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Sorry folks but money has nothing to do directly with any idea of value. Instead it is a place holder for value independent of any material good or service or time. Public usage and trade establish an agreed value allowing exchange with scant loss or gain.
Observe though the insatiable human demand for money and that comes from extreme convenience.
Money always had more value in circulation than possible whatever it was made of. The value is the promise of circulation and third party acceptance..
Rise of Cryptocurrencies Like Bitcoin Begs Question: What Is Money?
By David Koepsell, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York | September 26, 2015
Last Updated: September 27, 2015 12:40 pm
When you begin to delve into the question of what money really is, you must be prepared for some metaphysics. Money, currencies, and other such media of exchange differ markedly in their backgrounds and means of operation, and have changed quite recently into forms that are barely understandable.
For centuries, minted coins not only represented the value and trust of banks, their depositors and eventually nation-states, but also were deemed valuable because they were made from precious metals like gold and silver. These metals are difficult to move around in large quantities, and so banknotes were invented as early as the seventh century in China and brought to Europe in the 13th century. Unlike coins, banknotes were not treated as valuable in themselves since they were simply printed on otherwise worthless paper. Rather, they served as a form of promissory note or IOU that could be presented to the banks that issued them in exchange for their face value in precious metal, coins, or bullion.
In the 20th century, most central banks and governments stopped backing up their currencies with precious metals, and yet banknotes maintain fluctuating values, with some in high demand as media for exchange both domestically and internationally. Dollars and euros are highly regarded and preferred currencies for international commerce, as well as for stocking private bank accounts.
Earlier this month, bitcoins and their ilk were officially deemed commodities by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which will now regulate them.
Now we have bitcoins and other digital currencies that exist entirely in blocks of zeros and ones and are even "mined" by machines running algorithms. And earlier this month, bitcoins and their ilk were officially deemed commodities by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which will now regulate them.
So as the greenbacks and quarters in our pockets slowly disappear, replaced by strings of digits stored on our smartphones, and money takes another step away from being tied to anything of value, a philosophical question comes to mind: does money still exist? And if so, what gives it its value?
What's Value Without Value?
Money is a "fungible" item, which means that exchange of any one portion for a portion of equal value is not a "taking" of property. That is, you don't own a particular $100 bill. You own the value it represents.
This is how banks have long worked, since when you deposit your money, you are not entitled to receive the same coins or bills back as you deposited. This is also how "fractional reserve" banking began (in which banks do not keep all the curency on deposit "within" the bank, just some fraction of it) and was not regarded somehow as theft. People took their money to a bank, they were given a note of deposit, which entitled them to withdraw the same amount plus some interest, but they were not entitled to the same coins or bills that they deposited.
The money on deposit in a bank is not all physically in the bank (excepting that which is in safety deposit boxes) and has not been really since banking was invented. When you deposit a sum, you no longer own the paper or other medium of exchange used for the deposit, legally. What you own is a debt and obligation by the bank to return the equivalent amount of money with interest.
Without precious metal standards backing national currencies, and in the age of digital transactions, money is decreasingly tied to banknotes, just as its ties to metals have faded.
John Searle has described things like money as "some special sort" of social objects. That is, X (coins, bills, strings of digits) work as Y (money) in context C (an economy, coffee shop, bank, et cetera). In the case of money, anything can conceivably take on the Y role even without an X (think a barter economy). Where metals, then bills and now bits in computer memory take the role of X, money might well be a "free-standing" Y, meaning it could exist without anything to represent it except the web of intentional states (the debts and obligations) that make more familiar forms of money function. It's only physical manifestation might be a note in a ledger.
Without precious metal standards backing national currencies, and in the age of digital transactions, money is decreasingly tied to banknotes, just as its ties to metals have faded. Digital ledgers track exchanges and accounts, with digital strings in computer memories representing the trust and value we once attached to more solid things like coins, bills and notes, in more ephemeral digitally encoded, instantly accessible forms attached to cellphones, computers, and chip cards.
A Brave New World
New types of cryptocurrencies (where cryptography protects its integrity) like bitcoin and others take the concept one step further, distributing the banking to all its users, tying the transactions and ledgers to no particular party but to all users at once. This is similar to mirrored bank servers, but bitcoin is mirrored among all bitcoin owners.
A bitcoin is as ownable as dollars are when they are deposited in a bank. Skipping the stage of physical, fungible currencies, bitcoins exist by virtue of their representations in a ledger in cyberspace. The information encoded in a massively distributed and constantly updated blockchain is incapable of the exclusivity required for owning objects in the traditional sense. But the same is true of the information that tracks most of the money in the world. Money in nearly every denomination exists and flows in a similar state, represented by digital bits.
Bitcoins nonetheless lack some of the institutional guarantees that other types of money has due to nations and their laws.
Trading on Trust
Depositors to banks are protected in their debts by states, generally, and through contracts with their banks. State insurance and the contractual guarantee that a bank will pay back what has been put into them mean that there is some force behind our trust in the continued existence of a person's wealth while digitally stored in a bank's servers. The blockchain exists on many servers at once, spread across the universe of bitcoin owners.
Without government insurance or contractual guarantees, only mutual trust maintains the value and integrity of the system. What bitcoin owners own is the debt, just as those who own money in banks own debts that are recorded in bits. They do not own the bits that comprise the information representing that debt, nor the information itself, they own the social object—the money—that those bits represent.
Bank ledgers exist. They are tangible, even though digital, and they record the debts owed among parties. While cyberspace is ephemeral, it is still real and physically based. Digital bank ledgers now track money without the necessity for physical transfers of currencies.
Bitcoins too exist as digital records of obligations, physically encoded on servers of those who hold them, propagated and distributed for transparency and security, encrypted for privacy. Bitcoins are as real as money in banks. What's most fascinating about these new digital cryptocurrencies is how much they reveal about the surreal nature of currencies and wealth in our digitized economy.
If bitcoins are as real as any other money, how real can money be?
David Koepsell is an adjunct associate professor at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. This article was previously published on TheConversation.com


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Asset Deposition and Management
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subset: commoncrawl


