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This Economic Indicator Is Proving the Naysayers Wrong
Flying in the face of negative economic news, U.S. factories picked up steam for the third straight month in November. The preliminary PMI, a leading indicator we closely track here at U.S. Global Investors, pulled further away from its August low with a reading of 52.2 this month.
By Frank Holmes
CEO and Chief Investment Officer
U.S. Global Investors
Flying in the face of negative economic news, U.S. factories picked up steam for the third straight month in November. The preliminary manufacturing purchasing manager's index (PMI), a leading indicator we closely track here at U.S. Global Investors, pulled further away from its August low with a reading of 52.2 this month. That's up from 51.3 in October and marks a seven-month high.
Remember, investors are better served when they follow the trend lines, not the headlines.
A raft of economic reports on Friday welcomed the turnaround:
Chris Williamson, chief economist at IHS Markit—which releases the monthly PMI—wrote that the November reading "adds to evidence that the worst of the economy's recent soft patch may be behind us."
Responding to the manufacturing uptrend, Renaissance Macro's head of economics, Neil Dutta, urged investors to "look for construction activity to rise."
"Today's improvement," wrote Cornerstone Macro's Nancy Lazar, "shows U.S. manufacturing is recovering as trade uncertainty recedes."
Finally, Stan Shipley at Evercore ISI said that today's improved PMI and consumer sentiment releases "suggest solid employment and consumer spending will pull the manufacturing sector higher rather than the manufacturing sector dragging the overall economy lower."
Taken together, this is all very constructive not just for manufacturers but also exporters, container shipping companies and cargo airlines, not to mention the energy, materials and financial sectors.
The Boeing Co., for instance, announced a bump in orders for its still-grounded 737 MAX aircraft. Following this year's Dubai Airshow, the world's largest aerospace event, Boeing reported that Kazakhstan's Air Astana had committed itself to as many as 30 MAX jets, while an undisclosed buyer ordered 20. This comes after SunExpress, a Turkish leisure carrier, purchased 10, bringing the total value of MAX sales to $7.5 billion.
Negative headlines may get the clicks, but savvy investors who can look past those headlines and follow the money often get the rewards.
Global Debt Expected to Hit a New Record Amount
Although the PMI report is encouraging, there's still reason to remain somewhat cautious long-term. The latest accounting of global debt levels was just released, and the news might be so bad that it's good—for gold prices, at least.
After climbing above $250 trillion in the first half of 2019, the amount of debt that's owed by governments, the financial sector and non-financial sector is now forecast to touch a record $255 trillion by year's end, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of International Finance (IIF).
Says IIF economists, this mind-boggling sum is the equivalent of 320 percent of total global economic activity—the highest level ever.
To put it another way, for every $1 that's produced today, an additional $3.20 in debt is created and thrown atop the heap. I shouldn't need to say it, but I will anyway: This is unsustainable.
As economist Martin Murenbeeld writes in his most recent Gold Monitor newsletter, "rising global debt levels is one of our most important medium/long-term factors in the gold outlook."
That's because debt "inhibits growth," Murenbeeld says, "and high debt levels will, when central banks are committed to targeting maximum employment and stable inflation, limit central banks' policy options to 'loose' or 'very loose.'"
"All this will be very positive for gold, of course!" he adds.
$7 Trillion in Unfunded U.S. Pension Liabilities
Here in the U.S., national debt hit an unimaginable $23 trillion on October 31—Halloween Day, of all days. That's roughly 107 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), or nearly double its share of the economy from 2000.
This data comes from U.S. National Debt Clock, which I highly recommend you visit if you haven't already done so. It's an invaluable tool.
What I find particularly eye-opening is the amount of unfunded public pension liabilities. They're currently closing in on $7 trillion—the equivalent of $20,700 per U.S. citizen. An unfunded pension is any retirement plan for which sufficient assets have not been set aside, and as Murenbeeld points out, such obligations inhibit economic growth. The greater they become, the more tax revenues must go not toward infrastructure, education and other public benefits but to fixed costs.
It should come as no surprise to you that the U.S. city facing the biggest shortfall at the moment is Chicago, Illinois. About a third of the Windy City's budget is earmarked for pension payments alone, and when you combine other obligations such as debt service and "other postemployment benefits" (OPEBs), fixed costs amount to 45 percent of expenditures.
Time to Replace Bonds? WGC Says: "Maybe"
My reason for sharing this with you is that, again, higher debt levels have put tremendous pressure on the Federal Reserve (and central banks in general) to keep monetary policy "loose" or "very loose." In turn, bond yields have been unremarkable lately, to say the least.
Case in point: The nominal 10-year Treasury yield was trading at just under 1.8 percent today—which, coincidentally, is the annual rate of U.S. inflation, according to the Department of Labor's October report.
What this means is that the real yield on the 10-year T-note is a big fat 0 percent.
And when this happens, according to the World Gold Council (WGC), "it may be time to replace bonds with gold."
"Re-optimizing portfolio structures for lower future expected bond returns suggests investors should consider an additional 1 percent to 1.5 percent gold exposure in diversified portfolios," the WGC writes in a report dated October 30. The London-based group adds that "extremely low or negative yielding bonds could weigh on the overall performance" of investors' portfolios," which favors "additional gold exposure."
Gold Is on Sale, "Creating Room for Further Gains"
This week gold continued to trade below its 50-day and 100-day moving averages as investors seem to be waiting for the next catalyst, whether that's Fed policy, movements in the U.S. dollar or developments in the U.S.-China trade war.
In a note to investors this week, UBS strategist Joni Teves says she sees the pause in gold prices as an opportunity for investors.
"We think the ongoing consolidation in the market is healthy, creating room for further gains, and likely also easing some of the persistent concerns on positioning," Joni writes. "We would view this as an opportunity to gradually re-engage at better levels, especially as investors look to the year ahead, with uncertainty likely to persist and rates likely to stay low."
She concludes by saying that gold could trade at $1,600 an ounce next year, with a "pit stop at $1,550 over the next three months."
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Gold Market
This week spot gold closed at $1,461.60, down $6.70 per ounce, or 0.46 percent. Gold stocks, as measured by the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, ended the week lower by 0.40 percent. The S&P/TSX Venture Index came in up 0.27 percent. The U.S. Trade-Weighted Dollar rose 0.28 percent
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- The best performing precious metal this week was palladium, up 3.85 percent. Shipments of palladium from Switzerland to Hong Kong rose to a five-year high in October. In the weekly Bloomberg survey of gold traders and analysts, most respondents were surprisingly bullish on the yellow metal for next week, expecting further tension between the U.S. and China over Hong Kong. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic told reporters this week that it has the largest amount of gold in Serbia's history and that it will continue to buy gold based on the direction the crisis in the world is moving.
- The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's GDPNow tracking estimate for the fourth quarter was cut to an annualized 0.3 percent gain, which could breathe new life into gold, writes Bloomberg's Joseph Richter. Gold can often move in the opposite direction of the market.
- Alacer Gold reported a 28 percent increase in its resource estimate for the Ardich project after an exploration-drilling program. CEO Rod Antal said the resource of 816,000 ounces at Ardich "has grown into a significant discovery" and that they expect "the deposit will continue to grow with additional drilling."
- The worst performing precious metal this week was gold, down 0.46 percent. Turkey's gold reserves fell 941,000 ounces to 17.3 million in the week of November 15 – the largest drop in 14 months. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. is working to resume operations at its Siguiri mine in Guinea after protests forced operations to close for three days, reports Bloomberg. A company spokesman for AngloGold says that talks with community leaders who are demanding a tar road be extended to their village have been productive.
- Citigroup cut its three-month gold price target to $1,485 from $1,575 an ounce. According to the note, they are still bullish saying, that they "remain bullish bullion in the medium-term and still project fresh cyclical highs being breached by 2021." South African gold miner Heaven-Sent Gold Group Co. has cancelled its Hong Kong IPO due to unfavorable market conditions, according to Reuters TFR. The company, which owns two mines in South Africa, would have been the first gold miner to be listed in Hong Kong in more than a year.
- Sibanye Gold announced that it has ended its membership in the World Platinum Investment Council – a big move as Sibanye is one of the largest platinum producers. The council's focus is on stimulating demand; however, Sibanye says that it should consider a basket of platinum-group metals, not just one.
- UBS says that gold will outperform cyclical commodities in 2020 and that political uncertainty could send safe haven flows into the metal. In a report led by Mark Haefele, UBS says "muted economic growth and now lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding gold." The report adds that since gold is priced in U.S. dollars, a weaker dollar could push gold prices higher, reports Bloomberg. A report from Norilsk Nickel says that global palladium demand is expected to increase 4 percent next year compared with 1 percent in 2019. According to the Union of Gold Producers in Russia, Russian gold production is expected to increase 6 percent to 350 tons in 2019.
- Silver's gains are surpassing those of gold for a second straight week. The gold-to-silver ratio is still historically high, but is down from the 26-year record high in July, according to Bloomberg data. Commerzbank AG analyst Daniel Briesmann says that "from this point of view, silver seems to be too cheap and undervalued." Barrick Gold announced that it has agreed to sell its entire stake in Australia's Kalgoorlie Mine for $750 million – a big move toward selling non-core assets to raise more than $1.5 billion by the end of 2020. The stake was purchased by Saracen Mineral, which already owns two operations in the same region. CEO Mark Bristow of Barrick says that "the sale allows us to further focus our portfolio on core operations."
- K92 announced strong drill results from its Kainantu gold mine in Papua New Guinea. The company recorded a drill hole of 288.73 grams per ton of gold and another hole of 107.55 grams per ton of gold. TriStar Gold also reported strong drilling results from its Castelo de Sonhos gold project in Brazil, including 24 meters at 1.1 grams per ton from 95 to 119 meters.
- Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associations has bet more than $1 billion that stock markets will fall by March, according to people familiar with the matter. The Wall Street Journal reports that there has been a surge in put options outstanding tied to the S&P 500 index, hitting the highest level in more than four years. This is a sign that more investors are becoming increasingly bearish on the market, especially ahead of the 2020 presidential elections.
- The world's wealthiest investors are becoming more rattled and are looking for traditional security in the form of highly secured vaults. IBV International Vaults is opening its sixth location, this one in London, where the company will offer apartment-sized spaces for securing valuables. Swiss Gold Safe says it has seen extraordinary demand for safe-deposit boxes since it started offering them in 2015. Sincona Trading AG, a precious metals dealer in Zurich, said it had many empty safety deposit boxes three years ago, but now they are renting about five a day and will soon be full.
- According to Research Affiliates, value stocks are trailing growth at a rate that falls within the worst decile in history. The disparity between the two has only been larger twice before – during the global financial crisis and for more than a year at the peak of the dot-com bubble. Rob Arnott, co-founder of the firm, says that although value stocks have been frustrating investors for a decade, now is the wrong time to bail on them. Most gold stocks would be considered value stocks at current prices, while exploration and development companies border on deep value.
Index Summary
- The major market indices finished down this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.46 percent. The S&P 500 Stock Index fell 0.33 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.25 percent. The Russell 2000 small capitalization index lost 0.47 percent this week.
- The Hang Seng Composite gained 0.95 percent this week; while Taiwan was up 0.36 percent and the KOSPI fell 2.79 percent.
- The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 6 basis points to 1.773 percent.
Domestic Equity Market
- Health care was the best performing sector of the week, increasing by 0.81 percent versus an overall decrease of 0.33 percent for the S&P 500.
- Target Corp was the best performing S&P 500 stock for the week, increasing 12.20 percent.
- The Buckle's shares surged Friday after the clothing and accessories retailer's fiscal-third quarter results beat expectations, driven by strong comparable-store sales growth. Buckle said revenue in the quarter ended November 2 rose to $224.1 million from $215.1 million in the prior year period. Shares of Buckle rose more than 17 percent in Friday trading, heading to the highest level since August of last year.
- Materials was the worst performing sector for the week, decreasing by 1.69 percent versus an overall decrease of 0.33 percent for the S&P 500.
- Kohls Corp was the worst performing S&P 500 stock for the week, falling 20.45 percent.
- Pure Storage shares tumbled on Friday after the cloud-computing company gave a revenue outlook that was weaker than expected, with the results "pressured by pricing, again," in the words of Morgan Stanley. Shares sank 20 percent and erased much of a recent gain. The sell-off represented the second time in the past three quarters when shares have greeted an earnings release with a pronounced decline.
- The launch of Apple TV+, coupled with Apple's foray into digital services, could help the company increase its income from advertising by more than fivefold to $11 billion annually within the next six years. Analysts at JP Morgan say the company had the potential to raise revenue by a third every year, from an estimated $2 billion currently to $11 billion in 2025.
- Hibbett Sports shares surged in Friday trading after boosting its full-year forecast following better-than-expected third-quarter results. The company increased their full-year earnings per share range from $2.15 – $2.32 to $2.30 – $2.50.
- Cloud-based communications specialist Ooma reported earnings on Thursday night, covering the third quarter of fiscal year 2020. The company exceeded analyst expectations across the board and reported a small profit where Wall Street was expecting a loss. Investors loved these strong figures, sending share prices 24 percent higher by the end of Thursday's extended trading session.
- Foot Locker cut its full-year comparable sales view on its quarterly earnings call. The company now sees comps up in low-single digits versus mid-single digit growth in August. The stock fell as much as 6.9 percent as the market opened.
- Marcus Corp. and Cinemark Holdings were cut at B. Riley FBR Friday as analyst Eric Wold projected "flattish" fourth quarter box office results and said he sees valuation for the movie theater operators pressured by box office trends until mid-2020.
- Venator Materials dropped as much as 8.1 percent, the most since October, after UBS analyst Joshua Spector cut the stock to neutral from buy, with a price target of $3.75, seeing a more balanced risk/reward.
The Economy and Bond Market
- Consumer sentiment unexpectedly rose in November, according to data released Friday by the University of Michigan. The university's index of consumer sentiment climbed to 96.8 from 95.5 last month. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected consumer sentiment to dip to 94.9 for November.
- IHS Markit said its U.S. flash manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 52.2 in November from 51.3 in October. This is the fastest rate since April. Meanwhile the U.S. flash services PMI in November rose to 51.6 from 50.6. This is the quickest expansion since July. "A welcome upturn in the headline index from the flash PMI adds to evidence that the worst of the economy's recent soft patch may be behind us," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.
- U.S. home sales increased more than expected in October and house prices rose at the fastest pace in more than two years amid lower mortgage rates and a shortage of properties for sale. The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday that existing home sales rose 1.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.46 million units last month.
- A mixed bag of retail sales figures and weak factory numbers in the U.S. helped push a closely-watched gauge of economic surprises back into negative territory. The index from Citigroup Inc. — which falls when data prove worse than forecast – dropped below zero on Friday for the first time since early September. Renewed caution over the resilience of the U.S. economy has weighed on benchmark Treasury yields, which retreated to 1.83 percent last week after an early November surge brought them close to 2 percent.
- The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. declined 0.1 percent in October to 111.7, following a 0.2 percent decline in both September and August. "The U.S. LEI declined for a third consecutive month, and its six-month growth rate turned negative for the first time since May 2016. The decline was driven by weaknesses in new orders for manufacturing, average weekly hours, and unemployment insurance claims," said Ataman Ozyildirim, Senior Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board.
- The number of people who applied for jobless benefits clung to a five-month high in mid-November, likely reflecting seasonal swings in employment just before the start of the holiday season.
- The monthly home price index and the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite are both out next Tuesday along with new home sales. Pending home sales will follow on Wednesday. With some signs of a pickup in the housing market, better-than-expected numbers next week would signal that the Federal Reserve's three rate cuts are starting to lift the sector, taking some of the pressure off policymakers to lower rates further.
- The Conference Board's consumer confidence gauge is due on Tuesday and the Personal Income and Outlays report is out on Wednesday. The consumer confidence index is forecast to edge up 0.9 points to 126.8 in November, holding within its recent range.
- On Monday the Ifo Business Climate index will be out of Germany. Recent business surveys for Germany and the Eurozone have provided some indication that the worst of the downturn may be over in the euro bloc, though they also suggest that a convincing rebound is far from near. Still, any further signs that growth is bottoming out could bolster sentiment.
- The second estimate of U.S. GDP growth in the third quarter is scheduled for release on Wednesday. A relatively weak preliminary reading of 1.9 percent annualized growth is expected.
- October durable goods orders will be released Wednesday and are forecast to show a deceleration of -0.7 percent.
- What may jolt investors more than data are new developments on the trade front. The latest press reports suggest U.S. and Chinese negotiators have hit a stumbling block on the issue of rolling back existing tariffs but that an agreement is still within reach. Resistance by the Trump administration to give ground on removing some of the tariffs already in place could spoil a deal and throw markets into fresh turmoil so investors will remain highly sensitive to the flashing headlines.
Energy and Natural Resources Market
- The best performing major commodity for the week was coffee, which gained 5.47 percent on expectations of the market tightening, maybe shifting to a deficit, due to shrinking supplies from Brazil.
- Crude oil climbed to a nine-week high on Thursday after China signaled a renewed desire to resolve the trade war with the U.S. Although oil prices then fell on Friday morning, it still had a third straight weekly gain. The weekly Bloomberg survey found that analysts and traders were overall neutral on WTI crude futures for next week.
- Nickel prices have steadied after falling into a bear market, according to Citigroup analysts, as prices could climb in 2020 amid expectations of a deficit in the refined market. Major nickel producer Norilsk Nickel says it expects global demand to rise 5 percent in 2020, compared to 4 percent this year. However, the supply-demand deficit is set to shrink to 28,000 tons next year compared with 67,000 tons in 2019.
- The worst performing major commodity for the week was zinc, which fell 3.84 percent alongside other base and industrial metals. Chilean-based SQM, the world's second largest lithium producer, expects prices for the metal to continue falling this quarter and through 2020. Bloomberg reports it is a big reversal from the company saying just two months ago that it was optimistic on lithium prices. SQM missed the lowest estimates for net income and revenue in the third quarter due to falling metal prices and lower sales volume.
- Copper production in China is hitting record highs even as the trade war drags on. Smelters produced 868,000 tons in October, topping the high set in December 2017 and up 17.9 percent on a daily basis from a year earlier, reports Bloomberg. China's copper smelting fees have fallen to their lowest since 2011 and could indicate tighter supply. The weekly Bloomberg survey of copper traders and analysts found that they were split on outlook for prices due to conflicting signals on the prospects of a trade war deal. Bloomberg's Eddie van der Walt writes that copper prices display more skepticism about the fate of the global trade war than equities do. Copper rallied more than 13 percent early this year on hopes of a deal, but then talk of a phase one trade deal only saw the metal rise by half as much.
