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A dose of empathy
School rallies around displaced student after crane collapse
The Student National Dental Association stepped in when a fellow student lost her belongings.
In times of tragedy, Texas A&M College of Dentistry's "family" doesn't hesitate to pull together.
When D3s Lianna Pulliam and Washington Akharamen heard that a D4 student and her spouse lost everything in the aftermath of a crane collapse caused by high winds June 9 at the Elan City Lights Apartments less than a mile from the school, they scrambled to respond.
As co-presidents of the Student National Dental Association, Pulliam and Akharamen put their outreach skills into motion, emailing a plea to fellow students, as well as faculty and staff, to pitch in what they could. Pulliam says her first concern was the student's need for life's most basic necessities: a bed and some food. The dental community responded en masse, she says, asking what else they could do. A donation box for household items was set up in the student affairs office.
"The response has really reignited our faith in the community," she says.
Soon after the tragedy, select renters whose units weren't too close to the destruction were allowed just a few minutes to fill up a suitcase with their most vital belongings and retrieve any pets.
SNDA co-presidents Lianna Pulliam (left) and Washington Akharamen
"She was just happy to be able to get her car and her dog," says Pulliam, who is keeping the student's identity under wraps to honor her request for privacy.
"From what I've heard, they didn't really have very much time to go back in and grab many things," Akharamen says. "She's a trooper and still manages to have a good attitude about everything."
SNDA will keep collecting items as long as they're still coming in, only asking that donations be run by the co-presidents first as they keep a running tab of what has been donated and what is still needed.
"People have been extremely generous with their giving," Akharamen says.
Pulliam says they wanted their fellow student to know that her dentistry family has her back, and it only took one email.
"This just reminds people that they can do something to make an impact when it's put on their heart to do something," she says. "That's what dentistry is about: giving and using our gifts to bless people."
— Kathleen Green Pothier


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Tower Hunter: Ezra's Trial Is A 2.5D Action Platformer, Out Now
By DAMN OS on January 6, 2022
Who doesn't love a good 2.5D action platformer with roguelike, metroidvania and RPG elements? Probably quite a lot of people, but if you're not one of them Tower Hunter: Ezra's Trial will be right up your street.
The game is out now on the Play Store, although it's in Early Access, so it might be a little unstable. Still, it looks like an impressively deep adventure with some neat ideas.
It sees you working your way through a tower, unlocking new skills, performing impressive combos and taking down enormous bosses. You can see all of that in the trailer we've embedded below.
The game certainly looks the part, and it looks like it's got a lot more depth than a lot of side-scrolling action adventure games out there, which is never a bad thing.
You can click here to download Tower Hunter: Ezra's Trial from the Play Store and give it a go. It's a premium game and it'll set you back $6.99.
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Home News Action Saints Row An NPC gets run down within the first ten seconds of this new Saints Row video, even though it's ostensibly a calm showcase of the reboot's open world expanse. Business as usual then, but Santo Ileso sure does look pretty, in a gritty bullets-for-breakfast kind of way. The video above …
Blizzard Employee Publicly Says She Was Demoted After Filing HR Complaint About Sexual Harassment
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Baltimore @ TEXAS
TEXAS -1½ +120 over Baltimore
8:05 PM EST. Last week, we bet against the Orioles at home v San Francisco in the first game of a three-game set. The Giants would score five in the first but the O's scored six in the bottom of the first, capped off by a grand slam and went on to win the game. San Francisco would subsequently win the next two games, 8-2 and 8-1 but we were nowhere to be found. Yesterday, we bet against the O's again and even though Texas scored 11 times, Baltimore scored 12 times and once again hit a granny in the first frame. However, this time we're sticking with it and will bet against the Orioles almost every time we can take back a tag while spotting runs.
John Means (LHP - BAL) has had a few nice home starts peppered in among several missteps on the road. The Rangers have banged out a .799 OPS at home, and have overall pounded the change-up (Means' most used weapon) harder than any other team. The Orioles bullpen is horrible.
Mike Minor (LHP - TEX) is an absolute go for his home turn against bottom-feeder Baltimore. Look past some of Minor's pitching lines. Minor has been hamstrung by a 41% hit rate while logging a 3.33 ERA (and 10.7 K's/9) over his last five games started. Despite working against an unlucky 32% hit rate at home, he's logged a 2.50 ERA through 40 innings. Minor is handling RHBs efficiently, and he draws a pitcher's breeze in from center. Minor has 32 K's over his last 27 innings. Long his best pitch, Minor is wisely leaning harder on his plus-plus change-up to induce whiffs and soft contact (18%). He's also using it in the zone more often to get swings-and-misses at an elite rate.
TEXAS -1½ +120 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.40)


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Q: How to insert NULL into database if form field is empty I have a form and stored procedure that inserts the data from the form. It works fine except that if a field isn't filled in it doesn't insert a NULL into SQL it inserts "".
I've tried a few different ways but none seem to insert NULL, the one below still inserts "", can anyone point me in the right direction?
Here is the required part of the code, if you require more just let me know.
Dim rdr As SqlDataReader
            Dim cmdInsert As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()
            cmdInsert.CommandText = "spPersonalDetailsInsert"
            cmdInsert.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
            cmdInsert.Connection = connSQL

            Dim firstname, lastname, address, address1, town, county, postcode As SqlParameter
            'convert to null if ""
            Dim frmFirstName As String
            If pd_first_name.Text = "" Then
                frmFirstName = Convert.DBNull
            Else
                frmFirstName = pd_first_name.Text
            End If

            firstname = New SqlParameter()
            firstname.ParameterName = "@firstname"
            firstname.SqlDbType = SqlDbType.NVarChar
            firstname.Size = 50
            firstname.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input
            firstname.Value = frmFirstName

EDIT
I tested the following code:
If pd_first_name.Text = "" Then
            frmFirstName = DBNull.Value
        Else
            frmFirstName = pd_first_name.Text
        End If

But it still doesn't insert NULL so I tested this:
            If pd_first_name.Text = "" Then
                Response.Write("NULL")
                address1.Value = DBNull.Value
            Else
                Response.Write("NOT NULL")
                address1.Value = pd_address1.Text
            End If

So if I enter nothing into address1 field it should write NULL to screen but it always writes NOT NULL. What does an empty form field equal? in classic ASP it was always "".

A: In my case using 'Nothing' solves the problem. Use it like this
If String.IsNullOrEmpty(pd_first_name.Text) = True Then
   frmFirstName = Nothing
Else
   frmFirstName = pd_first_name.Text
End If

A: You need to use DBNull.Value
            If String.IsNullOrEmpty(pd_first_name.Text.ToString().Trim) = true Then
                frmFirstName = DBNull.Value
            Else
                frmFirstName = pd_first_name.Text
            End If

A: why you even set it if it is null?
        If pd_first_name.Text <> "" Then
          frmFirstName = pd_first_name.Text
          firstname = New SqlParameter()
          firstname.ParameterName = "@firstname"
          firstname.SqlDbType = SqlDbType.NVarChar
          firstname.Size = 50
          firstname.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input
          firstname.Value = frmFirstName
        End If

A: I think you problem is that frmFirstName is a string and a string cannot represent DBNull.
I think this will solve your problem (I've just commented out your code):
Dim rdr As SqlDataReader
            Dim cmdInsert As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()
            cmdInsert.CommandText = "spPersonalDetailsInsert"
            cmdInsert.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
            cmdInsert.Connection = connSQL

            Dim firstname, lastname, address, address1, town, county, postcode As SqlParameter
            'convert to null if ""
            Dim frmFirstName As String
            'If pd_first_name.Text = "" Then
            '    frmFirstName = Convert.DBNull
            'Else
            '    frmFirstName = pd_first_name.Text
            'End If

            firstname = New SqlParameter()
            firstname.ParameterName = "@firstname"
            firstname.SqlDbType = SqlDbType.NVarChar
            firstname.Size = 50
            firstname.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input
            If pd_first_name.Text = "" Then
                  firstname.Value = DBNull.Value
            Else
                  firstname.Value = frmFirstName
            End If

A: While creating stored procedure make those columns as null which can be null..
like
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[USP_TDS_SaveRecod]

@ID INT,

@CODE  INT,

@FIRSTNAME VARCHAR(8)=NULL,

@CITY VARCHAR(15)=NULL

AS

BEGIN

    .........................

