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Product details
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Reference no. 314-132-1
Prize winner
Published by:
University of St Gallen (2014)
21 pages
Data source:
Published sources
During its short history of 10 years, Tesla Motors Inc has experienced soaring growth by radically deviating from traditional business model approaches in the automotive industry. Along the way, the company has taken many decisions to configure a model that goes far beyond the traditional car business. Riding a wave of success, Tesla's business has reached a turning point, where far-reaching decisions on its business model configuration must be made and various challenges mastered. Should Tesla return to its core, namely automobile production? Or should it further expand its integrative approach by building a mobility ecosystem? This case outlines the evolution of Tesla's business model from a niche prototype constructor of electric sports cars to one of the top 10 highest-valued car producers by market capitalisation in the world. It aims to equip students with an ability to (1) understand the concept of business models generally and analyse the elements of Tesla's business model specifically; (2) comprehend the dynamics of business models; (3) assess the business model against rival approaches; (4) capture key strategic drivers; and (5) learn how to configure robust business models in transforming industries. This case has been featured on our website, click to view the article.
Learning objectives:
1. Understand key business model dimensions and capture Tesla's core business model elements. 2. Understand how Tesla's business model differs from approaches of traditional car manufacturers and understand Tesla's key value-creation activities and their evolution over the past decade. 3. Analyse the potential of emerging sectors and analyse and discuss the challenges this business model faces in the current context. 4. Learn about the emerging electric mobility sector and major changes to the automobile industry that are underway. 5. Assess business model configurations for sustained growth in the light of future challenges.
Prizes won:
2017 - The Case Centre Awards - Overall winner
2017 - The Case Centre best selling case
2016 - The Case Centre best selling case
2015 - The Case Centre best selling case
2017 - The Case Centre best selling case
2016 - The Case Centre best selling case
2015 - The Case Centre best selling case
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Q: I have messages stuck in my Microsoft Outlook Outbox. What can I do?
A: If you have problems with messages stuck in the Outbox, you can try these actions to fix the problem:
- Exit and restart Outlook (this often works).
- Make sure you have network connectivity and that your mail server is available (can you connect to it via web access for example, and does it work from your phone?).
- Place Outlook in Offline mode, then Online (Select the Send/Receive ribbon and select Work Offline, then after 20 seconds deselect Work Offline).
- Check that your antivirus supports Outlook and isn't interfering with the moving of messages from the Outbox to Sent (e.g., did you just change your anti-malware solution?).
- Look at which snap-ins you have enabled and try disabling (File, Options, Add-Ins, Manage COM Add-ins, Go, which allows add-ins to be disabled or removed). For example, I found the Outlook Social Connector 2013 was causing problems for my installation. If disabling a snap-in caused Outlook to hang, that's probably the guilty snap-in, so try the next step.
Start Outlook in safe mode
outlook.exe /safe
Then try disabling snap-ins, and restart Outlook.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Worldwide Rank #233,488,222
- Follower/Following Ratio 0.01
- Daily New Followers 0
miguel Twitter Stats
@02Miguelreyes - Tracking miguel Twitter profile since February 8, 2017
miguel's story
miguel, also known as @02Miguelreyes has a novice's presence on Twitter and is ranked by us in the 20% percentile for account strength. Active on Twitter since January 2017, miguel made it to having a respectable 1 Twitter followers and to being ranked 233,488,222 for number of followers among all Twitter users.
The plot thickens when considering miguel's follower-to-following ratio, which is 0.01. Which is not surprising given this account's audience size.
Over the past month, @02Miguelreyes's was hardly active on Twitter, with an average of 0 tweet(s) per day in the past 30 days. That's pretty consistent with a total of 0 since @02Miguelreyes joined Twitter.
This account is tracked by us Only February 2017. As of October 19 2018 we track 291549781 Twitter accounts, so feel free to search for other accounts you're interested in and reveal their Twitter story!
miguel Tweets
@02Miguelreyes has posted 0 tweets in the last 2 days, which translates to an average of 0 tweets per day.
miguel Twitter Followers
@02Miguelreyes has 1 followers on Twitter.
This account is #233,488,222 in the worldwide rank of the most popular Twitter users.
miguel Following on Twitter
@02Miguelreyes is following 191 Twitter accounts.
Last month this account followed 141 users.
miguel Predictions & Milestones
@02Miguelreyes will hit 1 followers in the next 3 months, and 1 in one year.
You are on miguel's Twitter stats page
We track these Twitter stats since February 8, 2017 . You can see how many followers miguel lost or gained and what the prediction is for tomorrow or the next 15 days, together with all kinds of other stats like rank compared to all Twitter users, tweets etc.
Why don't you give it a try and compare miguel to yourself ? Or if you are miguel get even more feature rich & up-to-date stats with our premium Twitter Stats.
Twitter Counter is the #1 Twitter stats site powered by Twitter. It all started in June 12, 2008 and we grew rather rapidly because of our Twitter Counter badge. The button is a nice small image that shows your visitors how many followers you have on Twitter. Within a year the button was on many many blogs around the world and we displayed more than 100 million buttons in one month. We track follower stats for over 291.549.781 users now.


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This morning was the ALSC All Committee Meeting, at which time I sat in on the meeting of the School-Age Programs and Services Committee. I can talk about programming until the end of time, and I wanted to see firsthand what these committee members were brainstorming.
The members of the committee are focusing on professional trends and timely issues in determining their upcoming projects. The four major areas of discussion were: 1) the Caldecott 75th Anniversary; 2) STEM/Core Curriculum; 3) school/public library collaborations; and 4) inclusive/autism programming. The committee members shared a lot of examples of what their libraries are doing in these areas, and I look forward to seeing what resources they develop in the coming months.
In the meantime, chime in with details and descriptions of school-age programs that you do in these areas. What programs have your kids loved? Share in the comments, and let's get a conversation going.


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Binary data.
(Image credit: Shutterstock).
Information and data services
Please find an alphabetical list of useful information and data services below, as well as relevant training information.
- Advanced Research Computing (ARC)
- Bodleian Libraries
- Data protection - University data protection policy and guidance
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- Open Access at Oxford (OAO), including funders' policies on access to research publications
- Oxford eResearch Centre
- Oxford University Research Archive (ORA)
- Research data management, including funders' requirements
- Research data support
- Research publications management via Symplectic Elements


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The four-day week went by pretty fast. Breakdown station is basically like the first week of this Block again, but instead of chef demonstrating, we are actually doing the butchering. Tuesday and Wednesday we worked on the front and hind quarters of the beef. I did the shoulder and the flank. Thursday we butchered the whole veal - I worked on the loin. Friday we cut a pig into the primal cuts, and then we each deboned a pork loin and Frenched some chops. W also bought a whole lamb, so we helped him break it down into the cuts he wanted.
I had a great month. I'm pretty sad to be leaving my group.
At the hotel, I was actually working across the street at the Marriott. Most of the other students working at the hotel have worked at the Marriott and have told me that it is so much better, so I was really looking forward to it. The kitchen is definitely a lot nicer and newer, the team is a lot younger and more energetic, and things just seem a lot more organized. They also gave me a lot of responsibility without a lot of instruction. I peeled 900 asparagus, which was painful, but then I prepped a cauliflower puree and actually got to make a bacon risotto. It was a lot of fun.
Thanksgiving weekend at work was pretty busy, especially Sunday brunch. Saturday and Monday were actually nice and quiet for brunch, but I worked the hockey games both nights. 40 hours of work in one weekend is a bit insane.
A was in Ottawa again this week, but I didn't have much to do after school, so I had some fun evenings out - got stood up from a movie, but went out afterwards, had a yummy burger at Raglan's, and had a few martinis on Friday with people in Block 10.
Next week - Block 6 - lunch in the cafeteria.


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First, HBO released this hilarious blooper reel from season four of its epic fantasy show.
But if that weren't enough Westeros goodness, the network also announced the new cast members who will be appearing in season five. You can check out the new faces hitting King's Landing in the links below.
Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow
Alexander Siddig as Doran Martell
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Obara Sand
Jessica Henwick as Nymeria Sand
Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Tyene Sand
Tony Sebastian as Trystane Martell
Nell Tiger Free as Myrcella Baratheon
DeObia Oparei as Areo Hotah
Enzo Cilenti as Yezzan


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Israeli scientists are reporting that thirdhand smoke – the invisible remnants of cigarette smoke on carpeting, clothing, furniture and other surfaces – may be even more of a health hazard than previously believed. According to a new study by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (IIT), so-called thirdhand smoke increases the risk of respiratory illnesses among people who do not smoke.
Dr. Yael Dubowski and colleagues at the IIT reported that thirdhand smoke is a newly recognized contributor to the health risks of tobacco and indoor air pollution.
The study was published in the American Chemical Society journal, Environmental Science & Technology.
Dr. Dubowski and her team studied interactions between nicotine and indoor air on a variety of different materials, including cellulose (a component of wood furniture), cotton, and paper to simulate typical indoor surfaces. They found that nicotine interacts with ozone, in indoor air, to form potentially toxic pollutants on these surfaces.
The scientists said that the risk for young children, who are more likely to be crawling on carpets, is especially concerning. The report also showed that people napping on tainted sofas or eating food that may have been previously exposed to thirdhand smoke are also at increased risk.
"Given the toxicity of some of the identified products and that small particles may contribute to adverse health effects, the present study indicates that exposure to [thirdhand smoke] may pose additional health risks," the article notes.
The report said that exposure can result in reduced white blood cell activity, asthma and other mutagenic effects.