- The long-awaited Saudi Aramco IPO was meant to attract billions of foreign capital to Saudi Arabia, but now it looks as if most of the investment will come from ultra-wealthy Saudis. The company is shunning New York and other international exchanges and won't even market its IPO to American, Canadian, European or Japanese investors, reports Bloomberg. This means that major banks including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley will miss out on fees from the share sale.
- The world's largest lithium-ion battery power station, the Hornsdale site in South Australia operated by French company Neoen SA, will become even bigger due to an investment by Tesla. Neoen announced that the system will be expanded by 50 percent to 150 megawatts. Since installation in 2017, the battery has helped stabilize the area's grid and prevent outages, reports Bloomberg. According to new research, average wind speeds rose 7 percent since 2010 in northern mid-latitude regions, which is excellent news for the wind power industry.
- Talk of a Rio Tinto takeover of Glencore arose again after top Glencore executives visited Australia last week. The Financial Review reports that a merger between the two mining giants would create huge opportunities for synergies and could help Glencore rise to the strong operational record of Rio. Glencore's CEO Ivan Glasenberg has advocated that there would be a positive trade off from Rio cutting its annual iron ore production by 30 million tonnes because it would boost prices significantly.
- Bloomberg Law reports that, starting next year, builders in California's Marin County will have to use concrete with low greenhouse gas emissions when developing public and private structures. This is the nation's first such ordinance to tackle the reduction of pollution from concrete, as many building standards have tackled other issues such as greener wiring, lighting and power. According to Chatham House, the manufacturing of cement accounts for 8 percent of worldwide man-made carbon dioxide emissions.
- The $146 billion lubricants industry is at risk of becoming obsolete due to the rise of electric vehicles. Carmakers are switching to battery-powered vehicles that use less grease than combustion vehicles. Bloomberg reports that demand is expected to decline from 2025 and lubricant makers are wary of Eastman Kodak's demise when it failed to grasp the potential of digital cameras.
- According to the Production Gap Report backed by the U.N., natural gas, oil and coal supplies in 2030 are set to be more than double the levels consistent with limiting global warning to 1.5 degrees Celsius as set in the Paris Agreement. Michael Lazarus, lead author of the report, says that "this report shows, for the first time, just how big the disconnect is between Paris temperature goals and countries' plans and policies for coal, oil and gas production." According to Global Energy Monitor, China has almost 148 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity under active construction or likely to be resumed – almost equivalent to the 150 gigawatts of existing coal fleet capacity in the entire EU.
- The outlook for American shale producers continues to worsen. Bloomberg Reports that Laredo Petroleum Inc. and Oasis Petroleum Inc. are among at least six producers whose ability to secure short-term loans against their oil and natural gas reserves have dropped by 10 percent or more. At least 15 producers have filed for bankruptcy this year and market values are down at least 21 percent so far in 2019.
Emerging Europe
- Hungary was the best performing country this week, gaining 1.5 percent. The central bank kept its rates unchanged at a record low level despite the Hungarian forint weakening and core inflation moving higher. Hungary is the fastest growing economy in central Europe with GDP growing at 5 percent.
- The Turkish lira was the best performing currency this week, gaining 60 basis points. Stronger economic data supported the lira in the past five days. Consumer confidence improved in the month of November and foreigners' net bond and stock investments are on the rise.
- Health care was the best performing sector among eastern European markets this week.
- Poland was the worst performing country this week, losing 1.5 percent. Some polish state-controlled equites trading on the Warsaw exchange were under pressure this week after the government confirmed its move to go ahead with the long planned $60 billion nuclear power plant project. The scale of the project may be a burden for utilities and some companies might be asked to help finance the project. The financing details will be set over next few months.
- The Polish zloty was the worst performing currency in the region this week, losing 80 basis points. Domestic political noise put pressure on the currency. There is some reshuffling in the government after last month's parliamentary elections.
- Consumer staples was the worst performing sector among eastern European markets this week.
- Minutes from the last ECB's meeting under Mario Draghi revealed that he called for more unity among members and signaled readiness to use full sets of instruments to support the euro economy. Activity data released since the October meeting has been improving. GDP growth was 0.2 percent for the EU in the third quarter, above the ECB forecast of 0.1 percent, largely driven by expansion in Germany. Preliminary November manufacturing PMI data released on Friday came out stronger as well, indicating a possible turnaround.
- According to the central bank's chief forecaster in Poland, Piotr Szpunar, the nation's economy will not be derailed by a global slowdown or smaller inflows of cash from the European Union. Growth in Poland will slow down from 4.3 percent to 3.3 percent next year; however, it will remain one of the strongest in central Europe supported by an increase in social spending and a minimum wage hike boosting consumption. Moreover, despite the record low unemployment, Poland still has the EU's fifth's cheapest hourly costs.
- The Cornerstone Macro research team predicts Germany GDP to increase to 1 percent year-over-year by the fourth quarter of 2020. They also believe that the sentiment is too depressed and will improve as auto production is stabilizing, the inventory drag is ending, a U.S.-China trade truce is approach and Brexit is likely to be soft.
- Morgan Stanley in "Moscow talks" wrote that the number of delinquencies of loans among Russian consumers increased year-to-date by 4 percent. According to the study conducted by the professional collector association, one in four borrowers of Russian banks has delinquencies of their loans that exceed three months.
- Moody's cuts its German banking outlook to negative from stable amid weaker profitability. It expects banks' profitability and overall creditworthiness to weaken over the next 12 to 18 months amid the low interest rate environment. It sees traditional commercial banks, and in particular deposit-funding institutions, to struggle to out-earn their costs, even though loan-loss provisions are unsustainably low. On the positive side, it noted that debt repayment capacity of borrowers will remain high amid low rates, a strong labor market and buoyant domestic demand.
- Equites trading on the Istanbul exchanged moved higher, supported by stronger economic data. However, domestic political noise increased in the past few days. Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition party (HDP) called on Wednesday for an early election, but ruled out withdrawing from the parliament to protest the government dismissal of HDP's majors mainly due to links to terrorism. HDP is the only party in the parliament which opposed Turkish incursion into northern Syria on October 9.
China Region
- The best performing index in the region was Hong Kong's Hang Seng Composite Index, which bounced up by 95 basis points following a tough week last week.
- Information Technology was the top performer the Hang Seng Composite on the week, climbing 2.74 percent.
- China's October reading on year-over-year FDI rose to 7.4 percent, up from the prior reading of 3.8 percent.
- The worst performing indices in the region were Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh Stock Index, which fell by 3.18 percent, and China's Shanghai Composite, which declined by 2.79 percent.
- Energy was the worst performing sector in the HSCI on the week, falling 34 basis points in that time.
- Thailand's year-over-year third quarter GDP reading came in at 2.4 percent, shy of expectations for a 2.7 percent reading, but still up mildly from the prior reading of 2.3 percent.
- A Phase One U.S.-China trade deal remains an opportunity, with the latest updates on the week being that the U.S. and China are reportedly "close," according to President Trump, and that China would "like" to make a deal, but that Hong Kong appears to be increasingly problematic. Markets still appear to remain reasonably optimistic that a deal of some kind is more likely than not, and given that the two sides remain in close conversation with invitations for further talks on the table and a December 15 deadline incentivizing serious discussion, perhaps no "big" news is good news for the moment.
- After nearly 10 years of talks, the European Union and Singapore have formally completed their free trade agreement this week. Bloomberg News reports that the EU is Singapore's third-largest goods trading partner, while Singapore is the EU's largest goods trading partner within ASEAN.
- Alibaba raised some $11 billion from its new Hong Kong listing, despite the hullabaloo around the troubled city and amid ongoing protests. The Chinese ecommerce and tech juggernaut, flush with cash, may well be the first of several U.S.-listed ADRs from China that could seek an eventual listing in HK, especially if U.S. political pressure and rhetoric develops into actual economic restrictions or threats of such on portfolio flows into said ADRs. Alibaba's listing also, of course, gives it a larger war chest and edge in assessing other opportunities and supporting its existing ventures.
- In keeping with this section's views, we once again reiterate that trade war escalation must remain a threat until it isn't. While there remains a degree of optimism in the U.S.-China trade tiff at the moment and while the two sides are engaged in reportedly constructive talks, there remain a number of sturdy sticking points, even for what is supposedly on the table around "Phase One." Agricultural purchases and their speed and scope seem to loom as large as ever, and while supposedly the two sides are going "retro" and reaching back toward the near-agreement of May when there was reportedly some sort of consensus, the thorny issues of whether and how tariffs can be rolled back—whether roll-backs might be "earned" according to progress, etc., or whether a deal might simply hold off new tariffs—still complicate matters (so far as we know). And of course, there is the matter of Hong Kong…
- The situation in Hong Kong continues to remain a thorny one as well, with elections in the special administrative region looming tomorrow amid ongoing threats of protests or possible disruptions. Carrie Lam's government is attempting to reinstitute the ban on masks heading into the elections. U.S. President Donald Trump has come out and said that China would like to roll in to Hong Kong, and Congress did pass S. 1838 this week, sending the bill to President Trump's desk and ramping up pressure all around. President Trump has said he "stands" with Hong Kong, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Carrie Lam to permit an independent probe into the protest incidents, saying the U.S. is "gravely concerned" with the rising violence in the city. Protestors holed up in Hong Kong Polytechnic University remain in a stand-off situation heading into the weekend, and riot police are expected to guard poll booths at the upcoming elections.
- The U.S. dollar strengthened again on Friday, taking back much of last week's decline. A rising dollar could pressure emerging market assets, and although the dollar remains off its highs, still at this point nonetheless remains worth watching carefully.
Blockchain and Digital Currencies
- Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the best performing for the week ended November 22 was MMOCoin, up over 9,000 percent.
- Grayscale Investments is filing to register its Bitcoin Trust as a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting company, writes CoinDesk. If the Form 10 filing is deemed effective by the U.S. regulator, the trust's shares would be registered under the Exchange Act of 1934, the article explains, potentially making it the first cryptocurrency investment vehicle to become a reporting company.
- Despite a sell-off in cryptocurrencies, Bloomberg reports that at least one technical indicator is "painting a brighter picture." The Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index, which tracks a basket of the largest digital assets, is nearing its lower limit, the article explains, potentially signaling that selling pressure may dissipate and a short-term rally could ensue.
- Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the worst performing for the week ended November 22 was ETHplode, down 48.89 percent. CNBC reported that a bipartisan team of senators introdocued a bill that would make Facebook's libra a security under the law. Facebook has insisted that the libra is a digital payments system. Being classified as a security will likely draw increased regulation and scrutinity to the project.
- A handful of technical indicators are pointing to further pain ahead for bitcoin, reports Bloomberg, as the coin's recent sell-off accelerates. On Monday, the price tested the key level of $8,000 as the price dropped as much as 5 percent. In addition, bitcoin bounced off its 200-day moving average line, the article continues, a drop below it could trigger a sell signal.
- Top crypto exchange Binance has made a move into India's huge cryptocurrency market (although slightly troubled), with the acquisition of the WazirX exchange platform, reports CoinDesk. To get around the banking issues, Binance launched Indian rupees on its Binance Fiat Gateway in recent weeks. "The acquisition of WazirX shows our commitment and dedication to the Indian people and strengthen the blockchain ecoysystem in India as well as another step forward in achieving the freedom of money," said CEO Changpeng Zhao.
- Michael Novogratz's Galaxy Digital Holding Ltd. is starting two bitcoin funds for accredited and institutional investors, writes Bloomberg, with a demographic profile that hits close to home. In a phone interview, Novogratz explained that the funds will target the "wealth of America," or more specifically, people between 50 and 80 who may have stayed largely on the sidelines of cryptocurrency investing.
- The first blockchain-based airline tickets were issued this week. German airline Hahn Air flew passengers with blockchain-powered tickets on a routine flight between Dusseldoft and Luzemborg, reports Retuers. The airline partnered with Winding Tree, an open-source travel distribution platform, to issue the tickets. Hahn Air head of corporate strategy and government and industry affairs Jorg Troester said "it is important to look into the future to understand how can we make distribution faster."
- According to CCN.com, Singapore's central bank could soon authorize the trading of derivatives referencing cryptocurrency assets such as bitcoin. The move to license crypto derivatives stems from a demand for well-regulated crypto derivative products, per the central bank.
- According to CoinDesk, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is focusing on potential illicit activities facilitated by bitcoin ATMs and cryptocurrency kiosks, specifically their potential for tax evasion or money laundering. John Fort, the IRS' criminal investigation chief, commented that generally, U.S. operators provide know-your-customer and anti-money laundering verifications of users as required by law. However, "we believe some have varying levels of adherence to those regulations," Fort said.
- Maksim Zaslavskiy's two fraudulent investment schemes, primarily taking place during the 2017 ICO boom, has landed the Brooklyn businessman in federal prison for 18 months for conspiring to commit securities fraud, reports CoinDesk. Zaslavskiy sold investors asset-backed tokens for two companies, however the underlying assets of the tokens did not exist.
- On Wednesday, well-known statistician and analyst Willy Woo delivered his latest analysis on what's next for the price of bitcoin. The price of BTC has almost reached its bottom for 2019, Woo explained, but the threat still remains for markets to hit $4,500. As reported by CoinTelegraph, Woo and trader Tone Vays say this cycle could see a drop of around 71 precent versus the highs of $12,800 seen several months ago – putting bitcoin at $4,500 before next May's block reward halving event.
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Holdings may change daily. Holdings are reported as of the most recent quarter-end. The following securities mentioned in the article were held by one or more accounts managed by U.S. Global Investors as of (09/30/2019):
MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC
Alacer Gold Corp
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd
Barrick Gold Corp
K92 Mining Inc
TriStar Gold Inc
The Boeing Co.
*The above-mentioned indices are not total returns. These returns reflect simple appreciation only and do not reflect dividend reinvestment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 blue chip stocks that are generally leaders in their industry. The S&P 500 Stock Index is a widely recognized capitalization-weighted index of 500 common stock prices in U.S. companies. The Nasdaq Composite Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all Nasdaq National Market and SmallCap stocks. The Russell 2000 Index® is a U.S. equity index measuring the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000®, a widely recognized small-cap index. The Hang Seng Composite Index is a market capitalization-weighted index that comprises the top 200 companies listed on Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, based on average market cap for the 12 months. The Taiwan Stock Exchange Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all listed common shares traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Korea Stock Price Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all common shares and preferred shares on the Korean Stock Exchanges. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Gold and Silver Index (XAU) is a capitalization-weighted index that includes the leading companies involved in the mining of gold and silver. The U.S. Trade Weighted Dollar Index provides a general indication of the international value of the U.S. dollar. The S&P/TSX Canadian Gold Capped Sector Index is a modified capitalization-weighted index, whose equity weights are capped 25 percent and index constituents are derived from a subset stock pool of S&P/TSX Composite Index stocks. The S&P 500 Energy Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the energy sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Materials Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the material sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Financials Index is a capitalization-weighted index. The index was developed with a base level of 10 for the 1941-43 base period. The S&P 500 Industrials Index is a Materials Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the industrial sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the consumer discretionary sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Information Technology Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the information technology sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Consumer Staples Index is a Materials Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the consumer staples sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Utilities Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the utilities sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Healthcare Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the healthcare sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 Telecom Index is a Materials Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the telecom sector as a subset of the S&P 500. The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in the mining for gold and silver. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is one of the most widely recognized price measures for tracking the price of a market basket of goods and services purchased by individuals. The weights of components are based on consumer spending patterns. The Purchasing Manager's Index is an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector. The PMI index is based on five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries and the employment environment. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index is a broad market indicator for the Canadian venture capital market. The index is market capitalization weighted and, at its inception, included 531 companies. A quarterly revision process is used to remove companies that comprise less than 0.05% of the weight of the index, and add companies whose weight, when included, will be greater than 0.05% of the index. Gross domestic product (GDP) is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period, though GDP is usually calculated on an annual basis. It includes all of private and public consumption, government outlays, investments and exports less imports that occur within a defined territory.
Bloomberg and Galaxy Digital Capital Management launched the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index (BGCI). The index is designed to measure the performance of the largest cryptocurrencies traded in USD. The BGCI is market capitalization-weighted and includes cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Ripple and Zcash. The Consumer Confidence Survey reflects prevailing business conditions and likely developments for the months ahead. The Conference Board Leading Economic Index is a composite economic index constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data. The Ifo Business Climate Index is a closely followed leading indicator for economic activity in Germany prepared by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, Germany. S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index tracks the value of single-family housing within the United States. The index is a composite of single-family home price indices for the nine U.S. Census divisions. The Vietnam Stock Index or VN-Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all the companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index is a capitalization-weighted index. The index tracks the daily price performance of all A-shares and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
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September 25, 2023


