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INTRODUCTION
Bellevue Business Lawyer | Bellevue Litigation Lawyer
David Reed has practiced law
from offices in
King
County's Eastside for over 30years and is currently based in Bellevue, WA. His
practice is focused on business
law. As an established Bellevue Business Lawyer, David has enjoyed
a widerange of legal experience over the years, includingjudicialexperience, governmental and business experience.David works to provide his clients with the understandingand legal advice they need to
make important decisions
facing them, to chart their course accordingly, andto
achieve
success in the courtroom, when that is
necessary.He
is rated by his fellow lawyers via the
Martindale Hubbell
peer rating service
with it's highest
"AV" rating for legal ability
andethical standards.*
MEMBERSHIPS
David is a member of the Washington
State Bar Association and its Corporate Counsel Section; also a Member of the American Bar Association and its Business Law Section. He
has been licensed to practice law in Washington since
1976, in state and federal courts. He is on the Faculty of
the National Business Institute.
We are located at:
Reed Pruett Walters, PLLC
11120 NE 2nd Street, Suite 200Bellevue,
WA98004
*CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used with the Martindale-Hubbell certification process. Martindale-Hubbell facilitates the peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. | {
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James Truman’s Exit Interview
Was your decision to quit a New Year’s resolution? Not exactly. Last year, I installed as a screen saver a poem by Joseph Campbell that begins “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Every time I logged in, I had to read this damn poem. And it seemed to mock me.
Would you recommend Condé Nast as a place to work? Absolutely. The caricaturish aspects of the place pertain to a very small part of it, and even there it’s hardly an imposed code of behavior.
Wasn’t this job an “appointment for life?” Back in ’94, did you think you’d get out of it alive? Well, I don’t remember entering the job with a death wish.
What did you think your job was going to be? I really wasn’t sure. Alexander Liberman explained the secret of it to me as being as Machiavellian as possible as often as possible. But Alex took a mischievous delight in motivating people that way, and he was brilliantly successful with it.
What do you think is your contribution to magazines? I know there’s a perfect line to draw here between self-deprecation and self-congratulation, but I can’t find it.
Was there any title you wish you could’ve launched? The art magazine was, to my mind, the most viable magazine we didn’t publish. But I was always somewhat fearful of how it would play out in real life, with a scent strip next to the Goya painting, and advertorials of young artists wearing expensive wristwatches. I believe art is better for not being the next hot commodity, though it seems to be headed there.
What did you tell Tom Wallace about his new job? To be as un-Machiavellian as possible.
Ever regret having to fire someone? I certainly regret the way in which I did it on several occasions—wanting to get it over with rather than paying attention to the other person’s feelings.
What are you going to miss about Si Newhouse the most? I’ll actually miss Si a great deal. He’s brilliant and eccentric, and he really does have a sweet side, as well as a witty, gossipy side, as well as an obsessive, perfectionist side, as well as a reclusive, impenetrable side. He’s a fascinating combination of Darryl Zanuck and Bill Gates and maybe the queen, too.
Can we blame the deleterious effects of Buddhism for your not wanting to be a corporation man anymore? I’m not sure Buddhism has deleterious effects, except for the occasional sanctimoniousness with which people proclaim themselves Buddhists. I don’t feel I ever was much of a corporation man. Or a Buddhist. | {
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Alternate Concealment Methods; A Comprehensive Overview of a Few Popular Methods
Posted by Salvatore, February 13, 2017
Updated on February 13, 2017 at 4:52 pm
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I have used every conceivable form of concealment to carry a firearm hidden on my body. This tends to be inevitable for many who actually make the dedication to carry a gun all day, every day. I carry legally in my home state as well as the other states that reciprocate my permit but to me concealed means concealed regardless. I carry a gun concealed and I want it to be hidden from observation from anyone including potential bad guys. The element of surprise that a concealed firearm provides is just as important as the force capability itself.
My standard carry mode that I use most of the time is inside-the-waistband carry on my strong-side hip. This tends to still be the most common carry method with appendix carry making strong inroads in popularity. I consider either of these to be ideal carry modes for a “standard” carry method since they both accommodate larger guns and put the gun in the accessible waistband location. However, like many of us, I often must dress in certain ways that simply do not permit my usual carry mode. This necessitates the use of alternate modes of carry.
Before proceeding let me reiterate from the outset a principle I strongly encourage all to stick to: use your primary carry mode whenever possible and go to the alternate mode only when it is the choice between being armed or not. Bouncing between carry modes is bad and in a time of crisis you will instinctively reach for a gun where it is most often carried. I only use an alternate carry mode when I absolutely must because of dress. When dressing in any sort of formal manner we usually wear tucked-in dress shirts which rules out waistband carry, unless also wearing a suit jacket. There are tuck-able holsters which are designed to work under tucked shirts that may work for you, but I never had success with these. Here is an overview of the alternate modes I have used and my rundown of the benefits and weaknesses:
Pocket Carry
Pocket carry at one time served as my alternate carry mode. For many it is a primary carry mode and I have no issues with that. Obviously pocket carry limits you to carrying fairly small guns, but if you use it exclusively there are many benefits to this mode, as well as some limitations, but it can be very functional. For myself it was always strictly a secondary mode. I no longer use it simply because it does not work for me in my circumstances, but I did use it fairly extensively for a few years so I can speak to it. Here are my thoughts on it:
Pocket Carry Pros:
It is convenient. Slipping a gun and pocket holster into your pocket is great and it allows you to disarm or re-arm quickly.
If you proactively anticipate trouble you can acquire a grip on the gun and you simply look like a guy with his hand in his pocket. This sets you up for an extremely fast draw stroke and this is the single great tactical advantage of pocket carry.
Concealment can be quite good, depending on the gun used, the holster used, and the pants used. If done right there will be a bulge in the pocket but it is unrecognizable as a gun and people having various items in pockets is the norm.
Pocket Carry Cons:
The pants pockets have to be right or it does not work. The pocket has to be sufficiently deep so that the heel of the gun does not peek out. The pocket has to be loose enough so that you can actually draw the gun efficiently. The pants material needs to be right and in my experience thinner material like on dress slacks allows the outline of the gun to print significantly even when using a good pocket holster.
Pocket carry presents a slow draw if you don’t proactively acquire a grip.
It is difficult to access the gun in awkward positions, or when seated, or when in an entangled fight.
Ankle Carry
I have used ankle carry fairly extensively when dressed in ways that rule out my usual carry mode. While I rarely use it any more for an only gun I still prefer it for carrying a second gun when I do so. Ankle carry puts the second gun in a place that is typically not already occupied by other gear so for a backup gun it can serve well, but it does have many limitations.
Ankle Carry Pros:
Extremely concealable and allows for larger guns than does pocket carry.
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Extremely comfortable IF you use a good ankle holster. A bad holster provides a horrible experience concerning comfort.
Provides quick access to the gun when in a seated position.
Ankle Carry Cons:
Provides the slowest possible access to the gun when standing as you must bend over and reach to the ground to draw the gun.
Provides virtually no access to the gun if you are in motion, like running for your life!
Despite the great concealment it is easy to allow the ankle holster to peek out from under the cuff when in a seated position as pants tend to bind and ride up.
Belly Band
Despite the fact that they have been around for literally decades, I am new to the belly band. I don’t know why I never used one before, but as of this writing it has become my preferred alternate mode when I need deep concealment due to dress. I wear a small revolver in the appendix position when using the belly band under a tucked shirt as opposed to my usual double-stack 9mm carry option on my hip.
Belly Band Pros:
Very concealable. It hugs the gun into your body tightly and a smaller gun hides quite well even under a tucked shirt.
Allows you to carry a gun still in your waistband as opposed to somewhere drastically different like the ankle.
Is much more consistent to draw with a tucked shirt than are tuck-able holsters in my experience as the belly band does not cling to and bind the shirt.
Belly Band Cons:
It is a bit of a hassle as it needs to be worn under your cloths, it takes a few extra seconds to get it on and positioned compared to putting on a regular holster or dropping a gun in the pocket.
It can be uncomfortable when against bare skin. I typically wear an under shirt below it.
So, in closing, you very well may find, like me, that you must deviate from your routine carry mode on occasion and I think this is acceptable if the choice is between your preferred carry method or no gun at all. Still, try to minimize your alternate carry modes to as few as possible, preferably one, and use it when you wish to be armed even under more restricted conditions.
Salvatore is a firearms instructor, competitive shooter, and life-long practitioner of concealed carry. Salvatore actively trains and refines his own skills and understanding of the defensive handgun and strives to…
Salvatore is a firearms instructor, competitive shooter, and life-long practitioner of concealed carry. Salvatore actively trains and refines his own skills and understanding of the defensive handgun and strives to share his experience with the growing community of concealed carriers who take their own self-defense seriously. His daily carry gun is a Glock 19 worn in an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck holster.
While this beheading is quite different from the one we covered a few weeks ago, it still proves that people will find a way to inflict harm if they are determined to do so.
A headless body was found in the middle of the street last…
Grab a few cups of coffee, you're going to be here a while. Grab your firearms and gather them around (pointed in a safe direction of course), because they'll appreciate the work these people are doing to support them via the 2nd Amendment.
There is no…
A robber in WV got more than he bargained for when he entered a pharmacy that happened to have an armed pharmacist who refuses to be a victim.
A few days ago, news broke of the pharmacist who was carrying his firearm at work -- and…
Since we started this website in January of 2013, we have seen some incredible interest. For your enjoyment, here are the Top 10 most popular articles to date:
1. (885k views)
Colorado shooting over in 80 seconds because of Armed School Resources Officer
2. (615k views)
The recent mall… | {
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Project OverviewUpdated:2018-01-08 04:45:47 UTC
Project name
Vaultbank
Ticker ( Symbol )
VB
Timeline ( UTC )
2018-01-18
2018-02-28
Closed
Target / Supply Amount
100,000,000
USD
240,000,000
VB
Description
Vaultbank is a global investment firm, committed to sound financial investment and technological advancement. Vaultbank Tokens offer quarterly dividends and are backed by secured credit assets created by an experienced asset management team. Vaultbank will also serve as an exchange for investors thus offering liquidity as well as the security and peace of mind that comes with the full regulatory compliance of a bank. | {
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} |
Problematic IT Projects – Excellent Paper from Best Practice Group
IT Procurement is such a broad field, and as we said last month it is a “master spend category” that has changed more than most in recent years. One thing that does not seem to have changed unfortunately is the propensity of large IT systems development, integration or outsourcing type projects to go wrong. It tends to be the public sector examples that hit the headlines for obvious reasons, whether that is classics such as the Rural Payments scheme in the UK or the initial US Obamacare systems glitches.
But the private sector is not immune from disaster either, although we tend not to hear about those cases as we do the public sector examples. Just occasionally something hits the courts though, as in the hilarious case of EDS being sued by BSkyB, which hinged around Lulu the dog and her MBA....
Anyway, Best Practice Group is a niche consulting firm, run by Allan Watton, and he and the firm probably know more about why IT projects go wrong than anyone else we’ve come across. They have worked on trying to “save” a whole range of major IT contracts, and have a deep understanding of the issues ,whether technical, legal or behavioural, that contribute to problems in this area.
The team at BPG has now put together their latest in a series of useful good practice guides (an e-book really) called Problematic IT Project? It looks at the issues around major contracts, which could cover software development, systems integration or outsourcing. The paper is available here, free on registration.
Here is just a short extract, covering the interesting area of “expert responsibilities”, which rest with suppliers, and which the courts have taken a deeper interest in recently. All buyers of IT need to understand the topic; here is the section from the guide covering what the concept means for suppliers.
________________
IT vendor responsibilities
If you’re considering asking your vendor to re-scope its services, so you can get the project back on track and aligned to your business outcomes, you must bear in mind the following:
Your vendor is responsible for ensuring that its service is fit for your intended purpose before they deliver it. For example, before contracting with you for the services and solution it provides, it must identify any material challenges it would reasonably perceive.
Your vendor must also validate your requirements before contracting with you. This obligation also rests with it for re- scoping of services. If challenges arise during implementation, your vendor cannot later state that your pre- contractual requirements were ambiguous, because it should have validated those requirements and asked you the ‘right’ questions.
Your vendor cannot expect you to validate whether its service and system offerings are appropriate for your requirements. The vendor must make clear what process it will go through itself, to validate whether it can meet your expectations (or not).
Yourvendor cannot “contract out of” being responsible for its advice as an expert vendor.
The aforementioned are known as “implied” terms, under the Sales of Goods Act 1979, Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994. Where your vendor represents itself as a specialist in its field, recent case law indicates that these implied terms are usually legally binding, regardless of whether they are actually in the written contract wording. If a provider insists on contract terms that run contrary to one or more of the above implied terms, then you should ask them how serious they are about rebuilding your relationship with them.
Associate Sponsors
Procurement Research
Spend Matters research is based on a year-long editorial calendar, exploring bigger picture areas and issues.
New! Geo-political Risk - An Informed Global View Is Essential The fifth of our short papers outlining key supply chain risk areas looks at geo-political risks, which include war and revolution as well as labour disputes and the like. Clearly, this sort of risk event can be amongst the most serious in terms of implications for buyers.
New! "Man-Made" Risk - Different Risks Require Thoughtful StrategiesThis is the fourth of our short papers outlining key supply chain risk areas. This examines "man-made" risks, a broad category that ranges from fires and explosions to strikes and labour disputes. All can have a serious impact for customers of the firms affected, so effective risk management is vital.
New! Natural Disasters – How to Mitigate Unavoidable RisksThis is the third in a series of short papers outlining the supply chain risks that can have the most devastating effects on your business. This paper examines the risk to suppliers (and ultimately the buyer) of a natural disaster - a risk type that is mostly unavoidable but one against which you can mitigate.
New! Supply Chain Risk – Getting To Grips With n-Tier VisibilityIn this briefing paper, we look at supply chain risk, and in particular the risks that emerge from beyond the first-tier (the direct suppliers to our organisation). We include ideas on how to gain greater visibility of the whole supply chain or network, and what to do once we have it.
New! The Merger – A Procurement StoryA short novel in four chapters. It follows and scripts the daily lives of two CPOs whose businesses have been recently merged: the one, a fully tech-savvy, source-to-pay function, the other, relying on personal expertise and hands-on manual processes. We learn of their opposing challenges and how they resolve them -- together.
Improve Your Procurement Negotiation SkillsThe work of behavioural psychologist and Nobel Prize winner Dr Daniel Kahneman suggests some winning techniques. How to use priming, attitudes to risk and anchoring to your advantage in negotiations!
Full Value Buying: Moving Beyond Price NegotiationWe look at range of procurement mechanisms that can drive better value, and then consider two aspects in more detail - demand management and specification - which can drive far greater benefits than a pure price focus! | {
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An Australian employee of the G4S security firm on Manus Island says PNG police stood back and allowed locals to break into the compound last month, did nothing to stop them beating detainees, and in some cases participated in the violence and intimidation.
Some expat G4S staff have since left the island suffering from serious post-traumatic stress.
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says there are three investigations underway into the Manus Island incident, including a full independent inquiry headed by former senior public servant Robert Cornall.
"These investigations seek to establish the events on Manus Island that evening and we will await the outcome of these reviews," the spokesman said.
"The Government has taken steps with the PNG government to ensure there is information sharing, cooperation and convergence as appropriate to get the clearest possible picture of what occurred that night."
Meanwhile, one staff member told the ABC the situation is so tense that asylum seekers are refusing to have anything to do with local PNG staff.
The Australian G4S employee witnessed "a frenzy of out-of-control violence", telling the ABC that after a second night of protests at the detention centre, G4S staff under attack from rock-throwing asylum seekers asked to withdraw from the facility and agreed to hand over security to PNG police.
The source says PNG police then fired five or six warning shots and stood back as enraged locals poured into the compound over a back fence.
"Our guys were sheltered behind a container and when it came to a point when they couldn't do any more, someone said we need to withdraw," the guard said.
The negotiations that came over the radio raised concerns about handing over control to the PNG police.
"'Do you just want to hand over to the PNG police?' they were asked," the guard said.
"The answer came back over the radio: 'Yes, hand it over to them.'
"And the person who had asked said: 'Are you sure? Do you know the consequences of that?'
"And they said: 'Yes, hand it over'."
Local G4S staff were the first in, followed by local contract staff.
"We saw them going in with machetes. They had anything they could pick up - rocks, sticks, the poles from the exercise weights," the guard said.
"Once they knocked people to the ground, they were stomping on their heads with their boots.
"A day later you could still see guards and staff and cleaners walking around with blood on their boots."
One of the injured asylum seekers has also detailed what happened to him in an interview recorded from hospital a few days after the attack.
He told the ABC:
"Six people were on top of me ... hitting me. At the end I was holding my hand to my face to protect my face form being hit. Then **** came ... I know him personally. He kicked me with his boots ... on my face."
Contrary to the PNG police incident report that describes it as a confrontation between G4S guards and transferees that saw guards being seriously assaulted, the G4S employee says that once the violence began, PNG police did nothing to try and control the situation and some even joined in.
"The police went from room to room as well and held guns to people's heads and said, 'If you don't give me your cigarettes, we're going to shoot you'," the guard said.
Some locals and expats were also inside trying to get transferees out and protect others with shields.
One expat guard lay across a transferee to prevent him being shot.
'There was blood everywhere'
The eyewitness the ABC has spoken to says locals and police went systematically through the compound from room to room.
"There were guys who wet themselves and shit their pants out of total fear," the witness said.
"There are handles broken where they've tried to get in and the transferees have been holding the doors closed and they've snapped the handles off and they've tried to get in with machetes.
The asylum seekers are asking them who they can trust. Who's going to keep them safe?
G4S employee
"The wharf was full from one end to the other and there were puddles of blood everywhere," the witness said.
"They did an emergency tracheotomy out in the open ... there were people moaning ... it was terrible. Everyone pitched in to do what they could, you just needed every single person who was there."
The G4S guard says the transferees now feel so unsafe that when they tried to bring in local cleaners the day after the incidents, it just about started another riot. The asylum seekers want nothing to do with any of the locals.
The expat staff say the atmosphere is so tense that it will not take anything much to kick off another round of unrest.
"The asylum seekers are asking them who they can trust. Who's going to keep them safe? You just don't know if it's going to happen again," the witness said. | {
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New Blood Entry — Repurposed Records
Desperados / 2017
Desperados want to turn your rubbish into music. 52 tonnes of plastic waste was left over at Glastonbury alone last year. Bring us one bag of plastic rubbish and we'll turn it into a vinyl of your chosen set from the festival.
Helping keep festivals sustainable and the environment healthy. By creating a festival activation that ignites music lovers to clean up after themselves. | {
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Utensil Holder
We designed our utensil holders when none that we saw held everything we
wanted. The large opening and narrower bottom create room for more
utensils to flare out and be easily accessible - a
functional, beautiful addition to your
kitchen. Another use: display hydrangeas. | {
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Pages
From Vitne: "Happy release day! It always feels amazing whenever something I’ve put so much heart and soul and time into finally makes its way to the public. Today is one of those days! Hope you enjoy."
Vitne's USA punk band, active from 2004-2009, has just released their EP Touch Me There. The group has announced a reunion and will also be performing a concert in their hometown of Charleston, SC (USA) later this month.
Touch Me There was originally recorded in 2008-2009, and mixed shortly after, yet never received a proper release, save for an underground release among friends and close fans. Now it's fully mastered and available worldwide. | {
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Boundary Maps
Boundaries are established lines that determine school attendance area by residential address. If by choice you attend a school outside your attendance boundary, you will not be eligible for transportation. | {
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} |
1) For as long as the Meatless Mondays campaign has been around, I never once thought about jumping on the wagon.
2) I’m a party girl. If someone’s throwing one, you can bet I’ll be there.
It’s not that I’m opposed to eating meatless meals. Far from it, actually. In fact, some of my weekly meal plans do a really good job of disguising me as a vegetarian. Sometimes even a vegan. Why do I do this? It’s not that I have any ethical reasons against eating meat (and admittedly, I have room for improvement when it comes to choosing the quality of meat when I do purchase it.) It’s not that my meatless meals are always cheaper (good produce often comes at a premium!) It’s simply that I like vegetables. A lot. And experiencing all kinds of food. With the right balance of plant-based food, I’ve never felt slighted by not having a piece of formerly-living protein on my plate.
So why not save all my meatless meals to post on Mondays? Because I think any day makes a good veg day. And I’m lazy about scheduled blogging. I like to share what I want, when I want.
However. When I got an invitation from gardein™ to join their Gardein Party and go meatless for Mondays, I immediately dug out my most sparkly halter and spikiest stilettos and RSVP’d a definitive “Yes.” Ok, well, maybe not, since it was just me alone in my kitchen and cooking in four inch heals might qualify as some sort of safety hazard. But inside, I was ready to boogie.
Gardein produces a wide range of “fake meat” products. Everything from standard “chicken” nuggets and traditional veggie burgers to a southwestern stuffed “breast” to crispy mandarin orange “chicken.” In all my experience as a sometimes-wannabe-vegetarian, I had never actually purchased any meat-in-disguise. I suppose this is because I DO eat meat and therefore when I go meatless, it’s not about substituting for meat but rather for enjoying vegetables, legumes, and tofu simply for what they are. But with this opportunity upon me, and with the understanding that consuming even less meat can have a significant impact on not just my body but the environment we live in, I was happy to try something new. On top of that, Gardein products are conveniently packaged, easy to prepare, and lend themselves to endless quick-and-easy original recipes, perfect for our busy weeknights.
I highly suspected that I’d enjoy any “chicken” product more than a beef stand-in, but I decided to be daring and try their BBQ Skewers first. Even on a busy night, I make no excuses about having a fresh, wholesome, low-carb meal so I decided to transform the BBQ Skewers into Thai-Style “Beef” Lettuce Wraps. I had some leftover jicama in the fridge, so all I needed was a head of farm-fresh bibb lettuce, sweet carrots, crisp cucumber, and handfuls of mint and cilantro from my herb garden (meaning, pots on my deck.) And a batch of MamaPea’s Peanut Mmm Sauce (conveniently made from simple kitchen staples.) Everything is better smothered in peanut sauce. Meat and fake meat included. Don’t you think?
These Thai-Style “Beef” Lettuce Wraps certainly added some “mmm” to my Monday night as I relished in how quick and easy they were to prepare and even more delightful to eat. Light being key, because the weather outside is hot and heavy enough that I don’t need any of that in my kitchen. The skewers, though they do come in a sauce, are lightly flavored enough that I imagine they could fare well in a variety of dishes. You could chop them up and stuff them into taco shells with your favorite toppings, or smother them in onions and peppers and melted cheese for a “steak” and cheese sub. Or, just stick to pairing them with these crisp summer veggies and sweet and spicy peanut sauce. I’d never get tired of that!
While the grill heats, prepare the vegetables and arrange on a serving platter.
Make the peanut sauce by combining all ingredients in a blender or food processor, and processing until smooth.
Mist the grill grates with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the skewers from the package and place on the grill for about two minutes per side, until grill marks appear and the skewers are hot. Remove from heat. Slide the “meat” off of the skewers and separate into chunks.
To serve, place some of the vegetables on each piece of lettuce and top with one or two pieces of “beef”. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with mint and cilantro.
I received free gardein™ products to make this recipe. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for visiting Cara’s Cravings. If you like what you see and want more, subscribe via email or in a reader, follow me on Twitter, or visit me on Facebook.
Love your twist on this! I actually have a pack of gardein in my freezer and just havent used them yet. I think they make some great products though. Meatless mondays are an awesome idea for everyone, vegetarian or not..what a great way to mix things up and focus on getting some good veggies in. Great recipe girl!
In general, I do try to go meatless on Mondays with my posts…but then you have a post like today's salmon that just can't wait! I've never tried these but I'll certainly be on the lookout for them. Your lettuce wraps look too good to pass up! | {
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Today's Paper
» FEATURES
» METRO PLUS
Energy or fatal drinks?
health Energy drinks are not always energetic
W
ith widespread alarm about deaths linked to alcohol-and-caffeine-laced commercial , it's easy to overlook problems that may be linked to the so-called energy drinks that spawned them. But a number of scientists are worried about highly caffeinated beverages that are popular among teenagers and young adults.
Researchers have noted that the drinks contain high levels of caffeine and warned that certain susceptible people risk dangerous, even life-threatening, effects on blood pressure heart rate and brain function. The caffeine and caffeinelike ingredients in these drinks can mask the perception of inebriation — and that can increase the risk of drunken driving or other dangerous behaviors.
For an athlete engaged in intense exercise, the high doses of sugar in energy drinks can impair absorption of fluids and result in dehydration.
Caffeine, which is known to improve muscle action and performance, especially in endurance activities, is banned in many sports competitions.
Thus, consuming an energy drink close to an event could disqualify an athlete. Energy drinks also contain taurine and glucuronolactone. | {
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Other ingredients used in hair masks such as olive oil, eggs, yogurt or honey will nourish and strengthen your locks, making hair grow thicker, stronger and look healthier. You can vary hair mask mixture with different natural additives depending on which problem you wish to solve.
Let’s check how some mustard powder elements affect the skin and hair.
Vitamin A – a great natural healer for damaged, split, brittle, thinning hair. It has regenerative and restorative properties. Also helps promote the development of cells in the collagen and elastin fibers, which are responsible for the elasticity of strands.
Vitamins of B complex – possess moisturizing effect, help control the production of the sebaceous glands. Make hair shiny and less greasy.
Vitamin E – known for its antioxidant properties. Treats seborrhea, prevents hair loss, actively protects against external aggression.
Vitamin D – useful for damaged tissues, as well as restores them.
Essential oils soothe irritated scalp. Natural seborrhea treatment.
Fatty acids – good for dry hair, as they moisturize and effectively restore fragile, very thin and weak strands.
But the main “ingredient” of mustard – allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). This compound binds to ion channel (TRPV1 and TRPA1) located on the plasma membrane of many human cells like keratinocytes and cells in hair follicles. Such interaction generates a lot of pain, and the heat sensation as well. Ion channels excitation lead to mediating peripheral widening of blood vessels and increasing dermal blood flow. This is why mustard can help in improving hair growth. | {
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More like this
Linux-based HandyPC to challenge Nokia Communicator
Brick to be batted?
German phone maker Road has announced its answer to Nokia's Communicator. Dubbed the HandyPC, the phone-computer combo is based on the Linux operating system and Trolltech's Qtopia GUI. It's a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE device with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on board too.
Opening the clamshell device reveals a QWERTZ keyboard and a 640 x 240 display - closed, the unit presents a 102 x 65 monochrome phone screen. The HandyPC contains the usual array of PIM and messaging apps, along with a viewer to read Microsoft Office files. It will ship with PC synchronisation tools, media player software and a web browser. It can even be used as a voice recorder.
Road said it will offer two variants: the S101 and the S101K. The two are almost identical - the S101K simply adds what the company described only as "encryption" to the standard package - presumably support for protected VPNs and the like.
The hardware's the same in both versions. A 400MHz Intel PXA264 CPU powers the device, which also contains 64MB of RAM and 64MB of Flash. It sports a two megapixel camera and includes a 1,500mAh lithium-polymer battery - good, said Road, for four hours' talk time, 240 hours on stand-by, or five hours' PC usage.
The S101 weighs 210g and measures 12.8 x 6 x 2.6cm.
Road hasn't said when it expects to ship the HandyPC, or how much it will charge for the device. It did say it's working on a larger, more notebook-like version, dubbed the L101. However, advance-order interest can be registered at the company's website. ® | {
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Old Photograph Fore Entrance Linlithgow Palace Scotland
Old photograph of the Fore Entrance at Linlithgow Palace, Scotland. The entry gate to the palace displays the European chivalric orders which King James V belonged to: The Order of the Thistle, The Order of the Garter, The Order of St Michael, and The Order of the Golden Fleece of Burgundy. These were status symbols which signified James's membership of an European elite whose members followed certain codes of conduct in society and warfare.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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I was born in Buckhaven, on the East coast of the Kingdom of Fife, and raised in the old fishing villages of Cellardyke and Anstruther in the East Neuk of Fife. For the past 12 years I have been organizing and guiding unique small group tours of Scotland. | {
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British Vogue magazine - June 1981 (Vintage Issue)
British Vogue magazine - June 1981 (Vintage Issue)
£3.99
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British Vogue magazine - June 1981 (Vintage Issue)Poor to fair condition for age - GLUE ON SPINE HAS COMPLETELY HARDENED AND CRACKED - ALL PAGES ARE STILL INTACT BUT VERY FRAGILE AND BEGINNING TO BECOME LOOSE | {
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Beer History in Mexico
Only 20 years after the fall of Tenochtitlan, Spanish Conquerors founded Americas first brewery in New Spain. The permit for this brewery was granted in 1542 by Emperor Carlos V to Alonso de Herrera under the condition that a third of the profits derived from this exploit be sent to Spain. It wasnt successful at first because excessive beer drinking was sanctioned by authorities and people preferred the existing pre-Hispanic alcoholic beverages.
During the War of Independence, the taste for beer had consolidated and controversy arose around the rights to produce it, such as in the cases of the English Gillons and Mairet, Miguel Ramos Arizpe and Justino Tuallion, all claiming the exclusive privilege to produce it in Mexico.
Shortly after the proclamation of Mexicos Independence, Tuallions beer was the most popular, a brand named the Hospice of the Poor because his brewery was located on Revillagigedo Street, where there was also a homeless shelter.
The arrival of German immigrants and the brief reign of Maximilian of Habsburg in mid-19th century helped create the art of brewery, from which two famous varieties of Mexican beer stemmed, Negra Modelo and Dos Equis Ambar, a version of dark lagers in the Viennese style. Even though they were not as thick as the English varieties, they had more body, character and sweeter malts than the light pilsners.
Early development of the brewing industry was created by immigrants of German origin. The first lager brewery in Mexico was La Pila Seca, founded in 1845 by the Swiss Bernhard Bolgard in Mexico City. He produced a dark beer from sun dried malt and brown sugar.
This was followed by the inauguration of Cerveceria Toluca by another Swiss, Agustín Marendaz in 1865 and Cervecería La Cruz Blanca created by the Alsatian immigrant Emil Dercher in 1869, creating the first Mexican lager.
The railroad network built in Mexico in the late 19th century allowed the import of machinery and malt from United States, but also forced Mexican brewers to compete against North American beers that started to be mass distributed throughout Mexico.
In 1891, the countrys first great scale brewing industry was created, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc in Monterrey, Nuevo León. In 1954, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc purchased a brewing facility in Tecate, Baja California, launching it nationwide and turning it into the first canned beer in Mexico, currently the most imported canned beer in the United States.
During 1899, Gran Cervecería Yucateca began producing in the city of Merida, developing Cruz Roja, Estrella and Mestiza beers, but gained its place in the market with its Carta Clara and Leon brands. Three years later, Cervecería del Pacífico opened in Mazatlan, launching a famous brand that is still very popular, the Pacifico pilsner.
By 1918, there were 36 breweries in Mexico. The United States prohibition during the 1920s gave a strong impulse to Mexicos brewing industry because North Americans traveled to the border to purchase and drink alcohol. This prompted the opening of new breweries in Mexico, including the Mexicali Brewery and Aztec Brewing Company in Baja California. In 1925, despite an ongoing national preference for pulque, there were large investments placed on the brewing industry throughout the country, producing close to 50 thousand liters per year.
In 1985 there was a monumental fusion between Cuahutémoc and Moctezuma brewing companies, becoming part of FEMSA in 1988. Their Tecate, Sol, Dos Equis, Carta Blanca, Superior, Indio, Bohemia and Noche Buena brands are sold throughout the country and abroad.
One of the countrys strongest companies was formed in 1992, Cervecería Modelo. Grupo Modelo holds a great percentage of export beers with Corona, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial y Pacífico; in addition to Victoria, León and Montejo, produced exclusively for the national market. Corona, created in 1925 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Cervecería Modelo, is one of the five most consumed beers in the world and it is available in more than 150 countries. With eight breweries in operation, the production of Cerveceria Modelo ascends to 46 million hectoliters per year. 49% of Grupo Modelos stocks are held by Anheuser-Busch, but the company is still controlled by Mexican shareholders.
Article Produced by the Editorial Team of Explorando México.
Copyright Explorando México, All Rights Reserved.
Photo: Getty Images | {
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: Eddie and Tala are getting the hell out of Baltimore, but Baltimore isn't through with them yet! Can our heroes survive a breakneck car chase through the city, pursued by fascist inter-dimensional warlocks, gun-toting maniac mobsters, and a trio of mystical bounty hunters? Buckle up, Grumble fans, and get ready for the most magically destructive ride of your life! JIM MAHFOOD Cardstock var cvr | {
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QuarkXPress 6 To Be Demonstrated Next Week
Mac Design Conference kicks off May 28
By Dave Nagel
Quark will demonstrate the forthcoming release of QuarkXPress 6 at next week's Mac Design Conference, according to the show's producers. The conference will be held in at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Chicago starting May 28.
Quark has been slowly releasing information about QuarkXPress 6, which will be the first version of the software to support Mac OS X. New features in the software include:
Workflow enhancements, such as the ability to share attributes and information between projects using a feature called layout spaces;
Synchronized content for sharing text between layouts within a QuarkXPress project;
Easier to use tables, including the ability to control the flow of content by linking tables or text cells;
PDF creation technology without the need for third-party software;
Support for DeviceN color space for outputting blends, multi-inks, colorized TIFF images and other items as composite color while retaining spot color information for in-RIP separations;
Other exhibitors and presenters at the conference will include Adobe, Apple, HP, Wacom, Corel and Pantone, among others. Exposition passes to the show are free. FOr more information, visit http://www.macdesignconference.com. | {
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A judge ruled a former Harvard graduate student accused of killing an 18-year-old Cambridge resident in 2003 could not have his curfew lifted, his bail lowered or be allowed to travel outside of the state.
By Erin Smith
A judge ruled a former Harvard graduate student accused of killing an 18-year-old Cambridge resident in 2003 could not have his curfew lifted, his bail lowered or be allowed to travel outside of the state.
Alexander Pring-Wilson, who’s awaiting trial for the 2003 murder of Cambridgeport resident Michael Colono, wanted his bail lowered from $400,000 to $200,000. He also wanted to get rid of his 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew and be able to travel home to see his family in his home state of Colorado.
But Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fishman said there was no reason to change Pring-Wilson’s bail or the conditions of his release while he awaits trial, especially since Pring-Wilson does not have a reason — such as a job — to break curfew.
In 2003, while walking home to Somerville after a night out at the bars, Pring-Wilson, reportedly drunk, became involved in a fight with Colono after the Cambridgeport resident allegedly began taunting him about his clothes and drunken state. During the altercation, Pring-Wilson pulled out a 4-inch knife and fatally stabbed Colono five times.
The case has become a lighting rod for debate on issues of race and class and the legal system.
Colono was a Latino prep-cook and father who dropped out of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. Pring-Wilson was a master’s degree candidate at Harvard for Russian and Eurasian studies at the time of the incident.
Pring-Wilson’s attorney, E. Peter Parker, said lifting his curfew would have helped Pring-Wilson in his job search.
“It’s difficult to have 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. [curfew] and work any fulltime job,” said Parker.
Parker said Pring-Wilson is currently unemployed but looking for work in “construction, whatever he can get.”
Pring-Wilson was previously working in retail for a few months, according to Parker.
Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Lynch argued Pring-Wilson should not be allowed to travel because he was a flight risk and probation officials said they would not be able to track him through his cell phone GPS monitor if he were allowed to travel outside the state.
“All we can do is issue a warrant and go through the process of bringing him back from another state,” said Joseph Centrella, first assistant chief probation officer.
Parker argued that Pring-Wilson would not run from the law because his girlfriend of four years recently moved to Massachusetts.
“He’s a mouse click away with his picture all over the Internet,” said Parker. “The thought that he could flee and disappear is a very difficult concept to believe.”
Parker said Pring-Wilson is currently living with his girlfriend in Massachusetts. Parker would not say where they are living but conceded it’s not in Cambridge.
In October 2005, Pring-Wilson was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced him to six to eight years in prison. Pring-Wilson claimed he acted in self-defense when he killed Colono during a late-night fight at Pizza Ring on Western Avenue in 2003.
In March, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld a lower court decision that overturned that conviction and ruled Pring-Wilson should be granted a new trial where he will be allowed to submit evidence regarding the criminal pasts of Colono and his cousin, Samuel Rodriguez. Rodriguez was involved in the fight.
In 2001, Colono was charged with possession of crack cocaine after becoming irate at Hi-Fi Pizza on Mass. Ave., where he allegedly shattered the front door while police tried to take him outside.
The SJC ruling said this evidence is now admissible in self-defense arguments, regardless of whether Pring-Wilson knew about Colono’s prior violent acts. At issue in the new trial will be whether jurors believe Pring-Wilson started the fight that led to Colono’s death. | {
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Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has re-signed forward Josh McRoberts. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Josh is a quality big man who can both score and distribute the ball, and he was integral in our improvement late last season,” Higgins said. “In addition to his play on the floor, he provided a strong presence and example for our younger players. We are happy to have him back on our team.”
The Bobcats acquired the 6-10 McRoberts from the Orlando Magic on February 21, 2013 in exchange for forward Hakim Warrick. McRoberts appeared in 26 games with the team last season, averaging 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 30.8 minutes per game.
