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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comments followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling for a modification of the 2015 agreement. AP Photo
MOSCOW: Russia's foreign minister sternly warned Ukrainian officials Wednesday that Moscow would not accept their push to revise a peace deal for eastern Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comments followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling on Tuesday for a modification of the 2015 agreement and inviting other nations to help mediate the stalled talks on a political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine's east.
Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists erupted in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, called Donbas, shortly after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. More than 14,000 people have been killed during the seven-year conflict.
In recent weeks, increasing violations of a shaky cease-fire in eastern Ukraine a Russian troop buildup across the border drew Ukrainian and Western concerns about the potential for large-scale hostilities. Tensions eased last week after Moscow announced a pullback of its forces following massive drills.
The 2015 deal, which was brokered by France and Germany, marked a diplomatic coup for Russia, obliging Ukraine to offer broad autonomy to the separatist regions and amnesty for the rebels. It also stipulated that Ukraine would regain full control of its border with Russia in the rebel-held territories only after the election of local leaders and legislatures, the provisions resented by many Ukrainians as a betrayal of national interests.
Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of backing the separatist rebels in the east with troops and weapons, claims Moscow has denied. The Kremlin has insisted that Russia isn't a party to what it described as an internal Ukrainian conflict.
Speaking in an interview with a Russian state TV host, Lavrov criticized the West for turning a blind eye to the failure of Ukrainian authorities to meet their obligations under the 2015 document that was signed in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, by then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"The West either can't or doesn't want to encourage compliance with the Minsk agreement," he said.
Lavrov categorically rejected the push by Ukrainian officials to reverse the sequence of steps stipulated by the Minsk deal and to make reclaiming control of the border with Russia in the rebel-controlled regions the first step.
"Control of the border is the very last move that comes only after those territories get a special status fixed in the Ukrainian Constitution and hold free elections acknowledged as such by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," the Russian minister said. "I believe that we mustn't let Mr. Zelenskyy and his team get off the hook, even though they are trying hard to wriggle out."
Zelenskyy has pushed for a meeting with Putin, but the Russian leader responded last week that Ukrainian authorities need to speak to the rebels to settle the conflict in Donbas. He added that if the Ukrainian president wants to discuss the normalization of ties with Russia, he's welcome to come to Moscow.


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It all began in January…
It's a very fine day! Yes, a very fine day! A fine day if we keep our heads!
Well, actually, practice for Alice in Wonderland began then but our time with the drama group began almost three years ago. Thanksgiving and Christmas plays, Peter Pan, The Little Drummer Boy, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Believe and now Alice in Wonderland. We are also privileged to be involved in church drama productions.
We are so thankful for volunteers and our homeschool group for offering such a wonderful opportunity.
Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh look at the time!
I don't think I have to list all the benefits that come with weekly drama practice:
- public speaking
- watching for cues
- respect for other actors
- graciousness when you get or don't get the part you want
- memorization
- fine arts
- sometimes, studying a new time in history, a new play author, new music
- choreography
- friendships
- the sheer fun time of acting!
{But I just did list them, didn't I?} Though that's not nearly an exhaustive list.
Look! She doesn't have any leaves!
How about this? Both my two eldest girls get to go together. (Certain that youngest girl is a drama candidate soon 🙂 )For this Mama, that means one drop off and pick up for two children. In a busy household that is definitely a plus. And, this week, I got the privilege of being a green room volunteer. So I got to see what all it takes to really do a production well. Continuing education for me! Wow, those homeschoolers!
Aren't the sets, costumes and props wonderful? All volunteer time from drama parents.
Tea time!
Also, with our drama group, extra routines are built in.
This time around that is a a dowel and sign language routine. (above photos from Christmas production)
Learning sign language and coordinating dowel sticks to Our God by Chris Tomlin!
That, I'd say, is the best benefit of all. Christ centered learning that is an extension of our home. Prayers before and after each practice. Productions that are God honoring.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, … It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
The above scripture quote posted by our Drama Troupe Director during the week of performance. Many thanks to her and countless parent leaders and volunteers. But, I'll leave you with another quote. This one from the Queen of Hearts, pictured above…
Off with their heads!

subset: commoncrawl


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Washington, June 1 (ANI): A unique statue of King Amenhotep III, who is believed to be the grandfather of King Tutankhamun, has been unearthed at his funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor.
A statement released on Tuesday by Egypt's ministry of state for antiquities said that the discovery was accomplished by a team of Egyptian and European archaeologists, reports Discovery News.
Finely carved in alabaster, a stone hewn in the quarries of Hatnub in Middle Egypt, the sculpture shows King Amenhotep III seated, wearing the Nemes headdress (a striped headcloth that pharaohs put on), a pleated kilt and a royal beard.
Measuring 1.20 meters in height, the well-preserved face of the pharaoh has been described by antiquities minister Zahi Hawass as "a masterpiece of royal portraiture."
It features almond-shaped eyes outlined with cosmetic bands, a short nose and a large mouth with wide lips.
Amenhotep III (1390-1352 B.C.) ruled for 38 years during a time when Egypt was at the height of its prosperity and cultural development. (ANI)


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So Many Volunteers, So Few Voters
A reader writes:
I decided to spend an hour this afternoon making phone calls for the Obama campaign, and picked up my list via the website. I wanted to call Virginia, because I think it is the most important swing state, and also because I'm on West Coast time, and it would be about 7 pm there. About 20 calls in, I left a message for this one woman, and a couple of minutes later she called me back. She must have picked up my number off caller i.d... She asked why I was calling, and I said "I'm volunteering from the Obama campaign, and am calling to ask you to vote." She laughed a great laugh and said, "That's what I'm doing, too, and I was on the phone so didn't answer!"


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5 Effective Ways To Write A Speech Outline
Costs of installation and construction works, acquisition of the equipment which is demanding and not demanding the installation provided in estimates on construction, the production tool and economic stock included in estimates of construction, the cars and the equipment, office equipment which are not entering estimates of construction, other capital expenditure and works belong to capital investments.
On nature of formation of investments, in modern macroeconomic, in connection with creation of models of a national economy, in particular, of models of the animator, it is accepted to distinguish the autonomous and induced investments.
Considerable wear of the equipment has an adverse effect on quality of production. The operating standard service life average 16-17 years, and actually – it is even more. Average standard service life, for example, on the equipment, it is expedient to reduce till 9-10 years that will demand the considerable
The considerable part of capital investments is carried out passing a construction stage, for example, in the form of costs of acquisition of vehicles, agricultural machinery, the equipment which is not demanding installation, etc. By means of capital investments regulation of proportions and rates of development of separate branches of a national economy is carried out.
Thus, investments not only influence expansion of capacities in the long term, but also make essential impact on in what measure already available capacities are used. In not a smaller measure, on the level of use of capacities, investments into tovaro-material stocks – that is excess of a gain of stocks over their expenditure influence. Therefore fluctuations in investment process – an important factor of change of growth rates both in short-term, and in the long term.
Concept of investment (from armor. – I dress investio) means capital investments in branch of economy within the country and abroad Distinguish financial (purchase valuable boom and real investments (capital investments in the industry, agriculture, construction, education, etc.).
The scientific knowledge of the latest production technology, of future demand and of the future business konyyuktura – is defining for economic growth. Education, the sphere of scientific researches become a decisive factor of economic growth.
Capital construction is a component of capital investments. In the course of capital construction only the part of capital investments equal to design estimated cost of installation and construction works on this object is carried out.


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Last week, we were quietly visiting several patients who had requested a visit from a therapy dog. Layla is still a little afraid of the equipment and the hospital bed but she she controls her nervousness by checking the room for snacks. This week, we were at the end of our shift when a man came running down the hall. He wanted us to visit his dad who was recovering from cardiac surgery. I was a little nervous because the patient had high expectations about seeing a dog and Layla was tired.
In the room, I introduced Layla to the patient and while I was making a quick visual check for food containers, Layla snuggled up the man and shared her love by licking his IV. Yikes. I pulled her leash so hard that I knocked over the trash can which was full of (you guessed it) cookie wrappers.
The hospital hasn't fired us yet.
To make things more challenging, Layla refuses to wear her cool (and required) volunteer name badge. To solve this problem, I enlisted the help of Pet ID for Me. This company makes dog tags that look like your state's drivers license and include a picture of the dog. This cute tag solved Layla's hospital ID tag dilemma. The tags are made of a high quality, waterproof thick laminate with your dog's picture printed on both sides along with their vital information. They come in two sizes, 1" x 1.75" or 1.25" x 2". As an added bonus, Pet ID for Me, included a free gift, a 2" x 3" refrigerator magnet.
To insure that our lost pets return safely, Jason and the good folks at Pet ID for ME are sponsoring a Sweet Dog GIVEAWAY! One lucky winner will win this fun pet tag for your dog or cat.
To enter this giveaway, comment on this post:
- Post a comment on this blog post telling us the name of your dog(s). (1 entry). It is very important that you include your email address so we can contact the winner. If you do not have a Google account, select anonymous.
For more chances to win: (let us know in separate posts)
- Subscribe to Sweet Dog Organics (signup located on side bar) (1 entry)
- Become a follower on Facebook or Tweeter (1 entry)
- Become a follower of our blog (left sidebar) and leave a comment stating you are a new follower or already are a follower (1 entry)
- Blog or tweet about our giveaway and leave another comment (include email) with a link to your blog or twitter post (2 entries)
- Order two boxes of any Sweet Dog Organic Dog Treats (3 entries)


