Mindfulness is Associated with Changing Neural Connectivity in Children and Adolescents

Mindfulness is Associated with Changing Neural Connectivity in Children and Adolescents

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

“mindfulness meditation training increases resting state connectivity between top-down executive control regions, highlighting an important mechanism through which it reduces stress levels.” Daniel Reed

There has accumulated a large amount of research demonstrating that mindfulness has significant benefits for psychological, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. It even improves high level thinking known as executive function. Its positive effects are so widespread that it is difficult to find any other treatment of any kind with such broad beneficial effects on everything from thinking to mood and happiness to severe mental and physical illnesses. This raises the question of how mindfulness training could produce such widespread and varied benefits. One possibility is that mindfulness practice results in beneficial changes in the nervous system.

The brains of children and adolescents are different from fully mature adult brains. They are dynamically growing and changing. It is unclear how mindfulness affects their maturing brains. In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness and dynamic functional neural connectivity in children and adolescents.” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5610942/ ), Marusak and colleagues examined the relationship of mindfulness with brain activity in the maturing brain. They recruited children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years and measured them for mindfulness, anxiety, and depression.

The children and adolescents then had their brains scanned with functional Magnetic Imaging (fMRI). The scans were evaluated for static connectivity, the relatively permanent connections between brain areas, and dynamic connectivity, the changing connections between areas. They looked specifically at 3 systems in the brain, the central executive network, associated with higher level thinking and attention, the salience and emotion network, associate with the importance of stimuli, and the default mode network, associated with mind wandering and self-referential thinking.

They found that mindfulness was associated with better mental health of the children and adolescents with high levels of mindfulness significantly associated with low levels of depression and anxiety. Mindfulness was also significantly associated with the amount of present-moment oriented thinking occurring during the brain scan session. Mindfulness was not associated with static connectivity within the children’s and adolescents’ brains.

With dynamic connectivity on the other hand, they found that mindfulness was associated with greater numbers of transitions between connectivity states. That is, the higher the levels of mindfulness the greater the number of times the connectivity pattern in the brain changed from one set of connections to another. Finally, they also found that the numbers of transitions between connectivity states mediated the association of mindfulness with lower anxiety, such that mindfulness was associated with lower anxiety both with a direct association of mindfulness with lower anxiety and indirectly by higher mindfulness being associated with greater dynamic connectivity which was in turn associated with lower anxiety.

The results suggest that mindfulness is associated with greater brain flexibility in transitioning from different states and this may allow for less anxiety. This suggests that mindfulness allows for greater ability to see things and evaluate what is occurring in different ways and this helps the youths to better appreciate what is happening and thereby lower anxiety. These are incredibly interesting findings that begin to reveal the neural dynamics occurring in children and adolescents that underlie the ability of mindfulness to improve mental health. Mindfulness isn’t associated with different brain connectivity structures in the brains but rather with different abilities to switch around in real time between systems and this improves mental health.

“Just 11 hours of learning a meditation technique induce positive structural changes in brain connectivity by boosting efficiency in a part of the brain that helps a person regulate behavior in accordance with their goals.” – University of Oregon

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

Study Summary

Marusak, H. A., Elrahal, F., Peters, C. A., Kundu, P., Lombardo, M. V., Calhoun, V. D., Goldberg, E. K., Cohen, C., Taub, J. W., … Rabinak, C. A. (2017). Mindfulness and dynamic functional neural connectivity in children and adolescents. Behavioural brain research, 336, 211-218.

Interventions that promote mindfulness consistently show salutary effects on cognition and emotional wellbeing in adults, and more recently, in children and adolescents. However, we lack understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness in youth that should allow for more judicious application of these interventions in clinical and educational settings.

Using multi-echo multi-band fMRI, we examined dynamic (i.e., time-varying) and conventional static resting-state connectivity between core neurocognitive networks (i.e., salience/emotion, default mode, central executive) in 42 children and adolescents (ages 6–17).

We found that trait mindfulness in youth relates to dynamic but not static resting-state connectivity. Specifically, more mindful youth transitioned more between brain states over the course of the scan, spent overall less time in a certain connectivity state, and showed a state-specific reduction in connectivity between salience/emotion and central executive networks. The number of state transitions mediated the link between higher mindfulness and lower anxiety, providing new insights into potential neural mechanisms underlying benefits of mindfulness on psychological health in youth.

Our results provide new evidence that mindfulness in youth relates to functional neural dynamics and interactions between neurocognitive networks, over time.

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Glossary G

Gain: The ratio of the output level of a circuit to the input. This will be positive for an amplifier and negative for an attenuator.

Gate: Element of a digital circuit. Also one of the terminals of a Field Effect Transistor (FET).

Gigahertz (GHz):1,000,000,000 Hertz; a unit of frequency.

Glitch: An intermittent error in a circuit.

Graticule: The grid lines on a screen for measuring oscilloscope traces.

Ground : 1) A conducting connection by which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to the earth to establish and maintain a reference voltage level. 2) The voltage reference point in a circuit. 3). The negative side of DC power supply.


The village Strážný is an important border crossing to Germany. It is situated about 20 km south of the town Vimperk, in the valley below the Strážný mountain (1,115 m) with the ruins of the Kunžvart castle, between two tributaries of the Vltava river, near the border of the National Park Šumava (Bohemian Forest), 834 m a.s.l.

It used to be a settlement founded at the end of the 17th century in the surroundings of the Kunžvart castle, which was already in ruins at that time. The village was originally named after the castle. Kunžvart was a small and not important village till the 20th century. The importance and growth started with the development of tourism and trade in the second half of the 20th century.

The village and the surroundings became a sought-after winter holiday centre with a lot of ski-lifts on the surrounding slopes.

The branch of the instructional trail Zlatá Stezka (Golden Path) passes through Strážný.


How to realize flexible printing of high screen co

  • Detail

How to realize flexible printing of high-speed corrugated paper

release date: Source: interconnection

in industrial production, sometimes it is necessary to test and plan the production line, so as to maximize the use of the functions of the production line. How to realize flexible printing of high-speed corrugated paper? Determine the best solution that can not only be suitable for printing, but also reflect the effect of product design. China paper industry will analyze its key technologies for you:

1: determine the printing suitability conditions

first, understand the printing equipment. For example, the color number of the unit, the type and number of lines of the corrugated roller, the basic situation of the paper feeding system and the scraper system. There are also paper types, such as whiteboard or coated paper. If possible, a set of test plates for testing the printing suitability of the printer can be provided. It includes a ladder bar for testing the expansion of different line points of the flexo, a color block for measuring the field density value of the ink, a simple chromatography for overprinting different point proportions, yin-yang characters and straight lines of different font sizes, a separate module for measuring the chromatic error, a pressure bar for observing the printing balance pressure, and so on. The test printing plate is required to be completed under normal production conditions such as normal printing board, standard production water-based ink, normal printing pressure and speed. Of course, some printing conditions can be changed to get different test samples. Through the analysis of the test samples, we can get the printing suitability of this type of printer under normal conditions. We can get the point expansion, curve and field of water-based ink of each color. 1 Test method for ultraviolet light aging resistance of polyethylene: it is mainly used to detect the tensile strength and elongation at break density, hue value, point collision, influence of color sequence, reduction of fine lines, overprint error and printing balance pressure before and after light aging

combined with the above test data and the printing effect of the test sample, a set of color matching management system for this printer can be established, such as the establishment of point compensation curve for point expansion, the treatment and recycling of screen color and waste plastic in recent years, the correction of gannina curve, the color simulation and matching of proofing, etc

2: determine the plate making process and color separation scheme

in flexo plate making, the determination of color separation process scheme is a key factor, which plays a decisive role in whether high-speed wire products can be successfully printed to some extent. The color separation of flexible printing should use as few colors as possible and use as pure colors as possible to complete the superposition of colors, which is very helpful to printing and reduce costs

3: selection of the number of lines and angles on the printing plate

the number of lines on the printing plate is restricted by the number of lines on the ink transfer roller, and the ratio between the two is required to be more than 1:5. The 400L/in corrugation roller can achieve a maximum of 80L/in printing plate. If the number of lines is too high, it is easy to paste the plate and produce moire. Therefore, the higher the number of lines, the better. Moreover, the printing effect of 80L/in and 75L/in will not be much different in terms of fineness

the addition angle of flexo printing mainly adopts two angles: 7, 37, 67, 82, and 7, 22, 52, 82 according to the angle of the corrugated roller. However, since it is very likely to cause personal injury or even death, we should proceed from the actual situation of the product, and we can't cut across the board. For example, for monochrome hanging linear patterns, the hanging angle must be 45 degrees or 0 degrees, otherwise there will be obvious jagged edges on the hanging patterns. The selection of overlapping pattern angle should be based on the principle that the hue angle of the main tone of the product pattern is 30 degrees different. If the skin of the portrait is mainly yellow, the color difference between magenta and yellow should be more than 30 degrees; If the landscape is dominated by green tones, the color difference between cyan and yellow should be more than 30 degrees, otherwise moire will easily occur. Before plate making, conduct proofing simulation to determine the best addition method. Discrete points adopt certain additive technology, which increases the anti-counterfeiting of products

at present, the direct plate making system mainly adopts extremely high transfer technology, and images directly on the resin plate after color separation and assembly

digital printing plate has the advantages of complete dot type, extremely high light spots that are not easy to lose, low dot expansion rate, long step adjustment, large dots, and no paste. It is the best choice for flexo high-speed plate making

Copyright © 2011 JIN SHI


How much reward do you get for listening to Quran?

