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Neem tree has curative properties helping in HIV treatment
An Indian origin researcher has hinted that extracts from the neem tree, profuse in tropical and subtropical areas, may thwart the virus from multiplying. Sonia Arora, an assistant professor at Kean University in New Jersey, is delving into understanding the curative properties of the neem tree in fighting the virus that causes AIDS.
Her preliminary results seem to indicate that there are compounds in neem extracts that target a protein essential for HIV to replicate. If further studies support her findings, Arora`s work may give clinicians and drug developers a new HIV-AIDS therapy to pursue. Extracts from neem leaves, bark and flowers are used throughout the Indian subcontinent to fight against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The farther you go into the villages of India, the more uses of neem you see, said Arora.
Tree branches are used instead of toothpaste and toothbrushes to keep teeth and gums healthy, and neem extracts are used to control the spread of malaria. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, a form of traditional Indian alternative medicine, even prescribe neem extracts, in combination with other herbs, to treat cardiovascular diseases and control diabetes. The neem tree, whose species name is Azadirachta indica and which belongs to the mahogany family, also grows in east Africa.
Arora`s scientific training gave her expertise in the cellular biology of cancer, pharmacology, bioinformatics and structural biology. When she established her laboratory with a new research direction at Kean University in 2008, Arora decided to combine her knowledge with her long-time fascination with natural products. The neem tree beckoned.
Arora dived into the scientific literature to see what was known about neem extracts. During the course of her reading, Arora stumbled across two reports that showed that when HIV-AIDS patients in Nigeria and India were given neem extracts, the amount of HIV particles in their blood dropped. Intrigued, Arora decided to see if she could figure out what was in the neem extract that seemed to fight off the virus.
She turned to bioinformatics and structural biology to see what insights could be gleaned from making computer models of HIV proteins with compounds known to be in neem extracts. From the literature, she and her students found 20 compounds present in various types of neem extracts. When they modeled these compounds against the proteins critical for the HIV life-cycle, Arora and her team discovered that most of the neem compounds attacked the HIV protease, a protein essential for making new copies of the virus.
Arora`s group is now working on test-tube experiments to see if the computer models hold up with actual samples. If her work bears out, Arora is hopeful that the neem tree will give a cheaper and more accessible way to fight the HIV-AIDS epidemic in developing countries, where current therapies are priced at levels out of reach of many people.
And, of course, she noted, there is the potential of discovering new drugs based on the molecules present in neem. The finding was published in Nature Neuroscience and PNAS.
A Combination Video on the Benefits of Neem in Ayurveda.
< Ayurveda gaining popularity in Germany
The Steering Committee's report on AYUSH recommends a separate DGCI for traditional medicine >
Categories: Itoozhi News
Guruprasad Panamalai · June 6, 2022 at 9:32 pm
This doctor is s God given gift🙏
Itoozhi Ayurveda · August 16, 2022 at 9:44 am
Thank you for your trust in Ayurveda.
Ayurveda Events Itoozhi News
Free Ayurveda Medical Camp at Nest Library, Iriveri, Kannur
By Itoozhi Ayurveda, 2 months 4 days ago
Itoozhi Illam Ayurveda Foundation Charitable trust, Mayyil, in collaboration with Itoozhi Illam Ayurveda Nursing Home and Kerala Senior Citizens Forum, conducted a Free Ayurveda Medical Camp at Nest Library, Iriveri, Kannur on 11th Dec 2022. The Free Ayurveda Medical camp
Ayurveda Day Itoozhi News
Celebrating World Ayurveda Day with an Ayurveda Seminar and a Free Ayurveda Medical Camp
Itoozhi Illam Charitable Trust, Mayyil in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru Public Library and Research Centre, Kannur will celebrate World Ayurveda Day on 23rd Oct 2022.
Itoozhi News
Navaratri Cultural Festival at Itoozhi Illam Ayurveda Foundation
Itoozhi Illam Ayurveda Foundation and Charitable Trust is hosting Navratri Cultural Festival 2022. The 5-day festival starts from 28th September. The festival shall be inaugurated by renowned cultural activist and philanthropist, Shri Surya Krishnamoorthy. The festival shall have performances by


Interview with Driver Hire's Andrew Padgett, with over 20 years experience!
We have an exclusive interview with Andrew Padgett, franchisee for Driver Hire, the silver award winner of "Franchisor of the Year 2017". Andrew has been running his Driver Hire franchise in Ashford and Tonbridge for over 20 years, and so who better to give us an insight into Driver Hire, the UK's leading supplier of temporary and permanent staff to the driving and logistics industry, and why they are one of the UK's leading franchise companies.
Ed Pockney, franchisee at leading transport & logistics recruiter, Driver Hire Uxbridge, is in line for a national award. He's one of the finalists in the 2019 bfa HSBC Franchise Awards, in the 'Business Transformation' category.
With over 30 years in the industry, Driver Hire is a force to be reckoned with. Not only are we one of the leading recruitment businesses for drivers and logistics staff in the UK, but we are also a multi-award winning franchise with a brand name that opens clients' doors.
A great achievement when you consider that the franchise industry's' average turnover is currently only £378,000 according to the 2015 bfa/NatWest survey.
To receive more in-depth information on our success and our franchise offering, request our free prospectus here.
As a Driver Hire franchise owner you would essentially manage a recruitment business. On a day-to-day basis, you would source drivers and logistics staff looking for work and then refer them to your clients.
These clients are often multi-national freight companies, such as builder merchants, parcel carriers and local authorities, looking for a flexible workforce. The market, within which we work, is huge - the UK recruitment industry is estimated to be worth £32.2 billion a year. With our highly recognisable and respected brand, doors are opened to our franchisees that would not be opened to many other businesses.
Ultimately, for many people buying their own business is a means to controlling their own work-life balance in a way that suits their financial and family needs.
To find out if this franchise offering would be a good fit for you, why not immediately download our FREE franchise prospectus here.
One of the major benefits of franchising, which differentiates us from a business start-up, is that a franchisee receives dedicated attention from our Head Office team.
Franchise owners receive 2 - 6 weeks' worth of training followed by a 6-month Franchisee Support Programme. They also have access to continued support throughout their franchise journey from Head Office; There are over 80 members of staff who can assist in all areas of business development.
At Driver Hire, your success is our success. We want to see you thrive and so we give you everything you need to do so.
We know that we offer a fantastic franchise offering but don't just take our word for it. Hear what some of our franchisees are saying.
"To be honest, I'd never really considered the franchise option but once I looked at Driver Hire it changed my mind. Driver Hire is very professional, has first-rate business processes and franchisees enjoy great backing to ensure we are successful." Roy McLellan, Driver Hire Dundee Franchisee since 2009.
Becoming a Driver Hire franchisee is a life-changing decision. In joining us, you'll be joining a long line of successful business owners who are very pleased that they took the same decision.
By filling in the form below you will be able to download a copy of the Driver Hire prospectus.


MSA's Kind Model Series is baaaack! When we first found this enchanting animal lover, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to interview her. Her words of wisdom, passion of all things sustainable, and desire to one day open a farm animal sanctuary were not only impressive, but also inspiring. Check out what this down to earth beauty has to say about diet, animal cruelty, the fashion industry, and more!


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Jane Lynch calls out lack of female hosts on game shows and late night TV
"Glee" alum Jane Lynch stands as the lone female game show host on network TV — and don't think she hasn't noticed.
Celebs reveal first crushes on Valentine's Day
Edie Falco, CC Sabathia, Carson Kressley and others reveal first crushes for Valentine's Day
By Confidential
SEE IT: 'Glee' cast reunites at Becca Tobin's Winter wedding in Wyoming
The gang of "Glee' sang and danced their way to Wyoming to ring wedding bells in honor of former castmate Becca Tobin's big day.
By Jessa Schroeder
People's Choice Awards: Sharon Osbourne kicks off stage crasher, Jane Lynch makes fun of Steve Harvey's Miss Universe gaffe
A Kanye West wannabe quickly became "The Talk" of Wednesday's People's Choice Awards.
By Kirthana Ramisetti and Meera Jagannathan
New Yorker Jerry Seinfeld to kick off six-show residency at Beacon Theatre
Jerry Seinfeld announced Tuesday he will perform a six-show residency at the Beacon Theatre.
The best 'Gilmore Girls' guest stars you forget about
Over its seven-year run, "Gilmore Girls" created some of the most memorable characters on TV. Here's a few of the best.
For Darren Criss in 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch,' 4-inch stilettos are no Achilles' heel; Andy Cohen describes the ideal 'Housewife'
Perhaps appropriately for a glam-rock musical, there's some smoke and mirrors behind Hedwig's boots.
CBS picks up Jane Lynch comedy, 'Angel From Hell,' 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'
Jane Lynch will star as a wacky guardian angel in a new CBS sitcom "Angel From Hell."
'Glee' finale flashes back to the start, then forward to the 'New Directions' future
'Glee' stopped just short of making Sue Sylvester the 46th President of the United States.
Six reasons 'Glee' has come to its natural end, and why that's OK
If you were to perform an autopsy on Fox's "Glee,"cause of death would include the following points.
'Glee' season premiere: TV review
The long goodbye has been way too long with "Glee."
John O'Hurley returns for his 13th year as co-host of the National Dog Show
John O'Hurley and canine expert David Frei will return for their 13th year as co-hosts of the National Dog Show.
Jane Lynch finalizes divorce from wife of four years in Los Angeles
A judge has finalized Jane Lynch's divorce from her wife more than four years after the couple were married. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ralph C.
Cheyenne Jackson marries Jason Landau after first meeting in rehab
Cheyenne Jackson is a married man. The "Glee" star exchanged vows with Jason Landau on Saturday evening, People reports.
By Zayda Rivera

