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Magda Wierzycka: When it comes to your money, trust no one.
Magda Wierzycka is the chief executive of Sygnia, a JSE listed asset multi-manager company, which, through FinTech and because of low fees, is disrupting the market. She was placed 34th on the Sunday Times rich list in 2016 and she's holding over 65% of Sygnia shares which are worth R1.47-billion. She has a an actuarial science degree from the University of Cape Town and has held management positions in companies such as Alexander Forbes and Coronation. In this interview she talks to us about lessons she's learned about money.
In this economic climate, have you downsized your lifestyle at all?
I grew up in a 30 sq m flat in a concrete apartment block in a communist Poland in the 70s. We had 2 bedrooms,3 children and my grandmother. That's why anything bigger than that has always seemed like an extravagance to me. I am not sure I ever understood the concept of a garden.
So, recently we downsized from a large house to an apartment. The move was motivated by our children leaving home and a need to simplify, rather than economics, and I have been amazed at how many unnecessary costs we have cut out.
What I enjoy about the area is that the property rates are lower, there is no garden or pool to maintain, our electricity usage is more considered, security is paid for by all the residents, and as storage is limited you need less of everything. For anyone struggling in this climate, I would thoroughly recommend moving to a smaller place with fewer frill expenses.
Do you ever worry about money? … about having enough?
My relationship with money is best defined as complicated. We arrived in South Africa in 1983 with R500 in the bank having spent a year in a refugee camp in Austria. I was 13 years old. My father took out loans from as many banks as would lend him money (this was before the National Credit Act was introduced), and juggled multiple credit cards just to pay the bills. I had to enroll for a university degree that I did not understand simply because it offered me a full bursary. I became a vegetarian because I could trade-in my meal vouchers for cash to buy clothes. So, on the other extreme, when I joined the financial services industry, more by luck than design, I was suddenly exposed to very large sums of money. This meant I could suddenly afford a lot of things. My first bonus paid for a Toyota Rav4! This polarity has made me extremely unmaterialistic. I could lose all the possessions I have tomorrow and not care much. I have a core belief that I could pick myself up and rebuild what I have lost hence I enjoy being able to experience life by having money, but I roll up my sleeves to earn it
What are you doing to remain positive about your family's financial well-being during these tough times?
I have been brought up to never rely on anyone to support me financially. I have lived through some very lean times, but I have always had a core belief that I can bounce back based on sheer hard work. However, what I have found in life is that many people do not appreciate what hard work really means. Hard work means working through every "holiday", every weekend, every evening. You can never really switch off. That is what got me through the lean times, allowed me to build up businesses and ultimately placed me in a position where we are financially independent.
Do you and your husband share equal responsibility when it comes to your household finances?
We comingle all our finances as we have always regarded our marriage as an equal partnership. That has been easy to do as we both work. In situations where only one partner works, however, I think the issue of budgeting becomes a lot more important and complex.
What are you teaching your sons about money?
From when they were little our children were taught that to have money you have to work damn hard. I have always told them that their legacy will be the very best education we can buy for them, but after that they are on their own. We have also taught them that they are very fortunate to be born into prosperity and that sharing with others less fortunate is important. My sons are both extremely generous, quite thrifty and prudent, and take nothing for granted when it comes to money.
Out of all your responsibilities (bills, groceries, etc) , what do you find to be the most expensive nowadays?
Food is extremely expensive, as are all the utilities, such as electricity, water and rates. When faced with monthly bills, I often wonder how an average South African family copes.
How do you define financial independence?
I define financial independence fairly narrowly – it is having a choice regarding the work you want to do. Work should be a stimulating and enjoyable experience that you feel passionate about. It should fulfill you and make you happy. That can only happen if you have true freedom of choice.
What is your number one financial priority right now?
It is to manage my finances better. I have always done the right thing in terms of saving, but I have paid little attention to diversifying my investments, hence I have tended to accumulate all my money in one investment product, while concentrating on building businesses. This needs to change going forward. I need to pay more attention to my own investment strategy, and not just those of Sygnia's clients.
What's been your best and your worst decision about money?
My best financial decision has been to leverage, over and over again, and use that leverage to back myself. This may sound strange as debt seems to be an anathema to most well-structured financial plans. However, the opportunity to borrow money at lower interest rates and invest in something with a reasonable probability of achieving returns over and above that interest rate is too obvious to pass up. I am not talking about running up short-term debt on my credit card in order to buy a pair of Prada shoes (which I have been known to do). I am talking about taking calculated decisions to invest in businesses I was part of running or I have founded. Early on in my savings life I borrowed money to buy a house and started paying it off as quickly as I could. The "mortgage bond" buffer then allowed me to withdraw the money to buy shares in a business I was running and understood very well. I have subsequently used that tactic over and over again. Buy property, commercial or residential, using leverage, start paying it off as quickly as possible, and then when another personal investment opportunity comes along I use the savings buffer to take full advantage of that opportunity.
From an investment perspective I have to be honest and admit that every time I bought property I lost money. From the first one-bedroom apartment I bought back in the 1990s, to a large house in Camps Bay that we sold in 2016, I have been poorer for it. I now regard property the same way I regard art, forced saving with positive utility. Hence the return you get is partly financial and partly lifestyle.
The other thing to avoid is staging opportunities on new listings of shares. Often the hype by far outweighs the reality. Your ability to take short term bets and, after all transaction costs, get out with a profit is questionable.
And, of course all my handbags and shoes, which I am still trying to convince my husband are a good investment!
If you have the choice between buying a home or investing in shares, which would you choose and why?
Every financial theory and analysis says that you are better off renting a home and investing in shares. However, I believe that most people tend to spend the money they have invested in shares at the earliest opportunity. Hence you are better off buying a home where the mortgage payment becomes a monthly forced savings account for your future. If you do have the discipline to never touch the money in the stock market account, and I mean never, not until you retire, then by all means rent and invest in stocks.
When you think of a comfortable retirement, what does that mean to you?
A comfortable retirement means having enough money to maintain the same standard of living as you had before you retired, as well as being able to cover your increasing medical costs. It also means having enough extra savings to have some fun: travel, go to the theatre, and entertain friends. Most importantly, it is the ability to keep busy and with the things that you enjoy doing.
What's the worst money mistake you've ever made, if you've made any? What did you learn from it?
My worst investment decisions had to do with timing and following the herd; whether it is a hot stock that everyone was punting, a new listing where I hoped to make a short-term profit from trading or taking money offshore after the rand had depreciated. Paraphrasing greater investment minds than mine: "Be brave when others are fearful, be prudent when others are greedy".
What was the last item you regretted purchasing?
My new car after a well-seasoned car dealer told me that you lose 35% of the value of a car in the first three months of ownership. You are better off buying a used car every time.
Do you have rules for lending money to friends or family?
Yes. I don't lend money. I give money. As a child of immigrant parents, there are always a lot of demands on me for financial help. When I "lend" money, I never expect to be paid back. Hence there is never any tension around this.
Why do you think we so easily fall into debt these days?
Because loans are too easily available, people never tend to think long-term and too many of us seek instant gratification, even when we know we cannot afford things. Once you are in a debt-trap, you start living month-to-month. It takes true financial discipline to dig yourself out of a hole. It is painful and tough, so we tend to just keep rolling over debt.
Can we build wealth by just saving?
Absolutely. The only way to build wealth is to save as much as you can afford, starting as early as you can. If we all live 30% longer than our parents, which we are likely to do given the rapid advances in medicine, we will need a lot of money to retire and live off. Much more than our parents ever did. Hence, saving is not about building up wealth. It is about long-term survival.
What's your advice to women who are worried about investing in the stock market?
Here are my most important tips based on personal experience:
1. From my first pay-cheque (R2 500 per month) I put the maximum amount I could into my retirement fund. I preserved that money every time I changed jobs. I never checked my statement or balance. I have a core belief that that money "out of sight, is out of mind" and should not be touched until I am 65. This has meant that I have accumulated a very comfortable retirement pool completely outside of any other money I have made.
2. Working in asset management I have always been conscious of the fact that management fees mattered. When I worked for an active asset management company fees determined my bonus! Hence the higher the better. As I grew older and wiser, and accumulated some savings, I realized that fees destroy value. Today fees matter to me just as much, I want to pay as little as I can, hence my love for passive asset management. So lesson number two is pay as little as you can for long term savings.
3. Unless you are an investment professional do not dabble in share trading. It is a mug's game. You have limited time to absorb all the information needed to make informed decisions. Hence you are really just gambling on a positive outcome. Rather invest in a professionally run unit trust and enjoy your leisure time - I do.
4. Use tax efficient savings products, like tax free savings accounts and retirement annuities. Every penny counts.
5. And lastly, and most importantly, spend some time with Google and educate yourself about finance. Learn the jargon so that you always know what you are buying and how much you are paying. When it comes to your money, trust no one. Always do your own research.
Get in in touch with Sygnia via Twitter and Facebook