    .........................

    .........................
END

and then in code don't add those parameters which are null..
cmd.Parameters.Add("@ID", SqlDbType.Int).Value = obj.ID;
cmd.Parameters.Add("@CODE", SqlDbType.Int).Value = obj.CODE;
if(pd_first_name.Text != "")
{
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@FIRSTNAME", SqlDbType.VarChar).Value = pd_first_name.Text;
}
if(city.Text != "")
{
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@CITY", SqlDbType.VarChar).Value = pd_first_name.Text;
}

A: Dim TempStr As String
TempStr= "spPersonalDetailsInsert"
TempStr = TempStr.Replace("''", "null")
cmdInsert.CommandText = TempStr

Now No Need to use
If pd_first_name.Text = "" Then
   Response.Write("NULL")
   address1.Value = DBNull.Value
Else
   Response.Write("NOT NULL")
   address1.Value = pd_address1.Text
End If

Hope this might be Helpful

A: If RdFree.Checked = True Then
    Dim nu As String = "NULL"
    UpdPolicys.Append(", AccIDFree = " & nu & " , AccTypeIDFree = " & nu & " ")
End If

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Tesla Crashes into a Tree, Killed 1 and Injured 2 in Woodland Hills
Los Angeles County, California (Woodland Hills, CA) – On February 12, 2022, after their Tesla collided with a tree in Woodland Hills, one woman died and two others were critically wounded.
The incident occurred at 10 p.m. along Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the 22000 block of Dumetz Road. Two of the women were stuck in the debris and had to be pulled away by firefighters from Los Angeles. When rescue workers got to the site, they discovered a third victim outside the vehicle, on the sidewalk.
Two of the victims were critically injured and were transferred to a regional trauma facility. A third person died on the spot. The victims have not been named, but officials claim they were all young.
While the investigation was going on, the road was partially blocked. There were no other details were available at the time. The cause of the incident is being investigated.


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Chad Layton and Ritter Racing crowned the 2019 URC Champions
Chad Warner photo
All Chad Layton had to do was take the green flag during his hot lap session on November 9, 2019 to secure himself, and Ritter Racing as the 2019 Capitol Renegade United Racing Club Champions. However, it was not that easy all season, as Chad would have to fend off the previous years' champion – Josh Weller who was in hot pursuit of a second championship for his team.
Consistency was key for "Bad" Chad Layton throughout his championship season and with 3 wins, 13 top 5's, and 20 top 10's among twenty-two features, the Harrisburg, PA native was able to secure his spot at the top of the standings by 72 points over Weller – earning his first URC Championship. Going into 2019, the URC championship was not something the Ritter Racing team was chasing, but "it was a race after Bedford that we decided to go to Selinsgrove instead of Delaware, so we were not going to run for points but after [Delaware] rained out everyone came around to maybe we should be doing that" said car owner Kirk Ritter. Ultimately the car owner left the decision up to his driver and it was something that "[Chad] wanted to do so we wanted to make sure we could complete that for him."
Chad started off the season with a solid 2nd place finish during the season opener at Bridgeport Speedway and backed it up with another 2nd at Selinsgrove the following week. Layton was able to grab his first win of the season at Bedford on May 10 and followed that with wins at Big Diamond on June 21st, and BAPS Motor Speedway on October 21st. Layton said that his wins this season were "all equally special" and with the competition continually growing within the United Racing Club, "it seems that wins are all hard to come by, you never know the next one is going to come so you need to cherish each one when you get them." Chad led the standings for the majority of the year, but he admits he "never set his sights" on winning the championship, "when you do that, it never works out the way you want it to" said the fourty-four year old. Things worked out in the end for the entire Ritter Racing team as they went into finale weekend with a 92 lead, locking up both the owner and driver championships.
Layton adds his name to the perpetual trophy – that is handed down from champion to champion - and which was handed off at the conclusion of the finale weekend at Bridgeport. The United Racing Club Championship trophy currently consists of thirty-four different driver's names from the start of the United Racing Club in 1947 – with Layton becoming the 35th series champion. Ritter's name will also be added as the Owner's champion amongst 32 others. Reflecting upon what it means to add his name to the trophy, Layton said, "each and every single individual on there, just like we did, had to earn their spot on there… I'm very happy to add my name to it." As an owner, Ritter says it feels "good, a lot of work was involved, and a lot of sponsors were behind the decision to follow the championship all the way through; it was a team effort as a decision to complete every race and try to make it the championship."
As far as next year goes, the plans for Ritter Racing are still up in the air. Kirk Ritter said "one of my sponsors did purchase a 410 motor so that we can run some of the 410 expected shows at Selinsgrove that they are planning to run. We obviously still have 360 engines that we plan to run wherever is available." We hope to see Chad Layton and Ritter Racing return to United Racing Club action, if their schedule permits, and welcome them with open arms as the reigning 2019 champion.
It takes a village to win a championship, and Chad Layton along with Ritter Racing had all the right people in all the right places to make it happen. Layton would like to thank his car owner, the Ritter Family, his crew, family, friends and his sponsors, as he said: "it was a group effort." Kirk Ritter would like to thank the sponsors that came on board this year, family members that were able to pitch in when he was unable, his wife, father in law, and anyone who could step in during the week to contribute to their team. The sponsors that kept the number 35 on track all year and contributed to his championship winning season include: Selinsgrove Ford, Solutions Aqua, Bud Godek Auto Body, Allen Shaffer Jr & Son Insurance, Trades, Bodmer Family Footcare, Horstcraft Millworks, Maxim Racing, DMY Performance, Slade Shock Technology, AL Driveline and Dave Snook Performance.
On behalf of the Capitol Renegade United Racing Club, Congratulations to Chad Layton, Kirk Ritter and the entire Ritter Racing team on your 2019 Championship! Josh Weller, Curt Michael, Austin Bishop, and Ryan Quackenbush rounded out the top 5 in driver's points this season.
The United Racing Club will hold their end of year banquet celebrating Layton, Ritter, and the rest of the drivers, crews, and officials on December 7, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Breinigsville, PA. Tickets are $40 and must be paid in advance to Kim Weller. Rooms are available at the hotel for URC guests with a special rate by mentioning "URC Rate".
Posted by Bill McIntyre at Thursday, November 14, 2019


A few blog posts ago I talked about updating my food photography portfolio with some more recent pieces. If you are interested, have a read and take a look at the photographs here. Since this was on spec for a client pitch, it's sometimes hard to know exactly what a potential client is looking for. Even more difficult is satisfying their expectations while keeping expenses in line. I had a brief and I executed as best I could. Turns out, even though the photographs were well received, I missed the mark in securing the business. The client really wanted to see a more modern approach to the styling and what I had submitted reflected too much of the "antique, crafty" look. To keep out-of-pocket costs down, I used what I had here around the house (and for those of you that know Dana and I, we're more "country-chic" around our place than the trendy modern approach that's hot right now).
And that's ok. You aren't going to be able to work with everyone.
But I thought I could do better. I gave it one more kick at the can. With Dana's keen eye, we went and sourced some new props and went to town with a modern, clean, approach to the photographs. A big thanks to Dana for her help getting the styling just right.


