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|Pope Francis meets with U.S. President Barack Obama during a private audience at the Vatican March 27. (CNS photo/Gabriel Bouys, pool via Reuters)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis warned government officials against abandoning the path of God's love and liberating salvation for the dead-end road of self-righteous corruption.
Do not follow the path promoted by "these 'pundits of duty' who have lost the faith and hold the people together with this theology of obligation," where rules and duties crowd out the will of God, he told Italian and European government officials.
"Let us pray that the Lord gives us the grace to always take the road of salvation, to open ourselves to the salvation that only comes from God and from the faith," the pope said.
The pope's remarks came during an early morning Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica March 27, several hours before the pope met U.S. President Barack Obama at the Vatican. Almost 500 Italian parliamentarians, government ministers, officials and former members of parliament attended the morning Mass.
The pope's homily focused on the day's Scripture readings, beginning with the Book of Jeremiah (7:23-28) in which God laments his people's long history of turning their backs on him and not obeying or listening to him. In the Gospel reading (Lk 11:14-23), Jesus warns people who accused him of having the power of Satan that "whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
The pope used the readings to underline the problems posed not just by the people of God, but by groups of powerful people: "The ruling class — the doctors of the law, the Sadducees, the Pharisees" — who "were closed up in their ideas, in their ministry, in their ideology."
The leaders didn't listen to the Word of God and they sought to justify their rejection of him by claiming Jesus was "a prince of demons," the pope said.
But not only had the leaders shut themselves off from God, they had distanced themselves from the people they were meant to lead and care for, the pope said.
"Jesus looks on the people and is moved because he sees them 'like sheep without a shepherd.'" So Jesus goes to those who have been abandoned: the sick, the poor, widows, lepers and others, the pope said, and speaks to them in a way that earns their admiration.
"He speaks differently from the ruling class, who has distanced itself from the people and was only interested in their own things: their group, their party, their own infighting."
While everyone is a sinner, the pope said, the corrupt leaders "were more than sinners," because instead of recognizing their sins and seeking forgiveness, they were so self-centered "that it was impossible to hear the Lord's voice."
"It's very difficult for someone corrupt to be able to turn himself around. The sinner can because the Lord is merciful and he waits for everyone. But the corrupt are focused on their own things" and can see and hear nothing else, he said, and that's why they're always trying to justify themselves.
The corrupt are focused on going through the motions, Pope Francis said; they are "men of good manners but bad habits. Jesus called them 'whitewashed tombs'" that "appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth."
Jesus called them hypocrites, because they turned away from "the salvation of the Lord's love" and a theology built on faith in God for "a theology of obligation," of minute laws and "must-dos."
By refusing God's love, they refused "the freedom the Lord offers," and instead followed "the logic of necessity where there is no room for the Lord" and where "they don't understand mercy or pity."
That's why the people loved Jesus so much, the pope said, because "they needed mercy and compassion and they went to ask for it from the Lord."
The pope asked the government leaders to take the time during Lent to ask themselves what path they were following in life: the path of God's love and freedom or the dead-end road of the short-term.
The pope asked them to pray for "the grace to open myself" to his salvation.
God loves everyone, he said. "Make the effort to open up; this is the only thing he asks: 'Open the door for me. I will do the rest.'"
Copyright (c) 2014 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis warned government officials against abandoning the path of God's love and liberating salvation for the dead-end road of self-righteous corruption.


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The Crescent City Council has approved a $48,260 contract with Hi-Tech Security to install surveillance cameras, alarms and smoke detectors at the wastewater treatment plant and at a handful of water system facilities.
The project will include installing alarms, video surveillance and smoke detectors at the Ranney collector and control building in Smith River, as well as water storage tanks on Burtschell and Amador streets. The project will also provide access control, video surveillance and intrusion alarms at the chlorination building on Rellim Road and the wastewater treatment plant on Battery Street.
The total cost of the security project is estimated at $55,000, according to the city's staff report. These costs include the $48,260 contract as well as $6,740 for parts, materials and labor. The cost of operating the security system is expected to be about $397 a month, according to city staff.
Funding for roughly half the cost of the project, $25,791, will come from an Emergency Management Performance Grant, according to the city's staff report.
The city match for the grant, $29,209, was approved in the 2012andndash;13 budget, said City Manager Eugene Palazzo. The monthly operation costs will be included in future budgets, he said.
"This project probably won't get implemented starting until next budget year," Palazzo said, responding to questions e-mailed to city staff and Council members from former Councilwoman Donna Westfall. "Yes rate payers are the primary revenue source for both the sewer and water enterprise funds. This security project is vital to ensure the safety and ongoing reliability of city's most critical water and wastewater facilities."
In other matters, the Council approved the appointments of cosmetologist Doris Word, Joan Buhler (representative of Light House Repertory Theatre) and Cheryl Corpstein of Edward Jones Investments to the Business Improvement District Advisory Board.
Word will fill a vacancy left by accountant Samuel Rutledge, according to city staff. Buhler and Corpstein have been reappointed to new terms that will expire in March 2016.
Reach Jessica Cejnar at firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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The iPhone 4G (or HD if you prefer)
saga appears to be winding down. The story started over the weekend
when Engadget gained access to pictures of what appears to be
a prototype for the next generation iPhone. Gizmodo one-upped
Engadget by actually
gaining access to the actual phone.
To get the iPhone, Gawker Media --
parent of Gizmodo -- paid
$5,000 to the person that found the iPhone at a bar. While
Gizmodo kept the name of this person secret, it had no trouble
outing the actual Apple employee who lost the phone. The employee is
a 2006 graduate of NC State University and works at Apple as a
BaseBand Software Engineer according to his Linkedin profile (which
has since been taken down).
Now that the cat is out of the bag,
Apple wants its iPhone back. Gizmodo's Brian Lam received
a letter this morning from Bruce Sewell, an Apple Senior Vice
President and General Counsel. The letter confirms that the iPhone in
question is in fact from Apple (and not a counterfeit) and goes on to
state, "This letter constitutes a formal request that you return
the device to Apple. Please let me know where to pick up the unit."
Lam wrote back in a joking fashion, and
even asked Apple go easy on the person that lost the phone:
Happy to have
you pick this thing up. Was burning a hole in our pockets. Just so
you know, we didn't know this was stolen when we bought it. Now that
we definitely know it's not some knockoff, and it really is Apple's,
I'm happy to see it returned to its rightful owner.
P.S. I hope you
take it easy on the kid who lost it. I don't think he loves anything
more than Apple.
Whether Apple will take Lam's advice
and go easy on the guy remains to be seen. However, given that Steve
Jobs once threw a tantrum over a newspaper exec tweeting from a
prototype iPad before its release, it's doubtful that Steve will show


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Landmark Credit Union Agrees to Merger With Dodge Central Credit Union
The $52 million Dodge Central Credit Union in Beaver Dam, Wis., plans to merge with the $2 billion Landmark Credit Union in New Berlin, Wis.
The credit unions said their two boards have approved the merger and that it now awaits regulatory approval and vote by Dodge Central members. They plan a Dec. 31 target date for the merger with the merging of Dodge Central's member accounts into Landmark's computer system in the spring or summer of 2013.
"We are very happy to welcome Dodge Central's 9,750 members and 33 employees to the Landmark family," said Jay Magulski, president. "This merger allows us to strategically expand our branch locations and better serve all members in the area."
In October, Landmark filed applications to buy the $190 million Hartford Savings Bank in Hartford, Wis., following a series of acquisition of small credit unions by merger in 2011.
Landmark said the Dodge Central merger adds locations in Beaver Dam, Juneau, Mayville and Fall River and widens Landmark's charter to include Columbia, Marquette and Fond du Lac counties. Dodge Central CU also has an in-school branch at Beaver Dam High School.
Barbara Campbell, Dodge Central president/CEO, will join the 196,000-member Landmark as a regional president and continue to work from the Beaver Dam location, the credit unions said.
"It is rewarding to be able to offer our Dodge Central members an expanded list of products, services and locations that Landmark brings," Campbell said.
Landmark said it currently has 489 employees at 25 locations throughout southeastern Wisconsin.


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These are the walking shoes with a patented sole that helps to relieve knee pain. Developed with rheumatology experts, the shoes employ flexure zones built into the outsoles, proven in a study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago to reduce knee load by 20%, essential for slowing the progression of osteoarthritis. Strategically placed to enable normal motion, the soles' flexure zones provide natural, barefoot-like flexibility with the support of modern footwear, a quality that earned them the prestigious American Podiatric Medical Association's Seal of Acceptance. EVA insoles provide comfort with every step, from forefoot, arch, and heel while the rubber outsoles ensure an even, reliable grip while walking. Their breathable mesh uppers keep feet dry and comfortable. Light Gray with Dark Gray trim. If in between sizes please order the next size up. (3 oz.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Lady's Knee Pain Relieving Walking Shoes come with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
May we recommend:
COPYRIGHT © 2018 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W109147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


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Arctic Monkeys Announce Pioneertown Show
Arctic Monkeys are pleased to announce that they will perform at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace, Pioneertown, California on Sunday 18th April 2010. Support will be provided by Earthlings? Tickets are onsale now at the venue or online click here. Tickets are priced at $20.
1 All
03.12.10 12:46 am
this shows was so unbelievable! if you were there and i took a picture of you with matt and uhm their bus driver (ahahahaha!)...contact me and ill send it to you!!! myspacepreshus911 or callmepresh. hmmmmmm, maybe ill just post it there for you.


