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The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.
wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
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PKP1 Bos taurus
LOC100855871 Canis lupus familiaris
PKP1 Canis lupus familiaris
pkp1b Danio rerio
PKP1 Gallus gallus
PKP1 Macaca mulatta
Pkp1 Mus musculus
PKP1 Pan troglodytes
Pkp1 Rattus norvegicus
pkp1 Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis
Homology information is based on Homologene.
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Disease relevance of PKP1
High impact information on PKP1
Biological context of PKP1
Anatomical context of PKP1
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Physical interactions of PKP1
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Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of PKP1
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Gene Review:
PKP1 - plakophilin 1
Synonyms: B6P, Band 6 protein, Plakophilin-1
Hatzfeld, M. et al., Hofmann, I. et al., McGrath, J.A. et al., May, J.M., Thornhill, A.R. et al., et al.
Hofmann, Mertens, Brettel, Nimmrich, Schnölzer, Herrmann, Lu, Dobbs, Gregory, Lanford, Revelo, Shappell, Chen, Hatzfeld, Haffner, Schulze, Vinzens, Mitsuhashi, Hashimoto, Hofmann, Mücke, Reed, Herrmann, Langowski, Thornhill, McGrath, Eady, Braude, Handyside,
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Interestingly, patients with tumors in which PKP1 and PKP3 immunoreactivity was reduced or absent exhibited local recurrences or metastases, or both, as well as poor survival [1].
The recessive simplex types include EB with muscular dystrophy due to abnormal plectin, EB without muscular dystrophy in patients homozygous for K14 gene abnormalities, and skin fragility syndrome, with formation of acantholytic vesicles within the epidermis due to PKP1 gene mutations [2].
In contrast, all adenocarcinomas contained PKP 2 and-often abundantly-PKP 3 in desmosome-typical pattern, whereas PKP 1 was expressed only in prostate tumors [3].
Increased expression of delta-catenin/neural plakophilin-related armadillo protein is associated with the down-regulation and redistribution of E-cadherin and p120ctn in human prostate cancer [4].
The identification of the first congenital defect affecting a desmosome component was in the gene for plakophilin I which caused an autosomal recessive skin fragility-ectodermal dysplasia syndrome with skin, hair and nail defects [5].
Mutations in the plakophilin 1 gene result in ectodermal dysplasia/skin fragility syndrome [6].
The molecular findings and clinical observations in this patient attest to the dual importance of plakophilin 1 in both cutaneous cell-call adhesion and epidermal morphogenesis [6].
The affected individual has a complete absence of immunostaining for plakophilin 1 in the skin and is a compound heterozygote for autosomal-recessively inherited premature termination codons of translation on both alleles of the plakophilin 1 gene (PKP1) [6].
This effect was mediated by plakophilin 1's head domain, which interacted with desmoglein 1, desmoplakin, and keratins in the yeast two-hybrid system [7].
The function of plakophilin 1 in desmosome assembly and actin filament organization [7].
The absence of the mutant mRNA and plakophilin 1 protein in the proband's skin may result from the mechanism of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay induced by premature stop codons in PKP1 transcripts due to the two splice site mutations [8].
Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we have localized the human genes for the three known plakophilins to the chromosomes 1q32 (PKP1), 12p11 (PKP2) and 11p15 (PKP3) [9].
Plakophilin 1, a member of the armadillo multigene family, is a protein with dual localization in the nucleus and in desmosomes [7].
Thus, both the patients and unaffected carrier showed reductions in the LSB desmosome size and number; despite only PkP1 null patients exhibiting any phenotype [10].
The plakophilin 1 (PKP1) and plakoglobin (JUP) genes map to human chromosomes 1q and 17, respectively [11].
We have determined the crystal structure of the arm repeat domain from plakophilin-1 (PKP1), a member of the p120ctn subfamily that is found in desmosomes [12].
In addition, plakophilin 2 is less efficient than plakophilin 1 in localizing to the nucleus and enhancing the recruitment of excess desmoplakin to cell borders in transiently transfected COS cells [13].
When overexpressed in HaCaT keratinocytes, plakophilin 1 localized to the nucleus and to desmosomes, and dramatically enhanced the recruitment of desmosomal proteins to the plasma membrane [7].
Our results demonstrate that plakophilin 1 contains two functionally distinct domains: the head domain, which could play a role in organizing the desmosomal plaque in suprabasal cells, and the armadillo repeat domain, which might be involved in regulating the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton [7].
These results suggest that p120ctn/plakophilin family proteins interact with intercellular junction binding partners to differentially modulate the adhesive and migratory behavior of epithelial cells [14].
Our results suggest that, in the Triton soluble pool, PKP1 interferes with binding of plakoglobin to full length DP when these proteins are co-expressed [15].
Treatments such as protease digestion and chemical modification with acetic anhydride, succinic anhydride, or diazobenzenesulfonic acid destroyed the TF1-binding activity, which was caused by band 6 protein [16].
In resealed ghosts, Band 6 labeling was decreased by D-glucose, reflecting inhibition of carrier-mediated uptake of the agent [17].
Two major polypeptides remained associated with Band 3 under these conditions; however one (Band 6) could be dissociated at an ionic strength of 0.15 and the other (Band 4.2) by treatment with p-chloromercuribenzoate [18].
Band 6 photolabeling in leaky ghosts by GlcNAs was: saturable, due mostly to the aryl azide moiety, inhibited by agents with known affinity for the enzyme including sulfhydryl reagents and the enzyme substrate glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, and not inhibited by the free-radical scavenger p-aminobenzoic acid [17].
Plakophilin 1 interferes with plakoglobin binding to desmoplakin, yet together with plakoglobin promotes clustering of desmosomal plaque complexes at cell-cell borders [15].
In 2000, we developed and applied a single cell nested polymerase chain reaction protocol to test one couple for compound heterozygous plakophilin 1 gene mutations by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) [19].
Interestingly, like DP, PG and PP1 associate with epidermal keratins, although PG is considerably weaker in its ability to do so [20].
Plakophilin 1 and 2 (PKP1, PKP2) are members of the arm-repeat protein family [21].
PKP1 and PKP3 immunoreactivity was inversely correlated with tumor histological grade and was observed only in tumors that did not metastasize [1].
While there was no appreciable difference between ADO rates between the two lysis buffers for the LAMA3 PCR product (25% vs 26%), there were significant differences in ADO rates between ALB and PK for the CFTR PCR product (0% vs 23%) and the PKP1 PCR product (8% vs 56%) [22].
To address this issue, PCR amplification of three genes (CFTR, LAMA3 and PKP1) at different chromosomal loci was investigated [22].
Therefore we have used circular dichroism spectroscopy, limited proteolysis, analytical ultracentrifugation, electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering to establish the physical properties of recombinant PKP1 depending on the presence or absence of zinc [23].
In surface plasmon resonance detection experiments, we noticed that PKP1 specifically bound zinc but not calcium or magnesium [23].
In contrast, PKP1, reconstituted without zinc, contained no significant amount of zinc, sedimented with 4.6S, and was present in monomeric form as determined by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation [23].
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of compound heterozygous mutations leading to ablation of plakophilin-1 (PKP1) and resulting in skin fragility ectodermal dysplasia syndrome: a case report [24].
In this study, we used a cell culture system (A431DE cells) that expresses all of the proteins necessary to assemble a desmosome, except plakophilin-1 [25].
Immunohistochemical localization of plakophilins (PKP1, PKP2, PKP3, and p0071) in primary oropharyngeal tumors: correlation with clinical parameters. Papagerakis, S., Shabana, A.H., Depondt, J., Gehanno, P., Forest, N. Hum. Pathol. (2003) [Pubmed]
Genetic abnormalities and clinical classification of epidermolysis bullosa. Mitsuhashi, Y., Hashimoto, I. Arch. Dermatol. Res. (2003) [Pubmed]
Differential expression of desmosomal plakophilins in various types of carcinomas: correlation with cell type and differentiation. Schwarz, J., Ayim, A., Schmidt, A., Jäger, S., Koch, S., Baumann, R., Dünne, A.A., Moll, R. Hum. Pathol. (2006) [Pubmed]
Increased expression of delta-catenin/neural plakophilin-related armadillo protein is associated with the down-regulation and redistribution of E-cadherin and p120ctn in human prostate cancer. Lu, Q., Dobbs, L.J., Gregory, C.W., Lanford, G.W., Revelo, M.P., Shappell, S., Chen, Y.H. Hum. Pathol. (2005) [Pubmed]
Desmosomes: structure and function in normal and diseased epidermis. McMillan, J.R., Shimizu, H. J. Dermatol. (2001) [Pubmed]
Mutations in the plakophilin 1 gene result in ectodermal dysplasia/skin fragility syndrome. McGrath, J.A., McMillan, J.R., Shemanko, C.S., Runswick, S.K., Leigh, I.M., Lane, E.B., Garrod, D.R., Eady, R.A. Nat. Genet. (1997) [Pubmed]
The function of plakophilin 1 in desmosome assembly and actin filament organization. Hatzfeld, M., Haffner, C., Schulze, K., Vinzens, U. J. Cell Biol. (2000) [Pubmed]
Compound heterozygosity for new splice site mutations in the plakophilin 1 gene (PKP1) in a Chinese case of ectodermal dysplasia-skin fragility syndrome. Zheng, R., Bu, D.F., Zhu, X.J. Acta Derm. Venereol. (2005) [Pubmed]
Plakophilin 3--a novel cell-type-specific desmosomal plaque protein. Schmidt, A., Langbein, L., Prätzel, S., Rode, M., Rackwitz, H.R., Franke, W.W. Differentiation (1999) [Pubmed]
Alterations in desmosome size and number coincide with the loss of keratinocyte cohesion in skin with homozygous and heterozygous defects in the desmosomal protein plakophilin 1. McMillan, J.R., Haftek, M., Akiyama, M., South, A.P., Perrot, H., McGrath, J.A., Eady, R.A., Shimizu, H. J. Invest. Dermatol. (2003) [Pubmed]
The plakophilin 1 (PKP1) and plakoglobin (JUP) genes map to human chromosomes 1q and 17, respectively. Cowley, C.M., Simrak, D., Spurr, N.K., Arnemann, J., Buxton, R.S. Hum. Genet. (1997) [Pubmed]
Structure of the armadillo repeat domain of plakophilin 1. Choi, H.J., Weis, W.I. J. Mol. Biol. (2005) [Pubmed]
Protein binding and functional characterization of plakophilin 2. Evidence for its diverse roles in desmosomes and beta -catenin signaling. Chen, X., Bonne, S., Hatzfeld, M., van Roy, F., Green, K.J. J. Biol. Chem. (2002) [Pubmed]
Comparative analysis of armadillo family proteins in the regulation of a431 epithelial cell junction assembly, adhesion and migration. Setzer, S.V., Calkins, C.C., Garner, J., Summers, S., Green, K.J., Kowalczyk, A.P. J. Invest. Dermatol. (2004) [Pubmed]
Plakophilin 1 interferes with plakoglobin binding to desmoplakin, yet together with plakoglobin promotes clustering of desmosomal plaque complexes at cell-cell borders. Bornslaeger, E.A., Godsel, L.M., Corcoran, C.M., Park, J.K., Hatzfeld, M., Kowalczyk, A.P., Green, K.J. J. Cell. Sci. (2001) [Pubmed]
Resolution of the membrane moiety of the H+-ATPase complex into two kinds of subunits. Sone, N., Yoshida, M., Hirata, H., Kagawa, Y. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1978) [Pubmed]
Photoaffinity labeling of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by an aryl azide derivative of glucosamine in human erythrocytes. May, J.M. J. Biol. Chem. (1986) [Pubmed]
Isolation and characterization of band 3, the predominant polypeptide of the human erythrocyte membrane. Yu, J., Steck, T.L. J. Biol. Chem. (1975) [Pubmed]
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of skin fragility-ectodermal dysplasia syndrome. Fassihi, H., Grace, J., Lashwood, A., Whittock, N.V., Braude, P.R., Pickering, S.J., McGrath, J.A. Br. J. Dermatol. (2006) [Pubmed]
Defining the interactions between intermediate filaments and desmosomes. Smith, E.A., Fuchs, E. J. Cell Biol. (1998) [Pubmed]
Interaction of plakophilins with desmoplakin and intermediate filament proteins: an in vitro analysis. Hofmann, I., Mertens, C., Brettel, M., Nimmrich, V., Schnölzer, M., Herrmann, H. J. Cell. Sci. (2000) [Pubmed]
A comparison of different lysis buffers to assess allele dropout from single cells for preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Thornhill, A.R., McGrath, J.A., Eady, R.A., Braude, P.R., Handyside, A.H. Prenat. Diagn. (2001) [Pubmed]
Physical characterization of plakophilin 1 reconstituted with and without zinc. Hofmann, I., Mücke, N., Reed, J., Herrmann, H., Langowski, J. Eur. J. Biochem. (2000) [Pubmed]
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of compound heterozygous mutations leading to ablation of plakophilin-1 (PKP1) and resulting in skin fragility ectodermal dysplasia syndrome: a case report. Thornhill, A.R., Pickering, S.J., Whittock, N.V., Caller, J., Andritsos, V., Bickerstaff, H.E., Handyside, A.H., Eady, R.A., Braude, P.R., McGrath, J.A. Prenat. Diagn. (2000) [Pubmed]
Carboxyl terminus of Plakophilin-1 recruits it to plasma membrane, whereas amino terminus recruits desmoplakin and promotes desmosome assembly. Sobolik-Delmaire, T., Katafiasz, D., Wahl, J.K. J. Biol. Chem. (2006) [Pubmed]
Contributions to this collaborative article are from individual authors of WikiGenes or mined by the WikiGenes Data Mining Engine from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.About WikiGenesOpen Access LicencePrivacy PolicyTerms of Useapsburg
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Assassin’s Creed 2 Review
November 17th, 2009 / Niraj Shah / Reviews
Assassins Creed 2 starts with a quick recap on the events of the first game to remind players of the confusing plot which intertwines events from the past and modern day. Once the recap is done the game puts you back in control of subject 17 also known as Desmond Miles. You take control of Desmond at the exact point that the previous game left off with Desmond standing in his Abstergo cell staring at a bloodied wall of cryptic messages.