Real immigration reform puts the needs of working people first—not wealthy globetrotting donors. We are the only country in the world whose immigration system puts the needs of other nations ahead of our own. That must change.
What's behind Trump's sudden rise to Public Enemy No. 1 of the Establishment?


text:
610-890-4093 rosalindhayes@downingtownpamusicacademy.com
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Emily M. Borus
Emily M. Borus, a native of metro Detroit, Michigan, has been teaching clarinet, saxophone, and flute since 1996. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan and a Post-Bachelor Certification for K-12 Instrumental Music Education from Wayne State University. Her private instructors include Douglas Cornelsen and Theodore Oien from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Claire Eichhorn from da Camera of Washington, D.C. In addition to teaching private lessons, Mrs. Borus has been serving professionally as a band director and arts administrator. She held positions in Michigan directing bands at St. Lawrence Catholic School and at Rochester High School. Her professional positions as an arts administrator include working for the Nashville Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony and Spoleto Festival USA. Besides teaching at Downingtown Music Academy, Mrs. Borus serves as the woodwind instructor for the Rochester Conservatory of Music and Evola Music Lessons Studios.
Emily Borus is also a performing musician, serving as the Principal Clarinetist for the Royal Oak Concert Band, an Alto Saxophonist for the Woodward Avenue Jazz Orchestra and is the clarinetist for the woodwind quintet Classic Winds. Mrs. Borus' teaching style is based on understanding each students' individual needs, interests and learning style. Her curriculum includes a strong foundation in fundamentals, coupled with ample time to explore chamber music and music that is favored by the student. Every genre from classical to pop to cultural music from around the world is part of learning process. Mrs. Borus is excellent at helping her students understand musicianship, style, and technique and all her students play with a maturity beyond their years and experience.
Mrs. Borus strives in her lessons to share her love of music and instill an enjoyment of playing a musical instrument. Her goal for each student is to find a passion and joy for instrumental music that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Taking Lessons in the Summer: 5 Reasons why it's important to keep up your music skills after school lets out
Summer hits and schedules get crazy. It can be tempting to take a break from music lessons for the summer, after all-school's out, right? While it may seem like this makes sense, let's talk about the benefits of sticking with lessons throughout the summer and how...
Masters Class – Diane Matthews from Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts
Learn what you need to know to excel in broadway musical dance auditions. Date And Time Sun, May 16, 2021 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT Do you want to better understand what dance moves you will need for community theater and school musical auditions? Join Doraymi and Diane...
When to modify vowels when singing
Do you want to learn how to modify your vowels for singing? Today I'm going to be teaching you four tips on how to modify your vowels to successfully sing higher and lower notes, for pop and classical singing, and to fix different problems with your singing voice....
Masters Class – Cherisse and Cherissia Williams
Do you want to learn what it takes to perform and get feedback from people who have done it? Join us for our first monthly zoom masters class on April 18 at 12pm. Our guest speakers will be Cherisse and Cherissia Williams-who have performed with opera houses around...
Preparing a song
Many students struggle with the application of their skills after doing warmups or learning notes. Here are some ways you can apply your new skills to learn that killer vocal or piano repertoire: Flash cards: choose notes from the song to make flash cards with. This...
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Senator McCain spoke on the floor and echoed what we all know, politicians on both sides of the aisle are primarily interested in their own winning. This is not new. When I was in high school I wrote my first letter to the NY Times. It was a snarky response to Congress voting itself a pay raise. I also worked on the Hill when I was in college. There was less money in politics then and the media was not as focused on ratings and appealing to a certain base. Nonetheless, the business of Congress remained to get elected.
I admire the Senate Majority Leader's ability to try to turn an extremely bad hand (most of it of his own making) into something that has an outside chance of passage. It will slightly please the President, whose sole focus seems to be about winning, or at least the appearance of winning, regardless of substance. For those in the House who he, like Obama, threw under the bus for their healthcare plans, it may salvage their need to be the party in Opposition, despite being the Governing Party. It is a nice trick, but it is beyond cynicism.
There are real healthcare issues that Americans face. Obamacare has not existed for years as the Republican Congress stripped a lot of the requisite funding from it, causing a number of insurers to fail (and later sue and win). This will continue on a regulatory basis in the cynical hope that there will be enough pain that the majority in Congress will be overlooked for failing to have a workable plan after 7+ years of griping. The Democrats for their part, while not invited to the dance, have sat on their hands and not established and promoted a plan to actually fix "Obamacare". They too are playing for winning in 2018, regardless of the impact on their constituents. It is easy to be the Opposition party.
Congress and the President have very low public approval ratings except in their narrow gerrymandered districts. Americans across the spectrum of political interests would probably come together to support a law that would strip House Representatives and Senators (but not their staffs) of Federal health insurance that they receive. As they will likely move on to cut "entitlements", they should also have their current pensions frozen and then prospectively terminated. Although there are many in Congress who are independently wealthy or whose spouses work in the government, lobby organizations or local business that offer employer group insurance, a message needs to be delivered that they are in the same shoes as their constituents when they change or take away benefits. This is not to discourage reform-but regulatory and fiscal. It is to rationalize it, and to make it less about winning.
In the meantime, I will have to go look for my high school letter to the NY Times. As Yogi Berra would say, it's Deja Vu all over again.
Two events of my life linger with me. One is 9/11 and the other is the financial crisis of 2008. For the first I watched a plane bank over New York harbor and followed it all the way into Tower II. For the second I watched on TV, while I was on business in Zurich, Congress deciding whether to approve TARP. On the one hand I knew U.S. taxpayers were saving scoundrels. On the other hand I knew it had to be passed otherwise the world economy would plunge into a depression. Like many Americans I swallowed hard and hoped Congress would do what was necessary.
Earlier that Fall I had attended an annual M&A Conference at a major NYC law firm. It draws major players in the insurance industry and on that day many had returned from a meeting with the government about providing the initial bailout of AIG. They were given a loan with interest that had too many points above Libor. The Libor rate was spiking as there was no trust left in the markets. I ran across the head of the law firm's insurance section and he smirked when I asked them whether the intent was to drive AIG into bankruptcy. Unlike the banks, there was no moral hazard involved in loaning to the AIG holding company, although Warren Buffett did provide support to Swiss Re (which also dabbled in the same markets as AIG) and Munich Re. Subsequently, Hank Greenberg, the dethroned fabled head of AIG, sued the Federal government, ostensibly because the government was using AIG to help fund other bailouts. Many of the bailouts were of foreign banks (who did not take a haircut). There was some truth to Greenberg's belief, particularly after Lehman, whose bankruptcy the author believes was a defining moment in the crisis and a major error on the part of the Fed and Treasury.
I have not read any other books about the 2008 financial crisis besides Alan Blinder's "After the Music Stopped". I have no point of comparison. The book provides a good survey of the crisis for laymen, particularly offering a basic understanding of monetary policy. I commend that you read "The Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World" as a companion read. It discusses the role of Central Bankers in the period leading up to the Great Depression. It is a cautionary tale for today, particularly because Fed Chairperson Yellen has not ruled out negative interest rates by the Fed (deflation was a concern during the job-loss recovery after the 2001 recession). Reading "The Lords of Finance" makes me wonder whether Chairman Bernanke was truly a student of the Great Depression, or if he chose to look away, as the Fed doled out funds without strings attached to major money center banks.
The best parts of the book are in the lead up to the bailouts, rather than the aftermath of remedies. The author does not name one perpetrator of the crisis or of the slow recovery. There are many.
The house of cards began in the 1990s and continued through 2007. It was based on "asset-price bubbles, exaggerated by irresponsible leverage, encouraged by crazy compensation schemes and excessive complexity, and aided and abetted by embarrassingly bad underwriting standards, dismissal performance by statistical rating agencies and lax financial regulation." The author was Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 1994-96 and a member of President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors.
The reason for financial crisis are generally the same: too much leverage (without requisite collateral/capital); insufficient transparency; and not enough time to combat irrational contagion (insufficient circuit breakers). At the meeting I attended at that law firm, the concern of all the players was that they all had too many conflicts of interest. They were afraid of being sued. These fears were necessarily ignored, as was the law, as rationales were spun from air. The Fed first expanded its reach using Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act to make emergency loans to "any individual, partnership or corporation" under "unusual and exigent circumstances". It went beyond this to buy from J.P. Morgan a portfolio of mortgage assets that the bank felt was too risky to hold for its shareholders. Then came shareholding of AIG, through Fed and Treasury action. Then the use of the Exchange Stabilization Fund (meant for stabilizing the U.S. dollar in the currency markets) to support money market funds after the "buck had been broken". This was critical because losses at money market funds was causing a crisis in commercial paper (short-term borrowing by corporations to meet cash flow needs). A collapse of the commercial paper market would transfer the crisis Wall Street to Main Street, as did the near collapse of GM. Crises demand action. Players "expanding" the law know there is more personal safety through collective action. Means and results are necessarily ugly in a crisis.
Government remedies were often callous; protecting the balance sheets of the debtor financial institutions and the ultimate returns of the U.S. government, rather than those homeowners subject to foreclosure proceedings. There were no "haircuts" (principal reductions) on the mortgages. Any discount was marginalized. Reduced interest payments were delayed, but with recoupment through balloons in the end. Courts were not aggressive in holding the banks accountable for their transgressions. Regulators ultimately penalized these institutions through fines, but most of these went into state coffers, rather than to homeowners. Shareholders of these institutions (and some insurers) bore the cost of these fines, not the executives who walked away with often walked away with large bonuses, even though they bore paper losses on stock options.
The book is replete with interesting historical facts and statistics. From 1991 to the 1st quarter of 2007 losses on mortgages were flat (mostly a .25 loss rate save for 2001 when it rose to .5). Between 2007-09 it spiked to about 2.75%. Mortgage backed securities were often modeled on 3 years of default data which was insufficient (subprime mortgages grew from 7% of all mortgages in 2001 to 20% by 2005, and only 20% of these were issued by regularly supervised financial institutions). Such models failed to account for catastrophic spikes (so-called fat tails). But even these default spikes should not have led to catastrophic cascading panic without excessive leverage in the markets. Derivatives (particularly CDS, most of which were naked and not hedges) contributed to this. Banks were under-capitalized as well (even today, if banks had to hold capital equivalent the percentage of collateral often asked of consumers of home mortgages they would not survive).
While I believe that for better or worse, those who worked to try to right the ship under extraordinary pressures and time constraints are all heroes in terms of personal sacrifice, there is only one regulator that stands out as being close to a hero in actual terms. This was the head of the FDIC, Sheila Bard. She tried to put teeth into loans and was generally rebuffed or ignored by the Fed Chair, the Secretary of the Treasury, and other boys in the club. There was plenty of subterfuge to go around. Secretary Paulson pulled a bait and switch on Congress, who believed TARP was to be used to inject capital into the banks and to help distressed homeowners. There was no such language in the 451 page Bill that created Tarp. In lieu of such capital language the Bill Congress passed allowed the Treasury Secretary, after consultation with the Chairman of the Fed, to purchase "any other financial instrument that the Secretary… determines the purchase of which is necessary to promote financial market stability." Capital was injected into the banks without strings attached and they did not loan nor modify principal on toxic assets (syndication of these assets made it more difficult to do). All real estate is cyclical, so Congress directly purchasing these toxic assets at their low might have been a better investment for taxpayers and provide more relief to homeowners rather than as TARP funds were employed. Nonetheless, TARP itself was an illusion. Although $700 billion was authorized, the most ever disbursed was $430 billion, and at any one time no more than $360 billion was outstanding. Treasury and the Fed also did the same with the TALF program, which had a limit of $1 trillion, but only used $70 billion. A bit of smoke and mirrors to alter perception and create confidence. Unfortunately, foreclosure mitigation never saw much money at all. In the end the TARP $700 billion did not cost the U.S. taxpayers money, although this is not likely heard in political circles (it was authorized to be 4.7% of GDP, but never lent out more than 3%, and returned all principal with interest). Was it misdirected- little doubt.
The book delves into the first Quantitative Easing program by the Fed, Dodd-Frank and the Volcker Rule, stress testing of the banks, SIFIs, the various weak government foreclosure "mitigation" programs, and the Euro problem.
What is more telling for the near future are CBO's US debt projections in October 2000 which shows the impact through 2070. It then showed the US going into deficit depending on whether the surplus at the time was saved in whole, in part, or not at all. This is the entitlement debate. It is a story about bad stewardship of government funds causing the depth of future deficits owing to demographic changes. Equally, interesting is that the Feds independence was political cover for Congress during the crisis. Congress was too slow to act and lacked the will. The Fed's borrowing did not technically add to the government's deficit, because banks technically own the shares in the Fed. Despite all the posturing those in Congress who wish for control over the Fed, should read this book and be careful what they wish for. Accounting is a form of alchemy.
All that truly happened during and after the crisis might be for historians to uncover, if any paper trails are left to be found. This book is an informative read and an interesting survey of the period, even if you lived through it.