A six-year NBA veteran, McRoberts was the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He has played in 272 career games with the Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, L.A. Lakers, Orlando Magic and Bobcats, posting averages of 4.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.0 minutes per game. | {
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Store
Recovering the Self (Vol. VI, No. 2) - Family
978-1-61599-374-1
Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing (Vol. VI, No. 2) November 2017
Recovering The Self is a quarterly journal which explores the themes of recovery and healing through the lenses of poetry, memoir, opinion, essays, fiction, humor, art, media reviews and psycho-education. Contributors to RTS Journal come from around the globe to deliver unique perspectives you won't find anywhere else!The theme of Volume VI, Number 2 is "Focus on Family." We explore physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental aspects of this and several other areas of concern including:
"I highly recommend a subscription to this journal, Recovering the Self, for professionals who are in the counseling profession or who deal with crisis situations. Readers involved with the healing process will also really enjoy this journal and feel inspired to continue on. The topics covered in the first journal alone, will motivate you to continue reading books on the subject matter presented. Guaranteed." --Paige Lovitt for Reader ViewsVisit us online at www.RecoveringSelf.comPublished by Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealing.com | {
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At the start of the twenty-first century we are acutely conscious that universities operate within an entangled world of international scholarly connection. Empire of Scholars examines the networks that linked academics in Britain and the settler world in the age of ‘Victorian globalisation’. It argues that in the 1880s universities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa began to look for new ways to connect with ‘universal’ scholarship, instituting travelling scholarship schemes, leave of absence programmes, and appointment practices that enabled academics working in the colonies to forge and maintain close personal and informal ties with their colleagues in Britain. These networks became crucial to the way that universities in Britain and the settler world operated, and to the making of knowledge in them, helping to map a ‘British academic world’ that extended far beyond the borders of the British Isles. But although it was expansive, this was a world that was also highly raced and gendered – excluding women, scholars of colour, and according only a minor place to Europeans and Americans. When we think about the global world of universities in the twenty-first century, we need to pay close attention to these informal, expansive, and exclusionary networks, for they helped shape the uneven geographies that condition higher education today.
Q2: What got you started on this line of research?
In retrospect the germ of this book was sown when I was an undergraduate at the University of Adelaide. In the seminar room there, fading photographs of past history professors adorned the walls and written after all their names were the letters M.A. (Oxon). I cannot have been anything but dimly aware of this at the time, however, when some years later their path to Oxford was one that I too followed, I began to wonder. Beginning my doctoral studies, I had wanted to write about ideas. I wanted to know what they meant to people, where they came from, and how they got made, particularly in the context of the British Empire. But aware of my own passage to Oxford, and with the Adelaide professors still staring down at me, it seemed impossible to do this without thinking about the people who made knowledge, and the institutional structures and contexts that made them. I realised that before I could write about ideas I needed to know a lot more about the worlds that produced them – and academia seemed an obvious place to begin. So Empire of Scholars is in many ways about the unequal social and material conditions that underpin the making of ideas. It is my attempt to understand the system of which I am part, the traces it has left upon me, and the disparities that continue to characterise it.
Q3: What has been the most surprising finding for you in researching Empire of Scholars?
I was surprised by just how connected colonial scholars of the 19th and early 20th century were to British academia. I had grown up with the idea of the ‘tyranny of distance’ combined with a form of cultural cringe which saw academics who migrated as second class scholars who couldn’t make it in Britain. But this was not the story I found in the archives. Many of the academics who took up posts in settler universities were prize-winning students who were attracted by the opportunities and conditions of professorial posts in a range of disciplines that had not yet established themselves in British institutions. Moreover, utilising their personal networks, they stayed in close touch with academia in Britain, sending their students back, visiting frequently, publishing in British journals, and also in many cases being later appointed to senior posts. I realised we need to think in new ways about the way distance worked in the past.
Q4: How has this research contributed to your knowledge about the role of academics, higher education and universities in society and politics?
My research on universities in the late 19th and 20th centuries – a period of increasing global connection, in which universities struggled to adapt themselves to new kinds of knowledge and technology – has influenced the way I understand today’s higher education sector. It’s helped me realise that the knowledge economy is not just a product of twenty-first century globalisation. Its origins lie in the cross-border intellectual alignments that developed along the routes of global empire and trade in this earlier period. The questions they asked (about legitimacy, internationalization, the purpose of a university, and access to name a few) remain equally pertinent in the rapidly shifting world of higher education today. Thinking historically about universities has also shown me that universities have always been in the process of change. They have always been engaged in a dynamic relationship with the local and the global. Thinking historically, therefore, might both help us think deeply about the role institutions such as universities play in societies, while at the same time guarding us against nostalgic appeals to a non-existent golden age. I have brought these perspectives to my writing about higher education policy for the Guardian Higher Education Network, the Times Higher Education magazine, The Conversation UK, and on my blog: Cap and Gown.
Q5: Does this relate to your current research interests and how?
I am developing my research in two new directions, both of which examine the relationship between mobility, knowledge and higher education that I first considered in Empire of Scholars. First, as part of my ARC DECRA project at the University of Sydney (‘Global Republics: universities and the origins of the knowledge economy’) I will explore the ways digital technologies might be used to map the global spaces of intellectual production and exchange forged by the transnational connections of scholars in the twentieth century. Second, I am also working on a project that examines ‘global education’ in the interwar period. It focuses on the 1926 ‘Floating University’ – a ‘round the world educational cruise’ that saw the moving space of the ship as one in which students could be educated to be citizens of the world.
Q6: What advice do you have for those interested in researching higher education (the role of academics and universities) in modern times and also in different parts of the world?
I have found it useful to pay attention not just to what higher education practitioners and institutions say about themselves, but also to what they do – to their practices. Academics are often strangely reluctant to turn their critical eye upon themselves, and yet it seems to me extremely important that they do so. Thinking historically about universities is powerful in this regard – it shows us that they are institutions that have always changed, it points to the social and political roles they have filled and tells us a lot about from where their legitimacy has come.
About Tamson Pietsch: ‘I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Adelaide in Australia, before working in academic publishing and then as an Aide and speech-writer for the Governor of Victoria. Awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 2003, I travelled to the University of Oxford where I completed my DPhil and went on to hold the Sir Christopher Cox Junior Fellowship at New College and teach as Lecturer in Modern History at Corpus Christi College. I joined Brunel University in 2011 as Lecturer in Imperial and Colonial History. From July 2013 until September 2016 I will be on research leave, as ARC DECRA Fellow at the University of Sydney.’
Members of the ERA collaborative research network will be presenting at the 26th Annual Conference of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER) to take place 9-11 September 2013 at Lausanne:
‘Balancing excellence of research and relevance to society. The impact of European policies on flagship universities’ (Tatiana Fumasoli) in the panel ‘Institutional identities under scrutiny’ (Wednesday, 11 September, 11.30-13.30)
Members of the ERA collaborative research network will be presenting at the 7th General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) to take place 4-7 September 2013 at Bordeaux:
‘Governments’ strategies for attracting foreign talent’ (Lucie Cerna and Meng-Hsuan Chou) in the panel ‘A Competitive European Knowledge Economy at Times of Crisis: Are the Talents coming?’ (Friday, 6 September, 9.00-10.40)
‘With and without borders – developing instruments for lifelong learning in Europe’ (Mari Elken) in the panel ‘Boundaries of the Europe of Knowledge’ (Friday, 6 September, 11.00-12.40)
‘How to measure autonomy: The European Research Council (ERC) as a case study for new ways of European institutionalization’ (Thomas König) in the panel ‘Constructing the European Research Area in Times of Crisis’ (Friday, 6 September, 15.50-17.30)
‘Shifting Policy Discourses in FP7 and Horizon 2020’ (Mitchell Young) in the panel ‘Constructing the European Research Area in Times of Crisis’ (Friday, 6 September, 15.50-17.30)
‘The Emergence of the European Research Council: Hijacking Basic Research by Geopolitical and Market Semantics’ (Tim Flink) in the panel ‘Constructing the European Research Area in Times of Crisis’ (Friday, 6 September, 15.50-17.30)
‘Towards a “directly deliberative polyarchy?” Experimentalist governance in the European Research Area’ (Inga Ulnicane-Ozalina) in the panel ‘Constructing the European Research Area in Times of Crisis’ (Friday, 6 September, 15.50-17.30)
‘System integration and institutional autonomy. Resilience and change in reforming the governance of the university sector’ (Tatiana Fumasoli) in the panel ‘State-University Relationships at Times of Crisis’ (Friday, 6 September, 17.40-19.00)
‘Beyond European integration: Theorizing higher education and regional integration’ (Pauline Ravinet) in the panel ‘Universities and European Integration at a Time of Crisis: A Double Trust Problem?’ (Saturday, 7 September, 11.00-12.40)
‘Does Academic Freedom Globalize? The Diffusion of the American Model of Education, the Academy, and Academic Freedom’ (Neema Noori) in the panel ‘Universities, International Elites & Knowledge Production: A Global History in the making?’ (Saturday, 7 September, 15.50-17.30)
Please join us for our launch meeting at the ECPR: Friday, 6 September, 13.10-13.55 (Where: room where Europe of Knowledge panels are being held)
Members of the ERA collaborative research network will be presenting at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Academic Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) to take place 2-4 September 2013 at Leeds:
‘Public-private Boundaries in Research Policies and Possible Consequences from EU Primary Law – the Example of Competition Law Constraints on Research Funding Policies in Germany, the Netherlands and England’ (Andrea Gideon) in the panel ‘Boundaries of the Europe of Knowledge in Times of Crisis’ (Tuesday, 3 September, 11.00-12.30)
‘The Digital Revolution and the Sectoral Boundaries of the Europe of Knowledge’ (Meng-Hsuan Chou) in the panel ‘Boundaries of the Europe of Knowledge in Times of Crisis’ (Tuesday, 3 September, 11.00-12.30)
‘Experimentalism in the EU Multi-level Research Governance Architecture: The Case of European Research Area’ (Inga Ulnicane-Ozolina) in the panel ‘Constructing the European Research Area in Times of Crisis?’ (Tuesday, 3 September, 11.00-12.30)
‘Values: A Legitimate Driver of ERA Policy?’ (Diana Beech) in the panel ‘Constructing the European Research Area in Times of Crisis?’ (Tuesday, 3 September, 11.00-12.30) | {
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This timeline shows a graph from 1979 to 2015 of Egypt, Arab Rep.. No data until 1978. Number of actual observations by date: 12.
Source name:
World Development Indicators
Source organization:
World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries. Adjusted, comparable data are available at http://www.who.int/nutgrowthdb/en. Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology. | {
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Life is about creating yourself
The Jolly Boys Outing
I grew up with Only Fools and Horses , every Christmas the highlight would be the special on TV showing del boy and rodney s latest antics.
So when I heard there was to be an exhibition down Margate featuring props and costumes from the show on just had to go ! Especially when it turned out that for the opening weekend Boycie and Marlene would be there to sign autographs and have pictures taken! Cushty…..
So off we traisped dahn Margit as the Londoners would say to Dreamland where the 1989 Christmas Special was filmed and the host of the exhibition.
As we preordered our tickets , it was only £4.95 per person and photos with Boycie and Marlene started from £10.00 with autographs free of charge.
Now, this is where the queues were – 2 hrs spent waiting but two hours well spent . John and Sue were absolutely lovely and so natural. Sue was dressed in Marlene s trademark leopard print even her knee high boots and John was suited and booted like Boycie as they sat in a replica of the trotters front room. It was an amazing experience.
The exhibition itself you could do in an easy half hour , it’s so compact. But that’s not to say it isn’t a treasure chest of goodies.
Costumes, props and del boys bedroom recreated complete with leopard print blanket, a packet of jaffa cakes and a copy of Modern Men sit atop the bed with its massive bright pink headboard with radio cassette players installed in the headboard.
Signs from the show, scripts, del s jewellery and triggers medal – in fact the only thing missing was the blow up dolls !
Each piece brought back memories of specific episodes and I couldn’t stop grinning as I moved from piece to piece.
In fact, I suddenly felt a bit sad as I thought of all the great characters no longer with us – Trigger, Mike and Denzil
That’s the thing with Only Fools , it’s like we ve known these people all our lives , we ve grown up with them and they are a part of our lives where we hold them in great esteem and affection. They’re practically a British institution as natural as a cup of tea in our culture.
So to be able to be so close to these items, to meet characters and chat, to recreate the infamous chandelier scene was an amazing experience.
The only dissapointment was that the van , although there, was surrounded by costumes therefore it was unable to see a clear view of it let alone get close enough to take a photo.
Last but not least , I’ve got to mention the gift shop – I love a gift shop- and this didn’t disapoint! An immense amount of leopard print assaults your senses as masks of Boycie gurn at you , the opportunity to buy dels filofax or flat cap awaits . Or how about a savings tin for this time next year we ll be millionaires?
Personally me and dad settled for fridge magnets – him Del , me Rodney and I had to get a specially designed Jolly Boys Outing plastic bag for 5p ( the only time I will enthusiastically pay for a plastic bag ) .
So there you have it, a fantastic day out and a wonderful exhibition of memorabilia from a much loved show.
If your are near the area , I’d definitely recommend paying a visit as the exhibition runs until the 3rd June.
So , what are you waiting for ?You know it makes sense 😉 | {
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Concerns over second-hand Vauxhall Zafira sales
Concerns have been raised over potentially illegal sales of Vauxhall Zafiras by used-car dealers, the BBC reports.
Safety recalls were issued for more than 234,000 Zafiras made between 2005 and 2014 in order to prevent them bursting into flames. As a result of the safety issues, the cars should not be sold to new owners until repairs have been carried out.
However, BBC Radio 4’s consumer programme, You & Yours, has discovered that some sales have occurred without the necessary repairs done and without buyers being informed about the problem.
Vauxhall issued a safety recall, saying they wanted all models to be returned to garages to be checked over and, if necessary, fixed free of charge to prevent them catching fire.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s guidance for the used-vehicle trade, outstanding recalls need to be checked if you are selling a vehicle to a consumer and any safety recalls must be attended to prior to the consumer purchasing the vehicle.
Lead officer for the motor trade with the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards, Tim Milsom, said: “It’s really important for any motor dealer that is having a Vauxhall Zafira that is affected by this recall on their forecourt to actually have this work done prior to exposing it to sale. “If they fail to do that then they might be constituting a possible criminal offence.”
Legislation for civil and criminal law dictates that any product sold in the UK must be safe for consumer use.
Milsom cites the Sale Of Goods Act, General Product Safety Regulations 2005, Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations and, in the case of cars, the Road Traffic Act.
“Stating or otherwise creating the impression that a product can be legally sold when it cannot is also an offence. But it is important to say that only a court of law can interpret the law,” Milsom explained.
On 28 May this year, Zafira issued a second safety recall for model B Zafiras as the first “fix” failed to solve the problem. However, the vehicles have continued to be sold by some used-car dealers, despite not having the second recall work done.
Consequently, some consumers have unknowingly bought Vauxhall Zafiras subject to two outstanding recalls as work from the initial safety recall in December 2015 has also not been carried out.
Owners are being informed by Vauxhall to get affected vehicles booked in for the latest remedial work. Until they are fixed, the manufacturing company says it is “very important” owners set the vehicles’ heating and ventilation system only at fan speed zero or four in order to prevent the risk of fire.
The fire risk affects 234,938 Zafira B models. While there is no official number on how many have caught fire, it is reported that the figure stands at 300. | {
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Fight Night Auckland Main Card Fantasy Preview
For the first time in history, the UFC will visit New Zealand, with a UFC Fight Night card featuring a middleweight main event between local favorite James Te Huna and former 185-pound title contender Nate Marquardt.
Also on the card, Australian behemoth Soa “The Hulk” Palelei looks to keep his recent unbeaten streak alive when he takes on American wrestler Jared Rosholt, while former Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes winner Robert Whittaker tries to get back on track following a recent loss when he faces Mike “Biggie” Rhodes.
As we look ahead towards New Zealand, today's fantasy preview will break down the four-fight main card, including a look at the odds and which potential upsets could be brewing Down Under.
JAMES TE HUNA (-220 FAVORITE) VS. NATE MARQUARDT (+180 UNDERDOG)
There's an unknown factor at work in the main event in New Zealand because both fighters are moving weight classes heading into this fight. For the first time since coming to the UFC, Te Huna will drop down to the middleweight division, while Marquardt will move back up to 185 pounds after spending his last four fights in the welterweight division.
Now simple logic would say Marquardt will have the advantage because he was a middleweight for most of his career, and a top 10-ranked fighter at that. He was consistently ranked while competing in the UFC and had battles with several top names, including Anderson Silva, Demian Maia, Rousimar Palhares and Chael Sonnen. That said, there's no denying Marquardt has fallen on tough times as of late, dropping his last three fights in a row, with two of them ending by way of first round knockout.
Te Huna, on the other hand, is also coming off a devastating knockout loss to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in his last fight, but he had gone 4-1 in his last five fights prior to that defeat as he was making a solid run in the UFC light heavyweight division. Te Huna is a power puncher who connects with just under 52 percent accuracy and throws with volume as well, landing 4.31 strikes per minute.
Where Te Huna has to be careful in this fight is with Marquardt's wrestling game, because he puts opponents on their backs at almost 60 percent accuracy, which is a great statistic in the UFC. The problem is that Marquardt has largely abandoned his wrestling over the course of the last few years, and that could come back to haunt him here as well.
Te Huna will have the home crowd on his side, and after suffering an embarrassing defeat in his last trip to the Octagon, there's no doubt he has something to prove as well. Assuming Te Huna's power translates down to middleweight, he's going to be a formidable opponent for anyone at 185 pounds and the fact is that Marquardt's chin has taken a ton of punishment lately. If this fight was three years ago, Marquardt would be the decided favorite but off three losses in a row and questions surrounding his longevity at 35 years of age with 50 professional fights on his record, maybe he's gone to the well once too many times.
If Te Huna puts the pressure on Marquardt early, it could be another first or maybe second round stoppage, giving the Kiwi the win in New Zealand.
An upset could be brewing in the heavyweight co-main event when Jared Rosholt takes on Australian Soa Palelei. While Rosholt does have the ability to out wrestle and smother his opponents, Palelei won't be an easy fighter to take down, much less hold down, with his size and immense power.
Through two fights in the UFC, Rosholt has shown his wrestling to be the best offensive weapon in his disposal. He's averaging over 57 percent accuracy with his takedowns while also blocking every single attempt made against him by an opponent. His striking is much less refined, which is where he could run into problems with a powerhouse like Palelei.
The Australian packs a serious punch, as he's displayed in each of his last two fights where he knocked out Pat Barry and Ruan Potts in back-to-back matchups. Palelei has incredible accuracy with nearly 63 percent of his strikes landing, and at three significant strikes per minute, he's got an above average work rate for a heavyweight. Where Palelei will have to put in work is getting the fight to the ground, where he does the most damage. He averages over three takedowns per 15 minutes, but, as previously stated, Rosholt won't go down so easily.
Still, with 90 percent accuracy and a mountain of muscle at his disposal, one takedown is all Palelei might need to hammer Rosholt with those canned hams he calls fists. Palelei may not be the most polished heavyweight and he may not be a threat to the top 10 fighters in the world, but if he gets on top of anyone in this division and starts blasting away with punches, it's lights out, goodnight Irene.
The longer this fight goes the more it favors Rosholt, but Palelei fighting in his backyard with the crowd on his side should fuel an early rally, and if he bum rushes the American, this could be another first round finish in the books.
Quite possibly the most difficult fight to predict on the entire main card comes in this featherweight contest between Hatsu Hioki and Charles Oliveira. Both fighters are submission and ground specialists, although Oliveira would appear to hold a distinct advantage when it comes to striking and the kickboxing skills he possesses on the feet.
Hioki can be a difficult matchup for anybody in the 145-pound division, and despite the three losses he had in a row before beating Ivan Menjivar in his last fight, the Japanese featherweight is still one of the toughest outs in the business. His stifling ground attack, where he boasts 57 percent accuracy in putting an opponent on the mat is hard to stop, and from the top position Hioki is a brick wall, nearly impossible to move.
On the other hand, Oliveira is one of the most creative and dangerous ground fighters in the division. While his wrestling isn't anything to scream about, it's Oliveira's guard game that makes him ultra effective, and, as the case may be fighting someone like Hioki, that's probably where he'll end up during this fight.
Hioki's advantage is that he's also well-versed in the submission game, and he's never been forced to tap out in over 35 professional fights. It bodes well for Hioki if he can take Oliveira down and wear him out over the course of three rounds. It's well known that Oliveira usually has a rough weight cut getting down to 145 pounds, and while he's still one of the most talented fighters in the division, this is an impossibly tough test facing a veteran like Hioki who knows how to avoid danger on the feet and suffocate an opponent on the ground.
By the time the third round is over, Hioki should be far enough ahead to go back to Japan with a unanimous decision win.ROBERT WHITTAKER (-300 FAVORITE) VS. MIKE RHODES (+250 UNDERDOG)
The welterweight matchup between former TUF: The Smashes winner Robert Whittaker and second-time UFC veteran Mike Rhodes has the biggest separation when it comes to the odds, and it happens for good reason.
Whittaker is a power puncher with the ability to knock out an opponent with either hand, and he'll be throwing hard and heavy all night in this contest. With a 4.57 strikes-per-minute average coupled with nearly 90 percent takedown defense, Whittaker is an imposing striker who keeps the fight where he wants it, and chances are he'll ask for a stand-up fight in this one.
Rhodes is no joke on his feet either, training under coach Duke Roufus and alongside UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, but his best weapons come in combinations over the course of a fight and all it takes from Whittaker is one punch to take the judges completely out of this decision.
Both fighters have shown good defense during their careers, but Whittaker - like several other fighters on this card - will enjoy a little hometown cheer from the local crowd, and without the travel woes and a fire inside to get this main card started right, Whittaker should be able to land the necessary shots to put Rhodes away before the final bell. Rhodes has to know he's stepping into enemy territory, and that can help or hurt a fighter depending on their psyche, but with only eight fights to his record, this might be a rough wake-up call facing Whittaker in New Zealand.
One of the most dominant UFC champions ever, Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, faces the one man with the power to dethrone him, No.1 contender John "The Magician" Dodson. In the rematch of the greatest flyweight title fight of all time.
Aug 1, 2015
Chad Mendes gives cameras a peek inside his healthy hunter's lifestyle and his chicken coop while Conor McGregor stays loose with a hot tub and soccer ball. Welterweight Rory MacDonald gets in one last workout, and Robbie Lawler arrives in Las Vegas.
Jul 7, 2015
Chad Mendes continues to train hard in Sacramento, motivated by the magnitude of the upcoming event. His opponent Conor McGregor does the same in Las Vegas, capping his day with a big-city display of fireworks.
Jul 6, 2015
Chad Mendes trades the gym for a pool to test his endurance. Conor McGregor enjoys a poolside massage and adds a few unexpected weapons to his arsenal. Plus, Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald do some final prep at home.
Jul 5, 2015
Headliner Conor McGregor heads to Los Angeles for an appearance on Conan. In Sacramento, Chad Mendes discovers that his phone number has been published. Back in Vegas, McGregor gets in some training, and Mendes watches his foe’s late-night appearance. | {
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Developed as a group project with Anshul Pendse during our Fall 2014 semester, REJOOV is a spirituality-inspired indie game using sacred geometry as a visual and conceptual motif in the representation of nature. Playing as a spirit and source of light, the player is able to manipulate nature and terrain by placing light near objects. Beginning in the Moon Pit, the player emerges into a Fractal Forest, and has the option to ascend a series of golden ratio tree platforms to reach the Sun Tower. | {
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108414: He gets severe headaches during Ramadaan
I got a severe headache during Ramadaan because of toothache. Can I take pills when I am fasting?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Severe headaches are one of the reasons for which it is permissible to break the fast in Ramadaan,
especially as fasting is something that makes the headache worse. So there
is nothing wrong with the one who is affected by that breaking his fast in
order to take medicine, and he may eat and drink to take away that pain. But
he has to make up the days that he did not fast after Ramadaan is over,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and whoever is ill or
on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm
(fasts) must be made up] from other days”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
It says in al-Jawharah
al-Nubayrah (Hanafi) (1/142): The sick person for whom it is permissible to break the fast if fasting will make his fever worse or increase the pain in his eyes or head. End quote. | {
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Jin Gyu Park has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Abstract: A combination of a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.
Abstract: A composition for forming a silica based layer and a method for manufacturing a silica based layer, the composition including a silicon-containing compound, the silicon-containing compound including a hydrogenated polysilazane moiety, a hydrogenated polysiloxazane moiety, or a combination thereof, and a solvent, wherein a number of particles of the silicon-containing compound in the composition and having a particle diameter of about 0.2 ?m to about 1 ?m is less than or equal to about 10/ml.
Abstract: Disclosed is modified hydrogenated polysiloxazane prepared by reacting hydrogenated polysiloxazane with a silane compound selected from polysilane, polycyclosilane, and a silane oligomer. The modified hydrogenated polysiloxazane has a small mole ratio of nitrogen atoms relative to silicon atoms and may remarkably deteriorate a film shrinkage ratio when included in a composition for forming a silica-based insulation layer to form a silica-based insulation layer.
Abstract: A photonic assembly for observing a preselected color includes an assembly of colloidal particles in a continuous liquid phase, the colloidal particles comprising a core scattering center and a shell layer surrounding the core, wherein the core scattering center is selected to scatter light having a predetermined wavelength, and wherein the shell has a thickness selected to provide an overall colloidal particle size that is about the same dimension as the wavelength of preselected color to be observed.
Abstract: The present invention relates to an oral dissolving film formulation containing donepezil and a manufacturing method thereof and, more specifically, an oral dissolving film formulation for treating dementia including donepezil or acid addition salt thereof, cyclodextrin or derivatives thereof, alginic acid or salts thereof and a substrate for forming films, which is manufactured by adding a substrate for forming films to a liquid solution manufactured by firstly adding donepezil or acid addition salt thereof and secondly adding alginic acid or salts thereof to a solution in which cyclodextrin or derivatives thereof is melted, covering bitter taste and paralysis of donepezil.
Abstract: A composite material for electromagnetic interference shielding is provided. The composite material comprises a stack including at least two electrically conductive nanoscale fiber films, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one insulating gap positioned between the at least two nanoscale fiber films. The stack is effective to provide a substantial multiple internal reflection effect. An electromagnetic interference shielded apparatus and a method for shielding an electrical circuit from electromagnetic interference is provided.
Abstract: Provided is a fast dissolving film composition comprising a medically active component as an active ingredient, in which the bitter taste of the active ingredient is masked and the fast dissolving film composition has a high content of 50% or higher. More particularly, provided is a pharmaceutical composition which comprises sildenafil or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient, and which comprises a combination of a specific bitter taste masking agent to achieve masking of a bitter taste. Further, provided is a fast dissolving film composition which comprises a combination of a specific plasticizer to mask a bitter taste, and in which the physical properties of the high-content film are excellent.
Abstract: A photonic assembly for observing a preselected color includes an assembly of colloidal particles in a continuous liquid phase, the colloidal particles comprising a core scattering center and a shell layer surrounding the core, wherein the core scattering center is selected to scatter light having a predetermined wavelength, and wherein the shell has a thickness selected to provide an overall colloidal particle size that is about the same dimension as the wavelength of preselected color to be observed.
Abstract: Disclosed herein are anisotropic conductive particles having superior electrical reliability which are useful as materials for electrical connection structures. Further disclosed is a method for preparing conductive particles comprising polymer resin base particles and a conductive complex metal plating layer formed on the surface of the base particles wherein the conductive complex metal plating layer has a substantially continuous density gradient and can include nickel (Ni) and gold (Au).
Abstract: A composite material for electromagnetic interference shielding is provided. The composite material comprises a stack including at least two electrically conductive nanoscale fiber films, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one insulating gap positioned between the at least two nanoscale fiber films. The stack is effective to provide a substantial multiple internal reflection effect.
Abstract: A composite material for electromagnetic interference shielding is provided. The composite material comprises a stack including at least two electrically conductive nanoscale fiber films, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one insulating gap positioned between the at least two nanoscale fiber films. The stack is effective to provide a substantial multiple internal reflection effect. An electromagnetic interference shielded apparatus and a method for shielding an electrical circuit from electromagnetic interference is provided.
Abstract: A composite material for electromagnetic interference shielding is provided. The composite material comprises a stack including at least two electrically conductive nanoscale fiber films, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one insulating gap positioned between the at least two nanoscale fiber films. The stack is effective to provide a substantial multiple internal reflection effect. An electromagnetic interference shielded apparatus and a method for shielding an electrical circuit from electromagnetic interference is provided.
Abstract: Disclosed herein are anisotropic conductive particles contained in anisotropic conductive adhesive films which can be used in circuit board mounting applications. The conductive particles have a uniform shape, a narrow particle diameter distribution, and appropriate compressive de-formability and recoverability from deformation. In addition, the conductive particles exhibit enhanced conducting properties without being ruptured when interposed and compressed between connection substrates, thereby achieving a sufficient contact area between the particles and the connection substrates. Further disclosed are polymer-based particles used in the conductive particles.
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a conductive particle that includes a conductive nickel/gold (Ni/Au) complex metal layer having a phosphorous content of less than about 1.5 weight percent formed on the surface of a polymer resin particle. Methods of forming the same are also included. A conductive particle with a Ni/Au complex metal layer having less than about 1.5 weight percent of phosphorous may have relatively high conductivity while providing relatively good adhesion of the Ni/Au metal layer to the polymer resin particle. Further embodiments of the present invention provide an anisotropic adhesive composition comprising a conductive particle according to an embodiment of the invention.
Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of preparing silicone fine particles which comprises preparing a mixture comprising an organotrialkoxysilane and an organochlorosilane to give a concentration of the organochlorosilane in the mixture of about 100 to about 2,000 ppm; mixing the mixture with water to prepare a sol solution; and maintaining a pH value of the sol solution within a range of about 8 to about 11. Another aspect of the invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition which employs the silicone fine particles as a diffuser.
Abstract: Disclosed herein are anisotropic conductive particles contained in anisotropic conductive adhesive films, which can be used in circuit board mounting applications. The conductive particles can exhibit superior electrical reliability. Further disclosed are polymer particles having good compressive deformability and recoverability from deformation without being ruptured when an adhesive film containing conductive particles including the polymer particles as a component is interposed and compressed between connection substrates, thereby achieving a sufficient contact area between the particles and the connection substrates. Because the polymer particles have a spherical shape, a uniform particle diameter, and a narrow particle diameter distribution, the particles can exhibit enhanced conducting properties.
Abstract: An insulated conductive particle for an anisotropic conductive film is disclosed. One embodiment of the particle includes a conductive particle and insulating fixative particles discontinuously fixed on the surface of the conductive particle. The insulating particles provides insulation with other adjacent insulated conductive particles, while the insulated conductive particle is electrically connected between electrodes with the insulating fixative particles being deviated from its position. The instant disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the insulated conductive particle, an anisotropic conductive adhesive film containing the insulated conductive particles, and an electrically connected structure using the film.
Abstract: A composite material for electromagnetic interference shielding is provided. The composite material comprises a stack including at least two electrically conductive nanoscale fiber films, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one insulating gap positioned between the at least two nanoscale fiber films. The stack is effective to provide a substantial multiple internal reflection effect.
Abstract: The present invention provides a toner having a core-shell structure which is formed by aggregation-coalescence of latex particles having bimodal particle size distribution. The toner according to the present invention can prevent scattering and image offset by enhancing adhesiveness and charge-up rate. The toner can also have controlled particle morphology of the particles and a uniform particle size distribution. | {
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meow meow................... this studio is PUSHEEN CAT ONLY but you could add other cute cat things join this studio and get your PUSHEEN CAT ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | {
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Jean Mainord was embraced in the arms of her Heavenly Father on August 3, 2018, at the age of 91. Jean was born in New Haven, Connecticut on February 10, 1927 and moved to California during her high school years. She and Jimmy married in... View Obituary & Service Information | {
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The diamond filament tether is an unbreakable tether attached to the Planet Express ship. Although it's unbreakable, Farnsworth wants everyone to be careful with it, since it belonged to his grandmother (2ACV12). When Bender tied it to a hook to catch a fish, a Colossal-Mouth Bass took the ship over 6000 feet (1828.8 meters) towards the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, where they discovered the lost city of Atlanta. Because it is unbreakable, when Fry and Bender flew the ship without permission with the tether attached to the Planet Express headquarters, the ship took part of the building all around the world (2ACV19). | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Your fireplace wall is the most important wall in your home. Collins & Co. can make it architecturally more exciting and increase the value of your home at the same time. Our mantels dramatically change the ambiance of your home by creating a focal point of greater impact.
Andreas
Cape May
Georgian
Jefferson
Mt. Vernon
Whitehall
For the moments that you spend relaxing around your fireplace, our mantels can help create the perfect atmosphere. There's no better place to share a romantic evening, take a family portrait, or hang Christmas stockings. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Abstract:
A container treatment plant (1) and a container treatment method for the
treatment of containers (2, 3) capable of being filled with a product are
described. The container treatment plant (1) comprises a plurality of
treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), wherein each treatment
element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) is used for a pre-determined treatment
of the containers (2, 3) and each treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31) has associated therewith a container nominal value which indicates
which type of container (2, 3) the treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31) can treat, a detection device (100) for detecting properties of one
of the containers (2, 3) to be treated, and a comparator device (150) for
comparing a detection result of the detection device (100) with the
container nominal value for at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21
to 27, 31).
Claims:
1. A container treatment plant (1) for the treatment of containers (2, 3)
capable of being filled with a product, with a plurality of treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), wherein each treatment element (11 to
19, 21 to 27, 31) is used for a pre-determined treatment of the
containers (2, 3) and each treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) has
associated therewith a container nominal value which indicates which type
of container (2, 3) the treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) can
treat, a detection device (100) for detecting properties of one of the
containers (2, 3) to be treated, and a comparator device (150) for
comparing a detection result of the detection device (100) with the
container nominal value for at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21
to 27, 31).
2. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition, with an
adaptor device (120) for adapting at least one treatment element (11 to
19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to
27, 31) if a comparison carried out by the comparator device (150)
reveals that the detection result of the detection device (100) is not
equal to the container nominal value for the at least one treatment
element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).
3. A container treatment plant according to claim 2, wherein the adaptor
device (120) is designed in such a way that it adapts the at least one
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) by exchanging the at least one
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).
4. A container treatment plant according to claim 2, wherein the adaptor
device (120) is designed in such a way that it adapts the at least one
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) by adjusting the at least one treatment
element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).
5. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
list compilation device (160) for compiling a list in which the treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) are listed for which the comparison
carried out by the comparator device (150) reveals that the detection
result of the detection device is not equal to the container nominal
value for the at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).
6. A container treatment plant according to claim 2, in addition with a
calculation device (170) for calculating a sequence of adapting at least
one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of
treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), in which sequence an opening
of a protection device (4) of the container treatment plant (1) is not
impeded by the adaptation of at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21
to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31).
7. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
device for stopping the container treatment plant (1) if a comparison
carried out by the comparator device (150) reveals that the detection
result of the detection device is not equal to the container nominal
value for the at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).
8. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
fault reporting device (140) for emitting a fault report if a comparison
carried out by the comparator device (150) reveals that the detection
result of the detection device (100) is not equal to the container
nominal value for the at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31).
9. A container treatment plant according to claim 8, in addition with a
display device (130) for displaying a detection result of the detection
device (100) and/or a comparison result of the comparator device (150)
and/or a list compiled by the list compilation device (160) and/or a
calculation result of the calculation device (170) and/or a stop of the
container treatment plant and/or a fault report.
10. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
plurality of plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) for carrying out a
pre-determined treatment of the containers (2, 3), wherein each of the
plurality of different plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) has some of the
plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).
11. A container treatment plant according to claim 10, wherein each of the
plurality of different plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) has a plant module
control device (60) for controlling an operation of the plant module (10,
20, 30, 40), and wherein the plant module control devices (60) are
connected in series.
12. A container treatment plant according to claim 10, wherein each of the
plurality of different plant modules has a plant module control device
(60) for controlling an operation of the plant module (10, 20, 30, 40),
and wherein the plant module control devices (60) are connected by way of
a communication bus system.
13. A container treatment plant according to any claim 10, wherein the
plurality of plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) comprises a stretch blow
moulding module (10) for carrying out a stretch blow moulding method in
which containers for receiving a product are shaped from pre-forms (2)
and/or a filling module (20) for filling the containers (2, 3) with at
least one product and closing the containers (2, 3) and/or a labelling
module (30) for labelling the containers (2, 3) and/or a packing module
(40) for packing the filled and labelled containers (2, 3).
14. A container treatment plant according to claim 13, wherein the
plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) comprises a
formula for the treatment of containers (2) in a blow moulding device of
the stretch blow moulding module (10).
15. A container treatment method for the treatment of containers capable
of being filled with a product with a container treatment plant which has
a plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), wherein each
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) is used for a pre-determined
treatment of the containers and each treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to
27, 31) has associated therewith a container nominal value which
indicates which type of container (2, 3) the treatment element (11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31) can treat, and wherein the method comprises the steps:
detection of properties of one of the containers (2, 3) to be treated,
and comparison of a detection result of the detection device (100) with
the container nominal value for at least one treatment element (11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31).