If you are expecting to jump back into the Animus doing work for Abstergo the Templars of today you may be in for a little shock, Lucy Stillman an Abstergo employee and undercover Assassin breaks you out taking you to a nearby Assassin’s warehouse where the Animus 2.0 is ready and waiting to take Desmond back in time to visit his Italian ancestor Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
You take control of Ezio in late 15th century Italy, the time of the renaissance and a time of corruption amongst Italies top families. The time spent in Italy starts out light heartedly with Ezio getting into a scuffles with local gangs, racing along roof tops and dropping in on a special lady for a late night rendezvous which includes a sex mini game that had me laughing out loud.
The game soon takes a turn towards the serious side of things with Ezio donning the Assassin robes. Ezio is on a quest for revenge as he goes from city to city seeking new targets to try and unravel the long line of deceit before him. Ezio is not alone on his quest, he gains support from unlikely sources such as prostitutes, thieves, mercenaries, his uncle Mario and strangely enough Leonardo da Vinci. The famous Italian is on hand to unlock codexes and create weapons for Ezio. All of Ezio’s allies have a part to play as they teach him new skills, accompany him on missions or just generally point the young assassin in the right direction. Every character feels believable and carries a sense of belonging.
It is important to note that the story progresses through the late 15th century and into the early 16th century with a transition of time in between each “sector” of the game. The transitions push events forward years at a time allowing surroundings to change slightly which effects the way the city feels and pushes the story forward giving the whole world a sense of scale.
Playing as Ezio it is very easy to get caught up in his world forgetting about the fact that you are really playing as Desmond in the Animus. The previous game dipped in and out of the contraption quite frequently giving Desmond time to rest, this is not the case with the sequel. Scenes in the modern day world are few and far between but do hold a lot more weight as there is a sense of purpose behind them.
The story can be a little confusing at times with two “events” going on at the same time and questions being answered with more questions; fans of Lost will feel right at home here with others tearing their hair out at the” WTF?!” moments. If you have no idea what’s really going on half the time do not worry as in the words of the late Michael Jackson, you are not alone.
Graphics: The graphical look of the game has not changed much from the original however the architecture of the Italian cities is superb with every minor detail down to a tee the cities really look believable. Away from the dusty roads of the middle east the new Italian setting allows for a bit more greenery around some parts of the cities and on the road between locations. The lighting effects that wowed me in the original are back and still looking great casting dynamic shadows that can suffer from pixelation at times, especially when not standing within two feet of them. The character models are looking a little dated when compared to recent games such as Uncharted 2 but it is to be expected with dozens of characters on screen at once in an open world. Swimming is available this time and with it comes water that splashes when Ezio jumps in and ripples to good effect around the young Assassin when he is floating. Overall the visuals are stunning on the Xbox 360 and I would imagine they are even better on a high end PC.
Sound: The sound in Assassin’s Creed 2 is second to none with the patter of footsteps and the ambient sound of conversation literally bringing the Italian cities to life much like they did in the previous game. What the previous game got totally wrong though was Altair’s accent; Altair had Desmond’s American accent, it didn’t work well at all and actually ended up suspending some in-game immersion. Ezio does not suffer such a fate and comes equipped with an Italian accent which sounds really authentic. Ezio frequently comes out with Italian expressions that make his character and the characters around him believable. Music is used well to set the tone with methodical slow tunes in place when Ezio is anonymous just walking through the streets planning his next kill which is a stark contrast to the up beat music that gets your heart pumping when running through the streets with guards on your tail.
Gameplay: Well where do I begin?! The great free running is back and plays just as well as it did in the original. There are occasions where you will perform actions you didn’t mean to do but those moments are very rare. The ability to end a long run with a dive into the waters of Venice is awesome, thrilling even. The combat has been added to rather than revamped, you can do all the same moves you did in the previous game and more. When fighting unarmed Ezio can counter his opponent with a disarm then lay into them with their own weapon which looks and feels great. Thanks to Leonardo da Vinci, Ezio has not one but two hidden blades which come in handy for double stealth assassinations. Ezio definitely has some new tricks up his sleeves but so do his foes For example, “Brutes” will be tough to kill in their heavy armour but they cannot chase you up buildings whereas the agile guards will be easier to attack but they have the ability to climb buildings and free run on roof tops just like Ezio.
The last game suffered from being too repetitive with the same generic side missions being forced down your throat just so you could run the assassination missions, the sequel corrects this issue by taking a more “linear” route. Whilst a wide variety of side missions still exist none are mandatory. Assassinations still need to be set up but every mission towards the kill target is chosen for you wrapped in story to make the process easier to digest.
A welcome new feature to the game is the mini “RPG” element. Ezio unlike his ancestor Altair can collect money in various ways and use it to upgrade armour, weapons and buy supplies such as ammo and medicine. Ezio gains money by completing missions, looting bodies, pickpocketing civilians and renting out his uncles villa. The villa is situated in a small city that has shops and local services which can be upgraded. The more you upgrade the villa and the surrounding shops the more rent you get. The rent you attain goes into a chest, once the chest is full no more money can be made until you return to the villa and empty it. This is an interesting mechanic which encourages you to go back to the villa frequently and reminds you that there is a living breathing world out there. The villa is a great feature but it sort of fell flat when I had maxed it out, more upgrades would have been nice.
Last but not least my favourite new feature, the linear side missions that have you traversing a hidden locations in each city to find some top loot. If you remember the start of the original game there was a section which had Altair going through a linear mission and it was great, this is quite similar but better of course. My only small complaint is that these missions are not mandatory and some people might just overlook them. They are fantastically designed and if you complete them all, they offer a great final reward. Definitely something not to be missed!
Longevity: The main story plus all six of the linear side quests took me around 12 hours to complete, add the side missions and exploring to that and you are looking at a 20+ hour game. Not the longest when compared to marathons such as Dragon Age but not amazingly short either. The confusing story may have you playing through again to get a better understanding but without an online mode you probably won’t play Assassin’s Creed 2 more than once.
Verdict: Assassin’s Creed 2 builds on the foundations of the previous game adding just enough to make the experience involving and engaging. I got the feeling that the cracks from the previous game were patched up rather than properly rebuilt but nevertheless Assassins Creed 2 offers a unique gaming experience which no self respecting gamer should miss.
Score: 8 / 10
By: Aryel Abrahami
Assassin’s Creed 2, Review
4 comments on “Assassin’s Creed 2 Review”
DaLi says:
any info for the pps who haven’t had the chance to preorder the game to get the exclusive maps ? , btw neat review
kite says:
Is this a PS3 exclusive?
Niraj Shah says:
@kite Nope. Its available on the Xbox 360 too.
Assassin’s Creed II Sells 1.6m Copies In First Week - XTREME PS3 says:
[…] 2 showing an 84 percent decline in week on week sales in the UK. Check out our review of the title here.
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Wireless instant messaging
Considering the huge popularity of SMS, wireless instant messaging (with added essential characteristics that give users an opportunity to manage the "message overload)," certainly looks promising.
By Puneet Gupta | May 13, 2002 -- 05:44 GMT (22:44 PDT) | Topic: Networking
As users are exposed to an increasing variety of mobile communication forms--mobile e-mail, voicemail, SMS, and, of course, voice--managing one's availability, or presence, becomes important.
Wireless Instant Messaging, the wireless cousin of the hugely popular online instant messaging services, such as those offered by AOL, MSN, or Yahoo!, provides presence management features and real-time wireless text messaging. Apart from presence management features, WIM also offers real-time text messages, which is different from the store and forward nature of messaging in SMS.
Mobile messaging services, including WIM, are expected to become increasingly popular with businesses. In fact, according to estimates from Ovum, a technology analyst and consulting company, by the end of 2006, more than 40 percent of operator revenues from enterprise wireless applications will come from messaging services.
WIM is not text messaging
With WIM service, users can specify different user groups and the members of that group will always be aware of another member's availability. Individuals can also specify their availability at a particular time and their preferred mode of communication, such as SMS, e-mail, or a voice call. A user's availability status can also indicate whether the user is not at all reachable or is only temporarily unavailable (e.g., busy in a meeting or gone for lunch). WIM service can be accessed with either a wireless PDA or a WAP equipped mobile phone.