I have been doing some volunteer legal work with some local bar associations helping out on insurance questions for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. I recently attended an information session about FEMA and insurance that was offered by one of these Bar Associations (I may be taking a leadership role re insurance for one of them). While my legal practice involves insurance it generally is not at the ground level homeowners disaster level. I understand insurance and construction, flood vs. wind and time element issues. These often entail considerable time to resolve. What I do not understand is how poor the information collection, dissemination and payment processes are for natural and man-made (terrorism) disasters. There is the US government's DHS' portal disasterassistance.gov which provides some assistance. It is however hugely incomplete, which makes the whole process needlessly time consuming and counter-productive.
FEMA is a payer of last resort; but the homeowner files first with it, and separately with their insurer if they have one. If they have flood coverage that would file that with either FEMA or their insurer, depending on how it was purchased (why flood and wind are handled separately is another travesty I will leave to another time). If the claimant might receive a grant or want a loan, they will file with the SBA or any State or local agency that is offering such. D-SNAP food benefits would essentially be automatic for those who were already in the SNAP program through the USDA and local administration. A separate filing would otherwise need to be made.
For the New York region, storms on the level of Sandy are infrequent. I can accept that there might not be the level of coordination that exists along the Gulf or Florida, or California for earthquakes. In fact, there is no universal reporting form and system for natural or man-made disasters that would independent of the claimant link to all affected government agencies, insurers and NGOs and in real time permit transparent multi-organizational management of the claim by other agencies, insurers and NGOs. If there were, the process could be faster, as the claimant would only need to file once; the agencies, insurers, NGOs would see what each other have decided to do in real time, and could make a unified decision about relief and award. This would reduce fraud and avert subsequent recoupment and reconsiderations. This is basic project management for those in the business community. It may be more complicated given different IT systems, but I have yet to find that this is even on any organization's radar. I looked at FEMA's plans through 2014, and while they intend to expand their community outreach (which is good), no universal disaster reporting and payment portal is planned.It is as if we were still in the 19th Century.
I suppose I am naive and I should just accept the rationale that disaster relief takes time. The bureaucracies may prefer it this way. I am not that accepting however and intend to see what can be done to modernize this process.
Google- To Big To Fail?
There is a terrific article in the Business Section of the May 23, 2012 edition of the NY Times. It is entitled "Protecting Its Own Privacy" and is by David Streitfeld and Kevin J. O'Brien. It is about Google captures and retains through Street View-aka Google Maps. Those cars with photographic equipment on them that traverse the country are not just taking pictures. They are also capturing "payload". As the authors put it, "snippets of e-mails, photographs, passwords, chat messages, posting on Web sites and social networks-all sorts of private Internet communications-…" I paused when I read this and then went back. Did it say "passwords".
Yep, presumably if your wireless Wi-Fi network is not password protected Google will save any data transmitted across your network for as long as the car's connection is maintained. Google says this is for about 1/5 of a second which could mean 250 kilobytes or roughly 25 emails for each time it accesses the network.
Google did not voluntarily tell anyone this and in fact tried to hide what it knew to be true from the FCC (got a 25K fine) and European regulators, who brought this to light a few years ago and are now raising antitrust concerns about Google in general. As most mega companies have learned (financial institutions have limited exemptions), antitrust is really a political action and if you take on the government you ultimately lose, be it in law, business and/or public image. The latter is starting to cost Google dearly. There is a class action pending in the Northern District of California regarding Street View, but the real issue will be the fallout from being just another big company.
I am reminded that all that you learned, you learned in kindergarten. Google has done some great things. Do you want to kill the Goose that laid the golden egg? If you don't and the egg hatches and it is an ugly duckling or even a black swan, then what? Goldilocks found one bed too big, the other too small and the third just right. With privacy and the wired and wireless world, nothing will be just right. Getting to just about right will be enough. The technology that Google used to obtain payload is available to others. What if they can access payload even if the Wi Fi network is password protected. What if access is not short term and serendipity. Some self-help through blocking, opt out, and other methods have mitigated somewhat similar risks. From a privacy standpoint this is just an extension of legal cases involving cookies, spiders and other unauthorized access, with the twist that this is a theft or trespass without even indirect "acquiescence" through usage, by the victim. A similar concern was raised about Google photographing through satellites when Street View was initiated. Technology is invasive. There are some laws that may offer limited protection but all agree that laws are behind the technology. What are the damages from a loss of privacy if there is no present physical damage to a system or data, or if the victim cannot establish any knowable personal or financial loss? Its not an insurable loss at present. What if someone hacks Google and obtains the passwords that have been taken and can triangulate them to the persons to whom they belong? Can Google or the government successfully trace, prosecute and collect from those injured the victim or stolen their identity? Would there be a cost/benefit in doing so absent a legal mandate, and if the latter, will it kill the goose ? Is the damage for the loss of privacy your entire net worth and those whose privacy have also been compromised. Will we need to restore the use of typewriters and handwritten notes for anything that is personal and private? Is Google cracking open Pandora's Box? Are we all, or about to become Prisoners?
banking, business, China, currency, economy, Euro, financial crisis, foreclosures, Jane Fonda, mass marketing, pareto principle, politics, reinsurance, Rollover, U.S.
In 1981 Jane Fonda, Kris Kristofferson and Hugh Cromyn were in a so-called financial thriller about the collapse of the world monetary system due to Arab oil monetary fears and self-preservation. Apart from the fact that I was younger and Jane Fonda was in it, the movie's theme has haunted me for years. Looking on the web there are a few others like me, and if you do a search there is an interesting juxtaposition on youtube between the movie and the U.S. recent financial crisis. I don't subscribe to the economic/political views of the producer's of that video, although there is truth in everything. My prior post on contagion clauses reflects my view that in any crisis the most important element is time.
This brings me to the so-called pareto principle of 80/20; that which is important and worthy of attention is in the 20% cohort. In fact, the 20% group may be too large, as which is catastrophic, is often 1% or less, is most important, and is remote (or at least unpredictable). Life intervenes before the catastrophe, so other choices are made in lieu of catastrophic planning. When the catastrophe comes, there is little time to react; obligations in place often accelerate the catastrophe; those who have knowledge of the subject and are most capable of responding often have conflicts in doing so; rules must be broken; and the solution is generally to bide for time, by rolling things over long enough until normalcy returns.
I read in the papers each day about the financial crisis. In Europe apart from it being a political-fiscal crisis which needs time to resolve, sovereigns and the capital markets are in a dance of debt with no one who wants to cut in. Sovereign debt is Tier I capital for banks under Basel regardless of quality. There is no legal cap on country borrowing (although there is an economic cap), so the dance can continue.
In the U.S. the foreclosure problem is also a dance between the government (including Fannie/Freddie) and the banks and the secondary markets. They hope to run this out as long as possible to permit the capital base of the banks to improve and so continue the no effective interest borrowing from the Fed without corresponding macro usage of the funds (this would be Cat planning if they were not rewarding their internal and external stakeholders, even on a deferred basis). While there is some haircut due to unpaid interest, more often the obligations are being deferred through a balloon payment. In a low interest, volatile investment market the opportunity cost is relatively low, compared to a true haircut by the banks. When the interest rate/investment climate changes there will be a lot more foreclosures. The government is pushing State Attorney Generals to come on board, at the same time that the Obama administration's low hanging fruit proposals don't stand a chance in Congress. Look for 2013.
A number of years ago I spoke on a panel at a Reinsurance conference, where my topic was emerging issues in reinsurance. Reinsurance is insurance of insurance companies, and is one of the ways insurance companies finance themselves and protect their balance sheets. It impacts the premiums you pay. The issue I wanted to bring up was currency. In part because currency is hedged outside of reinsurance and in part because these were mostly property & casualty insurers, they did not understand why I wanted to talk about this. Since then the Euro crisis ensued, which has aggregated interest in the U.S. dollar in the short term. My talk was more long term, particularly for long tail risks. Given that China may become the dominant economic country, and that the Yuan could be the world's currency in the future, long term commitments in dollars needed to be qualified. To get there there is likely to be a basket of currencies as in Singapore.
China's domestic market will grow, making it the more dominant consumer economy on a mass marketing basis- contrary to the pareto principle. As such, U.S. wages and its standard of living will decline, as the benefit of globalization is macro rather than micro. In order for China to sustain this they need to continue to follow their labor, rather than capital oriented economic policy unless that choose a more totalitarian political policy based on economic disparity. As U.S. companies have belatedly learned, every country supports their own and they will not share as much in China's rise, unless they have know-how to share. Accordingly, the US will not be able to rollover debt to China.
The rollover period continues, but it is coming to an end.
NFIP has been temporarily extended to May 31, 2012. The House and Senate have different views about a longer term extension, which will need to be reconciled. Both Chambers know this needs to get done, but whether they will march two by two to do it remains to be seen. Some basic information about the NFIP, follows some of the general differences in approach of each Chamber, or its leadership, at the end of 2011.
Mandatory Escrow/Penalties: Require both Federal and State chartered banks to escrow for properties in mandatory purchase areas and would increase lender penalties from $350 to $500 per violation, without aggregate cap.
Mandatory Purchase Area: Will include residual risk areas.
Multifamily Residential Coverage: Multifamily (4 or more) residential properties would be permitted to purchase flood insurance.
RESPA/500 Year Flood Plain Notice: Mortgagees would need to provide RESPA notice of the availability of flood insurance even i if if the property was not in a special flood hazard area. Notice must be given to mortgagor/lessee within a 500 Year Flood Plain. Coverage is not mandatory within the 500 Year Flood Plain area.
Subsidized Property Rate Increase Phase-In: 4 year phase-in of actuarial rates for some subsidized properties (i.e., second homes; business property; SRL property).
Annual Premium Increase Limit: Annual premium increase limit raised from 10% to 15%. Premium adjustment 4 year phase-in (40% 1st year; 20% each of 2nd-4th years for remapped properties).
Minimum Deductibles: Minimum Deductibles for subsidized properties ($1500- $100,000 or less insured; $2000 > $100,000 insured) and non-subsidized properties ($1000- $100,000 or less; $1250- >$100,000).
Catastrophe Reserves: 1% of total exposure on outstanding policies, 7.5% of which FEMA must place into a fund until the 1% ratio is fully funded.
Condomimum Owner Coverage: Condo owner claims are fully covered even if condo association is underinsured.
Local Government Deferral of Mandatory Coverage: Local government in a) areas where there was no prior flood hazard (i.e., those areas remapped); b) in areas where flood controls are being improved; and c) and those who have filed a Section 1363 appeal, could delay for a period of 12-36 months, mandatory flood insurance on property for which there is a completely new mortgage origination after the effective date of the law. This would not be applicable to CEMAs and lenders could still require it on existing or new mortgage on improved real estate/mobile home. No refund of premiums would be required on subject properties.
Forced Placed Insurance: Refund of forced placed insurance premiums and related fees for any overlap period, within 30 days of confirmation of mortgagor's State permitted private flood insurance. Confirmation could be the policy Declarations page and would need to have contact information about the placing producer.
Minimum Deductibles: $2000 for subsidized properties; $1000 non-subsidized properties.
Multifamily Residential Coverage: Available for 4 or more family residential building up to $250,000 per insured.
Contents Limit for Business Property: $500,000 limit for building owner contents and separate $500,000 limit for each tenant.
Coverage Limits are Indexed: Retroactive for some limits from September 30, 1994 until the date of enactment of the law.
Optional Extra Expense and Business Interruption Coverage: Rate must be self-sustaining for this additional $5000 of coverage as NFIP cannot borrow from the Treasury to sustain it.
Quarterly Installment Premium Option: Available for residential property subject to limitations prescribed by FEMA to limit moral hazard.
Write Your Own Program (WYO)- program where private insurers write and service flood insurance program for a fee and NFIP insures. About 85% of NFIP policies are written this way. FEMA estimates that about 30% of premium is for underwriting and claim expense, split mostly for agent commission and general administrative expenses, but increasingly for claim adjustment expense. About 98% of the 30% is attributable to WYO policies.
NFIP Debt: FEMA is about $18 billion in debt to the US Treasury principally from 2004/5 (Katrina; Rita) and can borrow an additional $3 billion. About $800 million in interest is annually due the Treasury.
Subsidized Rates: Estimated that about $1.5 billion in premium is lost because of grandfathering of subsidized properties (i.e., those built before flood maps). Total flood premium collected is $3 billion. About 22% of 5.6 million policies are for subsidized properties. Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program mitigates some of this premium loss for properties sustaining multiple flood losses.
Mandatory Purchase: Estimated that only about 50% of properties subject to mandatory purchase (i.e., within 100 year flood plain, and federally regulated mortgages) actually do.
Residual Risk Areas: RRA are properties outside the 100 year flood plain or that are protected by flood control structures (i.e., near dam/levee or downstream of it). RRA are not required to purchase flood insurance. Estimated that 30% of NFIP are RRAs and account for 20% of NFIP losses. Current mapping may not account for structural issues with flood control. Remapping will continue.
Rating: FEMA rates are based upon estimated aggregate claims in an average historical year, rather than actuarially determined rates factoring in catastrophes.


