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White Culture’s Attempt to De-Radicalize Martin Luther King

Since the Black Lives Matter Movement started it has been labeled as being too radical, using offensive language and being racist. Critics claim that the Civil Rights Movement, specifically Martin Luther King Jr., would not even support the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Has our white culture attempted to whiten MLK’s legacy so much that many no longer consider King controversial?

Lets be clear, if you are white and do not support the Black Lives Matter Movement today, then the overwhelming odds are that no matter if you would have lived in the North or South in the 50s and 60s you would not have supported the Civil Rights Movement then.

The same criticisms of Black Lives Matter today were issued about King and the countless others involved in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950’s and 1960’s. King was blamed for riots, for hatred between the races, and for being racist against white people.

Many of us know about the actions the Civil Rights Movement had in the South such as sit-ins, marches, boycotts, and Freedom Rides. These events only had limited support from white people and even worse is that the majority of white Americans actually believed actions such as these were hurting the chances of racial integration.

In 1966 King came to Chicago to try to end poverty and “…to help eradicate a viscous system which seeks to further colonize thousands of negroes within a slum environment.” After spending time in Chicago and leading actions around the city King said, “I’ve been in many demonstrations all across the south, but I can say that I have never seen – even in Mississippi and Alabama – mobs as hostile and as hate-filled as I’ve seen here in Chicago.”

Based on King’s own observations, white people in the North were just as racist as white people in the South during this time period. Except, because the majority of the movement happened in the South the north was able to hide it’s racism.

Not only was King criticized by regular white Americans he was also criticized by white religious leaders for his actions being “unwise and untimely”. As a reverend this criticism lead him to write his eloquent response, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. In the letter he includes “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens’ Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice […] who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action.’”

So to be clear, MLK said, it was not the KKK who was the greatest roadblock to freedom, it was the typical white American.

Even after King was murdered, just getting MLK Day to be a national holiday was a struggle for those involved. It took 9 years for DC politicians to approve it. Once it was approved it still took an additional 17 years to get all 50 states to celebrate the day.

Further proof of how radical King was emerged when his family took the U.S. Government to trial because of evidence they believed that they had obtained that showed that King was not killed by James Earl Ray, but instead he was killed by the U.S. Government.

During nearly the entire Civil Rights Movement the U.S. Government, specifically the FBI, monitored, harassed, murdered, and/or tried to stop the movement by any means necessary. The FBI went so far with King to stop the Movement specifically that they threatened they would make public his extra marital affairs and also sent him letters suggesting he commit suicide.

I get it, we white people do not want to be considered racist. But we have come to the point where we took a radical figure like King, ignored nearly every radical speech, action, and statement made by him and now just use him to try to quiet Black people anytime that they are upset. White people will post quotes from King on MLK day, but are only quoting the King that they want him to be not the radical King that he was. We ignore his quotes against the military, against moderate whites, and his promotion of black pride.

Black Lives Matter is inclusive like King, is pro-Black like King, and is controversial like King…

So before another person like the Atlanta Mayor says MLK would not have shut down a highway, which we know he did, or someone like Bill O’Reilly says that, “Dr. King would not participate in a Black Lives Matter protest”. King not only would have participated, but it is in part because of his leadership that Black Lives Matter operates.

So anytime anyone says King was not a radical or says King would not support Black Lives Matter ask for proof and then ask for which King they are talking about.

The real King or the lightened un-radicalized King that they can put up on their wall by their white Jesus.

View this piece on the Huffington Post by clicking here.


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How to Use LinkedIn Premium For Your Business | SEJ

LinkedIn Premium can offer numerous benefits to individuals and companies. Here’s how you can better utilize your own LinkedIn Premium subscription.

About author View all posts Author website

David Demko

IT professional, husband, father, student of human behavior, sports and politics.

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There’s an old saying that says, “You’ll know quality when you see it”, and this is still true today and probably always will be.  But, sometimes there are situations when you have no idea what quality really is, either because you have absolutely no idea about the subject or because quality can be subjective and can vary depending on the expectations of the individual.  So, when it comes to factors to consider when choosing quality kitchen cabinets, the following will provide you with guidelines to follow and thoughts to ponder when choosing the best quality cabinets that are aligned with your needs as well as your budget. DiStefano Brothers team of experts will help you choose the quality and style that meet your budget and reflect your unique vision.

Cabinets can come in several ways:  boxed and ready to install, boxed and ready to assemble, semi-custom, and custom.  It is obvious that the higher end cabinet is the one custom-made to the buyer’s specifications, and therefore the most expensive.  However, no matter which of these is right for you, they all have certain structural components and factors that impact performance, price, and visual appeal that should always be considered. The following information will help you decide on the kitchen or bathroom cabinets that are right for you and your style.

CABINET TYPES: Particle Board vs. Plywood- When deciding between plywood and particle board, there are a few things to consider.  Plywood tends to be the best choice for several reasons.  It is lighter in weight, holds screws and hardware better, more resistant to pulling, and is able to bear more weight.  Plywood is also more resistant to scratches and dents.  However, particle board does have its unique advantages.  To begin, particle board can withstand temperature changes and will be more resistant to warping due to environmental changes.  Particle board is also less expensive, depending on your budget and the scale of your project; this may be a big advantage.  It is also important to note that particle board is not resistant to moisture.  Our team will consider environmental factors, budget, design, style and your vision when guiding you through this decision.

There are two types of cabinetry frames; face framed and frameless designs.  The face framed design is what has been popular in the past and offers a traditional look.  The frameless or box design is a newer, simpler option which has become very popular.  Both choices are offered in stock, semi-custom, and custom cabinet designs and are available in both framed and frameless construction. Both types of frames can share similarities in materials but differ in construction.

With a face framed design, a 1.5-2 inch border, or frame, hides the edge of the cabinet box.  This type of design offers strength and sturdiness to the cabinet.  The cabinet door is attached to the frame’s side.  Doors can be mounted to the inside of the frame giving a flush look or to the front of the frame leaving an overlay.  Very few cabinet frames are made from solid wood.  The box is typically made from plywood, particle board, or medium density fiberboard (MDF).

The frameless box, also known as the euro, has no face frame.  The doors attach directly to the sides of the cabinet box and cover the entire frontal space and box.  This is called a full overlay.  This design gives the benefit of full access to the cabinet interior and therefore offers the maximum use of space.  The cabinet drawers are slightly larger with this design than the face framed construction method.  Most frameless box designs are composed of plywood, structural particle board or MDF and edged with a laminate or wood veneer.

If you are ready to splurge and desire an old world appeal or a traditional look, go for the face framed cabinet with drawer fronts and doors made from solid wood.  This would give a classic appearance whether the cabinets are flush or have an overlay design.

If you are looking to save money, the frameless construction requires less labor and is therefore, more economical.  There are many styles in the frameless construction design that allow you to achieve the look you desire at reduced prices.

Kitchen or bathroom cabinets should be both beautiful and functional and provide convenience to the homeowner.  A stronger glide technology allows for larger drawers and maximum weight.  Drawers can hold from small utensils and spices to pots, pans, and even butcher blocks.  Drawers can be simple or divided for ease of storage.

Currently gaining in popularity is the trend towards drawer only designs for base cabinets.  These base cabinets are stacked as lower, middle, and upper drawers and have glides that aid in opening and closing.  Some options include three quarter extension epoxy-coated glides that hold up to 75 lbs. and allow most of the drawer to be pulled out from the box, to full extension glides which hold up to 100 lbs. and give access to the entire drawer.

When considering drawers and glides, be sure to check the load rating options which can range from 50-100 lb capacity.

RI Remodel

There are plenty of choices for cabinet doors, latches and hinges.  Our design team will guide you through these options while always considering your style, needs and the functionality of the cabinets.

One thing to consider adding to your cabinets would be soft closing hinges.  Soft closing hinges involve a mechanism that is built right into the hinges.  A soft closing hinge will stop the slamming of cabinets so that you can avoid the jarring sound as well as the damage to the cabinet from continued slamming.

Cabinet finishes are a great way to personalize your kitchen. Manufactured wood doors and drawer fronts are available unfinished or with a factory-applied finish. Semi-custom cabinetry offers a wide selection of finishes and paint colors, which are typically baked on. Custom finishes are usually hand applied or rolled and topped with a varnish.  Your budget will drive much of your decision as to the type of finish suitable for your project but your choice of finishes is almost endless. The finish of your cabinets is as important as how the cabinet is constructed.  The finish is the message of who you are and what your style is in your home.  It should have aesthetic appeal but is also the key component in the protection of the wood surface of your cabinets ( please note we’re talking about wood cabinets, not laminate or melamine in this case). There are thousands of varnishes, lacquers and other cabinet surface treatments to investigate but the following are some of the common finishes and their important features to help guide your decision.

  • Paint– The benefit of paint is that you have a limitless color pallet available to you. You’re not limited to a range of browns and other earth tones like you are with wood stains.  Semi-custom cabinet lines will color match swatches to of paint from a manufacturer.
  • Stain – Wood stain is a topical color treatment that alters the natural color of the underlying wood while allowing the grain pattern to show through. Wood stain requires a sealer on top of it for protection.
  • Glaze– Glaze is a pigmented but transparent or semi-transparent coating that’s applied over a base coating such as paint or stain. Glaze is used to enhance the look of cabinets by highlighting the underlying base color and bringing out surface detail. When glaze is applied and then hand wiped some of the glaze remains in the corners and recesses of doors, providing additional visual highlights.
  • Antiqued Look- Antiqued patinas are hand-rubbed for added character, allowing cabinetry to appear well beyond its years. Cabinets may be distressed through a variety of techniques, which score the wood’s surface to add age and a weathered rustic patina. Paint has a heavy pigment that does not show the wood’s grain.
  • Laminate and Thermofoil- Other common door types are laminate and thermofoil. Laminate doors look similar to slab doors but most have 5/8-inch MDF core covered with a laminate on all sides. Laminate doors are very rigid and withstand scratches better than thermofoil. Thermofoil doors are made from a three-quarter-inch MDF slab with a sheet of heat-formed PVC face that is wrapped around the door. A thermofoil surface won’t stand up to some abrasives and is easily scratched, but creates a seamless and stain resistant coating and is a popular choice for more contemporary high gloss cabinets.