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Saturday Knight
57"x 36" Pair of Tiers SALE $9.96 reg 19.99
Winter Wonderland Tiers and Valance
Regular price $7.96 Sale price
Have the spirit of Christmas fill the room with this Winter Wonderland kitchen curtain. Displayed are a row of snowmen lined up in front of a beautiful blue sky background filled with whites trees and falling snow. Definitely an eye catcher whether it is Christmas season or not.
-Available ONLY BLUE
-100% Polyester
-Machine wash cold. Gentle cycle. Use only non-chlorine bleach as needed.
Tumble dry low. Lowest iron setting as needed.
-Saturday Knight Ltd. started in the bath fashion industry in 1975.
57"x 36" Pair of Tiers SALE $9.96 reg 19.99
57"x 13" Valance SALE $7.96 reg 14.99
Customer Reviews
Winter Wonderland Tiers and Valance
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subset: commoncrawl


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Discount Price:
We offer standard, 3 day express, 2 day express, and overnight express shipping options for your convenience. If you place your order Monday - Friday by 2:00 PM EST using one of our express shipping options, your order will be processed and shipped the same day it is placed!
Colorized 2001 JFK half dollar honors 9/11 victimsVibrant photo of World Trade Center "Twin Towers"Uncirculated coin is genuine US legal tenderMost vivid coloring process in coin industrySet in premium 4" x 6" acrylic displayIncludes certificate of authenticity
Product Description
You don't have to be an avid coin collector to appreciate this stunning 2001 JFK half dollar, featuring a vibrantly colored photo-quality image of the iconic pre-9/11 World Trade Center "Twin Towers" on the coin's head. Set in a die-cut 4" x 6" acrylic display, the stately towers are flanked by the red, white and blue stars and stripes of the US flag and the poignant words "NEVER FORGET; September 11, 2001." Whether you're a coin collector or just a proud American, this is your chance to own this extraordinary genuine legal tender 2001 half dollar, minted at the US Mint and brilliantly colorized via a unique multicolor process by the collectible coin experts at the Merrick Mint. Special inks are painstakingly applied directly to the surface of each coin, achieving a level of detail, color saturation and durability that is simply unrivaled in the collectible coin industry. Each coin comes in a premium transparent display that will protect this distinctive treasure for generations, making it a perfect family heirloom to be passed down proudly for decades - even centuries. Makes a fantastic gift for coin collectors, 9/11 survivors, victims' loved ones and proud patriots of all stripes. Includes a certificate of authenticity that asserts your coin's legal monetary recognition and collector's edition status. Each 2001 Kennedy half dollar is a United States 50 cent coin with mint marks chosen at random. Hurry! Supplies are extremely limited and we have one of the few stashes available.
Armor of God Challenge Coin Good Luck Charm
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Fatherhood Challenge Coin - Crafted Of Metal Alloy, Detailed 3D Relief On Each Side, Collectible - Diameter 1 5/8"
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Need to test if a javascript array is empty? Here is a little trick I found online. I was assuming that there was a some sort of built in function to test if the array but not so. The trick is to check if the length of the array is less than 1.
For example
if (theTestArray.length < 1)
alert ('Array Is Empty');