text:
Originally published on bobsguide.
Huge volatility and emerging institutional interest in the cryptocurrency market have made many traders incredibly wealthy, but the dark underbelly rarely discussed is the new wave of crypto trading addiction.
Recently, Castle Craig hospital on the Scottish borders became the first of its kind to offer crypto trading addiction therapy.
"Unlike some forms of gambling, such as horse racing which are, to some extent regulated, and limited by time, the odds and size of stake, cryptocurrency trading can be done 24/7," says Chris Burn, gambling therapist at the hospital.
"It's volatile and the stakes can be very large – indeed I have seen it described as a 'never-ending horse race for high stakes at long odds'. All that is very attractive to compulsive gamblers who tend to seek excitement, escape from reality and the opportunity to repeat the activity exhaustively."
Burn believes crypto trading poses a particularly deadly cocktail for addicts as opposed to other forms of gambling: "from our observations people may begin trading in cryptocurrencies as a leisure activity, very part time, but they become hooked on the activity because of its addictive nature. By this we mean, it is poorly regulated, often poorly understood, but exciting because of the big fluctuations in price that occur."
Further to this, crypto trading addiction, when performed at leisure or in private with easy access, is worsened by the fear of missing out (FOMO), a social compulsion to continue checking and obsessing over crypto trading and the market.
Burn has himself experienced a gambling addiction first hand and speaks candidly about it.
"One day I realised that my large number of maxed-out credit cards totalled a debt of over £100k. The train had hit the buffers and Therapy and Gamblers Anonymous was the next step," says Burn, "happily, I can look back over 30 years recovery, but I still consider myself at risk. Listening to colleagues discussing the latest cryptocurrency mini-bubble yesterday made me decidedly jumpy – the FOMO juices had started running again."
Part of the problem is that an addict might not even be aware of damaging addictive symptoms, particularly when coupled with phone addiction (constant ritual checking) and especially when the user is making large profits.
But Burn says it doesn't have to get that far providing the symptoms are widely recognised:
- Spending a great deal of time on the activity of trading in cryptocurrencies, checking prices and constantly thinking about the activity – so that other occupations such as work, socialising and exercise do not get done.
- Becoming irritable and nervous when not engaged in the activity; sleeping badly because of thinking about it.
- Debts and financial problems
- Lying to friends and family or justifying one's activities/problems
- Mood swings, feelings of hopelessness and depression
- Anxiety, leading to physical symptoms such as sweating and tremors
- Unrealistic views such as being 'lucky', chasing losses
- Attempting to control the activity without success.
Castle Craig has offered a Gambling Addiction programme for many years which has treated people for all forms of day trading and spread betting addictions.
Their treatment combines the Twelve Step recovery programme of personal change through self discovery, honest recognition of the problem and the need for help. Patients take personal responsibility for their recovery and share their experience in therapy groups and individual counselling.
In addition, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is used whereby patients face reality and learn practical measures to effect changes and learn new habits.
Further insight into their treatment programme can be gained from their dedicated page about cryptocurrency addiction.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Here's a perfect example of social media marketing:
An IKEA in England decided to let 100 cats roam the store overnight. And then they filmed it … and the results are astonishing:
The whole key: do something interesting! Do something different! Do something remarkable … literally remark-able! Do something that no-one else is doing.
If you're boring … no-one cares, and you can't do any effective social media marketing. In fact, you'll be hard pressed to do any effective marketing at all.