RI Hom eRemodel

When choosing your cabinet finish, think about how appealing it will be to you over time.  Will it be too bold later, or too distracting, or so trendy that it will go out of style quickly.  Choose timeless paints or finishes that you could live with for a long time.

It is not necessary to buy custom made cabinetry in order to personalize your design.  There are many ways to make your project your own that are not necessarily expensive and can make a remarkable difference in the look of your cabinets.

One way to enhance the look of your cabinets is with knobs and pulls. These handy features are more than a means to open cabinetry. Along with hinges, they are integral decorative elements. The primary consideration when selecting knobs and pulls is determining whether these elements will serve as an accent or blend in with surrounding cabinetry. An extensive range of knobs and pulls is available from wood and plastic to metal and ceramic. Personal taste and price point are the only guiding factors.

Whether you are installing new cabinetry or upgrading, you’ll want to peruse accessories for ease of use, optimum storage and increased organization.  Some of the more common basics include lazy Susans, trash bin and recycling pull-outs, and utensil dividers. Others such as plate displays and divided wine racks establish eye-catching focal points but also serve a function.  For the culinary expert, spice drawers are popular.  Keep in mind when making choices for extras such as these, the more accessories added, the higher costs will increase.

Still another way to personalize your design is by considering the upper cabinet door choices.  Glass door faces on upper cabinetry offer a welcome change of pace and open up the room, allowing it to feel more spacious. Glass doors can be paned, beveled, textured, etched, mirrored, glazed or tinted.  A current trend is a mercury glass finish to glass panels for upper cabinet doors.  They are beautiful, offer a spacious feeling due to a mirror effect, and also hide most of the contents of the cabinet. Another alternative to solid doors or upper cabinetry is open shelving which personalizes a room and allows it to feel more airy. The look can be sleek for modern spaces or pump up the charm factor in cottage-like kitchens. Whatever your taste, tidiness and attractive dishware are key to glass inlays and open shelving.

RI House Remodel

Environmentally conscious consumers have more options than ever to limit their negative impact on the planet, at least when it comes to their kitchen cabinets.

The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) created the Environment Stewardship Program (ESP) to help manufacturers, consumers, designers, architects and builders identify environmentally friendly products. More than 150 cabinet manufacturers carry an ESP seal, which recognizes companies meeting requirements of air quality, product resource management, process resource management, environmental stewardship and community relations. Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinetry are all available with ESP certification.

Another eco-friendly idea is if you are repainting, choose paints with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  And, when designing custom cabinetry made of solid wood, be sure that the wood is derived from a certified managed forest and carries the Forest Stewardship Council logo.  Also, be sure to complement cabinetry with other sustainable or eco-friendly materials on countertops.

Manufacturers sell cabinets through a retail network including building supply stores, kitchen and bath retailers, renovation and design firms, and home improvement centers.  When you are shopping for kitchen or bathroom cabinetry, the options are many.

It’s advisable to enlist the same company to measure, design, purchase and install cabinetry, whether you buy through a big box store or a custom cabinet maker. It is best and most convenient to let your retailer take the measurements.  This ensures you won’t be responsible for any measurement or other oversights.

Once ordered, the turnaround time for kitchen cabinetry can be anywhere from one day to several months. Semi-custom orders take around six weeks to arrive and stock cabinetry delivery time is minimal, often with same day delivery. Plan on eight weeks or more for custom cabinetry

Installation methods vary from installer to installer, but there are some things that should be consistent.  Walls should be straight and primed, floors flat and everything should be square.  Cabinet doors and drawers should be removed before installation and appliances to be installed should be on-site, in case any adjustments are necessary.

So when pondering what you might need to know about cabinet construction, you begin to realize there is actually a lot to know.  DiStefano Brothers will be with you throughout the entire process and will guide you through these tough decisions.  As always, our goal is to make your unique vision a reality.  Each piece of a design project is exciting, and we look forward to being there with you every stop of the way!

If you have questions or would like to discuss your project, get in touch today!


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Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT] Is Currently 18.37 below its 200 Period Moving Avg: What Dose This Mean?

Editas Medicine Inc. [NASDAQ: EDIT] closed the trading session at $54.51 on 08/05/21. The day’s price range saw the stock hit a low of $47.49, while the highest price level was $55.00. The company report on August 4, 2021 that Editas Medicine Announces Second Quarter 2021 Results and Business Updates.

Enrolling first pediatric and adult high dose cohorts of EDIT-101 BRILLIANCE trial for LCA10.

EDIT-101 initial clinical data planned for September 2021.

The stocks have a year to date performance of -22.25 percent and weekly performance of 30.10 percent. The stock has been moved at -13.72 percent over the last six months. The stock has performed 19.28 percent around the most recent 30 days and changed 58.74 percent over the most recent 3-months.

If compared to the average trading volume of 1.67M shares, EDIT reached to a volume of 4874049 in the most recent trading day, which is why market watchdogs consider the stock to be active.

Here’s what leading stock market gurus have to say about Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT]:

Based on careful and fact-backed analyses by Wall Street experts, the current consensus on the target price for EDIT shares is $44.64 per share. Analysis on target price and performance of stocks is usually carefully studied by market experts, and the current Wall Street consensus on EDIT stock is a recommendation set at 2.90. This rating represents a strong Buy recommendation, on the scale from 1 to 5, where 5 would mean strong sell, 4 represents Sell, 3 is Hold, and 2 indicates Buy.

Evercore ISI have made an estimate for Editas Medicine Inc. shares, keeping their opinion on the stock as Outperform, with their previous recommendation back on August 05, 2021. While these analysts kept the previous recommendation, Robert W. Baird raised their target price to Outperform. The new note on the price target was released on June 04, 2021, representing the official price target for Editas Medicine Inc. stock. Previously, the target price had yet another raise to $40, while RBC Capital Mkts analysts kept a Sector Perform rating on EDIT stock.

The Average True Range (ATR) for Editas Medicine Inc. is set at 3.92, with the Price to Sales ratio for EDIT stock in the period of the last 12 months amounting to 40.51. The Price to Book ratio for the last quarter was 5.64, with the Price to Cash per share for the same quarter was set at 9.20.

EDIT stock trade performance evaluation

Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT] gain into the green zone at the end of the last week, gaining into a positive trend and gaining by 30.10. With this latest performance, EDIT shares gained by 19.28% in over the last four-week period, additionally sinking by -13.72% over the last 6 months – not to mention a rise of 67.77% in the past year of trading.

Overbought and oversold stocks can be easily traced with the Relative Strength Index (RSI), where an RSI result of over 70 would be overbought, and any rate below 30 would indicate oversold conditions. An RSI rate of 50 would represent a neutral market momentum. The current RSI for EDIT stock in for the last two-week period is set at 72.16, with the RSI for the last a single of trading hit 80.24, and the three-weeks RSI is set at 67.32 for Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT]. The present Moving Average for the last 50 days of trading for this stock 41.29, while it was recorded at 45.21 for the last single week of trading, and 45.74 for the last 200 days.

Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT]: An insightful look at the core fundamentals

Operating Margin for any stock indicates how profitable investing would be, and Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT] shares currently have an operating margin of -148.61. Editas Medicine Inc.’s Net Margin is presently recorded at -127.82.

Return on Total Capital for EDIT is now -37.92, given the latest momentum, and Return on Invested Capital for the company is -33.20. Return on Equity for this stock declined to -35.36, with Return on Assets sitting at -21.45. When it comes to the capital structure of this company, Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT] has a Total Debt to Total Equity ratio set at 6.64. Additionally, EDIT Total Debt to Total Capital is recorded at 6.23, with Total Debt to Total Assets ending up at 4.56. Long-Term Debt to Equity for the company is recorded at 4.91, with the Long-Term Debt to Total Capital now at 4.60.

Reflecting on the efficiency of the workforce at the company, Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT] managed to generate an average of -$493,515 per employee. Receivables Turnover for the company is 28.06 with a Total Asset Turnover recorded at a value of 0.17.Editas Medicine Inc.’s liquidity data is similarly interesting compelling, with a Quick Ratio of 9.90 and a Current Ratio set at 9.90.

Editas Medicine Inc. [EDIT]: Insider Ownership positions

There are presently around $2,849 million, or 77.30% of EDIT stock, in the hands of institutional investors. The top three institutional holders of EDIT stocks are: ARK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC with ownership of 7,180,055, which is approximately -17.96% of the company’s market cap and around 0.20% of the total institutional ownership; VANGUARD GROUP INC, holding 6,347,754 shares of the stock with an approximate value of $346.02 million in EDIT stocks shares; and BLACKROCK INC., currently with $312.74 million in EDIT stock with ownership of nearly 8.142% of the company’s market capitalization.