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What do you need for your home first aid kit?
You never know when someone is going to injure themselves in or around the house. While sometimes you might be dealing a minor graze or burn, at other times you may have to treat cuts, bruises and and sprained limbs after a fall.
That's why it's really important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor injuries quickly. Having one to hand may save you making a trip to your local Accident and Emergency Department.
What should be in my first aid kit?
A home first aid kit should ideally contain:
- assorted wash-proof plasters
- small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings
- at least two sterile eye dressings
- triangular bandages
- crêpe roller bandages
- safety pins
- disposable latex-free sterile gloves
- tweezers
- scissors
- alcohol-free cleansing wipes
- microporous tape
- thermometer (preferably forehead thermometer)
- distilled water for cleaning wounds
- ice packs
- eye wash and eye bath
As well as keeping your first aid kit well stocked, St Andrew's First Aid strongly recommend keeping a copy of our first aid manual with your first aid kit.
Keep in mind
- A first aid kit should be kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.
- Many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies.
- Any item with a use-by date should be checked regularly to make sure they can still be used.
Not got a home first aid kit?
Don't worry, we sell full first aid kits, and all the first aid supplies you need on our online supplies store.


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"Crusading for the Twentieth Century: Christianity, Chaplaincy and Militarism in Cold War South Korea, 1945-1973"
Co-sponsored with the Arts and Politics of East Asia Workshop
My anticipated dissertation, "Crusading for the Twentieth Century: Christianity, Chaplaincy and Militarism in Cold War South Korea, 1945-1973," elucidates the origins of Christianity's increasing social and political influence from the Korean War (1950-1953) through 1973, when the Billy Graham Seoul Crusade attracted over three million people (the largest gathering in global Church history). Two decades before the Seoul Crusade, Graham visited American GIs and Korean Christians during the Korean War in 1952. At the time, wŏllam (those who went south) Korean Christian leaders like Han Kyung-Chik (who interpreted for Graham) and Hwang Ŭn-gyun articulated the conflict with communism in North Korea in eschatological language, invoking the imagery of medieval European crusades. My proposal engages the trope of "crusades" articulated during the Korean Cold War as reflective of the ways in which Christianity and militarism were folded into each other. At this stage, I expect to trace three currents that were formative to the relationship between Christianity and militarized politics in Cold War South Korea: the discursive, transpacific politics of Billy Graham and Han Kyung-Chik (1945-1950), the institutional history of the Republic of Korea (ROK) military chaplaincy from its inception in 1951, and the hegemonic culture of militarism and dissent.
Sandra's paper can be found in the post below.
As always, first-time attendees are welcome. Please make note of the distinct time and location for this event.


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Requesting Materials
Requests can only be made by current students and by current or retired faculty and staff of the University of Guelph, University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University. For further information, see the TUG libraries lending policy Appendix D.
- In Primo, click the "Requests" tab located on the left hand side within the item record
- Click "sign in to place a hold or recall"
- Input your library barcode and last name, then click "Log in"
- Choose "Hold" for items that are available for check out or choose "Recall" for items that are currently checked out
- Items should arrive within 3 business days
Still can't find it? Try RACER.


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This is an article I had the opportunity to illustrate for Sydney's Child. The story is quite complex so at first it was a bit challenging to get the right image but once I started dropping and cutting off paragraphs and words to get to the core and find those keywords it all became very obvious.
This is the article with my illustrations:
Tearsheet courtesy of Sydney's Child
These are the finished images:
And these are some concepts:
17 November 2010
14 November 2010
Editorial: Farewelling Flopsy
This is a n editorial I did for Sydney's Child in September. The story is about a parent when she has to tell her children their pet passed away.
Tearsheet courtesy of Sydney's Child
The final image:
The concepts:
Concept 1
Concept 2
Tearsheet courtesy of Sydney's Child
The final image:
The concepts:
Concept 1
Concept 2
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Search for SANBI documents
Including all scientific publications, brochures, pamphlets, workshop reports and proceedings and Biodiversity Heritage Library materials.
Browsing by Author Pande, N
Showing results 1 to 1 of 1
|Issue Date
|New national and regional bryophyte records, 27.
|Ellis, L T; Asthana, A K; Sahu, V; Bansal, P; Nath, V; Erzberger, P; Hallingbäck, T; Infante, M; Lazarevi?, P; Luis, L; Medina, R; Ochyra, R; Pande, N; Papp, B; Plášek, V; Sabovljevi?, M; Sawicki, J; Sim-Sim, M; Stebel, A; Suárez, G M; Van Rooy, J; Phe


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Arnold Meyer spent 40 years working at the Tolko Industries Ltd. mill in Merritt, B.C., but then he faced the reality of being laid off.
The 62-year-old was one of about 200 employees who lost their jobs in 2016, crippling the economy of the small town in British Columbia's southern Interior and prompting politicians to promise to restore the ailing forestry sector.
Two years later, the province's lumber industry is still facing challenges, but a new sector is revving up. A cannabis company hopes to build a grow facility in Merritt, replacing jobs, including Meyer's that were lost in the mill closure.
– Read the entire article at CTV News.