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Tatvic Analytics is a leading Digital Analytics consulting company with core competencies in Website & Mobile App Analytics and Conversion Rate Optimization. Established since 2008, Tatvic Analytics has worked globally, with a specific spotlight in India. In addition to our headquarter in India, we also have sister companies in Canada and UAE operating under the names of Pivot Drive Inc and Datahash respectively. The companies individually and collectively built a solid reputation of excellence by consistently providing innovative data analytics and marketing solutions.
We partner with enterprises to enable efficient data based decision making in their businesses. With a team of experts guiding and consulting our clients on Google Analytics 360 Suite and Standard, we also constantly strive to achieve breakthrough solutions and analysis modules for addressing complexities that businesses face in the data analytics universe.
Values We Hold Close To Our Hearts
With a workforce that's vibrant and enthusiastic, at Tatvic we consciously inculcate and nurture a set of values that help us grow as individuals and as an organization on the whole.
Case Studies from Tatvic
Our case studies document how we help and ensure client success. Read on to know how Tatvic collaborates with clients to address their pain points and deliver results. We've uncovered some very interesting insights that have inspired us to innovate and walk an extra mile in order to excel in everything we do.
Behind the Scenes
We at Tatvic have set out to tackle complexities and challenges in the Data Analytics universe with our consultation expertise and in-depth understanding of Google Analytics. We strive to bring value to all those who we work with – be it our clients or our team members.
With innovation and excellence being at the core of everything we do, we are always keen on developing solutions that enable our clients to listen to what their data is saying.
Work with Us
We at Tatvic have built a strong in-house solution development team that focuses on building solutions that can derive insights from various data sources available.
These solutions are based on some of the most sophisticated Data Mining and Machine Learning algorithms which brings out automatic insights, predicts the action of the user, determines the nature and reason of the anomalies in the data. Is this something that excites you? We invite you to check out the vacancies and apply!


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Sony Vaio VPCF111FX
Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
Reviews for the Sony Vaio VPCF111FX
Source: Mobile Tech Review
The Sony Vaio F is a solid mid-tier Sony notebook that is well built with good material at a reasonable price. The high-end Intel Core i7 processor and dedicated graphics make this notebook a good candidate for audio and video users and developers. The built-in Blu-ray player is a nice bonus for a laptop that starts at $1,000. The 16.4" is more portable than the larger 17"-18.4" beasts like the Qosmio and the Sony is certainly a lot thinner than many larger notebooks. The screen isn't very color saturated and you need to pay extra for the 1080p native display. Color flashing in Battlefield Bad Company 2 isn't a good sign, and we can't say it won't happen in other games since we can't try them all. If you are a serious gamer, you should consider the GeForce GT 330M option.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/14/2010
Rating: Total score: 80%
NVIDIA GeForce 310M: The GeForce 310M is the successor of the GeFore G210M and based on the same chip with very similar clock rates (shader speed +30MHz to 1530MHz).
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.
720QM: The Core i7-720QM is the slowes Core i7 Quad Core in 2009 and clocks between 1.6 and 2.8 GHz (due to the Turbo Mode). Therefore, it combines the advantages of a slow quad core CPU with a fast single core one. Compared to the faster Core i7 mobile CPUs, the 720QM only features 6MB L3 Cache.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
15-16 inch is a standard display size for laptops and offers the biggest variety of products.» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
3.1 kg:
This weight is representative for typical laptops with a 14-16 inch display-diagonal.
Sony: Sony Corporation is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Japan. Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of electronics, video, communications, video game consoles, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its name is derived from sonus, the Latin word for sound. The company was founded 1946 with another name and renamed in 1958. Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the Sony Group, which is engaged in business through its five operating segments—electronics, games, entertainment (motion pictures and music), financial services and other. Sony is a notebook manufacturer of medium size according international market shares.
From 2014, Sony has reduced the production of Vaio laptops and finally discontinued them. Sony is still present in the smartphone and tablet market, yet not among the Top 5 manufacturers.
80%: This rating is not convincing. The laptop is evaluated below average, this is not really a recommendation for purchase.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.


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Please tell me the model number of your macbook when ordering. You may get the model number from the bottom side of your macbook as below. Macbook air 11 - model number: a1370 / a1465.
Macbook air 13- model number: a1369 / a1466. Macbook air 13 year 2018-2020 - model number: a1932, a2179. The new macbook 12- model number: a1534.
Macbook pro 13 (old) - model number: a1278. Macbook pro 15 (old) - model number: a1286. Macbook pro with retina display 13 - model number: a1425 / a1502. Macbook pro with retina display 15 - model number: a1398. Macbook pro 13 year 2016-2020 - model number: a1706, a 1708, a 1989, a2159.
Macbook pro 15 year 2016-2020 - model number: a1707, a1990. Macbook pro 16 year 2019-2020 - model number: a2141. Design: fully covered with crystals. Crystal: czech crystals (optional to pick swarovski but with extra charge).Color of crystal: gold (optional to change the color). Model available: air, pro, the new macbook. Please message me if you want to change or modify anything. You may choose to add name or logo or words on the case. We bling top case only. Bottom case will be given (without bedazzled) if requested. Please let me know if you have another brand of laptop. This item is made of crystals and case. The style is high fashion and art deco.


