Split (1)

train · 615k rows

pred_label stringclasses 2 values	pred_label_prob float64 0.5 1	wiki_prob float64 0.25 1	text stringlengths 68 1.02M	source stringlengths 37 43
__label__cc	0.736388	0.263612	Callaway Golf (ELY) Q2 2019 Earnings Call Transcript ELY earnings call for the period ending June 30, 2019. Motley Fool Transcribing (MFTranscribing) Aug 9, 2019 at 10:23PM Image source: The Motley Fool. Callaway Golf (NYSE:ELY) Q2 2019 Earnings Call Aug 08, 2019, 5:00 p.m. ET Call Participants Prepared Remarks: Good afternoon. My name is Rob, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Callaway Golf Company second-quarter earnings release. [Operator instructions] Thank you. Mr. Patrick Burke, company's head of investor relations, you may begin your conference. Patrick Burke -- Head of Investor Relations Thank you, Rob, and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Callaway's second-quarter 2019 earnings conference call. I'm Patrick Burke, the company's head of investor relations. Joining me on today's call are Chip Brewer, our president and chief executive officer; Brian Lynch, our chief financial officer; and Jennifer Thomas, our chief accounting officer. Today, the company issued a press release announcing its second-quarter 2019 financial results. A copy of the press release and associated presentation are available on the Investor Relations section of the company's website at ir.callawaygolf.com. Most of the financial numbers reported and discussed on today's call are based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In the few instances where we report non-GAAP measures, we have reconciled the non-GAAP measures to the corresponding GAAP measures at the back of the presentation in accordance with Regulation G. Please note that this call will include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations. We encourage you to review the safe harbor statements contained in the presentation and the press release for a more complete description. Please note that in connection with our prepared remarks, there is an accompanying PowerPoint presentation that may make it easier for you to follow the call today. This earnings presentation is available for download on the Callaway Investor Relations website under the Webcasts and Presentations tab. Also on the same tab, you can choose to join the webcast to listen to the call and view the slides. As a webcast participant, you are able to flip through the slides. I would now like to turn the call over to Chip. Chip Brewer -- President and Chief Executive Officer Thanks, Patrick. Good afternoon, everybody, and thank you for joining us for today's call. I'm pleased to announce another excellent quarter. These results reflect the strength of our strategy, brands and operating availability. It also reinforces that we are on a path to creating substantial growth on the top and bottom line over the long term. Over the last several years, we have realized strong results across our core metrics, including revenue growth, gross margin, adjusted EBITDA and EPS. We believe our strategy will allow us to continue this strength. In fact, our results today reflect the strength of this long-term strategy as we're seeing key investments in other initiatives meaningfully impact the growth of the businesses. As is my custom, I'd like to take this chance to thank the Callaway Golf team for the hard work required in delivering these results across all of our brands and driving further change in growth at our company. Like me, I'm sure our team realizes that we have a lot more opportunity in front of us and remains motivated to continuously improve. In my comments today, let me quickly walk through the results of our segments and then spend more time on our growing soft goods business, hoping to provide more clarity on the outlook for that segment and the key drivers of value creation. Turning to Slide 4 of the presentation. Our total company revenues were up 13% during the quarter and are up 20% year to date. For the first half, on a currency-neutral basis, we delivered growth across all business units, regions and major product categories. For the quarter, we ensured continued solid performance in our golf equipment business, continued double-digit growth in the TravisMathew's business, as well as positive results in our recently acquired Jack Wolfskin business, which saw encouraging year-over-year growth, especially in its direct-to-consumer business where new product innovation, along with new recent investments in marketing, are beginning to bear fruit. Based on our brand momentum and strong operating performance, and despite the negative FX headwinds, we are pleased to be able to raise our earnings guidance for the full year. In addition, we've begun the process of paying down our long-term debt, completing a $30 million payment in late July while continuing to make what we believe are higher return and long-term investments in our business and returning cash to shareholders, with $27 million in share repurchases year to date. In line with this strategy, we are announcing today that our board of directors has approved a new $100 million stock repurchase program. To avoid confusion, though, investors should not think of this as a significant change in capital allocation strategy. We only had $22 million in availability remaining on the previous authorization, and we want to make sure we had capacity to continue the capital allocation strategy we've had in place, which generally includes the level of annual share repurchases while also allowing us the flexibility to opportunistically respond if circumstances warrant. Let's now take a look at our operating performance by business segment. Turning to Slide 5 of the presentation. Our equipment business had a solid quarter with revenues roughly flat on a constant-currency basis despite less product launches on the year-over-year basis. Market conditions varied widely by region but met expectations overall. For the first half, we grew slightly faster than the market, which we believe was approximately flat on a global basis, with the exception of short-term quarterly variations in launch timing, we are positioned to continue to do this. This should be especially true in the second half of this year, where our growth rates will be aided by favorable golf product launch cadence versus last year. This year to date, we are demonstrating strength across the breadth of our product lineup and proud to be able to claim the No. 1 hard goods position in the U.S. and Europe and the No. 1 sticks position in Japan. In the U.S., thanks to our new advancements using artificial intelligence technology, our Epic Flash Woods are the No. 1 selling driver and Fair Wood models year to date. And we remain the No. 1 selling iron brand with Apex and Rogue irons the No. 1 and No. 2 selling iron models year to date, respectively. Callaway is also the No. 1 driver in global tours and Odyssey as the No. 1 putter. Our golf ball business also continues to do extremely well, with currency-neutral revenue growth of nearly 10% year to date. The market reaction to our Triple Track Technology and the new ERC Golf Balls has been excellent, and our U.S. market shares continue to set records. Taking a step back and looking at the big picture, we believe the golf equipment market remains in a healthy position with a significant and stable market, improved structural dynamics over the last several years, an exciting global tour creating interest in the game and potential upside demand drivers such as putt golf. We see a predictable and well-structured market where our leadership positions, scale and operating acumen can continue to drive moderate growth and meaningful cash flows. Turning to Slide 6 in our soft goods segment. Before reviewing the results of this segment, I'd like to talk about how we see soft goods as a growth opportunity that builds upon our core strengths. I believe over the last seven years we have consistently demonstrated a few core strengths across all of our businesses here at Callaway. This includes driving product innovation to capture market share growth, leveraging industry-leading marketing and consumer insights, creating and supporting highly appealing brands across geographies, and last but not least, prioritizing operational excellence and margin improvement. Over the last four years, we have methodically built a scale position in soft goods markets that plays to these strengths. Prior to Jack Wolfskin acquisition, we had approximately $300 million in revenues in this segment. With the Jack Wolfskin acquisition, we are closing in on $700 million. I'd like to add that there's a lot of synergies in the segment. These are businesses where we know the consumer, whether that be in golf, outdoors or active lifestyle. They are businesses where there is preference for premium style of performance. These are markets that had growth rates well above golf equipment, and the successful businesses that establish scale deliver operating margins greater than most equipment businesses and trade at multiples higher than pure-play equipment companies. As we develop global scale in this segment, we see significant synergies and scale advantages via supply chain, sourcing, warehousing, logistics, marketing and global expansion. For example, Jack Wolfskin gives us a potential to have a large Central European warehouse that we can use across all of our businesses. We have also identified significant synergies in sourcing, freight and logistics, all of which we now believe have higher potential than what we baked into our initial acquisition estimates. The significant scale and synergy potential here and a higher market growth rates will benefit our shareholders as we execute this strategy. Turning to Slide 7 and looking at the soft goods segment performance. Revenues year to date had surged due to the recent acquisition of Jack Wolfskin, as well as strong performance across the majority of our branded business portfolio. TravisMathew is worthy of a special call out here as that business continues to deliver double-digit growth, and we remain energized about its future. The Jack Wolfskin business grew 14% during the quarter, thanks to excellent performance in its direct-to-consumer business where our e-commerce business was up double digits, and our own retail was up low-single digits on a comp-store basis and high-single digits overall. It's encouraging to see this business respond to the investments and change in initiatives we are putting in place as it again speaks to the core skills we have built and our ability to work in collaboration with like-minded brands to generate returns. We also completed the acquisition of minority in balance in our Callaway Apparel, Japan joint venture during the quarter, thus giving us 100% control. This represents a strategic move that will set the stage for future improvements and profitability and synergy within the segment. These results speak to another key tenet of our soft goods business. Each of these brands has highly compelling stand-alone prospects, as well as synergies through their combined scale. Our soft goods business are large and rapidly growing segment of our company. We are confident and excited about the long-term outlook and potential here. Turning back to the business as a whole on Slide 8. Over the next several years, we anticipate further strengthening all the brands in our portfolio, and we believe we are trending accordingly. We also continue to reinvest back in our business in both the golf equipment, soft goods with several key infrastructure projects under way, many of which will extend through mid-2021. These include the aforementioned Chicopee ball plant capital project, which is now in its final year, multiple distribution center expansion projects, all aimed at increased capacity and efficiency, one of which is the 700,000 square-foot multi-brand facility in Dallas, Texas, as well as several IT systems upgrades and convergence related to recent acquisitions and growth ambitions. These projects are progressing nicely. We believe our reinvestments in long-term management decisions are setting the stage for continued strength in revenue and earnings growth. Now on Slide 9, a quick comment on the ever-evolving tariff conversations. The recently announced 10% U.S. tariffs of List 4 items from China, if implemented, would leave the company to experience a little higher tariff expense for the balance of the year but without material impact to the business, and our estimates here have been incorporated into our guidance. Our operations team has done an outstanding job over the last several years diversifying our supply chain outside of China. As a result, we are not significantly impacted by this issue. I believe this gives us a competitive advantage both in hard goods and soft goods. Lastly, as a reminder, the Jack Wolfskin business is not really impacted by the China tariff issue at all and neither sources there nor sell much product in the U.S. As for the Brexit issue and the tariff risk between U.K. and Europe, we are in process of having our DCs in England certified as a bonded free trade zone, a process we expect to have completed by the end of this year. We believe that will allow us to avoid inter U.K. and Europe tariffs on our golf equipment business. We also now have the added flexibility of using the Jack Wolfskin distribution center in Hamburg, Germany. Ultimately, we are well positioned from a global supply chain perspective and not particularly sensitive to tariffs. In fact, I believe we have a bit of a competitive advantage with strength and scale of our diversified supply chain operations infrastructure. Now on Slide 10. We're pleased to be increasing our guidance this year. These projections set us overcoming a significant FX headwind, and delivering substantial overall growth in terms of revenue and adjusted EBITDA. The growth is being driven by our recent strategic acquisitions, as well as continued strength in our organic business, which we project to be up approximately 8% on a constant-currency basis for the full year. We are also pleased that the golf equipment industry remains healthy, and we believe we are well positioned to continue our leadership positions in the industry. Our TravisMathew brand continues to drive significant growth, and we remain energized by the Jack Wolfskin acquisition, which had a strong quarter and where we are increasingly confident for the long term, including increasingly positive view on long-term synergies. I believe we have very clear strategy. And as evidenced by our results over the last three years, where we have seen our gross margin improve 250 basis points, adjusted EBITDA more than double, adjusted EBITDA margin increased 400 basis points and $0.82 added to our EPS, I also believe we have a track record that would support our ability to deliver on our strategy. As we continue to execute our strategy, we are confident that we can further transform our business and continue to deliver long-term growth rates that can and will significantly exceed that of the golf business overall. As we demonstrate this to the market, we are optimistic our trading multiples will reflect our results. Brian, over to you. Brian Lynch -- Chief Financial Officer Thank you, Chip. As Chip mentioned, we are pleased with our second-quarter and first-half results. The results reflect the strong performance of our 2019 golf product lineup, as well as the strength in our TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin businesses. This performance allow us to overcome the significant impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which negatively impacted second-quarter first-half sales by $9 million and $24 million, respectively. Despite anticipated additional foreign currency headwinds, we expect strong year-over-year earnings comparisons in the second half of 2019. As a result of the continued success of our 2019 golf products, a more favorable cadence for second-half golf product launches for the continuing momentum of our TravisMathew business and our outlook for the seasonal Jack Wolfskin business, which generally earns all of its profit in the second half of the year. We remain focused on executing our strategy of creating a premium golf equipment and active lifestyle company. We are excited by the long-term revenue growth and earnings potential this strategy presents. In evaluating our results for the second quarter of first half, you should keep in mind some specific factors that affect year-over-year comparisons. First, the Jack Wolfskin acquisition occurred in January 2019 and therefore that business is not included in our 2018 results. Second, when discussing our non-GAAP results today, we exclude noncash purchase accounting adjustments related to the OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin acquisitions, and we also exclude other nonrecurring transaction and transition expenses related to the acquisitions and nonrecurring advisory fees. We exclude these items because that is how we evaluate our performance. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP information to the corresponding GAAP information is included with the earnings release we issued today. With those factors in mind, I will now provide some specific financial results. Turning to Slide 12. Today, we are reporting consolidated second-quarter 2019 net sales of $447 million, compared to $396 million in 2018, an increase of $51 million or 13% and a record for net sales. The 13% growth was primarily driven by the Jack Wolfskin business, which contributed $48 million in the second quarter. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates negatively impacted second-quarter 2019 net sales by $9 million. On a constant-currency basis and excluding the Jack Wolfskin business, second-quarter 2019 net sales increased 2%. This increase is driven by increased sales in the golf ball business and continued double-digit growth in the TravisMathew business. Gross margin was 46.3% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to 48.6% in the second quarter of 2018, which was in line with our expectations. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margins were 47.5%, a 110-basis-points decrease compared to the second quarter of 2018. This decrease is primarily attributable to foreign currency headwinds and the current year golf equipment product mix of higher-priced products, which generally have lower gross margins due to more advanced technology, all of which was partially offset by the TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin businesses, which were accretive on a gross margin basis. Operating expenses of $162 million in the second quarter of 2019, which is a $44 million increase, compared to $118 million in the second quarter of 2018, non-GAAP operating expenses were $159 million, an increase of $41 million in the quarter. This increase is primarily due to the addition of 2019 of operating expenses from the Jack Wolfskin business, which added an incremental $38 million of operating expense, excluding the nonrecurring acquisition cost. Operating income was $45 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to operating income of $74 million for the same period of 2018, a decrease of 39%. Non-GAAP operating income for 2019 was $53 million, compared to non-GAAP operating income of $75 million in 2018, a decrease of $22 million or 29%, which is primarily related to the negative effect of foreign currency, as well as the seasonality of Jack Wolfskin business, which generally reports an operating loss in the second quarter. Other expense was $9 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to other income of $4 million in the same period the prior year. The higher other expense in 2019 resulted from a $9 million increase in interest expense, primarily related to the new term loan entered into January 2019 to fund the purchase of Jack Wolfskin, as well as foreign exchange hedging losses, as compared to hedging gains in the prior year. Fully diluted earnings per share was $0.30 on 95.9 million shares in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $0.63 in the second quarter of 2018. Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share was $0.37 versus non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.63 in the second quarter of 2018. This non-GAAP decrease is primarily attributable to the increased interest expense, foreign exchange hedging losses and the seasonality of the Jack Wolfskin business, which generally has an operating loss in the second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $22 million to $66 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $88 million in the second quarter of 2018. We are particularly pleased with this result given the adverse headwinds from changes in foreign currency and the seasonality of the Jack Wolfskin business. Turning to Slide 13. Consolidated first-half 2019 net sales were $963 million, compared to $800 million in 2018, an increase of $163 million or 20% and another record for net sales. The 20% growth was primarily driven by the Jack Wolfskin business, which contributed $141 million in the first half. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates negatively impacted first-half 2019 net sales by $24 million. On a constant-currency basis and excluding the Jack Wolfskin business, first-half 2019 net sales increased 4.5%. This increase in net sales was driven by the strengths in 2019 golf product line, as well as continued double-digit growth in the TravisMathew business. Gross margins was 46.2% in the first half of 2019, compared to 49.2% in the first half of 2018, which was in line with expectations. Non-GAAP gross margins were 47.4%, a 180-basis-point decrease compared to the first half of 2018. This decrease is primarily attributable to foreign currency headwinds and current year golf equipment product mix of higher-priced products, which typically have lower gross margins due to more advanced technology, all of which was partially offset by the TravisMathew business, which was accretive on a gross margin basis. Operating expense was $330 million in the first half of 2019, which is a $98 million increase, compared to $233 million in the first half of 2018 and includes the first-half operating expenses related to the new Jack Wolfskin business. On a non-GAAP basis, operating expenses were $322 million, an increase of $89 million in the quarter. This increase is primarily due to the addition in 2019 of operating expenses from the Jack Wolfskin business, which added an incremental $77 million of operating expense, excluding the nonrecurring acquisition cost and also reflects investments in the TravisMathew business and normal inflationary pressures. Operating income was $115 million in the first half of 2019, compared to operating income of $160 million from the same period in 2018, a decrease of 28%. Non-GAAP operating income for the first half of 2019 was $134 million, compared to non-GAAP operating income of $161 million in 2018, a decrease of $27 million or 17%, which was primarily related to the seasonality of the Jack Wolfskin business, which generally reports an operating loss in the first half, as well as the negative effect of foreign currency. Other expenses was $21 million in the first half of 2019, compared to other expense of $2 million in the same period of the prior year. The higher other expense in 2019 resulted from a $17 million increase in interest expense, primarily related to the new term loan. Fully diluted earnings per share was $0.81 on 96.2 million shares in the first half of 2019, compared to $1.28 in first half of 2018. Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share was $0.99 versus non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share of $1.28 in the first half of 2018. This non-GAAP decrease is primarily attributable to the increased interest expense and the seasonality of Jack Wolfskin business, which generally has an operating loss in the first half. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $18 million to $159 million in the first half of 2019, compared to $178 million in the first half of 2018. Again, we are pleased with this result given the adverse headwinds from changes in foreign currency and the seasonality in the Jack Wolfskin business. Turning to Slide 14, I will now cover certain key balance sheet and cash flow items. First, I'd like to mention that with strong 2019 first-half results, we're able to pay down $30 million on our outstanding term loan debt. This payment was made in July and therefore is not reflected in our second-quarter balance sheet ending June 30. We now have a principal outstanding balance of $450 million under our term loan B facility that was used to purchase the Jack Wolfskin business. Available liquidity, which represents additional availability in our credit facilities, plus cash on hand, was $273 million at the end of the second quarter of 2019, compared to $301 million at the end of the second quarter in 2018. Also on July 31, we closed in a new one-year asset base loan facility with MUFG Bank in Japan for JPY 2 billion or approximately $18 million based upon the exchange rate at the time of closing. Borrowings under this facility are subject to an interest rate of approximately 1%. This facility we use to fund the JPY 2 billion purchase price for the remaining 48% interest in the company's joint venture in Japan, which manufactures and distributes Callaway-branded apparel, footwear and headwear. Callaway acquired the 48% interest in May 2018, and the purchase price is payable on August 2019. Acquiring a minority position gives us full control to improve profitability and provide a platform for multi-branded apparel strategy in Asia. Our consolidated net accounts receivable were $264 million, an increase of 9%, compared to $242 million at the end of the second quarter of 2018, which is attributable to the addition of the Jack Wolfskin business in 2019. Days sales outstanding in the core business is generally consistent with the same period in 2018. We remain comfortable with the overall quality of our accounts receivable at this time. Our inventory balance increased by 52% to $360 million at the end of the second quarter of 2019. This increase was primarily due to the addition of the Jack Wolfskin business, as well as an increase in golf equipment inventory in anticipation of upcoming new product launches and inventory needed to support an overall larger core business in 2019. We remain comfortable with the quality of our inventory at this time. Capital expenditures for the first half of 2019 were $23 million, a year-over-year increase of $6 million, compared with first-half 2018, due mainly to the addition of the Jack Wolfskin business and continued investment in our golf ball plant. Depreciation and amortization expense was $17 million in the first half of 2019, compared to $10 million in the first half of 2018. I'll now comment on our 2019 guidance. Turning to Slide 15, I'd like to note that the non-GAAP guidance we are providing excludes the noncash purchase accounting adjustments for Jack Wolfskin, as well as OGIO and TravisMathew, and the nonrecurring transactions and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin transaction, as well as nonrecurring advisory fees. We are raising our 2019 net sales range to $1.685 billion to $1.700 billion, an increase of $7.5 million at the midpoint of our prior guidance. The new guidance implies a 35% to 37% growth over the prior year. The growth versus previous guidance is expected to be driven by further strengthen in our non-Jack Wolfskin business, which is currently estimated to grow 7% to 9% on a constant-currency basis when compared to 2018. These estimates assume changes in foreign currency exchange rates in 2019 will have a negative impact of $32 million on 2019 full-year net sales compared to 2018. We're slightly revising our guidance for full-year gross margin to 46.7%, which is 30 basis points lower than previous guidance but still 20 basis points higher than 2018. We are also slightly revising our guidance for full-year 2019 operating expenses to $628 million as compared to previous guidance of $630 million. We are increasing our non-GAAP earnings per share to $1.03 to $1.09, compared to previous guidance of $0.96 to $1.06. This increase is being driven by projected increases in new sales, operating expense leverage and less interest expense. The estimated tax rate remains at 20.5% for 2019. The 2019 figures are based on 97 million shares outstanding. Consistent with our previous guidance, we estimate our capital expenditures in 2019 to be approximately $55 million to $60 million, which includes incremental capital expenditures related to the Jack Wolfskin business, the ball plant and other infrastructure investments for the soft goods business. Capital expenditures were $37 million in 2018. Depreciation and amortization expense is estimated to be approximately $30 million in 2019, which includes $9 million of the Jack Wolfskin business. Depreciation and amortization expense for 2018 was $20 million. This estimate excludes approximately $4 million of noncash expense related to the purchase accounting for the acquisitions. We are increasing our adjusted EBITDA guidance to $208 million to $215 million. The adjusted EBITDA increase is driven by revenue increases and operating expense leverage. We estimate that noncash stock compensation expense will be approximately $14 million in 2019. We expect third-quarter 2019 net sales of $412 million to $422 million, which would represent net sales growth of over 56% compared to 2018. This increase was driven by the addition of the Jack Wolfskin business, which was acquired in January 2019 and an increase in the new product launches, which include Epic Star Irons, Epic Flash Star hybrids and Epic Forged Irons, as well as continued growth in the TravisMathew business. This increase is expected to be offset by $7 million of negative foreign currency exchange compared to the same period in 2018. We expect third-quarter 2019 non-GAAP earnings per share to increase approximately $0.11 to $0.20 to $0.24, compared to $0.11 in the third quarter of 2018. We also expect adjusted EBITDA to increase to $48 million to $52 million, compared to $22 million in the third quarter of 2018. This decrease in profitability is expected to be driven primarily by the addition of the Jack Wolfskin business to net sales increase in the core golf equipment business driven by new product launches, growth in the apparel and the accessories businesses and for earnings per share by the lower estimated cap rate in the quarter compared to the third quarter of 2018. Keep in mind these estimates for adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter and full-year 2019 exclude noncash stock compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustment, nonrecurring transaction and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition and nonrecurring advisory fees. One point worth noting is that our guidance based upon the estimated impact of the China tariffs announced thus far, including the 25% tariff on headwear, bags and other soft goods, also known as the List 3 tariffs and a 10% tariff on apparel, footwear and golf equipment, also known as the List 4 tariffs. We currently estimate that the total impact from these tariffs in full-year 2019 will be $3.5 million, which is already included in our guidance. For full-year 2020, the tariff impact is estimated to be $5 million. After 2020, we expect to be fully diversified, with no material effect from such tariffs. Moving to Slide 16. All things considered, we are pleased with our first-half results and the performance of our golf equipment and soft goods businesses. We expect to generate good free cash flow this year and as we grow our business. We intend to use that free cash flow for the benefit our shareholders as we generally have in the past, though with some change in priorities. Then as we continue to invest in our business, we are confident we have identified clear opportunities for further investment and unlock synergies, strengthen growth prospects and improve margin across the business. And as Chip mentioned earlier, we already have several key infrastructure projects under way that are expected to continue through mid-2021. With regard to other investments and acquisitions, we will consider them at the right time it fits well with our overall strategy. Our current focus, however, is on integrating and growing the brands we already have, paying down our long-term debt and returning capital to shareholders. And as evidenced by our decision to pay down $30 million of our term loan B debt and repurchase approximately $27 million through our common stock this year. Consistent with this capital deployment strategy, important to authorize the company to repurchase up to $100 million of the company's common stock in the open market or in private transactions. The new repurchase program replaces the prior repurchase program, which has been terminated by the board of directors. The remaining $22 million of authorization in the prior program was canceled. The repurchase program does not require the company to acquire specific number of shares, and it will remain in effect until completed or terminated by the board. That concludes our prepared remarks today. We'll now open the call for questions. [Operator instructions] And your first question comes from the line of Steven Zaccone from JP Morgan. Steven Zaccone -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst So first question just on the clubs business. We're halfway through the year and was just curious, Chip, for how you see the launches and the broader competitive backdrop performing versus initial expectations? First-half club sales were about 1%, constant currency. What's the best way to think about the underlying performance across woods, irons and putters relative to that consolidated growth rate? Hi, Steven. I'm pleased with our results. I think we continue to have solid or strong performance in our equipment categories. The -- we had the issue this year of having less launches in the first half than last year. The markets are roughly flat. And I think we continue to show strength as a brand. If you look at the market share results where we're No. 1 model driver in fairway wood with the Epic Flash, No. 1 irons overall, No. 1 and No. 2 models, No. 1 hard goods in the U.S. and Europe, No. 1 sticks in Japan. I have to say that's a pretty solid performance and reflective of our technology and brand strength. And we're obviously expecting another excellent year where we're going to grow significantly faster than the markets overall when you look at the big picture. Great. And then just second question just on gross margin. Could you talk about the decision to lower the full-year guide? Is it primarily FX and tariffs or did something change fundamentally for the second half relative to your prior thinking? Sure, Steven. If you look at sort of our first-half guidance, we over performed by about $22 million and we are sort of giving that, $7 million of that. The other $15 million, for the most part, represents earlier shipments in Q2 versus Q3. We received products in our facilities at different times, and they're ready, we ship them out. And so there's probably $50 million of that, and just some customer orders toward the end that can fluctuate between quarters depending when a customer picks them up. So you probably have $50 million of earlier shipments than was expected and the balance, we are moving forward by taking our guidance up in the second half. And if you look at just the gross margin elements for the full year, Steven, I think that is primarily just FX. It's a very minor change as you could tell, 30 bps, so on a full-year basis, getting close to outside of our ability to forecast, but it is indeed slightly down but still up for the full year, so not a significant change. We still expect growth and continue to have some FX challenges. Your next question comes from the line of Daniel Imbro from Stephens Inc. Daniel Imbro -- Stephens Inc. -- Analyst Congrats on the quarter. Wanted to follow up on the gross margin question actually. You noted in the first half, Brian, that the launch of new high-tech products has weighed on gross margins. You have a pretty expensive product launch cadence coming up. So is the growth in Jack was going to more than offset that to drive what's implied to be pretty heavy gross margin expansion in the coming quarters? Let me take that one if I can, Daniel, real quick. So we do expect more new product launches in the second half of this year on the golf equipment side. And so that is margin-accretive versus last year, so you're going to see improved performance in the second half. But the issue that Brian brought up is really in the odd number years of the golf equipment business where we're going to see newer products like Epic Flash and Apex. Those are higher technology products, but the cost of those products are also high, and so the gross margin percentage is low. And that's going to be the case. It's just a normal expected outcome that we will experience on the odd number years. And we do expect improvement in the second half. So we have premium products launching in the second half, but they're really completing against no launches in the second half of last year. So we'll see margin improvement during the second half in that category as we will overall. Got it. That's helpful, Chip. And then to follow up on one of your comments earlier, Chip, around Jack Wolfskin's retail growth, I think you said low single-digit organic but high single digit total. That seems to imply kind of mid-single digit retail unit growth. Should we expect that level of unit growth or unit store growth opportunity for Jack Wolfskin? Or how do you think about that opportunity? Yes. Well, I'm not going to provide any forecast on that going forward. But I just think it was a very important metric for us when you look at their direct-to-consumer business. It's 30% of the total business, and it's the segment of the business where we're going to see the fastest and most clear reaction to the changes that we're implementing there, whether that be from a product side or marketing initiatives, etc. And so being able to drive double-digit growth on that e-commerce side and then comp store growth, as well as the overall growth in the retail side, very encouraging sign. And obviously, our goal is to continue along those trends but not providing specific guidance around that category itself. And your next question comes from the line of Brett Andress from KeyBanc Capital Markets. Brett Andress -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst Chip, if you look across the international golf markets, how did those golf markets play out in the second quarter versus your expectations? And then when you look into the back half of the year, what kind of growth are you underwriting for the industry? Brett, the -- it really was -- it varied kind of widely. And I'm going to comment really for the first half as opposed to the second quarter because those numbers are clearer to me. The U.S. market is roughly flat. I think the Datatech numbers have it up ever so slightly high but not in the full 1%, rounds played we're down 1%. So we're going to call the U.S. flat. The Asia markets varied, of course, as you'd expect. Japan, struggling a little bit, was done about 8%. But our Japan team has really performed beautifully this year. Our inventories have been in great shape, and we continue to do a very good job there, so we're growing faster than the market. And then Europe, it's had an excellent year. So that market is actually up 8% year to date. So as we look at the markets kind of broadly, I'd characterize them as roughly flat which is roughly consistent with my expectations going into the year. And we see the markets remaining in good position going into the back half of the year. So no real change in expectations. They're performing consistent with expectations, and we anticipate that continuing. Understood. And then my follow-up, can you elaborate any more on the impacts of List 4 Tariffs? It sounds manageable for 2019, which is encouraging, but how should we start to think about the potential impacts on a full-year basis in 2020? As we stated -- so with everything -- so for '19, it's really immaterial. It's in our guidance and it's roughly $1 million impact so as it's currently stated. Now as you project it going forward, and you project that as well with the List 3 for next year, if all of that was in place for the full year next year, we'd estimate that at about a $5 million impact for our current business. We're getting kind of used to this now, so we do expect all this to change. It seems to change fairly regularly sometimes without notice or a very limited notice. And we've got a very diversified and strong supply chain so that any impact from the China tariffs is going to be nominal. And by the end of 2020, we believe it would be nonexistent that we will have the ability to completely diversify. So we're in a very good position there and as I tried to articulate. I think investment community needs to take into consideration that we're not sensitive to tariffs. I sometimes wonder that they're confused on that. But we are not particularly sensitive to this tariff issue. Your next question comes from the line of Dave King from ROTH Capital. Dave King -- ROTH Capital Partners -- Analyst First on the full-year guidance. What sort of contribution are you now expecting for Wolfskin versus I think it was $364 million or so last year? And then more importantly, what's sort of driving the improvement in that business versus I think the guidance reduction you had last quarter? Are you -- sorry, so he's asking the revenue -- if we're changing our full-year revenue estimates for Jack Wolfskin? Correct. That's what I'm asking. Yes. Dave, we are not changing our full-year revenue estimates for Jack Wolfskin at this time. So they had a very good quarter. We're not -- on a high end of the range that we expected was some real clear positives. But at this point, there is no change in the estimates that we have for that business for the full year. OK. Perfect. And then switching gears. In terms of the product launches that you have coming up for Q3, just give us some color to help size them up a little bit. Is Epic Star sort of the largest one in terms of -- versus some of the other two, and how should we be thinking about that versus some of the prior similar launches? Yes, the Epic forged irons, I believe, are the largest single product category and how does it -- it's obviously more than last year but at or roughly consistent with what it would've been two years ago in terms of product gains. Last year was a little bit of an aberration in that we really had nothing launched or nothing substantial launched in the second half of the year. We usually do, and this is a more normal cadence from that perspective. And the Epic forged irons that just shipped, we're hearing good anecdotal feedback on them. We're very proud of them, but too soon to get a read if this is going to be above or below expectations at this point, but we're, as you would expect, very optimistic. Your next question comes from the line of Mike Swartz from SunTrust. Mike Swartz -- SunTrust Robinson Humphrey -- Analyst Just wanted to dig into Jack Wolfskin a little bit and something you said on the call. I think you said in the second quarter, Wolfskin was accretive to corporate average gross margins, meaning it would've been north of 47.5% I assume. Can we go back and look at the 8-K that was filed? I believe gross margin for that business was around 48%. So my question is how in what -- I think it's the smallest quarter for Jack Wolfskin, did they have margin that were in line with their full-year average? And should we be thinking about that being north of 48% during the heaviest revenue quarters in the back half of the year? Yes. Mike, this is Patrick. It is a small revenue quarter but it's a, from a direct-to-consumer perspective, it is a bigger mix of some of the quarters that are more fill-in quarters especially in the wholesale markets. So that's what's driving the margins higher than the 47% -- 48% that you were talking about. OK. That's helpful. And just second clarification question. Chip, I think you said that tariffs in '19 will be, did I hear a $3 million headwind and in '20, they're a $5 million headwind. And if so, is that on a net basis? Meaning is that after taking mitigating actions? Or is that gross, before you would do anything? That's net, Mike. So I think we said $3.5 million for this year, all of which is in our earnings guidance estimates. And then if it was in its current position, it would be $5 million and it is -- we've already forecasted where our mitigating factors would be, etc., so that is our best estimate at this point in time. And the $1 million Chip referred to before was just for the new 10% tariff on List 4. There's the other 2.5% from previous. Your next question comes from the line of Randy Konik from Jefferies. Unknown speaker This is Anna on for Randy. In terms of Truvis, are you still seeing some capacity constraints there? And when should we expect capacity to get closer to catching up with demand? Hi, Anna. It's Chip. No, we are no longer capacity constrained on that product. That issue resolved probably earlier this year, so not an issue going forward. Got it. And then could you speak a little bit more on the rationale behind the new DC in Texas? And then anything to call out there in terms of start-up cost? Nothing to call out on start-up costs yet. It's -- they're breaking ground now and just building that facility. So that will be a consolidated facility multi-brand where we'll be able to have Callaway brand, consolidate both our existing DC, as well as some outsourced efforts to some degree, the TravisMathew brand and, when we're ready, the Jack Wolfskin North America brand into one facility. We'll be doing that all during the year next year. And long term, that gives us much more capacity and greater efficiency than where we're currently operating. It's one of the synergies of our scale and structure that we are able to do this and deliver the benefits for us in North America, and we're doing similar projects really on a global basis. Your next question comes from the line of Susan Anderson from B. Riley FBR. Susan Anderson -- B. RIley FBR, Inc.-- Analyst Nice job on the quarter. Just to follow up on Jack Wolfskin. I guess I'm kind of curious I don't know if could talk about what products did well. And it sounds like the growth is a little bit better than you guys expected. And then also the regions, did you see similar performance within Europe as you did in Asia? And I guess looking out to the back half, I think last quarter, you had talked about you were expecting some lower orders for the second half, I guess I was wondering if that's still the case? Sure, Susan. A couple of the hero products, one was this pack and go product which is really an interesting -- I know you specifically saw at the trade expo. But the -- that has done beautifully across their businesses. So across the direct-to-consumer, e-com and both in China and in the Central Europe market. Great example of innovation that that team was able to invest in, and we were able to, by adding capital resources, do a better job marketing, communicating. So that would be the hero product that I would call out. The Europe market, I guess on a relative basis, did well, really strong performance in the direct-to-consumer side. Direct to consumer is roughly 30% of the total business. China had a good quarter as well but probably a little tougher market conditions there, fairly competitive marketplace. We still love our position there. Encouraged by that management team, etc. But they're fighting a little harder than the European team which had a really nice quarter. And the reason we didn't change our expectations for the full year is still that lower pre-book order situation which really will affect Q3. We have fairly high visibility on that as you'd expect. So that's one of the nice things about this type of business, the soft goods business. You have pre-books and they're a considerable portion of the total revenue mix in the time when they ship. And so but that situation is still in front of us and part of our expectations for Q3. [Technical difficulty] You're breaking up there, Susan. And we've lost Susan. But your next question comes from the line of Casey Alexander from Compass Point. Casey Alexander -- Compass Point Research -- Analyst Well, I have a couple of questions. One, sort of I'm always anxious to look for low hanging fruit rather than 10 basis points somewhere. So in the Dallas super hub, is it in the anticipation of your plans that that would be ready at some point in time next year? And seeing as how Jack Wolfskin is a second-half product, then it could be ready in time for broader distribution of Jack Wolfskin products in North America? And similarly, was part of the point of the Japanese joint venture buyout also because maybe there were some terms or exclusions that prevented you from introducing other branded products that you own in that market? So on the first one, yes, the Jack Wolfskin North America launch will be handled directly out of the new DC. So there is no DC servicing. We have very little business for Jack Wolfskin in North America and there's no DC so it basically ships from Germany, which is incredibly inefficient. And we plan to launch when we do launch for Jack Wolfskin out of this DC, so correct on that. On Japan, there were those firms that would -- impacted our ability to do anything with Jack Wolfskin or TravisMathew or the like. But we do see synergies, now that we own 100% of that business, of being able to share back offices, DCs, other structural and infrastructure that will create significant savings and operational efficiencies through the acquisition of it. And when we were able to do that and also finance it at approximately 1%., it seems like a good idea for shareholders. Again, I'm not sure that you were specific to the point of was it in your expectation that Jack Wolfskin could be launching broader in North America by the second half of 2020. Yes, it is. Absolutely been our plan for that. OK. And then secondly, and if you don't want to comment on this, this is fine, but would you care to provide any insight with your and the board's communication with JANA Partners? Sure, Casey. I'm happy to do so. Of course, we have been in contact with JANA as we would with any significant shareholder who wants to engage with us. It's our policy not to comment on the specifics of any private conversations with those shareholders through, so unless there's follow-up, we'd leave it at that. Your next question comes from the line of George Kelly from Imperial Capital. George Kelly -- Imperial Capital -- Analyst So just a few for you, Chip. I think I heard you say in your prepared remarks that the industry is a lot more rational this year. It's -- I think you're mostly speaking about the retail environment and pricing. So I'm just wondering if I heard you right, it's a lot different than it was eight years ago. And how does that change your thinking about your balance sheet? Does it give you more comfort taking risks with your balance sheet? I think that the -- I'm not sure if I said the industry is more rational in this call or not, but I think I had in previous. So I definitely believe the industry is more structurally sound. And that includes higher average selling prices, less excess inventory, a consolidated environment out there, etc., which does give us more confidence. So when I talk about the golf equipment business now, you hear me talk about it as a large, stable environment. And so I think, yes, I guess it does give us more confidence. And as it relates to well, how that impacts to our capital structure, it's not implicit as we think through that we would be more of as risk-averse. We're balancing needs there as you can see and growing the business with sometimes using outside capital. But we obviously want to be conservative in that and we believe we're managing that accordingly. We were pleased that we are able to repay $30 million of debt during the quarter, and we feel confident in the outlook and positive cash flows of the business. OK. That's helpful. And then second question about Jack Wolfskin. So previous question, last person was asking about some of the investments for U.S. distribution next year. And so my question is about you mentioned in your prepared remarks that you -- I think you said you're seeing more synergies than originally expected. So I'm just trying to patch the sort of margin outlook as you make these investments and distribution in the new geographies and e-commerce and like as to -- how should that flow over the next couple of years not looking for specific guidance? Well. It will take us some -- we're going to be measured in these investments. These are going to be best of arms nor that we think that these are central to the investment thesis in Callaway nor is it a central point for our returns. But we do think there's upside there, and we're going to be making measured investments in these key markets. If we're successful, the markets are large and the categories are large so the upside is significant. The investments will be such that there will be slower returns at the start. During the early stages, we're going to be spending some money with 0 return during the stages. Immediately following that, we'll start to see some revenue. That revenue will be modest. And the returns, it could be breakeven during those periods of time. But if our expectations follow, then we're going to deliver attractive returns over the medium to long term. So there's a journey we're going to be going on here that I think has a lot of excitement for shareholders. You'll have to trust us and look at our track record that we're going to be measured in that, but the returns are certainly there. And if you look at any medium to long term, it should be an exciting opportunity for all of us. Your next question comes from the line of Joe Altobello from Raymond James. Joe Altobello -- Raymond James -- Analyst First question on the equipment margins side. It looks like profitability remains under pressure. Is that simply tough compares given the launch timing or is there a competitive dynamic at play? And maybe secondly to that, how much does the second-half launches improve margins for the equipment business? Sure. Joe, I would agree with you that the equipment profitability is under pressure. It's down year over year due to FX and the fact that in the odd number years of the equipment business we launched higher value-added products such as Apex and the Epic Flash. And those have lower gross margins. So all of the equipment profitability is what we expected plus FX. And now we are going to see improvement in that during the second half, but the characteristics that reflect itself in these odd number years is doing what we expected it to do and not really -- we're not viewing it as being under pressure per se. OK. And then maybe secondly for Jack Wolfskin. You mentioned earlier that the outlook for sales is unchanged. I assume the EBITDA outlook is unchanged as well. And if so, what was the EBITDA drag for that business in 2Q? Joe, you're correct. It does not -- we're not changing our estimates nor -- and as we stated, we're not updating them on a quarterly basis for that specific segment. And then your question specifically what the EBITDA drag was in Q2, I think? Correct. Yes. And we really don't break out. We break out the revenues by quarter for you but not the EBITDA contribution although, as we stated the whole time, it is a quarter where they generally routinely do not make money. And your next question comes from the line of Alex Maroccia from Berenberg. Alex Maroccia -- Berenberg Capital Markets -- Analyst So earlier this year, you said that Q3 for Jack is about three times or four times the size of Q2. Would you expect the light pre-books to affect the revenue mix between DTC and wholesale versus where it's been historically for the last two quarters? Alex, yes. I would think it would. OK. Are you able to provide a bit more info about the sales split? Is it going to be roughly the same as previous as well? The sales split in Q3 between -- Between Q3 and 4? In that particular business unit? I don't have that information. Patrick, do you have anything? Yes, high level because there is a little bit more selling of wholesale there. Q3 is probably a little less DTC than Q4. It's probably very similar to Q1 versus Q2. But that's probably about all we have. Yes, I think he was asking it, I don't know whether we have it is if you go after that 360 number and they know what they had in the first half, now he's trying to divide it between the quarters Q3 and Q4 for his model. And we have talked about that. I think 40% of the revenue is Q3. So we have talked about that before. And 40% of the full year. And we're not saying any different than that right now? All right. That's helpful. And then one more for me. So after seeing the weaker numbers expected from a competitor on the golf ball numbers as well the poor weather, I was pretty impressed by you guys having growth year over year. Can you just provide a little more info on the market share at the moment, and how you're driving those market share gains? Alex, thanks for noticing. We're -- and I think that in fairness, we -- no comment on the competitors which, obviously, we have a ton of respect for. But if you focus on our business, we have relatively consistently beaten the golf equipment markets. So this is what we expect from ourselves. And one of the confusing items is if you look at our market shares, our market shares are down a little bit. But it's reflecting that market shares only measure a portion of the business now. So that's one of the reasons I don't report out on. They're still directionally important. They're still a metric that matters. But you can see in our actual revenues that we're driving results that are above that. We have really good strength of breadth of distribution and very broad product lines. As we stated, we were up every product segment, every region on a currency-neutral basis for the first half and pleased with that. We've invested aggressively over the last few years in technology, in marketing resources, etc., that are all aimed at delivering these types of results, and we're pleased that we're able to do it. We are optimistic of the second half as well. That is the all the time we have for questions. I will now turn the call back over to Mr. Chip Brewer, chief executive officer, for some closing remarks. Well, thank you, everybody, for making the time for today's call. Our comments were longer than normal, and I apologize for that. I appreciate everybody's patience. We have a lot to talk about, and we look forward to speaking with you again in the end of Q3. [Operator signoff] Call participants: More ELY analysis All earnings call transcripts Callaway Golf Company NYSE:ELY Why Callaway Golf Rose 13% in December Here's Why Callaway Golf Surged 37.3% Higher in November Is Callaway Golf Stock a Buy? Will the Topgolf Merger Work for Callaway? Callaway Golf (ELY) Q2 2019 Earnings Call Transcript @themotleyfool #stocks $ELY Next Article	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1053
__label__wiki	0.659186	0.659186	Documents Show Coast Guard Fire Concerns Scrapped Google Barge Project 12:03 pm November 7, 2014 By Shane McGlaun The WSJ reports that documents it has obtained via the Freedom of Information Act have shed light on why Google scrapped its barges just as they were nearing completion. According to the documents, the barge project was fraught with fire safety concerns from the Coast Guard that eventually led to the project being scrapped. The Google barges piqued the interest of people around the world when they first surfaced in coastal US cities. We learned last year that the barges were intended to be floating showrooms for technology demos. Shortly after learning what the purpose of the barges was, Google scrapped the entire project and sent the barges to the scrap heap. Documents show that the Coast Guard officially raised concerns about fire safety multiple times. “These vessels will have over 5,000 gallons of fuel on the main deck and a substantial amount of combustible material on board,” Robert Gauvin, the Coast Guard’s acting chief of commercial vessel compliance, wrote in an email from March 2013. Other emails show that Coast Guard inspectors wanted more safety precautions in case passengers were forced to jump over the side of the ship in an emergency. Concerns about the ability to evacuate disabled persons were also raised. Eventually the concerns lead to the project being cancelled. SOURCE: WSJ Filed Under: Top News	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1058
__label__wiki	0.691199	0.691199	Sony Pictures Hack Traced To Bangkok, Thailand 7:47 am December 8, 2014 By Conner Flynn By now you have likely heard that Sony Pictures has been hacked. The initial reports suggested that the attack could have been sanctioned by North Korea, although North Korea denied this recently. Well, now a recent report from Bloomberg has revealed some additional details. Now it looks like the leak of Sony Pictures’ details could have originated from Bangkok, Thailand. The attack was traced to the St. Regis hotel, a five-star hotel, but the attackers could have used the hotel’s high-speed internet instead. Bloomberg’s source remains anonymous. If true, we now know where things originated, but not who did it. Cybersecurity experts traced the digital footprints of these hackers back to the hotel, but it should be noted that the attack could have been carried out remotely with the hackers using the hotel’s open network. Starwood Hotels & Resorts who owns the St. Regis have not commented yet or issued any official statement. It looks like the hackers attacked Sony Pictures based on a grudge since they do not appear to be demanding money. Maybe it was a political statement. Hackers also sent threatening messages to Sony Pictures employees recently too. We still don’t know who are behind the attacks, but that info may come soon. Source Ubergizmo	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1059
__label__cc	0.686125	0.313875	Rediscovering Korean Cinema Sangjoon Lee, Editor 2019 South Korean cinema is a striking example of non-Western contemporary cinematic success. Thanks to the increasing numbers of moviegoers and domestic films produced, South Korea has become one of the world's major film markets. In 2001, the South Korean film industry became the first in recent history to reclaim its domestic market from Hollywood and continues to maintain around a 50 percent market share today. High-quality South Korean films are increasingly entering global film markets and connecting with international audiences in commercial cinemas and art theatres, and at major international film festivals. Despite this growing recognition of the films themselves, Korean cinema's rich heritage has not heretofore received significant scholarly attention in English-language publications. This groundbreaking collection of thirty-five essays by a wide range of academic specialists situates current scholarship on Korean cinema within the ongoing theoretical debates in contemporary global film studies. Chapters explore key films of Korean cinema, from Sweet Dream, Madame Freedom, The Housemaid, and The March of Fools to Oldboy, The Host, and Train to Busan, as well as major directors such as Shin Sang-ok, Kim Ki-young, Im Kwon-taek, Bong Joon-ho, Hong Sang-soo, Park Chan-wook, and Lee Chang-dong. While the chapters provide in-depth analyses of particular films, together they cohere into a detailed and multidimensional presentation of Korean cinema's cumulative history and broader significance. With its historical and critical scope, abundance of new research, and detailed discussion of important individual films, Rediscovering Korean Cinema is at once an accessible classroom text and a deeply informative compendium for scholars of Korean and East Asian studies, cinema and media studies, and communications. It will also be an essential resource for film industry professionals and anyone interested in international cinema. Perspectives on Contemporary Korea 978-0-472-05429-9 (paper) Asian Studies:Korea Media Studies:Cinema Studies 1. A Brief History of Korean Cinema 2. Sweet Dream (1936) and the Transformation of Cinema in Colonial Korea 3. Spring in the Korean Peninsula (1941) 4. A Hometown in the Heart (1949) 5. Piagol (1955) 6. Madame Freedom (1956) 7. Flower in Hell (1958) 8. The Housemaid (1960) 9. Aimless Bullet (1961) 10. Mist (1967) 11. The Road to Sampo (1975) 12. The March of Fools (1975) 13. Declaration of Idiot (1983) 14. Chilsu and Mansu (1988) 15. The Night Before the Strike (1990) 16. My Love, My Bride (1990) 17. The Murmuring Trilogy (1995–99) 18. A Petal (1996) 19. The Power of Kangwon Province (1998) 20. Die Bad (2000) 21. Ch’unhyang, Chihwaseon, and Hanji 22. My Sassy Girl (2001) 23. Take Care of My Cat (2001) 24. Oldboy (2003) 25. Repatriation (2003) 26. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) 27. 3-Iron (2004) 28. The Host (2006) 29. Family Ties (2006) 30. Secret Sunshine (2007) 31. The Journals of Musan (2010) 32. Stateless Things (2011) 33. Snowpiercer (2013) 34. Ode to My Father (2014) 35. Train to Busan (2016) Chronology of Korean Cinema Search for resources within Rediscovering Korean Cinema Your search has returned 2 resources attached to Rediscovering Korean Cinema Filtering by: Section Chapter 32 Remove constraint Section: Chapter 32 Chun is walking along the Cheonggyecheon stream Chun and Sun-hŭi’s circuitous journey around Seoul 1,530 views since December 13, 2019	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1061
__label__wiki	0.918847	0.918847	Pupil dies after freak accident TRAGEDY - floral tributes at the court Updated 02:01, 8 JUN 2013 A BURGHFIELD Common school is in mourning for a second time in seven months following the death of a schoolboy after a freak accident on a tennis court net. Thirteen-year-old James Rogers was playing with a friend on the courts in the lunch hour on Friday, April 27 when he fell off the net and cracked his head open. James was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital then transferred to the intensive therapy unit at Radcliffe infirmary in Oxford. Fellow Year Eight pupils at The Willink School were given daily updates until last Friday, when they were warned that his condition had become critical. He died in the early hours of Saturday morning after contracting an infection. James and his pal had been sitting on the net, which was not wound fully taut and was only about two feet off the ground, head teacher Barbara Wynn said. When the friend stood up, James fell backwards and hit his head on the Tarmac tennis court. A sixth former trained in first aid saw the accident and within seconds was helping James who had lapsed into unconsciousness. He gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the ambulance came. Mrs Wynn visited James twice in hospital last week and told the Evening Post today: “He was not conscious when I visited. He was heavily sedated. The hospital described it as a freak accident. The net was only two feet above the ground. One would never have imagined that such a thing could happen.” Mrs Wynn has spoken to the parents of James’s friend and offered counselling services after the tragic accident. Mrs Wynn announced the sad news to the school yesterday morning and then held a special assembly in the afternoon. James’s classmates wept at the news of his death and some friends who had known him since his primary school days at Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet Primary School were too upset to attend the afternoon assembly. Mrs Wynn said: “During the day classmates recalled their memories of James and his family have asked that they write them down so that they can keep them.