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Something there is that doesn't love a wall.
~ Robert Frost
Something there is that doesn't love a wall.
~ Robert Frost
Posted by Rick Becker on December 22, 2017
Maybe in fifty years, or a hundred, Catholics will be reading the Bible the way they should have been reading it all along.
~ Flannery O'Connor
Posted by Rick Becker on December 10, 2017
We have almost everything in common.
~ Pope St. John Paul II
Posted by Rick Becker on August 24, 2017
Put this body anywhere! Don't trouble yourselves about it!
I simply ask you to remember me at the Lord's altar wherever you are.
~ St. Monica
Posted by Rick Becker on June 19, 2015
Wakening to the Immanence of God.
Realizing the presence of two extended arms, tirelessly held out.
The inviting, untrembling arms of God. Closer, closer. And at last a kiss!
To the desert! To the cave!
~ Sydney Loch
Posted by Rick Becker on February 22, 2015
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
~ St. Paul
Posted by Rick Becker on February 15, 2015
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another (NCCB).
Posted by Rick Becker on December 22, 2014
Whether our life be that of Nazareth, the Public Life or the Desert…
it should cry the Gospel…
~ Bl. Charles de Foucauld
Posted by Rick Becker on September 14, 2014
There is no limit to what a man can do
so long as he does not care a straw who gets the credit for it.
~ Charles Edward Montague
We have it on good authority that the best kinds of good deeds are secret ones. "But when you give alms," Jesus declared, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Mt. 6.3).
That being said, I'd like to blow somebody's cover.
The somebody in question is my sister-in-law, Marcia, and the story begins with the Vatican's 1992 announcement that the eighth World Youth Day would be taking place in Denver the following year.
At the time, I was winding down as a parish Director of Religious Education in Boulder, Colorado, and getting ready for graduate studies at Franciscan University. My parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus, was spacious, with a school and gymnasium, and relatively close to Denver – an ideal site for accommodating WYD visitors. Not surprisingly, we were asked to house several groups of pilgrims, and my pastor asked me to help him coordinate the influx.
And when I say influx, I do mean influx. We put up hundreds of young people – groups from Germany and Mexico, as I recall, and a rather large group from Liechtenstein, including their bishop. Every available flat surface was utilized, and sleeping bags were omnipresent, from the church basement to the gym to every classroom in the school. Overnight, Sacred Heart Parish was transformed into a bustling youth hostel, with young people coming and going at all hours, clusters gathered here and there to pray, to sing, to laugh. It was all exhausting and exhilarating.
My job was to act as a point person for the different groups, a gopher of sorts and a trouble-shooter. Given my responsibilities, I was unable to participate in many of the actual events of WYD '93 – the massive "audience" with Pope John Paul in Mile High Stadium being the big exception. Even bigger, though, was the concluding open air Mass that took place August 15 in Cherry Creek State Park. Hundreds of thousands of people – probably close to a million – assembled to break bread with the Holy Father, to hear him speak, and to bask in his glow.
Unfortunately, the basking also included a mini-heat wave that day, which, when combined with the enormous crowds, meant that conditions in Cherry Creek grew dangerous pretty quick. Dehydration and heat exhaustion overwhelmed many pilgrims, and some of the first aid stations had difficulty keeping up with the need. Consequently, people had to seek help where they could find it, and occasionally individuals got separated from their groups.
That was the case for one of the adult leaders who was staying in our parish. She succumbed to the heat, and was assisted to an aid station away from her group. In the confusion, her bus returned to Boulder without her, and she was left stranded in Cherry Creek. With only limited English and in a weakened condition, she was apparently able to at least utter the name of our church to the paramedics, and I got a call from them after a while. Since they were closing up the aid station, they wanted to know what to do with her.
Good question.
At the time, I had my hands full handling the busloads of worn-out pilgrims returning to Sacred Heart, so I couldn't go get her myself. Besides, it would've taken too long to get to Cherry Creek at that point, and it was clear from what the paramedics were telling me that an immediate solution was required. Should I call a taxi? None available due to the sudden demand. Maybe ask the paramedics to call an ambulance? What to do?
No doubt a prompt from the Holy Spirit, the thought suddenly materialized that my brother and his family resided in Littleton, not too far from Cherry Creek. Desperate, I gave them a call. Jim was at work, but Marcia, my sister-in-law, was home. I laid out the situation to her, and boldly asked if she could help.
Actually, to tell the truth, it wasn't all that bold, because I knew my sister-in-law. Now, keep in mind that she was a homeschooling mother of four young children at the time, and it was no small thing that I was asking of her: To drop everything and chase down some ill, displaced stranger who spoke little English and whose needs were indeterminate. And Marcia wasn't even Catholic, and so had no connection with World Youth Day whatsoever.
No matter – Marcia readily agreed to lend a hand. It was an ecumenical gesture par excellence, and perfectly in keeping with her selfless character. She piled the kids into the van, retrieved the woman from the aid station, fed her, and gave her a place to sleep for the night. The young woman arrived back in Boulder the next day in a cab. She was rested and refreshed, although perhaps a mite dazed by the chain of events.
And Marcia? Like I said, I knew my sister-in-law. For her, it was merely a trifle – no trouble at all. And certainly no need for recognition or fanfare, or even a formal thank-you. It's just what Christians do – what's so special about that?
You'd think that it was the canonization of Pope John Paul that led me to recall this World Youth Day anecdote, but it wasn't. Instead, the episode was brought to mind by a bit of news that showed up in our local paper about an entirely unrelated ecumenical – or rather, interfaith – gesture.
It was a front-page item about Lois Gunden, a Mennonite missionary from Goshen, Indiana, whose life and legacy had been honored at a local Holocaust memorial service. Lois traveled to Europe in 1941 to serve refugees in southern France, and ended up dedicating much of her time and energy to frustrating Nazi genocidal designs. In order to protect the many Jewish children under her care, Gunden devised clever strategies and ruses, taking great risks on the children's behalf, and putting her life on the line to keep them from being deported to the death camps.
Her interventions paid off – though not without cost. After occupying France, the Nazis detained Gunden for a full year, and they only released her as a part of a prisoner swap in 1944. Upon her release, Lois returned home to Goshen and quietly resumed her former life as a French teacher.
Amazing, right? Gunden is a hero by any measure – a reality recognized by the Holocaust memorial organization Yad Vashem when they named her "Righteous Among the Nations" last year, one of only four Americans honored with that title.
But here's the really amazing thing about Lois and her heroic wartime exploits: Nobody knew – not even her family. In fact, the whole story didn't come to light until years after her 2005 death when a relation started poking around in various Mennonite archives. During her lifetime, Gunden spoke hardly at all about her experience in Europe, and she certainly didn't draw any attention to her daring rescue efforts. "She would never have considered what she did anything that wasn't part of her job and wasn't natural for her to do," said Lois' niece, Jane Metzler, at the recent commemoration. "All the details of what she did were really hidden."
And, of course, that's the connection with my sister-in-law: The hiddenness. Rescuing dehydrated foreigners in Denver is not quite the same as defying Nazis and saving Jewish children from Auschwitz, it's true. But in both cases, you have women who chose to make what most of us would consider sacrifices – quietly, with no recompense or recognition – and who did so as if they had no other choice to make. They chose, in other words, the way of hidden holiness; they chose the way of the saints.
It's what the Council Fathers called the "fullness of the Christian life" to which all Christians are called, the "perfection of charity." They went on to describe it in this way:
Finally all Christ's faithful, whatever be the conditions, duties and circumstances of their lives—and indeed through all these, will daily increase in holiness, if they receive all things with faith from the hand of their heavenly Father and if they cooperate with the divine will. In this temporal service, they will manifest to all men the love with which God loved the world.
Temporal service. Whatever be the conditions, duties, and circumstances. Indeed, precisely through those very same conditions, duties, and circumstances – be they ordinary or extraordinary, hidden or on display for all to see – holiness will increase and God's love will be made manifest. Such is the lesson I take from both Marcia's and Lois' examples – i.e., to be a saint does not require spectacular feats of self-denial, but rather a willingness to respond to opportunities for love and service when and where they present themselves, no matter how inconvenient.
Come to think of it, it is particularly fitting that the local commemoration of Lois' life took place on the same weekend as the canonization of John Paul II. When he was still a young man and known as Karol Wojtyla, the future pontiff had his own Lois Gunden moment that augured his later warm relations with the Jewish people:
A few months before the war ended, Wojtyla rescued a starving 13-year-old Jewish girl at a train station by carrying her to the rail car in which he was traveling, feeding her and covering her with his coat.
Again, like Marcia, like Lois, no big deal – probably, you've never even heard of this JPII anecdote. It was classic faith in action: A need presents itself; the Christian responds. Done; next, Lord?
And in this case, we're certain that it is the stuff of saintmaking. We do well to follow in such footsteps, especially if nobody knows about it.
A version of this story appeared on Catholic Exchange.
Posted by Rick Becker on May 4, 2014


