative medicines – until additional clinical trials are completed.
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, an organization with influence over health care coverage and payment decisions, has suggested that accelerated approval drugs be price-controlled at marginal levels. This would have a discouraging effect on the development of breakthrough medicines.
And the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission has recommended to Congress that it increase the level of mandated Medicaid rebates for accelerated approval drugs, effectively a backdoor approach to price controls that could have a deleterious effect on development of disease treatments.
These conflicting views over the accelerated approval concept represent a microcosm of the fundamental health care debate pitting patient risk against financial risk. We have inadequate treatment options for many serious diseases. We can slow-walk our way to finding solutions, controlling access to care as dictated by financial risk models, understanding that hundreds of thousands will have their lives cut short or their quality of life severely degraded as we meander and monitor the short-term financial bottom lines.
Or: We can realize that we are living in a golden age of medical innovation that is bringing cures for devastating diseases within our reach. If we are truly committed to mitigating patient risk, we understand that we have an obligation to bring new therapies in a system regulated by safety, efficacy and all deliberate speed. As we achieve cures and more effective treatments, the real savings in health care cost will be realized without the inequities bred by current-day financial risk models.
It is time to decide whether the guiding principle of our health care system is to manage financial risk or to mitigate patient risk and improve our collective health and societal well-being.
This op-ed is by National Minority Quality Forum President and CEO Dr. Gary A. Puckrein. It originally appeared in Morning Consult.


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Carlisle Syntec Systems
Mid-Western Commercial Roofers, Inc. is an authorized applicator of the Carlisle Syntec Systems. Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM) manufactures a complete range of single-ply roofing and waterproofing systems focused on optimizing the performance of the building envelope. A leading innovator in the commercial and industrial roofing and waterproofing industry. CCM's expertise includes EPDM (rubber). TPO (thermoplastic) and modified bitumen-based membranes as well as high thermal polyisocyanurate and expanded polystyrene insulation products that contribute to the reduction of energy use in the "built environment".
Carlisle's Sure-Weld TPO reinforced membrane is a premium, heat-weldable, single-ply thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) sheet designed for new roof construction and re-roofing applications. Sure-Wel High Slope (HS) membrane is formulated with additional flame retardant for higher-slope fire code approvals. Sure-Wels EXTRA is 80 mils thick for significantly higher strength and weatherability. The physical properties of the membrane are enhanced by a strong polyester fabric that is encapsulated between the TPO-based top and bottom plies. The combination of the fabric and TPO plies provides high breaking and tearing strength, as well as excellent puncture resistance. The relatively smooth surface of the membrane produces a total surface fusion weld that results in a consistent, watertight, monolithic roof assembly. The membrane is environmentally friendly and safe to install.
Features and Benefits
- Outstanding puncture resistance
- Excellent fire resistant assemblies
- Environmentally friendly and stable formulation
- Excellent resistance to impact and low temperatures
- Excellent chemical resistance to acids, bases and restaurant exhaust emissions
- UL 2218 Class 4 Hail rating
- Exceptional resistance to heat, solar UV, ozone and oxidation
- Manufactured using a hot-melt extrusion process for complete scrim encapsulation
- 100% recyclable (see Carlisle's Recyclability Statement)
- Enhanced with the OctaGuard XT weathering package
- APEEL Protective Film applicaiton guards the TPO membrane's surface from scuffs and dirt accumulation during installation, improving the roof system's appearance and long-term performance
- APEEL Protective Film can be left in place for up to 90 days without degrading due to its excellent heat and UV resistance
Carlisle's Sure-Flex PVC is an advanced-forumal, heat-weldable PVC thermoplastic membrane that is designed for long-term weatherability and performance. The physical properties of the membrane are enhanced by a tenacious, weft-inserted polyester fabric that is encapsulated by thick PVC-based top and bottom plies. The smooth surface of the PVC membrane allows for a total-surface fusion and permanent weld, creating a consistent, watertight, monolithic roof assembly. PVC can be used in adhered and mechanically fastened systems. The gray-colored bottom ply provides a visual confirmation of a proper weld during the lap welding process.
Features and Benefits
- Wide choice of membrane sizes, thicknesses and colors
- Enhanced chemical resistance
- Energy efficiency
- Wide window of weldability
- Flexibility in low temperatures
- Impact and puncture resistance
- UV, ozone and oxidation resistance
- Easy installation
- Available in white, gray, light gray, and tan


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With the beginning of the new school year right around the corner, Dawson County fans are getting excited about the upcoming sports seasons.
The new alignment of Region 7-AAA may give Tigers fans more reason to look forward to an exciting sports year.
With powerhouses Buford, North Hall and White County moving to bigger regions, the Tigers look to be one of the stronger schools in the newly aligned region. The three departing schools took three of the four playoff spots in football last year.
Region 7-AAA will add two new schools for the 2014-2015 season. Franklin County moved from Region 8-AAA to Region 7-AAA for the upcoming sports season. But, the most impactful addition may be Lumpkin County.
The addition of Lumpkin County offers Dawson fans what could be the best rivalry in the area as the Indians move back to the same region with the Tigers for the first time since 2005. In football, the old neighboring foes have met just four times since playing every season from 1980-2005.
A breakdown of records from last year could shed some light on what Tigers fans may expect in the upcoming football and softball seasons.
In football, West Hall is the only team from a year ago to advance to the playoffs. The Spartans recorded an overall record of 6-4 and a region record of 2-5. However, the Spartans lost several key players from last years playoff team.
East Hall finished last season with a 5-5 overall record and a 2-5 region record, Lumpkin County ended their season with a 2-8 overall record and a 2-5 record in Region 8-AAAA, Fannin County went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in region play and Banks County had a dismal 0-10 overall record and a 0-7 region record.