>> 7 Top Picks for the Post-Pandemic Economy <<

Positions in Editas Medicine Inc. stocks held by institutional investors increased at the end of August and at the time of the August reporting period, where 178 institutional holders increased their position in Editas Medicine Inc. [NASDAQ:EDIT] by around 7,887,327 shares. Additionally, 119 investors decreased positions by around 6,200,745 shares, while 62 investors held positions by with 38,183,513 shares. The mentioned changes placed institutional holdings at 52,271,585 shares, according to the latest SEC report filing. EDIT stock had 61 new institutional investments in for a total of 2,232,201 shares, while 54 institutional investors sold positions of 1,502,840 shares during the same period.

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Americans Have Been Lied To

Minerals Used in Clean Energy from IEA

…Americans Have Been Lied To… There is no climate crisis, but there is a political crisis. Lie after lie has been crammed down the throats of Americans by climate alarmists and leftist politicians, supported by the media. Their objective is Continue reading Americans Have Been Lied To

Temperature Records

Percentage of Days above 95.0F (35.0C)

There has been an unending stream of media reports about how the last few years have been the warmest on record.

They gloss over that they are only referring to the last 150 years, because temperatures have been higher than today on several occasions over the past 10,000 years, a period between glaciations know as the Holocene.
Continue reading Temperature Records

A Quiz for getting through the Fog

A friend stopped by the other day. He wanted to talk, and was obviously upset.

He began by saying he was frustrated by people who wouldn’t discuss climate change, especially young members of his family.

It was as though they were catatonic. Their eyes would glaze over when he mentioned facts that contradicted the media’s constant harangue about catastrophic climate change. Continue reading A Quiz for getting through the Fog

Homeowners Beware of Climate Change Regulations

HR 2454

The UK’s Climate Change Committee published its “Sixth Carbon Budget” that included energy efficiency requirements for homes. These requirements included:

“A proposal that the sale of properties be banned from 2028 unless they score at least a grade C in an energy performance certificate (EPC)”.

Reportedly, this would make millions of UK homes unsalable because they could not meet the mandatory standards. Continue reading Homeowners Beware of Climate Change Regulations

Why the IPCC Models are Wrong

…Why the IPCC Models are Wrong… Virtually all of the IPCC’s 102 computer models have predicted there would be a hot spot in the atmosphere in the tropics, between 20 degrees S and 20 degrees N latitudes. The hot spot Continue reading Why the IPCC Models are Wrong

Tea Party Interview

Villages Tea Party, Donn Dears

Periodically, I do radio and other interviews. While radio interviews are not easy to reproduce on the internet, my recent interview with the president of The Villages Tea Party is a video with an easy to access link. The purpose Continue reading Tea Party Interview


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Turns Out Wells Fargo Doesn't Just Keep Your Deposits In A Stagecoach Full Of Gold Ingots

There's a huge article by Frank Partnoy and Jesse Eisinger in the Atlantic today about how banks are so horribly complicated that even sophisticated investors, meaning basically Bill Ackman, don't trust them any more. I suppose this provides an excuse for me to trot out a toy theory that's been congealing in my head, which is roughly that you can have two of the following in a publicly traded financial company, but not three:

  • "banking,"
  • "market making,"
  • "investibility."

Like: you could, or someone could, make some educated guesses about what goes on at a bank that takes deposits and makes mortgage and commercial loans, and decide whether or not it's a good business that you should invest in. You could even make such guesses and decisions about what goes on at an old-school broker-dealer that trades securities for a living. (Maybe? I'm less confident of this leg.) But for universal banks I'm kind of with Ackman - and Partnoy and Eisinger - that you have to give up on making intelligent decisions, or failing that have your intelligent decision be "I'm gonna need a 50% discount to book value before I invest in this thing."

You can attribute the opacity of modern banking to like "bankers are eeeeeeevil," which I don't particularly believe, or "regulators are weeeeeeeak," which seems sort of lame. Me I tentatively like "banking + market-making = insoluble complexity."

The heart of the Atlantic article is an attempted deep dive into Wells Fargo's financials, which ends up splattering against the rocks that guard those financials. Here is where things start to get alarming, for some value of alarming:

Suddenly, this folksy mortgage bank starts showing signs of a split personality. It turns out that trading activities, the type associated with Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, contribute significantly to each of Wells Fargo’s two categories of income. Almost $1.5 billion of its “interest income” comes from “trading assets”; another $9.1 billion results from “securities available for sale.” One billion dollars of the bank’s “noninterest income” are “net gains from trading activities.” Another $1.5 billion is income from “equity investments.”

Is this shocking? I dunno; it's not really true that Wells Fargo is the folksiest and most mortgage-banky bank of all the banks. There are banks that do not have significant trading activities; here's one, kind of, complete with folksy name. I'm not that shocked that WFC trades derivatives but then I used to do derivatives deals with them.

Next, though, what are these trading activities? Well, they're "market making," but you can dress it up alarmingly:

The bank breaks what it calls “net gains from trading activities” — which doesn’t cover all of its trading income, but is an important part — into three subcategories, leaving the annual-report reader to play a kind of shell game.

Look first at “proprietary” trading — activity a firm undertakes to make money for its own account by buying or selling stocks, bonds, or more-exotic financial creations. Self-evidently, this [is bad but the reported numbers are small, a $14mm annual loss]. ... A second subcategory is “economic hedging.” An activity labeled “hedging” might sound soothing. [But maybe it isn't. Again, though, a $1mm annual loss, so NBD.] ...

Finally we come to a third shell — and there’s unquestionably something to see under this one. It carries an innocuous label: “customer accommodation.” Wells Fargo made more than $1 billion from customer-accommodation trading in 2011. How did it make so much money merely by helping customers? This should be a plain-vanilla business: a broker sits between a buyer and a seller and takes a little cut of the transaction. ... Here is the most helpful of the bank’s disclosures related to customer-accommodation trading:

For the majority of our customer accommodation trading we serve as intermediary between buyer and seller. For example, we may enter into financial instruments with customers that use the instruments for risk management purposes and offset our exposure on such contracts by entering into separate instruments. Customer accommodation trading also includes net gains related to market-making activities in which we take positions to facilitate expected customer order flow.

Bankers, and their lawyers, are careful about the language they use in annual reports. So why did they use the word expected in discussing customer order flow in that last sentence? Is Wells Fargo speculating based on what one of its traders “expects” a customer to do, instead of responding to what a customer actually has done? The language the bank pointed to for answers to our questions only raises more questions.

Well I can answer that one: Of course Wells Fargo is speculating based on what one (most!) of its traders expects a customer to do! That is what market making is.1 If Wells Fargo didn't do that they'd be schmucks! If you're a market maker who only responds to customers, you are not very good at your job.2

There are lots of reasons for opacity in bank financial statements but surely a lot of them have to do with market making. For one thing: derivatives, a major villain in the Atlantic piece. Basically, OTC derivatives market-making doesn't net as cleanly as does, like, buying and selling publicly traded shares of stock. In cash equities, you buy 100 shares of IBM from one customer and sell 100 shares to another customer and clip two cents and are left with zero shares. In derivatives, you buy $100mm of 7-year Libor swaps from one customer and sell $100mm of 6-year Libor swaps to another customer and sell $10mm of 8-year Libor swaps to a third; you're left "flat" - i.e. zeroish DV01 - but have $210mm of derivatives notional for six-plus years. If you were running a directional investing business with Wells Fargo's balance sheet - $1.4-ish trillion - and ended up with $2.8 trillion in derivatives notional you'd be ... aggressive; if you were running a matched book then $2.8 or $28 or $280 trillion are all at least theoretically possible and one is not necessarily riskier than another.

And a market making business changes over time because you're trading every day - and in some loose sense you're trading around a baseline of zero (unlike a lending business where, y'know, you'll always have some loans). A disclosure in your 10Q that said something like "as of the end of the first quarter, we had $5mm of IBM stock on the trading book"3 would be about 40 days stale. By now, you might have $10mm, or zero, or negative $5mm.4

And, of course, being in the market making business makes you want to be opaque. As a retail customer, I know with some certainty that my imaginary local community Bank of Ye Olden Tymes is structurally long duration, since it's basically in the business of borrowing money short via overnight deposits and lending it long via 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. But there's nothing I can do about it because I don't, like, trade mortgages with Bank of Ye Olden Tymes. I just borrow long and deposit short. Maybe if I'm clever I buy a long-term CD to take advantage of BoYOT's exposure to duration. But there's not a lot I can do to pick them off.

But there's tons to be done to pick off universal banks that do a lot of market making. A bank that discloses "we are long a ton of trading exposure X" will find itself getting much lower offers to take X off its hands. You might recall a certain cetacean.

If you believe this toy theory then you need to basically decide: are the advantages of market making by banks (access to capital, customer convenience, etc.) enough to offset the disadvantages (opaque financials, vague Volckery fears)? If you don't, you can do whatever you want, but you'll still run up against that question. Partnoy & Eisinger's prescription is more principles and more jail:

What if legislators and regulators gave up trying to adopt detailed rules after the fact and instead set up broad standards of conduct before the fact? For example, consider one of the most heated Dodd-Frank battles, over the “Volcker Rule” ... Congress and regulators could have written a simple rule: “Banks are not permitted to engage in proprietary trading.” Period. Then, regulators, prosecutors, and the courts could have set about defining what proprietary trading meant. They could have established reasonable and limited exceptions in individual cases. Meanwhile, bankers considering engaging in practices that might be labeled proprietary trading would have been forced to consider the law in the sense Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. advocated [i.e. by guessing, not what customers, but what judges, will do]. ...