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Prince Gideon Layukona kaMyayisa Zulu of KwaMinya Manzi was born on 1 January 1934. He was the KwaZulu-Natal Social Welfare and Pensions MEC. As a politician he was closely tied to the Inkatha Freedom Party and its leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. He passed away on 16 May 2006 from a cancer-related illness.
Zukile Majova reported on his life on IOL, saying that 'He was a Zulu traditionalist and a historian of the Zulu royal bloodline … When on a public platform, Zulu always ensured that he invoked warrior pride among his Zulu audience, and this would often see regiments, clad in traditional Zulu garb, jumping up from their seats armed with shields and assegais (spears) in mock battle formations.'
IOL. 2006. Prince Gideon Zulu. Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/ifp-stalwart-prince-gideon-zulu-dies-277952.


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How to find a job in Memphis
After completing the PCD program at HopeWorks, you'll feel prepared and capable to hold a job. But working is the easy part – getting a job is the challenge! The job hunting process is rarely easy no matter who you are. So, we've put together a few steps that can help you during your job search.
Visit HopeWorks. In our Personal and Career Development classes, we offer instruction on how to find and keep a job. We also provide the opportunity for our students to work up to 80 internship hours under a community employer.
Decide what job is right for you. Make a list of your skills and think about jobs where you can use those skills. Also, list your limitations. If you don't have a vehicle, you'll need to keep that in mind when considering jobs that might take you off a bus route.
Create a resume. Compile your prior job experience, skills, education and character attributes into a list, and get some help formatting them into a resume template. We can help you at HopeWorks, or you can use the online resources available at your local public library.
Find job opportunities. Looking online is a great place to start. There are a variety of websites that contain job listings in your area, such as Ladders, Zip Recruiter and LinkedIn. However, don't underestimate face-to-face searching either. Career and job fairs are great places to start. Even if you don't come up with any leads, it's a great chance to network, which could turn into a connection down the line. Try going to state or federal employment offices, or even knocking on the door of places of employment with a resume in hand. You'll never know if you don't try!
Apply. Once you find a job that seems like the right fit for you, go through their application process and, if necessary, begin preparing for an interview.
The job search process is difficult. It requires a lot of effort and sometimes takes time to yield results. Rejection happens, but it's important that you do not get discouraged. If you give it time, keep going and remain positive, you'll be surprised at what might turn up.