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Number Should not Start with 0 and -,Alphabet is not Allowed
An updated database of over 600 articles and counting gives you rich information about the following topics. These can keep you updated and also take some informed decisions irrespective of whether you are a small provider or an established head doctor of a hospital.
Here at MedicalBillersandCoders.com we try to provide solutions to this evergreen issue for doctors, medical administrative staff, billing and coding professionals to deal with the conventional as well as the latest trends in healthcare industry.
In various ways, OBGYN is a boon for pregnancy care – as it brings together gynecology and obstetrics which are closely connected and support each other. But the downside of this is that it also leads to diverse complexities, high costs and billing challenges for OBGYN practices causing their bottom line to shrink gradually. There are several reasons for this - some of them are medical while some administrative and industry-driven issues. First, let us take a look at the medical issues that cause billing and coding challenges.
These issues if not handled properly can easily lead to rejected claims and affect revenues.
In addition to these, there are multiple generic and industry related billing and coding needs that a care provider has to meet, like HIPPA, bundled payments, pay for performance and so on.
MBC's Revenue Management Consulting services can help you by strengthening your revenue management cycle to effectively handle all these billing challenges. MBC will assess your revenue management cycle and make sure that there is sound coordination between various components of healthcare facilitating smooth flow of medical data so that you can develop proper records and documents and use them while preparing your claims. MBC can also train your staff to handle antepartum codes, billing for overlapping procedures and multiple surgeries along with challenges like broken global, denial management, billing enquiry, etc.
Medicalbillerandcoders.com, the largest consortium of billers and coders in the US, has also been helping several hospitals, in big and small cities of the US, with its Outsourcing services handling the entire range of OBGYN billing and coding activities, like charge posting, review of medical details, denial management and revenue follow-up. MBC's considerable experience helps it to handle the various challenges and also ensure accurate documentation by talking to your staff and so on. If you don't think you need our entire suite of services, however, you can also pick and choose such parts of our services as exactly fit your OBGYN billing and coding needs and save costs.
Category :
Revenue Cycle Management
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Find us through more than forty specialties to help reduce your AR days to an average of 21 days, augmenting your revenue.
About MBC
Medical Billers and Coders is the largest consortium in the United States. We can help you save 35% of your cost in medical billing services and reduce your Account Receivables (AR) days to an average of 21 days.
Know the effects of ICD-10 and how to mitigate revenue loss.
A pictorial way to understand various Billing and Healthcare concept
Our Services
Medical billing is our core focus. For more than a decade, we have been providing medical billing services to various specialties across the 50 States of USA.
The impending transition to ICD-10, one of the most crucial changes in healthcare, the new coding system is here. MBC's professional services in ICD-10 can help you with end-to-end solutions for a successful implementation.
Empower your Knowledge
We are constantly working towards acquiring the latest industry trends to ensure accurate, efficient and complete healthcare services to our clients.


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AMD has unleashed its mobile Duron processor - available at clock speeds of 600MHz and 700MHz.
The Mobile AMD Duron processor is the first in a new line of mobile processors that the California-based chip manufacturer plans to introduce in 2001.
The chips are being manufactured in AMD's factory in Austin, Texas. Mobile AMD Duron features 192kb of cache memory and a high-speed 200MHz front side bus, as well as what the company refers to as "enhanced 3D technology."
Also, according to AMD's statement, Japanese PC vendor NEC said it will use the 700MHz variant of the chip in its "LaVie U" series of notebooks.


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Hackney v. Hackney
Appellant: Thomas A Hackney
Appellee: Leigh M Hackney
Miscellaneous: Bankruptcy Clerk and James J Robinson
Case Number: 1:2010cv01971
Filed: July 21, 2010
Court: Alabama Northern District Court
Office: Eastern Office
County: Calhoun
Presiding Judge: J Foy Guin
Nature of Suit: Appeal
Cause of Action: 28:1334
Jury Demanded By: None
Access additional case information on PACER
Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the US Court's PACER system. A subscription to PACER is required.
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Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


text: ok we all know *and most of us hate them for it* hasbro made the classic seekers for botcon and i was thinking... do you think they will do that with animated seekers? i know we will get 2 or 3 seekers in mass release but do you think hasbro will do the rest as a botcon set? realy its a hate/hate for hasbro we will hate them if we don't get all the seekers and we will hate them if we get them as botcon toys


text: Since I'm not building so many links right now I have free "spots" so I think it's more good to share with BHW. 100 backlinks from 1 member. There is a limit of 500 backlinks processed for 24 hours but you can send them to me (PM) and you will be "schedule". This free offer I think it's available for a few days. I've used backlinks indexer in the past and I'm pretty amazed about what can done, if you have semi unique content on pages this service works great. It works even for sh*t spun but I can't guarantee. If I will have time I will announce you when your backlinks have been processed by backlinksindexer and you can verify if your backlinks are indexed or not (keep in mind that this is not instant, a bunch of pages can get indexed from the first minutes or others after a few days). So if anyone is interested I'm waiting for your backlinks (maximum 100). I also can add your backlinks to nuclearlinkcrawler, here I have 100k urls per day limit so you can flood me with your backlinks haha I will try to add as much as I can to backlinksindexer and nuclearlinkcrawler. I don't guarantee I will give "report" for everyone since I'm a little bit busy these days but I hope I will have time to reply when the backlinks have been processed. ------- For BacklinksIndexer: 100 backlinks from 1 member For NuclearLinkCrawler: unlimited, I will just throw them there. Post here if you are interested and then sent me a private message with your pastebin link containing your backlinks.


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If you can't find your answer here - please contact us and we will do our best to answer it!
A. No. We offer free shipping on orders over $20. All orders under this will attract our standard delivery fee of $5.50. There are also size and weight restrictions that apply.
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A. We offer a hassle free return policy. Simply contact us and we will arrange to have the parcel returned to us at no cost to you.
A. No. We keep the majority of fast moving items in stock, all other items will have to come from our warehouse first prior to shipping. If there is any problem with supply of your order, one of our team will contact you to talk about it.
A. We offer: Paypal, Credit Card, Bank transfer. Please note: your order will not be shipped until payment has been cleared.
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A. Yes. It is an option on our web page. Please note, heavy and bulky items can not be express posted. If your item is too big or heavy to be express posted, we will contact you to discuss this.
A. If you click on the item picture, it will bring up any particulars on the item. Eg. Two fan belts are listed, click on option 1 it will say "With AC", option 2 will so "Without AC"
A. Whilst we try to ensure our listings are as accurate as possible, sometimes there are problems. If your part turns out to be wrong, simply contact our office, return the part and we will give you a full refund* (Subject to Terms and Conditions).
A. If your order has not been shipped you can change your order.


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In economics, as in politics, there is a tendency for history to repeat itself to some degree. There is, for example, the business cycle with its recurrent pattern of recessions and expansions. There are questions of budget deficits, tax changes, or tight money which turn up periodically. So it can be useful for moderns to try to learn from the successes and failures seen in economic history.
Herbert Stein is a veteran of the wars of economic ideas - and he deserves a medal for this book.
One noted battlefield for Mr. Stein was his role as chairman of former President Nixon's Council of Economic Advisers, 1972-74. But he had been studying or recommending ''macro-economic policy'' - broad budget and monetary issues - for decades before, and he has continued to do so ever since.
In this book he reviews and analyzes economic policymaking since the Great Depression. He does it so well that the volume should be compulsory reading for journalists, economists, and politicians. It could also give any citizen both a greater understanding of national economic affairs and a stronger sense of economic realism. He spells out, often with sardonic humor, the differences between political posturing and genuine economic issues.
Stein is a conservative economist, and this position is reflected to a moderate degree in his analysis. But he is mostly fair in presenting both sides of the various policy controversies.
On one of the big questions under debate in this election year, the budget deficit, Stein writes: ''Between 1981 and 1983 the country moved from a flush of enthusiasm for tax reduction to a sad recognition that taxes were too low - that we were ... an undertaxed society. ... Until Reagan became president it was always possible to believe that a determined budget-cutter in the White House could find vast amounts of money in expenditure programs that could be eliminated - and that Congress would be forced to eliminate them if some of the revenue was removed. But we have seen that 'even' President Reagan could not propose a budget that cut expenditures enough to hold deficits down without more taxes than were left after the 1981 tax cut. This may have been in part for political reasons. That is, there may have been bigger cuts that he would have liked to make if the Congress and the country would have accepted them. But undoubtedly he and his colleagues, once in office, discovered that the needed justifiable expenditures were larger than they thought.''
Stein argues that a tax increase is now needed, because it is necessary to devote a larger share of the national output to defense and to private investment, and undesirable to reduce the share devoted to consumption by the very poor.
''That means basically,'' he states bluntly, ''that it is necessary to reduce the share of the national output devoted to the consumption of middle-income people, the consumption of the rich absorbing only a tiny part of the national output.'' That's the sort of tough reasoning and blunt language that make the book valuable.