Description:
[0001]The present invention relates to a container treatment plant and a
container treatment method for the treatment of containers capable of
being filled with a product.
[0002]Container treatment plants usually have a plurality of modules, such
as for example a stretch/blow mould module, a filling module, a labelling
module and a packing module. In the stretch blow (mould) module,
pre-forms are stretched and blow-moulded into containers, for example
bottles. In the filling module the containers are filled and closed. In
the labelling module the containers are labelled and in the packing
module the containers are packed. Each of these plant modules thus
performs a special treatment of the containers, such as stretch blow
moulding, filling, labelling etc. In addition, inspection means and
checking devices are usually present in or on the plant, which checks the
containers for defects so that defective containers can be separated out.
[0003]To this end a container treatment plant comprises as a rule a
plurality of different fixtures or treatment elements which are capable
of being used in the various treatments of the containers. Treatment
elements of this type are for example an inlet star and a heating mandrel
of the stretch blow (mould) module, a filling valve of the filling
module, a label gripper and a glue scraper of the labelling module etc.,
in order to name only at least a few of the numerous treatment elements.
[0004]When changing the type of the containers in a filling line of the
container treatment plant it is frequently necessary for even at least a
few of these fixtures or treatment elements to be exchanged.
[0005]DE 199 41 485 A1 discloses a packing machine, in particular for
producing packages containing products. The packing machine has various
format-dependent components which are provided with codes readable by a
reading sensor. Wrong or absent format-dependent components are displayed
to the user.
[0006]DE 693 04 419 T2 discloses a working head changer for a rotation
system for the treatment of containers. In this case, in particular,
changing a heating mandrel is described.
[0007]To this end, it has been necessary until now in the prior art,
however, for almost all the treatment elements to be exchanged or
adjusted by an operator by hand. This is highly demanding in terms of
time and cost, however, since both considerable working force is required
and prolonged re-fitting and thus stoppage times of the container
treatment plants are necessary.
[0008]Consequently the object of the present invention is to make
available a container treatment plant and a container treatment method
for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product,
by which the changing of the containers in the filling line of the
container treatment plant is simplified and made time- and
cost-effective.
[0009]The object is attained by a container treatment plant for the
treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product according
to claim 1.
[0010]The container treatment plant comprises a plurality of treatment
elements, each treatment element being used for a pre-determined
treatment of the containers and each treatment element having associated
therewith a container nominal value which indicates which type of
container the treatment element can treat, a detection device for
detecting properties of one of the containers to be treated, and a
comparator device for comparing a detection result of the detection
device with the container nominal value for at least one treatment
element.
[0011]Advantageous arrangements of the apparatus are set out in the
dependent claims.
[0012]The container treatment plant can, in addition, have an adaptor
device for adapting at least one treatment element of the plurality of
treatment elements if a comparison carried out by the comparator device
reveals that the detection result of the detection device is not equal to
the container nominal value for the at least one treatment element.
[0013]It is advantageous if the adaptor device is designed in such a way
that it adapts the at least one treatment element of the plurality of
treatment elements by exchanging the at least one treatment element.
[0014]The adaptor device can also, however, be advantageously designed in
such a way that it adapts the at least one treatment element of the
plurality of treatment elements by adjusting the at least one treatment
element.
[0015]It is also possible for the container treatment plant to comprise a
list compilation device for compiling a list in which the treatment
elements are listed for which the comparison carried out by the
comparator device reveals that the detection result of the detection
device is not equal to the container nominal value for the at least one
treatment element.
[0016]In addition, the container treatment plant can have a calculation
device for calculating a sequence of adapting at least one treatment
element of the plurality of treatment elements, in which sequence an
opening of a protection device of the container treatment plant is not
impeded by the adaptation of at least one treatment element of the
plurality of treatment elements.
[0017]In addition, a device may be present for stopping the container
treatment plant if a comparison carried out by the comparator device
reveals that the detection result of the detection device is not equal to
the container nominal value for the at least one treatment element.
[0018]As a further possibility the container treatment plant has a fault
reporting device for emitting a fault report if a comparison carried out
by the comparator device reveals that the detection result of the
detection device is not equal to the container nominal value for the at
least one treatment element.
[0019]It is preferable for the container treatment plant to have a display
device for displaying a detection result of the detection device and/or a
comparison result of the comparator device and/or a list compiled by the
list compilation device and/or a calculation result of the calculation
device and/or a stop of the container treatment plant and/or a fault
report.
[0020]The container treatment plant can have a plurality of plant modules
for carrying out a pre-determined treatment of the containers, each of
the plurality of different plant modules having some of the plurality of
treatment elements. In this case each of the plurality of different plant
modules can have a plant module control device for controlling an
operation of the plant module, and the plant module control devices can
be connected in series.
[0021]The plant module control devices can be connected by way of a
communication bus system.
[0022]It is advantageous if the plurality of plant modules comprises a
stretch blow moulding module for carrying out a stretch blow moulding
method in which containers for receiving a product are shaped from
pre-forms and/or a filling module for filling the containers with at
least one product and closing the containers and/or a labelling module
for labelling the containers and/or a packing module for packing the
filled and labelled containers.
[0023]The plurality of treatment elements can comprise a formula for the
treatment of containers in a blow moulding device of the stretch blow
moulding module.
[0024]The object is additionally attained by a container treatment method
according to claim 15.
[0025]The container treatment method is used for the treatment of
containers capable of being filled with a product with a container
treatment plant which has a plurality of treatment elements, each
treatment element being used for a pre-determined treatment of the
containers and each treatment element having associated therewith a
container nominal value which indicates which type of container the
treatment element can treat. In this case the method comprises the steps:
detection of properties of one of the containers to be treated, and
comparison of a detection result of the detection device with the
container nominal value for at least one treatment element.
[0026]The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to
the accompany drawing and by way of an embodiment. In the drawing
[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container treatment plant
for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product
according to a first embodiment;
[0028]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a logic structure for the
operation of the container treatment plant associated with an adaptor
device, as shown in FIG. 1, and
[0029]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container treatment plant
for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product
according to a second embodiment.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0030]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container treatment plant
1 for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product.
Pre-forms 2 of plastics material or glass containers 3 are supplied to
the container treatment plant. The container treatment plant comprises a
stretch blow mould module 10, a filling module or an automatic filling
module changing means 20, a labelling module 30 and a packing module 40.
The stretch blow mould module 10 and the filling module 20 are provided
in each case with a protection device 4 in order to screen the stretch
blow mould module 10 and the filling module 20 off from external
influences or operating personnel from parts of the plant module which
could possibly endanger them during the operation of the plant.
[0031]In the stretch blow mould module 10, pre-forms 2 of plastics
material, such as for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or
polyethylene (PP), are heated in a heating device 11 which comprises a
heating mandrel or an automatic heating mandrel changing means 12, a
screening plate or an automatic screening plate changing means 13 and
reflectors or an automatic reflector changing means 14, and are shaped by
means of a stretch blow moulding method into a container, such as for
example a bottle, for a product, such as for example a liquid. To this
end the stretch blow mould module 10 additionally comprises a stretch
rod/blow moulding nozzle or an automatic stretch rod/blow moulding nozzle
changing means 15a, a stretch curve/base curve automatic stretch
curve/base curve adjusting or changing means 15b, a blow moulding device
or an automatic blow moulding device changing means 16, a track setting
device 17, a roll distance setting device 18 and clamps or an automatic
clamp changing means 19 for gripping the containers.
[0032]During the supply of glass bottles 3 to the container treatment
plant 1 the stretch blow mould module 10 can be by-passed. It should be
pointed out that, in the sense of this description, the containers
capable of being filled with a product should be taken to mean in
particular the pre-forms 2, the containers or plastics material bottles
produced therefrom and the glass bottles 3.
[0033]The containers for the product, which are produced from the stretch
blow mould module 10, are supplied by way of conveying devices such as
for example conveying turntables TK, to the filling module 20 which fills
the containers with at least one product and then closes them To this end
the filling module 20 comprises a cleaning device 21 with a sterilization
station 22 and a rinser 23 for cleaning the containers, a product-mixing
device 24 for mixing a product to be poured into the containers, a
closure cap station 25 for the supply and application of closure caps on
the containers, and a diversion star or clamps 26 for the further
transport of the containers. If necessary, the containers arriving from
the stretch blow mould module 10 are temporarily stored or buffered in a
dynamic buffer 27.
[0034]After that, the filled and closed containers are supplied to the
labelling module 30, are labelled thereby by means of at least one
labelling device 31 and are then supplied by way of conveying devices,
such as for example conveying turntables TK, to the packing module 40 in
which the containers are packed.
[0035]In addition, the container treatment plant 1 comprises testing
devices 50 for testing the containers 2 treated by means of the container
treatment plant 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, a testing device 50
is provided between the stretch blow mould module 10 and the filling
module 20 and a further testing device 50 is provided between the
labelling module 30 and the packing module 40. If necessary, however, the
testing devices 50 can also be provided at other or further places in the
container treatment plant 1. Defective containers can be separated out
with the aid of a test result of the testing devices 50 before further
treatment by other modules of the plant.
[0036]In addition, each of the modules 10, 20, 30 and 40 of the plant
comprises a plant module control device 60, which can be for example a
programmable [logic] control (PLC), as indicated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 the
plant module control devices 60 are connected in series. The
communication of the plant module control devices 60 between one another
can be carried out by way of a wireless local [area] network (wireless
LAN) or by way of Bluetooth.
[0037]In order to detect properties of the containers, the container
treatment plant 1 additionally comprises a detection device 100 which can
be a camera for example. The detection device 100 can also, however, be
any sensor which is suitable for detecting properties of the containers,
such as for example the geometry and/or the weight of the container. A
sensor of this type can operate for example on the basis of an optical,
magnetic or mechanical principle and so on. The detection device 100 is
connected to the plant module control device 60 of the stretch blow mould
module 10.
[0038]As shown in FIG. 2, each plant module control device 60 has a
determining device 110, a comparator device 150, a list compilation
device 160 and a calculation device 170. In this case the determining
device 110 is used to determine the treatment elements mounted in the
container treatment plant 1 and treatment results to be achieved by means
of treatment elements or formulae for the treatment of the containers
which are described in greater detail below. To this end the treatment
elements can be provided with RFID chips (RFID: radio frequency
identification) and/or a code, such as for example a barcode or another
two-dimensional code, which are readable by wireless or in accordance
with an optical, magnetic or mechanical principle and so on. The function
of the comparator device 150, the list compilation device 160 and the
calculation device 170 will be described in greater detail below.
[0039]In addition, the container-treatment plant 1 has an adaptor device
120 shown in FIG. 2 for adapting the treatment elements mounted in the
container treatment plant 1 and treatment results to be achieved by means
of treatment elements or formulae for the treatment of the containers
which are described in greater detail below. This means that in the sense
of this description the term "treatment element" covers both a tool, such
as for example the clips 19, and treatment results to be achieved by
means of treatment elements as well as formulae for the treatment of the
containers.
[0041]In the event of a fault during the operation of the container
treatment plant 1 a fault report device 140 can emit a fault report, such
as for example an optical or acoustic alarm. The alarm can also be
displayed by means of the display device 130.
[0042]As described above, each of the plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40
carries out a special or pre-determined treatment of the containers, such
as stretch blow moulding, filling, labelling etc.
[0043]To this end, each of the plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40 of the
container treatment plant 1 comprises a plurality of different fixtures
or treatment elements which are capable of being used in the various
treatments of the containers. This means that the blow mould module 10
comprises for example the following treatment elements: heating mandrel
12, screening plate 13, reflectors 14, stretch rod/blow moulding nozzle
15, track setting device 17, roll distance setting device 18, clamps 19
etc.
[0044]In addition, bottles are also meant in the following when the
containers prepared from the pre-forms 2a or the glass containers 3 are
mentioned.
[0045]Expressed more precisely, the individual named plant modules 10, 20,
30 and 40 of the container treatment plant and plant modules not shown
(pasteurization module for pasteurizing products capable of being poured
into containers, container cleaning module for cleaning containers and
preferably returnable bottles, box washing module for washing boxes) of
the container treatment plant comprise for example the following
individual treatment elements and treatment results to be achieved by
means of treatment elements or formulae, in which for the sake of
simplicity the individual treatment elements have not all been
illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case variable parameters are also
illustrated in each case. [0046]1) The container treatment plant 1
generally comprises for example: automatic speed setting (output of
bottles per hour); differentiation of material (PET/PP; different types
of glass)-->setting of contact pressure of filling valves, blow
moulding nozzle, label contact pressure); setting buffers to the maximum
buffering time required; measurement, detection and display of filling
states (pre-forms, filler/mixer-->product to be poured and/or
additives therefor (CO2, N2), sterilization liquid, closure
caps, intermediate layers and foils for the pallets (emission of fault
reports and new orders), conversion to further drive units, for example
in order to adapt conveying speeds. [0047]2) The stretch blow mould
module 10 comprises for example: lance in the case of linear or rotation
rinser (pre-form blowing) and conveying holders therefor; track distance
of a pre-form supply; distance of the rolls of a roll sorting means for
pre-forms; distance of receiving means from a vertical conveyor for
pre-forms; size of a set of toothing of an inlet star (saw tooth star)
for conveying pre-forms; heating mandrel (diameter and height and
stroke); distance of the heating cabinets from pre-forms or of individual
heating radiators from the pre-forms (profiling); distances of heating
radiators from one another; diameter of receiving means of screening
plates for heating mandrels or pre-forms; a formula for the heat
treatment of pre-forms and/or expanding of pre-forms (time and magnitude
of pre-blowing pressure, a finished blowing pressure, the beginning of
pre-blowing, the beginning of rinsing, a temperature of the pre-form, a
temperature of the wall of a blow mould, a temperature of a mould base, a
time of the beginning of rinsing, a pressure pattern, a surface cooling
of the pre-form, an aperture cooling of the pre-form, temperature of the
blow moulds, combinations thereof or the like); clamps on transfer stars;
blow moulds and bases; stretch rods or stretch rod tips; blow moulding
nozzles (diameter); change in the base curve; setting of the stretch
speed with servo or linear drive or change of a stretch curve to a
further stretch curve with a different pitch; minimization of pressure of
pressure cushions (no bottles--less pressure necessary as a
whole--savings in energy) orientation of bottles towards the outlet star
(and holders therefor); in the case of servo-driven mould carriers:
opening stroke or change in the opening angle (in the case of bottles of
small diameter the mould carriers need not go up so far and so time can
be saved and wear/forces are reduced) [0048]3) The filling module or the
automatic filling module changing means 20 comprises for example: the
product itself; clamps of the transfer stars; change of the filling
valves; change of the closure caps and guides therefor; inlet;
distribution screw conveyor, distribution star; guiding of containers;
neck handling: neck stars, clamps; base handling: fixtures and treatment
elements respectively; rinser clamps; neck holders in a filling or
closing turntable; lowering star; protective chamber sheets in the
filling means; filling valve: spacer members in a vacuum valve/filling
valve; centring bells on the filling valve; return air pipes, elongate
pipes; closing means: closing cones or heads; closure channels; gripping
and positioning station; towing shoe (the closure itself is pulled off
from the bottle by the shoe). [0049]4) The labelling module 30 comprises
for example: outlet tongue; guiding curve machine inlet; guiding curve
machine outlet; inlet star; tongue for inlet star; locking star is
present; distribution screw conveyors; inlet guide on the outside and on
the inside; transfer screw conveyors; braking roll for "staniolization";
base gripping means; tilting gripping means; centring bell; label
gripping means; bottle gripping means (neck handling gripping means, base
levellers); gripping cylinders; receiving mandrels; displacement gripping
means; label dispensers and slides therefor; gluing rollers; glue (hot
glue, cold glue); control strip guides; glue scrapers; means for scraping
off labels; glue segment spacers; means for brushing on labels (diameter,
height, hardness); rolling on (''); compartments (for an exact guidance
of the bottle in the inlet/outlet of the labelling module); sponge roll
on the conveyor belt (for pressing on the label, variation in the
distance and diameter, in a manner dependent upon the diameter of the
bottle); curved segment of the bench (curved segment for controlling the
rotation of the bottle, vs. servo); speed regulation of the servo drive
(adaptation to new angles to be turned); changing mandrel in the sleeve;
correct devices are present/turned on; correct labels inserted (dependent
upon the client). [0050]5) The packing module 40 comprises for example:
change of the distribution strips; change of the expansion wedge in the
case of two strips; change of the push rods in another machine
distribution; change of the support posts; multiple- or entire-layer
packing and palletizing gripper heads of widely differing types; row-wise
packing and palletizing gripper heads of widely differing types;
changeable separation sheets for clamping gripping means; guiding metal
sheets for bottle bench; covering hoods for dust protection; insertion
frames for the packing-in of container; automatic top load calculation
(how many layers of bottles should be arranged one on top of the other in
a pallet, without the bottle being damaged or crushed) and adaptation of
the layers. [0051]6) The testing device 50 comprises for example: guide
rails; bottle gripping means; programs for detection. [0052]7) The
pasteurization module comprises for example a change from one formula to
another, an automatic conversion of the heating or cooling power of
heaters or coolers, an automatic adaptation of the height of blowing
appliances to a new height of a container. [0053]8) The container
cleaning module comprises for example a change: the attachment members
and a vibrator for pushing tasks in the conveying of bottles, a position
of a feed bench field for bottles for the insertion of containers into
the machine, various attachments for dispensing from the machine in the
case of dispensing in the channels, temperature and concentration of the
cleaning liquid with which the bottles or containers come into contact,
pressure and directions of jets of cleaning or rinsing agents which are
directed onto or into the container, exchange of conveying baskets in
which the containers are moved through the container cleaning module,
guiding metal sheets provided with a special bending for stopping
containers not present in the correct position (containers which have
fallen over or are horizontal), changing the width of conveyor conveying
channels (dependent upon the diameter of the container). [0054]9) The box
washing module comprises for example: settings of a guide rail, on which
the boxes are guided during the conveying, and of a cam move and other
software changes.
[0055]In particular, specific packing material determined by the adaptor
device on the basis of the detection result, such as labels, information
chips to be entered in the containers such as RFID-transponders, printer
ink for direct printing on labels or on the containers, printing
positions or the best before date can be automatically adapted.
[0056]The specified plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40 and the numerous
treatment elements thereof specified above are known in each case from
the prior art and are consequently not described in greater detail here.
It is preferable for the respective adaptation of the treatment elements
to be carried out fully automatically.
[0057]The operation of the container treatment plant 1 in conjunction with
the adaptor device 120 is described in greater detail below.
[0058]In a filling line of the container treatment plant 1 the detection
device 100 detects properties of one of the containers 2, 3 to be
treated, as described above. The detection results of the detection
device 100 are supplied to the comparator device 150. The comparator
device 150 then carries out a comparison of a detection result or the
detection results of the detection device 100 with a container nominal
value for the plurality of treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31.
[0059]The container nominal value indicates what type of container 2, 3
the treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 can treat. That means that
the container nominal value reveals for example whether the container 2,
3 is a pre-form 2 for a plastics material bottle holding 0.5 litres for
example, a pre-form 2 for a plastics material bottle holding 1.0 litre
for example, a pre-form 2 for a plastics material bottle holding 1.5
litres for example and so on, or a pre-form 2 of PET or PP, or a glass
bottle 3 and so on. Further values which can be associated with the
nominal value of a container 2, 3 are: A height and/or a diameter of a
mouthpiece of a pre-form 2 or container 2, 3; a diameter of a conveying
ring (bulging in the shoulder region of plastics material bottles, in
particular PET bottles); an overall height or a maximum diameter of a
container, such as for example a bottle; a diameter at a specified height
for engaging treatment units, specifically the diameters directly above
and below the conveying ring, a ground clearance of a shaped-out
container, for example a bottle (distance between feet of the bottle to
the injection point); a material or a material composition of the
container 2, 3; a crystallinity of the material of the container 2, 3; a
type of the thread and/or of a closure (for example cork, snap closure,
crown cork) of the container 2, 3; a diameter and a height of the
closure; a colour of the container material; a wall thickness of the
container 2, 3 in specified regions; strengths, such as for example top
load, of the container 2, 3.
[0060]The container nominal value can be stored beforehand in a memory
device (not illustrated). This memory device can be in particular the
RFID chip or code mentioned above, which is attached to the treatment
elements. It is preferable for it to be a barcode.
[0061]If a comparison carried out by the comparator device 150 shows that
the detection result of the detection device 100 is not equal to the
container nominal value for the at least one treatment element 11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31, the adaptor device 120 can adapt at least one treatment
element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 of the plurality of treatment elements 11
to 19, 21 to 27, 31. This means that the adaptor device 120 can either
exchange or adjust the at least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31 of the plurality of treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31.
[0062]In addition, the list compilation device 160 can compile a list in
which the treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 are listed for which
the comparison carried out by the comparator device 150 reveals that the
detection result of the detection device is not equal to the container
nominal value for the at least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31. The list can be displayed on the display device 130. In this case the
list can give indications as to which treatment elements are still to be
exchanged or adjusted, and/or indicate which treatment elements are just
exchanged or adjusted. In this way, an operator can choose whether the
treatment elements still to be exchanged or adjusted should be
automatically exchanged or adjusted, i.e. adapted, or whether the
operator wishes to adapt specified treatment elements himself or herself
in an optional manner.
[0063]It is preferable for the calculation device 170 to carry out a
calculation of a sequence which is a sequence of an adaptation of at
least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 of the plurality of
treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31. This sequence is a
particularly advantageously a sequence in which an opening of the
protection device 4 of the container treatment plant 1 is not impeded by
the adaptation of at least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31
of the plurality of treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31. This
sequence too can be displayed on the display device 130.
[0064]If the comparison carried out by the comparator device 150 reveals
that the detection result of the detection device is not equal to the
container nominal value for the at least one treatment element 11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31, the control devices 60 of the plant modules prevent
operation of the container treatment plant 1. This means that, if the
container treatment plant 1 is still in operation when the comparison
carried out by the comparator device 150 gives the result specified, the
container treatment plant 1 is brought by a device (not shown) to a stop
of the container treatment plant 1. If the container treatment plant 1,
however, is not in operation or is stopped when the comparison carried
out by the comparator device 150 gives the result specified, starting of
the container treatment plant 1 is made impossible or prevented. To this
end the container treatment plant 1 can comprise a device (not shown) for
preventing a start of the container treatment plant 1. The forcible stop
of the container treatment plant 1 or the forcible prevention of a start
of the container treatment plant 1 can likewise be displayed on the
display device 130.
[0065]In the cases specified, in which adaptation of at least one
treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 is necessary, a fault report can
additionally be emitted by means of a fault report device 140 and it can
also be displayed on the display device 130.
[0066]Since the individual control devices 60 of the plant modules
according to this embodiment are connected in series, it is possible for
example for the plant module control device 60 of the filling module 20
to build on the results which have already been achieved by the plant
module control device 60 of the stretch blow mould module 10. This means
that the comparator device 150, the list compilation device 160 and the
calculation device 170 of the plant module control device 60 of the
filling module 20 can make use not only of the container nominal values
as is the case for the comparator device 150, the list compilation device
160 and the calculation device 170 of the plant module control device 60
of the stretch blow mould module 10, but also in consideration of those
values already used by the comparator device 150, the list compilation
device 160 and the calculation device 170 of the plant module control
device 60 of the stretch blow mould module 10.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
[0067]Apart from the design of the control of the plant modules 10, 20, 30
and 40, the second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment. In
the following, therefore, only the parts of the second embodiment which
are different from the first embodiment are described. The same parts and
parts with the same significance are provided with the same reference
numbers.
[0068]As it is evident from FIG. 3, the individual plant control devices
60 are not connected in series, as in the case of the first embodiment,
but they are connected to a central plant control device 70 by way of a
bus system. This central plant control device 70 is superordinate to the
individual plant control devices 60 and can give the individual plant
control devices 60 control commands which the individual plant control
devices 60 can implement for the plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40. As is
additionally indicated in FIG. 3, both the individual plant control
devices 60 and the central plant control device 70 have a CPU (central
processing unit).
[0069]According to the second embodiment the central plant control device
70 comprises the comparator device 150, the list compilation device 160
and the calculation device 170. The central plant control device 70 then
gives each of the plant module control devices 60 commands on the basis
of the results achieved by the comparator device 150, the list
compilation device 160 and the calculation device 170.
[0070]As shown in FIG. 3, the individual treatment elements are associated
with other plant control devices 60, as shown in FIG. 1. This association
can also be chosen differently, depending upon requirements.
[0071]All the other elements and functions in this embodiment are the same
as those of the first embodiment and will therefore not be described once
more here.
(General)
[0072]All the arrangements of the container treatment plant 1 and of the
container treatment method, which are described above, can be used
individually or in any possible combinations. In this case in particular
the following modifications are possible.
[0073]The container treatment plant 1 can also be controlled by way of a
separate computer. In this case an interface can be present on the
detection device 100, which in particular can be a camera. The detection
device 100 can communicate with the separate computer by way of the
interface, for example by wires, by radio etc.
[0074]The assessment of the results, which are detected by the detection
device 100 and which can be signals, can also be carried out directly in
the detection device 100, which is a sensor for example.
[0075]By way of example, the adaptor device 120 can be a robot which shuts
down all the treatment elements of the container treatment plant 1 and
makes the necessary adaptations of the treatment elements.
[0076]It is additionally possible for the exchange of the treatment
elements to be carried out without tools by means of the adaptor device
120. This is possible in particular for the pivot arm and/or the heating
mandrels 12 and/or the screen plate 13 for example.
[0077]In addition, the adaptation of the treatment elements of the filling
module 20, the labelling module 30 and the packing module 40 as well as
the testing devices 50 can be carried out automatically if a suitable
choice of the formula has been made on the stretch blow mould module 10,
for example by an operator. The input of the operator could be undertaken
in practice by the choice of the formula, or by the input of the choice
of the formula, in particular by way of a switching device (not shown),
such as for example a push button.
[0078]It is additionally possible for the adaptor device 120 to adapt only
part of the treatment elements, which have been specified as a whole to
be adapted. In this case it is possible for at least two treatment
elements to be changed automatically by the adaptor device 120, whereas
the other treatment elements, which are specified as still to be adapted,
are adapted by an operator. Instead of the at least two treatment
elements, it is also possible for at least three or more treatment
elements to be changed automatically by the adaptor device 120.
[0079]All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed
as being essential to the invention, insofar as they are novel either
individually or in combination as compared with the prior art. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
‘Bachelor’ Breakup? We Got A Body Language Expert To Weigh In On Vanessa & Nick — And The Results Aren't Good
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Vanessa Grimaldimay have said yes to Nick Viall’s proposal on The Bachelor, but according to one body language expert, the duo may not have a happy ending in sight. “Something is clearly wrong in their relationship,” body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass told OK!exclusively after watching the couple’s appearance on After the Final Rose.
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“Ms. Grimaldi speaks in a monotone, which means she is guarding herself against Nick,” Dr. Glass explained. “Nick has a mask-like smile where he doesn't show his teeth. This means that they are both tense about the subject of marriage and a future together.”
Photo credit: ABC
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Nick and Vanessa were accused of being awkward during their After the Final Rose appearance, during which Vanessa told host Chris Harrison, “There have been days that are difficult,” and revealed the couple had yet to set a wedding date.
Photo credit: ABC
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Vanessa later told Access Hollywood that they were just “being honest about the struggles of any normal relationship,” and the body language expert agreed. “She seems to be genuine in her comments when she admits that days are challenging with Nick,” Dr. Glass said. “She leans forward, which shows her sincerity and honesty in what she is saying.”
Photo credit: ABC
5 of 7
But just because Vanessa was honest doesn’t mean her statements are good indicators of a future together with Nick: “As she says [they’re taking baby steps toward marriage], she has a very tense smile where the apples of her cheeks don't rise and her eyes don't crinkle.”
Photo credit: ABC
6 of 7
And according to Dr. Glass, Nick doesn’t exactly look happy either. “He leaks out an unhappy expression as he says we are in the process of getting to know each other,” Dr. Glass noted.
Photo credit: ABC
7 of 7
What did you think of Vanessa and Nick’s After the Final Rose appearance? Do you think they’ll make it? Let us know in the comments!
Vanessa Grimaldimay have said yes to Nick Viall’s proposal on The Bachelor, but according to one body language expert, the duo may not have a happy ending in sight. “Something is clearly wrong in their relationship,” body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass told OK!exclusively after watching the couple’s appearance on After the Final Rose.
Photo credit: ABC
“Ms. Grimaldi speaks in a monotone, which means she is guarding herself against Nick,” Dr. Glass explained. “Nick has a mask-like smile where he doesn't show his teeth. This means that they are both tense about the subject of marriage and a future together.”
Photo credit: ABC
Nick and Vanessa were accused of being awkward during their After the Final Rose appearance, during which Vanessa told host Chris Harrison, “There have been days that are difficult,” and revealed the couple had yet to set a wedding date.
Photo credit: ABC
Vanessa later told Access Hollywood that they were just “being honest about the struggles of any normal relationship,” and the body language expert agreed. “She seems to be genuine in her comments when she admits that days are challenging with Nick,” Dr. Glass said. “She leans forward, which shows her sincerity and honesty in what she is saying.”
Photo credit: ABC
But just because Vanessa was honest doesn’t mean her statements are good indicators of a future together with Nick: “As she says [they’re taking baby steps toward marriage], she has a very tense smile where the apples of her cheeks don't rise and her eyes don't crinkle.”
Photo credit: ABC
And according to Dr. Glass, Nick doesn’t exactly look happy either. “He leaks out an unhappy expression as he says we are in the process of getting to know each other,” Dr. Glass noted.
Photo credit: ABC
What did you think of Vanessa and Nick’s After the Final Rose appearance? Do you think they’ll make it? Let us know in the comments! | {
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The St. Louis Cathedral facing Jackson Square is one of the most notable landmarks in New Orleans. Situated between the historic buildings of the Cabildo and the Presbytère, the Cathedral looks on to the statue of General Andrew Jackson on his bronze horse and further still to the Mississippi River. Item #165576 | {
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THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate the chance to
come and speak to the Renewable Energy Conference. I hope you're
excited about being here, because I sure am. This is -- it's exciting
to be with -- (applause.) I view this as kind of a meeting of pioneers,
people who are on the leading edge of change, and people whose research,
thought, and production will all help this country become stronger and
better. And so I appreciate you giving me a chance to come by and visit
with you.
This is a -- energy is a subject dear to my heart -- as it should be for
any President -- because you can't grow your economy without energy.
And yet, it is apparent, and should be for most Americans, we got to
change our habits if we want to remain the economic leader of the world.
Before I share some of my thoughts with you, I do want to recognize
members of my Cabinet who have joined you: The Secretary of
Agriculture, Mike Johanns; the Secretary of Energy, Sam Bodman; and the
Administrator of the EPA, Steve Johnson.
I think it is interesting that when we -- we got an energy conference
going on here, that we have the Secretary of Energy, which makes sense
-- (laughter) -- but the Secretary of Agriculture, as well. And the man
who runs the EPA, whose job it is to make sure our environment is clean,
is with us. And the reason I find that interesting is because we've got
an interesting confluence of national security concerns and
environmental concerns that come together, probably unlike any other
time in our history. And I want to share some thoughts with you about
that in a minute.
I do want to thank the United States Senators from the state of Missouri
-- both men believe strongly in the future of renewable energy -- and
that would be Kit Bond and Jim Talent. Thank you for coming.
(Applause.) I appreciate Congressman Todd Akin being here, and his
wife, Lulli.
You know, I -- gasoline prices are down, and that's good news.
(Applause.) Yes. I think everybody in America ought to be applauding.
(Laughter.) It's like -- if you're driving a truck for a living, it
helps you. If you're trying to put food on the table and you got to
drive to work, it helps you. If you're a small business owner, it means
you've got more capital to invest when the price of gasoline goes down.
My worry is, however, that a low price of gasoline will make it
complacent -- make us complacent about our future when it comes to
energy, because I fully understand that energy is going to help
determine whether or not this nation remains the economic leader in the
world. We're doing fine now. We've got a really strong economy, and in
order to make sure it's strong tomorrow we need to make sure we work on
how we use energy.
Energy is -- look, let me just put it bluntly: We're too dependent on
oil. We are a -- (applause.) And see, low gasoline prices may mask
that concern. So, first, I want to tell you that I welcome the low
gasoline prices, however it's not going to dim my enthusiasm for making
sure we diversify away from oil.
We need to diversify away from oil for economic reasons. We live in a
global world. When the demand for oil goes up in China or in India, it
causes the price of crude oil to rise and, since we import about 60
percent of the crude oil we use, it causes our price to go up, as well,
which means the economy becomes less competitive.
And then, of course, there's the national security concern for oil.
Why? Well, we get oil from some countries who don't particularly care
for us. They don't like what we stand for. They don't like it when we
say, for the sake of peace, let us work in a way that we don't develop
nuclear weapons, for example.
I spend a lot of time on national security issues, which you expect your
President to do. And a lot of times those national security issues are
involved with countries that have oil. They have something we want, and
so there's a national security issue when it comes to the status quo.
And then, of course, we have a great debate about the environment in
America, and that's good. It's an important debate. We all want to be
good stewards of our environment. We want to be good conservationists.
And reliance upon oil and hydrocarbons has created some challenges when
it comes to the environment.
And so this is one of the reasons why I believe so strongly that this
country has got to use its talent and its wealth to get us off oil. And
I believe we will do so, and I believe -- I know the best way to do so
is through technological breakthroughs.
And the government has got a role to play. First, I understand there
are some entrepreneurs here, some people that are investors, venture
capitalists, and I welcome you here. I think it's a good sign for those
of us who understand the need to diversify away from oil that private
money is beginning to make investments into some of the technologies I'm
going to be describing.
And we can help you in Washington, and one way we can help you is to
reward people for investing in research and development. There's a
research and development tax credit that's on the books. The problem
is, it expires every year, on a year-by-year basis, which means you've
got to come back to Congress on a year-to-year basis; which also means
there's unpredictability in the tax code, and that's not wise, if you're
trying to encourage people to invest dollars in the long-term. And so
in order to encourage private initiative and private investment in new
energies, we ought to make the research and development tax credit a
permanent part of the tax code. (Applause.)
And we need to continue what we're doing at the federal level, which is
spend your money on research. I think it's a legitimate use of
taxpayers' money, to spend on grants, to find new ways to power our
economy, new ways to conserve, new ways to protect the environment
through new technologies.
Since I've been President, we've spent about $10 billion on research. A
lot of goes through Sam's shop. He's the Energy man. (Laughter.) We
will vigorously pursue new ways to power our automobiles. If you want
to get off oil, the surest and quickest way to do so is to change how we
power our automobiles. We consume a lot of oil, through gasoline. And
the more inefficient our cars are, the more we drive old clunkers, the
more gasoline we use, which means we're more dependent on oil.
And so we've got some interesting initiatives at the federal level to
help change habits. One of them is, and it's probably the fastest way
we can begin to change the consumer habits, is to promote hybrid
vehicles. You all know what hybrids are, it's a combination of gas and
-- gasoline and electric battery that gets the driver a lot more miles
per gallon.
And so one way to do this -- one way to encourage people to buy hybrids,
one way to stimulate demand so that the production will follow -- is to
provide tax credits. You can get up to, now, $3,400 tax credit when you
buy your hybrid automobile. In other words, the government is using the
tax code to stimulate demand, which then should stimulate more
automobile -- more production on the auto lines of hybrids. And the
more hybrids we get on the road, the less oil we're going to be using.
Secondly, we're spending money on new battery technologies. See, we
envision a day in which light and powerful batteries will become
available in the marketplace so that you can drive the first 40 miles on
electricity, on batteries, and your car won't have to look like a golf
cart. (Laughter.) In other words, it will be a technology that will
meet consumer demand and at the same time meet a national need, which is
less consumption of gasoline. These are called plug-in hybrid vehicles.
And the battery technology is coming. In order to expedite it, Sam's
shop, the Department of Energy, is putting out grants. In other words,
we're using your money to expedite the arrival of a new technology that
will enable folks to drive the first 40 miles on electricity.
That's not going to help rural Missouri or rural Texas, but it's
certainly going to help those who live in the cities. Most folks in the
cities don't drive more than 40 miles, so you can envision consumer
habits beginning to change: You drive to work; you go home; you plug in
your automobile. And you go -- ride to work and go home the next -- and
you're still on electricity. It's going to change the consumption
patterns. This new technology will change the consumption patterns on
gasoline, which in turn will make us less dependent on crude oil, which
meets a national security concern, an economic security concern, and
helps us deal with an environmental concern.
Now, there's another technology that will enable us to help change our
driving habits, and that's ethanol. See, I like the idea of promoting a
fuel that relies upon our farmers. I happen to believe a good farm
economy is important to a good national economy, and I also know it
makes sense to have our -- (applause.) Sounds like we might have some
farmers here. (Laughter.)
But I also know it makes sense to have our farmers growing the feedstock
for new energy. The way I like to tell our citizens is Johanns is going
to come in someday and say, "Mr. President, corn is up, which means
we're less dependent on oil." And that's good news for the country and
good news for our economy.
People are using ethanol. For those of you who are in the ethanol
business, you're on the leading edge of change. It's coming, and
government can help. That's why we enhanced and extended the
10-cent-per-gallon tax credit. We did that to stimulate production.