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This week, Robert DeFelice, Ben Williams, and Jordan Chaffiotte will be giving their thoughts on WWE Extreme Rules 2019!
It's the most dangerous night of the year. There will be a lot on the line, especially everyone's careers. It's Extreme Rules. What match will steal the show? Let's discuss…
Question 1: Do you feel Samoa Joe has a chance to leave Extreme Rules as the WWE Champion?
WILLIAMS: Definitely not. Whilst Samoa Joe is an incredibly gifted performer in every sense of the word, WWE already refused to allow him to become WWE champion a year ago against an incredibly stale champion in AJ Styles. On top of that, not only is Joe a Raw superstar, he only recently dropped his United States title to Ricochet a matter of weeks ago. While I for one would love to see Samoa Joe as WWE champion, I just can't see WWE having more belief in an injury-prone veteran over a red hot star in Kofi Kingston.
CHAFFIOTTE: Absolutely. Joe has proven time and time again he's the real deal. If anything, facing off against Kofi Kingston may be his best shot at the world title. Kofi is a competitor driven by emotion. He's fueled by a career of being second best and overlooked. It's worked for him this far, but it's dangerous. Any shmuck can manipulate that passion and force him to make a mistake. Samoa Joe is no shmuck. He knows what he's doing and I think he knows exactly how to get under the skin of Kofi Kingston. If he can weaponize that raw emotion against Kingston, he will walk out as WWE Champion.
DEFELICE: Samoa Joe never wins the big one. I don't see that changing here.
Question 2: Have you enjoyed WWE turning the real-life relationship between Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins into a storyline? How do you think this story will end?
DeFELICE: This on-screen pairing is odd. They don't seem to have much chemistry and it seems to be weighing down on Seth Rollins in particular.
CHAFFIOTTE: I have, and for one very simple reason: because they are clearly enjoying it. The two are having a grand old time and from all accounts are in control creatively. This storyline is nothing other than what they want it to be. For what it is, I think it has its hits and its misses, just like anything else. They might still be finding the sweet spot of leaning in but not too far. Sometimes they take a joke a little too far and need to learn when to stop selling. Personally, I'd like it a bit more if they relied more on subtext than coming out and hitting us over the head with it. Still, I don't understand how anyone can look at them and not see two people who are completely in love. The world is a depressing place, let's enjoy the light where we can find it.
That said, I don't think it's going to last much longer, certainly not with them losing the titles at Extreme Rules. Instead, I see them beating Lacy Evans and Baron Corbin, having one last celebration in the ring and then moving to the periphery of each other's programs. They won't disappear completely, WWE loves their power couples and the two seem to really enjoy being out in the open. I expect it'll be more subtle and only occasionally brought up in actual wrestling feuds. The success of this may bring back the Mixed Match Challenge, which I would definitely enjoy.
WILLIAMS: Initially when the relationship was hinted at, I thought it was incredibly smart business to capitalize on the two most popular stars on TV today. However, in recent weeks we've seen both Rollins and Lynch forced together into every segment of theirs, eventually leading to a mixed tag team feud against Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans. To me, this is a waste of two performers who are quite capable of dominating their respective divisions on their own. Also, whilst it is clear that both superstars are enjoying working together on TV, there is the looming threat of either of them losing their edge and credibility amongst fans. One particularly corny segment and the WWE universe could quickly turn on this fiery duo.
Question 3: On the back of this event, Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman are slated to fully assume the Executive Director positions of WWE television. What new Innovations are you hoping to see from this regime?
CHAFFIOTTE: There's a lot of things that I'd like to see to make WWE programming more engaging for me personally. Assuming that I'm not getting everything I want here, the top priority is putting more trust into the hands of talent. Like I mentioned in the last question, Becky and Seth are reported to be controlling a lot of their storyline. Paul Heyman, in particular, is known for having a really keen eye for talent, recognizing potential before most others do. If there starts to become a culture where creative leads give the opportunity to talent to shape their characters and their stories, I think WWE will be far more enjoyable across the board. With an extra step between them and Vince McMahon, this is a perfect time to shift into this approach.
WILLIAMS: I'm excited at the thought of what both men could bring to a struggling WWE product in 2019. Personally, I think WWE is losing steam with its "women's evolution" campaign as, since Wrestlemania 35, we have seen a significant decrease in both women's feuds and televised matches. If someone like a Paul Heyman can give the women's division a much-needed injection of fire it could really benefit the TV product as a whole. A new format to Raw and SmackDown would also be a welcome change as the standard, promo segment setting up a tag team match formula is wearing very thin as the weeks go on. In an era full of ROH's and AEW's, WWE is smart to utilize two experienced players to help get their weekly product back on track!
DeFELICE: I'm so excited for this new regime. The most I can hope for is a change in production value. Particularly, I'm hoping for individual stages for both weekly television shows and all pay-per-view events.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!