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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CANDACE JANE OPPER
Lowbrow cinefile 📺 Analog enthusiast ☎ Connecticut-bred riff-raff 💎
NWSLTR
Candace Jane Opper is a writer, a mother, and a visual artist whose work explores the intersection of personal and cultural histories.
Read more

"A memoirist who seeks the harshest truths about both her own life and the American mind, Opper draws you into her one history in a way that will re-examine yours." —Sarah Marshall, Host of You're Wrong About
Candace Jane Opper is a writer, a mother, a visual artist, and a numbers person. She is the author of Certain and Impossible Events, selected by Cheryl Strayed as the winner of a Kore Press Memoir Award and featured in NPR's 2021 Books We Love. Her writing has appeared in Guernica, Longreads, Narratively, Literary Hub, The Normal School, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, Bright Wall/Dark Room, and Vestoj, among others. She holds an MFA from Portland State University and is the recipient of a Creative Nonfiction Foundation Fellowship.
Having vowed to never make writing her day job, she pieces together a salary by way of her more sought after skills. She is currently the Finance Manager for Casey Droege Cultural Productions and a Senior Editor for Point Line Projects. In 2021 she founded Fringe Benefits Bookkeeping, a small firm providing bookkeeping and budgeting services to small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals in the Pittsburgh area, and beyond 🛸
Candace grew up in the woodsy marshlands of Southern Connecticut and lived in Providence, Rhode Island and Portland, Oregon, before landing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband, writer Patrick McGinty, and their son.
Ooh! And some stuff she makes is available at Antiquated Future.
Digital Correspondence
Sign up to receive A Curated Monthly Phone Call with Fonts,
my not-always-monthly newsletter that still uses "monthly" in its title.


Avira Total Security Suite Crack secures the financial transactions of yours by blocking strikes against the personal data of yours while you go shopping or maybe bank online. The Antivirus offers real-time defense against all sorts of risks, relying on the respected Avira motor being the definitions of its.
Avira Total Security Suite 1.2 Crack can look at the functionality of the computer of yours and run a pair of set operations meant to minimize its booting time and enhance the overall performance of its. Avira Total Security Suite 1.2 causes it to be simpler for you to deploy three distinct Avira items and also provides the newest technologies to help you protect the pc and stop malware attacks.
The independent testing labs commonly create Avira high marks.
Kaspersky and Trend Micro got the maximum possible score, eighteen points.
It received the best rating in all 4 of the AV-Comparatives tests which I follow.
Additionally, it passed two challenging assessments conducted by MRG-Effitas.
Its 16.5 point report with AV-Test Institute is respectable.
To use the device Protection function, you can head off of malware spread by USB by blocking usage of USB products in common but allowing entry for sure, approved USB drives.
Avira's support website has video lessons, utilities, information and manuals about malware. You can email the company for assistance as needed. The most significant drawback of possibly Avira method is that neither is suitable for mobile devices. A separate mobile solution is offered, though you've to pay an annual subscription to make use of it. Tune-up resources in the high-quality security suite determine good programs and junk files on the computer of yours you can eliminate to create your laptop or network run faster. In fact, Avira Internet Security 's protected browsing programs protect the info you type in copy areas from becoming swiped by keyloggers or maybe identity thieves.
Incredible set of tune-up and system tools.
High scores in antivirus laboratory tests and even several of the criteria of ours.


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Q: How can I programmatically select specified ListBox items? I've got this code that populates a ListBox when a flyout is opened:
private void flyoutOpenPhotosets_Opened(object sender, object e)
{
    lstbxPhotosets.ItemsSource = PhotraxSQLiteUtils.GetPhotosets();
    foreach (String pset in App.CurrentlyMappedPhotosets)
    {
        int lstbxIndex = lstbxPhotosets.Items.IndexOf(pset);
        if (lstbxIndex >= 0)
        {
            lstbxPhotosets.Items[lstbxIndex].? what now?
        }
    }
}

GetPhotosets returns a List. That part works (the list box is populated with the appropriate string values)
The problem is with the rest of the code (the foreach block).
CurrentlyMappedPhotosets is also a List. I want matching members among the strings in CurrentlyMappedPhotosets and those in the ListBox to cause the item in the ListBox to be selected when the flyout displays.
I was hoping to do be able to do something like this:
lstbxPhotosets.Items[lstbxIndex].Selected = true;

...but lstbxPhotosets is disallowing that.
So how can I programmatically select specified ListBox items?

A: Use
lstbxPhotosets.SelectedIndex = lstbxIndex

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Once, and for all
The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games will take place in Ontario's Niagara Region to celebrate Canada's top young athletes and Niagara's art and culture. Niagara is also committed to honouring their Indigenous communities, while showcasing the region's heritage and innovation throughout its history. Consisting of more than 5,000 athletes and coaches, the Canada Summer Games will welcome our nation's next generation of national, international, and Olympic and Paralympic champions as the best young developing athletes from across the nation assemble to compete in Canada's largest multi-sport event.
The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games will feature a total of 18 sports — including the return of lacrosse after a 36-year absence and the first-ever rugby sevens competition. Additionally, over 4,000 volunteers will be essential to the success of the Games
At the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games we are building an energetic, passionate and dedicated team of staff and volunteers.
Among the qualities we're looking for is an appreciation for the transformative power of sport, a powerful work ethic, a creative and entrepreneurial spirit and a deep penchant for collaboration. Working a Games, say those who've done it, is one of the most rewarding, chaotic, exhilarating, exhausting, challenging, euphoric times of their careers. A role with Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games is destined to provide all of that, and likely much more. The 2022 Canada Games Host Society is committed to building a skilled, diverse team reflective of Canadian society. As a result, we promote employment equity and encourage applications from women, Aboriginal persons, persons with a disability or members of a visible minority group, and regardless of sexual identity, gender identification or gender expression.
Visit the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games Website
Setting the stage for the next generation of Canadian champions
5,000 participants. 18 sports. 13 municipalities.
Sport technical information
Sport technical
Sport Information & Requirements
Everything you need to know and more.
Looking for information on our eligibility restrictions, age categories and team sizes? Check out the links below for everything you need to know about the upcoming Games.
Catégories d'âge 2022
Restrictions en matière d'admissibilité 2023
Vue d'ensemble de l'horaire de compétition 2022
2022 Sport, Event, and Discipline List
Taille des équipes 2022
Devis techniques des sports de 2022 sommaire
NOUVEL INVESTISSEMENT FÉDÉRAL DANS LES INSTALLATIONS SPORTIVES POUR LES JEUX DU CANADA DE 2021
Investing in recreational infrastructure helps communities come together and stay active. The Government of Canada recognizes that strategic investments in sports and recreation facilities play a key role in supporting dynamic communities, while creating good jobs that help grow the middle class.
2021 Canada Games Host Society Selects Niagara-Based Artist As Winner Of The Medal Design Program
Le design des médailles sera conçu par Shaun O'Melia, originaire de St. Catharines et ancien du Niagara College. Les médailles seront attribuées aux athlètes qui monteront sur le podium aux Jeux d'été du Canada Niagara 2021
A Team Reflective of Canadian Society
In order to meet the challenge of providing a phenomenal experience for the athletes and other participants at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, we are building an energetic, passionate and dedicated team of staff and volunteers.
More Career Opportunities
Volunteer and become part of the games


This form must be completed and filed by a candidate who is serving under an Articles of Clerkship, no later than 10 business days after the end of the articling placement.
If you wish to be called to the bar in June you must file the Certificate of Service by the early filing deadline (the first business day of April). You and your principal must sign this form.
Send the form to articling@lso.ca.
Within ten business days of the end of your articling placement, both you and your articling principal are required to file the respective record of experiential training online.
Purpose: The record of experiential training is used to report your experience during the articling placement as it relates to the experiential training competencies. If you were not able to perform all of the competencies, you can explain why in this report.
Log into your Licensing Process online account.
On the left hand side you will see "Experiential Training." Click on this tab.
You will see your principal's name in a table with a "Manage" button.
Click "Manage" to complete the report.
This concludes your experiential training. If you do not intend on providing legal services before you are called to the bar, then there are no more steps for you to take. If you do intend on providing legal services after you complete your experiential training, but before you are called to the bar, you must file a Supervision Agreement, as explained below.
If you intend on providing legal services after you have completed experiential training and before you are called to the bar, first review the Guidelines for Lawyer Licensing Candidates Awaiting Call to the Bar. As explained in this guide, you must complete the Supervision Agreement form in order to provide legal services, which must be signed by yourself and your supervisor. This form must be submitted 10 business days prior to the start date. Supervision Agreements may not be approved if submitted past the deadline.
Supervision Agreements will generally be approved for two distinct time periods. The first time period is applicable to candidates who have not yet completed all of the licensing requirements. Such candidates may file a Supervision Agreement for a maximum of four months, and will have to file a new Supervision Agreement upon the expiry of the agreement. The second time period is applicable to candidate who have completed all of their licensing requirements and are waiting to be called to the bar. Such candidates may apply for a Supervision Agreement until the date of the next applicable call to the bar. You may not provide legal services until the Supervision Agreement has been approved. If you seek to provide legal services beyond the approved term, you may file a subsequent Supervision Agreement with a new letter of request.