The standard of proof for securities-fraud prosecutions, meanwhile, could and should be reduced from intent, which requires that prosecutors try to get inside the heads of bankers, to recklessness, which is less onerous to prove than intention, but more so than negligence. ... Senior bank executives should face the threat of prosecution the same way businesspeople do in other areas of the economy. When a CEO or CFO sits holding a pen, about to sign a certification that his or her bank’s financial statements and controls are accurate and adequate, he or she should pause and reflect that the consequences could include jail time. If bank directors and executives had to think through their institution’s risks, disclose them, and then face serious punishment if the disclosures proved inadequate, we might begin to construct a culture of accountability.

But that Volcker Rule prescription seems much too quick, doesn't it? Like:

  • Either market making is "prop trading" or it isn't.
  • If it isn't, then you need some serious convolutions to separate market making from prop trading, because they have meaningful overlaps.
  • If it is, then you need to forthrightly ban "banks" from "market making"5 rather than accidentally doing it by banning "prop trading."

Talking about principles and allowing that there will be "reasonable and limited" - but unspecified! - exceptions is a way to sound reasonable without addressing that dilemma. In practice, I'd think that if regulation said (1) "no prop trading," (2) "we won't tell you what prop trading is," and (3) "if you prop trade you go to jail," then that would have the same effect as banning market making, only in a more confusing and lawless way. Which doesn't seem particularly principled.

What’s Inside America’s Banks? [Atlantic]
You can’t regulate with nostalgia [Reuters / Felix Salmon]

1.I recently read this book "How the Trading Floor Really Works" and liked it, and while it might be a good idea to read it if you plan to be a trader or banker or what have you, it is definitely a good idea to read it if you plan to write long eyebrow-raisy articles about how bank trading is speculative and gambling and all that bad stuff. Is it speculative and gambling and all that bad stuff? Ehh ... it is just irreducibly what it is.

2.Let's have a little chat about "customer accomodation" and similar phrases, "customer facilitation" and the like. These are phrases that banks use to describe market making and they've always struck me as curiously passive; in fact, only well into the Volcker Rule debate did it click for me that the trades that I used to market to clients - where I went out to try to convince clients to do trades with my bank where we were the principal facing the client on hundreds of millions of dollars of derivatives notional - were "customer facilitation" rather than "proprietary." "Customer accomodation" doesn't really mean that a customer comes to a bank looking for an exposure and the bank passively provides it. "Customer accomodation" just means that the bank receives the bid/ask spread, rather than paying it. This is probably not intuitive to everyone! (If it's not to you, see note 1.)

That is, of course, not at all scandalous. It would be totally weird if, for instance, Apple just built devices in response to written requests from customers saying "oh hey I could totally use a computer in my pocket, could you make one?" "Innovation," a loaded word in finance, and, y'know, marketing, are parts of the job of modern banks. It's just that everyone feels a faint unease about that, so they call the stuff that they market "customer facilitation," which, like, would sound weird from most other businesses that sell stuff to customers.

3.Surely "$5mm deltas" but that's another point. The "sophisticated investors" who lament to Partnoy & Eisinger that they want better bank exposure numbers probably really do want, y'know, exposures: Greeks and DV01s and sensitivities. But imagine the complexities involved in:

  • Computing your, like, vega to the S&P 500 or whatevera across your equities portfolio,
  • Conveying that to your lawyers to put in your 10-K,
  • Delivering that 10-K to retail investors and journalists and whatnot,
  • Reading magazine articles about how complicated your disclosures are,
  • Getting sued by people who disagree with the model you used to compute that vega,
  • Etc.

I dunno it boggles me a bit. I feel like Ackman - and Partnoy, for that matter, a former derivatives salesman - would like that; obviously if you were like going to make rational economic decisions about whether to invest in a trading business you'd probably prefer model sensitivities rather than notionals as a data point. But, I dunno, vegas?

a.Which is like a correlation thing, etc. etc., since a lot of your exposure is single-name or ETF etc. etc., and quite model-dependent.

4.The perhaps-most-useful piece of exposure disclosure that banks do give - VaRs - suffers from this; Wells Fargo doesn't break out VaR in the detail that the bigger trading banks do but does say "The average one-day VaR throughout third quarter 2012 was $19 million, with a lower bound of $12 million and an upper bound of $32 million." So how risky is WFC? I suspect it's riskier overall than it is on a day of average riskiness, no? And today it is ... almost certainly either riskier or less risky than it was on an average day in the third quarter of 2012.

5.Which ... you could do? There are good path-dependency reasons not to do this - it would be a pain in the ass to break up JPMorgan, for one thing - but also arguably good theoretical reasons for doing it?

Wells Fargo.Insane

The Hits Just Keep On Coming For Ol' Wells Fargo

As Wells Fargo looks worse, a dumb new debate about the CFPB gains traction.


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What is Best for You: Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value?

What is Best for You: Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value?

Your homeowner’s insurance is designed to protect your belongings. But does it?

Most homeowners could not replace their belongings and repair their home without the aid of home insurance. Should your home face a listed peril, such as damage from a thunderstorm, fire, hail, or natural disaster, you may be faced footing the bill to get your home back to your home-sweet-home status. This is a worst case situation for most homeowners!

Fortunately, if your home and belongings are lost in such an event, home insurance steps in to cover costs of replacement and repair! With this reliable safety net, your finances don’t have to be siphoned due to a hurricane or theft.

Within a homeowners insurance policy, homeowners can opt for Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost. But when it comes down to it, what is the difference?

More Bang for Your Buck
Payment based on the replacement cost of damaged or stolen property is usually the most favorable figure from a homeowner’s point of view. This is because it will compensate you for the actual cost of replacing property.

For example, should your high-end electric guitar be stolen, a replacement cost policy will reimburse you the full cost of replacing it with a new guitar of the same kind. The insurer will not take into consideration the fact that you played this guitar every day for the last two years, causing a considerable amount of wear and tear!

Cashing in the Value
Contrastingly, actual cash value (ACV), otherwise terms as market value, is the standard that insurance companies arguably prefer when reimbursing policyholders for their losses. Actual cash value is equal to the replacement cost minus depreciation.

In short, it represents the dollar amount you could expect to receive for the item if you sold it in the marketplace. In the case of the stolen guitar above, the insurance company would deduct depreciation and return you the difference.

Now that you know the difference, make sure that your home insurance covers your home and belongings in the best method to suit you. For a quality policy to match your needs and budget, contact the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis, serving Austin and neighboring cities in Texas today!

Basics of Motorcycle Insurance

Basics of Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycle, moped, scooter – whatever you drive, make sure it’s protected.

Now that summer is right around the corner, you may have been enjoying the summer sunshine from the seat of your motorcycle. Your beloved bike gets you from point A to point B, all while skipping through traffic jams and enjoying the local scenery!

But, before you set off on the open road on your motorcycle, you need to make sure that you have the right motorcycle insurance. It’s always a good idea to know the basics of coverage so that you know exactly what you are looking for in an insurance policy, and if additional coverage makes sense for you. You wouldn’t buy a car and not insure it, so why leave your bike exposed to damage and risk?

Here’s a breakdown of the type of coverage which you can typically choose:

Bodily injury liability – If you cause an accident in which someone in another vehicle or a pedestrian is hurt, this coverage can aid the medical expenses that would arise from the accident.

Property damage liability – If you are at fault in an accident that damages a person’s property, such as a vehicle or building, this coverage can help to pay for repairs or replacements.

Medical payments – Should you or your passenger get injured in an accident and need medical attention, you can expect the policy to pay for part or all of the medical costs.

Personal injury protection – Regardless of fault, this coverage can aid the costs resulting from an accident. This can include lost income, medical bills, funeral costs, and child care expenses.

Collision – If your beloved bike is damaged due to a collision with another bike, car, or structure, collision coverage can help pay for repairs to get your bike back on the road again.

Comprehensive – This covers damages and loss from theft, vandalism, hail and more!

Uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury – Not every driver on the road is adequately insured – or insured at all. If you or your passenger get injured in an accident by this driver, this coverage can help pay for the damages and injuries when the driver’s insurance (or lack there of) cannot.

Roadside assistance coverage – This pays for things like towing and jumping the battery. Nothing should stand in your way of making it to your summertime plans, not even a flat tire!

If you have a specialized or custom bike, you may consider insuring these aspects of your bike!

Are you ready to secure the most reliable insurance policy for your motorcycle? At the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis, we’re dedicated to securing each motorist with motorcycle insurance that they can rely on! Serving Austin and neighboring cities in Texas, visit us today!

Top Bad Driving Habits to Avoid

Top Bad Driving Habits to Avoid

Avoid accidents and damage by adopting a safer driving style.

As motorists get used to the roads, their Driver’s Ed safety skills can start to slip. However, speeding and rolling through stop signs is never safe, no matter how experienced you are. In the U.S., there are an average of 35,000 deaths a year resulting from traffic accidents. As we all know, accidents don’t just happen; they are caused. While our cars are getting smarter, this doesn’t mean that the driver has to think less.

Avoid these bad driving habits that you may have fallen into:

Forgetting to use your turn signals: Your indicators are your only way to communicate with other drivers. Failing to use them can cause a rear-end collision, or cause someone to pass you as you’re about to turn.

Rubbernecking: You all know who you are… Slowing down to look at crashes or construction is not only dangerous but can also contribute to a chain reaction of slowed traffic. Keep your eyes on the road ahead so that you can stay alert to closed lanes or police officers directing traffic.

Hogging the left lane: The left lane is supposed to be the passing lane. If you’re cruising well below the speed limit in this lane, you may provoke other cars who are driving faster to pass dangerously on the right.

Speeding: Flying down the road is a quick recipe that will land you on the receiving end of a speeding ticket or in a serious car accident. Sticking to the speed limit will remedy this!

