On the regular play of these slot machines, the highest win attainable is 30,000 coins by getting 5 of the Captain Kirk symbols showing on the reels but if you can get them during one of the bonus rounds that pay a x 10 multiplier, you can actually win as much as 300,000 coins. On the original version of the Star Trek slot there are several bonus rounds available but in the second half of Scotty's bonus round, it is possible to get a multiplier of x 10 and so it is then that you would really want to see 5 Captain Kirks on the reels.
There are four bonus rounds on these slot machines, one for each of the four main characters in the TV series on which the slots are based. The four characters are Captain Kirk, Spock, Uhura and Scotty and to play one of their bonus rounds you must first get a bonus symbol on each of the reels 2 and 3 and then the character whose bonus round you will play on the 4th reel at the same time. The bonus rounds are all different but can all create the potential for some great wins.
Captain Kirk's bonus round will allow you 250 free spins to get a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 winning spins and on these winning spins, the win amounts will be trebled.
Spock's bonus round has 15 free spins but all wins during the round will pay double the usual.
Uhura's bonus round will randomly consist of between 6 and 12 free spins but before any of the free spins start; extra wild symbols are added to the reels.
Lastly there is Scotty's round and this is played in two parts. The first part consists of 5 free spins that have a multiplier of between x2 and x5 whilst the second part has another 5 free spins but this time with a multiplier of between x4 and x10 and it is during this second part that you would hope to see 5 Captain Kirk symbols appear on the reels.
Play Star Trek slot at Paddy Power!


Sarah Silva, MA, LCPC currently provides clinical supervision to fulfill requirements for the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor license in the state of Illinois.
Clinical supervision is responsible for the support and guidance for supervisees and counselors in training to learn clinical skills and develop their professional identity as counselors.
-Sarah uses Bernard's discrimination model of supervision as an approach to clinical supervision in conjunction with being person-centered, strength based and meeting each supervisee where they're at.
-Sarah values a supervisee's current knowledge, including personal and professional experiences they bring to supervision.
-Sarah is passionate about creating a safe place for counselors to disclose what the supervisee is doing well on & mistakes they've made without repercussions of ending the supervisory relationship.
*Sarah Silva, MA, LCPC has provided supervision to counselors since Spring 2014 and is currently strengthening her expertise as a clinical supervisor by pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision. Sarah also is in the process of obtaining the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) license.


i stopped sweetening my tea so i can taste the leaves. i've found that i'm someone who needs to be outside. there's a dog shaking his head in the other room, itching his stomach with his hind legs. if it means something to you, it means someone to them.
the clouds distort their shapes with movement. i distort my shape with movement. there's a hollow tree out there that still grows and the eaves of my home slump when it snows. tomorrow i'll ride my bike to work in the rain and hear the rust snap in the chains. tomorrow i'll ride my bike to work and hope my helmet is enough to keep me together.
enough references to the bible. enough referees pointing to the bible. i'm saying it's enough to put pen to paper with only your hand. enough references to someone we can all try to be. enough preferences. enough.
i stopped creaming my coffee when i stopped drinking coffee. enough cigarettes. i stopped and picked up a nickel; no one else was bending over. there's a dog eating dimes, sweating in his tea.
i've broken down outside of a 7-11 and then threw out the cellophane holding my life together. enough cellophane holding our lives together. hold your breath and drink some water.
pairs of sunglasses covering my lashes.
I've found that I am someone who needs a sheet on the couch or I'm nervous about stains. I've learned to fill in the cracks of a sidewalk with the sounds of my steps. She walks like I do and I don't mind walking her home 14 blocks to a house that I can't enter.
I've found that I'm someone who needs to sleep sitting up, waking up at 9:30am to see my mom walking to work in an apron. The dog across the street sits up and watches me rub the raspberries from my nose.
A porch is a place where smoke clings to the wooden sideboards. I've learned to sleep in porch dreams. I've found that I'm someone who needs smoke clinging to my wooden sideboards. 9:30am cement sidewalks remind me she learned to step like an Indian.
Josh Anthony really tries, really, he tries. He is endlessly thankful for past publications, including Sleet Magazine, Dead Flowers: A Poetry Rag, Meat for Tea, The Oklahoma Review, and S/tick.


Trusting Car Lockout Conifer Colorado to do your work, they'll never ever fail you. They just provide the best service for each and every customers and not only that makes sure that every client can afford their service. All you need to do is give them a call at their toll free number and they'll be always there to assist you out even in the dead of the night. Be sure with their work.
The most sensible thing about Car Door Unlocking Conifer Colorado is that they value their client's preferences. Time is a thing which is very essential for them and so they make sure that they arrive to their client's help within 15 minutes. They're all professionals who come with nothing but the best modern gadgets to get out of any problem that a car with modern technologies could make. No matter how stubborn the work is, repairable for them.


text:
Man's body found in wall of women's restroom after toilet wouldn't flush
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Body Found in Wall of Women's Bathroom
By Crystal Bonvillian, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Canadian law enforcement officials have ruled out foul play in the death of a man whose body was found Monday inside the wall of a restroom at a mall in Calgary.
The Calgary Herald reported that the man was found after a worker was called to fix a toilet that wouldn't flush in a fourth-floor women's restroom in the Core Shopping Centre food court. The worker removed a panel of the wall and found the body.
Officials with the Calgary Police Service said that the unnamed man, who was in his 20s, entered the restroom the Friday before he was found.
"Once inside the washroom, it is believed that he climbed on top of a pony wall which was directly behind the toilets and removed a vent cover, which was located on top of the wall," police officials said on Facebook. "The pony wall, used to hide utilities, is approximately 7 (feet) tall and is not connected to the ceiling and has no other access points.
"Based on evidence at the scene, officers believe the victim then climbed inside the pony wall through the vent opening where he became stuck and later died."
His reason for climbing inside the wall was not known.
Explore>> Read more trending news
Firefighters helped extricate the man from the wall. An autopsy ruled the man's death accidental, police officials said.
The Herald reported that the body was found around 9:30 a.m. Monday. The restroom remained closed until the man was wheeled out, in a body bag, on a gurney.
The food court remained open for most of the day.
Crystal Bonvillian, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Das Dutch Darts Championship 2018 ist ein Ranglistenturnier im Dartsport und wurde vom 7. September bis zum 9. September 2018 zum ersten Mal von der Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) veranstaltet. Es war das elfte Event der European Darts Tour 2018, welche im Rahmen der Pro Tour 2018 durchgeführt wird. Austragungsort war das Maastrichts Expositie en Congres Centrum in Maastricht.

Den Turniersieg sicherte sich der Engländer Ian White, der sich im Finale mit 8:5 Legs gegen seinen Landsmann Ricky Evans durchsetzte.

Format
Das Turnier wurde im K.-o.-System gespielt. Spielmodus war in den ersten Runden ein best of 11 legs, im Halbfinale best of 13 legs und im Finale best of 15 legs.
Jedes leg wurde im double-out-Modus gespielt.

Preisgeld
Bei dem Turnier wurden insgesamt £ 135.000 an Preisgeld ausgeschüttet. Das Preisgeld verteilte sich unter den Teilnehmern wie folgt:

Teilnehmer
PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit
Plätze 1–16
  Michael van Gerwen
  Peter Wright
  Mensur Suljović
  Ian White
  Jonny Clayton
  James Wade
  Adrian Lewis
  Simon Whitlock
  Joe Cullen
  Daryl Gurney
  Gerwyn Price
  Darren Webster
  Max Hopp
  Stephen Bunting
  Mervyn King
  Dave Chisnall

Sieger des UK Qualifier
  Steve West
  Barrie Bates
  James Wilson
  Kevin Painter
  Ross Smith
  Arron Monk
  Andy Boulton
  Kyle Anderson
  Josh Payne
  Wayne Jones
  Dawson Murschell
  William O'Connor
  Paul Nicholson
  Ritchie Edhouse
  Darren Johnson
  Robert Thornton
  Ricky Evans
  Ryan Searle

Sieger des West & South Europe Qualifier
  Christian Bunse
  Rowby-John Rodriguez
  Erik Tautfest
  Kevin Münch
  Cristo Reyes
  Antonio Alcinas
  Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
  Robert Marijanović

Sieger des Host Nation Qualifier
  Jan Dekker
  Jelle Klaasen
  Jeffrey de Zwaan
  Dirk van Duijvenbode
  Vincent van der Voort
  Jeffrey de Graaf

Nordic & Baltic Qualifier
  Darius Labanauskas

East Europe Qualifier
  Karel Sedláček

Setzliste

Turnierverlauf

Übertragung
Im deutschsprachigen Raum war die Veranstaltung nicht im TV zu sehen, wurde allerdings auf Laola1.tv im kostenlosen Livestream übertragen.

International wurden alle Spiele durch die PDC auf livepdc.tv direkt übertragen.