WIM is a functional evolution of SMS, adding features like real-time messaging and presence management to the current store and forward nature of SMS. Services like Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), on the other hand, are a totally different kind of evolution aimed at making the messages richer in composition (audio, video, images etc.) while maintaining the basic store and forward nature of SMS.
"Always on" is the key
Mobile networks, such as GPRS, UMTS, and CDMA 1X with wireless packet-data capability, are crucial to the success and usability of WIM. These networks provide "always on" packet-data capability, meaning that the user is always connected and individual connections are not required to be set up every time data needs to be transferred. Since instant messaging applications exchange data in small bursts, packet data technologies are ideal for such applications.
What's in it for enterprises?
WIM, combined with unified messaging infrastructure plus other optional add-ons like location identification, can be a powerful communication tool indeed. The user's availability, indicated by WIM, can control the flow of e-mail, text messages, and voice calls. For example, if a user is in a meeting, he or she may indicate a preference for text messages or e-mail, rather than a voice call. Location information, if available, can make the WIM presence feature even more specific.
WIM presents several advantages to an enterprise, including productivity enhancements by virtue of WIM's presence features, collaborative working (e.g., white boarding features for a remote meeting), instant consultancy, and other potential applications like file sharing.
Customer service and sales support is another WIM application area for enterprises. As an example, IBM offers a "Sametime Everyplace" product. This solution features added security and allows audio and video messages to be exchanged in addition to voice, e-mail, and text messages. If you're considering WIM for your organization, I strongly recommend that you go through IBM's "Sametime Everyplace" product information to get a better feel for enterprise IM.
Future of WIM
Interoperability and standardization are crucial if WIM is going to be widely adopted. The Instant Messaging industry is already involved in many standardization activities that will also have direct bearing on the success of WIM. Further, Nokia, Motorola, and Ericcson have formed a consortium called Wireless Village to develop and promote standards specifically for wireless instant messaging across GSM and CDMA mobile networks, two of the most popular cellular technologies today.
WIM services are slowly beginning to appear around the globe. Sprint PCS wireless Internet services now include a wireless version of AOL Instant Messenger. UK-based mobile operator mm02 has teamed up with Openwave to provide Genie (mm02's wireless Internet portal) subscribers wireless access to MSN's instant messaging. Later, this feature will be extended to AOL and Yahoo's instant messenger systems, as well.
So, what's WIM's future like? Considering the huge popularity of SMS, I would say that a similar service, with some added essential characteristics that give users an opportunity to manage the "message overload," certainly looks promising.
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Dolph Ziggler returning to Smackdown next week
Comments Off on Dolph Ziggler returning to Smackdown next week
Apart from an appearance coming in at #30 at the Royal Rumble, we have not seen Dolph Ziggler on WWE television since the Smackdown following Clash of Champions in December.
Next week, the former United States champion will be returning on the show and will wrestle Baron Corbin, the man he beat for the title on the pay-per-view in a triple threat match that also involved Bobby Roode. Ziggler vacated the title on Smackdown two days later and “walked out” of the company.
Ziggler’s appearance at the Rumble, although a surprise, was underwhelming and Ziggler lasted two minutes and one second before he got eliminated by Finn Balor.
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The Fed’s biggest challenge this year: Learn to speak in English
After quickly reversing the direction of monetary policy by cutting short-term rates three times and expanding its balance sheet in 2019, the Federal Reserve is not likely to change its policies very much this year, says Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP and the winner of the Forecaster of the Month contest for December.
But that doesn’t mean the Fed is complacent or satisfied with how it tries to manage the economy, Crandall says. One big challenge is to explain their actions in plain English.
Fed Focuses on Repo Market Exit Strategy After Avoiding Year-End Crunch
Another challenge for Fed officials: Deciding just how big the central bank's balance sheet, which is currently about $4 trillion, should be.
"There are people at the Fed who have a preference for the smallest possible balance sheet, and we just don't know how much their views have evolved," said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP, a research firm.
Absolutely no economic reason for a recession, but ‘we’ll probably have one anyway’
There’s absolutely no economic or financial reason for a U.S. or global recession to occur in the next year or two, but we’re likely to experience one anyway because of political risks, says Lou Crandall, chief economist for Wrightson ICAP and the winner of MarketWatch’s Forecaster of the Month contest for August.
“Recessions are always hard to predict,” says Crandall, who’s been watching the Fed and the economy for three decades. But after looking deeply into the economic data, he concludes that “there’s no reason” for the economy to topple into recession. The usual suspects are missing. For instance, there’s no inventory overhang, nor is monetary policy too tight.
Fed Debt Unwind End Is Set. So Treasury’s Looking at What’s Next
This all matters to the overseers of America’s debt because additional Treasury purchases by the Fed would reduce how much the government needs to tap from the the public to meet its funding needs. The Fed’s decision also factors into what maturities Treasury decides to issue. The central bank’s portfolio is about $4 trillion, including around $2.2 trillion of Treasuries and $1.6 trillion of agency mortgage debt.
“It’s obviously a critical question for the Treasury,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP. “The Treasury should have a sense of what one of the biggest players in the market is going to do.”
Crandall expects the Fed will eventually tilt its Treasury purchases toward bills, as it seeks to align the maturity of its debt holdings with the average maturity of the public debt. Currently, the weighted average maturity of the Fed’s Treasury investments is about 8 years. That compares with 5.8 years for the market.
Rate-Hike Patience May Leave Fed in a Bind If Inflation Softens
If price gains would slow down even as U.S. economic growth more broadly held up, it could put the central bank in a tough spot. Officials have already placed interest-rate hikes on hold amid muted price pressures and looming global risks. They could
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“The hurdle for a policy inflection point is fairly high,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP in New York. “If you ease, you trigger the, ‘what does the Fed know that we don’t?’ trade.”
The stakes are significant. The Fed hasn’t hit 2 percent inflation on a sustained basis since formally adopting it in 2012. Officials had been hopeful that this would be the year in which they finally clinched their objective.
Eye-Popping Surge in Repo Rate Blamed on Rules Instead of Funding Stress
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Wrightson ICAP economist Lou Crandall on Tuesday pulled forward his forecast for when America will exhaust it’s borrowing capacity to early March, saying the Treasury’s latest monthly statement of the public debt shows “much less remaining headroom” at the end of December than initially projected. That may limit the amount the government can borrow in the coming weeks, potentially forcing the Treasury to cut short-term bill auctions further. It has already scaled back the size of its one-month bill sale, lowering it by $5 billion this week to $45 billion.
Fed's Future Tightening Fraught with Recession, Political Risks
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glide path back to equilibrium,” said Lou Crandall, chief
economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“They’re going to have to objectively tighten monetary policy in
order to increase unemployment and stabilize inflation at their
target.”
That’s important because the central bank is more likely to
make a policy mistake and inadvertently push the economy into a
recession if it is actively seeking to curb credit and boost
joblessness, rather than just removing monetary accommodation
from the financial system, as it is now.
Spring 2018 Likely for Next Debt Vote but Election Season Possible
Crandall is a veteran debt limit watcher and analyzes federal cash flows to help predict Treasury borrowing policy in the massive market for Treasury debt securities. He said his most likely forecast still calls for Treasury to run out of borrowing room in late March or early April, but getting to mid-April—and the flood of incoming individual and corporate receipts that accompany that—is not out of the realm of possibility.
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... some Fed watchers argue that the Treasury Department will have a greater say than the Fed in determining the impact of a reduction in the central bank’s $2.5 trillion portfolio of U.S. government securities.
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Yellen Patience on Timing of Next Hike Justified by Jobs Report
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“We are clearly not generating much wage pressure,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “This report didn’t challenge the call for three rate increases in any way. However, it did not create any urgency for March either.”
Fed Officials Leaning Toward Bigger Is Better on Balance Sheet
Thu, December 08, 2016
While nearly all eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s likely decision to raise short-term interest rates next week, investors in the world’s biggest debt market say central bankers have already signaled a major change in another policy tool.
Fed officials have indicated they may make their super-sized balance sheet of bond holdings and $2 trillion in excess reserves created during the last financial crisis a more permanent feature of the way they interact with financial markets.
…“The large balance sheet has become the status quo,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist for Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “It is no longer experimental.”
Fed’s Rosengren Highlights Growing Tensions Inside FOMC
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston took direct aim at Janet Yellen’s argument for keeping interest rates unchanged this week, shedding more light on pressures confronting the Fed chair as she tries to coax the U.S. economy through a period of slow growth and deep uncertainty.
Eric Rosengren, who dissented from the decision by the Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday, said in a statement Friday the Fed’s failure to get back to a strategy of gradual rate increases may threaten the economic recovery.
…Rosengren has “very, very clearly demonstrated that he is not an inflation nutter,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He has “laid out the dovish case for a rate hike,” and claiming prudence in central banking “is always an attempt to take the higher ground.”
July interest rate hike not far-fetched, close examination of Fed voters’ stance shows
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday as a result of the weak May jobs report but a hike as soon as July is not far-fetched, based on a close examination of where officials stand.
…Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP, said after the jobs report, three things are needed to get a majority to back a July rate hike.
There could be no “serious” financial market dislocations from the Brexit referendum, the May job report has got to be shown as not the start of a trend and there can’t be any more deterioration in inflation expectations.
“Everyone is in the same camp they were in, but they are data contingent,” Crandall said.
Economists See Two ’16 Fed Rate Hikes, Unsure on Timing of First
Wall Street economists are more inclined than traders to see the Fed raising interest rates twice this year, though they’re less certain on the timing of the first increase.
…One reason investors are pessimistic on the central bank’s own policy rate forecast is that pushing the benchmark higher in a time of very low or even negative rates around the world could lead to a dollar rally, causing disinflation at home, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC.
Debt King Trump, Bridge Builder Clinton Equal Bigger Deficits
The U.S. looks set to rack up bigger budget deficits in the coming years, no matter who is elected president.
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If it occurs, it would bolster the confidence of Federal Reserve policy makers in the staying power of the expansion and make it more probable they’ll raise interest rates by a full percentage point next year, according to Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. Central bank officials in March penciled in four quarter-percentage point rate increases for next year after two planned for 2016.
US Treasury debates new-for-old bond swap
Investors value owning these fresh issues, also known as ‘’on-the-run’’ securities, because they trade more frequently. Bolstering the size of current benchmarks, with a focus said to be on the 10-year note, could improve market liquidity.
The US Treasury would then buy older, less liquid and therefore cheaper debt across the market, which could in theory then be reissued at a lower yield. In recent months, yields on older issues have risen more than those for recently sold debt, suggesting a deterioration in liquidity.
"Dealers would be in a better position to provide liquidity to customers looking to sell off-the-runs if there was a known buyback schedule that would allow them to unload the position," said Lou Crandall, economist at Wrightson Icap.
Yellen Outsources U.S. Monetary Policy to the Financial Markets
The Federal Reserve looks to have outsourced monetary policy to the financial markets -- and that may not necessarily be bad.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen told the Economic Club of New York on Tuesday that policy makers had scaled back the number of interest rate increases they expect to carry out this year after investors did the same.
...“That’s a good thing,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey, commenting on the sequence of actions. “Monetary medicine gets into the blood stream faster if the public can anticipate what the Fed’s response to an economic shock will be.”