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As we approach Thanksgiving, and the holidays in general, there is a natural peak in the discussion (both online and in-person) regarding the topics of 'farm to table' 'where does our food come from' and 'animal rights'. On Thanksgiving day there is a great big red line drawn across dining tables all across America. Those who eat turkey and those who do not. (And by 'turkey' I mean any sort of main dish animal product). Which side of the line do you fall on?
Blurred Line. You don't have to be a full-fledged vegan to find yourself on the VEG side of the line. Because even among the veg community, there is a great divide. There are the loud vegans and then there are the quiet vegans. Which are you? Is being a 'quiet vegan' enough? Enough for the animals? Enough for your own peace of mind? If you truly believe in your vegan way of life, you should have no hesitation in sharing your point of view with the world, right? But how do you 'speak out' while still showing your friends and family the same respect for their diet as you'd expect to receive regarding yours? How do you master the art of speaking out this Thanksgiving with a little grace, class, knowledge and eloquence? Because nobody wants to be the loud crazy vegan at the end of the dinner table. However the 'outspoken eloquent vegan' does have a nice ring to it. Here's my advice on how to gracefully 'speak out' this Thanksgiving…
The Quiet Vegans. For many years (mostly in high school and college) I was the picture perfect quiet little vegan at the end of the dining table on Thanksgiving day. I love celebrating the holiday with family and friends, so I never refused a Thanksgiving invite simply because I ate differently than the house I was at. I was never loud, mouthy, aggressive, outspoken or pushy with my vegan beliefs. I simply sat at the end of the table, quiet and silent as I watched the turkey and gravy get passed around the table. A simple 'I don't eat that' was my vague response. I didn't even want to say "the V-word". I was 'the quiet vegan'. My plate was filled to the brim with a compilation of side dishes. I'd pass the turkey, pass the stuffing and pass the sausage down the line. Yet every quiet vegan has an inner struggle: how do I sit still and silent about something that I live everyday. Why are my beliefs muffled from the conversation? The answer is pure fear. Fear of alienating family and friends whom you love. Fear that you will be shuffled off into the 'crazy vegans' category. Fear that you won't get invited back because 'the vegan thing is too much trouble' for the household cook to manage. Fear of alienation, pure and simple.
The Loud Vegans. My First Protest. Pouring rain. Thirty to Forty souls gathered along Massachusetts Avenue in Washington DC – embassy row. The Japanese Embassy. It was the first day of the seal slaughter in Japan. I was invited by good friends to a protest. I went. I stood for a few hours with my body shaking from adrenalin, fear and freezingness. My little sign in hand, my voice shouting the same line over and over. The cars went by. Many would honk. Many would look at us like we were nuts. One of the ring leader ladies had a blow horn. She was clearly the loudest. Leading the chants, changing the words every so often. There was a news crew. She was interviewed. I hid my face a little. The protest ended. I climbed into my car like a soggy rat. I felt good, but a little off. Did I really make a difference?
I applaud the protesters – the loud shouting animal rights activists of the world. They have big bold brash voices and aren't afraid to risk alienating themselves to use them. They are confident and unapologetic. But that's not me. That's not my personality. I struggled with this because I wanted to help – desperately. I wanted to be louder, but still in my own quiet and polite way. After years of struggling with this, I have pretty much mastered my interaction with the world when it comes to being vegan. Not all of us are the 'protesting type' and that's OK.
Vegan Community: Online. The internet, twitter, blogging and facebook has made me feel so much more confidant in my 'vegan' lifestyle. And I hear this same thing from readers all the time – vegetarians who live in Texas with steak-hungry families or mid west meat and potatoes folks who go veg and their family is shocked and confused into telling them they are 'crazy'. But the internet has changed the vegan community. Veggie folks from LA, NYC, DC, and small town USA can all gather online and discuss their veggie trends, thoughts and celebrations.
From Quiet to Loud: Inspiration. The online community is also a huge motivator to speak out. I try desperately to not watch all the 'behind-the-scenes' footage of the factory farming houses. I feel like I have already seen enough to convince and educate myself of the horrors of factory farming and animal abuse. But once in a while my curiosity gets the better of me and I watch the new videos – I have nightmares for days. More recently, I watched one posted by Wayne Pacalle of the HSUS regarding veal calf cruelty, and then one by PETA regarding 'throw-away-male-chicks' (up to 150,000 male chicks killed daily- the adorable little fluffy yellow chicks used on Easter cards and baby clothes.). Both truly horrifying videos. But when I see footage like that I am reminded that I cannot sit at the end of the table silently chewing my green beans and sweet potatoes while my meat-eating friends chomp away laughing and gleeful, dining in pure ignorant bliss.
The Solution: Grace Under Fire. So what is a quiet vegan to do? Shun all mainstream party invites? NO. Bring PETA pamphlets to the Thanksgiving dinner table and place "Go Vegan" stickers all over the turkey? NO. Start a 'meat is murder' conversation as everyone dives into their turkey and gravy? NO. Here's my solution: practice grace under fire and be a role model for the vegan community. Here are your two options this Thanksgiving…
1) RSVP 'yes' to your non-veg relatives dinner. But don't sit still, quiet and polite. You're smarter than that. Wait for the doors of discussion to open for you – don't break down the door. If someone asks you "so you're vegan, eh?!" Consider the doors opened for discussion about why you are vegan. Just make sure you speak with grace, class, knowledge and eloquence. I like to say something like this:
Example 30-second "why I'm vegan" speech: "I've been vegan for about nine (insert your number) years now. Vegetarian since I was a teen. It all started with my love of animals and how I simply 'didn't feel right' eating them. I've done a lot of research into factory farming as an industry and found the animal abuses to be shocking, grotesque and inhumane. It was a slow transition. Insert or remove bad joke here: (No 'cold turkey for animal products. ha!) I started experimenting with vegan food items such as tempeh, seitan, rice milk, tofu, vegan cheese, hemp milk ice cream, vegan chocolate, adding more organic fruits and veggies to my diet and I realized that I just didn't need animal products in my life. My vegan diet makes me feel energized, healthy and morally at peace with myself. Plus since everyone (including myself) wants to 'be more green' nowadays, I am really doing my part by not participating in the earth-damaging cycle of factory farming. I'm respecting the earth, my body and most importantly the animals I love. A day doesn't go by when I am not reminded how grateful I am for choosing a vegan way of life. I'd never go back to my old life of consuming animal products. Never. I love being vegan."
option #2 (what I'm doing this year)…
2) Host a "Vegan Thanksgiving" bash! Invite everyone and anyone who you'd like to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Veg or not. Make your vegan table an open door to anyone willing to sit down and try something new. They can eat turkey, gravy and sausage stuffing any year. But how often can they try vegan cheesecake pumpkin pie, seitan stuffing and maple mashed vegan sweet potatoes. Show everyone that your vegan lifestyle is glamorous, delicious and oh so enviable. By displaying your picture perfect vegan way of life, you are automatically speaking out in a graceful and non-abrasive way. You won't win any arguments by being abrasive. You must add some class and grace to your visual and vocal presentation of answering the question "why vegan?"
The Quiet Vegan. Is it Enough? The simple answer is no. Being a 'quiet vegan' is like winning an award you know nothing about. It's like calling yourself 'green-friendly' and driving a hummer to Joe's Steakhouse everyday…but hey you 'recycle'. Being a quiet vegan is not enough. You must speak out in a graceful and eloquent way. Get educated. Learn the facts. And share your knowledge with anyone who will listen. If you truly believe in what you have chosen for yourself (a vegan way of life) you should have no hesitation in sharing your point of view with the world.
Good luck. And Happy Healthy Thanksgiving.
…don't forget to continue reading my Vegan Thanksgiving Series for some delicious recipes for your Thanksgiving day bash!
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7784 limonite ave
Riverside , CA 92509
We are a boutique style Bakery specializing in custom work. Our specialty in Wedding cakes, amazing Birthday cakes, and cakes for whatever you desire! Anything and everything out of the box from serious to whimsy, with attention to detail is our goal! We offer a wide variety of cake flavors, fillings and gourmet fillings. We also have fun fillings such as mint n chip, cookies and cream, and even a funfetti cake where the cake (bread) is baked with colorful confetti or a solid color cake baked in a wild color! Because we are a small bakery, we also bake in smaller quantities so if you're preparing a dessert table and are in need of a variety of desserts, we can accommodate the smallest to the largest of dessert table arrangements. We also can offer some planning ideas and possibly where to purchase "items in need" or vendors that might be useful in your party planning. Remember cakes that are amazing to look at but so yummy to eat!


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As the warm weather continues, areas of Michigan are increasingly at risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This rare brain infection is spread through mosquitoes and approximately one third of people infected die from the disease. There is no cure or vaccine for the virus.
Nine people have been infected in Michigan, including three fatalities. Thirty-three animal cases of EEE have also been confirmed in 15 Michigan counties, including Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Genesee, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Montcalm, Newaygo, St. Joseph and Van Buren.
Katherine Spindler, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan, explained that though EEE is not a particularly new virus, it has been more prominent this year.
"Is this going to become an epidemic?" Spindler questioned. "I suspect that's not the case … We're approaching winter, and a hard frost is going to kill off many, if not all, mosquitoes that are fostering this virus."
LSA sophomore Nicole Lin of Grand Rapids, a recently affected area in Kent County, said in light of the virus, she has growing concerns for her family and friends.
"It's been pretty scary hearing about it," Lin said. "I have a lot of friends and family there, and my mom is worried. I've talked to my friends to make sure they're staying safe, especially since a lot of them get out late from work and school."
LSA junior Alyssa Cutter is from Battle Creek, where two wolves were infected with EEE. Cutter said she wonders if the emergence of EEE is a result of climate change.
"It will be interesting to see if this is something that emerges again next year and the year after that as we see the environment for mosquitos shifting with climate change," Cutter said.
In addition, Cutter explained she has noticed the effects of EEE in her hometown, as Battle Creek has announced new safety measures. The measures have received some pushback, though, Cutter said.
"Public health officials have put out information in the last few days that they'll be doing aerial sprays with organic pesticide, and there's actually been a lot of push back from those counties to get aerial spray taken off the agenda," Cutter said. "People are worried about what it will do to their pets, inhaling the residue and the effects it will have on pollinators."
According to their website as of Sept. 26, Washtenaw County Health Department will also participate in the aerial spraying of a small portion of Washtenaw County to combat the spread of the virus. It notes residents can opt out via email, but affirms aerial spraying does not carry any significant risks to human health, pets or the environment.
Since climate generally refers to a long period of time and this has been the only large occurrence of EEE, Spindler suspects weather is the source of the spread and reaffirms the importance of staying informed.
"People can always inform themselves by going to the CDC site, and there's a really nice EEE virus page that has things about prevention, symptoms, transmission, statistics, links and references," Spindler said. "For any infectious disease that you hear about, go to some reputable source.