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Good afternoon. Thank you, Antonio, for the kind introduction, and thank you, Jim, for inviting me to speak before the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference. I would also like to express my appreciation to President George W. Bush for his remarks this morning.
Likewise, please allow me to thank President Trump for appointing me as the Chair of the National Credit Union Administration. I am honored by his confidence in me.
Just as I regard my service as NCUA Board Chair as an honor, I also consider this opportunity to address you today as a great privilege.
When I spoke with you last year, I laid out 15 priorities, from re-setting the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio to meaningful regulatory relief and reform to streamlining our budget and budgetary process to improving the transparency and accountability of the agency to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the examination process. We have made great progress in each of these areas, yet our work continues.
Meanwhile, as you know, the credit union system, along with the rest of the country's consumer-oriented financial services sector, is undergoing significant change. That change presents new challenges and opportunities. The NCUA has worked to keep pace, to address the challenges presented and to create a regulatory environment that allows credit unions to take advantage of opportunities according to their business plans, all within the letter and spirit of the Federal Credit Union Act. A credit union system that continues to grow, thrive, and prosper in a responsible manner helps ensure the safety and soundness of the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund and protects credit union members as well as the taxpayers.
There have been some major accomplishments over the past year, all of which were achieved with bipartisanship among the NCUA Board members:
- We closed the Temporary Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund, four years ahead of schedule, and in our most recent Board meeting, approved a final rule to provide you with greater transparency regarding how we will calculate the projected Share Insurance Fund distribution.1 The prudent management of the Stabilization and Share Insurance Funds and the early closing of the Stabilization Fund accomplished two significant goals:
- First, they avoided the credit union community having to pay a Share Insurance Fund premium of approximately 13 basis points, or about $1.3 billion, to build up necessary reserves and restore the fund's equity ratio to 1.30 percent, the statutory limit for premium assessments under the Federal Credit Union Act.
- Second, they allow credit unions to receive a distribution of surplus equity of about $736 million, estimated for payment in the third quarter of 2018.2 As the risk to the Share Insurance Fund dissipates from the retirement of the NGN Notes, we anticipate the payment of further distributions.
Yesterday evening, I learned from Bruce Leighton, the President and CEO of Members First Credit Union in Manchester, New Hampshire that his credit union will donate 100 percent of their distribution to charity, including a homeless shelter and an opiate addiction and recovery center. Mr. Leighton has challenged others to follow his example of "People helping People." Thank you, sir, for your generosity and leadership.
- We restructured the agency for greater efficiency and cost effectiveness, re-thinking how we deploy our resources. This includes consolidating five regional offices into three by next January and eliminating 80 percent of the agency's leased space. We have incorporated into our budget additional cost-saving measures like an extended examination cycle and a smaller agency footprint in credit unions.
- We have initiated an agenda of regulatory relief built on our existing practice of regular reviews of our regulations and conforming to the goals of the administration's Executive Order 13777, directing agencies to set up task forces to identify outdated and unnecessary rules and regulations.
- We have made the agency more transparent and accountable and are crafting tailored and targeted rules and guidance. We again held a public briefing on our proposed budget, and we asked for your comments on our budget, our plans for improving the Call Report, our methods and procedures for electronic data collection, and, of course, our proposed rules and regulations.
These efforts are ongoing, and I am pleased to report we have made substantial progress in a spirit of collaboration that does not compromise our role as regulator, supervisor, and insurer of credit unions. In fact, Congress mandated such collaboration under the Administrative Procedure Act by requiring agencies to propose regulations for public comment and analysis prior to finalization. It's that spirit — that philosophical approach to the regulation of financial institutions — I now wish to discuss.
I grew up in a household where you had to justify your actions. My parents were open to fresh and creative ideas if you could articulate and defend your position around the kitchen table.3 I learned that reasonable minds may differ on occasion; agreeing to disagree often serves as an appropriate resolution to a principled debate, and good-faith compromise reflects integrity and confidence.
This perspective instilled in me a keen respect for the fundamental precepts of individual freedom, individual initiative, individual responsibility, and individual introspection. I learned that when people trust you with authority, particularly the authority to govern or to regulate, you need to listen, to answer questions, to think through intended and unintended consequences, and to work cooperatively to discharge your responsibilities in an entirely collegial, professional, and principled manner.
I incorporated this philosophical approach into my professional life, adopting the ancient mantra of "Come now, and let us reason together" as one of my core guiding principles. Let the parties come together and state their cases, let them negotiate and deliberate in good faith, and let them reach an amicable accord through non-partisan compromise and, as appropriate, reconciliation. In the final analysis, the best ideas must prevail, and those ideas are most often forged in the caldron of reasoned and honest debate. At the NCUA, we will continue to strive for the best ideas in crafting and revising regulations, incorporating regulatory relief, and supervising, examining, and insuring credit unions.
I am convinced the best way to fulfill these responsibilities is through a policy of inclusiveness aimed at finding the simplest, most straightforward, solution to each issue. In drafting regulations, conducting examinations, and managing the agency, I have encouraged the NCUA staff to follow Occam's Razor, the concept embodied by William of Occam, a 14th century philosopher and theologian, who argued, in essence, that the simplest solution is often the most elegant and effective approach to addressing a complex matter.4 Like William of Occam, a similar concept is attributed to Professor Albert Einstein who noted, in effect, "everything must be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
In this spirit, I challenged our staff to break down silos that often develop within organizations; to remain open to fresh and innovative ideas and approaches; to weigh, measure, and test those ideas and approaches; and to present their recommendations for further analysis and vetting by the NCUA Board before submission for public comment.5
Regulation, supervision, examination, and enforcement should derive from transparent, fully accountable, tailored, and targeted rules and procedures that respect the ability of credit unions to make their own business decisions while allowing for innovation and growth that strengthens the credit union system and, as such, the Share Insurance Fund itself. After thoughtful analysis, the NCUA Board will make the final decisions, but the Board's due diligence process should consider the shared wisdom of the credit union community. While we may agree to disagree on certain issues, please understand your voices are heard, both as specifically prescribed by the Administrative Procedure Act and as a matter of our governing philosophy. We will continue to welcome your ideas and approaches and will discharge our responsibilities in a measured, deliberate, and transparent manner.6
In a similar fashion, it's worth considering whether the credit union and community banking communities could benefit from a "come now, and let us reason together" approach to create opportunities for addressing their differences as well as the common challenges facing these essential Main Street financial institutions in an evolving consumer-driven marketplace. Working together in good faith with mutual respect for the other reflects strength, not weakness.
Diligence, prudence, transparency, and respect for competing ideas has a practical effect. Millions of Americans, from all walks of life, have placed their financial well-being with credit unions.7 In some underserved communities, including low-income and minority communities, credit unions may be the only source of federally insured and affordable consumer-oriented financial services.8 We have a responsibility to offer all credit union stakeholders and the taxpayers the results of our best thinking.
Let me close where I began. This has been a year of significant growth in the credit union system and significant progress at the NCUA in terms of tailored and targeted regulatory relief and other change through a transparent, accountable process that respects diverse points of view. I am absolutely confident we can build on these accomplishments together while complying with the letter and spirit of the Federal Credit Union Act and ensuring the safety and soundness of the Share Insurance Fund and the credit union community. I am looking forward to the year ahead.
I will close by wishing each of you, as the leaders of the credit union community, the very best success in your meetings and conferences this week.
Thank you.
1 See the NCUA's Stabilization Fund Closure webpage.
2 In a nutshell, the early closing of the Stabilization Fund transformed a projected premium assessment into an anticipated distribution while materially increasing the necessary and appropriate GAAP reserves for potential future Share Insurance Fund losses and maintaining a normal operating level necessary to protect the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio from falling below 1.20 percent in a moderate recession as determined by stress test analysis conducted pursuant to Federal Reserve methodology.
The NCUA is currently preforming and validating the data necessary for the distribution calculation and developing software for the transactions. The agency cannot vouch for the accuracy of any estimated share insurance distribution provided by another organization and expects to notify credit unions later this year of their respective distribution amount. We anticipate distribution checks will be issued in the third quarter.
For a discussion of the closing of the Temporary Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund and setting the normal operating level at 1.39 percent, see my statement issued at the September 2017 meeting of the NCUA Board.
"There are three key risks to the equity ratio for which the 1.39 percent normal operating level accounts. Specifically, the 1.39 percent level accounts for the following:
- Four basis points to reflect the risk posed by the remaining obligations of the Corporate System Resolution Program;
- Two basis points to reflect the projected decline in the equity ratio through 2018 that will occur even without a recession; and
- 13 basis points of protection for risks to the equity ratio posed by insured credit unions.
"When combined, this means that 19 basis points above the 1.20 percent statutory minimum—an equity ratio of 1.39 percent—is currently needed to protect against a moderate recession.
There is an objective, transparent basis underlying each of these three numbers. The calculations and methodology were thoroughly and transparently described in staff's presentation to the NCUA Board at its July 2017 open meeting, in the request for comment published in the Federal Register, during a webinar the NCUA hosted on this subject in August 2017, and in all the related materials that are posted on the NCUA's website. I will reiterate them again here.
"First, closing the Stabilization Fund in 2017 will expose the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio to any change in the remaining obligations of the Corporate System Resolution Program. This risk to the equity ratio derives from the remaining legacy assets that cannot be sold until the corresponding NGNs they collateralize mature, for the most part not until 2020 and 2021. The NCUA engaged BlackRock to model the impact on the projected cash flows of the legacy assets based on the Federal Reserve Board's economic stress scenarios. This analysis concluded that a moderate recession would reduce the value of the Insurance Fund's claim on the corporate credit union asset management estates by roughly $400 million, which would equate to a reduction in the equity ratio of four basis points. It is critical that the Insurance Fund maintain a sufficient amount of equity to cover potential changes in the value of the claims on the asset management estates of the failed corporate credit unions.
"Second, current trends and factors separate from the management of the Stabilization Fund's assets and liabilities are straining the equity ratio of the Share Insurance Fund. The equity ratio has been declining over the last several years. We anticipate it will continue to do so, even without an economic downturn. This decline is due to continued strong growth in insured credit unions' shares and low yields on the Insurance Fund's investments, which are limited by law. Even somewhat optimistic projections indicate a decline of two basis points in the equity ratio is expected to occur before the remaining NGNs begin to mature in 2020 and the exposure to the legacy assets can be reduced. Holding the additional two basis points in the Insurance Fund now will help ensure there is sufficient equity to account for the potential decline in value of the claims on the asset management estates and avoid future premiums.
"Third, a moderate recession is projected to produce a decline of 13 basis points in the equity ratio due to the effects on the three primary and customary drivers of the Share Insurance Fund's performance: insured share growth, interest income on the fund's investment portfolio, and insurance losses. The decline of 13 basis points is derived through an analysis that looks at historical relationships to link the three main customary drivers of the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio to the economic variables contained in the Federal Reserve scenarios. The projections for the drivers are then used to simulate how the fund would perform under an economic stress."
3 My parents had no patience for equivocation or ill-considered and dubious plans. They valued thoughtfulness and encouraged my brother and me to form and articulate our convictions in a forthright and collaborative manner that could withstand their inquiry, scrutiny, and skepticism. They were particularly unimpressed by a scorched earth approach to negotiating that yielded little but enmity and distrust among the parties.
4 William of Occam, 1287–1347. Occam's Razor, see https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Occam's%20razor (opens new window).
5 That's why we put our budget, our strategic plan, our plans for changing the Call Report, and our proposed regulatory reform agenda out for comment well in advance of action by the Board. This is also how we as an agency have approached the job of modernizing our examination process, reforming regulation to reduce needless burden, and building our annual budget.
6 The NCUA will discharge these duties and responsibilities with the goal of seeking the most transparent, fully accountable, tailored, and targeted solutions to the issues presented while complying with the letter and spirit of the Federal Credit Union Act and ensuring the safety and soundness of the Share Insurance Fund and the credit union community that so many Americans depend upon for their financial services.
7 These include individuals, families, small business owners, veterans and members of the military, blue-collar and white-collar workers, members of the services sector, and public servants.
8 Nearly half of all federally insured credit unions have the low-income designation, giving them access to resources aimed at improving services to these communities. See the NCUA's Q3 2017 Quarterly Data Summary Report (opens new window). The U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund has certified approximately 300 low-income credit unions as Community Development Financial Institutions (opens new window), further expanding the resources available to them. There are also approximately 580 credit unions designated as minority depository institutions (opens new window), specifically providing financial services to minority communities.