Running yellow (or red!) lights: This dramatically increases your chance of a crash! If the light turns yellow before you reach the intersection, it’s best not to risk it.

Distracted driving: Avoid texting, making phone calls, shaving, putting your makeup on, eating, drinking, and juggling while driving! Anything that distracts your focus from the road should be avoided at all costs.

Driving too fast for weather conditions: It’s just rained. The roads are slick with oil and water, yet drivers still feel that reaching 70 mph on city streets is a good idea. It’s not! Slow down to avoid skidding, spinning, and causing an accident.

Now that you know what bad habits to ditch, be sure to secure your auto insurance policy! At the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis, we’re dedicated to providing each motorist with car insurance that they can rely on! Serving Austin and neighboring cities in Texas, visit us today!

Baby Proof Your Home Before the Baby Arrives!

Baby Proof Your Home Before the Baby Arrives!

Prep your home for the upcoming arrival of your little bundle of joy.

If you’re a parent-to-be, you’re in a for an exciting time of life. Expecting the stork at any minute means that your life will change drastically. From 3 a.m. feedings to triple-tasking to making sure your child’s college fund grows along with them, your child will rapidly become your first priority.

So that your child doesn’t face daily household dangers (and you have less to do), put these tips into practice before bringing the little one home:

  • Keep long strings and cords tied up and out of reach.
  • Search your house for small items that can cause choking: dropped coins, buttons, flower petals, and trash.
  • Use anti-scald devices for faucets and showerheads. Lower your water settings and always test the water before dipping your baby in.
  • Install corner and edge bumpers for tables and other furniture to help prevent injuries from falls.
  • Add baby gates to rooms which may be dangerous for children (think basements, utility rooms) as well as at the top and the bottom of stairs.
  • Household plants can be toxic if ingested. Lift plants up from the floor and place them on a high shelf or ledge.
  • Replace all sockets with childproof sockets.
  • Remove all mouse traps in your home.
  • Anchor heavy furniture and appliances that could fall on young children.
  • Ensure that the baby monitor is working!

Before your bundle of joy arrives, take a moment to review your insurance coverages. Your homeowners insurance policy should be up to date with all of your new baby purchases, and your life insurance should ensure that your growing family has protection should you pass.

To ensure that your home and life policies are up to date with your life and family, contact the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis in Austin, Texas today!

Home Insurance Coverage For Tree Damage

Home Insurance Coverage For Tree Damage

How your insurance company will deal with damage caused by a fallen tree.

Homeowners insurance policies will provide coverage for damage that is caused to your house during a strong windstorm. However, do you know if your home insurance policy will also provide coverage if that windstorm causes a tree to fall on your house? Keep these tree damage and homeowners insurance considerations in mind to ensure that you have the right amount of protection.

If a tree falls on your house, or any other structure on your house, your homeowners insurance policy will kick in and provide coverage. Your home insurance policy will provide coverage for any personal belongings that were damaged as well as the structures, up to the limits of your policy.

If a neighbor’s tree falls on your house during a storm, filing an insurance claim can be a little more confusing. If the tree was healthy and well cared for, your own home insurance policy will take care of the damage. However, if you are able to prove that the tree as dead or diseased, your insurance company will most likely try to collect a payout from your neighbor’s homeowners policy through subrogation. If your insurer is successful and able to get a payout from the other company, you will be reimbursed for your deductible.

When it comes to the clean-up of the tree, most homeowners insurance policies will only provide coverage for debris removal if the debris is what actually caused the damage. If the tree fell on your property and did not cause any damage, you will be left paying for the clean-up on your own.

Contact the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis in Austin, Texas for all of your homeowners insurance needs to ensure that you have the right amount of protection for any damage done during a storm.

What Home-Based Business Owners Need To Know About Car Insurance

What Home-Based Business Owners Need To Know About Car Insurance

Finding the right commercial auto insurance policy for your Austin, TX home business.

More and more people are starting their own home-based businesses, helping to change the way that the business world runs. Before you decide to open your own business at your house, it is important to make sure that you know what it means for your insurance coverage. Keep these commercial auto insurance for home businesses considerations in mind to ensure that you have the right amount of protection.

Many home-based business owners assume that their existing car insurance policy will provide coverage when they are using their car for business purposes. No matter if you are making deliveries or visiting clients, your current auto insurance policy will most likely not be able to provide any type of protection in case you are in an accident.

In some cases, you may be able to add a rider onto your existing auto insurance policy to provide coverage while using your car for work. However, this is typically only the case if you make the occasional delivery or client visit. If your vehicle is a vital part of your business, such as if you run a shuttle service, you will need a specific commercial auto insurance policy.

If you are trying to sneak by without telling your insurance company about your home-based business, you may find yourself in even more trouble. If you make a claim to your personal auto insurance company and they find out that you were using your vehicle for business purposes, they may deny your claim, which can mean you will have to cover all of the damages out of your own pocket. They may also cancel your policy, leaving you without any type of coverage.

To ensure that you have the right commercial auto insurance policy for your home based business, contact the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis in Austin, Texas.

Safe Driving Tips For Fall Roads

Safe Driving Tips For Fall Roads

Use these tips to stay safe on the fall roads.

Even though winter is still a ways away, the outside temperatures are continuing to drop for fall, leading to certain driving hazards that you should be aware of. Keep these autumn driving safety tips in mind to ensure that you can safely enjoy the season.

  • Fallen leaves can be much more dangerous than most people think. Wet leaves can turn into slimy patches that can be just as slippery as ice. Even dry crunchy leaves can be dangerous, as your catalytic converter can easily ignite them on a warm fall day.
  • If you are driving during the early morning hours, make sure to watch out for frost patches on bridges and in shady sections of the road.
  • Fall is the most active time of year for deer, meaning they are much more likely to make their way onto the road. Use extra caution when driving through areas that have a lot of trees and be ready to stop to prevent an accident with a deer.
  • The changing fall temperatures increase the chance of foggy mornings and evenings. If you are driving in foggy conditions, make sure to slow down and keep your headlights on.
  • The early sunset can create a blinding glare on your drive home to work. Make sure to keep your windshield clean so that you can see through the glare.
  • Kids are back in school and many more people are taking their exercise routine outside to enjoy the weather. Use extra caution and look out for kids, runners, and bicyclists when you are driving.

Having the right auto insurance policy in place can help to ensure that you are covered from any peril that you encounter on fall roads. Contact the Insurance Agency of Dean Davis in Austin, Texas for all of your car insurance needs this season.


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Dear Young Me, ...
Dear Young Me,
 In a few years, your friends will not support any sort of creative work that you do. Don't let it bother you, they will one day tell you it's because you have more creativity and direction in your fingernail than they do in their whole body.
-Signed, You Find Real Friends Soon
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Arctis 7 Headset For Your Ultimate Gaming Experience

Stumbling upon a quality pair of gaming headsets actually sounds easier than it actually is; some players go for quality surround sound when playing first person shooting while others need headsets with durable mics for communication with teammates and there are those that prioritize the comfort of the headset above all else, take note that it’s rare for a single headset to accommodate everything. Fortunately, Arctis 7 is there to do everything it can for the user; 토토먹튀 for the full review

Arctis 7 Headset

The $150 Arctis 7 Headset displays minimalistic design, the literature is written in symbols for everyone’s better understanding; in the package, expect compartment for a 3.5mm cable, USB charging cable and USB dongle. After getting through the packaging, the headset itself is set with minimal design, mute colors and elegant lines. The designers and manufacturers revolved around the idea of a gaming headset that not only looked good but performed above average regardless of the connection. Arctis 7 steered clear of cringe-worthy designs like restricting connectivity, aesthetics that give it the appearance of a toy and limited software.

The band is a single strip pf static metal which in no way widens of extends, but the earcups can be swiveled. Of course it sounds incredibly uncomfortable and it is, if it was the part that will rest on your head. Fortunately, something called a ‘ski goggle strap’ will be attached to the headband which will in turn rest on your head. A great feature is the retractable mic, no worries on the durability since it’s flexible and can be placed inside the left earcup whenever you’re not using it; one second you have a headset and the next you’re left with a handy wireless headphone for various usage.


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10 lines on Independence Day For all Class students — primeprefer

Looking for 10 lines on Independence Day to celebrate the freedom of India with more joy and happiness? Don’t worry we have a handful of essay on the Independence day of India.

Every year on August 15th, India celebrates its independence.

It is a momentous occasion that will be marked by massive ceremonies around the country, evoking feelings of patriotism and nationalism.

On Independence Day, India appears to be vividly painted in the three primary colours of its national flag.

10 lines on Independence Day

this is set no 1 of 10 lines on Independence Day you can use it for your schoolwork.

  1. Independence Day of India evokes feelings of nationalism and brotherhood among the citizens of India.
  2. India’s Independence Day creates feelings of patriotism and solidarity among its population.
  3. Indians pay their respects to slain military heroes and liberation warriors.
  4. The most important part of the celebrations is hoisting the tricolour and singing the national hymn.
  5. The President’s speech on the eve of India’s Independence Day is thought-provoking and inspiring to the Indian people.
  6. The entire nation sees the Indian Prime Minister hoisted the National Flag at Red Fort in New Delhi’s Lahori Gate.
  7. The primary feature is a 21-gun salute and a march-past by armed paramilitary forces.
  8. Similar celebrations are held in other Indian states and union territories, with full public participation.
  9. The day is known as “India Day” in the United States by Indians who live there.
  10. Indians display the Tricolour on their homes, tables, vehicles, and other places.