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Latest Thinking / November 24, 2016
Oracle Cloud Day 2016
Dublin's Convention Centre – November 15th
The event kicked off with an introduction from Oracle's Regional Director John Donnelly, who acted as MC throughout the day for the guest speakers.
Highlights of the day included:
With a lot of content to get through, the first keynote speaker Ian Broughton was welcomed to the stage. Ian's presentation focused on the future of the data-driven and insights-driven companies. With less than 5% of organisations knowing the value of their data, there is huge potential to move towards being a data driven business utilising the information for both their own and their customers' benefit.
Next to take the stage was the legendary Richard Noble OBE who was holder of the land speed record between 1983 and 1997. He was also the project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which holds the current land speed record. He highlighted the importance of data in The Bloodhound Project, where his team will attempt to set a new World Land Speed Record of 1000mph! An incredible story.
After the coffee break, it was time for the first of the customer speakers to take to the stage. DNM have been working with Dublin Fire Brigade for the last few years assisting with their Digital Transformation – enabling data driven decisions in a per second response. John Lynch's presentation was focused on how Analytics is saving lives. View video here.
Brendan Woods, Group Head of Systems Delivery in the Almac Group spoke about how his team are focused on identifying and delivering innovations and solutions based on Big Data, IoT and Cloud to ultimately improve human health.
In the afternoon, there were two set of talks: Cloud PaaS & IaaS and Cloud Infrastructure.
Jon Tucker from Oracle spoke about the news included on Oracle DB 12.2. One of the most interesting ones is the extended set of PDB operations that allows a customer to move data from On Premise to the Cloud in no time. He also mentioned that Oracle is very focused on becoming the Cloud leader, as 12.2 is being released first on the cloud and will not be available on premise until later next year.
Another interesting presentation was regarding Generation2 IaaS offering. This is Oracle's rethinking of their Infrastructure as a Service strategy. Its main target will be running mission critical types of applications which are not yet running on IaaS. Their new offering includes bare-metal servers, object storage, block storage and virtual machines. Their pricing looks to be 20% lower than Amazon's offerings too!
Another interesting product that Oracle showed was the Oracle Cloud Machine. This machine is targeted at customers who want governance and control of their business, without losing the innovation and benefit from operational efficiency that Oracle Cloud offers (as they will manage deployments on the Cloud Machine remotely). On their first release, it includes Infrastructure, Java and Integration Cloud Services, but more are yet to come.
One more update was the rise of the Hybrid Cloud and how Oracle is tackling it. Imagine having some of your data in the cloud and some of your data on premise. This allows users to be flexible on how they want to allocate it. Now users can do that with Oracle Hybrid Cloud Management.
One last item worth mentioning, was the presentation about Oracle Cloud security. Security is now better than ever in the cloud since Oracle provides the following:
Customer and Oracle Security Responsibilities
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Security
Shared Identity and Access Management Security
Server Specify Security
There is a very interesting whitepaper to understand these items in more detail here.