The Center for Women Policy Studies has released a report aiming to promote equal access to services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, irrespective of ability level. The report, Women, Disability and Violence: Strategies to Increase Physical and Programmatic Access to Victims' Services for Women with Disabilities, explains that victimized women with disabilities are less likely to seek services in abuse shelters and programs than are women without disabilities. In the United States, approximately 15 percent of women have at least one disability. Women with disabilities identify violence and abuse as the most prevalent issue they face, according to this report.
The report identifies several failures in inter-agency collaboration between disability service providers and domestic violence service providers, including that initially domestic abuse service providers expressed an occasional frustration with the communication with women with disabilities which sometimes made it more challenging to provide services. On the other hand, "some disability service providers misunderstood the complex dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, and the needs of victims/survivors, resulting in a tendency to dismiss domestic violence issues and victims as not requiring serious attention." In some cases, the inter-agency approach failed to be effective due to a lack of execution of the agreed upon plan for collaboration.
To remedy these problems, the analysis suggests several practices to increase cross-disciplinary inter-agency collaboration. Most specifically, it encourages clear communication and defined parameters of expectations, especially with regards to policies, protocols, procedures, and budgets. In doing so, the report hopes agencies will consolidate a more centralized pool of information and resources and provide more accommodating environments for victims with disabilities.
Compiled from: Women's United Nations Report Network, Center for Women Policy Studies, (15 April 2011).
Please visit our page on Violence against Women with Disabilities.