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1063
__label__cc	0.594412	0.405588	Global Infrastructure Hub / Resources / Project Case studies - Global Infrastructure Hub / Showcase Project: Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, United States of America Showcase Project: Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, United States of America Written by GI Hub Developed by Global Infrastructure Hub Project Overview The USD 1.1 billion Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement (RBR) Project is the first multi-asset public-private partnership (PPP) project to be undertaken in the US, using a bundled contract approach to replace 558 structurally deficient (SD) bridges across Pennsylvania. The project is being delivered as a Design-Build-FinanceOperate-Maintain (DBFOM), availability payment, PPP concession, between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners (PWKP) consortium. The consortium was awarded the contract in October 2014. The RBR Project could have significant applications in other US states, helping to boost the grade of America s infrastructure and address the backlog in civil infrastructure maintenance. Pennsylvania has over 4,500 SD bridges, the second highest figure in the country after Iowa. Roughly 20% of Pennsylvania s bridges are SD, while the national average is 9.1%. The RBR Project will make a substantial contribution to reducing the large backlog of SD bridges in the state. PWKP is managing the financing, design and construction of the replacement bridges and will then be responsible for their maintenance for 25 years after construction. Construction is expected to take approximately four years from commercial close. Project Highlights The first multi-asset PPP to be undertaken in the US using a bundled approach; The first PPP transaction in the state of Pennsylvania; The largest roadway project in Pennsylvania s history; The bundling of assets is expected to reduce the total cost of the project by 20%; Construction will occur at a much faster rate than what would have been achieved using a traditional procurement program; The largest ever Private Activity Bond (PAB) issuance in the history of the Federal PAB program (at time of issuance) (see the Financial Breakdown section of this note for details); US$721.5 million par value represents the largest ever allocated PAB issuance for a PPP transaction. The project will involve the full demolition and replacement of all 558 replacement bridges, which are primarily single and multi-span bridges on smaller state highways, many located in rural areas. The bridges in the project are of a similar size and design, allowing for prefabrication, mass production, equipment reutilisation and standardisation. Multi-asset PPPs are already being used in many jurisdictions to replace and maintain existing civil infrastructure, such as street light Showcase Project: Noor Ouarzazate I Concentrated Solar Power Plant, Morocco Noor Ouarzazate I, a 160 MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, is a path-breaking large- scale CSP project, one of the first to be delivered in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, taking advantage of the region s abundant solar resources. Showcase Project: Elazig Hospital, Turkey	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1064
__label__wiki	0.76376	0.76376	Trucks kill pedestrians in separate incidents in Queens and Brooklyn By Luke Funk Pedestrians killed in Queens and Brooklyn A New York City Sanitation truck hit a woman and her son in Corona, Queens. The boy died. A few hours later, a cement truck hit and killed a 68-year-old woman in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Reported by Antwan Lewis NEW YORK - In separate incidents, a garbage truck and a cement truck each struck and killed a pedestrian in New York City on Tuesday morning. A 10-year-old boy was killed and his mother seriously injured after a New York City Sanitation Department truck hit them shortly before 7 a.m. at 57th Avenue near 97th Street in Corona, Queens. The 40-year-old man driving the truck was leaving a driveway in LeFrak City and was trying to make a right turn when his right rear wheel knocked over the woman and child. FOX 5 News reported that the victims were moved into two ambulances and rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where the boy died. His mother was listed in critical condition. Earlier reports indicating that one of her legs was amputated were inaccurate. The sanitation truck driver stayed at the scene. It is unclear if he will face charges. A few hours later, a cement truck struck and killed a 68-year-old woman who was crossing a street in Brooklyn. It happened shortly before noon at 49th Street and New Utrecht Avenue in Borough Park. The driver of that truck, a 48-year-old man, remained at the scene, police said. Police are investigating both incidents. Woman and child hit by vehicle in Queens A woman and a child were hit by a vehicle in Corona, Queens on Tuesday morning. Get breaking news alerts in the FOX5NY News app. It is FREE! Download for iOS or Android	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1066
__label__wiki	0.740862	0.740862	The Hummus & Pita Co.: The Hummus & Pita Co. Secures New Location In Desirable Upper East Side Manhattan By: The Hummus & Pita Co. \| 0 Shares 121 Reads The Fourth NYC Location of the Iconic Mediterranean Fast-Casual is Slated to Open Before Year’s End November 19, 2020 // Franchising.com // NEW YORK, NEW YORK - New York headquartered fast casual concept, The Hummus & Pita Co., known for their expansive menu of fresh and healthy Mediterranean fare, is adding another location to their New York City footprint with a new restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The soon-to-open space, which will be corporately owned and operated, is located in an already very popular and high-trafficked restaurant hub between 2nd and 3rd avenue at 216 E86th St, and will be joining the likes of concepts such as Sweetgreen, Shake Shack, and Chipotle. It is expected to debut in early December. “The Upper East Side has always been a neighborhood where we wanted to bring our concept and, while it has been a challenging time for the restaurant industry as a whole, we are fortunate that this year has also presented us with the unique opportunity to finally expand into this highly coveted area,” said co-founder Dave Pesso. “This business decision will highly benefit The Hummus & Pita Co. brand, and we are looking forward to sharing our high-quality and healthy Mediterranean dishes with a new NYC neighborhood.” Since 2011, the Brooklyn-born Hummus & Pita Co. has been delivering guilt-free, homemade cuisine to the masses. The concept has taken the best dishes from all over the Mediterranean region, including recipes that have been passed down generation to generation, and built a seamless menu that works for all taste and dietary preferences. All menu items are made from scratch on the premises at each location, using only the freshest ingredients available to ensure high-quality, flavor-focused eats for every guest. The fast casual leader stands out from other Mediterranean concepts for its freshly-baked pita and laffa breads, wide variety of innovative vegetarian and vegan dishes, meats cooked in a traditional taboon oven, and signature hummus-based dessert offerings like the Chickpea Chiller, which has been recognized by national media outlets including ABC’s The Chew, People Magazine, Business Insider, PopSugar, and more. The decision to join the densely populated neighborhood of the Upper East Side is a strategic move for Hummus & Pita Co., as the company expands their foothold in New York City and continues to gather traction and awareness. The concept is also actively looking to expand into Brooklyn and Columbus, Ohio next, and have aggressively been pursuing opportunities in those areas. The Hummus & Pita Co. currently operates three locations in New York City, and locations in Brookfield, CT, Holmdel, NJ, and Auburn Hills, MI. Additional units in current development include Atlanta, GA, Huntsville, AL, Montgomery, AL, and Los Angeles, CA. Due to the brand’s rapid franchised growth and aggressive expansion into new markets, The Hummus & Pita Co. was named one of QSR’s “13 Emerging New York City Fast Casuals to Watch” and “11 Restaurant Franchises on the Cusp of Greatness.” The Hummus & Pita Co. is seeking experienced multi-unit foodservice operators to develop franchise territories in major markets. SOURCE The Hummus & Pita Co. The Hummus & Pita Co. The Hummus & Pita Co. is a fast-casual restaurant serving homemade, fresh, and healthy Mediterranean cuisine. Latest Franchise News Expansions & Growth Financial & Earnings Claims Personnel Changes	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1067
__label__cc	0.573348	0.426652	Home / FB Doc Selection / Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (2) – Franck Biancheri (2004) Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (2) – Franck Biancheri (2004) The European Union is increasingly shaping Portuguese political life. It has created a political crisis in Portugal by calling on its Prime Minister, Mr Barroso, to become President of the European Commission. President Sampaio chose to preserve the country’s political stability by appointing the leader of the former Prime Minister’s party as the new head of government, while the opposition, winner of the recent European elections, wanted early parliamentary elections. The new Prime Minister, Pedro Santana Lopes, is not really unanimous, even within his party, where there is concern about a possible “Berlusconian” tendency and doubt about the duration of this new government. Many believe that the current European Commissioner, Mr Vittorino, will return to national political life in force after October. The French will in the end vote via referendum for the adoption of the European Constitution. For months, Newropeans Magazine had been indicating that this would ultimately be France’s choice because the French wanted to express themselves directly on this issue. President Chirac therefore followed a good political instinct in announcing this measure yesterday. Now it remains certain that for the vast majority of citizens (and this is true throughout the EU), it will be the EU’s decision on Turkey in December that will determine their vote. The vote on the constitution will be a vote for the future of the EU; if Turkey is put on the agenda, people will simply say that they are not interested in that future. So, European leaders, think carefully because it is in December that you will win or lose the referendums on the Constitution. You should know that, as we discuss Europe with our fellow citizens, this Turkish issue is always more and more present and that people do not expect a “communication campaign” on the subject, because they have a very clear opinion: yes to a partnership with Turkey, no to its entry into the EU. The image of the United States is not improving in Europe. Whether in Germany, France or Portugal in recent weeks, I have witnessed the trivialisation of two ideas that will influence the future of transatlantic relations. On the one hand, a large majority of people, and in particular young people, believe that the United States is now a declining power; on the other hand, they believe that the country’s fundamental problems (total dependence on oil, weakness of the education system, lack of widespread social security coverage, increasing influence of militarism) cannot be solved in the coming years, regardless of which party is in power in Washington. Many seem to expect a difficult relationship between the EU and the USA in the coming years. This proves that more imagination and effort are needed to avoid a “rupture” of the transatlantic link and that it is at the level of civil societies that the effort must be made. Next field survey…. on the beaches of the Mediterranean! Only because it is there that we find the most Europeans per square metre in all nations combined. Paris (France) – Juin 2004 Barroso EU EU-Constitution franck biancheri Turkey Turquie USA 04:13 PM Tagged with: Barroso EU EU-Constitution franck biancheri Turkey Turquie USA Previous: Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (1) – Franck Biancheri (2004) Next: Thinking about the future only makes sense if it is aimed at improving one’s thinking about the present and about the trends at work From “laissez-faire” to “let die”- Americans in distress (quotations from Franck Biancheri, 2005) France-Germany – People on the leading edge. By Franck Biancheri (2003) AEGEE 35th anniversary! 16 April 1985, Congress EGEE1: The word of the President, Franck Biancheri	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1068
__label__cc	0.721507	0.278493	THE TEACHER No one knew where he came from. Most of the residents in our shelter/home were referrals or people we had served with one of our other ministries. We lived communally with seminary students, the homeless, mental health persons in crises, staff and their families. We were open but selective to whom we opened our doors. He came and declared we should house him. Asked for referrals he said he had none. He was new to town. But he declared himself useful and we had an empty bed. So we took him in. He really left us no choice. His name was Alexis Wilantevicz. He was a defrocked Russian Orthodox monk. Or at least he said he was. We would get in theological discussions and he dropped Russian fathers, bishops, and theologians names by the minute. Being a Southern Baptist I merely nodded my head when he would do this until he drifted back into a land I knew. He was a very assertive, flatterer who was used to having his way. After he found out I was an admirer of Martin Luther King Jr. he would note how I sat on the podium with the same style and demeanor as King. I was his favorite staff member, probably because he could get the most from me. I often felt he was trying to educate me. He claimed to have lived in a hospitality house with Dorothy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. He constantly offered me tidbits about her especially after he learned I admired her too. He revealed early in our relationship that he was gay. This was no surprise but it’s always nice to go from speculation to knowledge. He said this was why he left the monastery. He would always laugh at himself in his flamboyant way and say, “Only I Alexis Wilantevicz would choose to come out of the closet in the midst of an AIDS epidemic.” This sad irony seemed to define his life. He was indeed helpful. He had learned to cook good, cheap meals from very little at the monastery. So to the chagrin and concern of the rest of the staff I hired him as our Kitchen Manager. He thus became the first openly gay employee of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention paid for part of our work, the local Baptist district paid some, and the rest came from other churches across the nation as well as the small chapel that met inside the Center. The staff was concerned about facing reprisals if it was ever found out that Alexis was gay. We worked closely with over twenty churches. They would come and feed the homeless on Saturdays and Sundays. I told him to please not tell the churches he was gay. He promised not to but I swear when the churches were there he flamed exceptionally bright. On more than one occasion a concerned church member would come to me and say in a dismayed way, “I believe he is gay.” I would always reply by nodding my head, “HMM. That’s interesting.” and divert the conversation elsewhere. Once he became comfortable he reveled in telling different members of our community he was gay to see their reactions. This began to have a backlash for him and me. I was suspected of having an affair with him, even though my wife and child were living with me. His flamboyance became exceptionally annoying to other members of the community. And if they ever had a complaint he would invoke my name, a habit not pleasing to other staff. To say the least, he was a handful. He loved to play the provocateur and ruffler of feathers. But I was learning about Dorothy Day, Russian Orthodox history and theology, and enjoyed being compared to MLK Jr. so our friendship continued. I liked him. As part of my work with the homeless I was helping to organize busloads of people to a March to Washington called Housing Now! I felt very important because I had organized two buses out of the five going from our city. They even chose me to direct the bus riders to Washington, to the March, and back home again. I was full of myself until I realized the really important people flew to Washington ahead of time, skipping the nine and a half hour bus ride, and attended meetings before the March with the other big wigs. The church helped pay Alexis’ way to the March and off we went, five busloads from Louisville. Alexis was insistent that he wanted to show me something significant when we got to Washington, D.C. I was insistent that he take a deep breath and let me make sure everything was okay with the transportation. I did not want to tell him a flat out no because I could tell by his demeanor that this was important, but was sure I would not have time for any side adventures. We were to attend the March, eat and get back on the bus. And I who was vaguely familiar with D.C. was to make sure no one was left behind. I felt overwhelmed. At the March Jesse Jackson and other dignitaries spoke; Tracy Chapman sang ‘All That You Have is Your Soul.’ I was pumped but Alexis, knowing it was close to time to leave, was insistent. Taking a deep sigh I said, “You have thirty minutes.” We walked fast around a corner removed from the March. It was then I saw it. It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing; row after row of quilts full of magnificent color. It was the AIDS Quilt. Quilts with notes and personal thoughts about someone who had died of AIDS. I began to notice the people around me; many were in tears, others with jaws set and some lost in thought. Then I heard the names being read, one after the other. I kept thinking surely the list would be exhausted but it never repeated itself; it kept marching ahead. I noticed Alexis off to the side observing me. AIDS was a new world for me. I knew the very basics but you heard all sorts of arguments questioning the basics. We walked back to the March where the others were. He was quiet, an unusual feat for him. We returned to Louisville. It was a month later in the kitchen (his domain) he stopped me and said we need to talk. I said sure and he waited until he had my full attention. He began to cut an apple and handed me a slice. I noticed he was cutting with the blade toward him, a good way to get cut. “I got tested today,” he said. I said, “For what?” “HIV,” he said, handing me another slice of apple. Inside I shook with fear; I wanted to throw the apple down and run. “Really? What was the result,” I said. “I do not know yet,” he replied. He handed me another slice of apple. I ate it, making a calculation of how many slices could possibly be left in that apple. He said, “You know, people have problems with my being gay. HIV will scare them shitless.” I smiled, “Yea that should be a lot of fun for you.” He smiled back, “Yea that could be fun.” “Well you know we say we accept anyone here so there should not be any problems.” He sighed, “But I prepare the food and I have seen the irrational fear people can get especially with their food.” He cut me another slice of apple. Damn was he giving me some kind of test, I thought, as I took the apple from him. I suddenly realized that what I was feeling was going to be multiplied many times over with others. Taking a deep breath I sighed, “I guess we are all going to have to learn to live with it.” He knew I was not talking about HIV but the fear of it. Two months later he was gone. As mysteriously as he came to us he had now disappeared. Rumors of sightings came for the first month. I followed the rumors up. But they all were dead ends. Slowly, I came to accept his absence. Why he left I do not know. He never confirmed whether he had HIV or not. I later went on to work with Persons Living with AIDS for over eight years. I worked with over hundreds who would die too young. It was sometimes unbearable. Yet I could hear Alexis’ voice in my head. It was as if he was observing and guiding me through this time. I missed his flattery and even the brouhaha he created. I have a picture of him in my mind somewhere else with another young minister flattering, observing, yammering away about some Russian orthodox bishop of the eighteenth century, initiating them into new experiences, and giving them a final exam before he moved on. It is said we entertain angels unawares. I do not believe in angels but I do believe in Saints especially the Russian Orthodox ones. Of all the professors on campus it was said he would be the first to be fired. He was not a firebrand but a mystic philosopher teaching the Old Testament in a Southern Baptist college. He was always stirring souls with what some would say were his heretical musings. He had written a brilliant doctoral dissertation on the winged serpents of the Canaanites and the formerly winged serpent of Genesis. But he was not as interested in academic studies as he was in the discovery of the minds and souls of the ancients. He was a good heretic. He warned you at the beginning of each of his Old Testament classes of the pitfalls of knowledge. Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden because they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. God believed this would have destroyed them. Knowledge he emphasized was a dangerous thing. To know something can change the very essence of who you are or what you may do. Ignorance is bliss was not a quaint saying. If you do not want to be changed at your very core do not seek knowledge. He smiled ‘It could keep you in constant trouble with the administration,’ he added. After his fair warning and then he continued to teach in his laid-back manner. Sitting usually. Sometimes with his feet on the desk. Always a conversational voice and manner. And then he would be distracted and stare into a corner of the room and, almost trancelike, begin to talk with great passion. Yahweh the God of the Jews could not survive in the city; he was a desert God. The Israelites thrived in the Wilderness. They communed with their God. They even broke bread with God daily when God supplied them with manna from heaven. But this was never enough; they wanted to build a great nation. So they built Jerusalem and made for themselves kings. But they longed for that closeness to God they once had. So they boxed God up in a tabernacle and put Him under house arrest in the Temple. They literally thought God could only leave the Temple when He was under close supervision and kept in a box, he reflected. Yes, he would say, Yahweh dies when he is taken out of the desert. Yahweh only thrived in our places of need. Slowly the professor returned to the classroom. He would smile and talk once again about the text before us. I looked around; did my classmates hear and see these musings from God? I observed some with eyelids barely open, others with mouths agape in awe, and still others shaking their heads and muttering under their breaths. Had we heard and seen the same thing? The mutterers were confused how this would help them save souls, and missed that he was trying to give them a soul. The half-asleep would endure and move on to the next class and missed they had a soul. The open mouthed would think they were too soulful. And I was careful to filter the knowledge for he had said it was a dangerous thing. He once and only once was allowed to speak at Chapel—a bi-weekly worship gathering for the whole campus. The topic of the sermon was ‘Funeral for a Friend.’ He entered through the back doors with a coffin and pall bearers in tow. The pallbearers placed the plain wooden coffin down in the front of the chapel. He stepped up to the lectern and began to speak. “Today we are gathered to mourn the death of our God. We have, with our grand schemes and glorious buildings in our attempt to become God, killed Him. It is said He was a good and kind God, never truly appreciated while He was alive but today, maybe for a moment, we can remember God in all His glory before we nail the coffin shut and bury it under the ground.” He almost lost his job for this sermon; no one talked about it again except in whispers. He often talked about Jacob’s encounter with an angel in the Old Testament wilderness. He mused that when you truly came into contact with God it left you with a limp for the rest of your life. The cocky strut of youth and pride was replaced with a struggle to walk straight, leaving a question mark behind every belief. Biblical truth was not like the proud television evangelist who were so sure of truth. Truth held by doubting Thomases, denying Peters, and whining Jeremiahs. Truth scarred you put you on unstable ground. For years he remained in his classroom, staring up into the corner as if listening to some angel speak and he was almost apologetic, especially if it left you limping. He was either hated or loved by his students. Some of those who loved him became groupies. They would join him on the weekends at his farm where he was building a new home with his own hands and the hands of friends and college students. After a hard day’s work where he exhibited his renowned carpentry skills and where he did more looking off into the distance and talking everyone would gather around his table; his family and the hands for the day would gather and feast. It was at one of these gatherings that the incident happened. His students sat enjoying a home-cooked meal for a change, enjoying their proximity to the great man. When he suddenly stopped and looked at the corner of the room and started to muse. The students sat on the edge of their seats, ready to be caught up in his rhapsody when they heard the voice of his wife, “Can it Karen. Give it a rest for a while.” He obediently stopped and smiled. The students snickered. The great Dr. Joines brought to his knees and reality by his wife. All the students knew they needed a wife like that. Their heads were so much in the clouds they needed someone in their lives to bring them back to earth. Many a student fell in love with his wife that day. At the birth of his child he declared that oak branches, reaching across the road to each other on his drive home, were clapping their approval of the event. God spoke every day in the quiet of wilderness if we listened, and he always listened. After college I lost touch with the goings-on of Dr. Joines. Other professors came and went into my heart and head. My life was consumed by working with the homeless and starting my own family. But somehow I still hear his voice and musings. I do not know what happened in the rest of his life. Did he finally get fired when the fundamentalists took over the Southern Baptist Convention? Did he face the death of his children or did the magic leave his marriage? I do not know how life challenged him. But I do know how life challenged me. I got to know that knowledge could lead to wonder and beauty but more often than not it proved dangerous and upsetting. I encountered God many times through the lives of addicts, Persons Living with AIDS, homeless, and the mentally ill. But all these encounters though beautiful usually left me with a little limp in my soul. Knowledge was as he described it in his classes and awesome responsibility that once you had it you were responsible. To not act on the knowledge you had was not to live at all. But to act on that same knowledge could cause havoc and you would find yourself at odds with administrations. After twenty-six years of teaching Dr. Joines faced a new wave of challenge in the mid-nineties when the fundamentalists complained about his wayward teachings. He was constantly called before the Provost or President to explain something he had taught or said. When asked about it he understated, ‘The whole thing was distasteful.” But at the same time he was using his carpentry skills to restore a home the university had purchased in the heart of London. It was a place to provide travel and cultural learning opportunities for generations of students. It must have brought him satisfaction to offer students another way to view the world. Despite all the controversy that swirled around him he retired and never was fired. Though I no longer know where he is I am convinced of one thing. That wherever he is, he walks slowly with a cane in hand, down a road covered with oak limbs touching. Along the way he stops and looks off into the sky and for a brief fleeting moment he sees the face of God and he smiles, sighs, and continues walking. And I imagine occasionally the new truth still gets him in trouble. THE GOOD NEIGHBORS I could not tell you their names. They were my neighbors. I mean my gay neighbors. That was important to this newly married seminary student ready to discover all things spiritual. At first I was shocked. There are gay couples in the world? After all this was in the early 1980s, long before gay was cool. I realized God had moved me into this apartment for a reason. My purpose was to show these men the true blessings of heterosexuality and let them see this little light of mine. Of course this project would have to be done in my spare time as my studies and prayers came first. It pleased me when I realized the walls were thin enough to hear through. This meant every time I made love to my new wife they would hear the bliss that is heterosexuality. Of course I did not realize that would also mean I would hear the bliss that is homosexuality. Strangely some of the sounds were very similar. But of course this only meant that I had to coax my wife into more vigorous and vocal sex. After all the reputation of heterosexuals was at stake. I found that explaining this to my wife was not an aphrodisiac. I also decided to add to the bliss that was heterosexual sex; I had to give witness that I was happier than they were. So every time I would see them on the landing I presented my biggest smile and proclaimed in typical Oklahoma musical style what a glorious day it was. This may have seemed odd to them when my new wife and I were fresh from a heated discussion which I am sure they could hear through the walls. And I was now on the landing because my wife had locked me out of the house. But I am sure they were amazed at how happy I could be even in adversity. Oh what a beautiful morning! They were hard to beat in their willingness to help others. Although this should be the true Christian’s calling card. They had some kind of gay thing going on with the downstairs neighbor. She was an elderly woman who lived by herself. They checked in on her and went shopping for her and often brought her meals. I do not know what they saw in her. She was a nuisance to me. She was always stopping me to talk on my way out or in. I was trying to go to my seminary classes to learn about Christianity so I could help change the world, and there she would be saying hi and wanting conversation. And she could talk. If she stopped me, I could be there at least five minutes. So I developed the habit of peeking out my door and seeing if she was visible and if she was, I waited until she went back into her apartment and then I would run down the stairs as fast as I could to get to my class. This practice could sometimes make me late for school. But she was a tricky one; she would sometimes go back in her apartment and immediately come back out and there I would be stuck talking with her, or rather, listening to her. And she knew me; being the good Christian I would be compelled to stop and talk with her. The couple next door…. To call them gay seems so old fashioned. I am experienced now. I was surprised to learn one of them had been married before and had a child. And that child would come visit them. I always thought, “poor child” but years later she would be in the daycare where I worked to help pay the bills, and I found she was a unique and beautiful child. I know what it means to pull yourself up by the bootstraps, I saw this young child do it. Trying to be better than my neighbors was hard when they would frequently knock on our door; I would answer and they would have fresh baked pie or cookies to share. They were nice. Too nice; I wondered if in some kind of wicked gay agenda they were competing with me. This thought disturbed me because they seemed better at the game than I was. But that was only because I was so consumed with studying to be a spiritual leader; after I graduated I would have more time to be nicer and defeat their gay agenda. One day they knocked on my door and asked me to do them a favor. At last an opportunity to show them who was the boss of niceness. I had never had to knock on their door to ask them for a favor. Well, there was once when I needed a ride or I would be late for class. I laughed inside as they drove to the campus they were probably the first gay people to ever set foot there. But now here they were on my doorstep asking me for a favor and I would of course say yes and show them my natural Christian benevolence. But God was testing me. They were going out of town for two weeks and wanted to know if I could check in on the dreaded elderly neighbor downstairs. What a wicked gay agenda plot they knew my Christian charity would compel me to say yes. Agree. They gave me the key to her apartment. She trusted them with a key! Here I was the good Christian and she gave them a key! Go figure. The first week I was diligent to do my Christian duty to my elderly neighbor; I stopped by every day. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. She was nice and thankful, although she kept telling me about the nice dinners the boys (that was what she called them) brought her. She made me uncomfortable because I think she was hinting for me to bring her some food. The second week I was busy with God’s work. It was finals and I wanted to be sure the professors knew how spiritual and wise I was becoming. The long week passed and I was having my after-dinner prayer and scripture time. Then I heard the boys come home. I heard a girly scream and patter of feet. I shook my head thinking, “Man, they are so gay.” I heard a knock on the door and there was one of my neighbors all stressed out and overwrought with emotions, just like a girl. He looked at me and asked when I had last seen our elderly neighbor? I thought and realized to my chagrin I had forgotten all about her for the last few days. And then with tears down his cheeks he said, “She is dead.” They had called an ambulance and asked me if I could I stay by her door while they phoned and notified her family. I said yes. I walked downstairs. Her door was open. I stepped inside and there was her body by the coffee table. She looked as though she had fallen, hit her head, and had been dead for at least a couple of days. I had failed the niceness test. There I stood at the woman’s door helpless. I realized my neighbors were calling her closest of kin and arranging her affairs. I was the guardian of the door. They met the medics and told them where the body was to be taken answered the police’s question. I watched feeling guilty and not knowing whether to stay or go. Finally one of them approached me and could see the shame on my face and said, ‘She was old and her time came no one is to blame.” He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. Somewhere in the back of my mind was a thought, “He would make a good minister, too bad he was gay.” That evening after everything had calmed down. I had a quiet dinner with my wife. I was not my usual enlightened self, regaling her with some new truths I had learned in class. After dinner as was my habit I retired to our second bedroom which we had converted into a study and prayer room for me. I sat down in my chair numb, to the world about me. I did not feel like praying so I picked up the Bible and read the liturgical reading for the day. The gospel reading was Luke and it was the story of the Good Samaritan. The one where the outcast Samaritan takes care of the beaten stranger after all the good religious folk passed him by. The story that ends with Jesus asking, “Who was the good neighbor?” I wept. THE CROSS BEARER The Cross Bearer The ragged figure approaching the porch had sweat-stained clothes and his face and hands were covered with dust. He trudged along a little bowlegged. A cigarette hung loosely from his lips. He was a short but wiry figure and when one got closer they could see he was but a child of ten or eleven. He looked enthusiastically at the house knowing supper, drink, and rest awaited him there. But a glimpse at the porch made his heart sink. His belongings were carefully placed in a bag there with a knapsack of food for him. This was a signal it was time to leave. His emotions shut down; he would not cry. He had cried the first couple of times. His father had tossed him to the road at nine to fend for himself, saying “I cannot take care of you anymore.” It was the Depression and times were hard: these were the words his father had used to justify the action. The boy had lost his home and no one else would give him that security again. Relatives took him in and when they had met their quota of hospitality or he had completed the work they needed, they turned him away to go see the next house. No, he would not cry again but he promised himself he would build a home one day and he would never turn anyone away. He grew into a rugged, determined old man. I called him grandfather. I remember details of him vaguely, but his general impression bears a deep mark within me. He was living with us for the summer. I had just graduated from high school. I was in a transition that was bringing out all my insecurities. He and grandma had come to stay awhile. He was going to build a barn for my father. I hated the idea of the barn and the building of it. We lived in town on a corner lot for Christ sake. My grandfather reveled in the idea. He had learned carpentry at an early age to help earn money. I was told to help him as much as I could. I felt uncomfortable working on the barn. It was his and their fool idea I thought. He’s too old to build the barn. I’ll be stuck with all the work. And I’m too busy. I didn’t want to help. I don’t know why. He dragged me to the lumber store. He inspected every piece of wood carefully. The wood could not have too many knots and had to be straight. The wood needed to be treated for termites unless you could afford cedar. Cedar’s smell was a natural deterrent to bugs and it did not rot easily. He saw my impatience. “This is the beginning of making a good structure,” he said. “It needs to be just right or you will have trouble down the line.” I thought, whatever; let’s get out of here. The first day I watched him from the window of the house. He struggled to pick up the beams on his back. Knees once strong, now wobbled with age. It was no longer strength that did the work; it was determination. His eyes were not as good as they once were. He squinted to see if the boards were straight and aligned. His hands were swollen with arthritis for as long as I could remember and his dexterity was hampered. He said it made him feel better to do hard work; it was all he ever knew. I remembered the stories they told of my grandfather when I was growing up. From the age of nine he had worked. His father had abandoned him to lady luck and she did not take kindly to him. He was tossed out of his home and left to roam from household to household of kin. Time passed and it became a way of life. He learned to work hard early. He grew accustomed to it. He developed into a working machine. Jobs were hard to find in the Depression; you needed a connection to get one. He did not have those as a young man who had been abandoned as a boy. The story went on and on. He was unemployed and wanting to get married, he would wake early and walk a near ten miles to the Goodyear plant and ask for a job. He was determined to have a house and he wanted his own business. When they said there was no job, he would sweep and clean the yard around the plant. He knew the factory jobs were the best in the area for an uneducated man. So he worked unpaid for two weeks, always arriving on time and cleaning the yard. The third week they asked him to come early and clean the inside workplace before everyone arrived. Slowly, they asked him to do other chores around the place. He would smile and do them, always being sure he did the best job. Every once and awhile they would give him some change for his efforts. He did this for two months before they hired him full-time. The story would continue; he never had time for regular schooling. Yet he managed along the way to educate himself. He could read and he could write. He would own a grocery store and rent the three buildings he constructed next to it. He taught himself how to do all of the accounting. He lived by no great philosophy: give a good day’s work for a day’s food. His own father came through town in desperate straits with a new wife and new kids. They had no money or food. He swallowed his anger and filled the trunk of their car with food from the grocery store and gave his father all the money he had in the register. He knew how it was to have nothing and he had pledged to himself if he ever had anything he would always help others if asked. He then looked at his father and told him never to come back. His father knew not to come back and never did. The legend of the “failed robbery” was told to me. Once robbers invaded his home--tied him and grandma up and took all of their money. As he sat on the floor with his hands tied he saw the fear in his wife’s eyes and a rage welled up inside him. He had grown a home where he and his would never have reason to fear, have want, feel rejection; this was not to occur in the house he built. I imagined him with long suppressed rage he had buried deep under his new home coming to the surface. Because somehow in the fury he managed to untie himself as the robbers were beginning to escape in their getaway car. He got his shotgun and shot the wheels of the fleeing car rendering it immobile and then walked up to the car. He told them to get out of the car. The tone in his voice let the thieves know it was best to listen to him. He marched them to the house, suggested “politely” that they apologize to his wife. They did and he held them captive until the sheriff came. As the sheriff was putting the thieves in the back of the car, my grandfather leaned in the window said, shaking his head, “If you had only asked I would have given you pretty much everything you stole.” He was not lying; he was known as a man who would give anyone a helping hand as long as they asked. Grandmother once said in hush tones after the sheriff left that my grandfather walked to the backyard and cried for over an hour. This was something he had not done since he was a boy. He was never seen to cry again. Was it the rage and pain he felt inside? I suppose. He must have buried them deep under the house that day, because I never saw them rise to the surface again. The next day he simply went on tending his home and building his business. Each day in the backyard I heard a constant sawing and hammering. He started work early and quit late. No wages were paid. He was too old to care for those. It was to give his work away that he toiled. Once he and I went to install a window air conditioner unit in the elevated bathroom window of our house. I slipped and the unit was falling; he rushed under it and let it land on his back so it would not fall to the ground. Slowly he lifted it back in the window. After it was over I feared he would tell my father and my father would be mad or ridicule me. But when my father asked about the air conditioner grandfather merely said, “It was in.” I often heard him in his bed at night groaning silently as I passed his room. I suppose he had long since learned not to complain; it might mean an early exit from a comfortable bed. I knew he was a proud deacon of his church and taught the same Sunday School class for over twenty years. His church had become a fixture in his life. My father would later teach the same class for another twenty years. Church members would talk about the “visit” the KKK made to present the church with a huge Bible for display in the front. They did this often to show their influence in the community. They said my grandfather met them at the door of the church with his shotgun and told them to keep their Bible. They left; they knew as I knew he was fool enough to shoot them if they pressed the issue. Strangely his church was not integrated but he was not going to let it be segregated either. Everyone needed a home, physical and spiritual, and no one especially in the House of God he would say should be turned away. I would be regaled with these stories years later at his viewing before the funeral. I helped him with the barn when the mood came. I was so darn moody those days. He took great pride in showing me tricks of the carpentry trade. He enjoyed himself most when he was outworking me. He never said anything about it. He just did it. We would talk some as we labored. Usually we talked about God and religion since that would be my occupation. God, to him, was a hard task master but loved you even though you were seldom up to the task. He didn’t agree with what I thought were innovative ideas but he listened attentively. I wondered why he didn’t complain to God of the pain and fear of abandonment he felt. Maybe he was afraid God would send him packing if he asked why. But with the pain and unanswered questions he went on as if he enjoyed life. He learned early not to let circumstances cast his mood. Slowly the barn rose up from the ground. It was good workmanship and done in the heat of the Alabama summer sun. He had finished the work he had started. And it was good. After the barn raising he left to return to the area where he grew up. I visited him once and we played poker with matches as money. He chortled the whole time we played whether he lost or won. I imagine he had played poker a lot in his youth but it was not good form for a Baptist deacon. But it was okay with his grandson, especially if all you won were matches. This would be our last meaningful encounter. The barn was the last art he was to make. Grandmother had been complaining of my grandfather’s increasing inactivity. He sat in his chair holding his side and not saying much. Until one day he looked at her with a loving hurt and said he needed to go to the doctor. He died three days later of cancer. He must have known for several months but did not want to leave the medical cost of treatment behind for his family to pay. The lung cancer was probably brought on by the cigarette smoking he had started when he was a child, trying to feel as adult as his co-workers. He said he should have quit a long time ago but it had become something that had given him a feeling of security. When the doctors gave him the diagnosis at the hospital he nodded in acknowledgement and said to his son, “Take me home.” His other son, a long- time alcoholic, came as quickly as he could after being told. He lived out of town and we knew grandfather would not let himself die until he saw him. So he lingered for two days until the son arrived. The same day his son came he told him he loved him. And an hour later as they were talking about football, he died. Grandmother wailed and those of us in the other room knew. At the viewing an old friend dressed poorly and with a crusty demeanor sought out his grandchildren. He wanted them to know that although he had not seen Granddad for years, he knew when he saw the obituary he needed to come and tell his family of his love and respect for my grandfather. He said he was the best friend a man could ever have. He knew Granddad when he was a young wild buck. In their early twenties they drank, smoked, gambled and chased women together. He was in awe as he watched the young man he knew grow into this saintly man. He said, “You probably don’t know this but your grandfather was known as the greatest bronco rider in these parts.” I laughed; I was not sure that was saying much in north Alabama. Then he paused from all the stories and said, “When I needed a friend he was there for me and took me in.” With tears streaming down his eyes he continued, “I wanted his family to know what kind of man he was.” As strangely as he had appeared, he left. I cried at his funeral. But I also smiled. The old country church was full of his friends and family. The choir sang his favorite song The Old Rugged Cross. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross… I will cling to the old rugged cross…. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world.” I realized as I enjoyed the service and saw the many friends and family present, my grandfather had constructed a heritage unlike others. He left not an estate but a well-built life: sturdy, durable, and straight. This good life was framed and endures. He did not have cedar and God had given him nothing but an old rugged cross with rotten timbers to carry on his journey. Yet he had created a home for so many including a sullen me.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1070
__label__wiki	0.937916	0.937916	U.S. Army Africa conducts Exercise Judicious Activation 17-2 in Gabon By Sgt. 1st Class Alexandra Hays August 11, 2017 LIBREVILLE, Gabon -- Members of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and 79th Sustainment Command (Support) joined U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) exercise planners to conduct Judicious Activation 17-2, by setting up an Early Entry Command Post (EECP), July 24-30, 2017, in Libreville, Gabon. Judicious Activation, a quarterly exercise run by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is in its first year of existence. During this iteration, it was the Army's responsibility to run the exercise-the responsibility will fall to other military components during other cycles. "This exercise is short in duration, but I think it packs a good punch," said Maj. Benjamin C. Tumlinson, the lead planner for Judicious Activation 17-2 (J-ACT-17-2), and USARAF's exercise deputy. "There's great lessons to be learned from this exercise and that's what it's for." The focus of this exercise was to test an expeditionary sustainment command's ability to deploy to a forward location and set up an early entry command post-a forward location capable of managing logistics for troops before the main element deploys and long-term structures are in place. "It's a small piece of the ESC designed to go forward as a tactical command post to set the theater as folks flow in," said Lt. Col. Dennis Bowers, the support operations officer for the 13th ESC. "This gave us an opportunity to get after training." About 35 members of the 13th ESC arrived in Gabon at a small, contained location and within four hours set up tents for their center of operations. The location, called a Cooperative Security Location (CSL), included two pre-existing hard structures that were used as the dining facility and a meeting area-all other life support items were brought in. "We get to come down and test out the systems in place for the CSL-in this particular location, the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) portion of has never been activated," Tumlinson explained. According to Tumlinson, putting the LOGCAP, or contracting portion of the exercise, to the test is important, as often the military relies on local contractors in deployed locations to supply some goods and services that would otherwise be very costly to transport. "Everything that you see here (life support), minus the military equipment-it's all LOGCAP," Tumlinson said. LOGCAP provided tents for lodging, a wooden shower structure, Porta Potties, and two hot meals per day. Part of what makes J-ACT-17-2 unique, is that it is one of the 13th ESC's last exercises acting as USARAF's regionally-aligned sustainment force, while the 79th SSC, an Army Reserve unit, stands ready to transition into a Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) in September take over the USARAF sustainment mission in December. "What we really gain out of this is getting an opportunity to integrate directly with USARAF," said Capt. Valentin J. Boza, a support operations plans officer with the 79th SSC. Boza and three other members of the 79th SSC attended J-ACT-17-2 in an observational capacity, and to facilitate the exercise's after action review. Boza explained that it is critical for the 79th to have a presence on the African continent during USARAF exercises, because in the near future, it will be the 79th supporting them. "Africa is a very challenging continent logistically-it's unlike any other geographic combatant command's area of responsibility," Boza said. "And as USARAF gains the operational capabilities of a TSC, it gives USARAF the opportunity to expand its logistics infrastructure across the continent." Boza expounded that the continent of Africa really tests logisticians' capabilities-as each country has different contracting capabilities, laws, and governments. He added that because of the challenges of operating on the African continent, exercises like these meet Chief of the Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey's guidance on showcasing the ability of the Army Reserve as the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal federal Reserve force in the history of the nation. "The added benefit of this exercise is that we've been able to have Army units engage directly with multinational partners and that's a success story, not just for the Army, but for the U.S. as a whole," Boza said. Concurrently while the 13th ESC exercised its ability to set up and run an EECP, a platoon of 101st Soldiers integrated with and conducted training alongside Gabonese troops from 1st Regiment Parachute Gabon. Training the platoons conducted together included physical fitness, a terrain walk, and situational training. Troops from the 101st experienced a range of training locations including rainforest in Libreville's jungle warfare center, and more urban conditions training on a Gabonese Armed Forces base. "Overall it's been a very good experience, a very eye-opening experience," said Capt. Calvin L. Torbert, commander of A Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "The first thing that stands out about the Gabonese is how generous they are-how kind they are," Torbert said. "You expect it from your brothers in arms to look out for you and help you out, and they've treated us like that." Torbert's platoon culminated the three days of training by hosting a small, informal ceremony where troops from both units traded patches and unit insignia. "Despite the fact that we grew up on different sides of the world-very different cultures-we still have a lot in common," Torbert said." With the right mindset and the right attitude, you can find common ground with anyone."	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1073
__label__wiki	0.718683	0.718683	Will the CTR be implemented in UK in case of a "Hard Brexit"? 17/18 March 2021 Live Online Training: Emulsions & Gels Register now for ECA's GMP Newsletter The British Government has published first notices in the event that the UK leaves the EU without agreement (so-called "hard Brexit"). These notices also concern clinical trials. With the Brexit, the British regulatory authority (MHRA) will loose the connection to several central communication portals by which pharmaceutical companies and authorities can transmit data to the European Member States. This includes common systems like EudraCT and the new CTR (Clinical Trial Regulation) Portal. In case of a "hard Brexit", it will no longer be possible to submit data via the central EU portals to the MHRA. Therefore, information will have to be transmitted to the UK authority directly. For this purpose, individual national UK-portals will have to be programmed until the Brexit. According to this, as of 29 March 2019 information to be transmitted among the EU and to the UK will have to be submitted separately via the EU systems and the national MHRA-portals (if necessary, using different technical standards). However, the EU application forms and the standards laid down in the EU will be provisionally accepted for the transmission of data. Further information regarding the general transmission to the national UK portals is announced to be released until the Brexit. The new EU GCP Regulation (Clinical Trials Regulation 536/2014, CTR) which redefines the future requirements regarding clinical studies in the European Union came into force in 2014. Because of extensive and long-standing transitional provisions, the CTR (including all pending documents like for example the Detailed Commission Guidelines on GMP for IMPs in Annex 13 of the EU GMP Guide) is not applicable yet. The requirements laid down in the GCP Directive 2001/20/EU still apply in the EU and have also been incorporated into national UK law. In the event of a "hard Brexit", the new CTR will not be incorporated into UK law as it hadn't been applicable in the EU at the time that the UK exits the EU. As a result, UK will first hang on to the already implemented requirements according to the 2001/20 directive. However, an alignment ("where possible") with the CTR, which would be subject to usual parliamentary approvals, should take place without delay as soon as the CTR comes into force in the EU Member States. With regard to clinical trial applications, UK will still apply the current national practice (authorization by the MHRA and ethics committees). British centres will continue in participating in multinational trials. Furthermore, it has been announced that the MHRA will be improving processes to enable closer working with ethics bodies and allowing national applications and national decisions regarding clinical trials in the UK. For this purpose, a pilot project has already been started. Legal presence: Currently, the sponsor or his/her "legal representative", should be based in the EU or in a country of the European Economic Area (EEA). According to the announcement this position would be maintained in case of a "hard Brexit". However, in future, the UK will require - as long as British centres are involved - to have an individual based in the UK who has overall responsibility for the trial. This person will be contacted to discuss urgent issues regarding the trial, e.g. necessary safety matters or trial suspensions. More information on this topic will be announced as well as further information on the alignment of UK transparency provisions with those currently operating in the EU. Conference Recommendations Live Online Training: GMP meets GCP 28/29 April 2021 Live Online Training: Stability by Design Related GMP News Covid-19: Swissmedic adapts Inspections EMA Clarifies Investigators Responsibilities Regarding the eCRF New Version of the Q&As Applying to Clinical Trials Brexit: Sponsors Need to Establish an EU-QP MHRA´s Expectations during GCP Inspections EMA clarifies Computer Validation and Data Integrity responsibilities in Clinical Trials	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1074
__label__wiki	0.650918	0.650918	All About Guam Guam's history is shaped by more than three centuries under Spanish, U.S. and Japanese control. The Spanish laid claim to the island, but the island was ceded to the United States in 1898. In 1941 the Japanese invaded and occupied the island until U.S. forces retook it three years later toward the end of World War II. All these influences have contributed to the diverse and colorful culture found here. Location: In the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. Guam is often called the "Hub of the Pacific." Geographic coordinates: 13°28' N, 144°47' E. Capital: Hagåtña Territorial bird: Ko'ko — Guam Rail, a native flightless bird. Territorial tree: Ifit, a dense, reddish hardwood. Territorial flower: Puti Tai Nobiu (Bougainvillaea). Area: 541.3 square km, about three times the size of Washington, D.C. It is about 48 km long and about 18 km wide at its widest span, at the southern end. Climate: Tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation. Average day temperature: 29 degrees Celsius. Average night temperature: 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. Coolest months: January to February. Wettest months: July to October. Humidity: Averages between 72 and 86 percent. Terrain: Volcanic in origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center; mountains in south. Time: One hour behind UTC plus 11 hours; Two hours behind UTC plus 12 hours. Guam lies west of the International Dateline and is one day ahead of Hawaii and the continental United States. It is the westernmost U.S. territory. "Where America's day begins" is a popular saying. Indigenous population: Chamorro Currency: U.S. dollar	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1077
__label__wiki	0.783977	0.783977	Caterina Fake on Why VCs Missed out Early on Etsy The Flickr co-founder talks about the advantages of being a female investor in Silicon Valley. By Graham Winfrey@GrahamWinfrey For many angel investors, Etsy will always be the one that got away. In 2006, when the online marketplace was just a year old, Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake took part in a $1 million Series A investment in Etsy. Getting other VCs to back the company, however, was a hard sell, according to Fake, who pitched the business to investors throughout Silicon Valley. During a conversation with Inc. editor Kris Frieswick and other leading women entrepreneurs, including ZipCar's Robin Chase and Brooklyn Industries' Lexy Funk, Fake discussed the experience of trying to attract interest in Etsy from VCs. "None of them invested in it," Fake said. "They didn't get it." One of the reasons VCs passed on investing, Fake says, has to do with the fact that they were predominantly men who weren't aware of the market potential for hand-crafted and vintage items. "They said, 'This is a marketplace where a bunch of women are knitting things,'" Fake said. "I said, 'Yeah, but it's huge.'" For Fake, the lack of women investors in Silicon Valley is a problem than needs fixing, but one that can also present an opportunity. "There's an advantage in some ways of being a woman investor," Fake says. "I'm seeing a lot of businesses that I think my male colleagues aren't seeing as well." To hear more from the conversation with Fake and other women founders, watch the video below.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1080
__label__wiki	0.504529	0.504529	Vehicle/pedestrian collision Posted: February 25, 2014 - 12:00 am Halifax Regional Police is investigating a vehicle/pedestrian collision that occurred this morning in Halifax. At 7:44 a.m., police responded to a vehicle/pedestrian collision at the intersection of Robie Street and Lady Hammond Road. A 60-year-old man crossing Lady Hammond Road in a crosswalk was hit by an SUV turning right from Lady Hammonds Road onto Robie Street. He suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated at the scene by EHS. A 45-year-old woman was issued a summary offence ticket under section 125(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. This ticket carries a fine of $693.95 and four points on a driver’s license upon conviction. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Motorists are reminded to slow down, pay attention and adjust their driving for the conditions. There is a crosswalk at every intersection, whether it is marked or not, and drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. © 2021 Halifax Regional Municipality. Content last modified February 25 2014.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1083
__label__wiki	0.901343	0.901343	Eric Holder On Racial Issues And Police Violence In America: 'We, As A Nation, Have Failed' By Lilly Workneh CLEVELAND, OH- DECEMBER 4: U.S. Attorney Eric Holder listens as U.S. Attorney Steve Dettlebach speaks to reporters at a press conference on December 4, 2014 oin Cleveland, Ohio. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, and U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach spoke at the press conference before hosting a community roundtable discussion as part of the Justice Department's 'Building Community Trust'Â initiative. (Photo by Angelo Merendino/Getty Images) Attorney General Eric Holder, who in the past has spoken frankly about racial inequalities in the U.S. criminal justice system, will revisit the subject Thursday during an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid. In a taped segment that will air on "The Reid Report" Thursday afternoon, Holder and Reid met at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, to discuss the fraught relationship between American law enforcement and many people and communities of color -- an issue that has received national attention this year with the police killings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, among other unarmed black males. "I certainly think that we have to build up a better relationship between young people, people of color and people in law enforcement," Holder told Reid. "There is distrust that exists on both sides. There's misunderstanding that exists on both sides." Reid cited the case of Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old West African immigrant shot and killed by four NYPD officers in 1999. Diallo was unarmed when he died. Diallo's death touched off a national uproar, and on Thursday, Reid and Holder noted that things hardly seem to have progressed in the 15 years since. "What does it say that we essentially are in the same exact place now, so many years later?" asked Reid. "It means that we, as a nation, have failed," Holder replied. "It's as simple as that. We have failed." Holder acknowledged that proper training is required among law enforcement officers, and added that there are many other areas in need of improvement. "One of the things I think we need to do is do a better job of just collecting statistics," Holder said. "We don't necessarily have the basis now to look at this country as a whole and understand how big the problem is. It's one of the things our Bureau of Justice Statistics is trying to come up with, a way in which we start to gather this kind of information. And that'll give us a much better way in which we can get a handle on this problem." Thursday's segment is the first part of a three-part "Reid Report" interview with Holder, according to a press release from MSNBC. Lilly Workneh Black Voices Senior Editor, HuffPost Black Voices The Current Ferguson Michael Brown Joy Reid	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1085
__label__wiki	0.767624	0.767624	Kirstie Alley After 100lb Weight Loss (PHOTOS) "Fat Actress" no more! Kirstie Alley is now a size 4. The 60-year-old actress revealed to "Entertainment Tonight" she's met her weight-loss goal, shedding 100 lbs. "I feel like I'm back in my element. I honestly didn't even realize what I looked like," she told the show. On September 13th, Alley made her modeling debut, walking for Zang Toi during New York Fashion week, showing off her new figure. After years of suffering insults for her weight, Alley is proud to show off her new body and even more proud that she did it without the help of surgery. "I haven't had plastic surgery, but here's the reason: People do plastic surgery to make you look younger," she told "ET." "I don't think it makes you look younger ... it can make you look weird." Celebrity Kirstie Alley Celebrity Weight Loss	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1086
__label__wiki	0.566351	0.566351	News & Views Global Perspectives Press Room 2019 Sustainability Report Follow Hines George C. Lancaster Mark Clegg Corporate Communications & Public Relations mark.clegg@hines.com Hines REIT Announces Liquidation Plan (HOUSTON) - Hines Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“Hines REIT" or the “Company”), one of three public non-listed REITs sponsored by Hines, announced today that its board of directors unanimously voted to approve a plan for liquidation and dissolution of the Company. The plan, which is subject to stockholder approval, takes advantage of the current strong demand for high-quality assets by institutional buyers, and includes Hines REIT entering into a definitive agreement to sell seven West Coast office assets in a cash transaction for $1.162 billion to an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII ("Blackstone"). Additionally, Hines REIT is currently in the process of selling its interests in and liquidating the remaining assets that comprise its portfolio, including Chase Tower in Dallas, 321 North Clark in Chicago and a grocery-anchored retail portfolio located primarily in the southeastern United States. As a result of the plan of liquidation and dissolution of the Company, it is estimated that the net proceeds to be distributed to stockholders will approximate $6.35 to $6.65 per share of common stock. Hines REIT previously distributed $1.01 per share from July 2011 through April 2013 which was designated by the Company as partial return of invested capital. In light of the pending plan, the Company will cease paying regular quarterly distributions after payment of distributions declared for the second quarter of 2016 and instead expects to make final distributions to its stockholders on or before December 31, 2016. There can be no assurances regarding the amounts of any distributions or the timing thereof. “When we first launched Hines REIT in 2003, it was structured as a perpetual life vehicle, much like many institutional funds,” said Sherri Schugart, president and CEO of Hines REIT. “Impacts from the great recession caused us to close the fund to new investors in 2009, so we began considering other options that could provide the best opportunities for enhancing stockholder value through the following economic recovery. By making strategic asset sales and redeploying proceeds into Class A West Coast office properties over the last several years, we’ve been able to add to the overall quality and concentration of our portfolio, sustain attractive distributions to investors, and increase our net asset value per share. After our management and Board of Directors considered a variety of strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value through a liquidity event, we are confident that the plan of liquidation achieves that goal.” The transaction with Blackstone is structured as an asset purchase of approximately 3 million square feet of office properties and includes Howard Hughes Center in Los Angeles, CA; Daytona Buildings in Redmond, WA; Laguna Buildings in Redmond, WA; 5th and Bell in Seattle, WA; 2100 Powell in Emeryville, CA; 2851 Junction Avenue in San Jose, CA; and 1900 and 2000 Alameda in San Mateo, CA (the “West Coast Asset Sale”). The transaction will be subject to stockholder approval of the plan of liquidation, and certain closing conditions. There will be no financing contingency associated with the transaction. The Eastdil Secured group of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as financial advisor to Hines REIT on this transaction and Robert A. Stanger & Co., Inc. provided certain financial advisory services to the board of directors in connection with the transaction. For additional information, please see our 8-K filing dated June 30, 2016 at http://www.hinessecurities.com/reits/hines-reit/se.... About Hines REIT Hines REIT is a public, non-listed real estate investment trust sponsored by Hines. Hines REIT was formed in August 2003 for the purpose of investing in and owning interests in real estate. In total, Hines REIT acquired interests in 66 properties, representing approximately 33 million square feet, since its inception and has sold its interests in 42 of those properties as of June 30, 2016. For additional information about Hines REIT, visit www.hinessecurities.com. About Hines Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 182 cities in 20 countries. Hines has $89.1 billion of assets under management, including $42.5 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $46.6 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. The firm has 109 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,126 properties, totaling over 351 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 457 properties, representing over 193 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about the expected benefits of the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale, the estimated range of distributions, the expected timing and completion of the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale, and the future business, performance and opportunities of the Company. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “looking ahead,” “is confident,” “should be,” “will,” “predicted,” “likely,” or similar words or phrases intended to identify information that is not historical in nature. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability of the Company to obtain required stockholder approvals required to consummate the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale; the satisfaction or waiver of other conditions to closing for the West Coast Asset Sale; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale; the response of tenants, business partners and competitors to the announcement of the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale; legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company and others related to the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale; general risks affecting the real estate industry (including, without limitation, the inability to enter into or renew leases, dependence on tenants’ financial condition, and competition from other developers, owners and operators of real estate); adverse economic or real estate developments in the Company’s existing markets; risks associated with the availability and terms of financing and the ability to refinance indebtedness as it comes due; reductions in asset valuations and related impairment charges; risks associated with downturns in domestic and local economies, changes in interest rates and volatility in the securities markets; potential liability for uninsured losses and environmental contamination; risks associated with the Company’s potential failure to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and possible adverse changes in tax and environmental laws; and risks associated with the Company’s dependence on key personnel of Hines Interests Limited Partnership or its affiliates whose continued service is not guaranteed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or developments, future events or otherwise. This press release is being made in respect of the proposed plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale. The proposed plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale, will be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their consideration. In connection with the proposed plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale, the Company will file a proxy statement with the SEC. This press release does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or proxy from any stockholder of the Company. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS OR MATERIALS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN OF LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION, INCLUDING THE WEST COAST ASSET SALE. The final proxy statement will be mailed to the Company’s stockholders. In addition, the proxy statement and other documents will be available free of charge at the SEC’s internet website, www.sec.gov. When available, the proxy statement and other pertinent documents also may be obtained free of charge at the Company’s website, http://www.hinessecurities.com, or by directing a written request to Hines Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. at 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 5000, Houston, Texas 77056-6118, Attention: Secretary. The Company and its directors and executive officers and members of its external advisor and its employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect to the plan of liquidation and dissolution, including the West Coast Asset Sale. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is detailed in the proxy statements and annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q previously filed with the SEC, each of which can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the Company’s directors and executive officers in the plan of liquidation and dissolution may be obtained by reading the proxy statement and other relevant documents or materials relating to the proposed transaction when they become available.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1091
__label__wiki	0.549572	0.549572	Email Colleen Colleen Kim Historian \| Interdisciplinary Investigator “Historical investigation reveals the many ways history is embedded in our modern, everyday experiences—from the words we use, to the food we eat, to the issues that occupy our workdays and news feeds.” Work at HAI At HAI, Colleen is a historian and writer. She works with a wide range of clients to investigate stories and topics in detail and depth. Her curiosity and love of learning drive her to follow the twists and turns of a story, pulling the together a complete narrative from disparate means of inquiry. She draws on her diverse interests and educational experiences to tackle research questions from an interdisciplinary perspective. Colleen approaches her research thoughtfully and resourcefully to target the specific needs of each client. She specializes in food history and 20th-century material culture, but loves to learn about a diverse range of topics. At HAI, her work includes in-depth historical research, image acquisition, and book writing. Her clients include: National Museum of Military Vehicles Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Additional subject-matter expertise includes: The modern food industry Historic churches Emerging contaminants and environmental history Military contracts Asbestos and asbestos abatement Oil and gasoline sites Path to HAI Prior to joining HAI in 2018, Colleen worked as a research assistant for a distinguished Georgetown University history professor. In this capacity, she performed academic research on the Americanization of Europe in the 20th century. She also worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany for two years, teaching English language and American culture in German secondary schools. As a teacher, she enjoyed explaining to her students how the American past informs the American present and the role the United States plays in global affairs. In 2018, Colleen graduated from Georgetown University with an MA in German and European Studies. During her studies, she specialized in 20th-century Germany history, food history, and material culture. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 2014, where her love of language in all its forms led her to pursue a BA in English Literature and Speech-Language-Hearing Science. < Back to Our Team	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1092
__label__wiki	0.916366	0.916366	COVID-19 Header Global overview of COVID-19 impact on elections Home / News & Media / Multimedia Reports / Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections Elections postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) span the globe. Here is a list of the current elections schedule and plans, as reported by governments, electoral management bodies, and news media. Please note that this list is not comprehensive but represents a snapshot of decisions and events across the globe. Este panorama global sobre COVID-19 y las elecciones está disponible en español. Ikhtisar Global COVID-19: Dampak Terhadap Pemilu ini tersedia dalam Bahasa Indonesia. This page was updated on 14 January 2021. Check back on this page for updates and guidelines, based on International IDEA's research. Please contact International IDEA via elections@idea.int if any of the information requires further updates. Postponed elections due to COVID-19 Elections held amid COVID-19 Elections on schedule Voter turnout trends International IDEA’s analyses and publications on COVID-19 and elections From 21 February 2020 until 27 December 2020: at least 75 countries and territories across the globe have decided to postpone national and subnational elections due to COVID-19, out of which at least 40 countries and territories have decided to postpone national elections and referendums; at least 101 countries and territories have decided to hold national or subnational elections despite concerns related to COVID-19 of which at least 79 have held national elections or referendums; at least, 49 countries and territories have held elections that were initially postponed due to concerns related to COVID-19 of which at least 27 have held national elections or referendums. Global Overview of COVID-19 Impact on Elections: Data Dashboard Glossary Local by-elections for Metsimotlhabe and Boseja South wards, Botswana (originally scheduled for May 2020) Legislative elections, Chad (originally scheduled for 13 December 2020) Parliamentary election, Ethiopia (originally scheduled for 29 August 2020) Partial legislative election, Lékoni-Lékori (Akiéni), Gabon (originally scheduled for 4 and 18 April 2020) National Assembly by-election, Niamina West constituency, Gambia (originally scheduled for 16 April 2020) moved to 7 November 2020 County Assembly and National Assembly by-elections, Kenya (originally scheduled for April, June–July 2020) moved to 15 December 2020 Midterm Senatorial elections and national referendum, Liberia (originally scheduled for 13 October 2020) moved to 8 December 2020 Municipal elections, Libya (originally scheduled 18 April 2020) moved to June 2020. Senatorial by-elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau districts, Nigeria (originally scheduled for March 2020) moved to 5 December 2020 Parliamentary elections, Somalia (originally scheduled for 27 November 2020) moved to 1-27 December 2020, moved to 9 -21 February 2021. Presidential elections (originally scheduled to take place before 8 February 2021) moved to after the parliament elections. All municipal by-elections and voter registration activities in South Africa (originally scheduled for March–May 2020) moved to 11 November 2020 Municipal in elections in Hassi El Ferid, and Jbeniana, Tunisia (originally scheduled for 28–29 March 2020) moved to 5 July 2020 Special interest groups elections, Uganda (originally scheduled for April–May 2020) moved to 11, 13, 17 August 2020 Rural district council by-election, ward 16 of Chiredzi, Zimbabwe (originally scheduled for 4 April 2020); Legislative and council by-elections, Zimbabwe (scheduled for 5 December 2020) suspended and then moved to 2021 Americas Municipal elections, Cordovan City, Río Cuarto, Argentina (originally scheduled for 29 March 2020) moved to 27 September 2020, and then moved to 29 November 2020. Local elections, Bahamas (originally scheduled for June 2020) General elections, Bolivia (originally scheduled for 3 May 2020 and moved to 6 September 2020) and then moved again to18 October 2020; subnational elections in Bolivia (originally scheduled for March 2020) Municipal elections (originally scheduled for 4 and 25 October 2020) moved to 15 and 29 November 2020; Supplementary election for the position of Senator in Mato Grosso, Brazil (originally scheduled for 26 April 2020) moved to 15 November 2020 By-elections in Victoria and Rossland, Canada (originally scheduled for 4 April 2020) moved to May 2021; referendum in Kamloops, Canada (originally scheduled for 4 April 2020) moved to May 2021; by-elections in Lytton, Canada (originally scheduled for 25 April 2020); municipal elections, New Brunswick, Canada (originally scheduled for 11 May 2020) moved to May 2021 or sooner Constitutional referendum, Chile (originally planned for 26 April 2020) moved to 25 October 2020 Elections for the community action board, Colombia (originally scheduled for 26 April 2020) moved to 25 April 2021 Presidential and legislative elections, Dominican Republic (originally scheduled for 17 May 2020) moved to 5 July 2020 Second round of local elections in seven districts of French Guiana, overseas department and region of France (originally scheduled for 28 June 2020) Local government elections, Jamaica (originally scheduled for 29 November 2020) moved to 27 February 2021 Local elections in Coahuila and Hidalgo, Mexico (originally scheduled for 7 June 2020) moved to 18 October 2020 Primary elections in Paraguay (originally scheduled for 12 July 2020) moved to 20 June 2021; Municipal Elections, Paraguay (originally scheduled for 8 November 2020) moved to 10 October 2021 Local municipal elections in Chipao, Ayacucho district, Peru (originally scheduled for 29 March 2020) Single constituency referendum, Falkland Islands, UK Overseas Territory (originally scheduled for 26 March 2020) moved to 26 September 2020 Local (departmental and municipal) elections, Uruguay (originally scheduled for 10 May 2020) moved to 27 September 2020 Primary elections in Puerto Rico, territory of the United States (originally scheduled for 29 March 2020) moved to 9 August 2020 Primary elections across the USA; several local elections around the country (originally scheduled for March–May 2020) moved to May-August 2020. Local government elections in New South Wales, Australia (originally scheduled for September 2020) moved to September 2021 and Legislative council elections for the divisions of Rosevears and Huon, Tasmania, Australia (originally scheduled for 2 May 2020) moved to 1 August 2020 Parliamentary By-elections of Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 constituencies, Bangladesh (originally scheduled for 29 March 2020) moved to 14 July 2020. Elections of Chattagram City Cooperation, Bangladesh (originally scheduled for 29 March 2020) Legislative Council election, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China (originally scheduled for 6 September 2020) moved to 5 September 2021 Referendum, New Caledonia, special collectivity of France (originally scheduled for 6 September 2020) moved to 8 October 2020 Rajya Sabha (indirect) elections, India (originally scheduled for 26 March 2020) moved to 19 June 2020; Gram panchayat elections in Karnataka state and Maharashtra states (originally planned between July and December 2020) Rajasthan election of129 urban local bodies, India (originally scheduled for August 2020) moved to 20 October 2020 Regional (local) elections, Indonesia (originally scheduled 23 September 2020) moved to 9 December 2020 Parliamentary By-elections, Batu Sapi, Malaysia (originally scheduled 5 December 2020), By-elections in Perak and Sabah, Malaysia (originally scheduled for 16 January 2021). Local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, Maldives (originally scheduled for 4 April 2020) General election, New Zealand (originally scheduled for 19 September 2020) moved to 17 October 2020 Parliamentary elections, Kiribati (originally scheduled for 7 April 2020) moved to 14 April 2020 Local elections, Kyrgyzstan (originally scheduled for 12 April 2020) By-elections, Pakistan (originally scheduled for March 2020); Gilgit-balitstan assembly elections, Pakistan (originally scheduled for 2 July 2020) moved to 18 August 2020 but postponed (no confirmed new date) Government General Elections, Autonomous Bougainville Papua New Guinea (originally scheduled for June 2020) moved to 12 August - 1 September 2020 By-elections for Central Honiara and North East Guadalcanal Constituencies, Solomon Islands (originally scheduled for June 2020) moved to 18 November 2020 Parliamentary elections, Sri Lanka (originally scheduled for 25 April 2020) moved to 5 August 2020 Special election for Yona mayor, Guam, territory of the United States (originally scheduled for 28 March 2020) moved to 30 May 2020 Referendum on changes to the Constitutional Court, Armenia (originally scheduled for 5 April 2020) Local elections in Vorarlberg and Styria, Austria (originally scheduled for 15 March 2020 and 22 March 2020) moved (Styria) to 28 June 2020 Local elections, Bosnia and Herzegovina (originally scheduled for 4 October 2020) moved to 15 November 2020 Local elections in the Isle of Man, self-governing British Crown Dependency (originally scheduled for 23 April 2020) moved to 22 April 2021 General election, Guernsey, self-governing British Crown Dependency (originally planned for June 2020) moved to 7 October 2020 Turkish Cypriot leadership election in Cyprus (originally planned for 26 April 2020) moved to 11 October 2020 Senate by-elections, Teplice Czech Republic (originally scheduled for 27–28 March and 3–4 April 2020) moved to 5-6 June and 13 June 2020 Second round of local elections in France (originally scheduled for 22 March 2020) moved to 28 June 2020 Election of French overseas advisers and consular delegates (originally scheduled for 16-17 May 2020) Local elections in Hessen and Saxony, Germany (originally scheduled for April–October 2020) moved (Hessen) to 14 March 2021 National referendum, Italy (originally scheduled for 29 March 2020) moved to 20/21 September 2020, in addition to numerous regional and local elections moved to 20/21 September 2020 Extraordinary election for Mayor of the city of Podujeva, Kosovo (originally scheduled for 15 March 2020) Local snap elections for city council in Riga, Latvia (originally scheduled for 25 April 2020) moved to 29 August 2020 Local elections village Nucareni, district Telenesti and village Tirnova, district Donduseni, Moldova (originally scheduled for 17 May 2020) moved to 6 September 2020 Local elections in Tivat, Montenegro (originally scheduled for 5 April 2020) moved to 30 August 2020 Parliamentary elections in North Macedonia (originally scheduled for 12 April 2020) moved to 15 July 2020 Presidential elections, Poland (originally scheduled for 10 May 2020) moved to 28 June 2020 and 12 July 2020 Local elections in Romania (originally scheduled for June 2020) moved to 27 September 2020 Constitutional nation-wide referendum in Russia (originally scheduled for 22 April 2020) moved to 1 July 2020. The Central Election Commission of Russia took the decision (3 April 2020) to postpone all elections initially scheduled in the period 5 April–23 June, covering about 94 electoral processes at local and regional levels General elections in Serbia (originally scheduled for 26 April 2020) moved to 21 June 2020 Elections for local self-governing bodies, Slovakia (originally scheduled 4 April 2020) moved to 3 October 2020 Regional elections in Euskadi/Basque and Galicia, Spain (originally scheduled for 5 April 2020) moved to 12 July 2020 Local referendum, Malung-Sälen, Sweden (originally scheduled for 17 May 2020) moved to 27 September 2020 Federal vote, Switzerland (originally scheduled for 17 May 2020) moved to 27 September 2020 and several local (municipal) elections in the cantons of Neuchâtel, Ticino, and Luzern (originally scheduled for April–June 2020) Local elections in 118 English councils, the London Assembly and for seven English regional mayors as well as police and crime commissioners in England, UK (originally scheduled for the first week of May 2020) moved to May 2021; elections of police and crime commissioners in Wales, UK (originally scheduled for the first week of May 2020) moved to May 2021; local government by-elections in Kincorth/Nigg/Cove and Craigentinny/Duddingston, Scotland, UK (originally scheduled for 14 and 21 May 2020) moved to 5 November 2020 (Kincort/Nigg/Cove) and moved (Craigentinny/Duddinston) to 12 November 2020 Referendum on abortion, Gibraltar, UK Overseas Territory (originally scheduled for 19 March 2020) Second round of parliamentary elections, Iran (originally scheduled for 17 April 2020) moved to 11 September 2020 Municipal council elections, Oman (originally scheduled for 2020) Parliamentary elections, Syria (originally scheduled for 13 April 2020) moved to 19 July 2020 Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in February 2020 include parliamentary elections, Iran (21 February 2020); local by-elections in Taiwan (22 February 2020); presidential election, Togo (22 February 2020); general elections, Slovakia (29 February 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in March 2020 include: local elections in Queensland, Australia (29 March 2020); Parliamentary by-elections: Gaibandha-3, Bagerhat-4 & Dhaka-3 and number local government elections, Bangladesh (21 March 2020); parliamentary election rerun in 11 constituencies in Cameroon (22 March 2020); council election, Canada (26 March 2020); municipal elections in the Dominican Republic (15 March 2020); first round of local elections in France (15 March 2020); local elections in Bavaria, Germany (first round 16 March 2020 and second round 29 March 2020); Legislative elections and constitutional referendum in Guinea (22 March 2020); general elections in Guyana (2 March 2020); Seanad general election (partially indirect), Ireland (30-31 March 2020); legislative elections in Israel (2 March 2020); general elections in Mali (29 March 2020); local elections in Hâncești, Moldova (15 March 2020); six by-elections in Poland (22 March 2020); local elections in Luzern, Switzerland (29 March 2020); kuomintang chairperson elections, Taiwan (7 March 2020); parliamentary elections, Tajikistan (1 March 2020); parliamentary by-elections in the single-mandate district No. 179 in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine (15 March 2020); primary elections in Arizona, Florida and Illinois, USA (17 March 2020); General elections in Vanuatu (19 March 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in April 2020 include: local by-elections and lower house by-election, Japan (April 2020); parliamentary elections in Kiribati(14 April 2020); parliamentary elections (second round) in Mali (19 April 2020); parliamentary elections in South Korea (15 April 2020); second round municipal elections in Geneva, Switzerland (4 April 2020) by postal voting only; democratic primary elections in Wisconsin, USA (7 April 2020); special congressional election, Maryland, USA (28 April 2020); primary elections in Ohio, USA (28 April 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in May 2020 include: local elections in Benin (17 May 2020); Presidential elections in Burundi (20 May 2020); Biennial Election to the Maharashtra Legislative Councils by the members of Legislative Assembly (unopposed), India (21 May 2020); local government election, Cross River State, Nigeria (30 May 2020); general elections, Niue (30 May 2020); general elections in Suriname (25 May 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in June 2020 include: primary elections in 8 states and Washington D.C., USA (2 June 2020); Senate by-elections, Teplice, Czech Republic (5-6 June and 13 June 2020); municipal recall vote, Taiwan (6 June 2020); National Assembly Elections, Saint Kitts and Nevis (6 June 2020), primary elections, Georgia, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina and West Virginia, USA (9 June 2020); Rajya Sabha (indirect), India (19 June 2020), Parliamentary, provincial and local elections, Serbia (21 June 2020), Presidential elections, Kiribati (22 June 2020), Presidential election rerun, Malawi (23 June 2020), primary elections in 6 states, USA (23 June 2020), Parliamentary elections, Mongolia (24 June 2020), Presidential elections, Iceland (27 June 2020), Styrian municipal elections, Austria* (28 June 2020), second round of local elections, France* (28 June 2020), Presidential elections, Poland* (28 June 2020), General elections, Anguilla, British overseas territory (29 July 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in July 2020 include: Constitutional nation-wide referendum, Russia* (1 July 2020); federal by-election, Eden-Monaro, New South Wales, Australia (4 July 2020); state assembly by-election, state of Pahang, Malaysia (4 July 2020); Parliamentary elections, Croatia (5 July 2020); gubernational elections, Tokyo, Japan (5 July 2020); Presidential and legislative elections elections, Dominican Republic* (5 July 2020); Municipal by-elections in Hassi El Ferid, Tunisia* (6 July 2020); Parliamentary elections, Singapore (10 July 2020); Second round Presidential elections, Poland* (12 July 2020) Regional elections in Euskadi/Basque and Galicia, Spain* (12 July 2020); Primary elections and runoffs in Texas, Alabama and Maine, USA* (14 July 2020); Parliamentary by-elections of Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 constituencies, Bangladesh* (14 July 2020); Parliamentary elections, North Macedonia* (15 July 2020), Parliamentary elections, Syria* (19 July 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in August 2020 include: Legislative Council election, Tasmania, Australia (1 August 2020); Parliamentary elections, Sri Lanka (5 August 2020), Nasarawa constituency by-election, Nigeria (8 August 2020), Primary elections, Puerto Rico* , territory of the USA (9 August 2020), Presidential election, Belarus (9 August 2020), General election, Trinidad and Tobago (10 August 2020), General elections, Autonomous Bougainville, Papua New Guinea* (12 August – 1 September 2020), Senate elections, first round, Egypt (11-12 August 2020), Special Interest Group Elections, Uganda* (11, 13, 17 August 2020), Primary elections, Florida and Wyoming, USA (18 August 2020), State legislative elections, Northern Territory, Australia (22 August 2020), State of Perak, Malaysia (State Assembly by-election, 29 August 2020); Local snap elections for city council in Riga, Latvia (29 August 2020), Parliamentary elections, Montenegro (30 August 2020) including local elections in Tivat, National referendum, Liechtenstein (30 August 2020), Special elections for Yona Mayor, Guam, territory of the United States, (30 August 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in September 2020 include: Parliamentary elections, Jamaica (3 September 2020), local elections in Nucăreni and Tîrnova, Moldova* (6 September 2020), Senate elections, second round, Egypt (8-9 September 2020), Parliamentary elections, second round, Iran * (11 September 2020), Local elections, Russia, some local elections were held after being postponed in April and May 2020* (13 September 2020), Local elections, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany (13 September 2020), Edo state election, Nigeria (19 September 2020), Regional elections and constitutional referendum, Italy* (20-21 September 2020), Referendum, Falkland Islands, UK Overseas Territory (24 September 2020), State Assembly elections, Sabah, Malaysia (26 September 2020), Local election, Uruguay (27 September 2020), Referendum, Switzerland* (27 September 2020), Local elections, Romania* (27 September 2020) State and local elections, Saxony and Brandenburg, Germany (27 September 2020), Local referendum, Malung-Sälen, Sweden* (27 September 2020), Senate election (indirect), France (27 September 2020), Rajasthan panchayat elections, India* (28 September 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in October 2020 include: General elections, Bermuda, British Overseas Territory (1 October 2020), Regional and Senate elections, Czech Republic (2-3 October 2020), Local elections, Slovakia (3 October 2020), Referendum, New Caledonia, special collectivity of France (4 October 2020), Parliamentary elections, Kyrgyzstan (4 October 2020) General election, Guernsey, self-governing British Crown Dependency (7 October 2020) Ondo state governorship elections, Nigeria (10 October 2020), Presidential elections, Tajikistan (11 October 2020), Parliamentary elections, Lithuania (11 October 2020), Turkish Cypriot leadership election, Northern Cyprus (11 October 2020), General Election and Referendum New Zealand* (17 October 2020), Legislative elections, Australia Capital Territory, Australia (17 October 2020), Local elections in Coahuila, Mexico* (18 October 2020), Presidential election, Guinea (18 October 2020), General elections, Bolivia* (18 October 2020), Presidential elections, Seychelles (22-24 October), Local elections, Ukraine (25 October 2020) Municipal elections, Cape Verde (25 October 2020), Referendum, Chile* (25 October 2020), Saskatchewan provincial elections, Canada (26 October 2020), General elections, Tanzania (28 October 2020), Parliamentary elections, Georgia (31 October 2020), State elections Queensland, Australia (31 October 2020), Presidential election, Côte d'Ivoire (31 October 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in November 2020 include: Presidential election, Moldova (1 November 2020), Constitutional Referendum, Algeria (1 November 2020), General election, USA (3 November 2020), General election, Palau (3 November 2020), Gubernational, Puerto-Rico, a territory of the USA (4 November 2020), By-elections, Parliamentary elections, Egypt (24-25 October and 7-8 November 2020), The Gambia* (7 November 2020), Bihar legislative assembly elections, India (28 October, 3 and 7 November 2020), General elections, Myanmar (8 November 2020), Gubernational elections, American Samoa unincorporated territory of the USA (8 November 2020), Parliamentary elections, Jordan (10 November 2020), General elections, Belize (11 November 2020), By-elections, South Africa* (11 November 2020), Local elections, Bosnia and Herzegovina* (15 November 2020), Municipal elections, Brazil* (15 and 29 November 2020), Presidental election (second round), Moldova (15 November 2020), By-elections for Central Honiara and North East Guadalcanal Constituencies, Solomon Islands* (18 November 2020), General elections, Burkina Faso (22 November 2020), Regional Council and Local Authority elections, Namibia (25 November 2020), Municipal elections, Cordovan City, Río Cuarto, Argentina* (29 November 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in December 2020 include: Parliamentary elections, Kuwait (5 December 2020), Parliamentary elections, Romania (6 December 2020), Parliamentary elections, Venezuela (6 December 2020). By-elections in Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa West, Cross River North, Imo North, Lagos East and Plateau South senatorial districts, Nigeria* (5 December 2020), General election, Ghana (7 December 2020), Mid-term senatorial election and national referendum, Liberia* (8 December 2020), Regional elections, Indonesia* (9 December 2020), Local elections, Niger (13 December 2020), By-election, Kenya* (15 December 2020), Presidential and legislative election, Niger (27 December 2020), Presidential and legislative election, Central African Republic (27 December 2020). Examples of elections and referendums that proceeded in January 2021 include: Georgia senate run-off elections, USA (5 January 2021), Presidential election, Kyrgyzstan (10 January 2021), Parliamentary election, Kazakhstan (10 January 2021). Special health and safety measures were introduced for many of the above elections, except for Guyana, Kiribati, Niue, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Togo and Vanuatu. There were no reported COVID-19 cases in these countries according to WHO during the time of the election. All elections marked with an asterisk/star (*) were originally postponed (see Postponed elections due to COVID-19). (1 January – 31 March 2021) USA (Georgia senate run-off elections, 5 January 2020); Kazakhstan (lower house parliament elections, 10 January 2021); Kyrgyzstan (Presidential election, 10 January 2020); Uganda (Presidential and legislative election, 14 January 2021); Spain (Catalonia regional elections, 14 January 2021); Portugal (Presidential elections, 24 January 2021); Ecuador (Presidential and parliament election, 7 February 2021); Lichtenstein (Parliamentary elections, 7 February 2021); El Salvador (Parliament election, 28 February); Micronesia (Parliament elections, 2 March 2021); Netherlands (House of Representatives election, 17 March 2021); Curaçao (Parliament elections, 19 March 2021); Israel (Parliament elections, 23 March 2021); Bulgaria (Parliament elections, 28 March 2021) Source: Voter Turnout Database This segment includes a summary of the latest analysis and publications published by International IDEA on COVID-19 and elections. Indonesia’s Big-size COVID-19 Elections – What to Watch For? (9 December 2020) Trust in institutions, once gone, is hard to get back (18 November 2020) Voting twice during a pandemic: Lessons from Queensland, Australia (13 November 2020) COVID-19, Election Governance, and Preventing Electoral Violence (2 November 2020) I'm an 'election observer' - but what do we actually do? (30 October 2020) Elections need to be accessible (29 October 2020) People with COVID-19 and those self-isolating must not be denied the vote (23 October 2020) Special Voting Arrangements (SVA) In Europe: In-country Postal, Early, Mobile and Proxy Arrangements in Individual Countries (19 October 2020) Electoral Risk Management and the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of parliamentary elections in North Macedonia (13 October 2020) Going against the trend: elections with increased voter turnout during the COVID-19 pandemic (30 September 2020) COVID-19 as an accelerator for information operations in elections (11 September 2020) What Latin America can learn from elections during the pandemic (2 September 2020, in Spanish) What happens after elections are postponed? Responses to postponing elections during COVID-19 vary by regime type (2 September 2020) Elections monitor: U.S. elections fall short of global standards (27 August 2020) Elections in a Pandemic: Lessons From Asia (5 August 2020) Risk Mitigation Measures for National Elections during COVID-19 crisis (22 July 2020) Electoral officials need more money to run elections during Covid-19 (14 July 2020) Political, legal and organizational lessons from elections in the time of a pandemic – Republic of Poland (9 July 2020) Malawi's Victory for Democracy: After the Euphoria, Long, Hard Work (30 June 2020) Constitutional, legal and political lessons from elections in the time of pandemic - The French Republic (23 June 2020) Exchange of practices between European EMBs on special voting arrangements (17 June 2020) Continued Cooperation with Civil Society during COVID-19 Pandemic: Indonesia’s Voting Technology Guide (15 June 2020) Another COVID-19 Election Looming over the Horizon (12 June 2020) Transforming political parties in the middle of a pandemic: The moment for online voting? (4 June 2020) Certeza electoral: la importancia de contar con un marco legal sólido en Honduras (28 May 2020, in Spanish) The COVID-19 Electoral Landscape in Africa (19 May 2020) Adapting Elections to COVID-19: five key questions for decision-makers (19 May 2020) Communication guidelines for EMBs during COVID-19 crisis (18 May 2020) Switching to all-postal voting in times of public health crises: Lessons from Poland (15 May 2020) The COVID-19 crisis – A much needed new opportunity for online voting? (13 May 2020) Justicia electoral, elecciones y tecnología en tiempos del COVID-19 en América Latina (11 May 2020, in Spanish) The Impact of COVID-19 on Transitional Elections and Peacebuilding (6 May 2020) Val och COVID-19 – demokrati i osäkra tider (6 May 2020, in Swedish) Lessons from Elections in the time of Pandemic - Republic of Korea (21 April 2020) Supporting Observation of a COVID-19 General Elections in Vanuatu (2 April 2020) Elections and Covid-19: making democracy work in uncertain times (30 March 2020) Elections during COVID-19 Considerations on how to proceed with caution (18 March 2020) Case study 7: Impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 US presidential election (20 November 2020) Parliament of Australia Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters: Inquiry on the future conduct of elections operating during times of emergency situations, submission of International IDEA (13 November 2020) Case study 6: Electoral events in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic: remote electronic voting, outdoor voting and other innovations (5 November 2020) Guidance for civil society and its supporters on elections with integrity during COVID (29 October 2020) Adapting to the New Normal: Political Parties During Lockdown and Social Distancing (October 2020) Case study 5: Managing elections under COVID-19 pandemic conditions: the case of Mali (23 September 2020) Case study 4: Responding to COVID-19 with 100 per cent Postal Voting: Local Elections in Bavaria, Germany (8 September 2020) When Is It Democratic to Postpone an Election? Elections During Natural Disasters, Covid-19, and Emergency Situations (28 August 2020) Case study 3: Running Local Elections During the COVID-19 Crisis: Queensland, Australia (10 August 2020) Policy Brief : Managing Elections during the COVID-19 Pandemic Considerations for Decision-makers (14 July 2020) Case Study 2: Political maneuvers and legal conundrums amid the COVID-19 pandemic: the 2020 presidential election in Poland (3 July 2020) Technical paper 3: The Potential Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Political Finance Systems (17 June 2020) Case Study 1: Holding or Postponing Elections During a COVID-19 Outbreak: Constitutional, Legal and Political Challenges in France (15 June 2020) Technical paper 2: Managing Elections under Covid-19 in South Korea (18 April 2020) Technical paper 1: Elections and Covid-19 (26 March 2020) Webinars and Media appearances: How to hold an election under COVID19 (Votes and Ballots Podcast, 3 December 2020) African nations navigate election safety during COVID-19 (Devex, 3 December 2020) International Observers, Election Experts Are Worried About US Democracy (Newsweek, 13 November 2020) Democracies may collapse after the corona crisis (Swedish Radio, 13 September 2020) Protecting Democracy During COVID-19 in Europe and Eurasia and the Democratic Awakening in Belarus (US House Foreign Affairs Committee, 10 August 2020) Lessons from Malawi’s Presidential Elections of 23 June 2020 (ECF SADC - International IDEA, 31 August 2020) Mesas de discusión "2020: La Pandemia" en Aristégui Noticias (10 August 2020, in Spanish) Around the World Elections Are Being Delayed Because of the Pandemic. Here's Where Experts Say Hong Kong Went Wrong (Time, 7 August 2020) Hong Kong government could fuel public distrust with Legislative Council elections delay, warns international group (South China Morning Post, 5 August 2020) Elections and Referndums (UR Samtiden, 9 June 2020) Élections: 58 pays ont choisi de reporter leurs scrutins à cause du Covid-19 (Le Figaro, 22 May 2020) Coronavirus: What does Covid-19 mean for African democracy? (BBC, 15 May 2020) Should Japan vote during the pandemic? (The Japan Times, 5 May 2020) El dilema de qué hacer con las elecciones en tiempos de la covid-19 (El Pais, 1 May 2020) Additional analysis and publications: Voter Turnout Database The Global Monitor of COVID-19´s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights Government Responses to COVID-19 INTER PARES Parliaments in Partnership Electoral Management: Elections and COVID-19 ACE Electoral Knowledge Network تقرير جائحة كوفيد-19 وتأثيرها على الانتخابات حول العالم متاح باللغة العربية كدعم من قبل الهيئة المستقلة للانتخاب في الأردن (last updated 26 August 2020) Вся информация на этой странице также доступна на русском языке. (7 June 2020) Corrections, 17 June 2020: All references made to Rwanda in the featured cases section have been changed to Uganda. Correction, 29 June 2020: Voter turnout for the Benin local election was 49.14 percent, not 25 percent as previously mentioned. Correction, 26 August 2020: General elections in Anguilla did take place as originally planned on 29 June 2020 and was not postponed. Creator and lead editor: Erik Asplund Design and Communication: Ingrid Bicu and Yasnaya Guibert Masso Regional Advisors: Olufunto Akinduro (Africa), Adhy Aman (Asia-Pacific), Nana Kalandadze (Europe), Adolfo Ocaña (Latin America and the Caribbean) and Emna Zghonda (Arab World). Featured Cases: Fakiha Ahmed, Adhy Aman, Amna Amin, Erik Asplund, Andre Durante, Anika Heinma, Lars Heuver, Amanda Lanigan, Eleonora Pettenuzzo, Oliver Joseph, Nana Kalandadze, Tanushree Rao, Bor Stevense, Sulemana Umar and Peter Wolf. Translations: Yasnaya Guibert Masso (Spanish) Nana Kalandadze (Russian) Independent Electoral Commission – Jordan (Arabic) Perludem (Bahasa Indonesia) Dashboards: Diwas Pant, Robin Watts, Erik Asplund Voter turnout trends: Abdurashid Solijonov Thanks: Sead Alihodzic, Miguel Ángel Lara Otaola, Iida Hyyryläinen, Tendai Chinamora-Jönsson, Carolina Floru, Toby S. James, Lourdes Gonzalez Prieto, Therese Pearce-Laanela, Andrew Robertson, Lynn Simmonds, Antonio Spinelli and Robin Watts. Managing Elections during the COVID-19 Pandemic Considerations for Decision-makers (14 July 2020) Case Study 2: Political manoeuvres and legal conundrums amid the COVID-19 pandemic: the 2020 presidential election in Poland (3 July 2020) Political, legal and organizational lessons from elections in the time of a pandemic – Republic of Poland Communication GUIDELINES for EMBs during COVID-19 crisis Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the capacity of state institutions to utilize rapid mechanisms for collecting, processing and analysing information as the foundation of the decision-making process is as vital as the timely implementation of the appropriate communication strategies. This article provides EMBs with guidance on building and carrying out effective communication plans during the unfolding health crisis. Managing elections during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Republic of Korea's crucial test Elections and COVID-19 INFOGRAPHIC: Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections CHECK THE INFOGRAPHIC INFOGRAPHIC: Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections (March 2020) INFOGRAPHIC: Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections (April 2020)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1094
__label__wiki	0.963908	0.963908	Minions March to Top Spot at Box Office bee-doo banana By Seth Macy Updated: 1 May 2017 4:42 pm Posted: 12 Jul 2015 10:00 pm Minions has knocked Jurassic World out of number-one position at the box office, opening with the second highest-grossing weekend in history for an animated film. All told, Minions brought in over $115 million domestically over the weekend. On Friday alone, the film brought in $46.2 million, making it the largest opening in animated film history, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. Overseas, Minions earned an additional $280.5 million, driving Minions to an astounding global cumulative total of $395.7 million. Jurassic World dropped down just one spot to number 2, making $18.1 million and bringing that film's lifetime domestic total to $590 million. The success of Minions off the big screen, from official partnerships with bananas, Twinkies, and more, to unofficial appearances on your Facebook wall, no doubt helped drive the movie to the top-spot in the first weekend after the July 4 holiday. The movie fell just short of the all-time highest opening weekend for an animated movie. That position belongs to Dreamworks' Shrek the Third, which brought in $122 million. Have you seen Minions? The Despicable Me prequel serves as an origin story for the gibberish-talking Minions, showing their origins from single-celled organisms to the henchmen they would eventually become. We gave Minions an 'OK' rating of 6.4 in our review, praising its opening but criticizing its weak plot and lack of heart. Seth Macy is a freelance writer who just wants to be your friend. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy, and MyIGN at sethgmacy, or check out Seth Macy's YouTube channel. The minions try to save the world against the first female super-villain. Genres:Animation, Family Platforms:Theater, Blu-ray, DVD Distributors:Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures Animal Crossing: New Horizons - New Year's Resolutions Trailer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1095
__label__wiki	0.94934	0.94934	9 Reasons You Should Be Watching Outlander Opinion: If you aren't already hooked, here's a pitch for why you should catch up. By Terri Schwartz Considering the golden age of television we live in, it's easy for some truly great shows to slip through the cracks. If Outlander falls into that category for you, that's a shame, because it's a series that deserves any genre fan's time. The series follows Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) after she is accidentally sent back in time from the 1940s and ends up in the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century. There she finds herself drawn to Highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), and the two are swept away on an adventure that involves time travel, political intrigue, witchcraft, devastating drama and a healthy dose of romance. With Season 2's premiere on the horizon -- and an exciting shift in setting to Paris and King Louis XV's court -- here's a pitch for why you should be watching Outlander. 1. It's a Fantastical Twist on History that Sticks to the Facts Yes there are fantasy elements of Outlander, and yes there's time travel, and yes there's a super sexy love story at the core of the show, but Outlander values its history above most other things -- all the way down to Terry Dresbach's incredibly detailed and authentic costumes. In Season 2, the history really matters: Claire and Jamie travel to Paris where they try to stop Prince Charles Stuart -- aka history's Bonnie Prince Charlie -- from instigating the events of the Jacobite uprising that culminates at the Battle of Culloden. A lot of the historical accuracy and dedication to detail comes from author Diana Gabaldon, but the Outlander team does an excellent job bringing it to the screen. Have you watched Outlander? 2. It's Not a Bodice-Ripping Romance Despite punny taglines like "the kilt drops," Outlander is much more than the romance at the core of the story. While Season 1 is largely about what drives Claire and Jamie together and to fall in love, that's just the launching pad for their many, many adventures. In Season 2, they're trying to stop the Battle of Culloden from ever taking place, which leads them through the political intrigue of the 18th century French court and back to the battlefields of Scotland. 3. BSG's Ron Moore Is Behind It Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica is largely considered one of the best sci-fi TV shows, and he brings that same sort of excellence to fantasy, history and time travel. While not as politically pointed as BSG could be, Outlander takes its history seriously and uses humanity to go to dark places (and goodness can it get dark). The framing of a modern woman being thrown into the past also offers Moore the opportunity for commentary on gender politics and other serious subject matters. 4. It's Not Afraid to Get Dark Anyone who watched through to the end of Season 1 can attest that this show goes to some dark, dark places. But Outlander does more than offer an examination into the darker parts of humanity; its unflinching look into the darkness is what helps elevate what otherwise could be less impactful storylines and plot twists. More importantly, Outlander carries the fallout of that darkness with it. The horrifying events that took place during the first season continue to impact the characters involved in major ways moving forward, which helps validate having the events happen in the first place and also allows them to carry a lot of weight. 5. It Dabbles in Witchcraft Or the story does, rather. One of the best narrative arcs in Season 1 involved the way 18th century Scots responded to the seemingly magical abilities Claire -- who was a World War II field nurse -- has to resolve ailments. That led to her being deemed a witch, and the narrative twists and turns that surround that storyline have some of the series' most satisfying payoffs, both in the first season and farther down the line. 6. Tobias Menzies Is a Force to Be Reckoned With All three leads of Outlander are fantastic and there is plenty of material for all of them to chew through, but Tobias Menzies in particular delivered a devastating, complex performance in Season 1. He played both Claire's present day husband Frank Randall -- a caring, kind man who, it turns out, wasn't the one Claire was fated to be with -- and Frank's sadistic ancestor Black Jack Randall -- someone who Menzies elevated to be much more than just a one-note villain despite how unwatchable some of his more dastardly, stomach-turning scenes were. The Rome and Game of Thrones alum remains one to watch in Season 2, and has some great material to work with. 7. The Time Travel Doesn't Go Away To elaborate more would be too big a spoiler, but suffice it to say that Outlander is a time travel show that makes more use of that narrative device than just sending Claire back to the past in the beginning of Season 1. Similarly, it's also of more use in the story than just Claire having a general idea of what to come and what to avoid. Not getting into too many details here, but for those of you hoping for more time travel with your romance and historical adventures, Outlander will deliver. 8. Season 2's Setting Is Glorious Season 1 shot on location in Scotland and was all the more beautiful for it, but when it came time to switch locations to 18th century Paris for Season 2, Outlander went all out to capture the glorious time that was King Louis XV's court. Because Claire and Jamie are playing the political game, there's plenty of time spent at Versailles and among the aristocracy, and the costumes and sets are breathtaking. But it's not all glitz and glamor; Claire finds solace in some of the less glamorous parts of the city that are similarly stunning settings. Outlander: Season 2 Photos 9. It Just Keeps Getting Better Outlander laid its groundwork in Season 1, set over a sprawling 16 episodes that established the base on which the series grows. Everyone from Murtagh to Jenny to Geillis to that young boy Roger Wakefield aren't forgotten, and they continue to have impact in the story moving forward. There's plenty more source material to come, and each of the eight books in Gabaldon's book series have a different tone and angel, so they don't get repetitive (plus, she's still writing 'em). After seeing the first five episodes of Season 2, I can confidently say that the new season is already more focused and has made strong improvements on what was already a great first season. Plus, Season 2 is all about a fight to save the future from the past -- what's not to like? Outlander: Season 2 premieres on April 9th on Starz. Terri Schwartz is Entertainment Editor at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz. Starz is developing Outlander, a drama series based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling fantasy/romance/adventure series of books. Genres:Drama Platforms:N/A Networks:Starz Release Date:August 9, 2014 Nintendo eShop - The Download: December 2020 Trailer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1096
__label__wiki	0.798229	0.798229	CTVNewsAtlantic.ca writer Leigha Farnell The Springhill Penitentiary in Springhill, N.S., is one of five federal prisons slated to receive COVID-19 vaccines to start administering to their inmates. The pilot project put on by the federal government will begin Friday, when elderly prisoners and those with pre-existing conditions will be the first to receive the shots. Prison officers and employees are not part of the program, according to the union representing Canadian correctional officers. As part of the initial rollout, 1,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine will be delivered to five prisons across the country. In total, 600 federal inmates will receive the vaccine, with each inmate receiving the required two shots within a few weeks. Adelina Iftene, a professor at the Shulich School of Law at Halifax's Dalhousie University, is welcoming the pilot project. “If you were serving time in a federal penitentiary during the first wave of the pandemic, you were 13 times more likely to get COVID-19, and if you’re a woman in federal prisons, you’re 70 times more likely to get COVID-19,” said Iftene. Iftene says it’s all in an effort to tackle COVID-19 hotspots after several Canadian prisons declared outbreaks of the novel coronavirus. “It makes sense, logically and from a public health perspective, to focus our resources towards the sites that are becoming hot spots, regardless of our personal feelings,” said Iftene. The president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers says the workers should also be vaccinated, “People are very close to one another in there. Members are going to work in there every single day and they need to be protected,” said Jeff Wilkins, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers. Many essential workers and people with loved ones in healthcare aren’t in support of the decision either. “I get why they would be near the front of the list; it is an institutionalist environment, similar to a hospital or a nursing home, but I don’t think they should be done before any of the seniors who are out in the general public,” said Leslie Schnare Harnish. “They should have more priority, I think, but where do they fall in the queue and where do we all fall in the queue?" “When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, we live in a country of freedom. Freedom of choice and by not being able to keep that accessible to all our front-line workers, it’s taken that freedom of choice away from them. They are the ones who are the heroes in all of this,” said Joanne Ozon. Corrections Canada says it will prioritize older offenders by age and underlying medical conditions.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1097
__label__cc	0.712167	0.287833	Anything for Jackson – Shudder Review (4/5) Posted by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard \| Dec 1, 2020 \| Read Time 3 min. ANYTHING FOR JACKSON is a new horror movie on Shudder about the lengths some people will go to for love. Even making a deal with the devil and taking the lives of other people. A brutal mindfck that works extremely well with a character-driven story. Read our full Anything for Jackson review here! ANYTHING FOR JACKSON is a new horror movie on Shudder that packs a big punch with a small cast and a simple story. In essence, it’s about the things we will do to get back a loved one – even when this is impossible because that person has died. However, when you will stop at nothing, a deal with the devil clearly becomes an option. This movie shows us the kind of situation where we human beings can convince ourselves that the end justifies the means. Continue reading our Anything for Jackson movie review below. Character-driven horror at its best What I really loved about Anything for Jackson is the fact that it’s basically a brutal mindfck that works exceptionally well with a character-driven story. Also, the fact that the main characters are older instead of being young made for an added creepiness. Somehow, it feels like they should know better and they just decide that they’re going all in! A young woman is kidnapped by an older couple because they want to place their grandson’s spirit into her unborn child. Simple enough on paper, but not exactly your everyday kind of event. Small powerful cast Due to the nature of this story, there are only a handful of characters in this movie. Don’t worry though, they deliver plenty of content made for your horror-loving heart. Also, yes, we get all of the classic signs of the devil being at work; People not being in control of themselves and doing grotesque things. Being trapped in a nightmarish loop is another “fun” detail. The runtime is just 97 minutes, which also makes for tight storytelling and adding to the weight of the punches thrown. Sheila McCarthy and Julian Richings star as the older married couple attempting to get back the spirit of their grandson, Jackson (hence the title, obviously). You might know Sheila McCarthy from Season 1 of The Umbrella Academy or Still/Born. She’s also been in blockbuster hits such as The Day After Tomorrow and Die Hard 2. The pregnant woman is portrayed by Konstantina Mantelos and this appears to be her first big role in a feature film. She does an excellent job, so I’m sure it won’t be the last. Also, she’s been on TV series and in a TV movie, so she’s certainly staying busy. Watch Anything for Jackson on Shudder Justin G. Dyck is the director of Anything for Jackson with Keith Cooper as the screenwriter. Both have worked on quite a lot of Christmas movies prior to making this horror movie, so I’m sure it was a welcomed distraction. I personally would definitely not have guessed that these two usually make Christmas movies. In fact, I expected to find a lot of horror movies on their resume and not Christmas movies as well as other TV movies such as Love in Harmony Village and A Very Country Wedding. But hey, I’m sure you learn from everything you do and it’s all a process. Whatever brought them to make Anything for Jackson certainly worked. This is a very accomplished horror movie that works with well-defined characters and simply – but very efficient – horror devices. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the more sinister and supernatural horror movies. ANYTHING FOR JACKSON premieres on Shudder on December 3, 2020, in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. Director: Justin G. Dyck Writer: Keith Cooper Stars: Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos After losing their only grandson in a car accident, grief-stricken Audrey and Henry, a doctor, kidnaps his pregnant patient with the intention of performing a “Reverse Exorcism”, putting Jackson inside her unborn child. It doesn’t take long to figure out Jackson isn’t the only ghost the grandparents invited into their home. Now it’s a race against time for the couple, as well as the pregnant woman to figure a way out of the haunting they’ve set upon themselves. Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure! Latest posts by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard (see all) The Vanished – Netflix Review (2/5) - January 15, 2021 Servant: Season 2 – Apple Review - January 14, 2021 Don’t Tell a Soul – Movie Review (4/5) - January 14, 2021 PreviousThe Guest: Season 1 – Netflix Review NextWhat Lies Below – Movie Review (4/5)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1102
__label__cc	0.696478	0.303522	Home » Indicators » Transport » Road Transport » Vehicles » Passenger Cars Per 1,000 People » Puerto Rico Passenger Cars Per 1,000 People in Puerto Rico Source: World Bank, United Nations, National Statistical Office Passenger cars per 1,000 people reached 895 vehicles in 2019 in Puerto Rico, according to the National Statistical Office. This is 1.97 % more than in the previous year. Historically, passenger cars per 1,000 people in Puerto Rico reached an all time high of 895 vehicles in 2019 and an all time low of 587 vehicles in 2005. When compared to Puerto Rico's main peers, passenger cars per 1,000 people in Dominican Republic amounted to 75.1 vehicles, 3.84 vehicles in Haiti, 55.5 vehicles in Jamaica and 360 vehicles in USA in 2019. Puerto Rico has been ranked 1st within the group of 135 countries we follow in terms of passenger cars per 1,000 people, 3 places above the position seen 10 years ago. Buy Passenger Cars Per 1,000 People data for Puerto Rico.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1103
__label__wiki	0.731493	0.731493	Franklin Landers Rep. Franklin Landers Former Representative for Indiana’s 7th District Landers was the representative for Indiana’s 7th congressional district and was a Democrat. He served from 1875 to 1877. Contact Rep. Franklin Landers I live in Indiana’s 7th congressional district. I want to urge Landers to take an action on a bill. Visit Rep. Franklin Landers’s website » Look for a contact form on Rep. Franklin Landers’s website to express your opinion. Visit Landers’s Website » Head over to Rep. Franklin Landers’s website. If you are having a problem with a government agency, look for a contact link for casework to submit a request for help. Otherwise, look for a phone number on that website to call his office if you have a question. Not all Members of Congress will accept messages from non-constituents. You can try your luck by visiting Landers’s website. Otherwise, try contacting your own representative: You are currently on the website GovTrack.us, which has no affiliation with Landers and is not a government website. Choose from the options above to find the right way to contact Landers. From Dec 1875 to Mar 1877, Landers missed 58 of 327 roll call votes, which is 17.7%. This is better than the median of 26.2% among the lifetime records of representatives serving in Mar 1877. The chart below reports missed votes over time. Dec 1875-Mar 1876 59 9 15.3% 47th 1876 Apr-Jul 106 23 21.7% 25th 1876 Aug-Aug 37 4 10.8% 13th Dec 1876-Mar 1877 125 22 17.6% 42nd Franklin Landers is pronounced:	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1106
__label__wiki	0.916563	0.916563	Barenaked Ladies & TobyMac Added Barenaked Ladies added to SuperStars Concert Series and TobyMac to headline new Faith & Family Night concert The Greeley Stampede recently announced additional entertainment for the 2017 event. Award winning rock band Barenaked Ladies has been added to the SuperStars Concert Series, Christian pop artist TobyMac is set to headline the new Faith & Family Night on Sunday, June 25 and John Michael Montgomery will open for Clay Walker on Sunday, July 2. The award-winning Barenaked Ladies will perform on Saturday, June 24 at 8pm. The popular band is known for their live concerts, an experience filled with the kind of energy, precision, finesse and outright celebration among its fans that is a tribute to Barenaked Ladies’ remarkable longevity. The band is still together after nearly three decades, producing 14 studio albums which have collectively sold more than 14 million copies, won eight Juno Awards, earned multiple Grammy nominations, a U.S. chart-topping single (“One Week”) and the theme song to one of TV’s most popular shows, The Big Bang Theory. Multi-platinum selling country music star John Michael Montgomery, known for numerous no. 1 hits including “I Love the Way You Love Me”, “I Swear”, “Be My Baby Tonight”, and “Sold”, will perform before Clay Walker on Sunday, July 2. Montgomery has released eleven studio albums and has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, with 15 of them reaching the Top 10. Individual SuperStars Concert Series tickets are now on sale for $30 & $45. The Superstars Concert package gives fans the opportunity to see all five concerts for one low price. Packages are only $60 or $90 (depending on ticket location). Package prices, based on availability, increase May 1, 2017. SuperStars Concert Series sponsored by Power Services Company Friday, June 23: Chase Rice with special guest Ned LeDoux Saturday, June 24: Barenaked Ladies with special guest to be announced Friday, June 30: LOCASH with special guest to be announced Saturday, July 1: Toby Keith with special guest High Valley Sunday, July 2: Clay Walker with special guest John Michael Montgomery Six-time Grammy winner TobyMac is set to headline the new Faith & Family Night on Sunday, June 25 at 8pm. TobyMac is known for fusing pop, rock, soul and hip-hop into what he calls a “musical gumbo.” He was a member of the Christian vocal trio DC Talk before enjoying a successful solo career releasing six studio albums. He has sold more than 11 million albums, has had six contemporary number 1 singles including “Gone”, Made to Love”, and “Lose My Soul,” and became only the third Christian artist to have the no. 1 debut on Billboard 200 chart with “Eye On It”. According to Pollstar, his 2016 Hits Deep Tour was the biggest tour in Christian music and ranked in the top 35 tours in the world. Tickets for the Faith & Family Night featuring TobyMac are now on sale for $30 & $40. Guests can “Stampede Size” the SuperStars Concert Package by adding the TobyMac concert for a discounted rate of only $20 or $30 (price depends on ticket location and must be purchased at time of order to receive discount). Guests who have already purchased the SuperStars Concert Package are eligible for the $10 discount and can purchase tickets by calling or visiting the Stampede Office before January 18, 2017. Tickets for the 2017 Greeley Stampede are now on sale Call 970-356-7787 or visit the Stampede Ticket Office in Island Grove Park at 600 North 14th Avenue, Greeley, Colo. 80631, open Monday through Friday from 10 am-4pm. The Stampede Office will be closed December 26-30 for the holidays, but tickets will still be available through TicketsWest outlets Online at www.greeleystampede.org Any Colorado King Soopers grocery store Call TicketsWest 24/7 at 866-464-2626	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1108
__label__wiki	0.762861	0.762861	Steve Sang Kyun Koh School: University of Northern Iowa Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA Dr. Steve Sang Kyun Koh was appointed to the position of Assistant Professor of Violin in 2019. From 2017 to 2019, Koh was Adjunct Instructor in violin at University of Toronto, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He received his Bachelor of Arts at Rice University in Houston, Texas (U.S.A.), where he was the recipient of the Herbert & Helen Allen scholarship and the Dick and Mary Ellen Wilson scholarship. After finishing his Bachelor’s degree, Koh continued his studies and received his Master’s in String Performance and Pedagogy at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (U.S.A.), where he was the recipient of the coveted Emily Boettcher and Yule Bogue Endowed Fund and the Dick Eickstein Grant. At University of Toronto, he was a student of Professor Yehonatan Berick, the Palmason Graduate Fellow in Violin, and the teaching assistant to Professor Annalee Patipatanakoon of the Gryphon Trio. An avid chamber and orchestral musician, Koh is co-founder of the Interro String Quartet, which explores diverse programming and eccentric venues as means to remove chamber music from concert halls and to connect with the wider public. A trademark of the Quartet’s programming, each of the concerts feature a “Compound Quartet” in which movements or pieces from four different composers are combined to make one composite quartet. With the Interro Quartet, Koh has been a co-author and recipient of several grants from the Ontario Arts Council and has annually commissioned quartet pieces featuring emerging composers in Ontario, Canada. In further support of new music, Koh is a member of the Toronto Messiaen Ensemble and has collaborated with emerging North American composers and internationally-renowned composers, such as Salvatore Sciarrino. From 2016 to 2018, he was a fellow at the Toronto Summer Music Festival. where he shared the stage with violists Leslie Robertson and Teng Li, cellist Antonio Lysy and Brian Manker, violinists Nikki Chooi, Yehonatan Berick, Alexander Kerr, and Adam Barnett-Hart. In addition to these performing activities, he has performed with the Sudbury Symphony, London Sinfonia, Symphony S.O.N.G., Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. His research interests range from performance practices of the 17th and 18th century to jazz to music technology. Published in November 2017, Koh’s dissertation, “Spaces in Between: A Swing-Informed Approach to Performing Jazz- and Blues- Influenced Western Art Music for Violin,” examines the challenges performers face when trying to balance interpretation with understandings of composers’ intentions. Most notably, Koh is co-Founder of Anima Music.inc (www.anima-ai.com) a software company that aims to amplify the potential of human musical expression with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music composition and performance process. This work on AI and music performance has been featured in lecture-recitals at institutions around North America. Koh has studied with the members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra National de France, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. His past and current teachers have included Kenn Wagner, Helen Hwaya Kim, Yehonatan Berick, Jonathan Crow, Clara Jumi Kang, Svetlin Roussev, Joel Smirnoff, Koichiro Harada, Gerardo Ribeiro, Kathleen Winkler, Irina Muresanu, and Krzysztof Wegrzyn. He has performed in solo and chamber music masterclasses for Cyrus Forough of Carnegie Mellon University, Paul Kantor of the Shepherd School of Music, Shmuel Ashkenasi of the Curtis Institute of Music, Hiroko Yajima of Mannes School of Music, the Philharmonia Quartett Berlin of the Berlin Philharmoniker, and for the Belcea String Quartet.