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Why World Vision? Life in all its fullness
Around the world, there are 115 million children trapped in hazardous child labor, and millions more are victims of abuse and other forms of exploitation. Under such conditions, children cannot experience fullness of life. World Vision works to protect children by preventing exploitation and abuse, by restoring children that have been abused, and by speaking out about child protection issues.
Today's infographic illustrates our work in this sector.
Check back throughout the week for posts from our Advocacy team in Washington D.C., perspectives on our work, and an interview on Friday with one of our Child Protection specialists!
If you missed any posts from the first four weeks of our "Why World Vision?" campaign, you can find them all at the link above — including infographics, stories from the field, and Q&As with our experts!
Child sponsorship is the cornerstone of World Vision's approach to community development. Join us! Change a child's life for good. Sponsoring a child helps provide life-saving basics as well as protection from abuse and exploitation. Consider sponsoring a child today!
Along with our Why World Vision? campaign, we introduced our limited-edition T-shirt line to support the campaign through a partnership with Jedidiah Clothing. Don't miss the designs for Child Protection!


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Detwiler makes it three Nationals to play in Classic
By Joey Nowak / MLB.com
VIERA, Fla. -- Left-hander Ross Detwiler will pitch for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, joining teammate Gio Gonzalez on the American roster and making it a total of three Nationals to participate in the event.
Outfielder Roger Bernadina will also participate, playing for the Netherlands, in the event that begins March 2.
"The little kid in me wanted to say, 'Yes,' right away without thinking it through," Detwiler said of receiving the invitation and discussing it with the Nationals' brass. "But I came in, we all thought it through, and it was still a yes, so I'm happy about that."
Detwiler, 26, won a career-best 10 games for the Nationals last year and posted an ERA of 3.40. He is expected to be Washington's fourth or fifth starter this season. He also donned the USA jersey in the 2006 World University Baseball Championship in Cuba.
"It was amazing and we actually won the championship," Detwiler said. "I have the ring on my nightstand, so I see it every night when I'm at home. It's amazing, somebody asking you to represent your country playing baseball."
Gonzalez also was a late addition to Joe Torre's staff, but will not join the club unless it reaches the second round of pool play in Miami. Nationals manager Davey Johnson has said he wants Gonzalez to get three Spring Training starts with Washington before leaving for the World Baseball Classic.
"It's great," Detwiler said of having Gonzalez along with him. "It kinda calms you a little bit. We'll be in untested waters. Having somebody there that I was with all year last year is gonna kinda calm me down a little bit, and it's gonna make it seem like a regular start."
Gonzalez is slated to pitch on Monday, Feb. 25, March 2 and 7, leaving him in line to pitch on March 12 for Team USA, which would be the first game of the second round at Marlins Park.
Detwiler will make his first Spring Training start with the Nationals on Feb. 26, throw again on March 3, and then likely debut for Team USA on March 9 in pool play against Italy in Phoenix.
"We feel it's our duty and obligation to put the best team forward that we can for Team USA," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "We're honored that they want two of our starting pitchers to pitch for Team USA, and we're flattered about it. I know Ross is really fired up for it and he wanted to do it. We'll work around that schedule and we'll make sure he's prepared for our Major League season."
Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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The common denominator among many seems to be historical ignorance and its illegitimate stepchild, political correctness. The current and seemingly neverending flap over the Confederate battle flag is a great example.
Everywhere is the cry - racism, the flag represents slavery - when the Confederate Flag is mentioned. A better example of educational ignorance cannot be found.
Fact 1. The chief inspector of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, (Hospital Corps), Dr. Lewis Steiner, reported that he saw about 3,000 well-armed black Confederate soldiers in Stonewall Jackson's army in Frederick, Maryland, and that those soldiers were "manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederate Army." (Union Army Records)
Fact 2. The five "Civilized Tribes" of American Indians fought for the Confederacy with Stand Watie being promoted to general in May of 1864. No person of color ever attained the rank of general in the Union Army. (Source: Cherokee Nation Archives)
Fact 3. Because of the Spanish heritage of many areas of the Deep South, a number of Confederate regiments from the states such as South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi contained men with Spanish surnames. (Source: Ted Alexander, Historian, Antietam National Battle Field)
Fact 4. In 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant initiated one of the most blatant official episodes of anti-Semitism in 19th-century American history. In December of that year, Grant issued his infamous General Order No. 11, which expelled all Jews from Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. (Source: American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise)
Fact 5. Senior Senator from Louisiana, Benjamin P. Judah, the first Senator of Jewish decent in America, married to a Creole lady, said this to his colleagues in Louisiana just prior to that state's secession from the Union: "An enslaved and servile race you can never make of us-never! Never!" (Source: Jewish Confederates, Robert N. Rosen)
History shows all the above occurred under the Stars and Stripes, yet, not one word from the folks in Dolores seeking to ban that flag.
History is the arch-enemy of the politically correct. Should anyone this ignorant of history be teaching our children?
Michael Gaddy
Via CortezJournal.com


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The recent announcement of Pope Benedict XVIs resignation has captured the imagination of much of the world. Benedict cited age and poor health as reasons for his decision. Why is this relevant to business owners?
First is the importance of physical endurance and stamina to the operation of a business. In some ways, good health and high energy are more important to the smaller firm than to the larger company because there are fewer people to pick up the slack. Lack of energy may show up as illness leaving an owner unable to show up at work. However, that tends to happen after the problem has moved from low energy to actual ill health. The effects of low stamina show up long before that in reduced enthusiasm, reduced interest and reduced leadership.
Second is understanding how difficult business leadership is today. Competition is everywhere: down the street, across the world, and through the Internet. Profit margins are tighter, risk is greater, and the effects of stress are more intense. Its no wonder business owners feel burned out after just a few years.
Lets be clear Im not talking about age. Im talking about energy and enthusiasm. Im talking about the passion that gets us up in the morning and fuels our actions. Its more involved than regular physical exercise intended to improve physical conditioning and build physical energy. Passion requires mental, emotional, and even spiritual conditioning. Without it, our business suffers, and life is certainly less fun.
Ralph Waldo Emerson recognized that good health was essential to prosperity when he said, The first wealth is health. And that brings me to another reason for business owners to pay attention to their energy reserves the exit value of their business. The image of the sports star who hangs on too long is almost universal. Few athletes go out while they are on top. The same is true of independent business owners.
If an owner wants to realize the maximum economic value for his business, he must sell before he really wants to. A business has maximum value to a buyer when it is still on the upswing. Once it starts downhill, the selling price goes down even faster.
An owner who holds on past the time of peak energy and commitment is almost certainly driving down the value of his business. The value reduction will show up in many ways. Among them are obsolescent equipment, reduced maintenance of premises, failure to continue investing in staff training, shopworn inventory, failure to keep marketing and advertising up to date, and the list goes on.
Perhaps you are not ready to step down, but you feel a responsibility to preserve business value. Moving your business to the next level and treating it as an investment is an option. Think of your business as an investment, and do all you can to increase value. Redefining your focus to higher-level management duties can preserve energy and reshape the direction of your passion. Build a business that doesnt require your every moment, sapping your interest, energy, and enthusiasm, and you will have a more valuable business and a more fulfilling life.
How will you handle a decline in energy and passion?
firstname.lastname@example.com. Dan Bowser is president of Value Insights, Inc. of Durango, Chandler, Ariz., and Summerville, Pa.


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This website is for performance automotive enthusiasts and does not make attempts to delve into celebrity and TMZ fueled culture but this is different. Yes, Paul Walker was an actor in a well known series of automotive movies that we often make fun of here. Not because we don't like them but actually because we like to them to such a level as enthusiasts we understand how Hollywood fudges with the reality of the automotive world for the purpose of entertainment.
The thing is, Paul Walker was not just some guy playing a guy into cars. He was a true automotive enthusiast with a passion for the topic. He had a slew of modified cars one of which was a supercharged BMW E92 M3 built for track duty by the same company working on my car. I saw his vehicle many times when I would go check the status of my own M3 and I always in the back of mind thought I would run into him at some point down the line. This was not some random rich celebrity isolated in a bubble but there was a very real world automotive enthusiasm to him that at least for me had tangible aspects.
Speaking of his M3 he raced it as part of the AE Performance team and one of those team members was the driver of the Carrera GT. Getting lost in the tragedy is that two people lost their lives here. Roger Rodas was the driver and obviously we do not know exactly what happened other than he clearly lost control of the vehicle. The Carrera GT is considered a high level drivers car and it definitely can bite you if you push further than you should. No matter how good of a driver you are (or think you are) this accident reminds us it can happen to anyone.
This network wishes to pay its respects to both men and to their families who obviously are grieving. We consider ourselves car guys and so we honor our fallen fellow enthusiasts and hope another article like this never needs to be written. Those reading need to remember there are very real consequences to actions in high powered cars. Those consequences are often elevated when on public streets.
Mr. Walker, you were participating in a charity event and participated in several humanitarian aid efforts. You used your fame and fortune to help others which is what made you different. Being an avid car enthusiast and contributing to the automotive community was just a cherry on top. You have had a greater impact on worldwide car culture than any of us can ever hope to even approach.
You will be missed.