Dawson County had the best region record out of the teams in the newly aligned Region 7-AAA, going 3-4 in regional action and 5-5 overall.
If the numbers indicate the strength of the teams in the region, then the Tigers look to be in good position to make a run at the Region Championship and the state playoffs in the 2014-2015 season.
The new alignment should be a source of excitement for fans of Lady Tigers softball, as well.
The addition of Franklin County into Region 7-AAA could prove to be the biggest obstacle for the Lady Tigers in the upcoming season. Franklin County amassed a 26-7 overall record and a 11-3 region record in Region 8-AAA last year.
Banks County, Fannin County, Lumpkin County each had above .500 overall records last year, making each one a solid opponent on the diamond. East Hall finished one game under .500 last year, but were able to go 9-5 in regional action.
West Halls dismal 2-23 overall record and 0-13 region record from last season could translate into easy victories for the Lady Tigers when they match up with the club.
The Lady Tigers went 15-10 overall and 9-5 in the region last year in the diamond.
The loss of the top three schools in Region 7-AAA last year and the additions of Franklin and Lumpkin counties should make Tigers football and softball fans excited about the upcoming sports seasons. If last years numbers are any indication, Dawson County should find itself in good position to find success on the grid iron and the softball diamond.
The new alignment means that basketball, wrestling and baseball should all be wide-open playoff races as well.


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In January's report, I mentioned that things weren't looking much better in 2021 with the insurrection, but that seems a little on the backburner now. We're getting a lot of vaccines in people's arms. Things may not have run very smoothly everywhere, but it's working and getting better. More vaccine is getting available, we're getting more of it in people. COVID cases have dropped a lot, then plateaued, and maybe dropping again. I'm still optimistic that continued vaccines and summertime will be a more powerful combination than the variants.
The kids finished up their snowboarding lessons in February. The younger kid liked skiing better last year and the older kid liked snowboarding this year. I think I will try snowboarding next season, but I might need some lessons. The problem I have with a lot of these activities is that they don't take adults and kids (such as a family) in the same lesson. The only instruction they had for adults was on a Wednesday evening, which wouldn't fit my schedule.
We continued karate lessons and the kids are on the verge of their orange belt. It's been really helpful for focus and discipline. The kids just love it too. They ran the second "parents night out" in two months, so the kids sword techniques should be getting better. If not, at least my wife and I got some time out. We went bowling a couple of times too. The alleys are running at low capacity so social distancing isn't an issue. It's almost like pre-COVID times.
My 7-year-old earning his third orange stripe on his yellow belt.
The kids also their 100th day of in-person school. It's a bit of a celebration at our school in the lower grades as they use it to help with place value. At first and second grade, they phase out the celebration a bit. I think it's a big accomplishment on everyone's part (especially the school's, but other parents as well).
That's enough lead-in… let's start the Passive Income report. I used to call this the Alternative Income Report, but everyone loves passive income better. While I transition to the new terminology, there may be some "alternative income" mentions including the FAQ. If you are a new reader, you're going to want to refer to my Alternative Income FAQ as you'll likely have a lot of questions.
The way I calculate these numbers requires that long explanation – it isn't intuitive at all. The reason why I do things a little differently is that this catalogs a journey. For example, we don't have passive income from our rental properties while we are paying down their mortgages. Instead, I calculate the percentage of equity we have to show where on that journey we are. Each month you see that the bank owns less and we own more. When we get to owning 100% there will be no mortgages and all that rental income can be used for living expenses.
Lazy Man's Passive Income – February 2020
I categorize our passive income into 3 main sources that are largely represented in my passive income pyramid. For this report, I ignore the bottom section, "career/job" – that's not passive at all. (I do have some income in that area, but that's not the focus of this report.) I combine dog sitting and blogging into one section of "somewhat active" income. I leave real estate and investment income as their own separate main sources of very passive income.
1. Blogging + Dog Sitting Income
Blogging income rebounded a lot in February. It had previously dropped so far that I'm tempted to say it had nowhere else to go. I won't because it can always drop to zero.
Dog sitting income was very bad once again. It still feels like no one is traveling due to COVID, so they don't need their dogs watched. I don't expect this to change much until the summer starts. That's when there is a chance that things open up and tourism gets going again.
Over the last couple of months, I picked up a new freelance client who has some blog editing work for me to do. This isn't passive income at all, so I don't include it here. I mention it only because even as these passive income sources are down, the overall total income is looking good.
My dog found a friend on the beach. He hasn't been able to play with other dogs much in the last year because it's uncomfortable to ask owners who you don't know during these times. My dog is the darker yellow one, age 12, and the other dog is puppy golden. (Awwwww!!!!)
In January, dogs and blogs combined for a total of $957.59 – the lowest in years. In February, it was:
Total Blogging + Dog Sitting Income: $887.91
While that represents a new low, it's actually a higher average per day. February's 28 days gives us about 10% earning time than January, right? I think dog sitting will come back, so there's room for this double fairly easily.
When dog sitting comes back my kids can pitch in to help. My 8-year old is extremely good with dogs at this point. He can feed them, let them out, and play with them in the yard. My 7-year-old is good too. This help means that I can pay them a legitimately earned income (a small percentage of the overall dog-sitting income). Because the income is earned they can save money in their kid Roth IRAs and it will be money that they'll never pay tax on. I want to get them more involved in blogging, taking pictures and things like that, but it's going slow. They get enough school work, home work, and extra-curriculars.
(Note: The blue line is the monthly number. The red line is a 3-month average which helps smooth the curve.)
2. Rental Property Income
The new condo this year is starting to get regular checks which is extremely helpful. Because we rolled over equity from the sale of an old condo our expenses are around $1000 a month, but we get a check for $1600. It's nice to have cash flow on properties instead of just building equity that is very difficult to access.