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The International Cricket Council (ICC) presented the ICC Test championship mace to India captain Virat Kohli in the Newlands Stadium here at the conclusion of the South Africa tour on Saturday.
On behalf of the ICC, Cricket Hall of Famers Sunil Gavaskar of India and Graeme Pollock of South Africa made the presentation immediately after the awards ceremony for the T20I series.
India have ensured the number one spot on the ICC Test team rankings and a prize of $1 million after their victory in the Johannesburg Test against South Africa last month ensured that no team can move ahead of them in the rankings at the April 3 cut-off date.


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In late November I returned to my cabin near Fairbanks. I've recently updated my CDT journal.
Quite a few people have asked me if I plan to produce a DVD about my Continental Divide Trail hike last summer, similar to my Alaska Traverse video, but I didn't take any video on my hike other than some short clips with my still camera. I do have a number of my best still photos on my website however.
It sure is good to be back home and settled in after seven months on the road.
Have a good day, everyone!


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- Home
- Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Order online at lafromageriesf.com
Orders: For pick-up, please contact your local La Fromagerie (contact information below). For deliveries, order online or call our catering office at 415-864-5002 from 9 am to 5 pm. Good food takes time to be made, please place your catering orders 48 hours in advance. If you have a last minute event, please let us know and we will do our best to fulfill your order.
Delivery Monday to Friday: For orders over $200, La Fromagerie delivers & sets-up in San Francisco and South San Francisco for a flat fee of $20, and South & East Bay for a delivery fee calculated at checkout. Orders below $200 will be delivered at your door for a delivery fee calculated at checkout. If no one is available to receive the order, we will leave it in front of your door (La Fromagerie is not responsible for unattended orders).
Email: email@example.com
Cancellations: We request a 48 hours notice for all cancellations. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the pick-up or delivery time incur a fee of 50% of the cancelled order.
Payment: We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover & American Express.
Utensils: We are happy to provide a set of utensils for 50 cents per person (plate, napkin, fork & knife).
Menu and prices are subject to change without notice. We will make reasonable substitutions when an item is not available. Notice may not be given. If you have special needs, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them.


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From on-farm research to breaking yield records, James Wray is following in big footsteps in a big way in Arkansas.
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Studying is usually a type of activity that demands us to go beyond our capabilities. When we are getting raised, not frequently we may well hear optimistic things about our
Studying is usually a kind of activity that demands us to go beyond our capabilities. When we're becoming raised, not often we will probably hear optimistic things about our capabilities. Often, we usually tend to think of our personality of something a lot more or less stable and permanent but this really is a full misunderstanding. As we grow older and find out from day-to-day life, our personality changes too. It's incredible when our individuality becomes improved not worse. When a person goes to college or to other type of schooling, his personality receives a sort of signal and is basically is ready to change. Becoming in school might be tough for all of us as we're required to create a quantity of custom essay papers. And we are required to grow and develop our writing expertise too.
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Community engagement and community partnership are essential to improving the health of populations and advancing health equity because these methodologies ensure that interventions are better integrated into community life, and therefore, are more feasible, resonant and sustainable.
With that premise in mind, we help community-based organizations, clinics, civic agencies and UCSF researchers successfully collaborate to investigate, plan, disseminate, apply and evaluate their work.
We offer Consultation, Training, Convenings, workshops and a Linkage service to support community engagement and partnership in health and health care equity projects and initiatives.
Projects and initiatives include:
- Community-Based Health Research
- Practice-Based Population Health Research
- Multi-Sector Collective Impact Population Health Interventions
- Evaluation of Community-Based Health Improvement Initiatives
How Can CCE Help?
If we want more evidence-based practice, we need more practice-based evidence.
University of California, San Francisco
For Community: Our program helps build the capacity of community organizations, civic agencies and clinics to better use science and research to get your work done.
Some examples include:
- How to use existing evidence to design an evidence-based program or policy;
- How to design an evaluation of your program impact;
- How to partner with scientists to do research in your community.
For UCSF Faculty & Staff: Our program helps build the capacity of UCSF faculty and staff to better partner with civic agencies, policymakers, community-based organizations and others to leverage scientific skills and science expertise in mutually beneficial and impactful ways.
Learn how partnering in every step in research and evaluation with communities burdened by disease can help you reduce disease burden in those communities, and enhance the power of your interventions.
Get Support
Creating and Applying New Research:
- Population health research participant recruitment strategies
- Developing research instruments and tools
- Building capacity to do CER
- Fostering partnerships
- Evaluation of collective impact
- Evaluation of community engagement practices in health equity projects and programs
Sharing Existing Research:
- Dissemination of evidence-based practices
- Community-engaged research dissemination strategies
- Bringing research and community-generated evidence to:
- Health policy
- Community-based health programs
- Clinical interventions
Training and Capacity Building for Research and Evaluation:
- Creating, supporting, and training successful community advisory councils and boards
- Best practices for community partnership in health research
- Meeting facilitation and strategic planning
- Linkage to academic, clinical, civic and community partners.