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1109
__label__wiki	0.631741	0.631741	CastleOak Securities is among the largest African-American owned investment banks CastleOak Securities. L.P, founded in 2006, is a boutique investment bank and one of the largest African-American owned investment banks that concentrate on the capital markets. CastleOak specializes in both primary and secondary sales, as well as the trading of equity, fixed income, and money market securities. The firm serves a wide array of corporate, institutional, and governmental investor clients. It has its headquarters in New York City, with five regional offices. Since its establishment in 2006, the CastleOak has significantly expanded in capacity, featuring nearly 50 professionals. It has also assisted different clients on public offerings totaling more than $2 trillion. The investment bank has ranked among the nation’s topmost active underwriters of agency and equity securities, as well as investment-grade corporate debt, consistently, according to Thompson Financial. In 2017, Black Enterprise Magazine named CastleOak its Financial Company of the Year. The magazine described the investment bank as “a magnet for leading corporate, government, and institutional clients as well as the Street’s most talented traders and investment bankers.” CastleOaks’ management team includes co-founder, president, and chief executive officer David R. Jones, co-founder, managing director, and general counsel Nathaniel H. Christian, co-founder chief financial officer and director of operations Philip J. Ippolito, senior managing director, and head of fixed income marketing Patrick de Catalogne, executive vice president and head of investment banking, Michael A. Turner. CastleOak and other firms like it bring diversity into the investment banking world. Not diversity as regards race alone, but diversity as regards providing more options in diversified investing. According to Jones, when selling securities “you don’t want to be beholden to one or two or three buyers. Corporations look to us to bring in smaller money managers that might typically get shut out in a bond deal or an equity deal.” CastleOak secured its first major deal through helping General Electric to raise $300 million through the sale of “floating-rate bonds.” Preceding that time, Jones had already established a good business relationship with the management of General Electric. “Our goal is not to replace the larger banks,” Jones said. “It’s just to take some of their economics.” There are no prevalent threats to CastleOak or larger banks when it comes to investment banking because companies can include as many banks in their capital transaction. Such that, CastleOak doesn’t necessarily need to compete head-on with large investment banks, but can participate in deals with them. For example, in 2018 when GM Financial issued $1.25 billion in bonds, CastleOak was one of the 10 investment banks that comanaged the sale. “If you know how the economy works, it’s really smaller businesses that drive it.” CastleOak Securities Black investment bank Johnson & Johnson and others invest in Black-owned hair care company DoorDash Launches New Initiatives to Support Black Owned Businesses Netflix puts aside $100 million to support Black communities Bill Ackman to invest $4 billion in minority-owned investment banks General Motors (GM) gives $10 million in donation to support organizations that advocate for inclusion and racial justice	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1110
__label__cc	0.688517	0.311483	Old age Essays Essay On Old Age explained the perceptions of those who participated in that survey-Most adults over age 50 feel at least 10 years younger than their actual age, the survey found. One-third of those between 65 and 74 said they felt 10 to 19 years younger, and one-sixth of people 75 and older said they felt 20 years younger. Most say old age begins at 75. Now consider the answer given by people under 30. Most of them think you’re old by the time you hit 60. In most parts of the world, women live, on average, longer The Old Age In India Age sixty is usually considered the dividing line between middle and old age. However, it is recognized that chronological age is a poor criterion to use in making off the beginning of old age because there are such marked differences among individuals in the age at which aging actually begins. Because of better living conditions and better health care , most men and women today do not show the mental and physical signs of aging until the mid-sixties or even the early seventies Old Age: The Stage Of Life Dhara and Jogsan, “Old age is the stage of life that is full of changes in in the physical, psychological, hormonal and the social conditions”. In addition, it is also characterized as a period of loss and decline (Wrosch, n.d.). It was a loss of a job because or retiring, loss of physical strength, loss of youth and some loss of a spouse. The decline for the new lifestyle, routine and responsibility that they have, and decline for the changes happening in this period of life. Old age is a period of Growing Old: The Myth Of An Old Age Growing old is a process every individual goes through. There are different beliefs that shape how individuals relate to older people, and this may be based on either fact or myth. In most cases, the general perception on generation gaps is usually biased and a lot of false assumptions are made about seniors. Some commonly held myths about aging include physical disability with age, mental decline, forgetfulness, and the inability to learn new things or change. Research has been conducted to The Influence Of Old Age “Old age has not only changed over time but has also varied among different cultures.” This phrase is an indicator by Hareven (2005), that old age is socially constructed and not simply a natural phenomenon. There are many ways and different adjectives one could use to describe the elderly. If one had to ask the younger generation to give out terms to describe the older generation, the majority would probably choose rather negative ones, like ‘helpless’, ‘lonely’ or ‘frail’. On the other hand, Disadvantages Of Old Age Elderly stage is a last stage of normal life span in human beings. Old age are not consistent from the standpoints of biology, demography (conditions of mortality and morbidity), employment and retirement, and sociology. Old age is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years or older. Old age is the closing period in the life span. It is a period when people “move away” from previous, more desirable periods or times of “usefulness” (Elizabeth, 2004). In the past, retirement is a point where ends people Attitudes Towards Old Age In India The attainment of old age is final stage of normal life span. Acceptance of old age within the family is questionable in developing country like India owing to urbanization, industrialization and globalization in the fast world. Breakage in the family system is often seen. As per the 1991 census, the population of the elderly in India was 57 million as compared with 20 million in 1951. There has been a sharp increase in the number of elderly persons between 1991 and 2001 and it has been projected Old Age Theory specific age for defining old age. In many developed countries such as the U.S the age of 65 is often marked as the start of old age. However, from my point of view this is just an historical that has no basis in biological and social theory. The definition of old age can be based on time, body changes and people’s actions and feelings. Although this is the case, there is no specific no specific definition of old age; it depends on your own attitudes and choices. I will retire at the age of 65 but Masculinity In The Old Age known, but age is another determining aspect that cannot be overlooked since it plays a major role in the deviation from hegemonic masculinity and consequent development of alternative types of masculinities. In youth, men try to hide feelings of vulnerability and weakness. They do not show their emotions and are reluctant to ask for help. They demonstrate their manliness by means of expressions of aggression, strength and the performance of risk taking activities. In the middle age, what defines Essay On Ageism Stereotype is a thought or an unfounded belief that can be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of doing things. Age stereotyping is commonly known as AGEISM. Ageism makes judgments about the actions, character and desires of people based on their age. Ageism has developed over many years as our society as a whole has put a greater value on youth than on aging. Stereotype is a thought that can be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of doing things. These The Importance Of Filipino Senior Citizens In the Philippines, the ages to be considered a senior citizen are those who are aged 60 years old and over. The senior citizens made up 6.8 percent of the 92.1 million household populations in 2010, higher than the 6.0 percent recorded in 2000 and the number reached over six million in 2011 and it is seen to double in 16 years. The number of people 60 years old and above, or those considered as senior citizens, has increased, as the country 's household population increases. With the growing number Importance Of Discrimination Based On Discrimination to discriminate based on age depending on the job. I feel it would be safer for someone that is old not to be working a job that requires a lot of physical demands. I feel like they should not be working unless they absolutely had to. I think that the jobs they should do should be easy sit down jobs, jobs that do not require a lot of demands. I also think that really young people should be discriminated against. I feel that sometimes people apply for jobs at a young age because the pay is good but Life Satisfaction In The Elderly in truly extreme setting Thus, life satisfaction is complicated indicator of one’s attitudes, adjustment towards life and events, perception, experience of life issues and interactional events Life Satisfaction in Elderly Life satisfaction among old age people is a chief concept as it provides us a Disadvantages Of Elderly his life time; birth infancy childhood, adolescent adulthood and old age this biological transition through different stages has cultural and human overtones. Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings. It cannot be defined exactly because it does not have the same meaning in all societies. People can be considered old because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Also old people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to The Importance Of Aging Population rise to 24.7% by 2050 (Torp, 2015). This problem is even much more severe in Japan, whose people aged 65 and over make up ¼ of its population (Torp, 2015). The whole society is unhealthy and is likely to remain stagnant when there are too many old people rather than young labors. The population of children under 15 and senior over 65 to the population between 15and 65, what is defined as dependency ratio, is high in transition period and it can be predicted that this number would become even Emerging Issues In Gerontology focuses on old people and their process of aging. Many get confused between Gerontology and Geriatrics. They are two different streams of science. Gerontology, aside from science also incorporates psychology, sociology and other streams of study. While Geriatrics is strictly the study of diseases and conditions that associate with old age. Geriatrics focuses and teaches us on how to take care of the aged population. When referring to old age most people think of someone more than 60 years of age. But most Essay On Aging Coffee Also, the acidic wet- processed Latin American coffees also get richer in taste as they age. How is Coffee Aged? There are differences between aged coffee and old coffee. But most times outdated, old coffee is sold as aged coffee. Buyers beware of fake aged coffee! Aged coffee is processed cautiously, which usually takes six months to two years. During this period, constant monitoring and turning Young Adults And Older Teens Compare And Contrast Are young adult and older teens the comparable? Many people would say they are very much identical. Older teens are from the age range of 16-18. 18-25 is the age group of young adults. How ever, older teens and young adults have similarities such as; having some of the same interest in music, games, and clothing, also making mistakes. They also have differences such as; Teens are mostly irresponsible and care free. Young adults, on the other hand, are more responsible.Young adults are obligated to Importance Of The Elderly third. In developed countries, it is expected that the proportion of the population Elderly increase of 8 percent in 2005 to almost 20 percent in 2050. The number of people "very, very old ", those who are 80 or older will increase from 86 million in 2005 to 394 million in 2050. By 2050 most of the people "very, very old" will live in developing countries. In almost all societies, women account for the largest number and proportion of older people, even among the elderly. Increasing worldwide life span Ashton Applewhite's A World Without Ageism? ageism is a unique and personal concept that depends on the perspectives any given person or group of people may maintain about the idea of growing or become old in society. I personally believe that ageism is best defined as any form of hesitation or skepticism about one 's abilities or competence in something just because they are of a certain age. This is a broad definition but the problem of ageism is a broad problem at the same time. The doubt and misinformation that has been cast upon the elderly	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1111
__label__wiki	0.555699	0.555699	J-1 Irish students arrive in the U.S. for summer break Floods of Irish students are expected to descend upon New York and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks for... APRIL DREW Floods of Irish students are expected to descend upon New York and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks for their annual summer of fun. Hoards of Irish students, J-1 summer visas in their back pocket, will begin arriving in New York in the next few weeks, like they have for the past decade or so. This year “will be busy, if not busier than ever before,” according to Orla Doherty, executive director of the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers. “Due to the recession in Ireland, which is worse there than here in the U.S., we expect more students will travel abroad this year both for work and the overall experience,” said Doherty. “From what we hear, summer work in Ireland will not be as plentiful as it has been in previous years.” Although USIT, an Irish student travel agency, when contacted was unable to provide exact numbers on the number of J-1 visas that will be distributed this year, Doherty said the center has “had as many, if not more, e-mail and phone enquiries over the past three months from J-1 students planning on living and working in New York for the summer.” A J-1 visa allows a student, who is currently mid-third level education or has completed a degree program and has a job offer in Ireland, to live and work legally in any part of the U.S. for a four month period. Last year there was an influx of students right up to the end of June, putting a strain on the center to come up with suggested jobs an accommodations. This year, says Doherty, things will certainly be tighter on the job front. “Overall, we are getting very few job vacancy notices, so it will certainly be more difficult for students to find work this year. We encourage them to consider living and working in places like the Jersey Shore and Long Island where seasonal work is more readily available,” Doherty said. In an effort to cope with the expected invasion of students, Doherty said under the umbrella of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, the center has issued an up-to-date information sheet for J-1 holders to all colleges and student unions this year in the hope that they would be better informed and prepared than in previous years. The students are between the ages of 18 and 22. While a high number of them will take their summer working vacation on the west coast, a good percentage settle for the New York life. Many of them flock to fill several seasonal jobs on Long Island and the Jersey Shore, many more settle in the Irish suburbs of New York. While most students choose the U.S. as the destination for their summer working holiday, several other students go inter-railing across Europe, and some even go to Thailand for a month. Canada has also become a popular destination for students in recent years, according to USIT. The main questions the center receives from students are related to work and accommodation. “Most of the queries we have received are on behalf of four to five students,” said Doherty. In the run up to the students’ arrival, Doherty is making an appeal to all landlords and business owners hiring summer staff to contact the center if they have any vacancies or accommodation available for the students. “We are very grateful for all the help we get from business owners, companies and property owners that helped out last year,” she said. To contact the center with a job vacancy or accommodation call 914-237-5121 or drop into the center at 90 McLean Avenue in Yonkers.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1112
__label__wiki	0.774812	0.774812	Quran Recitations Evolution of the sciences of the Quran - II Publish date:26/11/2018 Section:Quranic Studies After the Era of the Companions It was through the efforts of such Companions as the four Caliphs, Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn Mas'ood, Zayd bin Thabit, Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari, Ubay bin Ka’b and 'Abdullaah bin Az-Zubayr among others, that all of the knowledge related to the Quran was transferred and conveyed to the Tabi’een (the second Muslim generation after the companions) and from them onto the rest of the Ummah (Muslim Nation). Among these successors, some are noteworthy: Mujahid, 'Ataa' bin Rabah, 'Ikrimah, Qatadah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Malik bin Anas . These great scholars laid the foundation for the subject of Tafseer (exegesis) of the Quran, as well as the numerous other branches of knowledge that eventually comprised the sciences of the Quran. Very little was written in specialised books or treatises in the first Hijri century, but many were later documented towards the end of the second century, marking the beginning of what is referred to as 'The Era of Scriptwriting.' Since most scholars were focused on Hadeeth (prophetic statements), this remarkable era provided the first collections of Ahadeeth (plural of Hadeeth) dealing with the subject of Tafseer, such as those collected by Shu’bah bin Al Hajjaj (160 AH), Waki’ bin Al-Jarrah (197 AH), 'Abdur-Razzaq (211 AH), and Ahmad ibn Hanbal (240 AH) whose collection exceeded 100,000 Ahadeeth, but never reached us except what has remained as part of his Musnad (Hadeeth collection). So, Tafseer originated as an oral tradition that was transmitted along with other topics of the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) to find its place in the books of Sunnah. If any of these scholars had written a Tafseer book, then it was either lost or has not yet reached us. The first major, authentic and complete Tafseer compilation was written by Imam Ibn Jareer At-Tabari (310 AH) . Many similar writings followed it. Many other books were written that dealt with other topics and subjects related to the Quran. These writings primarily focused on a single issue or theme per book. Of the many books written throughout the centuries, only some have been checked, edited and printed. Imam Ali bin Al-Madeeni (234 AH) for example, wrote about the Circumstances of Revelation, Imam Abu 'Ubayd Al-Qasim bin Salam (224 AH) wrote about Abrogation and about the Qiraa’t (modes of Quranic recitation), while Imam Ibn Qutaybah’s (276 AH) book dealt with the subject of Mushkil (unclear or problematic) words and meanings of the Quran. This thematic approach continues to this day, and Al-Baqillani (403 AH) wrote about the miraculous nature of the Quran while Al-Mawardi (450 AH) chose to discuss its Amthal (proverbs or parables). Later, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (751 AH) wrote about the oaths or vows that are found in the Quran. The first book known to use the term and was entitled '`Uloom Al-Quran' was written by Imam Ali bin Ibraheem al-Hawfi (430 AH) . It is available but missing some volumes, and is still in manuscript form, and has not yet been printed. This book deals with and covers topics that partially comprise what we consider today as Sciences of the Quran, which is a major treatment of topics related to the Quran. Later, Imam As-Suyooti (911 AH) wrote 'Al-Itqan Fi `Uloom Al-Quran' that followed the same lines of '`Uloom Al-Qur'an', but in an abridged format, with added topics, and is printed today in two large volumes. These two works are considered the classical references on the subjects of the Sciences of the Quran. Today, there are more than a hundred books written on all aspects related to the Quran and Tafseer, some of which have been translated into English. The Chronological Analysis of the Quran Consistency between the Quran and modern science –I Acting upon the Quran - III The Quran was revealed in Arabic to the Prophet Mohammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam in 610 CE over 22 years. In the first twelve years of the revelation, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was...More Methods of Tafseer - I Evolution of the science of the Quran –I Welcome to Islam Athan Islamic Songs Xmas & New Year's Sacred Months Fiqh of Inheritance Copyright © IslamWeb 2021. All rights reserved.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1113
__label__wiki	0.794345	0.794345	Girolamo Riario - papal military leader Assassinated after failed attempt to unseat Medici family Girolamo Riario Girolamo Riario, the 15th century governor of Imola and Forlì who was part of a major plot to displace the powerful Medici family as rulers of Florence, was assassinated on this day in 1488. Riario, a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV who had appointed him Captain General of the Church, was unpopular with his subjects as a result of imposing high taxes, but his murder was thought to be an attempt by the noble Orsi family of Forlì to seize control of the city. Two members of the family, Checco and Ludovico, led a group of assassins armed with swords into government palace, where Riario was set upon. Despite the presence of guards, Riario was stabbed and slashed repeatedly. Eventually, his dead body was left in a local piazza, surrounded by a crowd celebrating his demise, as the Orsi brothers and their gang looted the palace. A decade earlier, Riario, who had been appointed Lord of Imola by Sixtus IV, joined with Francesco Salviati, whose family were the Papal bankers in Florence, and members of the Pazzi family in a plot to assassinate the ruler of Florence, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and his brother, Giuliano. The Rocca di Ravaldino, a stronghold of Riario's power The Pazzi were another important family in Florence and like many other families were resentful of Lorenzo’s despotic rule. Although Florence flourished, and his patronage of the arts was so important to the Renaissance, he maintained his power largely through bribery, threats and strategic marriages. Riario’s involvement was essentially on behalf of his uncle, Sixtus IV, who saw Lorenzo – also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent – as a threat to the Papal States. It was Lorenzo’s attempt to buy Imola – a small town but important as a stronghold on the border between the Tuscan empire and the Papal States – from its owners, the Sforza family of Milan, that led to Riario being installed as governer. Lorenzo had offered the Duke of Milan, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, a sizeable sum for but Sixtus IV gazumped him, offering a deal by which Caterina Sforza, the Duke’s illegitimate daughter, would marry Riario, thus forming a strategic alliance. The Pazzi family had financed the purchase. The assignation attempt took place in Florence’s Duomo on April 26, 1478, during High Mass. Giuliano was killed but Lorenzo escaped with only minor injuries. A simultaneous attempt to seize key government buildings in Florence was foiled and most of the key figures in the plot were captured and killed. Riario, who would have been placed in charge of a new government in Florence had the plot succeeded, managed to get away. Salviati was not so lucky and was hung within an hour of his capture. Pope Sixtus IV Nonetheless, Riario continued to climb the ladders of power. In 1480, the pope made him Count of Forlì. He built the fortress of Rocca di Ravaldino, one of the strategically most important strongholds of the Romagna, and at the same time rebuilt much of Imola. While his uncle remained pope, Riario and Caterina lived for the most part in Rome. As commander of the papal army, Riario wielded much power, although his wife had an increasingly strong influence over what he did. When Sixtus IV died, it was Caterina who ordered his troops to seize Castel Sant' Angelo to put pressure on the cardinals to elect a candidate who would work in accordance with the Riario interests. After 10 days of chaos in Rome, she had to be persuaded by Riario to withdraw in order for the conclave to begin. However, the cardinals did not elect a new pope sympathetic to the Riarios, quite the contrary, going for Giovanni Battista Cybo, an old opponent, who became Pope Innocent VIII. He recognised Girolamo as Lord of Imola and Forlì and Captain-General of the papal forces but effectively allowed him no power. It was his illegitimate son, Franceschetto, whom the Orsi family wanted to replace him. After Girolamo’s death, Caterina was locked up, along with her children, but tricked her way out, promising to persuade the castellan, Tommaso Feo, to give up his defence of the Rocca di Ravaldino, which the Orsis had been unable to storm. The Orsis had her children as hostages but Caterina reneged on their deal nonetheless. From within the Rocca, she threatened dire consequences for the Orsi attackers if they dared touch the children and they fled, after which Girolamo’s son, Ottaviano, was made Lord of Forli with Caterina as his regent. Imola's Rocca Sforzesca The city of Imola of today is part of the large metropolitan area of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region. The castle, the Rocca Sforzesca, is well preserved, and is nowadays the home of an internationally respected piano academy and the Cinema d’Este, which shows films in July and August. The city is best known today for its motor racing circuit, which used to host the Grand Prix of San Marino on behalf of the nearby independent republic. Check out the best Imola hotels with TripAdvisor The Abbey of San Mercuriale in Forlì With a population of almost 120,000, Forlì is a prosperous agricultural and industrial city with a beautiful central square, Piazza Saffi, which is named after Aurelio Saffi, a radical republican who was a prominent figure in the Risorgimento. Its major attractions include the Abbey of San Mercuriale and the Rocca di Ravaldino, the strategic fortress built by Girolamo Riario and sometimes known as the Rocca di Caterina Sforza. Forli hotels from Hotels.com How Caterina's son, Giovanni, became the last of the great condottieri Cosimo - the Florentine banker who founded the Medici dynasty Priest Girolamo Savonarola's war on Renaissance 'excesses' Also on this day: 1920: The birth of Lamberto dalla Costa, Italy's first Olympic bobsleigh champion (Picture credits: Rocca di Ravaldino by AC2BR3L; Rocca Sforzesca by Ruben alexander; Abbey of San Mercuriale by Perkele; all via Wikimedia Commons) Labels: 1488, Caterina Sforza, Forlì, Girolamo Riario, Imola, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Medici, Milan, Pope Sixtus IV, Sforza, The Abbey of San Mercuriale Luigi Russolo – painter and composer Liberation of Fornovo di Taro Nicola Romeo - car maker Popes John XXIII and John Paul II made saints Samantha Cristoforetti - astronaut Ferruccio Ranza - World War One flying ace Luigi Lavazza - coffee maker Stefano Bontade - Mafia supremo Alida Valli - actress The birth of Rome Ivanoe Bonomi – statesman Canaletto - Venetian painter Ilario Bandini - racing car maker Graziella Sciutti - operatic soprano Adelaide del Vasto – Countess of Sicily Filippo Brunelleschi – architect Antonio Meucci - inventor of the telephone Flavio Briatore - entrepreneur Rachele Mussolini - wife of Il Duce The Moby Prince disaster Gian Maria Volonté – actor Federico Caprilli - equestrian pioneer Domenico Dragonetti - musician Giovanni dalle Bande Nere - condottiero Francesco De Gregori - singer-songwriter Maria Redaelli - supercentenarian Gelindo Bordin - marathon champion April Fools' Day - Italian style	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1114
__label__wiki	0.892345	0.892345	Matt Hammond Matt is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com Unlock all Courses Matt is from Wales in the UK and is 33 years old. His genetic heritage is Celtic. His Dad bought him a guitar for Christmas when he was sixteen and it all started from there. His influences are wide and varied and he likes to play all kinds of different styles. In and out of various bands since his teenage years, Matt remains unsigned. What a crime! Matt studied Social Anthropology at Swansea University in Wales and went on to do a TEFL course after graduation before goin... (more) Matt currently offers 1 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 1 song lesson. Matt Hammond's contribution to JamPlay Use the tabs below to learn more or subscribe for unlimited access to all artists and courses. Songs 1 Lessons Biography Read Up Songs with Matt Hammond Learning to play songs can be a great way to hone your guitar playing skills. "The Slide Song" In his first lesson, Matt Hammond demonstrates a fun slide guitar piece he has composed. 17:42 Runtime Learn more about Matt Hammond Matt is from Wales in the UK and is 33 years old. His genetic heritage is Celtic. His Dad bought him a guitar for Christmas when he was sixteen and it all started from there. His influences are wide and varied and he likes to play all kinds of different styles. In and out of various bands since his teenage years, Matt remains unsigned. What a crime! Matt is from Wales in the UK and is 33 years old. His genetic heritage is Celtic. His Dad bought him a guitar for Christmas when he was sixteen and it all started from there. His influences are wide and varied and he likes to play all kinds of different styles. In and out of various bands since his teenage years, Matt remains unsigned. What a crime! Matt studied Social Anthropology at Swansea University in Wales and went on to do a TEFL course after graduation before going to Poland to teach English for a year. Well the plan was to stay for a year but Matt ended up staying in Poland for seven years, becoming fluent in the language and training to be an interpreter. His love of music and of the guitar continued throughout this period and he played with a few local pub bands in Poland. Recently, Matt became very much interested in the work of Wayne Dyer which he came across on the net one day after a long, cumulative period of growing dissatisfaction with his interpreting job. He was especially taken with Wayne's message that there is a demand in the world for what you love doing and was encouraged to follow his bliss and to start teaching people to play the guitar. His several years as an English teacher have proved valuable in this pursuit and the number of his students is growing. Matt doesn't bother too much with teaching music theory. He always puts the focus on teaching the students exactly what they would love to play (within reason). Matt has found this to be very a very fulfilling job and has meant that he has unwittingly become proficient in a variety of styles. Matt is very happy to finally be doing what he enjoys for a living. His dream is to play drums in a band, learn Irish fiddle, have a home of his own with it's own fireplace and piano and a happy family to fill it with laughter. Get access to all guitar lessons from Matt Hammond along with our full roster of guitar teachers.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1116
__label__wiki	0.524419	0.524419	Will “Slow Boat Home” Save TVB Ratings? By su on May 7, 2013 in Hot Gossip!, TV Dramas With both the ratings of Bullet Brain (神探高倫布) and Beauty At War (金枝慾孽貳) in the sewers, TVB is hoping to make a comeback with their new summer romance drama, Slow Boat Home <情越海岸線>. Viewers complained that Bullet Brain’s plot has been messy and illogical while Beauty At War was simply too difficult to follow. Although both dramas boast strong casts, most of whom are TVB award winners, the two series failed to capture the interest of the audience. Scheduled to air on May 13 and replace Bullet Brain’s time slot, Slow Boat Home may offer audiences a refreshing change. The series stars Ruco Chan (陳展鵬), Raymond Wong (黃浩然), Aimee Chan (陳茵媺), and Selena Li (李詩韻). Instead of plotting schemes and melodrama, Slow Boat Home will feature a lighter storyline, revolving around love, family and dreams. The majority of the series will be set in Cheung Chau, and features beach resorts and beautiful ocean scenery – emitting a completely different feel compared to the dark and tragic vibes from Bullet Brain and Beauty At War. Raymond’s outlandish image and long wig may even cause an eruption of giggles among viewers. Raymond will play the Cheung Chau born Cheung Bo Sang, who is a dreamer. Helping his father (Elliot Ngok 岳華) manage his seafood restaurant, Raymond spends his free time with television director and best friend, Kate Cheng (Aimee Chan). Supporting each other through various hardships, the friends fall in love and help each other find their dreams. On the other hand, Heidi Kwok (Selena Li) is an overly ambitious businesswoman who gives up her high-profile career and goes back to Cheung Chau to live with her mother (Susan Tse 謝雪心) with the summerhouse. Heidi has an ulterior motive – she is actually partnering with an outsider in developing a brand new villa on the island. Heidi attempts to destroy the relationship between Bo Sang and Kate. Heidi’s first love, Ching Lai Wing (Ruco Chan 陳展鵬), is highly disappointed in her ruthless tactics to achieve her goals. Source: Ming Pao via ihktv.com This article is written by Su for JayneStars.com. TAGS: Aimee Chan, Eric Li, Matt Yeung, Raymond Wong, Ruco Chan, Selena Li, Slow Boat Home Review: "Slow Boat Home" (By Funn)(16) Review: "Slow Boat Home" (By Miriamfanz)(7) "Slow Boat Home" Finale Peaked at 30 Points(43) TVB's "Slow Boat Home" Gets Positive Reception(44) Aimee Chan Hints Marriage at "Slow Boat Home" Promotion(10) Introducing TVB’s “Slow Boat Home”(71) Raymond Wong Fantasizes About Aimee Chan in "Slow Boat Home"(19) Ruco Chan and Raymond Wong Beat Selena Li and Aimee Chan in Beach Volleyball (33) Raymond Wong Replaces Bosco Wong in TVB’s “Cheung Po Tsai”(50) [Episodic Thoughts] "Outbound Love" Episodes 21 and 22(84) 73 comments to Will “Slow Boat Home” Save TVB Ratings? airtranbay says: y does amiee got that blank stare look every time? she trying to look intense? Login or Register before you can reply to airtranbay onesong replied: maybe plastic surgery? Login or Register before you can reply to onesong Funn Lim says: I am not hopeful. Login or Register before you can reply to Funn Lim jayne replied: Funn, “Slow Boat Home” may offer viewers a change from current intense plots. However, its light subject may not result in extremely high ratings. I predict 28 to 29 points in its initial week. Login or Register before you can reply to jayne M1RACLE replied: Yep. It certainly wouldn’t be hard to beat the 19 point ratings.. 😎 Login or Register before you can reply to M1RACLE Applelim replied: Yeah better than Bullet Brain’s ratings Login or Register before you can reply to Applelim Lillie replied: Applelim = Funn Lim ?:/ Login or Register before you can reply to Lillie Ashley replied: Judgamental much? Login or Register before you can reply to Ashley Funn Lim replied: Well let’s wait then. Again I am not hopeful. Unless of course we have a sudden surge of Aimee Chan’s fans. Storyline like this one is not a ratings killer though, unless you are Winter Sonata. Just because aimee chan is in it, it does not mean this drama will fail. And just like larry3, you are quick to judge. Haven’t you heard the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Same thing here. This drama has not been shown or premiered… Yet, you are already saying it would be a crappy series. or at least hinting it to be a crappy series. Larry 3 replied: What is wrong for not being quick to judge? Unless you DONT have experience watching TVB dramas throughout the years. Login or Register before you can reply to Larry 3 Coco replied: Why is it right to be able to judge so quickly because of one actress? Login or Register before you can reply to Coco You really special. I don’t believe that just because you have been watching more tvb dramas than others makes you more eligible to judge quickly or give you the ability to judge quickly 😛 I can judge your comment is fishy. how is it fishy? I do sense your comment is fishy as well. “I do sense your comment is fishy as well.”? :/ You know, Im starting to realized something… it is a big secret. Winnie replied: If you have figured out something larry, it’s best to expose it. Login or Register before you can reply to Winnie mocha replied: Definitely will not save TVB because of poor casting for the female lead which I mean Aimee Chan. She can’t act. Selena definitely would make a better the female lead than her. Login or Register before you can reply to mocha is female lead that important? :/ The lead actress is important to carry this series. If she sucks it, then there is a POTENTIAL the series will fall from the sky, BUT of course, that depends on viewers taste. Not many TVB watchers including myself do not like how Amiee Chan’s acting ability has gone through YEARS. Nikki replied: If you have nothing good to say, Funn or thinking you know it all, then kindly keep it to yourself. no one needs to be exposed to your judgamental comments. Login or Register before you can reply to Nikki Hmm I will definitely watch it, but I don’t know if it will do well look at Season of Love and Reality Check Login or Register before you can reply to Daisy I am pretty sure that any series that they choose to air will do better than the 2 series airing right now. lol Login or Register before you can reply to AC It looks fun and summery. Login or Register before you can reply to Mt Mlove says: Amen… Can’t wait til next week. Bring back the good series. Thats good, Jonathan Chik left tvb. U suck!!! Login or Register before you can reply to Mlove Gosh! These type of fun and summery series sucks. I will pass Bubblez says: this looks like a decent series. But dramas usually stars Raymond Wong and Ruco Chan does pretty well (: I am going to treat this as one of those drama series done by Steven ma. This somewhat reminds me of Stew of Life/A Journey of Life genre. Login or Register before you can reply to Bubblez elle replied: Maybe not A Journey Called Life. That drama dealt with heavier topics. Slow Boat Home seems more fresh and light-hearted. Login or Register before you can reply to elle Bubblez replied: Elle: yeah I agree with you. What I meant was: it is similar to the genre in which A journey called life is developed, if that makes any sense. This is no where near “A Journey Called Life” series or how its developed the same way. Reread the synopsis and compare to A Journey Called Life. You really confusing yourself. I think you are confused yourself, Larry. I know that they are two different series but they have SIMILAR themes (eg. friends/family). Hence, I used the word “genre” but in reality, themes should be the better word for it. I never said the synopsis was the same as A Journey called Life. my original quote was: “This somewhat reminds me of Stew of Life/A Journey of Life genre.” but when it came to clarifying, I once again used the wrong word! I think you confusing yourself again. Your explanation is bad. Rewatch the series you mention and compare to Slow Boat Home. It is not the same theme. I will only clarify this once more. What I meant to say was: Both of “Slow Boat Home” and “A journey called life” deals with similar themes. AS far as I am concerned, both deals with different aspects of friendships, family and life in general. I never said that they were the SAME theme. I used the word “similar” meaning that there were DIFFERENCES. Well you need to stop using the wrong term continued Beause of “similar themes yet different”, I used Stew of Life/A journey called life. I never said directly that they were SAME themed. My original quote was: “This somewhat reminds me of Stew of Life/A Journey of Life genre.” Where do you see the idea of having the same theme in the things I’ve been trying to say? When I tried clarifying the first time, I used “t is similar to the genre in which A journey called life is developed, if that makes any sense.” I couldn’t get my idea well-thought out and I knew there was something wrong with it.. And then you commented. That’s when i realized the word I wanted to use was theme! :3 It only takes on crappy actor to ruin a series! This series might be not be as serious as the other two, but then w/TVB trying out all these new stars that can not act if their own life was at stack!…..it’s annoying and totally ruins a series for me. Can’t wait to hit the fast forward button! Login or Register before you can reply to May (cough)Amiee(/cough) 🙂 advo says: Will Ruco be enough to make up for Aimee? Obviously, it’s going to fare better than the current two shows, but I don’t see this as a huge ratings hit either. Does Ruco and Raymond Wong always come together? I feel like you rarely see one without the other in a show. Login or Register before you can reply to advo I like Bullet Brain & Beauty at War. These fun and summery types of series are freaking boring and exaggerating. Can’t stand those. I don’t mind the Ruco and Raymond Wong pairing, but I would like to see Oscar/Michael Miu and Ruco in the same drama. I also miss seeing Damian Lau in tvb dramas. Anonymous replied: a Bubblez imposter. But I second this thought. Login or Register before you can reply to Anonymous Jayne really needs to fix the commenting section, thats why I smell something fishy. Wow. ._. What are you suggesting in order to fix this, Larry? Don’t be as $ hole and really dont be a dumbas $. I can see lots of stupid commentators lately and it easy to spot them. I am not a moderator but seriously, people. SC replied: Lots of stupid commentators? I’m sure a lot of people on this website would fall into that category then. Login or Register before you can reply to SC At least this sounds far more interesting than the two series that are airing now, besides Raymond, Ruco and Selena are consistent actors that’s more than enough. Aimee was bearable in A Great Way To Care 2 besides the trailer looks pretty entertaining, can’t judge a series without watching. Many ppl were anticipating Beauty At War but the very same ppl who did turn out to be disappointed you never know how good a drama is until you watch it. Login or Register before you can reply to Lyle I agree with you, Lyle. I don’t mind Aimee Chan’s acting actually. I haven’t watched the trailer for this drama yet though. sel_fi_wu replied: agree. this looks very fun and summery and looks better than draggy and confusing bullet brain and beauty of war. Login or Register before you can reply to sel_fi_wu Okay, Elaine’s name is listed 5th on the poster but she’s never mentioned!!!! I will surely pass on this drama if it wasn’t for Elaine but now I don’t even know if she is going to be important in the series or not!!! I’m angry. Login or Register before you can reply to H Lyle replied: She’s the other love interest of Ruco so I think she’ll be playing a pretty prominent supporting role. H replied: I hope so! 😛 sel_fi_wu says: hk seems to prefer simple light hearted series such as come home love and inbound troubles! i think slow boat home will be highly accepted. aimee suck although she improved in a great way to care but ruco, raymond wong and selena are amazing and will be enough to make viewers support this cute series 🙂 edwin jump into popularity with his buck teeth in agwtc 2, think raymond’s wig may make him a talking point too. also love that the series has beautiful location and scenery! tired of seeing the same houses and streets in hk Lately I’ve been very disapponited with TVB dramas. As much as I love Ruco..reality check was horrible. It did not interest me at all. 4 seasons disappointed me as well. The storyline just doesn’t seem catchy at all. I just watch 4 episodes of brain bullet and it still haven’t interest me. I don’t know if I want to continue watching. Beauty at war is quiet boring..but I rather watch that then brain bullet. I really hope slow boat home can catch my interest. Not a fan of Amiee..was hoping for a ddifferent female lead but..oh well she’s not so bad..just to need to change her look a lil bit . I’m so bored of her tomboy look. Want to see her with long hair..perhaps more girly look. Login or Register before you can reply to Faith irene replied: Her tomboy look is indeed unappealing. I got a feeling more will like her if she leaves her hair longer. Login or Register before you can reply to irene Faith replied: Yup. pretty sure! This series doesn’t look too good. Login or Register before you can reply to Jasmine HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Login or Register before you can reply to Mike Wow.. what a reaction. What happened? What’s so funny? I agree, Ha ha ho skinnymocha replied: For a moment there, I was trying to look for an optical illusion in this sea of mess. Login or Register before you can reply to skinnymocha I liked the part where he said “HA” Login or Register before you can reply to dd I am watching this series and I am very bothered by the 2 series in 1 format. One side is too lighthearted, the other side is too serious. There is no balance. I look forward to the scenes in malaysia. I certainly do like the interior decoration for Elliot Ngok’s room. But the story so far is just the usual. Acting wise, I find Aimee much more watchable than Selena and even Aimee kinda bothers me. I find it a bit distracting that when she starts a sentence, she speaks confidently but as the sentence goes on, she speaks more softly and in the end ends it with a whisper. Selena speaks with too much breathing, like she is gasping for air. Neither commands any sort of commanding presence as an actress. As for the male leads, so far Raymond is still being silly. I want to see him stop being silly and just start with the story proper. Ruco is too serious. I like neither character as well. joey replied: I look forward to the scenes in malaysia. That’s another series. Login or Register before you can reply to joey Huh, you mean NOT this series? I am waiting for something that won’t come my way? I really thought it is this series. Which series? WAIT! It is THIS series!! Oh please don’t confuse me! For a moment I thought I am wasting my time! Oh god NOOOOOOOOOOOO! It isn’t this series!! I checked past articles, called Outbound Love . What the hell with the same cast?! Am I in the Matrix? Is this a joke? Should I stop watching? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Suzanne Ng says: I rather watch the veteran actors instead of the newer ones. Login or Register before you can reply to Suzanne Ng	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1119
__label__wiki	0.588687	0.588687	House Ways and Means approves amended Tax Cuts and Jobs bill The House Ways and Means Committee voted 24–16 on Thursday to send the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, H.R. 1, to the full House for a vote. However, the bill, as marked up by the committee, contains many changes from the original version of H.R. 1 released last week. Reportedly, some of these changes were made to reduce the 10-year cost of the bill, and according to a preliminary estimate by the Joint Committee on Taxation, the net effect of the bill as marked up would be to reduce federal revenues by $1.437 trillion over 10 years. Here is a list of changes in the version of the bill that the House will consider: The amended bill would provide for a new 9% rate on the first $75,000 in net business taxable income passed through to an active owner or shareholder earning less than $150,000 in taxable income. The 9% rate would be phased out as taxable income approaches $225,000. The lower rate would be phased in over five years: It would be 11% in 2018 and 2019, 10% in 2020 and 2021, and 9% starting in 2022. The current law rules on self-employment income received from a passthrough entity would be preserved. The adoption tax credit would be preserved in its current form. Taxpayers would be required to provide Social Security numbers for children before claiming the enhanced child tax credit. Rollovers between Sec. 529 education savings accounts and Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Sec. 529A accounts would be permitted. The exclusion for qualified moving expense reimbursements would be reinstated but only for members of the Armed Forces on active duty who move because of a military order. The amendment would lower the dividend-received deduction from 80% to 65% and the 70% rate to 50%. The amendment would change the limitation on deducting interest by businesses, but only for floor plan financing indebtedness (short-term debt used by retailers to finance high-cost items such as cars). Full expensing would not be available to these types of businesses. The amendment would modify the treatment of S corporations that convert to C corporations after the bill is passed by allowing any Sec. 481 adjustment to be taken into account over a six-year period (Sec. 481 adjustments usually must be taken into account over four years). For tax years after 2023, taxpayers would be required to amortize Sec. 174 research and experimentation expenses over five years (15 years for research outside the United States). The amendment would disallow a current deduction for litigation costs advanced by attorneys representing clients on a contingent basis until the contingency is resolved. The amendment would preserve current law treatment of nonqualified deferred compensation. The amendment would clarify that holders of restricted stock units cannot make Sec. 83(b) elections. The amendment would change the 12% and 5% rates on repatriated foreign income to 14% and 7%. The amendment would eliminate the markup on deemed expenses for foreign purposes, permit a foreign tax credit of 80% of the foreign taxes paid, and make other changes to the foreign tax credit calculation provisions in H.R. 1. The amendment would subject to the 1.4% excise tax on investment income endowment funds held by organizations related to the universities and provide an exclusion from the excise tax for any educational institution unless the fair market value of the institution's assets (other than those assets used directly in carrying out its exempt purpose) is at least $250,000 per student. The amendment would change the repeal of the Johnson amendment to clarify that all Sec. 501(c)(3) organizations (not just religious organizations) are permitted to engage in political speech if the speech is in the ordinary course of the organization's business and the organization incurs de minimis expenses related to the political speech. The amendment would require earned income tax credit claims to properly reflect any net earnings from self-employment, require employers to provide additional information on payroll tax returns, and provide the IRS with additional authority to substantiate earned income amounts. The amendment would reinstate the $5,000 exclusion from income for employer-provided dependent care assistance through 2022 for children under 13 or spouses or other dependents who are unable to care for themselves. The amendment would reinstate capital gain treatment for self-created musical works. The amendment would require partners to hold their partnership interest received for performing services for three years to qualify for capital gain treatment. Employees who receive stock options or restricted stock units as compensation for services and later exercise them would be allowed to elect to defer recognition of income for up to five years, if the corporation's stock is not publicly traded. The amendment would change the foreign base erosion rules. —Sally P. Schreiber (Sally.Schreiber@aicpa-cima.com) is a JofA senior editor.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1121
__label__wiki	0.907112	0.907112	Jerusalem Post Opinion Op-EdContributors Gilad Schalit: Split screen and split world Government, people of Israel supported the release of Schalit instinctively, emotionally because these Torah values are so deeply ingrained in our national psyche. By CHIEF RABBI WARREN GOLDSTEIN Schalit Egypt TV 311 (photo credit: Channel 10) News channels used the dramatic technological device of a “split screen” in reporting the release of Gilad Schalit. This may seem like a trivial detail in the context of a momentous event that touched the hearts and minds of Jews the world over, but the split screen actually symbolizes what we all experienced last week: on the one side, the joy and relief as Schalit was being reunited with his family and his people after more than five years in captivity; on the other, our pain and fear as sworn enemies of the Jewish state and the Jewish people were released, unrepentant of their violence. The split screen also demonstrates the perverted moral equivalence that the world ascribes to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The split screen and the term “prisoner swap” imply reciprocity, when, in fact, there is no equivalency between the release of more than 1,000 convicted terrorists, who were accorded full legal and human rights, and the freedom of one soldier kidnapped and held cruelly in violation of international law – without trial and horrifyingly incommunicado. But there is another powerful message reflected by the split screen: the dichotomy of values. One of the visionary rabbinic leaders in the United States during the 20th century, Rabbi Mordechai Pinchas Teitz of Elizabeth, New Jersey, used to say, “The Torah speaks in the language of tomorrow.” G-d gave us the Torah for all times, all places and all situations. The Midrash says that “G-d looked into the Torah and created the world.” The Mishna says, “Turn it [the Torah] over and over, for everything is in it.” Torah, being the blueprint for the world, contains everything. By referring to “the language of tomorrow,” Rabbi Teitz took this one step further, saying that the Torah, given thousands of years ago, contains many ideas that we are only able to understand as history unfolds. “I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; and you shall choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). For generations, commentators have grappled with the meaning of this verse: Why does G-d have to give the instruction to choose life? Is it not obvious? If the choices before us are life and death, who would choose death? Over the centuries, many answers have been suggested. In our generation, a new insight to this verse has been revealed. Certain terrorist groups and leaders have perverted their religion into a celebration of death. As Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah infamously said in 2004 after a prisoner swap, “We have discovered how to hit the Jews where they are the most vulnerable. The Jews love life, so that is what we shall take away from them. We are going to win, because they love life and we love death.” And as Fathi Hammad, a Hamas member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, once said: “For the Palestinian people, death became an industry at which women excel... and the children excel... We desire death, as you desire life.” It is true that throughout history there have been many people who have had no compunction about killing Jews; but what distinguishes Hamas, Hezbollah and their cohorts is their glorification of death and martyrdom. Their signature crime is the suicide bomber, who glorifies not only the murder of others, but his own death as well. Even mothers celebrate their children becoming martyrs. When the Torah says, “You shall choose life,” its message is in contrast to those who choose death. The split-screen coverage of Schalit’s release reflects the two sides of the verse: “I place before you life and death.” On the one side of the screen was the celebration of death, where those guilty of perpetrating the most horrible crimes against innocent men, women and children were welcomed as heroes. On the other side of the screen was the picture of a gaunt, pale and lonely soldier, for whose freedom an entire nation prayed and rallied and for whose life a nation was willing to risk its own safety. What other people or government in the world would release more than 1,000 convicted, unrepentant terrorists for the freedom of one hostage? This decision seems counter to the rational, political and military considerations that governments and people normally undertake. Where did such a decision come from? Let’s consider this from a psychological perspective, and not from the perspective of right and wrong, which must be determined by Halacha as ruled upon by a great posek comprehensively analyzing the Talmud, codes and responsa, with cognizance of the political and military realities. Indeed, many have argued in this regard that the decision was wrong precisely because of the sanctity of life. But let’s look beyond the intellectual merits and try to understand the decision as a psychological-societal phenomenon. What psychological forces led Israel to agree to this deal? Why is it that only a Jewish state could possibly have done this? The answer to these questions lies in the values buried deep in the Jewish psyche from the time we received them at Mount Sinai, where G-d gave us the Torah 3,323 years ago. Generations of Jews have been born into the inspiring ethos of “And you shall choose life,” and infused with the lofty spirit of the Mishna passage that to save one life is to “save the world,” and enlightened by the halachic principle that pikuah nefesh (danger to life) overrides almost all mitzvot. The government and the people of Israel supported the release of Gilad Schalit instinctively and emotionally because these Torah values are so deeply ingrained in our national psyche. It is a decision no other country would have made. Or, in the words of our Shabbat afternoon prayers, “Who is like Your people Israel?” Let us set aside our anguished deliberations about the wisdom of this decision, which is now a reality, and rather feel proud at the bold and eloquent message that went out to the nations of the world as they watched the Jewish state defy the normal laws of human nature and society to sacrifice and risk so much to save just one life. Remarkably the Haftara of the week of Schalit’s release spoke in the language of tomorrow, where the prophet Isaiah said in the name of G-d: “I called you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand... I have appointed you... to be a light to the nations; to open blind eyes, to bring prisoners out of a dungeon, those who sit in darkness out of a prison.” The writer is chief rabbi of South Africa.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1123
__label__wiki	0.897538	0.897538	Looks like you are using an unsupported browser. To get the most out of this experience please upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer. Chairman Fred Hampton was 21 years old when he was assassinated by the FBI, who coerced a petty criminal named William O’Neal to help them silence him and the Black Panther Party. But they could not kill Fred Hampton’s legacy and, 50 years later, his words still echo…louder than ever. I am a revolutionary! In 1968, a young, charismatic activist named Fred Hampton became Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, who were fighting for freedom, the power to determine the destiny of the Black community, and an end to police brutality and the slaughter of Black people. Chairman Fred was inspiring a generation to rise up and not back down to oppression, which put him directly in the line of fire of the government, the FBI and the Chicago Police. But to destroy the revolution, they had to do it from both the outside…and the inside. Facing prison, William O’Neal is offered a deal by the FBI: if he will infiltrate the Black Panthers and provide intel on Hampton, he will walk free. O’Neal takes the deal. Now a comrade in arms in the Black Panther Party, O’Neal lives in fear that his treachery will be discovered even as he rises in the ranks. But as Hampton’s fiery message draws him in, O’Neal cannot escape the deadly trajectory of his ultimate betrayal. Though his life was cut short, Fred Hampton’s impact has continued to reverberate. The government saw the Black Panthers as a militant threat to the status quo and sold that lie to a frightened public in a time of growing civil unrest. But the perception of the Panthers was not reality. In inner cities across America, they were providing free breakfasts for children, legal services, medical clinics and research into sickle cell anemia, and political education. And it was Chairman Fred in Chicago, who, recognizing the power of multicultural unity for a common cause, created the Rainbow Coalition—joining forces with other oppressed peoples in the city to fight for equality and political empowerment. “Judas and the Black Messiah” is directed by Shaka King, marking his studio feature film directorial debut. The project originated with King and his writing partner, Will Berson, who co-wrote the screenplay, and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas, who co-wrote the story with Berson & King. King, who has a long relationship with filmmaker Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther,” “Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”), pitched the film to Coogler and Charles D. King (“Just Mercy,” “Fences”), who are producing the film. The executive producers are Sev Ohanian, Zinzi Coogler, Kim Roth, Poppy Hanks, Ravi Mehta, Jeff Skoll, Anikah McLaren, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth, Ted Gidlow, and Niija Kuykendall. The ensemble cast also includes Algee Smith (“The Hate U Give,” “Detroit”), Darrell Britt-Gibson (“Just Mercy,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Dominique Thorne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”), Amari Cheatom (“Roman J. Israel, Esq.,” “Django Unchained”), Caleb Eberhardt (“The Post”), and Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out”). The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Sean Bobbitt (“12 Years a Slave,” “Widows”), production designer Sam Lisenco (“Shades of Blue”), editor Kristan Sprague (“Random Acts of Flyness”) and costume designer Charlese Antoinette Jones (“Raising Dion”) The film is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with MACRO Films, Participant and BRON Creative, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1124
__label__wiki	0.902523	0.902523	Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Pune from January 9, 2019; Grassroot level hunt for sportspersons will be in bigger and better form After the resounding success of the first edition of the Khelo India School Games last year, the grass root level hunt for sports persons from across the country, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports 09-December-2018 20:30 IST After the resounding success of the first edition of the Khelo India School Games last year, the grass root level hunt for sports persons from across the country, is back in a bigger, better form. In its second edition, the games which is an initiative of the Central Government, has expanded in its scope, and will allow participants to compete in two categories, (Under 17) and (Under 21), this year. In its new form, the games, which will be known as the Khelo India Youth Games, also allows students from colleges and Universities to compete. The other highlight of this year's games is that the national-level competition is moving out of the Capital and will be held in Maharashtra, which bid for the games, along with Assam and Jharkhand. This time, the games will be held in Pune, known as the city of students, from January 9 - January 20, 2019. The first official announcement and jersey launch of the KIYG, Maharashtra, 2019, took place in a ceremony in Delhi today. The event was attended by Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, along with Shri Vinod Tawade, Minister of sports, education and youth welfare, Government of Maharashtra, Shri. Narendra Batra, President, IOA, wrestler Sushil Kumar and several other government dignitaries. However, the highlight of the event was the presence of eight young athletes several of them products of Khelo India School Games, who have bagged medals at international events. Weightlifter Jeremy Lalirinunga, shooters Manu Bhaker, Esha Gupta, Laksya Sheoran, Saurabh Chaudhury, swinner Srihari Nataraj and Judo player Tababai Devi, badminton player Lakshya Sen, sported the new jersey and personified the very essence of the reach and impact that the games have had. Speaking at the event, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, "We want to create an ecosystem of sports in the country and ensure that our young athletes can get an international-level platform, through which they can showcase their sporting talent. We want to identify them young and extend them support because at that stage in an athlete’s career, they do not get sponsorship from the corport rates. Honourable Prime Minister has always given priority to sports and athletes. It is his vision to make sports a priority in the lives of the youth. Last year we chose 1500 children under this scheme, all of who are being funded with Rs 5 lakh each and are being provided the best training that they need to ensure that they win at the highest international levels, and make the country proud. We have already seen the results, as many of them have won medals at prominent competitions like CWG, Asian Games and Youth Olympics. With Khelo India Youth Games, we are taking this mission a notch higher. Last year 3500 young athletes had participated in the games, but this year the number has almost tripled with 9000 athletes. We will not only reach out to more talented young athletes, we will also identify more talent and groom them to represent the country. I am confident that by 2028 Olympics, China will find it difficult to compete with us." Representing the host state, Shri Tawade said, "The moment we knew that Khelo India Games were to be hosted outside Delhi, we were sure that we wanted to have the games in our state. The entire state machinery is geared to ensure that the games are a big hit. We believe that hosting the games will help to inculcate the spirit of sport among our youth. I invite each one of you to attend the games and cheer the participants." Like last year, the games will be telecast live on Star Sports.9 disciplines will be telecast live for eight hours everyday, throughout the games. Games India Kheol Sports youth Indian Govt Scheme - Sarkari Yojna - सरकारी योजना: Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Pune from January 9, 2019; Grassroot level hunt for sportspersons will be in bigger and better form https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--YuIIiF_bWk/XA1eARjDhwI/AAAAAAAAA7A/r6CC4a1634gHnNI0kExoic0p2RxYOWazACLcBGAs/s640/khelo.png https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--YuIIiF_bWk/XA1eARjDhwI/AAAAAAAAA7A/r6CC4a1634gHnNI0kExoic0p2RxYOWazACLcBGAs/s72-c/khelo.png https://www.indiangovtscheme.com/2018/12/khelo-india-youth-games-to-be-held-in.html	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1127
__label__wiki	0.975323	0.975323	Classic Rewind: Lazier Wins Inaugural Race At Kentucky By INDYCAR \| Published: Dec 24, 2020 In 2000, Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, KY opened to a lot of excitement on the 1.5-mile banked oval, and the inaugural Belterra Resort Indy 300 didn't disappoint. In early 1998, an announcement was made pertaining to a new 1.5-mile speedway oval would be built in Sparta, Kentucky, approximately 35 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio, and just across from the Kentucky/Indiana border. Kentucky Speedway opened to rave reviews, and the inaugural Belterra Resort 300 in August 2000 was one for the record books. IRL Points leader Buddy Lazier started 7th, but drove flawlessly to his 2nd win of 2000 and fifth podium of the season. On a historical note, Sarah Fisher became the first woman to lead laps in the Indy Racing League and finish on the podium with her 3rd place finish.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1129
__label__cc	0.575103	0.424897	Profile of Emily Johnson Digital Content Editor, InformationWeek News & Commentary Posts: 68 Emily Johnson is the digital content editor for InformationWeek. Prior to this role, Emily worked within UBM America's technology group as an associate editor on their content marketing team. Emily started her career at UBM in 2011 and spent four and a half years in content and marketing roles supporting the UBM America's IT events portfolio. Emily earned her BA in English and a minor in music from the University of California, Berkeley. Follow her on Twitter @gold_em. Articles by Emily Johnson posted in February 2018 Government IT: Time to Catch Up What's the most pressing issue in government IT? Well, the resistance to it. 5 Things I Learned While Trying to Understand Today's Cloud Pricing I went digging in the weeds of the current cloud pricing battlefield to understand what is going on so you don't have to. Here's what I learned matters a lot, a little, and just enough.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1130
__label__wiki	0.87926	0.87926	Home>Companies and Products>REITs Self-Storage REIT National Storage Affiliates Trust Releases 1Q 2016 Financial Results TAGS: Financing Companies and Products News National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT), a Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in self-storage, has released its financial statement for the quarter that ended March 31, 2016, showing gains in key areas including core funds from operations (FFO), net operating income (NOI) and occupancy. "NSAT kicked off 2016 with robust first-quarter results,” said Arlen Nordhagen, CEO. The REIT reported core FFO per share of $0.25 during the first quarter, a 19 percent year-over-year increase. Its NOI was $26.4 million, a 42.9 percent gain compared to the $18.4 million it reported for the same period last year. Same-store NOI was $20.4 million, up 11.3 percent. Same-store revenue was $30.5 million during the quarter, a 9.1 percent increase from a year ago, and driven by a gain of 440 basis points in average occupancy and a 3.9 percent bump in average annualized rental revenue per occupied square foot. Average occupancy was 89.2 percent as of Mach 31, up from 84.8 percent last year. The company acquired 17 self-storage properties during the quarter for $89 million. The facilities are in six states and comprise about 1.1 million rentable square feet in approximately 7,600 units. On Feb. 25, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per common share, which was paid on March 30 to holders of record on March 15. Headquartered in Greenwood, Colo., NSAT is a self-administered and -managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas throughout the United States. The company has 315 self-storage facilities in 18 states comprising approximately 18.5 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures. BusinessWire: National Storage Affiliates Trust Reports First Quarter 2016 Results Self-Storage REIT Public Storage Responds to Criticism, Pressure From Investor Elliott Management Self-Storage REIT Extra Space Raises $22K for Utah Food Bank Extended California Price-Gouging Protections Could Affect Self-Storage, Other Services Public Storage Agrees to Acquire Beyond Self Storage Portfolio for $528M	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1131
__label__wiki	0.958431	0.958431	Mission at Kern County breaks ground on 40-bed expansion by: Eytan Wallace Posted: Dec 13, 2019 / 09:55 PM PST / Updated: Dec 13, 2019 / 09:56 PM PST BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Mission at Kern County broke ground on an expansion to the shelter that will add 40 new beds. A 2018 state grant helped fund the expansion at the Mission. The Mission at Kern County has helped many homeless people over the years including Christopher Morrow. Morrow walked into the Mission for the first time eight years ago. Today, he enters the Mission every day — it’s where he now works. “It gave me a safe place to sleep. It gave me a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear and it gave me food,” Morrow said. Soon, there could be dozens more success stories like Morrow’s. City and Mission leaders officially broke ground on a $1.1 million capital improvements project that will add 40 more beds to its current 148. Executive director of the Mission at Kern County, Carlos Baldovinos says the expansion will help address Kern County’s homeless problem. “We know that this is a need for the community,” he said. “We’re at a homeless crisis in our county, in our state. So doing this, I believe is a big step, a big part of the solution.” The expansion of bed capacity is just one part of the plan. The expansion will also include a remodel of the shelter’s Homeless Intervention Services Center. The Mission changed Morrow’s life and could improve the lives of dozens of others. “My goal for this Mission is that we’re at capacity every night,” Morrow says, “because that means we’re helping as many people as we can help.” Construction on the expansion is expected to be complete by 2020.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1135
__label__wiki	0.960801	0.960801	How would you like to work from home 'forever'? Twitter is encouraging employees to do so Jessica Guynn USA TODAY Twitter will allow some of its workforce to continue working from home indefinitely if they choose, CEO Jack Dorsey told his staff Tuesday. Dorsey is the first to signal a new normal for a major technology company that could extend beyond the COVID-19 public health crisis. The announcement comes as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai urge employees to work from home if possible until 2021. Twitter did not say which employees would be eligible for the work-from-home policy, but says the past months have illustrated that it can be done. "Twitter was one of the first companies to go to a work-from-home model in the face of COVID-19, but we don’t anticipate being one of the first to return to offices," Twitter said in a statement to USA TODAY. "The past few months have proven we can make that work. So if our employees are in a role and situation that enables them to work from home and they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen. If not, our offices will be their warm and welcoming selves, with some additional precautions, when we feel it’s safe to return." Like other tech companies, Twitter began encouraging employees to work from home in early March as the coronavirus began to spread across the United States. Twitter does not expect to reopen most of its offices or approve business travel until September. It has also canceled all internal events for the rest of the year and possibly into 2021. "Opening offices will be our decision, when and if our employees come back, will be theirs," Twitter said in a statement. The move to a more “distributed” workforce had been in the works with Dorsey commenting on more than one occasion that he no longer wanted a workforce concentrated in San Francisco. On an earnings call in February, Dorsey told analysts “our concentration in San Francisco is not serving us any longer and we will strive to be a far more distributed workforce.” The shift to permanent telecommuting for some employees was first reported by BuzzFeed News, which obtained an email Dorsey sent to employees.