As for February's numbers, Zillow's estimates on that new property went up 10%. That's a big gain, but it is more in line with the comps that I had expected. We paid down the mortgages as we always do. In 2020, we gained around $60K in equity. So far this year, due to that growth, we've gained $30K. The housing market is really moving.
It can be difficult to deal with tenants, but I like to think of those equity gains as a salary. The "work" for last year's $60,000 is pretty minimal. We had to work a little more for the $30,000 this year, but $10,000/mo. isn't bad. Of course, equity isn't really salary – we can't spend the money, because it isn't liquid.
We got to bowling a couple of times, first time in a year. The kids have more arm strength now and can get the occasional strikee – as in this frame of a video I was lucky enough to film.
This month we went from 62.12% to 63.51% ownership of the equity in our properties. In pure dollars and cents, we gained $23,370 in equity last month. That's far, far from typical, but I think it is reasonable given what I've been reading about the markets.
If we owned the rental properties with no mortgages (100% of the equity), I calculate that, after insurance, property taxes, condo fees, and estimated condo maintenance we'd make about $3,400 a month. That number represents our net gain.
If you multiply our expected net rent $3400 by the amount of equity we have (i.e. where we are on our journey), 63.51%, you get $2,159 in estimated monthly passive income. When I started tracking this (January, 2017), we only owned 36.4% of the properties and they had lower rents. The math worked out to $1,174 back then. So in a little more than 4 years, we've seen the number grow $985/mo. That's good passive growth in 4 years.
As the years march on, the ratio will grow to 100% of a rent that should net $3,400 monthly after expenses. Since rent is inflation-resistant, we can raise it as costs of living go up. We don't have to factor in inflation like other investments. So we can think of it as around $40,000/yr. of income in today's dollars buying the same value in the future. That should be enough money for us to live on with our own home paid off (plus our solar panels, frugal shopping habits, and military healthcare.)
In the previous report, the rental property income was $2,104.
Total Rental Property Income: $2,159
3. Dividend Income
For this section, I assume we will earn a 2.5% dividend yield on our holdings. That could be from a high-dividend ETF or from simply holding strong companies that have a long history of dividend growth. There are some income investing ideas here. We can also look at making passive income with dividend kings. If I wanted to simply retire on this dividend income, I would get Sure Dividend's newsletter to try to get closer to a 4% average dividend yield. That link to the newsletter has a special discount rate and in full disclosure, I make a few dollars if you sign up for it.
The market has been doing great, but it is taking a bit of a break due to the yield curve. Also, some of my satellite stocks have done really well, but they've been giving up their gains. I didn't expect Snapchat, Pinterest, and solar panel ETFs to be up 5x, but they were and I was fortunate enough to lock in some of those gains. Overall, we are well-diversified with most of our money in index funds. The US total market has dropped about 5% and emerging markets nearly 10%.
The kids really like the Dog Man graphic novels and will put away TV and video games for them. Unfortunately, there are less than a dozen, so it only kept them busy for a week. Captain Underpants by the same author isn't working quite as well.
Last month, our portfolio hovered around all-time highs. As I mentioned, I was getting nervous that the markets were too high. I executed on my plan to continue to stay fully invested but moving more money to bonds. It was a small move of money from stock to bonds mostly for the psychological effect of being active. The small amounts seem to add up and when stocks dropped last March, I was able to buy in at lower prices by cashing in some bonds that didn't drop as much.
With emerging markets dropping 10% from their highs, I started to move a little of that bond money to buy more of those shares at a discount. I hope most investors are not doing what I do and just leave the money where it is passively. That's what we do with my wife's retirement accounts. For investors who want to try to do a little better, I think I'm doing well in buying low and selling high.
We continue to get a profit-sharing check since I bought (a lot of) a company. The business was almost ideally positioned in this pandameic due to its virtual nature. The investment income from this is essentially the same as dividend income. It is taxed differently, but for the purposes of this report, it makes sense to group together all stock ownership in this bucket.
Total Dividend-ish Income: $3,527
Last month, it was $3,549. We dropped $22, which isn't that much considering. This number rarely moves that much, but slow and steady wins the race. When I did this exercise in 2017 we were at $1180/mo.
Annualized, this monthly $3,527 is $42,324. If our mortgage was paid off, we might be able to live on this by itself. However, because most of our investments are in retirement accounts, we can't use much of this potential income for now. (We can use the profit-sharing check as it goes straight to our checking account.) We'll probably let this investment continue to compound for another 15 years until we are age 59.5. Then we'll have to see if we want to tap it or let it continue until we are required to take some of it at age 72.
Very Close to Passive Income
Our "very close to passive income" is a combination of rental property income and dividend income. If there were some royalty income from books, movies, or music, I'd include that as well. I'm too tone-deaf to have a rockstar music career, but maybe I'll write a book someday.
The stock market has been fair steady since the drop and recovery when COVID first came around. The rental property income typically keeps going up because the mortgages are always getting paid down every month and they generally appreciate a little. Unless there's a housing market crash, this should continue to happen.
I love having both types of income working together for us. I think everyone interested in FIRE should have stocks and real estate income streams. The diversification gives me great confidence that we'll be better prepared than most people in the case of an unfortunate economic event. We'll still likely get rent checks if the stock market crashes. We'll still get dividend checks if a tenant is late paying for awhile. Of course a bad economy may impact both at the same time, but that's what an emergency fund is for.
My 7-year-old is honing his culinary presentation skills with a little desert art.