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5D1EAD15-BE50-496A-B264-FC92E7029482
Win keeps Rockets alive
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets finally found a way to close out a game in their playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
And it allowed them to escape playoff elimination with a 105-103 win over the Thunder on Monday night.
Chandler Parsons scored 27 points and Patrick Beverley added 16 points with point guard Jeremy Lin out with a bruised chest muscle. Houston avoided a four-game sweep in the best-of-seven series.
The Rockets led in the fourth quarter of each of the last two games only to end up losing.
"We felt the pain and frustration from the last two losses ... and we didn't want that to happen for the third straight time," Parsons said.
It almost did.
Kevin Durant scored five quick points to cut the Rockets' lead to two. James Harden missed two shots for Houston after that and the Thunder had a last chance.
Reggie Jackson missed a jump shot and Serge Ibaka grabbed the rebound, but missed a layup at the buzzer.
A stunned Ibaka fell to the court after the miss and covered his face with his hands.
Durant scored 38 points in Oklahoma City's second game without injured All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.
The victory kept Houston from being swept in the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Game 5 is Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
"Getting this first win gives us confidence going back to Oklahoma City, and anything can happen," Harden said.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale was proud of his young team's work in getting its first playoff victory.
"That was a gutsy win," McHale said. "We're not going to lie down. The one constant has been their willingness to scrap and fight. We kept on fighting."
Durant hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the Thunder's Game 3 win. He wanted to get another one off on Monday, but Francisco Garcia forced him to give up the ball.
"I was. I was going to try to win it," Durant said. "But he played good defense."
Durant is looking forward to the series returning to Oklahoma City.
"We'll be all right," he said. "We're up 3-1 with a good opportunity to close it out at home. We couldn't ask for a better situation, so hopefully we'll get the job done."
Harden scored 15 points, but also had 10 turnovers. He had two chances to extend Houston's lead with less than a minute left, but missed both of them, including shooting an air ball.
Hawks 102, Pacers 91
At Atlanta, Josh Smith scored 29 points as Atlanta built a 17-point lead at halftime, then withstood an Indiana comeback over the final two quarters to even the series in Game 4.
After struggling much of the second half, Smith made every big play down the stretch. He swished a rare 3-pointer, came up with an offensive rebound to set up a 3 by Kyle Korver, then finished off a fast break with a right-handed dunk.
Paul George scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half as the Pacers made a game of it but couldn't come back from a 57-40 deficit at the break.
Tied at two wins apiece, the series returns to Indianapolis for Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Nets 110, Bulls 91
At New York, Brook Lopez had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Deron Williams added 23 points and 10 assists, and the Nets cut the Bulls' lead to 3-2 in their first-round playoff series.
Andray Blatche scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and Gerald Wallace had consecutive baskets down the stretch as the Nets finally pulled away in a game they led most of the way, but never by too much.
Two days after rallying for a 142-134 triple-overtime victory, the Bulls were outscored 15-1 down the stretch and failed to set up a second-round series with Miami. Instead they will host Game 6 on Thursday.
Houston Rocket Aaron Brooks, center, a former Oregon standout, tries to drive to the basket between Oklahoma City's Nick Collison, left, and DeAndre Liggins during the third quarter of Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series Monday in Houston. The Rockets beat the Thunder, 105-103. - AP


Writing was the first systematic way man discovered to represent himself virtually i.e. via means other than the 5 senses.
What is reality accept/except your perception?
William Blake could not pass the math stuff, but his interpretations of the classics made up for it.


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Q: Spying on $interval I want to be able to do something like:
expect($interval).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.any(Function), correctInterval)
However, I can't figure out how to get hold of $interval to spy on it. Any examples I've seen have been for use with $controller, so you can inject whatever you want into the controller, including a mock of $interval. I don't want to use a mock for every test, just for some tests, so I don't think I can use the $provide syntax in beforeEach to just replace $interval with a raw spy.


There's no escaping it. The postpartum time period is hard. My postpartum adjustment this time around has been simultaneously challenging and lovely. Challenging are the moments when all three of our children need something and there are only two sets of adult hands to help. Challenging are the middle of the night wake-ups when I'm on my own to feed and change the baby's diapers. And challenging is the baby's struggle to learn to breastfeed and my tired back and shoulders from his need to be held almost constantly by me.
Today I want to talk about why it's so challenging to leave the house, why it's still important to get help now, and how you can get postpartum help, even without leaving the house. I know that you will leave the house again, and that things may be hard right now.
A theme that is central to becoming a parent is how to negotiate your relationship with your own parents. Especially in the early weeks after a baby is born it is often the grandparents who are providing the most support to the new parents. New parents need this support. It is so challenging to care for a newborn, recover from birth, and adjust to life as a parent. Grandparents can ease the transition immensely.