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It was Ganesh Chathurthi last Monday- the birthday of the most beloved God of Hindu mythology. That love is clearly exhibited with people creating or bringing home unbaked clay images of Ganesh and celebrating his existence with prayers and festivities.
On the 10th day, his idol is immersed in water and the clay dissolves. This is a way of bidding goodbye to Ganesha and waiting for him to return the following year. While festivities take place all over India, in Maharashtra- and in Mumbai in particular-this visarjan is a sight to behold!
Here is a piece written by my husband, that I thought I'd share with you.
Last week I was in Andheri again.
"Don't step out on Saturday," they told me.
"It is a complete disaster," they warned me.
"You will be on the roads for more than 12 hours if you make the stupid decision of venturing out," they cautioned me.
"Please stay at home, and watch TV," they cajoled me.
I planned on heeding all this unsolicited advice. Being new to Mumbai, and being extremely cautious, even cowardly, I resolved that I would not take a single step outside the house on Saturday, 18th September. I stocked up on books, potato wafers, peanuts (masala and roasted), diverse aerated liquids, and four DVDs. I darkened the bedroom, forming a cocoon against the cruel world lapping at my door.
And then, at 4 PM, when I was just settling into my hedonistic routine, Abhimanyu came to me and tentatively broke the news.
"I need three books," he said, his eyes seeking mine in the gloom, only sporadically offset by the flickering images of Rani Mukherjee meeting Saif Ali Khan for the third time in London.
"Wonderful," I said. "And you will have them."
I always try to sound enthusiastic and positive with the kids, even when they are intruding into the bond I was trying to form with Rani.
"I need them today," he said, insistently. "I have a project to complete and submit on Monday. They are available at Book-Point, in Andheri."
My connection with Rani shattered like so much china in the hands of Damini.
"What?" I pulled myself out of the warm and soft mound of pillows and quilts that had formed my machan through the day. "Andheri? Today? It will be impossible to reach Andheri. Use the internet!"
Having delivered this brilliant advice, I hunted around, found the bag of chips that had slipped to the side, and settled back to recapture what Rani and I had just lost.
"No, Dad," he said, "I need specific books and have to quote certain paragraphs in the report. I am sorry to trouble you, but please can we get them now?" Abhimanyu is nothing if not persistent.
Conflict. This word has so many connotations. It is used so often, especially in today's fragmented world. But, not between Iran and USA, not North Korea and USA, not China and USA, not Iraq and USA, none of these disagreements come even close to the degree of conflict that raged in my breast. On the one hand, there was Rani, potato chips, peace and Coke. On the other there was mayhem, mobs and my son's stumbling quest for education.
It was close. Thoughts of setting up an annuity for him passed my mind. So what, I thought, if he doesn't get a degree? He will manage. Hopefully, he will develop something in the garage.
But no, bitter conscience and those famed middle class values won. But not by much. Not by much at all.
And so, at 5.00 PM on 18th September, Abhimanyu and I left for Andheri. On the day that more than three million devotees leave their homes (at about the same time) to immerse and bid adieu to more than 230,000 large (many larger than life) idols of Ganesha. Which means 230,000 individual processions, about 200,000 trucks, 50,000 buses and 75,000 other vehicles on the roads of this beleaguered city. All the same time, and largely heading in the same direction. Towards the sea.
Let me digress a little to give you an idea of Mumbai's topography. Mumbai is an island – seven islands actually, but bound together now by bridges and land fills and reclamations to form a thin, long one. (I know all of you in the e-group know this, but there is this possibility that these literary gems that I produce are published to wide acclaim posthumously, and translated into 23 languages, and thus, in the interests of future readers from Kazakhstan, Wales and Ecuador, I need to describe this further.) The sea is on the West. So are the beaches. There is a breakwater (called a creek) to the East. There are no beaches in the East. Where we live, Powai, is bang in the middle. And Andheri is in the West. So, to reach Andheri, we needed to drive West, for about ten kilometers. And then, we have to locate the book shop, buy the books, and then, come back home. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Except that the 230,000 processions, idols, trucks, buses, cars are all going West, to immerse the idols in the sea. What joy!
When Abhi and I stepped out of the building, we were hit by a wall of noise. There were drums, cymbals, trumpets, horns, loudspeakers, people chanting, trucks revving. It was like standing in the middle of a particularly agitated thunderstorm. I thought of turning back, but all those years of encouraging Abhimanyu to indulge in physical activities such as football, karate, gymnastics, etc., had yielded a young man considerably stronger and more agile than an over the hill, office-bound manager, whose devotion to alcohol and tobacco is the stuff of legend. The desire to return home was strong, but that to avoid an undignified scuffle ruled. So, with dragging feet and an achin', breakin' heart, I walked into the maelstrom.
But, hark! Even though I use the word noise (you will remember that I had stepped out of a cozy cocoon), after the initial jarring impact, there seemed to, from all the din, form a melody. I agree that calling anything on the wrong side of 350 decibels cannot be remotely described as a melody, but there it was. A rhythmic chant, a metronome of beats, a surging and ebbing wave. It was as if all the disparate groups and their public address systems were somehow finding harmony. There were Hindi film songs, Marathi songs, Sanskrit Shlokas, Indipop, wannabe leaders haranguing the masses, professional bands, amateur bands, religious groups singing loudly. None of these even heard each other, probably. Yet, there was harmony. A strangely serene feeling began to steal over me.
We got into the car, and began our journey. I use the word journey figuratively. The word connotes visions of empty highways stretching into the distance, of the wind blowing through your hair, of the Eagles singing "Hotel California" and speedometers reading in the high nineties. Our outing, alas, was slightly different. As soon as we turned out of the building compound into the road, we were engulfed. It seemed that we had suddenly stepped into the evacuation of Dunkirk. There were people. There were hand carts. There were trucks and buses. There were cars and bullocks. There were pandals and palanquins. There were hawkers and priests and onlookers. There were policemen and firemen and the home guard. The speedometer read in the high zeroes. I reconciled my self to a long night in the car, and mentally kicked myself for not bringing along a book to read during long stretches of apathy.
Then I noticed something strange. With all these impediments, we kept moving. It was rare that we stopped. On first sight, the mass seemed impenetrable, much like the Red Sea must have seemed to Moses and the fleeing Israelis. But, somehow, it parted. (I do not, by the above allusion, mean to imply divine intervention.) Even the most fervent devotee or the most colorfully anointed priest willingly and smilingly gave way. The police worked overtime to ensure that jams were cleared quickly and painlessly. And we kept moving. We zigged past a truck which had a 10-foot high Ganesha precariously balanced on its flatbed, and then zagged past a group of people briskly wheeling a handcart with a 2-foot high one. We squeezed past a riotous crowd of youngsters dancing and throwing coloured powder and water at one other, and crawled between two buses filled with chanting devotees. And we kept moving. And as we moved, the sights around us filled our minds and eyes.
Have you seen a "riot of colour"? Really seen one? I am not talking about your teenage daughter's wardrobe. I am talking about 256,000 colours, high definition, in your face kind of riot. That's what surrounded us. The idols in their bright pink, yellow and red; the people in greens, blues, reds, violets, pinks, mauves; the trucks and buses in colours that put the spectrum to shame, the pandals, the flowers, the coloured powders whisking through the air, the banners, the sweets and toys sold by the hawkers. Even the grey skies and the dilapidated buildings seemed to glow brighter and take on a lustre normally absent. The whole city seemed to be on the roads, in their festive best, and it was mindblowingly beautiful.
The idols themselves were fantastic. There were standing Ganeshas, sitting Ganeshas, reclining Ganeshas, dancing Ganeshas, pink Ganeshas (Aryans), blue Ganeshas (Dravidians), artfully designed and executed Ganeshas, crudely constructed Ganeshas. There was a Ganesha leading people through floodwaters (shades of 26 July) and a Ganesha playing cricket (shades of Sachin). There was a Ganesha with Shivaji sitting by the side, there was one with Mr. Thackeray. There was even one with Manmohan Singh. And Sonia Gandhi. It was amazing to be in the midst of so much creativity, and sad knowing that in a few hours, all this will be returning to clay.
And, so we moved steadily on, drinking in the amazing sights around us, our minds filling with syncopated rhythm. Conversation was difficult. The air conditioner hummed, adding its bit to the melody. Once in a while, we hit a dead end, and the police and the devotees, would, working together in an amazing piece of coordination, clear a bit of the road or find a new one altogether. And then, we would be waved on smilingly.
We reached Book-Point at 6:20 PM. It had taken us just one hour and twenty minutes to vend our way through a million people. I could not believe this. I was expecting to reach by about 8:00 PM, and specifically asked the shop if it would be open then, before leaving home. On the way, we had not seen one angry face, or met with impatience or unhappiness of any sort. There was no force used, no fights, no quarrels. Instead, there was sharing (of drinking water, of sweets, of coloured powders and water balloons) and acceptance (of delays, of sudden showers of rain, of other's need for haste). I wonder about what it took for a more than a million people to move and work together so harmoniously. If we could do it for a day, what about a week? Or was this occasion in some way different?
And thus, we bought the books, and found our way home. The return journey was more of the same, except that we were stuck at one point for about 20 minutes, because a large truck had broken down. We too, taking our cue from the thousands around us, sat comfortably in the car, and waited patiently.
By the time we reached home, the crowds had waned. Small groups, looking exhausted, yet serene, were walking along, presumably heading home. Children holding balloons and carrying plastic toys, were in turn, being carried by their mothers. Crisp saris had turned limp, faces were shiny with perspiration and colour. The street lamps cast their glow on darkening streets, and stray buntings and pieces of paper fluttered in the dying breeze. Puddles of water glistened, trying to mirror the myriad colours that had passed over them. Stray drummers rent the growing silence with their energy, and the faraway bleat of the odd trumpet sounded lonely and lost.
Mumbai is a city you can fall in love with very easily. I am in the first stages of infatuation.
Venkatraman Sheshashayee
25 September 2005