We are a full year into the most ginormous unfortunate event that I can remember in my life. Stocks went down a lot, but then went back up. Real estate just gone up. We've been lucky to have tenants who are still working and able to pay rent. Well, one couldn't, but used the opportunity to sell at a market high and buy a property closer to us at a relatively low price. Overall, the plan keeps rolling along, even during COVID-19.
While the stock market is doing well, the real economy is still bad. It used to be terrible, but people are getting back to work and jobs are coming back. We've got a president who is working to end the COVID crisis. We're getting stimulus checks and vaccines in arms. He's starting to try to reverse the climate change disaster that causes so many natural disasters. Even if you are a heartless soul who doesn't care about the people losing everything in fires, you should be able to agree that American business works best when it literally doesn't have to put out fires. Good climate policy is simply good economic policy.
Very Close to Passive Income: $5,686
Last month it was $5,653. The $5,686 extends our all-time high yet again. As you can tell from the chart below, it just keeps moving in the right direction. It had been the stock market driving the gains for awhile. It slipped up, but the real estate market took the ball and ran with it.
This would be over $68,000 a year of almost completely passive income. What's better is that there would be no need to touch the investments themselves. We wouldn't have to sell stocks or get a reverse mortgage. Property maintenance and property taxes for rental properties are already factored in. We would still have all the underlying assets (property, stocks, etc.) and be able to pass these on to the kids for them to build on – unless we choose to draw them down for more fun, charity, or other spending.
This "very close to passive income" has grown from $2,354/mo. in January 2017. It's worth noting that, once again, these are fudged numbers that aren't "real" yet (except for the profit-sharing check). We have gained more than $3,000 in passive-ish income over 4 years. I wonder if we can get to $8,000/mo. in passive income by the start of 2025, another 4 years. That's a little aggressive, but it would give us something to hope for.
Final Passive Income
When you add up "dogs and blogs" to the "very close to passive income" you get:
Passive Income: $6,565.91
Last month it was $6,610.59. It's another drop, but it would have been growth if it hadn't been a short month. It seems like this is going to be a consistent number for a little while.
I'd like to see this average $8,000 in 2021, but I need a plan to add something new – it doesn't look like dogs and blogs is going to get me there. For now, I'll just be happy that with four different income streams (and two consistent ones), there isn't much room for everything to drop.
This $6,500+/mo income is nearly $80,000 a year. That largely hypothetical annual income for writing on a blog, taking care of one dog, and investing is really nice. In the long term, $78K would be a lot more income than we'd need – given our necessary expenses for the next 45 years. Of course, those necessary expenses aren't going to cover all our spending, but it's a large percentage of it.
As 2020 has proven, you never know what bad news is lurking around the corner. This preparation gives us the financial flexibility to fight it.
None of the numbers here include my wife's bread-winning pharmacist income, her vested military pension (more passive income), or the freelance work I've been doing over the last couple of years (which isn't passive at all). That's the fuel that drives the passive income engine – it allows us to live well and invest. My income doesn't match my wife's, but I'm good at stretching a dollar in almost all our spending.
We got a lot of snow in February, so we went sledding a few times.
As always, I'm still hoping to write a book someday. That would add some more passive income. My wife will probably get her book out first. She's had an incredibly interesting life until she met me – I am so boring. I may tip my toe into self-publishing sometime this year. I would love to talk to a real publisher, but I don't want to take on the "job" of writing. That's probably a deal-breaker. If you know someone who I could talk to contact me.
My favorite thing about the graph below is that it doesn't dip down too far. It's been above $6,000 for a while now. Though we are getting close to dipping below that $6,000 mark. If it dips below $6000 and touches $5000, we'll have to examine some things.
(Once again, the blue line is the monthly number. The red line is a 3-month average which helps smooth the curve.)
Net Worth Update
My net worth updates aren't very exciting as I don't share the exact numbers. That's why it's just a footnote here.
I truly believe that net worth is one of the most important numbers in personal finance so it is worth sharing in some way. Showing relative growth can be useful.
February was another good month for our net worth. We saw it jump 1.20%. For the year overall, our net worth is up 4.41%. We've seen our net worth over 30% in last 14 months. With the Rule of 72, we'd double our net worth in around 2.5 years. That's probably too good to last forever.
Diversification helps a lot in bad times. Even when the stock market was way down, we were still grounded with our real estate. We can't control the market, but we can be happy that the amazing river of compound interest has been working well for us over the years.
I feel it's important to acknowledge that everyone is in a different place in their financial journey. I've been blogging about personal finance for 15 years. FIRE wasn't a "thing" back then, but it's in the news a lot now. We naturally are further along in that journey than some younger readers who may be just starting out. If you are one of these readers, I hope you won't be discouraged by some of the numbers above. I didn't start many of these graphs until year 11 of blogging (year 13 of early retirement planning). Please try to use it as motivation for what may be possible (depending on your circumstances and market luck) over 10-15 years.
There's a big wild card in calculating our net worth. Now that my wife's pension is vested, it's reasonable to ask whether to include it in our net worth. I decided that it does make sense to include it. She could have earned more direct monetary compensation if she didn't work for the government. That would have boosted all the numbers across the board. Calculating pension value is not easy, but here's the best way to know what a pension is worth. In the end, it seems my wife's pension may be worth $2.3 million. However, like most of the money mentioned in this article, this isn't money we can spend right now.
Because the pension would dominate our net worth, I'll note two separate numbers in my personal spreadsheet. I don't share the numbers anyway, aside from these hints, so I don't think it should matter much to you. It's not like I'm suggesting that you might want to make a financial-based decision on a pension.
How was your February? Let me know in the comments.


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Ubuntu 11.10 Named: Oneiric Ocelot
Mark Shuttleworth releases the codename for what has until today been referred to as "-O" and what will eventually become Ubuntu 11.10.