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An anniversary special is coming to Netflix later this year, celebrating the brands 29th anniversary, on National Power Rangers Day, August 28th 2022.
'Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Gosei's Treasure' sees the return of Troy, Noah, Jake, Gia, Emma and Orion as they stop a new force of evil from capturing Gosei's ultimate hidden treasure – the Gosei Galleon.
Ranger fans will be excited to know that the hour long special, directed by the also-returning Jonathan Tzachor, will mirror the original Super Megaforce season and feature the return of some former Ranger alumni. As of now, we don't know who is returning, other than to expect to see 'some familiar faces'.
In a twist, we can also confirm that the Super Megaforce team will be getting even more New Powers, from previously unadapted seasons of Super Sentai. The likes of Lupinranger, Patoranger, Kiramager, Zyuohger, ToQger and Kyuranger are present in the Japanese movie that this is being adapted from, so it's likely one of these designs may finally make it into the Ranger-verse!
Longtime viewers will know that Power Rangers is based on Super Sentai in Japan, with Super Megaforce being an adaptation of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, and the upcoming special being an adaptation of Kaizoku Sentai: Ten Gokaiger – a 10th anniversary special of said series.
Formerly on Nick, Power Rangers made its official transition to a Netflix original earlier this year, after the vast majority of previous seasons were removed from the streaming giant.
Outside of this special, Power Rangers Dino Fury had its 2nd season premiere on Netflix in the US and other regions with the first 11 episodes releasing on March 3rd, and the majority of fans praising this first batch of new content.
On the flip to side to that, there is a vocal minority who felt that the move to Netflix would have greater impact on the show, saying it felt the same to the seasons on Nick. In fact, the show was made before the Netflix deal became apparent, so for Dino Fury, fans shouldn't expect major changes to the production, budget, style or tone.
Look out for 'Gosei's Treasure', streaming this August, only on Netflix.
⚡ EXCLUSIVE: #PowerRangers Super Megaforce: Gosei's Treasure – coming to @netflix August 2022!
Check out the FIRST LOOK at this upcoming Power Rangers special below, and let us know what YOU think!
More (Super Mega) Details here:https://t.co/berLBcBtWs pic.twitter.com/kLFWtjePPK
— PwrRngr ⚡ (@PwrRngr) March 31, 2022
Stay tuned to PwrRngr for all your Power Rangers needs.


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Category:Computer engineering stubs
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Smart Home IoT security
With the rapid development of technology, the smart home IoT security system and all things link to internet together are the requirements of people to the living environment.
More and more families have the concept to protect their home, families and their belongings, some basic security system to protect the safety of the home environment is required. As long as the popularity of smart phones, various apps have been developed to make your life more and more convenient, and the home security is the same. People can monitor any moment at home through smart phones at any place. Coupled with the recent development of the Internet of Things (IoT), our life technology-related technologies can be linked together and applied to the smart homes IoT security, smart communities, and smart security systems to the city, allowing us to change from the "history record" of the monitor to the "do something" immediately when critical happened.
From the traditional security system to the current smart security system, people emphasize the convenience and easy features. Connecting with smoke detector, carbon monoxide, gas and other various detectors are your smarter solutions to your sweet home, also keep your families safety and reduce the risk of theft.


text: You know that old saying 'you can never have too much glamour in your vibrator collection'? Okay, so that wasn't a saying until we said it just now, but clearly, CalExotics agrees! How else would you explain this showstopper of a vibe? The Glam Fierce Power Rechargeable Vibe not only features ten super-powerful vibration modes and fully waterproof construction, but also a gorgeously silky, glamorously glossy shape that can go just about anywhere you need it to. Delivering perfect pleasure to clitorises, nipples, heads of penises and just about any other external sweet spot you and/or you and your partner could possibly think of, Glam's sexy elongated swell pinpoints with orgasmic precision. A little weightier than your average bullet, Glam feels great in hand and even greater pressed against erogenous zones. Slip it into sex and foreplay for an extra hit of stimulation - the sleek shape won't get in the way of most positions or acts. Glam is, of course, also ideal for alone time. Cue up the first of ten vibration modes using a single button at the base - hold it down a few seconds to unlock the motor, then keep pressing to cycle through the steady, pulsating and escalating options. Conveniently USB rechargeable, Glam powers up at any free USB port using the included charge cord. A complete charge of 120 minutes will run your Glam for up to 90 continuous minutes. In body safe ABS plastic with silicone accents, Glam is body safe and extra easy to clean. Before and after playtime, rinse it well under warm soapy water, or use a good toy care fluid/foam. Compatible with any favourite water-based lube. Waterproof.


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TWR #2 - Contents
Interview: Moondogs Magazine interview with Peter Gabriel transcribed by Peter Morton.
Video Review: "Genesis Visible Touch Virgin Music Video 1987" - A review by Iain Buckle.
Gig Review: "Live at the German Front" - Genesis in concert at the Wilhelm Koch Stadion Hamburg on Friday 10th September 1982. Review by Alan Hewitt. Photographs by Ted Sayers.
Article: The Genesis Video Archive - Part 1
Article: "Genesis Set Changes" - An investigation of the changes in music presented live by the group to their audience worldwide by Alan Hewitt.
Article: "Hackett To Pieces - The Life Of A Rock Guitarist" (Part One) - by Ted Sayers. Photographs by Alan Perry and Roger Salem.
Article: "Anthony Philips - The Man And His Music" - A Listener's Review (Part Two) by Alan Hewitt.


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Mat Kaplan • Jun 17, 2013
Cosmic Concert Webcast Tonight at 7pm PDT / 10pm EDT
Join us at the intersection of science, nature and music for a very special Planetary Radio Live with the great Peter Mayer. Bill Nye will join host Mat Kaplan on stage, but the focus will be on Peter's wonderful music. The Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena is at capacity, but you'll still have a great seat if you tune into the live webcast, courtesy of Southern California Public Radio. It starts at 7:00pm Pacific Daylight Time this evening, June 17, 2013.
You'll also enjoy some of Emily Lakdawalla's favorite images, and we'll wrap up with the live version of What's Up with Bruce Betts. Watch it here!
You are Part of LightSail's Legacy
Let's share the story and success of LightSail® - help secure LightSail's legacy!Donate Today


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Iqra Public School Kanganhall Phone NumbersA Co educational school based in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag District. Iqra Public School Kanganhall is based in the village of Kanganhall. Iqra Public School Kanganhall has lowest class nursery and highest class 8th. The school is active since 1997 and has a private building. The School is managed by private authorities and does not provide any transport or residential facilities.
If you have any complaints, suggestions, queries concerning Iqra Public School Kanganhall you may chose any of the contact option below and get assistance from the authorities of the school. Iqra Public School Kanganhall has school timing different for different seasons. However, Iqra Public School Kanganhall remains close from middle of December upto first March due to winter vacations.
Quick Facts Regarding Iqra Public School KanganhallFounded: 1997
Medium of Instruction: Urdu and English
Standard: Nursery to 8th
Location: Kanganhall, Anantnag,
State: Jammu and Kashmir
Affiliation: J&K State Board of School Education.
School Type: Co-educational
Facilities at Iqra Public School KanganhallSome of the student facilities available for students are:
- Library to read different books
- Playground to take pleasure of different games
- Drinking water
- Computer Lab to learn various computer related things
- Other Student facilities
Address of Iqra Public School KanganhallIf you want to visit the office or campus location of Iqra Public School Kanganhall, you can go through the following address:
Kanganhall, Anantnag,
Jammu & Kashmir,
Postal Code: 192201 India


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Is your style more on the casual spectrum?
If the answer is yes, do not stress, own it and keep it simple. Leggings can be your go to because they are versatile and can be style multiple ways. If you work place allows business casual attire, leggings can be a solution.
Suits are not required on my 9to5. The dress code fits perfectly with my style which is on the casual spectrum. In my opinion, doesn't require much fuss in the mornings.
I decided to pair leggings with a blazer, sheer polka dot blouse, and sandal. The blazer was long enough to cover the rear which helped with being self conscious of showing too much.
This look was simple and fit the office as business casual.
What is your style?
Thanks for stopping by,


