In a vivid example of just how nervous investors have gotten over gold, one of the biggest ETFs to track the precious metal — SPDR Gold Shares /quotes/zigman/41663 /quotes/nls/gld GLD – saw $5.4 billion hit the exit door year-to-date, according to ETF Trends. More about record low flows in February for gold ETPs.

And it’s not just then, Bloomberg News noted Thursday that John Paulson saw an 18% decline in his $900 million Gold Fund last month, and a 26% knock so far this year.

Investment banks have been scrambling their calls on gold, investors have gotten wary that the Fed may bail early on its stimulative monetary policy, and then gold <a href=”http://marketwatch.com/investing/stock/GCJ3&#8243; target=”_blank” Continue reading →

Thousands of children are reported missing in India.  You may ask yourself WHY?

The Associated Press reported a study carried out in a South Asian community from 1992-2001: The average suicide rate for women 10-19 years old was 148 per 100,000 while globally, the suicide rate is about 6.8 per 100,000. That’s over 21 times the global rate.  Among young to middle-age women in some regions of India, the suicide rate is 10 times that of the world’s average.  Poisoning (36.6%), hanging (32.1%) and self-immolation or setting oneself on fire (7.9%) were the common methods used to commit suicide. 

www.gfa.org

Do you know anyone with Hansen’s disease?  Hansen’s disease also known as leprosy is one of the world’s oldest maladies.  Leprosy is a bacterial disease that attacks the nervous system, particularly the nerves of the hands, feet and face. As the body absorbs cartilage into its system, victims of the disease slowly lose their fingers, toes and even limbs. While leprosy has been eradicated in the west, it is still active and greatly feared across Asia because of the disfigurement it can cause, the social stigma it carries, and because it can be transmitted through close contact with a patient. Continue reading →

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Generate accurate and timely monthly and weekly reports which include extensive statistical summaries, charts, and tables of data for the senior management team.
• Ensure quality and accuracy in all data reported.
• Establish and maintain documentation of all existing and newly created reports and data models.
• Work to automate standard processes wherever possible.
• Contribute to department-level report development and analyses in various roles where appropriate.
• Maintain the model for allocating accounts to the Company’s two sales organizations.
• Provide data integrity of financial fields in Salesforce.com.
• Assist the Senior Data Analyst with month-end close deliverables including preparing the commission and bonus file. Also, with the preparation of compensation agreements and amendments.
• Other analytical duties as assigned.

Apply here.

At the State Department of Education, we send frequent emails and e-newsletters to communicate important programs to educators throughout the state. I would like to reiterate a few of those offerings in my regular column.

First, teachers and school administrators have the opportunity to participate in regional Oklahoma C3 Standards training sessions. The sessions offered focus on secondary and elementary training in Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and math, and state standards in science, social studies and leadership. Several of our department directors model new lessons and even allow evaluation of the model lessons by administrators using our new Teacher and Leader Effectiveness evaluations, giving educators double the benefit for free.

We’ve already had very successful training sessions in Stillwater and Bartlesville, Continue reading →

In light of the recent tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb’s announcement of forming the Oklahoma Commission on School Security, the State Department of Education is providing this emergency planning resource for schools. District Superintendents should review this to determine if it is helpful for their districts.

This course is tailored to the unique planning and exercise needs of school systems. It integrates Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Continue reading →

As you are most likely aware, the country is seeing an increase in the number of flu cases and other virus’ including strep. 

If you get sick, please do take care of yourself.  Stay home, rest and if necessary, see the doctor. 

We can all do our part to help stop the spread of germs.  Simple steps – 

• If you are sick – stay home until you are no longer contagious so you do not pass it on to others.  
• Wash your hands often.
• Cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough. 