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The current low-yield environment is challenging investors' reliance on traditional asset classes, such as equities and bonds, and with that the traditional 60/40 portfolio, to provide sufficient returns to meet their investment goals. Here our Multi-Asset Solutions team explore why strategic asset allocation (SAA) may not be enough in markets ahead and how to select an appropriate objectives-based strategy.
We don't believe that simply holding a large number of asset categories provides real diversification
Strategic asset allocation, while simple in its design and so far successful, has never really considered the retirement phase of investing. As an investor approaches retirement, two things have changed from when they first started saving; firstly they've got more capital at risk and secondly, they've got a shorter investment horizon. Both of these factors expose the investor to sequencing risk. With that being the case, we don't think you can rely on long run averages to the extent that we have historically.
As an asset allocator, the 'holy grail' is uncorrelated returns. The equity/bond relationship that has served SAA products so well over the past 3-4 decades, is going to become more dynamic as bond yields move to a new regime.
We advocate for uncorrelated return drivers within a portfolio, which reduce volatility and improve investment outcomes. To do this, we must take into account and understand the dynamic relationships and valuations of asset classes. In practice, at times this may translate to not holding expensive and/or correlated assets that won't add value to the portfolio. The litmus test of true diversification will manifest itself through higher consistency of returns and lower drawdowns for investors.
If we're going to deal with sequencing risk, we need to remove the handcuffs of the 60/40 or 50/50 allocations and look beyond just adding returns, but more importantly, abating risks.
We believe genuine multi-asset products are the best way to achieve superior risk/reward outcomes, as investors have the broadest set of investment tools at their disposal. That said, having the tools is not enough; we believe you need to be flexible and dynamic to achieve long term sustainable investment goals.
But what is a genuine multi-asset product?
The advent of objective-based investing has provided greater focus on the achievement of specific outcomes, rather than 'beating the market'. While the proliferation of product offerings has been positive for investors, to the extent that it has provided choice, these funds are not an investable asset class that can be tracked with a passive index; rather they are a standalone product. This means return objectives will vary, which makes any meaningful comparison difficult. Peer universes (i.e. a range of similar products) are being developed, but are hard to define with managers taking different paths to achieve returns and protect investors' capital. As such, many funds fit the broad definition of a multi-asset strategy. With investors' focus moving toward achieving specific outcomes the 'how' becomes crucial.
The lack of homogeneity in this sector presents an issue for performance comparison. There are two commonly used, although imperfect, comparison practices in the market:
#1 The traditional 60-40 portfolio
There isn't a passively-investable benchmark that achieves a set return over cash or inflation with low volatility. Investors want the 'holy grail' of investment; meaningful returns with low risk. However active management is required to deliver these returns. This has led to performance comparison of the set-and-forget strategy. The fixed 60-40 equity/bond allocation is simple in its approach and can be passively replicated. This comparison misses two important points, though. First, the idea investors are willing, or pleased, to narrow the path of returns, i.e. giving up some of the extreme positive returns for less exposure to negative outcomes. Second, it assumes that investors are willing to bear this level of risk, and the benchmark is appropriate going forward.
#2 Peer groups
Peer group rankings can be useful in comparing active manager performance and risk characteristics. The key essence of a peer group is that they are equal, similar and comparable. The multi-asset investment universe is vast and, to date, it has been difficult to define meaningful sub groups within multi-asset. As a result, large numbers of multi-asset funds with varying strategies are grouped together. This has led to large, all-encompassing, peer universes. From balanced funds that are set-and-forget, risk parity, active total return, non-market directional alpha strategies and everything in between. In some cases it can even include single asset class strategies or a constrained investment universe.
This has resulted in peer universes with hundreds of funds which are not comparable in investment objectives, risk characteristics or holdings.
What to look for in a multi-asset product
We would encourage investors to set out what it is they require from their investment in the form of return, risk tolerance and investment horizon. This will help in matching their needs to a multi-asset offering. The central tenet of objective-based funds was to decouple the path of an investor's returns from the underlying market's performance.
Investors should look for:
- A total return objective; this could be relative to cash or inflation
- A stated rolling investment horizon over which to achieve the return target regardless of financial market conditions
- The ability to access a wide range of asset classes and sectors
- Significantly less risk (volatility and drawdown) than equities
We also believe multi-asset strategies should also have flexible product designs which are not constrained by benchmarks or restricted to long-only investment. They must be truly dynamic in their asset allocation to take advantage of market opportunities when they arise across the full spectrum of equities, bonds, currencies and alternatives.
We design our multi-asset strategies to maximise the probability of meeting its investment objective over a stated investment horizon (rolling five years). This doesn't take into account peer group investment positioning or performance. It also decouples us from a capital market benchmark such as the 60-40 portfolio. We believe this maximises the chance of delivering an attractive investment outcome for our investors.
Important Information
This material has been prepared and issued by First Sentier Investors (Australia) IM Ltd (ABN 89 114 194 311, AFSL 289017) (Author). The Author forms part of First Sentier Investors, a global asset management business. First Sentier Investors is ultimately owned by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc (MUFG), a global financial group. A copy of the Financial Services Guide for the Author is available from First Sentier Investors on its website.
This material contains general information only. It is not intended to provide you with financial product advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should consider, with a financial advisor, whether this information is appropriate in light of your investment needs, objectives and financial situation. Any opinions expressed in this material are the opinions of the Author only and are subject to change without notice. Such opinions are not a recommendation to hold, purchase or sell a particular financial product and may not include all of the information needed to make an investment decision in relation to such a financial product.
CFSIL is a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Bank). First Sentier Investors was acquired by MUFG on 2 August 2019 and is now financially and legally independent from the Bank. The Author, MUFG, the Bank and their respective affiliates do not guarantee the performance of the Fund(s) or the repayment of capital by the Fund(s). Investments in the Fund(s) are not deposits or other liabilities of MUFG, the Bank nor their respective affiliates and investment-type products are subject to investment risk including loss of income and capital invested.
To the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted by MUFG, the Author, the Bank nor their affiliates for any loss or damage as a result of any reliance on this material. This material contains, or is based upon, information that the Author believes to be accurate and reliable, however neither the Author, MUFG, the Bank nor their respective affiliates offer any warranty that it contains no factual errors. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author.
In Australia, 'Colonial', 'CFS' and 'Colonial First State' are trade marks of Colonial Holding Company Limited and 'Colonial First State Investments' is a trade mark of the Bank and all of these trade marks are used by First Sentier Investors under licence.


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Well, as far as we're concerned, surviving winter in Fethiye isn't about surviving at all. We love it! But we do get many people asking us, "But what do you do in winter? What's the weather like? Don't you get bored?" No. In fact, we'd love Fethiye to be on everyone's winter itineraries. For starters, with the exception of Saklıkent Gorge, our Fethiye Must Sees would be very easy to complete.
Of course, the long, hot summer days and balmy nights are what immediately comes to mind when Fethiye is mentioned, but life here doesn't come to a grinding halt just because the last summer flight has left Dalaman Airport. This is when Fethiye and its residents switch to winter mode and make the most of what's on offer when the sun isn't sapping every ounce of energy.
Trekking In Fethiye
There are many trails around the hills of Fethiye, and a sunny day in winter is perfect for getting away from the centre and enjoying the open spaces. We love to walk from Fethiye to Kayaköy or from Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz, or even both at once, depending on how energetic we're feeling.
It's only in winter that the air is so clear. The summer haze disperses, leaving extensive views and colourful contrasts of the azure blues of the Mediterranean against the lush green of the pine forests. It's scenery like this that strips away any tendencies to start becoming blasé about where we live. And, for those of you who are keen on photography, winter time is when you'll get your best photos of the Fethiye scenery.
You can take a look at all of our recommended Fethiye walks if you need more inspiration, for winter or any other time of year.
Fethiye Beaches
We're not beach people. That doesn't mean we don't enjoy beaches. We just don't like sunbathing, so, if you're ever looking for us in summer, you're more likely to find us in a bar with an Efes Pilsen rather than horizontal on the sand.
However, once the winter months hit, the beaches around Fethiye are deserted and that's when they come into their own for these two non-sunbathers. We usually mix in a trip to the beach with our trekking such as the walk to Kuleli Koyu. Take a picnic and enjoy the solitude of the bays as it's likely you'll be the only people there, unless you go on a Sunday.
Our favourite winter beach has got to be Gemiler Bay. The council snack bar (on the left side of the beach) is open all year – so if you hike to Af Kule and then down to Gemiler Beach afterwards, you'll know there's refreshment waiting for you at the bottom.
Fethiye Sightseeing In Winter
The winter months in Fethiye are perfect for hiring a car or taking a bus to some of the nearby archaeological sites and towns such as the supremely pretty Kaş. Where the archaeological sites are concerned, as with the beaches, this is the time of year where you could well be the only people there, giving you a real feel for the place and you're not going to be sweltering as you explore the site.
We were the only visitors there when we visited the Turkish UNESCO heritage sites of Letoon and Xanthos earlier this year. And, of course, it's much easier to get your photos and choose the angles you want, without people's heads bobbing in the way or tour buses suddenly coming into shot in the background. It really does make a huge difference, having the place to yourself.
Build A Fethiye Snowman
This is one for when winter really kicks in. Actually, what prompted the writing of this post was a telltale bite in the wind yesterday. A telltale bite that tells you the snow has started to fall on the higher mountains. By February, the snow will have encroached to the lower slopes and we will only be a 20-minute drive away from snowball fun.
This is not an activity we partake in every year (well, we are 38 year old adults!) but it's certainly good fun when the folks of Fethiye hit the road and head to the snow in Nif for the day. If you decide to join the convoy, expect roadside barbecues (despite the snowy weather), people sledging on plastic carrier bags and in washing up bowls and the sculpting of many, many snowmen.
Enjoy A Night Out In Fethiye, Indoors
Our first four tips are all about getting out there and making the most of the great outdoors, but let's now go inside to get warm. In summer, we enjoy sitting outside the bars and restaurants of Fethiye, just as we do in winter…in the daytime. As soon as the sun goes down, the temperatures drop and fires are lit. Deep Blue Bar and Cafe Geniş have cosy, open fires to entice customers through their doors.
It can be very difficult to tear ourselves away from the warmth of our own home on the cold winter nights – but there's usually something going on that tempts us to brave the cold occasionally. Cafe Pazar recently hosted a tapas night with live music and we're sometimes enticed up the hill to enjoy occasional festive treats at the Sundial. Oh, and Sundial have an open fire in winter, too. Lovely!
These are just FIVE things we love about winter in Fethiye. There are so many more but we'll save them for another post. What do you enjoy most about winter where you are?


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I recently came across this website, https://ilovetorun.org ,that allows you to create your cartoon self and funny run quotes to go with it. People have submitted hundreds already. You can also have caricatures done and sign up for challenges. I have used this site to help keep me motivated and challenge myself.
Since it has been a while since I have posted anything on fitness, I thought I would share this little gem of a site. Happy running!