Trade failures of US bonds hit $456bn
However, some analysts and investors say that a slow and steady uptick in failed trades over the past few years is a consequence of the pressures on bank balance sheets.
Banks complain that increasing capital requirements makes them less willing to facilittate trading in US Treasuries, so it becomes harder for dealers and investors to find securities and trade failures increase.
"We have always had periodic, issue-specific increases in fails," said Louis Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP. "This one was large but the upward march ... we have seen over the past few years is a different phenomena and definitely worth keeping an eye on."
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Dramatic action by the European Central Bank is raising questions about how far the Federal Reserve can diverge from its peers.
U.S. central bankers meet next week and while investors foresee almost no chance of an interest rate increase, how the Fed shapes expectations about its next move will be the big story when the meeting concludes on March 16.
...“Sustained exchange rate movements do affect the geography of production over time,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC, and that can have a “disproportionate influence on U.S. manufacturing.”
Fed Debuts Interest-Rate Plan B as Longtime Benchmark Fades
After eight years of unprecedented intervention in financial markets, the Federal Reserve has taken the first baby steps in a long-term mission to extract itself. But it’s good to have a backup plan just in case that doesn’t work out.
That’s one way to look at the new “overnight bank funding rate” the New York Fed unveiled Wednesday. The rate is intended to shore up the calculation that comprises the federal funds rate, a once-robust gauge of inter-bank borrowing costs that serves as the U.S. central bank’s monetary policy target, but has lost its significance as a barometer of underlying economic activity since the 2008 financial crisis.
...“There are lots of paths the money markets and the Fed together could go down, and there are enough where it would be very nice to have a spare reference rate on the shelf that this is a very worthwhile endeavor,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “As to whether or not fed funds do ever come unhinged, that’s hard to say. It’s not impossible, but it’s certainly not inevitable.”
Fed's Unexpected Partner to Manage Rates: Foreign Central Banks
"The idea of the domestic RRP facility is to build more of a floor under market rates and this is an opportunity to extend that in a different direction," said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The New York Fed raised the rate it pays on overnight borrowings through RRPs with foreign central banks to 0.09 percent on average over the first nine months of 2015 from 0.03 percent during the same period of 2014, according to the U.S. central bank’s latest quarterly financial statements. During the same period the Federal Open Market Committee held the RRP rate paid to domestic money-market funds at 0.05 percent.
Crandall, a former Fed economist, said foreign central bank reserve managers are probably utilizing Fed RRPs as a liquidity cushion, because they are easier to liquidate than U.S. government debt holdings at short notice.
"In the 1990s, it wasn’t uncommon to see the RRP pool pop during periods of foreign exchange turbulence for precisely that reason: that funds would be positioned there, ready for use," he said.
With Liftoff Done, the Fed Revisits a $4.5 Trillion Quandary
Federal Reserve officials who spent months debating their first interest-rate increase in almost a decade are turning next to the thorny question of what to do with a balance sheet equivalent to the size of Japan’s economy.
... The Fed’s balance sheet swelled to $4.5 trillion in 2014 from about $900 billion in 2008 on purchases of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities, during three stages of a strategy known as quantitative easing.
The Fed keeps its assets at that level by reinvesting the proceeds of maturing debt, a tactic it pledged to end when rate hikes are “well under way.” Some private economists define that as a federal funds rate, currently in a range of 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent, of at least 1 percent, and probably higher. Dudley said there shouldn’t be a “numerical tripwire” for ending the program, and economic conditions should shape the decision.
... “Well under way’ doesn’t mean one or two rate hikes,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “The expected trajectory of rate hikes has gotten flatter and that means 2017, not 2016” for allowing run-off to begin, he said.
No easy way for the Fed to reverse course
Fri, December 18, 2015
The Federal Reserve has just embarked on its first interest rate-raising cycle for a decade, but that does not mean it is too soon to think about how it would resuscitate the economy if a new recession unexpectedly struck.
...Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP, said the strategy was logical. The Fed has “two dimensions along which it can tighten,” he said — one by allowing its balance sheet to shrink as assets mature and run off, and one by lifting rates.
If the US economy stalls, it would be simpler for the Fed to cut rates back than to restart asset purchases to bulk up its balance sheet. “Politically it is much harder to start [Quantitative Easing] again,” he said.
US bond sell-off puts squeeze on swaps trade
Now the efforts of regulatory reformers are being challenged by a potent combination of emerging market weakness and strict capital standards for banks that have long dominated trading in US interest rate swaps.
Matters intensified last month as the end of the third quarter dawned, a period when banks focus on paring their balance sheets.
“It’s a sign of a market bogging down,” says Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson Icap. “People have month-end and quarter-end reporting requirements. That’s where the window dressing takes place.”
Treasury auction sees US join 0% club
The lowest bid permitted for a US bill auction is zero per cent but ahead of the sale, four week and three-month bills have been trading at negative yields in the secondary market. This reflects a sharp decline in Treasury bill issuance in recent months as the US political system faces another tussle over raising the country’s debt ceiling.
In trading on Tuesday, the four-week bill was quoted at minus 3 basis points and the three-month bill was at minus 1bp.
“Our current forecasts assume that the debt limit will be raised in the first week of November and that the Treasury will start to ramp up issuance aggressively the following week,” said Wrightson Icap, the research company. “We could see the four-week offerings return to $40bn within a couple of weeks after Congress acts. However, there is no guarantee that the end-game will play out that neatly.”
Bond Market’s $2.46 Trillion Dilemma Isn’t So Bad After All
Sun, August 16, 2015
For bond investors worried about what might happen when the Federal Reserve starts whittling down its $2.46 trillion of Treasuries, there’s good news.
You’ll barely even notice.
...“It would not have an impact, and that’s the news here,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC, a research firm that specializes in analyzing Fed policy and Treasury financing. “Letting Treasuries run off is a freebie.”
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Reserved Yellen Sharpens Focus on Inflation
Sun, July 16, 2017
Dr Yellen on Thursday (AEST) said slowing inflation was only "partly the result of a few unusual reductions" in parts of the consumer price index, a less confident wording than the Fed has used in the recent past.
"When the Fed makes a deliberate change in its phraseology, it matters," said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson Icap. "It shows the Fed is getting a little less prepared to give inflation the benefit of the doubt."
The subsequent questioning of the Fed chief over two days did little to dispel the market's view that she was providing ammunition to the doves. While prices were likely to rise eventually given the robust US jobs market, the central bank was "watching inflation very carefully", Dr Yellen admitted to the assembled lawmakers.
Veteran Bond Analyst Stands by Call for More 30-Year Treasuries
Lou Crandall is sticking with his call that
the U.S. is about to increase the amount of 30-year bonds it
sells as a prelude to adding a new ultra-long maturity.
The prediction came in the latest version of Crandall’s
weekly report on U.S. Treasury finance, The Money Market
Observer, which has been landing on clients’ desks every Monday
for almost 40 years. This week’s edition lit up his phone and
email box.
The chief economist at Wrightson ICAP in Jersey City, New
Jersey, forecast that the Treasury Department, which at 8:30
a.m. in Washington on Wednesday will announce the sizes of the
next batch of quarterly auctions, will boost 10-year note and
30-year bond sales by $2 billion apiece. He sees the move as
laying the groundwork for the Trump administration’s eventual
introduction of a new, ultra-long security
Yellen’s message today? Rate hikes are coming
By September, there could be some signs of wage pressure, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP.
“Even though many Fed officials would clearly like to get the first rate hike out of the way, a lot of things have to break just right in order to allow them to do so by September,” he said.
Coming to a 2016 campaign near you: New fiscal cliff?
Surging tax receipts are likely to push off the deadline to raise the nation’s debt limit, once thought to come as soon as October, until around December and maybe even beyond....
Lou Crandall, chief economist at the research firm Wrightson ICAP, who also tracks the issues, says he expects the deadline to come during the first week of December.
Negative T-Bill Rates Persist as Supply Shortage Seen Worsening
The mismatch between supply and demand may worsen if wrangling over the U.S. debt borrowing limit at the end of the year causes the Treasury to have to cut its shortest-maturity debt. If the government drags it feet on dealing with what’s known as the debt ceiling, Treasury could be forced to pay off $200 billion of bills between mid-September and the end of November, according to Wrightson ICAP LLC....
“Debt-ceiling constraints could lead to a massive pay-down in the bill sector over the final four months of this year,” wrote Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP in Jersey City, New Jersey, in a note Monday. “The net redemption would come at a time when the migration of money fund assets from prime to government-only funds is likely to be accelerating, which would make the bill squeeze even more severe.”
Yellen Leaves Key Details of Fed Exit Plans a Mystery
Right now, reverse repos tests are capped at $300 billion a day for one-day transactions, but some have speculated that cap will have to be much higher to achieve the control over interest rates Fed officials want. Lou Crandall, chief economist with Wrightson ICAP, said the Fed may need to provide more than $500 billion in reverse repos at the start, while noting that estimate can change depending on a number of different, complex factors.
A Rare Win for Economic Forecasting: The Atlanta Fed Almost Nails Its First-Quarter Growth Estimate
The U.S. economy’s sharp slowdown in the first three months of the year may have caught almost all Wall Street forecasters off guard. But it didn’t surprise the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
...The Atlanta Fed wasn’t the only one to be right about growth, but it had little company. In a Wall Street Journal survey, financial firm Raymond James predicted a 0.2% rise, while research company Wrightson ICAP forecast a 0.4% gain.
Grand Central: Here's What the Pros Are Saying About the Fed Ahead of Policy Meeting
The Federal Reserve’s two day policy meeting concludes today. Here is a rundown of market commentary that preceded the decision, with our take on it:
Louis Crandall, of Wrightson ICAP, notes this week’s Fed policy statement will mark a milestone in Fed interest rate guidance. “The Fed will finally retire its calendar-based forward guidance and make the transition to a data-dependent, meeting-by-meeting approach. That inevitably implies greater uncertainty about the outcome of individual meetings, but does not necessarily imply greater overall uncertainty about the medium-term outlook for Fed policy.” OUR TAKE: The Fed left the last remnant of calendar-based guidance in its March statement, saying it wouldn’t act in April. Now it is gone and we live in a data-dependent world.
Treasury Repo Rates Surge to 2012 High on Quarter-End Moves
The rate for borrowing and lending Treasuries surged as banks reined in collateral lending to shore up balance sheets and those needing financing at quarter-end were forced to pay higher prices.
The peak level Tuesday for financing Treasuries overnight in the repurchase-agreement market, relative to unsecured lending rates, reached the widest since July 2009, according to Barclays Plc. The average cost for this funding, known as general collateral repo, averaged its highest in the morning trading since October 2012, according to ICAP Plc.
...The allotment at the central bank’s overnight fixed-rate reverse-repurchase program Tuesday morning was $202.2 billion at a rate of 0.05 percent. The Fed had previously announced that its one-day agreements would take place in the morning, as opposed to the typical afternoon timing.
...“You had complications also because the Fed was doing its overnight reverse repos early in the morning on quarter-end,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “There was the perception that people had to pre-emptively lock-in early in the morning as much funding as they might possibly need before the Fed. So market participants that needed funding decided that they had to take it at any price.”
The Fed Still Needs to Figure Out How to Raise Rates
For all the talk about when Federal Reserve policy makers are going to raise interest rates, they haven’t quite figured out how to do it.