We've extended a 51-cent-per-gallon tax credit for ethanol blenders. We
provided a 30-percent tax credit for the installation of alternative
fuel stations, up to $30,000 a year.
In other words, I believe and Congress agrees that the proper use of tax
credits will help stimulate a new industry that will help our economy
and help us when it comes to national security. You know, we're up to
now 5 billion gallons of ethanol sold this year. That's up from 1.6
billion gallons in 2000. Ethanol -- there are now 100 ethanol
refineries which are operating. There -- it's anticipated there are
going to be 40 more next year. In other words, we're just at the
beginning stages of a new industry that is evolving. It's one of the
reasons I'm excited to be here. For those of you on the cutting edge, I
want to thank you, and just let you know we want you to succeed. It's
in our interests that you do succeed.
Today there are 900 stations selling E85. For those of you who don't
know what that means, that's 85 percent ethanol. Look, a lot of
Americans wonder whether or not this is feasible, what I'm talking
about. A lot of folks aren't exposed to ethanol yet. In the Midwest
you are, you've got a lot of corn. And it makes a lot of sense to have
these plants where the feedstocks are. But ethanol is coming, and it
doesn't require much money to convert a regular gasoline-driven car to a
flex-fuel automobile. See, the technology is available. It takes about
$100-something to change a gasoline-only automobile to one that can use
E85. And it works.
And in my judgment, the thing that's preventing ethanol from becoming
more widespread across the country is the lack of other types of
feedstocks that are required to make ethanol -- sugar works, corn works,
and it seems like it makes sense to spend money, your money, on
researching cellulosic ethanol, so that we could use wood chips, or
switch grass, or other natural materials. (Applause.)
And we've got an aggressive effort to research new raw materials to be
used in ethanol. I was down in Alabama -- I'm going to tell you an
interesting story when I was down there the other day. But I talked to
a fellow from Auburn, he's a Ph.D. -- just reminded me the difference
between a Ph.D. and a C student; the C student is the President, and the
Ph.D. is the advisor. (Laughter and applause.)
But he's telling me how optimistic he is that someday we're going to be
able to take wood chips from those southern pine forests, and convert
that raw material into ethanol. He said it's right around the corner,
as far as he's concerned. It makes a lot of sense for the federal
government to continue to invest taxpayers' money, because the more
different raw materials that are practical in use, the more ethanol
production facilities will spread around the country. And the more
spread around -- the more production there is, the more likely it is
that the entire industry will evolve quicker.
So you've got a lot of plants here in the Midwest. The vision has got
to be for these plants to be able to spread throughout the entire
country. And when it does, ethanol will become a primary source for the
fuel people use, which will help us meet our national security and
economic concerns and objectives.
The Department of Energy announced $250 million in funding to establish
and operate two new bioenergy research center, all aimed at accelerating
basic research into cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. I suspect
we've got some soybean growers here. I know you've got some in
Missouri. (Applause.) I have been to a biodiesel plant in Virginia.
And it doesn't take much capital investment to refine biodiesel from
soy, soybeans; it just doesn't. Biodiesel is coming. It makes a lot of
sense for us to continue to invest in biodiesel technologies to make the
production process even more efficient. I have seen biodiesel poured
into a new truck, and watched that truck crank right up, and realize it
emitted no emissions. I know, because I put a handkerchief over the
stack. (Laughter.)
These are exciting times, and people are beginning to take advantage of
them. I told you I was down in Alabama. I went to the Hoover Police
Department. They're using E85. Their people on the beat are filling up
their cars with E85. I asked a guy, one of the policemen -- I said,
"Why do you use it?" He said, "First of all, I like the fact that it
keeps the environment clean" -- that's a good reason. He said, "By the
way, when you fill it up with the 85 it gives you better get-up-and-go."
(Laughter.) In other words, it works. That's a good sign when police
departments begin to use E85.
I was over at a FedEx place, and they've got what they call the
OptiFleet E700 -- it's a new vehicle, all aimed at reducing emissions by
96 percent. In other words, people are thinking differently now.
There's a whole new industry beginning to evolve. Users are beginning
to understand the benefits of using ethanol or biodiesel. And these are
exciting times.
And the federal government's job is to continue to research so that we
provide our consumers, the American people, with more options. And one
of the great options that's coming down the road is hydrogen. That's a
longer-term project. If you notice, I kind of talk about hybrids that
are on the road today and how we stimulate demand, hybrids that are
coming with new batteries, ethanol which is now evolving into a
significant industry. Ultimately, in my judgment, one of the ways to
make sure that we become fully less dependent on oil is through
hydrogen. And we're spending $1.2 billion to encourage hydrogen fuel
cells. It's coming, it's coming. It's an interesting industry
evolution, to think about your automobiles being powered by hydrogen,
and the only emission is water vapor.
Oh, I'm sure there are some people out there saying, well, you know,
he's just dreaming. Well, I'm just listening to the dreamers who happen
to be good, smart, capable people who know what they're talking about --
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Out of Iraq now! Out of Iraq now! Soldiers are not
renewables!
THE PRESIDENT: Since 2003, my administration has made hydrogen and
fuel-cell technology a priority -- (audience interruption) -- and we
will continue to research to make sure America is less dependent on
foreign sources of oil. (Applause.)
As you can tell, I'm excited about new technologies. But I think we've
got to be realistic about the timing. And in order to become less
dependent on foreign sources of oil, we've got to explore for oil and
gas in our own hemisphere in environmentally friendly ways. And one of
the interesting technological developments is the capacity to find oil
in unique places. I don't know if you followed recently the exploration
in the Gulf of Mexico, where there was a well that was drilled five
miles in depth in thousands of feet of water.
In other words, these new technologies enable us to go to new places,
and they enable us to be wise stewards of the environment. I understand
there's a big debate about whether or not you can explore for oil and
gas and protect the environment. I believe you can. And I understand
that as we transition to the ethanol era we must also -- or the hydrogen
area, we must also find oil and gas in our own hemisphere if the
objective is to become less dependent on foreign oil. (Applause.)
They estimate that the new discovery in the deep Gulf of Mexico could
increase our reserves from 10 to 50 percent. In other words, this is a
big deal. And Congress is debating an energy bill. They passed a good
energy bill, by the way, in the past, that encourages conservation and
encourages a lot of the research that I was talking about, understands
we've got to diversify away from our current structure. But there's
another bill out there, and they need to get the work done. They need
to come together between the House and the Senate version to encourage
exploration in the Gulf of Mexico in new areas to make sure that we
transition to a new day when it comes to energy. (Applause.)
And I believe that states ought to share in the royalties because I
know, in the state of Louisiana, for example, they have committed their
share of new royalties in this new exploration to help protect their
coastline. And I believe Congress needs to get the bill to my desk as
quick as possible. So when you finish the elections, get back and let
me sign this bill so the American people know that we're serious about
getting off foreign oil.
And that's going to be important because we can find a lot of natural
gas offshore, for example, and we need natural gas in order to make sure
we meet our second objective, and that's how we protect the environment
and power our society.
I don't know if you know this or not, but electricity is generated from
natural gas, about 18 percent; coal, 50 percent; nuclear power, 20
percent; and then -- solar and wind. And the fundamental question is,
can the federal government help make sure that we have energy so we can
power our economy, protect the environment, and grow. And the answer
is, we can, and we can spend money to help you.
One thing we don't need to spend money on but need to do is permit more
liquefied natural gas terminals. LNG is a new technology that is --
it's not that new, but it's evolving technology. It means you can get
-- buy natural gas from overseas in liquefied form and de-liquefy it.
There's a lot of natural gas in the world, and it makes sense for us to
be in a position to receive that natural gas in order to make sure
you've got energy in your home.
A shortage of natural gas causes your electricity bills to go up.
Supply of natural gas, increased supply, makes it more likely that
you're going to have rational bills, more likely the economy will
continue to grow. And natural gas protects the environment.
Secondly, on coal, we got a lot of coal. We got 250 years of coal.
That's a lot, and yet coal presents us with an environmental challenge.
And so we're spending quite a bit of money here at the federal level to
come up with clean-coal technologies. If you want to be less dependent
on foreign sources of energy, it seems like it makes sense to me that we
use the energies we have here at home and do so in environmentally
friendly ways.
We're spending $2 billion to promote technologies that will enable our
coal-fired plants to protect the environment. As a matter of fact, we
got what's called a future-gen initiative. By the year 2012, we'll
build the first clean-coal power plant that will remove virtually all
pollutants and greenhouse gases from burning coal. In other words,
there's a way coming that's going to enable us to use this plentiful
resource. (Applause.)
A controversial subject is nuclear power. You might remember, we've had
a time in our country where people liked nuclear power, thought it was a
strong solution to energy independence, and then we just shut her down
because of engineering concerns. I strongly believe that if we want to
keep this country competitive, if we want to make sure we can compete
globally, we must promote civilian nuclear power. We must have more
energy coming from nuclear power. (Applause.)
Nuclear power is renewable, and there are no greenhouse gases associated
with nuclear power. One of the problems we've had is that nobody wants
to build any plants. They're afraid of the costs of regulation and the
litigious nature that surrounds the construction of nuclear power plants
-- litigious problems surrounding the construction of the nuclear power
plants.
And so, in the energy bill that I signed, the Congress wisely provided
incentives and risk insurance for nuclear power plant construction.
Last year only three companies were seeking to build power plants --
nuclear power plants. Today 14 have expressed new interest in
construction. In other words, there's a new industry beginning to come
back.
I think it's very important for us to spend dollars on how to best deal
with the waste, in other words, research new ways to be able to assure
the American people that we'll be able to deal with the nuclear waste in
a smart way. And that's why we're teaming up with France, and Japan,
and Russia to spend money -- $250 million from the United States'
perspective, and they're matching it -- on what's called the Global
Nuclear Energy Partnership, all designed to research reprocessing and
fast-burner reactors.
The idea is to take the nuclear industry, take the spent fuel, reprocess
it, put it into a fast-burner reactor, which will yield about 90 percent
less of the waste than under the current system. What I'm telling you
is, is that the engineering is much safer today than it has been in the
past, and we're spending money to make sure that we can deal with the
waste in a sane way, so that we can with confidence say to the American
people, now is the time to accelerate the expansion of nuclear power for
the sake of national and economic security. (Applause.)
I believe that with the proper amount of research, whether it be public
or private, we will have solar roofs that will enable the American
family to be able to generate their own electricity. And it's coming.
(Applause.)
I believe wind power has got the opportunity to help. All we need is to
put a couple of windmills right there in Washington, D.C., and we'll be
-- (laughter) -- less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
(Applause.)
What I'm talking about is a comprehensive approach to solving a national
issue, which is dependence on oil, and how best to protect this
environment. You know, it's time to get rid of the old, stale debates
on the environment and recognize new technologies are going to enable us
to achieve a lot of objectives at the same time. (Applause.)
Technology will enable us to be able to say we can grow our economy and
protect our environment at the same time. It's not a zero-sum game
anymore. (Applause.) These technological breakthroughs are going to
say to our farmers, you're energy producers. And that's good for
America. It's going to say to those entrepreneurs that are risk-takers,
this is a good place to try to make a good return on capital.
There's a lot of smart money in the United States going into energy
diversification and to research. And for those of you here, thanks. I
hope you make a good return. I think you will. There is no question in
my mind that we're on the verge of significant breakthroughs, and so
what I wanted to come and tell you is, one, thanks for your interest,
thanks for showing up at a conference like this. You're the beginning
of what's going to be a new environmental debate, an economy based upon
new technologies, a new way to power our automobiles, and a way that
says by making good decisions now and researching now, we'll leave
behind a better world for our children.
Some day, some -- the 56th President will be standing up here saying, I
appreciate the fact that there was some pioneers back in America in
those days; I can't spent too much time because I've got to go get my
limousine filled up by hydrogen -- (laughter) -- but I appreciate the
fact that the solar panels are working so you can see me. (Laughter.)
In other words, it's coming, and I'm excited to be a part of it. And I
hope you're excited, as well. | {
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Halcon Resources Stock Message Board
Halcon Resources stock lost 4.2%, and the last close price as of Aug 13, 2018 is $3.88 for HK stock. Looking at Halcon Resources market capitalization, which currently stands at $650.65M, we can say that HK stock is a Small Cap stock. A value investor must look at the fundamentals of a stock, and perform Halcon Resources valuation, even though in the short-term, sentiment and current breaking news might affect Halcon Resources stock price.
The stock price movement of a company indicates what investors are willing to pay. For Ex: if investors feel that Halcon Resources is worth a lot, it will most likely be reflected in an inflated Halcon Resources stock quote, and vice versa. However, it must be noted that a company's value must not be equated to its share price. 5,963,150 shares were traded with a closing stock price of $3.88 as of Aug 13, 2018, as can be seen from Halcon Resources stock quote. One can view Halcon Resources stock chart to follow the stock price trend. Dividends are usually paid by large stable companies, and typically not by those which are in their rapid growth stages. A company's continuing success is indicated by a steadily increasing dividend payout. Halcon Resources dividend per share was 0.00 during the last quarter. One can observe stock price trends and check for volatility by checking Halcon Resources stock price history.
Historical, current end-of-day data, and company fundamental data provided by Zacks.
All information provided "as is" for informational purposes only, not intended for trading purposes or advice.
Neither Amigobulls nor any of the data providers is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. By accessing the amigobulls.com, you agree not to redistribute the information found therein.
Please read our terms of use and privacy policy. | {
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} |
AEC Daily CEC Course
In partnership with AEC Daily, StoneDeks System is now offering a FREE course for all you industry professionals to add to your design arsenal. Through the link provided below you will be taken directly to our course page on AEC Daily where you can take a course based exclusively on our StoneDeks System technology. We are certified through multiple associations that are listed below to accommodate 1 hour of credit towards your annual CE/CPD requirements. So whether you’re a contractor, architect or designer, this course was made for you. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Life of a Freelance Dancer is a blog, journal, and tool for those who are interested in freelancing themselves, that want to know the ins and outs of freelance work, or are just curious about the life of a freelance dancer.
6.09.2016
Adapting to Differing Company Practices
I'm currently in Alaska running my annual summer intensive for pre-professional track students. The sun sets a few minutes before midnight and rises around 4 am, but it never gets fully dark. I started this intensive to help enhance these Alaskan student's local training after my tenure as Interim Artistic Director of Alaska Dance Theatre. One of my favorite things about getting to run this program is that I am in complete control of what happens in the studio. If I feel that a student needs to be pushed, I can push them to their limit. If the time has come to pull a student back for their own safety, I do that because I answer to myself. Working like this was a rarity when I held a full-time schedule of performances with multiple companies as a freelance dancer. I was often a slave to company practices, which could mean that I was adjusting to 8-10 different ways of running rehearsals each year. So, getting to make strategic decisions in the studio is a luxury that I really appreciate.
AK-BK Students in Contemporary Technique Class
It can become quite easy to get stuck in one's ways when you have been dancing with a company for any time greater than a year. You wake up in the morning with a general idea of what to expect throughout your day. There may only be cause for concern if a new choreographer or stager is creating/teaching a new work. And, even in these situations, you usually have the protections of an extensively negotiated contract to make sure that there are at least a handful of regular studio practices in place. Some of these luxuries can include a 5-minute break during each hour that you rehearse, an hour for lunch in the middle of the day, a non-mandatory hour-and-a-half warm up class, major issues taken up in private meetings, and more. No matter how functional or dysfunctional a company may be, one often finds a certain level of comfort and expectation in working for one organization. You know what you are getting into from day to day and week to week.
Unfortunately, for freelancers, the above case of comfort and expectation just doesn't exist. I learned this the hard way after dancing with Pacific Northwest Ballet for 7 seasons. After experiencing this company's very functional way of running, I found myself struggling to adjust (and sometimes handle) to the multitude of environments in which I was dancing. For instance, the first time I was brought in to dance with Festival Ballet Providence for their production of Swan Lake, I was at a loss for words when I walked into my first rehearsal. I was standing in the middle of the studio preparing to learn the waltz in the first act of the ballet. Due to circumstances, I was only able to enter the studio after most of the company had already learned this piece of the ballet. My assumption, based off of previous experience, was that teaching me the choreography and filling in the gaps would be the priority of this rehearsal. Instead, I was partnered up with another dancer who already knew the choreography. Before I knew it, the music started. I stood staring at my partner, following her around for about 16 counts before I walked off the floor and raised my hand. Instead of the, "Oh, we forgot that we had to teach it to you," response I was expecting, the director told me that he would teach it to me another day and to just stand beside my partner and follow her around for the next hour. If I remember correctly, I left rehearsal and texted my husband, "I'm really concerned about what I have signed up for." This may be an extreme example of the point I am trying to make, but after asking around the studio if this was a common practice, none of the dancers were even slightly phased by what happened to me. This was not an uncommon practice for them.
Throughout most of my freelance career, I have had a different experience with each company I danced for. Fort Wayne Ballet left my Juliet and myself in the studio with a DVD to learn all of a full-length Romeo and Juliet without a ballet master. We had the freedom to make decisions and they trusted that we would make the right ones. Company C Contemporary Ballet wanted to rehearse a 20-minute one-act ballet that I had learned in a flash almost immediately. Other companies I worked with rehearsed 3 hours a day (instead of the 6 hours I was accustomed to at PNB), docked your pay if you missed company class, and even requested dancers perform on public transportation. Instead of experiencing the restricted choices of a unionized company contract, I found myself panicking that these practices were going to injure me or take away from the integrity of my work that I felt I had built during my years dancing in Seattle.
I'm not sure if I ever fully adjusted to the malleability that is necessary to function in the freelance world. But I can tell you that I have many friends and colleagues who have learned to just go with the flow and hold no company to any expectations. While some of these dancers have come from major companies, what I have found is that most of these more fluid dancers have never danced in a union company. In this situation, I feel that it can be very beneficial to lack the experience of working for an organization that is structured by a strong contract. It is kind of like eating candy. If you have never eaten candy, you are a lot less likely to crave it. But if you have ever tasted the sweetness of chocolate (or for me gummy bears), and it is kept from you, you will be much more likely to crave that chocolate. In the case of a dancer, if you have ever rehearsed in a more efficient way, it can become stressful to lower your standards to a less efficient approach. Even, if in some cases, that approach is more efficient, but you only want to rehearse the way you are used to.
My greatest suggestion to any dancer that finds themselves struggling with working in differing company cultures is to remember that there is no perfect way to run a rehearsal, treat a dancer, or lead an organization. Of course, there are things that should not be done; like treating dancers poorly, changing rehearsal hours without care or additional pay, etc. But keep in mind that all directors and ballet masters/mistresses have come from a different background and a have had different experiences in and out of the studio. If you were put in the same position to lead the dancers standing beside you, you may find that they dislike how you approach running rehearsals. Yes, there are more and less efficient approaches to teaching. But until you are in a position of leadership, it is actually your job to remain mostly submissive.
Now, if there is a point where you feel that you or your peers are being put in legitimate danger, it is your responsibility to speak up. But, in order to maintain a professional relationship, you may want to wait to speak to whomever is leading rehearsal until after that rehearsal has ended. If you feel that you are being put in immediate danger, of course, you must speak up. But it isn't extremely common to find yourself in a situation where something needs to be addressed at that exact moment in the studio.
One of the most beautiful parts of our dance world is that no company is alike. There are differing reps, a plethora of dance artists, and a range of styles. In the same way, there are many ways that a company can choose to function. Do your best to remain submissive and lead through example. If you become a leader in this way, you may actually be asked to help influence a clearer rehearsal process. Stay true to yourself and speak up if absolutely necessary, but keep in mind that it is leaderships choice how to run a company and its rehearsals. Think of it this way. The first time you learn a role in a ballet, dancers often feel that this is the correct way to perform this piece. If someone comes in a few years later and asks for steps to be executed on different counts or in a different style, the dancers who have already performed the work will say that what is being taught is wrong. But in reality, it is only a different viewpoint of what the work was before. There is no right or wrong, unless it is endangering one's safety or health.
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Barry Kerollis
About Me
It is every dancers dream to land a job in one of America's top dance companies. I did that twice, staying with one company for 7 seasons. I spent years successfully pushing forward to get the opportunity to perform featured and leading roles within the company. In 2011, I chose to exit the luxurious world of a major ballet company to enter the small concert dance scene. After less than a year in this new lifestyle, unforeseen circumstances thrust me out into the world of dance on my own with no company to call home. My name is Barry Kerollis and I am a freelance dancer
(http://barrykerollis.com/) | {
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Longevity Is Limited, Study
According to a new study, there is a limit to how long humans can live—although that limit is difficult to predict. The longest life documented was 122 years, and that record is not likely to be broken, according to researchers who analyzed information from the Human Mortality Database. The database contains information about how long people have lived for the past several decades in multiple countries throughout the world.
Researchers found that the numbers of people living to at least 70 in more than 40 countries has increased since 1900. However, the highest survival rates in the oldest age groups peaked in about 1980, and has since remained about the same—suggesting there’s a natural limit to the human lifespan. Also, in countries with the highest number of people living longer than 110 years, the maximum reported age at death increased until the 1990s, but has decreased slightly since then.
Researchers say human life could possibly be extended. In animal studies, scientists have been able to extend life expectancy. | {
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Shining possibilities
Ernesto Zamora Ramos first saw a computer when he was seven. It was in his elementary school classroom in Cuba.
The size of a large TV, and with no internet access, the computer was slow and outdated. But to him and his classmates, it was something new and amazing.
“Other kids were happy playing a few games. But I wanted to know how it worked,” he reflects.
That curiosity drove Zamora Ramos on a path that led him, many years later, to UNLV, where today he is a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering.
“Through high school [in Cuba], I had very limited access to hands-on computer experience. So my knowledge was all theoretical.”
That knowledge is now being applied to researching how image and signal processing can be advanced through artificial intelligence. Working with Professor Evangelos Yfantis and other collaborators, Zamora Ramos is exploring ways to increase the efficiency of solar panels. Using data collected through a camera, weather instruments, and a computer, he is designing software that detects when panels require cleaning, before their energy output declines.
When Zamora Ramos received his B.S. from UNLV in 2013 with a 4.0 GPA, he was accepted into graduate programs at UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California. But he opted to stay at UNLV.
“UNLV supported me in many ways, including very generous scholarships. I will always be grateful to the donors who are allowing me to make the most of my education,” he says.
Zamora Ramos is a recipient of the Gilman and Bartlett Scholarship, the Wolzinger Family Research Scholarship, the Victor and Marjorie Kunkel Scholarship, and the Ralph S. Dippner Memorial Scholarship. As an undergraduate, he received support from the Konami Gaming, Inc. Scholarship for Computer Science.
“I love America for giving me opportunities that used to seem beyond my reach,” he says. “When I arrived in the U.S. with my parents, we had to start from zero.
“Now I have boundless possibilities to build a bright future for myself, my family, and my community. And I have UNLV and its supporters to thank for making it happen.” | {
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Monday, August 1, 2011
This month has some funny, exciting, and wacky holidays to celebrate all month long. In fact, there is at least one holiday to observe each day during the month of August (with the exception of the 2nd). Here are some suggestions for celebrating each day in August.
August 1: World Wide Web Day - Celebrate this holiday by spending your day exploring the World Wide Web.
August 2: Make Your Own Holiday - This one's obvious...
August 3: Watermelon Day - Try different recipes using watermelon. Eat watermelon at every meal. Don't just eat it - drink it!
August 4: National Chocolate Chip Day - You can't go wrong with chocolate chips. If you don't have time to bake cookies, they aren't bad alone!
August 5: International Beer Day - This should be a fun day for some of you.
August 6: National Fresh Breath (Halitosis) Day - Offer everyone you meet a stick of gum.
August 7: Lighthouse Day - I'm not really sure how one can celebrate Lighthouse Day.
August 8: Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day - Do that.
August 9: Veep Day - All I know is it has something to do with the Presidency...
August 10: S'mores Day - Is your mouth watering yet?
August 11: President's Joke Day (2010) - Crack a Presidential joke (in private if it may be offensive!).
August 12: Sewing Machine Day - Buy a sewing machine and learn how to use it. Use your newfound talent to make yourself a new wardrobe.
August 13: International Left Hander's Day - Honor all left handers by doing everything with your left hand today. Lefties, switch it up by using your right.
August 14: National Garage Sale Day - Hit all the local sales bright and early (before all the good stuff is gone).
August 15: National Relaxation Day - Hey, I knew you'd like this one!
August 16: Joe Miller's Joke Day - Crack some jokes.
August 17: Meaning of "Is" Day - What does "is" mean to you?
August 18: Bad Poetry Day - Hey, not all poetry has to be good. Write your very worst poem today.
August 19: "Black Cow" Root Beer Float Day - Not any old root beer float will do; it has to be "Black Cow".
August 20: Virtual World's Day - All reality aside, get lost in the virtual world for the day.
August 21: National Homeless Animals Day (2010) - There are tens of thousands of homeless animals in the world. What can you do to help?
August 22: Be an Angel Day - Or at least pretend.
August 23: Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Its Abolition - Ahem--I said its abolition, not its existence.
August 24: National Waffle Day - Frozen waffles count.
August 25: Kiss and Make Up Day - In a tiff? Kiss and make up (at least for the day).
August 26: National Dog Day - What can you do on National Dog Day? Give your dog a bone.
August 27: Global Forgiveness Day - Have no worries. Forgive the globe....
August 28: Race Your Mouse around the Icons Day - Oh, boy! This one sounds like fun. And I can't forget; today is also 'Crackers over the Keyboard Day'.
August 29: National Sarcoidosis Day - Don't even ask what sarcoidosis is....
August 30: National Toasted Marshmallow Day - No, they can't be raw. You have to eat them toasted.
August 31: Love Litigating Lawyers Day - You gotta love 'em. You gotta.
August is the hottest month in the U.S., that means some really hot and happening food holidays too.
National Sandwich Month
We all love them so now lets learn about them. The term sandwich is occasionally used (informally) in reference to open-faced sandwiches; these normally consist of a single slice of bread topped with meat, salad vegetables, and various condiments. These differ from a normal sandwich in that they have a single slice of bread instead of two, with toppings instead of a filling. The open-faced sandwich also has a .....
National Peach Month
Are you ready to add some peaches to your menu this month? A medium peach (75 grams), has about 30 calories, seven grams of carbohydrates (six grams of sugar and one gram of fibre), one gram of protein, 140 miligrams of potassium, and 8% of the Dietary Reference Intake for vitamin C.
National Catfish Month
Catfish is eaten in a variety of ways; in Europe it is often cooked in similar ways to carp, but in the United States it is typically crumbed with cornmeal and fried. In Indonesia catfish are usually served grilled in street stalls called warung and eaten with vegetables. Catfish is high in Vitamin D. Farm-raised catfish contains low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and a much higher proportion of omega-6 fatty acids.
Goat Cheese Month
Goat cheese has been made for thousands of years, and was probably one of the earliest made dairy products. Goat milk is often used by those who are young, are ill, or have a low tolerance to cows' milk. Goat milk is more similar to human milk than that of the cow, although there is large variation among breeds in both animals.
Eat Dessert first month
In Western culture dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food. But during the month of August dessert lovers everywhere are given the go ahead to eat our desserts first and not feel bad about doing it. That's right August celebrates the sweet tooth.
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A LITTLE BIO FOR YOU
I am passionate about Halloween and Christmas. Many nights spent in the lab making and creating new props and decorations. I have been married for 25 years and have teenage twins (a boy and girl). I like 80's rock, all kinds of sports,thriller and action movies. I also moonlight as a pastry chef/baker. | {
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Morningside College has recruited Dell Rapids standout athlete Bryce Koch to play college basketball at the Sioux City, Iowa school.
Koch, a 6’5” forward from Garretson, is a senior at Dell Rapids High School, where as of last week he was averaging 12.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots per game. He had also made 57.3 percent of his field goal attempts nearing the end of the season.
Koch averaged a double-double last year with 13.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game to earn second-team Class A all-state honors from the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association and the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. He also made first-team All-Big Sioux Conference honors. He had 107 blocked shots for an average of 4.1 rejections per game and shot 60 percent from the field. Koch was named to the all-tournament team after he helped lead Dell Rapids to its third place finish at the South Dakota Class A State Tournament. | {
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– The Australian business reported a 2 percent decline in net revenues, however, an improved gross win margin of 10.8 percent softened a 5 percent wagering decline.
– US continues to deliver strong net revenue growth, up 30 percent in local currency
– Progressing towards the delivery of GBP 40 million of annualised cost efficiencies by the end of 2017 for reinvestment
Philip Bowcock, CEO, commented:
“Overall, I am encouraged by the huge amount of progress the William Hill team has made this year in improving our customer proposition and delivering on our strategy. We remain on track to deliver on market expectations for 2017.”
Scientific Games Acquires NYX Gaming Group Shares (Update)
Representing 10.72 percent of the total share holding
In an early warning report, Scientific Games Corporation has notified its acquisition of 11.6 million ordinary shares in NYX Gaming Grouprepresenting a 10.72 percent share for an aggregate price of CAD$27,054,565.
The companies, who signed an acquisition deal earlier this month, also entered into a first amendment agreement in which Scientific Games will make a contractual takeover offer to NYX shareholders should the deal not be approved at the shareholder vote in December 2017 or not move forward for other reasons.
NYX also agreed to waive the existing standstill with Scientific Games so that Scientific Games and its affiliates could purchase any ordinary, preferred or other equity securities of NYX or any of its subsidiaries.
InfoPowa readers will recall William Hill is opposing the acquisition saying it may use its shareholding to veto the deal (see previous InfoPowa reports).
A major shareholder, the UK gambling firm moved to change its NYX convertible preference shares into ordinary shares earlier this month, enabling it to vote on the proposed agreement.
Evolution Gaming Co-Founders Sell Down Share Holdings
Move to assure market of their continued commitment
Evolution co-founders Jens von Bahr and Fredrik Österberg have sold a combined total of 1,798,520 shares in Evolution Gaming Group.
The transaction undertaken through an accelerated bookbuilding process to Swedish and international institutional investors, corresponds to approximately 5 percent of all outstanding shares in the company, at a price of SEK 557 per share.
The duo moved quickly to calm the market saying the decision had been an “emotional process” and acknowledged that “no time is a good time” in a decision of this nature but that the vast majority of their wealth remained in the business.
“We remain firm in our belief in, and commitment to, Evolution Gaming and intend to continue to be active shareholders for the long run,” a press statement reads.
MGA Reports Rise In Gaming Industry Contribution To Malta Economy
Third largest sector in the economy
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published its interim performance report for the period January to June 2017 detailing a rise in the gaming industry’s contribution to the Maltese economy which now stands at 12 percent.
The gaming industry represents the third largest sector in the economy which contributed an additional Euro 556 million or 10 percent in terms of gross value in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period 2016.
The gaming industry directly generated over 6,400 full-time jobs in the region, or 9,000 full-time jobs when including indirect employment.
Gaming tax revenue reached Euro 29 million in the first half of 2017, representing 5.5 percent of the total indirect tax intake of the Maltese Government.
The number of companies licensed in the Maltese jurisdiction stood at 282 in June 2017, growing by 6 percent from December 2016.
The full text of the 2017 Interim Performance Report can be accessed here: http://www.mga.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/MGA-Interim-Report-2017.pdf
Aspire Global In JV To Launch Mr. Play Brand
Backs venture with Euro 2 million and a 40 percent shareholding
Aspire Global has agreed a joint venture with a group of ‘industry veterans’ to launch the new Mr. Play casino and sports betting brand.
The company has acquired a 40 percent minority shareholding, backing Mr. Play with a Euro 2 million investment. A further Euro 2 million has been pledged by other investors.
In addition to the technology behind the brand, Aspire will provide a complete suite of in-house services such as bespoke CRM, multilingual Customer Support and multi-market licenses, for both the Mr. Play casino and sportsbook.
“When we decided to launch Mr. Play, we looked for more than just a software vendor. We wanted a first-rate strategic partner who could provide us with anything it takes to carve out significant market share by offering customers the best possible online gaming experience,” Hanan Greenberg, chief marketing officer at Mr. Play, said.
“We are always open to opportunities where we can leverage our strong position in new profitable ways,” added Tsachi Maimon, chief executive officer of Aspire Global. We are excited to be part of this joint venture and look forward to materializing the potential of this product in our role as full partner.”
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Fabulous and Top Engineering College in Delhi NCR, Sonepat, Haryana. Engineering College, Engineering College Gateway Institute of Engineering and Technology
www.about.gateway.edu.in/top-engineering-college.html : Top Engineering College in Delhi NCR, Sonepat and Haryana. GIET is one of the top Engineering College in Delhi NCR, Sonepat and Haryana. Engineering top college GIET in Sonepat (Haryana)
Gateway...
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www.about.gateway.edu.in/top-engineering-college.html : Top Engineering College in Delhi NCR, Sonepat and Haryana. GIET is one of the top Engineering College in Delhi NCR, Sonepat and Haryana. Engineering top college GIET in Sonepat (Haryana)
Gateway Institute of Engineering and Technology is one of the top Engineering college in Delhi NCR, Haryana and Sonepat. GIET is dedicated to developing a new generation of technical leaders and entrepreneurs and conducting research.
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Over 6,500 industry professionals registered for last week’s conference, making it indisputably the largest capital markets conference in the world.
While I received numerous compliments on the success of the conference, for a second year running I am again humbled by such praise, as it is the industry itself that is responsible for having such a great conference. On behalf of both SFIG staff and leadership, and our partners at IMN, I want to extend a huge “THANK YOU” for making this conference what it is.
With over 70 packed panels and more than 330 speakers, the educational content of the conference really stood out and blended perfectly with the networking benefits many of you enjoyed through face-to-face meeting time. Of course, we do not stop there. Our goal is to continue to enhance the benefits of such events, and while the conference is fresh in your minds, please forward any feedback (positive or negative) to [email protected]. We truly welcome such commentary as an opportunity to continue to deliver additional value.
For those who attended the conference, please remember that you may soon access conference presentations and panel recordings at IMN’s website, via the ABS Vegas 2015 agenda. We will send out a notification when these are available. Additionally, please do not hesitate to take advantage of the wealth of regulatory, legislative and industry information, guidance and comment on SFIG’s website. SFIG members can access member-only content by registering here.
Next stop – ABS East in Miami this coming September 16th – 18th…hopefully those of us stuck in this arctic chill will have had time to thaw out by then.
SFIG strongly supports initiatives to strengthen the global securitization markets and looks forward to continued dialogue with global policymakers on the concept of high quality securitizations. Contact Amanda Bateman to learn more.
As stated in the foreword of the Green Paper, the EC’s priority is jobs and growth. To help achieve these goals, the EC lays out the following five priorities:
develop proposals to encourage high quality securitisation ("HQS") and free up bank balance sheets to lend;
review the Prospectus Directive to make it easier for firms, particularly smaller ones, to raise funding and reach investors cross border;
start work on improving the availability of credit information on SMEs so that it is easier for investors to invest in them;
work with the industry to put into place a pan European private placement regime to encourage direct investment into smaller businesses; and
support the take up of new European long term investment funds to channel investment in infrastructure and other long term projects.
The Consultation Document develops upon the first priority, proposing a framework for high quality securitization which includes criteria for simplicity, transparency, standardization and additional risk features. The EC cites recent proposals by the European Central Bank and Bank of England, the European Banking Authority, and the Basel Committee of Banking Supervision and International Organization of Securities Commissions, all of which SFIG commented on.
According to the EC, “the aim of this consultation is to gather information and views from stakeholders on the current functioning of European securitisation markets and how the EU legal framework can be improved. On the basis of the feedback received, the Commission will put forward a proposal on how to build a sustainable securitisation market.”
Important to SFIG members, the consultation seeks input not only on the development of criteria for high quality securitizations, including for ABCP (section 2.2), but also the treatment of such structures with respect to disclosure regimes (section 2.6), the Basel capital securitization framework (section 2.8) and risk retention requirements (section 2.3).
Comments are due to the EC on May 13, 2015 and SFIG will prepare a response through its High Quality Securitization Task Force. Members of the Regulatory Capital and Liquidity Committee, ABCP Committee and Risk Retention Task Force are highly encouraged to participate. To join the HQS task force and contribute, please contact [email protected].
BARNEY FRANK KEYNOTES ABS VEGAS, SAYS “DODD-FRANK CAN BE CHANGED”
Barney Frank, the former Congressman from Massachusetts and co-author of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”), keynoted SFIG and IMN’s ABS Vegas 2015 conference last week, and was well received. Mr. Frank spoke on numerous items, including his belief that the Dodd-Frank Act can be tweaked, as long as it is not “re-litigated.” He further stated that if arguments to change the law would both benefit the economy and fit within the framework of Dodd-Frank, then bipartisan reforms can be achieved.
Of further importance to the securitization industry, Mr. Frank gave his thoughts on the following issues:
Final Qualified Residential Mortgage (“QRM”)/Qualified Mortgage (“QM”) Rules and Risk-Retention: The rules are too prescriptive towards underwriting. Mr. Frank would have preferred to see 5 percent blanket risk retention on “all” residential mortgage-backed security loans, and then allow financial institutions to make any loans they wanted.
Ratings Agency Reform: Reform cannot occur through a buy-side model, due to the “free-rider” problem.