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Allnex Introduces Universal Pigment Grinding Medium for Non-Aqueous Industrial Paint and Coatings with Improved Performance and an Increased Color Palette
Brussels, October 29th, 2013 – With ADDITOL® XL 6557, a polymeric, multifunctional universal grinding medium from Allnex, it is possible to formulate cost-effective, weather-resistant, high-concentration solvent-based pigment pastes that enable formulation of a wide range of high-performing, solventborne industrial coatings.
Industrial coatings today require increasingly sophisticated color performance and color matching. Traditional grinding resins used for the production of pigment pastes have not kept pace with advances in binder and formulation technology, however, and there is a strong need for new pigment paste technology.
ADDITOL® XL 6557 is a universal solution to these issues. This polymeric grinding medium is designed to efficiently disperse, stabilize and transport organic and inorganic pigments in non-aqueous industrial paints and coatings, such as coil coatings, marine and heavy duty anti-corrosive paints, agriculture, industrial wood, and other metal coatings.
Importantly, ADDITOL® XL 6557 is compatible with a wide range of resin types, including acrylics, epoxy esters, ureas, amino resins and nitrocellulose, as well as with many alkyd and polyesters. It is also soluble in large variety of solvents, with optimum dilution achieved in aromatic solvents, ketones, esters, and ethers.
In addition, the functional modification of the polymer backbone leads to a strong affinity of ADDITOL® XL 6557 with pigments, enabling the preparation of high concentration colorants with a broader color palette. Its resin-like structure also enhances the overall performance of paint formulations in terms of adhesion to metal substrates, high hardness, yellowing and weathering resistance, high gloss, good drying properties, good mechanical properties, and high water and corrosion resistance.
Furthermore, with its multifunctional drying and crosslinking capability, ADDITOL® XL 6557 can be used for co-crosslinking of pigment pastes into 2K polyurethane resins or amino crosslinking baking systems or with air-drying alkyds.
"We are pleased to launch this new universal grinding medium designed for the cost-efficient production of highly loaded pigment pastes," says Philippe De Micheli, Global Marketing Director Liquid Resins & Additives with Allnex. "We believe that ADDITOL® XL 6557 meets a real need in the marketplace for a pigment paste technology that enables industrial paint manufacturers to develop economic, high performing, tint systems that will color the major solventborne binder resin systems used in the industrial and protective paint segment," he adds.
Samples of ADDITOL® XL 6557 are available worldwide.
About Allnex – www.allnex.com
A global company with $1.5 billion in sales, Allnex is a leading supplier of resins for architectural, industrial, OEM and special purpose coatings. We are recognized as a specialty chemicals pioneer and known for our professionalism and for offering the broadest portfolio of high quality, innovative liquid resins and additives, radiation cured and powder coating resins, and crosslinkers for use on wood, metal, plastic, and other surfaces. With manufacturing facilities and research and technology support centers located throughout the world, we also provide responsive, local support to our customers, helping them to rapidly bring advanced coating solutions to the market.
Square Marie Curie 11
B-1070 Brussels, Belgium
Jasmin Bisch (Marketing Communications)


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Helping Treat Equine Eye Conditions with the Guardian Mask
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 — No Comments Yet
For 25 years, Guardian Mask has been manufacturing the ultimate solution to help horses suffering with headshaking and eye conditions such as uveitis (ERU or moon blindness), glaucoma, eye cancer, cataracts, and eye injuries. Their unique patented 95% Sunshades are specifically designed to help aid in the treatment, healing, and prevention of these major eye conditions and dieases. The Guardian Mask offers extended life and productivity to the horses that have suffered these conditions, and they stress in numerous cases, without the additional use of medications or surgeries. The Guardian Mask is designed to be worn year-round during daylight hours, but it can also be worn at night.
What is Uveitis?
Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) or "moon blindness" is an inflammation of the inside of the eye. It is associated in some cases withleptospira bacteria, it also has an immune-mediated component. Uveitis can be sub clinical where no outward signs are seen until the horse turns up blind in one or both eyes. Uveitis can be very painful, and can effect one or both eyes, usually in time both eyes are affected. Uveitis isn't contagious and studies have shown that the condition, and blindness, does seem to be more prominent in Appaloosas, and Paints, compared to other breeds, the list of high risk breeds however, is sadly growing over time. Changing weather and environments are also a large factor in increasing conditions.
ERU is usually treated with topical corticosteroids (after your DVM has determined there are no corneal ulcers), and topical antibiotics. Often, Banamine is used systemically to help with the inflammation.
Aspirin therapy is used in some cases between flare-ups to decrease the progression of the disease. Uveitis usually does progress over time often to blindness and even then can still flare up, and be painful for the horse. It is recommended to have your horse tested.
Aside from aspirin therapy, (ask your DVM and the veterinary ophthalmologist) there is little that can be done to prevent ERU from reoccurring. Recurrent Uveitis, a leading cause of blindness in horses, often developing as a sequel to systemic leptospirosis.
Bute, Banamine and atropine have been used in the profession for many years and is currently being used and becoming known that these are only producing some, temporary relief at best.
Alternative therapies such as the use of a Guardian Mask with 95% Sunshades™ have proven to help alleviate the symptoms associated with horses suffering Uveitis. The special patented 95% Sunshades help occlude harmful UV rays that cause the irritation and weeping associated with this disease. The recommended use is in all daylight hours, year round. Not just during flare ups, it is important to continue protection year round.
There are also special feed supplements available. When used in conjunction with mask protection, horse owners have experienced increased positive results to help combat and control uveitis.
Additional Information
The bacterial organism leptospira is associated with some cases of recurrent equine uveitis (aka moon blindness). Blood tests, cultures, etc., can be done however the cause of ERU is not always identifiable. There is also an immune-mediated component to the disease.
Leptospira can cause of abortion in mares, and despite extensive clinical research, the etiology of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is still unknown.
Equine recurrent uveitis, is an important ocular disease and the most common cause of blindness in horses and mules world wide.
Ocular Emergencies
Ocular emergencies include any condition which threatens the integrity of the globe or vision. Etiologies include trauma, burns, infections, uveitis, corneal ulceration, optic neuritis, central blindness, and the uncommon cases of equine glaucoma, early cataracts, cancer, and headshaking.
An accurate diagnosis is critical for appropriate treatment for these problems. The prognosis may still be poor or grave with appropriate diagnosis; however, aggressive treatment is the only chance these eyes have to not only save their vision, but more so to help save their lives.
Frequent reevaluations are also an important part of treating emergencies because additional problems can become evident over time which will also need treatment. Most ocular and orbital injuries or acute ocular inflammation in horses result in similar signs of adnexal swelling.
In cases of uveitis there will be a blue or white cloudiness and often a light or heavy discharge from the eye. Horses may also display behavioral stress and try to rub their eyes against objects to try to relieve the pain. Horses have even been observed dunking their heads in water sources to also try to alleviate the pain. Horses can also continually seek shade. Sometimes symptoms are only visible in one eye, or both eyes.
What are Equine Cataracts?
Cataracts are described as cloudy eyes or eyes that have a white film over the lens or a thick opacity of the lens. Cataracts can impair vision as well as blind a horse depending on the severity and it can occur in one or both eyes.
The cause can be a variety of factors including genetic inheritance however this is not often the most common cause. The most common breeds of horses to have congenital cataracts are Appaloosa's and Arabians. All horses however, are susceptible to developing cataracts at any stage of life. Cataracts are generally caused by eye injuries and or eye diseases such as Uveitis and not limited to any particular age group however it is known to most commonly occur with either young foals or much older horses, older horses being the more common of the two age groups.
It is best to try and consider prevention rather than waiting until something "crops up" or waiting until your horse's eyes are in poor to bad condition.
Cataracts can be surgically removed however in older horses the chances of success are considerably low at 50% and even after a surgical removal there is a high degree of complications that can arise such as ongoing inflammation, ulcerations and cloudiness which could lead to shrinking of the eye and even blindness.
Foals born with or developing cataracts under six months old are considered to have this affliction as a congenital disease. Most veterinarians recommend surgical removal of the lens if the foal is healthy as the foals can usually tolerate aggressive treatments.
Of course any horse that has had a cataract removal is no longer considered a "sound" horse even if the horse can still function and get about in a normal fashion. A horse that has not had surgical removal of the lens can still also be functional with the aid of alternative therapy.
The Original Multi-Purpose Guardian Mask can not only help slow down the process, but the mask can also help prevent cataracts as the disease is known to be linked to Uveitis and as we have discovered, the best known treatment for uveitis is in fact the Guardian Mask with 95% sunshades for ultimate protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun.
It is always recommended to have a complete ophthalmic examination as well as a general health examination to determine the condition of a horse with any type of eye conditions, as some diseases tend to also effect other regions of the horses anatomy.
What are Some Other Equine Eye Injuries?
There are many ways in which a horse can injure his eye or eyes. Horses can always find a way and other horses can sometimes be the culprits. One can never predict when a horse may become injured but when it happens, quick action and treatment may save your horses eyes.
Equine Eye Injury Examples
- A kick or bite from another horse
- Sharp objects in or around a horses stall or pasture
- Fighting with other horses that might cause trauma to an eye or eyes
- Accidental head bumping into other objects
- Splinters from wood or trees including dead tree limbs
- Tack or loose equipment that might be laying around the barn, stall or pasture
- Rubbing against objects such as stalls or fences
- Trailer injuries caused by a horse becoming excited or nervous
- Foreign objects from flying debris such as leaf particles, dust, or dirt
- Insect stings
- Human inflicted trauma
There are hundreds of ways a horse can manage an injury but once an injury has been sustained, the first thing that is recommended is to assess the situation. If there is bleeding and or visible cuts, veterinary treatment is recommended. If it appears that your horse has a foreign object lodged in the eye, you could try gently rinsing to see if you can remove the object and determine if there is any damage. If you find small particles or objects in the eye you can try using a clean handkerchief corner to remove the object. Sometimes clean cotton-tipped applicators can help. Eye washes can also be helpful to clean out any blood from a torn eye lid or eye if you can manage to keep the horse calm enough. Any injury to a horse can be very traumatic, always use caution when approaching an injured horse.
If your horse has sustained a traumatic injury, your veterinarian may suggest treatment or if there is sutures, there may also be medications and follow-up treatment that is required. If you wish to help protect your horses eyes while receiving treatment we recommend using a Guardian Mask. The Guardian Mask will help keep dust, debris and insects out of the eye area so it may help promote healing. It will also help keep the harmful UV rays of the sun from causing additional pain to your horse. The unique design of the mask has a raised set of "eyes" that are made of sturdy heavy duty materials and keep the eye covers away from the eyes. This helps prevent rubbing which could cause further damage to your horse's eye.
You may also consider using Guardian Masks for prevention. The Guardian Mask products are excellent in helping keep the eyes protected not just against the harmful UV rays of the sun but also excellent in protecting against harsh winds and the debris that might follow.
Always remember to seek the advice of your veterinarian in any case to help determine what is best for your horse. A horse's eyes are key to his health and they are not only expressive but help you read how your horse feels. All creatures have a natural ability to read others by searching their eyes, it is true that the eyes bring the world in, and it is also true that the inner creature is revealed through their eyes. Protecting them is as important as the horse's overall health.
Hi Sid!
This letter has been a long time coming in your direction. I first spoke to you 4 years ago. I have an Anglo Arab mare that had been diagnosed with uveitis. However, I am a very skeptical person I needed to make sure that I believed in your product before I sent a testimonial. Here is a brief rundown of what happened with my mare Mercedes.
I remember this day so vividly my mare's eye was swollen and running and it looked quite painful. I stood in the barn with my mare and awaited the vet's arrival. He diagnosed her with uveitis and left me with a hand full of medications and directions. I was still optimistic about my mare condition and her treatment.
Two weeks later… I stood in the barn again, waiting for the vet's arrival… this time for the other eye. Again, more instructions, medications and now my spirits just a little less optimistic. (I was boarding my horse and the time over 30 minutes from home and had to travel to medicate her 4 times a day!)
My mare recovered quickly this time. One month later, again, standing in the barn with my mare, both eyes swollen almost closed, and running, and waiting for the vet to arrive. The vet arrived and during the examination we discovered both eyes so badly affected they were full of pools of blood!
Again, the vet leaves, I have my hands full of medications and by now I am very familiar with the treatment schedule! Now, I am very worried about my mare, I am in a daze I am so tired from driving to treat her. I remember sitting on the floor of my mare's stall and sobbing!!!
The first year of continuous treatment came and went. Into the second year of treatment, my life started to revolve around my mare's treatment. I quit my job and found one closer to the barn to make sure I got 4 treatments a day into her eyes. I left home and rented an apartment in the country to shorten my drive time. I no sooner got one eye under control and the other eye would need treatment again. I fought with ulcers on her eyes from the steroid medications. Ulcers in her stomach from pain management medications. The final straw was when my mare had one of her eyes go completely covered with a white "fungus" type problem!!! From get this… the fungus was caused by the medications to treat the uveitis! Again the vet came out to try and help me with my mare. The vet care for my mare was fantastic however; this was a pretty severe case. My mare at this point had been on complete stall rest with no light for 2 months (give or take a day) my mare looked terrible. She had no spirit left in her! She had lost so much weight I barely recognized her and I was now considering a humane end to this so called life she was living! The vet and I discussed our options for Mercedes.
I went home in complete despair. I cried the whole car ride home. I arrived home and told my boyfriend about what kind of a decision I was faced with. I went and sat down and found myself feeling completely helpless. I could for the first time do nothing to help my mare, I was at the end of watching her suffer, and I was exhausted physically and mentally and financially drained!
About an hour later my boyfriend arrived with a print out from the computer. It was your website. He urged me to call and order and just give it one last shot. I reached you on the other end of the line Sid! My first bit of hope in months! You understood! I quickly ordered the mask and waited. You sent me the mask on a rush order and I had it within 2 days! When the mask arrived in the mail I rushed out to the barn to put it on her. Okay at first I thought she looked kind of funny but who cares if it helps.
4 Years Later...
Mercedes now lives at home on my farm. She is completely blind in one eye and can see I think maybe "shadows" in the other eye. (I wish I had found your mask months earlier she would probably still have her vision). She is so happy; she has not had any problems with her eyes in over 2 years! I have 3 of your masks so I can rotate to get them washed. She wears her mask 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In fact your masks are so well made that I still have her original mask and it is in great shape!
It has been so long since I have thought of her eye condition that I had to look up how to spell uveitis again!
Sid, my sincerest thank you for all you have done for Mercedes and me. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on many occasions by phone, for taking the time to find a "treatment" for these wonderful animals that suffer from moonblindness, and for raising awareness with horse owners and vets throughout North America.
Trail riding season is starting again here in Ontario and thanks to you, Mercedes and I will enjoy the sunshine again for another summer together.
I do not hesitate to tell anyone about your product. My testimonial… the smile on my face every time I open the barn doors in the morning and am greeted by the whinny of my mare.
Thank you…
Yours truly,
Andrea Patterson
Heckston, Ontario
To read more testimonials like Andrea's, click here.
Call 1 (866) 284-6773 to order!
Data gathered from various sources including horse owners, veterinarians, and Guardian Mask.
Always remember to seek the advice of your veterinarian before treatment.