In his blog post Shuttleworth explains what the criteria considerations were looked at when this new codename was chosen, "The objective is to capture the essence of our next six months work in a simple name..." He continues with, "So we're looking for a name that conveys mysterious possibility, with perhaps an ounce of overt oracular content too. Nothing too opaque, ornate, odious or orotund."
Shuttleworth says that's what lead to the codename Oneiric Ocelot, but what does it mean? According to Shuttleworth it means, "Oneiric means "dreamy", and the combination with Ocelot reminds me of the way innovation happens: part daydream, part discipline."
More information on this codename can be found on Shuttleworth's blog.


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It's cooking-dinner time!* Join me!
I thought I'd show you how I whip up something tasty using some unusual pantry combinations.
Did I say "unusual"? Freudian slip. I meant "creative," probably.
One of my favorite things to make is chili. This is primarily because it's one of those words with almost no actual meaning, kind of like "sandwich" or "dumpling." I find that anything between a soup and a solid can legally be called a "chili," if you're prepared to keep a straight face and stick to your story when you announce what you're serving.
Today I'm starting with some beans I soaked last night.** We'll just set them on to boil. That's another nice thing about a chili: set it and forget it!
While we wait, here: let's take a look at one I made before, as a sample.
Okay, fine, I know these are cheese balls. I just really wanted some cheese balls for breakfast. They may be to blame for my burgeoning nighttime ulcer and the scabs on the roof of my mouth but I see no reason to stop.
Anyway, smell that? That humid fug wafting overhead like a benign earthy spirit, fogging up the apartment? That's beans for you.
It wouldn't hurt to add some spices while they boil, although we want to avoid salt until the beans are tender (apparently). As far as choosing spices goes, for my chilis I like to sort of grab at random and do a Jackson Pollock. A bit of this, a bit of that. I guess that was—hmm, cinnamon and garam masala. Bit weird. Still a chili, maybe. Let's just unscrew the lid of the cumin and go to town.
You can literally never have too much cumin.
Okay, the beans are pretty much cooked. Time to add the rest of the ingredients and let it all simmer until dinnertime. I generally prefer a vegetarian chili, but today I'm going to add some chicken, which should end up nicely sort of shredded by the end.
We haven't been going to the grocery store much, but I wanted to use up this one package of chicken. I was looking for boneless skinless thighs on our last shopping trip, but literally the only option was this chicken simply marked CHICKEN. It's…chicken. A strange cut, too: two breasts connected by a strap of rib meat. They look like a pair of healthy, smooth lungs sitting in the beans.
Okay, that's unsettling. Let's just close the lid on that while we scrounge around for other cans and jars of bits and pieces.
Corn—that's nice. People like corn in chili, I think. Diced tomatoes, obviously. Some chiles in adobo for some nice heat. (I knew it was a good idea to keep the pantry stocked for emergencies like this!) Tablespoon or two of tomato paste.
Hmm…Coconut milk?
No, right?
I mean…
Okay, okay, I won't. Let's just stir this all together and let it simmer. This is the beauty of a one-pot meal—the hands-off ease. I'll admit: I'm the kind of cook for whom a box of Hamburger Helper can take 90 minutes. Everything just always seems to go a little off, take a little longer than seems possible, get flung onto all kinds of surfaces in various rooms somehow. So I really appreciate a nice simple stewpot.
So make yourself comfortable. In several hours we'll serve some nice bowls of chili with an optional garnish of cheese balls, followed by a dessert course of cheese balls.
*Meaning anywhere between 3:30 pm and 8:30 pm, because time is an illusion.
**I'm still not convinced of some kitchen tasks you're supposed to do, such as rinsing rice, but I've been soaking dry beans ever since the Unsoaked Beans Incident of 2012.


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NATURAL SCIENCES and the ENVIRONMENT
Since 1945, UNESCO fosters science and its application in favour of the development of knowledge and capacities which are crucial for economic and social progress and form the basis for peace and sustainable development. In the area of science, as a part of its mandate, UNESCO focuses on the issues of global nature that require international cooperation, for example the management of drinking water resources, ocean health, reduction of natural disasters, loss of biodiversity and capacity building in science, technologies and inovations.
UNESCO activities in this area focus on two major tasks – to foster science, technologies and innovations, and to benefit from scientific knowledge and experience when it comes to sustainable management of the environment (for example in relation to oceans, drinking water, natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity). In order to build a sustainable tomorrow, the UNESCO programmes also focus on engineering and renewable sources of energy, on the reduction of natural disasters and on education in the field of science. UNESCO focuses its attention primarily at small developing island states, on the needs of Africa and on the promotion of gender equality in all areas.
UNESCO also provides space for creating and sharing ideas, for setting standards and the promotion of dialogue between the scientific community and politicians. In the context of growing global challenges – environmental degradation, economical regress and social inclusion – UNESCO is aware of the increasing importance of science, technologies and innovations for sustainable development and it takes this fact into account when preparing the post 2015 agenda.
The priorities of the section for natural sciences (designed to streamline and enrich the programme focus of UNESCO):
- Promotion of science, technologies and innovations on national, regional and international level;
- Promotion of international scientific cooperation on the critical challenges of sustainable development;
- Strenghtening the links between science and policies, the support and sustainibility of science;
- Institutional capacity building in science and engineering;
- Promotion of knowledge and capacities in the protection and sustainable management of oceans and coasts;
- Strenghtening international scientific cooperation in the field of terrestrial systems, biodiversity and the reduction of risks of natural disasters;
- Strenghtening the role of ecological sciences and biosferic reserves;
- Strenghtening the safety of drinking water resources;
More here: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/
International scientific programmes
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee (IOC)
International Hydrological Programme (IHP)
Slovak Committee for International Hydrological Programme
Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB)
Slovak Committee for Man and Biosphere Programme
International Geoscience Programme (IGCP)
Slovak Committee for International Geoscience Programme
International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP)
Institutes and Centres
Scientific Category 1 institutes which are an integral part of UNESCO:
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, in Delf in the Netherlands
Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICPT), Trieste in Italy
Category 2 institutes and centres are under the auspices of UNESCO, but are not legally part of the Organizatin; they are associated with it through formal agreements approved by the General Conference:
A network of approx. 50 centres in the area of water, renewable sources of energy, science policy, mathematics, physics, biotechnologies and earth sciences.