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A 26-year-old Farmington man has been arrested on suspicion of felony assault in connection with a stabbing early Sunday morning near East Second Avenue and College Drive in Durango.
Ronald Cummings was being held Monday in the La Plata County jail on $25,000 bail.
Officers with the Durango Police Department drove up on a fight in progress about 2 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Second Avenue Sports, 600 East Second Ave.
Officers discovered that Michael Ruiz, 22, of Cortez, had been stabbed in the abdomen. Ruiz and several witnesses identified Cummings as the person who did the stabbing, according to a news release issued Monday by the Durango Police Department.
Witnesses also said Cummings had a knife and a bat at the time of the assault.
Police contacted Cummings and found him to be in possession of a 3-inch folding pocket knife with blood on it, the release says.
Witnesses told police they were leaving the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., when they were confronted by Cummings from across the street. They walked across the street and a fight broke out.
Witnesses said no one in the group had prior contact with Cummings before the fight.
Ruiz was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.


text: Just to get the blood boiling on this forum, Kevin Durant was on The Dan Patrick Show this morning and Dan Patrick asked him which team he wanted to play for growing up. I shit you not, he said the Raptors. Don't believe me click this link http://www.danpatrick.com/2013/01/17...and-his-skins/ and skip to about the 4:10 mark.


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TMG White Paper Urges CUs to Include Data Analysis in Card Management
A new white paper from The Members Group, a card processing CUSO affiliated with the Iowa Credit Union League, seeks to build a case for credit unions and community banks to use more data analysis, so-called Big Data, in their credit and debit card program management.
Written in conjunction with the CUSO data analysis partner, IQR Consulting, the white paper argues that analyzing the payment behavior of card holders can help portfolio managers cut costs, increase the cardholders use of the credit union's card, cross sell cards to non-cardholding members and determine which cardholders would be most likely to respond to a given promotion or incentive.
For example, in one case the white paper discussed a credit union which feared its credit cards were being priced too low and turned to data analysis for additional insight into the question. After analyzing member transaction data, the credit union was convinced to re-evaluate the relatively few non-profitable card accounts and to instead enhance service and marketing to the bulk of cardholders whose accounts were profitable, just not as much as the credit union needed them to be.
This strategy would avoid a risky rate increase which could have eroded the cardholders' preference for the card and cut costs to the portfolio.
The paper also made the point that even a small card portfolio generates a large amount of cardholder data.
"Take, for example, a credit union credit card portfolio with 4,000 accounts," the authors wrote. "If the average cardholder makes 10 transactions per month, that's 40,000 transactions – or as a data analyst would see it, 40,000 rows of data. Over a period of a year, this card portfolio generated nearly 500,000 transactions. That's a tremendous amount of information. "


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As you are likely writing about the upcoming Radeon 6800 series launch, we felt it was important that you're up to date on the latest GeForce GTX 400 series pricing.We'd like to inform you of new suggested retail pricing (SEP) for one of our most popular GPUs, the GeForce GTX 460 1GB. The new SEP for the GTX 460 1GB is $199.99. As always, the SEP is just a suggestion and you'll likely find retail boards from our partners at multiple price points. We expect many standard boards to sell in the $180s-$190s, and OC boards to sell for $209+.In addition to the GeForce GTX 460 1GB, we'd also like to mention new pricing on the GeForce GTX 470. The SEP of this GPU is now $259.99. The GeForce GTX 470 offers more tessellation engines than GTX 460, making it ready for the most demanding DX11 games on the market today, and just as important, the games of tomorrow.
Further to our e-mail last night about the GeForce GTX 460 1GB/GTX 470 price adjustment, please rest assured that our price adjustments are in fact permanent. Any claims that our pricing update is temporary are patently false.


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Trade allocation policies and procedures are necessary, even if an RIA does not believe clients are in danger. During routine examinations, the SEC and other regulators scrutinize trade allocation practices, because there is a potential for clients to be harmed or defrauded. They also examine whether an RIA has thorough and effective policies and procedures for resolving trading errors. An RIA should fully disclose on Form ADV its trade allocation practices, as well as the mechanism the firm uses to resolve trading errors.
Trade Allocation Practices
An RIA's trade allocation practices should not come as a surprise to clients. Furthermore, an RIA may defraud its clients when it disproportionately allocates potentially lucrative initial public offerings (IPOs) to favored accounts and fails to adequately disclose this practice to all clients. Allocations of IPOs may be inequitable when preference is given to the following:
- Proprietary accounts
- Accounts that pay performance-based fees
- Accounts that are underperforming
- Clients that the RIA hopes will invest more money with the firm
For example, suppose an RIA manages the account of a multi-millionaire. The RIA's current fee is a percentage of the two million dollars in the client's account with the advisory firm. Because the IAR handling the account knows that the client has millions of dollars more that might be invested, she allocates all promising IPOs to that client.
An RIA should never wait for subsequent market movements before deciding how to allocate trades among clients. Regulators are concerned that the RIA might allocate the trades to favored clients if prices go up and allocate the trade to less-favored clients if the price goes down, which violates the Investment Advisers Act.
RIAs may harm their clients if they fail to use the average price paid when allocating securities to accounts participating in bunched trades. In addition, firms must fully disclose their allocation policies.
Trading Errors
A trading error is defined as an error in the placement, execution, or settlement of a client's trade. It is not a trading error if the mistake is corrected before the trade is settled. Although inevitable trading errors will occur, the real damage is done when an RIA fails to address and handle them appropriately.
- The following are examples of trading errors:
- Trading a security for the wrong account
- Trading the wrong security
- Over-allocation of a security
- Buying or selling an incorrect amount of a security
- Purchasing rather than selling a security
- Failing to buy or sell a security as directed by a client
- Buying or selling an unauthorized security
- Buying a security that is not aligned with a client's investment objectives
- Buying or selling a security that violates a restriction on the client's account
- It is important to recognize that trading errors do not include:
- errors that are detected and corrected prior to settlement;
- ticket rewrites and similar mistakes;
- errors made by persons and companies other than the advisor, such as broker-dealers;
- poor investment decisions; and
- intentional acts.
It is not a trading error if an IAR intentionally invests in a security other than the one the client asked him to buy. This is a serious breach of the legal obligations owed to a client. The IAR most likely breached his fiduciary obligations to the client and may expose himself and the firm to legal action.
A trading error does not include a situation where an RIA recommends a particular investment that does not perform as expected. Such an occurrence, which happens quite frequently, is a bad investment choice and not a trading error.
The Consequences of Trading Errors
If handled improperly, trading errors may cause an advisory firm to violate the Investment Advisers Act. Several years ago, the SEC sanctioned a California RIA for wrongful conduct related to trading errors for making a stock trading error resulting in a loss of $400,000. Instead of absorbing the loss from the trading error, the RIA passed it along to clients. By doing so, the RIA violated Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act, the anti-fraud sections of the statute. These are the most serious violations an RIA can commit.
In that proceeding, the SEC made it clear that losses caused by an RIA's trading error should not be the client's responsibility. Passing along these losses to clients clearly breaches the RIA's fiduciary obligation. The SEC will discipline an RIA for attempted concealment of a trading error.
RIAs Obligations Relating to Trading Errors
As part of their compliance obligations, RIAs must create and retain trading error books and records. These trading error records should explain what errors occurred, how they were corrected, and must be maintained for five years.
When SEC or state examiners come for a visit, they ask for information regarding trading errors committed by the RIA. In its Examination Information Request List, the SEC asks for a list of trading errors, which occurred in client or proprietary accounts during the inspection period. This information is found in the RIA's trade blotter (purchases and sales journal), which lists all transactions including trading errors.
An RIA must retain records of all trading errors including the:
- transaction date;
- security;
- account and broker-dealer involved; and a
- summary of the error and its ultimate disposition, including the conditions of any financial settlement.
Trading errors do not necessarily harm the client. In some cases, a mistake may actually improve the client's return on investment. RIAs must fully disclose on Form ADV how they resolve trading errors that benefit the client. Some RIAs choose to retain the profits arising from the mistake, and others reallocate them to a trading error account or a designated charity.
Policies and Procedures Relating to Trading Errors
An RIA's policies and procedures should specifically address trading errors and how they are handled. Furthermore, an RIA's compliance manual should set forth the notification procedure to be followed after the error is discovered. These policies and procedures should state explicitly that the client will be made whole if losses from trading errors occur.
In theory, an RIA could take the position that the firm won't reimburse clients for losses resulting from trading errors. Even if the RIA fully discloses that it will not take responsibility for trading errors, securities regulators will still react negatively to this practice. In all probability, the RIA would be sanctioned by regulators and might face legal action brought by the client who lost money due to the error. Regardless of the cost to the RIA, however, clients should never suffer a loss resulting from a trading error.
If an RIA reallocates or corrects an error from one client account to another, it must absorb any loss. Once identified, an attempt should be made to correct it that same day.
Soft dollar arrangements may not be used to correct mistakes made by an RIA when placing a trade for a client's account. The SEC's soft dollar interpretive release, which we discussed in Nothing but the Best Execution, concluded that the brokerage services safe harbor does not include products and services used to correct trading errors. According to the release, "error correction trades or related services in connection with errors made by money managers are not related to the initial trade for a client within the meaning of Section 28(e)(3)(C) because they are separate transactions to correct the manager's error, not to benefit the advised account." These products and services are viewed as overhead.
Form ADV Disclosures
An RIA's Form ADV Part 2A disclosure brochure should describe the firm's policy regarding trade errors. Typically, an RIA's policy is to restore the client's account to the position it should have been in had the trading error not occurred. Depending on the circumstances, corrective actions may include canceling the trade, adjusting an allocation, and/or reimbursing the account.
Conversely, Form ADV should disclose what actions an RIA will take if a trade error results in a profit. In many cases, an RIA takes the position that if a trade error results in a profit, the client will keep the proceeds. Another option is for the RIA to state that if a trade error results in a profit, it will be corrected in the trade error account of the executing broker-dealer and the RIA will not keep the profit.
The Big Picture
When an SEC-registered investment advisor conducts its annual audit of the firm's policies and procedures, it should pay special attention to trading practices. Although state-registered investment advisors are not usually required to conduct an annual audit, they benefit by looking at their trading policies and procedures. If these policies do not fully protect their clients, they should be revised accordingly.
Forensic tests can be utilized to identify unusual trading patterns. For example, similarly managed accounts should produce similar results if all other factors like deposits and withdrawals are equal. If the results are very different, it might mean that the RIA is favoring certain accounts or misallocating investment opportunities. Forensic tests can also detect whether an RIA is overtrading.
Rule 204-2(a)(3) requires RIAs to maintain a memorandum of each order they give for the purchase or sale of any security. The memorandum must contain specific information about these transactions. RIAs have been sanctioned if their trade tickets failed to indicate whether the order was entered pursuant to the exercise of discretionary power, the person connected with the firm who recommended the transaction, and the person who placed the order.
It's not the worst mistake in the world for an RIA to commit a trading error. The real problem for an RIA is failing to resolve an error in an appropriate manner.