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Name: Bobbie Gardner
What do you do?
Musician, (Composer, Keys Player, DJ), Project Management, Facilitator, Social Media facilitation for Education and the Arts.
Where are you based?
Birmingham, but work all over.
Who are your key collaborators (or who would you like to collaborate with)?
Kismet team – Rose Oliver; visual artist and curator, Ian Sergeant; arts administrator, curator extraordinaire, (made films back in the day in Brizzle), Saad Bashir – project management, wordsmith, journalist , Ross Cotton – (the future) music journalist, they are beautiful, driven people who inspire, feed and humour me, young people I teach and do workshops work with.
I'd like to work with Arvo Part and John Adams, two amazing composers, oh and Williard White – I met him when a kid singing in the CBSOYC.
What keeps you working in Birmingham?
Love for my nuclear family.
The strong connections I have with my artistic family and arts organisations/schools.
I have forged national and international connections and am continuing to do so with inspiring creatives – social media is great for this. The rent is considerably cheaper here, for the £600 I was paying a month in the smoke, I had a tiny box in what became a rapidly gentrified area of Hackney and didn't feel particularly safe. I now pay a lot less than this, in my abode I have space to rehearse, compose and practice capoeira moves, oh and a garden!
Is there anything about the city you find difficult in terms of what you're trying to do?
I initially found it hard to connect with musicians, as in when trying to join bands, found the scene very male dominated, (which is not to say that this was down to a conspiracy by Birmingham based male musos to shut ladies out). However this is changing, I've found an amazing reggae band and am hoping to start an ensemble with some very talented ladies.
I used to struggle with people's attitude to Birmingham; those who have never stepped foot here can be very opinionated, some (mainly Southerners) see Brum as the countryside/backwards. Brummies are quite humble and on the whole understated. I feel that because we don't blow our own trumpet we are overlooked by cities such as Bristol and Manchester.
Type into your search engine of choice "What's On in Birmingham" and behold the results. The top websites that come up I think are pretty dire, they read so corporate. Does it really assist tourists or people new to the city in finding the wealth of creative goodness here? A stronger online presence (or joined up one, as there are some great sites out there, CiB, LiveBrum) can help artists connect with new audiences.
Signage – we need to work on this too, there is so much amazing stuff happening in Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter but not much work has been done to make this easily accessible.
Transport networks – wish there were more trains South Birmingham side (Moseley, Kings Heath). god bless the no. 50 route! If we could connect the city a bit better (and not make it extortionate in price) it might enable greater exploration of the city.
If you were trying to persuade someone to make a living in the arts in Birmingham what would you say?
Come! Check it out, the more the merrier, it would be great to have a influx of creatives, come take advantage of the great transport links, dive into a community of salt of the earth, friendly, artistic folk. The more creatives who reside here the more competitive it will make the artistic scene which would be really exciting!
What's your next project?
I am working on all of these and sleeping a lot less:
1. March 17th -as part of Flatpack Festival, Kismet (based at club PST cafe space) will host a fantasy/spiritual themed space for those in need of a little respite in between events. We will be armed with seasonal herbal teas, freshly made cakes, mellowing incense, short films, and a sound and animation – created by myself, illustrator StinaJones and woven together by Leon Trimble."
2. 30th/31st March world premiere of "Push and Pull" by Uchenna Dance Co. I have written the score for it.
3. Film project soundscape score to complete.
4. Film and music events for my promotion Rea River Soul in partnership with Mr. Sergeant, April, May and hopefully a biggie in June.
5. A personal composition project based on my hometown – and the different wards – inspired by Mr. Sufjan Stephens.


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METALCON International is recognized as the only annual event for metal construction products, technologies, and solutions. It is also well known for sharing resources with communities in which this international event has been held.
Each year since 1994 when METALCON International began its giving-back initiative, it has proudly met the goal of donating goods, services, and/or funds to non-profit organizations and worthy causes serving local host communities. Past recipients of METALCONs generous efforts include Homes for Our Troops a national organization that provides new accessible homes for disabled veterans and their families.
As METALCON evolves, so does its giving initiative. This years giving-back recipient is Atlanta-based Its The Journey, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and producer of the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. Over the past 10 years the 2-Day Walk has funded 188 grants totaling $9 million to support breast health programs throughout the state.
The 11th annual 2-Day Walk takes place October 5-6 just two days after the conclusion of METALCON 2013, which runs from Tuesday-Thursday, October 1-3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta.
METALCON has set a donation goal of $25,000 and has begun fundraising efforts. With full participation by exhibitors, attendees, speakers, vendors and staff, our goal will be easily achieved. Further, we hope many within this circle will also join our METALCON Team the Metal Magnolias in the 2-Day Walk. By building on the comradeship and team spirit engendered during the show, we can fulfill our hope of offering generous support to this worthy charity. Working to fulfill this sponsorship is also a wonderful journey that we can enjoy together, notes Claire Kilcoyne, METALCON Show Director.
Donations can be made by logging on to the Metal Magnolias team page at www.2daywalk.org.kintera.org/2013Walker/metalcon and clicking on General Team Donation. Contributions in the form of a check made payable to Its The Journey, Inc. can also be sent directly to METALCON, 10 Midland Ave, Newton, MA 02458. All contributions will be acknowledged and funds will be tallied on the team site.
To join the team and walk without a fee, download, complete and mail a Metal Magnolias walker form to Its The Journey, Inc., 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 515, Atlanta, GA 30328. Walker forms are posted on www.metalcon.com. Metal Magnolias 2-Day Walkers will receive a hotel room at the Marriott Marquis for Saturday night and all meals for the weekend. Potential donors and walkers can also contact Claire Kilcoyne for more details at either email@example.com or 800-537-7765.
METALCON International is the only annual conference and exposition focused on metal construction products, technologies and solutions. The 23rd annual METALCON takes place October 1-3, 2013 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
METALCON is produced by Newton, MA-based PSMJ Resources, Inc. and sponsored by the Metal Construction Association. MCA is an organization of leading manufacturers and suppliers headquartered in Glenview, IL. PSMJ is the worlds leading authority on the effective management of architecture, engineering and construction firms.
METALCON draws designers, builders, developers, contractors, fabricators, and suppliers from more than 52 countries. Experts from more than 300 companies exhibit the latest products and technology and share their knowledge with attendees, while industry specialists present key topics in the education program. Specialists from the Metal Construction Association and other industry related associations also present the latest applications and field techniques in daily demonstrations in the exhibit hall.
For general information about METALCON, visit www.metalcon.com or call PSMJ Resources, Inc. /METALCON at 800-537-7765.


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the driver of change.
At our Amsterdam office, we are looking for professionals with an academic background and two or more years of working experience (or a PhD) in any industry. If you have an open-minded personality and impressive analytical skills, you will fit perfectly into our team.
We offer you a team-based and intellectually stimulating experience in an entrepreneurial, fast-growing company. Considering our international project environment, a good command of the Dutch language and excellent English skills are required.
As a Consultant at Roland Berger, exciting challenges await you:
- Working on strategy projects in various industries
- Assuming responsibility for a project module
- Conducting interviews with clients
- Preparing and participating in workshops
- Performing market research and data analysis
- Preparing client presentations
Are you ready to experience the world of consulting in an inspiring atmosphere?
We look forward to receiving your online application.
Please note that your application should include a cover letter (in Dutch), resume and your official transcripts from high school and university.
Please use our online application form.
If you have any questions, contact Ms. Fieke Wolting at 0031 (0)20 7960677.


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Earn points toward FREE PIZZA with Piece of the Pie Rewards
More About Domino's in Winter Haven
Domino's: We're Reinventing Pizza Delivery in Winter Haven
For Winter Haven pizza delivery that's faster and fresher than you could ever imagine, choose Domino's. When you order Domino's you're not ordering an ordinary, "so-so" pizza. You're ordering a pizza with crispy-crunchy crust baked to your specifications, a handcrafted marinara sauce made from only the most excellent tomatoes, and a yummy collection of toppings that'll please both veggie addicts and pepperoni lovers alike! With Domino's pizza, your grumbling tummy won't be grumbling much longer.
At Domino's in Winter Haven, it's never been easier to get the fast and fresh pizza your tastebuds are begging you for! Stop by the Domino's nearest you to place a carryout order, or order your pizza over the phone or online.
Get started by selecting your favorite crust. Choose from a hand-tossed crust that's overflowing with buttery flavor, a pan crust featuring two whopping layers of cheese, a crunchy thin crust, or even a gluten-free pizza crust! Then, choose a sauce and pile on as many or as few toppings as you want. Whether you want to combine sausage, bacon, salami and green peppers, or stick to a blend of cheddar, mozzarella, feta, and asiago cheese, you can make your dreams come true at your local Domino's!
With more than 34 million different ways to handcraft a Domino's pizza, you can be sure we've got a slice for whatever your tastebuds are craving. Customize your pizza from bottom to top or choose from one of our chef-inspired specialty pizzas, like the ever popular Buffalo Chicken, Pacific Veggie, or Ultimate Pepperoni and have it delivered hot and fresh to your doorstep, fast!
Pizza Delivery in Winter Haven: Deliciousness at Your Door
Order from your Winter Haven Domino's and you'll see—we're pretty serious folks when it comes to pizza delivery. In fact, we guarantee your pizza will arrive hot and fresh, right from our oven to your door. Can't wait for your pie to arrive? Use our patented Pizza TrackerⓇ system and follow your pizza order as it's prepped, baked, and headed out the door for delivery... and try not to drool on your phone or computer in the meantime.
Your Tastebuds Want Pizza Takeout in Winter Haven
Sure, we deliver pizza, but we're also experts when it comes to fast pizza takeout in Winter Haven. When you visit, feel free to order from our pizza menu or order something entirely new! Give your tastebuds exactly what they're looking for with an order of stuffed cheesy bread, an oven-baked sandwich, flavorful salad, or rich pasta, and event satisfyingly sweet desserts like Domino's Marbled Cookie Brownie™. It's a decadent blend of gooey milk chocolate chunk cookie and rich fudge brownie that'll have you begging for another.
Visit one of our more than 12,000 locations around the world and you'll see: we know what it means to provide great customer service and even better food quality. Our aim is to not only be the best pizza delivery company in Florida, but also the world, and everything from our sweet pizza deals and coupons to our friendly delivery drivers reflects this pledge. Go digital and place your order using our free smartphone app, order online, or call your local Domino's restaurant in Winter Haven for satisfyingly fast pizza delivery and carryout today! We aren't any old Winter Haven pizza restaurant. We're your go-to pizza place in Winter Haven!