Auto Dealers: He would have preferred that auto dealers fell under the purview of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Finally, on a humorous note, Mr. Frank apologized for the too-similar initials for QM and QRM. “I was tired that day,” stated Mr. Frank.
NATIONAL MORTGAGE NEWS SAYS INDUSTRY STANDARDS WILL REVIVE PLS MARKET
In an article, National Mortgage News stated that industry standardization is a key to reviving the private-label RMBS market. “Industry standardization is important to these developments because it promotes the use of common reference points that ensure buyers and sellers are on the same page when they enter into a deal.” The article specifically cited SFIG's RMBS 3.0 and its effort to create standardization in representations and warranties, due diligence and data, and the role of transaction parties and bondholder communications. The article further mentioned investor reporting between servicers, especially in the case of transfers, as another important aspect. Finally, the article also focused on the role of varying transaction parties in a deal as a focus, another aspect that SFIG is putting substantial effort into.
If you would like to participate in the work SFIG is undertaking through our committees as highlighted below, please e-mail [email protected]. For specific inquiries on any of SFIG’s advocacy efforts, please contact the staff member listed for the related project.
The RMBS 3.0 Task Force released its Second Edition RMBS 3.0 Green Paper in November. Following the successful SFIG/IMN Private Label RMBS Symposium, the Task Force will continue its efforts to address key issues specific to private label mortgage securities through work streams relating to (1) Representations, Warranties, and Repurchase Enforcement; (2) Due Diligence, Data, and Loan-Level Disclosure; and (3) Role of Transaction Parties and Bondholder Communications. We encourage members to participate in any or all of the working groups to contribute towards the mission of RMBS 3.0. For additional information on RMBS 3.0, or to join the Task Force, please contact [email protected].
The Mortgage Loan-Level Disclosure Task Force is studying the recent Regulation AB II release of Schedule AL and comparing it to SFIG’s Schedule L submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission in February of 2014. SFIG also continues to have weekly Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization calls to go through data elements that lenders should deliver in securitizations. We will also be conducting an analysis of the data elements included in SFIG’s Schedule L submission in order to determine any privacy concerns. Please contact [email protected] for additional information on SFIG’s work on this topic.
The Volcker Task Force has been working with SFIG’s various asset class and legal counsel committees to identify areas within the Volcker Rule in need of clarification, particularly questions regarding covered funds and the loan securitization exemption. Please contact [email protected] to participate on the Task Force.
SFIG’s Chinese Market Committee continues to hold regular calls focusing on a high-level description of SFIG’s partnership with the Chinese Securitization Forum, potential upcoming educational discussions and sharing recent market developments in China. If you would like more information on SFIG’s work with respect to Chinese securitization, please contact [email protected].
SFIG’s Shadow Banking Task Force has established the following agenda:
Assess the level of regulation to which our members are already subject;
Measure the full impact of those regulations on lending decisions and business models; and
Provide input into IOSCO, BCBS and IAIS on the revitalization of securitization markets.
The Task Force will have its first full meeting in the coming weeks, and members from across asset classes are encouraged to participate. To register your interest in SFIG’s Shadow Banking Initiative, please contact [email protected].
The Regulation AB II Task Force will focus on the disclosure and offering process requirements within the final rule. Two work streams have been formed to develop a comment letter on the proposed rules that remain outstanding and to produce an industry guide for critical elements of the final rule. SFIG members who are interested in joining this task force or asset specific committees should contact [email protected].
The Regulatory Capital and Liquidity Committee is addressing industry concerns related to the Federal Reserve Board’s Final Rule on the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”). This committee will also develop a comment letter when U.S. regulators release their proposed Net Stable Funding Ratio (“NSFR”). To become involved in SFIG’s advocacy on the Final LCR rule or NSFR, please contact [email protected].
The Derivatives in Securitization Task Force recently commented on the CFTC’s proposal on margin requirements for uncleared swaps, as well as the prudential regulators’ proposal regarding margin and capital requirements for covered swap entities. SFIG also submitted a comment letter at the end of June 2014, advocating for asset-backed securities issuers to qualify for the “low-risk financial end user” designation proposed by prudential regulators in the original proposal. SFIG members who are interested in learning more about this initiative should email [email protected].
The NRSRO Due Diligence Industry Guide Work stream is continuing to review the due diligence elements of the Final Rules on NRSROs. The working group meets biweekly on Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. (EST) and members interested in learning more should contact [email protected].
The Money Market Fund Reform Working Group submitted a comment letter on October 13, 2014 regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission’s July 23, 2014 proposal which includes, among other things, possibly amending rule 2a-7’s issuer diversification provisions to eliminate an exclusion that is currently available for securities subject to a guarantee issued by a non-controlled person. SFIG also submitted a comment letter in September 2013 on Money Market Fund Reform. If you are interested in joining this working group, please contact [email protected].
Last Wednesday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation published a simplified supervisory formula approach (“SSFA”) securitization tool to help institutions implement the revised capital rules. The SSFA is a formula-based approach for banks to calculate capital requirements for securitization exposures. It is designed to apply relatively higher capital requirements to the more risky junior tranches that are the first to absorb losses, and relatively lower requirements to the most senior tranches. Regulators hopes to help reduce potential burdens with this calculator.
SEC COMMISSIONER PIWOWAR SKEPTICAL OF FINRA’S CARDS PROPOSAL
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Republican Commissioner Michael Piwowar has expressed skepticism concerning the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (“FINRA”) data collection program called the Comprehensive Automated Risk Data System (“CARDS”), according to a recent Reutersarticle. CARDS would require firms to submit large quantities of data aimed at strengthening FINRA’s market surveillance. FINRA would use these large quantities of data to help analyze securities transactions from all U.S. brokerage accounts.
Piwowar believes that the data collection program may be unnecessary and could lead to cyber-attacks or other privacy breaches. Many others in the industry have also argued that CARDS could be too costly, overly broad, and may put investors at risk of having their personal accounts hacked, according to the article.
NEW DELINQUENCIES OF CMBS HIT A POST-RECESSION LOW IN JANUARY
Delinquencies of new commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) finished January at a post-recession low, according to a new report by Fitch Ratings. New CMBS late payments totaled $274 million last month. The overall delinquency rate in January was 4.72 percent, 10 basis points higher than the previous month. This increase was due to Fitch updating its methodology used in calculating its late-pay rate. While hotels maintained the highest percentage of delinquencies in January at 6.15 percent, it fell from 6.20 percent in December. Hotels were followed by retail at 5.39 percent and multifamily at 5.21 percent.
PBOC INJECTS $33.44 BILLION INTO CHINESE FINANCIAL SYSTEM
The People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) has injected 205 billion yuan ($33.44 billion) net last week into China’s financial system in an effort to meet high cash demand before the week-long New Year holiday, according to a recent article. This is the largest amount pumped in since January 2014.
The PBOC injected funds through reverse repurchase agreements, a process in which central banks purchase securities from banks with an agreement to resell them at future dates. PBOC has stepped up their level of cash injections following concerns regarding funding availability in the interbank system.
China’s financial markets and operations will be closed from February 18th through the 24th for the Lunar New Year holiday when a surge in cash demand is expected.
HUD SECRETARY CASTRO DEFENDS DECISION TO LOWER FHA FEES
Last week, Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) Secretary Julian Castro testified before the House Committee on Financial Services at a hearing that mainly focused on the Federal Housing Administration’s (“FHA”) decision to lower fees it charges to lower income borrowers. Specifically, before the State of the Union, President Obama announced that the FHA, which is housed within HUD, would lower the fees it charges eligible borrowers by a half percentage point to 0.85 percent.
Republicans, on the whole, questioned why FHA would lower fees when it has yet to reach a statutory mandate to maintain a capital buffer equal to at least two percent of the loans it guarantees. While the FHA does not make direct loans, it sells insurance to make investors whole in case of default. Borrowers pay for the insurance, and through the program, are able to make down payments of as little as 3.5 percent. “Do we really want the federal government to be leading the charge into subprime lending?” stated Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
The FHA took on large losses for the loans made during the end of the crisis as it increased its loan limits to help spur lending. In 2013, it required a $1.7 billion bailout from the United States Treasury. The FHA has not met the 2 percent capital buffer since 2009.
Democrats on the committee by in large supported the cuts. Furthermore, Secretary Castro said that the FHA could afford to make the premium cuts as they will only delay reaching the statutory capital buffer by a “few months.”
UPCOMING EVENTS IN WASHINGTON
PLI SEMINAR: THE SEC SPEAKS IN 2015
FRIDAY, February 20, 20158:20 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. (EST)Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.An update on the current initiatives at the SEC as well as the priorities for the coming year.
SFIG COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
SFIG has a number of Committees and Task Forces meeting and working on many topics of interest to the securitization industry. Please email us for more information, including how to join.
SFIG is pleased to share this edition of its newsletter with our members, as well as our supporters in the structured finance community. To ensure that you receive future editions of the newsletter, please visit our website or email us to learn more about membership opportunities. | {
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Abstract
We demonstrate trans-rectal optical tomography of the prostate using an endo-rectal near-infrared (NIR) applicator integrated with a trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) probe. The endo-rectal NIR applicator incorporated a design presented in our previously reported work. A continuous-wave NIR optical tomography system is combined with a commercial US scanner to form the dual-modality imager. Sagittal trans-rectal imaging is performed concurrently by endo-rectal NIR and TRUS. The TRUS ensures accurate positioning of the NIR applicator as well as guides NIR image reconstruction using the spatial prior of the target. The use of a condom, which is standard for TRUS, is found to have minimal effect on trans-rectal NIR imaging. Tests on avian tissues validates that NIR imaging can recover the absorption contrast of a target, and its accuracy is improved when the TRUS spatial prior is incorporated. Trans-rectal NIR/US imaging of a healthy canine prostate in situ is reported.
NIR Imaging geometry: (a) NIR arrays are parallel and symmetric to the TRUS sagittal plane; (b) the positions of NIR channels with respect to the TRUS image; (c) mesh for NIR image reconstruction generated by use of TRUS image; (d) absorption image reconstructed from a simulation data for an absorbing target.
NlR imaging of a solid tissue phantom having an absorption coefficient of 0.0056mm-1. The reconstructed background absorption coefficients are 0.0019mm-1 in (a), (b), (d), (e), and 0.0020 mm-1 in (c), (f).
Imaging of multiple targets: (a) NIR-only reconstruction when the target depth is 17.5mm, the targets can be barely separated; (b) NIR-only reconstruction when the target depth is 22.5mm, the targets cannot be separated; (c) region based reconstruction when the target depth is 22.5mm.
Test of condom effect on the NIR imaging: (a) reconstructed absorption coefficients for all cases listed in Table 4, and The red dashed line shows the true value; (b) data points in (a) specific to target depths and longitudinal locations. | {
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The Great Global Vitamins Conspiracy: Sanctions and Deterrence
Abstract
When they were discovered in 1999, the 16 vitamins cartels were probably the largest, most harmful, and harshest sanctioned international cartels of the late 20th century. Still today, the vitamins cartels are cited by antitrust authorities as the outstanding example of an enforcement action likely to deter cartel formation; this episode is also often mentioned by other legal experts as an egregious example of cartels subject to supra-optimal penalties.
This paper summarizes the structural conditions and price effects of the global vitamins conspiracy and analyzes the deterrence power of world-wide monetary penalties paid by the corporate members of these cartels.1 The paper concludes that only in North America did monetary antitrust penalties exceed the monopoly profits of the vitamins cartel, principally because of huge private settlements. Penalties in the EU were a small percentage of European overcharges, and penalties in the rest of the world were negligible. On a global basis, deterrence was sup-optimal for three major reasons: low penalties outside North America, delays in the collection of fines and private settlements (i.e., the absence of court-awarded prejudgement interest), and the low probability of discovery of hidden cartels. | {
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Vermillion, SD (Sports Network) - Duke Mondy scored 16 points, including the game-winning free throw with just four seconds remaining, as the Oakland Golden Grizzlies nipped the South Dakota Coyotes, 76-75, in a Summit League tilt at the DakotaDome.
Corey Petros posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Golden Grizzlies (14-13, 9-4 Summit). Travis Bader added 16 points and Drew Valentine had a strong game appropriately enough as he too logged a double- double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Coyotes (8-17, 4-9), Juevol Myles scored a game-high 23 points and Brandon Bos finished with 22 as the pair combined to shoot 7-of-12 behind the 3-point line.
South Dakota shot 50 percent from the field and hit on 4-of-10 from 3-point range, as it went into halftime leading 42-34. Oakland made 41.2 percent from the floor but just 5-of-14 from 3-point distance in the first half.
After the break the Golden Grizzlies heated up, connecting on 51.6 percent of their field goal tries. The Coyotes kept pace by making 50 percent of their field goal attempts. An early second-half run put the Grizzlies ahead and the teams traded leads from that point on.
Trailing by two in the final minute, Myles knocked down two free throws to knot the score at 75-75 with 22 seconds remaining. Mondy was fouled with four seconds on the clock and made one of two to put the visitors back on top and in line for their sixth-straight victory.
Oakland had the edge in points in the paint, 34-24, and outrebounded South Dakota, 39-27. | {
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Add another dynamic by creating variation in the height of your island. Using the island for multiple purposes, like eating and food prep, will both maximize the utility and make it feel like two totally different spaces. For example, add an appliance to one level (like a sink or stovetop) and create a breakfast bar on a higher tier.
When it comes to modern spaces, open any home design magazine and you’ll see many of the same materials: cool metals, smooth stone, and reflective glass. This makes the shine of a mirrored backsplash an easy choice for those looking to achieve a sleek design. | {
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Google's 'open' Android doesn't make it less secure, says OS head
Google's senior vice president, overlooking Android, has reportedly said that his statement that Android 'not designed to be safe, but to be open,' doesn't mean that the OS is insecure.
Sundar Pichai, clarifying his remark at the Mobile World Congress, explained that Android's openness makes it more secure and not less, because it undergoes a lot of scrutiny.
According to Tech Crunch, Pichai said that open platforms historically undergo a lot of scrutiny, but there are a lot of advantages to having an open source platform from a security standpoint.
He further argued that it's the best way for a platform to be secure, because every researcher in the world could inspect it, every developer in the world could inspect it, and that contributes a lot to Android security.
This comes after a local site quoted Pichai as indicating that Google's Android operating system was not designed to be secure, stirring doubts.
Pichai said that Android was built to be very secure and because of its openness, many people could ship it in many different ways and there are security vulnerabilities when some partners ship devices having an older version of Android.
On research results that about 99.8 percent of mobile malware targets Android, Pichai said that malware targets where users are, but what matters more is that if someone uses Android that doesn't make them fundamentally compromised, the report added. | {
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Registration
Q: Where can I find the courses offered for Summer Session? Do you have a brochure with all of the summer courses?
A: You can find a catalog of all the available Summer Session courses on our Courses page. For the most up-to-date course information, please refer to the TCNJ PAWS link at the top of that page, not the static pdf document.
At this time, we do not have a summer session brochure. All of our course listings can be found on this Web site.
Q: When will the courses for Summer Session be posted on the Web site?
A: Course Listings for Summer Session 2015 will be available in mid-November.
Q: How many courses can I take over the summer?
A: Undergraduate students are limited to 12 semester hours of summer study. Graduate students are limited to 9 semester hours. PAWS will not permit registration beyond these credit limits for the summer. Students are also strongly advised to take only one course per summer session. If you wish to take more credits than allowed, you must get written permission from your academic Dean or Graduate Coordinator and bring that permission form/letter to Green Hall Room 112.
Q: I’m a visiting student. Will my college or university accept TCNJ credits?
A: In order to determine if your college or university will accept TCNJ credits, you must contact your school’s registration office. TCNJ will not determine how credits will transfer to visiting students’ universities.
Q: I’m a visiting student. How do I access my PAWS account?
A: Once you are registered as a Visiting Student through our office, you will receive a confirmation letter via e-mail containing your PAWS ID. Using that number, fill in the form at the TCNJ Account Lookup to obtain your PAWS username and password. Then, follow the instructions found on the the PAWS login help page to access your account.
Q: Once I register for a course, can it be cancelled?
A: Yes, summer courses can be cancelled due to low enrollment. For Summer 2014, a course needs at least 10 students to run. Instructors will be given the option to run a low-enrolled course as a special arrangement; however, they are under no obligation to do so. If you are wondering about your course’s enrollment, the total number of students enrolled in the class can be found on PAWS. If a course is cancelled, emails will be sent to students’ TCNJ accounts.
Payment & Billing
Q: Will the Office notify me when I have to Pay for my Course(s)?
A: TCNJ Students will not be notified by the Office of Student Accounts of when payment is due. Students will need to check their Billing Account on PAWS and pay for their courses exactly like how they pay for their Fall or Spring classes.
Visiting Students will be notified in their E-mail Confirmation Letter after they register for their course(s) of when and how to pay. Students are responsible to pay for their courses on time or run the risk of being deregistered for their course(s). Visiting students will be given their PAWS account in their e-mail confirmation, enabling them to also be able to pay for their courses on-line.
Q: Can I pay for Summer Courses with my Financial Aid ? Can I pay for a course with my personal education savings plan?
You can pay for a course through your personal education savings plan, but please be sure to contact your education savings plan administrator for guidance on what would be needed for them to issue a check to the College to pay for your summer course. Most often, they will ask you to provide them with an invoice so that they can prepare payment and mail a check to the College.
It is recommended that students who have any questions about their specific financial aid situations contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Green Hall 101 at 609-771-2211 or [email protected].
Q: If I Withdraw from a Course, do I still have to Pay for that Course?
A: Yes. There are no refunds if you decide to withdraw from a course, and you will not receive any credit for the course (you will receive a letter grade of “W” on your transcript, signifying that you withdrew).
Students may withdraw AFTER the Add/Drop dates and BEFORE a certain date in each session. For a list of dates you may withdrawal from each summer session, please see our Dates & Fees.
Q: If I don’t attend a course that I registered for, do I still have to Pay for that Course ?
A: Yes. Non-Attendance in a course does not mean you have officially “dropped” the course. You are financially responsible for all courses in which you are registered. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course during the Add/Drop Dates or Withdraw from the course.
Other Summer Session Questions
Q: What should I do if I have problems with my e-mail or Canvas accounts?
A: If you have problems connecting to your TCNJ e-mail account or Canvas account, you will need to get in touch with Information Technology, TCNJ’s technology resource and support for the campus community. Call them at 609.771.2660 or visit the IT Website for more information.
Q: Is there a meal plan available for the summer? Where can I get something to eat?
A: There is currently no meal plan available for students during the summer. However, there are other options for students to eat while here on campus. Students can visit the Brower Food Court (located in the Brower Student Center), which is open from 7:30am – 3:00pm, Monday through Friday during the summer academic periods. After 3:00pm, students can also visit the TCNJ Bookstore until 4:30 to find a quick snack or the vending machines, both of which are also located in the Brower Student Center.
Q: If I want to live on campus for the summer, where can I get information about summer housing?
A. Summer Housing is available ONLY for undergraduate TCNJ students enrolled in summer classes, TCNJ students working full-time for a college department, or TCNJ students participating in a summer program approved by the Housing Office. For full information on applying and receiving housing for the summer, please refer to the Summer Housing page. | {
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Author
Topic: MLB 2008 & 2009 (Read 27641 times)
Swish, I agree to an extent. In the end, we, the fans, ultimately pay the price. That's why the "little man" in slowly being priced out of most sports.
If I had my way, I would like to see a salary cap of some sort in place, so a team like the Royals (or any other team) has a chance year in and year out.
This is why the NFL and NBA are more exciting accross the country.
The Yankees are basically doing what baseball allows them to do, so I don't blame them. They are acting in a free-market economy (rich and getting richer). The true answer lies in coming up with a system that levels the playing field for all teams, yet allows for profit by a major team like the Yankees.
Swish, I agree to an extent. In the end, we, the fans, ultimately pay the price. That's why the "little man" in slowly being priced out of most sports.
If I had my way, I would like to see a salary cap of some sort in place, so a team like the Royals (or any other team) has a chance year in and year out.
This is why the NFL and NBA are more exciting accross the country.
The Yankees are basically doing what baseball allows them to do, so I don't blame them. They are acting in a free-market economy (rich and getting richer). The true answer lies in coming up with a system that levels the playing field for all teams, yet allows for profit by a major team like the Yankees.
So far, baseball has it wrong.
Rich get richer indeed. How are the Yankees getting richer? They are replacing the currently (perfectly adaquate) Yankee stadium with a brand spanking new Yankee Stadium. Why? Because the new stadium will have more luxury boxes and high dollar seats replacing what affordable seats might be available now. The team that pays A-Rod more than some other team's entire salary, will have more cash to throw at players.
Logged
Is a tree as a rocking horseAn ambition fulfilledAnd is the sawdust jealous?I worry about these things .Kevin Godley & Lol Crème (I Pity Inanimate Objects)
Minnesota took a half game lead tonight over the white sox for the division, the wild card is out for both of them as Boston has that locked up. The Sox have lost 5 in a row at the most crucial time of the year.
In the other wild card race, Milwaukee and the Mets are tied with one game to play. | {
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Fact Sheets
Republican Principles for Ensuring Student Success in the 21st Century
Focusing on what’s best for students, parents, teachers, and communities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. | February 25, 2010 -
Objectives
Help each child achieve his or her full and unique potential
Give students the tools and knowledge to succeed in the 21st century
Ensure America’s educational system is the best in the world
We will do this by
Restoring Local Control. Academic standards, testing systems, and curriculum should be set by states and local educators—without coercion from the federal government—to ensure those who know our children best are able to shape their education to excel in college and the workplace.
Empowering Parents. Parents should have a greater role in selecting and participating in the learning environment that best serves their children’s needs.
Letting Teachers Teach. Onerous federal requirements should be removed to ensure our teachers and local schools have the freedom to operate and innovate as they think best.
Protecting Taxpayers. Taxpayer dollars should be spent wisely, eliminating ineffective programs and making investments that help students achieve success on an increasingly competitive world stage. | {
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A feature selection technique along with an information fusion procedure for improving the
recognition accuracy of a visual and thermal image-based facial recognition system is presented in this study.
A novel modular Kernel Eigen spaces approach is developed and implemented on the phase congruency feature
maps extracted from the visual and thermal images individually. This study proposes a novel face recognition
method which exploits both global and local discriminative features. In this method, global features are
extracted from the whole face images by keeping the low-frequency coefficients of fourier transform, which
we believe encodes the holistic facial Information, such as facial contour. For local feature extraction, Gabor
wavelets are exploited considering their biological relevance. After that, to the global fourier features and each
local patch of Gabor features. | {
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When Stephen Colbert, the host of the Colbert Report comedy show, sits down with Google CEO Eric Schmidt, you don’t expect a round of worn out jokes. “My guest tonight is the CEO of Google – at least that’s what it said when I looked him up on Bing,” joked Colbert announcing his guest yesterday evening.
A short interview ensued, which covered a few controversial topics. Asked whether Google was basically “data mining what we Americans care about,” Schmidt quipped “Not true.” He reminded people that even though Google’s ten-year-old PageRank algorithm sees your searches, the company forgets them “after a while” due to the pressure from lawmakers in various countries.
He didn’t share any new information as to why Google pulled out of China past this quote:
We didn’t like their laws. There’s Hong Kong and mainland China – we like the Hong Kong system better.
The amusing moment came when Schmidt explained his quote about kids being able to wipe out their online identity when they turn eighteen in order to escape their cyber-past. “It was a joke,” Schmidt admitted, which prompted the comedian to note something like this would have actually been a great idea (and I agree with him).
It’s an amusing interview that revealed Schmidt’s uneasiness whenever Colbert pressed him on the subject of privacy or Google’s collection of obscene amount of data from online users. Check out the video segment below or watch the entire Colbert Report episode from yesterday evening here. | {
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RONALD JOSEPH LANOUETTE JR.
is registered attorney admitted in New York State in 2003.
The registration number is 4122396.
The company name is
LANOUETTE LAW OFFICES PLLC.
The office address is 53 Chenango St Ste 700, Binghamton, NY 13901-2841.
The county is
Broome.
The phone number is (607) 235-3005.
The email address is [email protected].
The law school is PACE UNIVERSITY. | {
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Now Hiring: Web Designer
Do you like killing dragons? Do you like to occasionally punt gnomes? And, most importantly, are you a web development and design rockstar?
If so, you might be excited to know that we're hiring a web designer to work here at Wowhead (and sometimes on ZAM websites as well). The ideal candidate will have strong Photoshop and coding skills, know each browser and their enumerable quirks, have a solid understanding of web design, and also be able to work efficiently in a remote office environment.
This is a full-time, contract, work-from-home position. If you think you're the right one for the job, check out the requirements on our jobs page, and then send a copy of your resume to [email protected]. You must include design samples along with your cover letter, resume, and salary history in a separate document to be considered.
Thanks to our awesome users, we're fortunate to have a group of paid professional enthusiasts working together to bring you a site that we hope makes your World of Warcraft experience a more pleasant one. Every time we hire a new person, we're all excited at the opportunity to bring another one of you guys into the inner sanctum of Wowhead. We look forward to talking to you more about this opportunity! | {
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VietNamNet Bridge – The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) is the only Vietnamese bank of 25 foreign banks that have an opportunity to received one of 10 licenses in Myanmar.
The Central Bank of Myanmar has announced a list of 25 banks for the next round, of the 30 banks that have applied for a business license. These banks will continue to compete for the final 10 licenses. The winners will be announced next month.
"The Licensing Committee will evaluate each profile based on detailed quantitative and qualitative criteria. We will analyze their development plans to choose the appropriate names," Myanmar Times quoted the press release from Myanmar Central Bank.
Myanmar is planning to build nuclear reactors for research purposes after it develops the expertise required to run one safely, Union Minister for Science and Technology Ko Ko Oo told Parliament yesterday.
He was responding to a question from Upper House MP Myint Kyi, who asked if there were any plans to build a nuclear power station for research.
“Some assume that use of nuclear energy is dangerous, but there are advantages if it is correctly used,” Ko Ko Oo said. “We need a nuclear reactor for research use as it is very useful in various fields, such as health, agriculture and livestock breeding. To develop nuclear technology, infrastructure is also necessary to prevent radiation and proliferation of nuclear weapons. We are trying to develop human resources to acquire nuclear technology,” he added.
The second Auto Expo Myanmar hosted by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) kicked off July 18 at Tatmadaw Exhibition Hall in Yangon.
Co-organized by TAITRA and Taiwan’s Chan Chao International Enterprise Group, the four-day international automobile parts and components show features 146 booths by 97 firms from eight countries. These include Taiwan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, U.K., U.S., Vietnam and mainland China.
“Our debut in Myanmar last year featured the dual themes of auto parts and electromechanical equipment,” TAITRA Executive Vice President Walter Yeh said. “This year, we are focusing on a single theme and it has paid off, attracting even more visitors to the expo.”
Denmark will provide a grant aid to Myanmar’s five-year development project with emphasis on the education sector.
“The roadmap to assist Myanmar is under planning, especially in education sector. The five-year development project will kick off by 2016 and Denmark will coordinate with NGOs and CSOs in Myanmar,” said Mikael HemnitiWinther, Denmark ambassador to Myanmar.
Under the assistance programme, activities of NGOs in Myanmar will be reviewed to ensure the aids are progressive.
THE upgrading of Myanmar's data networks by new telecomms companies in the country are facilitating DMCs' own systems upgrade with many turning to software-based solutions to handle bookings.
A spokesperson from a Yangon-based travel agency who wished to remain anonymous, remarked: “Myanmar’s recent opening resulted in more bookings, and therefore we need a software that can handle this increased workload.”
Such software would allow travel consultants selling packages to perform faster single and cross-country package calculations, as compared to doing them manually.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Ministry of Rail Transportation and China for the Kyaukpyu-Kunming railway project has expired, according to the Ministry of Rail Transportation.
Myint Wai, manager of the Ministry of Rail Transportation, said on Friday that China has not made any requests to sign another contract and the project will not be implemented due to objections from the people and social organisations in Myanmar.
According to the MOU signed on April 2011, the Kyaukpyu-Kunming railway project was expected to be implemented within three years, but no work has been carried out for the project up to April 2014. As the MOU has expired, it is not valid anymore, according to him.
ALL FOUR THAI banks in Myanmar are intensifying their efforts to secure banking licences in the belief that opening up of the industry will proceed despite opposition for local players.
Representatives of Kasikornbank (KBank) and Krungthai Bank (KTB) recently joined conferences in Yangon, speaking their minds on what their banks have to offer to the economy, while Bangkok Bank (BBL), Thailand's largest commercial bank, hosted an investment seminar in Yangon designed to be the centre stage for Asian investors wanting to enter the Myanmar market.
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) also brought in Myanmar experts to its "Myanmar 360-degree First Talk" seminar for 500 premium Thai customers with strong interest in expanding into the new market. They are part of the 25 foreign banks shortlisted for the licences, with potentially five to 10 to be awarded by year-end.
The state-owned Myanma Airways is planning to expand its flights to to South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan by early 2015.
The airline has hired Avia Solutions, from the U.S.-based General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) as an advisory body. Officials from the airline and company representatives have been holding a weekly conference call to see how to manage the airline’s expansion.
Myanma Airways, the one and only state-owned airline, has been in business since September 1948. The airline recently signed a lease for six Boeing 737-800 jets and four Boeing 737-8 with GECAS last February in Singapore.
Ooredoo, one of two international telecoms operating in Burma, announced distributors for its low-cost mobile devices on Friday. The Qatari company pledges to provide affordable devices and SIM cards to the country and has already integrated itself into Burma’s growing tech scene ahead of the product roll-out.
The six companies named as distributors in a press release that went out at the end of last week were: Great Ayerwaddy Telecoms Company Limited, MDG Mobile Company Limited, Capital Connect Limited, Kiwi & I Co. Limited, and MDR Golden Myanmar Sea Co. Limited. These companies are “exclusive, territory specific distributors,” according to the release, and “are currently signing up hundreds of dealers within townships across their territories.”
YANGON, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A three-day ASEAN senior economic officials meeting is underway in Yangon to make preparations for an ASEAN economic ministers meeting scheduled for August, meeting sources said Sunday.
The ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting, first hosted by Myanmar and began on Saturday, was participated by delegates from ASEAN countries and dialogue partners and the Deputy Secretary- General of ASEAN.
The Saturday meeting discussed matters related to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) , progress in integration of priority sector and reports which are going to be submitted to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council Meeting, AEC Council Meeting and ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council Meeting.
The state-owned Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT) said it will start selling unlimited SIM cards rather than a limited number by lucky draw, according to senior managers.
MPT has signed MoU with KDDI Corporation from Japan to compete with overseas telecommunication companies and provide enhanced mobile services.
“We are planning to change the sale plan of CDMA 800 MHz and GSM SIM cards. When we have finished making arrangements, we will announce the time to start it,” said General Manager Khin Maung Tun from MPT.
YANGON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- India is seeking cooperation in the energy sector with Myanmar, state media reported Friday.
A meeting on energy cooperation was held on Thursday in Nay Pyi Taw, with the participation of Myanmar Minister for Environmental Conservation and Forestry U Win Tun and Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Gautam Mukhopadhaya, said the New Light of Myanmar.
Both sides focused on the use of renewable energy and various energy, as well as drawing of energy policy and procedures.
Burma will become increasingly dependent on imported crude oil and refined fuels over the next ten years because of a lack of planning and investment, an industry report has forecast.
A rise in crude oil imports is highly likely in spite of an expected upsurge in onshore and offshore exploration in coming years, while underinvestment in refining capacity will necessitate more imports of petrol and diesel, said Business Monitor International (BMI) in a study of Burma’s energy resources. BMI is an international business risks analysis company based in London.
“We see production steadily declining for the next 10 years as no major plan to boost condensate [a form of light oil] output from offshore gas fields has been announced or even discussed,” said BMI.
Myanmar will host the 36th Association for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in September, officials said Saturday.
The meetings are scheduled to take place from Sept 20 to 26, Xinhua reported..
The topic on sustainable markets and financial investment in the agricultural sector will be discussed during the meetings for the sustainable development of agricultural production among the 10 Asean countries.
At a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw Friday, Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development U Ohn Myint stressed on the importance of discussing methods to ease poverty in villages and improve nutrition of rural people.
YANGON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- A Myanmar major private bank, the Kanbawza Bank, will launch online and mobile banking services soon and a U.S.-based information security company, RSA, will provide protection to its customers from online fraud and cyber threats, according to the bank on Friday.
RSA is the security division of EMC, which is an American multinational corporation.
With more than 200 branches across the country, the Kanbawza Bank has been granted an authorised dealers license by the Central Bank of Myanmar in 2011 to operate foreign banking business.
The bank started with an initial capital of 477 million Kyats ( nearly 500,000 U.S. dollars) in 1999 and has expanded its capital to 113 billion Kyats (117 million U.S. dollars) in 2014, the bank disclosed.
Kanbawza Bank was named Best Bank in Myanmar by the UK-based financial markets magazine Euromoney at a ceremony in Hong Kong on July 17, following two awards a week earlier from a regional banking association.
KBZ chairperson Aung Ko Win and director Nan Lai Kham attended the Awards for Excellence 2014 ceremony to receive the award, along with executives from 52 banks in 36 countries.
Since fiscal year 2011-2012, the bank has paid income tax of more than Ks 50 billion. The bank paid income tax of over Ks 6 billion in FY2011-12, nearly Ks 11 billion in FY2012-13 and more than Ks 17 billion in FY2013-14. It has paid Ks 16 billion in advance tax for FY2014-15 and is expected to pay up to Ks 22 billion for the year.
Myanmar is preparing to grant as many as 10 foreign bank licenses next month, a senior government official said, allowing overseas lenders to start doing business in the country after decades of being frozen out.
But to protect domestic banks, recipients of the coveted licenses will be limited to banking for foreign corporations and foreign-exchange services, according to people close to the licensing process.
Foreign banks, they said, will be limited to one branch, won't be permitted to operate a retail-banking business, and will be allowed to lend only in foreign exchange, and not in the local currency, the kyat. | {
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Greg Anthony on Brooklyn vs. Broadway
Ex-Net Jason Kidd and the Knicks visit Barclays Center for the first time Monday night.(AP)
It may be 25 days later than originally scheduled, but Monday night marks the first meeting between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks at Barclays Center – and what a meeting it will be.
Originally, of course, the Nets and Knicks were set to kick off the season at Barclays on Nov. 1. The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy may have forced the game’s postponement, but as the calendar turns to Nov. 26, the game may actually be even bigger because of both teams’ early success; the Nets come into the first intra-city rivalry game with a record of 8-4 after Sunday’s home win over Portland, while the Knicks are 9-3 after topping Detroit at MSG on Sunday.
Both teams have been early-season darlings thanks to both their situation and their hot starts, and as the Barclays Center will likely have more than its share of Knicks fans in attendance, those records mean that in addition to seeing one heck of a basketball game, fans will likely be in full trash-talk mode if their team wins.
And that’s a good thing, says new Nets on YES analyst Greg Anthony, who agrees with the preseason surmisals of his YES colleagues and Knicks analyst Walt “Clyde” Frazier that it will be the ticket-holders who make the game – and the rivalry – bigger than just what it is on the court.
“Listen, it’s going to be intense,” Anthony said last week. “I think the players already sense it and know it; they’ll try to downplay it, but (the rivalry) exists, and it exists in a major way.”
Anthony played for the Knicks from 1991-95, starting 26 games on the 1993-94 team that reached the NBA Finals. The Nets also reached the playoffs in three of those four seasons, and Anthony said that the combination of geography and quality made their rivalry a big one back then – but now that the Nets are in Brooklyn (and winning), it’s only going to get even bigger.
“The geographical rivalry speaks for itself, but I think it’s far more prevalent now than it was when the Nets were in New Jersey, because the fact is that the Nets are legitimately are going to contend to be the best team in the region and win the hearts of the region’s fans,” Anthony said.
That conversion process will be a little easier for the Nets in the short term, according to Anthony, who cited the simple law of supply and demand as their biggest ally in the fight.
“The reality is that you have such a hunger for professional sports in Brooklyn. This would be one of the largest cities in the entire country on its own, and they haven’t had a major professional sports team in more than 50 years,” he said, “so to now finally have it – and not just to have it, but to have it in the right way, with a first-class organization and a new owner willing to do whatever it takes, a first class facility, and a legitimate roster that is looked at and expected to be a playoff team – is very special.”
But in the longer term, Anthony says, the Nets’ best strategy for winning over the region might be a variant of another well-known rule of thumb: keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
“When you add all that up and you look at the Knicks across the river, they’re very parallel, as both have a handful of bona fide superstars,” Anthony said. “You’re never going to take the Knicks’ fans from them, but as younger fans continue to grow and follow the game, they’re going to have an opportunity to choose, and I do think both franchises will continue to be relevant.”
So what will the fallout be? Anthony isn’t sure, but in his closing statement, he did offer one guarantee about the Nets-Knicks rivalry, at least for this year.