text:
Osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease. The associated bone loss usually occurs without symptoms. Since many people mistakenly believe that all medical conditions cause symptoms, they may not see a doctor until the condition is far advanced.
In the early stages of osteoporosis, most people don't have symptoms. Usually, the first symptom of osteoporosis is wrist, vertebra, or hip fracture.
Osteoporosis symptoms that affect the spine may appear in some people. Symptoms may include:
- Chronic back pain
- Kyphosis, a condition marked by a stooped posture
- Bloating
- Quick feeling of fullness while eating
- Difficulty breathing
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 05/2016 -
- Update Date: 05/20/2015 -


text:
Polyhydramnios is too much fluid in the amniotic sac. The amniotic sac is the water bag inside the uterus that cushions and protects your baby. It also allows normal growth and development to occur. Normal amniotic fluid levels vary. The average volume during pregnancy is almost one liter at 36-37 weeks. In severe cases, the condition can result in:
- Early labor and delivery
- Cesarean delivery
- Increased bleeding after delivery
- Reduced growth in the baby
- Placental abruption
- Umbilical cord prolapse
In most cases, the cause of polyhydramnios is not known. In others, causes may include:
- Birth defects
- Rh disease —a treatable condition that occurs when mother and baby have different blood types
- Diabetes in the mother
- Identical twins
If you have mild polyhydramnios, you may not have any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Discomfort in the abdomen
- Trouble breathing due to crowding of the lungs
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Your doctor will do an ultrasound to view the uterus and fetus. Measurements of the fluid levels will be taken. The fetus will also be closely looked at for any signs of problems.
Your doctor may do other tests including blood tests to check for health problems in the mother. Other tests may be done to look for problems with the fetus's health.
Your doctor will monitor you and your baby closely to make sure the condition does not get worse and that the fetus remains healthy. You will probably have more frequent prenatal visits and regular ultrasound tests. It is very important to keep these appointments.
Your doctor will suggest a treatment plan based on your due date and the amount of amniotic fluid. If treatment is needed, options include the following:
- Delivery
- Removal of excess amniotic fluid
- Medication may be used to decrease amniotic fluid, except in the last 8 weeks of pregnancy
The only way to prevent polyhydramnios is to treat its causes if possible. Make sure to get proper care before, during, and after pregnancy. This may include:
- Talking with your doctor about medications, supplements, or herbal treatments you are using before getting pregnant
- Proper diet, adequate rest and fluid intake, taking vitamin supplements, and getting enough exercise
- Regular check-ups throughout pregnancy
- Screening tests
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Andrea Chisholm, MD
- Review Date: 04/2017 -
- Update Date: 05/20/2015 -


text:
ABA Questions Potential Field of Membership Expansion for Thrivent
The American Bankers Association has written to the NCUA urging the agency to prevent a potential field of membership expansion at the Thrivent Federal Credit Union in Appleton, Wis.
The 44,900-member Thrivent FCU was formed out of the consumer lending and deposit taking portions of a commercial bank, Thrivent Financial Bank, which the insurer still owns and uses to handle its investments business.
Since its chartering, Thrivent FCU has had as its field of membership defined anyone who is already a member of its sponsoring insurance organization as well anyone who works for a number of different national branches of the Lutheran Church. This was roughly 3 million people at the time the credit union was chartered.
But now a potential expansion of the common bond at its sponsoring organization has the ABA writing the NCUA to cry foul.
Between March 1 and April 30 members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will vote on whether to expand their membership bond from being open to only Lutherans to membership open to Christians generally.
"In historical terms this would not be the first extension of our common bond," Thrivent CEO Brad Hewitt said in a video about the vote on the organization's website. He related how one of the predecessors to the organization had expanded the common bond from one somewhat narrowly defined as a certain kind of Lutheran to one open to all Lutherans.
"And so I look at this as our natural next step," Hewitt said.
But that next step could also mean sharply increasing the numbers of people eligible to join Thrivent FCU, and that drew a letter from the ABA to the NCUA.
"ABA is concerned that extending Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' common bond to all Christians would be a considerable and problematic expansion of the credit union's membership," wrote Keith Leggett, ABA vice president and senior economist.
"While Christians may share reasonably similar beliefs, the different and sometimes conflicting doctrinal variations among different denominations suggest that all Christians do not share a meaningful affinity or interaction," Leggett said.
Leggett also argued that expanding Thrivent FCUs field of membership to all Christians would be the equivalent of making age a sole requirement for credit union membership, an idea, he wrote, that a court has already prevented.
Thrivent has not commented on the letter and NCUA has only said that it has not received any application from Thrivent FCU to change its FOM.
But Leggett called the common bond vote a "backdoor" approach to a significant field of membership expansion and contended the NCUA has the authority to restrict or limit the credit union's field of membership no matter what the sponsoring organization does.


text:
Why can't Amir be are starting PF? With the acquisition of Rudy Gay I feel like he would be the better fit. It's been obvious that the Raptors are a perimeter team and even more so now. With Rudy Gay as the number 1 option than Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as 2 and 3 or the other way around. It's obvious we don't need anymore ppl that can take up more shoots. People on this forum have said that we just need a PF that defends and rebounds. Well that's Amir Johnson. His easily are best defender on are team. His easily one of the hardest working players on the team. He does everything else everybody won't do. Plays through injury, gets on the floor and runs the floor. With his and JV's length they can really disturb shoots at the rim. They would probably be the fastest big tandem. Oh yeah his 25 years old.
As a starter 15 Pts, 10(3.4 Off) Rebs, 2.1 Ast, 1.9 Blk, 1.2 Stl .542 FG .743 FT


text:
Discount Snowboards - Kids Boys GirlsDiscount Kids Snowboards from Proboardshop. Kids run through their snowboarding equipment quicker than Usain Bolt runs the 100 meter. We always focus on keeping our prices lower than anyone else in the industry. Although we cater to the youth we have been around since '82 and are no youngsters to the market. Fast shipping and easy returns complete your shopping experience at Proboardshop.
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Nikita Chickita Snowboard - Girls
Size: 135cmReg: $329.95 On Sale: $164.95