Let’s all do our part to keep ourselves healthy and not pass on sickness to others.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the Technology organization in design and automation for the management of source code, deployments, and infrastructure.
• Build, maintain, and manage controls on the software development environments, including supporting the organization, maintenance, merging, and branching of the source control systems.  Additional emphasis will be on the effective management of software configuration.
• Create, maintain, and support the build, test and deployment documentation, scripts and tools for software development across all environments.
• Support and administer the source control systems (Subversion) to ensure maximum reliability.
• Integrate with agile project software development team to create, maintain, and improve existing build systems.
• Analyze and report on performance of software using tools to measure static and dynamic metrics on all systems.
• Promote the development of best practices for software development and evangelize and assist in their rollout.
• Apply generally accepted programming standards and techniques to assure efficient program logic and data Continue reading →

Here are the details on a a well maintained 4-side brick home in the heart of Buckhead. Some of the features include hardwoods and plantation shutters throughout the main level, a large master with a versatile separate room attached, a lovely screened in porch overlooking the fenced yard, and a large workroom on the finished terrace level. This neighborhood is just steps away from the 22 acre park with lakes & miles of trails … commune with nature & the best of shopping all within minutes! The asking price is $500,000. Please let me know if you would like to see this home or feel free to forward the newsletter to someone you know that this home would be perfect for them!

http://ok.gov/sde/newsblog/2012-12-17/wake-tragedy

I spent the weekend thinking about how incomprehensible it is that anyone could take the lives of 20 elementary school children, the six adults who tried to protect them and his own mother. I cannot fathom the grief engulfing the Newtown, Connecticut community right now. The stories of heroism by teachers and school personnel are inspiring.  Every day teachers do courageous things for our children. I have no doubt that they and the fallen adults did not have a moment’s hesitation in response to this horrifying situation. To say my thoughts and prayers go out to them is too small an offering. Continue reading →

Responsibilities of Senior Software Developer:

As part of a cross-functional software team, you will be delivering new and innovative platforms, products, and/or product functions for schools, districts, and states across the country  Develop, test, and maintain robust, scalable, high-quality software for our technology platform and full suite of products.   Contribute to continuous improvement of software development best practices in the areas of coding tools, languages and APIs, as well as software design and development processes.   Other specific responsibilities vary by project area and experience, but may include technical leadership of a software project team.

Apply here.

GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog can make a lasting difference.

The GFA online gift catalog is full of stories from the field of lives changed and people coming to Christ through simple and unique gifts like goats, sewing machines, and water buffalo.

How are chickens, rabbits and goats a display of Christ’s compassion? It’s simple, when a family receives one of these items, they’re blessed with the income the animal provides. Smaller animals reproduce quickly, and their offspring can be sold. Larger animals can plow a field or pull a cart. Receiving a gift from the stable truly changes a life.

From mosquito nets to water filters, from blankets to sewing machines, each of the items in this category is truly a gift of compassion. Not only does the recipient have a specific need met, they have a chance to hear about the redemptive love of Jesus—the best gift they could ever receive. Continue reading →

Key Job Elements:

• Responsible for the overall art vision and production of an online product.
• Consults with curricular team and/or project owner on art vision for project
• Creates master design style sheets and style guides and ensures they are adhered to during production.
• Collaborates with project owner to specify at a detailed level the project assets to be developed
• Estimates time and costs associated with asset building. Tracks time and costs during production
• Collaborates with the Art Manager to ensure artists are assigned and to develop a schedule for asset production during the project
• Leads the effort to ensure that art assets are produced in accordance with the art project plan, developing some assets and assigning the development of other assets to artists assigned to the team
• Communicates regularly with Art Manager regarding status of projects and assets.
  Required Skills Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) from four year college, university or art school in interactive media design, graphic design, instructional design or related field.
• Experience in the educational publishing or development field.

Continue reading →

English: Natural vegetation zones in South Asia Tropical Rainforest Tundra Desert Semi-desert Tropical Grassland and savanna (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While we in the West spend, spend, spend there are hundreds of millions of people whose reality is very different.   Spread across South Asia is a group of forgotten people too numerous to count. Despised by their countrymen and viewed as subhuman, even the shadows they cast are believed to be cursed because of their perceived filth. They are the Dalits and backward caste people of South Asia, the lowest of the low.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is filled with the joys of home and family, warmed by the blessing of friendships and touched by the beauty of the season.

I am so very grateful to know you, to serve you and I am most grateful for your support!

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours!

Gratefully,

Mia

As we enter the final trading weeks of 2012 a veritable who’s who of market gurus, analysts, and mega-traders have either come out with comments on the direction of the gold market or outright bet the farm on its growth. Here are some of the highlights that should make for good Thanksgiving dinner conversation. Just don’t talk about the election…

Bloomberg Analyst Survey: “(Gold) will rise every quarter next year and average $1925 an ounce…, or 11% more than now.”