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WilmerHale (Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP)
Published February 2011
2011 Vault Ranking: 17
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (more commonly known as WilmerHale) was created by the 2004 merger of Boston-based firm Hale and Dorr and Washington D.C. based Wilmer Cutler & Pickering. Hale and Dorr was founded in Boston in 1918, and had a long standing relationship with Harvard Law School, home of the WilmerHale Legal Services Center. Wilmer Cutler & Pickering was founded in 1962 by former Cravath attorneys. After the merger, WilmerHale features nearly a thousand attorneys in twelve offices worldwide.
WilmerHale, or its component firms, have participated in high profile litigation throughout their existence. In the 1980s, Hale and Dorr represented Beatrice Foods, one of the defendants along with W.R. Grace in the case that was memorialized in the book A Civil Action. Wilmer Cutler & Pickering meanwhile represented Swiss banks accused of profiting from the Holocaust, as well as a number of German companies accused of exploiting forced labor during the Nazi era. Wilmer also was instrumental in investigating Enron and WorldCom, as well as engaging in significant pro bono work, including arguing capital punishment for minors is unconstitutional, defending the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold
Bill, and representing the University of Michigan to defend its affirmative action policy before the Supreme Court.
Today the firm is known for its litigation expertise as well as its regulatory practice and government connections, with more than a hundred attorneys who have held high-level government positions. Focusing in areas not heavily hit by the recession, WilmerHale's gross revenue dropped only 1.5% in 2009, and the firm reported its highest ever profit per partner that year, $1.16 million.
Practice Areas
Though WilmerHale is in theory a full service firm, it has a handful of clear strengths, mainly in Intellectual Property, Litigation, Securities, and Regulatory/Government Affairs. In 2009, the firm filed more than 1,550 patent applications and 1,400 trademark applications on behalf of clients such as Honda, Pfizer, and Deutsche Bank. The firm had involvement with notable Supreme Court case Bilski v. Kappos.
In litigation, the firm is named as one of the top 10 global dispute practices by The Lawyer. The firm has practiced in unprecedented oral arguments at The Hague, representing the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Attorneys from the firm have argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court and various appellate courts. The IP ligitators had, as of early 2010, eleven consecutive wins before the US International Trade Commission and the Federal Circuit. WilmerHale is also widely known for its pro bono representation, being named one of the top 10 pro bono firms in the AmLaw 100.
The firm is rounded out with its significant regulatory and securities practice groups. It has represented various banks in U.S. agency and congressional hearings, as well as representing media companies before the FCC. It has significant antitrust practice before the FTC, as well as large amounts of securities work, both in litigation and transactional areas.
Nationally, WilmerHale holds Band 1 or 2 rankings from Chambers and Partners in Antitrust, Appellate Law, various Financial Services Regulation, Intellectual Property, International Trade, and Life Sciences. Regionally, the firm has Band 1 or 2 rankings in Antitrust, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Private Equity, Litigation, and Telecom in Washington D.C., and Antitrust, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits, Environmental, IP, General Litigation, Private Equity, Real Estate, and Tax in Massachusetts.
Summer Program
WilmerHale has a fairly traditional ten-week summer program in its Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto offices. Summer Associates have flexibility to choose assignments from multiple practice areas that align with their interests, and are expected to complete an average of ten assignments over the summer. Participants are assigned both a partner and associate mentor, though reports suggest that feedback from attorneys is not as readily forthcoming as they would like. Summers typically leave the office by 6:30 P.M., and weekend work is uncommon.
Summer associates may attend an unlimited number of attorney lunches, as well as weekly social events. While the events are well received, some suggest it can be difficult to balance work, social events, and outside life at the firm. In 2009, the firm made offers to 92% of the summer associates, and in 2010 cut the size of its summer class from 104 to 66.
Compensation and Benefits
Historically, WilmerHale has paid the market rate of $160,000 to first year associates, and its bonuses had tracked the Cravath model. However in December 2009, the firm announced that it would be phasing in a merit-based compensation structure through 2012. Under the new system, a larger percentage of each attorney's total compensation would be in the form of bonuses, determined based on criteria such as firm performance, quality of work, quality of client service, efficiency, productivity, collegiality, and other factors. It is unclear how many of these theoretically objective standards (and some clearly subjective ones) can be measured with any sort of consistency.
Until the new system is entirely in place, associates are required to bill a minimum of 2,000 hours, including pro bono work, to receive base level bonuses. There are also heightened bonuses at 2,200 and 2,400 hours, however they are not significant increases.
There is a single partnership track at the firm, and it requires a minimum of eight and a half years – one whole year longer than the standard seven found at many peer firms. The firm has been promoting fewer partners in recent years, declining from 22 in 2007 to 10 in 2008 and 9 in 2009. Lateral associates are at no disadvantage compared to homegrown ones for partnership.
In some respects, WilmerHale seems to be a firm still trying to find its identity. Vault surveys and other measures of employee satisfaction and opinion seem to vary wildly, often giving diametrically opposed opinions. For example, on the issue of whether face time is important, Lateral Link reports that face time is very important, and associates are expected to be in the office during normal hours. If you need to work from home for a day, it needs to be discussed with the partners you work with. Meanwhile the Vault survey includes the nugget: "Plus, no face-time culture. Most attorneys leave and will work at home if they have work." Vault respondents acknowledge there is a distinct difference in the culture between the Boston, D.C., and New York offices in particular. Any prospective associate would do well to research the specific office and practice group for which they are applying.
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text: Digital LinkedIn Opening Platform By Nick O'Neill|June 24, 2007 Share By Nick O'Neill|June 24, 2007 Share Last night I received a tip: LinkedIn is considering opening their platform to developers. If true, this would be huge news. While a bit skeptical, there are a few reasons that this could actually be taking place. Since Facebook opened their platform almost a month ago, I have been receiving the majority of my professional contact requests through Facebook and not LinkedIn. I have read others around the blogosphere that are experiencing the same phenomenon. As this occurs, LinkedIn is going to have to take some sort of action that keeps them in the game. This may be it. Enabling developers to build applications for their network would be huge, but they would also have to be cautious when launching a developer platform. LinkedIn is known for its absence of distractions within profiles. If they opened their platform, individuals' profiles could rapidly become cluttered with excess features. As a result LinkedIn would need an effective application filtering process that only allows value-added applications to their platform. While this is currently an unverified source, it makes a lot of sense. Additionally, I've been thinking more about how Facebook could really put the nail in LinkedIn's coffin. Facebook currently offers the ability to control how much of your profile individual friends can view. Some friends can only view my limited profile, while others can view everything about me. While I have yet to take advantage of this feature, taking it one step further could be the end of LinkedIn. If Facebook allowed users to differentiate between their professional and social relationships and control what parts of their profile are visible based on relationship type, it would be the end of most social networks. There would no longer be the need for spreading your relationships across multiple social networks since you can control all of them from one place. Additionally, using the existing platform someone could already develop an application that provides alternative profiles for users. While this won't be as effective as Facebook developing it them self, it would be a step in the right direction. LinkedIn is still growing like gang busters (adding over 180,000 users per day on top of an existing user base of 11 million) and they are going to have to take immediate action to secure them self as the leader in business networking. Weeks ago, LinkedIn CEO Dan Nye claimed that they will "own business networking." Such confidence could prove disastrous if Facebook heeds my advice to allow users to differentiate between professional and social relationships. Perhaps Nye's confidence was based on the fact that he knows LinkedIn has something up their sleeve. That something may just be opening up their platform. According to CNN LinkedIn may even choose to become integrated with Facebook. Wouldn't it at least be smart, then, for LinkedIn to deploy itself as an application on Facebook, given Facebook's new open API strategy? Quite possibly, said Nye who pointed out that Hoffman was an early investor in Facebook, and that Facebook backer Peter Thiel also has money in LinkedIn. "We know each other well," said Nye. "We like each other." The bottom line is that a battle has been started between the two networks (both Valleywag and Scoble have commented on this) and the opening of LinkedIn's platform may only be retaliatory attack to Facebook's decision to open up. This will surely be a good fight.If you enjoyed this post then subscribe to my RSS feed. Share http://adweek.it/2kix1qQ copy Adweek Adweek