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1136
__label__cc	0.633704	0.366296	The Legislative Branch’s Answer to Stopping Counterfeit Goods: The SHOP SAFE Act Robertson Beckerlegge, Megan Corrigan, Heather McDonald, Kevin Wallace BakerHostetler This post is the second in our ongoing series on the heightened focus in 2020 on combating the sale of counterfeit goods. Our first article focused on the actions of the executive branch, while this article discusses the actions of the legislative branch in the fight against the sale of counterfeit goods. In early March, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the House of Representatives aimed at curbing the sale of counterfeit goods online.[1] The bill is titled “Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-Commerce Act of 2020,” or the SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 for short. The legislation is currently pending before the House Committee on the Judiciary and aims to address the wide array of counterfeit products being offered for sale on third-party marketplace platforms. This act comes on the heels of the Jan. 31 executive order issued by President Donald Trump that called for a crackdown on companies that import or facilitate the import of counterfeit goods.[2] The SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 forces e-commerce platforms to bear the burden of fighting counterfeiting on their platforms for goods implicating “health and safety” issues. Under the new bill, an e-commerce platform is liable for a third-party seller’s trademark infringement unless the platform takes 10 specified steps to prevent the sale of the counterfeit goods on its platform. The act therefore creates somewhat of a safe harbor for e-commerce platforms that take the 10 “reasonable” steps outlined in the bill. These requirements include vetting sellers to ensure their legitimacy, expeditiously removing counterfeit listings and terminating repeat offenders. On its face, the SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 is intended to relax the high notice standards for holding third parties contributorily liable for the sale of counterfeit goods by others. Currently, brand owners are required to prove third parties, like e-commerce platforms, have knowledge of the counterfeiting before they can be held contributorily liable. This often leaves brand owners with little recourse, as holding the merchant sellers directly liable is a difficult task. Often, the sellers are located outside the U.S. and therefore outside the jurisdiction for civil liability under U.S. law. Sellers often use multiple merchant accounts and provide no identifying information. Even when enforcement action is taken and the account is shut down, the seller regularly pops right back up through the creation of a new merchant account. The SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 provides some reprieve to trademark owners, shifting the burden to e-commerce platforms to prove they took the reasonable steps, specifically the 10 outlined in the bill, to avoid contributory liability for trademark counterfeiting. The current draft of the bill is limited to counterfeit “goods that implicate health and safety.” The bill defines goods that implicate health and safety as “goods the use of which can lead to illness, disease, injury, serious adverse event, allergic reaction, or death if produced without compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local health and safety regulations and industry-designated testing, safety, quality, certification, manufacturing, packaging, and labeling standards.” It is unclear what showing, if any, brand owners must make to implicate health and safety. Arguably, most counterfeit goods can implicate health and safety when made under conditions outside brand owners’ typical quality control. Going forward, brand and e-commerce third-party platforms will need to keep apprised of developments concerning the proposed SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 so that they have the necessary knowledge to police their trademark rights and/or implement necessary steps to avoid contributory liability. [1] Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-Commerce Act of 2020, H.R. 6058, 116th Congress (2020), https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6058/text. [2] Executive Order, “Ensuring Safe & Lawful E-Commerce for US Consumers, Businesses, Government Supply Chains, and Intellectual Property Rights” (Jan. 31, 2020), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ensuring-safe-lawful-e-commerce-us-consumers-businesses-government-supply-chains-intellectual-property-rights/. Send Print Report President Trump’s Continued Focus on Counterfeit Goods US Government Cracks Down on Counterfeits in 2020 Falling Dominoes: Economic Presence Nexus Update (Sales & Income) California Supreme Court Applies Dynamex Independent Contractor Test Retroactively The USPTO Harmonizes the Indefiniteness Standard Used for AIA Trials Making it More Difficult to Find a Claim Indefinite DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. © BakerHostetler \| Attorney Advertising Robertson Beckerlegge Megan Corrigan Heather McDonald Kevin Wallace Counterfeit Goods Regulation BakerHostetler on:	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1143
__label__wiki	0.864709	0.864709	Cooper Brown Street Date: October 13, 2010 Style: Rock Website: Official Site Buy It: Amazon.com There is definitely not a shortage of artists coming from around the Nashville area. A lot of them remain unknown, but it has also spawned its fair share of popular artists as well. One relatively unknown artist that does deserve some attention is the pop rock/singer-songwriter Cooper Brown. Hailing from the nearby town of Jackson, Tennessee, Brown spent some time at Belmont University learning to be a songwriter. October 2010 was when he released his very first album, Venture. It's a full-length album that shows off Brown's skillful instrumentation. The style is very consistent, with only mild changes in sound present. Some of the songs lean more toward acoustic rock, while other songs are crafted with electric guitars. There's even hints of indie thrown in, too, though not enough to qualify placement in the indie rock section of a music store. Then there are songs like "Atlantic Sun," which sounds like a toned down hybrid of Switchfoot and Death Cab For Cutie, with escalating vocals as the song draws near its end. The last track of Venture is a highlight. It's called "Better Me," and it takes the album out on a great note. It has a solid feel, with a perfectly-placed and played banjo in the chorus. There's no doubt that Cooper Brown could make it in the music industry. Venture is a good album to get his career started. It needs a little more production work, particularly in the vocals, however. He has a good singing voice, but not a great one, and with the mixing not being completely on point the entire time, we easily notice it, as it makes his voice louder than the music. This, and the fact that he is most likely still taking his time to perfect his songwriting techniques, are the only things holding Brown back. Give Venture a chance - Cooper Brown deserves it.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1145
__label__wiki	0.865094	0.865094	Venezuelan high court orders DirecTV property seized Posted: May 22, 2020 / 11:10 AM MDT / Updated: May 22, 2020 / 08:45 PM MDT FILE – In this Jan. 9, 2020 file photo, a DirectTV dish stands on home in the Catia neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela. AT&T, one of the last major American companies still operating in Venezuela, said Tuesday, May 19, 2020 it will immediately abandon Venezuela’s pay TV market, as U.S. sanctions prohibit its DirecTV platform from broadcasting channels that it is required to carry by the Venezuelan government, making it impossible to comply with the legal requirements of both countries. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s high court ordered the immediate seizure of all DirecTV property Friday, days after the U.S. company abandoned its services in the South American nation, citing U.S. sanctions. The Supreme Court ruling told the nation’s telecommunications agency to seize satellite dishes and office space at transmission centers. It also said DirecTV programming should immediately return to the airwaves, in an order that was not likely to be heeded. Dallas-based AT&T on Tuesday cut off pay TV services in Venezuela, saying U.S. sanctions prohibit its DirecTV platform from broadcasting channels that it is required to carry by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro. However, pro-Maduro lawmaker María Alejandra Díaz said the company is legally bound to uphold its programming. “DirecTV unilaterally and illegally suspended the right to freedom of expression and communication for almost 10 million Venezuelans,” Díaz said outside the court. “It is not true to say that DirecTV could not comply with internal regulations.” The abrupt move cutting off entertainment, news and sports channels, sparked widespread protests at least two nights in a row, with residents leaning from their windows across the capital of Caracas banging pots and pans. “I want my DirecTV,” some shouted amid chants against Maduro. Venezuelans have been ordered to stay home on quarantine since mid-March to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, which officials say has killed at least 10 people and sickened hundreds. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took a poke at Maduro over the issue Friday, saying on Twitter: “Why can’t Venezuelans watch Fútbol Total? Because Nicolás Maduro drove DirecTV out. Protecting his cronies and their money is more important than allowing ten million citizens access to uncensored information.” DirecTV on Friday did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. It explained its decision to cut services in a statement Tuesday. “Because it is impossible for AT&T’s DIRECTV unit to comply with the legal requirements of both countries, AT&T was forced to close its pay TV operations in Venezuela, a decision that was made by the company’s U.S. leadership team without any involvement or prior knowledge of the DIRECTV Venezuela team,” the statement said. AT&T has a 44% share of the pay TV market and its departure is likely to hit larger cities and the interior that depend on DirecTV for access to information and entertainment. AT&T joins a number of other U.S. companies — General Motors, Kellogg and Kimberly-Clark — that have abandoned Venezuela due to shrinking sales, government threats and the risk of U.S. sanctions. Around 700 Venezuelans depended on the unit for employment. AT&T hasn’t made money from its Venezuelan operations for years due to strict government controls that keep the price of its packages artificially low — a few pennies per month. The situation has become so dire that DirecTV in 2012 stopped importing set-top boxes, choking its growth. In 2015, it wrote down its assets in the country by $1.1 billion.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1147
__label__cc	0.67631	0.32369	Can I travel to Sicily? Italy is only opening its borders to countries that meet certain criteria regarding low levels of infection. We follow the advice of the UK government and as of 15 October, the FCDO removed Italy from the exempt list and are now advising against all but essential travel. Please regularly check the FCDO travel advice for the most up-to-date information. What is life like in Sicily? Our local agent has confirmed that social distancing is in place in resorts and at the beaches and people must stay a minimum of 1 metre away from others. In closed places such as shops, face masks are compulsory. Most bars and restaurants are open. From 18 August onwards, it is mandatory to wear a face mask outdoors in any setting between the hours of 6pm and 6am. This includes open air parks and squares. How should I keep safe in Sicily? You should follow local regulations and continue to practice good levels of hygiene as advised by the NHS while you are on holiday. You can refer to the government website for detailed information but there are a few basic principles to follow: avoiding being face-to-face with people, keep your hands and face as clean as possible, keep indoor places well ventilated, avoid crowded spaces, use face coverings and wash your clothes regularly. There is a track and trace app to download should you choose to. What was the COVID-19 pandemic response? Our local agent has advised us that in general, Italy handled the pandemic well and measures have been put in place to continue to minimise the spread of COVID-19. To support this, the FCDO advise visitors to Sicily that it is mandatory to wear face masks on public transport (including flights and ferries), at airports, in taxis, in all medical facilities and in lifts. The use of face masks is strongly recommended in other closed spaces. Please regularly check the FCDO travel advice for the most up-to-date information. Are there any pre-departure requirements in regards to visas and passports? As of 08 October, British nationals must produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in Italy (see below for more information). If you hold a British passport, you don’t need a visa to enter Italy but you should check with the embassy if you are planning to stay in the country for longer than three months. What are the quarantine guidelines in Italy? The FCDO advise that travellers arriving in Italy directly from the UK are now usually exempt from the requirement to self-isolate. You will only need to self-isolate if you travelled outside the UK in the 14 days prior to your arrival in Italy or you will be arriving in Italy from a country for which there are still self-isolation requirements. If you develop symptoms and/or are diagnosed with COVID-19 while you’re on holiday, you’ll be required to quarantine for a period of time. If I test positive for COVID-19 in Sicily, what will happen? You may not be allowed to enter Sicily if you display signs of COVID-19 on arrival. If you test positive while you are in Italy, you will need to be isolated for at least 14 days and be in touch with the local medical division. If you need medical advice or believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should contact your rep, the hotel reception, a local GP or one of the regional numbers listed on the Italian Ministry of Health website before visiting a health centre. What is the airport experience like? All passengers must wear a mask and maintain social distancing in and around the airport terminal. Temperature checks will also be carried out on arriving passengers throughout the terminal. What are the transfers like? All transfers are operating in line with local protocols. A face mask must be worn by the passengers and driver and all vehicles are cleaned and disinfected regularly and these details are recorded. What should I expect when I am on holiday? Hotels are just offering table service for meals at present and buffet service is not available. FCDO advice states that social distancing of one metre must be observed and that using masks is mandatory in enclosed public spaces. Parks have reopened and outdoor exercise is permitted, subject to social distancing. Churches can celebrate mass, weddings and baptisms. Restaurants, pubs, bars, shops, hairdressers, salons and beaches have been given permission to open with measures in place to ensure social distancing is possible. Museums and archeological sites have been given permission to open and entry must be pre-booked online. You are permitted to travel between Italian regions. Do I need to quarantine in the UK on my return from Sicily? The FCDO advises that UK nationals returning from Italy need to quarantine for 14 days on their return to the UK. Forms and tests required for travel to and from Sicily Before your arrival in Sicily, you will need to fill in the Italy Health Declaration Form and take it with you on holiday. You will also need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test that has been taken within 72 hours of arriving in Italy. Alternatively, you can take a free COVID-19 test at the airport when you arrive in Italy. This usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. You won’t be allowed to leave the airport until you have your result. If you test positive, you’ll be quarantined until two consecutive negative tests have been recorded. The time spent in quarantine can vary greatly from a few days to several weeks. Travellers should be prepared for this eventuality. Some airports in Italy do not have COVID-19 testing facilities so if you’re flying to one of these airports (or if the facility is closed when you arrive) you’ll be required to self-isolate and take a test at an alternative facility within 48 hours of your arrival. You should call the COVID-19 helpline for the region you are in to arrange this. You can be fined if you do not comply with this requirement. Even if you don’t need to book a test, you still need to call the COVID-19 helpline for the region you are travelling to within 48 hours of your arrival to inform them of your visit. A UK arrival form must be completed 48 hours before your return home.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1149
__label__wiki	0.908707	0.908707	REBECCA SALANDRO Rebecca Salandro running for district judge in Unity Twp. Rebecca Salandro of Latrobe has announced her candidacy for magisterial district judge in the Unity Township area. Salandro worked her way through college, earning a master’s degree in education from Seton Hill University in Greensburg and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She has dedicated more than 14 years of her career in human services helping some of the most vulnerable members of the community. For almost 10 years she has worked as a criminal justice liaison throughout Westmoreland County in the district court offices. “My duties include encouraging individuals in their recovery while helping them regain their place in the community,” she said. “As a criminal justice liaison, I have experienced first hand the workings of the district justice system.” She has been a member of Westmoreland County’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board for the past several years. If elected, Salandro said she will devote herself to the “pursuit of fair justice for all.” “It is an honor to serve as district judge and this position deserves my complete dedication,” she said. With the retirement of the current Magisterial District Judge Michael Mahady, Salando believes her “background and work experience would qualify me for this position.” “I will work hard to fill the void left by a well-respected judge who has filled this position for many years,” she added. Rebecca Salandro and her husband, Rick, are the parents of two young children, and they have built their home in Unity Township for over a decade. “I would be honored to serve as your next district judge for Magisterial District 10-02-08,” Salandro said. Michael B. Kostelnik	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1152
__label__cc	0.742193	0.257807	Why Michael Flynn’s Plan to Relax Russia Sanctions is Terrible Policy By Samuel Cutler Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 3:24 PM With the flurry of news surrounding and leading up to Lt. General Michael Flynn’s resignation as national security advisor, our collective focus has once again returned to the bizarre connections between the Trump transition team (now administration) and the Kremlin. According to reports, Flynn explicitly discussed relaxing Russia sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration, despite Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s denials. Two weeks ago, I tried to tamp down some of the misplaced outrage over Treasury’s relatively anodyne issuance of a Russia-relate General License—but this time around, I think it’s appropriate to be very, very worried. While much of the recent news cycle focused on the scandal of Flynn lying about his talks with the Russian ambassador, we should not lose sight of why the substance of those calls was so concerning. There are any number of reasons why relaxing sanctions on Russia in exchange for as yet unknown cooperation against “radical Islamic terrorism,” to use the President’s phrase, is terrible policy, including everything from legitimizing armed conquest of a neighbor’s territory, abandoning our commitments under the Budapest Memorandum, undermining the Baltic states’ belief that we’d come to their aid in the face of Russian aggression, and so on. But even setting these valid concerns aside, it’s also important that we recognize the damage this about-face would do to the United States’ ability to deploy sanctions as a foreign policy tool. Two fundamental principles underlie all of U.S. sanctions policy, going back decades. First, sanctions are ultimately designed to change the target’s behavior. Second, if that behavior changes, sanctions should be removed. Or in the words of Acting Treasury Secretary Adam Szubin, “when we impose sanctions, we must clearly articulate what behavior needs to change, and be ready to make good on relieving sanctions when we achieve our ends.” This is a position articulated by all previous occupants of Szubin’s position as Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. Sanctions, particularly powerful secondary sanctions, work by forcing other states to subvert their own preferred policy options to U.S. demands through U.S. dominance of the global economic order. Needless to say, most countries do not usually like to have their foreign and economic policy dictated to them by another nation. The reason that sanctions can be successful is that in the past the United States clearly articulated its goals, moved in concert with allies and trading partners, and was generally trusted to act in the interest of upholding international rules and norms. The Trump administration’s efforts to play nice with Vladimir Putin threaten to jettison the prior consensus in favor of Trumpian transactional foreign policy. In this view the economic pressure generated by sanctions, regardless of the reasons behind their imposition, is merely a piece of leverage in the overall bilateral relationship between the U.S. and the target country, in this case Russia. It can be traded away for completely unrelated concessions, or maintained despite behavior change in pursuit of unrelated concessions. This transactional approach may or may not be able to accomplish short-term policy goals, but it is definitely poor long-term sanctions strategy. Abandoning the relationship between changing behavior and sanctions relief incentivizes targets to continue engaging in illicit conduct. In fact, targets might decide that it is easier to cause problems for the U.S. in other areas in order to increase their bargaining power, rather than changing the behavior that prompted sanctions in the first place. If the Trump administration can abandon Ukraine to satisfy the President’s seeming obsession with Islamist-inspired terrorism, how secure should the Baltic states feel knowing that there’s a chance they could be sold out if Russia agrees to cut ties with Iran? Or worse, this could actually incentivize Russia to make trouble in the Baltics and dangling the cessation of this behavior in exchange for greater leeway in Ukraine. Moreover, third party states will be reticent to continue to allow the United States to throw its economic weight around. There is no reason to support compliance with U.S. sanctions if it is apparent that sanctions can be imposed or traded away in order to obtain a “better deal” on parochial U.S. interests rather than global interests. There is a distinct possibility that U.S. allies and trading partners will engage in balancing efforts, perhaps promoting alternative financial channels that avoid the New York financial hub. At the very least, it is likely that at moments of either tactical or strategic disagreement over U.S. sanctions policy, states will be more inclined to deploy legal countermeasures, preventing companies from complying with sanctions. It is imperative that the United States maintain adherence to the principles of effective sanctions use in crafting new sanctions or relaxing existing measures. Unless Russia satisfies its commitments under the Minsk agreement, there should be no relief from corresponding sanctions. Unless Russia returns the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine, there should be no relief from Crimea-related sanctions. And unless Russia ceases malicious cyber activity, it should see no relief from cyber-related sanctions. Likewise, if Russia or designated individuals and entities demonstrate verifiable changes in behavior, relief should be swift and comprehensive. Anything less will hurt the United States’ ability to use sanctions to deal with future challenges to its national security and foreign policy. The Russia Connection, Mr. Cutler is the Senior Analyst at Horizon Client Access. Formerly he was the Policy Adviser at Ferrari & Associates P.C. where he counseled clients on the intersection between U.S. foreign policy and U.S. sanctions law. He is also the Editor in Chief of Sanction Law, a blog and online resource dedicated to U.S. economic sanctions. @youbsanctioned	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1154
__label__wiki	0.911372	0.911372	Electoral (Adjustment of Thresholds) Amendment Bill defeated on 24 June 2015 Search within this Bill Versions and SOPs Member’s Bill General policy statement This Bill proposes to amend the Electoral Act 1993, to implement the recommendations of the Electoral Commission with respect to the party vote threshold. This Bill proposes to implement the main recommendations of the Electoral Commission review of MMP in time for the 2014 election. The Prime Minister announced that the Government would hold a referendum on the electoral system during the 2008 election campaign. In recognition that there were concerns about some aspects of MMP, the Government made provision in the legislation for the Electoral Commission to review the system as soon as practicable after the result of the referendum was declared. The scope of the review was detailed in section 76 of the Electoral Referendum Act 2010. The Electoral Commission commenced the review as soon as practicable after the 2011 general election. The Electoral Commission undertook the first stage of the public consultation period, which ended in May 2012. The Commission received over 4 600 submissions and held public hearings in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Wellington to hear from those people who wanted to present their submissions in person. Drawing on the information and material presented in submissions and advice received, the Commission then developed a number of proposals. These were released as a Proposals Paper on 13 August 2012, with an invitation to the public to again provide written comments on them. Over 1 000 thousand submissions were received on the Proposals Paper. A final report with the Commission’s recommendations was presented to the Minister of Justice on 29 October 2012. The overwhelming weight of submissions favoured the removal of the single electoral seat threshold and the reduction in the party vote threshold from 5% to 4%. The classic example of the unfairness was exposed in the 2008 election when the then ACT Leader Rodney Hide won the Epsom seat and with 3.6% of the party vote brought in 4 ACT list MPs. New Zealand First on the other hand won 4.1% of the party vote but did not win an electorate seat, so ended up having no MPs. That is why reducing the threshold from 5% to 4% at the same time as removing the one electoral seat threshold makes good sense. The Electoral Commission has said these are not issues that need to go to a referendum, which means the Government can proceed to introduce a Bill. However, the Government has indicated that it will be consulting with other parties next year in order to achieve consensus. Some parties have already indicated that consensus is not going to be achieved. There is no reason to delay. Parliament owes it to the people of New Zealand to amend the system that they chose to support in the referendum and for which they have sought amendment. If the referendum decision had been to change the voting system, the Government would have been required to conduct a referendum on the preferred alternative at the 2014 election. That is why, in order to keep faith with the integrity of the referendum, these changes must be implemented in time for the 2014 general election. Clause by clause analysis Clause 1 is the Title clause. Clause 2 is the commencement clause. It provides that the Bill comes into force on a date appointed by Order in Council, otherwise on 1 January 2014. Clause 3 provides that the Bill amends the Electoral Act 1993 (the principal Act). Clause 4 states the Bill’s purpose, which is to adjust the party vote thresholds. Clause 5 replaces section 191(4) to provide that the Electoral Commission must disregard any total under the name of any party that has not achieved a total that is at least 4% of the total number of all the party votes received by all the parties listed on the part of the ballot paper that relates to the party vote. Clause 6 requires the Electoral Commission to review the party vote thresholds and any other matters covered by the review after 3 general elections. Iain Lees-Galloway 3 Principal Act 4 Purpose 5 Section 191 amended (Election of other members) 6 New section 9A inserted (Review) 9B Review The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: This Act is the Electoral (Adjustment of Thresholds) Amendment Act 2013. Unless brought into force on an earlier date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council, which may be made without further authority than is provided by this section, this Act comes into force on 1 January 2014. This Act amends the Electoral Act 1993 (the principal Act). The purpose of this Act is to adjust the party vote thresholds. Replace section 191(4) with: The Electoral Commission must disregard any total under the name of any party that has not achieved a total that is at least 4% of the total number of all the party votes received by all the parties listed on the part of the ballot paper that relates to the party vote. After section 9A, insert: The Electoral Commission must commence a review of the 4% threshold as soon as practicable after 3 general elections have occurred following the commencement of this section. The purpose of the review is to— determine through a public consultative process whether changes are necessary or desirable; and prepare a report of the review including any recommendations for changes to the Minister of Justice. As soon as practicable after receiving the report, the Minister must present a copy to the House of Representatives.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1156
__label__wiki	0.787631	0.787631	Home > News Centre > Courage, my friends Courage, my friends In an effort to share some positivity and kindness in our community, we're sharing the story of one family whose backyard fence has become a source of inspiration. Courage, my friends. Three simple words that have taken on a bigger meaning for one Lethbridge family this week. Kathryn Lyle, with the support of her immediate family household who have been self-isolating for nearly two weeks, have posted a sign on their back fence that says "COURAGE MY FRIENDS" along with a heart. The sign happens to face Whoop-Up Drive and has drawn plenty of attention in the past several days. "It's our hope that it will encourage others and let them know we are not alone during these trying times," Kathryn Lyle said. "I think everybody is being bombarded by so many different kinds of messages, whether it's online, or government, or friends, or work, or children. It's nice to have something we can agree on. I was trying to think of something that wasn't polarizing and that was positive and maybe give people something that they could stand behind in solidarity. We are not helpless." "Courage, my friends" is a shortened version of a quote by Tommy Douglas: "Courage, my friends; 'tis not too late to build a better world." The Lyle family, Kathryn, husband Jeff, and their three children aged 16, 14 and 12, have been trying to find projects to stay busy and come together as a family during their self-isolation. They have also put up a poster in support of teachers and support staff who are working hard to learn a new way to educate. People are more than welcome to share or use the picture of the sign and poster, she adds. "This is not just a moment of deep despair," Kathryn Lyle said. "This moment for us is about connecting with people and helping people." The Lyle family plans to keep adding new messages and notes of encouragement in the coming weeks. "It's meant to be positive and something that unites people," Kathryn Lyle said. "We'll get through this. We're all in this together. That's the viewpoint we've been having." There are plenty of other examples of Canadians coming together while staying apart during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of them is a Montreal comedian encouraging Canadians to sing or play The Tragically Hip song "Courage" from their windows and balconies on Thursday (March 26) at 4 p.m. MST. Have you seen something to brighten your day around your neighbourhood? We are putting a call out to residents to share the good they've seen around their neighbourhoods. Using the hashtags #BeWellYQL and #ABCares, residents are asked to tag the City on Facebook and Instagram with examples of uplifting art, kindness and positivity.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1158
__label__cc	0.716761	0.283239	Home > News Centre > Road Closures for the week of June 1-5 Road Closures for the week of June 1-5 There will be several partial and full road closures during the week of June 1-5 so crews can work on overlay paving and patching. Monday, June 1: partial road closure on University Drive West, northbound from Columbia Blvd. to Bridge Drive, for patching work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, and Wednesday, June 3: partial road closure on University Drive West, southbound from Bridge Drive to Stadium Drive, for patching work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4: partial road closure on Westside Drive West. Overlay patching work will begin at 7 a.m. both days and is expected to be completed by the end of June 4, weather permitting. Friday, June 5: full road closure 40 Avenue North between 11 Street North and 13 Street North. Overlay patching work will begin at 7 a.m. and is expected to be completed by the end June 5, weather permitting. Motorists are advised to drive with caution in this area and follow posted detours. For Public Inquiries: Call 311 \| Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nick Kuhl, Communications Consultant City of Lethbridge nick.kuhl@lethbridge.ca	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1159
__label__wiki	0.542208	0.542208	A station to enter two yuan, seven hundred million old iron can tolerate this From： LanYun Internet Date：2018-06-05 17:47:52 Hits： Belong to：Industry Trends Millions of “ monkey ” finally a new destination, not Ma Yun dad, not “ not line up the little prince ” today's headline, but gathered 700 million “ old iron ” the quick hand. Today's media reported that the fast team has completed the overall acquisition of “ Acfun” (hereinafter referred to as “ A station &rdquo). The quick hand has been to “ Luo super channel ” confirm this transaction, the quick hand reveals that the future A station will maintain the independent brand, maintain independent operation, maintain the original team, independent development. Quick hands will provide support in capital, resources and technology. However, the fast hand refused to publish the price of the transaction. I was surprised to see the news. Because, I remember, A station no longer exists. Quick hand pick up cheap, A station is resurrected Few mainstream Internet Co business will not be able to visit a few days, and on AcFun, it happened several times, because of the slow commercialization, the lack of video license, the copyright dispute, the overfrequency of the management changes, and the mismanagement of many reasons, which once appeared because of no money renewal. The horror of being stopped by a cloud service provider. At worst, AcFun domain names almost didn't renew — — when it renewed domain names for another year, monkeys saw a glimmer of hope. After a break, the A station has been a major injury, and it has been reported that Alibaba will receive — — Ali's Youku potato is one of the shareholders of the A station, and since then there is news that the headlines will be connected, but they are unresolved. In short, many people think that A station has not been saved. Now the quick hand dish is settled. It is equal to resurrecting the A station. Since the A station has been in such a bad state, its valuation should not be high. In previous financial rumors, its valuation had been cut down and the price code was estimated to be lower than the price. According to 36kr reports, the A station is estimated to be 750 million yuan before the current round of investment, while the A station has a 1 billion 850 million valuation on the last round of financing. It's obvious that the quick hand picked up a big bargain. The B station, which was born in 2009, has been listed, and the A station online in 2007 is now forced to be sold out, and everyone is in the same vents, and the A station starts early but is not as good as the latter. It can be seen that the business team is the key to the success of the business. &mdash, of course, the A station is a big shareholder and a big failure to introduce a traditional animation company. . Now entering the embrace of fast arms, the complementary space between them is greater and the synergy effect is more, which will naturally bring new possibilities to A station. March into the two dollar and take the young man The two dollar market is very important. On the one hand, it is an important content category. On the other hand, it can catch young people. Data show that in 2017, China's two dimensional user scale reached 308 million, of which 97% were after 90 and 00, the market size of the two yuan industry in China accounted for 57% of the whole entertainment market. The two sub market was not only a barrage such as A station and B station, but also animation, literature, live broadcast, audio, game and so on. As for the giant, it caters to the current user development strategy of holding young people, and has a huge commercial value itself. It is precisely because of this, that BAT has buried heavy troops here. Previous：In social media big data, there are hidden cruelty and hidden secrets of mobile phones. Next：Nothing	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1161
__label__wiki	0.982029	0.982029	De Bruyne and Houghton head City nominees at NW Football Awards Neil Leigh @mancity Tue 13 Oct 2020, 17:00 Kevin De Bruyne and Steph Houghton lead the way with Manchester City having received a number of nominations in the 2020 North West Football Awards. De Bruyne voted Etihad Player of the Month Belgian midfield maestro De Bruyne and England Lionesses skipper Houghton have been short-listed for the Player of the Season and Women’s Player of the Season awards respectively. De Bruyne enjoyed a stellar 2019/20 campaign and ended the season as the recipient of five other prestigious prizes. He won the Premier League Playmaker prize back in July having equalled Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a single season, a milestone which had stood for 17 years. In August, our fans voted him as our Etihad Player of the Season before he was then named Premier League Player of the Season. Last month, he became the first male City player to win the PFA Player of the Year prize, which is voted for by professionals across England’s four top divisions and he was named as UEFA’s Midfielder of the Season, further recognition of his brilliance across the 2019-20 campaign. Houghton meanwhile again proved an inspirational and talismanic figure for City on and off the pitch over the course of the 2019/20 season. WATCH: Watch Kevin De Bruyne documentary - Made in Belgium - on CITY+ now Eleven City stars win Lionesses call-up A leader and inspiration for both club and country, Steph continues to go from strength to strength and she has helped guide the Club into the 2019/20 Women's FA Cup final with City due to tackle Everton in the Wembley showpiece on November 1st. Meanwhile, Tommy Doyle and Lauren Hemp have been shortlisted for the Rising Star and Women’s Rising Star of the Season prizes respectively. Midfielder Doyle, the grandson of late, great City legends Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe, made his first team debut during the season and went on to figure for the Club in the FA Cup and Premier League too. SUBSCRIBE TO THE OFFICIAL MAN CITY PODCAST The 18-year-old’s excellent progress was further recognised recently when he signed a new long-term contract with the Club. Hemp meanwhile enjoyed a superb individual campaign and Won the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award for a second time. The England international was also named City’s QNET Rising Star in the Club’s End of Season Awards, and earned the MCWFC Official Supporters’ Club’s Player of the Season prize. WATCH: Hemp: City is the place to be Special Team of the Decade canvas released today Our hugely respected City in the Community team are amongst the nominees for the Premier League Community Club of the Season prize, providing yet further recognition of their exemplary work in the Manchester community. And CITC’s innovative City Parks initiative has been shortlisted in the Community Initiative of the Year category. The award winners will be announced at the digital awards ceremony which takes place on Monday November 9th. To view the full list of this year’s finalists, visit www.northwestfootballawards.com News Club News manchester city Man City Women MCWFC CITC Kevin De Bruyne Steph Houghton Tommy Doyle Lauren Hemp	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1164
__label__wiki	0.514219	0.514219	https://www.manisteenews.com/local-news/article/Rolling-Thunder-delivers-hope-to-facility-for-14209700.php Rolling Thunder delivers hope to facility for homeless veterans Dave Yarnell Published 8:38 pm EST, Sunday, February 24, 2013 A large number of representatives from Manistee’s Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter One made the trip Sunday to Gaylord to present a trailer full of items to the Patriot Place facility for homeless veterans. From left to right are Lori Welch, Jim Defever, Mitchell Smith, Jerry Langhann, Kelly Trudell, , Linda Stocki, Starla Owens (a Gold Star mother), Brenda Wilson, Rev. Doug Welch, Amber Brave Bull, Calvin Murphy, Marty Kensil and Bo-John Brave Bull. (Dave Yarnell/News Advocate) less A large number of representatives from Manistee’s Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter One made the trip Sunday to Gaylord to present a trailer full of items to the Patriot Place facility for homeless veterans. ... more MANISTEE - Yes, the trailer was full of household items for the eight homes Goodwill Industries of Northwest Michigan has built to help homeless veterans transition to homes of their own. But that's not all Manistee’s Rolling Thunder Chapter One delivered on Sunday to Patriot Place. The most important delivery was hope, and the message that they are supportive of and pulling for the success of those using the transitional homes. "We donated a thousand dollars' worth of Ninetendo equipment just before Christmas and found that they have a severe need for many things since there's no money train going up there," said Rev. Doug Welch, chaplain of the local Rolling Thunder unit. "Because of the coverage of that event, a group from Traverse City said, 'We'll give them a thousand dollars,' and people from the Little River Band saw that and they called us in and made a generous donation and that's what we're taking up today." According to Jerry Langhann of Rolling Thunder, the Little River Casino Resort, the Catholic Community of Manistee and other organizations and businesses chipped in to help. "We're hoping others see this and try to one-up us again, because they need the help," Welsh said. It is estimated that there are more than 600 homeless veterans in northern Michigan and in the first year Patriot Place has served 35. The majority arrive with no income and have been chronically homeless. Many suffer from mental health issues, substance abuse challenges and physical disabilities. It is Goodwill's mission is to help people overcome barriers to independence. Unlike a temporary emergency shelter, veterans at Patriot Place have the opportunity to live independently and receive support services for up to two years. "This program is helping them get back their self respect and get them back on their feet," Welch said. "They don't want handouts, they're just asking for a hand up. We want to make sure that they get the respect that they deserve. We're trying to do as much as we can for these veterans because they deserve the help." Welch said he believes that number 600 is too low for homeless veterans in northern Michigan. "There are so many living out in the woods that we don't even know about," he said. "We've got people who actually go out in the woods and try to find them and get them help. That's our main objective, to help them out." Members of Rolling Thunder said it's important to show the veterans that someone cares about them. "Most are pretty reclusive and like to stay to themselves because of their situation," Welch said. "But they appreciate us showing up to help because they know we respect them and we're not there to criticize or judge. A lot of them fall on hard times and wind up homeless through no fault of their own. We're doing our best to help every veteran we can. This is a very worthy program." The trailer full of items included household necessities of all kinds -- vacuum cleaners, sheets, bedspreads, dishes, towels, snacks, pillows, coffee pots and more. "Most came in with nothing and they will take some of this stuff when they so they'll have something to start with and that creates a constant need to replenish these items," Linda Stocki said. “We saw a need and we're trying to fulfill it,” Langhann said, indicating that this won’t be the last trip to Gaylord. “We'll be doing what we can to keep this going. I think I stuck our foot in our mouths when I said, 'We have officially adopted you guys.' So we're kind of committed.” Anyone wishing to help with the program can contact Rolling Thunder through Welch -- (231) 398-7998 and the e-mail address wind-walker7@hotmail.com. Patriot Place can be contacted at (989) 448-2260 and the e-mail address patriotplace@goodwillnmi.org TIM JOSEPH: Local leaders should reassure public of commitment to rule of law	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1166
__label__wiki	0.95061	0.95061	https://www.manisteenews.com/sports/article/Athletics-acquire-reliever-Nik-Turley-from-15871345.php Athletics acquire reliever Turley from Pirates for $60,000 Updated 3:58 pm EST, Thursday, January 14, 2021 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Left-hander Nik Turley was traded to the Athletics on Thursday from the Pittsburgh Pirates for $60,000, giving Oakland a reliable reliever for late in games after losing closer Liam Hendriks in free agency. Turley went 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA and one save over 25 relief outings — most by any big league rookie — spanning 21 2/3 innings for the Pirates in the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season. The 31-year-old Turley made his major league debut with Minnesota in 2017 then didn't pitch the next two years after working back from Tommy John elbow ligament reconstructive surgery. Oakland won the AL West at 36-24 for its third straight playoff berth then beat the White Sox in the wild-card round before losing in a four-game AL Division Series to rival Houston last fall. This 85-inch Hisense UHD LED TV is down to its Cyber Monday price	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1167
__label__wiki	0.769023	0.769023	Graham, DeMint Support Foulke for Position in the Bush Administration WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today said they support Edwin ‘Ed’ Foulke of Greenville for the position of Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.) A Greenville resident, Foulke is an accomplished labor law attorney, who boasts a wealth of knowledge and experience in occupational safety and health related legal issues. He has served with distinction for over fifteen years as a member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) and is a natural fit for this important post. Foulke yesterday went before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to answer questions from Senators. “All South Carolinians should be proud that President Bush has selected Ed for this position,” said Graham. “This is a very important job for the American workforce and business community. We need someone with his talents at OSHA to oversee worker safety and ensure the government regulations placed on businesses meet the common-sense test. I support his nomination and know he will serve our nation well in this position.” “Ed Foulke has long served South Carolina, and I'm confident he has the intellect and experience to take the lead at OSHA,” said Senator DeMint. “I have come to know Ed as a man of integrity and principle, traits that will serve our nation well. The conclusion of Ed’s positive nomination hearing is a win for American workers and businesses. I look forward to his confirmation.” A graduate of Loyola University (New Orleans) School of Law, Foulke is currently a partner with Jackson, Lewis, Schnitzler & Krupman practicing out of the firm’s Greenville and Washington offices. He is admitted to practice in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, the District of Columbia, the Fourth, Eleventh, and District of Columbia Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal as well as the United States Supreme Court. In addition to publishing extensively on a number of topics related to employment and labor law, Foulke has guest lectured for several Universities and business organizations. He also holds a LLM Masters in Law from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington. ##### Statement on the Passing of Coretta Scott King WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the death of Coretta Scott King. “All Americans should celebrate a life well-lived. “Mrs. King was a strong voice for economic and social justice. She was a pioneer of the civil rights movement who stood on her own as one of the most effective voices in America expressing equality for all. She was a brave woman who held firm to her beliefs during some of America’s most difficult days. Her courage in standing for the idea of justice for all will be an inspiration for future generations of Americans. “Mrs. King has rightfully earned her place in history as a great American.” ##### Graham Statement on Senate Confirmation of Justice Alito to the Supreme Court WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement after Justice Samuel Alito was confirmed to the Supreme Court. Graham supported the nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee and on the floor of the Senate. The vote today was 58-42 in support of Justice Alito. “It is a great day for the Supreme Court and a great day for the country. “Justice Alito is one of the most qualified nominees to ever come before the Senate. He is very much a mainstream conservative and will serve on the Supreme Court with distinction. His conservative judicial philosophy will have an impact on the Court for decades to come. “Justice Alito has fifteen years of judicial experience on the federal bench and has received rave reviews from every corner of the legal community. The American Bar Association rated him unanimously as well-qualified, their highest rating for a position on the Supreme Court. People who work with him, even those who disagree with him, say he is a kind, decent man who is a judge’s judge. “President Bush chose well when he nominated Justice Alito for this important position. I’m very pleased the Senate has now confirmed him to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court.” ###### Graham Says Consultation Needed in Restructuring National Guard Senators to Offer Bipartisan Senate Resolution Seeking Consultation Between Pentagon, Congress and Governors WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) yesterday introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the National Guard and requesting the Department of Defense seek input from Congress and governors when deciding future changes to National Guard personnel and calling on the Pentagon to resolve equipment shortages. Graham and Nelson are the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee. “At this crucial time in our nation’s history, we are more dependent on the National Guard than ever,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). “Now is not the time to diminish the role the reserves play in the American military. I look forward to working with Senator Nelson, who has been a good friend to the National Guard, to ensure our reserve forces are properly structured.” “The members of our National Guard aren’t ‘weekend warriors,’” said Senator Nelson. “They’re indispensable citizen-soldiers, airmen and airwomen who serve their country full-time when needed, and in return, I expect the Department of Defense to fully support the National Guard missions here and around the world.” The National Guard has a unique role in defending the nation. Guard troops have a dual responsibility: to the nation and to their home states. The Department of Defense is proposing cuts in personnel levels for the Guard and the Guard is plagued by significant shortages of critical equipment. The resolution calls for the Department of Defense to: Fully fund the equipment needs of the National Guard; Consult with Congress and the nation’s governors as soon as possible on any proposed changes to the National Guard force structure; Consider the National Guard’s role in homeland defense when considering the National Guard’s force structure; Create budget projections that detail cost savings from any National Guard force structure changes, as well as projected costs in the event large personnel increases are necessary to respond to a homeland defense emergency; Ensure Congress and our nation’s governors that potential personnel cuts will not impact the safety and security of the American people. The resolution arrives as the future of the National Guard is currently being determined by the upcoming Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). Despite and as a result of their significant work, the National Guard continues to experience equipment shortages. Last November, Senators Nelson, Graham and 40 other senators from both political parties sent President Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld a letter urging them to fully fund the National Guard. The guard is experiencing equipment deficiencies all over the country including shortages of humvees, rough terrain trucks, over-the-road tractors, wreckers, semi-trailers, communication equipment, and weapon mounts for trucks. The resolution is supported by the National Guard Association of the United States. Also, current co-sponsors of the bipartisan resolution include Senators: Ben Nelson (NE), Lindsey Graham (SC), George Allen (VA), Jim Talent (MO), Elizabeth Dole (NC), Olympia Snowe (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), John Thune (SD), Johnny Isakson (GA), Mike DeWine (OH), Tim Johnson (SD), Richard Durbin (IL), Robert Menendez (NJ), Mary Landrieu (LA), Bill Nelson (FL), Tom Harkin (IA), Byron Dorgan (ND), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Jeff Bingaman (NM), Daniel Akaka (HI), Max Baucus (MT), Hillary Clinton (NY), Herb Kohl (WI), Barbara Mikulski (AK), Evan Bayh (IN), Maria Cantwell (WA), Mark Pryor (AR), Ken Salazar (CO), Joseph Lieberman (CT), Joseph Biden (DE), Kent Conrad (ND), Edward Kennedy (MA), Russell Feingold (WI), Susan Collins (ME), Norm Coleman (MN), and Lamar Alexander (TN). #### Graham Announces $450,000 for Nuclear Power Research at USC WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the University of South Carolina Research Foundation will receive $150,000 per year over the next three years for research into the development of fuel for the next generation of nuclear reactors. “We must continue to expand our research and development efforts in nuclear energy,” said Graham. “Nuclear power is a clean source of energy that has been safely providing power to South Carolina for decades. I am pleased our state’s research institutions are playing a leading role in the development of next-generation energy technology.” The three-year project is a partnership between the USC and the Savannah River National Lab. This project was one of eight to receive funding under this program out of 160 applicants. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. #### Graham Statement on the Palestinian Election Results WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the Palestinian elections. “If the election results hold and are considered legitimate, it will be a tremendous setback for the Middle East peace process. The hopes and dreams of the Palestinian people to live in an independent state with dignity and peace will never materialize as long as a terrorist organization is their voice. “The election results amount to a de-facto declaration of war by the Palestinian people against the state of Israel. It’s imperative our nation redouble its commitment to the state of Israel and cautiously evaluate any future assistance to a Palestinian regime governed by terrorists.” ##### Clemson University to Receive $1.5 Million in Hydrogen Research Funding WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Clemson University will receive $1.5 million in funding for research into hydrogen as a fuel source. The Clemson grant is part of a larger $119 million package announced today by the Department of Energy. The focus of the funding is to create a “roadmap” aimed at identifying and overcoming the technical and manufacturing challenges associated with the further development of commercially available hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. “I’m pleased with today’s grant announcement from DOE,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). Graham serves as the co-chair of the Senate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus. “Clemson University, and other research institutes across South Carolina, will play a prominent role in helping push hydrogen research forward. What Detroit was to the automotive industry, South Carolina can be to hydrogen.” “As a nation we need to become less dependent on foreign oil,” said Graham. “To help us achieve that goal, it’s my hope the next generation of automobiles will not be solely dependent on gasoline as a fuel source. It would be irresponsible if 50 years from now we’re still reliant on Middle Eastern oil to drive our national economy. We need to get away from fossil fuels and start looking at using different sources of energy such as hydrogen to power our automobiles. Today’s grant announcement is another step in the right direction.” Graham noted South Carolina is a leader in hydrogen research. The University of South Carolina is developing hydrogen fuel cells, Clemson is working on hydrogen vehicles and the Savannah River Site is a leading research facility in hydrogen storage and technology. In addition, these groups and others recently united behind the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association which coordinates the state’s efforts to be a leading player in the emerging hydrogen economy. In addition to the grant announcement, DOE today also unveiled the Roadmap on Manufacturing R&D for the Hydrogen Economy. The 80-page document addresses challenges to manufacturing, storage and production of fuel cell technologies and proposes solutions to overcome such challenges, focusing primarily on near commercial technologies. ##### Graham Statement on Judiciary Committee Vote on Judge Alito WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement following the Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. The vote in committee was 10-8. Senator Graham supported the nominee. “Judge Alito is one of the most historically qualified nominees to ever come before the Senate. He’s very much a mainstream conservative and will serve with distinction on the Supreme Court. I was proud to support his nomination in the Judiciary Committee and look forward to voting for him again on the Senate floor. “Judge Alito has fifteen years of judicial experience on the federal bench and has received rave reviews from every corner of the legal community. The American Bar Association rates him as unanimously well-qualified, their highest rating for a position on the Supreme Court. People who work with him, even those who disagree with him, say he is a kind, decent man who is a judge’s judge. “Chief Justice John Roberts received 50 percent of the Democratic caucus vote and he's one of the most stellar nominees in the history of the country. Judge Alito is one of the most well qualified nominees in 70 years and he'll be lucky to get a handful of Democratic senators. “It’s disappointing to see the Judiciary Committee break straight along party lines. Unfortunately, it appears Democratic Senators are listening to the liberal special interest groups who have spent millions of dollars attacking Judge Alito. What's going on with Judge Alito is not advising and consenting. It's about politics. And that does not bode well for the future of the judiciary.” ##### Graham Meets with Auto Industry Leaders to Discuss South Carolina’s Hydrogen Research Efforts WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) last week traveled to the Detroit Auto Show to meet with manufacturers and discuss South Carolina’s role in producing the next-generation automobile. Graham is a co-chair of the Senate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus along with Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND). Graham told automotive industry leaders that South Carolina is on the cutting-edge of hydrogen research and hydrogen holds the potential to be the new fuel of the 21st Century. In addition, Graham noted the environmental benefits of hydrogen as a clean source of energy. “What Detroit was to the automotive industry, South Carolina can be to hydrogen,” said Graham. “My message to the CEO’s was that as a nation we need to become less dependent on foreign oil. To help us achieve that goal, it’s my hope the next generation of automobiles will be hybrids not solely dependent on gasoline as a fuel source.” “It would be irresponsible if 50 years from now we’re still reliant on Middle Eastern oil to drive our national economy,” said Graham. “We need to get away from fossil fuels and start looking at using different sources of energy such as hydrogen to power our automobiles.” South Carolina is a national leader in hydrogen research. The University of South Carolina is developing hydrogen fuel cells, Clemson is working on hydrogen vehicles and the Savannah River Site is a leading research facility in hydrogen storage and technology. In addition, these groups and others recently united behind the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association which coordinates the state’s efforts to be a leading player in the emerging hydrogen economy. “All the automobile manufacturers understood the importance of hybrid cars but right now there is no consensus in the industry on how they will develop,” said Graham. “Congress may need to assist this development by offering additional tax incentives and setting attainable standards for manufacturing. The future will be dominated by cars that don’t solely run on gasoline and the sooner we can make progress in that area the better.” ##### Second Round of Graham Questioning Judge Alito SPECTER: Thank you, Senator Feingold. Senator Graham? GRAHAM: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Judge Alito, maybe we could continue with the Vanguard issue just for a moment. And I know you've been asked every conceivable combination of questions. But Senator Feingold is very sincere about ethics in government. He practices what he preaches and he's been one of the leaders of trying to make this place operate better. And my impression of you is that you're a good model for judges in terms of ethical conduct, based on what everybody says who knows you. I mean, I don't claim to be a close associate of yours, but the ABA has looked at this and said that it did not reflect poorly on you. Three hundred lawyers and judges who know you have said that you're just, really, sort of, what we want in a judge. And maybe that's not enough, but that's a pretty good start. I don't think you could get 300 people to say that about me or some of us. But the question I have -- the criminal prosecutor or lawyer in me has this question to ask -- why would you make a conscious decision not to recuse yourself? Why would Judge Alito sit down in the corner of a room and say, I think I've got a conflict, but I'm just going to let it go and hear the case anyway? I am baffled as to why you would make a conscious decision in this situation not to recuse yourself. Do you have an explanation? ALITO: There's no reason why I would make such a conscious decision. I had nothing whatsoever to gain by participating in this case and nobody has suggested that I did. This case involved some thousands of dollars. Vanguard manages billions of dollars of funds. The idea that the outcome of this case could have some effect on the mutual funds that I hold is beyond preposterous, and I don't understand anybody to have suggested anything like that. GRAHAM: Well, I've been asking myself that question quietly. What is in it for this guy? Why would he bring all this grief upon himself consciously? Is it to intentionally break a promise to the Senate so you'd go through hell for three days? I don't think so. (LAUGHTER) So I'm going to accept you at your word, like the ABA, and I'm going to move on. And I don't know if anybody else will. Now, your days at Princeton. The more I know about Princeton, it's an interesting place. (LAUGHTER) What is an eating society? ALITO: The eating clubs are privately owned facilities that upper classmen join for the purpose of taking their meals. The first two years, when I was there -- the situation is now a bit more diversified as far as eating is concerned -- but when I was there, and traditionally the freshmen and sophomores ate in university dining halls. And then, as juniors and seniors, they had to find other places to eat, and these were private facilities. GRAHAM: What is a selective eating society? ALITO: It's one where you apply to be a member, like a fraternity, and you go through a process that is somewhat similar to that, and they select you if they like you. GRAHAM: Were you a member of a selective eating society? ALITO: No, I was not. GRAHAM: Did people not like you or you just didn't apply? (LAUGHTER) ALITO: I didn't apply. GRAHAM: Well, let me tell you who did apply. Donald Rumsfeld was a member of a selective eating society at Princeton. And that's an interesting comment, I thought. Woodrow Wilson. Jim Leach, good friend of mine over in the House. Mitch Daniels, the governor of Indiana, was a member of a nonselective eating society. Senator Claiborne Pell was a member of nonselective eating societies. And other Princeton alumni who are members of Congress could not verify their participation or lack thereof in eating clubs, including Senator Sarbanes, Bond, Frist and Representative Marshall. And I promise you I'll get to the bottom of that before this is all done. (LAUGHTER) Now, this organization that was mentioned very prominently earlier in the day, did you ever write an article for this organization? ALITO: No, I did not. GRAHAM: OK. And some quotes were shown, from people who did write for this organization, that you disavowed. Do you remember that exchange? ALITO: I disavow them. I deplore them. They represent things that I have always stood against and I can't express too strongly... GRAHAM: If you don't mind the suspicious nature that I have is that you may be saying that because you want to get on the Supreme Court; that you're disavowing this now because it doesn't look good. And really what I would look at to believe you're not -- and I'm going to be very honest with you -- is: How have you lived your life? Are you really a closet bigot? ALITO: I'm not any kind of a bigot, I'm not. GRAHAM: No, sir, you're not. And you know why I believe that? Not because you just said it -- but that's a good enough reason, because you seem to be a decent, honorable man. I have got reams of quotes from people who have worked with you, African American judges -- I've lost my quotes. Judge Higginbotham -- I don't know where they're at. But glowing quotes about who you are, the way you've lived your life; law clerks, men and women, black and white, your colleagues who say that Sam Alito, whether I agree with him or not, is a really good man. You know why I believe you when you say that you disavow those quotes? Because the way you have lived your life and the way you and your wife are raising your children. Let me tell you this: Guilt by association is going to drive good men and women away from wanting to sit where you're sitting. And we're going to go through a bit of this ourselves as congressmen and senators. People are going to take a fact that we got a campaign donation from somebody who's found out to be a little different than we thought they were -- and our political opponent's going to say, Aha, I got you! And we're going to say, Wait a minute. I didn't know that. I didn't take the money for that reason. And you know what? I'm going to believe these senators and congressmen for the most part, because that's the way we do our business. We meet people here every day. We have photos taken with people -- and sometimes you wish you didn't have your photo taken. But that doesn't mean that you're a bad person because of that association. Judge Alito, I am sorry that you've had to go through this. I am sorry that your family has had to sit here and listen to this. Now let's talk about another time not so long ago -- and another judge and some of her writings -- and see if the Senate is changing for the better or for the worse. GRAHAM: Justice Ginsburg, who I need to go have a cup of coffee with because I constantly bring her up and I do not dislike the lady; I admire her. But let's put it bluntly, under today's environment, from a conservative's point of view, she would have a very hard time because Justice Ginsburg was the general counsel for the ACLU from 1973 to 1980. And if you want me to tar somebody by their association, I can put up some pretty wild cases from my point of view where she was involved. But you know what? I respect her because her job as an attorney for the ACLU is to represent the most unpopular causes. And as far as I can tell during her time with the ACLU, she was honest, she was ethical and she fought for the most unpopular causes. And, for that, I respect her. But you've put some things down on an application about your view of the law in Roe v. Wade and it's taking an unbelievable effort on your part, I think, to convince people that, when I was a lawyer, I did this, when I applied for a job, I was doing this, and as a judge, I will do this. Here is what Justice Ginsburg said in an article she wrote titled, Some Thoughts on Autonomy and Equality in Relationship to Roe v. Wade. The conflict, however, is not simply one between a fetus' interest and a woman's interest narrowly conceived, nor is the overriding issue state versus private control of a woman's body for a span of nine months. Also, in the balance is a woman's autonomous charge of her full life's course, her ability to stand in relation to men, society and to stay as an independent, self-sustaining equal citizen. She wrote further, As long as the government paid for childbirth, the argument proceeded public funding could not be denied for abortion, often a safer and always a far-less expensive course short and long term. By paying for childbirth but not abortion, the government increased spending and intruded upon or steered a choice Roe had ranked as a woman's fundamental right. The public funding of abortion decisions denying a requirement of public funding appear incongruous following so soon after the intrepid 1973 ruling. The court did not adequately explain why the fundamental choice, principle and trimester approach, embraced in Roe did not bar the sovereign at least at the pre-viability stage of pregnancy from taking sides and being required to provide funding for the abortions of poor women. If that writing doesn't suggest an allegiance to Roe, that writing doesn't suggest from her point of view as the author of that article not only is Roe an important constitutional right, that government ought to pay for abortions in certain circumstances. GRAHAM: If she were here today and a Democratic president had nominated her and we take on the role that our colleagues are playing against you, not only would she not have gotten 96 votes, I think she would have been in for a very rough experience. And what's changed? Justice Ginsburg openly expressed a legal theory about Roe v. Wade. My question to you: If I am arguing a case that would alter Roe v. Wade, would I have the ability because of her prior writings to ask her to recuse herself based on those writings alone? ALITO: I don't think you would, Senator. I think it is established that prior writings of a member of the judiciary do not require the recusal of that member of the judiciary. GRAHAM: I think you're absolutely right, Judge. And let me tell you what she said at the hearing when it was her time to sit where you're sitting. You ask me about my thinking on equal protection versus individual autonomy. My answer is that both are implicated. The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision that she must make for herself. When government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices. A sentiment I think our pro-choice colleagues share, a sentiment that I disagree with because I think the decision does affect humanity, and that's the unborn child. I don't question her religion. I don't question her patriotism. She gave an answer that was very honest and was very direct. And pro-life Republicans and pro-life Democrats never thought about disqualifying her. She didn't go through what you went through. Pro-life Republicans and pro-life Democrats set her comment aside and judged her based on her whole record and believed she was worthy to sit on the Supreme Court and she got 96 votes. And what you've said in your writings about the other side of the issue pales in comparison to what she said before she came to this body. I don't know how many votes you're going to get. You're going to get confirmed. And it's not going to be 96. Judge Roberts got 78, and I'm afraid to say that you're probably going to get less. To my colleagues, I know abortion is important. It's important to me. It's important to you. I know it's an important, central concept in our jurisprudence. But we can't build a judiciary around that one issue. GRAHAM: We can't make judges pledge allegiance to one case. We can't expect them to do things that would destroy their independence. You can vote yes; you can vote no; you can use any reason you would like. I just beg my colleagues: Let's don't go down a road that the country can't sustain and the judiciary will not be able to tolerate. People set aside her writings, set aside her candid statement and gave her the benefit of the doubt that she would apply the law when her time came. She replaced Justice White. We knew that that vote was going to change. I don't think any Republican had any doubt that, if there was a Roe v. Wade issue, she would vote differently than Justice White. But you never know. The one thing I can tell the public about you and John Roberts is that you're first round NFL draft picks, but I don't know what you're going to do 10 or 20 years from now because I think you are men of great integrity. And I may be very well disappointed in some of your legal reasoning, but I'll never be disappointed in you if you do your job as you see fit. The last thing I'm going to read -- do you know Cathy Fleming? ALITO: I do. She was an attorney and supervisor in the U.S. Attorney's office in New Jersey. GRAHAM: Did you ask her to write a letter on your behalf? ALITO: I did not, no. GRAHAM: Judge Alito did not ask me to write this letter. I volunteered. (LAUGHTER) I'm glad you said that, by the way. (LAUGHTER) I'm a lifelong Democrat. I am the president-elect of a national women's bar association. I chaired the corporate integrity and the white collar crime group at a national law firm. I do not speak on behalf of either my law firm or the women's bar association. I speak for myself only. But, by providing my credentials as an outspoken women's rights advocate and liberal-minded criminal defense attorney, I hope you will appreciate the significance of my unqualified and enthusiastic recommendation of Sam Alito for the Supreme Court. Sam possesses the best qualities for judges. He's thoughtful; he's brilliant; he's measured; he's serious; and he's conscious of the awesome responsibilities imposed by his position. I cannot think of better qualities for a Supreme Court justice. It is my fervent hope that politics will not prevent this extraordinary, capable candidate from serving as associate justice on the United States Supreme Court. GRAHAM: I share her hope. Thank you. I yield back my time.