text:
Budget Process is a Mix of Funk and Fog: Executive Editor's Column
This week, I received the same dreaded email that you did, or soon will: it's time to work on the 2014 budget.
I hate the budget process.
For one thing, it requires sitting still and giving your full attention to an Excel spreadsheet with a mile-long list of general ledger numbers. God bless the bean counters, they are as vital to a credit union as the air we breathe, but it is just not my thing.
And what a dream-dasher the budget is. It doesn't matter which division you run, the budget takes the fun out of any strategic plan. There's never enough money to do it all, and your brilliant idea often sustains so many cuts, it transforms into some craptacular make-do version that's a chore to implement.
There are also so many unknowns, and this year is particularly difficult. I can think of five major budget uncertainties that must be driving credit union executives nuts as they put their income and expense projections together.
The Tax Threat
Yeah, yeah, I know. Congress isn't likely to accomplish a complete overhaul of the tax code. Not given the partisan canyon that divides the two controlling parties. It's not a pleasant task, either: increasing tax revenues is guaranteed to make somebody mad, and that will be a problem for legislators as they start asking for contributions to their midterm re-election campaigns. While it's unlikely the credit union tax exemption would be completely repealed, the industry could be hit with some new taxes. I've heard unrelated business income is one area the House Ways & Means Committee is eyeing. If your credit union would be hit hard by a UBIT, you might want to leave that line item open until the end of the year.
Durbin Ruling
As of Aug. 21, the Federal Reserve said it would appeal Judge Richard Leon's decision that invalidated the interchange cap and a provision in the rule that mandates network competition. It's possible the Fed will prevail, particularly since the merchant plaintiffs are joining forces with the Fed to push for an expedited appeal. And, both the Fed and merchants told Leon they don't think he has the authority to require financial institutions to pay merchants damages. Both of these developments are good news for credit unions. However, if the Fed does not succeed in appellate court, it would be forced to craft new interchange rules. While the debit interchange cap only applies to the four credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets, the competition provision applies to all credit unions. Leon's decision would require card issuers to double the current number of payment networks represented on their cards from two to four. Sounds spendy to me.
Interest Rates
The Fed has been very consistent in its projections that it won't raise the Fed Funds rate until 2015. However, when it comes to making decisions about loan and deposit pricing, liquidity preparation, investment portfolios and loan growth goals, credit unions must project well into the future. What will happen after the Fed tapers its economic stimulus and raises rates? Your position could have a big effect on your balance sheet.
The Economy
Of course, economic projections are uncertain every year. But in this current environment, we're only one terrorist attack or market event away from another recession. And it doesn't take much to find economic experts who are predicting radically different outcomes. Former Goldman Sachs Asset Management Chairman and BRIC originator Jim O'Neill recently said he thinks emerging markets have cooled and the United States will see a global economic surge. Boy, wouldn't that be nice? But plenty of others have their doubts. And if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling, it would have devastating consequences for credit unions that serve federal agencies, not to mention the financial market chaos that could ensue.
The NCUA
Before the end of the year, we could see new final CUSO rule that could greatly increase the compliance burden on credit unions that wholly own one or more CUSOs. We are also likely to see a proposed rule that would increase net worth requirements according to risk, with the current 7% well-capitalized requirement only applying to plain vanilla shops. Certainly that would impact your need to generate net income and could force a reduction in assets, depending upon how quickly such a rule would take effect.
Sounds like it's going to be a busy four months.


text:
Gramps 3.4 Wiki Manual - What's new?
|Special copyright notice: All edits to this page need to be under two different copyright licenses:
These licenses allow the Gramps project to maximally use this wiki manual as free content in future Gramps versions. If you do not agree with this dual license, then do not edit this page. You may only link to other pages within the wiki which fall only under the GFDL license via external links (using the syntax: [https://www.gramps-project.org/...]), not via internal links.
This section gives an overview of changes since Gramps version 3.3. These changes are also detailed later in this manual. Users of Gramps version 3.3 are encouraged to review this section to be sure to take advantage of these new features.
- 1 Before you upgrade
- 2 Visible changes to the core
- 3 Plugins changes
- 4 Under the hood changes
- 5 Further info
Before you upgrade
Creating an archive alone to safeguard your data might not be appropriate before upgrading. In the unlikely event that Gramps 3.4 corrupts your database, it could also corrupt the archive. An export as outlined in this section is recommended.
Before you upgrade, make sure your family tree data is secure. The best way to do this is:
- Start Gramps 3.3
- Open your family tree
- Export the family tree to the gramps xml format or the gramps xml package format (which includes your photographs and other media files associated with your family tree data). Export your tree via menu Family Trees->Backup....
- Close this family tree and repeat the above steps for any other family trees you have
- Keep the resulting file(s) in a safe place
For more information, please review Backing up a Family Tree.
After properly safeguarding your data, proceed to install Gramps 3.4. Use your operating system's regular installation process to do this. It is also best to uninstall Gramps 3.3 before installing Gramps 3.4, or make sure you install Gramps 3.4 in a different location.
After you install Gramps 3.4, you can open your existing family trees and continue working. In case of problems (e.g., after a complete system upgrade), use the backup file(s) created above to recreate your family tree(s).
Visible changes to the core
Changes visible after the migration: interface, data.
- Storing data from large sources.
See GEPS_023:_Storing_data_from_large_sources.
- Citations support and sharing feature make citation edition consistent: adding citation now needs less dialogs.
- Improvements on image selection feature.
- New 'Default family relationship' option value (Preferences)
Gedcom data
More details and improvements on Gedcom file format importation.
Plugins changes
Everything about the plugins: import/export, gramplets, views, reports, tools.
- Citations support on file formats
- Improvements on Gedcom file format support
- output file formats
Improvements : RTF, ODT, LaTeX, cairo (PDF, Print...)
- support image sections on textual reports
- Citation support and source review (NarrativeWeb report, etc ...)
- Paper options
Consistency rules on paper values, orientation and file format (options set by user)
- Improvements
- Index and TOC features on book report
Detailed reports
- Improvements, bug fix, consistency on age calculation, etc ...
- New citation category
- Add of a citation tree view into the Source category (like Persons, Places categories)
- Size adjustments on Main, Navigation and Gramps bars
- A new tool for merging our citation records
- Review on some Repair Family Tree tools
Under the hood changes
Technical stuff (gui/gen).
Command Line Interface
- Arguments/flags
Improvements, consistency, optional translation
Gramps XML file format and database
- Citations support
- Gramps XML is now idempotent[1].
Exporter do not change records order, making easier to look at differences between versions/revisions.
User classes
Reports and tools have user classes. These classes provide a means to interact with the user in an abstract way. These classes should be overridden by each respective user interface to provide the appropriate interaction (eg. dialogs for GTK, promts for CLI).
Further info
More informations.


text:
Macs have traditionally packed powerful Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs.
One would think that they would prove an ideal home for PC games; but
in reality they have only received a limited selection of
high-profile ports. That's mainly because most PC games rely on
Direct X, a proprietary Microsoft API. Macs use OpenGL instead,
necessitating a port. This is just one of multiple API-level
differences between Windows gaming and Mac gaming.Fortunately
for Mac gamers, the big powers are finally showing them some love.
Valve is beta
testing Mac versions of its Steam
content delivery system and Source game engine and will soon
be releasing a variety of games to the platform, including Half
Life 2, Left
4 Dead 2,
and Team
Fortress 2.Valve
just announced this week that it would be releasing the betas to the
public on May
12.Blizzard – makers of StarCraft, Diablo,
and Warcraft –
has a long relationship with Apple, but hasn't been tossing as many
titles their way of late. However, Blizzard is stepping up its
Mac efforts as well. Blizzard just released a beta version of
the upcoming StarCraft
II for
Mac.Mac players can snag the test release for free
at Battle.net, but they must
already be in the beta test program to get it. In
non-Mac StarCraft
II news,
the upcoming title has received a new
map editor patch, that allows users greater flexibility in
crafting custom levels and mods. A couple of users are already
showing off their handiwork, crafting a Diablo clone and
a Kart
racing game with it.


text:
The second man accused in the armed robbery of a Cortez medical marijuana facility in February 2012 was sentenced Thursday afternoon to 10 years in prison.
True Earth Medicine, located at 302 North Broadway in Cortez, was robbed at approximately 6 p.m. Feb. 1, 2012, by two suspects.
Three days after the robbery, Luis Thomas White was arrested for the crime after police obtained a search warrant for his residence.
White, 31, who initially pleaded not guilty, accepted a plea bargain that District Court Judge Douglas Walker accepted.
Initially charged with more than 10 crimes, White, under a plea agreement pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated robbery between the amounts of $1,000 to S20,000.
White simply stated "I apologize" when he addressed the court prior to the sentence being handed down.
Defense Attorney John Baxter said the substance addictions of his client could have played a role in the crime.
Walker explained to White his reasoning behind the sentence.
"Life has not been kind to you, but at some time I have to care about the community more than you," Walker said. "And unfortunately this is one of those times."
Walker pointed out the aggravating factors in the robbery, which included the use of a weapon, for the increased length of the prison sentence. The range for aggravated robbery without any aggravating circumstances is two to six years in prison.
White showed no emotion when the 10-year prison term was announced.
Walker told White that he would be offered the opportunity to receive mental and substance treatment while incarcerated.
White, who received 367 days credit for time served was also ordered to pay restitution costs, though Walker gave the DA's office 90 days to come up with the total.
At the conclusion of the sentencing Walker wished White good luck.
Brandon James Rhodes, 32, was given a 10-year sentence July 26 for his role in the robbery. He pleaded guilty to robbery and in exchange for cooperation with authorities all of the other charges were dropped.
By pleading guilty, Rhodes admitted to participating in the kidnapping of a store employee, forcing her to the back room, and to having a prior conviction for distribution of marijuana.
At the time, Jennifer Klein, an employee at the center, said two masked men with guns came in, held her at gunpoint, taking money, products and whatever they could get their hands on.
The larger of the two suspects jumped over the counter, and ordered her to her knees, she said.
The men then gave Klein a rope and told her to tie herself up, she said, which she was unable to do.
Despite being tied up by the suspects, Klein said she was able to get free and call police on her mobile phone.