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Charley Harper Hawaiian Volcanoes - Nene Mint
The Hawaiian Volcanoes collection from Charley Harper is so lush and beautiful. Tropical and exotic birds, butterflies, and foliage are the design elements here. Perfect for summer sewing.
Spark - The quilting cotton is a great choice for bright clothes for kids, or a fun and cheery top for you. The Barkcloth is on my list for a shift dress. The exotic print, gorgeous colours and lovely weight are perfect for summer garments.
Please note that all fabric is sold in 1/2 yard increments. If you want 1 yard, please order a quantity of 2. If you want 2 yards, you will need to order a quantity of 4.
For example
|1 = 1/2 yard
|2 = 1 yard
|3 = 1 1/2 yards
|4 = 2 yards
Manufacturer - Birch Fabric
Designer -Charley Harper
Composition - 100% Organic Cotton
Width - 44-45"


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Labor for Eurobodalla Council – Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Eurobodalla Council and Community
According to the World Health Organisation:
Gender equity refers to the fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men. The concept recognizes that women and men have different needs and power, and that these differences should be identified and addressed in a
Eurobodalla Shire Council plays a vital role in creating and supporting environments that allow everyone in our community to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. This means providing all community members with equal opportunity to have a say in Council decisions that affect their daily lives.
Gender equity and social inclusion recognises the different needs and barriers faced by women, men and people with diverse gender identities related to their social positions and factors such as age, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sexuality, indigeneity and disabilities. Women are more likely to deal with juggling work and family responsibilities, moving around public places with prams and young children or issues of domestic violence. People with disabilities need proper access to facilities and public spaces.
People from culturally diverse backgrounds need access to culturally appropriate services.
Eurobodalla Labor will be a leader in promoting Council's responsibility to properly understand and respond to the needs of different groups within our community so that everyone can benefit. We will promote broad community consultation throughout the Shire and ensure fair decision making on issues of resource allocation, service delivery and infrastructure development. This includes consulting with and supporting community-based organisations that represent and serve vulnerable groups in our Shire.
Where services and facilities are not directly under Council responsibility in areas such as health, education and social housing, Eurobodalla Labor will actively advocate to relevant state and federal government agencies so that different needs of women and men, girls and boys are better addressed.
Eurobodalla Labor also supports diversity in Council to help better understand and respond to the diverse needs of our local populations. As the level of government closest to communities, it is vital that our Council reflects all the people it serves and ensure fair decision making. Positive gender equity and social inclusion policies will make our Council a more competitive employer. We will promote best practice in providing respectful safe workplaces and equal employment opportunities (including for internships). We will also expect and encourage companies working with the Council to demonstrate a similar commitment.
If elected to Council, Eurobodalla Labor will –
Emphasise the need for a Council commitment to social justice, fairness, inclusion, advocacy and diversity as core principles
- Actively promote integration of gender equity as central to Council's existing operational systems, recruitment, planning, policy, and strategy work
- Listen to and discuss with different groups of women, men and gender diverse people about how we can best serve them to create a more fair and equitable community
Eurobodalla Labor will actively work with the community to address issues that promote gender equity and social inclusion including (but not limited to):
- Safety and security in public places
- Accessible and clean pathways and public facilities
- Culturally appropriate support and services that respond to the needs of women from Aboriginal and cultural and linguistically diverse communities and culturally and linguistically diverse populations
- Advocate for a dedicated staff position in council to focus on the Eurobodalla multicultural community
- Different needs of women and men recovering from the Black Summer Bushfires and impact of Covid-19
Eurobodalla Labor is committed to working as part of a progressive council that serves the Eurobodalla community fairly, openly, justly and inclusively.


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Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application.
Curtis Dean "Bud" O'Dell, Jr., age 73, passed away on Jan. 24, 2022 at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. He was born on Mar. 20 1948 at Stafford, KS., the son of Curtis D. and Ruby Jean (Munden) O'Dell, Sr. Bud was a Truck Driver for the Oil Industry. He graduated from St. John High School in 1966 and was a life-long resident of St. John. He attended the Antrim United Methodist Church and was a member of the NHRA. He was a U.S. Army Combat Veteran in the Vietnam conflict receiving his Expert Marksmanship award. Survivors include his mother, Ruby O'Dell, St. John, KS.; a son, Craig O'Dell, Dallas, TX.; three daughters, Vanonda (Kevin) Kannady, Seagoville, TX., Tammy Neighbors, Great Bend, KS., Amy Robinson, Hutchinson, KS.; sisters, Deanna (Russ) Shelton, St. John, KS., Nancy Berens, St. John, KS.; foster sister, Connie McKnight, Ava, MO; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Curtis, Sr.; a sister, Linda Toms; grandchildren, Paige Fagan and Ashton Asbury. Visitation will be on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 from 1-7PM at Minnis Chapel, St. John, with the family present from 5-7 P.M. Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 at Minnis Chapel, St. John, with Rod Lyons presiding. Burial, with military honors, will follow at the Fairview Park Cemetery, St. John, KS. Memorials may be given to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in care of Minnis Chapel, P.O. Box 34, St. John, KS 67576.
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White Squirrel Shoppe
Book - For Children - About Autism - "Nuts" by A. J. Cosmo
$ 15.99
Ever felt like your family was crazy? All Wally wants to do is open presents, but before he can, he has to endure his nutty family!
Written for siblings of autistic children, this fully-illustrated, heart-warming story teaches tolerance and understanding for everyone.


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Myasthenia Gravis
Chiropractic care of a pediatric patient
with myasthenia gravis Alcantara J, Plaugher G, Araghi, HJ
J Manipulative Physiol Ther Vol 26 No. 6 July/August 2003.
This is the case of a 2-year-old girl diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Her symptoms were ptosis (dropped eyelid) and generalized muscle weakness (lethargy) in the lower extremities. Subluxation complexes were located and adjusted in the upper cervical and sacral areas. After five months of chiropractic care her symptoms completely disappeared.
Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis: a case study in chiropractic management. Araghi HJ. Proceedings of the International Conference on Pediatrics and Chiropractic, 1993:122-131. From the abstract:
A two-year-old female was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis from clinical and laboratory tests performed by a neurologist and pediatric ophthalmologist. Symptoms began eight days after an automobile accident and a month later child was diagnosed with the condition. Symptoms included lethargy, weakness of the lower extremities, ptosis (drooping) of the right eye-lid, bilateral toe-in of both feet and moderate left head tilt. Parents were told nothing could be done for their child. Symptoms continued to worsen. By the time the child was brought to the chiropractor she was barely able to sit upright and had to be held up by one of the parents for most of the examination.
Specific chiropractic spinal adjustments were performed. The mother noticed slight improvement after the first adjustment. At the time of the writing of this report (5 months later), the child's eyes are functioning normally and she is able to run for prolonged periods without fatigue. The case history suggests that this was not a spontaneous remission but was due to the physiological response to the chiropractic adjustment.
Chiropractic management of a patient with myasthenia gravis and vertebral subluxations. Alacantara J, Steiner DM, Plaugher P, Alacantara J. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1999; 22:333-340.
This is the study of a 63 year-old man suffering from symptoms associated with myasthenia gravis and signs of vertebral subluxation.
The initial complaint was dysphagia, swelling of the tongue, nausea, digestive problems, weakness in the eye muscles, difficulty breathing, myopia, diplopia and headaches. In addition, the patient had balance and coordination problems and resultant walking difficulties.
Results of chiropractic care: Subluxations were adjusted and "myasthenia gravis is no longer debilitating to the patient; he is medication free and has assumed a 'normal life'".
Copyright 2004 Koren Publications, Inc. & Tedd Koren, D.C.


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Thu, 5 June 2014
Kevin is the principal of Kevin A. Beard Design. He is a designer and brand developer for lifestyle footwear and apparel, automotive aftermarket products and motorsports personal safety equipment. Kevin graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design and worked for world famous Adidas, Reebok and K-Swiss. He taught at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Kevin founded Piloti Shoes in 1999. A unique automotive footwear company that was acquired by Canadian Tire Corporation in 2012. Kevin is currently working on a new venture and developing a new business that includes his love for automobiles.
Direct download: Kevin_Beard_6-2-14_Final_Cut_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:05pm PDT


text: Larry Johnson 2015 Evan Ferguson Award recipient The Evan Ferguson Award is presented to recognize outstanding service to Sigma Xi and its mission. Dr. Larry Johnson is a professor of veterinary integrative biosciences at Texas A&M University and has had extensive experience with the Texas A&M Sigma Xi Chapter. He has held every officer position possible, including chapter vice president, president, executive director, secretary, and contact officer. He is currently on the chapter's Executive Committee and on its Youth Science Promotion Committee. He will accept his award this year at the 2015 Annual Meeting October 22-25 in Kansas City, Missouri. Hear from Larry Johnson Watch a recording of a Google Hangout with Larry Johnson by clicking on the play button below. Topics covered include: His ideas of how Sigma Xi could expand its reach on college campuses (9:54) How to build successful partnerships to support chapter programs (13:22) His insight into the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting (20:42) What motivates him to continue his work as a chapter leader (24:29) His advice for other chapter leaders (27:36)


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30 looks from Toronto's annual art party, the Power Ball
The annual art party of the year went down last night at the Power Plant. Functioning as a fundraiser for the gallery and an excuse for the Toronto art world (and their supporters) to get dressed up and shit-faced, this year's party bore the theme "15 minutes" because, as Andy Warhol told us, we each get a chance to be famous if just for one night.
Check out all the looks from the Power Ball in our Style section.
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