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In Sweden, where we have our head office, the electricity grid is well developed and the energy is cheap. We seldom have power outages. The few times there is an outage it normally just take a couple of hours before the power comes back again and people can continue with whatever they were doing. This is an incredible luxury that is not avaliable for everyone. One of the 17 sustainable development goals says that it should be, and we couldn't agree more.
Goal 7 says that we should ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The UN states that "sustainable energy is opportunity – it transforms lives, economies and the planet". We want to do this. We will do this. We are doing it right now.


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Shri Brahmarshi Vishwamitra
Shri Brahmarshi Vishwamitra is considered to be one of the most revered rishis (sages) of the ancient India.
As per the Puranas, there have been only 24 Rishis in India who have the Gayatri Mantra. It is believed that Sage Vishwamitra is the first saint of the 24 saints, and Sage Yajnavalkya the last. He also claims the distinction of being the author of the majority portion of the Mandala 3 of the Rig-Veda.


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Want to be genetically younger than your actual years? Of course you do, and the way to achieve it is by adopting the Mediterranean diet, and its mix of vegetables, olive oil, fresh fish and fruits, a new study has found.
The diet appears to stop our DNA from 'scrambling' as we age, and people who stick closely to the diet show fewer signs of ageing in their cells, say researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston.
The researchers analysed the blood samples from 32,825 women and compared the results to their diets. The women who stuck more closely to the diet had longer telomeres, protective caps at the end of our chromosomes, which store our DNA code. They prevent the loss of genetic information during cell division.
Normally as we age telomeres get shorter. The health of telomeres helps us measure cellular ageing, and their shortening has been related to a range of age-related diseases such as heart disease and cancers.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamins, and this seems to provide a buffer against damage of our tissues and cells, the researchers say.
(Source: British Medical Journal, 2014; 349: g6674)


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The FAEI is the national representative organisation for the aerospace industry in Ireland. For fifteen years, the FAEI has been supporting and representing the industry. The primary role of the federation is to ensure that the importance of the industry is recognised by policy-makers and that national policies take into account the needs of the industry. The Federation has forged links across industry, government, and the state agencies and performs a vital role in aligning interests and fostering dialogue.
|News & Events


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We'll be writing about one woman every week that we find awesome. They will be awesome for many different reasons, they might be, writers, actresses, scientists or activists. They'll be from all walks of life, they'll be interesting, inspiring and they'll be absolutely killing it in whatever they do. We hope you can channel their awesomeness to aid and inspire you.
Baddie Winkle
Helen Ruth Elam Van Winkle is better known as Baddie Winkle. The 88yr old internet sensation and great-grandmother is nothing short of a legend and has over 3 million Instagram followers to prove it. Her Instagram tagline "Stealing Your Man Since 1928" is a well known quote amongst millennials.
Baddie burst onto the scene some 3yrs ago after her great-granddaughter tweeted a picture of her in cut off jeans and a tie dye top. The picture went viral overnight and Baddie Winkle was born. Her outfits are a daily inspiration not just for the fact they are seriously trendy but also for the care-free, age defying attitude that Baddie promotes.
She is a regular on the red carpet, counts a host of A-listers as friends and has collaborations with major brands such as Smirnoff and Missguided under her belt. Pretty cool for a great-grandmother! The Telegraph newspaper actually named her "The coolest grandma on the planet". We'd take that.
Baddie Winkle we stand tall and salute you. Like everyone else on this Earth, we think you are a total legend. Thanks for being you, you are awesome and inspiring.


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Sometimes when i'm talking with people about upcycle design, they ask me which design I like most. And my answer is always the same. There're several designs I like, but for me the best upcycle design is where there's a collaboration between designer and a community in making upcycle design out of trash. Where the designer comes up with an idea and where a local community is taught how to make these design products using their skills. Most of the time I come across projects situated in India and now I found a project in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Youngsters learn how to make trash design
The project is called Ffrash and is initiated and organized by Gina Provo Kluit, a Dutch woman who is living in Jakarta. Dutch design studio OOOMS was invited to co-operate in the project to help former street children in Jakarta. Guido Ooms & Karin van Lieshout are a Dutch design-duo that founded OOOMS after they graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven.
The main assignment for OOOMS was to design a collection of interior trash design products, by re-using waste material. "Besides that we had to train former street children and teach them how to make these products. One of the goals was to improve their workshop skills and teach the youngsters the principles of design and entrepreneurship. By doing this they have a better chance of finding a job. The profit generated by the sales of the Ffrash products will be used to support KDM, the shelter that provides the street children a home, education, attention and much more. This is also the location where the workshop has been set up."
OOOMS first started with getting a clear picture of the enormous amount of trash in the streets that's also clogging the sewer system. They collected as much info as they could so they could experiment with different waste materials and start designing concepts and ideas to take with them on their second visit to Jakarta. Subsequently machines were bought, a workshop was setup, prototypes were made and youngsters got their training. "The selected youngsters make a great team and rarely have we seen such enthusiasm and motivation!"
Photos © OOOMS
In 2013 OOOMS was very proud to present their first interior product collection for Ffrash. The official launch of the Ffrash collection has been held during the Dutch Design Week 2013 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
And a project like Ffrash is what I mean when people ask me about upcycle design I like the most. I my opinion this upcycle design is a win-win-win situation. A local community benefits, the environment benefits and the designer is able to create his design.
Design by OOOMS


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If you already haven't noticed, we really want you to get out of your room and check out Brisbane's parks, libraries and trendy cafes, because they're awesome! Make the most of your time studying in Brisbane by living like a local and exploring the city on your study sessions.
Don't frequent the southside? Check out Brisbane's best study nooks or nooks in the north.
Fuel up for your studies at Morning After, a popular West End brunch and study spot. You'll find everything you need from laptop and USB recharge ports, free wi-fi and big benches, to all-day breakfasts and strong coffee.
If you head down to the Kangaroo Point end of South Bank you'll find a few quiet spots for your study vacation. Tap into the free wi-fi and pull up a picnic rug.
The Smug Fig loves students. We don't know why, but they do. They want to serve you coffee while you use the wi-fi and get down to business solo or with your study buddy. Embrace the friendly atmosphere.
This quiet local library, which is just a quick stroll from Buranda train station, offers air-conditioning, free wi-fi, study desks and access to resources for your assignment.
While the glorious view of the Story Bridge may be a distraction to some, you'll find a calm and quiet spot for uninterrupted study at Captain Burke Park nestled under the Kangaroo Point end of the Story Bridge. Pull up a park bench or spread out on a picnic blanket – it's the perfect spot to catch the morning rays on a cooler Brisbane day.
Some call it quaint but we've spotted the long bench tables calling for students to spread out with their books. Take advantage of the brunch menu or grab a coffee and get to work.
You'll feel at home surrounded by cute little knick-knacks on your visit to The Hawthorne Pantry. This gift shop turned cafe is a local hotspot and a great place to check off emails and sort your schedule for the day. The team will keep you buzzing with Merlo coffee and light snacks for your study session.
Why not take the opportunity to get out of your room and hit up some of Brisbane's best study spots?
From libraries to parks and petite cafes, you'll find a sweet study vibe at these places in Brisbane's North.
Here for the semester? The year? Or two? However long you have, you should make the most of your time by experiencing the best of Australia right here in Brisbane.
From free exhibitions, scenic drives, health and fitness activities or adventurous fun, there's bound to be something for everyone.