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Thursday, May 21, 2015 7:28:45 PM EDT
Stocks Inch Higher
The big cap indices snapped a two-day decline and ended at new highs for the week. Small caps were underperforming while the transportation average produced a little oversold bounce.
EEFT hit our bullish entry point today.
We want to exit the OCR trade tomorrow morning.
Anthem, Inc. - ANTM - close: 164.62 change: +1.05
Entry on May 18 at $162.00
Listed on May 16, 2015
Time Frame: 8 to 12 weeks
05/21/15: ANTM rebounded off its morning lows and outpaced the major indices with a +0.64% gain. The stock looks poised to rally past potential round-number resistance at $165.00 tomorrow.
Trade Description: May 16, 2015:
One in nine Americans is covered through one of Anthem's affiliated medical plans. The company is only getting bigger. Previously known as Wellpoint (WLP) they officially changed their name to Anthem (ANTM) in December 2014.
Initially both Wall Street and the healthcare industry were worried about Obamacare. Yet the Affordable Care Act has been a strong tailwind for many of the large healthcare insurers adding millions of new customers. Now that the major players have ironed out a lot of the wrinkles any negative impact from the ACA seems to be fading.
If you're not familiar with ANTM they are in the healthcare sector. According to the company, "Anthem is working to transform health care with trusted and caring solutions. Our health plan companies deliver quality products and services that give their members access to the care they need. With nearly 71 million people served by its affiliated companies, including more than 38 million enrolled in its family of health plans, Anthem is one of the nation's leading health benefits companies."
Looking ANTM's earnings over the past year the company's results have been a little hit or miss. Yet one thing they have consistently done is raise guidance. Since the stock market is always looking forward this bullish outlook from ANTM has helped drive the stock to new all-time highs.
Their most recent earnings report was April 29th. ANTM reported their 2015 Q1 results. Wall Street was looking for $2.69 per share on revenues of $19.28 billion. The company delivered $3.14 per share, which is a +29.8% improvement from a year ago. Revenues were up +6.8% to $18.85 billion (a miss). Management raised their guidance above analysts' estimates for the fourth quarter in a row.
The company has an active stock buyback program. In the first quarter they spent $774 million buying back 5.7 million shares. As of March 31st, 2015 they still had about $4.9 billion left on their board-approved share repurchase program.
Technically the stock has been churning sideways in the $150-160 zone for the last several weeks. ANTM threatened to breakdown under support near its 50-dma and the $150 level in late April but managed to reverse course and now it's breaking out past resistance in the $160 area. Tonight we are suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $161.65.
Long SEP $170 CALL (ANTM150918C170) entry $4.40
05/18/15 triggered on gap open at $162.00, trigger was $161.65
Caterpillar Inc. - CAT - close: 89.33 change: +1.40
Entry on May 05 at $88.10
05/21/15: How's this for crazy - CAT reports that retail sales of CAT products fell for the 29th month in a row in April 2015. Sales for their construction industry products are down -12% year over year.
The biggest decline was Latin America, which saw a -44% drop in sales. The Asia Pacific region saw a -16% decline in sales. European-African-Middle East region reported sales down -9%. Only North American saw any gains and sales rose +5%. The combination of a global economic slowdown, led by a weak Chinese economy, and lack of demand from the mining industry continue to plague CAT's sales.
The funny thing is that investors completely ignored this report this morning. Shares of CAT rallied this morning to close at new four-month highs. One potential explanation is that investors might be speculating that the worst is behind it for CAT and the situation can only get better.
I am not suggesting new positions at this time.
Trade Description: May 2, 2015:
Have shares of CAT found a bottom? It's starting to look that way. CAT is still down -21% from its 2014 highs but it's up +12% from its Q1 lows with a steady trend of higher lows as traders buy the dips.
CAT is in the industrial goods sector. According to the company, "For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2014 sales and revenues of $55.184 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment."
Earnings results and guidance has been a moving target for CAT. The combination of a slowing global economy, volatile currency fluctuations, and weakness in commodities have generated big swings in their business. In July 2014 CAT lowered guidance. Three months later they raised guidance. The next quarter they lowered guidance. Today the company has raised guidance again.
CAT's most recent earnings report was April 23rd. They announced a Q1 profit of $1.72 a share. That was +16% higher than a year ago and almost +40% above Wall Street estimates. Revenues fell -4% from a year ago but sales of $12.7 billion were still above analysts' expectations.
CAT's Q1 results were all about North America, which saw gains almost across the board. Overall construction sales for CAT in North America were up +9% from a year ago. Unfortunately, this was overshadowed by declines everywhere else. Asia, Europe, Latin America - just about every other region CAT does business saw double-digit sales declines. Yet it appears that investors seem to be willing to look past this weakness.
CAT's CEO commented on their 2015 outlook, "We had a solid first quarter, which led to raising the profit outlook for 2015. However, we continue to face headwinds and uncertainty in 2015, and our outlook for the year reflects that. We expect sales and profit in each of the remaining three quarters of 2015 to be lower than the first quarter. We expect sales for oil applications to decline starting in the second quarter, and from a profit perspective, the first quarter included the gain on the sale of our remaining interest in the logistics business and that won't repeat. The first quarter is usually the most seasonally favorable of the year for costs, and we don't expect the rest of the year to be as favorable."
Most of the major oil and gas companies have reduced their capex spending plans for 2015 and this should be negative for CAT. The stock's reaction is suggesting all the bad news is already priced in.
CAT's management raised their 2015 guidance and adjusted their estimate from $4.65 to $4.75, excluding their restructuring costs they raised their estimate from $4.75 to $5.00. Wall Street's estimate was $4.75 per share. CAT reaffirmed their sales estimate for $50 billion this year.
A couple of analysts with Stifel are bullish on CAT. They believe the combination of the company's big stock buy back program (about $10 billion), a strong dividend (more than 3%), and a healthy North American construction market will buoy CAT's stock while investors wait for a turnaround in commodities.
Technically the stock has been showing relative strength the last few weeks. The point & figure chart has turned bullish and is currently forecasting a long-term target of $108.00. Today CAT is hovering below potential resistance near $88.00. We are suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $88.10.
Long JUL $90 CALL (CAT150717C90) entry $2.00
05/05/15 triggered @ 88.10
Carlisle Companies - CSL - close: 98.41 change: -0.43
Entry on May -- at $---.--
New Positions: Yes, see below
05/21/15: CSL tried to bounce this morning but the rally didn't make it very far. CSL looks like it could test the $98.00 level tomorrow.
We are on the sidelines. Our suggested entry point to buy calls is $101.00.
Consistent earnings growth has helped lift CSL to new all-time highs. Year to date shares of CSL are up +10.8% versus a +3.4% gain in the S&P 500.
CSL is in the consumer goods sector. According to the company, "Carlisle Companies Incorporated is a global diversified company that designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of products that serve a broad range of niche markets including commercial roofing, energy, agriculture, mining, construction, aerospace and defense electronics, medical technology, foodservice, healthcare, sanitary maintenance, transportation, general industrial, protective coating, wood, specialty and auto refinishing.
Through our group of decentralized operating companies led by entrepreneurial management teams, we bring innovative product solutions to solve the challenges facing our customers. Our worldwide team of employees, who generated $3.2 billion in net sales in 2014, is focused on continuously improving the value of the Carlisle brand by developing the best products, ensuring the highest quality and providing unequaled customer service in the many industries we serve."
The last three quarters have seen CSL deliver consistent growth. The company has beat Wall Street estimates on both the top and bottom line the last few quarters. If you look at CSL's daily chart you can see the post-earnings rally in October, early February, and again in late April.
Their most recent report was April 23rd. Analysts were expecting a profit f $0.58 a share on revenues of $699 million. CSL delivered $0.59 with revenues up +9.1% to $709 million.
A couple of Q1 highlights include their CCM and CIT segments. Here's a couple of excerpts from their earnings release.
Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM): Net sales in the first quarter 2015 grew 6.9% to $371.3 million, reflecting organic sales growth of 9.3% primarily on higher demand for new commercial construction, partially offset by a 2.4% negative impact from foreign exchange fluctuations in the stronger U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar and Euro.
Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CIT): Net sales in the first quarter 2015 grew 29% to $194.4 million, reflecting organic growth of 12% and acquisition growth of 17%. Sales in CIT's aerospace market were up 12%. Sales to the military and test and measurement markets were up 12% and 53%, respectively. Sales to the industrial market were down 8%.
CSL does not have a lot of analyst coverage (about eight firms) and currently the consensus is mostly bullish. The median price target is $110.00. That's a little bit less than CSL's point & figure chart, which is bullish and forecasting at $113.00 target.
Goldman Sachs recently studied the global medical technology medical supplies market. The research team sees the global plasma market growing at 6-to-8 percent. They believe that CSL and rival Grifols (GRFS) are the best ways to play this industry and suggested CSL was a "buy".
Technically CSL has digested its post-earnings pop from April. The consolidation appears to be over. Shares have rallied back to round-number, psychological resistance at the $100.00 level. The intraday high was $100.83 on April 24th. We are suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $101.00.
Trigger @ $101.00
Buy the SEP $105 CALL (CSL150918C105)
Entry disclaimer: To avoid an unfavorable entry point, we will not launch a new play if the stock gaps open more than $1.00 past our suggested entry point.
Electronic Arts - EA - close: 62.69 change: +0.08
05/21/15: Shares of EA spiked lower at the open but traders bought the dip near $61.60. EA's rebound pushed shares to a +0.7% gain on the session, which was enough to outperform the major indices.
We are on the sidelines and waiting for a new relative high. Our suggested entry point is $63.65.
Video game stocks are hitting high scores this year. The two biggest players in this industry are ATVI and EA. Shares of ATVI are at all-time highs while EA is nearing a new 10-year high.
EA is considered part of the technology sector. According to the company, "Electronic Arts ( EA ) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world. In fiscal year 2015, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS FIFA, Battlefield, Dragon Age and Plants vs. Zombies."
Shares of EA popped above major resistance near the $60.00 level earlier this month after reporting better than expected Q4 2015 results. Wall Street was looking for EA to deliver a profit of $0.26 a share on revenues of $852.9 million. EA announced a profit of $0.39 a share. Revenues were down -2.0% from a year ago but came in at $896 million, well above estimates.
Their full year results were impressive. EA's net revenues were up almost $1 billion to $4.5 billion. The company's net income soared from $8 million in 2014 to $875 million in 2015. Shares of EA have benefitted from the company's turnaround. The stock is up more than +100% in the last 12 months.
EA's guidance was mixed. They issued bearish guidance for their Q1 2016 (current quarter) and see EPS about flat ($0.00) when Wall Street was expecting $0.19 per share. EA is forecasting Q1 revenues significantly below expectations. However, they raised their fiscal year 2016 profit estimate to $2.75 per share when analysts were only expecting $2.63.
Last quarter EA spent $95 million buying back 1.8 million shares of their stock. When they reported earnings on May 5th they also announced a new $1 billion stock buyback program that expires on May 31, 2017.
EA management sounds pretty optimistic. Here's an excerpt from their earnings press release:
With a clear focus on putting our players first, FY15 was an exceptional year for Electronic Arts. We introduced award-winning games, delivered enduring entertainment in our live services, and forged deeper relationships with a growing global audience across consoles, mobile devices and PC, said Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wilson. EA continues to sharpen our focus and speed, and in the year ahead we will engage more players on more platforms with new experiences like Star Wars Battlefront, FIFA 16, Minions Paradise and more.
Two years ago, we discussed a three-year plan to double non-GAAP operating margins to 20%, said Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen. Today, Im happy to announce that we exceeded our goal a full year ahead of schedule. Looking forward, we anticipate continued earnings growth driven by our strong portfolio, investment in new IP, the market shift to digital, and on-going cost discipline.
Wall Street's analyst community seems bullish on EA as well. Several firms reiterated their bullish ratings and raised price targets.
Shares of EA have been building on a bullish trend of higher lows. The current rally has produced a buy signal on the point & figure chart that is forecasting a long-term target of $110.00. On a short-term basis EA seems to be coiling for a breakout past resistance near $63.50. Tonight we're suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $63.65.
Trigger @ $63.65
Buy the SEP $70 CALL (EA150918C70)
Euronet Worldwide - EEFT - close: 61.21 change: -0.83
05/21/15: Our brand new play on EEFT is open. The stock briefly traded above resistance near $62.00, hit a new all-time high, and then reversed lower. It was not a good day if you're bullish as today's move looks like a potential bull-trap pattern. Unfortunately our trigger to buy calls was hit at $62.25. I'd wait for a new rally past $62.25 before initiating new positions.
The main driver behind share price appreciation is supposed to be earnings growth. That isn't always the case in the stock market but for EEFT they are delivering on the earnings front. EEFT is in the services sector.
According to the company, "Euronet Worldwide is an industry leader in processing secure electronic financial transactions. The Company offers payment and transaction processing solutions to financial institutions, retailers, service providers and individual consumers. These services include comprehensive ATM, POS and card outsourcing services, card issuing and merchant acquiring services, software solutions, cash-based and online-initiated consumer-to-consumer and business-to-business money transfer services, and electronic distribution of prepaid mobile phone time and other prepaid products.
Euronet's global payment network is extensive - including 20,364 ATMs, approximately 69,000 EFT POS terminals and a growing portfolio of outsourced debit and credit card services which are under management in 47 countries; card software solutions; a prepaid processing network of approximately 681,000 POS terminals at approximately 306,000 retailer locations in 33 countries; and a consumer-to-consumer money transfer network of approximately 243,000 locations serving 134 countries. With corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and 54 worldwide offices, Euronet serves clients in approximately 160 countries."
EEFT's earnings history has been strong. They have beaten Wall Street's earnings estimates on both the top and bottom line three out of the last four quarters. It would have been four quarters in a row but their most recent report missed analysts' revenue estimate.
EEFT delivered its 2015 Q1 results on April 28th. Analysts were expecting a profit of $0.54 a share on revenues of $403.75 million. EEFT results saw earnings per share rise +22% from a year ago to $0.56. Revenues were up +12% to $395.2 million. It's worth noting that 70% of EEFT's revenues are outside the U.S. The rise of the dollar last quarter was significant. On a constant currency basis EEFT's revenues were up +25%.
Here's an excerpt from EEFT's earnings press release:
"For the first quarter, we delivered 55% constant currency operating income growth and 22% adjusted cash EPS growth - the ninth consecutive quarter we have achieved double-digit, year-over-year adjusted cash earnings per share growth," stated Michael J. Brown, Euronet's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. "Each segment delivered strong constant currency operating results. Money transfer had another outstanding quarter benefiting from continued organic growth, the launch of the Walmart-2-Walmart product and the acquisition of HiFX. epay contributed double-digit operating income growth for the second consecutive quarter driven by continued expansion of non-mobile content. And, EFT further expanded its ATM and POS networks across Europe and India."
The stock has been building on a bullish trend of higher lows. Today shares are poised to breakout past resistance at $62.00. The point & figure chart is bullish and forecasting at $75.00 target. Tonight we are suggesting a trigger to open bullish positions at $62.25.
Long AUG $65 CALL (EEFT150821C65) entry $2.50
Eaton Corp. - ETN - close: 73.40 change: +0.63
Current Option Gain/Loss: +4.5%
05/21/15: ETN rebounded off short-term support near $72.50 and rallied to a +0.86% gain. Shares look poised to breakout of its recent $72.50-73.75 trading range. I'd be tempted to buy calls again if ETN continues to push higher tomorrow.
ETN is in the industrial goods sector. The company makes products for a wide variety of industries including: aerospace, electrical equipment, filtration systems, hydraulics, plastic extrusion, industrial clutches and brakes, and vehicles.
According to the company, "Eaton is a power management company with 2014 sales of $22.6 billion. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton has approximately 102,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries."
When the market ignores negative earnings news it could be a signal that all the bad news is priced in to a stock and the path of least resistance is higher. That appears to be the case for ETN.
In July 2014 the stock was crushed after the company reported earnings that were only in-line with estimates and the management lowered their 2014 Q3 guidance. Three months later ETN reported its Q3 results that missed expectations on both the top and bottom line. What did the stock do? It rallied.
Fast forward another few months and in early February ETN reported better than expected earnings but revenues were just a hair below estimates. Management lowered their 2015 Q1 estimates due to currency headwinds. They were expecting a -4% impact do to the strong dollar in 2015. What did the stock do on this negative forecast? It rallied.
Several days ago ETN reported its Q1 results on April 29th. Earnings were 3 cents better than expected even as revenues fell -5% to $5.22 billion. This was a result of +1% organic growth offset by -6% decline due to currency translation.
The company's management readjusted their forecast and now expect a -5% impact due to currency headwinds for 2015. With this adjustment they lowered their Q2 and 2015 guidance. Since this earnings report the stock has rallied. Last week shares were upgraded by J.P.Morgan from neutral to overweight who adjusted their ETN price target from $70 to $84. The point & figure chart is even more optimistic and forecasting an $89 target.
If investors are going to be this forgiving then we think there might be an opportunity here. The recent rally in ETN has pushed shares toward resistance near its February highs around $72.50(ish). We are suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $72.75.
Long JUL $75 CALL (ETN150717C75) entry $1.10
FactSet Research - FDS - close: 167.70 change: +0.18
Time Frame: Exit PRIOR to FDS earnings in late June or plan on exiting prior to JUNE option expiration on June 19th
05/21/15: FDS spent the first half of Thursday fading lower. Shares eventually bounced early this afternoon near $166.50. As long as the market is positive tomorrow we could see FDS make a run towards $170.
FDS has provided data, analytics and research to the Wall Street crowd for more than 35 years. Today their software provides a host of services for investment managers, hedge funds, bankers, wealth managers, private equity, buy-side traders, sell-side traders, and more.
FDS is considered part of the technology sector. According to the company, "FactSet, a leading provider of financial information and analytics, helps the world's best investment professionals outperform. More than 50,000 users stay ahead of global market trends, access extensive company and industry intelligence, and monitor performance with FactSet's desktop analytics, mobile applications, and comprehensive data feeds."
The company has been delivering pretty consistent sales growth around +9% every quarter. They raised guidance back in December with their Q1 report. FDS' most recent earnings report was March 17th. The company announced their Q2 results of $1.39 per share, which was up +13.9% from a year ago. Unfortunately that missed analysts' estimates by two cents. Revenues grew +9.2% and kept the trend alive of FDS delivering revenues just above expectations.
The company has an active stock buyback program. Management boosted their repurchase program back in December by $300 million. At the time that meant their buyback program was almost $339 million. Keep in mind that FDS only has 41.7 million shares outstanding.
Following FDS' March 17th Q2 report the company raised their guidance for Q3. They now estimate earnings will grow +12.8% into the $1.40-1.42 per share range. This is above Wall Street estimates. Shares of FDS rallied on this report but they've spent the last several weeks consolidating sideways on either side of $160.00. The good news is that FDS is building a bullish trend of higher lows. Today the stock is poised to breakout past resistance and hit new record highs. We are suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $162.25.
Long JUN $165 CALL (FDS150619C165) entry $3.80
05/13/15 triggered @ 162.25
F5 Networks - FFIV - close: 126.90 change: -0.06
05/21/15: FFIV has been a zombie all week. Shares are sleepwalking sideways and spent today's session in another narrow range. The $128.00 level is short-term resistance.
It has become a hostile world for corporations and their biggest weakness is online security. It feels like every day we hear about another company getting hacked. In recent years there have been a number of high-profile hacking attacks like Target (TGT), Home Depot (HD), and Sony (SNE). Fortunately for FFIV all of this plays to their strength as more corporations seek to beef up their cyber security.
According to company marketing, "F5 provides solutions for an application world. F5 helps organizations seamlessly scale cloud, data center, and software defined networking (SDN) deployments to successfully deliver applications to anyone, anywhere, at any time. F5 solutions broaden the reach of IT through an open, extensible framework and a rich partner ecosystem of leading technology and data center orchestration vendors. This approach lets customers pursue the infrastructure model that best fits their needs over time. The world's largest businesses, service providers, government entities, and consumer brands rely on F5 to stay ahead of cloud, security, and mobility trends."
After strong earnings and sales growth in 2014 the company hiccupped in Q1 2015 (which was the last quarter of 2014). FFIV beat estimates on the bottom line but management guided lower for Q2. You can see how the market reacted to this news with the big gap down in mid January.
Their most recent earnings report was April 22nd. FFIV reported their 2015 Q2 results of $1.59 per share. That was nine cents better than expected. Revenues were up +12.4% to $472.1 million, just above estimates. Wall Street's biggest concerns following these results are the impact of currency headwinds (thanks to the strong dollar) and FFIV's falling revenue growth. They're still growing but momentum seems to be slowing a bit.
The stock rallied on its earnings news and burst through major resistance near $120 and several key moving averages. The last couple of weeks have looked like a consolidation period where FFIV digested its post-earnings pop. Now FFIV is poised for the next leg higher. The point & figure chart is very bullish and forecasting a long-term target of $193.00. Tonight we're suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $125.15.
Long JUL $130 CALL (FFIV150717C130) entry $3.25
Martin Marietta Materials - MLM - close: 154.58 change: +1.08
05/21/15: MLM managed to erase yesterday's decline but the stock remains under resistance near $156.00. Our suggested entry point to buy calls is $156.00.
The Dow Industrials delivered a strong day with a +191 point gain. It's on the verge of breaking out to a new all-time high. Unfortunately the industrials are lagging behind the other major indices with a mere +1.5% gain in 2015.
One industrial sector stock that is really outperforming its peers is MLM. Shares are also near all-time highs and MLM is up about +40% year to date. According to the company, "Martin Marietta, an American-based company and a member of the S&P 500 Index, is a leading supplier of aggregates and heavy building materials, with operations spanning 32 states, Canada and the Caribbean. Dedicated teams at Martin Marietta supply the resources for the roads, sidewalks and foundations on which we live. Martin Marietta's Magnesia Specialties business provides a full range of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and dolomitic lime products."
You probably noticed the huge rally in MLM back in February. That was a reaction to its 2014 Q4 results. Earnings were above expectations and revenues soared +57% from a year ago to $856 million, which was also above analysts' estimates.
The company also announced a 20 million share stock buyback program back in February. Now 20 million shares may not sound like much but MLM only has 67.48 million shares outstanding.
The stock spent the following eight weeks slowly drifting lower. It finally found support in the $135.00 area. Then suddenly MLM found its mojo again when the company reported its 2015 Q1 results on April 30th. The funny thing is MLM actually missed Wall Street estimates. Analysts were expecting a profit of $0.09-0.12 a share for the first quarter. MLM only delivered $0.07 but it was better than a loss of $0.47 a year ago. 2015 Q1 was the first time MLM had reported a profit in the first quarter since 2008.
MLM said revenues rose +61% from a year ago to $691.4 million. That too was below expectations but traders didn't care. Management said their margins improved 500 basis points. Business was strong enough they were able to raise prices +11%. Here's an excerpt from the company's press release:
Ward Nye, Chairman, President and CEO of Martin Marietta, stated: "We are pleased to report improved margins and increased profitability, both considerably ahead of our internal plans, and a first-quarter profit for the first time since 2008. These quarterly results serve as a further validation of our success in executing on our strategic objectives, as well as our relentless commitment to operational excellence and cost discipline. Notably, we achieved volume growth and reported a double-digit pricing increase in our heritage aggregates product line despite severe late winter weather in many markets and significant rainfall in Texas. We view this volume and pricing momentum as an indication of a more construction-centric phase of economic recovery. Our first-quarter results and outlook for the full year have led us to increase our annual aggregates product line pricing guidance from an increase of 4% to 6% to an increase of 7% to 9% over 2014."
Shares of MLM soared on its Q1 report and now the stock has broken through resistance near $150.00. The point & figure chart is bullish and forecasting a long-term target of $221.00. The stock tested $150 as new support three days ago and looks poised to continue its climb. We are suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $156.00.
Buy the JUL $160 CALL (MLM150717C160)
Northern Trust Corp. - NTRS - close: 76.03 change: -0.13
05/21/15: NTRS also delivered a quiet session. Shares hovered near the $76.00 level all day long. I'm not suggesting new positions at this time. I would be tempted to inch the stop loss closer to the $74.00 level.
NTRS has been around for 125 years. The company looks pretty good for its age. Shares are outperforming the broader market and its peers. Currently NTRS is up +10% in 2015 versus a -0.6% decline in the financial sector.
According to the company, "Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has offices in the United States in 19 states and Washington, D.C., and 20 international locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of March 31, 2015, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$6.1 trillion, and assets under management of US$960.1 billion. For 125 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation."
The last couple of earnings reports have been healthy. Their Q4 report in January came in better than expected on both the top and bottom line. NTRS' most recent report was its 2015 Q1 results on April 21st. Wall Street was looking for a profit of $0.87 a share on revenues of $1.12 billion. NTRS said their earnings rose +25% from a year ago to $0.94 and revenues were up +9.0% to $1.13 billion.
NTRS' Chairman and CEO Frederick Waddell commented on his company's performance, "We are pleased with our financial performance in the first quarter of 2015, which reflects continued growth in our business serving personal and institutional clients. Trust, investment and other servicing fees, which represent two-thirds of our revenue, increased 7% compared to last year. New business and higher equity markets contributed to growth in assets under custody and under management of 6% and 5%, respectively. Total revenue grew 9% and we maintained a disciplined focus on expenses, which increased 3%, producing meaningful operating leverage. As a result, our pre-tax profit margin improved to 31.2% in the first quarter and our return on equity was within our target range of 10-15%. We also look forward to returning capital to our stockholders in the year ahead as the Federal Reserve did not object to the proposed capital actions in our 2015 Capital Plan. Our Capital Plan and proposed capital distributions demonstrate the strength of Northern Trust's focused business model, financial position and commitment to stockholders."
Shares of NTRS popped to new multi-year highs on its Q1 report. Instead of giving back its gains the stock has been able to consolidate at these highs. Shares displayed relative strength again with today's +1.1% gain. Today's move is also a bullish breakout past resistance near $74.00. The point & figure chart is bullish and forecasting a long-term target of $86.00. Tonight we're suggesting a trigger to buy calls at $75.05.
Long JUL $75 CALL (NTRS150717C75) entry $2.15
Omincare Inc. - OCR - close: 96.26 change: +1.63
Time Frame: Exit prior to June option expiration
05/21/15: It's time to move on and exit our OCR trade.
Last night there were rumors that CVS was in "advanced" talks to acquire OCR. This morning, before the bell, it was unveiled that OCR had accepted at $12.7 billion bid from CVS. This deal values OCR at $98.00 per share and CVS will take on $2.3 billion of OCR's debt.
Shares of OCR gapped open higher. By lunchtime the rally had leveled off and OCR drifted sideways in the $96.20-96.40 zone. The value of our call option plummeted.
Any time premium just vanished. This deal won't be done before our June call expires. There is no reason for OCR shares to trade above $98.00. It's conceivable that another company could make an offer for OCR and there could be a bidding war but that's just wishful thinking.
We'll exit this trade tomorrow morning.
Long JUN $95 CALL (OCR150619C95) entry $2.28
05/21/15 prepare to exit tomorrow morning, CVS offers $98/share for OCR
05/20/15 After hours, OCR spikes toward $100 on news it is in talks with CVS
Roper Technologies - ROP - close: 177.20 change: +0.31
05/21/15: ROP spent today's session churning sideways. I don't see any changes from last night's new play description.
2015 is shaping up to be a record-setting year for ROP with profits on track for a new high. Investors have pushed the stock to new highs as well. ROP is up +12.8% year to date versus a +3.3% gain in the S&P 500.
ROP is in the industrial goods sector. The company just recently changed their name from Roper Industries to Roper Technologies.
According to the company, "Roper Technologies is a diversified technology company and is a constituent of the S&P 500, Fortune 1000, and the Russell 1000 indices. Roper provides engineered products and solutions for global niche markets, including software information networks, medical, water, energy, and transportation."
Their most recent earnings report was April 27th. ROP reported its 2015 Q1 results. Earnings per share rose 5% from a year ago to $1.55. Analysts were expecting $1.52. Revenues were up +3.7% to $865 million. That actually missed estimates of $873 million but the market didn't seem to care. ROP said their adjusted gross margin hit a new high, rising 140 basis points to 60.0%.
Management did lower their Q2 guidance but they raised their full year 2015 guidance. Again, traders seemed to look past the short-term lowered guidance in favor of the long view. ROP is forecasting 2015 earnings in the $6.75-6.95 range, up from $6.40 per share in 2014.
Barclays reiterated their overweight rating on the stock and raised their price target to $193.00. The point & figure chart is even more optimistic and currently forecasting at $209.00 target.
Shares of ROP hit new highs last week and have managed to hover there in the $175.00 region. The stock looks poised to push higher and we want to buy calls if ROP can trade at $177.75.
Buy the AUG $180 CALL (ROP150821C180)
Snap-on Inc. - SNA - close: 157.74 change: +1.16
05/21/15: SNA bounced toward last week's highs and paused just below short-term resistance near $158.00.
Steady earnings growth, a consistent dividend, and a positive outlook are three things investors like to see. SNA delivers on all three counts. The company is in the industrial goods sector.
According to the company, "Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as for customers in industries, including aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation and technical education. Snap-on also derives income from various financing programs to facilitate the sales of its products. Products and services are sold through the company's franchisee, company-direct, distributor and internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $3.3 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin."
SNA has been consistently beating analysts expectations. Prior to their Q1 report the company was delivering results above estimates on both the top and bottom line. That changed with the April 23rd announcement of its Q1 results. Earnings rose +15.4% from a year ago to $1.87 per share. This was above Wall Street estimates and the eight consecutive quarter in a row that SNA has beaten analysts' expectations. Unfortunately, revenues only rose +5.1% to $827.8 million and that missed estimates of $834.4 million.
The market's didn't seem to care. Shares of SNA rallied anyway in spite of the earnings miss. Management said their Q1 2015 saw strong organic growth in sales of +9.9%. One analyst raised their price target on SNA to $180 per share. The point & figure chart is even more optimistic and forecasting at $191 target.
SNA has also announced another dividend. Here's a quick excerpt from the company press release, SNA has declared a "quarterly common stock dividend of $0.53 per share payable June 10, 2015 to shareholders of record on May 20, 2015. Snap-on has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends, without interruption or reduction, since 1939."
Technically shares of SNA look bullish with a strong pattern of higher lows. It's currently poised to breakthrough short-term resistance near $153.25 soon. We are suggesting at rigger to buy calls at $153.50.
Long JUN $155 CALL (SNA150619C155) entry $2.55
Currently we do not have any active put trades.