Weblinks
 Bericht auf dartn.de
 Bericht auf pdc.tv

Einzelnachweise

European Darts Tour 2018
2018
Sportveranstaltung in Maastricht

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Spider haven and the mystery of Islesboro's up-island arachnid
Species abundant, and invasives have arrived
Dana Wilde
On Islesboro, there are some really big spiders. So startlingly big, that a legend has grown up in recent decades about an "up-island spider" living on the upper end of the island and rumored to be as large as 8 inches from toe to toe. It has red eyes. Its footsteps can be heard pattering at night. More down-to-earth versions of the legend speculate it's a species of particularly large wolf spider unique to the island.
It's true that wolf spiders are abundant in Maine, including along the coast. You can see them pretty readily, actually. The tiny beings darting around sun-bleached sandy beaches might seem like house flies or sand fleas, but they're more likely to be thin-legged wolf spiders, of the genus Pardosa.
A wolf spider (Schizocosa genus.) PHOTO: DANA WILDE
Some spidering colleagues and I saw them in copious numbers one summer awhile back on the beach at Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. What species of Pardosa we were seeing was nigh-on impossible to tell. We would have to catch a couple, bring them back to the lab, and subject them to microscope procedures if we wanted to find out.
Our expedition was part of a long Downeast tradition, really. Many, probably most of the studies done on spiders in Maine have taken place along the Downeast coast, and our weeklong course in spider identification and biology at the Eagle Hill Institute in Steuben was an extension of that long-running research.
Starting around the turn of the 20th century, naturalists began inventorying the arthropod populations on and around Mount Desert Island. Their lists included insects, spiders, and other tiny invertebrates. By then it was well-established taxonomic fact that spiders are not insects.
Insects have six legs, three body parts, sometimes wings, sometimes antennae, and sometimes a stinger. Spiders have eight legs, two body parts, no wings, no antennae, and no stinger. And while there are aquatic insects, there are no fully aquatic spiders—just spiders who happen to live along rivers and ponds, cobble beaches, and salt marshes. The kind of habitat you might encounter on, say, the upper end of Islesboro. Some of these semi-aquatic spiders can run across the surface of the water, and a few are big enough to catch minnows and drag them ashore to eat.
A European hammock spider, also known as Linyphia triangularis or "Linytri." PHOTO: DANA WILDE
The first substantial list of spider species found in Maine was part of the Biological Survey of the Mount Desert Region, by William Procter, published in 1946 following his inventory of invertebrates there in the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. The next comprehensive list of spiders in Maine was Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Milbridge, Washington County, Maine by Daniel T. Jennings and Frank Graham, Jr., published in 2007, based on their collections made from 1991 to 2005 in Milbridge.
In October 2020, the Checklist of Maine Spiders, compiled by Jennings and former state entomologist Charlene Donahue, and listing 677 spider species verified in Maine, was published by the Maine Forest Service. Nowhere in the Checklist is there a mention of the up-island spider.
Jennings, Maine's foremost spider expert who passed away in September 2020, made studies of spiders more or less throughout Maine, from Washington County blueberry barrens and the Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge to the northern and central woods. But while spiders are abundant everywhere, particularly interesting discoveries have come from the numerous coastal studies.
Graham, while collecting spiders around his home in Milbridge in 1991, found a spider he could not identify. With Jennings' help, he figured out it was a European hammock spider, aka Linyphia triangularis—never before identified in North America. Subsequently nicknamed "Linytri" by Graham and Jennings, it was matched to an unidentified specimen found in Brooksville in 1983, and they determined it to be an invasive species of sheetweb weaver recently arrived somehow in the vicinity of MDI.
And not without effects. Studies found that where the European hammock spider is abundant, as at Acadia, other native sheetweb weavers such as the hammock spider and filmy dome spider have become scarce. Meanwhile in places where Linytri is not widespread, such as the Cobscook Bay area in the early 2000s, the native sheetweb weavers remain abundant.
Wolf spiderlings riding on their mother's back. PHOTO: DANA WILDE
In 2002, researchers working in Winter Harbor found a dewdrop spider (the cobweb weaver Neospintharus trigonum) eating a female Linytri in her own web. The dewdrop spider was already known to be a kleptoparasite, or a spider that steals prey from other spiders. Now, apparently, it was eating the web owners themselves.
The implications of this have yet to be sorted out, but it is not always smooth sailing for the invasives. Jennings had also found a juvenile dewdrop spider in a L. triangularis web farther southwest in Pittston in 1999, suggesting the invasive spider's Maine range was affecting ecologies beyond the Downeast coast.
In our Steuben searches, we found at least one individual from most of the spider families listed in Jennings and Graham's Milbridge study—jumping spiders, cobweb weavers, hackledmesh weavers, crab spiders, cellar spiders, orbweavers, ground spiders, and more. Wolf spiders were by far the most numerous spiders in the Milbridge study.
Those found Downeast range in size from tiny to startlingly large. Jennings and Graham found Pirata minutus individuals, which can be as small as .12 inch in body length, along the shore, and Trochosa terricola, whose females can exceed a half inch in body length, inhabiting mainly leaf litter and salt marsh areas.
We found mother wolf spiders on the stony shoreline carrying their round white egg sacs underneath their spinnerets. Others had their newly hatched spiderlings riding on their backs—as reported of the up-island spider. The Schizocosa genus of wolf spiders, with body lengths typically around a quarter inch, is found around salt marshes, among other places. Trochosa ruricola, found abundantly along Narraguagus Bay by Jennings and Graham, is another invasive from Europe. It arrived sometime before the 1990s and may be displacing its native cousin, Trochosa terricola, on offshore islands.
Spider hunters along the shore at Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. PHOTO: DANA WILDE
When I asked Jennings a few years ago what might be the most commonly seen spider in Maine, he said, after a few moments' thought, "Maybe Pardosa." And in fact, the thin-legged wolf spiders we saw darting around the beach at Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge might well have been Pardosa moesta—the most numerous species in the Milbridge study.
Most Pardosa are roughly medium-sized wolf spiders, so maybe they can be ruled out for Islesboro's up-island spider. Schizocosa and Trochosa are often larger, but no one, even when startled, would be apt to make their leg spans 8 inches. There are some pretty big orbweaving spiders in Maine, particularly the barn spider, aka Araneus cavaticus, the model for E.B. White's Charlotte whom he fashioned at his home in Brooklin.
Among the photos I've seen online of up-island spiders, some are clearly wolf spiders, which makes sense in the lore because wolf spider mothers carry their kids on their backs. Most of the photos, though, appear to be of fishing spiders. This makes even more sense, because fishing spiders (also called wharf, dock, or raft spiders) are just about the largest spider commonly seen in Maine. They live much of their lives hunting near, on, and in water. They sometimes wander into human habitations. I woke one night to see a huge female Dolomedes tenebrosus on the bedroom wall a few inches from my face.
It is extremely unlikely that a unique spider species lives only on one end of Islesboro and very likely that most sightings of the up-island spider are of fishing spiders, perhaps, as an arachnids specialist assured a journalist some years ago, Dolomedes tenebrosus.
And just to reassure you: Even the largest spiders you're apt to see among the boulders, beaches, and backwoods of Maine's coast are extremely unlikely to bite you, whether wolf, fishing, orbweaving, or other kind. Almost all spiders run away as their first defense, and few have jaws strong enough to break human skin.
They may seem scary because they look like little monsters, but spiders are the guardians of your garden. And, as it were, the beach.
Dana Wilde is the author of A Backyard Book of Spiders in Maine available from North Country Press. www.northcountrypress.com/a-backyard-book-of-spiders-in-maine.html
From left: Arachnologist Dr. Kefyn Catley, Maine Master Naturalist Donne Sinderson, and Dana Wilde examine specimens while spider hunting along the shore in Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. PHOTO: BRUCE WENNING.


Now is the time to say goodbye to summer. Some of you may begrudgingly grab your sweaters out of storage, while others have spent their time trying to decide which hoodie will go best with your first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Regardless of how fall makes you feel, it's on its way—and winter is on its heels. Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning has some tips for you that give you the chance to enjoy the fall and keep your space cozy until next spring. Along with arranging your regular air conditioner service from Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning, use this checklist to prep for the change in season.
Your AC worked hard for you through the hot Buellton months. Before you give your AC time off for the cooler season, check your air filter and exchange it if it's dirty. This will help your air conditioner run more efficiently and keep dust and pollutants from circulating through your indoor space as the seasons change.
With the temperatures dropping, take the opportunity to open the windows and improve your indoor air quality. The air within your house can be several times more polluted than outdoor air, so take this opportunity to let in some fresh air before winter's chill arrives.
Sometimes furniture gets shifted around as you move from outdoor living in the nice weather to being inside more as the days get cooler and shorter. Make sure none of your vents or registers are blocked as you rearrange. This will make it more difficult for your HVAC system to do what it needs to do and could cause an unwelcomed hike in your energy costs.
The heat of summer can be hard on weather-stripping. Check around your windows and doors for leaks that could allow heated air out of your home this winter. Air leaks are responsible for reducing heating efficiency and adding costs your heating bills. Halt leaks by replacing caulking and weather-stripping where needed.
Once your AC is ready to take a break, it's time to focus on your winter workhorse: your furnace. Call Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule a preventive maintenance checkup. We'll make sure your furnace is clean and working smoothly before winter arrives. During your preventive maintenance, we'll also pinpoint and let you know what needs to be done to fix any potential issues that may come up when your furnace is working full-time.
Once this simple checklist is done, you can sit back and take in all the beauty and fun that fall offers. Contact Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning and we'll handle some of this checklist for you. Together, we'll ensure you head into winter confident about staying warm and cozy. You can call us at 805-242-9638.


Why is the Slip-On so successful? This laceless short model unveils a classic appearance, a canvas patina and a quilted collar for an optimal comfort, along with elastic details on the right and on the left. Thanks to the world-famous waffle sole from Vans, this pair of kicks is a wardrobe essential for skaters and also for your most casual looks.


Is your customer using a fake digital identity? Where are the devices located that your customer is using to log in? Is the device infected by viruses or malware? CRIFBÜRGEL Digital Identity Check provides clarity about your users' devices and digital identities.
Each user's digital identity can be determined based on a network of transactions and data. The ability to create connectivity between these transactions and connect new transactions to existing identities is at the heart of fraud prevention. Transaction connectivity combines device identification, behavioural analysis, and other data sets.
Verification and customer-specific quality evaluation of e-mail addresses on the basis of surname, name and e-mail address from user enquiries (local part and domain). E-Mail Check analyses numerous criteria and uses them to manage risk.
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By analysing historical requests, fraudulent behavioural patterns are recognised and stored. On this basis, the Repetition Filter recognises fraud patterns in behaviour or application data. Similarly, an accumulation of similar requests in a certain period of time by similar persons in the same environment or by different families with the same email address may indicate irregularities.
Application Filter: Verification of attributes from purchase orders against stored attributes.
Policy Rules: Manage changes to rules quickly and easily.