We will discuss several aspects of Independence Day in this post on 10 lines on Independence Day in India, and we will divide the article into three sets of 10 lines on Independence Day.

10 lines on Independence Day In English

We will answer topics such as when is Independence Day celebrated in India, what is the significance of Independence Day in India, who are India’s forefathers, and how is Independence Day celebrated in India, among others, throughout this post.

Also read our article on 10 Lines On Raksha Bandhan and Raksha Bandhan Wishes For Brother 2021.

Set 2 is helpful for students of Classes 6, 7 and 8.

  1. The Prime Minister of India hoists the Indian national flag at Red Fort in New Delhi every year on Independence Day.
  2. The military parade fires 21 gunshots into the air in honour of the freedom fighters who battled for India’s independence from the British.
  3. In India, Independence Day is commemorated in all universities, colleges, schools, government and non-government organizations.
  4. The first sepoy mutiny, which we commemorate on July 4, 1857, was the catalyst for the 1947 Independence Day.
  5. The Quit India Movement was begun by the Indian National Congress in 1942 to remove British rule in India.
  6. Mahatma Gandhi was a vital figure in India’s freedom struggle, leading from the front.
  7. Because of the immense bloodshed and atrocities against people that occurred on August 15, 1947, which is known as India’s Independence Day, it is also a black day in contemporary India’s history.
  8. On the 14th of August, at 12 a.m., Jawaharlal Nehru became India’s first Prime Minister to address the Indian Parliament.
  9. The partition of India and Pakistan, in which India and Pakistan were divided on the basis of religion, resulted in massive violence, riots, mass migration, and casualties, displacing more than 2 crore people in the country.
  10. The Radcliffe Line, which separates India and Pakistan, was constructed on August 17, 1947, by an architect named Sir Cyril Radcliffe.

Independence Day 10 Lines

  1. On August 15, 1947, India declared independence.
  2. After a 200-year struggle for independence, India was granted freedom from the British.
  3. Thousands of people gave their lives in the quest for freedom.
  4. It’s a national celebration. It’s a national holiday in India. It is a public holiday in the United States.
  5. In Red Fort, India’s Prime Minister hoists the national flag.
  6. The flag is raised by the Chief Minister of each state.
  7. The first Prime Minister to raise the flag was Jawaharlal Nehru.
  8. People sing the national anthem “Jan Gan Man” when the flag is unfurled.
  9. The Prime Minister addressed the nation in a speech from the Red Fort. It is broadcast live on television, radio, and the internet.
  10. To commemorate the day, a variety of cultural events are held.

Above is the third set on 10 lines on independence day and can be used by any class students.

This celebration serves as a reminder to remember history, as well as the sacrifices of immortal heroes, so that no one may govern under the guise of trade, and the young generation of today is educated about their great past.

Even though everyone celebrates Independence Day in their own unique style, the goal remains the same.

One day, they will all live together for the sake of the country, enjoy delectable cuisine, and wish pals a happy birthday.

So, friends, We trust you have grasped everything. If you have a problem, please let us know by leaving a comment below so that we can help you.

You’ve just finished reading 10 lines on Independence Day in English for Students and a short essay on Independence Day in English.

We’ve included a 10-line short paragraph on Independence Day below.

If you wish to learn more about a different subject. You can inform us by leaving a note in the comment box or contacting us through the Contact Us page.

Originally published at on June 15, 2021.

Hey there i am a Blogger as well as freelance. Check my Blog at

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Home / Decor / Sofa Chair Arm Rest Tray Table Stand with Side Storage Slot for Magazines
Sofa Chair Arm Rest Tray Table Stand with Side Storage Slot for Magazines

What is a tray table? A tray table is a small folding table that you can place a tray on and that can be put away if you don't want to take it out. It is usually extremely small, but large enough to be about waist high. You can also enjoy an individual dinner from this table on trays. How can a tray table help you? A tray table is perfect for a TV dinner. With it, you can sit on the sofa, watch football, put your food on the tray table and don't have to worry about clutter. It can also be useful in the summer months if you want to set up a grill as it is a comfortable table that can be set up on the side. A tray table is also well designed insofar as it can complement the topics that are recurring in your home. If you're worried that something ugly and plastic could destroy your living room, you can choose a wooden model in its natural color or an elegant, contemporary black design. A tray table is useful for TV dinners and similar occasions such as barbecues or outdoor celebrations and can be folded up. It doesn't take up much space. There are many styles and designs to choose from, depending on whether you want something that can withstand a dog's jaw or whether you want a more classy look.
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Alexender Great 0007

Happy New Year Guys!! I hope you are all enjoying the last day of the year, what are your plans? I know they will be filled with epic… ness that is for sure! Every New Year is always an interesting time for me, as others would say it is the beginning to a new chapter of 365 days ahead. I general feel inspired to thrive for a better tomorrow, even if it begins with me lying in my bed for the first few hours.
Fashion 101 Loved Moments : :

As September has began, where the weather becomes bipolar and the cooler autumn winds start pulling in all the pumpkin-spice flavor lovers out there! This is the best time to enjoy all those outfits that you couldn’t really enjoy or wear during summer because the heat made you feel like you where the finger-licking BBQ rib on the BBQ burner and that caked face of makeup… well that started leaking like ice-cream!
Fashion 101 More Moments : :

I’ve been fully enjoying the joys of Spring, as the weather is becoming much better now! I’m still, slowly recovering from my Brachioplasty operation earlier on in March, I’ve taking some time to recuperate properly and to heal well. Gotta get these scars on fleek! I have been going through a weight loss journey to get healthy, I started at an overall weight at 22 Stones/308 pounds and a current lost of over 100 pounds which left me with some excess skin.
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Commercial Insurance

This insurance covers losses or damages that may affect your company’s vehicle fleets following an accident, fire, or
Insurance that grants business owners the chance to maintain the members of their team by providing them with important
Our expertise and close ties with the top specialized reinsurance companies qualify us to provide you with specialized
This insurance covers boats and ships while in the port or at sea in respect to the following: Damages caused to the
This type of insurance covers any lost or damaged ships, shipped goods, or other goods/properties transferred from one
These types of insurance are of utmost importance for all commercial facilities currently undergoing construction,
Insure all of your properties – buildings, machinery, equipment, stock, and raw materials or furniture, against any
This insurance covers direct financial losses that may be incurred by your business or damages that harm or destroy


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PowerPush Inclusive

  • UrbanGym PowerPush Inclusive
  • Main exercise: Shoulder Press
  • Alternative exercises: 6
  • Colour: Available in any RAL-colour – without extra costs
  • Also available with bent top
  • Area of movement: 15.6 m2
  • Free height of fall: 0 mm
  • Installation: in ground – above ground – with rubber floor

Categories: ,

The Gym is a body weight resistance based training system which incorporates a cross fit style of training where the body is the key to success.
The Gym consists of 26 aesthetic designed fitness units that brighten every public space and complement it with a new sports use. Each unit can be used in a variety of ways to execute different exercises.

The units are suitable for young and old alike, and no matter if you are a beginner, a seasoned athlete or an athlete with a disability all units are fully accessible to users of all capabilities. The Gym allows you to create urban spaces to facilitate exercise in the open air, free of charge.

The Gym poducts can be delivered with a bent top and with a straight stainless steel top.


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Chef Matt Vawter Talks About Lon Symensma of ChoLon

Lon Symensma of ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro
Lon Symensma of ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro

Throughout February, Eater ran a series of pay-it-forward notes of appreciation from peer to peer in Denver's food industry. The Spread The Love posts were launched by 5280 Magazine restaurant critic Stacey Brugeman who praised chef Mary Nguyen of Olive & Finch. From that post forward, fifteen other posts followed recognizing just as many chefs and restaurateurs.

In March, Spread the Love became a monthly series and the last of those receiving the praise, chef Mike Wiest, spoke of Matt Vawter of Fruition. And now it's Vawter's turn to pass on the love.

I had the pleasure of first meeting Lon Symensma, before ChoLon's opening, at a Memorial Day barbeque at Fruition Farms. As a cook in Denver, I was excited to have such an acclaimed chef making Denver his home, another piece to the puzzle for Denver's evolving culinary scene. I admired his desire to immerse himself in the Denver culinary culture. Before ChoLon opened, Lon toured me around his 16th Street space with a unique enthusiasm for food and the restaurant space that you don't see from every chef. This just made me more excited to eat once the restaurant was open.

Lon's attention to detail and consistency at ChoLon in both food and service is some of the best in the city. I have dined at Cholon at least fifteen times since they have opened their doors, the first time being their third service. The food has not only been excellent, but the items that I have enjoyed several times are always unvarying in their execution.

I also have had the pleasure of working with Lon at several events over the years, Cochon 555, GABF, Aspen FOOD & WINE, and others. Every time, I am reminded of his abilities as a cook, attention to the small things, and passion for great food. It has been a privilege to get to get to know Lon over the last few years, and I am fortunate to have him as a friend and colleague. Lon and his team continue to provide a superior product for Denver diners, and continue to push the Denver dining scene.

Come back in May to read chef Symensma's nod to another local chef.