This bald gnome has rocky gray skin and a wiry physique. Its pale eyes are overly large and expressive.
Svirfneblin, or "deep gnomes," are a reclusive offshoot of the gnome race. They dwell underground in hidden cities, safe from dark elves and other subterranean races. They have skin the color of gray or brown stone. Males are bald, and females have stringy gray hair. A svirfneblin's ties to the eerie realm of the fey are much stronger than those of their surface-dwelling gnome kin, and this makes them either strangely detached from their emotions or violently random in their outbursts. Svirfneblin have long fought wars against the duergar, and have a difficult time seeing the difference between duergar and other dwarves.
Svirfneblin are defined by their class levels—they do not possess racial Hit Dice. A svirfneblin's CR is equal to his class level. Svirfneblin have the following racial traits.
–2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, –4 Charisma: Svirfneblin are fast and observant, but relatively weak and emotionally distant.
Small: Svirfneblin are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their CMB and CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
Defensive Training: Svirfneblin gain a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class.
Senses: Svirfneblin have darkvision 120 ft. and low-light vision.
Fortunate: Svirfneblin gain a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws.
Skilled: Svirfneblin gain a +2 racial bonus on Stealth checks; this improves to a +4 bonus underground. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks and Perception checks.
Hatred: Svirfneblin receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoid creatures of the reptilian and dwarven subtypes due to training against these hated foes.
Stonecunning: Svirfneblin gain stonecunning as a dwarf.
Spell Resistance: Svirfneblin have SR equal to 11 + class levels.
Svirfneblin Magic: Svirfneblin add +1 to the DC of any illusion spells they cast. Svirfneblin also gain the spell-like abilities listed above; caster level equals the svirfneblin's class levels.
Languages: Svirfneblin begin play speaking Gnome and Undercommon. Those with high Int scores can choose from the following bonus languages: Aklo, Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc, or Terran.