Do you get the same reward for listening to Quran?

How much reward do you get for reading the Quran?

Is it OK to listen to Quran?

yes you should listen to Quran, doesn’t matter wherever you are. on each letter of the quran there are 27 virtues written in your account. Allah will help you, even if you lose your attention while doing something.

ЭТО ИНТЕРЕСНО:  You asked: Are all restaurants in Malaysia Halal?

Do you get rewards for learning about Islam?

Learning and teaching in the masjid

Make the most of any opportunity to learn at the mosque, and, inshaAllah, you’ll gain the reward of Hajj.

Why do I cry when I hear Quran?

Do you get reward for reading Quran without understanding?

Every good deed including the recitation of Quran for the pleasure of Allah earns reward; no matter if someone don’t know its meanings.

Which is the most powerful Surah in Quran?

Does Quran help with anxiety?

Based on the available researches, Quran recitation can be used as a useful non-pharmacological treatment to reduce anxiety.

Which Surah should be recited daily?

Surat Al-Baqara or chapter 2 of the Quran should be recited everyday as it helps protect you from Shayateen (companions of Satan). Also, during Fridays, make sure the first Surah you read is Surah Al-Kahf or chapter 18 of the Quran.

Which is better reading or listening to Quran?

Despite the importance and benefit of listening to the Quran, reciting its Arabic text aloud, i.e. with the tongue, has clear superiority over it. This is because more of the human senses are engaged when a Muslim recites the Quran aloud, than when they just listen to it.

ЭТО ИНТЕРЕСНО:  Can you wish Happy Ramadan?

Can you listen to Quran without hijab?

Is it okay to listen to Surah Kahf?

When you walk in search of knowledge you walk in the path of God?

Tell me another prophet of any religion who told his followers that if you walk in search of knowledge, you are walking in the path of God,” said Jethmalani while sharing the stage with former chief justice of Delhi High Court Rajendar Sachar. “I am among those who believe that every religion has a core.

Is it good to listen to Quran while sleeping?

It is perfect, and allowed, there is nothing wrong in listening to Quran at any time. Listening Quran is good. Make sure you have wudu. Do not listen Quran when you are sleeping with your wife.

What Prophet Muhammad said about knowledge?

ЭТО ИНТЕРЕСНО:  What are the general percentages of Muslims who are Sunni and Shia?
Muslim club


The war with nature is over and we’ve won!

What happens when humans finally win the war with nature and end up in charge of ecology? A question for the future? Think again. In “Peak Wood: Nature Does Impose Limits”, John Perlin describes what happens when human societies, starting in prehistory, have completely transformed their ecosystems and ultimately themselves, by clearing away forests to improve hunting and gathering, for […]

Burning the biosphere before you were born

Millennia before humans discovered coal, indeed, millennia before there was civilization, Homo sapiens had discovered fire and was making extensive use of it. In a study just published by Bill Ruddiman and myself (Ruddiman and Ellis, 2009), we show that early farmers using fire likely cleared vast areas of forest thousands of years ago, even when human populations were small, […]

Guns, forests and carbon

Not only do humans burn away forests to enhance their food supply, they also do it when they battle each other! Or so says a study published by Zhen Li and his colleagues this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Li et al. 2009). By linking a careful investigation of paleoclimate indicators from sediments with burning […]

Campfires degrade local ecosystems

Humans have been using fire since prehistory- indeed, it is one of our defining characteristics -distinguishing us from all other species. There is little doubt that burning of forests to attract game and later, to clear land for agriculture have had long-term global impacts on climate and the biosphere. There is also much evidence of serious ecological consequences to the […]


Sunday, October 2, 2022
HomeArtificial IntelligenceAutomating Model Risk Compliance: Model Validation

Automating Model Risk Compliance: Model Validation

Last time, we discussed the steps that a modeler must pay attention to when building out ML models to be utilized within the financial institution. In summary, to ensure that they have built a robust model, modelers must make certain that they have designed the model in a way that is backed by research and industry-adopted practices. DataRobot assists the modeler in this process by providing tools that are aimed at accelerating and automating critical steps of the model development process—from flagging potential data quality issues to trying out multiple model architectures, these tools not only conform to the expectations laid out by SR 11-7, but also give the modeler a wider tool kit in adopting sophisticated algorithms in the enterprise setting.

In this post, we will dive deeper into how members from both the first and second line of defense within a financial institution can adapt their model validation strategies in the context of modern ML methods. Further, we will discuss how DataRobot is able to help streamline this process, by providing various diagnostic tools aimed at thoroughly evaluating a model’s performance prior to placing it into production.

Validating Machine Learning Models

If we have already built out a model for a business application, how do we ensure that it is working to our expectations? What are some steps that the modeler/validator must take to evaluate the model and ensure that it is a strong fit for its design objectives?

To start with, SR 11-7 lays out the criticality of model validation in an effective model risk management practice:

SR 11-7 further goes to detail the components of an effective validation, which includes:

  1. Evaluation of conceptual soundness
  2. Ongoing monitoring
  3. Outcomes analysis

While SR 11-7 is prescriptive in its guidance, one challenge that validators face today is adapting the guidelines to modern ML methods that have proliferated in the past few years. When the FRB’s guidance was first introduced in 2011, modelers often employed traditional regression-based models for their business needs. These methods provided the benefit of being supported by rich literature on the relevant statistical tests to confirm the model’s validity—if a validator wanted to confirm that the input predictors of a regression model were indeed relevant to the response, they need only to construct a hypothesis test to validate the input. Furthermore, due to their relative simplicity in model structure, these models were very straightforward to interpret. However, with the widespread adoption of modern ML techniques, including gradient-boosted decision trees (GBDTs) and deep learning algorithms, many traditional validation techniques become difficult or impossible to apply. These newer approaches often have the benefit of higher performance compared to regression-based approaches, but come at the cost of added model complexity. To deploy these models into production with confidence, modelers and validators need to adopt new techniques to ensure the validity of the model.

Conceptual Soundness of the Model

Evaluating ML models for their conceptual soundness requires the validator to assess the quality of the model design and ensure it is fit for its business objective. Not only does this include reviewing the assumptions in selecting the input features and data, it also requires analyzing the model’s behavior over a variety of input values. This may be accomplished through a wide variety of tests, to develop a deeper introspection into how the model behaves.

Model explainability is a critical component of understanding a model’s behavior over a spectrum of input values. Traditional statistical models like linear and logistic regression made this process relatively straightforward, as the modeler was able to leverage their domain expertise and directly encode factors relevant to the target they were trying to predict. In the model-fitting procedure, the modeler is then able to measure the impact of each factor against the outcome. In contrast, many modern ML methods may combine data inputs in non-linear ways to produce outputs, making model explainability more difficult, yet necessary prior to productionization. In this context, how does the validator ensure that the data inputs and model behavior matches their expectations?

One approach is to assess the importance of the input variables in the model, and evaluate its impact on the outcome being predicted. Examining these global feature importances enables the validator to understand the top data inputs and ensure that they fit with their domain expertise. Within DataRobot, each model created in the model leaderboard contains a feature impact visualization, which makes use of a mathematical technique called permutation importance to measure variable importance. Permutation importance is model agnostic, making it perfect for modern ML approaches, and it works by measuring the impact of shuffling the values of an input variable against the performance of the model. The more important a variable is, the more negatively the model performance will be impacted by randomizing its values.

As a concrete example, a modeler may be tasked with constructing a probability of default (PD) model. After building the model, the validator in the second line of defense may inspect the feature impact plot shown in Figure 1 below, to examine the most influential variables the model leveraged. As per the output, the two most influential variables were the grade of the loan assigned and the annual income of the applicant. Given the context of the problem, the validator may approve the model construction, as these inputs are context-appropriate.

Figure 1: Feature Impact using permutation importances in DataRobot. For this probability of default model, the top two features were the grade of the loan and the annual income of the applicant. Given the problem domain, these two variables are reasonable for its context.

In addition to examining feature importances, another step a validator may take to review the conceptual soundness of a model is to perform a sensitivity analysis. To directly quote SR 11-7:

Where appropriate to the model, banks should employ sensitivity analysis in model development and validation to check the impact of small changes in input and parameter values on model outputs to make sure they fall within an expected range.

By examining the relationship the model learns between its inputs and outputs, the validator is able to confirm that the model is fit for its design objectives and that the model will yield reasonable outputs across a range of input values. Within DataRobot, the validator may look at the feature effects plot as shown in Figure 2 below, which makes use of a technique called partial dependence to highlight how the outcome of the model changes as a function of the input variable. Drawing from the probability of default model discussed earlier, we can see in the figure that the likelihood of an applicant defaulting on a loan decreases with an increase in their salary. This should make intuitive sense, as individuals with more financial reserves would pose the institution with a lower credit risk compared to those with less.

Figure 2: Feature Effect plot making use of partial dependence within DataRobot. Depicted here is the relationship a Random Forest model learned between the annual income of an applicant and their likelihood of defaulting. The decreasing default risk with increasing salary suggests that higher income applicants pose less credit risk to the bank.