Your puppy arrived in good health. You feed it properly,have it vaccinated, wormed and treated for parasites according to plan: fine… …but you will probably want to lavish extra care and attention over and above these basic necessities.As you are now responsible for the day to day health and well being of your new charge, you can show all your love, in various little ways of daily care and comfort.
●If you have a long or medium- haired dog, daily brushing is required (e.g. Yorkshire Terrier,Collie or Golden Retriever), twice weekly brushing for woolly or tough fur (e.g. poodle or fox terrier), and once a month for short-haired dogs (e.g.dachshund or boxer). Talk to your dog during grooming, and finish up with a reward.
● If your dog spends more time walking on carpet than on hard floors, teach it to give you its paw to have its claws cut. Your vet can advise you as to the right tool, and how far to go!
in warm water. Gently wipe the mucus, in a downward direction, away from the eye. In case of blood-shot eyes or persistent watering, consult your vet without delay.
● Generally speaking, you need warm water and a mild pet shampoo. First wash and rinse your dog thoroughly,then dry your dog completely (towels and hair dryer). Some dogs do not need washing more than once a year.
● Tartar, a build up of mineral salts contained in the saliva,all too quickly forms dental plaque on the teeth, especially in certain small breeds.Use a soft tooth-brush or special finger-brush with a dog's toothpaste to clean the teeth. No joke! It's the one way to ensure healthy adult teeth that will last, with sweeter breath and better overall health into the bargain.
When tartar is allowed to build up teeth are at risk of decaying and gum disease can cause them to come loose too. De-scaling by ultrasound under anaesthetic is the best solution, a procedure carried out by veterinary surgeons.
● So long as your dog's ears are clean and odourless, leave them well alone. Some dogs have too many hairs in their ears, and gentle removal is required (this may be done by your dog's groomer, your vet, or yourself: they can show you how).
Sometimes puppies can have black or dark brown earwax, causing them to shake and scratch their head. Your vet may supply a special ear cleaner to help remove this.


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A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.
Director: Michael Hoffman
Stars: James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey
Writers: J. Mills Goodloe, Will Fetters
Michelle Monaghan - Amanda
James Marsden - Dawson
Luke Bracey - Younger Dawson
Liana Liberato - Young Amanda
Gerald McRaney - Tuck
Caroline Goodall - Evelyn
Clarke Peters - Morgan Dupree
Sebastian Arcelus - Frank
Jon Tenney - Harvey Collier
Sean Bridgers - Tommy Cole
Rob Mello - Ted Cole (as Robert William Mello)
Hunter Burke - Abee
Robby Rasmussen - Bobby / Aaron
Caroline Hebert - Young April
Ian Nelson - Jared
Official Website: Official Blog | Official Facebook |
Filming Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Opening Weekend: $10,003,827 (USA) (17 October 2014)
Gross: $10,681,140 (USA) (20 October 2014)
Paul Walker was cast in the lead role but after he passed away, the role was given to James Marsden. See more »
Following an explosion on his oil rig, Dawson (James Marsden) has a glimpse of the girl he loved from his teenage years. Elsewhere, Amanda (Michelle Monaghan) is home with her alcoholic husband and teenage son, wondering what went wrong in her life and thinking of her first true love. When the news that their old friend Tuck (Gerald McRaney) has passed away, Dawson and Amanda are reunited and assigned to spread Tuck's ashes. As well as confront the ghosts of their past from their youth.
The film is an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name. While I personally wasn't a huge fan of the novel, I found the film to be much better. The love story and history of the two lead characters and fleshed out more, as was the character of Tuck. While it did feature some major differences in the last act, it worked well. That aside, as a film, it is a very sweet love story (not as great as some of Sparks' prior films however). As we watch the story unfold between Amanda and Dawson as adults, we are given flashbacks to them as teenagers (played by Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato), which leads to where they find themselves today. Bracey and Liberato provide great performances as the younger Dawson and Amanda, they're great on their own, and have great chemistry to where we really buy them as couple. Bracey plays Younger Dawson with charm and innocence. Liberato shines as Younger Amanda. We initially see her as this pretty and bubbly girl, but she has an edge to her that Liberato shows off flawlessly. James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan play the older versions of the two characters. While the chemistry isn't nearly as concrete as the younger versions, we do get a decent feel of a relationship between the two. On their own, Monaghan gives the better performance of the two as a woman torn between the life of her past and the life she currently has. Marsden's performance, while not terrible, is hardly note-worthy. He definitely could have given more heart into the role as opposed to charm. One of the most note-worthy performances of the film however is Gerald McRaney as Tuck from the couple's younger years. We first see him as a hard-ass old man, but he grows to show his heart when these two teens come into his life. McRaney provides the most humor and heart in the story and easily becomes the most likable character in the movie. Like most Nicholas Sparks movies, it will only appeal to certain crowds. It has its really cheesy moments, but deep down there is a lot to its core, apart from dealing with love, it deals with life in general and where it takes us and where we can go from there.
The Best of Me features decent to solid performances with heart-felt and tear-jerking moments. However in the long run it doesn't set itself too far apart from the Nicholas Sparks formula.
My Rating: 8/10