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500 g fish fillets of your choice – we used haddock, skin and bones removed
125 g ciabatta or focaccia bread
75 g Castello® Extra Creamy Danish Blue Cheese ( use the remainder for the dip.)
3 level tbsp parsley or other herb of your choice - chopped
1 large egg beaten
Flour for dusting
200g frozen peas – defrosted.
Castello® Extra Creamy Danish Blue Cheese ( see above)
2-3 tbsp. natural yoghourt
Few fresh mint leaves - chopped


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the grand entrance
first dance
Madeline and Maggie slow dancing lol
it appears Madeline's mouth is full of food
guess she just hopped up from eating to dance
watching father daughter dance
I love how Susan is looking at Chris!
I love this pic but it did not copy well from shutterfly
trying to figure out how to download better!!
Such a special night for 2 moms!
Ju and all her highschool friends
we had a family produced go pro team
first one died and Gardner rigged my camera up to finish
it should be up on FB soon!
Love sweet Carly!!!
Janie in action
as you can see it is a family affair as Eric takes a turn with her:)
I had to post both these pics!
I am so proud of Madeline
she was very nervous about the big night and was such a big girl!!!
love my girl!
what 12 year old brothers do when they get bored at the older sister's reception..
nice shirt and bow tie.....gone!!
iphone out:)
oh Janie!
Mounce girls!
Chris made this board and everyone signed it instead of a book
turned out so cool!
Janie's "formance"
makes me smile!
last dance:)
as you know in Memphis horse drawn carriages are everywhere downtown...
it was such a special way to leave the reception
sparklers everywhere
and they are off.....
the girls were pooped!
I was thrilled with how the night went:)
Janie walked over to me put her arms up...laid her head on my shoulder
and never said another word:)
I really can't believe it is over!
They had a wonderful trip to Jamaica and are home
back to the real world of working and getting settled...
I cleaned out my car, garage and closet yesterday lol!


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Open house events offer information on sales tax issue
Area residents who attend one of the open house events offered at the Barry County E-911 Operations Center this month will have the opportunity to ask questions about the one-eighth of a cent sales tax that will appear on the Feb. 7 ballot.
"We have been underfunded from day one," said Mike Phillips, Barry County E-911 director. "We need more money to provide proper coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, support the 911 phone system and technology, make building payments, just to keep the doors open."
Barry County voters approved a one-quarter of a cent sales tax for the formation of county-wide E-911 services in June of 2005. Within two years after the tax was approved, the emergency services board mapped the county, constructed an operations center capable of withstanding an EF5 tornado and equipped and staffed the operations center.
Today, the Barry County E-911 Operations Center averages around 10,000 calls per month. Around 1,000 of those calls are 911 emergencies. Non-emergency calls are also handled for the Barry County Jail, county and city officers and to process warrants.
"What we had before was partially trained dispatchers, no location of where the caller was at and numerous amounts of agencies to call when you had an emergency," said Phillips. "It was not properly staffed, there was no uniformity, and there was no guarantee that your call would be answered."
Over the last six years, the decline in the economy has had a major impact on Barry County E-911 operations. The system has also been impacted by legal fees associated with the lawsuit between the county emergency services board and the City of Monett.
The operations center's annual expenses have exceeded revenues since 2008. Last year, the center spent $195,295.20 more than was received in tax revenues.
In order to weather the decline in tax revenue, Phillips cut personnel, including four dispatchers and a full-time mapping employee, discontinued maintenance agreements and postponed non-essential equipment updates.
"The new money would provide proper coverage by allowing us to hire back the five positions we lost with budget cuts," said Phillips. "It would also allow us to have a dedicated fund for required phone, mapping, software and hardware updates and have the funds available to ensure we are able to stay current on 911 technologies."
If Barry County voters oppose the sales tax increase, the E-911 center will cease operations on Dec. 31, said Phillips.
"All the technology that allows us to find you from a cell phone, the one number to call for help and mapping that helps law, fire and emergency medical services find you, will discontinue," said Phillips. "This will create longer response times, which could result in loss of life and an increase in crime."
The discontinuation of the county-wide E-911 system will also likely impact homeowner insurance. County 911 operations help lower ISO ratings for area fire departments.
"This rating is used to calculate your insurance premium," said Phillips. "The better the 911 center is, the better the fire department rating is. If we are unable to provide adequate service, this rating will suffer as well. This can make the insurance premium increase."
If the sales tax increase is approved by voters on Feb. 7, the tax will be imposed on non-perishable item purchases, including clothes, towels, vehicles and other items. The tax will not be charged on grocery items or gasoline.
An additional one-eighth of a cent is projected to produce $425,000 to $450,000 a year, which would give the county emergency services board an annual budget of around $1.3 million to operate the Barry County E-911 Center.
More information on the tax issue can be obtained by visiting the Barry County E-911 Operations Center during one of the open house events, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 20 and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 21 and 28. Phillips can be reached by calling 847-4911.