More information at:
UNESCO Chairs in the field of natural sciences:
There are about 250 university departments of UNESCO/UNITWIN in the area of science, namely – the basic and engineering sciences, ecological and earth sciences, policies on science and sustainable development, sciences dealing with water and oceans.
UNESCO Chair in the area of natural sciences in Slovakia:
UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development and Ecological Awareness, Technical University in Zvolen
UNESCO prizes, awards and felowships in the field of natural sciences:
UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/science-technology/sti-policy/global-focus/science-popularization/prizes/kalinga-prize/
L´Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science
UNESCO Sultán Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/man-and-biosphere-programme/awards-and-prizes/sultan-qaboos/
UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences
Carlos Finlay Prize for Microbiology: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/science-technology/basic-sciences/life-sciences/carlos...
UNESCO-MAB Young Scientists Awards
Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management


text: Portugal has asked the European Union for financial assistance. It follows Greece and the Irish Republic in needing EU bail-outs. The government has been trying to avoid asking for outside help, with Prime Minister Jose Socrates describing it as his last resort, but he has now conceded that the country could not afford to go on without assistance.


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EXR Now Days Away from Multi-Well Gas Drilling Campaign in Mongolia
Fresh off the back of a high demand capital raise, Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) is set to put those funds to work in the form of a drilling and seismic campaign to kick off in the coming days.
Elixir is exploring for coalbed methane (CBM) — or coal seam gas (CSG) as it is known in Australia— at its 100% owned CBM Production Sharing Contract (PSC), the Nomgon IX CBM PSC, located in Mongolia.
The size of this project is significant — a huge swathe of 30,000km2 (or 7 million acres), right on the border with China.
A project of this scale, coupled with its proximity to a gas hungry China, means it has the scale to attract a high quality farm out partner in the future.
But EXR first have to continue to prove up the resource potential and value of its ground and the company is moving swiftly in this direction now.
It's first year of exploration yielded Mongolia's first ever gas discovery, and the follow up appraisal plan over the coming months will involve one core hole and 3 strat holes. Exploration work will include 2-4 more strat-holes plus 106km2 of seismic.
It's full steam ahead in Mongolia, with the country having successfully contained COVID-19 due to strong border controls.
Crucially for EXR, it means the company can stay active over the coming months.
Here at the Next Oil Rush we are long-term holders of Elixir Energy and we recently doubled our holding in the stock.
We first added EXR to our long-term investment portfolio almost a year ago, in July 2019. It has been a bumpy ride since then due to various factors such as COVID-19, the fall in commodity prices, etc — but the company seems to have new momentum in 2020, with the stock surging 66% since our most recent update in late May.
What attracted us to Elixir was our recognition of the exceptional potential of its prospective CBM assets, their proximity to the market for gas in China, and the expertise of its management team and board.
On Friday, EXR reported the final gas content numbers from the Nomgon-1 well discovery.
The numbers reported compared very well to projects globally, including a number of recognisable names that have more advanced projects but are arguably further from end markets of the vast size and quality of China.
Reflecting its success at Nomgon-1 and the successful containment of COVID-19 in Mongolia, EXR recently completed a heavily oversubscribed Placement and Share Purchase Plan (SPP) to fund expedited delineation and further exploration efforts.
The company is now undertaking a stepped approach where it plans to prove up its discovery through small scale LNG and/or power developments to demonstrate commerciality to potential farm-in partners.
While farmouts are somewhat difficult currently with coronavirus still being a concern, this initial activity will open up better conversations and provide a strong foundation for a favourable deal.
Having spoken to Elixir Managing Director Neil Young, we can reveal that the company has been approached by various multinational equipment suppliers and experienced personnel, all expressing interest to get involved in the small scale LNG project.
While there is nothing new set in stone, the company is open to welcoming farm-in partners in the future.
Looking ahead to the upcoming drilling and seismic program, we can expect activity and associated newsflow to rapidly pick up. Longer term, EXR has an eye on proving up the potential in its vast PSC block and ultimately bringing in high quality partners who can help bring a very large potential resource into production.
Share Price: $0.035
Market Capitalisation: $23.4 million
Cash: $900K (at 31 March) + $3.35M (Placement + SPP, before costs)
Here's what I like about Elixir Energy:
Elixir Energy's (ASX:EXR) seven million acre (30,000km2) coalbed methane (CBM) production sharing contract (PSC), the Nomgon IX CBM PSC, is located in Mongolia's South Gobi Desert on the Chinese border.
The 100% owned PSC lies over a major Permian coal bearing region and has a giant independently certified CBM risked mid-case prospective resource of 7.6 Tcf and an un-risked prospective resource of 40 Tcf.
The company completed its initial exploration program in February, capped off with Mongolia's first ever gas discovery at the Nomgon-1 well and is now pushing forward with its second season of drilling.
On news that EXR had discovered thick gassy coal seams at its Nomgon-1 well in February, the company's share price spiked from <2¢ to more than 5¢.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 fear soon hit the market bringing the stock back to its pre-discovery level (offering exceptional buying opportunity). It has since steadily climbed back from its March lows of 1.7¢.