Lastly, in contrast with the above approaches, a validator may make use of ‘local’ feature explanations to understand the additive contributions of each input variable against the model output. Within DataRobot, the validator may accomplish this by configuring the modeling project to make use of SHAP to produce these prediction explanations. This methodology assists in evaluating the conceptual soundness of a model by ensuring that the model adheres to domain-specific rules when making predictions, especially for modern ML approaches. Furthermore, it can foster trust between model consumers, as they are able to understand the factors driving a particular model outcome.

Figure 3: SHAP-based prediction explanations enabled within a DataRobot project. These predictions quantify the relative impact of each input variable against the outcome.

Outcomes Analysis

Outcomes Analysis is a core component of the model validation process, whereby the model’s outputs are compared against actual outcomes observed. These comparisons enable the modeler and validator alike to evaluate the model’s performance, and assess it against the business objectives for which it was created. In the context of machine learning models, many different statistical tests and metrics may be used to quantify the performance of a model, but as quoted by SR 11-7, is wholly dependent upon the model’s technique and intended use:

The precise nature of the comparison depends on the objectives of a model, and might include an assessment of the accuracy of estimates or forecasts, an evaluation of rank-ordering ability, or other appropriate tests.

Out of the box, DataRobot provides a variety of different model performance metrics based on the model architecture used, and further empowers the modeler to do their own analysis by making available all model-related data through its API. For example, in the context of a supervised binary classification problem, DataRobot automatically calculates the model’s F1, Precision, and Recall score—performance metrics that capture the model’s ability to accurately identify classes of interest. Furthermore, through its interactive interface, the modeler is able to do multiple what-if analyses to see the impact of changing the prediction threshold on the corresponding model precision and recall. In the context of financial services, these metrics would be especially useful in evaluating the institution’s Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) models, where the model performance can be measured by the number of false positives it generates.

Figure 4: DataRobot provides an interactive ROC curve specifying relevant model performance metrics on the bottom right.

In addition to the model metrics discussed above for classification, DataRobot similarly provides fit metrics for regression models, and helps the modeler visualize the spread of model errors.

Figure 5: Plots showcasing the distribution of errors, or model residuals, for a regression model built within DataRobot.

While model metrics help to quantify the model’s performance, it is by no means the only way of evaluating the overall quality of the model. To this end, a validator may also make use of a lift chart to see if the model they are reviewing is well calibrated for its objectives. For example, drawing upon the probability of default model discussed earlier in this post, a lift chart would be useful in determining if the model is able to discern between those applicants that pose the highest and least amount of credit risk for the financial institution. In the figure shown below, the predictions made by the model are compared against observed outcomes and rank ordered in increasing deciles based on the predicted value outputted by the model. It is clear in this case that the model is relatively well calibrated, as the actual outcomes observed align themselves closely with the predicted values. In other words, when the model predicts that an applicant is of high risk, we have correspondingly observed a higher rate of defaults (Bin 10 below), whereas we observe a much lower rate of defaults when the model predicts an applicant is at low risk (Bin 1). If, however, we had constructed a model that had a flat blue line for all the ordered deciles, it would have not been fit for its business objective, as the model had no means of discerning those applicants that are of high risk of defaulting versus those that weren’t.

Figure 6: Model lift chart showing model predictions against actual outcomes, sorted by increasing predicted value.

Model validation is a critical component of the model risk management process, in which the proposed model is thoroughly tested to ensure that its design is fit for its objectives. In the context of modern machine learning methods, traditional validation approaches have to be adapted to make certain that the model is both conceptually sound and that its outcomes satisfy the necessary business requirements.

In this post, we covered how DataRobot empowers the modeler and validator to gain a deeper understanding into model behavior by means of global and local feature importances, as well as providing feature effects plots to illustrate the direct relationship between model inputs and outputs. Because these techniques are model agnostic, they may be readily applied to sophisticated techniques employed today, without sacrificing on model explainability. In addition, by providing a host of model performance metrics and lift charts, the validator can be rest assured that the model is able to handle a wide range of data inputs appropriately and satisfy the business requirements for which it was created.

In the next post, we will continue our discussion on model validation by focusing on model monitoring

About the author

Harsh Patel
Harsh Patel

Customer-Facing Data Scientist at DataRobot

Harsh Patel is a Customer-Facing Data Scientist at DataRobot. He leverages the DataRobot platform to drive the adoption of AI and Machine Learning at major enterprises in the United States, with a specific focus within the Financial Services Industry. Prior to DataRobot, Harsh worked in a variety of data-centric roles in both startups and major enterprises, where he had the opportunity to build many data products leveraging machine learning.
Harsh studied Physics and Engineering at Cornell University, and in his spare time enjoys traveling and exploring the parks in NYC.

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Aww Shift

May 21, 2021

In this episode, our guest is Matt Deutschman, Founder of Doubletake Promotional Marketing. Armed with the values and open-mindedness imbued to him as a child, Matt is inclined to make an excellent example for his children. His current success and upbringing are the result of his deep passion for preserving filial piety and transparency. Matt shares with us how he leveraged his journalism experience to marketing, how he views the world, and most importantly - the legacy he wanted his children to inherit.

[02:19] Why should we listen to you?

Everything I say comes from the heart. I speak with my mind, and I say what I feel. I am someone you can take from face value.

[03:06] History of Upbringing

It has a lot to do with my parent’s influence. My father ran a family business while my mother was a teacher. Both of them have a strong work ethic, and we had a rapport in our home. We communicate with one another well, and that builds my strong relationship with them. I was cultivated and encouraged to be open and free, leading to my current upbringing.

[05:10] Journalism to Marketing

When I was young, I decided to go into journalism because of my admiration for Peter Jennings on ABC News. I wanted to be like him, and that’s the start of my journey. I was an editor of our school newspaper in high school, then went for a journalism major in college. My father decided to move his factory, and he was looking for assistance. I worked for him for a year, and I did not like what I was doing. I want to engage people, make conversations, meet with people, and not do paperwork in the background.

[07:52] World’s View & Mindset

I’ll be sitting and watching TV with my wife, and during commercial breaks, I make comments about who the target market is. I could tune out the show, but my analytical mind switches whenever I see advertisements if I am in an event or anywhere.

[09:52] In journalism, we ask a lot of questions to people every day. We try to get their perspective on the brand, the product, etc. We have to understand the brand so that we can find ways to resonate with the audience.

[13:09] Life-Lessons & Purpose

If I am a slave for my own company, then what is the purpose of being self-employed? That was the moment where I decided to restructure my company differently and give myself more time and flexibility. I made it my mission to spend time with my family as much as possible.

[17:14] My business’s drive is to create a life where I can devote my time to my family. Any business decisions that I make should align with my guiding purpose. If a business decision will negatively affect my ability to prioritize my family, it is a horrible business decision.

[21:15] Legacy for the Children

I strongly believe in making an example of myself. Loving my wife and showing it to my children. I want my son to grow up someday and be a man who deserves a woman like her and knows how to treat her. I want my daughter to grow eventually with the assurance and confidence to deserve a man like what I try to become. If I put that first, everything else will come into place. It is not about their career choice or their successes, but I want to set an example so they can live with integrity.

[26:01] What promise did God make to the world when He created you?

That my children will grow up understanding what it means to be deeply imperfect, live a life with integrity, and do what is right.

Key Quotes:

[14:27 – 14:38] “I am a perfectionist; a control freak, and it is extremely difficult to relinquish my reins to someone else.”

[16:32 – 16:36] “We all have our different strengths, and it is fine if I am not the best in my organization.”

Learn more about Matt and his company on:


Case Comment: Hejka v The Regional Municipality of Durham, 2022 ONSC 2233 by Kiel Baker, Florence Kwok & Laverne Jacobs*

On April 12, 2022 the Division Court of Ontario rendered the decision in Hejka v The Regional Municipality of Durham,2022 ONSC 2233 (CanLII).

Bogdan Hejka was a frequent user of Durham Regional Transit services (“Durham”). Mr. Hejka took the specialized transportation service to access his employment, local gym, and community centre, using these services approximately 4-8 times a week. Since 2013, Durham had given Mr. Hejka unconditional eligibility for the use of these specialized services, which take him door-to-door.

The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation , O Reg 191/11 (“IASR“) in Ontario sets out accessibility standards for public transportation services. More specifically, it requires specialized service providers to offer services that best meet the accessibility-related needs of users. According to the transportation standard, every specialized transportation provider should determine the eligibility of specialized services using three categories: Unconditional Eligibility, Temporary Eligibility, and Conditional Eligibility.

Section 63 of the regulation indicates that a person with a disability will be eligible for specialized transportation services according to the following criteria:

Unconditional Eligibility — is a category reserved for persons with “a disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services”;

Temporary Eligibility — is a category that provides specialized transportation to persons with a “temporary disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services;

Conditional Eligibility — provide specialized transportation for persons with “a disability where environmental or physical barriers limit their ability to consistently use conventional transportation services”.

 Durham issued a review of the eligibility of all users of specialized transportation services in 2020, believing that some historical barriers to travel may have been eradicated by its upgrades to the accessibility features of its conventional buses. In response to Durham’s request for review, Mr. Hejka and his mother submitted a form outlining his unique needs along with additional information provided by his doctor. They explained Mr. Hejka’s orthopaedic issues, visual impairments, and cognitive disabilities in their submission. Most importantly, they noted that the permanence of Mr. Hejka’s functional limitations prevented his use of conventional transportation.