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1169
__label__cc	0.536491	0.463509	Senators Call On President Obama To Provide Information On Benghazi Survivors We again request your Administration immediately provide the names of the Benghazi survivors to Congress so we can conduct interviews to gain a clearer understanding of what happened before, during, and after the attack. Statement By Senators Graham, McCain On President's Remarks On Syria Today Washington – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today released the following statement on President Obama’s remarks on Syria at his press conference this morning: “In explaining his Syria policy today, President Obama was forced to defend the indefensible. It is true that the Administration has not done ‘nothing’ in Syria. But it is also impossible to escape the reality that nothing it has done has been sufficient to end this conflict. As a result, our national security interests and the safety of our friends and allies in the region are in growing danger. “The uncertainty and ambiguity of our policy towards Syria has contributed to our current crisis. By drawing a ‘red line’ on chemical weapons, the President actually gave Assad a green light to use every other weapon in his arsenal with impunity. Tens of thousands of Syrian civilians have been killed indiscriminately with artillery, helicopter gunships, fighter jets, and SCUD missiles. Now Assad has crossed the President’s red line. The credibility of the United States is on the line, not just with Syria, but with Iran, North Korea, and all of our enemies and friends who are watching closely to see whether the President backs up his words with action. Unfortunately, the red line has been blurred with each passing day. It will not be long before Assad takes this delay as an invitation to use chemical weapons again on an even larger scale. Both the humanitarian and strategic consequences that will result from such an act are horrific: It will further destabilize Syria, which is at great risk of becoming a failed state and a safe haven for Al Qaeda. “Rather than continue with this reactive approach, and outsource the initiative for U.S. policy to Assad, the President needs to lead. He needs to articulate exactly what outcome in Syria would best serve America’s national security interests, what strategy is required to achieve that goal, and what means we need to employ together with our friends and allies to achieve success. There are many options at our disposal, including military options short of boots on the ground in Syria, that can make a positive impact on this crisis, which is destabilizing the region. The President must act now or risk squandering U.S. credibility in Syria and around the world.” Senators Renew Call For Joint Select Committee To Investigate Benghazi WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), John McCain (R-Arizona) and Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire) today renewed their call for Senate leadership to appoint a joint select committee to investigate the Obama Administration’s handling before, during, and after the September 11, 2012 attack in Benghazi: “We are once again calling on our Senate leadership to appoint a joint select committee to investigate the terror attacks on Benghazi. “Revelations about witnesses being afraid to testify and military assets that could have been deployed in a timely fashion justify appointing a joint select committee. “In light of these new revelations it is imperative that we learn everything we can from what happened before, during and after the attacks. We cannot allow those who serve our nation to feel abandoned when under attack, or by Congress afterwards. “A joint select committee is the most appropriate way to get to the bottom of what happened in Benghazi. “As with any investigation, the longer we delay, the harder it is to find the truth. We have already waited too long. “We urge Senate leadership to act immediately to set up this joint select committee.” Graham Responds To President Obama With all due respect Mr. President, Benghazi and Boston are compelling examples of how our national security systems have deteriorated on your watch. Graham, McCain, Ayotte and King Statement On Enemy Combatant Status For Boston Suspect It is clear the events we have seen over the past few days in Boston were an attempt to kill American citizens and terrorize a major American city. The suspect, based upon his actions, clearly is a good candidate for enemy combatant status. We do not want this suspect to remain silent. Statement from Senators Graham and McCain Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417) WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and John McCain (R-Arizona) tonight made the following statement. “We truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement and intelligence communities. "It is clear the events we have seen over the past few days in Boston were an attempt to kill American citizens and terrorize a major American city. The accused perpetrators of these acts were not common criminals attempting to profit from a criminal enterprise, but terrorist trying to injure, maim, and kill innocent Americans. "Now that the suspect is in custody, the last thing we should want is for him to remain silent. It is absolutely vital the suspect be questioned for intelligence gathering purposes. We need to know about any possible future attacks which could take additional American lives. The least of our worries is a criminal trial which will likely be held years from now. "Under the Law of War we can hold this suspect as a potential enemy combatant not entitled to Miranda warnings or the appointment of counsel. Our goal at this critical juncture should be to gather intelligence and protect our nation from further attacks. "We remain under threat from radical Islam and we hope the Obama Administration will seriously consider the enemy combatant option. “We will stand behind the Administration if they decide to hold this suspect as an enemy combatant.” Graham Votes Against Gun Control President Obama wanted three things on gun control -- ban assault weapons, limit magazine sizes, and expand background checks. He lost all three. Graham Resolution Supporting Israel Clears Senate Foreign Relations Committee Our bond with Israel is deep. We have no better friend in that part of the world than Israel. I appreciate the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's passage of this important resolution. Graham Opposes Toomey-Manchin Amendment The Toomey-Manchin proposal, while well-intentioned, is not a solution to illegal gun violence. Graham Welcomes Senate Debate On Second Amendment I welcome the debate on gun control. The American people deserve to see where their elected representatives stand on the Second Amendment. Let's vote.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1170
__label__wiki	0.972038	0.972038	Paul Kerr Since summer 2007 Paul Kerr has been Senior Lecturer in Broadcast Media at London Metropolitan University. He is the author and editor of a number of books and articles on television and film. He started his career at the British Film Institute but for the last twenty years he was a television producer, making dozens of programmes for the BBC and Channel Four as well as a number of international co-productions. He began his TV career by specialising in major series about the media – Open The Box (C4 1986), The Media Show (C4 1987-90), and the award-winning cinema series, Moving Pictures (BBC2 1990-96) but developed into working in a range of programmes about the arts, and history including series about gay theatre, the Crimean War, black British history and international design. A number of his documentaries have been screened at film and TV festivals around the world including New York, Turin, Dinard, Florida and Bologna. His research interests include documentary, drama documentary, ‘quality’ television, the independent production sector in film and television, Hollywood, and international art cinema. p.kerr@londonmet.ac.uk	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1171
__label__wiki	0.718264	0.718264	Most consumers unlikely to spend more because of vaccine: survey By Stephen Nellis FILE PHOTO: Small bottles labeled with "Vaccine" stickers stand near a medical syringe in front of displayed "Coronavirus COVID-19" words in this illustration BERLIN (Reuters) – The development and availability of a coronavirus vaccine could improve the outlook for the battered tourism industry but it is unlikely to convince consumers to spend more money in the short term, a survey showed on Tuesday. The survey by research group Dynata asked more than 5,000 people in Germany, France, Britain, the United States and Australia how they would change their behaviour once a COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available. Most respondents said they were looking forward to visiting friends or relatives again (61%) and leaving the house more often (53%), the survey showed. In Germany and Britain, nearly half of respondents said they were looking forward to going on vacation abroad again. NYC’s Economic Fallout from COVID with James Patchett, President and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation https://podcasts.schnepsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GMT20201201-170155_NEW-ZOOM-L_640x360-1.mp3 Overall, one in two respondent was looking forward to not having to wear a face mask anymore. But only 12% said they were looking forward to spending more money and to focus less on savings, according to the findings. During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in spring, the saving rate in Germany, for example, doubled to 20% as many consumers had to stay at home and shops were forced to close. (Reporting by Reinhard Becker; Writing by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Maria Sheahan)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1172
__label__wiki	0.973076	0.973076	U.S. envoy to U.N. to visit Taiwan; China says playing with fire By Ben Blanchard U.S. Ambassador to UN Craft attends Security Council meeting about situation in Syria in New York City TAIPEI (Reuters) – The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, will visit Taiwan next week for meetings with senior Taiwanese leaders, Taiwan’s government and the U.S. mission to the U.N. said, prompting China to warn they were playing with fire. Beijing, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory, has been angered by stepped-up support for Taiwan from the outgoing Trump administration, including trips to Taipei by top U.S. officials, further straining Sino-U.S. ties. Chinese fighter jets approached the island in August and September during the last two visits – by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach, respectively. “During her trip, the Ambassador will reinforce the U.S. government’s strong and ongoing support for Taiwan’s international space in accord with the U.S. one-China policy that is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-PRC joint communiques, and the Six Assurances to Taiwan,” the U.S. mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday. She will be in Taiwan from Jan. 13 to 15, it added. While the United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is the island’s strongest international backer and arms supplier, being obliged to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. China said it was firmly opposed to the visit. “We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action,” China’s U.N. mission said. “China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-U.S. relations and the two countries’ cooperation in the United Nations, and stop going further on the wrong path.” Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Craft, whom it called a “staunch friend”, would meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. The visit is highly symbolic as Taiwan is not a U.N. member, because of objections by China, which views the island as one of its provinces and not a country, and that only Beijing has a right to speak for Taiwan on the international stage. Taiwan says that right belongs to its democratically elected government, not China, and has complained of Chinese pressure preventing it from getting real-time information from the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Craft will likely bring up that issue. The U.S. mission said that while in Taipei she would give a speech on “Taiwan’s impressive contributions to the global community and the importance of Taiwan’s meaningful and expanded participation in international organisations”. In a September post on Twitter, she called for Taiwan’s “full participation at the UN”, following a meeting with Taiwan’s de facto consul general in New York. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York and Cate Cadell in Beijing; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Lincoln Feast and Gerry Doyle) As inauguration nears, law enforcement scrutiny drives U.S. extremists into internet’s dark corners Trump plans to depart Washington the morning of Inauguration Day: sources Trump administration to mull expansion of China investment ban -sources Indonesian cleric linked to 2002 Bali bombings walks free after 10 years in jail UK extends England entry ban to travellers from 11 African countries for COVID variant Dollar up from 2018 lows on economic hopes, euro profit-taking	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1173
__label__wiki	0.671288	0.671288	WOMAD Festival chooses Morelia as its first Mexican venue WOMAD is an international festival that by its acronym in English World of Music, Arts & Dance, exposes different musical genres, dance and arts in general. This festival has already been in more than 30 different countries, and now it is the turn of Morelia to be the house that receives this great experience. WOMAD Festival chooses Morelia as its first Mexican venue. Photo: WOMAD website The creator of this festival is Peter Gabriel, also known for being part of the British progressive rock band Genesis; The singer-songwriter declared on the festival's official website: "The pure enthusiasm for music from all over the world led us to the concept of WOMAD in 1980 and thence to the first WOMAD festival in 1982." The WOMAD festival began in 1982 but it is from 1988 onwards that it takes an international identity with weekend performances in Denmark and Canada; from this, the world image of the festival has grown, including presentations in Australia, USA, Japan, Spain and other European countries. The philosophy that surrounds the WOMAD festival has taken them to distant and heterogeneous countries, from New Zealand to South Africa. Morelia will have the opportunity to receive a festival known for its cultural diversity in the year 2020; the British singer-songwriter posted on his Twitter: "We are very excited that the city of Morelia joins the WOMAD family! Mexico's first WOMAD will take place in the summer of 2020 and will bring the best of music, art and culture to Mexico and take Mexican culture to the world! " - Peter Gabriel (@itspetergabriel) January 25, 2019	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1175
__label__cc	0.668037	0.331963	Beijing (China) SENIOR TEACHER Sha Mo (*1990), graduated from the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy in 2015. He visited Belgium, Portugal and Korea to communicate and exchange with the local students of arts as a member of the delegation of his academy. Before graduation he has gained a lot of working experience through working as the vice director or assistant in production of films directed by Ning Hao, Xu Haofeng, Du Jiayi and Qiao Liang.The short film, BLACK FISH (2012) directed by Sha Mo as his joint graduation work was awarded the Best Director Prize in Short Film Show for Students in both Shanghai International Film Festival and Golden Koala International Film Festival. In 2014, Sha Mo directed the short film HONEY TRAP which was produced by Beijing Film Academy and Korea National University of Arts. And he also finished his master graduation work, the film SENIOR TEACHER which was awarded honorable mention at 13. up-and-coming International Film Festival Hannover 2015.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1180
__label__cc	0.747635	0.252365	UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT TOLULOPE ESTHER OLUWADUMILA, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2020. CMUL \| Lagos, Nigeria \| Advancing SDG 3 & UNAI 3 " It is my pleasure to be a Millennium Fellow because this would provide me with a bigger platform to get across to and positively impact more people than I could have as a single individual. Being a Millennium Fellow also means that I would be working with innovative, like-minded individuals, and I look forward to this. It is my dream to ensure that pregnant women are equipped with adequate knowledge to ensure birth preparedness and complication readiness. In doing this, I believe there would be a reduction in maternal mortality. " Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Health Alert Project Health Alert is an initiative that started by a group of Millennium Fellows of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. The project aims at promoting the Sustainable Development Goal 3, by raising awareness on a number of health disparities which include: 1. Awareness on oral health and the importance of good hygiene. 2. Awareness on the importance of voluntary blood donation. 3. Awareness on the preventable causes of blindness. 4. Awareness on cervical cancer, including health education on childbirth preparedness and complication readiness 5. Awareness on the importance of proper nutrition. Project Health Alert also focuses on educating the general public on how to prevent and manage these issues, in order to ensure a healthy population. During the course of the fellowship, we hope to reach out to about 500 individuals directly and over 1000 indirectly. We intend to achieve this by leveraging on social media platforms available to us, as well as partner with organisations and NGOs in order to have a wider coverage. Oluwadumila Tolulope is a young woman studying medicine on the pretext of passion call. Although she has an extensive array of interests, she is particularly passionate about the health of vulnerable individuals including pregnant women and children. She makes sure to participate in activities which would help to impact people positively, and also maximize her youth and early experience. She continually strives to think outside the box and aims to be a part of a cause that can improve the lives of people around her.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1183
__label__wiki	0.979132	0.979132	By The Guardian Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a meeting of local administrators at his palace in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015. Turkey could hold a referendum on constitutional changes for a new political system, reviving a highly contentious push to increase the powers of the president, an aide to Erdogan said Wednesday. The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, which Erdogan founded and continues to lead from behind the scenes, scored a stunning victory in a parliamentary election Sunday, gaining back the majority it lost in a previous election just five months ago. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer, Presidential Press Service) The Turkish government has resumed a crackdown on journalists and political rivals of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan just two days after a major electoral victory for his party that will see it return to single-party rule. Police officers and bureaucrats loyal to an exiled cleric based in the US are among dozens of people who have been arrested by Turkish authorities in an ongoing move against a group whose members have become bitter rivals of the president. Two senior editors at an opposition-aligned magazine were also detained on Tuesday and accused of plotting a coup after the front cover declared in the aftermath of the election “the start of civil war in Turkey”, a reference to anger in the predominantly Kurdish east and south-east where relations with the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party are tense. The magazine, Nokta, said in a statement on Twitter that the editor-in-chief, Cevheri Güven, and managing editor, Murat Capan, were detained after police raids on their offices in Istanbul and charged with “attempting to overthrow the government by force”. Earlier, dawn raids targeted figures allied to a wide-ranging movement that pledges allegiance to Fethullah Gülen, a preacher who is set to stand trial in absentia for allegedly working to topple Erdoğan. The prosecutor’s office in the western city of Izmir said it ordered the arrest of 57 people believed to be members of the “Gülenist terror group”. The raids were the latest move in a campaign against the group that once maintained a pervasive presence in the judiciary and security services and helped orchestrate the prosecution of numerous military officials accused of plotting to overthrow the AKP-led government in the past. Security services last week seized a company with supposed ties to Gülen that operates a number of media outlets including Bugün TV, which hosted several opposition politicians in the run-up to the November elections, including Selahattin Demirtaş, the leader of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. The raid on the TV station, which remained on air during a standoff with police, dramatically illustrated the break in ties between Erdoğan and his former Gülenist allies. Although the raid was officially described as part of an investigation by a court-appointed board into alleged financial crimes by the parent company, insiders say the crackdown is fuelled by a feeling of betrayal within the president’s party towards Gülen’s faction. Gülenist officials were believed to have been involved in the Sledgehammer trials, which alleged that members of the Turkish armed forces had plotted to overthrow the AKP-led government, as well as the Ergenekon affair trials, in which hundreds of individuals were arrested and charged for allegedly belonging to a clandestine ultranationalist organisation that supposedly had ties with the military and security services and was bent on overthrowing the government. The split with Erdoğan broke into the open in 2013 and 2014 after news emerged of a corruption investigation targeting AKP members and the president’s inner circle. Erdoğan described the investigations as essentially a coup attempt and accused Gülen of infiltrating the security forces and judiciary; the president later carried out a purge of police officers. Prosecutors in Turkey last year charged Gülen, who has been living in Pennsylvania since 1998, with leading a criminal organisation. Security forces separately imposed a curfew in the majority Kurdish town of Silvan in the south-east, following airstrikes against the outlawed separatist group the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) in Iraq on Monday. The PKK said in a statement it expected the war with the government to escalate after the elections. Following attacks in the summer against activists, including Kurds, that were blamed on Islamic State, the government used the violence that erupted to crack down on the PKK, essentially ending a peace process that had led to a ceasefire in 2013. Turkish government officials said the PKK had broken the ceasefire rules, including by fighting alongside Syrian Kurds across the border. Ankara believes Syria’s Kurds want to create a de facto state on Turkey’s southern border. Critics contend that the government sought to crack down on Kurdish militants in order to attract nationalist votes in the snap elections, in which the AKP gained about 5 million votes. © 2015 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Political Rivals While Trump Berates Portland Looters, the US Gov’t Continues to Plunder Syria with Impunity Cheap Mediterranean Natural Gas Could Spell the End for the NATO Alliance Guaido Representative Threatens FBI Investigation Into Journalists Exposing Her Dealings Sign Up For The Best Of MintPress, Delivered To Your Daily Inbox. Sign up for our daily digest. © 2021 MintPress News	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1186
__label__wiki	0.69721	0.69721	montpellier business school ranking Read more about Montpellier Business School including student testimonials, faculty interviews and more. Lastly, teachers and students have access to the Electronic Document Center through the Center’s website, which is primarily focused on collections and services (searching for books and periodicals, placing holds, learning about new items, remotely accessing resources, etc.). 0. country rank. Main information. PowerPoint). The difference in score between schools ranked consecutively is greater within groups … For more in-depth information about QS Stars, please. Montpellier Business School has recorded several very good results, starting with a national top 10 and an increase of 5 places worldwide! • How can applicants contact the university about their application? 10 talking about this. MBS Master of Science in Marketing ranks 46th worldwide for Masters in Marketing degrees. There is an integrated security system in place, incorporating security guards and a video surveillance device.Learning spaces and teaching methods. In addition, the institution supports the Bureau des Sports in negotiating access to multiple facilities so that all students are able to regularly practice a variety of different sports (Volleyball, Squash, Rugby, Tennis, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Handball, etc. Ranked N° 1 Montpellier Business School in France among the 3 palms. /sites/default/files/profiles/cover-images/mbs_cover_image.jpg, /sites/default/files/profiles/cover-images-mobile/mbs_mobile_cover_320x450_2_0.jpg, MBS, the heart of teaching (2020 version), Welcome to MBS - International admissions, Welcome to MBS - International admissions (2020 clip), MBS, the place to be, the place to study (2020 version), This is MBS - Montpellier Business School, Discover Montpellier Business School (2020 clip), This is Montpellier Business School (Clip 2017), World University Rankings - Masters In Marketing, World University Rankings - Masters In Management, World University Rankings - Masters In Finance. In all, the Electronic Document Center provides on and off campus access to 16 specialized digital resources providing up-to-date, verified and professional information. Out of the 2,500 students in all Montpellier Business School programmes, only 1,825 are actually present at any one time on the Montpellier campus. Sponsored by Montpellier Business School For now, the prospect of s... 3 Finance Tips For Studying Abroad In France. Discover all of our Executive Professional Training solutions, including: The guarantee of excellence of a leading faculty, Based on the salary and the accreditation criteria. Check the ranking of countries that interest you ! Montpellier Business School was founded in 1897 and is situated on the Mediterranean shore in Montpellier, France. Montpellier Business School in France. We believe other universities will proceed the same way.Regarding our international entrance exam, we work on even easier process by offering, instead of taking an online live interview, the same interview through a pre-recorded video interview. Montpellier Business School in position #61. test results, required documents)?Requirements remain the same and try to have solutions such as pre-recorded interviews, internal English test, internal reasoning and logical test free of charge. Due to the sanitary situation in France, the French authorities asked all Institutions to close, our campus had to close and subsequently cancel all events taking place on campus. 3570 12692. ).Student residences, • What is the status of planned campus admission open days/tours? Digital Management or Data science, Big data and A.I. Montpellier Business School world ranking . Founded in 1897 and member of the eminent French Conference des Grandes Ecoles, Montpellier Business School holds the three prestigious international accreditations AACSB, EFMD-EPAS and AMBA, a recognition of its academic quality. There are few surprises. L'etudiant just published its 2018 ranking of top grandes ecoles' business programmes. To join the Grande Ecole Programme of Montpellier Business School means choosing to develop your talents and expertise to become an actor in a changing world. Sponsored by Montpellier Business School Sponsored by Montpellier Business School COVID-19 Information: Please check the Admissions tab. France is one of the most... A Day in the Life of an International Master’s Student. It’s a business school with grander ambitions than producing profit-driven managers. Founded in 1897, Montpellier Business School is a member of the eminent French Conference des Grandes Ecoles with triple-accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA — a recognition of its academic quality. The Bachelor of International Business Administration Programme (BIBA) is an undergraduate degree (high school diploma + 3 years of high education), delivered over 3 years studies and recognised by the State (RNCP Level II), AACSB accredited and EESPIG labelled: a choice that prepares the future in one of the best European Business Schools. It is equipped with two screens - one for digital signage and one for television broadcasts - and connected to the wireless network. It offers a complete range of management courses, including a bachelor's program, Grande Ecole Master in Management program, MSc, and Executive MBA. • Is the university still accepting applications? Fondée en 1897, membre de la Conférence des Grandes Écoles, Montpellier Business School détient les trois prestigieuses accréditations AACSB, EFMD-EPAS et AMBA, marques d’une qualité académique internationalement reconnue. The school has a “Multimedia” room, which has the following three uses:- shooting in studio mode for courses recorded in two streams: the video stream of the teacher or speaker and the course material video stream (e.g. Dean's message. - The school has a digital signage system including 11 screens distributed throughout buildings for providing information about campus life (associations, conferences, news broadcasts, etc.) Why Montpellier Business School? Business school rankings, including MBA, MSC, and European MBA rankings from the Financial Times +33 (0)4 67 10 60 16. Save time and contact the school here! Montpellier Business School has one intake per year (each September), we recommend students to start their visa procedure 3 months before at least to be able to arrive on time for the international students’ intake. Son programme Grande Ecole délivre un diplôme visé et revêtu du grade de Master. The following “mobile” materials round out this equipment: overhead projectors, video projectors, televisions, DVD players, projection screens and sound systems. All of the school’s student associations, including the Bureau des Elèves (the Office of Student Affairs), are located here. • Is the university making any changes to entry requirements (i.e. The university-level school is one of the “Grandes Écoles” and is one of the oldest business schools in France. Eduniversal is an annual ranking of business schools and universities in over 150 countries. Montpellier Business School Alumni Association A network . Click here to know more. . Montpellier Business School offers of 3 programs: Bachelor, Master (programme Grande Ecole) and Executive MBA. Study abroad at Montpellier Business School. All rights reserved. MBS is ranked for its Research in the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020. Montpellier Business School can be classified as small with only 3000 students. Open Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Electronic Document Center gives users access to 5,500 recent books and 180 French and foreign journals (daily, weekly, monthly, specialized and scientific) as well as to DVDs. Due to the nature of the school’s degree programmes - involving a year abroad, a year in a company and one to two years on campus - ICT is at the heart of the teaching and learning process.- The Internet: all microcomputers are connected to the Internet. It provides a detailed look at an institution, identifying which universities rate highest in the specific topics that matter to you, like facilities, graduate employability, social responsibility, inclusiveness, and more. Montpellier Business School is in the top 25% of universities in the world, ranking 135th in the France and 4250th globally. These e-textbooks contain the required readings for each class, which students can access online or download. Their detailed ranking scores each school on three variables: academic excellence, internationalization and corporate links, and then gives a total. It has been continuously ranked in the Financial Times’ Best Masters in Management rankings since 2012. By choosing Montpellier Business School, you're choosing to become a responsible actor in a changing world. Montpellier Business School is a French business school located in Montpellier. Founded in 1897 and member of the eminent French Conference des Grandes Ecoles, Montpellier Business School holds the three prestigious international accreditations AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, a recognition of its academic quality.It has been continuously ranked in the Financial Times’ Best Masters in Management rankings since 2012.Montpellier Business School develops a complete range of management courses: Bachelor programme, Grande Ecole Master in Management programme, Masters of Science, Executive MBA and Summer School.Firmly focused on business and entrepreneurship, open to French and International talents unique in their diversity and their profiles, Montpellier Business School is recognized for its commitment to transmitting its core values: Ethics, Openness and Diversity, Global Responsibility and Performance.Montpellier Business School develops a policy of equal opportunities unique both by the number of students concerned and by the quality of their professional success.Choosing MBS is choosing to become a responsible leader in a changing world. The university-level school is one of the “Grandes Écoles” and is one of the oldest business schools in France. Are there any restrictions being placed on international applicants?We are still accepting new applications as our intake is in September, the platform is still open. The main hall and offices in this 600 m² (6,458 ft²) space are dedicated to association activities. 25/11/20: Read 204 experiences of international students at Montpellier Business School - Overall. in addition to real-time information concerning class schedules.IT equipment, The IT equipment for educational purposes takes into account the need for each student to have a laptop computer. The parking area has 400 spots for vehicles and a zone reserved for “two-wheelers.” Six parking spaces are reserved for persons with reduced mobility (PRM). QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited 1994 - 2020. The main building is in Montpellier. 156. world rank. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. https://www.montpellier-bs.com/international/contact-us/, Bachelor of International Business Administration, Find your perfect University program with our matching tool, Find your perfect School and Program with our matching tool, Connect with other students on our forums. 66th in the world by QS World Ranking for Business Program. The 14,000 m² (150.69 ft²) of surface area are distributed between seven buildings of various sizes. Not completed by the school Join a Grande Ecole of Management directly after a high school diploma. 52nd in the world by Financial Times 2018. We have no restriction being placed on international applicants.Link to start an application: https://extranet.montpellier-bs.com/, • How are applications for university accommodation being handled?After being pre-enrolled, students are contacted by the International Student Office department which will help students to provide them with housing solutions. Other streams can be added and mixed in, such as a second fixed camera, a moving camera, DVD, etc. For many, the idea of stud... How to Choose the Right Business School For You. Montpelier High School is unranked in the National Rankings.Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and … “Today’s ranking once again places EDHEC among the top three business schools … • various spaces available to students for group work. Students, the entire faculty and the administrative staff benefit from individualized access to digital resources (Abi/Inform, Ebsco, Emerald, Inderscience, Sage, Science Direct, Wiley, etc.). To accommodate these 1,825 students - including international students participating in academic exchanges - who are on campus from September to June, the institution has: • 52 classrooms with a capacity of 12 to 75 students, • a large amphitheater with 470 seats (including 11 reserved for PRM), • an amphitheater with 134 seats, • a “flat” amphitheater with 79 seats (including 4 reserved for PRM). Coq Nain Ardennais, Champ électrostatique Créé Par Un Fil Fini Pdf, Protège Carnet De Santé Disney Personnalisé, Cnam Ressources Humaines, Code Promo 2019 Expedia, Internat Collège Isère, Peluche Pas Cher Disney, Que Faire à Zante, Volkswagen Grand California Configurateur, Exercice Corrigé Hacheur 4 Quadrants, Shampoing Antifongique Chien, Neuvaine De Fatima 2020, Ou Vendre Des Perles De Tahiti, Classement Lycée Paris 15,	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1191
__label__wiki	0.553724	0.553724	#944 – 1946 3c Kearny Expedition into New Mexico $6.00FREE with 1,200 points! - MM420245x30mm 50 Horizontal Clear Bottom-Weld Mounts U.S. #944 3¢ Kearny Expedition City: Santa Fe, N.M. Printing Method: Rotary Press Perforations: 11 x 10 1/2 Color: Brown violet U.S. #944 commemorates the 100th anniversary of Stephen Watts Kearny into Santa Fe. The stamp pictures the raising of the American flag above the governor’s palace in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1846. Kearny Expedition On August 18, 1846, Stephen W. Kearny captured Santa Fe without firing a shot as part of the Kearny Expedition. Stephen Watts Kearny was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1794. He served with the 13th Infantry Regiment during the War of 1812 and would spend much of the next 30 years serving on the frontier. During this time, he ordered his men to escort travelers from the Oregon Trail across the plains to avoid Native American attacks. He established a post along the route, which was named in his honor. The post was then moved to the Platte River in central Nebraska and also called Fort Kearny. When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Kearny was promoted to brigadier general. He was also ordered to lead an expedition from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to capture New Mexico and California for the United States. Kearny had a force of about 2,500 men that were marching toward an unknown number of defending Mexicans. The governor of Santa Fe didn’t want to fight but was convinced by his priests that they should defend the town. They set up positions, but then on August 14, before Kearny and his troops arrived, the governor changed his mind and ordered his men to retreat to Chihuahua. Kearny and his men reached the town on August 15 but didn’t encounter any Mexican forces. They claimed the New Mexico Territory for the United States without firing a single shot. On August 18, 1846, Kearny declared himself the military governor of the New Mexico Territory and he used the Palace of the Governors as his administrative center. After taking control of Santa Fe, Kearny established a civil government and promised a democratic administration of the area. These actions secured popular support for the US government and its troops. Kearny then appointed a civil governor and set out for California on September 25 with 300 men. Along the way, he met Kit Carson, who told him California was under American control, so Kearny sent back 200 of his men. But as he continued toward his destination, Kearny encountered another American soldier who said there was a revolt in Los Angeles. On December 6, Kearny and his force of 100 men encountered a force of about 150 Californio Lancers. The American troops’ powder was wet and so their guns wouldn’t fire. About 18 of his men were killed and the remainder were forced to retreat. Kit Carson managed to sneak away to San Diego and returned with reinforcements. After driving the Californios back, Kearny’s troops and those from California then retook Los Angeles in January 1847. Kearny then served as military governor of California from February to May 1847. He received a hero’s welcome in Washington, DC, and was then appointed the governor of Veracruz and later Mexico City. He died the following year, on October 31, 1848. 1946 3c Iowa Centennial 1946 3c Smithsonian Institution 1946 3c Tennessee Statehood 1947 3c Utah Centennial 1947 3c Joseph Pulitzer 1946 3c US Armed Forces: Merchant Marine 1946 3c US Armed Forces: Veterans of World War II 1947 3c Thomas A. Edison 1947 3c U.S. Postage Stamp Centenary 1947 3c Everglades National Park 1947 3c U.S. Frigate Constitution 1947 3c The Doctor 1945 3c Florida Statehood 1945 3c Texas Statehood 1942 3c Kentucky Statehood 1941 3c Vermont Statehood 1945 3c US Armed Forces: Army 1945 3c US Armed Forces: Coast Guard 1948 3c Oregon Territory Centennial 1948 3c California Gold Rush Centennial	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1198
__label__wiki	0.688452	0.688452	Transfers and taxis at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Private transfers in sedans, taxis, minivans and coaches from/to Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) TIP: Book a transfer from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) We work to offer you the best private transfers from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF). We work only with drivers and companies specialised in transfers from and to Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) to any destination in Germany or neighbouring countries. Your transfer from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) will always be done in new cars with highly qualified drivers and with the best available rates. All our drivers have excellent experience and knowledge of all possible routes from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF). Our wide range of vehicles available in Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF), consisting of sedans, SUVs, minivans and luxury cars, can be adapted to the needs of any client. In this way we can guarantee that your transfer will be carried out in the best conditions and with maximum security. See you soon in the arrivals hall of Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF). Country code: DE IATA: SXF Popular routes from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) Dresden city Bestensee 01 h 17 m \| 130 km Feldberger Seenlandschaft Frohnau Gräfenhainichen Hannover city Kąty Wrocławskie Liebenberg Sieniawa Żarska Sommerswalde Spreenhagen What kind of transfers and routes are available from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF)? We can arrange transfers from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) for any capacity of passengers in private taxi, minivan, mini bus and coach to any destination in Germany. If you cannot find the desired destination from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) please contact us. How will I find my driver at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF)? The driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals terminal at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF). He/She will carry a sign with the name of the lead passenger. Why should I book a private taxi or minivan from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) in advance? By booking a private taxi or minivan with us at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) you will benefit from our fixed prices, with no surprises. Our driver will be waiting for you on arrival. Vehicles with capacity for more than 4 people or for passengers with special luggage needs are rare at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF). If you book in advance with us, the transfer will be carried out with a vehicle that will be perfectly adapted to your needs. Yes, all transfers are private with door-to-door service. Our driver will pick you up at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) and take you directly to your destination, without any stops. Where is Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) located? Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) is one of the busiest airports in Germany. The IATA code for Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) is: SXF	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1199
__label__wiki	0.766346	0.766346	Buzzed: Swarm of bees forces delay to Giants-Reds game Posted: May 6, 2019 / 02:57 PM EDT / Updated: May 7, 2019 / 06:41 AM EDT CINCINNATI (AP) — Giants manager Bruce Bochy got buzzed in his final game at Great American Ball Park. A swarm of bees circled above the backstop screen shortly before the start of the San Francisco Giants’ game against the Reds on Monday, prompting an 18-minute delay to the first pitch. The umpires and players moved away from the plate and watched the buzz from a safe distance. The bees soon moved toward the upper deck — workers closed press box windows as they came that way — and the game went on without further incident. Nothing new for the Giants. Not when they come to Cincinnati. They also were involved in a bee delay here that got national attention on April 17, 1976. A swarm made its way into San Francisco’s dugout at Riverfront Stadium, forcing players to flee. The game was halted for 35 minutes, and the Reds pulled away to an 11-0 victory. Bochy now has been involved in two unusual events at Great American Ball Park. The Giants were in town when one of the home run smokestacks in the outfield caught fire on May 15, 2015, forcing fans to evacuate two sections of the outfield while firefighters extinguished it. Bochy is retiring after the season. The Reds honored him on the field Monday, before the bees arrived. The Reds were involved in another notable bee delay on May 11, 1987, at Riverfront Stadium. A swarm prompted a 17-minute delay, and Reds pitcher Ted Power was stung on the hand. Weather / 3 seconds ago	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1203
__label__cc	0.626604	0.373396	Mistrial Declared in Case of Fort Worth Officer Who Shot Man Who Was Carrying Barbecue Fork A Tarrant County judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of a police officer accused of aggravated assault by a public servant for shooting a man who was carrying a barbecue fork in a 2015 incident. After more than a day of deliberations, the jury was deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict, district attorney Sharen Wilson said. "We will consider the jury's inability to reach a verdict and the evidence presented at trial to decide whether a retrial is justified," Wilson said in a statement.   Continue reading...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1204
__label__wiki	0.954975	0.954975	Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Says Anthem Protests ‘Takes Away' from Game of Football By Charles Nichelson and Paul Jones • Published July 27, 2018 • Updated on July 27, 2018 at 8:13 pm At his annual “State of the Cowboys” address earlier this week, Jerry Jones said he expects his players to stand, "toe on the line," during the National Anthem. Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins called Jones a “bully” for his stance on the issue. Newy Scruggs breaks down how the Cowboys are handling the never-ending anthem controversy. coronavirus Mar 20, 2020 COVID-19 Tracker: What We Know About the Virus in DFW and Around Texas coronavirus 27 mins ago North Texas ICU Nurse Hopeful, But Warns We're Not in the Clear Dak Prescott was asked to share his thoughts on the Cowboys owner’s recent comments. He said he will continue to stand during the National Anthem, though he respects his colleagues right to do what they feel is best for them. He said he does not think kneeling during the National Anthem is the way to go about it. "I will never protest during the anthem and I don't think that's the time or the venue to do so." Prescott said. "When you bring such a controversy to the stadium... it takes away from that, from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people." Prescott added that he is more than willing to participate in ways to fight social injustice in the United States. "I'm not naive and I'm very aware of the social injustice that we have going," Prescott said. "But I'm about the action that we can do to fix it rather than a silent protest." Earlier today, the NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement on their recent discussions over the league's latest anthem policy, which allows players to remain in the locker room if they do not wish to stand for the anthem. “A short time ago, the NFL and NFLPA concluded a constructive meeting regarding the anthem policy and the very serious social justice issues that have been the basis of some players’ protests. We are encouraged by the discussions and plan to continue our conversations.” United StatesNFLfootballNational Football Leaguethe NFL	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1205
__label__wiki	0.971777	0.971777	BP's Next CEO Warns Against Push To Limit Drilling BP's next CEO tells NPR the energy giant will put safety at the center of future exploration, but cautions that any legislative action to prevent it from operating in the Gulf of Mexico could have "unintended consequences." Gulf Oil Spill: Containment And Clean Up BP's Next CEO Warns Against Push To Limit Drilling BP's Next CEO Warns Against Push To Limit Drilling 8:58 July 28, 20107:45 AM ET NPR Staff Bob Dudley, who will take over from BP CEO Tony Hayward on Oct. 1, says the company has a long-term commitment to the Gulf of Mexico region. Cheryl Garber/AP hide caption Cheryl Garber/AP Bob Dudley, who will take over from BP CEO Tony Hayward on Oct. 1, says the company has a long-term commitment to the Gulf of Mexico region. BP's next CEO said the energy giant will put safety at the center of future exploration, but cautioned that any legislative action to prevent it from operating in the Gulf of Mexico could have "unintended consequences." "We will reorganize and restructure our businesses to put a much higher set of checks and balances of functional expertise on safety across the business," Bob Dudley told NPR's Renee Montagne. BP announced Tuesday that Dudley will replace CEO Tony Hayward on Oct. 1, becoming the British company's first American chief executive. Hayward was widely criticized for his handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill caused by a deadly explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig April 20. The company's actions during the disaster and its safety record prior to the rig blast have come under fire. Dudley said his immediate job is to oversee the cleanup operations. "Our success and our ability to do business in the United States, I think, depends on our corporate response and follow-through on this," he said. "And we have some very large commitments that we intend to keep in America." There are people along the Gulf Coast that think that because we capped the well, then we're going to pack up and leave — that's not the case. We'll be there for years. Dudley said the goal is to cap the well and kill it, after which the company intends to skim any remaining oil on the surface and focus its effort on cleaning up Gulf Coast beaches. He said he is hopeful that the well could be killed by next Monday or Tuesday. "I do believe we're seeing the end of the oil flowing into the gulf," Dudley said. He also emphasized a long-term corporate commitment to the region, saying BP will stay in the gulf for years to come. "There are people along the Gulf Coast that think that because we capped the well, then we're going to pack up and leave -- that's not the case," he said. "We'll be there for years. We'll have offices across the Gulf Coast." Dudley acknowledged that safety measures that Hayward introduced three years ago upon assuming the post of CEO were not implemented fast enough. He vowed to ensure that they become a key part of BP. "There's no question with this accident we have to up the trajectory on this dramatically," he said. "And that's what we will be doing." But BP's safety record might hinder future exploration. Legislation before Congress would prevent companies with poor safety records from getting new licenses for exploration for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico. Dudley said such actions would have a negative effect. "I think there should be a thoughtful approach to this," he said. "A simple banning of one of America's largest employers there in the Gulf may have some unintended consequences." BP expects to pay what could be the largest fine in corporate history for the disaster, Dudley said, and had made provisions in its second-quarter numbers, which were announced Tuesday. The company announced a loss of $17 billion in its second quarter and set aside more than $32 billion to pay for all of the expected costs related to the spill. Crews Scramble To Contain Michigan Oil Spill July 28, 2010 From The Air, Gulf Oil Slick Seems To Be Clearing July 27, 2010	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1213
__label__wiki	0.870451	0.870451	Grandmas: Good for girls, bad for boys 27 Oct, 2009 09:00 PM 3 minutes to read The presence of a grandmother in a female child's life may explain why human women live well beyond their reproductive age, a new study suggests. Photo / Paul Estcourt By: Steve Connor The importance of grandmothers in the lives of their grandchildren is underlined in a study published today. But the research showed that it was only granddaughters who were likely to do better with their paternal grandmothers involved in their early lives. In contrast, the presence of paternal grandmothers had a detrimental effect on the survival of their grandsons. The discovery supports the idea that grandmothers have played an important role in human evolution and could explain why human females - alone among the animal kingdom - live well beyond their reproductive age. Molly Fox of Cambridge University and her colleagues tested out the idea by analysing the birth and death records of seven populations in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa who had lived in different periods going back to the 17th century. They looked at infant mortality in the first three years of life and found that it differed depending on whether paternal or maternal grandmothers were present in a grandchild's early life. "The presence of a paternal grandmother in all seven of the populations had a harmful effect on grandsons because her presence was linked with an increase in mortality," Ms Fox said. "Meanwhile, in six out of seven populations, the paternal grandmother's presence in her granddaughter's early life had a beneficial effect in terms of the risk of mortality. This difference between paternal grandsons and granddaughters would explain a lot of the inconsistencies in previous studies, where the sex of the grandchild was not considered," Ms Fox said. "We've only looked at infant mortality, and the mechanism itself remains mysterious. Other studies have given evidence against conscious favouritism towards one grandchild or another," she said. The study, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, could help to explain the evolution of female longevity: grandmothers live beyond their menopause to help bring up their grandchildren. It is widely believed that the reason human females live well beyond the menopause is so that grandmothers can invest their energy in raising their children's children rather than risking further pregnancies of their own. The "grandmother hypothesis" suggests that all grandchildren benefit from having either of their grandmothers involved in their early upbringing. But studies have so far failed to support the hypothesis with consistent evidence. It is normally assumed that all grandchildren share about 25 per cent of their DNA with each of their four grandparents but Ms Fox, a doctoral student in Cambridge's department of biological anthropology, pointed out that the female "X" sex chromosome of grandmothers is not inherited equally between their grandchildren, which could explain why some do better than others with each grandmother. - INDEPENDENT Latest from Lifestyle Harry's 'heartbreak' over feud with Royal family 'Best of both worlds': Busy Auckland woman seeks 'Mum' to help raise her son From liquid gold to price crash: NZ's honey hangover 15 Jan, 2021 11:00 PM 12 minutes to read Notorious RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsberg on life, love, liberty and law Leigh Hart: A laugh over beer and chips 'You question why you want to do that': Barker's dig at Cup officials after loss	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1214
__label__cc	0.655344	0.344656	Home Images and media photos 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles The cap and collar badges for the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles, a horse rampant over the regimental motto. The collar badges are a smaller version of the cap badge. Motto: Fortes fortuna juvat (Fortune assists the brave). The 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment was officially raised on 17 March 1911. It was one of 12 regionally based mounted rifles regiments formed as part of the new Territorial Force (TF) organisation that came into existence on that day. This part-time Territorial Force and a tiny regular force of professional soldiers formed the basis of New Zealand’s army at the outbreak of the First World War. Instead of mobilising the TF, however, the government decided to raise a separate force to send overseas to fight – the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). In 1914 the new mounted regiments of the NZEF were given provincial names corresponding to the military district in which they were raised – Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury or Otago. This gave them some sense of regional identity. The NZEF mounted regiments were instructed to affiliate each of the three squadrons under their command with a TF mounted rifles regiment from their military district, and to issue the regiment’s badge to the squadron. The idea was to foster linkages with the established TF regiments that were not being sent overseas. So the badge of the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment, TF, was worn by the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Squadron of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, NZEF, throughout its service in the Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine campaigns. This image Appears In 1 Article: Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment timeline wellington mounted rifles Image: Private collection 1 comment has been posted about 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Sue Penman Do you want photos relating to this group of Mounted Rifles?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1215
__label__cc	0.557504	0.442496	Northwestern Medicine Neurologists Determine Best Treatment for Severe Stroke Cases NM News Blog NM In The News Northwestern Memorial Hospital May 05, 2015 FDA has only approved one treatment for ischemic strokes –tPA. When given it time, tPA can unblock blood clots and aid recovery. But what about patients who don’t get tPA in time? CHICAGO, IL – On average, one American dies from a stroke every four minutes. Stroke is also the leading cause of adult disability in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of death among Americans. When a stroke occurs, rapid medical attention is crucial. When treatment is received promptly, a person has a far greater chance of surviving the stroke and more likely to have less lasting damage. For many patients, that treatment is tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA. tPA is the only FDA approved treatment for ischemic strokes and works by dissolving the clot and improving blood flow to the brain. If administered within three hours (and up to 4.5 hours in certain eligible patients), tPA may improve the chances of recovering from a stroke. However, a significant number of stroke victims do not improve even with tPA, or cannot get tPA because they arrive at the hospital too late. Sometimes, the clot is too large for tPA to dissolve on its own. A team of Northwestern Medicine stroke neurologists analyzed recent developments in acute stroke treatment for patients in whom tPA is not enough to open the blocked artery. In the April 14, 2015 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, the Northwestern Medicine stroke researchers reviewed new studies that show improved outcomes for these most severe stroke patients when clots are mechanically removed from arteries using a catheter to perform a procedure called thrombectomy. Thrombectomy has been performed for many years in emergency situations when tPA could not be administered, but there was uncertainty about whether or not the procedure was effective. The landscape has changed dramatically in the last few months, with six large randomized trials showing that thrombectomy, with or without tPA, dramatically improves outcomes in patients with large clots in brain arteries. The JAMA article written by the Northwestern Medicine group encourages medical centers to adopt this therapy or build alliances with hospitals that can perform this procedure, so that it becomes the new standard of care for stroke patients. JAMA is one of the most widely read journals in medicine, and the review is expected to contribute to a major shift in practice. This is good news for the most critical stroke patients, said Richard Bernstein, MD, PhD, director of the stroke program and telestroke at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Bernstein, along with Northwestern Medicine stroke neurologists Shyam Prabhakaran, MD and Ilana Ruff, MD, authored the study. “We now can confidently treat acute stroke patients with a procedure that dramatically improved outcomes compared to intravenous tPA alone,” said Bernstein, who is also a professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “However, it’s important for patients to know that this is a complex procedure requiring a high level of technical expertise. It can only be done at a top tertiary care center like Northwestern Memorial Hospital.” Northwestern Medicine has used thrombectomy for years and has a large team that specializes in this procedure. Prior to the recent research, it was performed only when established, standard of care therapies could not be used. However, now they expect to offer this treatment to a wider population of patients as a routine therapy, based on the new research. “These findings represent a major shift in stroke treatment,” said Prabhakaran, who is also an associate professor of neurology at the Feinberg School. “Compared to intravenous clot-busting drugs like tPA, mechanical removal of the clot results in up to 70 percent of patients living independent lives after major stroke, which is double the percentage seen with tPA alone. This means less disability from stroke, less costs related to rehabilitation, home care services and loss of productivity.” About 87 percent of strokes that occur in the United States are ischemic strokes, caused by an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. In the absence of oxygen, the brain cells in the immediate area begin to die. “When patients come to our emergency department with stroke symptoms, they are quickly evaluated by a neurologist to determine if they are a candidate for acute therapy," added Ruff, who is also an assistant professor of neurology at the Feinberg School. “In the past two years, we have dramatically improved our process and we now consistently treat patients with IV tPA in less than 30 minutes from their arrival to Northwestern Medicine Memorial Hospital. We have already updated our protocol so eligible patients can be treated as quickly as possible with mechanical thrombectomy." Understanding risk factors and learning to recognize symptoms can potentially save lives and limit damage if a stroke occurs. By taking a quick health survey, you can learn about your personal risk factors with our online Stroke Risk Assessment. For more information visit the Northwestern Medicine Stroke Program or to find a physician, please call 312.926.0779.