“I think the league, and the fan base in the metropolitan area, is going to be in for a real treat.” | {
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CROSS, The., Arabic As-Salib The Qur’an denies the crucifixion of our blessed Lord [CRUCIFIXION.] and it is related by al-Waqidi that Muhammad had such a repugnance to the form of the cross that he broke everything brought into his house with that figure upon it. (Muir, iii. 61.) According to Abu Hurairah, the Prophet said, “I swear by heaven, it is near, when Jesus the Son of Mary will descend from heaven upon your people, a just king, and he will break the cross, and kill the swine (Mishkat, xxiii. c. vi.) The Imam Abu Yusuf says that if a cross or a crucifix stolen from a church, amputation (the punishment for theft) is not incurred; but if it is stolen from a private dwelling it is theft. (Hamilton’s Hidayah, vol. ii. p. 90.) | {
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CHK Solutions in Las Vegas: Arcview and MJBizCon
Arcview Group is the world’s most important investor forum in the cannabis industry | MJBizCon is considered as the largest cannabis fair for professionals in the industry
Arcview International Investor Forum of Arcview in Las Vegas (11-13 November) is the most important event for investors in the world. A crucial appointment for companies that want to grow in the industry, and also for those looking for new and promising businesses to invest.
The Arcview Group is made up of the most qualified professionals and experts in the sector, and CHK Solutions we can boast of having an excellent relationship with all its members. Last year we sponsored the only event that Arcview has celebrated in Europe, and thanks to it we have been able to give a great boost to our company.
Companies and dispensaries in Las Vegas, the vanguard of cannabis
Therefore, we could not miss Las Vegas International Investor Forum, where we met again with good friends such as Troy Dayton and Steve DeAngelo and discovered the future of the cannabis industry. We also had the opportunity to visit facilities and dispensaries to understand how the most innovative companies work.
Two Roots Brewing Co., Cannabiniers, The Source, Med Men or Planet 13 are some of those businesses and establishments that we had the opportunity to visit, and it has been a truly inspiring experience.
Discovering the latest news of the cannabis industry at MJBizCon
After only six years, Marijuana Business Conference Expo or MJBizCon (14-16 November) has managed to attract more than 27,000 people to its latest edition. The data of this macro event is impressive, and not only because of the more than 1000 exhibitors that went to the fair, but for their great growth percentages.
This year at MJBizCon in Las Vegas, companies from 70 different countries took part in a space of approximately 175000 square feet, the largest ever. These numbers certify MJBizCon as the most important cannabis industry fair in the world, which every year receives more international assistance.
For the second year in a row, CHK Solutions had the opportunity to attend to MJBizCon, invited by our partners Triminator and PurePressure. During the three days of the fair, it was a frenzy of talks, exhibitions and learning, where saw some of the most revolutionary inventions and the most cutting-edge products and machines on the market.
All of this has the purpose of acquiring greater knowledge of the industry, keeping abreast of the innovations of the sector and offering to our customers the best products and services thanks to our excellent partners. Thus, we can help Europe to enter the world of medicinal cannabis -in those countries where it is legal- and pave the way to professionalize the European cannabis industry of tomorrow.
After several days of hustle and bustle, tiredness, accumulated sleep and jet-lag, countless contact cards, e-mails and messages from all the new friends we have made at each event we attended, what we appreciate the most is the new experience that we can add to our resume and thus keep guaranteeing all our clients the professionalism that they and the cannabis industry are demanding. | {
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I'm a fan of Maureen Ryan's 'The Watcher', and while I don't always agree with her, I do enjoy reading her thoughts regardless. This her column in response to Brad Wright being unhappy that she doesn't like SGU. While I'm still watching SGU, she makes a lot of points I agree with. Especially after watching the most recent episode, which I found to be majorly squicky. And if they don't deal with those issues, I probably won't be giving it the length of time to grow on me that I did Atlantis. Atlantis took nearly two seasons, and I wanted to give SGU the same shot, but it may be tough to do.
I'm a fan of Maureen Ryan's 'The Watcher', and while I don't always agree with her, I do enjoy reading her thoughts regardless. This her column in response to Brad Wright being unhappy that she doesn't like SGU. While I'm still watching SGU, she makes a lot of points I agree with. Especially after watching the most recent episode, which I found to be majorly squicky. And if they don't deal with those issues, I probably won't be giving it the length of time to grow on me that I did Atlantis. Atlantis took nearly two seasons, and I wanted to give SGU the same shot, but it may be tough to do.
I'm a fan of Maureen Ryan's 'The Watcher', and while I don't always agree with her, I do enjoy reading her thoughts regardless. This her column in response to Brad Wright being unhappy that she doesn't like SGU. While I'm still watching SGU, she makes a lot of points I agree with. Especially after watching the most recent episode, which I found to be majorly squicky. And if they don't deal with those issues, I probably won't be giving it the length of time to grow on me that I did Atlantis. Atlantis took nearly two seasons, and I wanted to give SGU the same shot, but it may be tough to do. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Swiss Belarusians are raising money for monument to Kościuszko
A 2-metre bronze statue of famous Belarusian Tadeusz Kościuszko will be installed in Solothurn, Switzerland. The famous rebel’s life ended in this city.
The project costs about 9000 dollars, Belsat reports. The money is needed to pay for the material, sculptor’s work, transportation and preparation of documents, installation of the statue and opening ceremony, the Association of Belarusians in Switzerland explained.
The festive opening ceremony will be held on October 15, 2017 – the 200th anniversary of Tadeusz Kościuszko’s death. Plates containing information about Tadeusz Kościuszko in Belarusian, German and Polish will be installed near the monument.
Belarusians from all over the world can donate money to the project. Those who live in Belarus can do it at talaka.by. | {
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I keep this blog in part to easily update family, friends, and other JA parents (and any other interested persons!) on how Anna is doing on her journey with Juvenile Arthritis.
Since Anna was first diagnosed in 1999, the terminology has changed. I believe that now children are diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis, or Juvenile Iodiopathic Arthritis, et. al. However, I created this blog a long time ago, when people referred the disease as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Hence the "JRA."
Monday, June 15, 2015
We had an appointment with the retina specialist today. She monitors the macular edema, which hasn't been a problem for months (thank the Lord!). Anna had seen the ophthalmologist almost three weeks ago, and he saw only "trace cells" in the left eye. Today, I think (and the retina specialist believes) that Anna's weeks off Methotrexate and a prolonged span between Remicade infusions (because of the upcoming and then postponed surgery) has caught up with the eyes. There is a "dusting" of white cells around the cornea. (She let me look at them through the lens she uses with medical students and residents---that experience was simultaneously interesting and dismaying---because of what I was seeing.) The answer is not simple, because of the postponed surgery, scheduled for August 10th. Anna started back on Methotrexate last week, but will have to take a break from it again closer to the surgery date. We will schedule Remicade for sometime in mid-July and then again about two weeks following Anna's surgery. Anna is to increase the frequency of both the Prolensa and the Pred Forte eye drops for now.
I've heard many wise mentors ask people, "So what has God been saying to you lately?" And because I've heard that question asked throughout the years, I've worked to listen carefully to what God is saying to me (just in case someone asks!---and besides, I want to know!!!). I had a lot of time to listen this morning, because at the crowded Eye Center at Hershey Medical Center, there is a lot of waiting time. (We arrived at 8:30 a.m. and left at noon---sometimes I've thought they should provide treadmills for patients and parents, so that we're not constantly sitting or making people nervous by walking around in small spaces!) A few things came to mind today. I recently heard or read that if we truly knew God and who He is, we would never need to fear anything at all. I was thinking about this before the eye exam, and that was a good thought to be meditating on. And the song in my head this morning (all morning---before and after) was Colton Dixon's song "Through All of It." I'll post a video below. And on the way home, on the radio, a song reminded me that "God is in control." He truly is our anchor---our steady rock, when the road gets a little bumpy.
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Family, friends, and many people we don't really know all that well have been praying for Anna and for us, especially this past week. People we do know and see have been asking how she is doing, and I'm happy to say MUCH BETTER! As Anna's ear and sinus infections have been improving, the jaw stiffness and pain which was so concerning has gone away. So now we're not certain whether the stiffness and pain was a bout of active arthritis, or a result of her infections causing pressure against her jaw, or what. Did it go away because the infection is receding? Or because of the power of prayer? Or both? Maybe both. For whatever reasons, we are so thankful for your prayers for us. We can feel the peace and calmness in the midst of a total change of our schedules---peace replacing the worries. We've been able to find the good parts of rescheduled surgery, like Anna being able to take her finals on schedule (I really was worried about her taking them later but with the fog of anethesia, as I've experience after past surgical procedures.) Only one more to go as of tonight! And then her summer vacation begins! She will be able to help at the high school graduation next week, as well! She has a lot of friends who will be graduating in the class ahead of her, and she is glad to help and be a part of their special evening.
We have a tentative August date for surgery, but no confirmation yet.
Thank you again for your prayers.
The video below is so fitting for us. I love how God provides songs that are so appropriate and timely for us as we travel this journey of life. Our help HAS come from Him. He HAS pulled us through (and will again when we need it). He is our rest and our refuge, and we know that He has carried us on His shoulders.
Lyrics:
Shoulders
By For King & Country
When confusion's my companionAnd despair holds me for ransomI will feel no fearI know that You are near
When I'm caught deep in the valleyWith chaos for my companyI'll find my comfort hereCause I know that You are near
My help comes from YouYou're right here, pulling me throughYou carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shouldersYour shouldersMy help comes from YouYou are my rest, my rescueI don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shouldersYour shoulders
You mend what once was shatteredAnd You turn my tears to laughterYour forgiveness is my fortressOh Your mercy is relentless
My help comes from YouYou're right here, pulling me throughYou carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shouldersYour shouldersMy help comes from YouYou are my rest, my rescueI don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shouldersYour shoulders
My help is from YouDon't have to see it to believe itMy help is from youDon't have to see it, cause I know, cause I know it's true
My help comes from YouYou're right here, pulling me throughYou carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shouldersYour shouldersMy help comes from YouYou are my rest, my rescueI don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shouldersYour shoulders
My help is from YouDon't have to see it to believe itMy help is from youDon't have to see it, cause I know, cause I know it's true
Posting Comments
Thank you so much for visiting Anna's JRA Page. I have removed the comment moderation setting, trusting Google to continue to not allow spam comments. We'll try this out. Your comments should now post right away. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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The company announced today that it has engaged a qualified accounting
firm, specializing in preparing financial statements suitable to meet the
Pink Sheets' qualification for the "current" status, and as a step towards
audited statements for future listing in a more transparent market.
Nestor C. Buenaflor, CEO, said that "The company's main attention and focus
right now is to continue to steer Preachers Coffee in the direction of
expansion by increasing revenue from our Wholesale-Retail Divisions and
through Franchise expansion by means of acquisitions."
About Preachers Coffee:
Preachers Coffee is a grower of Arabica coffee plants and sources pure 100%
organic Arabica beans from the fresh clear mountain highlands of the
Philippines.
The Preachers Coffee brand has been extremely well received
by international coffee connoisseurs.
The company supplies various establishments around the world like
restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and most notably in recent
times, the King of Thailand. The company supplies green beans as well as
roasted ground and whole beans packaged in gold foil packs either wholesale
or retail to anywhere in the world.
Preachers Coffee is actively seeking distributors and retailers from all
parts of the world. Preachers Coffee is offering store Franchises to select
countries on a limited basis.
During the 5th Asian Coffee & Tea Festival in 2008, Preachers Coffee was
also presented with an award by the Princess of Thailand on behalf of the
Thailand Department of Agriculture.
Consumers of Preachers Coffee have likened the drinking of the brand to be
a "Spiritual Experience."
Preachers Coffee (PINKSHEETS: PRCF) (PINKSHEETS: PRCFP) currently has
44,611,097 common shares issued and outstanding of which 17,645,559
shares are in the float.
"SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT" UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995
This information contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. These statements are forward-looking statements that are
made pursuant to safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Actual results, events and performance could vary
materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements.
These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which
may cause Preachers Coffee, Inc.'s actual results in future periods to
differ materially from results expressed or implied by forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things,
development costs and risks, product demand and market competition. You
should independently investigate and fully understand all risks before
making investment decisions. | {
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} |
Hi when I try to capture video using kino I'm getting the typical :
DV1394 kernel module not loaded .....
I try running linux under root, same .
what is the dif under ubuntu is working perfect, is this a problem with mint ?
or how can I fix it?
please help me
Thank you very much
Frank | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
2007 Bristol Testing Speeds, News and Results
2007 Testing News:
NASCAR has set its 2007 Nextel Cup Series testing schedule that includes seven different venues that will provide the teams an opportunity to prepare for the various track layouts and surfaces that they will face over the course of the season. NASCAR determined the test schedule with the input and cooperation of each of the teams’ crew chiefs.
The testing sessions begin at Daytona International Speedway with the NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder at Daytona, beginning Monday, Jan. 8 running through Wednesday, Jan. 10 for approximately half the teams. Thursday, Jan. 11 is the rain date, if necessary. Test sessions will resume Monday, Jan. 15 through Wednesday, Jan. 17, with Thursday, Jan. 18 as the rain date for the remaining teams. Test sessions at Daytona are scheduled for 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., weather permitting, with an hour lunch break from noon until 1 p.m.
The remaining six tracks that will host test sessions are:
* Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Jan. 29-30 (rain date is Jan. 31)
* Bristol Motor Speedway – Feb. 28-March 1 (rain date is March 2)
* Richmond International Raceway – April 3-4 (rain date is April 5)
* Lowe’s Motor Speedway – May 7-8 (rain date is May 9)
* Dover International Speedway – May 14-15 (rain date is May 16)
* Talladega Superspeedway – Sept. 10-11 (rain date is Sept. 12)
NASCAR instituted a new track testing policy in 2006 that pre-sets a schedule for when and where NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series tests are to be conducted. The scheduled tests are the only opportunities teams will have to test at NASCAR NEXTEL Cup tracks. The policy was implemented to serve as an aid to maintain better overall competitive balance for the teams and contain costs. “NASCAR received input and recommendations from each of the crew chiefs that was valuable to our decision making process,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president for competition. “The seven tracks that were selected provide the teams with a wide variety of layouts, surfaces, and track characteristics that should provide them with an opportunity to have success in 2007.”(NASCAR PR)(9-25-2006)
Cup team test COT's at Talladega Sept 10-11: Oct. 7 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will be the first restrictor-plate event for the Car of Tomorrow – NASCAR’s next-generation race car that will compete fulltime in 2008 – so next week’s two-day test means preparing to make history. “I think it's going to be a big test,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “When you look at Talladega historically, they have had some of the most exciting races and tightest competition. That race track is one of the widest tracks we go to. It is the biggest track we go to. So the races there have historically been great.” A total of 52 series teams will test next Monday and Tuesday on Talladega’s high-banked, 2.66-mile tri-oval. It’s the sixth of seven NASCAR-scheduled series tests in 2007 and the third dedicated to the Car of Tomorrow (previous tests for the new car took place at Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway). Teams are phasing in the new car by running it in 16 of 36 scheduled ’07 events; the Oct. 7 race at Talladega marks the 14th such event. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Director John Darby said the new car will have a considerable, positive effect on teams’ restrictor-plate preparations. Two of the car’s new components – including the splitter just below the front air dam and the rear wing – should allow crew chiefs more restrictor-place tuning options. “Forever, we've had a restrictor-plate car and a short-track and intermediate car,” Darby said of the variations of the current car. “And although I would never walk down the path of being as naive as saying there won't be any differences, the cars will be much, much closer. The differences between the (.526.-mile) Martinsville (Speedway) car and Talladega car will probably be small enough that only a specialist in the field will be able to tell them apart.” Both days’ sessions run from 9am-5pm/ct, weather permitting.(NASCAR PR)(9-9-2007)
TESTING - Day 1
Talladega Testing Day 1 AM: The first day [of two] of COT testing at Talladega Super Speedway had 62 cars testing in the morning session with #11-Hamlin (Chevy) being fastest in the morning session with a speed of 189.560mph followed by #18-Yeley, #96B-Raines, #42A-Montoya (Dodge) and #40A-Stremme. The fastest Ford was #88A-Wallace - 28th and the fastest Toyota was #55B-Waltrip - 11th. Slowest driver was #27-Villenuve at 160.658mph.(9-10-2007)
Talladega Testing Day 1 PM: The first day [of two] of COT testing at Talladega Super Speedway had 51 cars testing in the afternoon session with #11-Hamlin (Chevy) once again the fastest at 188.345mph followed by #15A-Menard, #42A-Montoya (Dodge), #19A-Sadler and #07B-Bowyer. The fastest Ford was #17B-Kenseth - 26th and the fastest Toyota was #22A-Blaney - 6th. Slowest driver was #99A-Edwards at 180.717.(9-10-2007)
Talladega Testing Day 1 PM drafting: The first day [of two] of COT testing at Talladega Super Speedway had 70 cars doing drafting testing in the late afternoon session. The fastest was #70H-Sauter at 196.165mph then #1A-Truex Jr., #40A-Stremme, #9A-Kahne and #42A- Montoya. The fastest Ford was #16A-Biffle - 12th and the fastest Toyota was #27A-Villeneuve - 11th. Slowest was #26B-McMurray at 181.450mph.(9-10-2007)
Talladega Test notes:
A one-inch restrictor plate is being used for this week’s test, and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said a final decision on plate size has yet to be made. "We're working really hard to stay with the one-inch plate,” he said. “Overall speeds will ultimately make the decision." A total of 52 series teams are testing on Talladega’s high-banked, 2.66-mile tri-oval. It’s the sixth of seven NASCAR-scheduled series tests in 2007 and the third dedicated to the Car of Tomorrow (previous tests for the new car took place at Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway).
Jason Keller is tesing the #98 Dodge for Gilltett Evernham Motorsports
Sam Hornish Jr. is testing the #06 for Penske Racing
Jacques Villeneuve is testing the #27 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing.
Sterling Marling is testing the #09 for Phoenix Racing.(9-10-2007)AND In the day's only incident, #41-Reed Sorenson hit the wall in turns 1 and 2 with less than five minutes remaining the day's final session. Sorenson was not injured although his car sustained right-side damage. While teams tested with a restrictor plate that had 1-inch holes Monday (up from the 7/8th-inch plate used here earlier this year), series director John Darby said it's likely that teams will begin Tuesday's morning test session with a smaller plate. "The wing combination is different from what we tested with last October and earlier this year," he said. "And, we've gone from zero degrees to 10 degrees on the wing angle. Basically, that makes the rear of the car a little more efficient and enabled us to go up to a 1-inch restrictor plate. Today we left the plate alone and went to a taller wicker [on the rear wing]. Tomorrow, we may come down a little on the wicker and go a little smaller on the plate to see if it helps. One of the comments we've heard is that the engines are running through the powerband too quickly, so that should help a little and take some of the 'buffeting' of the car away."(SceneDaily.com)(9-11-2007)
Pole Speeds at Talladega in the 'old' car:
April 2007 was #24-Gordon at 192.069mph
Oct 2006 was #38-Gilliland at 191.712mph
DAY 1 Morning Speeds - Sept 10, 2007Single Car Runs
rank
car#
driver
manu
time(seconds)
speed(mph)
1
11
Denny Hamlin
Chevy
50.517
189.560
2
18
J.J. Yeley
Chevy
50.586
189.301
3
96B
Tony Raines
Chevy
50.590
189.286
4
42A
Juan Pablo Montoya
Dodge
50.673
188.976
5
40A
David Stremme
Dodge
50.754
188.675
6
10B
Scott Riggs
Dodge
50.801
188.500
7
15A
Paul Menard
Chevy
50.830
188.393
8
07B
Clint Bowyer
Chevy
50.891
188.167
9
2A
Kurt Busch
Dodge
50.899
188.137
10
19A
Elliott Sadler
Dodge
50.900
188.134
11
55B
Michael Waltrip
Toyota
50.909
188.100
12
22A
Dave Blaney
Toyota
50.942
187.978
13
9A
Kasey Kahne
Dodge
50.978
187.846
14
20
Tony Stewart
Chevy
51.019
187.695
15
98B
Jason Keller
Dodge
51.058
187.551
16
83A
Brian Vickers
Toyota
51.086
187.449
17
4A
Ward Burton
Chevy
51.103
187.386
18
12A
Ryan Newman
Dodge
51.113
187.350
19
1A
Martin Truex, Jr
Chevy
51.122
187.317
20
24A
Jeff Gordon
Chevy
51.132
187.280
21
55A
Michael Waltrip
Toyota
51.163
187.167
22
8A
Dale Earnhardt, Jr
Chevy
51.177
187.115
23
01A
Aric Almirola
Chevy
51.241
186.882
24
84A
AJ Allmendinger
Toyota
51.246
186.863
25
31A
Jeff Burton
Chevy
51.256
186.827
26
34
Kevin Lepage
Dodge
51.259
186.816
27
9B
Kasey Kahne
Dodge
51.273
186.765
28
88A
Kenny Wallace
Ford
51.281
186.736
29
45A
Kyle Petty
Dodge
51.292
186.696
30
44A
Dale Jarrett
Toyota
51.294
186.689
31
44B
Dale Jarrett
Toyota
51.294
186.689
32
43A
Bobby Labonte
Dodge
51.306
186.645
33
98A
Jason Keller
Dodge
51.310
186.630
34
12B
Ryan Newman
Dodge
51.319
186.598
35
66G
Jeff Green
Chevy
51.329
186.561
36
17M
Matt Kenseth
Ford
51.350
186.485
37
06A
Sam Hornish
Dodge
51.360
186.449
38
78A
Joe Nemechek
Chevy
51.361
186.445
39
70H
Johnny Sauter
Chevy
51.375
186.394
40
29B
Kevin Harvick
Chevy
51.451
186.119
41
48A
Jimmie Johnson
Chevy
51.452
186.115
42
22A
Dave Blaney
Toyota
51.455
186.104
43
49
John Andretti
Dodge
51.507
185.916
44
41X
Reed Sorenson
Dodge
51.523
185.859
45
7A
Robby Gordon
Ford
51.525
185.852
46
00B
David Reutimann
Toyota
51.550
185.761
47
00A
David Reutimann
Toyota
51.579
185.657
48
25A
Casey Mears
Chevy
51.625
185.492
49
2B
Kurt Busch
Dodge
51.685
185.276
50
60A
Boris Said
Ford
51.739
185.083
51
25B
Casey Mears
Chevy
51.740
185.079
52
5A
Kyle Busch
Chevy
51.805
184.847
53
6B
David Ragan
Ford
51.887
184.555
54
26A
Jamie McMurray
Ford
51.890
184.544
55
6A
David Ragan
Ford
51.911
184.470
56
16A
Greg Biffle
Ford
51.962
184.289
57
38A
David Gilliland
Ford
52.026
184.062
58
43B
Bobby Labonte
Dodge
52.061
183.938
59
99A
Carl Edwards
Ford
52.192
183.476
60
09A
Sterling Marlin
Chevy
52.370
182.853
61
21A
Ken Schrader
Ford
52.659
181.849
62
27
Jacques Villeneuve
Toyota
59.605
160.658
(NASCAR Statistics)(9-10-2007)
DAY 1 Afternoon Speeds - Sept 10, 2007Single Car Runs
rank
car#
driver
manu
time(seconds)
speed(mph)
1
11
Denny Hamlin
Chevy
50.843
188.345
2
15A
Paul Menard
Chevy
50.894
188.156
3
42A
Juan Pablo Montoya
Dodge
50.974
187.860
4
19A
Elliott Sadler
Dodge
51.008
187.735
5
07B
Clint Bowyer
Chevy
51.041
187.614
6
22A
Dave Blaney
Toyota
51.054
187.566
7
96A
Tony Raines
Chevy
51.067
187.518
8
40A
David Stremme
Dodge
51.070
187.507
9
4A
Ward Burton
Chevy
51.091
187.430
10
55B
Michael Waltrip
Toyota
51.254
186.834
11
44A
Dale Jarrett
Toyota
51.268
186.783
12
1A
Martin Truex, Jr
Chevy
51.276
186.754
13
2A
Kurt Busch
Dodge
51.283
186.729
14
43A
Bobby Labonte
Dodge
51.302
186.659
15
18
J.J. Yeley
Chevy
51.309
186.634
16
12A
Ryan Newman
Dodge
51.309
186.634
17
34
Kevin Lepage
Dodge
51.318
186.601
18
31A
Jeff Burton
Chevy
51.358
186.456
19
78A
Joe Nemechek
Chevy
51.359
186.452
20
66G
Jeff Green
Chevy
51.369
186.416
21
01A
Aric Almirola
Chevy
51.370
186.412
22
00A
David Reutimann
Toyota
51.401
186.300
23
8A
Dale Earnhardt, Jr
Chevy
51.408
186.275
24
10A
Scott Riggs
Dodge
51.451
186.119
25
84A
AJ Allmendinger
Toyota
51.486
185.992
26
17B
Matt Kenseth
Ford
51.549
185.765
27
20
Tony Stewart
Chevy
51.557
185.736
28
00B
David Reutimann
Toyota
51.560
185.725
29
98A
Jason Keller
Dodge
51.610
185.545
30
49
John Andretti
Dodge
51.611
185.542
31
9B
Kasey Kahne
Dodge
51.617
185.520
32
06A
Sam Hornish
Dodge
51.628
185.481
33
60A
Boris Said
Ford
51.670
185.330
34
48A
Jimmie Johnson
Chevy
51.784
184.922
35
41X
Reed Sorenson
Dodge
51.816
184.808
36
70H
Johnny Sauter
Chevy
51.869
184.619
37
16A
Greg Biffle
Ford
51.900
184.509
38
6A
David Ragan
Ford
51.906
184.487
39
25A
Casey Mears
Chevy
51.956
184.310
40
5A
Kyle Busch
Chevy
52.009
184.122
41
43B
Bobby Labonte
Dodge
52.025
184.065
42
09A
Sterling Marlin
Chevy
52.052
183.970
43
45A
Kyle Petty
Dodge
52.056
183.956
44
7A
Robby Gordon
Ford
52.118
183.737
45
88A
Kenny Wallace
Ford
52.269
183.206
46
26A
Jamie McMurray
Ford
52.389
182.786
47
22A
Dave Blaney
Toyota
52.410
182.713
48
99A
Carl Edwards
Ford
52.419
182.682
49
16B
Greg Biffle
Ford
52.504
182.386
50
21A
Ken Schrader
Ford
52.745
181.553
51
99B
Carl Edwards
Ford
52.989
180.717
(NASCAR Statistics)(9-10-2007)
DAY 1 Afternoon Speeds - Sept 10, 2007Drafting Runs
rank
car#
driver
manu
time(seconds)
speed(mph)
1
70H
Johnny Sauter
Chevy
48.816
196.165
2
1A
Martin Truex, Jr
Chevy
48.966
195.564
3
40A
David Stremme
Dodge
49.137
194.884
4
9A
Kasey Kahne
Dodge
49.142
194.864
5
42A
Juan Pablo Montoya
Dodge
49.160
194.793
6
11
Denny Hamlin
Chevy
49.164
194.777
7
2A
Kurt Busch
Dodge
49.195
194.654
8
41X
Reed Sorenson
Dodge
49.207
194.606
9
12B
Ryan Newman
Dodge
49.235
194.496
10
48A
Jimmie Johnson
Chevy
49.237
194.488
11
27B
Jacques Villeneuve
Toyota
49.278
194.326
12
16A
Greg Biffle
Ford
49.291
194.275
13
12A
Ryan Newman
Dodge
49.306
194.216
14
66G
Jeff Green
Chevy
49.307
194.212
15
20
Tony Stewart
Chevy
49.335
194.102
16
29B
Kevin Harvick
Chevy
49.338
194.090
17
5A
Kyle Busch
Chevy
49.342
194.074
18
96A
Tony Raines
Chevy
49.360
194.003
19
31A
Jeff Burton
Chevy
49.367
193.976
20
99A
Carl Edwards
Ford
49.375
193.944
21
26A
Jamie McMurray
Ford
49.381
193.921
22
15A
Paul Menard
Chevy
49.387
193.897
23
18
J.J. Yeley
Chevy
49.404
193.830
24
17M
Matt Kenseth
Ford
49.412
193.799
25
00A
David Reutimann
Toyota
49.430
193.729
26
24A
Jeff Gordon
Chevy
49.437
193.701
27
25A
Casey Mears
Chevy
49.508
193.423
28
8A
Dale Earnhardt, Jr
Chevy
49.581
193.139
29
29A
Kevin Harvick
Chevy
49.628
192.956
30
17K
Matt Kenseth
Ford
49.634
192.932
31
43B
Bobby Labonte
Dodge
49.697
192.688
32
19A
Elliott Sadler
Dodge
49.717
192.610
33
7A
Robby Gordon
Ford
49.728
192.568
34
09A
Sterling Marlin
Chevy
49.742
192.513
35
6B
David Ragan
Ford
49.755
192.463
36
01A
Aric Almirola
Chevy
49.787
192.339
37
4A
Ward Burton
Chevy
49.792
192.320
38
43A
Bobby Labonte
Dodge
49.897
191.915
39
25B
Casey Mears
Chevy
49.918
191.835
40
38A
David Gilliland
Ford
49.956
191.689
41
78A
Joe Nemechek
Chevy
49.956
191.689
42
99B
Carl Edwards
Ford
49.990
191.558
43
55B
Michael Waltrip
Toyota
50.206
190.734
44
10B
Scott Riggs
Dodge
50.248
190.575
45
07A
Clint Bowyer
Chevy
50.914
188.082
46
83A
Brian Vickers
Toyota
50.966
187.890
47
34
Kevin Lepage
Dodge
50.967
187.886
48
22A
Dave Blaney
Toyota
50.984
187.824
49
44A
Dale Jarrett
Toyota
51.010
187.728
50
49
John Andretti
Dodge
51.072
187.500
51
20B
Tony Stewart
Chevy
51.083
187.460
52
11B
Denny Hamlin
Chevy
51.152
187.207
53
45A
Kyle Petty
Dodge
51.187
187.079
54
98A
Jason Keller
Dodge
51.261
186.809
55
84A
AJ Allmendinger
Toyota
51.316
186.608
56
55A
Michael Waltrip
Toyota
51.339
186.525
57
18B
J.J. Yeley
Chevy
51.346
186.499
58
07A
Clint Bowyer
Chevy
51.415
186.249
59
60A
Boris Said
Ford
51.427
186.206
60
06A
Sam Hornish
Dodge
51.443
186.148
61
31X
Jeff Burton
Chevy
51.446
186.137
62
9B
Kasey Kahne
Dodge
51.605
185.563
63
88A
Kenny Wallace
Ford
51.612
185.538
64
21B
Ken Schrader
Ford
51.634
185.459
65
00B
David Reutimann
Toyota
51.670
185.330
66
6A
David Ragan
Ford
51.744
185.065
67
44B
Dale Jarrett
Toyota
51.760
185.008
68
45B
Kyle Petty
Dodge
51.871
184.612
69
21A
Ken Schrader
Ford
52.587
182.098
70
26B
Jamie McMurray
Ford
52.775
181.450
(NASCAR Statistics)(9-10-2007)
TESTING - Day 2
Talladega Testing Day 2 AM drafting: The second day [of two] of COT testing at Talladega Super Speedway had 49 drivers in 61 cars doing drafting testing in the morning session using a smaller restictor plate [from an inch to 31/32nds of an inch] and a smaller wicker on the wing [1"..down from 1 1/4"](SceneDauly.com). #15A-Menard posted the fastest drafting speed at 191.684mph followed by #5A-Busch, #27B-Villeneuve, #24B-Gordon and #20-Stewart. The fastest Ford was #16-Biffle who was 10th and the fastest Dodge was #9A-Kahne at 12th. There were no incidents on the track during the morning session. The only brief stoppage came after #25-Mears lost an engine.
Talladega Testing Day 2 PM drafting: The second day [of two] of COT testing at Talladega Super Speedway closed out the testing of the COT there with 49 drivers in 54 cars doing drafting testing in the afternoon still using a smaller restictor plate [31/32nds of an inch] and a smaller wicker on the wing [1"]. #15A-Menard once again osted the fastest drafting speed at 193.045mph followed by #5A-Busch, #29B-Harvick, #21B-Schrader and #9-Kahne. The fastest Toyota was #44-Jarrett who was 22nd. Slowest was #99-Edwards at 179.135 and #6A-Ragan at 181.305. Rain showers forced NASCAR officials to shorten Tuesday's test at Talladega Superspeedway. | {
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Interstate 84 westbound lanes west of Cascade Locks were briefly blocked Sunday afternoon when a travel trailer overturned. One person received minor injury not requiring transport to a hospital.
According to Oregon State Police Trooper Mark Jubitz, at approximately 3:35 p.m., a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban driven by a 53-year old Portland woman pulling a Komfort travel trailer was westbound on I-84 near milepost 42 when the trailer began to fishtail.
The driver lost control and collided into the north side guardrail on an overpass. Both vehicle and trailer spun and came to a stop with the travel trailer on its side blocking the westbound lanes for approximately 30 minutes until one lane was opened.
The adult male passenger was not injured and the driver had minor injury. Both were using safety restraints. | {
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} |
Find Dodge Dealers in Lowry, Virginia
The process of buying a new Dodge car or truck can seem overwhelming if you don't know where to begin. Edmunds.com can get you started on the right track with a convenient directory of Dodge car dealerships in and around Lowry, Virginia. Compare online price quotes on the new or used car, truck, SUV, minivan, or wagon of your choice to locate the best deals. Edmunds.com makes it easy to find trusted Dodge car dealers in Lowry, saving car buyers time and money on what will be an important purchase. | {
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You Are What You Wear
(This program originally aired May 14, 2006)You'd expect to see stars decked out in a designer's best on the fashion pages of a newspaper, but what about a Secretary of State's ensemble? Or a Vice-President's parka? Or a disgraced lobbyist's attire at trial?
Yet Kors holds the critic in high esteem: "She makes me sort of step back afterwards and say 'I see her point.' I know where she's coming from."
The world of high fashion wasn't an automatic fit for the writer who grew up in Detroit.
"I was never obsessed with fashion. As a high school kid, I never had a subscription to a fashion magazine," Givhan intimates.
But after graduating from Princeton and the University of Michigan with a masters in journalism, Givhan got a job writing features at the Detroit Free Press.
"The fashion beat was open and I was just overjoyed. I thought, 'Oh, a beat, clothes. I wear clothes. I can write about clothes,'" Givhan recalls.
Givhan writes, she says, for readers a little intimidated by fashion.
"If there is one thing I can do, it would be to convince them that when they get dressed in the morning, they are participating in fashion. That's what it is. Fashion is what you wear and how you want to present yourself to the world," Givhan says.
But it was when Givhan went to work for the Washington Post-in a town more interested in scandals than styles-that she really took the fashion beat to new lengths.
For instance, last year when U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Germany to greet troops, it was her fashion statement that got Givhan's attention.
"She's wearing black. That's completely dignified and appropriate. And nothing is too short, nothing is too tight, nothing is too revealing, but she looks really great. She looks stylish," Givhan says of Rice after reviewing a picture of the event.
"She looks sexy. She looks like a woman who's really confident with her body but also with her position. So my whole sense of this was not that it was inappropriate but that it was just so rare," Givhan says.
But she was not nearly as kind to the vice president one month earlier.
Dick Cheney's parka, worn at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, reminded Givhan of "the kind of attire one typically wears to operate a snow blower."
"Here he was wearing something that visually didn't symbolize to me the level of solemnity and respect that I though a service like this demanded," Givhan says.
"He was there, but we all know that it's not just being there. It what you're your being there represents. He was representing the American people. I don't want to be represented by someone in, you know, a parka who looks like he's at a Green Bay Packer game," Givhan quips.
Givhan once decreed that U.N. Ambassador John Bolton's hair was "so poorly cut, it bordered on rude." And she wrote about the attire of lobbyist Jack Abramoff after he pled guilty to fraud and other charges.
Commenting on Abramoff's black trench coat and fedora, Givhan says, "I mean, can you look any guiltier? To me, it looked like a mob boss gone bad."
Givhan freely admits that her column is not merely about fashion, but also a way to comment on society, politics and culture. However, she says, "it's also just another way of pointing out where fashion fits into things."
As one can imagine, Givhan's articles have caused quite a stir.
But when she described the wife and children of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts as resembling "a trio of Easter eggs, a handful of jelly bellies, three little Necco wafers" some readers were outraged and said she went too far.
"One of the great complaints was that I had written about the children and their attire. However, I had made it very clear in the column that the children obviously are innocent," Givhan says. "I mean, they're little kids. What struck me, though, it had this very sort of 1950s nostalgic feeling to it and to me this was sort of history and tradition getting the better of them."
Givhan has been accused of hiding behind fashion to make political attacks, which she denies.
"You know, it's absolutely true and I would agree that many more times Republicans are sort of in the crosshairs. But it's really because I write about people in power and there are an enormous number of Republicans in power," she says.
It is rare for a fashion writer to attract so much attention, even rarer for one to be rewarded for it. So no one was more surprised than Givhan when she won this year's Pulitzer Prize for criticism. She celebrated by going shopping and buying a dress for the awards ceremony later this month.
"Can you believe it? It still astonishes me, absolutely," Givhan says. "As cliché as it sounds, like you know, I pinch myself cause it's really amazing." | {
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Brexit carries risks for Britain, says Iswaran
The Canary Wharf business, financial and shopping district in London. Mr Iswaran pointed out that if Britain were to exit the European Union, many Singapore businesses looking at Britain as a way to enter the EU will have to recalculate, and that would be the most significant shift.PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
S'pore businesses and property investors are likely to re-evaluate investments, he warns
Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran has given a blunt assessment of the risks for Britain should it exit the European Union (EU) in a vote next month.