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|January 18, 2019, 11:48 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: September 6, 2016
Posts: 14
Scope for a Buddy
My best friend is a professional remodeler and is helping me redo my circa 1963 bathroom. Knowing him, it will be an arm wrestling match for me to try to compensate him in the coin of the realm. He will probably just ask for me to buy him a beer.
We all shoot and hunt .308 and 30-06 with $250-350 Leupold and Nikon scopes. I am thinking of gifting him something he would never buy for himself that would give him the baddest scope on the lease like a $1000 Nightforce SHU-4x14-56.
He hunts pig and deer and the shot lines of the lease are typically at 100-250 yards and pig hunts at night are common. Is this grade of scope overkill for our hunts or does the cool value outweigh any practicality concerns? Again, it's for a Buddy and I want to style him with something he wouldn't justify for himself because to spend that type of money, he would always be placing his family first.
I enjoy the wisdom and collective experience of this forum. Thanks.
|January 19, 2019, 01:42 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 9, 2009
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 7,179
great plan
That's a good plan and your pal putting his family first is the way that it should be, I applaud you both. Selecting top end optics is never overkill.....you can't hit what you can't see.
I am not familiar with the 4x15x56 NF you mention, so I looked it up on line. As I suspected, that is one big honkin' scope, and to my way of thinking, too big for a GP big game hunting scope. Not in magnification, but in size/weight. A 30mm tube and a 56mm bell, with illumination will be one heavy item,and the rifle that wears it might be a bit cumbersome, even for shooting houses and setting hunts. Not to mention it might look a bit out of place on a 22-24" barreled sporter. Too, for a big game scope at the distances you mention, 14x seems a bit more than needed as well.
I see where NF offers the same scope in an illuminated 3x10x42mm version and might be inclined to look at that. Seems they make a 50mm bell model as well, but 50mm still seems like a lot of bell for a GP big game rifle to me.
But a heck of the gift, whichever you buy.
|January 19, 2019, 04:32 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 2, 2014
Posts: 7,440
I bought an SHV recently--very nice but as noted not a lightweight. Another thing--I aways thought Nightforce was all-American made--I was a bit shocked to see the SHV is not, which is probably why they are "cheap" for a Nightforce. Still, overall happy with the scope. You might want to take a look at Nikon's new "black" scopes--very nice for the money--and I hear vortex has a new entry into the "affordable" precision long-range scope arena that's making waves.
If you're ever hiking in the woods and you get lost, just look up and find the brightest star in the sky and you'll know which way space is.
I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!
|January 19, 2019, 06:02 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: August 30, 2010
Posts: 372
For low light hunting hogs (Like I do) You need to check out Meopta scopes!
I have bought three for my guns. They beat out Night Force and Vortex when it comes to low light. I have held them side by side to prove a point before!
Its one of the only company's that list the percentage of light transmission on there site.
Here is the one I have on my 6.5 creedmore.
And I have this one on my Marlin 45-70
Capt Rick Hiott
|January 19, 2019, 08:32 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 27, 2018
Posts: 270
Do you guys stalk more or have a good feeder/blind set up going?
If you stalk the SHV is, as mentioned above, a bit bulky and heavy for a hunting rifle. Its an AMAZING value and I have one sitting on my RPR 6.5 Gen 2. Which I have used to knock a few pigs down from a blind style set up.
For stalking you could just up the ante and go with the Nikon BLACK FX1000 4x16 or X1000 4x16 ( depending on if he prefers First Focal plane or Second ) or a higher end Leupold since you know he enjoys/likes them.
Don't discount the Zeiss line of hunting or the Sig's with the new BDC/blue tooth link shot system and rangefinder combo. I say this cause the Sigs are very nice scopes and if you often hunt together it will be a great friendship reminder as you range the shot for him and he instantly sees the bullet drop appear in his scope. Price is right where you are looking to spend and you get a 2fer...scope and rangefinder.
In the end the SHV or the other options listed here will all fill your intent...a great scope for a great friend.
|January 19, 2019, 01:03 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: June 23, 2013
Location: Central Taxylvania..
Posts: 3,074
You can be my buddy!!! :
I usually hunt with a 4-12X42 scope. Longest shot on game was just over 400 yards.
I shoot targets out to 600 yards with them.
Something in the 42mm range objective is what i find optimal for a hunting scope.
And it lets the scope be mounted low enough that looking through isn't affected.
When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!!
|January 19, 2019, 01:56 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 1, 2013
Posts: 678
|January 19, 2019, 02:20 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 11,931
"...x14-56..." Too big and heavy for hunting. A Nightforce SHU-4x14-56 weighs 27 or 28 ounces and is 15" long.
I think I'd offer my help on any of his other jobs. Even just being the guy who lugs stuff around. Or, depending on what you do for a living, something you do he does not.
Spelling and grammar count!
|January 19, 2019, 03:22 PM
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Join Date: February 16, 2006
Location: IOWA
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Wish we had more folks on this earth like this.
Be Safe !!!
'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.
|January 19, 2019, 07:38 PM
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Join Date: October 9, 2009
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can't help it
You need a gardner?
|January 19, 2019, 08:03 PM
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Join Date: November 18, 2005
Location: On the Santa Fe Trail
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All I can say is you know your buddy better than any of us. My question is does your buddy even want a scope with all the features of a Night Force SHV? Doesn't sound like in his hunting situations he'll get much advantage out of that scope other than bragging rights of having a Night Force optics.
You said he likes to hunt pigs, have you considered something like ATN's digital day/night rifle scopes? I really don't know much about night vision scopes other than what I used in the Army but the ATN scopes get pretty good reviews. I can just see a scope like that being more useful to what your buddy likes to do than the Night Force.
Just food for thought.
NRA Life Member
|January 19, 2019, 10:36 PM
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Join Date: September 6, 2016
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Thank you for the replies and detailed thoughts. I would say that 90% of our hunting is feeder/blind style so there isn't too much lugging around through the woods. He currently has a 50mm bell scope on his primary rifle, a .308.
He's a good guy who has had some recent health issues that have given him a hard-won perspective. Over the last several years, we have had less time to spend together as we were busy raising kids. Working side by side with him on this project has been a lot of fun and a great bonding experience.
|January 20, 2019, 09:42 AM
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Join Date: November 26, 2000
Location: Northeastern Ct.
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Good on you,
Too often gestures of gratitude fall by the wayside and your idea is top shelf. I have a neighbor who is always there to lend a hand on major projects, (including using his mini-excavator and skid steer to replace my leech field 5 years ago), and won't take a thing for it.
On to the topic, I would never tell anyone not to buy a Nightforce optic. If you go that way he'll be tickled pink for sure. That said, in that $1000 price range a couple of other contenders include:
Leupold VX3I LRP 4.5-14X50
These are compact and very well made. They can be had in either FFP or SFP with multiple reticle choices. If the reticle you choose is not to his liking, Leupold can put another in, usually 10 days to 2 weeks. I think it's about $150. I have this very scope on a Tactical Solutions X Ring used for indoor 25 to 50 yard during the winter and at 100 yards outdoors for precision 22lr shooting competitions at the club.
Leupold VX5 HD 3-15X44 Firedot Reticle
Second focal plane, illuminated Firedot reticle.
Both of these can be found in the $900 - $1000 price range.
Take Care
|January 21, 2019, 12:06 PM
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Join Date: March 2, 2017
Posts: 1,714
Send your buddy to see me. Got a bunch of remodel work to do and I can afford a beer! :-)
|January 22, 2019, 12:40 AM
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Join Date: March 3, 2009
Location: Benton, Arkansas
Posts: 196
Leupold vx5hd 3-15x56
I splurged last year on one of these after years of hunting with vx1 and vx2. Mainly because I had deer entering a food plot at 250 yards at dusk. The vx5 easily added 10 minutes to my hunt as far as being able to identify shooter bucks etc. 30mm tube and 56mm bell is no joke for light transmission. I only use the rifle its on out of box stands and it is no issue at all for weight and bulk. Also has illuminated firedot reticle (which I hardly ever use but it does have the wow factor). I absolutely love it myself. Think I paid $950
|January 23, 2019, 10:57 PM
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Join Date: September 6, 2016
Posts: 14
Thank you for the encouragement and great alternative suggestions. I'll look into them.
With a kiddo in College, I would have a hard time justifying an expense like that for myself but if someone gave me a high-end gift like that, I would especially cherish it. I am hoping to similarly tickle his heart strings. We've been busting our tail on this bathroom but are having a great time doing it.
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I've mentioned in previous blogs a guy named Chuck Brennan, who got rich from payday loan stores. In 2016, we South Dakotans shut those down by voting for a measure on the amount of interest could be charged. We capped it at 36%, but it's not enough(!), so Chuck picked up all his marbles and went home to Vegas. He also closed a few other businesses he'd started, including Badlands Pawn, but left behind a radio station (KBAD-fm) and the Badlands Gun Range.
