I have been a bit behind, so am just getting the August bird banding results posted to the Bird Banding Blog, which can be accessed at the link above. The weather was good, and the number of birds and diversity were also good, with a number of uncommon captures.

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site. For the fourth quarter ended December 31st, 2024, KVF gained $1.22 per share, increasing the value of each share to $77.06. This represents a 2.1% pre-tax return, which exactly matches this quarter's S&P 500 return, while the Russell 2000 was flat and the S&P/TSX returned 3%. The stocks in KVF's portfolio, however, performed worse than these numbers would suggest, as currency changes helped performance by $1.91 per share. In other words, KVF's stocks were down this quarter; the headline number only looks good because a weak Canadian dollar made our ownership in international stocks more valuable in Canadian dollar terms. Returns this quarter were hurt by continued weakness in shares of ADF Group, a position that remains a 10-bagger and therefore remains a significant part of the portfolio despite continued sales. In addition, portfolio company Zytronic, trading at a large discount to its assets, appeared poised to go on a risky (i.e. expensive) endeavour to change its business model, causing KVF to sell its shares at a loss. Helping mitigate these losses were strong returns in the shares of BK Technologies (BKTI), which had a run-up on strong results. KVF no longer owns any shares of this company. Stock prices are high. It is difficult to find opportunities with large margins of safety. When such opportunities are found, it is often in smaller companies where it's difficult to buy shares at sizes that KVF needs in order to move the needle. As a result, KVF's cash balance has been rising. It is expected to rise further still this quarter as portfolio company VOXX has agreed to a buy-out, which will cause KVF's shares to be sold. KVF's income statement, balance sheet and pre-tax/post-fee returns since inception are included below (click to enlarge). Note that securities are marked to market value, and amounts are in thousands of $CAD:

A quick follow-up to my last post! I've been wearing my new olive green Kut From The Kloth Meg Wide Leg pants weekly and actually remembered to take pics of my outfits. I didn’t get super creative or anything but I wanted to show you because PANTS ARE HARD and I think this pair is easy:The Meg Wide Leg pants have an un-aggressive high rise and they hit a place on me that looks like a deliberate crop rather than the just-grazing-the-top-of-my-shoe awkwardness that drives me crazy. And they’re comfortable! Here I’m wearing them with my favorite Everlane sweater (still on sale!) that I wear so often it’s in danger of becoming my whole personality. I’m also wearing my all-black Birkenstock clogs which are my can’t-wear-flats solution. Yes, sometimes I even wear them with socks. I know. I don’t want to talk about it.I think these pants will be a great spring/summer option too! We had a warm-ish day recently and I wore them with my super-favorite AYR So-Cone tee:...and my Birkenstock clogs again because these days I wear the same five things over and over again. I’m semi-retired as a blogger and who’s keeping track anyway? Not me. My necklace is Gorjana (more on that soon) and my belt is Madewell. That's it for now! I'm working on a new "stuff I like" post so stay tuned.

On August 3rd, the first full spring season of bird banding on Belle Isle began. After we band on two more days at the end of the month, I will post a summary to the Bird Banding Blog page.