...Camp, along with money-market economists such as Lou Crandall of Wrightson ICAP LLC, says the Fed will need to more than triple the use of its main tool, known as the reverse-repo program, to at least $1 trillion from the current $300 billion per day limit.
...“It will take somewhat greater use of the Fed’s tools to get the funds rate into the middle of a 25 to 50 basis-point range than it does to keep it in the middle of a 0 to 25 range,” said Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP in Jersey City.
Once-Disparaged Fed Rate Forecasts Now Seen as Crucial Guidance
Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey, wondered how long Yellen’s embrace of the dot plot would last.
“The Fed chair will highlight the dots if and only if they serve to illustrate the particular policy narrative she wants to deliver,” he said in a note today to clients.
This week, they performed that task. A year ago, they did not. Back then the rate projections rose at the same time that the Fed was seeking to assure investors that it would keep credit ultra-easy for a considerable time.
“The challenge for the FOMC at this point is to strengthen the dot-plot forecast process in order to make it a better reflection of the committee’s expectations,” Crandall said.
Rising Dollar Makes It Hard for the Fed to Go Its Own Way
Federal Reserve officials are finding it harder than they first thought to decouple U.S. monetary policy from the rest of the world.
...Not only is the dollar’s rise reducing price pressures, making it harder for the Fed to tighten, it’s also acting as an “economic headwind reducing the need to tighten,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Investors Snap Up TIPS After Fed Puts Focus on Low Inflation
The Federal Reserve’s primary dealers were left with the least amount of securities on record at a U.S. sale of inflation-protected debt after policy makers highlighted concern that inflation remains too low.
...“The FOMC appears to be conflicted about the TIPS break-evens,” wrote Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey, in a report following the release of the minutes. “We would give very little weight to TIPS break-evens in the policy debate. The FOMC, however, isn’t willing to throw TIPS overboard altogether."
US bonds lag behind Fed rate forecasts
A healthier looking jobs market, however, is not yet sparking inflation. Indeed, the recent slide in energy and commodity prices in conjunction with a rising dollar is seen pushing inflation further below the central bank’s target of 2 per cent.
“The Fed talks about June to September being the window for a move in policy,” says Lou Crandall, economist at Wrightson Icap, who expects a key measure of core inflation followed by the Fed will run at an annual rate of 1 per cent by June, down from the current level of 1.3 per cent.
“The Fed needs a solid basis for forecasting a return to 2 per cent inflation, and it is difficult to see the case for such a forecast coming together as early as June,” he adds.
There Are Now More Than Five Million Job Openings in America
Unfilled positions at U.S. companies climbed in December to an almost 14-year high and hiring accelerated, underscoring a thriving labor market that points to a pickup in wage growth.
...“The fact that you have so many new jobs coming on the market shortens the time that individuals have to spend in unemployment, between jobs,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. Crandall is the second-best forecaster of job openings over the last two years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
One aspect “that really sticks out here is the very large number of people who found new jobs in the month,” he said. “Having the confidence to leave a job and look for another one is an important contributor to that.”
Three Reasons Why the ECB's Historic Move Matters For the Fed
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi announced a $1.3 trillion asset purchase program Thursday to revive the region's growth.
...Government bond yields declined from Germany to Spain after the ECB move. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Broad Market Sovereign Plus Index had an effective yield of 1.16 percent as of yesterday, close to the record low of 1.14 percent reached Jan. 19.
The decline in foreign bond yields makes U.S. Treasuries look attractive, and that is helping yields fall here. The U.S. 10-year note is at 1.88 percent, down from 2.14 percent since Fed officials last met.
Even though Fed officials don't want to create a bubble, the decline in long-term borrowing costs is already stoking U.S. housing markets. Refinancing lowers household debt costs, and new home purchases spur the construction sector.
"The U.S. housing sector is a major beneficiary of the European Central Bank's quantitative easing," said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Yellen Leaves Greenspan ‘Put' Behind as She Charts Rate Increase
Janet Yellen is leaving the Greenspan “put” behind as she charts the first interest-rate increase since 2006 amid growing financial-market volatility.
The Federal Reserve chair has signaled she wants to place the economic outlook at the center of policy making, while looking past short-term market fluctuations. To succeed, she must wean investors from the notion, which gained currency under predecessor Alan Greenspan, that the Fed will bail them out if their bets go bad -- just as a put option protects against a drop in stock prices.
...U.S. central bankers are counting on supervisory tools, such as their current stepped-up focus on lending standards in the high-yield loan market, and higher levels of bank capital and liquidity to help make the financial system more resilient to shocks.
The so-called Tier 1 capital ratio, a core measure of a bank’s strength comparing capital to risk-weighted assets, more than doubled to 11.6 percent at the end of 2013 for the 30 largest banks compared with the first quarter of 2009, according to the Fed’s most recent stress-test report issued last March.
“They feel they have taken steps so they don’t have to use monetary policy to stabilize the system,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Traders bet on delay in US rate rise
US interest rate traders are betting sharply that lower oil prices, falling inflation and faltering wage growth will delay the arrival of Federal Reserve policy tightening this year.
..."We think it is very difficult to construct a scenario in which the Fed would tighten by midyear in the absence of a perceptible pick-up in wage growth," said Lou Crandall, economist at Wrightson Icap. "The Fed has said it would need to be reasonably confident about its forecast of rising inflation over a one- to two- year period in order to justify a rate hike."
Rate Guidance and Inflation Outlook Dominate Fed Agenda
Pace after liftoff: Yellen, in her press conference, is likely to stress that that the Fed’s interest-rate path will depend on how economic data evolves, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“There is a fairly good chance that she will point out that once the rate hikes begin, that they will definitely not be on the same kind of predetermined schedule that they were on last time,” he said. When the Fed began raising rates in June 2004, it did so at a “measured” pace, which translated into a quarter-point increase at every meeting for the next two years.
Job Openings Point to Sustained U.S. Payroll Gains: Economy
The U.S. labor market continued to show traction in October as job openings held near the highest level in almost 14 years and the number of people quitting and getting hired remained elevated.
...“There’s been a real change in tone in the labor market this year,” said Louis Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey and the best forecaster of job openings over the last two years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “A higher degree of turnover is a big plus.”
Fed Mandates Clash as Jobless Drop Vies With Inflation: Economy
Just when Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and her colleagues will be approaching a decision to raise interest rates, their two mandates will probably be pulling them in different directions.
...By the middle of next year, “we will have seen changes in conditions that make a higher inflation forecast still plausible,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “Part of it is that I expect a pickup in wage growth next year.”
Increases in pay mean a forecast for an eventual pickup in prices remains valid, said Crandall. “I’m also guessing that the impulse from the current downturn in commodity prices will have ended, if not turned around, by then.”
Bullard Challenges Fed to Respond To Weakening Inflation
Bullard said the Fed should consider delaying plans to end its bond-buying program at the end of this month to halt a decline in expected inflation. The Fed has tapered purchases to $15 billion a month from $85 billion in December 2012.
...The Fed, which cut interest rates to near zero in December 2008, said last month that asset purchases would probably end after its next meeting, on Oct. 28-29, and reiterated that rates would remain on hold for a “considerable time” after the program ends.
“Ending the asset purchases has been baked in the cake for quite a while,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
...The Fed’s concern over expectations may be muted by considering a wider range of measures, including consumer and business surveys, Crandall said.
Money Funds Zero Pain to Worsen as Fed Maneuvers: Credit Markets
The central bank is working out how best to control short-term rates after its bond buying policies aimed at suppressing borrowing costs and stimulate economic growth flooded the banking system with $2.71 trillion of excess reserves. The Fed, which is forecast to start raising rates next year, surprised market participants earlier this month when it placed a limit on how much cash it will take out of the system each night through its reverse repurchase agreement program.
...To pull that off, the Fed’s repo program might have to be as large at $1 trillion, according to Wrightson ICAP LLC.
“To achieve their goal, they will have to raise the cap,” Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson in Jersey City, New Jersey, said Sept. 18 in a phone interview.
Treasury bills go negative in quarter-end rush
Investors are pushing rates on Treasury bills into negative territory due to a scarcity of safe assets as funding pressures intensify with the end of the financial quarter.
..."People who want to be invested past September 30 are hoarding Treasury bills pre-emptively," said Lou Crandall, economist at Wrightson Icap.
"Money funds' willingness to lock in term investments at low rates through October 1 now will, if anything, make the quarter-end squeeze in the overnight market on September 30 even more extreme as banks accepting cash are tying up whatever limited balance sheet space they might be wiling to make available over the statement date."
Fed to Conduct Series of Term Deposit Tests Next Month
The Federal Reserve said it plans a series of fixed-rate offerings of term deposits for banks beginning in October as it tests a facility designed to help it eventually raise interest rates.
The term deposits announced today will allow banks to withdraw funds early subject to a penalty, the Fed said. That means they would count as high-quality liquid assets banks are required to maintain to weather a financial crisis.
...The early withdrawal feature for term deposits would make the facility more attractive to banks, according to Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“Large banks would be able to treat the TDF as overnight cash in their LCR calculations, which would make them much more willing to participate,” he said in an e-mail, referring to liquidity coverage ratio, a measure of a bank’s access to cash and assets that can be quickly converted to cash. That would make it easier for the Fed “to immobilize a larger amount of reserves in ordinary circumstances,” Crandall said.
Boston Fed Chief Warns of Dangers to Repo Market
Wall Street banks continue to rely for billions of dollars in borrowing on a market that dried up suddenly in 2008, sending shock waves through the financial system and the wider economy.
Since the crisis, some steps have been taken to shore up the potentially unstable debt market, known as the repo market. But on Wednesday, Eric S. Rosengren, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, became the latest prominent regulator to call for a more ambitious overhaul of the repo market. In particular, he suggested that financial institutions making large use of repo borrowing should maintain higher levels of capital.
...Even so, the new rules are prompting broker-dealers to make significant changes to their trading operations, debt market experts say.
“It’s not creating particular strain or stress right now, but there are a lot of uncertainties about how the structure of the markets will evolve,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP.
No-Exit Strategy May Be Fed Burden in Unwinding Stimulus
The Federal Reserve is trying to change as little as possible as it crafts its strategy to exit from record stimulus. The trouble is financial markets have changed so much that the still-developing plan may prove costly and ultimately unworkable.
The approach, sketched out in the minutes of the Fed’s June 17-18 meeting and in officials’ comments since then, retains a focus on the federal funds rate as the central bank’s target. Policy would continue to be conducted mainly through banks rather than via dealings with money-market funds.
“They don’t want to make wholesale changes in the way they interact with markets when they are going to have so many other issues in play” as they raise interest rates, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey, who has been watching the Fed for three decades.
…The foreign banks now are borrowing from U.S. federal home-loan banks, which aren’t eligible to earn interest on reserves held at the Fed and so are willing to lend cash in the fed funds market at a lower rate. That rate has averaged 0.08 percent in the past year. Since foreign banks are eligible to earn interest on reserves, they can place the borrowed cash at the Fed and collect a 0.17 percentage point profit on the overnight transactions.
… In what may be a sign of things to come, they “pulled back en masse” from conducting this kind of arbitrage on June 30 to avoid inflating their balance sheets at the end of the quarter, Crandall said in a July 14 note to clients.