John Paulson has continued to increase his fund’s gold holdings through Q3 and into Q4 of this year, bringing his total gold investment to over $3.67 billion.

George Soros’ SEC filings just showed that he increased his gold position by more than 49% in Q3.

Continue reading →

Do You Feel Like Life is Closing in on You?
How do you fight against the weight of the world and keep your true purpose in sight?  In Destined To Soar, K.P. Yohannan will gently guide you to God’s wisdom and challenges you to embrace it in 37 short, easy to read chapters. This free ebook of Destined to Soar could liberate you from oppression to a deeper relationship with Jesus.  Download for free.

Responsibilities for Junior Systems Engineer:

• As part of a cross-functional team, you’ll ensure the availability and continuity of services, from development to production.
• Help troubleshoot issues at any level of architecture – kernel, network, applications and services.
• Participate in design review of applications and services.
• Identify opportunities for infrastructure automation and develop the solutions.
• Identify the need for tools that help in maintaining, developing, and improving services and implement those tools.
• Jointly create, with development, performance benchmark tests for applications and services.
• Recommend best practices related to applications and service creation in terms of supportability and performance.

Apply here.

The buyer should always look at the COST of a home, not just the PRICE. The cost is determined by the price and the mortgage interest rate which is available at the time. Below is a list of the interest rates over the last ten years and the impact they have on a $100,000 mortgage payment.  The long-battered housing market is finally starting to get back on its feet. But some experts believe it could soon become another housing boom. Signs of recovery have been evident in the recent pick ups in home prices, home sales and construction. Foreclosures are also down and the Federal Reserve has acted to push mortgage rates near record lows.  Construction is expected to be even stronger, with numerous experts forecasting home construction to grow by at least 20% a year for each of the next two years. Some believe building could be back near the pre-bubble average of about 1.5 million new homes a year by 2016, about double the 750,000 homes expected this year.

Mia@HomesByMia.com

Zhang Xiaoqiang – Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2011 (Photo credit: World Economic Forum)

China’s best performing economic planner, The National Development and Reform Commission, recently approved an open door for 15 projects in the solar energy industry.  This green light is expected to maximize China’s thumbprint in the solar market and increase Chinese production and labor numbers.  Power stations stand to gain an up sweep in business as they augment local employment numbers.

Topographic map of Northern Central America (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Plates shifted in Guatemala today.  Dozens were killed.  100 people were reported missing.  Several were trapped for hours under debris and rubble as a 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook the residents in Central America near Mexico City.  It registered a depth of 26 mile near the western coastal city of Champerico.  Residents haven’t experienced an earthquake this powerful since 1976.

English: Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Small Business Innovation Research firm is fine tuning its partnership with Ardmore Development with a strong incentive program that mirrors the Oklahoma statewide initiative to increase business research.  The Ardmore Development Authority focuses on out-of-state companies by incenting them to open and expand their business in the state of Oklahoma.  The group welcomes those in the bioenergy, aerospace, and biology with the expectation of recognized growth in technology.

Change is in the air!  Cooler weather is here, our clocks change this weekend and even our President could change next week. Well add one more change:  I’m happy to announce the relaunch of my brand and website – Homes by Mia.  I am still affiliated with Keller Williams.

The Atlanta real estate market is steadily ramping back up, and Homes by Mia is perfectly positioned to help you quickly achieve your goals. Built on my extensive experience of the past eight years, along with a bedrock commitment to integrity and honest dealings, Homes by Mia employs a unique and powerful marketing approach and application of systems seldom utilized by real estate professionals.

I look forward to sharing them with you.

This Thanksgiving season, know how thankful I am to know you, serve you and enjoy your support!

Sincerely,

Mia Hannah

Mia@HomesByMia.com

Every day we hear reports of brothers and sisters in Christ being persecuted for their faith.  They are stripped of their rights. Their neighbors threaten them with violence and death. Their homes are razed. Their families beat them. And their governments want to slaughter them.

They are our brothers and sisters around the world, boldly believing and proclaiming Christ in places where the penalty for doing so is often death.

Jesus promised His followers that the world would hate and persecute them. Many Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries have come to know the harsh reality of Jesus’ words.

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