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Closing the Loopholes in Europe's Net Neutrality Compromise
By Jeremy Gillula and Jeremy Malcolm
Since our last update on the upcoming net neutrality regulation in the European Union, a further compromise proposal has been developed, which heads to a vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday next week. On its face, the draft regulation appears to hit all the most important points, including providing that "When providing internet access services, providers of those services should treat all traffic equally, without discrimination, restriction or interference, independently of its sender or receiver, content, application or service, or terminal equipment".
But the devil is in the details. There are several loopholes in the current text which, if not resolved, would result in limited net neutrality protections. Between now and Monday, European activists are pushing for amendments to improve the draft regulation to close these loopholes. Their proposed amendments would address:
Specialized services: The specialized services exception allows ISPs to use IP networks for delivery of other online services, distinct from general Internet access that they offer, without complying with the same non-discrimination rules. While the language here is better than in earlier drafts—it no longer allows general Internet access to be negatively affected by the availability of specialized services—clearer language could ensure that the range of specialized services that can take advantage of this exception is narrowly confined to those that legitimately require separate treatment.
Zero rating: The current text does not prohibit zero rating outright, but it also doesn't make clear that countries can regulate zero rated services if they choose to do so. Further clarity in the text would help to make clear that member states will retain the ability to regulate zero rating, to address competition or consumer harms that this practice may create.
Congestion management: The text contains an exception that would allow providers to regulate impending network congestion, not just actual congestion. This is seen by European activists as overstepping the bounds of reasonable network management. They seek an amendment that would confine network management for congestion to times when the network is already actually congested.
Traffic management based on traffic type: Probably the worst aspect of the current text is an exception that would allow ISPs to manage congestion by prioritizing traffic based "on objectively different technical quality of service requirements of specific categories of traffic." This language would give ISPs broad discretion to decide which traffic gets a higher priority based on its claimed Quality of Service ("QoS") requirements, e.g., by prioritizing VoIP traffic over peer-to-peer traffic, or by prioritizing gaming traffic over encrypted traffic on port 443. The problem with this is that in order for ISPs to do this prioritization, they first have to correctly categorize the traffic, which isn't always easy to do. For example, an application which uses peer-to-peer technology for a group VoIP chat service might end up being degraded because it looks like P2P traffic, even though it's actually VoIP traffic. Additionally, ISPs would be unable to categorize encrypted traffic without trying to do some sort of traffic flow analysis, and this analysis would likely fail at correctly categorizing new types of encrypted traffic. As a result, they could put put new encrypted services at risk of being degraded. ISPs should be able to prioritize prioritize different classes of traffic, but this prioritization should be at the behest of the customer and easy for the customer to manage. For example, it would be completely acceptable if an ISP offered a customer the option of prioritizing her own VoIP traffic over her own P2P traffic, but the ISP should not prioritize her VoIP traffic over her neighbor's P2P traffic if they're paying for the same level of service.
The amendments supported by European activists are important and should be adopted—especially because the regulation will become European law immediately when passed. (This differs from the alternative procedure of a "directive," which would have to be implemented in each country before it becomes law.) That means there are only a few days remaining to convince European Members of Parliament (MEPs) to support the amendments.
If you live in Europe, you can express your support for the suggested amendments by visiting the coalition site savetheInternet.eu. Please contact your MEP and help preserve an open Internet in Europe today.
Deeplinks Blog by Chao Liu, Ernesto Falcon, Katharine Trendacosta | December 6, 2022
Network Usage Fees Will Harm European Consumers and Businesses
Network usage fees, the idea that certain types of companies should pay internet service providers (ISPs) for the ability to deliver their content to consumers, both hurts consumers and breaks the status quo that has facilitated the rapid spread of the global internet. ISPs claim these fees are necessary because...
Deeplinks Blog by Chao Liu, Katharine Trendacosta | August 22, 2022
New Proposal Brings Us a Step Closer to Net Neutrality
Right now, Americans live in a country where the companies that control our access to the internet face little-to-no oversight. In most states, these companies can throttle your service—or that of, say, a fire department fighting the largest wildfire in state history. They can block a service they don't...
Deeplinks Blog by Ernesto Falcon | June 15, 2022
Stop This California Bill that Bans Affordable Broadband Rules
The California Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee will soon be the first to consider new and terrible amendments to Assemblymember Quirk-Silva's A.B. 2749—which is backed by AT&T and other telecommunications interests. The legislation would prohibit the state from implementing affordable broadband rules for broadband companies receiving state subsidies as...
Deeplinks Blog by Ernesto Falcon | May 18, 2022
We Finally Have a Federal Fiber Broadband Plan
There is a lot to appreciate in the recently published "Notice of Funding Opportunity" (NOFO) by the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA). It is arguably the first federal government proposal that seeks to promote infrastructure policies focused on the future, rather than the usual subsidizing "good enough...
Deeplinks Blog by Ernesto Falcon | April 26, 2022
What Low-Income People Will Lose with a Deadlocked FCC
When the massive, bipartisan infrastructure package passed Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was tasked with ensuring equal access to broadband access services. That provision is called "Digital Discrimination" and it states, for the first time in federal law, that specifically broadband access cannot be built along the lines of...
Deeplinks Blog by Ernesto Falcon | February 4, 2022
Senate Commerce Committee is Letting Big Telecom Hamstring the FCC
Six months have passed since the Biden Administration signed an Executive Order to restore Net Neutrality at the FCC. And three months have passed since the President nominated net neutrality champion Gigi Sohn, a member of the EFF board, to the FCC (Sohn will leave the EFF board if she...
Deeplinks Blog by Ernesto Falcon, Katharine Trendacosta | January 28, 2022
California Prevails on Net Neutrality Rules
The Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of California over the large national internet service providers (ISPs), paving the way for California's gold standard state net neutrality law to go forward. Throughout the long battle on net neutrality, from Ajit Pai's repeal of federal net neutrality protections to state efforts to...
Deeplinks Blog by Jason Kelley | July 28, 2021
EFF at 30: Freeing the Internet, with Net Neutrality Pioneer Gigi Sohn
To celebrate 30 years of defending online freedom, EFF held a candid live discussion with net neutrality pioneer and EFF board member Gigi Sohn, who served as Counselor to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and co-founder of leading advocacy organization Public Knowledge.
Deeplinks Blog by Corynne McSherry | May 13, 2021
EFF to Ninth Circuit: Don't Block California's Pathbreaking Net Neutrality Law
Partnering with the ACLU and numerous other public interest advocates, businesses and educators, EFF has filed an amicus brief urging the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a district court's decision not to block enforcement of SB 822, a law that ensures that Californians have fair access to...