The result: Money funds and others had to park their cash with the Fed because they couldn’t lend it to the foreign banks via time deposits, another instrument the banks use to finance the reserves they hold at the Fed. Instead, the money funds loaned a record $339.5 billion to the central bank through reverse repo agreements, more than three times the average daily amount during the rest of the month.
U.S. Considers Issuing Debt With Maturities of More Than 30 Years
Wed, July 23, 2014
The U.S. government currently sells Treasury bonds maturing in three decades or less to investors. It considered selling longer-term debt as recently as 2011 when the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee, a group of banks, investment firms and hedge funds that advise the Treasury on its debt auction lineup, floated the idea. At that time, dealers were concerned demand from investors would be volatile and unpredictable, making it risky for banks to sell and warehouse the securities, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC.
Bond traders bet the Fed has got it wrong on interest rates
Long-time Fed watcher Lou Crandall at Wrightson ICAP terms the current stand-off between the bond market and the Fed’s forecasts as “dot disbelief.”
He says an improving economy over the summer that is not accompanied by an upward shift in market interest rates will create problems. “The Fed doesn’t want to push intermediate-term rates up prematurely, but it also wants to avoid another violent repricing of market expectations when lift-off becomes unavoidable.”
… “Investors have made a lot of money over the past few years assuming that Fed policy outcomes would ultimately be more accommodative than mainstream FOMC rhetoric implied at the time,” says Mr. Crandall.
Dot plot shows widening split at the Fed
Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP, noted that in the past few quarters there has been a narrowing of the gap between the 2016 forecast and the neutral level.
“In December, [ the Fed policy committee] thought it would have moved the funds rate less than half-way back to neutral by the end of 2016, and now feels that it will have moved significantly more than halfway back,” Crandall said.
Federal Reserve's Bond-Buying Fades, but Stimulus Doesn't End There
The Fed in recent years has almost completely replaced its inventory of short-term government debt with longer-term securities that do not begin to mature until 2016. It has reinvested just $332 million in Treasuries so far this year, and would need to reinvest just $4 billion in 2015, according to calculations by Lou Crandall, chief economist for Wrightson ICAP, a financial research firm in New Jersey.
Reinvestment of mortgage bonds is also in decline. The Fed received and reinvested about $24 billion a month as borrowers refinanced loans or sold homes in 2013. But as interest rates have ticked upward, prepayments have declined. Reinvestment averaged $16 billion a month during the first six months of 2014, and Mr. Crandall estimates that the volume will stabilize a little below that level next year.
“The numbers are not zero, and it’s still important because they’re very mindful of the signaling effect of their operations,” he said. “But for 2015, it’s largely symbolic.”
That would change, however, in early 2016. Mr. Crandall calculates that $39 billion in Treasuries will mature in February that year, and about $177 billion during the rest of the year. Reinvesting those amounts would have a significant effect, he said.
Today’s Fed Policy Commentary at https://t.co/gVCVgK9MUk. #Powell #Fed #rates #RepoMarket https://t.co/L0EpAEsZdw
While the #Fed will, at a minimum, resume organic balance sheet growth at the October meeting, many market particip… https://t.co/A02itGHjIR
The Fed will frame the resumption of outright purchases of Treasuries [QE Lite] as a technical response to the mark… https://t.co/CFobMMuPy4
First system RP in a decade. https://t.co/fPytSi7TJJ
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Home That's What's Up No agent? No problem. Writers find ways to work around agency feud.
By DAVID NG | MAY 08, 2019 | 6:30 AM
When Hollywood writers took the unprecedented step of firing their talent agents last month — a collective action intended to dissuade agencies from practices the Writers’ Guild sees as conflicts of interest — the move sent a jolt of uncertainty through the entertainment industry.
The dispute came in the midst of TV staffing season, when network shows do the bulk of their hiring for writers. How would writers find jobs without their agents, who are supposed to advocate on their behalf?
But in the three weeks since the termination notices went out, many showrunners and writers have found creative ways to work around the dispute.
Showrunners said they are relying primarily on their professional networks and on social media to staff their shows this season. Some said it has been remarkably easy to find writers without the added step of going through an agent.
Social media has been helpful in staffing the CW’s supernatural series “Legacies,” said show creator Julie Plec. She said her team was recently looking to fill a writer slot and searched Twitter using the term #WGAStaffingBoost — a hashtag created last month by TV writer LaToya Morgan to provide visibility to employable writers during the agency standoff.
Writers of varying levels of experience have posted using the hashtag.
I’ve written on the last 3 seasons of the critically acclaimed Netflix show ‘BoJack Horseman,’” wrote Alison Tafel. “I’ve got samples.” Cusi Cram, a playwright and TV writer, recently posted: “I’ve written on shows for Showtime, Amazon, and PBS. I love the darkly comic and have a knack for creating absurd yet emotionally grounded stories.”
The “Legacies” team found a writer on Twitter whose writing sample and experience they thought made her a good fit. They brought her in for an interview and eventually hired her.
“Staffing season is never fun and always filled with chaos,” said Plec. “This year, however, as a result of writers having to do more self-advocacy, there’s been a spirit of generosity and support in the air that has been really refreshing.”
Network staffing typically takes place during roughly the first six months of the year as shows come up for renewal. The busiest hiring usually occurs from May through mid-June as pilots get picked up for series order and more renewals come through.
But this staffing season is unlike any in recent memory. The Writers Guild of America has declared war against talent agencies over practices that the guild believes enrich agencies while putting the needs of clients second. These include the aggressive move by agencies into TV and movie production, which could create conflicts of interest if a writer is both employed and represented by an agency.
So far, more than 7,000 guild members of the 8,000 or so who have agents have fired them. The WGA has also sued the big four Hollywood talent agencies — WME, CAA, UTA and ICM Partners — over packaging, a longstanding practice through which an agency is paid fees for assembling talent on a project. Writers say that agencies have prioritized packaging over traditional client representation.
Writers said the feud with agents has exposed what was until now an open secret in Hollywood: Many experienced writers already rely on interpersonal connections, rather than agents, to find jobs.
“Most of us don’t get jobs from our agents,” said a showrunner for a drama series on a major cable network who wasn’t authorized to speak about the dispute.
Staffing the writers’ room for the upcoming season has involved calling friends and fellow writers for recommendations, she said.
“People say you have to have an agent,” said a writer and producer for a major streaming series who also wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. “They feel like they have to have an agent because it’s an image thing. But at the end of the day, a lot of writers get their own jobs and the agents step in and commission it.”
Writers said they are relying on their other representation to submit scripts to studios. “People are just using their managers and lawyers and they’re doing just fine,” said the streaming series writer-producer.
But writers acknowledged that their fight with agencies disadvantages one group among them — inexperienced writers who are relatively new to Hollywood.
For a new writer with a short resume, agents have traditionally helped secure that crucial first or second job. If a respected agent vouches for a new voice, hiring managers take notice. Otherwise it can be hard to get on a showrunner’s radar. And early on in a career, agents are sometimes a writer’s only cheerleader.
With their agents out of the picture for the time being, those neophytes are now finding themselves in a tough position of trying to make a living without the help of their biggest boosters.
To help these writers, the WGA has developed an online staffing submission system that is designed to bring together writers and showrunners in what is shaping up as a kind of ZipRecruiter for Hollywood writers.
The system, which launched last month, allows guild members to submit material for shows that have posted openings on the site. So far, about 90 shows have posted openings on the site, with 2,000 writers making about 4,000 submissions, according to the guild. Most of the shows using the site are network series, with some cable and streaming series as well.
A screen shot of the WGA’s new staffing submission system. (WGA)
This week, the WGA opened the system to its associate members — typically younger, less experienced writers with fewer credits to their name. Guild members are able to make as many as three submissions.
“Our goal is to give everyone a chance to be read,” said Charles Slocum, the guild’s assistant executive director.
However, it’s not clear if the WGA site is delivering jobs since the guild has released only submission figures. The Times reached out and spoke independently to six writers, all of whom said they haven’t used the WGA’s site and instead were relying on their own networks and social media.
While social media has become a useful tool for writers in an agentless world, it also presents challenges to showrunners who are looking to staff their shows. The abundance of submissions via Twitter and other platforms has landed showrunners in an avalanche of unsolicited material as writers of all levels promote themselves.
“We’re in a Wild West situation,” said Javi Grillo-Marxuach, a writer and co-executive producer on Netflix’s fantasy series “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.” Last month, he started the Twitter hashtag #solidaritychallenge to give fellow writers a career lift in the wake of the mass firing of agents.
“We are all scrambling to find solutions in the short term to fill the gap. Shows have to be written. The business has to continue.”
He said showrunners are relying on Twitter recommendations from other showrunners or producers, as opposed to unsolicited pitches from writers. “If I recommend someone, another upper-level person may feel that person has been reasonably vetted.”
The sentiment has been voiced by a number of prominent showrunners, including Brian Koppelman, the co-creator and showrunner of Showtime’s “Billions.”
“You have to get someone I respect to recommend you to me. Could be a showrunner you’ve worked w/ before. Or a working writer or producer,” he posted on Twitter.
Writers said their goal isn’t necessarily to replace agents in the long term.
“Like all of us, I am hopeful that the guild and the [agents] will find their way to harmony,” said Plec, the “Legacies” showrunner.
“But in the interim, even though it feels a bit like the Wild, Wild West, it’s working. And more importantly, I have enjoyed the process for once. Being able to read new voices and help to amplify others has been a real thrill amidst the stress of this period we’re in.”
Writers said they are still feeling their way through an unprecedented situation.
“Is it better than having an agent? Probably not. It’s nice to have an agent,” said Grillo-Marxuach.
“But it’s admirable how well this writing community is coming together when we usually see each other as competitors.”
WGA to Members: ‘There Is No Deal,’ Fire Your Agents
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No charges for shooter who killed man at Christmas party
by: AP News
LEXINGTON, SC (AP) – Authorities in South Carolina say a man who fatally shot another man at a company Christmas party won’t face criminal charges because he acted in self-defense.
Lexington police say no charges will be filed against 46-year-old Glenn Wilbur Rowe Jr. in the death of 26-year-old Wesley Warren-Camp.
Police were called to Southern Dreams Realty on Dec. 20 where they found Warren-Camp with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
Police say Warren-Camp and his father William Douglas Camp Jr. attacked Rowe at the party.
Rowe shot Warren-Camp in the chest.
Camp was charged with second-degree assault and battery.
Another man at the party is also facing charges.
Man killed during SC real estate firm’s Christmas party
Christmas crystal: Man charged with mailing meth to inmate
More South Carolina News Stories
by AP News / Jan 17, 2020
CHARLESTON, SC (AP) - South Carolina's Department of Juvenile Justice took a 13-year-old boy into custody after another student handed a teacher a note saying the teen claimed he was going to shoot people, and police found a handgun in his backpack.
News outlets report police responded to a Johns Island middle school on Wednesday and found the weapon and two magazines of ammunition in the student's bag.
Sheriff: 270 dogs, other animals found at SC puppy mill
WARE SHOALS, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina say they have found more than 270 dogs and other animals in appalling conditions at what they called a puppy mill.
Laurens County deputies say someone called this week because they were concerned about the health of a puppy they bought at a home in Ware Shoals.