Washington, D.C. – Today at a White House ceremony, President Obama will honor the newest recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. These awards are the highest honors bestowed by the United States Government for achievements in science, technology, and innovation.
The President will also announce new commitments and progress updates onEducate to Innovate, his all-hands-on-deck campaign to help more girls and boys be inspired to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects.
Five years ago, President Obama launched Educate to Innovate, an all-hands-on-deck campaign to help more girls and boys be inspired to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. The campaign reflects the President's core conviction that far more needs to be done in giving students the critical skills needed to succeed in STEM fields, and that success required action not just from the Federal government, but the broader community of educational leaders, foundations, companies, non-profits, and science and technology professionals that have unique contributions they can make.
100kin10, a network of more than 200 partners, is announcing that it has raised another $28 million in support of the goal of preparing 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over a decade.
Change the Equation, a coalition of leading CEOs, is committing to expanding high-quality STEM programs to more than 1 million students by 2016.
Continued growth in students reached by range of companies, non-profits, Federal agencies and others participating in the President's campaign, including National Math and Science Initiative, US2020, Time Warner Cable, Maker Education Initiative, Institute of Museum and Libraries Services, Corporation for National and Community Service,Underwater Dreams and others.
Read the full fact sheet of announcements and progress updates here.
The National Medal of Scientists honors individuals for their outstanding contributions in fields such as biology, physics, and math. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation honors the Nation's visionary thinkers whose creativity and intellect have made a lasting impact on the United States and its workforce.
For intellectual leadership and experimental innovation in the field of DNA replication, and for unparalleled dedication to improving science education and promoting science-based public policy.
For interdisciplinary work on the evolution of cooperation, complexity theory, and international security, and for the exploration of how social science models can be used to explain biological phenomena.
For pioneering studies on chemical coevolution and the genetic basis of insect-plant interactions, and for enthusiastic commitment to public engagement that inspires others about the wonders of science.
For fundamental contributions to probability theory, mathematical statistics, information theory, mathematical logic, and Blackwell games, which have had a lasting impact on critical endeavors such as drug testing, computer communications, and manufacturing.
For the development of revolutionary methods for realistic fluid-flow simulation, now ubiquitous in the modeling and design of engines, aircraft wings, and heart valves, and in the analysis of natural flows.
For transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry.
For her discoveries of fundamental chemical and physical principles underlying enzyme catalysis and her leadership in the community of scientists.
For applying chemical principles and techniques to studies of plant and insect defense and communication, and for his seminal role in establishing chemical ecology as a core discipline important to agriculture, forestry, medicine, and environmental science.
For pioneering contributions to the development of electron accelerators, including circular and linear colliders, synchrotron light sources, and for discoveries in elementary particle physics and contributions to energy policy.
For creative approaches and outstanding contributions to understanding the internal structure and evolution of the Earth, the Moon, and other terrestrial planets, and for his leadership and inspiration of new generations of scientists.
For fundamental inventions in database management, transaction processing, and software engineering.
For innovations in the fields of silicate chemistry, the chemistry of zeolites, and molecular sieve materials.
For invention and commercialization of Flash storage technology to enable ubiquitous data in consumer electronics, mobile computing, and enterprise storage.
For innovations in minimally invasive medical devices.
For pioneering contributions to the fields of biotechnology and personalized medicine, leading to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
For contributions to the advancement of devices for telecommunications, the use of light for studying matter, and for leadership in the development of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workforce in the United States.
For pioneering leadership in the development of innovative curricula in Computer Science.
For developing the virus-like particles and related technologies that led to the generation of effective vaccines that specifically targeted HPV and related cancers.


Here are the top 30 bestselling holidays & celebrations books for 10 year olds. Please click Read Review to read book reviews on Amazon. You can also click Find in Library to check book availability at your local library. If the default library is not correct, please follow Change Local Library to reset it.
Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley, but he is always alone and never smiles. No one knows about the mementos of his lost wife and child that he keeps in an unopened drawer. But one early winter's day, a widow and her young son approach him with a gentle request that leads to a joyful miracle. The moving, lyrical tale, gloriously illustrated by P.J. Lynch, has been widely hailed as a true Christmas classic. This beautiful anniversary edition includes a new note from the author and an audio narration by James Earl Jones available as a complimentary download.
A must-have for your little comedian, this Christmas collection from the #1 bestselling author of Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids has hundreds of holiday- and winter-themed jokes to make the season bright. And with a special foil cover, it's the perfect gift!
Benjamin Bear is so impatient for Christmas to come. To help the time pass more quickly, his mother tells him that every day when he opens a door on his Advent calendar she'll tell him a story–""twenty-four stories all about another little bear and his long, arduous journey to Bethlehem. The little bear, led by a glittering star, meets many others on his travels across hot deserts, snowy mountains, and through dark, lonely nights. His adventures, filled with acts of heroism and kindness and many small miracles, show him the path to the Christ Child. And by journey's end Benjamin Bear–""and all youngsters who share the stories and their simple morals along with him–""will understand and celebrate the true spirit of Christmas.
It's a time for giving thanks . . .
when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to 1621 on the first Thanksgiving Day. The Pilgrims ask them to help get things ready. But whether it's cooking or clamming, Jack and Annie don't know how to do anything the Pilgrim way. Will they ruin the holiday forever? Or will the feast go on?
13. My Weird School Christmas 3-Book Box Set: Miss Holly Is Too Jolly!, Dr. Carbles Is Losing His Marbles!, Deck the Halls, We're Off the Walls!
With more than 10 million books sold, bestselling author Dan Gutman's My Weird School series really gets kids reading!
Three holiday books in one great box!
For A.J. and the gang from Ella Mentry School, the holiday season is nothing short of wacky! From a Spanish teacher who is hanging mistletoe everywhere to a kid rapper who may just upstage Santa, the holidays are full of weirdness. Now, for the first time, three holiday favorites in the bestselling My Weird School series are together in one box, including Miss Holly Is Too Jolly!, Dr. Carbles Is Losing His Marbles!, and the My Weird School Special: Deck the Halls, We're Off the Walls!, which features thirty-two pages of bonus trivia, puzzles, and games.
Where's Waldo? He's in the holiday spirit in an exciting new sticker book.
A perfect gift to celebrate Waldo's twenty-fifth year!
It's Waldo's world, and it's all decked out for Christmas! Snowmen, skis, toys, and other wintry images from Waldo's previous adventures combine with unique new artwork to create a hide-and-seek holiday extravaganza. Hundreds of stickers add dimension to the hunt, while a special gatefold spread invites readers into Waldo's world. Young seekers will adore the stickers and the "create-your-own-Waldo" activity, while longtime fans will revel in the exclusive new art and classic search-and-find format. Finding Waldo has never been so festive!
Jack and Annie are ready for their next adventure in the New York Times bestselling middle-grade series—the Magic Tree House!
The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie back in time to the foggy streets of Victorian London, where they must help Charles Dickens. But the famous author has everything he could possibly want. How are they supposed to help him? It's not until Mr. Dickens rescues them from being thrown in jail that they discover his secret past and the sad memories that haunt him. Jack and Annie will need all their magic—and help from three ghosts!—to save the great writer.
Geronimo Stilton, adventuremouse? Not me! But surely a little skiing couldn't hurt a rodent, right? Wrong. Moldy mozzarella! When my ski trip landed me in the hospital, I was sure it was going to be the worst Christmas ever! But my family and friends had something else in mind. . . .
This "new classic" Christmas story brings together two great traditions: the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the neighbor-helping-neighbor program of Habitat for Humanity. Opening in Depression-era New York City, The Carpenter's Gift tells the story of eight-year-old Henry and his father selling Christmas trees. They give a Christmas tree to construction workers building Rockefeller Center and celebrate together. Through the kindness of the construction workers and neighbors, Henry gets his wish for a nice, warm home to replace his family's drafty shack. He plants a pinecone from that first Rockefeller Center Tree. As an old man, Henry repays the gift by donating the enormous tree that has grown from that pinecone to become a Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. After bringing joy to thousands as the Rockefeller Center tree, its wood will be used to build a home for another family in need.
Written by children's nonfiction author David Rubel in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. Gorgeous illustrations crafted by Jim LaMarche.
With more than 1,000 colorful stickers, Ultimate Sticker Collection: LEGO® Winter Wonderland is festively fun, packed full of snowy scenes, perfect presents, excited elves, and much much more. Covering a range of LEGO properties, it is perfect for old and new LEGO fans alike! Children will adore exploring wintery worlds and decking the halls with candy canes with Ultimate Sticker Collection: LEGO Winter Wonderland.
Patricia Polacco's most poignant Christmas tale!
The Stowell family is abuzz with holiday excitement, and Frankie, the youngest boy, is the most excited of all. But there's a cloud over the joyous season: Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and Pa hasn't returned yet from his trip to Lansing. He promised to bring back the oranges for the mantelpiece. Every year there are nine of them nestled among the evergreens, one for each of the children. But this year, heavy snows might mean no oranges . . . and, worse, no Pa!
It's Christmas Eve and Spark Elf has the very important job of keeping Santa Claus on schedule as he travels the globe in 24 hours delivering presents. Small in stature with pointy ears and stopwatch in hand, Spark lets Santa know it's time to go. He programs the GPS while the other elves secure the toy bag and check the Nice list. Little known fact: We don't even bring the Naughty list with us. Six hours into the trip Santa, sleigh and crew begin to fall behind–so many cuddly doggies to pet and extra cookies to eat. The jolly group makes up time in Brazil and soon find themselves back at the North Pole. Their work is done. But wait, there's something left in the bag–but it isn't a present at all–it's a family dog! Well known fact: Santa gives things away. He does not take things! Momma Claus comes to the rescue with a plan to get the dog back to his family. Can Santa return the family's beloved pooch in time to keep their Christmas merry?
When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween —complete with tiara — they are certain that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-treating and can picture piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would lead them all on a Halloween "parade" of hysterical proportions? Kate DiCamillo's delightful pig is back in a tale full of treats, tricky turns, hijinks, and high humor.
Tis the season… for heartbreak?
Emery Mason is not a fan of the holidays. She's so over the tinsel, the shopping, and all the other trappings of the season. Unfortunately, this year, Em is forced to work — as an elf! — at her parents' Santa photo booth at the mall. There, Em meets Alejandro Perez, who works at the hot cocoa shop next door and is always full of holiday spirit. Alex is cute, but he's nothing like Em's real crush — the brooding and artistic Sawyer Kade.
But the more time Em spends with Alex, the more she realizes that she may not be the Grinch she always thought she was. Soon, a blizzard, a Secret Santa surprise, and a family disagreement throw Em's world upside down. Can Em embrace the magic of the holidays and find the perfect boy to kiss under the mistletoe?
Santa Claus is not his usual, jolly self. In fact, he's in a terrible mood. He doesn't believe that children appreciate Christmas anymore. This year, he has decided that he is not going to deliver any Christmas presents!
Luckily, his daughter, Sarah Claus, knows who to call for help. The Lambchop family! But can they convince Santa that there are still good children in the world? Just leave it up to Stanley.


Amazing Mini Desk #5 Milk Mini Desk, Low.
Mini Desk #8 Overview .
The post about Mini Desk was posted on October 19, 2018 at 2:56 am. It is posted on the Desk category. Mini Desk is tagged with Mini Desk, Mini, Desk..
Lumber floors there are so many different colors outthere on the market then I am confident an item is to match even the wildest suggestions makers. Although pressing the limits of traditional style and being creative is obviously welcome within the interiordesign business is still crucial to check out specified principles and recommendations to avoid some of the Mini Desk style that is errors uncomfortable.
Under you'll find some tips that are simple-but highly effective when selecting the Mini Desk for your interior, to remember.
The area dimension, texture and color of the coloring of the furniture, high roofs as well as the walls ought to be your first thought whenever choosing shades to your floor. For the remaining layout to reach your goals must be complementary hues. The floor that is new should complement the wood floors that are existing to maintain the house's strength and move.
Avoid using black ground in a tiny area with black walls - it will make the area more thick and depressing (see how floors made of dark timber). Black hues bring the heat of decor's other elements out. For surfaces and lightcolored floors ceilings go in rooms with reduced.
Dark and dim colors really are a preferred choice for musicians' studios, modern fashionable and rooms. Dirty traditional brown colour or normal timber which will be ideal in the event you choose a classic look. Color detail and vibrant (different shades of crimson: pine and ash Jatoba or stained inside the same shade) that's ideal for industrial rooms, practices and other large rooms where the ground becomes a main element of the decor.
Reddish wood hues , brown and warm gold will make your area comfortable. Bright and flooring that is dull is likely to make your bedroom huge. When the power to disguise a small dent and scrapes are a must go for normal colored timber floor in matt finish. Do not forget that the hues must match distinction and one another. A floor can't have identical colors as surfaces and furniture.
While the Mini Desk photos and electronic room manager will give a general idea of what the remaining outcome might be, there is no greater strategy to establish the color of the floor instead of looking at the trial site in day light.


Funded by philanthropist Kate Buckingham in memory of her brother, Buckingham Fountain is one of the nation's finest fountains and a public icon of Chicago. It is the centerpiece of Grant Park, the city's grand "front yard," and is set within a handsomely landscaped garden, one of the city's finest examples of a Beaux-Arts-style landscape design.
The fountain is distinguished not only for its exquisite decorative details and finely wrought bronze sculpture, but also for its innovative use of technology which creates a dynamic light and water display on a massive scale. It is the work of architect-planner Edward H. Bennett, a significant figure in the creation and execution of the 1909 Plan of Chicago, which encouraged the creation of lakefront amenities such as the fountain.
His other works include the Michigan Avenue Bridge, Wacker Drive, and city plans for Detroit, Portland, Ore., Brooklyn, and Ottawa.


Are you looking for a way to spruce up your dull deck or drab house windows? One way to beautify these areas is with a gorgeous, flowering planter box. Planters come in all shapes and sizes, and are a wonderful accent to your yard, garden, and even inside your house. And best of all, they are really easy to build. With only a few scraps of wood, and a few hours, you can create a beautiful planter this weekend!
If you are looking for a really quick and simple planter to build, one that will take you only minutes to build, then the Window Sill or Railing Planter is the one for you! In about a half hour, you can have this planter in place, and sporting your favorite flowers.
Cut 2 pieces of wood for the front and back, 24" x 9½" from ¾" lumber. Cut a nice, wavy design across the top length of one of the pieces. Cut 2 pieces of wood 9½" x 9½" for the ends, also from ¾" lumber. Cut a notch, at the bottom of both of these 9½" square pieces, that measures 5½" wide, by 1½" tall, to fit a standard 2" x 6" deck rail. You should verify the width of your deck rail before cutting the notches. And finally, cut your last piece of ¾" lumber to measure 7¾" x 24", for the floor.
Now that you have all of your pieces cut, you are ready to assemble your new planter. Using waterproof wood glue and nails, attach the 9½" x 9½" end pieces to the 24" x 9½" front/back pieces, by nailing through the 9½" x 9½" pieces and into the ends of the 24" x 9½" pieces. Make sure that the notches on the end pieces are at the bottom. Next, drop in the 7¾" x 24" floor piece so that it is horizontal and sits just above the notches. Nail in from the end pieces and into the floor. Now your planter is built!
If you plan to use this planter as a deck railing planter, set the planter onto the railing. If you are concerned about the planter falling off the railing, then nail or screw down through the floor and into the railing, for stability. You can also drill 1/4" drain holes on the back side of planter, so water drips to the ground, away from the surface of your deck.
If you plan to use this planter as a window sill planter, using 3" deck screws, position the planter a few inches below a window sill on the outside of your house (centered left and right) and screw through the back of the planter and into the outside wall of your house. For safety reasons, check for any possible wiring that might be behind the wall.
Once you have your gorgeous, new planter in place, plant your favorite plants or flowers. It will brighten up your yard or window, and put smiles on the faces of all who pass by!
This planter will fit 3 - 8" flower pots, or a standard 24" plastic flower tray.


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Former White Sox Employees Charged In Alleged Ticket Fraud Scheme
BaseballLegalMLBTop Story February 4, 2020 Olivia Perreault
Chicago White Sox27 Legal184 MLB154 money laundering1 ticket fraud14 Top Story52 white sox1
Two former employees of the Chicago White Sox allegedly schemed with a ticket broker to fraudulently sell thousands of tickets to White Sox baseball...
Two former employees of the Chicago White Sox allegedly schemed with a ticket broker to fraudulently sell thousands of tickets to White Sox baseball games, according to an indictment released by the Department of Justice.
Former ticket sellers for the team, James Costello and William O'Neil, reportedly generated complimentary and discount game tickets without the team's authorization and passed them on to a ticket broker, Bruce Lee, of the Chicago-based brokerage Great Tickets. The 14-count indictment states that Lee paid the employees an unspecified amount of cash in exchange for the tickets and then sold them on the secondary ticketing site StubHub below face value.
Between the 2016 and 2019 baseball seasons, Lee earned approximately $868,369 by selling 34,876 fraudulent tickets from Costello and O'Neil, the charges note. More than 95 percent of the tickets sold were vouchers for youth groups, corporate sponsors, and family and friends of the players. The Chicago White Sox suffered a loss of approximately $1 million as a result of the fraudulent ticket scheme.
The team reportedly contacted the FBI in October 2018 after their data analytics team flagged Lee as having sold a significantly larger amount of Sox tickets than anyone else on StubHub, Jon Seidel of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. In just 2018, Lee reportedly sold over 10,000 more tickets than the next three highest sellers combined.
Lee, 34, has been charged with eleven counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, while Costello, 66, has been charged with one count of money fraud. O'Neil, 55, is charged with one count of making a false statement to the FBI, the DOJ said. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, while money laundering carries a maximum sentence of ten years. The false statement charge is punishable by up to five years behind bars.
Arraignments for Costello, O'Neil, and Lee have not been scheduled at this time.


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Trans woman wins major legal victory after she was a 'sex slave' in prison
She won an important court victory just months after the Trump administration rescinded protections for transgender inmates.
White House refuses to turn over emails proving it works with hate group
So now LGBT organizations have asked a court to force the far-right groups to turn them over instead.
Gay man sues hospital for forced conversion therapy — and wins
The man had been forcibly admitted to a mental institution in China by his wife and relatives.
Minnesota mom who sued her transgender daughter to stop transition loses lawsuit
Annmarie Calgaro claimed her parental rights were violated when her daughter began her gender transition, and now she vows to fight on.
Gay Seattle mayor denies sex abuse claims, calling them 'simply not true'
On Friday Murray said the most recent accuser's allegations "are simply not true" and said he felt sad for the "troubled" individual.
Seattle mayor Ed Murray faces third accusation of sexually abusing a teenage boy
According his spokesperson, the first two accusations were promoted by anti-gay activists during Washington's marriage equality campaign.
Police sued for targeting gay men in NYC using undercover urinal cops
Somewhere inside the Port Authority Bus Terminal is an undercover cop known to his fellow officers as "The Gay Whisperer."
Nebraska to drop its lawsuit over Obama's guidance on transgender students
Nebraska filed the challenge in July. It was joined by Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Trans woman's legal battle in limbo after changes in Washington
The attorney representing Aimee Stephens said she "is reasonably concerned that the EEOC may no longer adequately represent her interests going forward."
Tentative settlement reached in lesbian police officer's bias lawsuit
The Maryland State Police trooper says she faced discrimination at work based on her gender and sexual orientation, as well as retaliation and a hostile work environment.


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University of Arizona launches official esports program
by Warren Younger
The University of Arizona announced Monday that they will transition their Arizona Esports club into an official esports program after the organization worked for years to earn official recognition. The program will start competing against other official university esports programs in the fall.
Here it is folks. The culmination of multiple years of work on this community. I'm incredibly happy to have checked off my last goal, officiating esports and gaming on campus.
Happiness, joy, relief, too many words describe seeing the official press release go live. To the moon https://t.co/l8fAyNslWV
— Liam Koenneker ☄ (@TheSwindster) March 29, 2021
In recognition of their status as an official program, Arizona Esports will begin expanding their game room on campus into a full fledged esports arena. The first phase of renovations for the arena are expected to be completed by the end of April. The program is currently working on obtaining arena sponsorships, as well. Student scholarships are also a top priority for the program according to their official press release.
The UA added that they would like to eventually integrate esports into some of their degree curriculum. This would give esports players a chance at obtaining esports industry experience outside of just competing. Some of the degrees listed in the press release include broadcast journalism, sports management and game design. UA Esports club president Liam Koenneker said he sees Arizona Esports being a powerhouse and role model in the collegiate esports scene going forward.
"Gamers make up a large portion, if not a majority, of our society today," Koenneker said in the press release. "Being able to facilitate that kind of culture and to provide a place for that to grow, turn into career aspirations, turn into scholarships, is really important."
According to Koenneker, Arizona Esports is home to more than 1700 members on campus. The program also has 100 members competing across 14 different esports titles.
The history of collegiate esports in Arizona
The UA will become the second division one school in the state of Arizona to have a university backed program, after Grand Canyon University. GCU, whose program is a few years old, has been a trendsetter for other schools in the state and has shown the potential of an official program. Their program already includes scholarships, a state-of-the-art facility on campus, paid coaches and travel opportunities to play against other universities.
Arizona State University, UA's rival school, is the only other division one school in the state without an official esports program. Despite this, ASU has been a dominant force in the collegiate esports scene. Outside of multiple national championships, ASU recently won the College League of Legends Western Conference and will play at the 2021 Collegiate Championship later this year.
Up to this point, the UA Esports club has already seen some success in the collegiate esports scene. The club's biggest accomplishment came after their Rocket League team captured the Collegiate Rocket League Fall finals in December of 2018.
Warren Younger
ASU alum with a B.A in Sports Journalism, Warren is one of the premier TFT Journalists in the scene and is a decent TFT player as well who has peaked Challenger and has had multiple accounts in Master+ over all sets. Warren also specializes in other esports content including League of Legends, Valorant, Smash Bros, and more.


IAD initiated this library concept to help/support who are interested in reading different topics on Indian languages, history, culture, etc., books missing in Denmark. Of course we have few Danish books for learning Danish language.
DONATE A BOOK – A GREAT WAY TO HONOR SOMEONE SPECIAL!!!
We welcome all Indian Nationals and Danish Nationals to contribute/donate your used/just lying books from long time at your place to support IAD library.
Very simply way to borrow/order the book, collect book and enjoy reading.
Contribute/donate your used/just lying books from long time at your place to support IAD library.
We have Ebooks to download or read online with help of external source/support.
How I Can Borrow/Order Books?
Contribute/donate your used/just lying books from long time at your place to support IAD library. Contact Us: info@indianassociationdenmark.com and rest we take care.
With help of our external sources/support we put list of ebook, audios and more to read via online or download them for reading.
IAD have initiated this library concept to help/support who are interested in reading different topics on Indian languages, history, culture, etc., books missing in Denmark. Of course we have few Danish books for learning Danish language.
We welcome all Indian Nationals and Danish Nationals to contribute/donate your used/just lying books from long time at your place to support IAD library. DONATE A BOOK – A great way to honor someone special!!!
How Can I Donate or Contribute Books?
Its very simple. Just write us to email: info@IndianAssociationDenmark.com and rest we take care.
Can I order through e-mail or Phone?
Yes, you can send the e-mail or Phone message with name of the book you want to borrow.
You can borrow books on sending photo copy of your CPR card/Yellow Card/Social Security Card.
Any Security Deposit for borrowing Books?
You can borrow one book in Language (Ex., one book in English & one book in Hindi & one book in Danish) at a time to be returned in 15days.
What if time extended beyond the return date?
Once you reach above 15days for return date, we collect 1 DKK/day. This collected money is spent for new books to order.
How can I receive the book?
You are the sole responsible for returning of the books on time.
You are also responsible for any damages or loss of books and you may to pay the charges as fixed by IAD/replace the same book. Parents and guardians are responsible for their children's selection and loss and damage of the books.


Hot pink nail art small nails nail art designs for short. 17 best ideas about white glitter nails on pinterest. Glitter nail art tutorial glitter nail designs nail. Most pinned diamond nails on pinterest.


Please be careful when choosing your product to purchase. We only offer refunds and exchanges on faulty items. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.
Once you have placed your order and purchased it, you cannot change or cancel it.
Your order will be processed as soon as possible and may take up to 10-14 business days for you to receive it. We use Sendle, a premium small parcel delivery service, to ship all of our orders. Your product will be sent with a tracking number and door-door delivery, your tracking number will be emailed to you once your order has been collected for shipment.
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Shipping is a flat rate of $10 AUD for deliveries Australian wide and $30 AUD for International shipping.
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North Hollywood – The SEIU Local 121RN Leadership Council approved a $1,000 donation to a group that hopes to connect returning servicemen and women with volunteer opportunities at animal shelters, non-profit animal rescues and other animal facilities.
Sherman Oaks resident Dee Baldus originally came up with the idea for Paws for Troops two years ago.
Baldus said there are already non-profit groups taking therapy animals into VA and other hospitals, but she wondered about the servicemen and women who are not hospitalized. "I know how healing animals can be and one night an idea came together: Get veterans volunteering and working in shelters, rescues and other animal facilities. It gives them the opportunity to get the healing effects of animals without having to adopt." It also will help the shelters and non-profit animal facilities that are always short on money and staff.
Having recently obtained a job after being laid off in 2009, Baldus couldn't pay to incorporate the group and file as an official 501(c)3 with the IRS. She did what she could by purchasing Internet domains and hosting, and designing the website, www.pawsfortroops.com, herself.
After hearing that Paws for Troops needed money to have signage made for their June 25 crafts, rummage and bake sale – which is being held to raise the money needed to incorporate as a non-profit — Local 121RN President Gayle Batiste wanted to do more than just pay for banners and signs.
"Our troops need all the support we can give them, for their physical and mental health," Batiste said.
Jaime Deloera, an RN at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, also praised the group for their mission of assisting servicemen and women. In fact, she wrote Paws for Troops a personal check, as well.
Local 121RN Secretary Treasurer Nanette Logan also spoke to the fact that there is always a need for volunteers to work with and care for animals. Logan herself is a dog "foster mom," having taken in 62 medically needy dogs in 2010 alone.
If you would like to support Paws for Troops, the "Paws-atively Purr-fect Fund-Raiser for Paws for Troops" will be held Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Church of the Chimes, 14115 Magnolia Ave., in Sherman Oaks. In addition to myriad crafts, baked goods and used items for sale, raffle tickets for pet grooming, spa treatments, manicures, framed artwork, glass fusion pendants, and more may also be purchased. For more information or to donate goods for the fund-raiser, contact Dee Baldus at (323) 788-3391.
Service Employees International Union, Local 121RN represents nearly 8,000 registered nurses and professionals at 17 hospitals in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. This member-led organization is committed to the professional practice and day-to-day needs of Southern California registered nurses, as well as promoting the safe care of patients.
Comments about RNs Donate $1,000 to Fledgling 'Paws For Troops' Group are welcome. Off-topic comments and other violations of our community guidelines may be withheld or removed. Comments do not appear immediately after posting.


A potential home buyer strolls past real estate signage outside of a property during an open house in Phoenix, Arizona. The allure of owning this beautiful home draws the buyer inside where realtors stand in attention. Many buyers are there, but what legitimate buyers don't realize is that some open house attendees have no intention to purchase a home – they're out to dupe you.
Americans are falling victim to wire fraud in real estate transactions in alarming numbers. Whether it's an individual wanting to sell a house they genuinely don't own in a private transaction, or an offshore scam artist wanting earnest money wired to a Grand Cayman account, this crime is growing exponentially.
For the defendant accused of this white collar crime, however, defenses can be raised even if they've been caught red-handed.
Individuals who are accused of real estate wire fraud will often assume the identity of either the title agent, or realtor. By infecting either party's email with malicious viruses that compromise access to their email accounts, perpetrators can then assume communication with buyers, who are none the wiser.
Once it's time to close the real estate transaction, funds are instructed to be wired into an account owned by the fraudster – not the actual escrow account of the title agency. From there, communication is cut off, the funds are moved to another account and spent like nothing happened.
Although the FBI announced they're battling email schemes head-on, crimes of this nature are happening too frequently to catch every criminal. What's worse is that innocent people are often caught in the middle, getting charged with crimes offshore criminals are sticking them with.
Because wire fraud is the fastest growing real estate cybercrime in America, indictments are being handed down as quickly as these crimes are occurring. Not that all arrests warrants are warranted, of course, but FBI investigators are notorious for arresting now, and asking questions later. Once arrested, some investigators may try to build a circumstantial case against you.
North Carolina can also charge persons with wire fraud in real estate transactions, which could net the defendant up to 3 ½ years in NCDC. Of course, innocent persons may be exonerated with proof, but remember, today's breed of criminals are good; saving any and all communication you've received may help your case should you be wrongly adjudicated a fraudster.
Any fraud indictment that sticks will wreak havoc on your professional career; it may force your current employer to fire you. Once that's done, you'll be forced to work where you can. The potential for losing your home, family and way of life loom large in these cases, so it's important to fight accusations tooth and nail, especially if you believe you've been erroneously accused.
Those who've been caught up in real estate wire fraud, but have performed no acts to merit an arrest, should immediately retain criminal defense. As wire fraud can net an individual up to thirty (30) years in Federal prison, take these allegations seriously. Provided your attorney with proof that you've done nothing wrong, even show them your IP address so it can be compared to the perpetrators.
Even if you're the smoking gun behind the real estate wire fraud, there are defenses that can be raised to benefit your case. Be forthcoming with your attorney, stay silent in the presence of law enforcement, and let due process run its course. Most attorneys will fight for a complete acquittal, although anything other than jail time should be considered a blessing if overwhelming evidence exists.
Click here for information on robbery in Arizona.
How Important is Voir Dire?


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Home Career Group leadership: a balancing act
Group leadership: a balancing act
Paula S. Katz
Published in the April 2014 issue of Today's Hospitalist
JOHN DICKENS, MD, MPH, intentionally vacations in remote places for a reason that has nothing to do with majestic mountains or picturesque beaches: Cell phone service can be spotty. Otherwise, as the medical director of the hospitalist program at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, it's hard for him to escape the daily pressures of running a hospitalist group.
"I'm the go-to guy and the one person available 24/7," he says.
Dr. Dickens is passionate about his leadership role and he believes it has made him a better, more empathetic clinician. But like other hospitalists who wear both hats, he worries how he'll meet rising expectations amid staffing shortfalls "and the very real risk of burning out.
"The daily grind of being a director takes its toll," he notes. "We're constantly being asked to take on more in the health system, but we're not afforded time to do it."
The pressure Dr. Dickens feels should come as little surprise. New regulations, core measures and quality initiatives are all squeezing group leaders who used to juggle clinical and administrative roles with little fanfare. Directors now have to maintain their clinical skills and find the time and enthusiasm for the leadership and administrative tasks they wanted to take on. At the same time, and often for modest stipends, they have to prove themselves to their groups.
It certainly doesn't help that their job description is increasingly complex.
"The program director used to be the person who did the schedule and made sure all shifts were covered," says Leslie Flores, partner in Nelson Flores Hospital Medicine Consultants in La Quinta, Calif. "Now, it's more of a strategic role envisioning where the group is headed in the external environment of health care. Being a hospitalist medical director is one of the most thankless tasks there is."
The real demands of the job
Part of what makes the job so tough is that leaders often work way more than a full-time job.
The rule of thumb holds that directors should devote 5% of their time to administration for every full-time equivalent (FTE). The director of a 10-clinician group, by that standard, should work 50% of a clinical FTE.
But directors say such formulas often go by the wayside, given the true demands of the job. Consider James O'Callaghan, MD. Fresh off a 24-hour clinical shift, the pediatric hospitalist rushes home to squeeze in four hours of sleep before heading back to Seattle Children's Hospital by 2 p.m. for a meeting.
"That's an example of where being both a clinician and administrator doesn't work," says Dr. O'Callaghan. He puts in up to four 10or 14-hour shifts monthly at the 254-bed Seattle Children's as an attending and is lead hospitalist at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland, Wash., which is covered by Seattle Children's' regional hospitalist program. At Evergreen, he pulls six 24-hour shifts a month.
Theoretically, he spends just 20% on nonclinical duties, which range from hiring and firing to heading up clinical committees. However, the time split is just a technicality, he points out, and there's never enough time.
"If I'm not working clinically, I come home, have dinner with the family, give my kids a bath and get them to bed," says Dr. O'Callaghan. "For other people, it's time to turn on TV. For me, it's time to fire up the laptop."
In Maine, Dr. Dickens is supposed to devote only 25% of his time to program administration, even though his group has 20 clinicians. But that can't accommodate the growing list of hospital-wide initiatives that require hospitalist involvement. Add in factors like flu season that have him doing more clinical time, and there aren't enough hours to fit everything in, even with all group members sitting on committees.
Protected time "or not
How to make dueling demands more manageable? Many directors try to protect certain days or hours for administrative work. Dr. Dickens, for instance, tried keeping Tuesdays open, but found that impossible because of constant understaffing.
It made more sense, he says, to schedule meetings on different days of the week or month and do work at home on nonclinical days to avoid the 35-minute drive to the office.
But in Ohio, George Mitri, MD, the medical director of Aultman Inpatient Medicine at Aultman Hospital in Canton, can reserve Tuesdays and Wednesdays for office work. That's because he successfully made the case to add an associate medical director to the growing program. (The group now has 20 physicians.) That hospitalist, Muhannad Samaan, MD, MBA, rotates with Dr. Mitri, with both dividing their time equally between clinical practice and administration. One of them does administrative work four days a week while the other works clinically.
Together, they share a single clinical FTE, each working a week-on/week-off schedule and rotating through all shifts, including nights and weekends. While their clinical shifts are 12 hours, their administrative days typically run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
That division of labor helps both physicians find balance. "After four days of patient care, I'm ready to go to a meeting. After four days of administrative work, I need to go see some patients," Dr. Mitri says. "They both give you a different level of satisfaction."
In terms of administration, Dr. Mitri tackles readmissions while Dr. Samaan focuses on coding and documentation. They divide staff evaluations, and "ask each other about the person we're evaluating," Dr. Samaan says. They meet once a week to compare notes.
And both physicians work with a practice administrator who protects their clinical time "which is scheduled six months in advance "while preserving an "open-door policy" when they're on administrative time.
Setting expectations also helps. At Evergreen Hospital, Dr. O'Callaghan mentions to nurses that he'll be in a meeting so they will hold pages that can wait. And he lets everyone know when he'll be at Seattle Children's, which is 12 miles away, to batch meetings by location.
He has also become creative in fitting in administrative tasks, holding meetings, for instance, at 8:30 p.m. That allows group members with young children to go home, put the kids to bed and come back. Six physicians recently met for a cardiology quality project, he notes, that required them all to be on computers for training from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
And Dr. O'Callaghan has gotten better at saying no. If a protocol needs to be changed, he now asks someone in his group to champion that initiative rather than taking it on himself.
In large practices, leaders may be able to choose clinical service lines with more flexibility to incorporate administrative time. That's according to Jerome Siy, MD, department head of hospital medicine for HealthPartners Medical Group in Minneapolis, with more than 70 physicians.
"For a leader who teaches," Dr. Siy says, "the teaching service might work better because it affords some flexibility during the day." Perioperative services where comanagement is a major responsibility could be another option.
"While volumes tend to be higher," he notes, "predictability during the day is higher too."
But most group leaders may not have that choice. And figuring out how to juggle all the parts of the job often comes only with experience, says Roy Sittig, MD, medical director of hospital medicine and associate chief of general medicine at UCONN Health Center in Farmington, Conn.
Dr. Sittig, for example, schedules most meetings in the afternoons to leave mornings free for clinical work. When an urgent administrative issue comes up during that time, he makes a judgment call on whether it can wait an hour or two. That's a skill he's acquired after five years of directing hospitalist programs.
Short of gridlock in the ER, few emergencies force him to interrupt patient care. "You develop a feel for whether it needs to be handled now and, if it does, how you can meet that administrative need," Dr. Sittig says.
No separate hours
But many group leaders say they don't have the ability to separate their clinical and administrative time.
Take Steve Arvanitis, MD, associate medical director for the hospitalist program at Trinity Medical Center-West in Rock Island, Ill. While his administration "wants us to separate our administrative and clinical hours, we really can't," Dr. Arvanitis says. That's particularly the case, now that he and his medical director are working extra shifts to cover slots they're recruiting for.
"We are very limited," Dr. Arvanitis notes, "in our ability to carve out administrative time. We often perform clinical and administrative activities together on the same days." During a typical 12-hour shift, he explains, he'll put in two or three hours of administrative work, catching time for it as he can.
That's become a thorny issue in terms of his administrative stipend, which is paid on a per-hour basis, rather than being part of his base salary. His administration is pushing to not pay him and his medical director their stipends on days when they also do clinical work.
"The only way that would be possible," Dr. Arvanitis says, "is to come in on our days off and work our administrative time then. But we already work full time." Instead, he's proposing that he and the group director restructure their clinical contract. Ideally, a new contract would include their administrative duties and "add our administrative stipend to our base salary," he says. "That way, we wouldn't have to carve out specific time for each."
Making your case
That raises the question: How do you make the case to restructure your hours or pay, or lobby executives for more time, money or help?
Sometimes, circumstances make the argument for you. When Matthew Connolly, MD, became medical director for inpatient medicine and director of the palliative care program at Columbia/St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee in 2012, his time split was supposed to be 50-50.
But Dr. Connolly immediately faced two crises. His group, which at full strength has 22 employed hospitalists and two physician assistants covering one 300-bed hospital and another with 182 beds, was down nine FTEs. In addition, a CPOE system was about to go live.
Making matters worse, a hospital 40 minutes away began offering $25 more than his overtime shift rates, luring away his chief overtime doctors.
Dr. Connolly helped get the CPOE up and running, bringing in locums to relieve the clinical pressure. But all that credentialing took time "and his hospitalists were suffering burnout covering excess shifts.
"The split fell by the wayside," he says. Instead of taking off after a night shift, he found himself staying for morning meetings, going home at 1 p.m. to sleep, then coming back for another night shift.
That's when Dr. Connolly says he met again with hospital executives. "They looked at the scope of the responsibilities I had," he says. "I suggested an 80-20 split, and they were agreeable."
But in less dire situations, hospitalist leaders may have to make a strong case. According to Ms. Flores, most administrators are "fairly willing" to dedicate administrative time and money to group leadership. But, "many administrators underestimate the amount of admin time required to manage and lead a group to high levels of performance."
To justify a change in hours or pay, she recommends tracking your administration time.
"But that's usually not enough to prove you need more time or help," says Ms. Flores. "My approach would be to demonstrate what you've already accomplished, then list the things you couldn't because of inadequate time or resources." Then discuss "whether to adjust priorities or increase your time or resource allocation."
Valuing administration
Ms. Flores also points out that group leaders often have to convince not only their administration to help grow leadership, but their colleagues.
"The way medical culture works and doctors are trained, they don't tend to value administrative work as much as clinical work," she notes. That can make it hard to groom doctors for leadership slots.
In Dr. Mitri's group, two more physicians are receiving leadership training and may assume some leadership roles by the end of the year. And Dr. Connolly at Columbia/St. Mary's plans to increase hospitalist participation in chart review and other quality activities.
"I have a select group of hospitalists I am coaching in administration, such as DRG-based cost-of-care reduction," he says. To encourage participation in hospital governance and quality assurance, Dr. Connolly has applied 37.5% of the hospitalists' incentive compensation to rewarding those activities.
But many programs struggle to get other physicians involved, beyond offering the usual citizenship incentives. Dr. Dickens, for instance, recently asked for volunteers to take on one more committee and help him have protected leadership time. "No hands went up," he says.
He knows it may come down to money. While a physician taking an extra clinical shift at his hospital earns 20% more pay, there is no extra compensation for taking on more committee work "at least, not yet. Dr. Dickens is now negotiating to begin to compensate other group members to take on some administration.
Otherwise, something will have to give. "At some point, I have to draw a line in the sand," Dr. Dickens says. "I could be doing this longer if I have some help, but if I'm alone, six more months. The cycle has to change."
Paula S. Katz is a freelance health care writer based in Vernon Hills, Ill.
How much clinical time is enough?
ALTHOUGH IT'S TEMPTING for group directors to whittle down clinical time to make room for administrative tasks, there are risks.
"How little clinical time is too little before you're just not efficient anymore and you don't know the nurses or protocols?" asks James O'Callaghan, MD, a pediatric hospitalist at Seattle Children's Hospital and lead hospitalist at EvergreenHealth Hospital in Kirkland, Wash.
He points out that there are no accepted benchmarks and that one or two shifts a month may be enough to say, "I get it. The shifts are busy, calls are tough and we have trouble communicating with nurses on this unit. But you could argue you need more shifts to stay clinically relevant."
Dwindling time at the bedside also makes it hard to gain other hospitalists' respect.
"It's very difficult not to be viewed as a suit by your team," says Roy Sittig, MD, medical director of hospital medicine and associate chief of general medicine at UCONN Health Center in Farmington, Conn. He spends his 70% clinical time working a Monday-Friday schedule, while still doing some weekend shifts. "Day-to-day patient care issues really engender a sense of teamwork and can maintain your credibility with your team," he adds. "Team members will often respect you more as their boss if they feel you know what challenges they face on a daily basis."
At Columbia/St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee, hospitalist director Matthew Connolly, MD, devotes 80% of his time to administration. With so little clinical time, Dr. Connolly tries to show he's all in by taking three night shifts per month, typically on Fridays, Saturdays or holidays. "It's the quality of that 20% that matters," he says, "not necessarily the hours."
Jerome Siy, MD, the department head of hospital medicine for HealthPartners Medical Group in Minneapolis, agrees. Dr. Siy started working a 0.2 FTE administrative-time job that grew to 0.55 FTE when he became department head of the 74-doctor hospital medicine department. (Site chiefs at each hospital in the system also have administrative time.)
He spends his nonclinical time working five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but he also does a seven-day shift once a month. "Proving your clinical competence is less about the number of hours you put in," he says, "and more about how you work and what you accomplish."
Dr. Siy is also very aware of how he comes off to the hospitalists on staff. Even when he's in administrative mode, for instance, he makes a point to share workspace with his colleagues and not stay holed up in his office.
"That face time means they see me working, doing things that represent them," he says. "If not, they might wonder if I'm home sleeping in every day."
Treating inpatient lung infections: the latest recommendations


text:
July 13, 2020 July 13, 2020 Ray Estrada
ANALYSIS: More Closures Ordered; Expect More to Come
A sign of the times.
In another back-and-forth move, Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 13 again called for closure of many businesses statewide – including those deemed nonessential in Santa Barbara County – in response to increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations.
The move will surely hasten the permanent closure of many more malls, bars, indoor fitness centers and restaurants, hair and nail salons and others even though some just opened or re-opened in key commercial corridors such as State Street, which just witnessed shuttering of more retail shops.
Up to one-half of the area's restaurant, bars, wineries and breweries are not expected to make through another shutdown.
In the past month alone, Sur La Table, a kitchen supply store at 821 State St., announced it is closing, joining the Subway sandwich shop at 1021 State St., and the Mike & Misa Gallery, 619 State St., which just opened late last year.
While retail has been steadily declining since before the last recession, Santa Barbara's once booming hospitality industry has taken another hit this year after it was mostly shut down in March, re-opened with restrictions last month and now closed again.
Many restaurants in the State Street corridor adapted after vehicular traffic was halted on 10 blocks and eateries and breweries were allowed to offer dining and drinking outdoors.
The move will surely hasten the permanent closure of many more malls, bars, indoor fitness centers, hair and nail salons and others even though some just opened or re-opened in key commercial corridors such as State Street, which just witnessed shuttering of more retail shops.
Ironically, the Santa Barbara City Council was expected to discuss whether to continue with the al fresco approach next month, which could now be a moot point.
As if the retail and hospitality situation was enough for the sagging economy, commercial real estate also is taking another hard hit, even though a small businesses on State Street just opened their doors this month. Their efforts now will be uphill struggle.
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text:
Flexible Plan: Make Great Goals, Not New Year Resolutions
Morgan Stanley's Wilson Was 'Wrong' But Still Sees Lower S&P 500
(Bloomberg) - One of Wall Street's most skeptical stock-market strategists is sticking to his cautious stance even while issuing a mea culpa for his bearish 2021 prediction.
"Our S&P 500 price targets proved to be too low -- i.e., wrong," Morgan Stanley's chief U.S. equity strategist Mike Wilson wrote in a note to clients Monday. Still, "with financial conditions tightening and earnings growth slowing, the 12-month risk/reward for the broad indexes looks unattractive at current prices."
In his base-case scenario, Wilson expects the benchmark gauge to slide to 4,400 over the next 12 months, implying a 6% decline from the index's Friday close of 4,683. While S&P 500 profits are projected to extend their expansion, reaching $245 a share in 2023, he warns that a growth slowdown and withdrawal of Federal Reserve stimulus will likely pressure equity valuations.
At the start of the year, Wilson called for the S&P 500 to end 2021 at 3,900. Reflecting on his own forecast, Wilson acknowledges that he underestimated corporate America's earnings power as well as investors' willingness to pay up for shares. Profits from S&P 500 firms in 2021 are on track to beat his estimate by 7%. At 21 times earnings, the index is trading at a multiple that's two points higher than what he projected.
Stocks have rallied this year, with the S&P 500 up 25% and crushing the highest year-end target that Wall Street strategists envisioned in a January survey by Bloomberg. Along the way, the index has posted 65 all-time highs, making it poised for the second-most annual records ever, behind only 1995.
By Lu Wang
Mon, November 15, 2021
In the dozens of interviews I have conducted with financial advisors over the years, the vast majority employ some form of goals-driven planning.
The top 20, returned an average 10.5% and jointly managed nearly one fifth of of the industry's $3.6 trillion in assets, the data show.


text:
Kick-off Cardinal Football Coverage
24Sep 2018 by SPMC Staff
Is the return of football enough to ease the sting of summer ending?
We don't know for sure, but the folks who run high school football are nice enough to let us eat our cake and have it too with no fewer than three Cardinal football games this summer (i.e., before high school classes start).
The Sun Prairie Media Center is pleased to announce that KSUN, sunprairiemediacenter.com, and 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio will once again be the places to tune to for live coverage of home AND away Sun Prairie Cardinals high school football games this fall.
All home games will be broadcast live on KSUN (Charter cable channel 983 and TDS channels 13 and 1013), streamed on sunprairiemediacenter.com, and aired on 103.5 The Sun Community Radio.
Away games will also be aired live on 103.5 The Sun, which is also streamed at sunpraririemediacenter.com. The Media Center is currently in negotiations with the away sites to provide video coverage of all games pending media space availability at those sites.
Following live coverage, any games with video coverage will be made available on sunprairiemediacenter.com for on-demand viewing and will be replayed several times on KSUN channel 983.
For 2018, the Cardinals will be looking to repeat last year's success, when the team went undefeated before falling to Kimberly in the state high school championship game.
The season promises to be an exciting one, and the Sun Prairie Media Center will be there every step of the way with announcers Mike Powers and Bill Baker calling all of the action. The Media Center is also finalizing plans with head coach Brian Kaminski for a weekly TV/radio show.
The Sun Prairie Media Center is actively soliciting business underwriters for its 2018-2019 coverage of Cardinals sports. For more information, call Jeff Robbins at 608-837-4193 or e-mail at jrobbins@cityofsunprairie.com.
Here is the 2018 regular-season schedule for Cardinal football. All games are scheduled to start at 7 PM.
•	August 17 at Madison Memorial
•	August 24 vs. Beloit Memorial
•	August 31 vs. Janesville Parker
•	September 7 at Janesville Craig
•	September 14 at Verona
•	September 21 vs. Madison La Follette
•	September 28 vs. Madison East
•	October 5 at Middleton
•	October 12 at Madison West


text:
require 'fileutils'
require 'open3'
require 'json'
require 'cmd_common'

RSpec.describe 'murano cors', :cmd, :needs_password do
  include_context 'CI_CMD'

  before(:example) do
    @product_name = rname('corstest')
    out, err, status = Open3.capture3(capcmd('murano', 'application', 'create', @product_name, '--save'))
    expect(err).to eq('')
    expect(out.chomp).to match(/^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$/)
    expect(status.exitstatus).to eq(0)
  end
  after(:example) do
    out, err, status = Open3.capture3(capcmd('murano', 'solution', 'delete', @product_name, '-y'))
    expect(out).to eq('')
    expect(err).to eq('')
    expect(status.exitstatus).to eq(0)
  end

  it 'show CORS' do
    out, err, status = Open3.capture3(capcmd('murano', 'cors', '-c', 'outformat=json'))
    expect { JSON.parse(out) }.to_not raise_error
    expect(err).to eq('')
    expect(status.exitstatus).to eq(0)
  end

  it 'sets CORS' do
    File.open('cors.yaml', 'wb') do |io|
      io << { origin: ['http://localhost:*'] }.to_json
    end

    out, err, status = Open3.capture3(capcmd('murano', 'cors', 'set', 'cors.yaml'))
    expect(out).to eq('')
    expect(err).to eq('')
    expect(status.exitstatus).to eq(0)

    out, err, status = Open3.capture3(capcmd('murano', 'cors', '-c', 'outformat=json'))
    expect { out = JSON.parse(out) }.to_not raise_error
    expect(out).to include('origin' => contain_exactly('http://localhost:*'))
    expect(err).to eq('')
    expect(status.exitstatus).to eq(0)
  end
end

#  vim: set ai et sw=2 ts=2 :

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The Courage to Identify who you are
SHARON ANGEL
In The Courage to Identify Who You Are, Author Sharon Angel shares a blueprint for breaking the mold of cultural assimilation to discover one's true identity and walk in it confidently. She gracefully confronts and overcomes Indian traditions for marriage, beauty, and career while transparently walking us through the process of finding herself as a third-culture kid turned internationally respected journalist.
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TV Show Host | Entrepreneur | Humanitarian | Motivational Speaker
Courage To Identify
Listen now and make everyday decisions that will strengthen your identity.
Request Sharon to speak at your next event or interview her on your show
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The variety series began in 2013 with the goal to encourage people to think deeper and share opinions on matters that tear us apart, so that Sharon can do her part in inspiring a new perspective for peace, bridging the gap and stimulating reconciliation. Subscribers also get a sneak peek into her life through her vlogs, as she showcases some of her favorite things to do while she travels and reminisces about growing up in India.
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The Importance of a woman's freedom
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A wonder-full leader
Feel the pain, sweetheart.
After my Masters, I had almost two years of my life where I wasn't sure where I was going. I really didn't take the time to try to figure out what to do next. I always thought I will do one thing after another and not have any gap years or have that time to stay clueless of what to do next. Honestly, it was a difficult period as I didn't know where I was going next. The uncertainty made it worse. I remember taking up odd jobs because the options I had where not the ones I was supposed to invest in. I always knew where I was to go and what I was to do next but didn't know if that was the right time to invest in that direction. Thinking about it now, I didn't have the confidence to pursue what I now think I should have been doing. That lack of confidence was the focal demotivator to being frustrated, clueless and slightly starting to feel disappointed in myself. I did really give my 100% while I was doing those jobs. For some reason I thought "maybe my next venture will come out of this". I always …
Continue reading "Feel the pain, sweetheart."
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Sharon Angel is a TV show host, business owner, humanitarian and speaker. Her heart is for the suppressed women and children, and in her talks around the world, she fights to give the isolated, underprivileged and untouchable a voice. Sharon's talk shows are filmed in India and America to bring different thoughts and perspectives to one platform where people can see the untold side of a story. Her shows in English and Tamil transcend cultures to bring resolution and middle ground to generational issues by making a social impact. Sharon, through her video production business works with business leaders and social impact organizations to share the message of truth through commercials, documentaries and short films.
Sharon has travelled around the world with a passion to re-discover her identity, explore culture and food, make new friendships and see differently. In this blog, she writes about her findings as she travels and the things that inspire her but most importantly the deepest thoughts that race her mind while meeting people with a different perspective than hers. Follow her on social media and reach out for collaboration opportunities.
If you would like to contact Sharon for business collaborations or book speaking engagements, please fill out this form.
and a chance to receive the Courage to Identify free bundle, quotables, inspirational nuggets and so much more.
Sharon Angel ©2023


text:
Foreign Investors Are Pouring Into This Middle East Oil Giant
While the Aramco IPO has…
Leonard Hyman & William Tilles
Leonard S. Hyman is an economist and financial analyst specializing in the energy sector. He headed utility equity research at a major brokerage house and…
Why Southern Company Just Sold Billions In Prime Assets
On May 21, Southern Company, the utility holding company based in Atlanta, with core electric utility franchise areas in Georgia and Alabama, announced a multi-billion dollar asset sale with proceeds designated to pay down debt. The buyer is NextEra Energy, located in neighboring Florida. In the deal, Southern will sell its Florida utility subsidiary, Gulf Power, plus gas utility and power plant assets also located in Florida.
With almost $100 billion in assets, NextEra Energy, bills itself as the world's largest utility company. (Large Chinese power companies might quibble about this claim.) NextEra's investments include the electric utility Florida Power & Light (FPL), solar and wind power generating facilities across the country and a fleet of nuclear generating stations.
NextEra has been on a relentless search for additional non-fossil power generation assets and regulated distribution utilities to add to its already considerable holdings. Southern's Gulf Power service area is literally in its back yard so to speak. From a regulatory perspective we would expect little difficulty in receiving the requisite state and federal approvals. But unlike much of NextEra's holdings, this newly acquired entity is not fossil-fuel free and carries a conventional utility fuel mix.
The question inquiring minds will ask is, "Why on earth would a smart management like Southern Company's sell an asset like Gulf Power when other large utilities in the US are doing just the opposite and aggressively acquiring? Simply put, two technology bets gone wrong and the significant adverse financial consequences thereof. Related: Is $70 Oil Enough For Shale Drillers?
In 2010 Southern's Mississippi Power subsidiary commenced construction of the Kemper Integrated Gas Combined Cycle power station. The Kemper plant was to be the first of its kind to employ IGCC technology for coal gasification and carbon capture. The bill for the $2.5 billion facility tripled to $7.5 billion after extensive cost over runs and sub par operating performance. The facility limped into service in Mississippi without its gasification unit in efforts to save money. State regulators in Mississippi have not permitted the company to fully earn on this troubled investment.
The Plant Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear construction project currently under construction in Georgia is likely to come in about 100 percent over budget at a cost approximating $25 billion for the two unit station. That the cost is wildly uncompetitive in today's power markets is fortunately for SO not at issue. Southern's Georgia Power subsidiary is a monopoly. But regulators even in traditionally supportive Georgia have indicated that excessive nuclear construction costs will not be borne solely by utility customers.
Despite its size, these two regulatory efforts to share the pain of over budget nuclear and clean coal construction have put Southern Company under financial pressure. A substantial amount of debt has been incurred to finance these ill-fated projects not all of which will be supported by future returns on these assets.
Turning these other properties into cash will reduce Southern's considerable debt burden without impairing the company's core assets or strategy. Perhaps Southern could sell more assets, too. Southern's Nicor gas utility in Illinois, for instance, seems less than critical to Southern's future. And despite some adverse price pressure in the utility group due in part to interest rate moves, asset prices remain robust for sellers.
NextEra has agreed to pay Southern Company $5.1 billion in cash and to assume $1.4 billion of debt. That price equates to a high 13x earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. NextEra's payment breaks down this way: $4.3 billion in cash for Gulf Power's equity, $1.4 billion to take on of Gulf Power debt, and another $0.8 billion cash for the natural gas and generation assets. Although Southern has not released an estimate of profit on the sale, we believe that the profit on the Gulf Power portion could go as high as $2.8 billion, pretax. Related: Oil Majors Double Down On Refining
For NextEra, this acquisition continues its efforts to add regulated assets. But also concentrates the company's regulatory risk even more heavily in the state of Florida. While this is not an immediate concern, even the most constructive political and regulatory environments can shift. But this deal is accretive to earnings per share by perhaps 20 cents (2-3%)—which in an industry with no sales growth is a big deal.
But Southern has been no slouch in the M&A department, either, in recent years, it bought half of a gas pipeline run by Kinder Morgan, and acquired AGL Resources (the old Atlanta Gas Light Co.) in an effort to diversify. And at the same time, regrettably (in a financial sense), it invested mightily in both clean coal and new nuclear.
Southern's consolidated balance sheet shows about $53 billion of debt) and $26 billion of equity. That equates to a rather anemic 33% equity ratio. Which deteriorates even further when subtracting an assumed to be dodgy $7 billion of intangibles and goodwill. In their press release, Southern company's executives made quite clear that they intended to use deal proceeds for holding company debt reduction and that maintenance of credit quality would be their primary focus.
Southern's recent travails come after much heralded but thus far unproductive bets on an uneconomic "clean" coal and "new" nuclear power generation. As a company Southern will no doubt survive. But it may need to shrink and retrench, as a result of its bets made to expand and improve central station, regulated technology, the business that it knew best.
By Leonard Hyman and William Tilles for Oilprice.com
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