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Ph - +91-44-24863201
Ph - +91-44-24863204
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"I hate your shoes," said Norman Mailer to my date Gene Andrewski, a managing editor of The Paris Review, as we stood amid a gaggle of literary luminaries, young writers, artists, musicians, politicians and other guests in George Plimpton's crowded living room.
"My shoes?" joshed Gene. "Why? They're new...."
"I HATE YOUR SHOES," blared Norman belligerently, as I stared in awe at one of my literary idols, who had recenly assaulted his wife, Adele, with a penknife. Heads turned toward us. Norman railed on.
"Let's get out of here," smiled Gene, then quietly quipped, "I'm afraid he might kill me."
This piece first ran in Printers Row Journal, delivered to Printers Row members with the Sunday Chicago Tribune and by digital edition via email. Click here to learn about joining Printers Row.
So it went in late 1960 at one of George Plimpton's legendary soirees at 541 E. 72nd St., New York. When Plimpton, the co-founder of The Paris Review, died in 2003 at age 76, The New York Times wrote, "For more than 45 years he was host to hundreds of parties for thousands of guests, sometimes at a rate of once a week."
The Paris Review celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and a documentary about its co-founder called "Plimpton!" is touring the country. The film, which I've not yet seen (it hasn't screened in Chicago), recounts his long extraordinary life as writer, participatory journalist, adventurer and editor. News of it brought me back to the years when my two roommates and I were George's neighbors.
We lived at 527 E. 72nd St., in a unique block of low-rise buildings dubbed "The Black and Whites." These four connected brick structures, built in 1894, were five-story walk-ups painted black and white with bright red doors. In the 1930s, Carmel Snow, editor of Harper's Bazaar, converted them from old tenements into cheap lodging for friends. When George returned from Paris in the mid-'50s, he moved into a rent-controlled apartment at 541, then set up The Paris Review offices in the basement of the same building. The apartments are now co-ops priced sky-high.
From our window, we regularly spotted the strikingly handsome George, once named "New York's Most Eligible Bachelor" by Esquire magazine, dashing out in a tux or in gym clothes with squash racquet, often accompanied by a celebrity. Occasionally, he and his chums cavorted noisily in our common cul-de-sac. During one huge blizzard, my friends and I were struggling to slog down the block to our door. George and pals, involved in a shouting snowball fight, rushed over, scooped us up and carried us, laughing and flailing, to safety.
Though guests at the early parties might include established authors such as Truman Capote, Peter Matthiessen, Gore Vidal and Harold Hume, they mingled with an unpredictable assortment of talents, attractive women of varied ages and occupations, and sometimes a few tenants from our buildings. George shrewdly included our building superintendent, himself a middle-aged fledgling science-fiction writer, thereby cleverly circumventing any complaint calls.
Scotch and wine flowed freely along with laughter and music. Unlike some other Manhattan cocktail parties which could be obligatory, staid and ultimately tiresome, George's brimmed with revelry, energy, buoyant interaction and intellectual stimulation. Peering from one of the windows that lined a wall, one could look out at boats navigating the East River or down to spot new arrivals. They might be Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, who lived across the street; Jackie Kennedy and her sister, Lee, emerging from a long black limo; circus performers; or an entire rock band. Guests kept an eye on the open door, wondering who might traipse up the stairs next to join the festivities. George didn't hesitate to dispatch a guest, famous or not, to pick up supplies or a friend. When composer/musician David Amram phoned with transportation difficulties, George said, "I'll send someone. Be downstairs. The guy's name is Norm." Sharing the story later, Amram said, "The car pulls up. It's Norman Mailer."
Back then, The Paris Review wasn't even 10 years old. Its longevity is a marvel. In 1964, I purchased (and still own) Issue 31, the 10th anniversary issue, for $1.25. A lifetime membership was $60. The Art of Fiction interview was with Norman Mailer. Last month I picked up Issue 204, The 60th Anniversary Edition, for $15. As the documentary "Plimpton!" points out, "The point of The Paris Review was not only to publish creative work, but to discuss it from the point of view of those who do creative work."
Hundreds of interviews with authors ran in the magazine's Art of Fiction series, though some writers, including Ernest Hemingway, responded reluctantly. He wrote: "I might say 'F— the Art of Fiction' … what I would really mean is 'F— talking about it.' Let us practice it and shut up." Nevertheless, he agreed to be interviewed by George in the March 1958 issue. The letter in Hemingway's handwriting containing the quote has been displayed at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York.
The Spring 2013 issue quotes a letter that George wrote to his parents: "What we are doing that's new is presenting a literary quarterly in which the emphasis is more on fiction than on criticism. Also we are brightening up the issue with artwork."
Lorin Stein, the current editor, writes that in the last decade, subscriptions have doubled, and two national magazine awards have been won. The magazine runs a website, The Paris Review Daily.
The big question is how did George Plimpton find time to do all that he did socially and professionally? He appeared in films. He was a brilliant writer. "The Best of Plimpton," a collection of essays, articles, profiles, stories and a hilarious parody, attests to that.
He traveled with friends for business and pleasure. He was politically active. The documentary contains George's police deposition taken after his friend Bobby Kennedy was shot. George had been at Kennedy's side, tackled the assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, to the ground, and wrestled the gun from his hand. That, reportedly, was the only time he ever spoke of the incident.
George was passionate about fireworks, wrote about them extensively, and even served as fireworks commissioner of New York City. He recounts in his book "Fireworks" how he assisted in both creating and launching them. He helped orchestrate the fireworks at the Reagan-Bush inauguration and, as The New York Times reported, "arranged the explosion in Florida of Fat Man II — a 700-pound firework that was the largest ever, according to the Guinness Book of World Records."
As a participatory journalist, he quarterbacked with the Detroit Lions, played percussion for the New York Philharmonic, skated with the Boston Bruins, boxed with Archie Moore, attempted top-level bridge, spent time as a high-wire circus performer, photographed Playboy models, pitched to Willie Mays in Yankee Stadium and did stand-up in Vegas — among other endeavors.
Which brings me to his voice. No one, not even the best comic impersonators, could simulate that speaking voice. (For a detailed analysis, read the New Yorker piece, "My Father's Voice," by Taylor Plimpton, an exquisite and touching tribute). I recently asked a friend who had been introduced to George in an airport to describe it. He struggled, then came up with "British? … Patrician?" — which is what most people settle for, but that doesn't really capture it. It was solely his sound and accent — a friendly, energetic-yet-refined vocal thrust colored with blue-blood tonalities that surprised and intrigued the listener. For instance, my own name, Mona, as voiced heartily by George, sounded like: MAOWWWNAHH!
Although George accomplished as much as possible with his own life, he encouraged and helped so many others to do the same. His means included his interest, his generosity, his magazine and his renowned social gatherings. When told by a colleague that my accompanist and I rehearsed using a rented "midget" piano with only 64 keys, George exploded, "NO! They must come up and use MY wonderful piano!" Which we did. He threw open his door, stood regally attired in white tie, greeted us exuberantly, and grandly extolled our artistic ambitions. He then gestured toward the beautiful piano, said "Make yourselves at home," flung on a cape, (yes, a cape) and took off with a wave.
Mona Abboud is an actress, singer and writer who has worked in film, TV, stage and cabaret. She has voiced more than 7,000 commercials, and her appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson became a hit novelty recording, "The Pretty Little Dolly."


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text:
Welcome to our stop on David Ankrah's "Seeds" virtual book blog tour! The tour is being promoted by Tracee at Pump Up Your Book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
About David Ankrah:
David Ankrah is a quiet individual with a background in media, finance and all things creative, full of ideas and compassion for those around him.
He lives in London with family and likes nothing better than to help people and put smiles on faces.
The inspiration for this book came out of wanting to see an end to some of the hardships we face in modern times with a simple story that everyone can enjoy and in particular for adults to read to children all over the world so that they can share the ideas that come to them as they read about the inhabitants of that wonderful place called Zoniye.
You can visit David at his website, http://seedsthechildrensbook.com.
Book Info:
Page Count: 23
Copyright: 2011
Publisher: Evolu-Sol Publishing
About "Seeds":
(Info provided by tour host)
If you would like to help children understand some of the benefits of using money wisely from an early age then this is a story that will inspire them ...
Without actually mentioning the word money until after the story ends, this story is designed to show them some of the choices they have in life when it comes to looking after not only their money, but their friends and family.
In fact, you should find that this story has parallels in your life whether you are 6 or 60.
So find out what happens to Palooko and Greecho as they go through life and one mysterious day an event takes place that would change their lives forever ...
Zoniye ...
A wonderful place to live ...
And that is where our story begins ...
Mandy's Review:
The cover is adorable and child-friendly, which is good since this story is meant for parents to read and discuss with their children.
The title is an excellent synonym for what is actually the main character of the story.
There is a happy Utopian society called Zoniye. Everyone is happy, everyone loves each other, everyone helps each other and everyone looks out for one another. Then, one day, strangers enter the Utopian land bringing new ideas and gadgets for the people of Zoniye entrapping them into the lifestyle of a slave. The people of Zoniye are now slaves to the seeds and to the new shiny gadgets the strangers bout. It's a vicious never-ending cycle ... or is it?
Palooko doesn't give into the pressure of keeping up with everyone else. He stays focused on the future and how the seeds can benefit his and his family's future. Can he succeed enough to help out the natural inhabitants of Zoniye?
David Ankrah takes the simple idea of saving for one's future and creates a delightful story called "Seeds." I agree the story can be read to and discussed with children, but I would wait until they were about 8 or 9, depending on their maturity level. I'm just not sure a 6-year-old would completely understand all of the meaning of this book.
I do recommend this book to all parents who have younger children. I think it will be a great resource tool for you in your discussions with them concerning money and their future.