Update: SC authorities capture escaped teenage inmate
by AP News, WBTW Staff / Jan 17, 2020
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A 16-year-old inmate who escaped from a South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice facility has been captured and returned to custody.
Juvenile Justice Department officials confirmed on Twitter that the teenager was found around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, about 8 miles away from the Columbia facility he escaped from.
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Rogue Trooper - Xbox Overview
Developer: Rebellion
Release: Q4 2005
Set on the war-torn, poisoned atmosphere of Nu Earth, ROGUE TROOPER is a genetic infantryman (G.I.), one of an elite squad of biologically-engineered clone troops, created to overcome the planet's hostile atmosphere, unhindered in their fight against the enemy, the Nort Republic. After witnessing the betrayal and annihilation of his squad at the Quartz Zone Massacre, Rogue has gone AWOL, determined to hunt down the traitor who sent his brothers-in-arms to their deaths.
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Will free online gaming for PS3 affect Xbox Live?
Yes, Microsoft will have to stay competive
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Zoomi in the News
Is AI Tomorrow's Job Killer?
Is AI Tomorrow’s Job Killer?
CTDO Magazine – Spring 2018
The world of computing has never been more complex than it is today. The rapid rise of the Internet and digital transformation has disrupted many aspects of how we get work done. Despite this historic pace of change, we are still in the infancy of this transformation. Business leaders face a mountain of uncertainty as they navigate the impact of digitization of work practices and begin to modify strategies to leverage its advances. A key area of the digital transformation includes artificial intelligence and its underlying technology of machine learning.
Read the Full Article Online
Hear from Co-Founder and CEO Jim Walker about AI for Learning and Zoomi’s Plans for the Future
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How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping the Future of Education
PC Mag – November 20, 2017
When you compare the typical 21st century classroom with that of the early 1900s, the differences aren’t terribly obvious. Teachers will be standing in front, giving instructions and sharing notes on a modern-day version of the old blackboard—say, an overhead projector or a shared computer display. Students will be sitting at their desks in the classroom or watching via online video-conferencing software. The technology has changed: A lot of the tools and processes have been digitized, some of it has been automated, and geographical barriers have been removed to some extent—but the actors and elements have remained much the same.
But thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, a slow but steady transformation is coming to education, under the hood. In a few years, teachers will no longer be alone in shouldering the burden of training the young generation or the workforce at corporations.
Why C-Levels Need To Think About eLearning And Artificial Intelligence
Forbes – February 6, 2017
When it comes to corporate learning and training the numbers are truly staggering.
• Spending on corporate training has grown to over $70 billion in the United States.
• As one of the top three non-financial motivators, 76% of employees want opportunities for career growth.
• 87% of millennials say professional development or career growth opportunities are very important.
• 68% of workers say training and development is the most important workplace policy.
• 84% of global executives ranked employee learning as important or very important.
• 40% of employees who receive poor job training leave their positions within the first year.
• Every dollar invested in online training results in a $30 increase in productivity.
• Companies that use e-learning technology achieve an 18% boost in employee engagement.
One company that surely looks at the above stat via the “a great number are not reaping the benefits” angle is Zoomi, a learning analytics company that uses proprietary Artificial Intelligence to analyze each learner’s behavior, cognition, engagement and performance to predict learning and future performance, optimize learning content and to create a deep personalized individual and social learning experience.
I recently had the chance to chat with Jim Walker of Zoomi. Holding a Doctorate in Workplace Learning from Wharton I wanted to get his take on why artificial intelligence is key for learning, why eLearning provides more benefits than traditional training and other topics.
Increasing Engagement through Compliance Training Through Technology
TrainingIndustry.com – September 14, 2016
The adage “time is money” is no secret to the United States’ $60 billion corporate learning industry. It’s also known that historically, many training programs have been viewed as “one-size-fits-all,” with facilitators simply going through the motions of the mandatory training process. A recent Forbes article reported that only 10 percent of corporate training initiatives are effective.
One area of training that is incredibly important from a legal perspective – and to your company’s bottom line – is compliance training. Depending on your industry, this area may be highly regulated. You may face rules on the type of content provided in compliance training and how many employees are required to participate in and pass the training. That’s a tough goal to achieve, especially when the training content can be uninspiring and disengaging. How can you make compliance training more engaging, and ultimately more successful, despite legal regulations? Consider implementing technology.
Zoomi Online Learning Software Predicts the Best Way Students Learn
Tech Target – August 2, 2016
When HR professionals take online courses at Progressive Business Publications, a machine learning algorithm determines if they are struggling or succeeding.
Progressive Business Publications uses Zoomi online learning software from Zoomi Inc. to offer certificate courses to HR and other professionals. The Zoomi technology analyzes student learning patterns to predict how they are performing in an online course. Using more than 100 algorithms, the online learning software recognizes learner preferences and dynamically adapts content to meet their needs.
“This is where the opportunity with Zoomi lies,” said Sal De Spirito, chief marketing officer at Progressive Business Publications. “It is hugely exciting for us and a competitive advantage to have the ability to use their algorithms and tools and to make changes in a course when a learner is taking it.” Previously, the company could not determine if a student was having difficulties until the distance learning course was over.
The Future of Corporate Training in a Changing World
TrainingIndustry.com – July 20, 2016
Let’s face it; the world is a completely different place now than it was 10 years ago. People have become more reliant on technology and, businesses are able to glean actionable insights from data collected, no matter the industry. For example, with predictive analytics, you can unlock vast marketing insights, anticipating a customer’s next purchase based on machine learning and targeting advertisements to encourage them to make the purchase. In this ever-changing business environment, corporations can’t keep up with their competition without embracing these types of technologies to improve their models.
With so many new-to-market technologies bringing businesses impressive customer and employee data, why are so many corporations still using static training techniques of the past? Most businesses don’t place a huge emphasis on employee training – that’s a fact. It’s time for that to change, especially as one in three employees say that uninspiring training content is a barrier to their learning and can influence them to leave their company for new opportunities. What’s more, sticking with antiquated training methods is costly. One study even found that ineffective training techniques could cost a company up to $13.5 million a year per 1,000 employees.
8 Smart Ways to Use Prescriptive Analytics
InformationWeek – June 28, 2016
Marketing and retail have been two of the most publicized use cases for prescriptive analytics, a type of predictive analytics software which recommends one or more courses of action and shows the likely outcome of each decision.
While prescriptive analytics isn’t as mature or widely adopted as descriptive analytics or predictive analytics, Gartner estimates the prescriptive analytics software market will reach $1.1 billion by 2019. Beyond marketing and retail, such tools are starting to be applied in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, supply chain optimization, and resource optimization, among other areas of business.
“Prescriptive analytics can take processes that were once expensive, arduous, and difficult, and complete them in a cost-effective and effortless manner,” said Doron Cohen, CEO of Powerlinx, a business-to-business matchmaking service, and chairman of Dun & Bradstreet Israel. “The ROI derived from having more time, energy, and money can then be used to identify new opportunities as a business.”
E-Learning Startup Zoomi Raises $2.5 Million
Technical.ly Philly – June 22, 2016
Malvern-based e-learning startup Zoomi has closed a $2.5 million funding round from undisclosed sources, according to an SEC filing.
The round follows two other investments received by the company over the past 18 months. In February 2015, Jim Walker’s company announced a $4.4 million funding round, which was extended last August with another $1.5 million.
According to William McColgan, Zoomi’s head of operations, the recent round is going towards beefing up the company’s staff and platform capabilities.
Don't Be Afraid of Predictive Analytics
Don’t Be Afraid of Predictive Analytics
CLO Magazine – May 12, 2016
Operating in what is rated as the third-most competitive economy in the world, it’s no surprise that U.S. businesses focus heavily on measurement and return on investment in most aspects of their business. One significant line item that has enjoyed sanctuary is learning and development.
Now that it ranks as the third most important business priority around the world, those in charge of what is a $60 billion annual spend across U.S. businesses are feeling pressure to prove its value. According to the ROI Institute, 96 percent of CEOs want to see business impact from corporate learning, yet only 8 percent currently do.
Despite this, the debate continues on whether corporate learning program success should actually be measured. Yet, to compete in today’s economy, businesses absolutely need measurement tools to accurately assess the effectiveness of these programs.
So, how do businesses create training platforms that go beyond employee satisfaction surveys; that can be measured and adjusted in real-time; and have a direct impact on ROI and business outcomes? The answer is learning analytics.
VelocityChess Has Partnered With Zoomi To Teach You How To Become A Chess Master
That Videogame Blog – June 1, 2016
Leading online chess server VelocityChess has partnered up with online training software company Zoomi to provide their players with intuitive, dynamic technology designed to further their understanding of chess strategy.
Previously, Zoomi’s training technology had been primarily used in a corporate setting; however their implementation on the VelocityChess site sees their debut into the gaming world. Algorithms detect the learner’s level of progress, and from there Zoomi’s technology is able to predictively analyse a user’s knowledge level in order to teach in a more sophisticated manner. Zoomi describes what they do as “online training beyond static graphs and video,” a modern learning experience that engages members and provides a learning path that is personalized to their skill level.”
Training Magazine – May/June Issue
Illuminate, a developer of clinical sales training programs for the life science industry, introduced PI Explorer, a new technology-based learning solution designed with NXLevel Solutions. PI Explorer’s instructional features highlight and explain key concepts from a product’s prescribing information (PI), provide clinical context, and link to promotional messages. Gaming activities include flashcards, Move the Clinician, and Prove It!
Online training platform Mindflash launched its learning management system (LMS) on the Salesforce AppExchange, empowering businesses to train customers, partners, and employees via its cloud-based training platform. Mindflash for Salesforce allows companies to track and manage training initiatives in Salesforce, as well as more directly measure the impact of training by tying it to business results, such as revenue and churn.
Zoomi introduced its first e-learning platform, which combines predictive analytics, machine learning, adaptive learning, and social network optimization. Natively mobile on IOS and Android, Zoomi is also available as a responsive Web app.
Using Predictive Analytics to Better Train and Retain Your Employees
TrainingIndustry.com – May 31, 2016
How do companies know if their training program has fallen into a static, routine rhythm? In most cases, unless a company is properly evaluating and tracking the training, it already has. As an industry that’s ranked the third most important business priority in the world, why wouldn’t more emphasis be placed on evolving and improving training programs to increase employee productivity, success and perhaps most importantly, retention?
It’s recently been reported that employees who feel their company has poor training opportunities are more than three times as likely to want to leave their job than those whose organizations have excellent training programs. Despite this very clear mandate, most companies still undervalue training and hold fast to the “it’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. They check the learning and development box and continue on the same path, which often includes employee self-assessments to determine pre-requisite knowledge and the skills they need to develop. While an employee may have a general sense of their strengths and weaknesses, this is not an effective way to measure an employee’s skills.
EXCLUSIVE: Malvern Corporate Training Startup to Triple Workforce
Philadelphia Business Journal – March 15, 2016
Zoomi, a Malvern-based corporate training startup founded in 2012, will triple its work force by the end of the year, CEO Jim Walker told the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Walker’s company already employs 20, and he’s looking to add at least 40 new employees to build out Zoomi’s research and development department.