On February 11. 2021, Durham advised Mr. Hejka that he would be placed within a category called “Conditional Eligibility for Specialized Services using the Integrated Service Model”. Durham had created this additional category. This category would provide Mr. Hejka with a vehicle that would pick him up and drive him to a bus shelter/stop at which point he would need to take a conventional bus to the point closest to his destination. From there, another vehicle would pick him up and take him to his destination. Mr Hejka was advised that he would also need to ensure that a personal care attendant (“PCA”) travelled with him and that he was responsible for paying and scheduling the PCA. In their reasoning for this decision, Durham pointed to both Mr. Hejka and the doctor’s indication that he could “mobilize up to ½ a level block” and concluded that his ability to mobilize this distance was sufficient to preclude him from door-to-door service.

With his mother’s assistance, Mr. Hejka appealed the decision to Durham’s Appeal Panel. He asked to be placed back into the “Unconditional Eligibility” Category and that the requirement for the PCA be removed. However, the Appeal Panel decided that Mr. Hejka’s eligibility category would remain conditional with the integrated model, and that he would continue to be required to have a PCA with him.

Ontario Divisional Court Decision

 On judicial review, Mr. Hejka argued that Durham and had interpreted its discretion contrary to the text, purpose, and context of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, SO 2005, c 11 (“AODA”) and the IASR. He submitted that the respondents failed to provide and implement an individual assessment to ensure that the service would meet his disability-related needs as the legislation requires. Rather, they created eligibility categories based on abilities to travel with accompaniment on conventional transit. Furthermore, Mr. Hejka argued that in revoking his unconditional eligibility and implementing additional requirements instead, Durham erected barriers to accessibility and hindered Mr. Hejka’s ability to use transportation in an independent and dignified way.

Durham agreed that they were obliged to provide their specialized services in a way that “best meets the needs of persons with disabilities.” (para 31). Durham, argued, however, that the legislation allows them to meet their obligations to persons with disabilities in a flexible way.  Leaning on this flexibility allowed them the discretion to implement additional categories of eligibility, such as one requiring a PCA. They submitted that the fact that Mr. Hejka had used the services for eight years, did not entitle him to continue accessing the same services. Finally, they argued that the nature of public transportation and, in particular, its limited resources “means the reasonable goal is good service for all, not perfect service to a few.” (para 31)

           The Court ultimately quashed the decision, having found it to be unreasonable, and ordered that Mr. Hejka have Unconditional Eligibility for the specialized transportation services.  In their interpretation of section 68(3) of the IASR the Court determined that the text of the IASR restricts a service provider’s discretion: “the discretion the Respondents have to be flexible is constrained by the requirement to provide a service that best meets Mr. Hejka’s disability-related needs”. (para 50)

Most notably, the Court determined that the eligibility criteria chosen for Mr. Hejka ignored the purpose and context of the AODA and IASR. The purpose of the AODA, as outlined by the court, was to recognize the history of discrimination faced by those with disabilities and to create, implement and enforce the standards created to achieve accessibility for all Ontarians. The IASR is subordinate legislation to the AODA, and its purpose is to establish accessibility standards for areas such as transportation. More specifically, the Court recognized that the IASR establishes Durham’s responsibility to provide transportation services that best meet the disability-related needs of Mr. Hejka. The alteration of Mr. Hejka’s transportation services amplified the barriers that he faced within society. These barriers included finding and paying for a PCA, having the PCA be able to meet his scheduling needs, and adding increased complexity to Mr. Hejka’s life. The Court noted that Durham’s intended changes not only perpetuated the discrimination that Mr. Hejka has experienced as a person with a disability, but also impaired his independence and dignity. Finally, the decision was not justified or intelligible. Travelling on conventional transit clearly posed a risk to Mr. Hejka’s personal safety. According to the text of the regulation, he must therefore be categorized as having unconditional eligibility. In the court’s words: “he [Mr. Hejka] is a “person with a disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services” under s. 63(2) of the Regulation. According to the text of the Regulation such a person “shall be categorized as having unconditional eligibility.” (para 52)

A positive aspect of this case is that the Court incorporated and looked within the practical and real-life barriers that would hinder Mr. Hejka as a result of Durham’s changes. The Court identified that the requirement of a PCA would be a significant barrier to Mr. Hejka’s ability to access and use transportation independently. The requirement not only to find an individual who would work such short intervals, but also the sheer financial cost to Mr. Hejka to employ a PCA for all trips could seriously impact his ability to use the transportation service.  Persons with disabilities are often among the most impoverished populations in Canada and Durham’s additional category would further marginalize, financially and socially.

In reaching its conclusions, the court relied heavily on decisions like Eldridge v British Columbia (Attorney General), [1997] 3 SCR 624 at para 56, 151 DLR (4th) 577andCouncil of Canadians with Disabilities v Via Rail,2007 SCC 15 at para 110 [Via Rail]to paint a clear picture of the historical exclusion that persons with disabilities have faced. In particular, the Court acknowledged the importance of autonomy, independence and access in interpreting and approaching human rights law. The Court highlighted Justice Abella’s reasoning in Via Rail to emphasize the importance of these values when remedying discriminatory exclusions. Requiring an attendant would perpetuate discrimination, as Mr. Hejka and others with a disability that prevent them from using conventional transportation services would need to be accompanied by a nondisabled person. The court held:

The effect of this solution is to perpetuate the discrimination (with the marginalization and lack of dignity that involves) that Hejka has experienced as a person with disabilities and to once again require that if he wishes to access transportation services he must make sure that he is accompanied by an able-bodied person who can make up for the “abnormalities” or “flaws” he possesses. (para 49)

By acknowledging this, the court further demonstrated the importance of removing barriers for persons with disabilities so as to affirm the dignity and personhood of individuals with disabilities.

* Kiel Baker JD ‘24 (Windsor Law), Florence Kwok JD ‘24 (Osgoode Hall Law School) & Laverne Jacobs, Professor & Director of the Law, Disability & Social Change Project (Windsor Law).

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In an effort to achieve its net-zero targets the UK government has committed to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Electric vehicles (“EVs”) are fundamental to achieving this target and the government has outlined that it will invest £1.3 billion to accelerate the rollout of charge points for EVs across the UK. While the need to decarbonise our transport systems is clear, concern exists that we are focusing on one problem while creating another.

The manufacture of lithium ion batteries faces significant challenge and can perhaps be seen as bellwether for construction which also needs to build its own circular economy principles.

EVs rely on lithium-ion batteries to work and unfortunately, these are difficult to recycle. With rise in EVs on UK roads, more than 12 million lithium-ion batteries are expected to retire between now and 2030. Estimates suggest that only about 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled globally, most simply end up in landfill or incinerated.

This single use approach conflicts entirely with the circular economy plans presented by both the EU and the UK. The EU has stressed the need to “transition towards a regenerative growth model [circular economy] that gives back to the planet more than it takes” in its Circular Economy Action Plan that was published in March 2020. Alongside the EU, the UK has voiced its aims to move to a circular economy in its 25 Year Environment Plan.

What is a circular economy?

Most industrialised economies currently operate using a linear “take-make-consume and dispose” economy.  This is certainly true for most single use battery producers, and the discarding of batteries at the end of life can be particularly damaging to the environment because they end up in landfills where they decay and leak contributing to water and air pollution. A circular economy offers a different approach. Industries are being encouraged to shift to business models that are based on reusing resources and materials rather than allowing them to go to waste.

If industrialised economies are to transition away from single use business models to ones that value materials offering longevity and reusable qualities such a shift must be economically viable. This will only be possible if there are changes made throughout supply chains that can harness the power of recycling. Such an approach will only be adopted at scale if the circular economy is recognised as successful business strategy, not just a waste management or a design strategy.

How do industrialised economies transition to a circular economy?

We need new ways of using finite resources to increase product lifespans while also discovering ways of turning waste into recourse.

Business models need to evolve to recognise the value of recycled products.

Develop profitable markets for secondary materials - this is starting to happen in the construction sector

How could we benefit from a circular economy?

It could drive economic growth through the creation of new jobs linked to fields such as recycling, reuse, repair and remanufacturing.

There would be a reduced pressure on the environment while improving the security of the supply of raw materials.

Quality of life could be improved by reducing the amount of waste contaminating ecosystems.

While the potential benefits of a circular economy are clear, many of these benefits and opportunities are long-term, indirect and require significant investment; a long-term view is key, as are short-term incentives to drive the change.

Evidence of the circular economy emerging in the UK EV market

While there are currently no large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facilities currently in the UK, that is due to change. Recycling giant and commodity trader Glencore has announced plans to build a plant designed to recycle lithium-ion batteries in Kent. The site, which is to use 100% renewable energy, has been repurposed from the UK’s largest coal power station, into re-use as a recycling facility – further demonstrating  evidence of the emerging circular economy.

The plant will initially process battery manufacturing scrap from a Britishvolt gigafactory, under a joint venture agreement. Copper, lithium, nickel and cobalt is to be recycled from the batteries to re-enter the EV supply chain. The International Energy Agency has estimated that EV battery recycling plants could be responsible for reducing the primary supply of such minerals by 10 percent by 2040.