During this time the company completed a heavily oversubscribed Placement and SPP at 2¢. It has since continued to rise and is currently trading at 3.5¢ per share.
Note that this is still well above its February peak and offering the potential upside ahead of the July drilling program.
As I reported on 26 May, at Next Investors we have doubled our investment in EXR...
Elixir: back in the field
In its second-year work program at Nomgon IX, EXR will appraise the Nomgon-1 CSG discovery and provide further data for a contingent resource booking in the Nomgon sub-basin, which is targeted for the year's end.
It will also acquire new 2D seismic data along prospective trends and explore in new sub-basins that will involve drilling on 2019 and 2020 seismic.
EXR will also build the sub-surface foundations for offtake projects such as small scale LNG (SSLNG) and/or small scale gas fired generation.
This work will see EXR deliver multiple farm-out options across the 30,000 km2 PSC area.
As you can see above, Elixir is targeting an independent contingent resource booking by the year end and is working to enhance its farm-out options.
Elixir is now in the process of appraising its Nomgon-1 discovery and exploring the greater PSC area.
Nomgon-1 results are in
In a presentation released to the ASX on 26 June, Elixir has provided the final gas content figures from its Nomgon-1 post well analysis.
Nomgon 1 Results:
- Net coal thickness: 71m (largest coal seam 37m net – known locally as the "100" series)
- Gas Content (Raw): 5.3 m3/t for "100" series coal
- Ash Content*: 19%
- Moisture Content*: 9%
- Adsorption analysis results due shortly
- Ave Gas Content (DAF)*: 8.9 m3/t for "100" series
(* Proximate analysis undertaken over selected samples, not all sample.)
But what do these figures mean?
The important figure to note is Elixir's reported Average Gas Content (DAF) figure of 8.9 m3/t, as most gas contents quoted are done on a DAF basis, rather than Raw.
That said, gas content reporting is often poorly done and is quite inconsistent, making it extremely difficult to compare results.
For example, many companies will only report their good results, or only provide broad ranges, or don't even define the unit of measurement.
Yet the figures reported by EXR do seem to compare very well with CSG projects globally, including to a number of recognisable names in Australia.
In fact, a comparison of EXR's gas content results to those that we can comfortably trust, reveals its 8.9 m3/t gas content figure from the Nomgon-1 well to be good.
Take for example, Galilee Energy's flagship Glenaras Gas Project in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland that has a reported 5.3 m3/t.
Similarly, Sunshine Gas' Lacerta CSG field in the Surat Basin in Queensland — which is now owned by Senex Energy — has a reported maximum 5.0 m3/t.
Also in Queensland, is Comet Ridge's Mahalo Project where average gas content ranged between ~5.0 and 7.6m3/t.
Elixir's upcoming drilling program is an opportunity to appraise all coals in the sequence, as seen above.
The Nomgon-1 "100" coal was drilled at optimal location in the field and while the "100" series coal could thin away from Nomgon-1, it may deliver stronger permeability.
As it works to improve its understanding of the region, EXR has many more coal targets available.
Second year program back on track
EXR is undertaking a stepped approach where it plans to prove up its discovery through small scale LNG and/or power developments to demonstrate to potential farm-in partners.
The company has a flexible drilling program planned of 1-2 coreholes and up to six strat-holes. Contracts have been awarded to a local drilling contractor and seismic outfit — the same companies as were used during the year 1 drilling program — and teams are now ready to move.
Drilling plans include a mix of a fully tested core-hole(s) and strat-holes and all drilling is turnkey — fixed price per metre drilled.
Here's the planned delineation and exploration programs for the coming months:
Delineation Program
Laboratory analysis is largely completed as is field mapping. The company are planning for 1 core-hole and 3 strat-holes.
Exploration Program
The upcoming 2D seismic acquisition program for 2020 is focused on a large number of exploration targets. The company notes that there will be multiple options to amend program as information, including seismic results, come in.
At this point EXR anticipate 2 to 4 strat-holes and a second possible core-hole.
The 2019 2D seismic is marked on the map below (yellow) as is the 2020 2D seismic (totalling 105.9km).
First offtake agreement secured
On 12 June, EXR announced it has partnered with one of Mongolia's largest fuel retailing firms, MT Group, in its first offtake project. The pair will develop the country's first Small Scale LNG (SSLNG) plant supplied from local coal bed methane (CBM) to supply fuel to the South Gobi region's very large coal trucking fleet.
There is a clear existing market in terms of the very large local coal trucking fleet that could operate on clean gas rather than expensive diesel. In China, just to the south of the PSC area, there are over six million gas fired vehicles on the road and SSLNG plants are now commonplace.
Initial modelling indicates that a SSLNG in this location in Mongolia should be highly profitable.
Possible funding sources could include the various international financing institutions (IFIs) that are present in the country and with whom Elixir has an ongoing relationship.
The Tavan Tolgoi coal mine and the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine are both located with Elixir's PSC area with connecting roads leading to China.
Those projects can be seen on the map of the South Gobi below. The borders of Elixir's PSC is marked within the Umnugovi province (yellow).
Plenty of newsflow ahead
After finishing the 2019 drilling season on a high back in February, and with the Nomgon-1 discovery results in, Elixir is now back exploring at its gigantic CBM PSC in the South Gobi region.
With cash in the bank following its heavily oversubscribed capital raising, we look ahead to the upcoming second year exploration campaign. Still due to commence in July, all national regulatory approvals have been received and the drilling contractor has been signed on.
Before long work crews will be mobilised ahead of the upcoming spud of the first well of the drilling season.
Unlike many of its peers that have been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Elixir can still undertake its exploration work as planned. Its local team and contractors in Mongolia have the skills, equipment and experience to safely and efficiently prosecute an exploration campaign even with the current travel restrictions.