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The second anniversary of the Haiti earthquake has seen some excellent follow-up reporting on what the international aid effort has achieved (see The Global Post series, with photos by Ron Haviv, as well as this morning's Guardian report and picture gallery amongst others). This focus on where the aid money has gone highlights one of the major problems with international responses to such crises – much of the money promised by governments fails to materialise.
In thinking about how outsiders react to coverage of crises, 'compassion fatigue' is commonly cited. I'm writing a research paper on why the 'compassion fatigue' thesis is a myth, and will be making that available in the near future for debate. With regards to Haiti, the international community's compassion was never in doubt. Coverage was extensive, often powerful, and the publics' charitable response was great. Even if it is applicable in other contexts, it doesn't stand up as an explanation here.
What the story of Haiti's aid money helps demonstrate is that 'donor fatigue' is a more significant issue. Although 'donor fatigue' is sometimes related to 'compassion fatigue' (see here), it is something entirely different. It refers to the fact that international donors – meaning principally governments – fail to fulfil their initial commitments. Within days of a crisis, headlines are often made with officials basking in a humanitarian glow by pledging millions to a relief effort.
When accounts are later examined, those promises are regularly unfulfilled. Haiti is a case in point, with The Guardian reporting that countries "have delivered only about half of the billions of dollars promised for reconstruction, according to UN data." The Guardian's detailed data analysis (source of the above graph) shows that:
Venezuela and the US, which promised the lion's share of reconstruction funds – more than $1.8bn together – have disbursed just 24% ($223m) and 30% ($278m) respectively. Japan and Finland are among the few donors to have fully met their pledges.
Calling this underfunding donor fatigue is misleading. 'Fatigue' suggests a reduction over time through repetition. The claim of donor fatigue implicitly assumes there was a time governments once fulfilled their pledges, but they now no longer do so. I suspect that is historically inaccurate. My sense is that government's have always generally pledged more than they have paid out.
Some support for this comes from looking at how UN Consolidated Appeals operate. The Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) is the annual global agenda of humanitarian needs. In 2011 there were twenty-one appeals to governments for funds, and the UN's Financial Tracking Service reports that only 61% of the total required was raised. In the last five years CAP fulfilment has been in the range of 60-70%, and in 2001 it was as low as 55%. The record of insufficient government aid to meet global appeals is both constant and long-standing. 'Fatigue' is therefore better understood as inaction or indifference. Most importantly, all this is hidden by the frequent invocation of 'compassion fatigue' as an explanation for any inadequate international response.
Can images play a role in overcoming government inaction in the face of humanitarian crises? Yes, pictures can provoke. In Malawi (2002) and Niger (2005), government donors responded to food insecurity only after the international media started carrying reports of famine.[nbnote ]See my paper "The Iconography of Famine" (2011), pp. 18-19 for quotes and references.[/nbnote] Far from being the cause of a mythical 'compassion fatigue', pictures have the potential to disturb the official incalcitrance we mistakenly call 'donor fatigue'.
Featured photo: PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Aug. 28, 2011) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 transports Rear Adm. Steven Ratti, U.S. Southern Command director of operations, from a temporary medical site at the Killick Coast Guard Base during Continuing Promise 2011. Continuing Promise is a five-month humanitarian assistance mission to the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter/Released)


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What an amazing selection of photographs. I didn't expect so many unique moments infront of Michel Comte's pieces of art.
A master of spontaneity and transformation who is constantly in search of new challenges. Comte's photographic eye is as sharp and alert on the red carpets of film festivals and luxury hotels as among the ruins of war zones in Afghanistan or Bosnia.
17 October 2013 to 16 February 2014
An exhibition by the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich (Museum of Design Zurich)
in cooperation with the Estate Michel Comte, I-Management (Suisse) SA
and KUNST HAUS WIEN.
KUNST HAUS WIEN. Museum Hundertwasser
Untere Weißgerberstraße 13
1030 Wien
0.000000 0.000000