If you're feeling despair about the fate of the planet, reconsider. We are suddenly responding to the climate emergency with astonishing speed. The game is not over. And the good guys are starting to win.
We are living through the most astonishing period of human progress in history. And nobody's telling us about it.
Tech is making us like to move it, move it.
I wanted to be three things. I wanted to be a mathematician, a hairdresser or a rock journalist.
AllGrid's overarching aim is to change the way we relate to our energy needs by coupling this technology with a more holistic approach to energy consumption.
For the first time, we feel the political will to focus on societal benefits rather than fast money.


SiTime Corporation, a leading provider of MEMS timing, has announced the Emerald Platform™, a revolutionary precision timing solution that solves critical timing challenges for 5G infrastructure equipment. With the Emerald Platform, operators can deploy 5G equipment in harsh environments and reliably offer mission-critical services.
Timing is potentially the single biggest point of failure in 5G systems and can impact performance, reliability, and revenue. 5G timing is a complex challenge for system OEMs, and requires a new approach beyond traditional, component-level methods that are in use today. To solve this, SiTime pioneered a systems approach with Emerald to help their customers achieve their highest level of performance and capability. By combining their revolutionary MEMS with programmable analog, innovative packaging and high-performance algorithms, they have created a solution that they claim is 20 times better than what is currently available.
As mobile operators move into 5G and edge computing, they will require much tighter time synchronization in the radio equipment, which necessitates the use of OCXOs. Prior to 5G, this OCXO was deployed in a well-controlled environment. Now, the computing, core network, and radio will be collapsed into a system that may be deployed in an uncontrolled environment such as a tower, rooftop, or lamppost. In this environment, the OCXO will be exposed to vibration and temperature extremes. This change in deployment architecture requires new thinking and an evaluation of the benefits of MEMS and quartz timing technologies.
SiTime's unique systems approach is being used by up to 10,000 customers. Their products are always programmable, which ensures 100% availability with short lead times. Their innovative temperature compensation algorithms, in conjunction with MEMS and analog components, ensure that 5G equipment can be deployed anywhere, in any environment. In the future, they will continue to use their systems expertise to expand their leadership in the $1.5 billion networking and telecommunications timing market.