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Meet Today's Prophets and Apostles
Leader Biographies
Special Witnesses of Christ
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles
Find Apostles on Social Media
PDF of General Authorities Chart
What Are Prophets and Apostles?
Elder Christofferson speaks with precision and clarity, and believes in the power of prayer.
As a teenager living in Somerset, New Jersey, Todd Christofferson participated in the cast of the Hill Cumorah Pageant near Palmyra, New York, for two summers. During the production his first year, he remembered his former bishop had encouraged the youth to never give up striving with the Lord until they had "burned into [their] hearts a testimony of the gospel."
Todd had taken the words of his priesthood leader seriously and had prayed about his testimony. But there in Palmyra, the cradle of the Restoration, he determined this was the time and place he was going to get a confirmation.
"One night after the performance, I went to the Sacred Grove alone," he remembers. "It was a beautiful summer evening. I entered the grove, and began to pray. I prayed very diligently for an hour, maybe more—and nothing happened."
As a boy, Todd was eager to help wherever he saw a need.
After some time, he gave up and left. Disappointment consumed him. Why hadn't Heavenly Father answered his prayer?
In what seemed like no time at all, the pageant ended, and Todd returned home.
A month later, as he was reading the Book of Mormon, he received his answer.
"Without my asking for it, the witness came," he recalls. "It came without words, actually stronger than words, and I received a very powerful spiritual confirmation—the kind that leaves no doubt—about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.
"Looking back on that experience, I realize that we can't dictate to God when, where, or how He will speak to us. We just have to be open to receive what He disposes, when He disposes it. It comes according to His will, and it can come to us wherever we are."
Young Todd Christofferson sits with his parents and brother. His parents remember him as an obedient and happy child.
Putting Others First
Todd's parents, Paul Vickery and Jeanne Swenson Christofferson, remember him as an obedient, happy son. They also recall that he was eager to help wherever he saw a need. When Todd was 13 years old, his mother underwent significant surgery as part of cancer treatment. Elder Christofferson's father, who was with her at the hospital, learned that Todd had gathered his brothers to pray for their mother.
The surgery was successful, but it limited Sister Christofferson's ability to complete some routine household tasks. Todd knew how much his mother loved homemade bread—and how difficult it would be for her to continue to make it. He asked his grandmother to teach him how to bake bread, and he made it regularly for his family until he left for college several years later.
Elder Christofferson and his companion, Elder Robert Cook, pause for a photo with a new member of the Church in the Villa Maria Branch in Cordoba, Argentina, in 1966.
When Todd was about 15 years old, his father took a new job in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the time of the family's move, Lindon, Utah (where they had been living), had very few people, so the transition to the more populated setting of New Jersey was a dramatic shift for the entire Christofferson family. Still, the next several years—full of new places, people, and opportunities—would be some of the most formative of Todd's life.
After graduating from high school, Elder Christofferson attended Brigham Young University for a year and then left in September 1964 to serve in the Argentina North Mission. His love for the people and cultures of Latin America has remained a significant part of his life.
Elder Christofferson married Kathy Jacob on May 28, 1968. The couple met at BYU.
During his mission, Elder Christofferson learned from "two exceptional mission presidents," President Ronald V. Stone and President Richard G. Scott, who eventually became a fellow member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
"[Elder Christofferson was] an exceptionally outstanding missionary whose devotion and capacities were evidence that he would have a life of unusual significance," said Elder Scott.
Elder Scott also recalled a particular incident when he saw Elder Christofferson have a bicycle accident in which he damaged his suit and slightly injured his hands. But he was undaunted. Elder Scott says, "He brushed himself off, climbed onto the bicycle, and headed off for an appointment with his companion."
Marriage and Career
After returning from Argentina in December 1966, Elder Christofferson again enrolled at BYU, where he met Kathy Jacob. As they dated, their love grew and matured and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 28, 1968.
Both Elder and Sister Christofferson graduated from BYU in 1969. Elder Christofferson continued on, pursuing a law degree at Duke University. When he completed his schooling in 1972, he was hired as a law clerk to federal judge John J. Sirica, who would soon preside at the Watergate trials and proceedings well-known in U.S. history.
Elder Christofferson had planned to clerk for one year and then work for a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm, from which he had received an employment offer. Elder Ralph W. Hardy, now an Area Seventy, has spent his career as a member of that firm and remembers that in those difficult Watergate days, Judge Sirica called the firm's managing partner and said, "I can't let Todd go. He is too valuable. He is the only person I can talk to." As a result, Todd assisted Judge Sirica throughout the Watergate proceedings.
Following his clerkship, Elder Christofferson fulfilled an active duty requirement with the U.S. Army, followed by eight years in the inactive reserves. He completed his military commitment as a reserve Army captain.
Learning about history by role-playing was part of having fun together as a family for the Christoffersons.
Over the next 20 years Elder Christofferson had a distinguished legal career. At the time of his call to the Seventy, his work had taken the family to Washington, D.C.; Nashville, Tennessee; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Raising a Happy Family
The five Christofferson children describe their upbringing as loving, caring, and centered on gospel principles.
Elder Christofferson's son Peter recalls serving as his father's home teaching companion during a particularly busy period in his father's life. Elder Christofferson was working as corporate legal counsel and serving as stake president, but he still made time for teaching his children. "I was inspired by my father's faithfulness in being a great home teacher, despite having limited time," Peter recalls. "One of the sisters we visited was a shut-in. Father cared for her tenderly, making sure that she always had the sacrament and that her needs were met."
His daughter Brynn remembers her father as being very thoughtful. Just two days after she left home to attend college, she received flowers from him at her dormitory. The accompanying note said simply, "Have a great semester."
Elder and Sister Christofferson leave the Salt Lake Conference Center following a session of the April 2008 general conference.
Called to Continue Serving
On August 15, 1998, Elder Christofferson was called as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy after serving in the First Quorum of the Seventy since 1993. He served in the presidency until his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 2008.
Elder Christofferson said that when he received his calling as an Apostle from President Thomas S. Monson, it initially "seemed impossible."
"The Apostles are people I've admired and followed and listened to all of my life, and it seemed impossible for me to be one of them," he said.
He is quick to emphasize that we all rely on the Lord—the same Source of his answers when he was a teenager looking to solidify his testimony. "I am a great believer in the power of prayer," he says. "We can always turn to prayer. Sometimes it's all we have left, but it's always sufficient for the need."
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (below).
Read Elder Christofferson's biography from the August 2008 Liahona.
Read additional biographies of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Read the official biography
Visit Elder Christofferson's Facebook page.
Follow Elder Christofferson on Twitter.