The Badlands Gun Range advertises frequently - shoot a Glock! shoot an AR-15! shoot a Magnum! - and they frequently show women firing away, because we femmes are the latest target audience. The latest billboard is "Shoot a machine gun!" Which is fine. A little adventure. What the hell. With, hopefully, an instructor, and they need one.
Because the billboard (would that I could have gotten a stillshot of it) shows this beautiful young slim woman holding a BIG machine gun as if it were a rifle, with the stock up on her shoulder, her face (no wussy safety glasses for her!) down over the sight, cheek right where you'd expect the recoil to be. Now maybe she's an expert, like Charleze Theron's Mad Max stunt double. On the other hand, I'd say that if she really did fire it from that position, it would take out her shoulder, break her cheekbone (not to mention powder burns all down that side of her face), knock her back into a wall, and spray bullets all around the area in an unpredictable pattern that I would not want to be anywhere near. But hey, it would be a learning experience.
Life is full of these learning experiences, especially for those who act first and ask questions later. If at all.
Take Anthony Scaramucci. There are a number of lessons here:
(1) Goombas rarely become White House staff, because while the suit might look sharp, the attitude doesn't.From the pony-up and take responsibility department:
(2) Don't give an interview to a reporter on the record and toss around "f" bombs and "c" bombs like they're candy. BTW, unlike most other news outlets, the The New Yorker (originally marketed by Harold Ross as "not edited for the old lady in Dubuque") actually prints those words in full, so that everyone can savor the crude. Forever.
(3) All politicians and their representatives would do well to remember the scene in "Bull Durham" between Crash Davis and the umpire: Use the "c" word, and "You're outta here!"
(4) Study a little Greek tragedy: Announcing that you're going to fire everyone is almost always a sign that the Fates are going to take you down.
There was an inmate in one of the AVP (Alternatives to Violence) workshops I do, of whom I have spoken before, a convicted felon who was infuriated to be back in the pen on parole violation "just because" he'd posted a picture of himself - with a gun in one hand and a bottle of booze in the other - on Facebook. I've been using his story (anonymously) in every workshop since, emphasizing the following lessons:
(1) Yes, your parole officer will check all your social media regularly."A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way." - Mark Twain
(2) No, there is no right to privacy on social media.
(3) When it's your own damn fault, perhaps you should quit complaining about it. Nobody MADE you put that crap on Facebook...
Slow learners:
(1) John Wayne Bobbitt, who, after being "bobbittized" and divorced from Lorena, was arrested for beating up his subsequent girlfriend.
(2) Anthony Weiner.
(3) A man I once knew who was paralyzed in a DUI - he was the one drinking - who kept right on drinking. With a little help from his "friends." The man with 12 DUIs, who still couldn't see that he had a problem... The "closet" middle-aged alcoholic (except everyone knew) who couldn't understand why people didn't want to go drinking with them anymore: "What happened to fun?"
NOTE: But really, addicts of any kind shouldn't count. Addiction is addiction, and those of us who have had many more miles of experience than we'd like with them know that every bottom has a basement, complete with trapdoor...
|Samuel Parris
(5) Samuel Parris, pastor of Salem Village during the Salem Witch Trials, who comes across not just as self-righteous, but kind of man who'd quarrel with a goat. During the witchcraft trials, he submitted complaints, served as a witness and testified against many accused, and kept the court records. All in good order, of course. He was shocked when, after the trials came to an ignominious end, his parish sued him and wanted him GONE. And, eventually, got him GONE.
Finally, there are the unbelievably hard lessons that only some people learn, and I do not know if that makes them fortunate or not:
Ursula K. LeGuin wrote a wonderful series of sci-fi novellas about the slave worlds of Werel and Yeowe, gathered in her books "Four Ways to Forgiveness" and "The Birthday of the World".
Perhaps my favorite is "Old Music and the Slave Women", from "The Birthday of the World": In this, the main character (his nickname is "Old Music") a representative from the Ekumen (LeGuin's equivalent of the Federation), is kidnapped, held prisoner / hostage, and casually, brutally tortured by some young bucks of the Werel equivalent of the Confederacy. A higher-up named Rayaye eventually makes the young bucks stop; Old Music survives; but the experience of absolute powerlessness in the face of gratuitous cruelty does not leave him. He spends most of his time after that with the slave women, who sort of accept him.
"It did him good to know she trusted him. He needed someone to trust him, for since the cage he could not trust himself. With Rayaye he was all right; he could still fence; that wasn't the trouble. It was when he was alone, thinking, sleeping. He was alone most of the time. Something in his mind, deep in him, was injured, broken, had not mended, could not be trusted to bear his weight."Now contrast that with Psalm 7:8:
"The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.The first reading is why some of us cannot bear the second. Corruption, violence and abuse at a certain level, whether early or late in life, are damaging, and the physical is the least of it, the easiest to cure. The official definition of integrity is "(1) firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values (incorruptibility); (2) an unimpaired condition (3) the quality or state of being complete or undivided." People who have lived a nice, normal life can say, casually, "Well, I'd never do that" or "I can't understand how some people can live that way" or "I don't see how someone could ever do a thing like that" or (from Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath") "Them goddamn Okies got no sense and no feeling. They ain't human. A human being wouldn't live like they do." They know what is right; their integrity is intact. But integrity can be a luxury in the face of survival.
|Victor Frankl
Victor Frankl understood this. Survivor of concentration camps, a noted psychologist and author of the incredible "Man's Search for Meaning," he wrote:
"On the average, only those prisoners could keep alive who, after years of trekking from camp to camp, had lost all scruples in their fight for existence; they were prepared to use every means, honest and otherwise, even brutal force, theft, and betrayal of their friends, in order to save themselves. We who have come back, by the aid of many lucky chances or miracles - whatever one may choose to call them - we know: the best of us did not return."
And you don't forget. Once you know that you are capable of doing just about anything to survive, from collaboration to crime, from denial to participation... well, that changes the dynamic. At least internally. Yes, that time is over, and outside all is right with the world. But what if things change? The movie "A History of Violence" romanticizes it. Tom Stall, a/k/a Joey Cusack, caught back up in a mobster's life, kills everyone he has to kill and then goes home. Dramatic, exciting, and very clean and tidy. For me - the quote from "Old Music and the Slave Women" is much more appropriate. And this quote, from our own AVP manual:
"It is a cliche that 'Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Like all cliches it has a considerable element of truth. Nonetheless, one of the major purposes of any AVP workshop is to empower the participants, and to teach them to share power in community for the benefit of all. This is essential because the negative side of the old cliche is as true as the positive: 'Powerlessness corrupts, and absolute powerlessness corrupts absolutely.' All people need, for survival, a measure of power over their own lives and over their environment. It is also true that all people have a certain amount of power within them, which can be repressed and alienated but cannot really be destroyed. If people are deprived of the legitimate use of their necessary power, they will use what power they have destructively and with violence." - AVP Basic Manual
Abused children; victims of domestic violence; minorities trying to survive endemic, systemic racism; prisoners; a hell of a lot of refugees (including the Okies in "The Grapes of Wrath"); slaves of every era and every kind... the powerless are everywhere, but generally invisible and unheard, shut away in their own world.
People with power often have no idea of how much their integrity is tied to their security, nor how much of their security is based on their power, or even how much power they actually have, because it's so deep-seated, innate, fundamental, habitual, historical, visceral, that it's like the air they breathe: it is the way things are. They're the norm, the way everyone should be. Until someone threatens that power, or even strips it away. Then you find out the jungle under the skin.
And that's what AVP is all about:
People with power often have no idea of how much their integrity is tied to their security, nor how much of their security is based on their power, or even how much power they actually have, because it's so deep-seated, innate, fundamental, habitual, historical, visceral, that it's like the air they breathe: it is the way things are. They're the norm, the way everyone should be. Until someone threatens that power, or even strips it away. Then you find out the jungle under the skin.
And that's what AVP is all about:
"If people are deprived of the legitimate use of their necessary power, they will use what power they have destructively and with violence. It is therefore the business of every AVP workshop to affirm the existence and legitimacy of personal power and to give participants the experience of shared power exercised cooperatively, responsibly, and well."Speaking of interesting lessons, I never thought I'd say this, but, thank you, O. J. Simpson, for taking AVP:
During his parole hearing, he told the parole board that the Alternatives to Violence course (AVP) he took there has been his most important lesson behind bars, and that he has often mediated conflict among inmates. He stated: "I took two courses that I guess you guys don't give too much credit to, it's called Alternative to Violence. I think it is the most important course anybody in this prison could take because it teaches you how to deal with conflict through conversation." - (AVP-USA)Frankly, I thought he was always just another slow learner, but maybe the lesson's been learned.