Proposals such as Glencore’s lithium-ion battery recycling facility would not emerge unless the process was considered a finically viable one. There is hope that the announcement will continue growth across the recycling industry to develop a critical circular ecosystem needed within the EV market.

Burges Salmon bring depth of understanding of the construction and energy sectors and are currently working on related projects.

This post was written with colleague Theo Wapshare


In 2021, the world is increasingly a global community. 13.5% (just under 43 million) of Americans speak Spanish as their first language. And, 16% (just under 53 million) of Americans speak a dialect of Chinese. Finally, with the transition of the traditional workplace to one where employees can work remotely, and clients can be across the world, foreign language learning is becoming an increasingly top priority for professionals living in the United States. In this article, we’ve selected the best techniques for learning foreign languages, leaving it up to you to pick which one you prefer.

There is demonstrable evidence that people have an infinite capacity for learning language, especially if the student starts young. Foreign language knowledge also impacts other areas of your life – such as academic achievement at the college level, provides increased employment opportunities and can prevent age-related cognitive disorders and losses.

According to the US Foreign Service Institute:

  • It takes 600-750 class hours (or, 36 weeks) of learning to obtain basic fluency in foreign languages classified in Categories I and II (languages more like English, such as Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, etc.)
  • It takes 1,100 class hours (44 weeks) of foreign language learning to obtain basic fluency in Category III languages (languages with alternative alphabets, or significant cultural differences from English, like Russian, Vietnamese, Finnish, Farsi, etc.)
  • And, it takes a staggering 2,200 hours (88 weeks) for native English speakers to learn basic fluency in a Category IV (languages that are very difficult for native English speakers to grasp, such as Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean)


Why minimalism in web design is not a trend

Why minimalism in web design is not a trend

Minimalism is not a trend. Fusion Design

Fusion Design

A website needs a visual framework that gives it a timeless elegance and clear picture of the content in front of the user. Website trends come and go, but classic styles tend to hold through many web design themes. I don’t think I am the only one who is favoring simple minimalistic design.

Minimalism can be broken down into simple fundamentals such as the following:

Negative space

Commonly referred to as white space. In minimalist design, you’ll see this space often filled with vibrant colors or left as neutrals like black, white and grey.

High Definition Photos

Website users can better appreciate the stunning detail of HD photography with less clutter. A lot of times these photographs are behind copy and sometimes blurred to reveal the text.

Bold Typography

Typefaces in minimalist design are one of the few areas where some visual flourish is acceptable.

Contrast is created through a combination of unlike design elements. A bold strong typeface against a dark image or a white copy over a black background offer a reversed, high contrast. Although minimal, impactful.

Simple Navigation

A drop down menu would be considered complex for a minimal design, although it is often times necessary.  Likely you wil find a simple horizontal top-level menu and no right sidebar or centered menus.

Visual balance

The hierarchy of information is crystal clear and symetrical.

Why Do People Love Minimalism?

It’s easily utilized by responsive design frameworks.

Less content for browsers to process = faster load times.

Content is King! So your message is clear.

It is similar to many design ideas we see everyday such as commercial architecture, interior design and high fashion. We are comfortable with it.

In Conclusion

If you are considering a minimalist approach to your web design, consider not removing important elements just to be minimal. Rather think of how to emphaize content and elements that are important with the fundamentals above.

Here is a link to one of my most recent minimalist designs: mdimarketing.com


The child’s task is to cut out the windows with pictures and paste them into the blue table according to the pattern given in the yellow table.

St Andrew’s Day, fortune-telling, contest, contests, left hemispherical,Printable worksheets kindergarten pdf


Winning with AI – Strategies for Organizations to Boost AI Literacy

Winning with AI - Strategies for Organizations to Boost AI Literacy

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are more commonly adopted in all types of businesses and industries. As a result, it’s critical that everyone in the company understands how AI and machine learning can help them do their jobs better and make more informed decisions. However, AI literacy is currently lacking in most organizations, with the exception of a few specialized technical roles.

There has been a lot of talk about the imminent lack of employment as a result of artificial intelligence adoption. However, while machines are rapidly outperforming humans in daily activities, they are often creating completely new jobs for humans as well.

So, let’s look at a few strategies that will help non-technical workers understand and successfully use AI in their everyday jobs, as well as properly communicate with colleagues at all skill levels.

Make AI easy to understand

There is a widespread misunderstanding that AI should only be used and interpreted by people who have specialized technological or analytical skills. This attitude has deterred many potentially capable industry executives from working with AI – people are often resistant to something they don’t understand.

It would take a top-down effort to change this attitude. The C-suite is responsible for informing workers about AI’s utility and applicability. Reframe and describe AI in relatable and concise terms, demonstrating its future usefulness and effect while emphasizing the idea that AI is a platform that helps people do their jobs better, not a technology that can replace them.

Also Read: Boosting Machine Learning Performance with the Right Data

Team-based AI

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to enterprise AI. Non-technical teammates can use it in a variety of ways; businesses can’t just apply a single strategy to everybody and expect a positive result. Approaches and templates must be tailored, modified, and optimized to suit the needs of individual departments, which can be a daunting task for teams that haven’t yet adopted AI.

Creating small pilot projects and then scaling those initial successes through the enterprise is one way to get started. Teams can refine and adapt algorithms to suit their departments’ needs by designing and evaluating new models, and team members can see firsthand how data can inform better decision-making.

Demonstrate the effect of artificial intelligence on productivity

AI will have a positive impact on the lives of workers by growing their efficiency and effectiveness, in addition to increasing the bottom line. The initial AI model would require software developers, coders, and programmers, but once it is up and running, workers in a variety of positions will use it to understand key patterns and forecast potential outcomes.

Enterprise AI frees workers to work strategically, creatively, and collaboratively by automating menial activities and providing a concise vision of actionable insights. It’s not about losing human workers; rather, it’s about enhancing their skills and the importance of their jobs.

Also Read: Automation – Robots and Advanced Technology Has Streamlined Business Processes

Create an environment where AI is both accessible and accountable

In order to use AI responsibly, resources must be inclusive. A human-centric approach to enterprise AI aids businesses in establishing a global, integrated, and collaborative workspace that efficiently employs AI.

Non-technical positions that are marginally away from development may offer useful insight into AI’s effect on society. They raise critical questions and debates, and they often point out prejudices and inaccuracies in AI models.

From conception to execution, ensuring that all types of functions and their various principles and experiences are included will guarantee that all employees are not only aboard, but actively contribute to the ultimate success of AI in the enterprise.

Check Out The New Enterprisetalk Podcast. For more such updates follow us on Google News Enterprisetalk News. Subscribe to our Newsletter for more updates.

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Life is a game, and your opponent is time

On the very first day, Olga left Kyiv and went abroad with her cat, now she is in Austria. Olga’s boyfriend signed up and went to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and then she started helping, going to military stores and looking for the necessary goods for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Olga wants to cooperate with other teams, because it is difficult to handle large consignments alone. She wants to find like-minded people to search, order, report and transport together. People who would responsibly and thoroughly select the goods for our military, because their safety and our victory depend on this. Now Olga does everything on her own, buys everything she needs with her own money, which she set aside for the business. Olga searches for military equipment in the United States. Her main goal is to purchase high-quality uniforms. She plans to raise funds for thermal imagers and body armor for the military.

After the victory, Olga will hug all her loved ones, rejoice and appreciate life. She dreams of living and starting a family, opening a business in Ukraine, because she believes that there is no such freedom like in Ukraine anywhere else. She strongly believes in victory. Therefore, she tries to help our soldiers in any way she can.

Before the War

Manager in telecommunications field

Site of Operation

Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk

Operation Directions


UpStart inspires and empowers leaders to dream, build, and grow bold initiatives that enhance the vitality of Jewish Life.

UpStart was founded fifteen years ago with a sole focus: to accelerate the success of social entrepreneurs fueling a renaissance in Jewish life. Since then, we have invested in 127 ventures and their leaders, while cultivating an ecosystem of institutional leaders and funders committed to Jewish community change. We are excited to be actively implementing a new Strategic plan that will put social entrepreneurs at the center of everything we do. Our vision is that Jewish communities will be thriving hubs of innovation, building a more just, vibrant, and inclusive future.


Thinking About Effective Products In Sample Literary Analysis Essays

Literary Analysis Essay SampleWondering the right way to write a formidable poetry evaluation essay? When you’re via with these phases, complete the last parts. Your introduction is written in dependence on the central claim and sub-matters. You already understand how things ought to develop. Due to this fact, create intrigue about your future discoveries. Your conclusion is a abstract of your important declare and the outcomes it produced.

BODY: The body paragraphs are the supporting paragraphs of a literary essay. It has to mix a support sentence, commentary, and a concluding sentence. Use literary techniques and units in an effort to show your thesis. Use specific quotes and examples to take care of your thought and cite them.

Nobody expects a university scholar to achieve that level of literary criticism, but the least you are able to do is strive. In the event you observe the guidelines above, you can begin writing the literary analysis essay as quickly as you’re performed with the studying.