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Buffalo Bills Experience
The interactive games area adjacent to the practice fields is a highlight of camp for youths. It is open whenever the Bills practice. There will be a Bills Super Slide for kids. Here's a rundown of the challenges:
Quarterback Challenge: The pressure is on as three receivers are open to catch your game-winning pass. But watch out. There is a "huge" defender who wants to get to you first.
Field Goal Challenge: You're in the final seconds of the game and the coach has sent you out to clinch the game for your team. Can you overcome the pressure and put the ball through the uprights?
Football Toss: Charles Clay is on the 20-yard line waiting for you to throw him the ball. Wait. Is that Sammy Watkins on the 5-yard line? You must make the split-second decision of who gets the ball to score the touchdown.
Bills Blaster: The end zone is in sight but the defensive linemen are blocking you at every turn. Blast past and through the course and then you must dive into the end zone to score the winning touchdown.
Red Zone: It is your opportunity to win the game. You have the ball, are headed toward the end zone, but first you have to go around and over the defensive linemen.
Obstacle Course: Dash around the defense, run through the rope course, take the long snap and throw the ball to the receiver in the end zone.
camp Schedule
Saturday, July 30: 10 a.m.-noon.
Sunday, July 31: 10 a.m.-noon.
Monday, Aug. 1: 10 a.m.-noon.
Tuesday, Aug. 2: 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 4: 10 a.m.-noon.
Friday, Aug. 5: 10 a.m.-noon.
Saturday, Aug. 6: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 8: 10 a.m.-noon.
Tuesday, Aug. 9: 10 a.m.-noon.
Wednesday, Aug. 10: 10 a.m.-noon.
Thursday, Aug. 11: 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 13: Bills vs. Colts, 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15: 10 a.m.-noon.
Tuesday, Aug. 16: 10 a.m.-noon.
Wednesday, Aug. 17: 10 a.m.-noon.
Thursday, Aug. 18: 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 20: Bills vs. N.Y. Giants, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 22: 6-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26: Bills at Redskins, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 1: Bills at Lions, 7 p.m.
Tickets are required for the practices on Aug. 2, 6, 11, 18 and 22.
All practice times are subject to change and facilities open one hour before practices beigin.
Vendor area
Near the main entrance of the camp, fans will have the chance to purchase Bills merchandise. Tickets are available online and by calling (877) 228-4257.
Kids Autograph zone
Children younger than 14 can get autographs after each practice at the Kids Autograph Zone tent. Each child can have one item signed. Because of high demand, the lines will be limited to the number of youths who can be accommodated that day. Fans can also get autographs along the fence of the field as players exit practice.
Camp Contact info
Phone number: (877) 228-4257
Source: Buffalo Bills
Frequently asked questions
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: If inclement weather prevents the Bills from practicing outdoors, the team will move indoors and those practices are closed to the public. The interactive areas will also be closed when practice is canceled. For updates, see buffalobills.com or call (877) 228-4257.
Q: What can I bring?
A: Among the things explicitly prohibited is alcohol. The Bills also reserve the right to restrict any items that are deemed inappropriate. Fans can bring their own food, beverages, small coolers, thermoses, cameras, etc.
Q: How much does it cost to attend camp?
A: Training camp admission is free. Shuttle buses cost $1 for those ages 12 to 62. Food and beverages are available at concession stands and are cash only. Bills merchandise and tickets are available for purchase in the vendor area and all major credit cards are accepted.
Q: Will there be restrooms for the public?
A: Public restrooms will be located throughout the fan areas. College buildings, however, will be closed to the public at all times.
Q: Where can I go for questions or in the event of an emergency?
A: There will be an information booth within the vendor area and a first aid tent will be available to handle any emergency medical needs.
Camp facts and figures
July 30
First day
of practice.
Aug. 22
Bills break camp.
Aug. 30
Roster cutdown
to 75 players.
Sept. 3
Roster cutdown
to 53 players.
Sept. 11 (Week 1)
Bills at Ravens 1 p.m., CBS
From Buffalo and points west: Take New York State Thruway to Exit 46. Take Route 390 North to Route 590 North to Monroe Avenue (Route 31). Turn right on Monroe Avenue. Follow green-and-white road signs to any of the shuttle lots.
Where to stay
• Hilton Garden Inn, 800 Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford. (585) 248-9000.
• Best Western Rochester Marketplace Inn, 940 Jefferson Road, Rochester. (585) 427-2700.
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 800 Jefferson Road, Rochester. (585) 475-9190.
• Fairfield Inn South, 4695 West Henrietta Road, Henrietta. (585) 334-3350.
• Holiday Inn Express, 717 East Henrietta Road, Rochester. (585) 272-7800.
• Comfort Inn, 2729 Monroe Ave, Rochester. (585) 273-8410.
Where to park
• Sutherland High School, 55 Sutherland St., Pittsford, 14534
• Pittsford Mendon High School, 472 Mendon Road, Pittsford, 14534.
• Barker Road Middle School, 75 Barker Road, Pittsford, 14534. (overflow).
The Pittsford Mendon High School and Sutherland High School lots will be used for all practices. The Barker Road Middle School serves as the overflow facility. There will be a $1 charge for ages 12-62 to ride the shuttle buses and all services are handicap accessible.


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This Spot Is Available! Don't miss this Special Opportunity!
$20 Featured Posting (that's $39 off). A featured posting is usually $59!
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Jun 13
muskegon | Hackley Park
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Globe Studios Art Show and Sale, Friday November 29th 4-9pm and Saturday November 30th,
11-6pm. 141 Whitney Place, Kitchener, ON.
Timeless Reflections, at UpTown Gallery, 75 King St. South, Waterloo, ON.
Showing Cathy Pascoe's Coloured Pencil Drawings, Louise Maree's Oil Paintings, Jim Heldmann's Watercolour Paintings and Supria Karmakar's Encaustic Mixed Media works
Two new pieces….will be shown at Globe Art Studios this Friday & Saturday.
Hope to see you there.
Also Homer Watson House and Gallery, Christmas Show. Opening Reception Saturday November 30th, 6pm.


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Converting your website to mobile compatibility is just one small part of the puzzle when considering upgrading your small business website.
Small business owners who are not in the field of internet communications often tend to think of websites in the traditional sense of a few pages created with the logo and description of a business, along with a few pages about their services and a contact page.
On the surface, people tend to focus on design and assume that newer sites are just about graphics. But the modern website scarcely resembles that traditional model under the hood; especially with the advent of mobile web browsing. Converting your website to mobile is one of many things you can do to keep up with the effective websites of modern business.
Where to start?
- The new breed of website is a marketing tool that needs to be constantly changing. If a business hopes to be found online for anything other than their actual domain name, their website has to meet certain criteria.
- A website needs to be structured, programmatically, to include precise wording, in precise places, in the right order, in generally the right amount.
- Websites need to load fast.
- They need to show continual growth – this may be yearly, bi-annually, monthly, weekly, daily, (or even hourly for large sites like news organizations).
- Websites need to have extensions into the internet landscape, through directory pages and social media accounts.
- Your websites need to talk to Google! Giving Google updates whenever you make changes.
And, increasingly, a website needs to be mobile-device friendly. To show on the tablets such as the iPad, smart phones such as iPhone and android phones. People are just unwilling to put up with trying to view a regular website that is simply shrunk in size to fit on their tiny phone screen.
Is Website to Mobile Conversion Required?
Currently, many more consumers still view websites on their desktops, however, the fastest growing segment in computing is the mobile device. And it is growing exponentially each year. This means that you need to get in front of this trending now!
Converting your website to mobile friendly is reason enough to look at re-design of your traditional site. But marketing effectiveness is the elephant in the room with regard to whether your site needs updating.
Contact Denver website designer Jon Camrud for a free analysis of your current website. We'll look at it from the standpoints of usability, "curb appeal", Google ranking potential, mobile devise compatibility, and social media friendliness.
It is always best to look at things holistically, so I don't just look at freshness, I evaluate how best to convert your website to mobile responsive for your business, and how I can help the site rank higher in Google search, as well as Bing searches.
It's time your website started working harder for you!