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Don't forget to update your email address in the Directory of Symbols and Interlibrary Loan Policies in Canada. You can check the email address registered for your institution by searching the directory. Notify the National Union Catalogue of this or any other changes by using the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Directory Update Form. Help us ensure uninterrupted ILL service and maintain the Directory as a valuable source of information about the libraries of Canada.
Search: Directory of Symbols
Canadian library symbols are important resource-sharing tools. They are assigned by Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and present a standardized key to the identification of Canadian libraries, information centres, archives, and other related institutions, many of which participate in a wide range of information activities (e.g., networks) or are listed in databases, bibliographies, union lists, etc.
Library symbols are precise, standardized, shorthand identifiers that are useful for automated interlending communications and processing, as well as union lists, bibliographies and local and regional networks.
Canadian library symbols are composed of three groups of letters. The first group identifies the province or territory, the second group identifies the city, and the third group identifies the institution. The following groups of letters represent the provinces and territories:
A typical example of a Canadian library symbol is AEU, which stands for University of Alberta Cameron Library in Edmonton, Alberta.
Symbols can contain up to eight characters in length.
Federal government libraries located in the National Capital Region all have symbols beginning with "OO."
LAC maintains the Directory of Library Symbols and Interlibrary Loan Policies in Canada. The Directory may be used as a resource-sharing tool for finding Canadian libraries, their contact information and interlibrary loan (ILL) policies.
The Directory includes:
To obtain an internationally recognized Canadian library symbol, contact:
National Union Catalogue
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4
Telephone: 819-934-5851
Fax: 819-934-4388
Email: email@example.com
There is no charge for this service.
The International Standard Identifier for Libraries and related organizations (ISIL) is comprised of a set of standard identifiers used for the unique identification of libraries, archives, museums and related organizations with a minimum impact on already existing systems. This International Standard allows the use of existing Canadian library symbols (unit identifier, ISO/FDIS 15511) assigned by LAC to be incorporated into the ISIL.
When used in an international holdings context, Canadian library symbols (unit identifiers) assigned by LAC require the addition of the two uppercase letters of the respective country code (e.g. CA = Canada) followed by a hyphen character. A typical example of an international Canadian library symbol is CA-AEU, which stands for University of Alberta Cameron Library in Edmonton, Alberta. The "CA-" prefix is not generally included when used within Canada as a holdings symbol or interlibrary loan symbol.
More information about the management and usage of the ISIL is found on the site of the ISIL International Agency in Denmark.
When used in a MARC record exchange context, Canadian library symbols assigned by Library and Archives Canada will ideally include the country code (ISO 3166-1) as the first sub-unit, followed by a hyphen.
More information about the development and usage of MARC Organization Codes is found on the Library of Congress website.
The Canadian Library Gateway (archived) continues to provide a centralized window to Canadian libraries of all types and sizes.
The Directory of Special Collections of Research Value in Canadian Libraries (archived) assists in locating specialized resources in Canadian libraries with searches by subject, name of collection, and institution in the webpages of selected Canadian special collections.


text:
Tour de France: Marcel Kittel wins 3rd stage in a sprint
Canadians Tuft, Meier place 138th, 154th, respectively
Germany's Marcel Kittel showed he may be the sprinter to beat at the Tour de France, speeding to his second stage win this year in Stage 3 on Monday as cycling's biggest race entered London before leaving England for France.
Rain in the City of London doused riders at the end of the 155-kilometre (96-mile) ride from the university town of Cambridge to a dramatic finish past landmarks Big Ben and Westminster.
Italy's Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall leader's yellow jersey with a two-second lead over the most likely contenders to win the three-week race in Paris on July 27.
Kittel, led out perfectly by Giant-Shimano teammates, made it look easy as he sped down a final wide approach on The Mall with Buckingham Palace behind him. Peter Sagan of Slovakia was second and Australia's Mark Renshaw was third.
"I'm really really happy I could win in front of Buckingham Palace," said Kittel, who won four Tour stages last year. "It was one of the greatest finishes I've ever seen in front of this great scenery."
The hulking German made it a tale of two cities. He added London glory to his record after also winning on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, in the Tour finale last year. His job in the sprints got a lot easier after Britain's Mark Cavendish pulled out of the race after injuring his shoulder in a crash in Saturday's Stage 1.
"It's one big opponent that is not in the race anymore," Kittel said. "Of course, that changes things for me, but also for the team."
Kittel is no threat for the yellow jersey. Like many sprinters, he struggles on climbs and fell nearly 20 minutes behind Nibali in the overall standings in an up-and-down ride on Sunday through the hills and dales of Yorkshire.
Nibali's biggest challengers for the prized leader's shirt remain title-holder Chris Froome of Britain and Spain's Alberto Contador, who finished with the Italian in the 83-rider bunch behind Kittel.
On Monday, the pack cruised nervously and let two breakaway riders go free on Monday. The duo was caught with about six kilometres (four miles) left.
The first three stages in England have been a runaway success with fans, notably through Yorkshire's hills and dales with many Britons, waving French flags and Union Jacks.
But the teeming curbs, sidewalks and roadsides again caused trouble for the riders. With about 30 km (19 miles) left, 2010 Tour winner Andy Schleck of Luxembourg was among riders who crashed briefly, and French TV showed a fan on the ground. Schleck, who gingerly returned to the race, said he didn't hit a spectator.
"I guess it was my own fault," said Schleck, who collided with another rider and hurtled over his handlebars.
His Trek Factory Racing teammate Jens Voigt said: "I saw about 15 crashes today. In the end there were two guys on the ground but I don't know what happened exactly … That's the Tour de France. The first week is always nervous."
Some fans got political. A few held up placards imploring Prime Minister David Cameron not to support a U.S.-European Union free trade pact. Three topless protesters bearing slogans condemning female genital mutilation staged a brief protest near the Houses of Parliament before police bundled them away and covered them with fluorescent vests.
Riders were flying across the English Channel for Tuesday's Stage 4, a 163.5 km (105-mile) ride from Le Touquet-Paris Plage to Lille Metropole on the border with Belgium.
Froome's Team Sky released a glitzy video Monday saying that the Briton on June 1 became the first man to cycle through the Channel tunnel. In the video, Froome quipped: "This could be a really, really cool stage of a race."
Monday's course route notably bypassed Trafalgar Square, whose landmark Nelson's Column commemorates a British hero of the Napoleonic Wars.
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EvilCoy's Scarred Lands
Character Quick SearchFilters
Arthur Dayne, Lord of the MorningA holy warrior priest in service of Corean the Avenger, this man wields a powerful blade wreathed in holy fire that cuts down the hated undead like wheat before a sickle.
Cyndarian AlykayneCyndarian is fairly average build, long, dark hair, usually worn in a ponytail. Typically he is seen in priestly vestments as he labors in the temple of Hedrada. He's about 24 winters old.
Em of the IsleThis druidess is a petite beauty of the natural wilderness. Wherever she goes, her pet constrictor accompanies her travels.
Gruff GravelbeardGruff is a fairly young dwarf. He's tall for a dwarf and of average build with deep brown hair and a thick brown beard, if you look closely enough you might see a leaf or twig sticking out of his hair.
Kronk the ScarredYou see a scarred up half-orc thats dresses like some sort of woodsman/tribesman. He typically wears a wooden tiki mask and brews strange herbal concoctions from his village hut.
Leon of LedeBrother to Xaylin, this human has his face covered such that only his eyes can be seen. He carries scimitars at his hip and fights in an elven fashion.
RaldinianCharismatic and Mysterious, this midnight skinned half-elf dresses impecabbly and is quick to fling a spell
Xaylin of LedeBrother to Leon, this halfling is a devotee of Domiel the Slayer, a martyr of Corean, and stalks evil in the shadows.
Zhou PanDressed in a blue silken half robe and shorts, this muscled, lean man seems charged with a holy light and the blood of angels.
Zoltan, the SkylordTall and heavy built, this holy man of Corean grows in power in the service of his god and his agenda.
Adams NotsobThe priest of Hedrada is Adams Notsob, an elderly man who speaks of the great city of Hedrada and is active in trying to encourage growth in Arach's Rest.
Allustan NeffThis robed man walks with difficulty but his eyes tell of magical power and secrets.
Amanita, Unlucky of EnkiliHigh Priest of Enkili in the Free City, this androgynous being is a socialite and frequent dealer at the gambling tables.
Aroon the HerbalistThis old man has a vibrant golden tan and white goatee. He wears white robes and a rust colored fez as he goes about making his herbal remedies.
Balabar "Luscious Lips" SmenkActing Lord Mayor and Primary Mine Manager of Diamond Lake
BalakardeWizard friend of Allustan and Cestarian who disappeared while investigating the Ebon Triad in Alhaster.
BurskelA bulbous floating orb of eyes with a gaping maw, this beholder acts as an arms dealer and weapons collector to the planes.
Captain Pramas the QuickThis tall dark and handsome man wears a brace of pistols and a cutlass at his belt. He has long black hair and a black tattoo along his forehead and to the left side of his face.
CelninLocal sheriff of the village of Arach's Rest, this balding middle-aged ex-soldier goes about his duty with efficiency and purpose.
Cestarian the WiseRenowned wizard and arch-mage who lives in his walled compound with its large telescope and mystic library of
Cob the IncarnateA sage and storyteller who fathered many tales, some of which were of his past lives.
Des'r KhaBrown furred, with folds of skin under its arms, and long ears, this humanoid stands about man-height and looks at you with its intelligent eyes.
DominoA buxom and beautiful cambioness with glowing red eyes who operates the Polar Opposites Inn and Tavern in Stygia.
Donny the RogueA local teen-age boy in Twilight who gets by selling information, doing odd tasks, and a wee bit of roguery.
Ellival MoonmeadowKnown as "the Prince", this elf is said to be a minor noble. Though regal and handsome, he maintains himself aloof from most humans in Diamond Lake.
FeflinThis robed young man stands before you gazing charismatically with lips slightly pouted.
FilgeDark, brooding, and pale of skin, this small man seems to radiate malign power.
FleazThis hyena-headed humanoid scratches his leg and goes back to cleaning out bar glasses, waiting for you to order.
Gelch TilgastAn aging mine manager who once held the reins of Diamond Lake's ore market and looks to reclaim his former glory.
Gos'rn KetA powerful blue dragon known as the Terror of the Desert
IldamarThis man is 6' 6" tall and cut out of stone. He has curly black hair and grey eyes. He snarls and begins to transform in to a huge wolf-man.
Illthane the BlackA powerful black dragon involved with the Cult of Kyuss. Lately, he has been seen with a sorcerous rider astride his back.
IngackaA tall, powerfully built warrior almost fully encapsulated in barbed, devil armor wielding mighty fire swords.
JadessOwner/proprietess of the Goblyn's Crown, an inn and tavern located on the Street of Sages within Sigil.
Jenna of the HammerA middle-aged Albanian woman accomplished at forge work. Owns the smithy and stablery at the village of Arach's Rest.
Jharen HubrisOwner and operator of the Painted Man tattoo shop.
KaraA blonde, blue-eyed Albadian sorceress dressed in sapphire blue robes and white tiger skin cloak
Kent and Esmerelda PhoiThe Rusty Horseshoe is ran by Kent, a bald, chubby, bear of a man with a penchant for screaming at his employees. His wife is Esmerelda, a fine cook and child-bearing woman based on their family of 8 children.
LashonnaThis beautiful elf woman is dazzlingly beautiful as she walks by in a silk dress of impeccable taste.
Lord Killian VrailLord of Fangsfall, a man of honor facing a declining situation with no heir apparent
Marshall Dannus KildarumA competent commander holding the chief military post under Lord Vrail himself, overseeing Fangsfall's Army, Navy, City Guard, and Vrail's personal guard.
Maximillian DrakeTall and dressed in an impeccably well kept blue wool overcoat, this man stands 6' 2" tall with medium build. He wears a captains hat with heraldry of the Free City. His hair and moustache are brown turning grey with a hawkish nose and pale blue eyes.
Moreto, the Marquis of RavenstoneTall, gaunt, and pale of skin. A noble and magician of some underdark realm known as the White Kingdom.
NantQuick witted and sharp tongued, this man dresses in fine robes as befits his station as leader of the Free City wizards.
Neifion, the Lord of BatsA thin man, bald and pale, with narrow squinting eyes, pointed ears and drab black clothes sits at the head of the table on a chair as grand as any throne.
Pheth AmonThis robed man radiates dark power and you can see a multitude of scars and tattoos cover his upper body.
Prince ZeechA handsome young man dressed at the cutting edge of current style.
Santos, Squire of House Kir'DargoThis thin halfelf speaks with a Shelzari accent and carries bow, blades, and an impressive, magical lantern.
SarinaSarina of the Shroud is the ranking priestess of Nemorgha in the Free City. She is a middle-aged woman with a scarred face.
SerpenthelmHandsome and dramatic, this famed bard frequently puts on sellout concerts that mesmerize attendees with magic, music, and moving stories.
ShadowstalkerA shadowborn human who roams the wilds of the Shadowfell protecting Dark Folk and Shadowborn communities.
Sheriff CubbinSpeaking with a drawl, the Sheriff of Diamond Lake portrays a gentlemanly image with grandiloquent speech up until the point where he brings out "old billy" and clubs a lawbreaker on the head.
Shieldmaster Aaron DerigeshHead of the Corean Chapterhouse, the Shieldmaster is a handsome man with golden hair and deep blue eyes who leads the men in patrols quite frequently.
TarquinHalfling proprietor of the Crooked House, a famous inn in the Midnight Muddle neighborhood of the Free City.
Traril ShieldhartA clean cut lieutenant to the Shieldmaster, Traril often acts as commander of the Corean Chapterhouse while his master is on patrol.
VassagoOwner of the Red Wagon Acrobat Company, a troupe of female acrobats, that frequently moves about the Free City entertaining crowds.
WeejThis halfling is well tanned and bald. He dresses in black leathers with a small duster overcoat; concealing his many daggers. He has an ugly scar on his left cheek.
Wovinillius the SwordSageA burly dwarf typically dressed in leather apron, the Sage of Swords has an extensive knowledge of blades and their crafting.
Xerryn (X-aaron)Face of the wizard's guild known as the Order of the Copper Raven and primary interface for visitors seeking entry or services.
YarolThis well dressed red-skinned man has horns atop his head poking out of his black hair. He has an eye patch and wears a goatee.
ZeindraA swarthy, buxom beauty dressed in silks, scarves and veils in the manner of a Shelzari performer