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I know I've already mentioned that I live about 45 minutes from my job. I spend a lot of time on the road, and in the winter time that 45 minute drive has, on occasion, exceeded 90 minutes.
For this reason, I am eternally grateful that I have the opportunity to carpool with a co-worker who also lives in my town and makes the long commute.
We carpool about four days a week. We meet up at a hotel that allows us to leave one of our cars there for the day, and this hotel is right off the interstate and is a convenient location for both of us.
For those of you who have a commute of any distance, I cannot encourage you enough to find a carpooling buddy. It makes our time of the road fly by, we get to chat about things other than students, grading and school policies, and we save a lot of money in gas.
If I were to drive alone Monday through Friday, I would fill up my Chevy Cruze once every 8 days. A fill-up from empty costs just under $50 (with our current gas prices). Because carpooling means I only drive two or three days a week (some weeks I drive three days, some weeks I drive two - we take turns) I can fill up every two weeks, making my total gas bill for the month about $100. While this is still astronomical for some of you would have nice, short commutes, this is huge for me.
I was even featured in our local newspaper after someone in the industry caught wind of our carpooling shenanigans.
Now if that isn't reason to find a carpooling buddy, I don't know what is.


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TradeEzi is a must have app for any home or business owner with little time on their hands and a multiple of jobs needing to be completed! Working with both iOS and Android, the app works by allowing the user to post a job description onto an online directory. ranging from electrical, plumbing, landscaping, cleaning, repair, construction, etc, TradeEzi has all the information you need to connect you with the best person for the job.
When a project is listed on the app or website, it is sent to a large number of service providers simultaneously who can the respond with quotes, request visits or provider other credential / information. This app is a brilliant option any home or business owner as it saves time and money. The best thing about it is that the tradies come to you!
Did i also mention its completely free? No more tedious phone calls sitting on hold or waiting for quotes. in less than 2 minutes your job can be posted and you can pursue other tasks while quotes are formulated and sent back. The app also allows service providers to create profiles, expand their work areas and upload any relevant credentials to increase their reach when jobs are listed. Because of this, the app is a win win for both parties. It acts and as open channel linking people together quickly and with minimal hassle.
Because of its utility, this app is a perfect addition to any home or business owners arsenal!
Last updated 6 Aug 2015
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Chinese prodigies are exploding onto the global golfing scene thanks to China's grand ambition to become a power in the sport in time for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Ever since 2009 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to return golf to the Olympics for the 2016 Games after a 112-year absence, China has rushed to bury its communist aversion for the bourgeois sport and invested lavishly on a program to identify and push a generation of young golfers up the global rankings. The top 15 in the world in each gender win automatic berths in the Rio games. Another 45 per gender will be chosen through elimination rounds in which nations without at least two in the top 15 can earn up to two slots.
China has hired Australian Greg Norman to identify and advise the nation's top young golfing talent. It has also hired Scotsman Michael Dickie to coach the women's Olympic team. The program, based on Shanghai, puts 15 promising girls through a rigorous six-days-per-week regimen that includes five hours a day on golf and two on fitness training. The government also takes care of all arrangements and expenses for participating in tournaments around the world.
The national golfing program has already produced impressive results, though it can't take full credit for Feng Shanshan, 23, the first Chinese golfer to win a major. Last June at New York's Locust Hill Country Club Feng won the 2012 LPGA Championship by two strokes with a 6-under 282. She had turned pro back in 2007, at the age of 18, before the national golfing program started up, and is currently ranked 8th in the world. She doesn't train with the team in Shanghai but will likely win a berth to Rio.
Several other Chinese golfers have been garnering nearly as much attention as Feng, mainly because their golfing talents are paired with startling youth.
Guan Tianlang, 14, is the youngest ever to play at Augusta, an 80-year-old masters event which opened Thursday. Before Guan its youngest participant was 16-year-old Matteo Manassero. Guan won his Augusta berth by beating a field of senior golfers last year at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand. Last year, at the age of 13, Guan became the youngest ever to play in a European Tour event.
Andy Zhang was only 14 last year when he became the youngest player in the history of the US Open while Jing Yan took that distinction at last year's Women's British Open at the age of 16. And in March Ye Wocheng, 12, became the youngest golfer to qualify for a European Tour event.
These distinctions are remarkable when one considers that the entire pool of teens playing golf in China is estimated at no more than 600 boys and girls. The youthful marks they're setting seems to be a preview of the intensity with which Chinese are devoting themselves to a sport that had been abolished during the Cultural Revolution. It wasn't until 1984 that a golf course was allowed to open in China. Today there are at least 600 courses, three times as many as a decade ago, and perhaps only a third of the number likely to be in operation a decade hence.


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Michael Abobor, 38, Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty on what would have been the first day of his trial to wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme involving intended losses of at least $2 million.
According to his plea agreement, in the Spring and Summer of 2007, Abobor, a licensed real estate agent, submitted fraudulent loan applications for the purchase of homes in Maryland. Abobor purchased two homes in his own name, and purchased the rest of the homes using the names, and credit, of various friends and family members. Each loan application contained fraudulent information about the borrower's earnings (including their monthly income and their assets) and employers, of which Abobor had full knowledge. Some of these applications contained fake documents, like doctored W-2s and paystubs; and all of them alleged that the borrower made much more money than he or she really did.
Based on these fraudulent application materials, the victim lending institutions funded loans that totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars, resulting in substantial commission payments to Abobor. Eventually, each of these loans fell into default, causing large losses to the victims. Abobor also collected large amounts of money in additional payments funded by the mortgages that were disguised as "renovation payments."
For example, on July 25, 2007, Abobor facilitated the purchase of a home in Bowie, Maryland, and while serving as the buyer's real estate agent, knowingly submitted a false loan application on the buyer's behalf. The loan application, among other things, vastly inflated the buyer's monthly income figures. Relying upon these false representations, the lending institution funded a loan of $375,000. As part of this transaction, Abobor received a commission payment of $5,499, and also received over $37,000 in "renovation" payments.
In all, Abobor arranged at least seven fraudulent real estate transactions, caused more than $2,000,000 in intended losses to victim financial institutions, took in excess of $20,000 in fraudulent real estate commissions, and collected over $270,000 in extra money from the transactions in the form of third party disbursements for renovations that were never completed.
Abobor faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. As part of his plea agreement, Abobor will be ordered to forfeit $2,026,205, and the order of forfeiture may include assets directly traceable to his offenses, substitute assets, and/or a money judgment equal to the value of the property derived from, or involved in, the scheme. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte scheduled Abobor's sentencing for April 18, 2013.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Inspector General Jon T. Rymer of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Special Agent in Charge David Beach of the United States Secret Service – Washington Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Joe Clarke of the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations.
The Maryland Mortgage Fraud Task Force was established to unify the agencies that regulate and investigate mortgage fraud and promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of mortgage fraud schemes. This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Task Force, demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protect consumers from fraud and promote the integrity of the credit markets. Information about mortgage fraud prosecutions is available www.justice.gov/usao/md/Mortgage-Fraud/index.html.
The announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys' offices and state and local partners, it's the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FDIC Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sujit Raman and Sean B. O'Connell, who are prosecuting the case.