Throughout the body of your paper, it’s best to retell the story narrated by the writer. Making a abstract is an effective suggestion to show you can synthesize; that is the reason it is one of the literary evaluation ideas. Additional, it is essential develop your ideas and disclose your observations concerning the difficulty. Ideally suited dimension for the form of essay is as much as 1,000 phrases, nevertheless solely you resolve what number Response To Literature Essays of overuse them as successfully. It is greater to paraphrase and rewrite the story to level out your important thinking abilities to your professor. Follow your individual mannequin and make your non-public observations primarily based totally on the important articles examined throughout the means of writing. It might be nice if the physique of your literary evaluation essay will embody three paragraphs. Make an argument and its justification that relate to the thesis assertion in every paragraph.

Root Details For essay sample – An Update

The body of the essay provide details for the points in your introductory paragraph that support your thesis. Take the factors you listed in your introduction and discuss each in one physique paragraph. First, write a topic sentence that summarizes your level then explain why you feel the subject sentence is true. Lastly, help your argument with proof resembling facts, quotes, examples and statistics.

Moreover, do not assume that so long as you handle certainly one among these points, your paper shall be fascinating. As talked about in step 2, it’s important How To Write A Literary Essay Step By Step to tackle these huge matters in a elaborate manner. Doing this requires that you don’t go right into a subject with a preconceived notion of what you can see. Be ready to drawback your particular person ideas about what gender, race, or class suggest in a particular text.

Select the aspect you are on. Now, your task is to choose your perspective and convince the reader of its legitimacy and logical supremacy as compared to other points of view. As an example, if your topic seems like Ought to Citizens Be Provided with the Proper to Hold Exotic Pets?” you need to determine whether or not it’s their right to maintain such animals at dwelling or such pets create a serious danger to different people (not to mention, maintaining such pets is dangerous to the animals!). Make certain that you can defend your place. In case you discover it arduous to think about any solid defenses in opposition to the opponent’s counter arguments, possibly it is the precise moment to re-suppose the subject you’ve got picked.

Tolkien’s setting provides the reader a sense of goodness or malevolence. Not like an surroundings that is removed from the work, Tolkien’s setting typically is the story. Presumably the setting may even inform the story if there have been no characters. For instance, in the home of Elrond of the elves, Frodo’s experience is outlined by the setting. “He Frodo found his pals sitting in a porch on the side of the home trying east. Shadows had fallen in the valley under, however there was nonetheless a light-weight on the faces of the mountains far above. The air was warm. The sound of operating and falling water was loud, and the night was crammed with a faint scent of timber and flowers, as if summer time still lingered in Elrond’s gardens (220).

Choosing Real-World Plans Of literature essay examples

Closing sentence, i.e. the final sentence of a paragraph to have it logically accomplished. It’s as much as you what way of closing to choose, however do not forget to use transitions The best way is to count there will come soft rains theme your details with the assistance of Firstly”, Secondly”, Thirdly”, and so forth. But there are lots of other transitional expressions you should use in your literary essay.


Bank auctions are a more affordable and wise option to purchase your dream home. I talked about some of the bank auction dos and don’ts.

Why is Real Estate Auctioned?
When a borrower misses three consecutive home loan EMIs, the bank often starts the auction procedure. The consumer is provided with a notice requesting a response within 60 days as to why the bank shouldn’t start a property auction owing to payment failure. The notice is withdrawn if the borrower is able to make the installments.

How to Buy a Property in a Bank Auction

First, look for bank auction properties.
Given that India lacks centralized data, this is one of the most difficult steps.
There are some websites that may provide information about Bank Auction Property.
Usually, access to this information requires payment. These websites don’t get updated frequently.
Other information sources include newspapers, notices posted at bank branches or on society bulletin boards.
Additionally, you can review auction notices on sites like

2: Verify Property Specifics
Once you’ve narrowed down the properties from the bank auction, perform a quick inspection on your own.
Verify the property’s market value, the reason for the bank auction, which is plainly a payment default, and any pending legal matters.

3: examining the property
Physically inspecting the property is advised. Nowadays banks have started putting the inspection date and time in auction notification.
To inspect the property, you can go to the location at the appointed time. You can reach the concerned officer using the information provided in the e-auction notice.
It is best to get in touch with him and ask for all the information.

4. Submitting the Tender Form
You can gather the tender form in this phase, and you must also deposit the earnest money deposit (EMD) with the tender form.
EMD is often deposited using a demand draft or banker’s check.
Please review all of the information on the tender form before submitting it before the deadline.

5: Submission of Bid/Tender Forms
You can use the bid form to make your offer. Tender forms and bid forms are typically interchangeable.
During the e-auction window, you can place several bids in an e-auction.
Except for e-auctions, there is no set procedure for placing bids. The bank has sole discretion over it.

6: The Auction Date
On auction date, visit the site / bank / auction venue to check whether you won the bank auction or not.
The Highest bidder is declared winner of a bank auction, then he/she needs to deposit 25% of the bid amount within 24 hours including EMD.
Balance bid amount should be deposited within 15 to 30 days from the date of bank auction.

7: Sale Certificate
75% of the amount is paid after that. Although you will receive a sale certificate from the bank, the title transfer won’t be complete until the sale certificate is registered at the sub-registrar office.

8: Register the Sale Certificate in the office of the Sub-Registrar.
According to what I stated in my earlier post on bank auctions, you can register a sale certificate and should request that the defaulter be listed as a confirming party.
When registering a property, the authorised bank executive must sign the sale certificate.


Houses in Birth Chart: Meaning and How to Find | (2022)

No surprise–astrology is complex and so much more than your sun sign! Once you start to unpack the planets in your birth chart, the next astrological hurdle is to understand the placements of the planets in your birth chart by looking at the houses.

A birth chart is made up of 12 separate sections called “Houses.” Every house represents a different area of your life. For example, the 10th house represents your career, reputation and legacy, while the 7th house represents one-on-one relationships, and the 4th house represents home and family. Astrologers use the planets, zodiac signs and houses to piece together information about your life.

Each house has a zodiac sign that’s associated with it, and every zodiac sign has a ruling planet. You can learn more about each house in your birth chart by looking at the planet that rules the zodiac sign on the cusp, or beginning on that house.

One other common misconception: There is no such thing as “empty houses.” If you look at your birth chart and notice that there are no planets in a particular section or house, it doesn’t mean anything. You have every zodiac sign and planet within your birth chart. So don’t panic! You can learn more information about that specific area of your life by looking to the ruling planet of that house and the aspects it makes within your birth chart.

Houses in Birth Chart

1st House

The 1st house is the only part of the chart that is representative of you. This is your physical appearance, your vitality, soul, and psychology. The 1st house is an angular house, which gives it extra emphasis.

(Video) Houses in Astrology 101 Beginner Astrology

Planets in this house carry extra importance and significance in one’s life. When planets transiting in the sky move through this part of your birth chart, the focus shifts to you and your personal ambitions and goals. It can be a time to focus on redefining your appearance or sense of self.

2nd House

The 2nd house focuses on finances, income, our resources, value system and self-worth. Planets in the 2nd house usually speak to an emphasis on material security and self-sufficiency. Developing one’s self-worth and remaining true to their personal value system is key.

When transit planets move through this part of your birth chart, it can bring news of new financial opportunities, a time to focus on your values or signal a promotion or change in income.

3rd House

The 3rd house relates to communication, the mind, siblings, short-distance travel, our neighborhood, learning, teaching and extended family members. Having a lot of planets in the 3rd house can show someone who has an interest in learning or teaching and expanding their mind.

Writing and communicating may be a central part of their role at work. When transit planets move through this part of your birth chart, information comes our way, we may have a shift in our perspective, be learning or studying something, or spending time with siblings or sorting through matters related to our extended family.

4th House

The 4th house is the house of home, family, and generational patterns. It can represent our physical living space or environment or reveal that we’re more drawn to working with land or selling property perhaps. This is the lowest part of the birth chart and also considered an incredibly private place. It is also an angular house, which increases the power of planets located in this part of your chart.

(Video) HOW TO READ A BIRTH CHART | Planets, Signs, Houses, Symbols, Elements & Modes | Hannah’s Elsewhere

The 4th house reveals our need for privacy and who we are when we are alone. Planets in this house can signify elements about the family we grew up in or generational patterns that have been passed through the family line. When planets move through this part of your chart, it can signify a change in living situation–buying, selling, new roommates, etc., or spending more time on family matters.

5th House

The 5th house focuses on creativity, joy, pleasure, indulgence, play, romance and fertility. This is the house of fun and where our childhood innocence and joy resides. Our inner romantic also exists here and it can represent how we self-express through our own personal creative outlets. In traditional astrology it is the house of children and fertility, but the birthing process can also relate to birthing a creative project, like a book or piece of art. When planets move through this part of the chart, we feel more called to invest in our pleasure and bring more joy into our life.

6th House

The 6th house is a place of hard work, daily routine and health. Depending on what planets land in your 6th house, it can mean there is an extra emphasis on your health or that you have had the experience of working in jobs where your role or responsibilities may have been challenging.

When planets move through this part of our chart, it can be a good time to change our daily habits, focus on our health or pay attention to our work environment and its impact on our overall mental, spiritual and physical health.

7th House

The 7th house is the house of one-on-one relationships, marriage, open enemies and business contracts. It signifies important relationships you have with others. This is also considered an angular house and planets placed within the 7th house are known to carry extra power. When planets move through this part of your birth chart you may be committing to a partner, focusing on your partnership or signing contracts to work with new business partners.