· February Love: Restaurant Critic Stacey Brugeman on Olive & Finch [EDen]
· Chef Mary Nguyen on Marco's Coal Fired Pizza [EDen]
· February Is For Lovers: Chef Mark Dym on TAG [EDen]
· Chef Troy Guard on Twelve Restaurant and Jeff Osaka [EDen]
· Chef Jeff Osaka on Beast +Bottle [EDen]
· Paul Reilly of Beast + Bottle on Fuel Cafe's Bob Blair [EDen]
· Bob Blair of Fuel Cafe on Potager's Chef and Owner Teri Rippeto [EDen]
· Potager's Teri Rippeto on Rob and Karin Lawler of the Truffle [EDen]
· Karin Lawler of the Truffle Table on Brian Laird of Sarto's [EDen]
· Brian Laird of the Upcoming Sarto's on Darrel Truett of Barolo Grill [EDen]
· Alex Seidel of Fruition on Keegan Gerhard of D Bar [EDen]
· Keegan Gerhard of D Bar on Chef Jamey Fader [EDen]
· Chef Jamey Fader on Dave Query of the Big Red F Group [EDen]
· Dave Query of the Big Red F on Restaurateur Cliff Young [EDen]
· Longtime Denver Restaurateur Cliff Young Talks About Chef Mike Weist
· Matt Vawter Will Make the Cover of Food & Wine [EDen]

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The settled unsettled

I recently read a news item about a guy with no penis giving great sex advice on Reddit. It may or may not be true because, you know, the internet but what he’s saying sounds real to me, a person who still has a penis but rarely if ever uses it to pleasure his partners.

Belle used to prefer achieving orgasm from being fucked. She needed to be on top controlling angle of penetration, depth, speed, etc., while I concentrated on her nipples. Most women, from what I understand, actually can’t come this way. They need clitoral stimulation instead of or in addition to penetration, but it was how Belle got off. That was then. Now, thanks to the fact that I often have a difficult time keeping my own orgasm at bay long enough for her to get there and, more often than not, I’m locked up, we’ve resorted to fingers and lips and tongues to get the job done. The other day, we tried the old way and she just couldn’t get off. My denial and chastity has retrained her pussy to like it better when the penis isn’t inside her.

This weekend was a good example of how things work now. Saturday she asked if I’d go down on her which I always find funny because, YES, I am always down to go down if that’s what she wants. I’d do it fucking daily if she’d let me. I like nothing more than when she sits on my face and grinds away on my mouth to her heart’s (or whatever’s) delight. It’s been a while since I was able to really tuck in so, once she was sated, I nuzzled into her pussy and savored everything about it. She let me fuck her after and she was incredibly wet and open, almost as though she had already fucked someone else.

The next morning, she was taking a while to get off from my fingers and then the vibrator. She tends to get self-conscious when this happens though I told her I didn’t care how long it took. Getting her off is my sex. I crave it. Her moaning and squirming and the feel of her wet pussy and her hard nipples in my mouth. I’m wired to enjoy her enjoyment. So as long she’s liking what I’m doing, I’m happy to do it forever. After a bit, she did come and it was one of those orgasms that starts low and slow and builds to explosion.

So yeah, you can have amazing sex without a penis. I’ve had the best sex of my life keeping the one I was born with locked in a steel tube. Penises may be designed for one thing, but that thing can be had in so many other ways if you’re willing to try and find them.

So you might think this is all well and good and boy haven’t Thumper and Belle found the Promised Land. At times, I think that’s right, but the issues I’ve been having with my stupid brain lately have left me feeling not so confident. As I’ve written about recently, the darned dent has, at times, become a very large issue for me. Depression and anxiety are not logical things so there’s no need to unravel the illogic of how this has left me feeling at times, but something what is at worst a cosmetic issue has sort of driven a spike down into the heart of what I consider a key element of my sexuality. It makes me question the last seven years of my life and the kind of sex I like and who I think I am. That’s scary stuff.

To be clear, there is nothing functionally wrong with me. The penis works exactly as it always has, it just feels and looks a little different. Why, if denial and chastity have given me such real contentment, should this be a problem? When I’m feeling good I convince myself it’s not a problem. But I’m not always feeling good.

I thought this was settled for me.

Chastity and denial are just as much a commitment to Belle as my marriage vows were so it’s fitting that the two pieces of metal I wear as a result of both should leave me similarly marked. I feel just as weird when either of them are absent. I can’t imagine what life would be like without them and have no intention of finding out.

The dent on my finger doesn’t matter since the ring that made it is nearly always covering it up. The dent on the penis is only apparent when Belle wants it to be. And in those times, it’s a reminder to us both of how my commitment to her has left me altered, inside and out.

I am surprised to find myself bothered by the dent at all. I used to think I had moved on from being so centered on the penis. To really accepting that I am not the kind of man who measures his worth by the length of thing between his legs. In fact, I’m not really the kind of man who thinks his penis is all that important. It is not central to my sexuality. If anything, its absence is. It’s not critical to my sexual pleasure. Or Belle’s. I’ve become so used to it being a deadened, weighty, shiny steel tube that only feels pressure when I get turned on or the occasional pinch from inside. The Steelheart is a really significant part of who I am. Of who I imagine myself to be. I am it and it is me. I suppose it’s no surprise that to have all that challenged would freak me out. It’s why I didn’t want to be locked up when Belle was gone a few weeks ago. It’s why I was not enthusiastic in putting it back on yesterday morning.

I’ve been writing this blog for seven years yesterday. Seven years discovering and learning about who I am. About how I’m different. I hate that these feelings have put that on a shaky table. I will never be normal again, but I wasn’t ever normal before. Not for a single day of my life. I am how I should be, dent and all.

10 thoughts on “The settled unsettled

  1. As always , a great read!
    What is normal? Here is one of my favorite quotes it’s on my fridge
    The only normal people
    Are the ones you
    Don’t know very well! (Joe Ancis)

  2. You are an inspiration to me (and probably many others). I’m sorry you’re in funk, and that the dent has become a focus for that. Our penises are still pretty central to our self image I guess, even if they’re locked up out of harms way most of the time.

    Have you considered a physiological component to the way you’re feeling? For example I discovered a while back that I had a vitamin D deficit (not a chronic deficiency, just a shortage) Often that’s associated with weak bones, but with me not so. Very soon after I started taking extra vitamin D, I noticed that my mood and my memory had improved dramatically. It’s quite easy for something small like that to have a large impact on the way you feel, worth checking

  3. Thanks for the update, Thumper.

    I want to give you another view of this because I am jealous of your dent. I’ve been locked for years and the only mark I have is a tattoo my wife had me get. Your body created its own tribute to the life you live and that is somewhat of the ultimate symbol of dedication and of who you are.

    This may be a personal question, but during any of this have you wanted to hide your bisexuality or end the Drew relationship out of a way to feel “normal” before realizing that those are just part of the new normal? I ask, well, because I tend to shun my bi side and I am trying to stop that.

  4. Totally agree about not needing the penis for fantastic sex. Since being submissive is part of the turn on in sex for me (and I think you as well), then of course pleasing our partners is the best of the sex. I especially like edging her to see how long I can keep her building to a massive shaking wet climax. Those are the best.

    Seven years….dare I say it the seven year itch….sorry bad pun…but maybe the dent is now a part of who you’ve become. It’s a mark of devotion as much as the mark left by your wedding ring. I think it’s a really cool thing, but I can understand where you might think it’s not uber sexy. As long as Belle likes it (or at least doesn’t mind it) then let it go. Continue being who you are….maybe for another 7 years! Love reading this blog. It’s the best. Thank you for being so selfless and taking the time to share your experiences. Best regards, just playing

  5. Thumper, I have a question for you, but I’m worried it will just piss you off. Hence I am leaving it in comments so that you don’t feel like you have to reply at all. But, have you considered that maybe you’re really not OK with the dent? I mean have you really given yourself space, allowed yourself to consider whether it’s OK for you? (I don’t mean medically, but personally.)

    I think sometimes people don’t allow themselves to go down certain mental roads (like bisexuality, for some people) because they’ve assumed a priori that those roads are not OK or lead to bad places. Like a kid in college who might be too afraid to really ask themselves, do I really want to be a doctor or is it just my parents’ idea? Sometimes our persistent feelings are trying to tell us something that we should listen to.

    I’m not saying that’s what’s going on here. I just want to nudge you to be sure you are giving your own thoughts and feelings proper respect and listening.

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Understanding The Second Wave Of Covid - 19 Taita

Covid-19 is still a grave reality, now with a new strain of the virus spreading across the world. When the pandemic first began, we did not expect it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact. As we move into 2021, it continues to be crucial to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitize our hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus.
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Miracle at the New Meadowlands

From Wikipedia

The Miracle at the New Meadowlands
New Meadowlands Stadium Mezz Corner.jpg
New Meadowlands Stadium, the site of the game
Philadelphia Eagles New York Giants
(9–4) (9–4)
38 31
Head coach: Andy Reid Head coach: Tom Coughlin
1 2 3 4 Total
PHI 0 3 7 28 38
NYG 7 17 0 7 31
Date December 19, 2010
Stadium New Meadowlands Stadium
Location East Rutherford, New Jersey
Referee John Parry
Attendance 81,223
Favorite Giants by 3[1]
Network Fox
Announcers Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver

The Miracle at the New Meadowlands,[2][3] also called “New Miracle at the New Meadowlands[4] and “Miracle at the Meadowlands III”[5] is the term used by sportscasters and Philadelphia Eagles fans to refer to an improbable come-from-behind win by the Philadelphia Eagles over the New York Giants on December 19, 2010 at New Meadowlands Stadium. This game was in Week 15 of the 2010 NFL season. The Eagles had been manhandled by the Giants for the first three quarters and trailed by 21 points with under eight minutes to play in the 4th quarter. They went on to score four unanswered touchdowns in the final seven minutes and 28 seconds of play. The final score to win the game, 38–31, came off a punt returned for a touchdown by DeSean Jackson as time expired. Jackson became the first player in NFL history to achieve a walk-off punt return touchdown. The game ranked at #1 among the top 20 games of the 2010 NFL regular season.[6]

[Photograph courtesy of the NFL.]