Our annual Fall West Workshop is held each year in the middle of October at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township, PA. The full day agenda includes four professional development sessions, breakfast and lunch and is open to members, nonmembers and students. The 2017 Conference will be held on Monday, October 16.


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Browse: Home / News & Features / REVIEWS / 2015 / March / Captives by Angela Meyer
Captives by Angela Meyer
Anna Saikin
March 16, 2015 · in REVIEWS
Angela Meyer, Captives
Inkerman and Blunt, 2014
"It was easy to imagine what could have happened. I was well practiced at it." So speaks the narrator of "A bag of wool," one of the many extraordinary characters in Angela Meyer's flash collection, Captives. The narrator recounts his or her habit of going to the library to research old periodicals for the death announcements. Meyer's deft language turns what could be merely a voyeuristic look at the past into a moment of reflection: "I sat there in the dusty library, the spectre of sudden death wrapping an icy hand around the tail of my spine. In the car on the winding road, I felt its grip again. I'll admit I search for it, sometimes leaning back to let it take hold, so I might know how to live on." Captives does not have a cohesive narrative thread, but the collection examines the meaning of loneliness as a common factor in modern society.
Meyer's stories are inspired by Franz Kafka, and the cover and section breaks feature images adapted from his notebooks and papers. Like Kafka's writings, Meyer's subjects seem absurd at first glance, but quickly earn the reader's sympathy. As Kafka famously wrote, "One advantage in keeping a diary is that you become aware with reassuring clarity of the changes which you constantly suffer." Meyer's stories similarly explore the passage of time with repetitions that build depth rather than annoy. One of the longer stories, "Nineteen," features a main character who could be any college girl going to a party. Lisa automatically feels competition with one of her friends, and then pauses to reassess her behavior: "Lisa thought about the calories and was jealous of the fact that Serena didn't seem to care or notice. Then Lisa thought about the thought and felt the smallness of her world like a bruising pressure on her skin." Lisa's self-reflexive contemplation serves to distance herself from Serena, but the story's emotional journey is solely Lisa's. After the party, she retreats to a diner to talk with another friend about the future: "they talked about what they really wanted, and that was more satisfying, even though Kirsten wanted a house and Lisa wanted something vague and sparkling." "Nineteen"'s power stems from its awareness that many of us are as unsure about our present moment as we are about our future. Lisa's optimism is grounded in her capacity to hope against reason that tomorrow will bring enlightenment.
Structurally, Captives is divided into a series of opposites (such as On/Off, Up/Down, and In/Out), except for the last section, titled "Until." While some of the categories suggest a move toward a sense of community, the characters remain isolated in their own experiences. A theme of many stories is lust—a desire for what others have, not objects, but people. In "Portrait of a suicide," the narrator is a photographer of suicidal subjects: "The photographs, when they come out, look just like Victorian-era death portraits, only my subjects are still alive." In one, a potential suicide folds his hands across his chest while his mother touches his shoulder. The photographer not only memorializes the present moment, but also anticipates the son's future death. The mother tries to keep her son by expressing her approval of his choice, even as the picture captures his movement away from her. Similarly, "Apocalypse" gives a portrait of an office worker who imagines end of the world at every turn.
Not all of Meyer's stories address the future. In "My sweetheart saw a child's face in the train window," the narrator describes his or her lover's travels through a small town. The prose recreates a Benjamin Button-like movement to the past: "Vintage cars were parked in the driveways of houses. Children carried tin lunch boxes printed with rockets." The nostalgic recreation eventually leads them home: "By the time we got to my parents' house we had shrunk down to half-size, and we walked hand in hand, smiling, with sugar floss for thoughts." The story's outer innocence hides a very-adult understanding of how dreams can be corrupted by time and experience.
Captives, then, imagines the end of time, not as a distant prospect, but as an inevitability that we carry with us in the present. Its mystery is the source of the hope, despair, frustration, and even acceptance that runs throughout the collection. Each of Meyer's stories closes with a line or phrase that give Captives its emotional ferocity, and, like a fermata over a rest, encourage the reader to pause over revelations both large and small. The final story, "A momentary lapse of reason," captures the still, slow movement of a woman reaching out her hand as a tree branch falls on a power line. Meyer allows the transcendence of the image to overcome the reader's horror, much as she does in every story that precedes it.
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Happy New Year from the Couples Post!
By Nick and Jen December 31, 2019
As 2019 draws to a close, we all look ahead to the new possibilities that a new decade will bring us all in 2020.
We at The Couples Post hope that you and your families have had a splendid holiday and a Happy New Year, filled with love and joy. As we're all starting 2020, it's the time many of us make resolutions and we were wondering from our community of readers, what are your resolutions for your marriage in the coming year? Are you looking to spend more quality time together? Do you want work at listening to each other better? Is acceptance of each other just as you are something that would be the right first step for a new decade? We invite you to share any New Year's resolutions in the comments below.
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
Nick and Jen December 31, 2019 at 10:52 AM
We'll start with our New Year's resolution! In 2020, we'd like to schedule more time together on the calendar so that it doesn't just get filled up with busyness.
Sex: Spontaneous or Planned . . . Let the Conversation Begin
By Tom and Mary Frances Burke January 04, 2021
Happy New Year to all! We are so grateful that 2020 is clearly in our rear-view mirror. What a relief. The start of a new year is traditionally set aside for reflection and resolutions. For us, 2021 was no different. We often make couple as well as individual resolutions. Stress and busyness, age and life in general had cooled our sexual relationship to a slow simmer. Our 2021 goal is : " Some is good. More is better! " Planned or spontaneous -- all is good! Let the conversation begin.
Verbal Judo – Harmonizing Your Tone of Voice
By Paul and Stephanie Francois January 09, 2021
Some time ago, we wrote about the importance of being aware of the Tone of Voice we use with our spouse. The gist of the post was that our Tone of Voice is the key culprit that begins most disagreements, hurts, and fights between spouses. We want to revisit this important topic and provide some additional helpful hints we've learned along the way.
It's that time of year – you know, when our kids are all on their best behavior and the most frequent threat you hear parents utter is "Santa is watching!" The latest craze is the Elf on the Shelf. The elf moves around your home, keeping its eye on your kids and causing a little mayhem along the way. Maybe your elf plays a game with a few of the stuffed animals in the house. Perhaps it gets into your cookie jar. Maybe it even spills flour in your kitchen. No matter what, the kids know it's watching them. So, what if the elf was watching you and your spouse? Would he tell Santa to bring you a present or put a lump of coal in your stocking?
8 Misunderstandings That Are Hurting Your Sex Life
By Ken and Janine July 19, 2020
Why are we writing about sex again? Sex in marriage is more important than most people think. It's mysterious. There are a lot of "layers" and complexities to this whole topic.... read on...
Looking Forward with Hope and Promise to 2021
By Tom and Mary Frances Burke December 27, 2020
2020 will soon be in our rear-view mirror . . . We look forward with hope and promise to 2021. W e at The Couples Post have shared in a practical way how we are so much stronger together as a couple. May that strength help us navigate 2021 and beyond.
Happy Holidays? In 2020? Yes!
By John and Julie December 14, 2020
" It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! W hether our holiday family traditions have been around for generations or started in our own marriage, one thing is for certain - 2020 has upended them all.
Great Sex!
By Ken and Janine August 06, 2018
Photo by ijeab / Freepik Sex between a married couple is not only good, it's very good. If you read the research and surveys, you will find that married couples experience better and more frequent sex than non-married couples. Married couples are healthier, happier, and live longer. When we went on a WorldWide Marriage Encounter weekend, we were more than a little surprised when a priest told us that our love-making is good, is important for us, and is important to the world. He encouraged us to "make mad passionate love!" So, why has married sex become something else? Society and media portray sex for married couples as dull and lifeless, a tool used to manipulate, something to joke about, and something that - beyond the newlywed phase- gradually drifts away. We've been sold this bill of goods, and we often buy into it! What we really crave in our sex life is to give and receive something powerful- to experience the depths of our passion and love for each other, t
10 Things Women Want
By Ken and Janine December 07, 2020
1) Learn her "Love Language :" And speak it often! (Learn more: What Language Are You Speaking? ) Janine's love language is "Acts of Service." So, when I vacuum or do dishes or cook, it fills up her 'love tank' - her mood brightens and there's a whole different vibe between us. I can tell I've found a direct path to her heart.
I Married YOU, Not Your Family
By Nick and Jen February 24, 2020
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels Growing up and getting married means that we leave our family of origin and start a new family. We're not asked to forget about mom and dad, but we do need to remember that our spousal relationship is important to take care of because it becomes the solid ground where we plant our new roots.
Marriage is a VERB
By Tom and Mary Frances Burke March 11, 2019
Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get. It's something you do. It's the way you love your partner every day."
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