8th House

The 8th house is the house of death, loss, taxes, our fears, anxieties, our psyche and shared resources. In short, it represents other people’s stuff, which can be something physical like an inheritance, or something more intangible like emotional baggage. Being born with planets in this house makes for an incredibly psychically sensitive person who is usually psychologically minded and curious to unpack their personal psychology.

(Video) How to find the houses on a birth chart

It is a place of regeneration and transformation. When planets move through this house, it can be a profound time to do some internal work or also signal a period of time where others are ready to invest in you and your ideas.

9th House

The 9th house is the house of travel, foreign lands, higher education, spirituality, and perspective. There is a connection between traveling and exploring other parts of the world that leads to the expansion of the mind and new perspectives. When planets move through this part of the chart we are often eager to travel, learn something new, or invite more adventure or risk-taking into our lives.

10th House

The 10th house is the house of career, reputation and legacy. It can speak to our vocation or calling in the world, but it can also signify how others see us and what’s projected onto us. It can be descriptive of what we hope to leave behind–something greater than us. It is the final angular house, which makes planets in this part of your chart extra powerful.

When planets move through this part of your chart, people of importance may be entering your life in some way or paying attention to you. Your career can become more of a focus and depending on which planet, let’s say Venus or Jupiter for example, it could signal a promotion or good news related to career and reputation.

11th House

The 11th house is the house of friendships, larger groups, humanitarian efforts, networking and our hopes and dreams. The 11th house doesn’t necessarily represent your BFF, but more so your social circle and network. It also represents technology and innovation.

If you have planets in the 11th house, you may be social by nature and interested in engaging in philanthropic activities or causes. There is a future-oriented quality about the 11th house. When planets move through your 11th house, you may be focusing more on your hopes and dreams, or spending extra time within your chosen communities.

(Video) Introduction: Houses In Astrology(For Beginners)🏡 #Quadrants #Hemispheres #Astrology #AstroFinesse

12th House

The 12th house is the house of self-undoing, solitude, spirituality and secrets. It’s a house that’s hard to define and can also represent liminal spaces. Planets in the 12th house can represent ways in which we engage in self-destructive habits or thinking patterns. It is an incredibly sensitive and intuitive house that can also enhance one’s own psychic muscles. When planets move through this portion of your birth chart, it is a period for rest, integration and healing.

How to Find Birth Chart Houses

If you pretend the birth chart is a clock, look for 9 o’clock. That 9 o’clock mark on the left-hand side of the chart will always mark the Ascendant, or your rising sign, which is the start of the birth chart. From there, you can count in numerical order in a counter-clockwise direction. For example, the house to the right of the ascendant, or 1st house, is the 2nd house; and to the right of the 2nd house is the 3rd house, and so on.

Related Articles:

The Ascendant (Rising Sign) in Astrology: Meaning and More

Big 6 Astrology: Meaning and What It Is

How do I find out the houses in my birth chart? ›

For these, you look at the inner circle on your chart. There, you'll see numbers one through 12, moving counterclockwise. These are your houses. Some of these sections will have multiple planetary symbols in them.

What do the 12 houses of astrology represent? ›

The 12 houses of astrology: Explained

The houses cover all areas of life, from personal growth (self, pleasure, travel), to survival methods (money, labor, career), to relationships (siblings, partnership, friends), to the existential (ancestry, loss and self-undoing).

What do the houses mean in your birth chart? ›

How do I find my 7th house in astrology? ›

How do I find my first house in astrology? ›

What do empty houses mean? ›

Each house has a ruling planet. Since planets are not stationary, they move between houses. The movement, sometimes, might result in no planet in a particular house. And houses with no planets are known as empty houses in astrology.

How do you count houses in astrology? ›

What planet is 7th house? ›

The seventh house is ruled by the zodiac sign Libra and carries with it the planetary ruler, Venus.

What is the most important house in astrology? ›

Most important in horoscope, say the 10th house, the house for career and profession may assume greater importance in a male's horoscope as compared to female. Though over time, this 10th house has started playing an equal important role in a female's horoscope also.

What if 7th house is empty? ›

An empty 7th House in your natal chart means that you don't need planets there in order to develop cooperative or committed relationships. It does not mean that you won't be able to have successful relationships or that they won't be important in your life. Transiting planets will still inhabit your 7th House at times.

What does 1st house represent? ›

First House: The House Of Self

Which house do I marry in astrology? ›

Which planet is good for 8th house? ›

The 8th house is called the Ayu Bhava in Vedic Astrology. It deals with the Scorpio sign, with characteristics such as mystery, possessiveness, passion and ambition. Also, Mars is the natural significator of the 8th house. It is the best house for the planets Jupiter & Sun and a weak house for Moon, Mars and Mercury.

What is your 8th house? ›

In astrology, the eighth house is the house of the zodiac sign of Scorpio and planet Pluto. It is viewed as the house of sex, taboos, death, resurrection and other people's possessions. We can infer from these general fields that it also rules legacies, heritages, and wills.

What happens if 1st house is empty? ›

(First house = rising sign.) If that house is empty, that doesn't mean that you have no sense of self. An empty first house simply means that you'd look to the ruler, which in a Sagittarius rising's case would be Jupiter. Let's say that Jupiter's in the fourth house in a Sagittarius rising's chart.

What Are Big Three signs? ›

The Big 3 are:
  • The Sun Sign: The essence of your personality.
  • The Moon Sign: Your emotional nature.
10 Jun 2022

Who rules the 1st house? ›

Rulerships of signs
HouseSign DomicileRuling planet (ancient)
8 more rows

Which house in astrology is for child? ›

The 5th house is the main house to see the blessing of a child in a horoscope. Other houses to be seen are the 2nd house (house for family) 11th house (house for gains and fulfilment of desires through children).

Which planet is good in 11th house? ›

Venus in 11th House: The position of Venus in the 11th House portrays the native's affable nature. This makes you quite popular in social circles. The native is driven by the desire to make the world a better place.

What if my 12th house is empty? ›

If you have an empty 12th House it simply means you didn't need any planets present to achieve what you came to this life to learn.

What if 11th house is empty? ›

What if the 11th house is empty? A void in the eleventh house indicates that your social circle is not a significant focus for you. With an empty eleventh house in astrology, you may have many friends, but you will not face many challenges in this life area. Things come to you naturally.

Which planets rule which houses? ›

The characteristics of each house for both personal (see Keywords) and financial astrology are included.
  • 1st House: Aries and Mars. ...
  • 2nd House: Taurus and Venus. ...
  • 3rd House: Gemini and Mercury. ...
  • 4th House: Cancer and the Moon. ...
  • 5th House: Leo and the Sun. ...
  • 6th House: Virgo and Mercury. ...
  • 7th House: Libra and Venus.

What is my rising side? ›

Your rising sign, also known as your ascendant sign, is calculated using the exact time of your birth on your birthday. There are many free sites that offer a rising sign calculator, including this one.

What is in the 9th house? ›

Travel, philosophy, and higher education all define the ninth house. In medieval astrology, this region was linked to places and people outside of your village. Now, we interpret this area as both literal and intellectual exploration.

What is 11th house? ›

What does 11th house represent? ›

The 11th house is all about friendships and groups, idealism and hope, and of course, the relationship to the collective. If you've got one or more planets in this house on your chart, don't be surprised if those themes are driving forces in your life, time and time again.

Which house is very strong? ›

1st, 4th, 7th, 10th houses are considered as auspicious houses and they also deal with the major part of our life. They are very strong houses of Kundali.

Which house is for career? ›

10th House – The House of Career. The house that rules the career of an individual in his/her birth chart, is the 10th house.

Which planet is good in 1st house? ›

The 1st house is ruled by Aries sign and Mars is the lord of the first house. This is the best house for Jupiter, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury but weak for Venus and Saturn.

What if 4th house is empty? ›

The empty Fourth House: Empty house doesn't mean that you're unlucky, but it means you don't have to face many challenges. Thus, an empty house in the fourth house means that you could have an extremely strong bond with your parents, and have an easier time maintaining those bonds than most.

What if 9th house is empty? ›

Having an empty 9th House simply means that you didn't need a planet to accomplish what you came here to achieve. No planets present does not mean you'll lag behind in seeking meaning in life or in activities that expand your consciousness. You just don't need a planet to succeed in 9th House matters.

Which planet is responsible for late marriage? ›

Astrologically speaking, all the above problems are orchestrated by malefic planets or their positions in our birth chart. 2nd, 8th and 12th house plays very important role in our marriage. Late marriage or delayed marriage is controlled by Saturn

Shani (Sanskrit: शनि, Śani), or Śanaiśchara, refers to the divine personification of the planet Saturn in Hinduism, and is one of the nine heavenly objects (Navagraha) in Hindu astrology. › wiki › Shani
, Rahu, Ketu, Mars and Sun.

Where do the 12 houses come from? ›

The Houses in Astrology are an essential component in reading and understanding your Natal (birth) Chart as well as when looking at the current sky for other Astrological methods. They are created by looking at the sky as a 360º whole and dividing it up into 12 “slices” to comprise 30º each (360 / 12 = 30).

What does 10th house represent? ›

The Tenth House governs social status, success, and your life's work. It's the house that reflects your outer world and how others see you, making it the opposite of the Fourth House, which governs your private inner life. The Tenth House also speaks to your relationship with society.