A stunning smile can do wonders for your confidence and leave a lasting impression. But not everyone is born with white, straight teeth. Dental veneers can be useful in this situation. Veneers have grown in popularity as a flexible and practical cosmetic dentistry solution for achieving the smile of your dreams. Understanding Dental Veneers Dental veneers are small, individualized shells frequently made of porcelain or composite resin. These coverings are made to fit over the front of your teeth, dramatically altering their appearance. The ability of veneers to cover a variety of dental flaws, including stains, discoloration, chips, cracks, gaps, and even slightly misaligned teeth, is well known. The Veneer Application Process The steps below are typical on the path to a gorgeous smile with veneers: Your first step should be a consultation with a dentist. During this appointment, you will discuss your smile goals, and your dentist will check your teeth to see if veneers are the best option. Preparation: A small amount of enamel is removed from the front surface of the teeth, getting veneers to make room for them. This guarantees a good fit and a natural look. Impressions: Molds of your prepared teeth are made using impressions, and these molds are sent to a dental laboratory, where they are painstakingly crafted into the precise shape, size, and color of your custom veneers. Temporary Veneers: To keep your teeth safe and looking good while your permanent veneers are being made, temporary veneers may be positioned. Veneer Bonding: After your custom veneers are completed, your dentist will use a unique adhesive to bond them to your teeth. After being carefully positioned, the veneers are hardened with a curing light. Your dentist may make minor adjustments to ensure your bite is comfortable and your smile appears and feels natural. Benefits of Dental Veneers Dental veneers come with a number of noteworthy benefits: – Enhanced Aesthetics: Veneers can significantly enhance the aesthetics of your teeth, resulting in a perfectly symmetrical smile. – Stain Resistance: Porcelain veneers have a high stain resistance to substances like food, drink, and tobacco, ensuring their beauty for a very long time. – Conservative Treatment: Veneers require much less modification to your natural teeth than some other cosmetic procedures. – Versatility: Veneers are a complete solution for smile makeovers because they can address a variety of cosmetic issues. – Long-lasting: Veneers can last for a decade or more with proper care, giving patients long-lasting confidence and satisfaction. What to Know Before Getting Veneers Before choosing veneers, take into account the following: Irreversible Procedure: The removal of enamel during the preparation process is irreversible. You’ll require veneers or a similar restoration for the rest of your life once you get them. Maintenance: Veneers are durable, but they are not indestructible. Their longevity depends on maintaining good oral hygiene, getting regular dental exams, and avoiding bad habits like biting nails or chewing on hard objects. Realistic Expectations: While veneers can create remarkable transformations, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Discuss your expectations with your dentist to ensure they align with what veneers can achieve. Conclusion Dental veneers are an amazing cosmetic dentistry tool that gives patients the chance to have a smile that exudes confidence and beauty. Veneers offers a flexible and practical solution, whether you want to address minor flaws or undergo a full smile makeover. However, going into the process with specific objectives and reasonable expectations is crucial. To determine whether veneers are the best option for your journey to a new smile, speak with your dentist. Your veneers can give you a beautiful, long-lasting smile that you’ll be proud to display for years if you take the proper care of them. The post How Veneers Transform Smiles appeared first on Doctor Fantastiques.

Results and photo highlights from 8 days of banding during September at the Belle Isle Bird Observatory, Wayne County, Michigan, have been posted to my Bird Banding Blog. To view the blog, go to: https://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

If you’re a UK based investor who’s interested in keeping investment expenses low then it’s highly likely that you’re using Vanguard index and exchange traded funds (ETFs). If that’s you then on Wednesday there was some good news with Vanguard lowering many of the annual expenses associated with these funds. Full details are here which contains a list of the OCF reductions. In

Six shootings across Philadelphia over Halloween night into early Sunday morning left two people dead and five injured, including four teenagers.

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site. For the third quarter ended September 30th, 2025, KVF gained $5.13 per share, increasing the value of each share to $84.16. This represents a pre-tax return of 8.1%, roughly matching the S&P 500's 7.8% return, while trailing the ~12% returns of the the Russell 2000 and the S&P/TSX. Whenever KVF's eclectic mix of sleepy/boring industrials can match the returns of the index which contains the darling tech megacaps when they are in favour, it is a good one. Usually there are a couple of major stock movements which are responsible for the majority of KVF's gains in a quarter such as this one, but this quarter was instead characterized by broad-based gains throughout much of the portfolio. Gains in the share prices of Perdoceo, Rayonier, Mastercraft and ZoomD contributed some, but were only responsible for part of this quarter's gains. Another positive contributor this quarter was the performance of Paramount Skydance, which KVF has now completely sold out of. This was originally purchased as Viacom a few years ago, and overall has caused major losses to KVF (this quarter aside). Investing in companies facing obsolescence in parts of their business, where there is supermajority management control, may not be the best way to generate stock market gains. If only such a large tuition payment wasn't required to educate your humbled manager on this point. Prices are currently elevated in developed markets. As such, KVF's cash position has been growing and will continue to do so if general equity prices remain strong. KVF's income statement, balance sheet and pre-tax/post-fee returns since inception are included below (click to enlarge). Note that securities are marked to market value, and amounts are in thousands of $CAD:

Broccoli is delicious, packed with nutrients, and a true all-rounder. This superfood is the perfect addition to your meal plan and helps support a balanced diet. Find tasty recipe ideas and the best tips for cooking broccoli here. The most common and healthiest way to cook broccoli is to boil it in salted water or… The post How To Cook Broccoli: 6 Best Tricks & 7 Recipe Ideas appeared first on Domestic Fits.

Green beans score big with their high content of vitamins and minerals. Plus, they can be used in many ways in the kitchen. Find out here how you can cook and prepare green beans, as well as the healthy effects of this legume. Green beans are healthy, tasty, and versatile. They are excellent as a… The post How To Cook Green Beans: 7 Tips & 5 Recipe Ideas appeared first on Domestic Fits.

A straight, lovely smile can boost self-esteem and promote better oral health. Orthodontics, a subspecialty of dentistry, aims to identify, prevent, and treat dental and skeletal irregularities. People can fix their crooked teeth and improper bites through various orthodontic procedures, improving dental health and a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Understanding Orthodontics Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on identifying, stopping, and treating dental and facial irregularities. These irregularities include tooth misalignment, crowding, gaps between teeth, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. The main purpose of orthodontic treatment is to improve the smile’s overall appearance while establishing a balanced and functional bite where the upper and lower teeth fit together properly. Common Orthodontic Treatment Options The range of orthodontic treatment options has expanded, providing numerous ways to correct dental irregularities. The following are some of the most utilized treatment modalities: 1. Conventional Braces – The most well-known orthodontic device, consisting of metal brackets fastened to the teeth and wires connecting them. The teeth are gradually moved into their correct positions with routine adjustments. 2. Invisalign – This well-liked substitute for conventional braces gently moves the teeth over time using a series of clear, removable aligners. For many patients, Invisalign offers a discrete and practical choice. 3. Lingual Braces – Lingual braces are affixed to the teeth back (lingual) side, making them less noticeable from the front. They function similarly to traditional braces. 4. Clear Aligners – Systems that use clear aligners, like Invisalign, use transparent, custom-made trays to move teeth. They can be taken out for eating and oral hygiene and are invisible. 5. Retainers – Retainers help maintain the results of active orthodontic treatment by preventing teeth from shifting back to their original positions. The Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment Several advantages of orthodontic treatment are as follows: – Improved Aesthetics: A straight, aligned smile can improve facial aesthetics and boost self-confidence. – Better Oral Health: Because adequately aligned teeth are simpler to clean, dental problems like cavities and gum disease are less likely to occur. – Functional Improvement: Orthodontic therapy can correct bite issues, facilitating normal eating, speaking, and oral function. – Preventive Actions: Early orthodontic treatment for children can stop more serious problems from emerging as adults. – Long-Term Advantages: Orthodontic treatment may result in long-lasting benefits, such as a healthier smile and enhanced well-being. More Than Just Looks Although many people link orthodontics to aesthetics, their importance goes far beyond aesthetics. Straight teeth are simpler to maintain, which lowers the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Additionally, evenly distributed bite forces help to prevent excessive wear and tear on tooth enamel when teeth are properly aligned. Additionally, orthodontic treatment can relieve symptoms brought on by a misaligned bite, such as headaches or jaw pain. The Orthodontic Journey A thorough examination by an orthodontist usually precedes the start of orthodontic treatment. Following a thorough evaluation, the orthodontist will create a specialized treatment strategy based on the patient’s unique requirements and objectives. The complexity of the case and the method used determine the length of the treatment. Appointments for follow-up are required regularly to monitor and adjust progress. Patients frequently wear retainers after the active phase of treatment to guarantee that their newly straightened teeth stay in their corrected positions. Conclusion Orthodontics aims to improve oral health and overall well-being and give patients a straight, attractive smile. The benefits of orthodontic care are available to people of all ages thanks to the variety of treatment options currently available. Consult with an orthodontist to determine the best course of action for achieving a healthier, more self-assured smile if you’re considering getting orthodontic treatment or are concerned about the alignment of your teeth. Orthodontics offers a way to improve oral function, long-term dental health, and enhanced aesthetics. The post Why Choose Orthodontics? appeared first on Doctor Fantastiques.