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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.
Sometimes relationship jealousy becomes pathological.
Jealousy in relationships can go from mild to off the scale, stalker type, pathological
jealousy. A little bit of jealousy seems to strengthen relationships. It's nice to know that your partner wouldn't want to lose you to a rival.
The level of jealousy in a relationship is affected by the level of trust. If one person in the relationship is untrustworthy, has cheated in the past, trust will be one of the casualties.
Excessive jealousy can become dangerous, even abusive. In some relationships, partners are jealous even when the facts give them no reason for the extreme level of jealousy they experience. A pathologically jealous partner may spy on their mate, going through their email, checking their phone messages and even following their partner around town. Excessively jealous partners are known to become violent and abusive.
Excessive jealousy is often reported among men in troubled relationships where it may lead to domestic violence. Pathological jealousy is often coupled with serious impairments. Drug use, alcoholism, and past histories of troubled relationships increase the risks. Unreasonable jealousy is also commonly reported among older adults with cognitive impairments. In Alzheimer's and other dementias, the impaired person may believe their partner, who was also their caregiver, is cheating on them even when that partner is present all day long.
Intense love does not cause jealousy.
Jealous people often alibi their behaviors by saying they love the other person. Excessive pathological jealousy is not about the one who is loved. Jealous people's behavior harms their partner and their relationship.
The sort of mild relational jealousy seen in loving couple's results in increased attention and efforts to strengthen the relationship. Pathological jealousy results in harming your partner and efforts to control them.
Jealousy is caused by the fear of loss.
Sometimes feelings of jealousy can be functional. Jealousy's role is to warn you when a close relationship is in jeopardy. If your partner is spending a lot of time with someone else, this may pose a threat to your relationship. Jealousy is not restricted to relationships that may turn sexual. If your partner or someone close to you become emotionally close to another person and shares with them things about you and your relationship, this can damage your intimate relationships
Jealousy is the result of insecurities.
People who are high in jealousy are insecure. They commonly believe that their partner would have many more opportunities to find a new mate then they would. That may not want their partner to leave the house and become easily upset if their partner looks too attractive. They become angry potentially violent if their partner communicates with other potential mates.
Jealousy may stem from unmet childhood needs.
Some people are chronically high in the trait of jealousy. Their high trait jealousy may be the result of adverse childhood experience which leads to mental health issues we call "attachment disorders." If your close relationships in childhood did not meet your needs, you may feel insecure and doubt your close relationships as an adult. People who have experienced high levels of jealousy and past relationships need to work on themselves and their feelings of insecurity.
Jealousy jumps to conclusions.
The more jealousy-prone you are, the more likely you are to interpret normal events as posing a threat to your relationship. If your partner gets an occasional email or text from another person that shouldn't trigger automatic jealous thoughts. If when your partner's late getting home from work you assume their meeting someone else your mind may be taking you in a very bad direction.
Jealousy assumes the worst.
Jealous people are constantly looking for evidence to confirm their preconceived bias. If your partner talks to someone on the phone you assume they're trying to make a hook up rather than assuming this is work-related or concerns financial transactions? When "Sarah" from the insurance company calls for your husband you assume it's because she's flirting or you think it is about an insurance policy?
Low self-esteem fuels jealousy.
People who are low in self-esteem are often high in jealousy. Their underlying assumptions is that if they lose this partner, they would have trouble finding another, while they believed that their partner has lots of choices of desirable mates. If you don't feel good about yourself, it's more difficult to believe that your partner wants to continue this relationship.
Stay tuned in for more posts about jealousy; it's causes and its treatment, which is coming up soon. More information about Jealousy and its treatment is or will be at Jealousy.
David Joel Miller MS is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC.) Mr. Miller provides supervision for beginning counselors and therapists and teaches at the local college in the Substance Abuse Counseling program.
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
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"The practice of representing atrocious suffering as something to be deplored, and, if possible, stopped, enters the history of images with a specific subject: the sufferings endured by a civilian population at the hands of a victorious army on the rampage" (Sontag, 2003, p. 38).
Since the dawn of time mankind have found reasons to wage war with each other, and, through song, story and sketch, glorified and romanticised the notion of warfare and every great conflict along the way. This is evident throughout history in pieces such as The Alexander Mosaic (100BC), a Roman floor mosaic depicting the armies of Alexander the Great defeating Darius III, Theodore Gericault's An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging (1812), and Carle Vernet's 10th Regiment of Hussars (1812). I mean, what's not to love? Honour, love and sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears, heroes fighting for God, country and freedom… They're basically the cover art for every great action narrative. So really, its no wonder for thousands of years we kept passing down through art the same admiration and idealisation of war.
This began to change around the mid-19th century as warfare started to evolve into a mechanised affair. The shift was led by artists and collections such as Francisco de Goya's The Disasters of War (1810), Eugene Delacroix's The Massacre at Chios (1824), and Elizabeth Thompson's The remnants of an army, Jellalabad, January 13, 1842 (1879). However, sentiment towards conflict still varied drastically from country to country depending on the degree of their recent exposure.
And then there was the Holocaust.
Over 6 million Jewish people, which represented around 70% of Europe's Jewish population, and included 1 million children, were systematically annihilated between 1941 and 1945 by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany regime in what was one of the deadliest and most organised genocides in human history (Niewyk & Nicosia, 2000, p. 45). A combined network of around 42,500 facilities and 200,000 perpetrators throughout Germany and its occupied territories were used to concentrate the victims for various purposes, including slave labour, mass murder, medical experimentation, and various other heinous abuses of man's most fundamental human rights (Lichtblau, 2013). It was conducted in several stages, beginning with state sanctioned social exclusion and culminating in what was intended to be the complete extermination of Jewish culture in Europe, an outcome the Nazis termed, "The Final Solution to the Jewish Question" (Niewyk & Nicosia, 2000, p. 46).
If every armed conflict from the Mesopotamian war of 2700BC to World War I wasn't enough to persuade military art to reconsider its destructive position on this subject, the unprecedented catastrophe that was the Holocaust grabbed it by the throat, held it to the ground and forced it to. Never again could we allow this to happen. Never again could we install into the next generations' minds a naïve, distorted thirst to rush into the front line. And never again could we allow such needless, rampant death.
And that is why artistic representations of war, painted, photographed and otherwise, are so important in contemporary society. In the words of Scottish war photographer Alexander Gardner, "pictures… convey 'a useful moral' by showing 'the blank horror and reality of war, in opposition to its pageantry… Here are the dreadful details! Let them aid in preventing such another calamity" (Gardner, 1863, cited in Sontag, 2003, p. 47).
Obviously it's not a perfect solution. Plenty of powerful war photographs have been staged or doctored, and plenty of wars and conflicts have ravaged this world since 1945 whilst anti-war art was exhibited left, right and centre. But this does not mean that artwork has not had an impact.
A tapestry copy of Pablo Picasso's Guernica (1937), arguably the most famous contemporary anti-war artwork, has been displayed within the United Nations building in New York City since 1985, serving as an ever-present reminder of the brutal consequences of war to those who function to preserve global peace (Conrad, 2004), Nick Ut's photograph of Phan Thi Kim Phuc (1972) accelerated a wave of anti-war sentiment ultimately resulting in the US withdrawing from Vietnam a year later (Asselin, 2002, pp. 155-156), and the photos and videos taken during the Allies' storming of Germany's concentration and death camps in 1945 was critical in sentencing the inner party members of the Nazi Party during the Nuremberg military trials, as well as showing the whole world what really happened behind the closed doors of Nazi Germany (Roland, 2012).
But the ramifications need not be this extreme. All it takes is a single piece stirring within a person a sense of horror, shock or disgust about the devastation of war, and the ripple effect just within that one person's life may extend outward, having a potentially infinite effect. And that honest power is why military art is so important within our society.
Asselin, P 2002, A Bitter Peace: Washington, Hanoi, and the Making of the Paris Agreement, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, pp. 155-156.
Conrad, P 2004, 'A scream we can't ignore', The Guardian, 10 March, viewed 20 March 2016, http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/oct/03/art.
Lichtblau, E 2013, 'The Holocaust Just Got More Shocking', The New York Times, 1 March, viewed 19 March 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/sunday-review/the-holocaust-just-got-more-shocking.html?_r=0.
Niewyk, D & Nicosia, F 2000, The Columbia Guide to the Holocaust, Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 45-46.
Roland, P 2012, The Nuremberg Trials, Arcturus Publishing Limited, London.
Sontag, S 2003, Regarding the Pain of Others, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, pp. 36-47.


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Help the wolves
There are only 140 wolves in Finland and the Finnish government is still giving permits to shoot them. Poaching is another considerable threat. In Lapland there is no breeding population and still the reindeer breeders lobby to kill the last remaining wolves. This is how things are in the land of Santa Claus. Wolf is a good advertisement for Finnish tourism, but it doesn't have a right to exist. Please do think about how you support this. Is it necessary to buy reindeer products? Is it necessary to travel to Lapland during Christmas?
You can visit the Finnish nature association's wolf group and give a donation: