Desoldering braid makes an invaluable service at development or rework.
This is an archive article published 05/21/2015. Some information may no longer be up to date and in line with the current state. Please contact us in case of interest.
Everyone who´s ever tried to suck off a solder from a solder pad by means of a solder absorbing braid (wick) will probably confirm, that this tool belongs to a “must have” equipment of every professional or amateur workplace. What´s the charm of a desoldering braid? Above all in the fact, that it´s able to absorb almost all the solder from a given place, thus the most of components can be loosened very easily. Hand (pneumatic) pump surely has its place, mainly when working with bigger components, but at comparison with a desoldering braid it´s similar like if we compared a broom with a vacuum cleaner.
A quality desoldering braid is usually able to absorb a solder so thoroughly, that only a microscopic layer of a solder will remain on a PCB - as if a board was new, unused. It is very advantageous even at a hand rework of SMT components, because it´s desirable the component to lay directly on a board - not askew in a thick solder layer causing a mechanical tension and able to cause even a malfunction of a component (often at SMT capacitors).
To reach a good functionality of a desoldering wick it should be made of a fine gauge copper wires (without oil residues end similar) and it must be treated with a high quality flux. The cheapest braids usually contain only a rosin-based flux, the better ones have a synthetic flux based, which produce less fumes.
A novelty in our portfolio is the novelty from company CRC Industries - braid SOLDABSORB. We keep Soldabsorb in a width of 1.5 and 2.5mm, packed in a blister in 2 pcs (the price is for 2 pcs). Soldabsorb represents a top-level in this segment and is made of a highly pure copper, fine gauge wires and contains a synthetic NO-CLEAN flux. It means, that the flux residues are non-conductive and non-corrosive and they can be left on a PCB. Very fine wires contribute to a high wicking (absorbing) ability.
The usage of the wick is very simple and is based in 4 steps:
● Place the Soldabsorb wick on the solder joint
● place the tip of the solder iron on the wick and hold shortly
● absorbed solder will change a color of a braid, showing that the process was successful
● when a joint contains a big amount of solder, it may be necessary to cut off a used end of a braid (2-5mm) and repeat the process
In praxis it approves well to adjust temperature of a soldering iron to a slightly higher, than we´d normally need for a given pad and eventually also to use a thicker soldering tip. In especially difficult cases (vias at ground planes of a PCB) it helps to put a small amount of a new solder on a soldering tip, which will decrease an absorbing ability of a braid, it will significantly improve a heat transfer from a tip through a braid to a PCB, thus improving and speeding up an absorption. Before another use of a braid, it´s sufficient to cut off only a very end of a braid (a few mm) fully sucked by a solder.
At the end it´s worth to mention, that after desoldering, it´s good to apply a small amount of solder on a soldering tip to protect it from oxidizing.
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Date of publishing 05/21/2015. When you issue article on your website, please give its source: https://www.soselectronic.com/articles/kontakt-chemie/kontakt-chemie-desolder-professionally-with-no-clean-flux-wicks-1473
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Thank You for Being a Friend and We Are Family, presented as gift book-audio CD packages by PQ Publishers, feature wonderful animal images of some of the world's most-renowned nature photographers, including Steve Bloom. The two universal themes-family and friends-couldn't be conveyed and honored more effectively than they are in these heartwarming presentations.Each package includes a top-quality audio CD featuring the original song recording by the original musical artist. Andrew Gold delivers his familiar rendition of the theme song from the hit sitcom The Golden Girls, "Thank You for Being a Friend." And Sister Sledge's lively vocals are unmistakable in the feel-good anthem "We Are Family." Both artists evoke exactly the right sentiments when paired with Steve Bloom Images' almost-human photos of bears, penguins, monkeys, and other wild animals at their playful best.


text:
And you can't rely on the facts to make your case, either.
Rob Duke's insight:
Here's the crux of the problem in policing: you can't always rely on forcing people to do what you want. You need to build up social and political capital by being inclusive when it's not important to the mission to have your way; then it's not so difficult to burn up social capital when it is critical to be authoritarian in order to accomplish the mission. Once the situation has been stabilized, it's important to go back to being inclusive. In this way, you will vary your mission by what people in the area want, to the greatest extent possible--and, still get much of what you want (safety, enforcement of the law).
But it took years for Russians to develop their sixth senses about being propagandized. Perhaps they are backing Putin in the polls because they are out of practice after 20 years of relative freedom?...
At least 10 riots have rocked colleges in the past two months, resulting in hundreds of arrests and dozens of injuries amid a growing sense that social media are helping to fuel misbehavior at student mass gatherings.
The FBI is planning to have a fully operational facial recognition system in place by this summer and may be well on its way to reaching that goal. The system will be able to query a database of photos to identify individuals based on their appearance even if they do not have a criminal record, reported Jennifer Lynch, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Forty years before WikiLeaks and the NSA scandal, there was Media, Pennsylvania. In 1971, eight activists plotted an intricate break-in to the local FBI offices to leak stolen documents and expose the illegal surveillance of ordinary Americans in an era of anti-war activism. In this riveting heist story, the perpetrators reveal themselves for the first time, reflecting on their actions and raising broader questions surrounding security leaks in activism today.
The outgoing director of the Federal Air Marshal Service is caught up in an investigation into an alleged operation by a lower-level supervisor to acquire guns for other officials' personal use, FoxNews.com has learned.
As crime is increasingly moving online, state and local police—who have spent decades refining how to track down murderers, thieves and drug dealers—are having a hard time keeping up. In Utah, the FBI is lending a hand.
Two journalists in Thailand are facing criminal charges for publishing a story about Thai security forces' alleged involvement in trafficking Rohingya Muslims. The original report, by the Reuters new...
The Sensible Sentencing Trust is lodging a formal complaint against a Judge who was reluctant to allow a sex abuse victim to read her victim impact statement in court saying the Judge showed an unacceptable bias towards the offender. Full Story at:

domain: news


text:
This restaurant's specialty is not your usual tuna sandwich: It's a juicy ahi steak with teriyaki sauce on a purple taro bun.
Special Dishes: Fresh Ahi
Seen an error? Report This Listing
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
Let Guy take you on a coast-to-coast tour Friday at 9|8c.

domain: food


text:
I decided to use the Friends & Flowers Stamp set to make a cute little bunny for the front of my favor!
- The Blushing Bride base is 2 x 11, scored at 1/2, 5-1/2 and 5-7/8″
- On top is a 1-7/8 x 5-3/8″ piece of Birthday Bouquet Designer Paper.
- The face and ears from Friends & Flowers were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black on Whisper White and punched with the 1-3/8″ Circle Punch and Festive Flower Builder Punch. The body was punched with the 1-3/4″ Circle Punch and the tail with the Blossom Bunch Punch from Whisper White cardstock.
- The ears and checks were colored with the Blushing Bride Marker.
- Happy Easter from Circle of Spring stamp set was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink in the center.
- A bow was tied with the Mint Macaron/Black Baker’s Twine and added to the ear with a Mini Glue Dot.
- The bunny was added to the front of a Lots of Label Framelit cut from Birthday Bouquet DSP with Stampin’ Dimensionals, then added to the front of the base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- To hold the favor closed, the medium flower from Blossom Bunch Punch was punched from Blushing Bride and the small flower from Mint Macaron cardstock, adhered together with Mini Glue Dots and added to the Mini Clothespin with Mini Glue Dots.
Here’s the inside. I found some of these chocolate crisp bunnies at the Dollar Tree Store…3 for $1 and they fit perfectly inside! I used a couple Mini Glue Dots to hold in place!
OK…isn’t that just the CUTEST??? Love it! Now continue onto to the Create with Connie and Mary website to find out more about our March and April Mini Sessions…we just opened March yesterday! Don’t miss out on all these GREAT ideas for only $8.95 per month! Here’s a sneak peek for March! After that, you’ll continue to Mary Brown’s blog, or back to Melissa Davies’ blog!

domain: design


Why Does the Cfm Per Ton of Air Conditioning Vary?
The cubic foot per minute, or cfm, per ton of air conditioning varies depending on application. Approximately 400 cfm is required for normal use, while 500 cfm is needed for high sensible heat situations. High latent heat loads use 350 cfm. Sensible heat directly affects the temperature of the room, while latent heat does not affect temperature because it causes a change in state.
An air conditioner’s cfm rating describes the volume of air, in cubic feet, that flows through the unit in one minute. A/C units in high sensible heat environments run at higher cfm values because of the increased cooling load. With normal cooling loads, the A/C unit requires approximately 7.5 air changes per hour to maintain a comfortable environment.
With an increased cooling load, the required amount of air changes increases to approximately 10 per hour, which is achievable because the A/C unit moves more air per minute. An A/C’s sensible capacity describes the ability to remove sensible heat and lower the temperature of the air. An A/C’s latent capacity is its ability to remove latent heat from the air. This removes humidity by causing water vapor in the air to condensate. If the air speed is too fast, the accumulated condensate is blown off the fins of the A/C’s evaporator and back down the duct, which is why units in environments with high latent heat run at lower cfm values.


Accessories and Documentation
Along with a packet that you can squeeze out two, maybe three applications of thermal compound from, I placed the AMD and Intel VTMS components. For AMD it uses a locking latch system, not unlike a stock cooler. It works in much the same way; just here there is a latch for both sides. As for the Intel mounting, Scythe sends a universal set of Intel mounts. These legs can adjust to all LGA type processors, and I'm sure you all know how the push pins work.
The instructions are broken up into two sections; Intel on this side, and it shows here how to lock in the mounting hardware, how to work the push pins, and how and where to plug in the fan.
This side covers the AMD mounting, the fan mounting, and the fan controller instructions. Both sides are well written and with the images along with the text, it shouldn't take you long to go from in the box to cooling your processor!
PRICING: You can find products similar to this one for sale below.
United States: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon's website.
United Kingdom: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon UK's website.
Canada: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon Canada's website.
- Page 1 [Introduction]
- Page 2 [Specifications, Availability and Pricing]
- Page 3 [Packaging]
- Page 4 [The Scythe Rasetsu SCRT-1000 CPU Cooler]
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Diet can have a big impact on health. Just like humans, cats have special dietary needs to help them stay healthy.
However, feline diets are a lot different than human diets. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require meat in their diet and need little carbohydrates.
In the wild, cats usually prey on small animals, such as mice and birds. But as a pet, a cat might only be preying on a can of cat food. Because pet cats often don’t get the opportunity to hunt for their own food, it’s important for cat owners to mimic the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet their cat would naturally eat in the wild.
Dr. Deb Zoran, a professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said the best way to mimic a cat’s natural diet is to feed them canned food that has a protein content of 40% or higher and a carbohydrate content of 10% or lower.
Eating canned food will also help your kitty meet their daily water needs.
“Cats are used to getting a large percentage of their daily water needs from their diet,” Zoran said, adding that if a cat is primarily eating dry food, it may have a harder time staying hydrated. “All dry foods are low moisture, so cats that eat only dry foods consume less water and are more prone to dehydration.”
Dry food diets can also present other health challenges because they are typically high in fat, carbohydrates and calories. In fact, a high-carb diet can lead to obesity and diabetes, Zoran said.
In addition, a dry food diet may also upset your cat’s stomach, since cats are not “built” for carbohydrate digestion and absorption.
So what should you feed your cat? Zoran said it is best to choose a canned-food diet that says on the label “complete and balanced.” If you want to feed a homemade diet or other type of whole-food diet, Zoran said that’s OK, too. Just make sure to consult a nutritional expert to ensure the diet meets all of your cat’s needs.
Additionally, it’s OK if you want to give your cat a treat every now and then. Zoran recommended plain, cooked meats that are not seasoned and do not contain onions and garlic, which can be toxic
Other foods that can be poisonous for pets include fruits such as grapes and raisins. In fact, Zoran said to avoid giving your cat fruits and vegetables unless your vet has given you permission.
There are also many plants that are toxic to cats, such as Easter lilies.
“They are extremely deadly to cats,” Zoran said. “Chewing on a single leaf can cause kidney failure. It is best to know what plants you have before you put them in the house.”
As a cat owner, it is your responsibility to keep your pet safe from potentially harmful foods and to take your cat’s dietary needs seriously. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat!
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk.
Most of us know oral hygiene can play a critical role in a person’s overall health, but did you know the same applies for your furry friends? Humans schedule regular dental cleanings to keep their gums and teeth healthy, but dental health in dogs and cats may be overlooked by pet owners.
Dr. J.R. “Bert” Dodd, clinical professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained some common dental hygiene issues in dogs and cats. “Poor oral hygiene in dogs and cats can lead to excess tartar, swellings in the mouth and severe wear of the teeth (or broken teeth) from chewing on inappropriate objects,” he said. “In addition, periodontal — or gum — disease can arise from neglected oral health. If preventative dental health is not practiced and periodontal therapy — which includes the scaling, root planning, curettage, and extraction of teeth — is ignored, your pet may become more susceptible to other health complications.”
In fact, an animal’s teeth may be more important to its overall health than most pet owners realize. For example, bacteria in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body and cause infections, so keeping the mouth healthy can help keep your pet’s body healthier. Dodd also explained that good dental hygiene can lead to a longer, healthier life for your pet. “Taking care of your pet’s mouth and keeping it nice and healthy can help the animal live longer,” Dodd explained. “Good oral hygiene can help prevent diseases or secondary infections, such as liver, heart, kidney and joint disease from bacteria originating in the mouth and spreading through the body via the bloodstream. A dog or cat’s teeth need to be well taken care of and treated with respect.”
Although your veterinarian can help in routine dental check-ups and treatments, dog and cat owners can reduce the risk of dental hygiene issues at home. “It is best to begin home care when your puppy or kitten is between eight and 12 weeks old; however, it is never too late to start,” Dodd noted. “The first step is to train your pet to accept the brushing of their teeth. The best approach is to establish a routine of brushing your pet’s teeth with gauze around your finger. It may be helpful to use beef or chicken broth with dogs or tuna water with cats to get them accustomed to the routine instead of using cleaning agents. Once your pet is familiar with the daily routine, you can switch out the gauze for a finger brush or a very soft toothbrush. Then you can incorporate using veterinarian-approved pet toothpaste.”
In addition to homecare, pet owners can arrange for their pet to have an annual teeth cleaning under anesthesia at their local veterinary clinic. Veterinarian prescribed dental diets, proper dental chew toys and drinking water additives — products that can be mixed into pet drinking water to help control bacteria level and plaque in the mouth — may also assist in preventing dental hygiene issues. However, if your pet has persistent bad breath, experiences bleeding from the mouth or tooth, a change in eating behaviour and sensitivity to touch around the mouth, it may be a sign of a more serious dental health condition.
Dental therapy for more serious health conditions include many of the same procedures that help humans maintain healthy teeth, gums and mouths. Available treatments include oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics, restorations and even orthodontics. Some of these procedures may be offered by your family veterinarian or you may be referred to a board-certified veterinary dentist.
It is important for pet owners to recognize the connection between healthy teeth and their animal’s overall health. When you make a dental appointment for yourself, it might be a good idea to make a veterinary appointment to have your pet’s teeth cleaned as well. Proper dental hygiene helps promote a longer, healthier life for your pet.
From the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University: vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk.
Does your dog need a change of scenery? Consider taking Fido to the dog park, where he or she can play, exercise and socialize with other dogs and people. These activities can benefit your dog both physically and mentally
But that doesn’t mean Fido should be free to roam the park without your supervision.
supervision. Kit Darling, infection control coordinator at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offered a few tips to keep your pet safe at the dog park.
“You should watch your dog at the park, and don’t be distracted,” Darling said. “Pay close attention to the dogs and their body language. Interrupt play if necessary to calm their behaviour, and remove your dog if it is afraid or being bullied by others. In addition, it can be helpful to leave toys at home to avoid your pet from guarding their toys.”
How do you know when to break up a play-date? Darling said any play that seems questionable should be stopped because it could lead to a fight. Questionable behaviours include stalking, possessiveness over a toy (such as aggressive tug-of-war) and wrestling, if more than two dogs are involved or if one dog is always on the bottom. Aggressive behaviour, such as neck biting, excessive barking, pinning another dog down and snapping at other dogs are inappropriate for the dog park and should be stopped immediately.
Other safety concerns for the dog park include the spread of infectious disease and parasites. Darling said it is important for dogs going to parks to be on medications that prevent heartworms, fleas and intestinal parasites. Dogs should also be up-to-date on their vaccinations, so it is best to leave puppies at home until they have all their shots. If you plan on visiting the dog park often, ask your veterinarian about Bordetella and leptospirosis vaccines.
“It is advisable for dogs that have contact with other dogs to be vaccinated for Bordetella, commonly known as kennel cough, a contagious respiratory disease,” Darling said. “In addition, consider vaccinating for the leptospira bacteria, which can be exposed to your dog in ponds with stagnant water or by contaminated urine from wildlife.”
adventure, you may find one at the dog park. But before you grab your leash and head out the door, make sure your pet’s health is protected and you are ready to supervise your pet.
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science. etmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk.
I f you’ve noticed your pet’s eye lenses becoming cloudy or opaque, your pet could be developing cataracts. Though cataracts can decrease vision, or even cause complete blindness, not every companion animal that develops cataracts requires surgery. Dr. Lucien Vallone, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained how cataracts can affect pets.
“A cataract is an opacity of the lens,” Vallone said. “A clear lens is necessary for good vision; thus, any opacification can cause decreased vision. However, not all cataracts are the same. Some cases of cataracts are so severe they can cause blindness and inflammation in the eye, which may cause significant discomfort. Some cases are small enough they don’t interfere with vision at all and should be monitored.”
All companion animals can develop cataracts, but Vallone said cataracts are common in dogs. Several breeds of dogs may be predisposed to cataracts, though not every dog within these breeds are affected.
“Veterinarians encourage dog breeders to participate in breed-soundness examinations,” Vallone said. “These examinations screen dogs for any evidence of heritable disease. Specifically, veterinary ophthalmologists will usually recommend prospective pet owners to ask dog breeders if their dogs have undergone yearly Eye Certification Registry (ECR) examinations. These examinations are performed by board-certified ophthalmologists and help breeders to eliminate cataracts that are potentially inherited.”
Vallone added that cataracts in companion animals — especially dogs — could be a sign of another health concern, such as diabetes mellitus.
“In addition to cloudiness of the eyes, diabetic animals often display fluctuations in appetite, weight, thirst and urination,” Vallone said.
Currently, cataract surgery is the only treatment for companion animals to restore clarity to the lens. Vallone said the procedure is similar to cataract surgery in humans but requires general anesthesia. Topical therapies often can prevent the common and painful complications of cataracts but cannot restore vision.
If you think your pet may be developing cataracts, consult your veterinarian. All animals with any form of cataracts should be evaluated by a veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist to help preserve vision and health.
From the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University: vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk.

domain: medical


About the Platform.
Pebble is a hyperlocal content marketplace, connecting reporters and publishers directly. For the first time in the world, reporters can set the price of the story while publishers can buy a story on per piece basis. Publishers pay no subscription fee.
Pebble has been founded by Anil Kumar whose last company Locovida has been invested in by Times Internet Ltd. Prior to these two startups, Anil headed the digital business at Amar Ujala where he built a strong internet presence for Amar Ujala.
Whom do we cater to?
We are a b2b platform and intend to solve the content and price discovery problem for the media industry. Our clients are publishers who need content from across the world but can’t get verified content from small places.
What do we offer to our consumers?
A publisher is heavily dependent on their own content writing teams, their field reporters network or from news wire agencies. However, these models are costly and inefficient.
Today, the readership (print, tv and online) is reaching Tier 2 and 3 towns and cities, thanks to deeper penetration of smartphones and internet service providers.
Using existing content creation and acquisition models, a publisher can’t reach this last mile new user. Pebble solves that for a publisher. Simply by creating an account on Pebble, the publisher gets access to hyperlocal stories from across the country (and in future, across the world) by a simple click of a button. The publisher can choose the story that makes sense to their current audience. Or they can launch a new category, language or an edition by buying stories for that audience.
Content writers on Pebble are connected to the media industry and are verified people.
Also Read: Platform Feature – Banihal
What motivated us to start up?
My previous startup Locovida was helping regional publishers build a scalable and profitable digital business by offering them technology, ad revenues, traffic and advisory. We worked with more than 180 publishers in the country. However, we realised that each publisher is just trying to milk their existing (loyal) reader many times over and not creating content for the new audience that exists beyond their stronghold.
We also met a lot of field reporters and discovered that more than 80 % of the daily content they produce actually does not find space in the newspaper/TV due to space limitation. 80 % of the daily effort of so many reporters going waste!
Publishers wanted a risk free, low-cost content acquisition model which increases their ability to attract a newer audience.
So we thought of creating a marketplace exclusively for the media industry addressing these challenges.
What’s in a name?
Pebble when dropped in a body of water, creates ripples that act as the catalyst of change. The media industry has been a passive recipient of disruptions happening elsewhere. Facebook, twitter, google are prime examples of how content creation and curation has shifted from media org to these software companies. Pebble, through its innovation and deeper embedding within the media industry, hopes to innovate and help the ecosystem as an insider.
How do we see Social Media?
Until a last couple of years, social media was the go-to place for all brands who wanted to target their audience. It allowed unparalleled access to a niche audience for all products and services, thanks to the horde of data about individuals that these platforms had. However, much has changed. Now social media is grappling with fake news, propaganda and privacy concerns.
By bringing content written by verified individuals, we believe Pebble will do a cleaning job for a lot of content organizations on social media
Also Read: Platform Feature – Swoo
Currently, we are….
We formally launched a month ago. In this short span, our network is present in 58 districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and has produced more than 700 hyperlocal stories so far. In some cases, we broke the same story a day earlier than any other wire agency.
Our clients include Network18, Punjab Kesari, Navodaya Times and Opera, with many more adding every day
Our biggest challenge was..
At the initial stage, our challenge was, to remain focused on the original pebble proposition, in the midst of prevalent and popular business models.
We want to dominate the world by..
Pebble is a shrink-wrapped idea and can be launched in other countries. We already have queries from Pakistan and Kenya. We hope to launch in one more country by next year and make it a global platform in three years to come.
We’re making moolah by…
We earn a fee from the content sold by the reporter.
Our What The **** Moment
Hunting for the right kind of lights, we crisscrossed the city shops. Finally, the lights were aesthetically placed, in angles to fall on each piece of furniture, to only realize One day in the middle of work”…oh F*** we do NOT need lights. This cinematic amazonian experience is surrounded by 6*4 glass windows on three sides.
Ahh, the joys of setting it up yourself!
Industry as we foresee
We feel social media industry will align itself to clean content as more and more brands will push to their ads/engagement been shown alongside a neat content. Social media is going through that churn and Pebble is the ideal go-to platform to help solve that.
Lastly, Are you hiring?
We are hiring big time in tech and client servicing.


text:
To the surprise of absolutely no one at all, the Virginia Cavaliers have been picked by the media in the 2011 ACC preseason poll to finish fifth in the Coastal Division. The media for the most part has been wildly off-base in predicting the Hoos, who have finished anywhere from second to last in the division in the past six years.
Here's a look at how Virginia has done in the past as compared to the preseason predictions -- warning, it's not a pretty sight:
|Year||Predicted Finish||Actual Finish|
Florida State was the big winner of today's poll, taking not only the Atlantic Division, but also the entire conference, with 50 votes for the title. Virginia Tech, picked to win the Coastal Division, received 18 votes to win the title. Clemson had to two and Boston College picked up a vote as well.
Here's how the ACC will play out, in the media's eyes.
1. Florida St. Seminoles 420 (65)
2. Clemson Tigers 286 (4)
3. N.C. State Wolfpack 270
4. Boston College Eagles 224 (2)
5. Maryland Terrapins 221
6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons 80
1. Virginia Tech Hokies 421 (66)
2. Miami Hurricanes 328 (4)
3. North Carolina Tar Heels 287
4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 226 (1)
5. Virginia Cavaliers 132
6. Duke Blue Devils 96
What do you think, folks?


text:
Nations trust bank plc launches rs. 7 billion “nations diriya” fund to support economic revival
Led by their vision of “helping people and businesses by providing financial services and information to achieve their goals and aspirations in a sustainable way”, Nations Trust Bank has identified the importance of assisting adversely affected businesses with a view to supporting the revival of the national economy. Towards this objective, Nations Trust Bank PLC announced the launch of a Rs. 7 Billion internally generated fund dedicated to extending financial support to key industries thereby, enabling them to recommence their businesses and in turn boost the national economy.
With the “Nations Diriya” support fund, the Bank will reach out to exporters under “Nations Apanayana Diriya” and to local manufacturers under “Nations Vyapara Diriya”. The facilities are designed to support Corporates and Small & Medium Enterprises by offering attractive credit facilities at competitive rates. Through this initiative, Nations Trust Bank will help rebuild a range of industries engaged in direct or indirect export-oriented business and for businesses engaged in local manufacturing to help uplift the economy at large by providing the much needed financial support.
The “Nations Diriya” platform is formulated to offer financial support to businesses in local manufacturing, fisheries, value added agriculture, tea, processed food, beverages, spices, coconut and coconut-based products, as well as manufacturers of chemical products, minerals and essential oils. The facilities will also be available to IT and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) companies that provide much needed foreign exchange flow into Sri Lanka.
“As a leading Bank in Sri Lanka, we have an important role to play in supporting economic revival and uplifting businesses. We believe that it is our responsibility to support the nation to overcome the economic impediments that the pandemic brought upon us. Given that it was completely unexpected, no individual or business had time to adjust to the challenges that came their way,” stated Priyantha Talwatte, Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nations Trust Bank.
Commenting further Mr. Talwatte said, “Our facilities are extended across multiple industries and business sectors to help the economy at large. We are focused on providing diverse businesses much needed relief and thus supporting them at this critical hour. Most businesses can revive successfully if the right support is given immediately and thereby overcome and expand in the long term. Therefore, we urge companies to make use of this excellent opportunity and together we can overcome this crisis.”
Over the past months, the Bank had focused on critical areas such as guiding and creating awareness on the safety measures that need to be followed during the COVID -19 pandemic as well as motivating and advising customers on the importance of staying focused while setting realistic goals for the future. Customers were encouraged to look forward to new beginnings as the Nation emerged out of the lockdown situation to face a new tomorrow.
Understanding the national responsibility as a bank to support the frontline of the healthcare sector that was protecting the citizens of our nation whilst risking their own safety and lives during the COVID 19 outbreak, Nations Trust Bank pledged to provide 4,500 medical scrubs to healthcare workers in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Navy.
Nations Trust Bank PLC is among the top 15 business establishments in Sri Lanka as ranked by Business Today Magazine. The Bank serves a diverse range of customers both, Individual and Corporate, with an enviable portfolio of banking and financial products and services. Strongly focused on digital empowerment through cutting-edge digital banking technologies the Bank is a pioneer in many innovative customer centric banking solutions such as extended banking hours, 365-day banking and FriMi – Sri Lanka’s first digital banking experience. Delivering premium value, service and connecting its Cardmembers to rewarding experiences and opportunities, Nations Trust Bank is an issuer and sole acquirer of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka. The Bank operates 98 branches across the country and has an ATM network covering 119 locations and 54 Cash Deposit & Withdrawal Machines, plus more than 3,700 ATMs on the Lanka Pay Network.


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The Caribbean Cook-off will be one of the biggest highlights to end the summer. The cook-off will consist of three dishes from a variety Caribbean countries. Each dish will be judged on the following criteria; taste, presentation and creativity. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner of each category. The Caribbean Cook-off will include fun activities for kids and adults. A variety of local artists will be performing throughout the day. This is a family fun day that all can enjoy.
CHILDREN UNDER 12 YRS OLD: FREE
FREE FOOD TASTING WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!! COME EARLY!!
Added by Caribbean Cook-off on April 8, 2011

domain: artistic


This project brings together Matauranga Maori, western science, medicine and people to heal the Kopeopeo Canal. PCP was used as wide spectrum pesticide and wood preservative throughout the world. The products of the PCP manufacturing process, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), the major dioxin congeners identified are the hexa-, hepta-, and octachloro congeners (Eduljee, 1999), are highly persistent and toxic in the environment. Removing these pollutants from the environment in an ecologically responsible, safe, rapid, and cost-effective way is the priority of Te Ohu Mo Papatuanuku. Maori participating in this research are burdened by the impact of the activities of the timber mills in their areas. Effects include intergenerational vitality; toxins in places and resources of local importance; and degradation of the relationship between the people and their traditional territories. The project aligns the breadth of impacts on health and wellbeing with local community actions to mitigate and solve problems, supported by a very strong network of nationally and internationally recognised experts in the field. The programme has all the components described for western science and traditional knowledge to learn from each other (Mazzocchi, 2006).


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Caregiver Fatigue is a familiar term in elder care circles,
but it's not one most moms have heard of. It is what it sounds like, though. It's "when a
caregiver's emotional and physical reserves are so drained from caring for
others that it's hard to feel emotionally and physcially balanced, Caregiver
Fatigue sets in," explains Carrie Contey, Ph.D., a parenting expert and family
coach based in Austin, Texas. "In other words, caregivers can become so depleted that they have a tough time functioning."
Moms, particularly stay-at-home moms with
young children or those whose kids have special needs of any kind, are
particularly susceptible. We LOVE our kids and want to give the best of
ourselves to them, but when sleep deprivation rears its head or when life
otherwise falls way off balance, our own needs often fall far behind other
priorities. This makes exhaustion and burnout real threats to our own—and thus our
"Caregiver Fatigue most often looks like
extreme exhaustion. It can also manifest as anxiety, fear, self-doubt, sadness,
anger and guilt," Contey says. In fact, these types of feelings should be
recognized as red flags that a mom is more than simply tired. Cotney adds that "if the
caregiver is starting to hear a lot of negative self-talk, that's a clear sign
of deep fatigue and that some form of self-care is necessary."
Of course, what self-care looks like for most people may be impossible in
the context of full-time parenting. It's tough to take a few days—let alone a
few minutes—off when your very-small people depend on you for, well, absolutely
everything they need. And on top of logistical challenges, many moms face
emotional barriers to self-care, as well. "Unfortunately, there's a widespread cultural message that
says self-care is selfish," says parenting coach Suzi Lula. "Moms are led to feel guilt
and shame around the idea of caring for themselves in any meaningful way. But,
of course, they must."
Then, moms need to take action to help themselves to not just hang in there and keep the kidsalivebut to, you know, get back in the saddle and thrive.
First, moms must grant themselves permission to check in and
acknowledge their own internal states. "Mothers
can begin to attune themselves to their own 'energy tank,' says Lula. "Are
they running on full or empty?" Noticing the red flags—the negative self-talk, the irritability, feelings of resentment or frustration —is crucial. Then, moms need to take action to help
themselves to not just hang in there and keep the kids alive but to, you know, get back in the saddle and thrive.
Contey recommends "small,
medium and large fill ups depending on how dysregulated and overdone moms are."
Sometimes simply pausing, acknowledging aloud how you're feeling, and breathing
deeply – taking all of 30 seconds— is enough to lower stress levels. Other
quick fill-ups that can stave off a meltdown include stepping outside, shifting
your focus (Contey recommends pointing to and saying the names of ten objects
in the room), or, if another adult is around, making eye contact or asking for
Medium fill-ups that moms can work into their daily routines can include
showering alone, making tea, listening to music or meditating. And, of course, making regular time for the big things like calling in childcare backup to take a
date night or a nap, which can make all the difference in the world.
Contey adds, however, that "if the caregiver feels like
they are in a crisis, it's important to reach out for support from a therapist
So stay strong, super moms! And take care of yourselves, because
Caregiver Fatigue is real, and you're kind of a big deal.

domain: sociology


Looking for a few quick tips on how best to maintain your gas furnace in shape this winter? The supreme Gas Furnace Troubleshooting Guide will answer all your questions, such as how to turn on a furnace, the way to change a furnace filter, the way to examine a furnace’s airflow, what to do when a furnace doesn’t ignite, and even more.
We hope you find this guide to be helpful – and we hope you stay warm this winter!
A) the Way to Turn On Your Gas Furnace
It sounds easy, but believe it or not, many people don’t know how to turn their furnace off or on. Here’s a simple
* Find the breaker for your furnace. It is part. The breaker must be clearly tagged with a gas furnace sticker. Turn the breaker into the”On” position.
* Locate and turn on the furnace button. It is somewhere close to the bottom of your basement stairs – in the ceiling, occasionally from the furnace room itself, and generally at eye level or greater.
* Place your thermostat. Check the furnace is on and then make sure the selector switch is set to”Heat”. Lastly, adjust your set temperature, and that is it your furnace is ready to heat your home and flipped!
B) the Way to Check and Change Your Furnace Filter
Proper maintenance of your furnace filter can assist maximize airflow from the furnace, and which will help keep it operating efficiently and economically through the coldest months of the year. To prevent burnout from your furnace components, we recommend inspecting your filter monthly and changing it. Here’s how it’s done:
* Remove the furnace filter by sliding it out. Take a peek at the filter.
* If you can’t see through the filter, then it is definitely time to get a new one. Slide the new filter to the furnace that it is installed at the path of the airflow. And that is it – you are done!
* Begin by opening the furnace’s external rack or door.
C) the Way to Test Your Furnace’s Airflow
If a room in your home is too cold during winter, it might be as your furnace is not supplying enough warm air through the registers in that particular room. There is a simple way to test the airflow from the furnace registers to make sure that they’re working that the garbage bag airflow evaluation. Furnace rental in Brantford
The test is a quick way to gauge airflow by deciding how long it takes to fill a frequent plastic trash bag. Although it is not a precise measurement, it’s far better and will give you a great idea as to if you need to phone a technician to check at your ductwork.
To perform the garbage bag hardness test:
* Crush the bag level and put it over the enroll or exhaust hood.
* Count the amount of seconds it takes for the bag to completely inflate.
* Tape the mouth of the garbage bag to a coat hanger or piece of cardboard to keep it open.
When the inflation time is:
* 4 seconds = 20 L/s (40 cfm)
* 10 seconds = 10 L/s (20 cfm)
* two seconds = 37 L/s (75 cfm)
If the measured airflow is less than 10 L/s, the furnace is delivering just a little bit of heat to a space and needs to be further inspected to determine the heat is not going through.
The garbage bag airflow test is also useful in case you have changed your heating or cooling systems or have made significant renovations to your house. Enersure
D) If Your Gas Furnace Fails to Ignite
If you’re able to hear that your furnace is on and the fan is running, but all you’re getting is cold atmosphere, you probably have ignition collapse. Try resetting your furnace by simply turning the switch to off to at least ten seconds, then, turning on it . If that does not do the trick, provide your HVAC contractor a telephone.
E) Furnace Troubleshooting Checklist
Believe your gas furnace has stopped? You could save yourself the cost of a service telephone that is no-heat by checking the following:
* Is the furnace ventilation blocked by ice or snow? If so, try to eliminate the blockage.
* Are the programmable thermostat batteries clean?
* Is the furnace change in the on position? It may have been turned off by mistake.
* Is your thermostat properly set into the”heat” position along with the temperature set to a usual heating setting?
* Is the circuit breaker in the electrical panel in the proper position?
* Is your furnace door properly closed?
* Has the filter already been changed recently? Your furnace isn’t working along with if you have checked everything, provide the local HVAC contractor a call, and they will receive your furnace running as soon as possible and back up.
F) How to Properly Remove Vent Blockages
If you become aware of a furnace problem that might involve the outside port, then do a fast review and see if any ice hockey or some common household item might be blocking the vent. If so, before eliminating the obstruction, head inside first and flip them off the power to your furnace. At this time, you can clear away anything is obstructing your exterior vent. Once you’re done, turn your furnace back using either the breaker or the switch.
A scarcity of airflow through the furnace’s inside vents may mean your furnace fan motor has captured. If this has occurred, don’t attempt to correct the problem yourself – contact the specialist furnace repair technicians at the local HVAC contractor.
G) How to Stop Air Leaks and Prevent Heat Loss
Air leaks account for a significant amount of your home’s heat loss in winter – resulting in increased heating costs as your furnace continuously attempts to replace the warm atmosphere that has escaped out of your home. Fixing these leaks will help save you money on your heating bills.


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What can you get for RMB 20 this Saturday? A taxi ride from Hujialuo to Sanlitun; a meal at McDonald’s; how about one-tenth of an overpriced music festival ticket? Well, if you’re willing to pay for any of the above, then my dear friend, I'd say you’re absolutely reckless with your money. Why? Because you can walk from Hujialuo to Sanlitun; the Beijinger’s Burgers Days Deals makes McDonald’s seem unreasonable; and you’ll find plenty of entertainment options at the Burger Festival this Saturday, May 28.
What kind of entertainment am I talking about? Take a peek below:
Performances from the Finalists of Laowai Idol:
Earlier this month, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) played host to the 7th annual Laowai Idol talent competition. This collegiate talent competition showcased some amazing musical, dance, and comedic acts by students hailing from seven universities across Beijing. The competition featured many talented performances, but we’re bringing only the best for your viewing pleasure on Saturday.
Performances include: the multi-talented Mongolian, Tamir, from UIBE, fusing poplocking with freestyle hip-hop; singer Isaia, a Malagasy (from Madagascar) BLCU student, will grace us with her phenomenal voice; and Southeast Asian band MasBro, from BFSU, will be doing their best Coldplay and Michael Jackson renditions.
Live Music from an Eclectic Mix of Groovy Bands:
Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies:
With their jazzy vibes, Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies will have you swinging and jiving like you’ve just entered a prohibition-era bar, or perhaps the Mos Eisley Cantina (yes, these guys play that song).They describe their music as bringing a vintage approach to contemporary music.
The Guzzlers are a three-piece band of sassy lads from disparate corners of the globe and led by frontman 李岩, formerly of the renowned 2011 Global Battle of the Bands winners Rustic. Featuring Joni Guzzler on drums and Gannon von Guzzle on violin, they have fast become regulars around the Beijing scene, known for their flamboyant shows and bittersweet sonic tales of love, loss and the trappings of sexual indulgence.
Image Above All:
This band describes their live show as a sensory experience, as visually stimulating as it is catchy and danceable. The performance incorporates a visual display to liberate the imagination. An electrically psychedelic revelry of smooth grooves and infectious beats to turn you on and tune it all out.
But Wait... There's More
RMB 20 doesn't just get you all of the above, it also gets you free entry, courtesy of our friends at InternsInBeijing, into the exclusive after-party for the Burger Festival, held at the amazing Spark Nightclub. Doesn't that sound like an amazing deal?
Photos: University of International Business and Economics, Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies, The Guzzlers, Image Above All
Visit the original source and full text: the Beijinger Blog


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The Embryo’s Navel
The importance of the Navel Center in meditation relates to its role in the development of the embryo. The embryo immediately begins to divide after conception and soon attaches to the wall of the uterus. As the umbilical cord develops, the fetus is nourished through it.
The umbilical cord attaches to the baby’s navel, and nutrients and energy enter the navel through the umbilical cord. After entering the navel, the energy travels to the major vital organs. These organs are nourished the energy channels are filled from the mother’s energy, through the umbilical cord.
In Taoist meditation and movement practice, the navel center is reactivated. Like in the embryo state, the whole body is nourished as the navel fills with energy. Deep breathing that creates a gentle pressure in the abdomen flushes toxins and stuck energy from the organs.
Taoist movement exercises such as tai chi, chi kung, tao yin, and iron shirt chi kung emphasize movement of and from the navel and lower lumbar. Life started in the lower abdomen and life continues from the lower abdomen. Throughout the day, we can bring our awareness there to feel more centered, calm our thoughts, and slow our heart rate.
If you’re new to meditation, just put your hands on your abdomen and breath deeply. Learn more: The Alchemist’s Tao Te Ching: Transforming Your Lead Into Gold: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1718636970/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yme-DbGFGZRDW

domain: health


HANDHELD NEODYMIUM DYNAMIC HYPER-CARDIOD MICROPHONE
The Apex385 is a low impedance, dynamic microphone with exceptionally high sensitivity and linear response. It features a high energy, rare-earth neodymium magnet, double dome-diaphragm and an aluminum alloy voice coil designed to provide incredibly high output. Its tight cardioid pattern maximizes gain before feedback for outstanding live performance.
An internal double shockmount system significantly reduces handling & extraneous noise while a unique filter minimizes breath noise and popping caused by some consonants. The extremely rugged, heat-treated metal grille is highly shock resistant for better element protection and performance and comes with XLR to XLR mic cable and mic stand clip. New "leather-feel" finish makes for more positive grip during enthusiastic live performances.
• Neodymium dynamic microphone with exceptionally high sensitivity and linear response
• Element: Moving coil dynamic
• Hyper-cardioid polar pickup pattern
• Leather-feel non-slip finish
• Internal double shockmount
• High output with low handling noise
• Frequency Response: 50Hz ~ 18KHz
• Impedance: 300 Ω
• Sensitivity: -74dB
• S/N: 50+ dB
• Max SPL: 140dB
• Includes XLR - XLR cable and mic clip
• Sold by the Each


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Starting immediately, all new users must be approved by a moderator (due to spam issues). #sworry
You can dismiss this message by clicking the little 'X' in the top right this box.
If you are a pro triathlete, please click here to DM AaronWebstey
for access to the 'Pros-only' private forum. Don't forget to include your real name, and a link to pro race result would be great if you're a 1st-year pro.
Post your favorite spotify play list.
I listen to some weird shit.
Interested to hear what anyone else listens to regularly or for workouts.
I will listen to every play list posted for one of my workouts. Unless it's compete shit. Which really means any new country music (I absolutely love country legends)
Master of the Absurd - King of all Polls

domain: hobby


text:
John D. Rockefeller – one of the wealthiest men who ever lived – once said that the only thing that gave him pleasure was to see his dividends coming in.
That’s a strong statement. But if Rockefeller meant it, he must have truly been the happiest man in the world. Rockefeller was the founder and majority of Standard Oil, which was the predecessor of both ExxonMobil and Chevron. And he insisted that 2/3 of the annual profits of the largest energy monopoly in history be paid out in dividends. That’s a lot of income rolling in every quarter.
For most investors, a dividend is simply a check that arrives in the mail every quarter (or more likely gets posted to their brokerage account). And to be sure, this is a nice perk. Getting a regular stream of income allows you to realize regular profits along the way without having to sell your stock. You can think of it as enjoying the milk from a cow without having to slaughter it for meat. Sure, steak might be tasty. But once it’s gone, it’s gone, whereas the milk can last a lifetime.
But dividends are about more than just income. They’re about being a better kind of company. Earnings can be manipulated. Even sales can be manipulated. But dividends have to be paid in actual cash. There’s no amount of dodgy accounting that can fake cold, hard cash.
Furthermore, knowing that cash has to be on hand to pay dividends forces management to be more disciplined. They are less likely to burn shareholder money on expensive vanity projects when they know they might need that cash to fund the dividend next quarter. They’re also less likely to dilute their shareholders with stock-based employee compensation or secondary stock offerings, as they’d have to pay dividends on any new shares created.
Some might argue that initiating a dividend is an admission by management that the company’s best growth days are behind it. But as Sonia Joao, President of Houston-based RIA Robertson Wealth Management explains, “Paying a dividend doesn’t suggest slower growth ahead. If anything, it’s the exact opposite. Precisely because the company expects durable growth, they’re more willing to part with their cash.”
This isn’t just academic. Dividend-paying stocks have been proven to outperform their non-paying peers over time. Research Ned Davis Research showed that the equally weighted S&P 500 index enjoyed a compound annual growth rate of 7.70% over the 1972 to 2017 period. But breaking the index down gave very different results. The dividend payers collectively enjoyed returns of 9.25% per year, while the non-payers lagged with returns of just 2.61%.
Even better, stocks that initiated or grew their dividends fared best of all, enjoying compound annual returns of 10.07% per year.
So, not only do dividend stocks put a little change in your pocket every quarter. They also massively improve the performance of your portfolio.
Today, we’re going to take a look at 20 stocks that have initiated a dividend in recent years. As these are all new dividend payers, not all are exceptionally high yielders. But all have made a commitment to start rewarding their patient shareholders with a regular cash payout.
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as 20 New Dividend Stocks
The following is an excerpt from Best Stocks for 2019: LyondellBasell Is Set for a Strong Second Quarter
As we near the end of the first quarter, the competition is fierce in InvestorPlace’s Best Stocks for 2019 contest. Cannabis product maker Charlotte’s Web Holdings (CWBHF) is leading the pack, up 67% at time of writing, but onshore oil and gas producer Viper Energy Partners (VNOM) isn’t far behind at 29%.
Against this competition, LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and its modest 4% would seem to be getting left in the dust.
But it’s still early, and we still have a lot of 2019 left to go. And I’m expecting LyondellBasell to make it a competitive race, come what may in the market.
LYB Stock Valuation
I’ll start with valuation.
A cheap price is no guarantee of investment success, at least over short time horizons. But it certainly creates the conditions to make outsized gains possible. LyondellBasell trades for 7.2 times trailing earnings and just 0.83 times sales.
To put this in perspective, LyondellBasell’s P/E ratio was over 16 in late 2012; by this metric LYB stock is trading at less than half its valuation of seven years ago despite price/earnings multiples expanding prodigiously across most of the stock market over that same period.
Likewise, LYB’s price/sales ratio has been bouncing around in a range of 1 to 1.4 since 2013. Today’s 0.9 takes the stock’s valuation back to early 2013 levels.
Again, a cheap stock price doesn’t guarantee a hefty stock return, at least not over any specific time horizon. But it certainly creates the conditions that make outsized returns possible.
To read the full article, see Best Stocks for 2019: LyondellBasell Is Set for a Strong Second Quarter
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as LyondellBasell Is Set for a Strong Second Quarter
The following is an excerpt from “How to Use the Price/Earnings Ratio for Investing.“
Despite the analytical strength of the P/E ratio, this number has its limits.
“When you’re at the top of the economic cycle and profits are booming, a stock can seem artificially cheap, as the denominator – the ‘E,’ or earnings – is inflated. At the same time, near the bottom of the economic cycle, when profits are depressed, a cyclical stock can look expensive in P/E ratio terms because the denominator is temporarily depressed,” says Charles Sizemore, portfolio manager at Interactive Brokers Asset Management.
Those limitations underscore the benefits of using the Shiller ratio with a longer term earnings period. That smooths out the earnings number.
Additionally, it’s difficult to use the P/E for comparison across industries, as the metric can be industry specific. Software stocks usually have higher P/E ratios than slow-growing utility companies. So it’s best to compare P/E ratios within industries, Sizemore says.
Finally, it’s widely accepted that earnings can be manipulated. When that occurs, the P/E ratio may be less reliable.
Ultimately, the P/E ratio is a solid place to start an investment analysis for a quick valuation check of a market or stock. For best practices, add the P/E ratio to a more complete analysis of individual companies, industries and the economy.
The following is an excerpt from What to Do Now If You’re Losing Sleep Over the Stock Market, originally published by Kiplinger’s.
As discussed ad nauseam in the financial press and in mutual fund literature, stocks “always” rise over the long-term.
This may very well continue to be true. But you also should remember that you have limited amounts of capital, and your cash might be better invested elsewhere.
Stocks are not the only game in town.
Even after the recent selloff, the S&P 500 still trades at a cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio (“CAPE,” which measures the average of 10 years’ worth of earnings) of 27, meaning that this is still one of the most expensive markets in history. (Other metrics, such as the price-to-sales ratio, tell a similar story.)
This doesn’t mean that we “have” to have a major bear market, and stock returns may be soundly positive in the coming years. But it’s not realistic to expect the returns over the next five to 10 years to be anywhere near as high as the returns of the previous five to 10 years, if we’re starting from today’s valuations. History suggests they’ll be flattish at best.
It’s not hard to find five-year CDs these days that pay 3.5% or better. That’s not a home run by any stretch, but it is well above the rate of inflation and it’s FDIC-insured against loss.
High-quality corporate and municipal bonds also sport healthy yields these days.
And beyond traditional stocks, bonds and CDs, you should consider diversifying your portfolio with alternative investments or strategies. Options strategies or commodities futures strategies might make sense for you. Or if you want to get really fancy, perhaps factored accounts receivable, life settlements or other alternative fixed-income strategies have a place in your portfolio. The possibilities are limitless.
Obviously, alternatives have risks of their own, and in fact might be riskier than mainstream investments like stocks or mutual funds. So you should always be prudent and never invest too much of your net worth into any single alternative strategy.
Just keep in mind that “investing” doesn’t have to mean “stocks.” And if you see solid opportunities outside of the market, don’t be afraid to pursue them.
To read the rest, please see What to Do Now If You’re Losing Sleep Over the Stock Market
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as What to Do Now If You’re Losing Sleep Over the Stock Market
The following is an excerpt from The 5 Best Investments You Can Make in 2019
Everyone is looking forward to 2019 if only because 2018 has been so ugly. But investors will have to mentally sturdy themselves: Before we can talk about the best investments to make in 2019, we have to quickly explore what has gone wrong in 2018.
The year started with a bang. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index returned nearly 6% that month following an epic 2017 that saw the index pop by 22%. But after that, it got rocky. Stocks stumbled in the first quarter, rallied for most of the second and third quarters, then rolled over and died again in October. It hasn’t gotten better since, and investors have had plenty to digest the whole way.
Much of the massive gain in 2017 was likely powered by investors looking forward to the profit windfall following the corporate tax cuts at the end of last year. But that’s a year in the past. Going forward, we’ll be comparing post-tax-cut profits to post-tax-cut profits as opposed to higher post-cut to lower pre-cut. Meanwhile, stock prices are still priced for perfection. At 2 times sales, the S&P 500’s price-to-sales ratio is sitting near all-time highs, and the cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio, or “CAPE,” of 29.6 is priced at a level consistent with market tops.
Fortunately, the new year provides an opportunity to wipe the slate clean. So what might we expect in the new year? Today, we’ll cover five of the best investments you can make in 2019, come what may in the stock market.
It’s difficult to beat the stock market as a long-term wealth generator. At roughly 7% annualized returns after inflation, the market has historically doubled your inflation-adjusted wealth every 10 years. No other major asset class has come close.
Still, you shouldn’t put all of your money in the stock market.
To start, there is no guarantee that the future will look like the past. The stock market as an investment destination for the masses is a relatively new concept that really only goes back to the 1950s, or perhaps the 1920s if you want to be generous. You can’t credibly say that the market “always” rises with time because, frankly, we’re writing history as we go.
Bonds have a longer track record, but bonds are also priced to deliver very modest returns in the years ahead. Adjusted for inflation, the 3% yield on the 10-year Treasury looks a lot more like a 1% yield.
Investors should consider alternative strategies as a way to diversify while not sacrificing returns.
“Alternative” can mean different things to different investors, but for our purposes here we’re taking it to mean something other than traditional stocks and bonds. Alternatives could include commodities, precious metals and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. But more than exotic assets, an alternative strategy can simply use existing, standard assets in a different way.
“The vast majority of options contracts expire worthless,” explains Mario Randholm, founder of Randholm & Company, a firm specializing in quantitative strategies. “So, a conservative strategy of selling out-of-the-money put and call options and profiting from the natural “theta,” or time decay, of options is a proven long-term strategy. You have to be prudent and have risk management in place, as the strategy can be risky. But if done conservatively, it is a consistent strategy with low correlation to the stock market.”
That’s a more advanced way to skin the cat. But the key is to keep your eyes open for alternatives with stock-like returns that don’t necessarily move with the stock market.
To continue reading the remaining four investments, see The 5 Best Investments You Can Make in 2019
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as The 5 Best Investments You Can Make in 2019
With one quarter left to go in 2018, there are three things on investors’ minds: the Fed, the coming mid-term elections and the ongoing trade war. Thus far, the market has mostly shrugged off these concerns, though income-focused investments such as bonds, REITs and dividend-paying stocks have had a hard time gaining traction.
Sizemore Capital’s Dividend Growth portfolio, which invests primarily in higher-yielding securities, has also had a hard time gaining traction in 2018. The portfolio returned 0.14% in the third quarter and 0.53% in the year-to-date through September 30. This compares to 7.2% in the third quarter and 9.0% year-to-date for the S&P 500 and 5.1% and 1.6% for the S&P 500 Value. [Returns data calculated from the performance of Sizemore Capital’s Dividend Growth model at Interactive Brokers; past performance is no guarantee of future results.]
Given its focus on attractively-priced stocks paying above-market dividend yields, I consider the S&P 500 Value to be a more accurate benchmark than the standard S&P 500. And frankly, it’s been a difficult market for value strategies.
Value vs. Growth
Over time, value strategies have proven to outperform.
This is not my opinion. This is empirical fact. In their landmark 1993 paper, University of Chicago professors Eugene Fama and Kenneth French found that value stocks outperform over time. More recent research by BlackRock found that in the 90 years through 2017, value has outperformed growth by a full 4.8% per year.
Figure 1: Value vs. Growth
But while value trounces growth over time, 90 years is a long time to wait. And there are stretches – sometimes long stretches – where value underperforms badly. We’re in one of those stretches today.
Figure 1 illustrates this in vivid detail. The graph shows the ratio of the Russell 1000 Value index divided by the Russell 1000 Growth index. When the line is declining, growth is outperforming value. When the line is rising, value is outperforming growth.
Value massively outperformed growth from 2000 to 2007, but it has struggled ever since. This has been particularly true over the past two years as the “FAANG” stocks – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google (Alphabet) – have completely dominated the investing narrative.
I would love to tell you the exact date when the market will flip and value will start to dominate again. For all I know, by the time you read this, it might have already happened. Or that day might still be years away.
That’s not something I can control. But I can stay disciplined and focus on high-quality companies that I believe to be temporarily underpriced. And because my strategy has a strong income component, we don’t necessarily need prices to rise in order for us to realize a respectable return. The average dividend yield of the stocks in the Dividend Growth portfolio is 5.65% at time of writing. [This yield will change over time as the composition of the portfolio changes.]
As we start the fourth quarter, I am particularly bullish about some of our newer additions, such as Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYSE: MIC) and Ares Capital (Nasdaq: ARCC).
Macquarie Infrastructure lowered its dividend earlier this year, which led investors to dump it in a panic. The shares dropped by over 40%, giving us a very attractive entry point.
Ares Capital, like many BDCs, has found the past decade to be difficult. But after a long, six-year drought, the company raised its dividend in September, and I expect further dividend hikes to come. At current prices, the shares yield a whopping 9.0%.
I also continue to see value in some of our long-held energy infrastructure assets, such as Energy Transfer Equity (NYSE: ETE) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD). Energy Transfer, in particular, is attractive due to its planned merger with is related company Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP). I believe this could be the first step to an eventual conversion from an MLP to a traditional C-corporation, which would potentially lower ETE’s cost of capital and allow for greater ownership by mutual funds, institutional investors and retirement plans like IRAs. CEO Kelcy Warren has indicated that this is the direction he ultimately wants to go.
I see the greatest risk in the portfolio coming from our positions in automakers General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Toyota (NYSE: TM). I consider all three to be wildly attractive at current valuations, but all are also at risk to fallout from the escalating trade war. As a precaution, I lowered our exposure to the sector earlier this year by selling shares of Volkswagen. But given the potential for a rally in the shares following a favorable resolution to the trade war, I feel it makes sense to hold our remaining auto positions and potentially add new money to them on any additional pullbacks.
All Eyes On the Fed
The Federal Reserve raised rates again in September, which was widely expected. But it was a subtle change to their statement that raised some eyebrows. They dropped the language saying that its policy “remained accommodative.” Does this mean that the Fed believes easy money is already over and that they’re not much more tightening to be done? Or does it mean that they’re about to get even more hawkish?
The statement was ambiguous. But it is noteworthy that the Fed is still forecasting another hike before the end of the year and three more in 2019. And Powell’s statements following the official statement suggest that he’s eager to continue draining liquidity out of the market.
There are limits to how aggressive the Fed can be here. If they follow through with raising rates as aggressively as they plan, they will push short-term rates above longer-term rates, inverting the yield curve. I don’t see the Fed risking that, as an inverted yield curve is generally viewed as a prelude to a recession.
Figure 2: 10-Year Treasury Yield
Meanwhile, bond yields have finally pushed through the long trading range of the past six years. The 10-year Treasury yield broke above 3.2%, a level it hasn’t seen since 2011.
I do not expect yields to rise much above current levels, as I do not see such a move justified by current inflation rates or growth expectations. But this is something I am watching, because the Dividend Growth portfolio, given its yield-focused strategy, is sensitive to changes in bond yields.
Looking forward to a strong finish to the year,
Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA
Asness is the billionaire co-founder of AQR Capital Management and a pioneer in liquid alternatives. For all of us looking to build that proverbial better mouse trap, Asness is our guru. My own Peak Profits strategy, which combines value and momentum investing, was inspired by some of Asness’ early work.
Unfortunately, he’s been getting his butt kicked lately. His hedge funds have had a rough 2018, which prompted him to write a really insightful and introspective client letter earlier this month titled “Liquid Alt Ragnarok.”
“This is one of those notes,” Asness starts with his characteristic bluntness. “You know, from an investment manager who has recently been doing crappy.”
Rather make excuses for a lousy quarter (Asness is above that), he uses his bad streak to get back to the basics of why he invests the way he does.
As I mentioned, Asness specializes in liquid alternatives. In plain English, he builds portfolios that aren’t tightly correlated to the S&P 500. They’re designed to generate respectable returns whether the market goes up, down or sideways.
You don’t have to be bearish on stocks to see the value of alts. As Asness explains,
You do not want a liquid alt because you’re bearish on stocks or, more generally, traditional assets. That kind of timing is difficult to do well. Plus, if you’re convinced traditional assets are going to plummet, you want to be short, not “alternative.” In other words, liquid alts are a “diversifier” not a “hedge.”
You should invest [in a liquid alt] because you believe that it has a positive expected return and provides diversification versus everything else you’re doing. It’s the same reason an all-stock investor can build a better portfolio by adding some bonds, and an all-bond investor can build a better portfolio by adding some stocks.
I love this, so you’re going to have to forgive me if I “geek out” a little bit here. My professors pretty well beat this stuff into my head when I was working on my master’s degree at the London School of Economics.
When you invest in multiple strategies that aren’t tightly correlated with each other, your risk and returns are not the average risk and return of the individual strategies. The sum is actually greater than the parts. You get more return for a given level of risk or less risk for a given level of return.
Take a look at the graph. This is a hypothetical scenario, so don’t get fixated on the precise numbers. But know that it really does work like this in the real world.
Strategy A is a relative low risk, low return strategy. Strategy B is higher return, higher risk.
In a world where Strategies A and B are perfectly correlated (they move up and down together), any combination of the two strategies would be a simple average. If A returned 2% with 8% volatility and B returned 16% with 11% volatility, a portfolio invested 50/50 between the two would have returns of 9% with 9.5% volatility. That is what you see with the straight line connecting A and B. Any combination of the two portfolios would fall along that line (assuming perfect correlation).
But if they are not perfectly correlated (they move at least somewhat independently), you get a curve. And the less correlation, the further the curve gets pushed out.
Look at the dot on the curve that shows an expected return of about 8% and risk (or volatility) of 10%. On the straight line, that 8% curve would have volatility of about 14%, not 10%. And accepting 10% volatility would only get you a return of about 4% on the straight line.
This is why you diversify among strategies. Running multiple good strategies at the same time lowers your overall risk and boosts your returns. The key is finding good strategies that are independent. Running the basic strategy five slightly different ways isn’t real diversification, and neither is owning five different index funds in your 401k plan. Diversification is useless if all of your assets end up rising and falling together.
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as Why You Shouldn’t Put ALL Your Money into an Index Fund
The following is an excerpt from Best ETFs for 2018: This Isn’t the Year for Emerging Markets (DVYE).
Well, I should probably start this by mentioning that I no longer personally own the ETF I recommended in InvestorPlace’s Best ETFs for 2018 contest.
I recently sold my shares of the iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF (DVYE). While I still believe that emerging markets are likely to be one of the best-performing asset classes of the next ten years, it’s a minefield in the short-term. As I write this, the shares are down 4% on the year. That’s not a disaster by any stretch, but it is a disappointment.
There are a couple reasons for the recent underperformance in emerging markets. To start, the U.S. market remains the casino of choice for most investors right now. Adding to this is dollar strength. While dollar strength is good for countries that sell manufactured products to the United States, it’s bad for commodities producers, as a more expensive dollar by definition means cheaper commodities.
President Donald Trump’s trade war isn’t helping either. While it’s hard to argue that anyone truly “wins” a trade war, Trump isn’t incorrect when it says that our trading partners need us more than we need them. In a war of attrition like this, you “win” by losing less.
Of course, these conditions are not new, and virtually all of them were in place when I made the initial recommendation of DVYE. None of these factors would be enough for me to punt on emerging markets just yet. No, the problem is a greater risk that has only recently popped up: the twin meltdowns in Argentina and Turkey.
To continue reading, please see Best ETFs for 2018: This Isn’t the Year for Emerging Markets (DVYE).
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as Best ETFs for 2018: This Isn’t the Year for Emerging Markets (DVYE)
The following is an excerpt from Best Stocks for 2018: Enterprise Products Is a Keeper.
A 14% return is nothing to be ashamed of in a year where the S&P 500 is up only 8%. Yet it looks awfully meager when my competition in the Best Stocks contest is up 144%.
As I write, my submission in InvestorPlace’s Best Stocks for 2018 contest — blue-chip natural gas and natural gas liquids pipeline operator Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) — is up 14%, including dividends, as of today. Yet Tracey Ryniec’s Etsy (ETSY) is up a whopping 144%. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and Amazon.com (AMZN) take the second and third slots with returns to date of 71% and 68%, respectively.
So, barring something truly unexpected happening, it’s looking like victory may be out of sight this time around.
Can’t win ‘em all.
While Enterprise Products may finish the contest as a middling contender, I still consider it one of the absolute best stocks to own over the next two to three years. Growth stocks have dominated value stocks since 2009, but that trend will not last forever. Value and income stocks will enjoy a nice run of outperformance — and when they do, Enterprise Products will be a major beneficiary.
To continue reading, please see Best Stocks for 2018: Enterprise Products Is a Keeper.
This article first appeared on Sizemore Insights as Best Stocks for 2018: Enterprise Products Is a Keeper