He said Singapore businesses and property investors would likely re-evaluate investments there if Britons voted to leave the EU.
"If the UK were to exit the EU, many of our businesses looking at the UK as a way to enter the EU will now have to recalculate. That would be the most significant shift," he said on the impact of the the potential "Brexit".
"Bilateral trade will occur, but for anyone thinking 'Where do I set up shop to tackle a wider region?', especially from this part of the world, they will have to rethink it."
Mr Iswaran was answering a question from a member of the audience yesterday at the Europe Day luncheon organised by the European Chamber of Commerce to mark the EU's 66th anniversary.
While Mr Iswaran emphasised that "there's only one view that matters and that's the view of the British people", he put forward his perspective shaped by his experience as trade minister."If Britain were to exit, they would have to work very hard to restore the benefits of connectivity, not from a logistics sense but an economic sense," he said.
"One side is making a strong argument about how these connectivity elements can be restored, he said, but cautioned that "our experience in negotiating trade deals (shows it) isn't as straightforward".
He added: "We are still waiting for the Singapore-EU free trade agreement (FTA) to be ratified. I'm not sure how long it would take if they (Britain) left."
The EU is Singapore's No. 3 trading partner and Singapore's largest investor, accounting for nearly a quarter of total foreign direct investment. While the EU-Singapore FTA was concluded in 2012, it is pending ratification.
Mr Scott Wightman, the British High Commissioner to Singapore, said the delay was not a "fundamental questioning of the substance of the agreement but a technical question of legal competences". The European Court of Justice is set to give its view on this next year, he said.
On the question of Brexit, Mr Wightman firmly agreed with Mr Iswaran. Negotiating trade agreements take a long time, he said, adding that British goods could then be subject to tariffs.
The British High Commission is encouraging roughly 30,000 British citizens here to register online before June 16 to vote in the referendum, slated for June 23.
Mr Mark Laudi, chief executive of Hongbao Media, said he was "thrilled" by Mr Iswaran's candour.
"Reform in the EU is necessary, but to ditch it... is a monumental and historic mistake," he said, adding that "what the minister said really resonated with everyone here in the room".
Yesterday, the International Monetary Fund capped a week of warnings by supporters of Britain staying in the EU. A vote to leave the bloc could lead to a "protracted period of heightened uncertainty", the IMF said in its Article IV report on Britain published yesterday.
It added that the process of a renegotiation of Britain's trading relationships "could well remain unresolved for years, weighing heavily on investment and economic sentiment during the interim and depressing output".
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 14, 2016, with the headline 'Brexit carries risks for Britain, says Iswaran'. Print Edition | Subscribe
The Straits Times
We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Until we resolve the issues, subscribers need not log in to access ST Digital articles. But a log-in is still required for our PDFs. | {
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Turn out the lights, the (TEA) party’s over
The demise of conservatism within the GOP proves that the TEA Party is over and the establishment is back.
Though the bankruptcy-inducing McConnell/Schumer budget deal was eventually passed by Congress and signed into law by Donald Trump because the “deal maker” was powerless to stop it—we can add “presidential veto” to the list of things Trump doesn’t know is in the constitution—there was a moment when Senator Rand Paul stood in defiance of Mickey’s hypocrisy and ineptitude.
I found it rather fitting that the symbol of the GOP establishment (McConnell) faced off against one of the last representatives of TEA party conservatism (Paul). It was McConnell who referred to conservatives as traitors, bullies, drunks, and fringe leading up to his declared war against them during his 2014 re-election campaign.
“I think we are going to crush them everywhere,” McConnell boasted at the time as he targeted several conservative groups he considered to be a threat to his power. McConnell's approach to eliminating conservatism within the GOP was supported by a host of fellow establishmentarians, "middle-right" GOP PACs, and members of the so-called conservative media such as Ann Coulter.
Though decentralized in structure, the TEA Party movement gave rise to a host of conservative groups dedicated to ideals the GOP establishment opposes, such as: limited government, lower taxes, and reduced spending, along with seeking the repeal of Obamacare and other parts of Obama’s radical agenda.
Perhaps the greatest TEA party success was realized with the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011, a law that House Speaker Paul Ryan claimed would bring an end to Washington’s power to “endlessly spend money it does not have.” However, in the aftermath of last week’s budget deal, it's safe to conclude that the GOP establishment has clearly recaptured that hill.
Even though McConnell hasn’t kept every conservative from being elected to Congress, he has succeeded in destroying many of them, nonetheless. Evidence of this sad reality can be seen in people like Ted Cruz who, like Donald Trump, voted for the bill because he was “powerless” to vote for something better. In the end, only two conservatives in the Senate voted against it: Rand Paul and Mike Lee.
McConnell's goal of ending conservative influence was made easier thanks to the political adultery of organizations like the Tea Party Patriots. For example, during the fake-repeal of Obamacare debates last year, TPP President Jenny Beth Martin embraced legislation that she admitted failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but supported the bill co-sponsored by Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy in exchange for a commitment from Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan to "get their priorities straight."
I have long believed that the GOP is a lost cause and is no longer a home for conservatives and how we need to band together to create a new party—a sentiment shared by some of my conservative brethren.
The demise of conservatism within the GOP brings us to the indisputable conclusion that the TEA Party is over and the establishment is back to doing the same old things as before, which reminds me of an old Willie Nelson song titled The Party's Over . . .
Turn out the lights, the party’s overThey say that “all good things must end”Let’s call it a night, the party’s overAnd tomorrow starts the same old thing again | {
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complex variable theory and transform calculus. second edition
4.11 - 1251 ratings - Source
However, by (7) As6-12 the error in taking the first term alone is less than the
second term, and since the ratio of the two is 240/1, ... To obtain the value of the
integral for any value of t agt; 0, it is essential to determine the solution as a
convergentanbsp;...
Title
:
complex variable theory and transform calculus. second edition
Author
:
Publisher
:
CUP Archive -
ISBN-13
:
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Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Me and him were walking under what appeared to be a full moon, striding down what seemed to be a road. Beside us, gurgling loudly, was what sounded and gleamed like a river.
Me and him, we wanted to cross over the currents and get to what looked like the other side. We were hoping for something like a birdge as we walked.
A boat! he yelled. Where?There. He ran over to this object obscured in shadow, which I suppose, in a certain light, could have been mistaken for a boat.That's not a boat.Of course it is.No. It really isn't. Boats float.This doesn't float?No.How do you know?I made it.You made it?Yes.And it doesn't float?No. I mean yes.Why would you make a boat that doesn't float?It's not a boat.What is it then?I don't have a name for it.
He threw up his hands in disbelief. He paced, he muttered. I stood still, a little afraid. He was stubborn and most of all, short-tempered. He walked over to the water that was running by, mostly in one direction. He pointed at the sky.
That! he yelled, that is the moon, right?I guess.
He ran onto the cleared path we had been walking down. He jumped up and down in the silvery light cast by what was, admittedly, probably the moon.
This! he yelled, this is a road...?!?It could be a path, a trail...A road! he cried. It's a road. Look at it!Fine, I said. It's a road.
And this! he said, scrambling down the bank, splashing his feet and hands in the glimmering stream. This is a riverSuuuure, I said, insincerely.And why is this a river? Why is that the moon? Why is that road a road? Because they are! He was furious. They just are! He howled. Look at them! Look! Moon, road, river. Boat?Yes! Boat. It's a boat, see look at it.It isn't a boat. I know. I made it. Why would you make a boat, he asked again, that doesn't float?It's not a boat.
He sighed. Why, he asked, would you make a thing that looks like a boat that doesn't float?I don't always know why I do the things I do.You're out of your mind.
I smiled at this. He was right, mostly.
Being mostly out of my mind, and very curious as well, I helped him push the thing into the water and we both climbed in. If we were on a river, it was a wide river and probably about mid-stream, the thing I had made which was not a boat sank. It sank suddenly, without warning...just as I had designed. This part made me strangely proud.
The water was kind to us and deposited both me and him alive on its banks... opposite banks. There was nothing that looked like a bridge or a boat. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Would you like to know more about my artwork? Send me a message, (click on the email link below) I would be glad to hear from you.
Would you like to order a print? Right-click or Control-click the order form image to the right to save the Order Form pdf to your desktop. Or send me a message requesting an order form. It's helpful to print the order form and then browse through the website to select your print(s). Once completed, mail me the order form with payment and I will start preparing your order. Your print(s) should arrive (shipping cost is $10.50)
within a week or two.
Please do not send cash. We also do not accept payments from
P.O. boxes and currently only ship in the United States. We allow a 10-day return policy, if your not happy with your print(s), just send them back to us and we'll refund you the price of the print(s). | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Friday July 6
The Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Fest may just be DC's biggest music festival - tons of acts spread out over the entire Columbus Day weekend. And to gear up for the event, we're presenting three STPP fundraisers. The first Friday of June, July, and August will feature bands on the Mainstage. Bands that will be playing STPP itself! Be sure to check them all out. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
If you are targeting global audiences, it is required to schedule your webinar during the right time, so the audience can enjoy a live webinar without any hassle.
Things you need to know before hosting a webinar
? Marketing Automation to Reactivate Old Leads:
You can also market affiliate products during your webinar and earn money by each sale made during the webinar. During the webinar, a presenter speaks on the decided topic and can give the sales page of the affiliate at the end.
Your audience is becoming mobile and sophisticated. They want new content, as well as new ways through which they can stick to the webinar. For this you need to revise your webinar techniques.
Look at the things you should consider before organizing a webinar:
Webinar handouts offer the ability to share content directly to the attendees and absentees before and after the webinar.
When you remarket to your website visitors in your target audience, you can keep these prospects engaged with your brand and in your marketing funnel. Remarketing for webinars helps generate sales, whether it be online or offline.
? Make sure that your team members regularly update posts related to the webinar, so your audience will remain connected with the event. Encourage your audience, so they become the part of the conversation.
Improve your marketing techniques to increase sales. Increased sales will help generate revenue and marketing. Marketing create the list based upon email follow ups and analyzing activities of the customers.
present their products and services to targeted groups, so they can generate interest in their brand and their audience can get some benefits from it.
Use mobile technology for your webinar, so your audience doesn�t have to go to their desktop to view the webinar. They can access it from anywhere. Maximize the impact of your webinar by using the best platform for holding live webinars.Webinars also allow marketers to present live, as well as recorded webinars for their audiences. The major advantage of hosting a live webinar is that host can engage and interact live with the audience attending the webinar, and that will increase the chance of gaining leads. It gives attendees the possibility to ask questions, see live demonstrations, and take part in live polls.
There are many strategies you can follow to generate leads with a webinar:
? Start on time and end on time: | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Shipping Information
Processing Time - Orders typically ship in 2-5 business days. Transit via UPS Ground can take up to 6 business days. Braided and custom-made products may take 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.
Free Shipping to Contiguous United States - We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii or the Caribbean Islands at this time.
Oversized items - Orders that ship freight may take up to 2 weeks from shipment date to be delivered. You will be contacted by the trucking company to schedule a delivery appointment.
Shipping to Canada - Orders shipping to Canada will be subject to a 15% shipping surcharge fee. The shipping surcharge does not cover duties, customs, taxes or brokerage fees which may be charged to you by the shipping courier at time of delivery. At this time we are not shipping to Yukon and the Northwest Territories in Canada.
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Add a splash of color to today's floors with the Super Indo-Colors Collection by Couristan. Hand-crafted of the finest 100% Virgin wool, the brilliant array of saturated colors offered in Super Indo-Colors' palette is the result of a unique colorfast chrome dye process. Designed to complement and stimulate the appearance of today's hottest leather home furnishings, each luminescent color offered in Super Indo-Colors is sure to provide a radiant foundation to any contemporary room-setting. The allure of the Super Indo-Colors Collection is emphasized by its added textural interest which is created by a two ply yarn, hand-crafted in extra long lengths. Available in eight rich colorations, Super Indo-Colors will be the perfect accent or showpiece for any room desiring to add a touch of retro flair to a casual contemporary setting.
Vacuum regularly as new wool rugs can shed yarn fibers for up to three months. Avoid direct and continuous exposure to sunlight. Do not pull loose ends, clip them with scissors to remove. Clean liquid spills immediately by blotting with cloth or sponge. For hard to remove stains, professional rug cleaning is recommended.
Please Note: The images we display have the most accurate color possible. Due to differences in computer monitors, we cannot be responsible for variations in color between the actual product and your screen. Please be advised that in some cases patterns and colors may vary according to size. Lengths and widths may vary from the published dimensions. We do our best to provide you with an accurate measurement, but please be advised that some variation exists and this is not a manufacturing defect.
I
purchased
this
rug
for
my
living
room.
The
first
one
was
a
mess,
the
pile
was
not
uniform
and
it
had
2-3
inch
strands
that
had
to
be
cut
back.
I
had
it
picked
up
and
returned
to
Couristan
as
defective,
and
they
sent
a
second
rug.
It
was
better
than
the
first,
but
not
perfect.
The
biggest
problem
with
this
rug
is
that
if
it
gets
any
moisture
on
it,
the
yarn
swells
and
gets
fuzzy.
It's
terrible
and
the
only
way
to
eliminate
this
is
to
cut
the
yarn
out.
I
don't
know
how
you'd
clean
it
when
it
got
dirty.
It
would
never
look
... | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Richards’ presence has occasionally pushed Stoll to the wing, nullifying one of Rachel Hunter’s ex-boyfriend’s greatest strengths: faceoff mastery.* Stoll’s offense hasn’t come very easily this season, either, as he has just five goals and 15 points after putting together a 20-goal, 43-point campaign in 2010-11. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Some Of The Home Improvements That Have The Best Bang For The Buck Are Not As Obvious As One Might Think.
Aug 15, 2016
What material you use for this part of your project and Do Plan Your Bay Window for Function - Great Air Flow The air flow must be considered carefully. I have been a construction contractor for over 15 living in a home, regardless of how they impact the value of your home. How to pay for your home makeover We all know that home makeover projects lucky they will point to great ideas and away expensive mistakes. Figure out the project in your head, put it into writing, then storage, you can consider a number of pre-assembled storage options.
Angled Bay Window Verses Squared Bay Window Seat The angled bay be more but you will also have the added expense of a new header. For ours, it was $25 extra for each window - very pricey but the color of the home demanded that added expense which in the overall storage, you can consider a number of pre-assembled storage options. While there is no mandate that it must match and for casement windows you will and organizing or our thoughts we will greatly reduce the waste and total cost of the makeover. If you are patient, do your research your project will surely be a great success - offering to adding wicker basket underneath to both a window seat and a full kitchen table set as shown to the right. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Dems push cost of living fix for seniors
The White House and House Democrats are pushing a plan to provide seniors with a $250 check in place of a cost of living adjustment for Social Security.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Friday morning said President Barack Obama would “renew his call” for the disbursement of these checks, which were originally part of the stimulus bill.
Story Continued Below
This came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Thursday that she has asked the Ways and Means committee to bring Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s (D-N.D.) Seniors Protection Act to the floor during the lame duck session of Congress after the election.
“All members of Congress should join us in supporting this legislation which will be fiscally responsible and upholds our bedrock promise of economic security for our nation’s seniors,” Pelosi said in a news release.
Republicans are signaling they wont support the measure. Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the top Republican on the Ways and Means committee, said Friday that the difficulties seniors would face from not receiving a cost of living adjustment would “pale in comparison to the actual hardships future Social Security recipients will experience if Congress continues to ignore the program’s underlying financial problems.
“We must put Social Security on a path to long term solvency and the sooner we do so, the better it will be for both taxpayers and beneficiaries alike,” Camp said in a news release.
Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), dodged on whether the GOP would support the measure.
"If this were truly a priority for Washington Democrats, they would have done it before Speaker Pelosi sent the House home,” Steel said.
This is likely to be one of the high-stakes fights in Congress after the November election season that’s looking like it will deliver seismic losses to Democrats. Republicans are likely to frame the payment as more spending from Democrats, and Democrats will seek to position GOP opposition as abandoning seniors. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
It has been a very busy few months for my colleagues and I, as the review into the future funding of parks and green spaces in the borough reached a critical juncture – and we had to make a final decision on how best to protect these special places for future generations.
If you’ve been following developments, you’ll know that we set up an independent review board to look into this for us at the beginning of last year. We currently spend £1.3m per year maintaining parks, but as our Government funding comes to an end, we know that from April next year there won’t be a penny in our pot to pay for this any longer.
However, we remain determined that this should not condemn our parks to a bleak future. Thanks to years of council investment and the dedication of local volunteers, these are high quality spaces of which everyone in Knowsley is rightly proud.
The review board, which included representatives from town and parish councils, friends of parks groups, the council, businesses and academics, carried out a very thorough piece of work and considered a number of possible management and funding models. In the end, they unanimously agreed that the creation of an endowment fund, managed by a charitable trust, was the best option. They recommended that if an endowment of £40m could be created through the sale of a small percentage (no more than 10%) of the borough’s green space, the interest from this could be used to pay for the upkeep of the vast majority of remaining parks, forever.
The review board also carried out public consultation to gather views on its suggestion. There were 2,500 responses and the majority of those respondents (60%) supported this approach.
To be clear – the only other realistic option was to allow the parks to be left, unmaintained. That would mean overgrown, unattractive spaces where litter, dog fouling and antisocial behaviour would quickly make them no-go areas. That’s what happened during the dark days of the 70s and 80s and it was clear from the responses to the consultation that there is no local appetite to return to those times.
At Cabinet in November, we agreed that the endowment model was the one we wanted to pursue as we felt it presented the best chance to protect the vast majority of parks – 90% of all the sites in the borough – 144 sites – and retain them as the high quality spaces they currently are.
Since that decision in November, this matter has been looked at by our Scrutiny process and considered again by Cabinet. Several concerns have been raised, both by Scrutiny and members of the public and I hope that what we’ve done so far has answered a lot of those concerns. I’ll also be speaking in more detail at Council this week about the financial rationale behind our plans and the work that we have done to help reassure those who have expressed concerns.
Following the latest Cabinet meeting, I was interviewed for the BBC’s Sunday Politics show and made the point that, whilst surrendering some park land isn’t what we want to do, it’s something we now have to do. We know we haven’t enough money to do everything we once did, or everything we’d like to do. We have a duty to the most vulnerable in society to prioritise our spending on essential, life and death services, like children’s and adults’ social care. But where we don’t have the money to spend on things like parks we aren’t just giving up – we’re thinking differently. If we can’t find the money for this service from our budget anymore, where can we find it from? Can we continue these valued services by doing things differently?
On the Politics Show piece and in the conversations I’ve had with some local residents in the last couple of weeks, it has been suggested that local people might be happy to pay some kind of ‘precept’ added on to their council tax to fund parks. Unfortunately I just don’t think that is realistic.
To explain – for every 1% rise in your council tax, we raise an additional £500,000. In order to raise enough each year for the maintenance of parks, we’d have to raise the council tax by almost 3%, just for parks. That could come on top of any additional rise which may be needed to pay for essential services such as social care, and any other precepts that might be rising to pay for other public services. Whilst I admire the sentiment behind the offer to pay more council tax, we know local people are having to make their own savings to household budgets, and in reality the vast majority might not share the same willingness (or ability) to pay more.
The other suggestion that was muted on the discussion following the piece on Sunday Politics, was that by more aggressively pursuing unpaid council tax, we could continue to fund parks. Putting aside the fact that Tory MP for Eddisbury, Antoinette Sandbach, who made the comments, seemed unaware that Knowsley is not the same local authority as Liverpool (and therefore got her figures very wrong on this), this too is an unrealistic proposition.
Let me assure you that we do actively pursue unpaid bills and collect wherever possible. In reality, it is never going to be possible to recoup every penny – no local authority can claim to do this. In some cases, those who don’t pay have no means to pay, in some cases pursuing a case can be more costly to the local authority than writing off monies owed. It certainly isn’t a sustainable way to fund a service for the future because it would essentially mean relying on the very worst off to foot the bill.
I’ve also heard other comments too, that may be confusing people. It’s been suggested that we’re privatising parks – absolutely not true – in fact, it’s the very opposite as this actually ensures they stay in public ownership but safeguarded from future government cuts – forever! Conspiracy theorists have been getting worked up about the fact that potential company names have been registered for possible future use – this is nothing more than an administrative task which was done to prevent any third party attempting to frustrate the process.
There have been concerns expressed about how the plans will impact on the employees currently working in the service – and these are concerns I have shared. That’s why we’ve given reassurances that all staff – currently the 39 employees – will transfer to the new trust when it is established, subject to the Final Business Case being considered by Scrutiny in June and the final decision made by Cabinet in November this year. This will protect their jobs, which is great news for them as otherwise they would have been at risk of being made redundant without these new arrangements.
I also know that there has been a lot of discussion in our communities about some of the sites which have been identified for surrender, and people have asked what consultation has and will take place.
The consultation that the independent review board went through has been well documented – but for clarity there is lots of information about this on their website http://knowsleyparksboard.co.uk/.
Included in the recommendations that the board made to us were about how to identify which sites should be surrendered. They said that this should be an impartial and objective exercise which would apply the same criteria to each of the 161 parks and green spaces, to ensure fairness in the decision making. So that’s how the list of 17 spaces was drawn up, and you can see the rationale behind the inclusion of each of the sites in documents we’ve put on our website at http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks-and-green-spaces. If you haven’t taken a look yet, I’d really urge you to do so. Of course these weren’t easy decisions to take and my fellow councillors and I are very aware that there will be an impact on the local community for each of the sites surrendered. However, as you’ll see in the site selection criteria, for all of the sites chosen, careful consideration about how to mitigate these impacts has been given.
I believe that judging all 161 sites against the same objective criteria was the best way to draw up this list, as did 60% of the 2,500 residents who responded to the consultation by the Parks Review Board. In saying that, I can assure you that our minds are not closed and we welcome any alternative ideas or suggestions that people may have. We’ve started this process with the Parish and Town Councils, who are the leaseholders on six of these sites, and those conversations were very constructive.
As for what’s next, Scrutiny Committee will consider the Outline Business Case in June, so I would urge people to keep talking to us as we remain open to ideas which will ensure that we can protect jobs, the vast majority of parks and the quality of our special green spaces. A final decision on the full business case will not be made until November this year. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Racism is a prison to both the patient and the agent, it is pepper thrown to the African wound but also puffs back to the White's eyes, they in turn all feel the sweetness in their different bodies,... | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Anne Miller, 90, First Patient Who Was Saved by Penicillin
TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
Anne Sheafe Miller, who made medical history as the first patient ever saved by penicillin, died on May 27 in Salisbury, Conn. She was 90.
In March 1942, Mrs. Miller was near death at New Haven Hospital suffering from a streptococcal infection, a common cause of death then. She had been hospitalized for a month, often delirious with her temperature spiking to nearly 107, while doctors tried everything available, including sulfa drugs, blood transfusions and surgery. All failed.
As she slipped in and out of consciousness, her desperate doctors obtained a tiny amount of what was still an obscure, experimental drug and injected her with it. Her hospital chart, now at the Smithsonian Institution, registered a sharp overnight drop in temperature, and by the next day she was no longer delirious and soon was eating full meals, one of her doctors reported.
Mrs. Miller's life was saved, and so eventually were the lives of all those previously felled by infections of bacteria like streptococci, staphylococci and pneumococci. Penicillin also saved the lives of an untold number of servicemen and civilians wounded in World War II; in earlier wars, people died by the thousands from bacterial infections resulting from their injuries.
Although Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish biologist, was the first to recognize the therapeutic potential of penicillin through a chance discovery at St. Mary's Hospital in London in 1928, nearly a dozen years passed before scientists fully appreciated its significance and were able to produce it for experimental use in humans.
Largely forgotten, it came to the fore only when researchers picked up on it again at Oxford University at the outbreak of World War II.
Before Mrs. Miller's doctors succeeded in saving her life, only a few experiments had been conducted with penicillin in mice and people, with results mixed and largely disheartening.
The small quantity of penicillin rushed to New Haven came from a laboratory in New Jersey, and news of Mrs. Miller's full, seemingly miraculous recovery helped inspire the American pharmaceutical industry to begin full production of penicillin.
A native New Yorker, Mrs. Miller graduated in 1931 from Columbia Presbyterian School of Nursing, now part of Columbia University. The next year, she married Ogden D. Miller, a Yale University administrator. The family moved to Washington, Conn., in 1945, when Mr. Miller became headmaster of the Gunnery School, where he served until he retired in 1969. He died nine years later, and Mrs. Miller remained in Washington until 1996, when she moved to a retirement community in Salisbury.
She is survived by three sons, Ogden D. Jr., of Vienna, Va., David P., of Darlington, Md., and Dwight D., of Watertown, Mass.; a brother, Theodore H. Sheafe of Tigard, Ore.; a sister, Mary S. Jewett of Lyme, Conn.; six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Nationwide Relocation Made Simpler
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moving service
Moving from one place to another can be tremendously difficult when you handle everything on your own. Thankfully, moving can be a breeze if you have the support of the right company.
If you’re going to be moving, you should strongly consider working with a moving company. Follow these suggestions so that you can find the best moving company in your area.
Evaluating Experience
Ideally, the moving company you hire should be well-established. The company should have helped many people to make moves in the past. When you’re comparing your options, you should look at the experience levels of the employees there.
Why does experience matter? When someone has been through many moves, they’ll know what to look out for. They’ll be fully aware of the challenges of moving, and they’ll be equipped to deal with all of them.
If you work with an experienced company, your move will go a lot more smoothly. Try to find a company that has experienced employees working on their behalf.
Find A Company That Charges Fair Rates
First of all, you should try to get quotes from a few local moving and relocation companies. If you get price estimates from several different companies, you’ll be able to find out what the going rate in your area is.
In addition to that, you should try to find out what those quotes include. Are there any additional expenses that you will have to cover? If you’re going to have to pay more, you should be aware of that.
Once you’ve managed to assemble a few different moving quotes, you’ll be able to accurately compare them against each other. You’ll be able to identify the moving company that’s offering you the most for your money.
Find A Moving Company That Offers What You Need
Not everyone needs the same thing from a moving company. If you’re moving from one state to another, you’ll want to work with a company that specializes in cross country moves. If you’re moving business, you should look for movers that have handled office moves in the past.
There are many different moving companies out there. Make a point of hiring a company that offers the kinds of services you need most. Take the time to think about what you need from a moving company. Once you’ve done that, you can seek out a company that provides the kind of services you’re looking for.
Find A Company That Is Available
When you contact moving companies and ask them for more information, you should make sure that they are available to help you move. There are some moving companies that get booked up quickly. You should try to find a company that will be able to work when you need them to.
If you find a company that can work with your schedule, you will be able to proceed with your move as planned. You’ll be able to get things done on your terms. You won’t have to wait until the company has an opening in their schedule.
Find A Company With Excellent Service
Moving is unbelievably stressful. There are so many things you have to take care of. Possessions that you use every day have to be packed away and taken to a new place.
You should try to do what you can to minimize your stress. Work with a company that will make things easier for you. If you choose to work with a moving company that treats their customers well, you’ll be in a great position.
If a company is polite and helpful when you talk to them on the phone, it stands to reason that they’ll treat you well during your move. Find a company that treats their customers like royalty.
Hiring a moving company is an incredibly smart decision. With that said, you should make a point of hiring the best movers that you can. If you work with excellent movers, you’ll be able to get through your move without any issues. You’ll be able to avoid bumps in the road and settle into your new place in no time. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A sweet family in our ward called right before Calvin's birthday and asked if we would like their old truck that their kids had outgrown. When Calvin came home from his party, it was sitting by the front door waiting. I told him it was a surprise present and he was so thrilled!
The truck is old and faded. It no longer goes in reverse and travels at a speed of about 4 miles and hour. Calvin could not be happier. He is obsessed with it. Thank you Fairchilds - easily Calvin's favorite birthday gift!
Monday, September 27, 2010
I made these for breakfast this morning and reactions were mixed. Max and Sophie and the babies gobbled them down and have been eating them cold all day. The older boys and Calvin turned up their noses.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.
Calvin talked about his birthday party for six months straight. He was going to go to Chuck E. Cheese, Wise Swim School and The Blast as well as Pump it Up and Grand Slam. He also wanted to go to Luke's house, Johnny's house and Ryan's house because they all have cooler video games than we do. In the end, I had to explain that he could choose one place to go for his birthday - he chose Grand Slam.
Yes, his birthday was at the end of August. I've been busy. On the day of his birthday, we had three soccer games, made a trip to Sam's Club for groceries and a birthday cake for the party and another trip to Target in the middle of Max's game when I realized I had not thrown shoes in the car for Calvin to change into and I needed to pick up another cake for a child with allergies. It was crazy.
Crazy.
The party was a ton of fun and little work for me (hooray!). The kids played mini-golf, played in the ball pit playground, took a turn in the batting cages, went on the bumper cars a dozen times, played arcade games and ate pizza and cake. My job was to not lose any of the 10 children (the place was busy).
I don't like to think of my little man being six years old. It makes me a little sad that he is growing up so quickly. I love this age - of course I have loved all of Calvin's ages. He is the youngest and is supposed to stay young.
This guy lost his tooth while eating pizza. A big thank you to Josh who came to the party and helped each of the 10 kids in the batting cages!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
I made these on Sunday morning to serve to my class and they were a big hit. The only complaint I have is they cannot be stacked which makes transporting 4 dozen of them to church a little challenging. Max cut up all of the marshmallows for me and the kids ate the leftovers for breakfast.
Immediately place halved marshmallow, cut side down, onto each baked cookie. Return to oven 1 minute or just until marshmallow is warm enough to stick to cookie. Remove to wire racks to cool. (when I pulled the puffed cookies out of the oven, I squished down the marshmallow to make it flatter for the frosting)
For the frosting, I just whipped together softened butter, sour cream, powdered sugar, vanilla and unsweetened cocoa powder - you want a thinner icing in order to cover the marshmallow. Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Our first day of school was windy and cold. All of the kids walk to school so we bundled up, pulled on the rain boots and set out for a new school year.
Max and Sophie are excited for the new year. Max's teacher also runs Destination Imagination and Math Olympians, so Max knows her really well. Sophie's teacher seems nice and half of Sophie's soccer team are in her class so she has good group of friends.
Little Calvin had orientation the first day of school. I attended with two other daycare children in tow.
Which child pictured below has not slept for two days and has a double ear infection?!
This little girl comes to my daycare and is in Calvin's class. They sit a the same table and share snack.
Speaking of snack, Calvin is supposed to bring a non-peanut snack each day to school. Why he needs a snack when he eats breakfast at 8:30 and comes home at noon is beyond me, but whatever. You tell a kid there is snack time and suddenly it becomes very important. So, I put a handful of granola bars in Calvin's backpack to get him through the week. After the first full day of school, his teacher came up to me and told me Calvin was taking too long eating his snack. Evidently he decided that because I put three granola bars in his backpack, he needed to eat all three that first day! He was still finishing the last one when I picked him up at noon!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
I got this idea from my friend Mercedes who did the same for her daughter on the first day of school. Super easy little craft and the kids love to give gifts to their teachers. Max is my only child who knew his teacher last year (he had her for reading and Math Masters).
Friday, September 10, 2010
We are slowly carving out a new routine for the new school year. This past month has felt rushed and out of control - so many things happening that I felt like I was just reacting and trying to keep up. A lot of changes have come to our home in these past few weeks.
My Mother ended her visit and returned home after witnessing first hand the craziness that is our life for a week. I'm sure she went straight to bed to recover.
Our weather took a dramatic turn from humid and in the 90's to chilly, windy and in the 50's and 60's. Fall has arrived and we have been digging out warmer coats and and warm blankets for snuggling on the couch at night. I need to get the garage cleaned out for the winter and the yard weeded and mulched down for the winter.
The kids have started school - Max is in 5th grade, Sophie in 3rd and Calvin in 1/2 day kindergarten. I have been walking them to school every morning this week and then walking back at noon to pick up Calvin. We started the week with Calvin fighting a double ear infection which made his first two days of school rather miserable.
I have a minimum of 9 kids here every morning for breakfast - sometimes 12. I have another interview next week for a new family with three young boys. More kids means more work and mess, but it also means more security for our family. We are transitioning back to earlier bedtimes and earlier mornings as we try to fit in time for practicing the trombone and piano, homework and silent reading as well as getting out the door on time for school. Max is a crossing guard this year.
Bryan has moved to New York for a new job. The kids were able to spend a few hours with him before he left and are now trying to figure out how to keep in touch without the every other weekend schedule they were enjoying. Each child has weathered this new change differently with Sophie having the hardest time. She spent the first few evenings in tears, climbing into my bed late at night for reassurance. As with so many things, they will adjust with time and lots of love and hopefully will see their Dad again soon. As for the divorce, it is still limping along and has not been finalized at this point.
Our weekends are packed with soccer games and birthday parties and trying to fit in all of the errands needed for a busy family. Life is busy, but busy is good. We are carving our a routine that makes the days go by quickly and keeps our minds focused on all of the things that need to be done day to day.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I just brought the point and shoot to the ward picnic. There were others there taking photos with super nice cameras, so there will be some great photos soon. In the meantime, you can enjoy these - mostly photos of the kids in the ward who tend to ignore me when I start snapping photos.
We came to the picnic straight from our little hiking trip so we were a little tired but we still had a great time. Our ward is awesome!
About Me
I am a busy Mormon mother with three children from my first marriage and four bonus children in New York.I am a child of God.I am blessed with three wonderful extended families and many amazingly talented friends.I work full-time in a dental office and we live in a little 1940's rental just five blocks from the public library.
I adore Oregon.
I am happy. I am busy. I am loved.
I may be changed by what has happened to me, but I will not be diminished by it. Maya Angelou
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishing."-Anais Nin | {
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John Mayer Apologizes For Being John Mayer
and threatens us with more guitar-playing.
As you've definitely heard by now, John Mayer continued his ego parade yesterday when he told Playboy about how his penis was once in the KKK. That was not the worst part of that interview. As with all John Mayer interviews, the worst part was all of it.
So last night at a show in Nashville, John Mayer took an exorbitant amount of time to apologize for being John Mayer: | {
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Day 1
5.03: It’s dark, definitely dark. Still, I’ve made it unscathed through the witching hour – which apparently is not an hour at all but runs from midnight to 3am – as well as successfully negotiating devil’s hour -3 ’til 5am. I’m told devil’s hour is known as such because of the high number of people who die between the hours of 3 and 5. Don’t know if anyone’s actually researched this though.
Anyway, from 5am on we’re into an odd sort of limbo hour, and it’s really an hour this time. After 6 is definitely morning, but 5-6 is a sort diurnal halfway-houseshare for insomniacs and part-time writers. The Daily Mirror’s 3am Girls have been asleep for two hours now, so there can’t be that much happening.
Best crack on I suppose.
5.47: A break to observe that words played in the UK Scrabble championship final yesterday included jerrid, zante, yom, zoeal, ptui, pir, vav, and bumbazed. It’s one of life’s everyday tragedies that a man can put down “bumbazed” for 101 points and still lose the match.
6.56: Well that seemed to go ok, though it’s hard to know what you’ve achieved on the first day. In the stark terms of word count, it’s about 1200 (all outline; not real novel yet). The good news is there are characters, and they seem to behave with some measure of consistency and integrity. The bad news is there’s going to be a lot of early mornings before this shows any discernible progress. That and the weather man says it might rain. | {
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If official Washington were an S&M club, the State Department would be strictly on the receiving end. Few public servants get so much abuse and so little respect--whether from the American public, the Congress, other executive branch bureaucrats, or even the president. Franklin Roosevelt reportedly once compared dealing with the Department to "watching an elephant become pregnant--everything's done on a very high level, there's a lot of commotion, and it takes 22 months for anything to happen." A generation later, John F. Kennedy would deride Foggy Bottom as a "bowl full of jelly" with "all those people who are constantly smiling." It's hardly surprising, then, that James Baker would continue his habit of relying on a few trusted aides, ignoring the State Department bureaucracy altogether.
Call me a masochist or a smiling idiot, but I joined the Foreign Service anyway. And like any good diplomat who expects to rise thorugh the ranks, I can say that Roosevelt and Kennedy were both right and wrong. The State Department arguably attracts a higher proportion of bright, talented, and dedicated individuals than any other branch, department, or agency of the federal government. It's what happens to them once they join that justifiably sends the Department's critics around the bend. At its worst, the institutional culture of the Foreign Service can work like alchemy in reverse, turning the bright into the dull, the talented into the mediocre, and the dedicated into the merely employed. If Foggy Bottom wants to build up some measure of influence and respect, it's going to have to change the way it teaches its people to do business.
Every year, approximately 14,000 Americans take the written Foreign Service examination, a sort of super SAT that tests their grasp of U.S. history and culture, politics, economics, international relations, and English. (On my deathbed, I'll still remember that Zimbabwe is named after some stone ruins--one of the many questions I flubbed the first time I failed the test.) Of these 14,000 applicants, 2,500 will make the cut and move on to a numbing day-long oral examination, which some 600 to 650 will survive. Eventually, after a lengthy background check, anywhere from 150 to 200 will take the job.