東京--(BUSINESS WIRE)--（ビジネスワイヤ） -- 先進的なチケッティングおよびライブイベントテクノロジーのリーディングカンパニーであるAXS Tickets（以下「AXS」）は、本日、トヨタ自動車アンテロープスとパートナーシップ契約を締結したことを発表いたします。 本契約は、AXSにとって国内女子バスケットボールリーグ「Wリーグ」所属チームとの初の契約となります。2026年10月31日に開幕した2026-27シーズンより、AXSはチームの公式チケット販売プラットフォームを提供し、トヨタ自動車アンテロープスのファンの皆さまへデジタルチケッティングサービスをお届けします。 2026-27シーズンに向けて、AXSはAXS Mobile IDに対応した新たなチケッティングソリューションを導入し、ファンの皆さまがより簡単にチケットを購入し、試合を観戦できる環境を整えます。新たに開設された「トヨタ自動車アンテロープス公式チケット販売ページ」は、一部を除くホームゲームの主要な販売チャネルとなり、チームのチケット販売・運営を支えるとともに、ファンの皆さまとのつながりを深める役割を担

When I start feeling wanty about some imagined thing that will make my wardrobe complete I remind myself that I already have some truly great stuff that I'm not wearing enough. Lately I've been trying to use all my good stuff as much as possible. Does this stop me from wanting more stuff? Sometimes. Does it make me feel slightly overdressed at the grocery store? Probably. But, it's been really fun to not "save" stuff for occasions but instead to wear the leather jacket every chance I get, to carry a nice bag even if I'm just going to the post office. For example, we went out for tacos last week and this is what I wore:My very favorite jeans by Mother: the Weekender Fray, which I wear more than any other pair I own right now. I'm actually wearing them right this second! I reviewed back in 2022 if you're curious. They're truly comfortable and just the right length. I'm also wearing my Pikolinos boots which are very comfortable and decently cute and only pair of boots my dumb foot will currently allow. I am curious about this style, which is a bit taller and might work in place of the Chelsea boots I can't currently wear.But okay, let's talk about the leather jacket. Its an AllSaints Belvedere jacket I found on TheRealReal because my other AllSaints jacket is currently, um, extremely tight. This one fits perfectly and I can wear a thin sweater under it, no problem. My scarf (this is it in a different colorway) was an impulse purchase at Liberty of London. It was on sale and there was only one left but they still steamed it for me and packed it up like a gift. I wore it for the rest of the trip, even the part where I had to sleep on the floor in JFK because we missed our flight. SO FANCY. Finally, that bag. It's the Mulberry Amberley (mine is in oxblood) and was a London purchase that was definitely on sale. HOWEVER, do not casually wander into the Mulberry flagship store in London and think you're not buying something because you absolutely will and you will love it and carry it A LOT because cost per wear and all that shit. Okay, on to my second "favorites" outfit:Now, I talked about my striped Everlane sweater a few entries ago and it's still my #1 favorite sweater that I wear way, way too often. (And it's currently on sale!) Oh, Everlane. I quit you and you drag me back with cashmere and stripes. It's a great sweater - somehow boxy and slightly cropped but still hangs just right? It's magic and I just really love it, if you can't tell. I'm wearing it with my patch pocket jeans from Madewell which are getting quite a bit of wear. They are trendy but in a fun, not-too-young kind of way, I hope. Just to keep things extremely grown up and serious, I'm wearing them with my Comme des Garçons PLAY Converse which are so cute and spark all kinds of joy. My necklaces are my favorite weird bird skull from Paxton Gate and my labradorite necklace from Etsy. So, that's it. I'm really trying to use and enjoy what I have and stop being so wanty all the time. It's sort of working? Sort of.

A shooting near SEPTA's 56th Street Station in West Philadelphia left a 14-year-old boy and two men injured on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.

DMY reviews Mutations Festival 2026, where Storm Boelo battered Brighton and Mike D 5D, Dove Ellis and Iguana Death Cult made the soaking worthwhile.

In Beverly Gage's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, we get an unflinching look at one of the most powerful figures in U.S. history. Hoover, who led the FBI for nearly five decades until his death in 1972, transformed a modest Bureau of Investigation into a formidable national security apparatus. But as Gage meticulously details, this rise came at a steep cost: rampant surveillance, political blackmail, and the erosion of civil liberties, all in the name of protecting "American values." Reading it today, it's hard not to see eerie parallels to political disagreements: history definitely rhymes. Hoover's FBI was born in an age of fear: the Red Scare after World War I, where communists and anarchists were hunted with little regard for due process. And it continued to grow every time there was a new fear, its capabilities becoming further-reaching incrementally into the behemoth it has become. Gage paints Hoover as a master bureaucrat who created a system for storing and retrieving files on criminals, including a national fingerprint database. Of course, this system was abused as government programs often are and was weaponized against opposition politicians and civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., whom the Bureau wiretapped and harassed. To be fair, Hoover was constantly fighting revolutionaries who sought to overturn the country's principles, those principles being presumably what has made the United States so successful. While the KKK terrorized blacks and their sympathizers in the south, it was Hoover's FBI that picked up the mantle and conducted investigations that southern cops preferred to turn a blind eye towards. The book weaves in broader American history, showing how Hoover's actions mirrored national anxieties over immigration, radicalism, and social change. Fast-forward to 2025, and those rhymes are striking. Today's surveillance state, turbocharged by post-9/11 laws like the Patriot Act, echoes Hoover's unchecked wiretapping—now amplified by digital tools from the NSA and FBI. We've seen the FBI accused of political meddling, from investigations into election interference to monitoring dissidents, much like Hoover's era of targeting rival politicians, anti-war protesters and civil rights groups. What G-Man teaches us is that power without accountability breeds tyranny. Hoover's legacy isn't ancient history—it's a cautionary tale for our polarized times, where fears of "threats" justify overreach. If you're into history that hits close to home, pick up G-Man.

I mostly wear pants these days and I realized that I didn't have much variety in my closet. What I do have is many pairs of jeans and a couple of pairs of pants that really should be filed under "athletic wear pretending to be work-appropriate." So, I went on a tear and bought three new pairs of pants. Also, fine, one of the pairs I bought is jeans but they're really good. Shush. To start, I bought these jeans from Madewell but didn't really love them on me so I returned them and on the way back to my car I fell into EverEve and bought this pair of cropped pants by Kut From the Kloth:I don't have an outfit photo yet but I am here to say that these are good and comfortable and I highly recommend them. They aren't life-changing but they are easy and they look cute with both Birkenstocks and boots. Then Marianne bought these Everlane jeans and y'all, I had to have them too because I am an enormous copy-cat, yes, but come on, these are great:They are VERY high waisted on me but I love the weird hem and the wide-leg sailor flair. I just NEEDED THESE JEANS. I'm happy to say I love them though I did go up a size because they run a little bit small. This is what they look like on half of me:So cute. They come right up to my boobs and sitting down is sort of challenging but I still love them. I'm kidding. Mostly. Since I was already ordering the jeans, I also ordered these tencel utility pants because they looked like a great spring/summer option and y'all, they are so good. They are definitely a more relaxed style than I usually wear but I love how the material feels - weighty and flowy at the same time. I wore them twice during my recent work trip to Hawaii:Hey, look, an actual outfit! I mean, it's a crumbled end-of-the-day outfit, but still. These pants run true to size, just FYI. I'm wearing them with my two-tone Birks, a Madewell tee and my AYR button up. So, three pairs of pants, one actual outfit photo. I'm doing great.