domain: finance


Finnish guitarist Alexi Laiho, who was the leader of CHILDREN OF BODOM and BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, has died at the age of 41 due to long-term health problems.
Goodbye Alexi Laiho
The Nuclear Blast record company has communicated in a press release:
“We are sorry for Alexi Laiho’s death!
One of the most recognized guitarists in the world, Alexi Laiho, has passed away. The musician, better known as the frontman of CHILDREN OF BODOM, died at his home in Helsinki, Finland, last week. Laiho had suffered from health problems in recent years.
According to the record company Napalm Records. Without specifying the date or a specific cause, it has simply been explained that his death was caused by the health problems that he had been carrying for years.
Alexi Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, one of the most internationally acclaimed Metal groups in Finland until their last farewell concert in December 2019. Last year, Alexi Laiho founded BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and filmed a music video, which will be released later posthumously .
Besides CHILDREN OF BODOM, Laiho was known by bands like WARMEN, SINERGY, KYLÄHULLUT, and THE LOCAL BAND . Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden Gods and other international awards, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitarists at the Helsinki Festival in 2015 in “100 Guitars From Hel”, a huge concert piece that he composed ” .
Daniel Freyberg, Mitja Toivonen and Waltteri Väyrynen of BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT note:
“We are devastated by the sudden passing of our dear friend and member of the band. Words cannot describe this shock and the deep sadness we feel.”
The press release adds:
The talented guitarist and musician enjoyed being a stepfather in his family, and as an uncle and godfather. Especially during the last few years, important family ties brought a welcome balance to his life and active touring. Laiho was particularly close to his older sister, his parents, and his niece. Laiho’s sister says:
“We are all absolutely shocked and devastated. We ask for privacy and understanding during these difficult times. My little brother’s funeral will be held in private.”
Alexi Laiho will also be deeply missed by his family in Australia.
“Alexi was the most loving and magnificent husband and father. Our hearts are forever broken,” says Kelli Wright-Laiho.
CHILDREN OF BODOM says goodbye to the musician: “We have lost a brother”
For their part, his former CHILDREN OF BODOM colleagues, keyboardist Janne Wirman , drummer Jaska Raatikainen and bassist Henri “Henkka T. Blacksmith” Seppälä have also dedicated some heartfelt words to the artist:
” Over 25 years of friendship . We have lost a brother . The world has lost a phenomenal songwriter and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Alexis’s memories and music will live on forever.
Our thoughts are with Alexi’s family during this difficult time. ”
Henkka, Janne and Jaska
Rest in peace.