text:
war on taxes is becoming a tale as old as time. A U.S. state pushes the online
retailer to collect taxes, and Amazon simply
packs its bags and leaves for the next state that will leave it
alone. But this time, that may not be the case.
Amazon is the largest online retailer with over 90 million registered buyers
and $34 billion in annual sales. It launched in 1995, and sells everything from
food, furniture and apparel to computers, electronics and toys.
Recently, U.S. states have started pressuring Amazon to collect sales taxes on
its items due to the retailer's affiliates operating within those states, and
because of large state budget deficits. For example, Texas State Comptroller
Susan Combs gave Amazon a
$269 million bill in unpaid sales taxes, which led to Amazon's
decision to close a local distribution center and cancel all plans to expand in
the state of Texas.
In another instance, Amazon won an exemption on a new sales tax law in South
Carolina after saying it would pull a distribution center from the state if
forced to collect. Amazon has also cancelled tens of thousands of affiliate
accounts in Illinois and Colorado due to tax problems, and has brick-and-mortar
chains like Best Buy and Wal-Mart
breathing down its neck because of Amazon's "unfair advantage."
The unfair advantage refers to the online sales tax reprieve that was put in
place awhile ago to support the then-upcoming industry of online shopping. But
now that Amazon is large and in-charge, states and brick-and-mortar retail
chains believe this reprieve is no longer necessary.
Now, Amazon may be in an inescapable position as Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
plans to introduce a bill that
will require all businesses to collect sales tax "in the state where the
consumer resides." The bill is called the Main Street Fairness Act.
"This idea is overdue," said Durbin. "Online retail sales are
now very fulsome and are growing at the expense of local units of
Amazon argues that a Supreme Court ruling from 1992 excuses Amazon and other
remote sellers from having to collect taxes in U.S. states that do not have the
company's employees or warehouses operating within its borders. In addition,
Amazon notes that it currently collects taxes in Kansas, Kentucky, New York,
North Dakota and Washington, and that buyers in other states where taxes are
not collected are to report it themselves, though they rarely do.
According to a University of Tennessee study, U.S. states will collectively
lose $10.1 billion in uncollected sales tax revenue this year. Next year, that
number is expected to jump to $11.3 billion. With many state budgets in the
red, the collection of online sales tax looks to be a quick fix that they all
will continuously push for.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO, has said that he would prefer that the tax situation be
"fixed properly" through federal legislation, and this month, he may
get his wish. Durbin is gathering support from former mayors and governors who
are now in Washington "weighing the budget problems back home," and
the issue will go to Capitol Hill by the end of the month.
"Doing it state by state gives the Internet companies an opportunity to go
shopping, to find the state that is going to treat them the best," said
Durbin. "It certainly argues for a federal approach."
Jason Brewer, vice president for communications and advocacy for the Retail
Industry Leaders Association, is unsurprisingly for Durbin's new bill, saying
that it's only a matter of time before Amazon will be forced to collect
"Ultimately, this is a battle they are going to lose, and this is about
how long they can push off that day of reckoning," said Brewer. "They
always claimed to support a federal solution, but they've never lifted a finger
to get there."
Even if Amazon loses this battle, it really wouldn't be that bad for the online
retail giant. According to analysts at Wells Fargo Securities, Amazon's
products would still be cheaper than Wal-Mart or Target even if it had to
collect sales tax. In fact, if Amazon had to collect sales tax, it would be 5
to 6 percent cheaper than Wal-Mart and 12 to 13 percent cheaper than Target. In
addition, with a sales tax policy in place, Amazon could add new shipping
centers anywhere they pleased, and could accelerate shipping time.
prices remaining lower than brick-and-mortar retailers and items being
delivered quicker than ever with cheaper shipping prices, how could Amazon


text:
With fashion changing faster than the seasons, Mood Designer Fabrics has continued to stay one step ahead of its competitors. While being actively involved in the latest in cultural Crazes, including reality television programs like Project Runway and The Apprentice, as well as staying grounded in the traditions of honest customer service, Mood has transformed itself into a prosperous, well-established and growing business.
Located in the heart of New York City's garment district, Mood's rich history is firmly rooted in the ever-evolving fashion scene, providing many of America's top designers and hottest celebrities with the latest in designer fabrics. With an affordable inventory hand-picked from the intimate collection of today's foremost in American and European designs (Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Zac Posen, Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Valentino, Gandini, Solstiss…etc), plus carrying an extensive collection of the finest in European fabrics inspired by the latest in Italian trends, who wouldn't come to Mood?
In the words of one Mood Client, " If you can't find it (fabric) at Mood, it doesn't exist!" With a wide range of fabrics from silk to wool, an abundance of styles and colors and an ever expanding inventory, Mood has it all. This is why the Mood name is synonymous with excellence and why it is getting so much recognition and publicity.
With over 40,000 Sq Ft incorporated into its majestic mega store on 37th St. in New York City, staffed by over 50 experienced and knowledgeable employees, and the launching of a new website, Mood has solidified itself as the fastest growing Mecca for designer fabrics.
Whether you are prestigious designer or just learning to sew, Mood Designer Fabrics invites you to see for yourself what all the hype is about we promise you won't be disappointed!


text:
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For 2018-01-20 00:00:00
The strength versus size discussion has been relevant since powerlifting juxtaposed itself to bodybuilding. In the early days, however, powerlifters and bodybuilders trained similarly.
The arrival of a new ProSource Supplement Catalog is always cause for celebration among serious athletes. And rest assured, this winter's catalog is packed with all the phenomenal savings and expert reviews of top-brand products you've come to expect from us.
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The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions. Since glaucoma usually has no symptoms and can occur in anybody regardless of risk factors, everybody should be screened for the disease as recommended by their eye doctor.
Screening Guidelines
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the following:
- One complete eye exam in your 20s.
- Two complete eye exams in your 30s.
- A baseline eye exam at age 40, even if you have no eye problems or are not at risk for eye disease.
- A complete eye exam after age 65 every 1-2 years.
Based on the results of the exam, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan and/or a schedule for follow-up visits.
You may need more frequent visits if you:
- Currently have an eye condition
- Have symptoms of an eye condition
- Are at an increased risk for an eye condition
- Have a chronic disease that may affect your vision, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Wear contact lenses
The eye exam also tests for other eye disorders, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
If you currently have eye symptoms, you should call your provider immediately for an evaluation. In case of an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.
Screening Tests
During your eye exam, your eye care professional may do the following tests:
Visual acuity —This test measures how well you see at various distances. You will be asked to look at a chart of letters or numbers and identify what you see.
Tonometry —This test measures the pressure inside the eye. There are several types of tonometry; in air tonometry, a puff of air is blown onto the cornea to take the measurement. Another type uses a small plastic device (Goldman tonometer) that lightly pushes against your eye in order to measure your intraocular pressure. For this test, the eye is first numbed with an eye drop, so you do not feel anything.
Gonioscopy —The eye care professional can see the drainage angle of your eye using a special lens.
Pupil dilation —Drops are put in your eyes that enlarge/dilate your pupils. This allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of your eye. Your close-up (near) vision may remain blurred for several hours afterwards and you may be sensitive to bright light. Ask your doctor for a pair of sunglasses after the dilation.
Ophthalmoscopy —Once your pupils are dilated, the eye care professional will examine your optic nerve and the rest of your retina with an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. The color and appearance of the optic nerve may indicate if damage from glaucoma is present and how extensive it is. Your doctor will probably take pictures of your optic nerve for future comparison.
Perimetry (visual field test) —This test produces a map of the complete field of vision. It is used to check whether there is damage to any area of vision. Since glaucoma slowly affects your peripheral, or side vision, you may not know you have any problems until detected on this test.
Pachymetry —Your physician may measure the thickness of your cornea using a special machine called a corneal pachymeter. Your eye is numbed with a drop first and it does not hurt.
Nerve fiber layer analysis —Your doctor may use a special machine, such as an OCT, GDx, or HRT, to measure the thickness of the nerve fiber around your optic nerve. This can often be compared to normative data from other people without glaucoma of your age, sex, and race. It also can be rechecked in the future to see if there is any loss of nerve fiber thickness with time.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
- Review Date: 03/2017 -
- Update Date: 03/15/2015 -


text: "Fifty years after first seeing Duck Soup, humorist Blount watched it again, worried that a new generation of viewers would 'walk all over my heaven' and disrespect the experience. Instead, he found that parents and children alike appreciated the wacky humor and subversive sensibilities of the movie that debuted in 1933. The Depression-era film didn't catch on until the 1960s, when the idea of reveling in a silly, completely unnecessary war was somehow construed as an antiwar message. Blount takes the reader through the more famous scenes of the movie, as Groucho Marx, playing Rufus Firefly, the leader of Freedonia, pushes the nation into bankruptcy and war with the occasional assistance and resistance of his brothers (Harpo as Pinky, Chico as Chicolini, and Zeppo as Lieutenant Bob Roland). Blount includes commentary on the Marx Brothers' personalities and careers: Groucho's acerbic wit, Chico's gambling and womanizing, Harpo's few speaking occasions. Zeppo, the straight man and former car thief, was reluctantly drafted into the act to replace brother Gummo, the least known of the brothers. Their mother, Minnie, was a stage mother to top all others, with a master plan for her sons that included capitalizing on shtick from vaudeville and memories of growing up Jewish in ethnic New York. Readers will enjoy the stories behind this iconic film and the careers of the Marx Brothers, director Leo McCarey, and frequent costar Margaret Dumont."Booklist


text:
While AT&T
has been touting the nation's fastest mobile broadband
network, a new survey by Consumer
Reports concludes
that's not enough for customers -- "AT&T is the worst
the 58,000 ConsumerReports.org readers surveyed,
AT&T received the lowest customer satisfaction score and was the
only carrier to drop significantly. Of the AT&T respondents, more
than half were iPhone users. According to the survey, they were "much
less satisfied with their carrier and rated data service (Web and
e-mail lower than owners of smartphones on other carriers."
findings mirror those of an earlier
study by Deloitte, which found that nearly half of all current
iPhone users would be interested in switching to a Verizon iteration
of the device, mostly due to overwhelming dissatisfaction with AT&T.
survey suggests that an iPhone from Verizon Wireless, which
is rumored, could indeed be good news for iPhone fans," said
Paul Reynolds, Electronics Editor for Consumer
other interesting findings of the CR survey:
U.S. Cellular, in a major coup, overcame Verizon Wireless as the
top-rated wireless provider for contract service.
Sprint, in "a remarkable turnaround," scored higher than
Verizon -- the de facto leader in overall satisfaction since 2003 --
in some aspects, and pulled even with Big Red overall.