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Tower Peak
25-Jun-99 (Pictograph Rock and Big Kitties)
By: Doug Mantle, Tina Bowman
At 5:40 a.m. Friday, June 25, Doug led our grand group of seven from the Leavitt Meadows trailhead parking area to the Leavitt Meadows campground and across the footbridge onto the West Walker River trail. Beyond Roosevelt and Lane Lakes we had a number of stream crossings that we made with aplomb, until we had to cross the river itself at the lower end of Upper Piute Meadow. Doug, Mirna Roach, and Erik Siering used the obvious trail crossing, which was fairly deep at the beginning for Mirna. Following Greg Roach, Herb Buehler, my husband Tom, and I went slightly up river to a sandy, mostly knee-deep or shallower, and moderately broad ford. We definitely moved quickly through that cold water, but then had lunch, despite mosquitoes, at the ranger's cabin and admired the collection of rocks and view. As we left the meadow, we encountered more and more snow, as predicted in Doug's trip sheet. We camped at a spot half a mile or less from Tower Lake (Doug caved into group resistance at this point) on a bench above the stream and one spot a little lower, stopping before 3:00 after fourteen or more miles and 3340' of gain. We had a great spot for lounging and dining.
Saturday morning we were off at 5:30, heading up to Tower Lake, where we found some delightful campsites free of snow, though most of us, were glad we hadn't carried our backpacks up there. Just beyond the lake we put on crampons, and headed up the wall, exiting to the right on great snow and avoiding a cornice wannabe. We traveled on snow and rock onto the north shoulder and then around onto the northern end of the west side were winding through talus and runty trees, to the west - facing chute of ledges up to the top, a fun scramble, all free of snow. Our strong group was on top before 8:30 and lingered a long time picking out peaks and snacking.
Back in camp at 10:50, we packed up, ate, and started out before noon. We all crossed the river at the sandy ford this time and enjoyed the brief respite from mosquitoes afforded by the coldness of our skin from the water. Although we had planned for a three-day trip, five of us staggered all the way out to the cars by 7:00. Greg and Mirna, demonstrating sanity, camped partway out. For a trail going down river, it has a lot of uphill sections -- we had 4200'of gain for the day, almost a thousand of it on the backpack after the climb. Leavitt Meadow seems to go on forever, and just before the bridge, there's a hill for the final insult. We said our good-byes and thanked Doug for a fine lead.
Tom and I spent the night in Independence before wandering home. Erik had told us about pictographs in the area of Coso Junction, so we made the side excursion to see them. Going east on the road from Coso Junction 3.9 miles to an excellent dirt road, we turned left and went 4.5 miles to a gate to a mining operation. Here we turned left again on a good dirt road to the parking area at .4 miles. It's only on this last little bit of road that you'll find signs for Pictograph Rock. A well signed trail (five minutes or so?) leads to the huge boulder which has paintings of hands, antelope, people (perhaps), lizards (maybe), and strange lizard-like figures with antennae. Evidence of landings from outer space? Lots of obsidian chips festoon the ground. We thought the trip worthwhile, but then we also had a host of house projects waiting for us in Long Beach. Fascinating site or work-avoidance delay? You decide. We also stopped in. Tropico at the Exotic Feline Conservation Center to see the jaguars, pumas, leopards, caracals, ocelots, fishing cats, and more. It's open 10 - 4:00 every day except Wednesday and is free -- take Rosamond Blvd. East several miles, turn night at the green sign for the Center (Tropico-Mojave Road) and left at another live just below the old Tropico mine, sign onto a good dirt road to the parking area. The big cats and, if you are headed north, you can take the Tropico-Mojave Road up to Soledad Mountain and the Silver Queen Mine road back to Highway 14.
|SPS Trip Report Index | Sierra Peaks Section


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Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Navy Baby: Coming Soon! {Annapolis Maternity Photography}
11 comments:
So perfectly beautiful!!ReplyDelete
You made this couple look AMAZING - not that they already aren't. Wow you have such a way of capturing the light in a pregnant woman :) I feel like my light is surrounding by a grease filled haze - but this girl sure looks great! :)ReplyDelete
Such beauty in the simplicity of things! I love these pics!ReplyDelete
The Naked Writer
Wow, those last 2 are amazing. I love the b/w and the smoothness in those images. Nice job. :)ReplyDelete
Gorgeous photos! Love it love it! I wish I had taken pictures like this!ReplyDelete
Btw, thanks for dropping by and commenting in my blog on the baby room review! :D
Yes Jasmine, it is such a beautiful blessing. Thanks everyone for stopping by and enjoying my work =)ReplyDelete
Gorgeous pictures!ReplyDelete
Thanks for following my blog --- through Dropped Stitches! Your photos are AMAZING.ReplyDelete


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A 29-year-old Monroe County man was arrested yesterday on five criminal charges and committed to the county prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.
State police at Lehighton arrested William R. Rhodes of Effort and charged him with statutory rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, corruption of a minor and endangering the welfare of children.
Police said the unlawful acts on a female juvenile occurred between March and July.
Rhodes was arraigned before District Justice Glenn Berger of Brodheadsville.