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CIRCOR, ein Unternehmen im Portfolio von KKR und weltweit tätiger Hersteller von Durchflussregelungsprodukten für den Industrie- und Schifffahrtsmarkt, gab heute bekannt, dass es eine endgültige Vereinbarung zur Übernahme der Green Silence Group S.p.A. unterzeichnet hat, eines italienischen Anbieters von Hydraulikpumpen, Elektromotoren und fortschrittlichen technischen Lösungen. Durch die Übernahme werden die sich ergänzenden Kompetenzen von Settima, Motive u

I remembered the turn the calendar over at about 2pm this afternoon, apparently it is November. I know it is November as last night it sounded like the zombie apocalypse was in full flow: there was a lot of treat or treating going on.....I am enjoy the Ipomoea lobata that is escaping over the side fence from the back to the front. Whilst it was a late flowerer it is a very welcome flowerer and I shall attempt to replicate this next year.The hanging basket is doing very well. I have fed it a couple of times and it is growing beautifully. and bulbs are starting to emerge in the side lawn. I mowed around them and will not mow this lawn again until June next year.The Salvia ulginosa is sprawly and stragglyand a true blue. I adore this plant, adore it.and this is growing self-sown in the border. I hope it gets through the winter. I grew milk thistle some years ago, and this has just popped up.As I wander around to the back garden the relatively newly bought Amicia zygomeris is flowering. This makes me very happy. The previous one I had planted in the garden for more than ten years never flowered. I must have put it in the wrong place. It did not re-emerge this Spring so I am hoping that this replacement will thrive. It is still in a pot at the moment. I may plant it out next Spring after overwintering it some where out of the worst of the weather.The ornamental cardoon is at its fluffy seed head stage. I love this stage, I love all stages of this plant. I like to think in the Spring that birds will use the fluff in their nests.I gave the lawns a cut before taking these photos, this is rare for me, I usually photograph first then mow which is a bit silly really. The lawn is now fabulously green again with no signs of the summer's drought. The borders still have some colour.I have planted three Salvia ulginosas in the Pond Border. Have I mentioned I adore this plant? I am looking forward to its sprawly blueness making its presence felt next year.I have also planted three dark red/purple heucheras, bought on a recent trip to the North Yorkshire coast. I have big hopes for these heucheras.The Euphorbia mellifera is still too big, but it is too late to cut it back this year, so in the Spring.....The standard wisteria has rather lovely autumn colour. I don't think I have ever noticed this previously. That is shame on me.I pruned the pleached hornbeams yesterday. I did not prune them well, but they are pruned and I feel like I need a medal as ladder work is never my favourite work.I cut back some self-sown viburnams that had placed themselves in front of the pleached hedge. I think I have reclaimed four feet of border and it made the hedge pruning so much easier. They just sort of appeared, several feet high, over night....The Cornus mas is also too close to the pleached hedge and whilst it will get pruned, it will not be removed. I am very fond of it. Admittedly I don't think I quite understood how big it would get when I planted it.The Medlar tree is devoid of medlars. I am pretty sure it was covered in them last week, but today there are none. Squirrels - j'accuse!The Hydrangea querifolia is looking magnificent. The autumn colour is always good.I am fairly sure that this Cornus is dead. It does not look well. I will leave it until the Spring but I am not holding my breath.I had thought that this ornamental cherry was dead, another victim of this year's drought - but lo' there is hope.The beech pillars are starting to take their autumn colour. They were pruned a few weeks ago and look good at the moment.and the other ginkgo is just that little bit more yellow day by day.The Acer Orange Dream is looking wonderful this year. It was planted probably fifteen or so years ago as a 9cm plant. Look at it now! Wonderful.