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HCQM Certification demonstrates that ABQAURP Diplomates have the practical knowledge and the tools that can reduce medical errors, ensure patient safety, eliminate waste and unnecessary services, while avoiding potentially harmful delays in care. Certification demonstrates to internal and external entities that you, your group practice, or hospital is accountable. The result is a safer, more efficient and cost-effective system that better satisfies the needs of patients, providers, purchasers, and payers.
A hospital or health system adopting HCQM Certification/education for their medical staff allows them to say to outside interests that they have the highest possible standards for their medical team by certifying their medical staff through an independent, non-profit organization (ABQAURP) that is dedicated to improving the overall quality of health care that is provided to the public.
Professionals who have achieved certification in HCQM are deeply committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care. Those certified in HCQM demonstrate their superior ability to critically evaluate industry literature, identify evidence-based best practices, and make recommendations that balance appropriateness of health care services with cost and quality. HCQM Board Certification addresses the need for effectiveness, efficiency, equity, safety, and timeliness.
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You have probably heard plenty of times that success is a choice. Are you and your people really choosing success?
There seems to be an underlying theme in dealerships at the moment; salespeople are complaining about the lack of business due to a recession. The media is doing a great job of convincing the general public that the country is in a recession. If we are in a recession, how is it that some dealerships are continuing to do even better than last year?
Read the title of this article again: choose success. Are you and your team using the fact that so many people are saying business is bad to tell yourselves: "It's okay that we're not doing any better. We can't help it; it's just the economy"? I especially love this one: "We just have to sit it out; business will pick up again as soon as the economy comes back."
Don't allow anyone to use the state of the economy as an excuse for poor performance! So how can you and your team choose success if the economy is down? How are pockets of dealerships managing to prosper during these times when so many are suffering?
It's called attitude and a willingness to work harder and smarter than ever before. You have a choice to make, either go with the flow and accept poor results or act. Do something about it. Make something happen.
Easier said than done. Anything easier done than said isn't normally worth doing. It's not going to be easy, but it will be well worth the effort if you choose success.
Successful people do what unsuccessful won't do. What makes a successful salesperson? In most cases, that person is prepared to work harder and smarter at making sales than his fellow salespeople. For example, I was in a dealership last week and all the salespeople were sitting huddled together in the showroom watching it snow, complaining that no-one in their right mind is going to come and buy a car in this weather. However, there was one person who was as busy as ever. He was making phone calls, writing letters, checking with the service department and going about his everyday business. I am sure you are not surprised to learn that this particular person was not just the salesperson of the month, but has been the salesperson of the month almost every month for the last 10 years. He was doing what other salespeople weren't prepared to do—work!
When I was selling cars in Atlanta, I made a conscious decision to be the best, and I was prepared to do whatever it took to reach that goal. I was the salesperson who showed up to work at 7:15 each morning to work the service drive. This seems to be a lost practice nowadays. I bought coffee for the service advisors and service manager, and I would hang out with them until the doors opened at 7:30. I greeted most of the service customers and just chatted with them until one of the advisors became free to help them. I made sure they received one of my cards, of course. I also sent them all a hand written thank-you card that same day.
By the time all the other salespeople rolled in, I had already had a great day in making new friends and meeting potential customers. The relationships I built with our service people were strong, so strong that whenever any of them had a customer who also wanted to speak with a salesperson, I was only salesperson they ever introduced the customers to. This one habit of working the service drive got me enough business that I was not only salesperson of the month; I made it 11 months straight until I was promoted to sales manager.
So, is anyone working your service drive each day like that? If not, you are missing a lot of potential business. You and your dealership need to be different so your "rough" patches are still pretty good.
What kind of outside prospecting is going on with your sales team? I would venture to say very little. It is common for many dealerships to have lazy salespeople. You need to change that, but unless you have the attitude of choosing success, you won't be able to. Get your team working for a living instead of just taking orders. Send them out each day from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to call on businesses to introduce themselves and your dealership. You should require them to bring back business cards from the places they visited, so they can follow up and you can hold them accountable for their time out of the dealership. If they do this on a regular basis, you will be surprised how much business will come. When our trainers take salespeople out prospecting to show them what to do, they invariably come back with business.
Are your managers holding your salespeople accountable to the sales process? So many times when your dealership experiences less floor traffic than normal, it's because managers allow salespeople to take shortcuts. This leads to fewer deals and lower profits. It seems as if we have to take shorter deals in these times, just to put a deal together. So with that attitude, managers will allow salespeople to get right to negotiating a deal in order to sell something. That is not selling. Selling is getting the customer to fall in love with you, the dealership and the product. This isn't done by dropping the price. All you do is lower the value when you drop the price: customers want to buy value.
Don't allow your sales process to be compromised; it will cost you sales and profit. Have the attitude that your dealership is not going to accept poor performance, no matter what is going on around you. Don't use the excuse "but customers 'round here are different." I hear that everywhere I go. Make the decision to rise above and act on it. Be prepared to do things that unsuccessful people won't do. If you and your team get busy doing things differently, you will be surprised just how much business is out there.
You owe it to yourself and to your employees to choose success. I don't like the alternative, do you?


text:
Q & A: Which Glue for Bent Lamination?
A chair design I'm
working on requires bent
laminations for the back spindles.
I'm using maple and am
having a hard time keeping
the glue lines from jumping
out. Any suggestions?
Because bent laminations
are under constant
stress, they require glue that
sets hard. Epoxy, urea resin,
resorcinol and polyurethane
are all good choices for bent
laminations. Of these four
glues, urea resin and resorcinol
achieve the most rigid
glue line when cured. While
resorcinol has a Type I rating (a
good choice for outdoor applications)
its color is very dark,
making it unsuitable for lighter
woods like maple. Consider
using a urea resin glue by the
name of Unibond 800 which
comes with a light catalyst
specifically designed for blonde
Tip: You can also minimize
glue lines by selecting
straight-grained stock to cut
your laminations from and
assembling the laminations
in their original order.
This story originally appeared in American Woodworker October 1999, issue #75.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.