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Operation focuses on use of INTERPOL tools to combat terrorism in the Sahel
ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire – A programme to combat terrorism in the Sahel through the use of INTERPOL's tools has brought together some 20 law enforcement officers from across the region for an operation to screen passenger documents at major airports and border points.
Operation Hawk was launched on 24 June at the INTERPOL Regional Bureau in Abidjan. Held under the umbrella of INTERPOL's Border Management Task Force, the operation will continue until September 2013.
The initial week-long phase of the operation gathered officers from nine countries – Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria and Tunisia – in Abidjan to screen passenger data against INTERPOL's databases at the international airport, and to process operational material including INTERPOL notices, passenger manifests and terrorist-related information from the participating countries. INTERPOL's Command and Coordination Centre in Lyon, France provided real-time support.
Led by INTERPOL's Public Safety and Terrorism Sub-directorate, in coordination with the Regional Bureau in Abidjan and the Capacity Building and Training Directorate, the operation has seen the participating countries contribute to current international investigations on terrorist attacks that have recently occurred in the Sahel region.
In addition to screening travel data, the training-focused operation also included a crime scene table-top exercise and training on regional counter-terrorism investigations.
Operation Hawk is ongoing in the nine participating countries, with officers continuing to check passengers at border points against INTERPOL's databases. Ongoing support from INTERPOL will include the issuing of notices and diffusions when necessary.
The operation is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD).


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MANNNNN I TOLD YOU GUYS....man "I keep it a hundred, dont worry bout da proof" - Fabolous. He's defintily putting in some work, which remind me, I should TOO!!! DeMAR is da MAN he got so much heart, inspired me in life. PEACE RAPTORSREPUBLIC one love!
btw he's wearing a shirt because he dont want to show off those GUNS yet, i do the same man...gotta keep it lowprofile and ahead of the competition.


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Crozer-Keystone Health System registered and licensed Dietitians provide weight loss counseling throughout the surgical weight loss journey.
Registration is closed.
Registration is required. Complete and submit the online registration form or call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).
Contact your insurance company to see if Nutrition Counseling is covered. An adjusted Self-Pay Rate of $80.00 is available for an initial one-hour visit when coverage is not applicable by insurance. Please indicate so when registering for counseling.
Payment is accepted in the form of credit cards, checks, cash and money orders. Please make checks and money orders payable to Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Payment is expected at the time of service.
The Bariatric Registered Dietitian is available throughout your weight surgery journey. All patients meet with the Dietitian before surgery to discuss a special pre-operative diet as well as the progression of the post-operative diet. Weekly support is given after surgery to assist with diet progression, questions, and concerns. Besides the presence at support group, the Dietitian is also available for continued counseling until weight loss goals are reached.
For more information, contact the Bariatric Dietitian at 610-619-8455.
Bariatric nutrition counseling is provided at The Center for Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery located in Professional Office Building (POB) II Suite 326 on Crozer-Chester Medical Center's campus.
Bariatric Dietitian at 610-619-8455
The Comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Program offers free bariatric surgery educational seminars where all of the available surgical options are explained in detail.
As every successful bariatric surgery patient will tell you, one of the most important keys to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a good support network – and Crozer-Keystone's Bariatric Surgery Support Group gets rave reviews.
At this location Crozer-Chester Medical Center Beginning on July 16, 2013
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Corporate Headquarters
100 West Sproul Road Springfield, PA 19064
Contact Us
(800) 254-3258
Awards and Accreditations


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You are logged in as:
Your tax invoice can be downloaded on flysaa.com under Manage & Fly 72 hours after the e-ticket has been issued.
If a Tax Invoice has been successfully generated from the South African Airways Tax Invoice System, the onus rests on the recipient to ensure that his/her mailbox has enough space to receive an e-mail - with a PDF attachment; and that his//her service provider or exchange server allows for delivery of such e-mails. South African Airways, can not take responsibility for undelivered e-mails due to any other reasons beyond our control including the above.
Prescribed details required from the South African Revenue Service on a tax invoices
Tax invoices must ordinarily reflect the following details as prescribed by the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act No. 34 of 1997):
Financing Discussions with Government Part of Bold Growth Strategy
16 February 2012. Johannesburg. South African Airways (SAA) is in discussion with the Government on financing its bold new growth strategy, which includes growing the number of its long-haul aircraft in the next five years while the short-haul fleet is comprehensively renewed.
SAA CEO Siza Mzimela announced the airline's expansion and modernisation plans on Friday in Johannesburg. The Aircraft Renewal Programme is aimed at equipping SAA with the latest, most fuel efficient aircraft able to serve the airline's specific routes and needs and deliver on its mandate and strategic objectives for South Africa.
"Like all airlines globally, we face increasing margin pressure and greater competition. That means that we need the best equipment to do the job in an environment where oil costs are well beyond $100 per barrel, and our rivals are increasingly and aggressively cherry picking on many of our routes," said Mzimela.
"SAA remains determined to serve the South African economy with excellent international, African, and local passenger and cargo air connections", said SAA's CEO.
SAA is committed to continue investing in its future, as a contribution to securing the transport infrastructure the whole of the South African economy requires to continue growing, said Mzimela. This includes providing an even stronger network of services to the many African, Asian, and Latin American destinations which are of growing importance to South African business and to the tourism industry.
SAA plans to take its current long-haul fleet of 24 aircraft to up to 31 in the next five years. In the same period, the airline will renew its short-haul fleet entirely, replacing the current Boeing 737-800 aircraft with more fuel-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft.
SAA will derive additional savings and efficiencies as the A320s share common cockpits, a high degree of parts, and operational and maintenance procedures with SAA's existing A319 and A340 fleet. This translates directly into streamlined training and increased productivity across SAA's pilots, cabin crew and technical and engineering staff.
The fleet renewal will also give SAA the ability to make massive fuel savings, while providing better and often more frequent connections to key destinations. More modern aircraft will allow SAA to be much more efficient and to ensure an ability to grow as it gets stronger.
SAA's current board and management have scored major successes, since taking over two years ago, in ensuring the profitability of the airline as it serves its markets better. A programme aimed at boldly growing the business, while achieving significant further efficiencies, is in place and will show even stronger returns during 2012.
"We have introduced a number of new flights to cities, which are of importance to the South African economy such as: Beijing; Ndola on the Zambian copperbelt; Bujumbura; Kigali; and Pointe Noire, a hub of the West African oil industry," said Mzimela. SAA has recently optimised its New York route, with new non-stop services and increased frequencies to Accra, Dar Es Salaam, Entebbe, Harare, Mauritius, and Lusaka. Additional cargo frequencies to a number of Sub-Saharan African destinations also support South Africa's trade development objectives"
A 2011 Oxford Economics study indicated the significant contribution by SAA to the entire South African economy. The study measured aviation's contribution to South African GDP at 2.1% or R 50.9-billion, including 227,000 direct and indirect jobs. Even before implementation of the airline's bold growth strategy, SAA accounts for approximately 50% of international and domestic passengers to and within South Africa.
SAA's discussion with government, on financing its bold growth strategy, includes an in-depth exploration of the option of a capital injection aimed at securing the airline's ability to thoroughly modernise its operating fleet. Exact figures are still under discussion, but this recapitalisation could involve the deployment of between R 4-billion and R 6-billion over five years by the shareholder.
"Across the globe, airlines are turning to their shareholders for support as they respond to the massive pressures in the industry by seeking greater efficiencies through fleet and systems modernisation programmes," said Mzimela. "Like other airlines which are in very good shape and have a key role in their national economies, SAA is seeking to keep ahead of the game through these measures aimed at growth and efficiency."
Further Inquiries
Dileseng Koetle
Issued by:
Dileseng Koetle
Head Group Corporate Affairs
Tel: +27 11 978 2298
Mobile: +27 83 400 0041
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.flysaa.com
About SAA
South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 20 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa, from its hub, Johannesburg. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA's core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC). SAA CEO Siza Mzimela is the first woman to be appointed to the IATA Board of Directors in its 67 year history. SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa' Award in the regional category for 9 consecutive years and the winner of 'Service Excellence Africa' for two consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa's most on time airlines.