Peter Pan took me years to appreciate…and any appreciation for Pan started with Tinkerbell.
I "got the hots" for her somewhere around age ten when my male hormones began to compel me to answer the call to follow girls. I have to give the artists who drew Tinkerbell accolades for envisioning that sprite. Their skills led me to conclude that, whereas Peter Pan had his "lost boys," perhaps I might have a chance to become Tink's "found boy." That pixie is hot!
And she was my first cartoon crush. I came to seek her, to know her, on Sunday evenings when I'd immediately drop my pole and net on the pond bank by Otto Leavens' house and follow Tinkerbell to the Wonderful World of Disney. (1970s Disney Intro) Sunday after Sunday she'd call me and I'd follow her to the Magic Kingdom—again and again. She was worth my leaving of the fish.
The guys in Mark 1:14-20 and I had lots in common—it was all about the fish—fisher-folk, one and all. I had a pole and net, Simon and Andrew had a net, and James and John were out in a boat with dear ole dad, hired hands, and net-casters working in tandem with net menders. I fished for fun. The other guys fished to make ends meet, and in the case of two of them, they appear to be making those ends meet pretty well. Back in the '70s I believed my call was to be a boy growing up in rural Georgia lusting after a hot pixie. Back in the 1st century Simon, Andrew, James and John, believed their call was to garner seafood for a living, or maybe even for profit.
Good times—-but my fishing life was interrupted by a smoking blonde with fairy wings.
This text is so familiar to churchgoers that it has all the surprise and awe-rendering power of worm dirt. It is common, ordinary, and rolls around us almost every year because Matthew, Luke and Mark all record some form of it and are all prominent in the RCL. This year just happens to be the year of Mark–Year B—where the voice of the oldest gospel will fall on our ears.
And when they "queue up" they do so immediately, perhaps even without thought. Poor ole Zebedee watched as his sons left him in the boat with the hired help. The junior partners left their nets, walked the plank, and signed with another firm. Don't you know Zeb loved this whole affair!
But here's the thing—these people "queued up" and followed Jesus, but their call had not changed. They were still called to fish. The skills and talents and gifts given through DNA, on the job training, and life experience were simply being transformed. Jesus didn't say stop fishing—have a career change—go to rabbinic school—then follow. He took 'em as they were, and planned to use them to his purpose, just as they were. Jesus did not change their call, he changed the focus of their call—from skills/gifts ordered towards fish to skills/gifts ordered towards people. Fisher-folk are fisher-folk after all–and being fisher-folk is as faithful a call as being Pope Francis I. The call was not transformed. What was transformed was the way that call would be lived out. Their following of Jesus will redefine their fishing technique as they adapt to the change in quarry. And as their quarry changed, so did they—still fisher-folk, yet fisher-folk seeking after people rather than chicken of the sea. This shift is transformation.
We might want to ponder this a bit…..perhaps receiving Jesus' call to follow does not mean bounding off to seminary, or thinking that a call to be clergy somehow let's us more closely tag along behind Jesus' hemline. Perhaps call means being what you are—and doing what you do—and simply being open to the Lord moving along, issuing a us a call, orienting us towards a new focus, and transforming us in the process—-maybe a shift in focus transforms us in a way that more clearly uses our giftedness to proclaim the good news of God.
The teacher, doctor, home builder, and cook already do what God gifted them to do—-but in each case, their following of Jesus is about transformation.
Transformation is a powerful thing…..and it begins in following.
In the church, the one who follows the cross, who brings the light, is called an acolyte. The Greek word from which acolyte comes is ἀκολουθέω. It means to follow. A form of it is used (v.18) in the sentence that says, "And immediately they left their nets and followed him." The acolyte enters a dim sanctuary, following a cross, not a word does the acolyte say…they just light wicks as they follow the cross. And as wicks ignite a faith community comes to life. The acolyte does what their title suggests—they just follow Jesus.
Could it really be so simple? Is that all that Jesus asks of us in this Magic Kingdom? Come? Follow?
Thanks. Another good post. I appreciate the reminder that I am to follow as I am called where I am now.


text:
In 2,500 words on abusive psycho-spiritual group, New York Times buries crucial four-letter word
Mark Kellner
Anyone who has followed the history of new religious movements in the United States and elsewhere knows that, since the 1970s, the word "cult" is one four-letter word newspapers have often been loath to apply to controversial groups.
That wasn't the case before and after the 1978 Jonestown massacre, when newspapers saw cults under almost every rock.
But now, there's a great reticence at using this particular four-letter word in many news organizations. What, however, can a newspaper do when a group really and truly has the markings of a, well, cult, at the level of sociology and human behavior? Do you use the word or bury it?
For an answer, consider this front-page story from The New York Times, which reports on what can easily be considered a psycho-spiritual group, called NXIVM (pronounced neks-ee-um). In some cases, this organization literally leaves its mark on adherents, according to the story, headlined "Inside a Secretive Group Where Women Are Branded."
Read this longish excerpt to understand the scene being set:
ALBANY -- Last March, five women gathered in a home near here to enter a secret sisterhood they were told was created to empower women.
To gain admission, they were required to give their recruiter – or "master," as she was called – naked photographs or other compromising material and were warned that such "collateral" might be publicly released if the group's existence were disclosed.
The women, in their 30s and 40s, belonged to a self-help organization called Nxivm, which is based in Albany and has chapters across the country, Canada and Mexico.
Sarah Edmondson, one of the participants, said she had been told she would get a small tattoo as part of the initiation. But she was not prepared for what came next.
Each woman was told to undress and lie on a massage table, while three others restrained her legs and shoulders. According to one of them, their "master," a top Nxivm official named Lauren Salzman, instructed them to say: "Master, please brand me, it would be an honor."
A female doctor proceeded to use a cauterizing device to sear a two-inch-square symbol below each woman's hip, a procedure that took 20 to 30 minutes. For hours, muffled screams and the smell of burning tissue filled the room.
Now, this excerpt contains the first 210 words of a 2,500-word story. That larger number is a huge total word count by today's newspaper standards. As readers of the entire piece will find, the story goes into agonizing detail about the secrecy and rituals of this group, not to mention the concerns of family members – including "Dynasty" actress Catherine Oxenberg, whose daughter, India, was caught up in NXIVM – over everything that goes on.
Read the whole story. And see if the description doesn't scream "cult."
So where do we find that designation? In the absolute last sentence of the piece, and uttered by the "branding" victim whose anecdote led things off:
Ms. Edmondson and other former followers of [NXIVM founder and leader Keith] Raniere said they were focusing on recovering.
"There is no playbook for leaving a cult," she said.
(Actually, if author Steven Hassan, a former Unification Church member, is to be believed, his 2015 book "Combatting Cult Mind Control" is such a playbook. But I digress.)
Why didn't The New York Times call NXIVM a cult or consult an expert in such matters for background?
Well, to be fair, they didn't use the word in obituaries for Unification Church founder the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, rogue Hare Krishna leader Swami Bhaktipada, or Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. All three groups gained prominence in the 1970s and all three have been labeled "cults" by critics, either for doctrinal reasons, sociological reasons or both.
NXIVM seems more psychological than spiritual, but there were spiritual elements, it seems:
In March, Ms. Edmondson arrived for an initiation ceremony at Ms. Salzman's home in Clifton Park, N.Y., a town about 20 miles north of Albany where Mr. Raniere and some followers live. After undressing, she was led to a candlelit ceremony, where she removed a blindfold and saw Ms. Salzman's other slaves for the first time. The women were then driven to a nearby house, where the branding took place.
Other media have given more prominence to the "cult" claim. In 2012, the Albany Times-Union ran an investigative series, "Secrets of NXIVM," which used the word in a sub-headline, with the text going further:
At least one cult expert said Raniere directs one of the most extreme cults he has ever studied and has likened Raniere to David Koresh, who most Americans link with images of a burning cult compound packed with women and children. Raniere has denied that NXIVM is a cult.
Earlier, in 2003, Forbes magazine called NXIVM a "Cult of Personality," quoting billionaire Edgar Bronfman, Sr.'s assessment:
But some people see a darker and more manipulative side to Keith Raniere. Detractors say he runs a cult-like program aimed at breaking down his subjects psychologically, separating them from their families and inducting them into a bizarre world of messianic pretensions, idiosyncratic language and ritualistic practices. "I think it's a cult," says Bronfman. Though he once took a course and endorsed the program, he hasn't talked to his daughters in months and has grown troubled over the long hours and emotional and financial investment they have been devoting to Raniere's group. One daughter, Clare, 24, has lent the program $2 million, at 2.5% interest, the senior Bronfman says (she denies this).
In 2014, NXIVM sued some journalists – including a Times-Union reporter – over allegations the writers "hacked" into organizational computers to steal secret information. According to The Nation magazine, the suit cast a pall at the time. But in 2015 a judge tossed the lawsuit.
As I said, there's plenty of skittishness about using the word "cult" in news stories about religious or spiritual communities, but there are perhaps times when the label is deserved. Church historians, sociologists and others debate definitions of this term and much can be learned by paying attention to their discussions.
This might have been one of the times to use the word "cult" and then discuss it. If editors at The New York Times thought the word "cult" was suitable for what was very much the final quoted word in the story, then perhaps it could have been used – and explained – higher up.
https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2017/10/18/in-2500-words-on-abusive-psycho-spiritual-group-the-new-york-times-buries-a-crucial-c-word
Labels: Cult-definitions, Hare Krishna, NXIVM, Scientology, Swami Bhaktipada, Unification Church
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Q: Postgres NoSQL and hibernate Postgres NoSQL capabilities have been for a long while.
In Java world where Hibernate/JPA is mainstream for database access,
how to use those JSON/JSOBN objects, and map them right?
For example I have several arrays of Integers (or Integer, String pairs) with size 100-200, that would fit nice to be put/saved as JSON as there is no need for identity of those elements. Or there is a Entity with byte[] fields.