text:
The Barack Obama Celebrity Roast
(Thundering tympanies, swirling spotlights)
Live! From the fabulous Turtle Bay Ballroom at United Nations Headquarters, it's the Rat Pack of Evil All-Star International Celebrity Roast of President Barack Obama!
(orchestra fanfare: 'Make 'Em Laugh')
With Pyongyang funnyman Kim Jong-Il! Borscht Belt headliner Vlady Putin! Queen of Mean Liz Windsor! Saudi Sheik of Schtick King Abdullah! Beijing jokeslinger Hu Jintao! Wacky al Qaeda Caveman Ayman al-Zawahiri! Nick 'the Knife' Sarkozy! Sassy Wanda Sykes! South-of-the-border slapstick team Hugo Chavez and the Castro Brothers! Taliban Madman Mullah Omar! Jon Stewart! Lovable Libyan lush Muammar al-Ghadaffi! Grovelin' Guvner Gordy Brown! Bashar "The Chin" al-Assad! The Hamas Fattah Dancers! And starring your Master of Ceremonies -- that suntan man with a plan from Iran -- that Persian with a nuclear perversion -- Sheckyyyyyy Ahmedinejad!
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Okay, okay, pipe down. Let's get this thing over with, this straightjacket is a rental and my magic carpet is double-parked on East 43rd. Mohammed H. Prophet, will you get a load of the evil on the stage tonight? I haven't seen this many bombs since Janeane Garofalo played the American Legion convention.
(Zawahiri spit-take)
At least there aren't any Zionist. Hey, wait a minute - there's Jon Stewart! Oy vey, who let the Jew in? This is a comedy event, for Allah's sake. Hey Jon, do you know what I have in common with Taco Bell? We're both gonna give you the gas.
(Jon Stewart mugs Macauley Culkin 'Home Alone' face)
But, hey, enough about these losers. Let's talk about the man we're all here to honor tonight: my pal, Barack Obama.
What a mensch this guy is. Total sweetheart. As soon as he was elected, he told me he would come to the negotiating table without preconditions. You know what 'preconditions' are? That's Persian for 'balls.' Barack, one look at the stars on the stage proves you still have a knack for community organizing. You've brought the entire evil community together, in the spirit of international dialog, to ask you one simple question: how does our ass taste?
But not everybody has a sense of humor. When I was planning this roast, I sent invitations to every bigshot infidel TV comic in Satanland, but they all turned me down. Was it my holocaust one-liners? My ballistic missile schtick? Nope. These douchebags said they couldn't think of anything funny about Barack Obama. Not a single thing.
(scattered groans, boos)
Yeah, exactly. I mean what the fuck? Maybe I should get my SAG card, because, come on, this clueless pussy is the biggest gift to international insult comedy since Neville Chamberlain. Holy dung, when we heard the infidels elected him, I almost had to shut down my nuke program. My scientists were laughing so hard they kicked over half of our centrifuges!
(Ghadaffi sprays tea on Assad )
But, no-o-o, all these professional comedy dipshits keep telling me Professor Urkel over here is some sort of infidel sacred joke cow. I called up Letterman, and I'm like, Dave how about a couple Obama zingers for the roast tonight? He's like, "no, no, too controversial. Everybody loves him." And so I'm like, how about if I just insult America? So he's like, "yeah, sure, that's fine."
Okay then, here's one: man, that America is one stupid country.
(audience: HOW STUPID IS IT?)
It's so fucking stupid it elected Barack Obama.
Hey, hey. I kid because I love. In fact, unlike that last mumblemouth infidel asshole, Barack has been a breath of fresh air to the entire evil comedy community. He doesn't whine about the way we treat broads or homos or journalist hostages or our uranium stockpiles. Nope. He just smiles, and apologizes, and politely asks us to "unclench our fists." Hey bro, I'd love to, but that's kinda hard to do when it's stuck inside your duodenum.
Okay, let's get this show on the road. Our first roaster comes from England, where she's the star of a long running one-woman show at the Buckingham Palace Dinner Theater. Ladies and Martyrs, you know her, you hate her, please welcome the Queen of Spleen, Liz Windsor!
(band breaks into God Save the Queen, applause)
Liz Windsor
Thanks for that swell intro, Shecky. By the way, I know how much you love our infidel nuclear technology, but we've got another 1940's invention you should really check out. It's called deodorant.
Listen folks, I know you came here expecting me to start hurling some tasteless insults at Barack Obama. But, seriously, I just can't bring myself to do it. Barack is almost like another son to me.
(audience: awwwww)
Yeah, another jug eared idiot with a hard-on for horsefaced women. Barack was in London a couple weeks ago and rang me up, asked if he could drop by for tea. So he comes in, and I'm thinking, whoa -- those Yanks have really stepped up their space program, he's brought along a real live Klingon. Turns out it was his wife.
Yep. Then, oh Jesus, in she starts with all the hugging. And I'm like, fer chrissake, somebody hand Lieutenant Worf a planet Earth protocol guide. Then Barack pops off and says, "hey Your Majesty, I brought a gift." Okay, I'm thinking, car company? Banking system? National Park? Then I open the box. It's an iPod. A fucking iPod. Preloaded with Barack's easy listening speech hits.
(stares at Obama amid nervous laughter)
Yeah, way to cement that special relationship, dumbfuck. Jesus Christ, was Wal Mart sold out of Sham Wows? Oh yeah, that iPod is going in the vault with the crown jewels. Right next to that sack of DVDs you bought for Gordy Brown.
Gordon Brown
Now see here, Your Majesty! I thought that was quite thoughtful gesture, and...
Liz Windsor
Oh, shut the fuck up, Gordy. I don't come to your job and slap Obama's dick out of your mouth. Listen folks, my time's up, and this tiara is chafing like a sonuvabitch. Time for me to lie back and think of England. Don't forget to tip your waitress!
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Liz Tudor everybody! Hey Liz -- word to the wise. Stay out of the London subways this summer. By the way, you know the last thing to go through Princess Di's head?
Liz Windsor
What's that?
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Her ass. Next up is another monarch who primogenitured his way to the top -- give a hand to that Saudi royal with a buttload of oil, King Abdullah!
(applause; 'Desert Caravan')
King Abdullah
Thanks everybody! Hey, how about that Shecky Ahmedinejad, ladies and gentleman? What a guy, he'd give you the Zanjeer Zani off his back. Now you know, a lot of people think I got it pretty good being a ruthless hereditary billionaire sitting on top of an ocean of crude oil and the top psycho theme park in the Middle East. But lemme tell you, it's not all it's cracked up to be. How'd you like to have 37 mothers in-law?
But hey, controlling the world energy supply has its perks. People tend to treat you pretty nice. They offer you thoughtful little gifts and kickbacks. Now, Barack here, for instance, likes to offer blowjobs.
(gasps, ewwws)
What? What? Don't believe me? Let's go to the video. Sure, Bush liked holding hands, but he was a total pricktease. But Barack, hey, the guy goes down faster than a fat shaheed on madrassa prom night.
(Putin wipes away tears of laughter as Abdullah slowly pantomimes fellatio)
Now look Barack, I really appreciate the gesture, but regardless of what you might have heard -- homie don't swing that way.
(looks around slowly to banquet table surrounded by burqqa-clad wives)
On the other hand, send me your cell number. I never know when I'll need a booty call. Good night folks, drive safely! Unless you're a woman.
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Now that's what I call crude humor. Our next performer has been called everything from the Andy Kauffman of international relations to the Gilbert Gottfried of the global nuclear club. Gird your loins for the annoying, far-out, certifiably insane comedic stylings of Kim! Jong! Il!
(applause; 'They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Ha')
Kim Jong Il
(walks slowly over to Barack Obama and leans into his face)
Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother you? I'm not nuking you! Does this bother...
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Okay orderlies, cart him away. Jeez, and I thought I was nuts. Let's bring it down a notch with a set from my dear old friend and original cast member of al-Qaeda's Friday Night Live, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri!
(applause, '911 is a Joke')
Ayman al-Zawahiri
Thank you, thank you. What a panel we got here, huh? I haven't seen this many sick assholes since I was doing proctology rounds at Cairo General.
(Ahmedinejad spit take)
And there's our man of the hour, Mr. Barack fuckin' joke thief Obama. Havin' fun, buddy?
(Obama smiles nervously)
Listen pal, maybe I live in a cave, but I read the papers. Strafing Manhattan in a 747? Really? In case you didn't notice, I was doing that routine like eight fucking years ago. I mean, what are you, Carlos fucking Mencia?
(Obama smiles nervously)
What's the matter? Teleprompter got your tongue?
(Obama smiles nervously)
Holy scimitar, this fuckface couldn't ad lib a fart. Listen, Barack, I appreciate all the reach-arounds, but if you don't stop stealing my material I swear to Allah I'm gonna sic a copyright lawyer on your apostate ass. As soon as I can find one who isn't a Jew. Goodnight folks, you've been a great audience! Death to America!
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Ayman al-Zawahiri, everybody! If you're in Swat this weekend, make sure you catch his act at the Khyber Pass Inn. Our next performer comes from the exotic Orient where he works the Forbidden City Casino. Ladies and Gentleman, the man with the biggest bankroll and smallest dick in international show biz, Mister Hu Jintao!
(applause, 'Slow Boat to China')
Hu Jintao
Yeah Confucius say fuck you, you third rate unibrow rug dealer. Don't make me open a can of one-child-policy on your smelly Persian ass. You're no Long Dong Wang yourself, and at least mine isn't covered in camel crap. Hey everybody, how's it goin'?
And how about that Barack Obama. What a prince, huh? The most generous man in show biz.
Yep. Generous to a fault. With my money. What? You think all those big tips he throws around come out of his own pocket? Just the other day he called up and said, "hey Hu, how about spotting me a couple trillion till next tax day?" And I'm like, what, does Aunt Esther need another pair of sneakers? And he goes, "no, I got a Social Security payment due."
I'm like, dude -- what happened to that last trillion I lent you? Get this: the stupid fucker spent it on a beat up Cadillac for his union buddies. So I say, look, I'm a little short right now. I'll catch you at your 30-year treasury bond garage sale. Then the next week he's like, dude, where were you?" Ah so, round-eye! No tickee, no thirty!
Yeah, that ain't the half of it. Not only does this asshole expect me to be his personal ATM and pawnshop, he's always calling up bitching about something. Just the other day, he's like, "come on Hu, how come you keep busting my balls with your naval drive-bys?" I'm like dude, you're 3 months overdue on your aircraft carrier payments. Those aren't Chinese navy boats, those are repo men!
Look folks, I gotta get back home and churn out another load of defective plastic crap for Wal Mart, to make some money, to lend to Barack for some new idiot free bullshit program. Christ, and they call me a Commie! 'Night everybody, and please remember to thank your designated tank driver.
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Hu Jintao! Toxic Choking Hazard Toy Industry's Man of the Year, everybody! Hu Jintao. Next we have that crazy Caucasian from across the Caucasus, that Gremlin from the Kremin, 15-time winner of KGB Entertainer of the Year, Vlady Putin!
Vlady Putin
Tank yous Shecky! Tank yous very much. Ho boy, it is good to be in America! I love America, is great country. It is land of free! Not like my country. In my country, whole government run by corrupt communist thugs. They ignore the laws. They take over companies and give the money to their friends. America is very totally different! It has 110 volt outlets.
Haha! Vlady make funny everybody! Hey Barack, you teach Vlady how to nationalize the banks, hokay?
Best thing about America is everybody is so very very nice. Especially the President Barack! He is complete pussycat. Pussy, pussy, pussycat. He loves Vlady's practical jokes. I kick his Air Force out of Kyrgyzstan he say, hokey dokey, Vlady! Then I fly my bombers right over his ships, and he sends fat babushka lady to give me a funny reset button gag gift. I say, hey Barack, what Vlady gotta do to make you mad? He say, "just don't go to no tea parties, hokay?"
What a country! Because Barack be so nice to me, now I want to sing him a nice American song from the Hoagy Carmichael.
(Vlady pulls out balalaika and tunes up)
Georgia, Geor-or-orgia... no peace can I find... it's just them old sweet tanks that keep Georgia on my mind.
Tanks everybody! Take it easy on the Vodka!
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Vlady Putin, everyone! Okay, our next performer is a good ol' country boy from the hills of Waziristan, where he emcees the weekly Grand Ole Stoning show at the Wana Goat Corral. Let's give it up for Mullah Omar!
(applause; Theme From 'Deliverance')
Mullah Omar
Thanks Shecky. When Shecky asked me to do this gig, I was like, what the fuck? Dude, I'm a fucking Taliban, I know as much about comedy as Perez Hilton knows about vaginas. So he says, "don't worry. I lined up this professional infidel comedian to write your bit." I'm like, oh yeah? And he's like, "yeah, her name is Wanda Sykes." And I'm like, a broad? And he's like, "Trust me, Barack loves her. She totally slays the infidels."
Okay, you know I'm down with that. So then this Wanda shows up at my cave yesterday with a stack of cue cards with her jokes. And I'm like, bitch please -- put on a fucking burqqa. So I'm doing the read-through, and every gag is about killing some guy named Rush Limbaugh. So, I'm like, who the fuck is this Limbaugh guy? I thought this gig was supposed to be about Obama. And she goes, "he's a fat radio Nazi who hates Blacks and Jews and gay people." And I'm like, hey, sounds like my kinda guy. And she's like, "exactly!" And I'm like, why would I want to insult somebody I agree with? So she says "because he's for the war, dumbass."
And so at this point I'm pretty fucking confused. So I say to her, okay, now I think I get it. This fat guy is funny because (a) he supports Obama's crusade against us, even though (b) he and I are on the same page, homo-killing-wise. The funny is from the irony or something. And she's like, "no, idiot! Barack wants to stop the war." So I'm like, wait a minute... Barack is against the war? Then why is he still running it? Besides, I though he actually likes homos. And she goes, "He does, you retard! That's why he's going to end the bombing and leave you alone."
Now I'm even more confused. So I go, look Wanda, maybe I'm not up on your infidel inside jokes, but this material is really gonna bomb in front of a shaheed audience. So she gives me that look and says, "okay, you cracker ass cracker, why don't you show me what you people think is funny?" Long story short..
(Omar reaches down behind podium and pulls out Wanda Sykes' head)
Hey Wanda...here's your sign.
Alluha Akbar, y'all!
(Omar walks back to his seat, tosses the head to Hugo Chavez who puts it on his hand, muppet style)
Hugo Chavez
Wanda Sykes' Head
(Abdullah falls out chair in helpless laughter; Fidel Castro stares in comatose deadpan)
Shecky Ahmedinejad
Mullah Omar, everybody! Now that's why they call him the king of prop comedy!
Okay folks. Now, it's time to hear from the man who's been sitting here all evening, silently absorbing all our insults. Here's his chance to get a little payback! Ladies and Dictators, please welcome our esteemed man of the hour, leader of the infidel world, and the only man in the room who doesn't realize he's way over his head -- President Barack Obama!
(standing ovation; 'Hail to the Chief')
Barack Obama
Lemme tell ya, I don't get any respect.
(torrential screams of convulsive uncontrollable sustained laughter; Sarkozy falls backwards in chair; Omar wipes tears away while shooting AK47 into air; Abdullah pantomimes fellatio; Castro stares comatose; Vlady pilots toy airplane above Obama's head; Kim and Shecky take turns punching gag missile launch button; Jon Stewart mugs look of horror)
Shecky Ahmedinejad
That's all the time we have tonight! Thanks to all the performers, and Barack Obama for being such a good sport. See you at the next Rat Pack of Evil roast, when we move to the fabulous Boom Boom Room at the Radioactive Crater Resort in Downtown Jerusalem! Goodnight 12th Imam. wherever you are!