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was tweeting back and forward with Alex Rucker a bit today. Thought I would share the exchange.
Alex Rucker @Alex_Rucker
There is almost nothing about a player's on-ball or help defense that you can glean from the box score.
Timothy Hedden @trhedden
@Alex_Rucker doesn't blocked shots point towards good help defense?
Alex Rucker @Alex_Rucker
@trhedden Yes, it absolutely suggests that. But there are plenty of players who get blocks and are very poor help defenders, esp in the post
Naveed @NaveedDawg
@Alex_Rucker Are there better publicly available stats for this? http://82games.com has opponent PER, JJ was ok, anything else?
Alex Rucker @Alex_Rucker
@NaveedDawg No...public stats are based on data which does not support accurate defensive analysis.
Timothy Hedden @trhedden
@Alex_Rucker what do you look at then in order to evaluate great defenders? Points against, +/-
Alex Rucker @Alex_Rucker
@trhedden None of the above. We have orders of magnitude more data than the public sphere.


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vehicles (EVs) are a promising step forward in energy usage, replacing expensive fossil fuel trips with cheap
charges (mostly from coal power in the U.S.). Of course the high cost of lithium and rare earth metals makes
the cost equation more of a break-even than a windfall. Still, the
long-term potential to both shirk fossil fuel consumption and its high cost is
great as battery costs dip.
I. Ford and SunPower -- a Veteran Team
Some carmakers have been exploring an even more ambitious concept for their EVs
-- grid neutrality. By combining home solar panels, they are able to
remove the fossil fuel-based charge from the equation altogether. Mazda
Motor Corp. (TYO:7261) toyed
with the idea, deploying solar chargers for its small Japanese
fleet of converted Mazda 2s. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (TYO:7201)
took things a step further with its limited international rollout of the LEAF
EV, actually offering a rooftop charging system commercially.
Now, Ford Motor Comp. (F)
hopes to make an even bigger splash in the world of solar power, offering a special promotion to allow customers to offset their vehicle's power use and attain grid
independence. Ford has partnered with San Jose, California-based SunPower
to offer solar chargers to buyers of the 2012 Focus Electric, which is set to launch
later this year. SunPower is a company with vast experience in the solar business,
having been in operation since 1985. Ford calls the new program
"Drive Green for Life."
We had the chance to catch up with SunPower's North American General Manager,
Ken Fong, to learn more about the plans. He tells us that the SunPower's
solution is a completely in-house project. He states, "SunPower
designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency solar cells and solar
panels for use in the residential, commercial and utility scale markets."
II. Technical Details Aplenty
The solar chargers for the Focus Electric will use SunPower's proprietary E18 Series silicon
based panel design, which is designed to minimized the rooftop space necessary
for the charger.
"SunPower's solar cells are made from multi crystalline polysilicon with
an average efficiency of 22.4 percent. Because of the high-efficiency of
the SunPower solar panels, the system takes up less room than a conventional solar
array. Each panel is approximately 4' x 2', and the total system, which
consists of approximately 11 panels, works out to be about 147.3 sq.
feet," comments Mr. Fong, "The all-back contact design eliminates the
silver lines on the front of the cell, leaving an aesthetically pleasing
all-black look to the cell."
Thus the panel system will take up on your roof about the flat space of a 12
ft. by 12 ft. room's floor.
The full system generates 2.5 kilowatts on a sunny day. It is estimated
that in a year it will yield 3,000-kilowatt hours of power, or roughly
enough juice to drive your Focus Electric 12,000 miles. That's roughly an
allowance of 32 miles a day -- well within many drivers' commuting distances.
Of course on cloudy days, you'll get less mileage, as the panels will
generate less power, so those with mid-distance commutes may have to
occasionally fall back on the traditional charger.
The system is set to retail for $10,000 USD after federal tax credits.
However, customers may be able to get an even lower price based on local and state tax credits. And customers
potentially may be able to sell excess power back to the grid, depending on the
policy of your local utility.
Ford has not announced official pricing information on the Focus Electric, but
its rumored to be priced at $30K USD, after $7,500 USD federal tax credit.
SunPower also says that customers will have the option to buy two connected
systems for heavier driving, if they have the roof space (e.g. 2 systems would
give you roughly 65 miles a day of drive distance).
III. Big Plans
SunPower says the system is exclusively targeted towards residential users.
However, they say they're also deploying EV charging solutions to businesses. States
Mr. Fong, "SunPower has many commercial customers who are already enjoying
the benefits of a 'car port' solar system."
Mr. Fong is thrilled about the new partnership with Ford. He states,
"Ford is a great partner and we are in sync with our goals to offer
customers a clean, renewable way to get from here to there."
The folks at SunPower aren't short on ambition. Despite the Focus
Electric launching in 19 separate U.S. markets at volume, SunPower says it
should be able to keep up with everyone who wants one of the chargers.
States Mr. Fong, "SunPower will be able to deliver a solar system to
all interested customers."
In addition to the new solar power system, Ford is using a solar installation to power lighting
at the plant that builds the Focus Electric, and is offering early purchasers free (traditional) fast-charging stations in
a partnership with Coulomb Technologies, Inc.
Editors Note: DailyTech would like to thank SunPower's Ken Fong for taking
time to share these details with us and Emily Rosen for arranging this


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Patent overhaul spurred by the technology industry is in jeopardy
of dying, after facing stiff competition from the pharmaceutical industry.
Backed heavily by the technology industry and financial
services companies, the Patent Reform Act of 2007 sought to reduce excessive
damages in patent infringement cases and change awards payouts to reflect the
innovation of the patent infringed. Companies in the pharmaceuticals industry
and others oppose the bill because they feel a reduction in damages would
reduce patents' effectiveness, making infringement less expensive for firms
that get caught.
The technology industry, which relies a large number of
patents, says it wants to change the law to deter "patent trolls," or firms
that hoard patents with the sole intent of enforcing them against infringers –
regardless of whether or not the firm has any R&D resources or even a
product utilizing the patent.
Formally known as S.1145, the Patent Reform Act opened a rift
in the business world: biotech companies, labor unions, inventors, and capital
firms squared off against the high tech and financial services industry, with
companies like Cisco, Microsoft, Intel, and Bank of America fighting for the
bill's passage.
The House of Representatives passed the patent reform bill last
Republican senator Arlen Specter, one of the bill's head
negotiators, said lawmakers are continuing their attempts at reviving the bill,
but note that it is very close to death. "The patent bill is, as you know,
extraordinarily complicated. And its consequences are very, very far-reaching,"
he said.
"Mistakes can be very, very costly. And that's why we're
determined to get it right … time is not running out. It's April 16th. There's
a lot of time left."
Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, the bill's sponsor, said
that negotiations stalled over "just a handful of words," with Congress
choosing to put
it on hold indefinitely. An unnamed democratic aide told Reuters that the issue bill may be back
on the table next year, once the senate has "more democrats."
Mark Isakowitz, legislative strategist for the high tech
industry, says the patent bill was "literally one sentence away from being done,"
and settling on a rate for damages was the last remaining issue on the table.
"There are stakeholders on this bill that are completely
intransigent and play by a set of rules where you don't budge," he said.
A second aid told Reuters that he doesn't think the bill is "dead,"but
rather "on ice."
"People are still talking to each other," said another aide.
"When they completely stop talking, then it is dead."


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Protecting the poor from the plague of violence
Today, our friends at International Justice Mission write about the everyday violence that is plaguing the developing world … and the new book they're launching today!
Between the Super Bowl yesterday and the Winter Olympics opening ceremony this Friday, human trafficking has been in the spotlight recently. And it should be. There's a common belief that major sports events exacerbate trafficking, and while that may not be true, it also doesn't mean that trafficking isn't a problem at those events.
The unfortunate truth is that human trafficking is a real and serious problem every day. Everywhere. There are more than 20 million people around the world that are held in slavery today – more than at any other time in human history: ancient Rome, pre-Civil War America, etc.
20 million people. That's everyone in Florida, the whole citizenship of Romania, or almost the entire population of Australia.
And children make up almost half that number.
Today, our friends at International Justice Mission are launching a book by their president Gary A. Haugen, The Locust Effect, about the plague of everyday violence and its effect on the poor.
* * *
At International Justice Mission, we're honored to work alongside World Vision to pursue our shared passion for serving the poorest and most vulnerable people. While World Vision gives impoverished children the chance to thrive, it also takes steps like raising awareness of trafficking in Bangladesh, and providing restorative care for trafficking survivors in Cambodia.
This work is critical – because the poorest people are desperately vulnerable to violence. According to the United Nations, there are 4 billion people living in places where their justice systems do not offer them protection from violence. That is most poor people in the world.
Just imagine if you woke up every day knowing that your justice system couldn't protect you from violent people, or hold them accountable for their crimes. For the poorest children around the world, this is reality. But it's a reality that a growing movement is coming together to change. When justice systems effectively protect the poor from violence, they also safeguard the fruit of our efforts to help children thrive.
There is urgent need … but there is also hope.
Check out The Locust Effect, by IJM's president Gary A. Haugen and co-author Victor Boutros, releasing today!
Make a one-time donation to help provide hope for sexually exploited girls. Your gift will help prevent abuse, and restore physical and spiritual health to rescued girls by providing things like safe shelter, medical care, nutritious food, vocational training, compassionate counseling, and when possible, reintegration with a loving family.