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As this Story continues to develop, I can't help but think: there's no real story here.
I mean, there is a story: that Home Capital's stock plummeted, and there was a run on their deposits.
But what's the story behind that? Nobody knows. Yet.
Let's look at what we know so far, what questions need answering, and then delve off into conspiracy theories…
All too often in society today, people don't want to know the story behind the story.
They want a headline.
They want an immediate conclusion.
And if the opportunity arises to look further, they turn their attention to a shinier object.
Let's say, for argument's sake. that President Donald Trump (that still sounds weird…) were to say, "Barack Obama tapped my phones. This is Nixon/Watergate. He's a bad (sick) guy."
I think roughly 50% of America will take that as given, and require absolutely, positively, no follow-up.
A lot of people, even if offered clarification, wouldn't be interested!
I believe this is based on a combination of things, ranging from our shortened attention spans, to the sheer amount of people, places, and things vying for our attention, to the immediacy we've grown accustomed to as technology advances.
So when the story about Home Trust broke last week, and continued into this week, I wasn't surprised when nobody really asked "what's happening, and why."
We know what happened.
That's the easy part.
But what really happened, and why did it happen? That's what I want to get to today.
First, perhaps, a recap.
Back in 2015, Home Trust suspended relationships with forty-five Mortgage brokers, now dubbed "the home-trust forty-five," amid claims of fraudulent mortgage applications. Of the 45, 18 were independent, and the other 27 were from two different brokerages.
After the discovery of this fraud, Home Trust restricted their lending practices, increased scrutiny and underwriting practices, and tightened the reigns on their lending.
But nothing really happened of consequence until last week, when the Ontario Securities Commission announced they would be investigating how the mortgage fraud was reported (or not…) to their investors.
News of the investigation caused investors to withdraw their deposits, and the stock price of Home Capital Group (the holding company) began to plummet.
These "investors," keep in mind, are not you and I.
This is the part of the story (one of many) that the media isn't telling.
These are institutional investors, hedge funds, and all-purpose big-dogs.
Just in their high-interest savings account alone, investors withdrew approximately $1.09 Billion of the $1.41 Billion in holdings, in the space of one week.
That is the story, in a nutshell.
But since this story broke, the speculation has run absolutely wild!
It's a classic example of mania, exacerbated by the combination of round-the-clock media coverage, and today's society's penchant for careless and wild speculation.
The real estate bears are coming out in full force, saying, "This is it! The crash is coming!"
BNN, The Huffington Post, Bloomberg and the like simply can't get enough of this.
And in my humble opinion, and feel free to tell me if I'm wrong, this is merely a stock market story, and has little, if anything, to do with real estate.
So there. Now take your shots.
Much of the general public, for oh-so-long, has wanted to see the Canadian real estate market, most notably Toronto, crash.
Even though many of those folks own houses, they still want to see a "cooling" or a "drop" of some sort.
So when the story about Home Capital first broke, it didn't take long for people to make the connection that they so desire, and suggest that a run on Home Capital's deposits, and a crash in their stock price, would lead to a real estate Armageddon.
But who are Home Capital Group, and Home Trust?
Home Trust is an alternative lender, and although the uninformed, bitter, bearish public wants to assume that means some sort of loan-shark, or high-risk institution, they are not. They are an "alternative" lender, which by definition means an alternative to the Big-5 banks, who have different lending practices.
The Bank Act of Canada, which was last amended in December of 2016, restricts how the Big-5 banks can operate, and how they can lend.
But what if you're self-employed, or looking for a stated-income mortgage, or you have a large down payment but have bad credit?
"Should" you be able to get a mortgage?
The bears, and the fiscally conservative-and-afraid would suggest "no," but the free markets throughout the globe's most prosperous nations would suggest otherwise.
There is a need for alternative lenders in Canada, and a big one!
Home Trust is the largest alternative lender, representing about 1% of all mortgages in the country.
The changes to the Bank Act in 2016 left a huge void, and left many Canadian consumers high and dry.
Home Trust has filled that void, and they've been busier than ever before.
They are the oldest alternative lender in Canada, the most successful, and some, perhaps naively, would suggest they are too big to fail. They have weathered many storms before this one.
On Monday, as this story was still developing, it was announced that the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) was extending a $2 Billion line of credit to Home Capital, at a 10% interest rate, with 2.5% rate on undrawn amounts (which of course caused more deposit withdraws, and the stock to dive further).
This makes little sense, considering Home Trust's mortgage book contains primarily loans in the 5% range.
Lending out money at 5%, that you've borrowed at over 10%, doesn't make financial sense.
So what's the real story here? Because this can't be it.
There's so much uncertainty, so many unanswered questions, and so much speculation, that as I said – there really isn't a true story here.
And while I was a huge fan of the "X-Files" growing up, and I did just watch "J.F.K." on the weekend, I want to ask a few questions, and pose a few hypotheticals, just to let the conspiracy folks run wild.
First and foremost, I find it interesting that the entity that bailed out Home Trust – the Healthcare of Ontario Pension plan, has a CEO, Jim Keohane, that holds a seat on Home Capital's board.
Conflict of interest? Yeah, I think so.
Mr. Keohane said he recused himself from discussions with the lender last week, and stepped away from the board.
Said Mr. Keohane:
"With the possibility of us getting involved with a deal with Home, clearly that changes the business relationship between HOOPP and Home. It's obvious a conflict exists there."
Home Capital's Chairman, Kevin Smith, was also sitting on the board of HOOPP.
Now I work in a very different world from these folks, and I have no idea how corporate finance works. This might be very common, and perhaps deals between massive corporations, who have many executives holding seats on other corporations boards, are quite common.
But it bears mention, just because of all the speculation about Home Capital's future.
The conspiracy theorists are already asking, "Was this the best deal available for Home Capital?"
Maybe. Maybe not.
We'll truly never know.
But you have to ask yourself: why would HOOPP provide $2 Billion in loans to a company that the knew were going to fail?
Again, the risk of sounding naive, I don't think the folks running HOOPP got to where they are today by extending credit to companies whose imminent demise they saw coming.
I believe that Home Capital is too big to fail, and HOOPP sees this.
It's a great deal for HOOPP, nobody is denying that. This loan is secured against mortgages.
But does anybody find the timing of all this a little bit coincidental?
Not to sound like Fox Mulder, trying to convince Dana Scully about Area 51 here, but why did this happen a week after the Liberals' latest attempt to "cool the housing market?"
Think about it.
For the better part of a decade, the CMHC and the Bank of Canada have been undertaking measures to cool the Canadian housing market.
And nothing has worked.
They've done away with 40-year amortizations and 107% financing.
They've increased minimum down payment requirements, multiple times, at multiple price thresholds.
They've tightened restrictions on investment properties.
They've increased CMHC premiums.
They've increased qualification standards.
They've spent almost ten years reigning in lenders, and tightening lending practices.
And yet nothing they have done, has cooled the market.
So you're telling me that two weeks after "the big three" in Bill Morneau, Charles Sousa, and John Tory, met to discuss the red-hot housing market, and one week after the Liberals announced their stillborn 16-point plan to create a "fair" housing market, suddenly Home Capital's stock plummets and their deposits are depleted?
Something is missing here, folks
And that is the story behind the story.
Those investors that withdrew deposits last week know something that the rest of us don't. Exactly what they knew, has yet to come to light.
This is why I said at the onset that there is "no story."
Other than a stock dropping, and a run on deposits, there's simply no story, because there's no information.
There's just wild speculation, and round-the-clock coverage on BNN.
And even if we started to play the "what would happen if Home Trust failed" game, would the bears still be calling for the market to crash?
Make no mistake, Home Trust has a "good book" on their hands. Their book of loans is great, it has a high rate of return, and it would be hugely in demand.
On Tuesday, Andrew Moor, the CEO of Equitable Bank (one of Home Trust's competitors) said that he was "not interested" in Home Trust's book of mortgages. Well what the hell is he going to say? "We hope they fail so we can pick up their massive book of high-interest mortgages?"
This is the story that's being created out there, folks. When you ask somebody a question they can't provide the real answer to, and they say the opposite of what they would otherwise say, can you really draw conclusions from that?
If Home Trust went under, the other alternative lenders would be lined up to buy their book of business.
However, and I'm now into the "wild speculation" department, if Home Trust went under, I think the government would step in and allow the Big-5 banks some leeway with lending regulations, so that they could take on the $16 Billion in mortgages that Home Trust currently has.
Don't forget, the Big-5 banks used to be in this lending space.
It was through government regulation that they were forced out, which created a need for alternative lenders like Home Trust in the first place.
And I'm sure if the Big-5 had their druther, they'd be lending in the alternative space, where the returns are much higher.
Now it's important here, once again, to remember that "alternative" is not a scary word.
These returns are high, but these are not high-ratio, they are not sub-prime, and they are not dangerous.
This is not USA, circa 2008.
This is about liquidity, not delinquency.
And it's becoming increasingly popular to draw an exceptionally inaccurate connection between "the US banking crisis" and "Home Trust."
One scandal/crisis/story does not equal another, automatically, because you want it to.
And the more that is written on Home Trust and Home Capital Group, the more speculation that enters the media (especially social media), the more the real estate bears and/or the uninformed masses are creating a connection where there isn't one.
So for all the folks that want a housing crash, or decline, or drop, or cooling, or leveling off – this isn't it.
Call me a real estate cheerleader. Call me an eternal optimist.
But until we know why investors pulled their deposits from Home Capital Group, there's no story here.
I haven't had a single buyer or seller client ask me about this, and in the media interviews I've done so far this week, all the columnists and interviewers have agreed with me.
The real estate market in Toronto may, in fact, one day, decline.
But that day isn't today.
And as much as you want it to be, and as much as you want to use Home Capital as the catalyst, that day won't be tomorrow either…
The post What's The Fuss About Home Capital? appeared first on Toronto Real Estate Property Sales & Investments | Toronto Realty Blog by David Fleming.
This post first appeared on TorontoRealtyblog.com | Toronto Real Estate, please read the originial post: here