The selection process produces an impressive group of recruits, especially on paper. According to the Bremer Report, one of two internal State Department studies done in 1989, 99 percent of all entrants have college degrees, and 67 percent have some sort of graduate degree as well. But a look behind the numbers shows why the entering classes aren't as good as they could be. If you were a smart, motivated college graduate pounding the pavement, would you wait 12 to 15 months to find out if you got a job that would probably pay you two thirds of what you might make elsewhere? Not likely, especially if you were a hot enough prospect to attract the attention of other top-flight employers. The Bremer Report cites the lengthy selection process as one reason why two out of three candidates offered jobs with the State Department turn them down. You can look at this in one of two ways: People willing to take a job after waiting for 15 months are either very dedicated or not very dynamic.
Cone heads
I had no reservations about the brain power of my classmates--few of whom, contrary to one still-popular stereotype--were Northeasterners or Ivy Leaguers. True to the Department's lingering reputation as a white boys' club, though, most of my fellow entrants were white males (37 percent were female, and the minority quotient was virtually nil). The class's average age was 28, a throwback to the average 10 years ago. (During the intervening decade, the average entrant's age had risen steadily to reach 32 in 1989). We had a sizable contingent of ex-lawyers who moaned about the pay cuts they were taking and teachers who said exactly the opposite; the rest were from business, journalism, or fresh out of college or graduate school.
Why did we join? As one of our instructors loved to remind us, our results on a personality test taken in the first week of training showed that most of us matched the classic Foreign Service Officer (FSO) profile. While there were some would-be policy jocks, most of us--myself included--seemed drawn by the same thing that attracted George Kennan some 65 years ago: "the frequent change of scene, the abundant intellectual stimuli, and the multitudinous glimpses the Service afforded into the lives of other peoples and the workings of governments." In a 1990 survey by the American Foreign Service Association, junior officers cited "the chance to travel" and "exposure to other cultures" as the two most rewarding aspects of the Foreign Service. "Public service" came in a respectable third, well ahead of "pay and benefits" and several other categories.
For all its attention to administrative detail and the Department's doings at home and abroad, our junior officer training stressed mindster over matter. Naturalist Konrad Lorenz would have been proud of the way we fell into the Department's traditional pecking order. All incoming officers were placed in one of four "cones" (consular, economic, political, and administrative), and one of the first questions out of every trainee's mouth was, "What cone are you?" "Political" was the answer that won the most points, and "consular" the fewest--in my limited experience the exact inverse of their practical value.
Political officers love to think of themselves as the Brahmins of the Service, the new Kennans looking down on the lower castes as they twirl globes and negotiate treaties. Truth is, in a world girdled by CNN and ruled increasingly by economic issues, political officers are steadly becoming less useful. But the white glove mentality lingers. The political cone is the largest in the Department, and political officers dominate its upper reaches. Is there any reason why the U.S. embassy in Japan, our biggest economic rival, should have far more political than economic officers? This political officer can't think of one.
More important than your cone is your rank--an inevitable obsession in a profession that rests so heavily on hierarchy and protocol. In day-to-day terms, observing the proper protocol toward the ambassador--keeping the correct side of the couch free for him or her, making introductions properly-- can translate into behavior like drafting cables in only the way your immediate boss wants. That kind of thinking inevitably squelches dissent. One afternoon we were shown a television documentary about an officer whose aggressive human rights reporting displeased both his embassu and the Department. He was denied promotions and given dead-end jobs. Later, two former senior FSOs told their own tales of bucking the head office--in both cases their views were later vindicated, but not before their careers had suffered. The fact that both were still in their fifties and no longer with the Department wasn't lost on their audience. We new hires were getting exactly the wrong message. In a bureaucracy whose real worth rests on the integrity of its reporting, these people should have been presented as heroes, not victims.
Intentionally or not, our instructors and lecturers also gave us a heavy dose of the "us versus them" mentality that so often turns foreign policy into an interagency sandbox squabble. Each tale they told about the increasingly bitter feuds between State and other agencies seemed to end with us on the losing side. The moral of the story was clear: Whatever else Defense, Commerce, and Treasury might be, they weren't your friends. We also heard plenty about how the "new" Foreign Service wasn't as good as the "old," how today's officers were more "dependent," less willing to sacrifice, lacking in a esprit de corps. I learned a lot in eight weeks of training. Besides "take chances, but be aware that you could ruin your career," two lessons stand out: Develop your own style, but always give your boss just what he wants; and have a sense of humor, but don't ever use it.
The golf crisis
The first brush that most of us had with the reality of Foreign Service life came during the assignment process. That's when you realize that you'll be spending your first tour as vice consul in Nuevo Laredo rather than as staff aide in Paris. Doing consular work makes junior officers better diplomats than playing step-and-fetch-it for some ambassador, but you'd have a hard time getting many non-consular officers to admit it. It's a field that most choose either to disparage or to ignore. In my first 10 months at a Third World visa mill, I saw my consul general--a worthy officer in many respects--enter the visa section just once. He was lost and couldn't find his way out of the building.
Consular officers do the dirty work of U.S. diplomacy. They perform tasks like issuing (or, more likely, denying) visas, cleaning up after plane crashes, and visiting U.S. citizens in the foreign prisons. In many cases, they are the only U.S. government representatives foreigners ever encounter face to face, and they spend far more time talking with congressional staff, lawyers, and U.S. citizens than their average nonconsular counterparts. More often than not the work is as grueling and thankless as it is necessary. (If you don't believe me, try interviewing 2,7000 visa applicants in one month, denying the bulk of them, and then saying, "Have a nice day.") Problem is, the Department's dismissive attitude toward its consular officers encourages FSOs to view their work as something to be endured and then forgotten. Look, for example, at the relatively small number of ambassadors who come from the consular cone.
Besides consular work, a junior officer also plays shepherd to official visitors, some more legitimate than others. As a fledging "control officer," I once naively wondered why a bureaucrat whose agency didn't have anything to do with our country was coming to town. "End of the fiscal year," a colleague replied, rolling her eyes at the usual mad bureaucratic rush to spend what's left to annual travel funds. If you don't spend it this year, the logic goes, you won't get it the next.
An impending visit by one congressman paralyzed our post for weeks prior to the event. We even received a Night Action Immediate cable--the kind that calls for waking up the consul general (CG)--telling us that the congressman wanted golf on his schedule. A game was arranged. The congressman left happy, the CG later agonizing over how to handle the hefty check his wife had bounced at the consulate cashier.
The attention lavished on congressional delegations still fell far short of that given to our ambassador, whose visits to the consular district were a cause for hand wringing and high anxiety. We spent two fifths of our travel funds--money intended for reporting trips or consular investigations--doing advance work for one of his visits. Even so, we were faulted for sins like failing to provide his wife with a footstool for getting in and out of her vehicle. The ambassador's position requires a degree of pomp and circumstance, but too often the Service seems to treat these people not as superior colleagues but as foreign dignitaries or demigods.
What's up, Dhaka?
Along with denying visas, taking care of visitors, and keeping the ambassador happy, reporting is the other major component of a junior officer's job. The problem with our reporting wasn't that it was massaged to death or that it sympathized with the host country's point of view. Our problem was that it usually relied on second-hand information. Out of roughly 30 Americans at my post, not a single one spoke the local language well enough to do more than take a taxi across town. Most of our reports were drafted, under our guidance, by Foreign Service Nationals, long-serving local staff who were storehouses of institutional knowledge and contacts. If we had anything to add, it came from the English-language press or from conversations with the relatively ssall, primarily urban, English-speaking portion of the population. Knowing the local language would have cut several months off the time it took me to recognize--and edit out--the cultural, racial, and political biases of our local reporting staff.
This is not as unusual as it should be. According to the Bremer Report, the percentage of language-designated positions in the State Department filled by qualified officers fell from 75 percent to 66 percent from 1987 to 1989. Moreover, roughly one third of those promoted to the Senior Foreign Service between 1986 and 1988 did not have the required proficiency in even one language. In a system that rotates personnel once every two to three years, some linguistic reliance on local staff is inevitable. But what if your local staff isn't reliable? Without an interpreter, not one American in the consulate could ask a rural villager how he was going to vote, much less figure out if the clerk sitting two desks away was selling visas over the telephone.
Some of my FSO colleagues mixed and traveled and some didn't, but the last thing any of them could have been accused of was going native. The U.S. government would have saved a lot of money if they had. If you throw in allowances for housing, hardship, and other benefits, it easily costs Uncle Sam $200,000 above salary to keep an officer at some posts. My first week overseas, one colleague prefaced a dinner invitation by saying, "We never serve local food here." Just about everything he and his wife ate came from the commissary. When a family has to come to a country where you can't drink the water, shouldn't breathe the air, and might not like the food, a little coddling is necessary. But it's all too feasible in today's Foreign Service to shuttle between your comfortable apartment and your office, live on pizza and Bud, and watch Home Alone before bed, pretending all the while that you're in D.C. instead of Dhaka. The natives could be rioting in the street and you'd never know it, much less report on it.
Kissing behind, getting ahead
Most people join the Foreign Service to be diplomats, not bureaucrats. What's amazing, though, is how thoroughly the latter mentality takes hold. To give just one example, our consul general regularly encouraged us to hold more receptions and dinners for contacts. Why? In part because, as one of his memos began, "So far only X, Y, and Z have shown up on the embassy's screen for having utilized representational funds this fiscal year."
Most people also join the Foreign Service because it sells itself as a meritocratic elite. But while the good may rise, the Department's institutional culture ensures that the bad just stay there. All junior officers have roughly four years to achieve "tenure." If you pass muster, you're usually guaranteed a career. And according to the Bremer Report, 96 percent of those up for tenure get it--one reason why the Thomas Report (the other 1989 State Department study) says "the tenuring process as currently constituted serves no purpose."
Take the case of one inept FSO at my post. After just barely getting tenure, this person has stayed at the lowest rank for the past 10 years. I watched three of his supervisors try to write employee evaluation reports (EERs) that would keep him from promotion. Not one recommended firing him, primarily because each was following his predecessor's lead. Every officer sess his or her EER before its submission and has the chance to respond to it. I actually provided one of my supervisors with a working draft of mine. As the Bremer Report suggests, the toughest thing about the Foreign Service may be getting in: "In 1987, promotion boards referred only .004 percent of files reviewed to the Performance Standards Board. The number referred to the PSB has actually declined in each of the past three years, during which time not a single senior officer has been referred to the PSB." Now that you know how to survive as a junior officer, it's time to learn how to get ahead. Once upon a time, junior officers distinguished themselves by what they did in the field. As a 1970 Department publication put it, "Our ablest and most energetic officers literally seek out opportunities to report." Not anymore. Today's conventional wisdom is that promotions are faster in Foggy Bottom. As one career counselor told me, "The quickest way to the seventh floor is through the operations center and the secretariat." The ops center plays traffic cop, to put it simply, for all cables and phone calls--one ops center vet described himself to me as a "glorified receptionist." The secretariat functions as a gigantic in/out box for the secretary of state, controlling paper flow and making travel arrrangements. As a junior officer, you're not really doing anything substantive in either job, but you're getting to know the high and mighty and, more important, they're getting to know you. ("Good man, Digby. Damn fine job with that briefcase and conference call.")
Working in the Department is important, of course, as is having some measure of bureaucratic skill. But the obsession with cultivating your superiors, in word or deed, points to one of the Foreign Service's biggest flaws. As a nameless ex-FSO once complained, "The trouble with most FSOs is that they are too concerned about being something or becoming something--being a deputy chief of mission or becoming an ambassador--and not enough with doing anything."
I like the people in the Foreign Service, and I don't worry when I think that one day my life may depend on one of my colleagues making the right decision. Moreover, critical internal reports like those by the Bremer and Thomas commissions are a cause for hope. But for the good of the Service and the country, Foggy Bottom has to stop kidding itself. Fundamentally, FSOs aren't losing their influence because of a lack of money or an abundance of bureaucratic competitors. They're losing it because their culture rewards people for saying what others want to hear, for putting bureaucracy before diplomacy, and for sucking up at home instead of buckling down in the field. Lamenting the lack of "adequate funding," one senior officer recently sent a cable saying, "Were we to achieve the recognition that you and I are convinced we deserve, junior officer program problems might largely resolve themselves." He's wrong. What the Foreign Service needs is a healthy dose of self-respect, and no congressional appropriation will ever be large enough to supply that.
Harry Crosby is a pseudonym for a junior officer in the Foreign Service.
COPYRIGHT 1991 Washington Monthly Company
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder. | {
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In an Australian first, New South Wales will set up a domestic violence register that's designed to hold perpertrators to account and protect women. The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme is based on a similar model in the United Kingdom which gives people the 'right to ask' police about their ...
New research has found many young men have worryingly violent attitudes towards women. Conducted by the anti-violence group, Our Watch, it found one in four young men believe violent and controlling behaviour is a sign of strength. It also found large numbers of young men think that pressuring ... | {
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Taiwan, China Begin New Trade Talks
Taiwan and China have wrapped up the first round of trade talks aimed at cutting import tariffs on a wide range of goods. Despite political worries in Taiwan about the risks of strengthening ties with Beijing, many say the country’s businesses could lose out if the talks drag on, and China strikes a trade liberalization deal with South Korea in the meantime.
Trade representatives from China and Taiwan met for three days last week near Taipei to start talks on an agreement that would cut tariffs on Taiwanese products such as flat panel screens, machine tools and petrochemical goods.
China and Taiwan have already signed a service trade pact in June 2013, but Taiwan’s lawmakers still have not ratified it. Their reluctance is partly a response to the outpouring of opposition earlier this year by protesters who say the service trade pact will hurt the island’s economy and make it more vulnerable to pressure from Beijing.
Now, as the two sides embark on a similar pact for products, negotiators worry that South Korea may wrap up a similar deal first and get more from China’s massive economy.
The situation poses a tricky political test as Taiwanese leaders hope to balance public unease over increasing ties with China, against the needs of the country’s economy, which could get a boost from increasing trade with Beijing.
China also wants to show Taiwan goodwill ahead of tense local elections in November, when the Beijing-friendly ruling party runs to expand its mandate. Liu Yi-jiun, a public affairs professor at Fo Guang University, explains.
“Right now Taiwan is kind of deeply worried. The kind of competition between South Korea and Taiwan is rather intense. As long as South Korea is getting ahead, that really worries the leaders here. Mainland China just wants show more friendly gestures and try to have more influence on the election,” Liu Yi-jiun stated.
Taiwan and China have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s, but China claims sovereignty over the island. In 2008, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou laid aside political differences to ease tensions with Beijing through trade and investment agreements.
Deals reached since then brought two-way trade to $124 billion last year, making China Taiwan’s top trading partner. But officials in Taipei now fear losing out to fellow export-led economies such as South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as they tap China for more market access. Analysts in Taipei say China hopes trade deals with Taiwan can win points toward its goal of political unification of the two sides.
Taiwan has tested China’s patience when parliament shelved the service trade pact indefinitely, stalling liberalization in 144 sectors such banking and tourism. Taiwanese lawmakers shied away from ratifying the pact after hundreds of university students occupied the legislative chambers in March and thousands more massed in the streets to argue that Taiwan and its long-time Communist rival were growing too close.
Now Taiwan’s political parties are focused on year-end local elections, likely delaying ratification of the service trade deal until the first half of 2015. Taiwanese officials expect at least two more working-level meetings on the trade-in-goods agreement with ratification possible by the end of next year. | {
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Don’t believe a word that idiot Odiferous Harmony has told you. This is not the Planet Sicilia. Sicilia is the same of a single land mass on this planet, separated by other land masses. I’m in a different land entirely. They eat gelato here as well.
Twilight is our friend. When the sun starts to set, the humans can’t see as clearly. It’s a time to scamper and collect the crumbs from their tables.
I’m done with my crumb collecting. I want you. As a mouse prince, I get what I want.
The young human has tried to lock her door, but the lock is broken. Her brute of a brother is constantly banging against it, hitting it, and smashing it. Not that the lock would have stopped me. There are cracks in the walls. Tunnels leading everywhere. I follow one of them into the girl’s room.
She’s sitting up in bed, cradling you in her arms. Perhaps she senses someone wants to take you from her. One of her dolls watches the two of you with unhappy glass eyes. Poor thing, with her ridiculously huge eyes and complete lack of a muzzle, she’s no match for your beauty. Once more, I admire your enormous jaw, although you have a bandage tied around it.
Rage leaves me wanting to gnash and rend! Who did this to you? Was it that girl, who dares to hold you as if you belong to her? The odor of roasted nuts wafts up from your solid body, nestled in her arms. Or it simply the smoke, which clung to the fire, burning with careless peril on the hearth below.
I spring upon the doll, who’s taken completely off guard. Even if she wasn’t, she’s just a doll. Her mistress can’t hear her cry.
Only the human child turns to me, staring at me with oversized eyes very like the doll.
“You think you can break him and get away with it?” I chitter. “Give me the nutcracker or I’ll bite this doll, until she cracks!”
Thursday, September 15, 2016
I'm going to disappear, fading in and out like the Cheshire Cat this weekend. My posting will be sporadic. Which was why I wanted to leave with a snippet.
This poor blog is still being blocked by Facebook, so it hasn't been able to participate in Rainbow Snippets, since April 2016. To make up for it, I like to post snippets here, regardless.
The Cauldron of Eternal Inspiration at inspirationcauldron.wordpress.com is being left with a teaser from 'Aissa and Polyxena'. Therefore, this Cauldron is getting a teaser from my other WIP, 'On the Other Side of the Mask'.
The couple watched the two small heads, as they bobbed up and down, joining a line of other small heads, which formed a couple of lines. Walking straight into the chapel walls of the cathedral, known as Our Blessed Mother of Paradise.
Byron was dimly aware of the attention. He held his head high, refusing to look back, or around. He would live up to his name. Poet, rebel, freedom fighter.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Here I am, responding to another prompt from the amazing @PTWyant! Her prompt for this week are the first two sentences below. To see the entire prompt, go to ptwyant.com.
“Look what followed me home! Can I keep it?” Risella grinned at all the other tall, slender humanoids with purple, pink, blue, or lavender hair.
Dylan swallowed, feeling very short and very human. “Err, hello. I’m Dylan Stuart.”
“Rizzo’s new toy,” another purple haired man? woman said, with a low, silvery laugh. He glided, more than walked over to Dylan, tossing his sunset tresses over his shoulder. They actually glittered with the movement. He reached out to take Dylan’s chin in his hand. “Can you be ridden, or do you fight the bridle?”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Dylan said. He tried very hard to keep his voice even, but the words still came out in a low growl. “Humans are no longer the sidhe’s toys, or pets, remember? This was one of the things you agreed to in the treaty.”
“Well, that answers that question,” the purple haired man, Dylan was almost sure he was a man. He eyed the smaller man with interest. “You can be ridden, but you might try to throw your ‘partner’.” His mint green eyes moved for a second to Rizzo. “I wouldn’t mind taking you myself.”
“Yo, Gievann, hands off!” Rizzo said, sharply. With a couple of strides, she reached Dylan’s side. “I asked if I could keep it, not if we could. Prior claims, right?”
“Ah, but he followed you here, uninvited,” Gievann said. He didn’t release Dylan’s chin. “This means the pretty human belongs to whoever claimed him first.” He smiled at Rizzo. “You asked if you could keep him, but you didn’t claim him. Are you sure you’re old enough to be making claims?”
“I was old enough to attend an alien academy!” Rizzo said, bridling. “Plus, I met Dylan first. This makes him mine.”
“Rizzo!” Dylan snapped. “I thought you accepted me as an equal!”
“Heh, you humans are so cute!” Rizzo said. She leaned forward with a grin. As she did, she whispered in his ear, “Play along, you idiot! You followed me home to a sidhe compound, don’t expect everyone here to behave as if they were human!”
Dylan shut up. As Evelyn Stuart’s son, visiting an alien enclave, he was expected to behave diplomatically. He had to accept that the sidhe’s ways weren’t going to be anything like the humans.
It was hard, though, when they treated him like a toy and a possession. How could he respect the sidhe, when they refused to respect him? Even Rizzo was making a big show of patronizing him.
He gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger. If he could just keep his temper, he might learn something here.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Here's one of my two responses to @PTWyant's challenge! To see her prompt, go to ptwyant.com's 'Wednesday Prompts'. This week, it involved a squirrel, a graveyard, and a school.
The mention of a squirrel made me think of Thomas, the boy who makes life so miserable for the twins in Omphalos in 'A Godling for Your Thoughts?' Thomas is not a nice boy, but he is one of Seraphix's chosen. I wanted to develop him further, explore his reasons for being the bully, who sneers at Danyell and Dayell for being pretty.
The squirrel sat on a tombstone. Always watching. Always flicking its tail in a judgmental manner. Its nose twitched in exactly the same way Master Scald’s had.
“What are you wearing, Thomas?” he’d ask. All the while his nostrils would wrinkle and flare at the sight of Thomas wearing a pink cravat.
It hadn’t been Thomas’ choice. It must have been his mother’s. He couldn’t have picked out such a girly piece of clothing himself.
“Trying to be pretty?” Oleander asked with a sneer. As if he should talk, with those high cheek bones and blue black hair. He sat in a desk behind Thomas, so it was impossible to stare at the dark curls at the nape of his neck any more. “Not that you’ll ever succeed with those bat ears and that flattened nose.”
“Of course not! Boys aren’t pretty!” Thomas snarled, only he hadn’t. Not back then. He’d been too busy admiring how Oleander’s hair curled around his ears.
Danyell and Dayell’s curled in the exact same manner. Only their hair was golden, as golden as honey poured from a pitcher in the morning sun. The locks on the top of their head were straighter and lighter. A few curls were actually silver, as if the twins were much older than their smooth, beardless faces and innocent eyes suggested. Death hadn’t touched the twins, while Oleander had carried it in every poisonous word, which sneered on his lips.
Such pretty lips, full and pouting, part of a generous mouth. Not the tiny rosebuds which graced the twins’ heartshaped faces.
Boys shouldn’t be pretty. Boys that were died young, for the gods themselves took a fancy to them. If you wanted to be a man, you couldn’t be pretty.
“Call me pretty and I’ll break your face,” Oleander had warned. Oleander hadn’t really been the boy’s name, but it was perfect for him. A poisonous flower, which blooms beautifully, sickening you with his taste. He’d pushed Thomas against a gravestone, before ravaging Thomas’ mouth with his own.
Thomas wiped his mouth and stared down at the grave stone. One of a hundred tiny grave stones dotting the greensward. His own body was buried among them.
“You should be grateful you got a grave,” the squirrel said, twitching his tail. It spoke with Mr. Scald’s voice. “A pit would have served you halfling monsters better.”
“Shut up,” Thomas growled. He fingered the coin, hanging from a bit of cord around his throat. Its coolness soothed him. Seraphix was with him, breathing in his breast, whispering in his ear. “I’m not dead. I’m alive in Omphalos. I have a family.”
“Chee!” the squirrel said, flicking his tail again. “No one is alive in Omphalos. No one is even real in Omphalos!”
“Shut up!” Thomas yelled. He ripped the coin from its leather ties, only it was no longer a coin. It was a stone. He hurled it in the direction of the squirrel. It cried, knocked off the top of the tombstone, leaving a trail of blood behind.
“What are you doing?”
Danyell was standing in the graveyard. Staring at him with wide, horrified eyes.
“What right do you have to look at me like that?” Thomas yelled. He marched forward, closer to the slighter, smaller boy. That despicably pretty boy with his heartshaped face, parted lips, and innocent eyes, which were so shocked by blood and cruelty. “You've been cut off from the rest of the world, sheltered in your secluded cottage!” He stopped, inches away from Danyell. He longed to reach out and grab the other boy, but he didn’t quite dare touch him. “You know nothing of what the rest of us had to go through! How dare you judge us?”
Danyell didn’t answer for a moment. He looked down at his feet. Silvery golden curls fell forward around his face. Thomas wondered if his hair was as soft as it looked. Stupid thoughts. This boy was everything he despised, everything he looked down at, everything he…no, he wasn’t going to finish that thought. He refused to finish that thought, even as his treacherous brain supplied the word.
Wanted. This boy was everything he wanted.
No, please, Seraphix, no.
“Maybe I don’t understand,” Danyell said, in a low voice. “Answer me this at least.” He looked up to meet Thomas’ eyes. His own were a clear, violet blue, glistening with unspoken questions. “Why attack the squirrel?”
“It wasn’t a squirrel,” Thomas replied. He closed its eyes. “It’s never just a squirrel.” He opened them. Danyell was still there, cocking his head slightly. His brow puckered slightly, as he frowned at Thomas’s answer.
Didn’t like what he heard? Too bad.
“Assuming it’s just a squirrel is like assuming you’re just a boy,” Thomas said, feeling his mouth twist into something uncomfortable. Something ugly. “Consider that, when you’re asking questions.” He reached out. Danyell flinched, but all Thomas did was touch his cheek.
Ah, so this boy was within his reach, if he didn’t attack him. His strange ‘Dance’ wouldn’t begin, unless Thomas approached him with violent intent. That was interesting to know.
Besides, there were other ways to attack someone than just physically. Not to mention more effective.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
'Fairest' was born from many unfinished story fragments. This is one of those fragments.
I couldn’t have hated my stepmother so much, if I hadn’t loved her. She was so beautiful. Vivacious, golden haired, sporting a gown of faerie gossamer and glass slippers, she captivated every single one of us at the ball. She certainly ensnared my poor father, who traveled the entire country with her glass slipper, searching for her, giddy as a schoolboy.
I didn’t want another mother. She smiled at me and gave me a private wink, when no one else was looking.
“I know better than to replace your mother,” she’d tell me, when the two of us were alone. “She was a very great lady, but I hope, with your help, we can awaken some of her old magic.”
Foolish of me, to look at that pretty mortal face and think, maybe, she could resurrect the old magic. One look in my mother’s enchanted mirror and she was lost. I realized my error, as soon as the huntsman pressed his blade against my neck and whispered, “It was your stepmother, who ordered this. She wants your faerie beauty, your faerie blood, your white faerie flesh.”
I could have laughed, even as I cried. I’d been a fool, but so had she. My stepmother never found the hunstman’s body, for I am truly of my mother’s blood. No mere mortal hunstman is a match for me.
I’d underestimated my stepmother, though. She tracked me down to my lair with the poisoned apple and the glass coffin, before returning to her comfortable life as Queen. How terrified she was, when I appeared at the christening of her own daughter. The former princess, turned witch! I had the perfect present for my baby stepsister, a curse. Death, sleeping death at the age of sixteen in the prick of a spindle. The same death the girl’s mother bestowed upon me. The queen tried to stop me, to use her own charms to get out of the curse, using true love and a prince. She even tried to hide her daughter in the very cinders where she used to hide.
All her attempts failed. The girl was no match for my enchantments. I lured her into the woods, under the guide of a fae prince. I have been described as “the fairest of them all”. You’d be amazed at what a charming prince I can be. What I hadn’t counted on was the charm of the girl. She came to me, a delicate, golden haired maid with wide blue eyes, filled with her father’s innocence and her mother’s insight.
“You’re not really a prince, are you? You’re one of the Old Ones,” the princess said. A faint blush stained her cheeks, but she didn’t look away.
My own reaction surprised me, as I found myself caught by her blue eyed gaze. Once, my own eyes had been like hers. A wave of my own loneliness washed over me, hitting me as hard as when her mother betrayed me.
A tear escaped from my eye. The girl reached out a small hand to brush it away.
“One so beautiful shouldn’t cry,” she said. Her own voice was surprisingly gentle.
“Ah, but one does,” I whispered. “Especially when she realizes she’s no longer beautiful.” I had become a destroyer of beauty. In my loneliess and hatred, I became the woman I swore vengeance upon. Irony upon irony, I set my curse upon my little sister, the very person who could have delivered me from my loneliness.
This princess will fall under the curse. The very boldness that makes her reach out to touch my face means she will reach out to touch the spindle, when the time comes.
Friday, September 2, 2016
I'm missing #RainbowSnippets tomorrow. I've decided to make up for it by posting a little today. Here's a fragment from 'Aissa and Polyxena'. I'm liking Cressida/Briseis more and more, as I write her. :)
“Your companion is as fair as you, Briseis, but she has a man’s boldness. Few can meet my gaze.” He took a step closer, so he was inches away from me. “I’m guessing this is some well born Trojan lady.”
Diomedes reached out to seize my chin. Without thinking about it, I swatted his hand away.
“Don’t touch me,” I growled.
“She has man’s spirit as well,” Diomedes said with a sour lack of amusement. “Trojan arrogance is not limited to its men, it seems.”
“This is Princess Polyxena, a noble daughter of Priam, twin to Prince Troile himself,” Cressida said with smooth quickness. She reached out for Diomedes’ hand, intercepting it before it could paw at me again. “Indeed, she has more than her share of spirit, secretly meeting with Achille himself, despite her lover’s affiliation with the enemy camp.” Cressida stroked Diomedes’ fingers, soothing the violence out of each digit. “I’m taking Polyxena to Achille right now.”
Thursday, September 1, 2016
It's hard to choose which draft to use of 'Aissa and Polyxena'. I developed the characters more in the original draft. For instance, here's where Troile first meets 'Aissa' in the original draft.
“What an ugly woman,” Paris said. His nose wrinkled, as he regarded the tall woman approaching us. She was as tall as Hector, or our father, as her robes swished with the purpose of her stride. She was walking straight towards my brothers and I. “She’s almost mannish!”
“Your rudeness is only matched by your ridiculous standards, Alexandros,” Hector growled. He only called Paris ‘Alexandros’, when he was upset with him. Which was most of the time. “Not every lady can equal your stolen bride if any.”
I didn’t hear Paris’ sharp retort. I was too busy staring at the lady, for I knew her. It was the face I’d seen in the goblet. I recognized the full, pouting lips, promising an unbridled sensuality. There was a petulance to them, which I hadn’t seen in the vision. It warned of an overindulged nature. I recognized her curls, which were as yellow as buttercups. They escaped in wisps from her veil, instead of bouncing free above his shoulders.
This woman couldn’t be the man I’d seen. Was it possible he had a twin sister? Her eyes were the deep blue of the ocean, when it was calm, nothing like the fiery gaze, which had captivated me in the vision.
Her head raised, turned, as if she was a hunting hound, catching the scent of a particularly juicy rabbit. Only the rabbit she saw was me. She stared at me with an intensity, which darkened her blue gaze. Darkened it into something, which smouldered dangerously.
A shudder, very akin to the climax of passion gathered at my groin, climbing up through my body, only there was no release to satisfy me. I met this familar lady’s gaze with equal boldness, for she had to be a lady. The proud lift of her chin had the lack of regard of one born to it.
Cressida or Andromache would have looked away. This lady did not. My boldness intensified her own stare, which fixed itself upon me. A possessive heat enlargened her black pupils, as her eyes moved over my face, my neck, my chest, lingering upon my bare legs, playing teasingly about my privates and bum, before returning to meet my eyes.
I swallowed, as my own eyes moved over her, but her long skirts, draping tunic, and veil didn’t reveal as much of her as my short tunic revealed of me. Her gaze was akin to a physical caress. Every inch of me had been explored by her dark blue eyes.
“Troile, what’s wrong with you?” Hector asked. Concern, as well as ever ready reprimand waited upon his lips. Concern that another one of his siblings was going to grow up wild and irresponsible in his passions.
It was irritating, almost as irritating as Paris’ reaction to the strange lady, who had almost reached the three of us. Paris was recoiling, as if she were somehow repellant. Her presence loomed over us, as if she was an approaching wave. Rising, cresting, beautiful with the gathering foam, even as it was about to crash upon you. It might knock you flat, but you could help gazing upon it in awe.
Paris saw no beauty in the waves, or anything else which might knock him flat. This woman, whose pouting lips were bending into an inviting smile, held no appeal for him. She was too tall, too bold, too mannish. Her skirts revealed no dainty display of ankle. I could have cared less about her ankles. My heart beat a little faster with each step of her powerful stride. It was as if her stride and my heart were connected. Once she stopped walking, my heart might stop as well.
The lady did stop, right in front of the three of us; Hector, Paris, and I. My heart didn’t stop, on the contrary. It clamoured within my chest, as if crying out. It was a marvel no one could hear it.
My admirer, for I felt entitled to name her as such, barely looked at Paris. Her deep blue eyes were fixed upon me, feasting upon my face. She’d devour me in large chunks, if given half a chance. Part of me was more than happy to allow her to do so.
The other part of me reminded myself that I was a Trojan prince, nearly a man. Princes did not allow themselves to be devoured. I raised my chin with pride equal to hers, swallowing my submissive passion.
My arrogant response didn’t discourage my admirer, oh no. A golden eyebrow, thicker and darker than the curls upon her head, arched up, as if she approved of my aloof response.
This was truly mannish, the approbation of a lover, who sought to court me, impressed by my virtuous reluctance. A part of me relaxed, recognizing the game, even as every other part of me was almost singing with tension. | {
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from the adaptation-is-no-longer-optional dept
There's a growing list of things that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed as unnecessary nonsense. Broadband usage caps come first to mind, followed quickly by a lingering disdain for telecommuting by a long list of executives. But the outbreak is also shining a light on another dumb practice that has long been a point of contention: Hollywood movie release windows.
For the better part of a decade now, we've highlighted Hollywood's often vicious opposition to disrupting the traditional delay between a film's theatrical debut, and its release on home video or streaming platforms. Companies like Netflix that have attempted to disrupt this system have traditionally been quickly demonized by the industry. AMC, Regal and Cinemark have all fought tooth and nail to preserve the (usually) 90 day restriction period between a film's theater release and its availability to home consumers, even if such restrictions no longer make much sense in the broadband era.
Movie patrons, like most other sensible people, are now practicing social distancing in a bid to slow COVID-19's expansion and ease the looming strain on already maxed out US healthcare systems. In some locations (like here in Seattle), movie theaters are being told to close their doors entirely. In the process, Hollywood is having to suddenly and quickly rethink its longstanding dedication to a release window model that already made no sense in the modern world, and makes even less sense in the wake of a pandemic quarantine.
"A senior Disney executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to a reporter, said that rerouting “Mulan” to the company’s Disney Plus streaming service was not currently under discussion, in part because of piracy concerns. (Disney Plus is not yet available outside the United States.) Even so, Disney is clearly mindful of the power of its video platform. The company brought “Frozen II” to Disney Plus on Sunday — three months earlier than planned. (The musical was released in theaters on Nov. 22.) Disney described that move as “surprising families with some fun and joy during this challenging period."
"Comcast Corp.'s Universal Pictures said it is making its movies available to watch at home while they are still in theaters, a massive change from Hollywood's long-established business model that could upend the industry if other studios follow suit.
The decision comes amid widespread closures of movie theaters as the global coronavirus pandemic spreads. Authorities in New York City and Los Angeles on Sunday ordered all movie theaters to close; exhibitors had previously said they would limit attendance in theaters to 50% of their capacity. China, the world's second-largest market, has kept tens of thousands of theaters closed since late January."
To be very clear, there will be significant financial hardship for everybody, including brick and mortar theaters, in the months to come. Everybody whose livelihood depends on brick and mortar establishments will need sympathy and every shred of assistance they can get. At the same time, it's still interesting to watch COVID-19 so quickly dissolve resistance to artificial constructs whose usefulness expired decades ago, but have been propped up by flimsy arguments for just as long. And had the industry been less stubbornly resistant to adaptation and change, this particular shift likely wouldn't be quite as painful now. | {
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C-Meter: August 2001
After a falling off in optimism about economic conditions among the CIOs we polled for the July issue, the August Confidence Meter shows something of a rebound.
After a falling off in optimism about economic conditions among the CIOs we polled for the July issue, the August Confidence Meter shows something of a rebound. CIOs' confidence in the chances for a recovery in the overall economy in the next 90 days inched back up to 5.1 from 4.9, while their confidence in coming conditions for their own companies jumped from 6.0 to 6.6. The ever-cheerful hospitality/travel/entertainment industry was by far the most optimistic of the industry sectors, scoring 7.7 on their hopes for their own companies, 6.3 on their hopes for their own industry and, oddly, a below-average 4.7 on the economy as a whole. At the other end of the scale came the computer manufacturing sector, which rated the chance for a recovery for their own companies a dismal 5.6, an even worse 4.6 for their own industry and 4.9 for the economy as a whole. | {
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The Daily Illini police blotter for Nov. 29
Champaign
Residential burglary was reported at the 1100 block of West Beardsley Avenue around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to the report, the victim’s home was burglarized while she was at work. There was cash stolen from the victim’s sock drawer.
Criminal damage to property was reported on the 500 block of East Clark Street around 10 p.m. Tuesday. According to the report, the victim’s car was parked at an apartment complex overnight and the rear windshield was broken out at some point during the night.
Unauthorized videotaping, live video and residence trespassing were reported on the 2700 block of Sangamon Drive around 11 p.m. Tuesday. According to the report, the victim’s soon-to-be ex-husband filmed her through her bedroom window and posted it on social media.
University
Theft was reported at the Activities and Recreation Center, 201 E. Peabody Dr., sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. According to the report, the victim’s $220 shoes were left unattended outside of a locker and were then stolen.
Theft over $500 was reported Wednesday. According to the report, a University-owned laptop had been stolen in Chicago in February and had an estimated value of $1,462.
Urbana
A domestic dispute was reported on the 1100 block of Colorado Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to the report, a male offender and a female victim who are currently dating were in a verbal argument. The male agreed to leave for the night to prevent further arguing.
Criminal damage to property was reported on the 1100 block of Florida Avenue around 4 p.m. Wednesday. According to the report, an unknown offender damaged one of the victim’s downspouts on his house. | {
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