Zoomi is backed by nearly $6 million of venture capital. Walker, who sold his life sciences consulting company Octagon to industry giant Accenture in 2012, has been playing the entrepreneurial game for a while in the Greater Philadelphia region, and knows his share of power investors. Octagon raised more than $17 million, and returned lead investor Edison Ventures six times over.
The Main Line's 15 Most Daring Entrepreneurs
The Main Line’s 15 Most Daring Entrepreneurs
Main Line Today – February 29, 2016
James Walker | Chairman and CEO, Zoomi, Inc. | Malvern
Three people and $5,000 was all James Walker needed to start his first company. Octagon Research Solutions provided clinical and regulatory information-management solutions and software for the pharmaceutical industry. And three years was all he needed to grow Octagon into a multinational corporation employing 450 people.
Walker sold to Accenture in September 2012 for an undisclosed amount. Three years later, he founded Zoomi. “We wrap a data-capture and algorithm layer around e-learning,” says Walker. “That allows us to predict your performance, individualize content in real time, and optimize social learning. It’s about measuring learning in the workplace and linking that to business outcomes.”
Zoomi has an impressive executive roster that includes two Princeton University electrical engineers. One of them was the recipient of the National Science Foundation’s 2013 Alan T. Waterman Award, the highest honor given to young scientists in the United States. Walker himself won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Stevie Award for Most Innovative Company of the Year at the American Business Awards, and the Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies’ Enterprise Award for Technology CEO of the Year.
Zoomi now has 25 employees. It’s enough, Walker says, to do great things that will change how businesses handle e-learning.
This "Virtual Tutor" Startup For Corporate Training Raised $4.4M
This ‘virtual tutor’ startup for corporate training raised $4.4M
Technical.ly Philly – February 13, 2015
Jim Walker was 29 when he moved back in with his parents.
It was 1999 and he had just started his first company, a pharmaceutical software firm called Octagon Research Solutions. Walker, a former pharma consultant with multiple graduate degrees, moved in to his parents house in Bethlehem, Pa., so he could put all his money into the business.
It paid off. Thirteen years and $17.3 million in venture capital later, Walker sold Octagon to Accenture for an undisclosed amount in 2012, reportedly garnering a 6x return for investor Edison Ventures. The company employed 450, most of which worked at the company’s Wayne headquarters, at the time of sale.
Read Full Article Online
Issuance of U.S. Patent No. Further Cements Zoomi’s Leadership in Autonmous Learning Personalization
August 19, 2019 – PR Newswire
Rustici Software, Zoomi partner to add AI-driven Learning Analytics to SCORM Cloud
May 20, 2019 – PRWeb
TrustSphere announces strategic partnership with Artificial Intelligence powered Learning Analytics Company, Zoomi
October 5, 2018 – Training Industry
Zoomi Honored as “Top 20 Training Delivery Company”
August 8, 2018 – PR Newswire
Zoomi Announces Artificial Intelligence for Learning® Proof of Concept Programs
December 4, 2017 – PR NewsWire
Zoomi named “Top 20 Training Delivery Company”
Zoomi Launches Learning Intelligence Services
July 27, 2017 – PR NewsWire
Zoomi and Instructure Partner for Artificial Intelligence Integration to Make Learning Work
May 24, 2017 – PR NewsWire
Zoomi Announces Release of No-Touch Individualization Feature
March 31, 2017 – PR NewsWire
Zoomi Adds Key Executive to Lead Expansion in Product Research and Development
March 7, 2017 – NewsWire
Zoomi to Co-Host Data Science Innovation in eLearning Meetup
Zoomi Technologists Explain the Power of Networks in New Book
January 3, 2017 – NewsWire
Zoomi Partners with the Workshop School for Year-Long Research Project Focused on Assessing Student Performance
September 23, 2016 – NewsWire
Zoomi Announces New Release of The Zoomi Player
VelocityChess Selects Zoomi to Revolutionize Online Gaming Education
April 27, 2016 | PR NewsWire
E-Learning Platform – Zoomi – Delivers Real-Time Adaptive Content to Help Corporations Increase Learning Comprehension and Improve Outcomes
March 1, 2016 | PR NewsWire
For media inquiries, contact us at info@zoomiinc.com.
Find out how Zoomi’s artificial intelligence can improve your training.
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Since its Valentine’s Day we thought we would inspire you with what we think are the most romantic Bollywood movies scenes ever made. So sit back, relax and read on…
1. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)Regarded as one of the most romantic films of the 1990s, this Bollwood movie casts the king of romance- Shahrukh Khan along with his romantic onscreen partner-the actress Kajol. In the movie we see Simran’s (Kajol) traditional family from Punjab decide to move and settle down in London. Despite this change in scenery, it is clear that Simran’s family have not lost their cultural values. Simran decides to set off on a month long Eurail tour which changes her life forever when she meets and falls in love with carefree Raj (Shahrukh Khan). As we all know falling in love in a movie is never easy and we find out that Simran is already promised to a man in India. Once Simran’s trip is over she moves back to Punjab to be with her betrothed. Raj, who loves her, follows her all the way to her fiancé’s house to convince her parents to let him take Simran back to London with him.
The end scene, where everyone assembles at the railway station is also the most romantic scene of the film. Raj boards the departing train after bravely fighting Simran’s fiancé. When Simran makes an attempt to join Raj, her father stops her. When Simran begs him to let her go, her father concedes by letting go of her hand. Simran runs along with the moving train to Raj who, upon realising that she is trying to join him, outstretches his arm. She finally catches his hand in a firm grip and boards the train. This scene is considered the most romantic scene in Bollywood.
2. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Shahrukh Khan and Kajol were so perfect together in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, that they were cast together in another romantic film called Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. In “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, Rahul (Shahrukh Khan) and Anjali (Kajol) are best friends in college. Rahul soon falls in love with another friend called Tina (Rani Mukherjee). When Anjali realises her love is unrequited, she leaves the college and her best friend behind. Rahul marries Tina who later dies due to internal bleeding after delivering a baby girl. Eight years later Rahul, in search of his daughter runs into his former best friend Anjali again. Seeing her after so many years opens Rahul’s repressed love for her. Anjali realises her love for him has not died either but she is soon to marry another man. They have a final confrontation, after which Anjali’s fiancé- Aman Mehra (Salman Khan) unites them together.
This scene reiterates the onscreen chemistry between Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. The most romantic scene in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is at the summer camp when Rahul and Anjali are caught in a downpour. They both take shelter in a nearby gazebo. As Anjali is attempting to dry her wet hair, Rahul gets down on knee and asks her to dance with him. As the music plays, Rahul pulls Anjali into his arms and begins dancing. They both give in to their need and love for each other. Just when the scene is about to get intimate, Anjali’s diamond ring glitters catching her eye and she returns to reality. She wrenches from Rahul’s arms and runs away into the rain. Rahul looks at her disappearing figure with love in his eyes.
3. Maine Pyar Kiya (1989)
One of the biggest hits in the 1980’s was the Bollywood film Maine Pyar Kiya. This film turned actor Salman Khan into a superstar overnight. Co-starring with Bhagyashree, the movie storyline is about a rich boy called Prem falling in love with a poor girl named Suman. Their fathers are childhood friends who drift apart due to a villainous interference. In order to convince Suman’s father that he is serious about his daughter, Prem leaves his house and rich lifestyle to work as a labourer. He soon begins to earn money, fulfilling the condition put down by Suman’s father. However it doesn’t all go smoothly as one day villains try to ambush Prem. Prem, along with Suman’s father and his family, defeat the villain, uniting not only two childhood friends but also Prem and Suman.
Though the movie has many romantic scenes, there is one that stands out. This scene in particular was shot in an artistic style which depicted Prem’s respect and love for Suman. During the scene Prem takes Suman out onto the terrace to celebrate her birthday. Prem asks Suman to wear some dresses he has brought for her, one of which is quite revealing. Suman wears the revealing dress for Prem to make him happy but when Prem realises she is uncomfortable, he covers her with a shawl. As the celebrations are ending, Suman and Prem are on either side of a glass door. Suman, as a sign of her love kisses on the glass door, confessing her love through actions.
4. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
This is an epic movie that stars a sizzling onscreen couple – popular actor Hrithik Roshan and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In this historical romance, a Muslim King named Akbar (Hritik Roshan) marries a Hindu bride- Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) in order to unite Hindustan and become the ultimate Mughal ruler. They fall in love and lead Hindustan together after defeating Akbar’s brother-in-law.
The most romantic Bollywood scene in Jodhaa Akbar contains confrontation between Akbar and Jodhaa. After being falsely accused of infidelity, Jodhaa returns to her mother’s home for some time to think and be away from Akbar. Once Akbar learns the truth, he goes to bring her back. When he wakes up in the morning, he finds his wife in a sword-fighting garb and challenges her. They agree on a bet that if she loses, she will return with him to his kingdom. Jodhaa lashes out with her sword at Akbar and unleashes her fury at being humiliated by him. Despite this, Akbar blocks all the blows and keeps removing bits and pieces of her garb to reveal her face and hair. As he keeps defending her moves, he grabs her and pushes her against a pillar. Jodhaa feels awakening hunger for her husband and it shows in her eyes. In response, Akbar also realises his attraction to his wife and the need to kiss her. However, Jodhaa comes to her senses and breaks away from him. The fighting resumes when Akbar showers her with flowers. During the ongoing fight, a servant calls Jodhaa’s name distracting her concentration. Akbar defeats her and tells her she has to return with him.
5. Paheli (2005)
Paheli is set against the backdrop of rural India and features some of the biggest names in Bollywood including Shah Rukh Khan and the talented actress, Rani Mukherjee. This movie is about a doppelganger called Kishen (Shah Rukh Khan), who impersonates Lachchi’s (Rani Mukherjee) husband because he is attracted to her. Lachchi falls for the impersonator whilst her real husband goes off on a business trip. Once Lachchi finds out the true identity of the doppelganger he disappears from her life. However, love is a fickle thing and despite his lies Lachchi is still in love with Kishen and is devastated by his departure especially when she finds out she is carrying his baby. Lachchi gives birth to a baby girl and her lost love is returned to her in the form of her real husband. Though this film failed to deliver in the box office, it has many romantic scenes.
The scene when Lachchi goes to visit her parents’ home is perhaps the most romantic scene throughout the film. Kishen the ghost, does not want her to leave him and keeps trying to trick her into taking him along. Lachchi is standing just outside the gate when she turns back and looks at Kishen the ghost. Through magic, he lays roses at her feet on the floor. When she tries to step away, the roses block her way. She turns back and pleads to him to let her go. Kishen refuses and continues to stop her with the rose petals. Lachchi is nearly won over by Kishen and about to take him along. However, just when she agrees, her father-in-law appears at the door and all the rose petals disappear.
So there you have our Top 5 Most Romantic Bollywood Movie Scenes. If all this talk of Bollywood Movies has got you thinking you wouldn’t mind watching one right now then head on over to the Yamgo website where you can choose from over 5 free to view Bollywood Movie channels.
What did you think of our Top 5 Romantic Scenes? Leave a comment and let us know if you agree of if you think there is a better Bollywood Romance scene out there.
Posted in Bollywood
Tags: Aishwarya Rai, Bollywood, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Hrithik Roshan, Jodhaa Akbar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Maine Pyar Kiya, Paheli, Romantic Films, Shah Rukh Khan, Valentines Day
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