text:
The government is expected to give the go-ahead to the coal-burning Kingsnorth power plant. Here, one of the world's foremost climate experts launches an excoriating attack on Britain's long love affair with the most polluting fossil fuel of all
A year ago, I wrote to Gordon Brown asking him to place a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants in Britain. I have asked the same of Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd and other leaders. The reason is this - coal is the single greatest threat to civilisation and all life on our planet.
The climate is nearing tipping points. Changes are beginning to appear and there is a potential for explosive changes, effects that would be irreversible, if we do not rapidly slow fossil-fuel emissions over the next few decades. As Arctic sea ice melts, the darker ocean absorbs more sunlight and speeds melting. As the tundra melts, methane, a strong greenhouse gas, is released, causing more warming. As species are exterminated by shifting climate zones, ecosystems can collapse, destroying more species.
The public, buffeted by weather fluctuations and economic turmoil, has little time to analyse decadal changes. How can people be expected to evaluate and filter out advice emanating from those pushing special interests? How can people distinguish between top-notch science and pseudo-science?
Those who lead us have no excuse - they are elected to guide, to protect the public and its best interests. They have at their disposal the best scientific organisations in the world, such as the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences. Only in the past few years did the science crystallise, revealing the urgency. Our planet is in peril. If we do not change course, we'll hand our children a situation that is out of their control. One ecological collapse will lead to another, in amplifying feedbacks.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air has already risen to a dangerous level. The pre-industrial carbon dioxide amount was 280 parts per million (ppm). Humans, by burning coal, oil and gas, have increased this to 385 ppm; it continues to grow by about 2 ppm per year.
Earth, with its four-kilometre-deep oceans, responds only slowly to changes of carbon dioxide. So the climate will continue to change, even if we make maximum effort to slow the growth of carbon dioxide. Arctic sea ice will melt away in the summer season within the next few decades. Mountain glaciers, providing fresh water for rivers that supply hundreds of millions of people, will disappear - practically all of the glaciers could be gone within 50 years - if carbon dioxide continues to increase at current rates. Coral reefs, harbouring a quarter of ocean species, are threatened.
The greatest danger hanging over our children and grandchildren is initiation of changes that will be irreversible on any time scale that humans can imagine. If coastal ice shelves buttressing the west Antarctic ice sheet continue to disintegrate, the sheet could disgorge into the ocean, raising sea levels by several metres in a century. Such rates of sea level change have occurred many times in Earth's history in response to global warming rates no higher than those of the past 30 years. Almost half of the world's great cities are located on coastlines.
The most threatening change, from my perspective, is extermination of species. Several times in Earth's history, rapid global warming occurred, apparently spurred by amplifying feedbacks. In each case, more than half of plant and animal species became extinct. New species came into being over tens and hundreds of thousands of years. But these are time scales and generations that we cannot imagine. If we drive our fellow species to extinction, we will leave a far more desolate planet for our descendants than the world we inherited from our elders.
Clearly, if we burn all fossil fuels, we will destroy the planet we know. Carbon dioxide would increase to 500 ppm or more. We would set the planet on a course to the ice-free state, with sea level 75 metres higher. Climatic disasters would occur continually. The tragedy of the situation, if we do not wake up in time, is that the changes that must be made to stabilise the atmosphere and climate make sense for other reasons. They would produce a healthier atmosphere, improved agricultural productivity, clean water and an ocean providing fish that are safe to eat.
Fossil-fuel reservoirs will dictate the actions needed to solve the problem. Oil, of which half the readily accessible reserves have already been burnt, is used in vehicles, so it's impractical to capture the carbon dioxide. This is likely to drive carbon dioxide levels to at least 400 ppm. But if we cut off the largest source of carbon dioxide - coal - it will be practical to bring carbon dioxide back to 350 ppm, lower still if we improve agricultural and forestry practices, increasing carbon storage in trees and soil.
Coal is not only the largest fossil fuel reservoir of carbon dioxide, it is the dirtiest fuel. Coal is polluting the world's oceans and streams with mercury, arsenic and other dangerous chemicals. The dirtiest trick that governments play on their citizens is the pretence that they are working on "clean coal" or that they will build power plants that are "capture-ready" in case technology is ever developed to capture all pollutants.
Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/15/james-hansen-power-plants-coal