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Tuesday’s Tips: limit the search process with clear organizers

I’m baaaack! Thanks for being patient with me and still following along. Let’s get started shall we? It is Tuesday and if you been reading for a while you know I always share some sorta tip. This one is about making life a little easier with correct storage. Out of Sight Out of Mind is what happens when you don’t see people….I mean, products, magazines and items around your home. I like to decorate and organize with as many clear containers as possible especially when it comes to little items like makeup and jewelry. It’s way easier to locate and remember you have specific things when you can easily see it at a glance.

Containers in the refrigerator are great and something I need to do. When you put snacks and food in colored plastic containers, you are liable to forget about it because you can’t see it at a glance. I’m usually pretty good with throwing away food before it spoils however, there has been times where I have to toss things out. When I’m lazy, I will put food from work in a same plastic bag I used to transport it and end up forgetting about it after days of being in the fridge. I have wasted so much fresh salad by doing this.

 There are so many places where you can find nice acrylic container: The container store, TJMaxx, Homegoods, Target, ROSS dress for less, At Home and Marshalls to name a few. One thing you can do is repurpose an item for something different. Take for example the clear acrylic toothbrush holders in the bathroom section of Target. Those can easily be used to store pretty makeup brushes and eyeliners. I personally used one to store lipliners.

 Some of the jewelry tiered drawer containers can work really well to store lipsticks. I  recently used one that was only $6.99 from Ross for all of my lipsticks that I get from ULTA and it works so much more better than the container I previously used which is more suitable for nail polish. Because I can lay down the lipsticks, I can see at a glance which color I want. Before I had them stacked standing up and had to move them around too often and a lot of times I would knock them over causing a mess. It’s a small annoyance but in the morning time, each unforeseen occurrence, no matter how small, can make you run late. It just wasn’t functional so the tiered drawers work so much better now. I put my most used polishes on the other container.

Acrylic drawer fronts allows you to see each layer within the drawer so you avoid digging all around.

I also like The Container Store’s letter sorter as way to store eye shadow makeup palettes. You can also use them to place thank you cards for clients. There is nothing quite like a handwritten note. No, everyone doesn’t appreciate them or the things that you may have taken the time to write down, however, there are some who are old school enough to really cherish that lost art. We live in an age where everything is so instant and informal. Text messages are the preferred way to go for communicating but certain occasions should really call for a bit more thought. If you send notes to clients, and have a variety of different cards, or even if you’re that person that has greeting cards already on hand (so you don’t have to stop at a convenience store last minute), a tiered letter holder will work nicely.

The clear boxes above from Urban Outfitters are great ways to put away out of season items and keep dust off shoes. You can still see exactly where the items are so you don’t have to waste time opening the wrong boxes when looking for something. The lazy susan from The Container Store can be used for a myriad of things. Be sure to check out my post on how I organized in the past. Right now I’m trying to streamline the look as I am sick of seeing everything in the open. If the acrylic look isn’t your forte, you can always use wire and mesh items as well. Happy organizing!

{Other images via my scandinavian homemoney can buy lipstick}

2 Comments Add yours

  1. Cynthia says:

    Good tips. I will definitely put the tips to good use. Thanks

  2. I use tons of clear storage, I love the advice you shared here. I also wouldn’t mind the Urban Outfitter boxes

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Angkor Wat at Dawn

I don’t have enough adjectives to describe what it wa like to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat. Although my photos don’t do it justice, they will give you a rough idea of the grandeur of this sacred spot. It was worth getting up at 4:30 in the morning to view this remnant of an amazing civilization!
image The moat surrounding Angkor Wat represents the ocean you cross to enter heaven; it also serves as a wonderful mirror, heightening the beauty of the structure.
Although we did a lot more today, there are only photos of Angkor Wat because anything else would look puny by comparison.

The five towers were constructed to resemble closed Lotus buds. The central tower represents Mount Meru, the home of the gods.
Only the king and monks were allowed on the third level of Angkor Wat and they were required to CRAWL up to show respect for the gods, so the stairs were suitably steep.
Although I don’t smoke cigarettes or eat products with hydrogenated oil, I HAVE been known to occasionally engage in risky behavior. Besides, I wanted to get in touch with my inner goddess, so of course I was climbing to the third level. The view was spectacular!
I think I might have even had a vision of the Buddha. image Or could it be that the altitude produced hallucinations?
What a relief that I didn’t have to crawl up. After a few people fell from the stone steps, this wooden staircase was constructed. Only 43 steps to the top, but like the original, they were quite steep.

Two of my Pennsylvania pals, strutting their stuff
Two of my Pennsylvania pals, strutting their stuff

Another view of the moat
Another view of the moat

Since this is a shorter post, why not have a little contest? This one is fairly easy.

1. During this trip we have visited two places that were settings for movies. What were the movies,
2. and where were the locations?
3. Of the 4 countries we are visiting, which are constitutional monarchies and which are people’s republics?
4. Whose picture is on the Bhat?
5. What is the difference between the Chinese Buddha and the Buddha in the other Southeast Asian countries?
6. What precious stone is the emerald Buddha made of?
7. Who taught her granddaughter to cross streets fearlessly?

The Grand Palace

Pick your favorite adjective: outstanding…awesome…fantastic…way cool. Regardless of the word chosen, I’m confident that it will in no way capture the beauty, the wonder, the glory of the Grand Palace.

Mike and I will be returning to the palace with our Road Scholar group, so we opted to wander around aimlessly, gawking and gasping at the explosion of color and art that surrounded us.

Here’s a look at royal housing in the Kingdom of Siam in the late 1700’s

There was a bit of a dispute over what the palace should look like. The king wanted a western style palace, but his advisors thought a traditional building was more appropriate. The end result was a western bottom and an eastern top.

The complex includes the Royal Monastery, which was built to house the Emerald Buddha. Although photos are not allowed within the monastery, you ARE allowed to take photos outside. this young lady is standing at a window and my zoom is all the way out.

The “emerald” Buddha is actually made of jade. Thailand and Laos both claim ownership of it, with Laos accusing Thailand of stealing it from them in 1778, when Rama I conquered the capital of Laos and brought the Buddha to Bangkok. The Thais claim it was rightfully theirs, and was moved to Laos in 1552 by the son of a Chiang Mai princess and Laotian King, when he succeeded his father as King of Laos. Are you confused yet? I sure was.

The Royal Compound felt like Disney world on steroids, except this fantasy land is REAL.

Every figure is unique. Check it out.

These guys made me think of the Wizard of Oz.

I leave Mike alone for 2 minutes, and look what happens.

She was one of several women clamoring to have their picture taken with him. They also insisted on having their pictures taken with me. Since they didn’t speak English, I have no idea why, but my guess is they couldn’t get over how HUGE we are. “Look, I’m standing next to a giant!”
We were just another curiosity, sorta like this guard, who stood perfectly still, despite the steady stream of young women posing at his side.

I had read about the Naga, snakes with multiple heads whose bodies are used as bannisters.

This particular example has five, but there are also seven headed versions.

The complex includes a scale model of Angkor Wat, so large that I couldn’t get it all into one photo.

The attention to detail is amazing.

Our last stop was Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, an air conditioned oasis. It contains clothing the Queen wore during official visits, beautifully displayed with photos of the queen wearing the displayed garments. Now 71 years old, she was movie star gorgeous. She married the king before her 18th birthday.

I can’t resist a few more photos of this amazing complex.


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Own Wayne County's Haunted Asylum for just $1.5 Million

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Photos via  Kristina Scarcelli and  Loopne
Photos via Kristina Scarcelli and Loopne

The Eloise, once Wayne County's largest psychiatric facility and bonafide poorhouse, went up for sale this week for $1.5 million. Once a massive, sprawling campus housing the county mental asylum, a hospital for the poor and a tuberculosis sanitarium, the Eloise had its own zip code, and was named after the daughter of Detroit's postmaster. The Eloise had a police force, a fire department, railroad stations and a powerhouse. The facility operated its own farms, and even had a herd of dairy cows.

By 1984, the medical and psychiatric facilities had closed, and the massive 280-acre site has been subdivided. Parts of the campus now live on as such charming items as a golf course and a strip mall. Today, the complex that once had 10,000 residents, has just two functional buildings used as county offices. With possible bankruptcy a consideration, Wayne County is selling off assets, the remaining Eloise properties among them.

Often featured in ghost hunting videos, the Eloise is considered one of the most haunted places in Michigan, and was even the setting for an up-coming horror movie, also called Eloise, starring Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Eliza Dushku. That project itself seems haunted—filming wrapped in 2014, and was quickly followed by a lawsuit over intellectual property rights and wrangling over distribution. Eloise has no release date.

The sale includes the site's remaining occupied structures, the Kay Beard Building and Building D, a 5-story office structure. Also included are the property's powerhouse, bakery and firehouse. If these buildings were in Detroit proper, they'd already be loft conversions. Westland, named for the town mall, is a sleepy suburb a good 40-minute drive from downtown, but the property backs up to an 18-hole championship golf course, so perhaps Eloise's next incarnation will be as a resort. A haunted one, of course.

·Eloise Complex [Loopnet]
·Eloise, former mental asylum, for sale for $1.5M [Detroit Free Press]
·What's the status of the 'Eloise' film thriller? [Detroit Free Press]
·Wayne County: Gilbert has interest in Guardian Building [Detroit Free Press]
·Inkster Valley Golf Course [Inkster Valley Golf Course]