That means plenty of newsflow ahead and Elixir continues to attract attention from both the market and potential partners.
Our decision to recently double our shareholding in Elixir reflects the confidence we have in the company and its management team heading into this latest exploration period as it seeks to book a contingent resource later this year and attract farm-in partners down the track.
General Information Only
S3 Consortium Pty Ltd (S3, 'we', 'us', 'our') (CAR No. 433913) is a corporate authorised representative of LeMessurier Securities Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 296877). The information contained in this article is general information and is for informational purposes only. Any advice is general advice only. Any advice contained in this article does not constitute personal advice and S3 has not taken into consideration your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Please seek your own independent professional advice before making any financial investment decision. Those persons acting upon information contained in this article do so entirely at their own risk.
Conflicts of Interest Notice
S3 and its associated entities may hold investments in companies featured in its articles, including through being paid in the securities of the companies we provide commentary on. We disclose the securities held in relation to a particular company that we provide commentary on. Refer to our Disclosure Policy for information on our self-imposed trading blackouts, hold conditions and de-risking (sell conditions) which seek to mitigate against any potential conflicts of interest.
Publication Notice and Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is current as at the publication date. At the time of publishing, the information contained in this article is based on sources which are available in the public domain that we consider to be reliable, and our own analysis of those sources. The views of the author may not reflect the views of the AFSL holder. Any decision by you to purchase securities in the companies featured in this article should be done so after you have sought your own independent professional advice regarding this information and made your own inquiries as to the validity of any information in this article.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this article are not guarantees or predictions of future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results or performance of companies featured to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this article. S3 cannot and does not give any assurance that the results or performance expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this article will actually occur and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
This article may include references to our past investing performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of our future investing performance.


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Welcome to the garden. Photographer Maiken Staak invites us to this floral affair, presenting model Leonie in looks from Vetements, 032c Apparel, Anima Protection and more all styled by Stef Woods. Hair and make up are by Ana Buvinic.
This Schön! online editorial has been produced by
photography. Maiken Staak
fashion + concept. Stef Woods
model. Leonie @ Iconic Management
hair + make up. Ana Buvinic @ Basics Berlin
special thanks. Daniel, Reference Studios, Mytheresa, blackbird/berlin + Fake PR.
Schön! Magazine is now available in print at Amazon,
as ebook download + on any mobile device


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Scott West's Magnificent Eight fancy diamond bracelet
Scott West Unveils a Diamond Bracelet Featuring 8 Fancy Colors
The Scott West collection has released its newest creation: a flower bracelet composed of fancy diamonds in eight colors, dubbed the Magnificent Eight. The bracelet features 41.93 cts. t.w. diamonds, centering on 8 cts. worth of rare natural pink and blue diamonds. The diamonds featured took more than five years to gather; the bracelet itself took more than four months to design and manufacture. The one-of-a-kind creation boasts the following in diamond weight and color, in order from stone one through eight:
A 1.32 ct. fancy vivid purple pink Argyle Tender stone, 1.07 ct. fancy intense pink, 1.01 ct. fancy vivid pink Argyle Tender stone, 1 ct. fancy intense purplish pink Argyle Tender stone, 0.96 ct. fancy vivid pink Argyle Tender stone, 0.95 ct. fancy vivid purplish pink Argyle Tender stone, 0.8 ct. fancy vivid purplish pink, and 0.63 ct. fancy vivid blue.
Visitors to JCK Las Vegas 2016 can see the bracelet up close and personal at the L.J. West Diamonds booth LUX1337, located in LUXURY. LUXURY will be invitation only May 31–June 2 and is open to all badge holders June 3–5. For more information, visit luxury.jckonline.com.
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


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Watch Philadelphia Phillies Games Live
Stream the Philadelphia Phillies games live and watch the MLB all season long.
Additional taxes, fees, and regional restrictions may apply.
Philadelphia PhilliesMLBThe Philadelphia Phillies, often referred to as the "Fightin' Phils," are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a member of Major League Baseball (MLB), the Phillies compete in the National League (NL) East division. With a storied history dating back to their establishment in 1883, the Phillies have become one of the most recognized and successful franchises in baseball.
Throughout the years, the Phillies have achieved numerous milestones and accomplishments. They have won two World Series titles, in 1980 and 2008, solidifying their status as a force to be reckoned with. Additionally, the team has captured seven NL pennants and eleven division titles, showcasing their consistent competitiveness in the league. Their success on the field has endeared the Phillies to generations of avid baseball fans.
Historically, the Phillies have boasted an impressive roster of talented players. Legends such as Mike Schmidt, Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton, and Richie Ashburn have left an indelible mark on the team's history and helped solidify the Phillies' reputation as a formidable franchise. These players, among others, have contributed to the team's success and earned numerous accolades, including Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, Cy Young awards, and Gold Glove honors.
Attendance at Phillies games has consistently been strong, as the team has enjoyed tremendous support from their passionate fan base. The Phillies routinely play their home games at Citizens Bank Park, offering spectators a modern and vibrant ballpark experience. Phillies fans, known for their unrivaled loyalty and vocal nature, create an electric atmosphere that adds to the excitement of every game.
As a testament to their standing as a beloved sports institution, the Philadelphia Phillies have seen their brand grow beyond the baseball diamond. The team enjoys a widespread following, bolstered by a strong presence in popular culture and a robust merchandise line that proudly showcases the team's iconic red and white colors.
In conclusion, the Philadelphia Phillies are a storied baseball franchise that has achieved remarkable success throughout their history. With a strong tradition of talented players, dedicated fans, and notable achievements, the Phillies have cemented their status as one of the most respected and enduring teams in Major League Baseball.
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