What does 3rd house represent? ›

The third house rules your mind and intellect. It reveals how you approach and analyze problems, and how you perceive information. Basically, it drives your overall learning and communicative processes. For example, this house administers skills in writing, editing, speaking, thinking, reading, and conducting research.

Which planet is good in 3rd house? ›

Which planet is good in 2nd house? ›

Venus is the natural planet in the 2nd House that has considerable influence on the native. Venus also has to do with your sense, values, respect and how those things translate into wealth.

Which planet is good in 4th house? ›

The signs and planets associated with the 4th house

As Moon symbolizes cultivation and mother, so the celestial body signifies the 4th house. The placement of Mars and Saturn is said to be weak in the 4th house. On the other hand, it is the best house for Mercury and Venus.

How can I calculate my marriage age? ›

How To Calculate Marriage Age
  1. If Moon and Venus are Placed in Signs Like Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces and Sagittarius Signs, Marriage Can happen at the Age between 24-27 for Girls or 27-30 for Boys. ...
  2. If the 7th house of D1 or D9 chart is Ruled by Saturn, You will Get Married After the Age of 28.

Which age will I get married? ›

20-30 years old. You will get married in the third decade of your life. According to psychologists, this age range is the best time to get married. If you're not married yet, now is the time.

Which house in astrology is for love? ›

7th house of the native chart is the lord of Love and matrimonial harmony. It also signifies love and marriage. This house also provides information about the physical appearance, complexion and nature of your husband.

Which planet does well in 12th house? ›

Hence, Jupiter is the ruling planet of the 12th house in astrology. If Jupiter in the 12th house is strong and benefic, it drives the native towards spirituality.

Which planet is not good in 8th house? ›

Which planet should not be in 8th house? ›

Rahu is a malefic planet in astrology and the 8th house is inauspicious. It's not without any reason that the combination of Rahu in 8th house is feared amongst astrologers.

What does 9th house represent? ›

Well, the 9th house is also known as the Dharma Bhava in Astrology. The Dharma Bhava or the 9th house represents one's religious instincts, dutifulness, uprightness, good karma, morality (ethics), higher & spiritual values. The strength of the 9th house determines whether one will be of a religious bent of mind or not.

What is my 4th house? ›

Fourth House

This house represents your physical, historical and psychological roots. It is your home, past, childhood, family, family line, as well as your actual living situation.

What does 2nd house represent? ›

The 2nd house represents material possessions, personal finances and also the notion of value. It controls everything that surrounds a person's financial state, including liquid assets. It suggests how we view money, the obtaining of wealth (and debt), financial reversals, savings, budgeting, and financial status.

What is house calculation Placidus? ›

Placidus is a time-based method of calculating the houses that was devised during the Renaissance. It works by marking the cusps of the houses in two-hour increments from your time of birth. The degree of the zodiac sign rising on the Eastern Horizon at your time of birth marks the cusp of the 1st house.

Which planets rule which houses? ›

  • 1st House: Aries and Mars. ...
  • 2nd House: Taurus and Venus. ...
  • 3rd House: Gemini and Mercury. ...
  • 4th House: Cancer and the Moon. ...
  • 5th House: Leo and the Sun. ...
  • 6th House: Virgo and Mercury. ...
  • 7th House: Libra and Venus.

How do you find out your zodiac placements? ›

You can find your birth chart either on an online generator or through applications like Co-Star. The chart is made by where the planets were aligned at your specific time of birth. The main three placements within a birth chart are your Sun sign, Moon sign and rising sign, also known as your ascending sign.

How do you know what house your Mars is in? ›

Mars in various houses according to Vedic Astrology
Mars in First HouseMars in Second HouseMars in Fourth House
Mars in Fifth HouseMars in Sixth HouseMars in Eighth House
Mars in Ninth HouseMars in Tenth HouseMars in Twelvth House

Which is the most accurate house system? ›

The house cusp, which is the area of the chart, described the general trend of the house where the house cusp ruler falls. Bodhi astrology is the most accurate kind, and It is the same one practised by the astrologers on the bodhi website; install our app if you need any queries regarding your home Vastu, Disha etc.

What is the most common house system used in astrology? ›

What's the difference between Placidus and porphyry? ›

How you derive the boundaries (cusps) between houses is entirely based on whether you calculate on the basis of a space-based system, a time-based system, or a space-time based system. Placidus houses are space-time, Equal houses are space-based, as is Porphyry.

Who is 7th house ruler? ›

Which planet gives long life? ›

In Vedic astrology, Saturn is the symbol of life span and in a Kundali, the 8th house determines a person's longevity. A native will have a long life, if the Kundali has an auspicious combination of the 8th house, Saturn, Ascendant and the Lord of the Ascendant.

Which planet is which house? ›

Rulerships of signs
HouseSign DomicileRuling planet (ancient)
8 more rows

How do I know my big 3? ›

What Are Big Three signs? ›

The Big 3 are:
  • The Sun Sign: The essence of your personality.
  • The Moon Sign: Your emotional nature.
10 Jun 2022

What are the Big 3 in astrology? ›

The first step to getting to know your horoscope is to find out what your “big three” placements are – the sun, the moon and the ascendant. These three planets describe different parts of you, and together they form a very truthful picture of your personality.

Which house is good for Sun? ›

Which house is good for Moon? ›

Influence of the Moon in Different Houses. The placement of the Moon in the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses is considered inauspicious. At the same time, the Moon could be very powerful in the 4th, 7th, and 10th houses.

Which house is good for Jupiter? ›

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2. The Planets and Their Meaning in Your Birth Chart, Easily Explained! [Qabbalistic Astrology]
(Cara's Crystal Coven)
4. HOUSES IN ASTROLOGY Meanings: Each House Explained (EASY FOR BEGINNERS)
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5. Astrocartography Explained | What You'll Experience in Travel Destinations | Hannah's Elsewhere
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6. How to Read A Birthchart 𖥞 (LESSON 1) The 12 Astrological Houses°
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Talisman Emperor

Talisman Emperor

Xiao Jinyu 214 2017-12-06

18 Negative
13 Neutral
176 Positive

This is the story of Chen Xi, a youth forced to stop cultivating and instead craft talismans to pay for his younger brother’s tuition… and who, in the process, would rise to become known by all as the Talisman Emperor!


Montana and the Federal Budget

May 25, 2022

Most of our research at MBPC focuses on the state budget and how we can best invest our state resources to build a Montana where everyone has the resources they need to thrive. But our state budget is heavily reliant on the federal budget. In the past couple of years, the federal packages geared towards COVID relief, CARES and ARPA, have helped bring the role of federal spending to the forefront of our national dialogue.

Recently, we released two reports to help explain the role the federal budget has in Montana. The first report, Why the Federal Budget Matters to Montana, explains the role the federal budget plays in our state’s budget and economy. The second report, The Federal Budget Helped Create Inequality, explains the historical role our federal budget has had in our state’s current racial inequity.

Why does the federal budget matter to Montana?

How we spend the federal budget matters because every day Americans fund it. In fact, corporate taxes only accounts for 7 percent of our federal budget – the majority of our federal revenue comes from personal income taxes.

Like most states, Montana receives more in federal funding than it sends in federal taxes. For every dollar Montana sends to Washington, we receive $1.47 in federal revenue.

Our state budget relies heavily on federal funding. Montana’s state budget is $12.6 billion for FY22 and FY23, nearly half (49%) of which comes from federal funding. Most of this funding flows through the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to fund Medicaid.

Not all federal funding flows through the state budget, however. Montanans also benefit from federal funds to county, local, and tribal governments and direct payments to individuals, such as Social Security. These funds help support our economy and strengthen our safety net.

What can the federal budget do for Montana?

While a vital part of Montana’s state budget, the way in which federal policymakers have historically allocated funds has helped to create racial inequity in our state. Federal policymakers have failed to recognize its’ trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations, including its’ legal responsibilities to provide health care and education.

Likewise, the federal government has continually underfunded the social safety net. This decision disadvantages Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) who disproportionately rely on it due to the discrimination they have faced in employment, housing, and other sectors. In some instances, like in housing, the federal government has made this inequity worse through practices such as refusing to back mortgages in primarily Black neighborhoods or the allotment of land on reservations. Our new report “The Federal Budget Helped Create Inequality” discusses the impact of these practices in Montana in greater detail.

The federal budget, however, is a significant opportunity to improve the lives of Montanans. By honoring the treaties, strengthening the safety net, and providing reparations for the harm the federal government has caused, our federal policymakers can help ensure that all Montanans, regardless of their background, have the opportunities they need to be successful.

What is the state’s role?

Montana policymakers have a responsibility to accept and use federal funds available to them. Unfortunately, Montanans have not always been able to take advantage of the opportunities their tax dollars have paid for due to state lawmakers turning down federal funds. For example, Governor Gianforte turned down federally funded expanded unemployment benefits, denying thousands of unemployed Montanans much-needed assistance.

Not only do our state policymakers have a responsibility to fully implement federal funds, the state also has an obligation to build on these investments. Through state-level investments such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Montana can futher promote equity in our state.

For the full reports, see Why the Federal Budget Matters to Montana and The Federal Budget Helped Create Inequality.

Montana Budget & Policy Center

Shaping policy for a stronger Montana.