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1219
__label__cc	0.568414	0.431586	The Blast From The Past & The Future CULTURE/TRENDS We Love The 90s - Urban Music Here's How to Watch Jagged Edge & 112's 'Verzuz' Battle Jagged Edge vs. 112 battle on Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. This Memorial Day weekend, "Verzuz" fans are getting two battles. That's right, following Beenie Man and Bounty Killer's face-off on Saturday (May 22), Jagged Edge will take on 112 on Monday. "Breaking News Just added to the Memorial Day Weekend madness," co-founder Swizz Beatz announced on Instagram. "Something for the ladies." He also shouted out his partner Timbaland by noting, "it’s a busy long weekend." Tune in here, Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. MORE NEWS & STORIES Happy 53rd Birthday, LL Cool J! Happy 50th Birthday, Mary J. Blige! Ashanti and Keyshia Cole’s VERZUZ Battle Postponed Again CONNECT WITH OUR DIVISIONS Nostalgic Express® created by QUEEN OF BEATS. The platform that gives you a blast from the past and the future – from news/histories, music, film, events and concert tickets. © 2020 Nostalgic Express Global MIC. Entertainment	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1222
__label__wiki	0.977369	0.977369	World Music Singer net worth England YouTube Star TV Actress net worth Argentina net worth PA net worth ✎ About Payton Jordan Birth Day: March 19, 1917 Birth Place: Whittier, CA Age: 102 YEARS OLD Died On: Feb 5, 2009 (age 91) Payton Jordan Net Worth Payton Jordan was born on March 19, 1917 in Whittier, CA. Late track and field legend best known for coaching the 1968 U.S. Olympic team which won a record 24 medals. He led Occidental College to ten league titles and two NAIA track and field championships. 💰Payton Jordan Net worth: 3 Million Some Payton Jordan images Late track and field legend best known for coaching the 1968 U.S. Olympic team which won a record 24 medals. He led Occidental College to ten league titles and two NAIA track and field championships. He won two national titles as a track and field athlete at the University of Southern California and was a member of the team which set a world record in the 440-yard relay. He set an individual world record in the 80+ age group with a time of 30.89 seconds in the 200 meter dash. He was married to a woman named Margie for 66 years until her death in 2006. He coached track and field athlete Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympic Games. 1917 births CA CA net worth net worth richest money Payton Jordan fans also viewed: Katie Rodan Net Worth Khalid Al-Falih Net Worth Kim Kardashian West Net Worth Kit Crawford Net Worth Li Keqiang Net Worth Louis C.K. Net Worth Lynda Resnick Net Worth Lynda Weinman Net Worth Martine Rothblatt Net Worth Mary Barra Net Worth	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1223
__label__wiki	0.877491	0.877491	Keeping cannabis illegal a waste of police time - Helen Clark Katie Fitzgerald Watch: Helen Clark and Paula Bennett on The AM Show. Credits: The AM Show Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says the current system of keeping cannabis illegal is a waste of time and resources. Clark's foundation has come out strongly in favour of changing the system, saying the current method is failing to dissuade people from using the drug. New Zealand cannabis market already 'enormous', although it's illegal - Helen Clark Foundation Helen Clark Foundation report gives cannabis legalisation green tick Patrick Gower: It is time to talk about weed "We're wasting police and justice time chasing anybody for the use of the drug which, on any objective evidence, is causing less harm to society than either tobacco or alcohol," she told The AM Show. "So let's cut to it, young people have their lives blighted by convictions, it's very arbitrary, there is a lot of police discretion around it, the proportion of young Māori is significantly high. "I think we ought to focus on getting the laws around it right and then we can focus on the health messaging." She says alcohol is "immensely worse" than cannabis in terms of damage to people and to society and the public would benefit from regulating the drug, allowing it to be accessed legally at a certain age and certain potency. "This [cannabis] is a drug that up to 80 percent of Kiwis will use sometime in their lives." It's the same opinion expressed by the Canadian government, which she met with after it successfully voted to legalise cannabis in 2018. "The police have to a large extent given up on it so why don't we realise this and say 'let's move to legislate and regulate', that's where the Canadians got to. "I went to visit the Canadian MP who was in charge of the legislation in Ottowa last year, he had been the police chief in Toronto for years. "He said to me 'Helen I know what doesn't work, we can't ban it, we can't stop it, we've got to get rules around it'." Opposition MP and National Party drug spokesperson Paula Bennett strongly disagrees with Clark, though, arguing people aren't being convicted due to drug use. "In 2018 eight people were in prison for marijuana use and I can tell you there would have been a whole lot more behind that for police to have done that," she told The AM Show. Overall 1046 people were convicted for cannabis only offences in 2018, 540 of them for cannabis possession and/or use. Bennett also disputed claims legalisation would lead to an end to the cannabis black market, pointing out a large portion of cannabis users in Canada accessed it illegally. "You'll be able to buy from the black market, it will be a cheaper product and more potent." Statistics Canada found in it's National Cannabis survey 42 percent of people using cannabis purchased it from illegal sources. Just over one third, 37 percent, got the drugs from friends and family. But Clark reckons people given the chance will do the right thing. "Most people given a choice between doing something legally and illegally will take the legal route, but at the moment we only push everybody down the illegal route."	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1225
__label__wiki	0.989198	0.989198	The X Factor winner Joe McElderry DEFENDS show's future after Cheryl snub yet insists 'pantomime arguments' have to stop X Factor winner Joe McElderry has defended the ITV series which made him famous. Beth Allcock Joe McElderry has defended the X Factor after Cheryl's snub (Image: Joe McElderry/Instagram) The X Factor champion Joe McElderry has spoken out to defend the talent show which made him famous amid its ratings crisis, yet hit out at the "pantomime arguments" of judges ruining the ITV series. The 2009 winner's comments came after his mentor, Cheryl, snubbed a return to Simon Cowell's show. The Girls Aloud beauty and mum-of-one ruled out any chance of a comeback on Sunday, apparently telling pals she wanted something "new and fresh" according to Mail on Sunday sources. Joe, who developed a close bond with his fellow Geordie, insists the talent show has a spot in the schedule, just without the faff and add-ons of recent years. The 26-year-old won Simon Cowell's show in 2009 (Image: Getty) Speaking exclusively to OK! Online the popstar said: "I love the show but I think with something like The X Factor if it's not broke, don't fix it. "They (the producers) make so many changes every year and some of them really aren't that necessary. "People love that show for being a Saturday night entertainment show and I think as it got bigger and bigger, it became a bit too thought out. "If they took it back to what it used to be it would work again." He was mentored by Cheryl, who has ruled out a show return Joe, 26, added a ratings boom wasn't necessarily hinged on Cheryl's return, either. He told us: "The bigger picture is when it used to be on TV, it used to be so much more about the contestants. "It started to become too much of the pantomime arguments of the judges. "If they bring it back just about the music and the singing, I think it would work." Joe McElderry says the show can continue despite a ratings crisis if it goes back to basics Almost 10 years after his singing show success, Joe still insisted he owed his thanks to simon Cowell and the team. Adding the time since had been "madness", the singer has released numerous solo albums, with a new one under way for the summer. Alongside live gigs and a stint as the lead role Joseph, in Joseph and The Technicolour Dreamcoat, he will take his place in Andrew Lloyd Webber, a musical Celebration, next month. Talking of the loyalty of his fans over the past decade he said: "I remember some people in the audience in The X Factor studios before I even won the show. X Factor: Joe McElderry has had a successful career since the 2009 series "To know they are supporting me ten years down the line is so special. "I can't do my job without those people coming to my shows and buying my albums. "They are the reason I still have a career, I am forever thankful." Joe McElderry performs at Andrew Lloyd Webber - A Musical Celebration at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 17th June 2018. Other guest artists include Mica Paris, Ben Forster, Imelda May plus cast members from The Phantom Of The Opera and School Of Rock.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1226
__label__cc	0.738762	0.261238	Home Remedies › 11 Incredible Benefits of Triphala (Ayurvedic Herb) by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated - July 02, 2020 ✓ Evidence Based The most powerful benefits of Triphala (an Ayurvedic herbal powder) include improving digestion, reducing signs of aging, detoxifying the body, aiding weight loss, strengthening the immune system, managing diabetic symptoms, and optimizing nutrient uptake efficiency. In terms of herbal remedies, Triphala is an incredibly complex treatment approach that addresses dozens of different health concerns, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, antioxidant, soothing and antiseptic qualities. What is Triphala? Triphala, also known as Triphala churna, is an age-old Ayurvedic herbal powder which helps cleanse the colon, smoothen the digestive system, and boost overall health. Triphala is a Sanskrit word that means “three fruits”. This is appropriate, given that this herbal powder is a blend of three different dried fruits – Indian gooseberry or amla (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). The three dried fruits are ground and mixed together, usually in equal parts. This what makes the powder potent in antioxidants because these three fruits have long played an important part in Ayurvedic medicine. Triphala is very popular in India and other parts of Asia, and its efficacy has resulted in its widespread to the rest of the world, particularly for herbalists and other practitioners of natural medicine. The powder is readily available across Asia and is ideal for making tea or even sprinkling on certain savory dishes for a nutritious boost. With a broad range of antioxidants and organic compounds, including gallic acid, chebulagic acid, and chebulinic acid, this herbal mixture provides a wide range of positive health effects for those who regularly use it. Health Benefits of Triphala Let us look at the most powerful benefits of Triphala in detail. There are notable levels of oleic and linoleic acid in Bibhitaki and Haritaki, which are known as “good” forms of fat. These fatty acids are able to re-balance your cholesterol levels and prevent excess deposition of plaque in the arteries, thus preventing the onset of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, and coronary heart disease. World-renowned wellness and Ayurveda expert Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Christine Tara Peterson, in their 2017 study (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine) stated that Triphala helps reduce total cholesterol and corrects imbalances of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the cardiovascular system. Triphala is an ancient herbal remedy with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Studies have found a significant level of antioxidants in the Triphala blend including a number of different phenolic compounds that can neutralize the activity of free radicals and improve the health and appearance of the skin. Antioxidants can stop oxidative stress that leads to wrinkles, age spots, and other blemishes, while also minimizing the appearance of scars. Amla, one of the key ingredients in Triphala, is rich in vitamin C, which can stimulate the immune system and increase the production of white blood cells. These represent the first line of defense for the body, while also functioning as an antioxidant to reduce free radical activity within the body. Growth and Repair The active ingredients in amla and haritaki have both been linked to improved healing and repair of damaged tissues and cells in the body. This is likely due to the role of vitamin C in collagen production, which is required for all cells, tissues, muscle fibers and blood vessels. Anticancer Potential The presence of antioxidants within Triphala has sparked quite a bit of research into the herbal blend’s impact on cancer. The antioxidants have been shown to lower oxidative stress, reduce tumor growth and formation, and stimulate the immune system to eliminate excess free radicals that cause cell mutation. Research has thus far found some promising results in fighting cancer. Helps Diabetes Management Indian gooseberry has long been known to regulate the levels of insulin and glucose in the body, which is good news for diabetics. Even as just one of three components in Triphala, amla is able to improve the body’s insulin sensitivity and prevent the dangerous spikes and drops in blood sugar that plague diabetic patients. However, excess consumption of this herbal mixture may lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. One of the most well-known characteristics of Triphala is its impact on toxicity levels within the body. Research has found that the active ingredients in this blend are able to stimulate the liver and kidneys, helping to clear the body of accumulations of toxins and prevent excess inflammation in various parts of the body. Primarily used as a digestive stimulant, Triphala can reduce the occurrence of excess gas, while also reducing symptoms of constipation by stimulating normal bowel function. The spice is also used to repair a damaged or compromised gastrointestinal tract after infection or extended illness. This herbal preparation can clean out the digestive tract and colon, which allows for a normal bacterial balance in the gut. Aids In Weight Loss This herbal blend is known for improving fat storage in the body by preventing certain foods from being stored as fats. This can improve the speed of the metabolism and boost passive fat-burning, even when you’re not exerting yourself. Enhances Nutrient Intake Aside from optimizing digestion and eliminating constipation symptoms, Triphala can also improve the efficiency of nutrient uptake, which will increase feelings of satiety and prevent overeating. This can further help with weight loss efforts. Improves Vision Health The antioxidants found in Triphala can also affect the rate of macular degeneration and the development of cataracts. In some preparations where Triphala is in liquid form, it is even mixed with other compounds to form an eyewash, intended to reduce blurriness of vision and soothe chronically red eyes. How to Use Triphala? Triphala is most commonly found in powdered form, with varying concentrations of each fruit in the three-part blend. This powder is frequently made into a rich and earthy tea, and only requires 1/2 of a teaspoon of powder to be mixed in one cup of hot water and steeped for 5-8 minutes. Due to the popularity of this herbal remedy around the world, it is also made into tablets, which guarantee even more of a concentrated effect on the body. Depending on what type of Triphala you purchase, it may come in concentrated liquid form, which is likely a combination of the extracts from these three fruits. 20-30 drops of this liquid can be mixed into a glass of water or juice 2-3 times per day, specifically 30 minutes before bed if you are using the spice mixture for gastrointestinal issues. Triphala helps relieves stomach disorders. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Side Effects of Triphala Despite the many valuable benefits of Triphala, there are some potential side effects that must be considered, such as gastrointestinal distress, dehydration, allergic reactions, insomnia, drug interactions, weight loss, and diabetic issues. Dehydration: Although this herbal mixture is excellent for cleansing the colon, it can also cause excessive release of bowel movements and water from the body, leading to a condition of dehydration. If you are regularly drinking Triphala tea, be sure to accompany this with equal parts water to prevent the serious side effects of dehydration. Insomnia: Numerous people have reported that regular use of Triphala can interrupt normal sleep patterns and lead to insomnia, as well as mood shifts, fatigue, and exhaustion. One of the best ways to avoid this symptom is to drink a cup of this tea on an empty stomach in the morning, rather than consuming it later in the day. Drug Interactions: Due to the impact this spice blend has on various enzymes and hormones in the body, it can negatively interfere with medication intended for people suffering from depression, hyperactivity and blood clots. This herbal mixture can interfere with these active ingredients, which can be dangerous for people who require regular sedation, blood thinning and medication to improve their mood. Weight Loss: The weight loss-supporting properties of Triphala are excellent unless you are already suffering from eating disorders or abnormally low body weight. You may find it difficult to gain weight or may experience unexplained weight loss when using this herbal blend regularly. In moderation, however, these side effects are quite rare. Stomach Issues: The cleansing nature of this herbal mix is great for digestion and cleansing the colon but when more than 2-3 cups of this herbal tea are consumed every day, it can cause severe gastrointestinal distress. This will include diarrhea, stomach cramping and bloating, as well as irritation in the colon. Over time, this could lead to a breakdown of the colon’s soft tissues, resulting in even more serious side effects. Allergic Reactions: With three different components in Triphala, there are three times as many chances for people to be allergic to one of the fruits. Allergic reactions tend to result in stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and occasional swelling in the tongue or lips. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09251619708951274 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/yakushi/127/2/127_2_385/_article/-char/ja/ http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/academicjournals/jpt/2007/725-731.pdf https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11655-012-1299-x https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TONUTRAJ/TONUTRAJ-4-130.pdf http://medind.nic.in/jav/t12/i1/javt12i1p27.pdf https://goo.gl/AoMSVt http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/sites/ayurvedacollege.com/files/triphala.pdf http://www.chopra.com/articles/explore-one-of-ayurveda%E2%80%99s-most-popular-herbs-triphala John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1230
__label__wiki	0.507308	0.507308	Trust Magazine Preparing for a Changing Future Notes From the President Trust Article November 2, 2018 By: Rebecca W. Rimel Read time: Trust Magazine Issues The Hollowing Out of Newsrooms Actually, Millennials Are Planning for Retirement When 51 Percent Might Not Mean a 'Majority' Australia Commits to Expand Protections in the Outback 'Like a Kid in a Candy Store': Remembering Gerry Lenfest Close Encounters With Killer Whales Offer Clues to Southern Ocean Health Mobile Food Banks Serve Isolated, Rural Poor Juvenile Justice Reform Can Help Young People 'Turn Their Lives Around' The Pew Research Center Remains Focused on the Facts Fishing Subsidies Are Speeding the Decline of Ocean Health End Note: How Americans Value Gender When You Say You Believe In God, What Do You Mean? Optimism, adaptability, and anticipating change were central to the philosophy of the founders of The Pew Charitable Trusts—and to the organization they created. Having lived through the tumultuous early years of the 20th century, J. Howard, Mary Ethel, J.N., and Mabel Pew knew they could not predict the many challenges the world would face decades down the road. In their work, their volunteer activities, and their philanthropy, they welcomed the use of new approaches to solve emerging problems in service of the public good. Seventy years later, we are guided by those principles as well as the adage credited to the ultimate change agent, Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” All of Pew’s projects begin with sound planning and rigorous design—and strategies that can garner broad and diverse coalitions. Each initiative is built with discipline and focus, with an emphasis on projects that can produce consequential outcomes, foster new partnerships, avoid partisanship, and achieve measurable results that address key challenges and opportunities. "Preparing for the future has always been a guiding principle for Pew—driving us to seek deeper understanding of the world’s challenges and concerns and respond creatively to new opportunities." Franklin’s astute observation is more than just a good starting place for our work; it is also enduring wisdom that can help every individual and every family successfully navigate uncertainty. Saving for retirement, for example, is essential to preparing for the future. But how people achieve those financial goals has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Some older workers and retirees are still able to rely on pensions, with a guaranteed source of income for life. But over the past three decades, many employers have shifted from these plans to offering 401(k)s and other savings programs that require action by employees. A recent Pew report notes that Millennials are the first generation to rely on these “defined contribution” plans as their main means of saving for retirement. Analyses by Pew’s retirement savings project also suggest that Millennials are stepping up to the challenge. Among the key findings: Young workers had higher savings than members of the previous generation did at the same age. Because Millennials are now the largest generation of Americans, their ability—and willingness—to save for retirement will have a profound impact for decades. You’ll learn more about how Millennials are preparing for retirement in this issue of Trust. Another generational change now unfolding is how we view God and our spirituality. Majorities of adults in the U.S. believe in God or a higher power, but young adults are less likely than those who are older to say they believe in God as described in the Bible. Two new surveys from the Pew Research Center drill down on these attitudes and uncover data from Americans and Western Europeans that help answer the question, “When people say they believe in God, what do they mean?” We explore these fascinating trends in our cover story. This year also marks the 15th anniversary of the Pew Research Center’s “State of the News Media” report. That period coincides with the end of the golden age of print newspapers and the rise of digital news sources. These annual reports have documented troubling trends for journalism, with fewer reporters and greater financial constraints on traditional news organizations. Through this regular analysis, the center has documented the changes that legacy news organizations have made, and sometimes failed to make, to prepare for evolving news consumption habits. This issue highlights the center’s record of keeping the public informed about the health and vitality of the media, and what lies ahead for this indispensable guardian of democracy. Benjamin Franklin understood the importance of a free press. He was, after all, a journalist, publisher, and printer. But while journalism is often called the first draft of history, wisdom has a much longer shelf life. That’s why preparing for the future has always been a guiding principle for Pew—driving us to seek deeper understanding of the world’s challenges and concerns and respond creatively to new opportunities. As we continue to learn from our research and our partners, we can more effectively serve the public—and advance unwaveringly on our journey toward an ever-changing and inspiring future. Rebecca W. Rimel, President and CEO The Big Picture Actually, Millennials Are Planning for Retirement About Trust Magazine As part of our mission to inform the public, Pew publishes Trust magazine four times a year... Felisa Klubes Don’t miss our latest facts, findings, and survey results in The Rundown. State Capitol Cybersecurity Marijuana Social Justice	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1241
__label__cc	0.689775	0.310225	July, 2019, Pantera Press Snow - book two in the Animal Allies Series Sometimes you have to leave everything behind to find yourself. Sky is travelling to Alaska to meet her father for the first time. Far away from her friends back in Australia, she navigates the new relationship with her father and meets Jaxon, a local boy struggling with his own problems. In a cold, vast and beautiful place, they are isolated except for the wild animals who live there. As Sky gets to know her father, she finally feels she has a chance of having a real family again. But her father has a secret that threatens everything Sky holds dear. Will she have to choose between family and her love of animals? This is a heart-warming story in the coldest of places. This is a wonderful series that not only explores issues around animal welfare but also standing up for your values, the importance of family and trust and loyalty to those you love. Ondine Sherman also manages to tell a compelling coming of age story and teens will be able to relate to the issues around friendships and relationships with parents. Many books for teens explore dark issues and while this series does place Sky in difficult circumstances the plots are hopeful and thoughtful and ultimately uplifting. They are also relatively fast paced so should hold the attention of teens who have so many other options vying for their attention. Better Reading Snow was everything that I hoped it would be, even more! My admiration for Sky and her gorgeous, compassionate, raw heart with her undying passion and love for animals, her voice saying “why can’t people understand that they feel things too?” just shone right through and I just can’t help but be in awe of this amazing young girl!…I am absolutely so excited for the third installment in Animal Allies, Star – Brooklyn the Bookworm, via Good Reads Snow is book 2 in the Animal Allies Series, July 2019 with Pantera Press.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1242
__label__wiki	0.560448	0.560448	Protect Glade Watershed BC WATERSHEDS Glade Community Water & Threat Glade Creek Watershed Watershed Reserves Society Activities Overview: Our Timeline Section 29 & Interior Health Authority Legal Attempts Forest Practices Board Complaint Eco-System Based Community Forest > Restoration & Wildcrafting in the Forest Importance of Forests Almost no Protection for Water, Old Growth, Wildlife.... Grizzly habitat threatened CARIBOU Beyond 'Threatened' OLD GROWTH being Logged Impacts & climate change Community Questionnaire Impacts from Logging & Road Building Wildfire, Carbon & Beetles Climate Change: the Kootenays and Glade Professional Reliance Forestry Stats (CoFI) Exporting Logs & Labour Local Timber Industry Interior Lumber Manufacturer's Association Sustainable, Renewable resource? Failing Forest Stewardship plans & Forest Practices Board Proposed Logging in Glade Proposed Logging (Kalesnikoff - KLC) KLC Updates Proposed LOGGING (ATCO) Links, News, Newsletter Markets, etc... Citizen's Climate Lobby Canada “Grizzly bears have lived in our province for at least 50,000 years...but unless we take serious steps now to secure their wilderness home from encroachment by human activities and protect their food sources from the impact of climate change, in a few decades the bears may disappear” http://bctvkootenays.com/2017/03/07/future-survival-of-b-c-s-grizzly-bears-at-risk-report/ Photo: John E. Marriott Wildlife & Nature Photography. Caspar & Xeni © Used with Permission This utterly amazing photo of Casper and Xeni was taken by John Marriott. John is a Canadian photographer, activist, author, & film maker based in Canmore, Alberta. His website: https://wildernessprints.com/ John E. Marriott is one of Canada’s premier professional wildlife and nature photographers, with images published worldwide by National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Canadian Geographic, McLean's, and Reader’s Digest. John has photographed from coast to coast, from the arctic to the prairies and from Yellowstone to the Yukon. He prides himself on being a conservation photographer known for photographing wilderness scenes and wild, free-roaming animals in their natural habitats. John's Facebook page is HERE. Grizzly habitat threatened by road building, industry and hunting In North America, grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) once ranged from the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Central Mexico to the Arctic Ocean.Today, the prairie population of grizzly bears is locally extinct (extirpated) in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was extinguished through human intolerance, market hunting, rapid conversion of habitat to agricultural fields, and loss of key prey (buffalo). The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists grizzly bears as a "Special Concern" species due to characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events. In Alberta, the grizzly bear is designated as threatened, while in British Columbia, it is blue-listed. (Parks Canada) Blue-Listed is defined as: Blue-listed species are considered to be vulnerable and "at risk"... Populations of these species may not be in decline, but their habitat requirements are such that they are vulnerable to further disturbances (Harper et al. 1994). In addition to many black bears, there are grizzly in the East and West Kootenays. Recently, the BC government has been under scrutiny because they sanction grizzly and trophy hunting. Although there has been opposition from many First Nations groups, citizens, scientists, biologists, eco-tourism, environmental and other diverse groups, the government is not changing it's attitude toward the grizzly. (See 'UPDATE' below) The provincial government claims that there are lots of grizzlies in BC, so they can easily be hunted and are not a species of concern. Environmentalists, wildlife biologists and concerned citizens claim the government count is faulty and the number of grizzlies in BC is an unknown. In 2016, when a sow and 2 cubs were relocated from Glade, the Conservation Officers were able to collar her only because the collar was donated to their office by a local biologist, not because it is standard issue. If the BC government was interested in getting their numbers right, one of the first things they could do would be to fund more research. In terms of industrial practices, it is also apparent that industry trumps grizzlies in BC. In January 2016 the Valhalla Wilderness Society was fighting for grizzly habitat in the Cranby-Kettle area. From their 'Call to Action': VWS has been working with local concerned groups, including the Friends and Residents of North Fork, to save this small semi-isolated population of about 80 grizzly bears for the past 25 years. In 2007, partly in recognition of the need to protect core wilderness of high habitat value for these grizzly bears, the province established the Granby and Gladstone provincial parks. Despite this important conservation initiative, the province has tragically allowed accelerated road-building and clearcut logging of critical grizzly habitat and movement corridors between and around these protected areas. Unless the widespread logging is stopped, these southern dry land grizzlies are doomed. Much of this threat today is from BC Timber Sales (BCTS), owned by the province of BC. Habitat fragmentation and its impact on sows and boars: Clearcuts and industrial activity fragment grizzly range and disturb or destroy their safe habitat. Roads allow easy access for hunters in motorized vehicles. While a male grizzly's range is large, a female's is much smaller. This fragmentation and increased danger to sows is especially important as this Parks Canada website explains: Grizzly bears have one of the lowest known reproductive rates of all North American land mammals. The age of first reproduction ranges from 5-8 years. A female produces young every 3-5 years. In mountain parks, research indicates that on average, female grizzly bears have offspring every 4-5 years. Mating takes place from mid-May to early July. Males will travel long distances to mate with available females. The most sought after grizzlies in hunting are the biggest males. This picture (with identifying characteristics removed) shows a hunter with a male grizzly in its prime: shot, killed and skinned during mating season in the vicinity of a receptive female. The bear was about 7' tall, and approximately 14 years old. Hunters gain more access through roads established by logging companies. This is especially relevant in the Glade watershed where currently only a minimal number of roads exist, and a large portion of the watershed is solely accessible by foot. UPDATE: In Dec, 2017 the BC NDP government banned the grizzly bear hunt. The spring grizzly hunt season was scheduled to open April 1, 2018, but the government says the new ban takes place effective immediately. Under the new ban, First Nations will still be able to hunt for food, social and ceremonial purposes or treaty rights. This is one less pressure on the bears, but the destruction of their habitat is an ongoing issue. Green areas: Grizzly management priority areas. Locally, in Glade (2016), there was a grizzly sow and 2 large cubs (likely 2 year olds) that were in the community for a few weeks. Although she appeared to be keeping to wild food and not hunting the large number of sheep, goats, chickens, chicken feed, and calves in Glade, there was always that concern, and the danger of interaction between her and residents. The Conservation Officers took proactive measures. They managed to relocate her and her cubs together to another area nearby: they can not be moved too far, otherwise their survival rates drop. They collared the sow and tagged the cubs. According to long-time residents of Glade, it is extremely rare to see grizzly in Glade. In addition to this family of 3, there was a male grizzly seen in south Glade. What events are causing these bears to move into areas that are not usually within their range? The Auditor General of BC: Grizzly Bear Management Report The Auditor General's Performance Audit Coverage Plan has commissioned a new report specifically on grizzly bear management: It will assess "Whether the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations are effectively managing the grizzly bear population in B.C." UPDATE: In the fall of 2017, the Auditor General’s office released a report on the management of grizzlies in BC. It stated that “We did find that the greatest risk to grizzly bears… (was) the degradation of grizzly bear habitat” through “the expansion of development in oil and gas, forestry and human settlement… increase in resource roads—600,000 kms existing and more added every year—also leads to more human-bear conflict, and ultimately, grizzly bear deaths.” Auditor General’s Report http://www.bcauditor.com/pubs/2017/independent-audit-grizzly-bear-management Some links in regards to Grizzly in the province: BC Dairy Farmer charged with killing 4 grizzly bears: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/farmer-charged-with-killing-4-grizzly-bears-1.3773322 A B.C. man has been ordered to pay $8,000 to a wildlife conservation foundation after killing a grizzly bear with a bow and arrow during the off-season in 2016. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grizzly-bear-killing-fined-1.4582377 Grizzly Bears spotted swimming near Port McNeill seen as 'red flag' http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grizzly-bear-vancouver-island-migration-vacation-conservation-1.3767901 Valhalla Wilderness Society: Information on Grizzly http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grizzly-bear-vancouver-island-migration-vacation-conservation-1.3767901 Trophy hunting to continue...http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/trophy-hunting-of-grizzly-bears-to-continue-in-british-columbia/article30440707/ Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society: "in the southwest corner of the province, (the grizzly) is declining at an alarming rate due to habitat loss and human-caused deaths." http://cpawsbc.org/campaigns/grizzlybears Trans-border Grizzly Bear Project: "We are an International group of biologists working to recover the trans-border threatened South Selkirk and South Purcell/Yahk grizzly bear populations. Both these populations are legally designated as threatened by the Province of British Columbia and the US Fish and Wildlife Service." Jumbo Ski Resort: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/desmog-canada/jumbo-ski-resort-grizzly-bears_b_6079352.html WARP Wildlife Alert Reporting Program: https://wildsafebc.com/warp/ WildSafe BC: https://wildsafebc.com/ Search, Subscribe, Donate and Contact Us! TAKE ACTION! Edited JULY 2020 The value that the forest adds to the health and welfare of all life is paramount and how we care for the elements of nature that provide us with these benefits should be foremost in our actions. This value is as important as or, or even more important than, economic gain, for without the forest ecosystems we cannot flourish. Water is the priority – our forests that produce that water is our priority. Water is life and without clean water, nothing can live. Glade Watershed Protection Society, Glade, Castlegar, West Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada Photos used under Creative Commons from Max Goldberg, tulsa.district, John Critchley, Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1253
__label__wiki	0.804074	0.804074	Halsey: Single Review Once again, pop artist Halsey has proven herself as a force to be reckoned with. With her last single “Without Me" debuting at No. 1 on Billboard, she had a lot to live up and did not disappoint. Right now in America, there is a lot to be angry about. Very specifically though, about losing the rights to our own bodies and this song could not have come at a better time. Her new single “Nightmare” expresses a lot of shit people get angry about and it does not sugarcoat it at all. The lyrics are mad and the video, even more so. The music video is filled with hundreds of beautiful, empowered individuals showing their rage. Not only that, but Halsey very clearly seems to be owning her sexuality and showing that it is nothing to be shamed for. The song is meant to empower listeners with lyrics like “I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind” and “I waited a while for a moment to say I don’t owe you a goddamn thing.” This will be an anthem not only for this time in America, but hopefully a lifetime of not taking shit from people and bearing your teeth when someone tells you to “smile more.” Nightmare is now available on all streaming platforms, as well as the badass music video on YouTube. Halsey is a true visionary and we are very excited to see where this “Nightmare” era takes us. Want more? Check out the links below! #halsey #song #review	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1255
__label__cc	0.519295	0.480705	2018 Plan Sponsor of the Year: Nu Skin Enterprises Direct selling firms are typically not associated with running an exceptional retirement plan—but read how Nu Skin demonstrates exactly what is possible when there is corporate leadership buy-in to improve retirement readiness.Read more > Small Business Owners Need More Knowledge of Retirement Plan Fees Many small business owners and managers expressed limited knowledge about how much they or their employees pay in fees to their retirement plans, according to a survey conducted by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Only 19% of the small to mid-size business leaders said they are “very familiar” with their retirement plan fees, while 34% said they are “not at all familiar” with those fees. Forty-four percent said they had not read their fee disclosure in the prior year; and 7% said they had read the disclosure but did not understand it.Read more > 401(k) Plan Trustees Ordered to Pay Back Misused Funds A Department of Labor (DOL) investigation found the trustees used plan assets for businesses and properties owned by themselves and family members.Read more > Public Pension Fund Files Complaint Against Wells Fargo Over Compensation Received The bank admitted that because of “a system error,” revenue sharing payments were not credited to the retirement fund, but says the error has been fixed.Read more > Bill Would Encourage Small Businesses to Create ESOPs The bill would amend Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act, expanding loans to small business employers for the purpose of transferring ownership of the company to employees.Read more > THE ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: Tomorrow, the Census Bureau will report about retail sales for April and business trade for March. Wednesday, the Census Bureau will report about housing starts for April. Thursday, the Labor Department will issue its initial claims report. Friday, the Dow gained 91.64 points (0.37%) to finish at 24,831.17, the NASDAQ was down 2.09 points (0.03%) at 7,402.88, and the S&P 500 increased 4.65 points (0.17%) to 2727.72. The Russell 2000 closed 3.08 points (0.19%) higher at 1,606.79, and the Wilshire 5000 was up 43.55 points (0.15%) at 28,353.38. The price of the 10-year Treasury note was down 1/32, increasing its yield to 2.965%. The price of the 30-year Treasury note was up 12/32, decreasing its yield to 3.101%. WEEK’S WORTH: For the week ending May 11, the Dow was up 2.34%, the NASDAQ climbed 2.68%, and the S&P 500 finished 2.41% higher. The Russell 2000 gained 2.63%, and the Wilshire 5000 increased 2.36%. NTAM Factor Research Leader: Get Paid for the Risk You Take Many institutions have found real success with factor investing and smart-beta, but there are some emerging challenges that investors should consider.Read more > Products, Deals and People Hub acquires The Barnett Group; Voya acquires Pen-Call to offer nonqualified services; Transamerica veterans expand distribution roles; and more.Read more > ON THIS DATE: In 1607, an expedition led by Captain Christopher Newport went ashore at Jamestown, Virginia. The group had arrived at the location the day before. This became the first permanent English colony in America. In 1796, the first smallpox vaccination was given by Edward Jenner. In 1804, William Clark set off the famous expedition from Camp Dubois. A few days later, in St. Louis, Meriwether Lewis joined the group. The group was known as the “Corps of Discovery.” In 1897, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa was performed for the first time. It was at a ceremony where a statue of George Washington was unveiled. In 1913, the Rockefeller Foundation was created by John D. Rockefeller with a gift of $100,000,000. In 1942, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) was established by an act of Congress. In 1961, a bus carrying Freedom Riders was bombed and burned in Alabama. In 1973, Skylab One was launched into orbit around Earth as the first U.S. manned space station. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter inaugurated the Department of Health and Human Services. In 1985, Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s restaurant became the first fast-food business museum. It is located in Des Plaines, Illinois. In 1998, the Associated Press marked its 150th anniversary. In 1998, the final episode of the TV series “Seinfeld” aired after nine years on NBC. SURVEY SAYS RESPONSES: Last week, I asked NewsDash readers to share words of wisdom, advice or comfort they remember their moms telling them. I also got their comments about Mother’s Day. The moms’ (and grandmothers’) wisdom shared included some my own mother said, such as “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all,” and “Be careful what you [ask for], you might get it.” And there were many others I have never heard, including one I thought was clever, “There are two things for dinner: take it or leave it,” and one I found amusing, “To each their own….said the old lady as she kissed her cow.” Readers’ comments about Mother’s Day included some expressing gratefulness for having their mothers still alive and some saying they miss their mothers. They also included a mother’s perspective, suggestions that everyone should treat their mothers well every day, and one comment that may make your mouth drop open as it did mine. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “My mother passed away in 2004 and I still reach for the phone to call her. Never forget to call her or give her a hug. Tell her you love her. Someday you won’t be able to.” Thanks to everyone who completed the survey!Read more >	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1257
__label__wiki	0.674158	0.674158	Administration June 9, 2015 PSNC 2015: Best in Class Plan Design Which plan design elements have had the most influence on the MasterCard and Land O’ Lakes Best in Class designees? Judy Faust Hartnett PLANSPONSOR’S “Best in Class” designation was given for the first time this year to 401(k) plan sponsors that met the highest standard of excellence, as judged by our research and editorial teams. These 29 retirement plans were selected from the 401(k) plans that responded to the 2014 PLANSPONSOR Defined Contribution (DC) Survey. Two of the plan sponsors—Jeanette Wickoren, senior retirement analyst, Land O’Lakes, Inc., and Matthew Adamson, senior business leader, MasterCard—discussed their plan design challenges and recent successes, at the 2015 PLANSPONSOR National Conference in Chicago. According to Wickoren, Land O’ Lakes has a wide range of eligible employees—7,025, in total. “We have production employees who work in a mill; then we have a broad spectrum of marketing, business staff, scientists and IT [information technology] people. It’s tough to target communications because they are a diverse population.” Despite that, Land O’Lakes has a 98% participation rate, and 96% to 97% actively contribute to the plan. An additional 3,000 participants have left the company but retain their accounts there. Their average deferral rate is 8.3%. MasterCard has 10,000 employees globally and about 4,600 in the U.S., says Adamson. The work force is mostly white collar, but it is diverse in a different way. “We have tremendous generational diversity. In the last seven years, not only has our population doubled in size but our Millennial population has grown from 5% of the population to 40%. Even though they are all white-collar, the generational differences have played a large part in where we are as a retirement plan.” About 1,000 participants have left the company and retained their balances in the MasterCard plan. Their average deferral rate is 7%. As to how Land O’ Lakes defines plan success, Wickoren says the company’s recordkeeper, Aon Hewitt, does a retirement readiness study every third year, and the company has seen improvement over the last two studies. “We’ve added advice through Financial Engines, and we’ve added HelloWallet as part of a wellness plan, but,” she says, “I think it’s the automatic features we use that do the most.” Adamson says, “We felt being named a Best in Class plan defined success for us. But it’s also the engagement of our participants—it’s the high account balances, high participation and the high utilization of the tools we offer.” When Adamson started with the company seven years ago, the plan sponsors relied on general email communications. But as the company grew more technology-oriented, it added electronic billboards, which it uses along with broad email blasts, directed to its different populations. “We can track progress through our providers, allowing them to slice and dice the information.” The company uses Voya as its recordkeeper, and a year ago it also implemented Financial Engines as well as ACO Investment Group for financial planning services. “Until this point, we’ve been sending out home mail to participants,” Wickeroren says. “We do direct mail, including a quarterly newsletter, an annual Financial Engines campaign. Segmenting communications is one of our upcoming challenges: the white collar participants versus the factory workers. We don’t rely on technology because half our population is not in front of a computer all day.” Both companies auto-enroll at 6%. At Land O’ Lakes, the auto-escalation maximum recently increased from 10% to 15%. MasterCard’s maximum is 10%. “We’d like to move our auto-enrollment percentage up to 10% and auto-escalation to 15%. Because our match is 125% on 6%, even where we are today, we’re close to 14%,” says Adamson. “But I want to bump it up more. We’ve been learning from the PSNC conference that we need to [do that], so somewhere in between 15% and 20% is where I want to end up.” Both plans have generous plan design, but, in addition, part of their success is where their retirement plan is ranked compared with other company initiatives. Wickoren says, “Land O’ Lakes is a paternalistic company that has been in existence for more than 90 years. Our committee has guiding principals including helping employees optimize through retirement, and we retain best practices in governance, plan design and in investments, so we do have buy-in from the top.” Likewise, Adamson says, MasterCard has buy-in from management. After recently terminating a cash balance plan “the attitude is, this is what we’ve got, so let’s give it our all.”In regard to new initiatives, in January Land O’ Lakes implemented a Roth option. Up to 5% of participants have adopted it, to date. Forty percent have signed up for a HelloWallet password, and 20% have revisited the site. HelloWallet brings principles of wellness to those without computers, Wickoren says, adding, “Even if production workers don’t have computers, they often have a smart phone.” Twenty percent of Land O’ Lakes participants use a managed account, and 8% use online advice. Twelve percent of MasterCard’s participants are in a managed account, and Adamson is confident that the more his department communicates about this option, the larger the number will become. Both plans have very simple investment lineups in common. Land O’ Lakes’ has 12 funds with the index funds recently added, plus a target-date fund (TDF) series. “We’ve always wanted to stay uncluttered,” Wickoren says. They are in the process of looking at white-label funds, so there may be fewer funds in the near future. MasterCard has a legacy lineup. “We may be the only plan on the planet that does not use a target-date fund,” Adamson says. “Instead we have 10 funds plus asset allocations, with the conservative allocation serving as the default. But it’s a legacy thing, and they are all white label funds. We also use a mutual fund window. It’s not the number of funds but their quality that is important to us.” Land O’ Lakes offers Income Plus within Financial Engines, and so far the uptake has been very low. Two participants take advantage of this feature, Wickoren says, adding that at this point only 20% are active in the company’s frozen defined benefits (DB) plan. But the firm is interested in pursuing additional income solutions. Adamson says that MasterCard has used Hueler’s annuity Income Solutions for 20 years, outside the plan. Again, few participants have shown interest, but this may be attributed to the recent closing of the company’s cash balance plan. Both plans have just a very small percentage of participants who do not contribute to the plan. Wickoren says that Land O’ Lakes recently “pulled the trigger” on a re-enrollment. Adamson said this discussion has not come up. It is his belief that, for this population, there may be simply nothing to do. Administration \| September 25th, 2020 PSNC 2020: Improving Plan Committees and Governance Industry experts say one key takeaway is the importance of having a retirement plan committee that reflects the diversity of... It’s Back to Basics for Benefits Priorities Prior to the pandemic, ultra-low unemployment put a spotlight on ‘lifestyle benefits’ for employees. The COVID-19 downturn has already shifted... Administration \| August 28th, 2019 Plan Sponsors Making Plan Changes to Help Employees Save More They are turning to plan advisers for help with making plan design and investment changes. « Washington Post Agrees to Not Transfer Pension	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1258
__label__cc	0.532425	0.467575	ASPS Supports New Legislation to Ensure Women are Aware of All Breast Cancer Treatment and Insurance Options Breast Cancer Patient Education Act coincides with Angelina Jolie’s educational New York Times op/ed ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) today announced its strong support of the "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act" (S. 931). This bipartisan legislation is being introduced today, coinciding with National Women's Health Week, in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Donna Christensen, M.D. (D-VI) and in the United States Senate by Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), with Jon Tester (D-MT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) as original cosponsors. Since 1998, health plans that offer breast cancer coverage have been required to provide coverage for breast reconstruction and prostheses. Yet published research shows that many women eligible for breast reconstruction following breast cancer, minorities in particular, are not informed of the variety of care options. Approximately 232,340 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, according to the American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States. The "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act" requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to plan and implement an education campaign to inform women of the availability and coverage of breast reconstruction, prostheses and other options. The Secretary may develop information for distribution or may identify information prepared by other organizations. The educational materials would inform women that breast reconstruction is possible at the time of breast cancer surgery, it may be delayed until after other treatments, or they may choose not to have reconstruction and be informed of the availability of prostheses or breast forms. Also, educational materials would inform breast cancer patients that federal law mandates coverage of breast reconstruction, even if such reconstruction is delayed until after other treatments. "There's no reason women should miss out on treatment options because those options were not offered to them," said ASPS President Gregory Evans, MD. "Today's release of Angelina's powerful op/ed piece detailing her personal mastectomy and breast reconstruction journey can only help to raise awareness of the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act." Several states have enacted laws requiring that women receive information about their breast cancer treatment and reconstructive options. The "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act" seeks to inform and empower women to make health care decisions that best meet their personal needs. "We thank our congressmen and women for being active and tireless advocates for the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act," said Dr. Evans. "They recognize the education disparity and the importance of ensuring that every woman understands all the available treatment options." In support of additional education to ensure all breast cancer patients are fully informed of their surgical options, ASPS and The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) have partnered with renowned singer-songwriter, philanthropist and breast cancer advocate Jewel. For the second year in a row, Jewel will serve as the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA spokesperson. In light of this legislation, Jewel has recorded a new television public service announcement advocating on behalf of those with breast cancer. The new PSA, released this week, encourages the public to contact their member of Congress in support of the "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act". Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day takes place on October 16, 2013, and this year's theme is the "Team Approach" which encourages all physicians on the breast cancer care team to work together. Jewel has also written the song "Flower" honoring breast reconstruction patients. All proceeds of the song are donated to the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund of The PSF. The song can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. For referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, visit www.plasticsurgery.org where you can also learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 8,000 member surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 93 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. Adam Ross aross@plasticsurgery.org Gene Therapies for Regenerative Surgery Are Getting Closer Weight of Tissue Flaps Affects Complication Risk after Breast Reconstruction Breast Augmentation Patients Report High Satisfaction Rates Half of U.S. Plastic Surgeons Market Their Practice Via Social Media Plastic Surgery Trend Has Women Armed for Spring and Summer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1259
__label__wiki	0.503494	0.503494	Home Mesothelioma Lawyer Filing a Lawsuit Many companies negligently exposed workers and their families to asbestos. Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit can help people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma receive compensation for injuries related to asbestos exposure. Find A Mesothelioma Attorney Why File a Lawsuit Types of Lawsuits How to File a Lawsuit Average Verdicts Mesothelioma Class Action Lawsuits Asbestos Talc Lawsuits Connect with a Lawyer Written By: Danielle DiPietro Patient Advocate & VA Claims Agent Last Updated: July 17, 2020. Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit? The main reason people file mesothelioma lawsuits is to obtain money to help pay treatment expenses and ease substantial financial burdens. Choosing an experienced asbestos lawyer can help people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma get the compensation they deserve. Another reason people file asbestos claims is to help support their loved ones. Pleural mesothelioma injuries usually result in lost income for the household. They also may cause extreme emotional strain. Compensation can help patients and loved ones receive counseling to deal with these issues. People also file mesothelioma lawsuits to hold companies accountable for their actions. Mesothelioma is an almost entirely preventable cancer and can be avoided if companies properly disclose and warn workers about asbestos dangers and follow appropriate safety precautions. Settlements and jury awards from mesothelioma lawsuits can help cover: Treatment Costs What are the Types of Mesothelioma Lawsuits? Filed by a person diagnosed with mesothelioma. Filed by the estate of a person who died from the asbestos-related disease. A personal injury lawsuit is submitted by the patient after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma claims are specific damages due to illness caused by asbestos exposure and are filed against the company or companies likely responsible. Compensation can help the patient recover expenses for mesothelioma treatment, travel, pain and suffering, lost income and other related costs. Wrongful Death Mesothelioma Lawsuits When a person dies from pleural mesothelioma, their estate may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf. These claims fall under different statutes of limitations that begin at the time of the person’s death. If a plaintiff dies during the course of a personal injury lawsuit, the estate may be able to take over the claim. A qualified attorney can walk the estate representative — typically a spouse or another family member — through the process. Compensation from a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit can help cover medical bills, funeral costs and other expenses. Get information about your legal options and find out if you qualify for financial assistance. How Do You File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit? The first step in filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is finding a qualified asbestos attorney. A lawyer experienced in asbestos litigation is equipped to help you gather the necessary information and file a legal complaint on your behalf. The three major stages of a mesothelioma lawsuit are the filing process, discovery phase and the trial or settlement of a case. Stage 1: Preparation and Filing Once you find an attorney to handle your case, they will go over your work history to help pinpoint where you were exposed to asbestos and which companies may be responsible. You may be able to file your lawsuit in another state. For example, 93.3% of asbestos filings in Illinois in 2018 came from residents of other states, according to a KCIC Industry Report. Plaintiffs also may be able to file in more than one jurisdiction. Your lawyer will help decide the best court to file your case. Once all the necessary information is gathered, your lawyer will prepare a written complaint against one or more defendants to start the legal process. Stage 2: Discovery Phase Once a formal complaint is filed, lawyers on both sides will work to build their side of the case. Defendant attorneys may ask you to answer written questions, provide documents to support your claim and participate in a recorded deposition — all of which may be used as evidence should the case go to trial. The discovery phase of a mesothelioma lawsuit may take several months. But if you are very sick, your attorney can ask the court to expedite the process. Most of this phase can be done from the comfort of your own home, including the recorded deposition. A qualified asbestos lawyer will work with you to make the process as easy for you as possible. Stage 3: Settlement or Trial Most mesothelioma lawsuits never go to trial. Instead, cases are usually resolved before reaching the courtroom through a settlement. Mesothelioma settlements are typically initiated by the defendants in the case. Reasons a defendant may settle include: To avoid a favorable jury verdict for the plaintiff A lack of supporting evidence or key witnesses to win the case Mounting legal fees or lawsuits against the company The average mesothelioma settlement is between $1 million and $1.4 million, according to a 2016 Mealey’s Litigation Report. This is usually paid by multiple defendants named in the lawsuit. While favorable verdicts may produce more compensation for a plaintiff, settlements are guaranteed money that usually pay claimants quicker than a trial award. Sometimes settlements occur during a trial. Your attorney will negotiate any settlements on your behalf and help you decide whether it’s best to accept the offer or move forward with the trial. What Is the Average Mesothelioma Verdict? If a case does go to trial, jury awards to a plaintiff in a mesothelioma lawsuit can be substantial. The average trial award is estimated at $2.4 million, according to the 2016 Mealey’s report. However, a favorable verdict is not guaranteed. Opposing attorneys may present a stronger case, leading to a win for the defendant or a mistrial — when the jury can’t reach a decision in a case. The process of a mesothelioma trial varies depending on the state where the lawsuit is filed. Results depend on a number of factors, including your history of asbestos exposure, your deposition and any expert testimony. An experienced asbestos lawyer can walk you through the process should your case go to trial. Understanding Statutes of Limitations Asbestos litigation is subject to limits on the amount of time claimants have to file a lawsuit. These time limits are known as statutes of limitations. Mesothelioma lawsuits work differently than most personal injury claims. Whereas many injuries can be traced to a single moment in time such as a car accident, asbestos-related injuries are typically linked to a period of exposure during a person’s work history. It can take 20 to 50 years from a person’s initial exposure to asbestos to a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This is why statutes of limitations for mesothelioma lawsuits begin at the time of diagnosis, not the time of injury. Statutes of limitations for mesothelioma cases vary by state. Most states give claimants between one and two years after a diagnosis to file a claim. It is important for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma to contact a qualified asbestos attorney as soon as possible before the time limit for filing expires. Quick Facts About Mesothelioma Lawsuits More than 2,000 mesothelioma lawsuits were filed in 2018. Lawsuits are time-sensitive, with each state having its own statute of limitations. You may be able to file in a different state than where you reside. Most lawsuits resolve in a settlement before ever going to trial. Mesothelioma lawyers usually work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe nothing unless you win or settle a case. The average jury award for mesothelioma lawsuits in 2016 was $2.4 million, while the average settlement was $1 million to $1.4 million. https://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/lawyer/lawsuits/ Written By Danielle DiPietro Patient Advocate & VA Claims Agent Danielle DiPietro is a Patient Advocate and writer for the Pleural Mesothelioma Center. She is also accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs as an official claims agent, allowing her to provide specialized assistance to veterans and their family members. The Economist – A Trail of Toxic Torts. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/486998 RAND Institute for Civil Justice – Asbestos Litigation. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG162.pdf Tower Watson – Insights: A Synthesis of Asbestos Disclosures From Form 10-Ks Updated. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.towerswatson.com/ Western Asbestos Settlement Trust – Case Valuation Matrix. Retrieved from http://www.wastrust.com/sites/default/files/documents/case_valuation_matrix.pdf	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1260
__label__wiki	0.931009	0.931009	News / Moray Domestic abuse victim signs book deal after being told by abusive ex-boyfriend to give up on writing dream by David Mackay February 14, 2019, 8:27 am Updated: February 14, 2019, 9:11 am Lauren Aitchsion was abused by her partner for four years. For four years Lauren Aitchison was repeatedly punched, choked and humiliated by her abusive partner. The final straw that made the 30-year-old put an end to the horrific abuse came when she was told by her controlling boyfriend to “get a grip” and give up on her dreams of becoming a writer. She had previously been coerced into passing over job opportunities, but said this latest pressure was too much. Five years on and the Garmouth resident, who is originally from Perthshire, has agreed a deal to become a mentored author with publishers Penguin Random House. After putting an end to the ordeal with her partner, the writer began gathering her thoughts about her experience as a victim of domestic abuse. And now the memoir will help her fulfill the ambition that her partner had looked to force her to abandon. She said: “My thoughts in the seconds after I was told to ‘get a grip’ were ‘No. You’re lying to me’. “It kind of woke me up a little. “There were other things up until then that I had believed, which I realise now weren’t true, but in that moment I knew I was being lied to. “The years since haven’t been easy but I finally feel able to talk about it now. “Part of the problem is that usually we only hear about the extreme end of the spectrum. “I didn’t realise I had been in an abusive relationship until a counsellor told me.” When Miss Aitchison shared the news about her defying the expectations of her ex boyfriend she immediately received messages from across the globe with her Tweet being seen by more than 10 million people. Her former partner, Scott Wares, was ordered to pay her £500 in compensation in April 2017 after being convicted of carrying out regular beatings and degrading acts, including spitting on her, between 2009 and 2013. Sheriff William Wood told him that the “violent and manipulative” behaviour was a classic case of domestic abuse and also ordered him to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work. After leaving her abuser, Miss Aitchison moved back in with her parents before settling in Moray about three years ago. She said: “Most books about domestic abuse are either quite hard research books or things like A Child Called It. “A lot of what being in an abusive relationship is is quite boring. The everydayness of it becomes normalised – that’s the problem we have.” Lauren Aitchison	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1262
__label__wiki	0.569604	0.569604	State Capitol in review - Sept. 21, 2016 TERRY RICE, State Senator Challenges filed against ballot measures Legal challenges have been filed against four measures that have been certified to appear on the November general election ballot. Three other measures were referred by the legislature and there is no legal question about their being on the ballot. Depending on the outcome of the legal challenges, it is possible from three to seven ballot issues will be decided by Arkansas voters Nov. 8. The state attorney general’s office has approved their ballot titles and the secretary of state’s office has certified that sponsors of the measures submitted enough valid signatures of registered voters to qualify for placement on the ballot. The legal challenges were filed by advocacy groups that oppose the measures. Two of the ballot issues would legalize medical marijuana. One is a proposed constitutional amendment and the other is a proposed initiated act. The difference between the two types of measures is that an initiated act, if approved by a vote of the people, creates a statute that may be changed by the two-thirds majority of the legislature. A constitutional amendment can be changed only by another statewide vote of the people, unless it specifically empowers the legislature to make changes. For example, Amendment 94 was approved in 2014 and it authorizes the legislature to make changes to it. Two other proposed amendments were brought to the ballot by sponsoring groups that gathered signatures on petitions. Both face legal challenges. One would limit the amount of punitive damages that could be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits and the other would allow three new casinos. They would be allowed in Washington, Boone and Miller counties. The legal challenges vary, but in general they question the accuracy of the ballot titles and the sufficiency of the signatures submitted by sponsoring groups. This year, under a new law, paid canvassers must undergo criminal background checks. One legal challenge claims that the background checks were not done properly for some canvassers, and therefore all the signatures they gathered should be invalidated. To place a proposed initiated act on the ballot, sponsoring groups must submit signatures of registered voters gathered in at least 15 counties. The number of signatures must be at least 8 percent of the number of voters in the most recent election for governor. This year that is 67,887 signatures. To put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot you must submit signatures representing 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election. This year that is 84,859 signatures. Revenue report The state’s net general revenue for August was $416.1 million, which was 2 percent below forecast. Sales tax remissions to the state were down 2.2 percent from August of last year, and income tax collections were down by 0.5 percent from past year. July and August were the first two months of state fiscal year 2017, and for those two months net available revenue was below forecast by $15.3 million, or 1.8 percent. The forecast is the basis for writing state agency budgets. If collections fall too far below the forecast, state government will trim its budget to make ends meet. Arkansas operates under a balanced budget law know as the Revenue Stabilization Act. If you have any questions or comments about legislative issues, contact me at terry.rice@senate.ar.gov or call me at (479) 650-9712.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1263
__label__wiki	0.932419	0.932419	China sees 'coming victory' over coronavirus as global alarm spreads Kim HjelmgaardUSA TODAY In Iran, a close adviser to adviser Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died after contracting coronavirus. The head of a religious sect in South Korea got down on his knees and bowed deeply out of shame for his organization's role in the disease's spread. Italy has quarantined churches and urged doctors to come out of retirement. The new and frightening virus that has tightened borders, led to massive disinfection programs and roiled global markets has been detected in at least 70 countries with 90,000 cases and 3,100 deaths. China, where COVID-19 originated, remains the hardest-hit nation, with 80,151 cases and 2,943 deaths, but its ambassador to the United Nations said late Monday that it has turned a corner in battling the disease. "We are not far from the coming of the victory," said Zhang Jun, ahead of daily figures released Tuesday that showed new cases in China dropped to 125, a six-week low. But the optimism in China contrasts with a growing sense of alarm in other parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. South Korea saw its largest daily increase in new cases Tuesday, with 851 new infections, bringing the country's total reported cases to 5,186. President Moon Jae-in called the outbreak "a grave situation." Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the leader of the World Health Organization, said the outbreaks in South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan were the agency’s greatest concern. "We are in uncharted territory," Tedros said. Here is what is happening across the globe on coronavirus: Pope Francis tested negative for the coronavirus after suffering a slight cold which led him to cancel several public gatherings, newspaper Il Messaggero reported. The pope is 83. At least 52 people have died in Italy from the virus. Australia’s Central Bank cut interest rates and signaled it was prepared for further monetary easing measures in order to make up for an economic slowdown in China caused by the virus. President Donald Trump has urged the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in response to the outbreak. A majority of global stock market indexes gained Tuesday, although Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.2% Iranian state media reported that 23 lawmakers now have the disease. The death of Mohammad Mirmohammadi – Khamenei's adviser – came as Iran announced the virus had killed at least 77 people among 2,336 confirmed cases. Public health experts worry that Iran’s percentage of deaths to infections, around 3.3%, is higher than other countries. Iran suffers from a chronic shortage of essential medical supplies, partly blamed on years of U.S. sanctions. It also stands accused of concealing information about the spread of the disease. Iran's supreme leader mobilized the army Tuesday to help tackle the outbreak. State media in Iran also reported that the head of country’s emergency medical services is ill with the virus. North Korea still claims zero infections, more than a month after the WHO declared the virus a Public Health Emergency of International concern and despite the metastasizing presence of it in South Korea. "Unfortunately, the international community has no idea if the coronavirus is spreading inside North Korea,” said East Asia expert Jessica Lee in a recent report for the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a think tank in Washington. "The fact that we know nothing about the level of infection or deaths within North Korea is extremely problematic and, left unchanged, could have serious public health implications." Britain's government forecast that about a fifth of the country's workforce could be off sick if the virus, at its peak, turns into a full-blown pandemic. Like other nations, Britain is drafting emergency plans that would see the government close schools, limit large-scale events and implement a policy of "social distancing" if necessary. Under a worse-case scenario it could also call in the army and give police and medical professionals powers to detain people suspected of having COVID-19. So far, Britain has fewer cases of the disease than some other nearby European countries such France, with only 40 confirmed infections. Ukraine confirmed its first case of the virus, on the heels of reported cases for the first time in Gibraltar, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Amid mounting pressure on its health system, South Korea has started testing people for coronavirus via drive-through-type stations. Motorists are met by health officials in protective plastic suits who take samples from their throats and nasal passages. About 60% of South Korea's coronavirus cases have been traced to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive religious community. One of the church's leaders, dubbed "Patient 31" by South Korea's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is thought to have infected at least 31 people alone as she attended church services in Daegu, a city in southeastern South Korea. The world's top finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations held a global teleconference Tuesday over potential concerted action by policymakers to stem the damage the virus has caused to the global economy. Countries from Germany to Vietnam have cancelled large annual events from car shows to technology fairs. Commercial airlines have cancelled hundreds of flights. Tourism has ground to a halt. Large corporate employers have advised staff to work from home where possible. The virus risks a worldwide recession. Finance ministers and central bank governors said they stand ready to cooperate as	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1270
__label__wiki	0.583631	0.583631	Ian Vescera McCoy Stadium Pawtucket Red Sox Providence Should the PawSox move to Providence? https://www.redsoxlife.com/2015/02/should-pawsox-move-to-providence.html Ian Vescera (@Ian_Vescera) The PawSox have been in the news recently as the team has been sold to an ownership group including Larry Lucchino and James Skeffington among other investors. The new ownership group is planning to relocate the team to Providence for the 2017 season. They are looking to build a new waterfront stadium that would also have a view of the Providence skyline. James Skeffington, a local Rhode Island man and an emerging voice for the new ownership group, believes the time is now for a move to Providence. “We have great nostalgia for Pawtucket, but in all honesty, times have changed,” he said. “Ballparks have changed. Designs have changed. McCoy is the oldest stadium in the Triple-A International League. Most of the stadiums have been built since 1990 or something, many of them in the last five years." A state of the art stadium would be nice, but would also be very pricey. As Skeffington noted, recent minor league stadiums have been built for roughly between $60-70 million. It could cost taxpayers big time. Providence is not the most spacious city so finding room for the stadium may prove to be difficult. In addition, this could also make parking a nightmare on game days. Recent reports have suggested that the area formerly occupied by I-195 could be a target area for the new park. While a new city and a new park are big splashes this new ownership group wants to make, the city of Pawtucket receives the cold shoulder in this scenario. The Triple-A affiliate of the Red Sox had called Pawtucket their home since 1970. McCoy Stadium will soon be kicked to the curb just as many of the other old stadiums in the game. It is truly sad that the PawSox will be leaving their stadium, a place that has seen it all from a 33 inning game spanning 3 different dates, to countless future MLB All-Stars, and even to milk cartons dangled over its railings in the hopes of autographs. McCoy may not be as flashy as new parks are but it is a nice place to catch a ballgame. If the Boston Red Sox aren't playing that night, McCoy is definitely where I want to be. The stadium has a nice friendly atmosphere and does not have a bad seat in the house. Sure, the place is old by today's standards but there is nothing wrong with an older stadium. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. McCoy wasn't broken. Unfortunately for Pawtucket, new ownership saw a better opportunity to make money elsewhere and pounced. Personally, I am indecisive as to whether or not I like the move. A new stadium would be nice but I truly believe the PawSox belong in Pawtucket. Since I cannot decide, I will leave it up to the fans to debate. Is a new ballpark in downtown Providence worth moving from McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket? Vote in the poll below, reach out to me on twitter @Ian_Vescera, or comment below. Where should the PawSox play? Click here to read more posts by Ian Vescera. Info from bostonherald.com and providencejournal.com Ian Vescera, McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket Red Sox, Providence	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1273
__label__cc	0.621541	0.378459	中文 Français Deutsch Español English Reliability software Weibull++ BlockSim XFRACAS XFMEA RCM++ Lambda Predict Token-based licensing Reliability applications Life data analysis Accelerated life testing FMEA and related analyses System modeling and RAM analysis Process flow simulation Web portal for ReliaSoft applications Reliability growth Reliability prediction Probabilistic event analysis Aircraft maintenance MSG-3 Reliability software suites HBM Prenscia Software examples ReliaWiki Weibull.com Applied Reliability and Durability Conference Guidelines for Burn-in Justification and Burn-in Time Determination [Please note that the following article — while it has been updated from our newsletter archives — may not reflect the latest software interface and plot graphics, but the original methodology and analysis steps remain applicable.] Burn-in is a technique used to increase the quality of components and systems by operating the item under normal or accelerated environmental conditions prior to shipment. If a burn-in procedure is effective, the weak population in the product should be eliminated. Items that are delivered to the consumer are superior to those that would have been delivered without burn-in. The commonly used criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of burn-in testing are: maximum mean residual life, maximum probability of mission success after burn-in, etc. Cost is also often considered as one of the objectives. Costs may include the cost of the burn-in test, cost of warranty claims, cost of items lost to burn-in and cost of failure. Based on different objectives, different burn-in testing strategies should be designed. In the design of a burn-in testing strategy, engineers always ask the following two questions:. Do I need to conduct burn-in testing for my products? If so, how long does the burn-in testing need to last? In this article, we will briefly investigate the burn-in techniques and give the answers to these two questions. for more detailed discussion, please see Ref. [1]. Burn-in Justification First, we should be aware that burn-in testing is not necessary for all the products. In order to benefit from burn-in testing, engineers should collect failure data to decide whether or not burn-in is necessary for the product. In this section, a general procedure for the quantification of a burn-in test is given. It has the following three steps: Times-to-failure data collection. Initial data analysis. Formal parametric data analysis. Times-to-Failure Data Collection Times-to-failure data are the key to both burn-in justification and burn-in time determination. Typically, these data can be collected from previous burn-in tests, previous life tests or field failure reports. Depending on how the tests were planned and conducted, or how the field failures were monitored and recorded, the times-to-failure data can be complete failure data or censored data (which includes information about items that did not fail during the observation period, called “suspensions”). Initial Data Analysis Before fitting any failure distribution to the collected data, it is better to conduct an initial data analysis. Usually, graphical plotting will give a very straightforward indication about the failure pattern, such as decreasing failure rate (DFR), increasing failure rate (IFR), constant failure rate (CFR) or mixed failure rate (MFR); and whether subpopulations and outliers exist. Weibull probability plots can serve this purpose very well since the Weibull distribution is a flexible distribution. Depending on the value of the shape parameter b, the distribution can describe the failure process with DFR, IFR, CFR and MFR. Two other plots -- mean residual life (MRL) plots and total time on test (TTT) plots -- also can be used to identify the patterns of the failures. For a Weibull distribution, the probability plot looks like Figure 1. Figure 1: Weibull Probability Plot By examining the slope of the plot, the failure rate trend can be obtained. If the slope is greater than 1, the product has an increasing failure rate. If it is less than 1, a decreasing failure rate exists. Further parametric analysis should be conducted after the initial probability plot. By conducting parametric analysis, not only the mean value, but also the confidence interval of the slope can be obtained. Probability plots and histogram plots can be used to identify whether multiple subpopulations exist in the data. The histogram plot does not require any distribution assumption and is a non-parametric method. For example, a histogram plot may be obtained as shown in Figure 2. This plot provides enough evidence to show that there are two subpopulations in the collected failure data. Figure 2: Histogram Plot of the Failure Data In the probability or histogram plot, if any points appear to be outliers, then the test procedure and data records need to be checked. Any confirmed outliers should be removed from the original data set before further analysis. Otherwise, such observations should be kept in the data set. Formal Parametric Data Analysis The initial data analysis in the previous section provides an indication about the failure pattern and subpopulation behavior, which facilitates the selection of a proper model for describing the failure process during burn-in. In this section, we will discuss the two commonly used mathematical models for the failure process during burn-in. One is the single population Weibull model and another is the mixed-Weibull model. Since the exponential distribution is a special case of the Weibull model, the mixed-exponential model falls under the mixed-Weibull family. The mixed-Weibull model can describe the reliability bathtub curve very well. Another type of model called the "bathtub curve family" can also be used to describe the bathtub curve and the burn-in failure process. For details, please refer to Ref. [1]. Single Population Weibull Model This model is also called the 2-parameter Weibull. Its probability density function is given by: The failure rate function is given by: where β is the shape parameter and η is the scale parameter. From Eqn.(2) we can see that if β is less than 1, the failure rate will decrease with the time and if β is larger than 1, the failure rate will increase with time. If β is equal to 1, the failure rate is a constant value. The use of β to determine the burn-in time is illustrated later in this article. Mixed-Weibull Model In this article, we only consider the 2 population mixed-Weibull model or bimodal mixed-Weibull model. A 2 population mixed-Weibull model can be used to describe a population with two different distributions. A freak population represents the weak or substandard components or assemblies with strength values much smaller than the specified limits. A main population represents a subpopulation of the strong or standard components or assemblies with strengths around the specified limits. The weak population is usually caused by defects in the manufacturing process and the lack of quality control. The probability density function for the mixed-Weibull model is shown in Figure 3. Figure 3: Probability Density Function of a Bimodal Distribution For the bimodal mixed distribution, it is expected that an effective burn-in will eliminate those substandard components governed by the freak strength distribution. The cumulative distribution function of the bimodal Weibull distribution is given by: and p is the fraction of the freak population in the total population. Parameter Estimation and Model Validation Once a mathematical model has been selected to describe the failure data, the next task is to estimate the model parameters. Basically, the parameter estimation methods for the failure time distribution can be divided into the following two categories: 1) Graphical Methods and 2) Analytical Methods. ReliaSoft's Weibull++ software provides many analytical methods for parameter estimation, such as Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), Least-Squares Estimation (LSE) and Bayesian method. After the parameters have been estimated, the next step is to validate whether or not the selected model fits the data. Using a combination of goodness-of-fit tests and engineering judgment, different models can be tried until the one that provides the most satisfactory fit is found. A goodness-of-fit test is a very effective tool to check the validity of the model. The Distribution Wizard in Weibull++, which performs three different goodness-of-fit tests and ranks each distribution according to their combined performance on these tests, can be used for selecting the best fit model from a statistical perspective. For more detail, please see Ref. [2]. Notice that engineering judgment is an integral part of the model selection process as well. Burn-in Objective and Time Determination After estimation of the model parameters and validation of the obtained model, the next task is to determine the "optimum" burn-in time. "Optimum" is related to an objective function. A burn-in time that is optimum to one objective may not also be optimum to other objectives. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the appropriate objective function first before proceeding to determine the burn-in time length. The objectives can be: A specified (or the minimum) failure rate at the end of burn-in. A specified (or the maximum) post-burn-in mission reliability. The expected minimum cost. The elimination of the freak population. A specified (or the maximum) post-burn-in mean residual life. Analysts may also define their own objectives. In the following discussion, we will present examples of determining burn-in time based on the failure model and a given objective. More detailed discussion can be found in Ref. [1]. Burn-in Time Corresponding to a Specified Failure Rate Goal This method is usually used when the product has a decreasing failure rate. The estimated failure rate function is as given in Eqn. (2). Let the failure rate goal be λG, then: From Eqn. (4), one can solve the corresponding burn-in time tb by: The burn-in time can also be easily identified by looking at the failure rate plot in Weibull++7. For example, for a Weibull distribution with β = 0.5 and η = 200, the failure rate plot is as given in Figure 4. If the post-burn-in failure rate goal is 0.003, then from Figure 4, it can be seen that the corresponding burn-in time is 147. Figure 4: Failure Rate Plot for Weibull Distribution with Decreasing Failure Rate Burn-in Time Corresponding to a Mission Reliability Goal This method can be used for both the single Weibull and the mixed-Weibull distribution. For a mission time t after tb hours of burn-in, the mission reliability is given by: For the single Weibull model with decreasing failure rate: If RG, β, η and the mission time t are given, then from Eqn. (7), one can solve for the corresponding burn-in time tb using the non-linear equation root finder in Weibull++. For the bimodal mixed-Weibull model, Eqn. (6) becomes: and tb can be solved for using the non-linear equation root finder or the tabular approach of Table 1 can be used. For example, let p = 0.366, β1 = 0.57, η1 = 530, β2 = 1.82 and η2 = 5900. Assume that the reliability goal is 0.99 and the mission time is 50 hours. Using the conditional reliability function provided in Weibull++, we get the results shown in Table 1. Table 1: Mission Reliability for a Given Burn-in Time Burn-in Time Reliability Goal Burn-in Time Reliability Goal 50 0.96320264 550 0.989308 100 0.97258375 600 0.989803 500 0.98871850 1000 0.991832 From Table 1, we can see that the burn-in time of 650 will meet the reliability goal. The exact numerical solution of Eqn. (8) is 646.85 hours. Thus the result obtained form Table 1 is very close to the exact numerical solution. Burn-in Time Corresponding to the Expected Minimum Cost This method is usually used for the single Weibull distribution with the shape parameter β < 1. Weibull++ 7 has a template that can be used to find the optimum burn-in time by minimizing the expected cost. More detailed discussion on this can be found in Ref. [3]. Burn-in testing requires testing all units for the designated time; therefore, it increases production lead time as well as costs. The following expected cost model addresses the trade-off between the costs of conducting the burn-in and the cost of failures following burn-in. Let: Cb = cost per unit time for burn-in testing Cf = cost per failure during burn-in Co = cost per failure when operational tb = length of burn-in testing t = operational life of the units Assume n units are placed under burn-in testing. Those that fail during burn-in are discarded and the surviving units continue to be operational. The expected number of failures during burn-in is n[1-R(tb)]. The expected number of operational failures is: The expected total cost is: The expected cost per unit for the Weibull distribution is: For a Weibull distribution with β = 0.529, η = 168, Cb = $70, Cf = $500 and Co = $4,000, based on Eqn. (11), applying the Burn-in Template provided by Weibull++ 7, we get the plot shown in Figure 5. By examining the cost curve, the optimum burn-in time that results in the minimal expected cost can be located. This time is 2.5 hours. Figure 5: Burn-in Test Report Burn-in Time Corresponding to Eliminating the Freak Population This method is used when there is more than one population in the failures, especially for the data that can be modeled by a bimodal mixed Weibull distribution. Many companies want to eliminate the freak population before they ship the product. Burn-in can efficiently meet this goal since the freak population usually has a relatively short life. Assuming the burn-in time to be tb, the new cumulative distribution function, Fn(t), describing the remaining part of the distribution is given by: where F(t) is given in Eqn. (3). If the burn-in for tb has been carried out so that the freak subpopulation has been more or less eliminated, then: Thus Eqn. (12) becomes: Eqn. (14) can be used to calculate the probability of failure of the population that survived the burn-in test. the burn-in time can be determined by a simple graphical method. From the parameters of the fitted model, we know that the proportion of the weak population is p = 13.1%. Therefore, we locate the point with the unreliability equal to 0.131 in the probability plot and find the corresponding time is 34.4. This also can be done using the Quick Calculation Pad (QCP) tool in Weibull++. The burn-in time 34.4 will eliminate most units in the weak population. Figure 6: Bimodal Mixed-Weibull Probability Plot Burn-in Time Corresponding to a Specified Post-Burn-in Mean Residual Life The definition of mean residual life (MRL) is: given that an item is of age t, the remaining life after age t, which is a random variable, is called the residual life. The expected value of this random residual life is called the mean residual life at age t. In general, MRL is a function of age t. MRL can be calculated by: More details about MRL can be found in Ref. [1]. A burn-in procedure is justified for the case when the products have an increasing MRL or when the products exhibit an increasing MRL first and then the MRL starts decreasing. Because these units exhibit a decreasing failure rate during their early life period, burn-in before delivery will eliminate the defective units from the population and increase the residual life of the delivered units. Though both the failure rate function at age t, λ(t) and the MRL function at age t, are conditional on the survival of an item to age t, m(t) provides information about the whole interval after t, while λ(t) provides information only about a small interval after age t, which is the interval (t, t + Δt). The empirical MRL function can be calculated by: The following example illustrates how to use the empirical MRL plot to determine a suitable burn-in time. Consider the failure data from a life test of 4500 hours on N = 150 electronic components shown in Table 2. Table 2: Failure Data for MRL Calculation Failure Order Number in State State F/S State End Time MRL 1 1 F 100 33033 7 1 F 1044 52394 10 3 F 3997 29660 - 131 S 4500 Applying Eqn. (16) to the data in Table 2, the empirical MRL at any specified age t between tk and tk+1 is: For example, if t = t10 = 3997, then the estimated m(t) is: The empirical MRL plot is shown in Figure 7. Figure 7: Example of Empirical MRL Plot If the goal for MRL after burn-in is 40000 hours, then from Figure 7, it can be seen that the corresponding burn-in time is about 400 hours. It can also be observed from the plot that the maximum achievable MRL is about 53000 and the corresponding burn-in time is about 1000 hours. In this article, the issues of whether to conduct a burn-in test and how to determine an optimum burn-in time were discussed. The article shows that analyzing the field and test failure data is very important. The analysis results can help decide whether a burn-in program will be beneficial. Depending on the objective there are different ways of determining the burn-in length. In this article, five commonly used objectives and the corresponding burn-in time determination methods were discussed. Note that if a burn-in test is to be conducted at a stress level that is different from that at which the times-to-failure data were collected, then an acceleration factor needs to be determined for converting a burn-in time at one stress level to that at another stress level. The acceleration factor can be calculated using the ALTA 7 software that will soon be released by ReliaSoft. [1] Kececioglu, D. and Sun, F. B., Burn-In Testing, Its Quantification and Optimization, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1997. [2] ReliaSoft, Life Data Analysis Reference, 2005. [3] Ebeling, C., An Introduction to Reliability and Maintainability Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 1997. [Editor's Note: In the printed edition of Volume 7, Issue 2, the data for the second column of Table 1 was printed incorrectly. This has been corrected in this online version. We apologize for any inconvenience.] FMEA and related analysis Web-based FRACAS Standard based reliability predictions ReliaSoft products and services empower reliability professionals worldwide by promoting efficiency and innovation. Stay up-to-date by subscribing today. © Hottinger Bruel & Kjaer Inc. All Rights Reserved. Third Party Privacy Notice \| Website Notice \| Cookie Notice HBM Prenscia is a strategic segment of HBM.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1275
__label__wiki	0.925659	0.925659	Koch Industries to Sponsor Ryan Newman in Daytona 500 CONCORD, N.C. (January 29, 2020) – Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Koch Industries (pronounced “coke”) will serve as the primary partner for Ryan Newman when its flagship No. 6 Ford Mustang hits the track for the 62nd annual running of the famed Daytona 500, kicking off the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. Koch Industries will make its debut on the No. 6 in the Busch Clash all-star event on February 9th at the Daytona International Speedway. “We are looking forward to teaming up with Koch Industries and having them on the car for one of the most celebrated races of the season,” said Newman, who scored a dramatic victory with a last-lap pass at the iconic event in 2008. “Winning the 500 is one of the biggest accomplishments of my racing career. We have really fast superspeedway cars at Roush Fenway and we’d like nothing better than to kick off our season by driving the Koch Industries Ford into victory lane at Daytona.” Roush Fenway boasts a pair of wins at the Daytona 500, with former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth taking the celebrated checkered flag in 2009 and 2012; the latter serving as Hall of Fame owner Jack Roush’s historic 300th NASCAR victory. Overall, Roush Fenway has won seven times at the ‘World Center of Racing’ in NASCAR’s premiere series, most recently in the 2017 summer race. “Koch Industries is excited to partner with Roush Fenway and Ryan Newman in this year’s Daytona 500. As our businesses continue to manufacture the things that make life better—from fuel to electronics to automotive sensors and component parts—the partnership between Koch Industries and Roush Fenway for this race is a natural fit. Sunday at Daytona is the premier event of the season and we are proud to help represent one of racing’s brightest stars,” said Steve Lombardo, chief communications and marketing officer for Koch Industries. This will mark Newman’s 19th start in the Daytona 500. He finished 14th last season, despite a late accident that forced the veteran driver to cross the finish line with a severely damaged racecar. He scored a seventh-place finish in the 500 in his inaugural run in 2002 and has finished top 10 in the famed event on five occasions, including the victory in 2008. Sunday’s Busch Clash is set for 3:00 PM ET and will air live on FS1. The twin qualifying races fire off at 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, February 13 and will be televised live on FS1. The Daytona 500 is set for Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 PM ET and will be televised live on FOX. About Koch Industries Based in Wichita, Kansas, Koch Industries, Inc. is one of the largest private companies in America, with estimated annual revenues as high as $110 billion, according to Forbes. It owns a diverse group of companies involved in refining, chemicals, and biofuels; forest and consumer products; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; process and pollution control systems; electronics, software and data analytics; minerals; glass; automotive components; ranching; commodity trading; and investments. Since 2003, Koch companies have invested nearly $105 billion in growth and improvements. With a presence in 60 countries, Koch companies employ nearly 130,000 people worldwide, with about 67,000 of those in the United States. From January 2009 to present, Koch companies have earned more than 1,300 awards for safety, environmental excellence, community stewardship, innovation, and customer service. For more news and information, visit www.KOCHind.com. About Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. Moving into its 33rd season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1276
__label__cc	0.597157	0.402843	Hard Fought 16th-Place Finish for Stenhouse at Atlanta HAMPTON, Ga. (February 25, 2018) –After consistently running in the top 15 for a majority of Sunday’s rain delayed Fold of Honors Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drove his Ford Fusion to a 16th-place finish despite sustaining damage to the right rear with less than 25 laps ... Bayne Finishes 24th in Dover DOVER, Del. (Oct. 1, 2017) – Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion, recorded a 24th-place finish in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) event at Dover International Speedway. “Today was a battle,” said Bayne after the race. “I just want to thank all my guys ... Bayne Ready to Tame “The Monster Mile” Trevor Bayne – Dover Advance Team: No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion Crew Chief: Matt Puccia PR Contact: Mike Campbell Twitter: @Tbayne6, @Bayne6Team and @RoushFenway Dover International Speedway – Sunday, Oct. 1 at 2:00pm EST. ... Bayne Finishes 16th in Charlotte CONCORD, N.C. (May 29, 2017) – Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion, overcame damage sustained in a Lap 245 incident and utilized fuel strategy in the closing laps of the rain-marred Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday night to record ... Wallace Finishes 16th in Richmond Richmond, Va. (April 23, 2016) – Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Mustang, recorded a 16th-place finish on Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Richmond International Raceway. “We fought hard,” said Wallace after the race. “It was just difficult to work ... Incident Relegates Wallace to 33rd-Place Finish LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 5, 2016) – Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Mustang, was involved in a multi-car incident in the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon on Lap 136 that ultimately led to a 33rd-place finish. “I am good,” said Wallace ... Wallace Finishes 18th in Atlanta HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 27, 2016) – Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Mustang, finished in the 18th position on Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway after overcoming a flat right-front tire under green on Lap 128. “Today was just a series of ...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1277
__label__cc	0.686128	0.313872	L 13/15, DLF Phase 2, Gurugram connect@renprojects.in 8684994017 Request call back HomeRegulatory compliance Degree or diploma granting higher education institutions in India need to comply to regulatory norms defined by various regulatory bodies like All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Bar Council of India (BCI), University Grants Commission (UGC), Medical Council of India (MCI) and to other rules and laws defined by the State in which they are located. Upcoming institutions seem to struggle with balancing the need to comply with rules and norms specified by regulatory bodies and their aspirations to be innovative, Build a shared understanding of the nuances of the laws and regulations that may govern the institution and how non-compliance may impact the reputation of the institution Work towards compliances from day one and not as a reaction to notices or investigation from the regulatory agencies Involve top experts from our network who have guided higher education policy in different capacities in India At the concept stage: Ensure that the project plan factors the costs and implications of compliance on matters of manpower, infrastructure, academic planning Facilitate a common understanding among all team members (founders, infrastructure, academic, finance, marketing, admissions and administration) about how various regulatory provisions could impact different aspects of the project During development phase: Engage with different regulatory bodies to secure clearances like letter of intent, academic committee reviews, infrastructure committee reviews and final approval and recognition Keep an oversight on all aspects of the project development so that there is no violation on any account Develop the first Statutes and Ordinances that will guide the operations of the institution Help the core academic team in creating the overarching regulatory structure within the institution driven by key Bodies like Academic Council, Governing Body, Board of Management and so on Support the administrative departments in creation of administrative committees, their policies and processes like Examination, Appraisals, Fee management, Grievance Redressal, Committee against Sexual Harassment, Quality Assurance and so on Once the institution has gone live: Organize internal audit on matters of compliance across different departments and guide the implementation of the recommendations Hand-hold a thorough preparation for higher level of accreditation and compliances that are required on completion of a certain number of years of operation like University Grants Commission (UGC) , National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Guide the implementation of critical academic and administrative policies	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1279
__label__wiki	0.566172	0.566172	The Green Munias by Sahil Zutshi Cover: Artwork by Leah Duncan www.leahduncan.com @leahduncan Issue availability Order the current issue now Issue available as PDF Sahil Zutshi reports on efforts to save India’s ‘green ones’. A pair of green munias © Ainsley Priestman It’s the end of July, the sun scorches everything in its path, and the forest gasps for water. Even the usually energetic Hanuman langurs take cover. Underneath the shade of a giant mango tree, a flock of exquisitely coloured birds chirp their high-pitched song. It’s a sign that the monsoon is on its way. Almost overnight the dry forests of Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary will burst into life in every possible shade of green. Eight kilometres from Mount Abu, a hill station in north-west India, a pockmarked road perilously winds its way across hillsides covered with kachnar and mandar trees to the villages of Oriya and Achalgarh. Not far from these villages stands Guru Shikhar, the highest peak in the Aravalli range, which rises some 1,722 metres and is home to an ancient temple and cave. This area, renowned for its pilgrimage and tourist sites, is also home to five of the eight species of munia found in India, including the endemic and prized green munia, a member of the finch family Estrildidae that holds a special place for local ornithologists. Recently I returned to Abu, where I had spent a portion of my childhood. It was painful to witness the lack of concern among locals over increasing environmental degradation of the forest, so in 2017 I teamed up with my father, a seasoned gardener who has planted trees in Abu for the last 40 years, to set up a protected biodiversity area within the wildlife sanctuary and eco-sensitive zone. Together we have been restoring the natural habitat in this area by planting native trees and managing the spread of invasive species. Our goal is to build a better home for our beloved green munias. Known by their local name harias (meaning ‘the green ones’ in a local dialect of Hindi), the green munias, or green avadavats as they are also known, have an olive-green upper plumage, a lime-green upper back, a yellow belly, a red bill, a black tail, and distinctive bold and brightly coloured zebra-striped flanks. They have a loud, high-pitched call that ends in a prolonged trill and a twittering ‘swee, swee’. Their bright plumage and melodious song, coupled with their friendliness and ease of care, make them much sought-after cage birds and victims of the pet trade. They group together in large flocks, so they are easy to catch, although declining numbers have meant that trappers are finding fewer of them. The word ‘avadavat’ is thought to be a corruption of ‘Ahmedabad’, a city in Gujarat state, reflecting the popularity of the birds as caged pets. The old city of Ahmedabad became the site of a thriving bird bazaar and a hub for the caged-bird trade in the 19th century. The trade continues to flourish and large numbers of these birds are still trapped – either by the use of a decoy bird or nets – and are traded in both the domestic and the export markets. There have been reports of the more common variety, the red munia, being painted green to command a higher price. Green munias have been spotted in the wild as far away as Lahore, in Pakistan, presumably having escaped from cages. While the risk from trappers remains ever present, the major threat is habitat despoliation. Oriya and Achalgarh have become hotspots for unmanaged tourism. Loud music echoes around the hillsides, while relatively untouched habitats are being altered by traffic, deforestation and encroachment. Pesticide and chemical fertiliser use on local farms poses another significant threat to these seed-nibbling birds. So far we have planted over 100 species of tree in the protected area. Access has been restricted and the land is no longer suffering from overgrazing, and the results are already visible in the appearance of grasslands with native wild flowers, a rarity in Mount Abu. While invasive lantana and Mauritius thorn present challenges as problematic species that must be tackled systematically, any removal of thick bush cover has to be carefully managed at the protected site to safeguard the natural nesting habitat of munias. Our conservation efforts also include rainwater harvesting, rubbish collection and, most importantly, vigilance to curb environmental violations around the villages. Flock sizes are starting to grow. On a lucky day, it is possible to see 50 or more birds. Unfortunately, the textbook approach of involving the wider local community has been largely unsuccessful. Knowledge of the traditional way of living with the forest has been lost over the generations, and the terms ‘forest land’, ‘wildlife sanctuary’ and ‘eco-sensitive zone’ are not taken seriously. The neighbouring farms oppose our conservation efforts because they include land the farmers have been using illegally. They have retaliated against our conservation efforts by cutting the precious water supply to the new plantation. Poor law enforcement and lack of deterrence exacerbate people’s lack of care for the environment. We are hoping to change this attitude and raise environmental awareness. Fortunately there has been encouragement from the former forest minister of the state, Gajendra Singh Khimsar, and a handful of well-wishers. Further research will be conducted at the protected site to better assist with management and conservation. We are pressing for a much-needed shift towards eco-tourism in order to safeguard and ensure the existence of this globally endangered species. The sight of green munias feeding alongside white-throated munias (silverbills) and scaly-breasted munias has become a common sight all through the summer and monsoon months. To see a flock of these beautiful creatures congregating in the grasslands or rising to the forest canopy in their undulating flight – there can be no greater reward for our efforts. For more information about the conservation work at Mount Abu, email info@irupidamcentre.com Sahil Zutshi is a conservationist living in India. Previously he worked in the environmental and development planning sectors in the UK and Spain .	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1280
__label__wiki	0.84562	0.84562	Three phones that changed the world, and three phones that didn't As you may know, Mobile Gazette is five years old. As part of our Retro season, we look back at what we think are the three most influential.. and three most disappointing phones in the past five years. The three most influential phones in the past 5 years.. Motorola RAZR V3 It's a familiar sight these days, but back in 2004 the Motorola RAZR V3 was nothing like anything that had gone before. At only 14mm thick, the RAZR was the slimmest phone around, and the use of anodized aluminium in the design made it look amazing. In fact, the RAZR had so much "wow factor", it regularly made the news. It wasn't the first handset to be called a "fashion phone", but it is certainly one of the most memorable.. and the RAZR V3 sold millions of units. You can still buy them new today for about $100, which is quite a bit cheaper than the original $600 asking price. The RAZR had some drawbacks.. the main one was that it was actually a pretty poor mobile phone underneath the pretty exterior. The user interface was horrible, the phone was slow and the phone didn't have a media player or expandable memory. Really much all the Motorola engineers had done was take the old Motorola V600 (from 2003) and squashed it down into a new case. Motorola could never repeat the success of the original RAZR, despite coming up with dozens of variations. We caused a stir last year by saying that the RAZR was killing Motorola, and that Motorola's strategy had gone badly wrong. Regardless of these ups and downs, we think that the Motorola RAZR stands out as one of the three most influential phones of the past five years, because it made other manufacturers take a long, hard look at their designs in order to make them more appealing. Nobody could ever accuse the Nokia N95 of being a fashion phone.. announced in 2006, the N95 defined an entirely new class of handsets that were stuffed with just about every feature you could think of. Featuring 3.5G support, WiFi, GPS, a superb 5 megapixel camera, a large screen, powerful multimedia player and a clever two-way slider, the N95 was the most advanced phone that we had ever seen. The N95 demonstrated that there was a market for high-end and expensive mobile phones, and it became the benchmark to beat. Even two years after launch, the N95 is still a very popular phone and there are only a tiny handful of devices that can beat it. The Apple iPhone was announced early in 2007, and it's a love-it-or-hate-it device. But there's no doubting that it is a highly influential device that has inspired competitors to come out with a raft of "me too" devices. The original iPhone lacked 3G or GPS, had a pretty poor camera and a number of other disappointments.. but it was the most polished phone to date with a fantastic user interface that won admiring glances.. even from those who claimed not to like the thing. One simple measure of how these three phones compare in terms of popularity is a Google search. Looking up "RAZR" gives 28.6 million matches, N95 gives 64 million matches, and iPhone gives an astonishing 337 million matches. Does that make the iPhone more influential than the others? Possibly not.. but it has definitely created the biggest media buzz. Other mentions We didn't count the Nokia 6310i as that is actually six years old.. a phone that was pretty much perfect for its target market. The Sharp 902 defined the modern 3G phone, but was about two years ahead of everyone else. The Sony Ericsson W800 redefined the mobile phone as a serious media player. The Samsung D500 popularised the now common "slider" format. ..and the three most disappointing phones. Motorola ROKR E1 The phone that both Motorola and Apple hope you had forgotten.. the Motorola ROKR E1 was announced in 2005, following months of speculation about an iTunes-capable phone. Public expectations were high, with all sorts of snazzy conceptual designs combining iPod elements in a mobile phone.. more or less the same concepts that emerged before the iPhone was launched. The reality was hugely disappointing. The Motorola ROKR E1 was a slightly tweaked version of the Motorola E398 from the previous year. The ROKR E1 could only store 100 tracks, regardless of the size of memory card, and it just didn't look the part. It was a huge flop, despite the fact that it was actually quite a good music phone despite its limitations. The ROKR range still soldiers on today with handsets such as the ROKR E8, but the ROKR has always been a FLOPR compared to the original RAZR. Back in 2003, several years before the iPhone, Nokia showed off the Nokia 7700 which featured a large touch-sensitive screen with a specially designed user interface, a multimedia player, camera, email client and pretty much everything that you would expect from a modern touchscreen phone.. ..except the 7700 was made with technology from 2003, so it was bulky, lacked memory and was slow. Eventually the 7700 was cancelled and replaced with the 7710 which fared little better. Along with the Nokia 6708, these three devices were Nokia's first touchscreen phones, but they spectacularly failed to make any impact on the market whatsover. Perhaps if the 7700 had an Apple badge on, things might have been different. Panasonic X300 If you are going to make a phone that looks like a digital camcorder, then you would expect it to live up to its looks when it came to taking pictures and video clips. But although the Panasonic X300 looked fantastic with a flip-out screen and side-mounted camera, the truth was that it was utterly rubbish.. even for 2004 when it was launched. When Panasonic's rival Sharp had just launched the first megapixel camera phone in Europe, the X300 was stuck at 0.3 megapixels. Video capture resolution was approximately 120 x 160 pixels and the X300 couldn't even record sound. The X300 didn't have any type of expandable memory and the 3MB available internally was completely inadequate. The only way to get pictures off was an optional and highly proprietary USB cable. On top of that, the pokey 128 x 128 pixel display was utterly inadequate.. and poor quality construction meant that it tended to break. We admit that plenty of other phones from that time period had similar shortcomings, but none were as utterly disappointing as the Panasonic X300, although Panasonic continued to churn out uncompetitive handsets in Europe until the end of 2005 when they gave up. Although Panasonic's other products are excellent, and Panasonic's Japanese phones are quite impressive, their efforts in the European market were surprisingly poor and nobody really misses them. The Sony Ericsson P990 looked good on paper, but bugs and a lack of interest from its manufacturer meant that this promising device never achieved what it could have done. The Siemens Xelibri 6 (and the whole Siemens Xelibri range) was an interesting idea that is still waiting for the right moment. The Motorola MPx220 failed to popularise Windows on ordinary phones. The Nokia 3200 allowed you to make your own covers.. but we're not sure if anyone ever did. The Nokia N91 tried to introduce the hard disk to mobile phones, but failed. The Motorola ZINE ZN5 is one of 2008's most disappointing phones because it comes with a first class camera, but no 3G or GPS. Who knows what will be memorable in another five years or so.. we hope that we are still around to share! Labels: Apple, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic Three phones that changed the world, and three pho... 1800s 1810 1830 1840 1850 1860 1868 1870 1880 1888 1890 1898 1900 1900s 1907 1908 1910s 1918 1920s 1927 1928 1930 1930s 1937 1938 1940 1940s 1947 1948 1950 1950s 1956 1958 1959 1960 1960s 1967 1968 1969 1970 1970s 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1980s 1981 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1990s 1991 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2018 3Com 8-bit Acorn Amazon Amstrad Android Apple April Arcade Games ASUS Atari August B&O Bada BenQ BlackBerry Cars Commodore Communicator Compaq Consoles DEC December Dell Digital Disasters eBay Epson Ericsson February Food Futureretro Google Honeywell HP HTC IBM ICL Intel Internet January July June Kodak LG Maemo March Mattel May MeeGo Microcomputers Microsoft Midway Moblin Motorola N-Series NEC Nintendo Nokia November October Oric Palm Panasonic PDAs Prototypes Psion QNX Radio Shack Research Machines Retro 5\|10 RIM Samsung SatNav Sega Sendo September Series 80 Series 90 Sharp Siemens Sinclair Smartwatches Sony Sony Ericsson Sun Symbian T-Mobile Tablets Taito Tandy Terminals TI Toshiba TV Unix Vodafone W-for-Weird Wearables Windows Xerox	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1282
__label__cc	0.560608	0.439392	Admission Form2021 Sign In Not a member yet Dr KN Modi University Newai Tonk Admission Courses and Ranking Written By: Swati Topic We Cover: KN MODI UNIVERSITY 2. FACULTIES FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES FACULTY OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, APPLIED ARTS, AND DESIGN 3. CAMPUS 4. RECRUITERS KN MODI UNIVERSITY K N Modi University is a Private University and is approved by University Grants Commission (UGC). It is a very Prestigious University that is well known for promoting education, Indian Culture, heritage, history, and spirituality. It provides quality education to its students and also works on their personality development. The University is managed by Dr. K.N. Modi Foundation, whose founder Dr. Kedar Nath Modi believed in the fact that “Education Builds Nation” and to make true this thought, KN Modi University imparts Quality Education to students at all levels. The University since its inception in the academic year 2010-11 is running on the philosophy of “Education for the Development of the Society” and is continuously working to achieve this goal and objective. For providing education to the youths of the society, the university offers various Professional Programs to the students which are related to Agriculture, Arts, Commerce, different disciplines of Engineering, Forestry, Law, management, Pharmacy, and Science. Various courses at the undergraduate level, postgraduate level, and doctoral levels are offered to the students of not only our nation but to the students of other countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan also. Department of Civil Engineering was formulated in the year 2010 and since then it has significantly contributed to the Field of Civil Engineering. The department offers Diploma, Undergraduate and Postgraduate and Doctorate Courses in the field of Civil Engineering. The Department possesses all the important Civil Engineering Laboratories like Geoinformatics, Concrete Technology, Transportation Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Analysis Lab, etc. Courses available to the students are: For the diploma course, the minimum qualification required is passing of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC)/ tenth certificate/ or any equivalent examination Rs.1,08,000/- The minimum requirement is 10+2 with a minimum of 50% of marks. The percentage will be 40% for SC/ST/OBC/PH category students. M.Tech in Environmental Engineering 50% marks in B.Tech or M.Sc. or an equivalent degree with a minimum of 50% marks. M.Tech in Geotechnical Engineering The Department of Computer Science and Engineering conducts Undergraduate B.Tech (Computer Science & Engineering) course at the university. The total intake of students in the course is 60. The department has extremely good faculty who provide the best practical and theoretical knowledge to the students. The department aims in covering all the important aspects of computer knowledge such as Algorithm Design, Operational Research, Advance Database systems, High-speed networks, mobile networks, computer graphics, the theory of computation, software engineering, etc. Following are the courses offered by the department: Diploma in Computer Science For the diploma course, the minimum qualification required is the passing of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC)/ tenth certificate/ or any equivalent examination. B.Tech in Computer Science A candidate shall be 10+2 passed out with a minimum of 50% of aggregate marks from a recognized board/CBSE/or equivalent board. Mathematics and Physics shall be as mandatory subjects while other subjects can be anyone from Chemistry/Computer Science/ IP/Biology/Biotechnology. The minimum percentage for SC/ST/OBC (Non-creamy layer)/SBC shall be 45%. 10+2 pass out with a minimum of 50% of aggregate marks. BCA with a minimum of 50% marks. M.Tech in Computer Engineering BE/B.Tech/or equivalent degree in Computer Engineering from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 6.25 on 10 points scale. The percentage will be 50% and CGPA will be 5.75 on 10 points scale for ST/SC/OBC/SBC candidates. Students who have done MCA/M.Sc. IT may also be considered eligible for M.Tech in Computer Engineering. M.Sc. IT in Cyber Security Undergraduate/Postgraduate with 50% minimum marks. Rs1,54,000/- The department aims to provide such High-Quality Technical Education to students that will bring out the full potential of the students and so they will be able to fulfill the needs and requirements of Industry and society. The department focuses on co-curricular and extra-curricular activities together with the academics which ensure value-added education. The department emphasizes the practical knowledge of the subject and focuses on the overall development of the student. It has a very skilled and knowledgeable faculty that tries to produce good engineers. The courses which are provided by the department areas: B.Tech in Electrical Engineering A candidate shall be 10+2 passed out with a minimum of 50% of aggregate marks from a recognized board/CBSE/or equivalent board. Mathematics and Physics shall be as mandatory subjects while another subject can be anyone from Chemistry/Computer Science/ IP/Biology/Biotechnology. The minimum percentage for SC/ST/OBC (Noncreamy layer)/SBC shall be 45%. M.Tech in Energy Engineering BE/B.Tech/or equivalent degree in Computer Engineering from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 6.25 on 10 points scale. The percentage will be 50% and CGPA will be 5.75 on 10 points scale for ST/SC/OBC/SBC candidates. Students who have done MCA/M.Sc. IT may also be considered eligible for M.Tech in Energy Engineering. M.Tech in Power Electronics BE/B.Tech/or equivalent degree in Computer Engineering from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 6.25 on 10 points scale. The percentage will be 50% and CGPA will be 5.75 on 10 points scale for ST/SC/OBC/SBC candidates. Students who have done MCA/M.Sc. IT may also be considered eligible for M.Tech in Power Engineering. Get Updated Review ( Voice Based Alumni Feeback) Check Review (Alumni Feedback) - Lovely Professional University - [LPU] – Click Here Check Review (Alumni Feedback) - Amity University – Click Here Check Review (Alumni Feedback) - UPES Dehradoon – Click Here Check Review (Alumni Feedback) - BML Munjal University – Click Here Check Review (Alumni Feedback) - MMU Mullana – Click Here The Department of Mechanical Engineering at KN University offers courses such as M.Tech, B.Tech, and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. The faculties of the Department are highly experienced and qualified. The department provides its students with well-equipped labs and workshop facilities so that they can gain practical knowledge together with theoretical knowledge. Mechanical Engineering has a huge scope and the graduate students in this field are in demand in fields such as design, development, production, manufacturing, research & development, defense, power sectors. Following courses are offered by the department: Diploma in Mechanical 10+2 with minimum 50% of marks or its equivalent. The percentage will be 40% for SC/ST/OBC/PH students. B.Voc 50% minimum marks in aggregate in any stream. 50% aggregate marks in B.Tech or any equivalent degree. M.Tech in Industrial & Production The courses offered by the Department of Automobile Engineering: B.Tech in Automobile Engineering 50% marks in B.Tech or Equivalent degree with minimum 50% marks. The Faculty of Applied Sciences imparts fundamental knowledge about physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Professional Communication and other engineering subjects in the students for their overall and holistic development. An in-depth understanding of subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics is essential for engineering subjects such as electronics, electrical engineering, and engineering materials and so the subjects which are taught by the teachers in this department built a foundation for Various Engineering Sciences. Following subjects are taught under this department: B.Sc. (Maths) A student shall be 10+2 passed out with subjects Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (PCM)/ Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB) with a minimum of 50% from a recognized board/CBSE board. The minimum percentage for SC/ST/OBC/SBC shall be 45% Rs. 93,000/- B.Sc. in Chemistry M.Sc. (Physics) B.Sc. in Physics M.Sc. (Maths) B.Sc. in Mathematics M.Sc. (Life Sciences) Graduation with minimum 50% marks The School of Pharmaceutical Studies and Faculty of Health came into existence in the year 2016. It is approved by the Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi. The teachers in the department are well qualified and highly experienced. Following courses are offered by the school: 50% minimum aggregate marks in 10+2 in the science stream. Rs98,000/- 10+2 with subjects as Physics, Chemistry along Mathematics/Bio-Technology/Computer Science/Biology. The Faculty of Agriculture has the best teachers who always put in their all so that students can succeed in their careers. The department has all the required laboratory equipment’s and the following courses are offered by the university: B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture A candidate shall have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in subjects PCM/PCB/10+2 (Agriculture). The student shall also have passed out in English from a recognized board. B.Sc (Agriculture + ABM) 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 with subjects as PCM, CBZ, Agriculture Established in the year 2017, the Department of Education has become an important part of KN Modi University. Presently, the Department is offering B.Ed Programme to the aspirants. The course is recognized by NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) and around 100 seats are available for the program. The Faculty of Humanities & Social Science has been an integral part of the university since its commencement in the year 2010. The department aims in the holistic development of its students and for this, it offers elective courses in various disciplines and these courses are research-oriented. The department also has a Faculty of English under it through which expertise in communication skills, gender studies, English and Social theory. The courses offered by the department are: 10+2 passed out in any stream M.A All course The BA with a minimum of 50% marks The courses offered by the Faculty of Law are approved by the Bar Council of India. 10+2 passed with minimum 50% aggregate marks. Bachelor's Degree in any discipline with minimum 50% marks. LLB with minimum of 50% marks. PG Diploma in Cyber Law Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. The Department of Management provides various courses such as MBA, M.Com, BBA and B.Com. With highly experienced and qualified teachers the department offers courses such as: Rs.60,000/- UG/PG with a minimum of 50% marks. B.Com with 50% minimum marks Faculty of Architecture, Applied Arts and Design was established in the year 2013 with a motive to provide world-class architectural education and learning methodologies to the students. The following courses are offered by the university: B.Arch. 10+2 passed with minimum 50% marks in subjects such as PCM. B.Design Animation & VFX 10+2 passed out in any stream with minimum 45% of marks from a recognized board. M.Sc Animation & VFX Bachelor degree in any stream with minimum 45% marks from a recognized university. The campus of KN Modi University is magnificently majestic and eco-friendly and is spread in a huge area of 45 acres which is situated at Newai, Tonk district, Rajasthan. The university campus provides all the modern amenities to its students including the full residential facilities to the students. The campus has an AC Auditorium with a seating capacity of 400 people, fully equipped gym, health club, an open amphitheater, 24*7 Wi-Fi, ATM, medical facilities, transport facilities, etc. The University also offers various sports such as badminton, volleyball, tennis, cricket, football, table tennis, etc. Centers for Yoga, music, dance, art & craft, photography are also present at the campus premises. University gives its students fully updated and modernized infrastructure such as furnished and smart classes which can accommodate around 100 students at one time, seminar halls, language labs, lecture halls, architecture studios, modern laboratories, air-conditioned libraries, etc. Separate hostels for boys and girls are provided with separate study sections for both. The hostel has laundry services and housekeeping services. International standards lodging rooms and guest houses are also available. Highly hygienic quality and delicious food in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are available at the campus. The campus is located in the neighborhood of the main city of Newai and is very well connected by rail and road routes to other parts of Rajasthan and the country. A number of famous National and International companies visit the KN Modi University and recruit its students. Some of such companies are: Religare Max Life Insurance College Reviews and Rankings Private University Rankings In India Top 10 Private Universities Total Central University In India Top Central University In India Oldest University In India List Of University Top Private Universities In India Best Private Universities In India Total Universities In India Quantum University Roorkee Admission Courses Cutoff and Ranking Suresh Gyan Vihar University Jaipur Admission Courses and Ranking Which is better SBI Clerical job vs IT professional in MNC I think software job in product development company is always better then SBI Clerk or PO jobs. If you want to go near your home, not interested in co... Career Trends Post COVID 19 With lockdowns and forced social distancing, the COVID-19 Pandemic has thrown a curveball that has brought entire world to their knees. We’ve seen i... List of Entrance Exams after 12th for Government Jobs Are you planning to start a job just after your higher secondary? Well! It depends upon the subjects you have studied, exclusively if you have studied... Best Government Jobs After 12th for Female Modern India promises equal rights to women. To further help the cause of women empowerment females with minimum qualifications can apply for various ... Government Jobs for PCM Students Once the result of 12th Science Stream announced many of the students must have been busy planning for the further studies and must have got all invol... Student Discussion K V Suresh 2016-08-23 15:49:51 Obtained at least 50% (45% in case of candidate belonging to reserved category) in any Bachelor Help you to choose ENGINEERING 74 FASHION AND OTHERS DESIGN 3 JOURNALISM AND MASS COMM 5 Exciting Career Options for Humanities Students Career Options after 12th Science PCM besides Engineering Careers You Can Pursue If You Dislike Mathematics Think Beyond MBBS In Demand Career Options for PCB Students after Class 12th Courses to Pursue After Class 12th If Medicine Inspires You What is New Education Policy List of Top Courses to Pursue After BMLT What is the Difference Between Regular Courses and Professional Courses Get free help with Admissions & Counselling ADMISSION ASSIST Copyright © 2021 ReviewAdda \| Padma Infocom Private Limited \| ALL RIGHTS RESERVED About Us \|\| Contact Us \|\| Privacy Policy Placement in all streams Scholarships Given Please Log in using one of the methods below. A Review cannot be left blank, please give review. A Rating cannot be left blank, please give rating. A Review & Rating cannot be left blank. Your E-mail ID Qualification -Select Qualification- 10th Passout 12th Passout B.Com B.Sc B.Tech/BE BA BBA/BCA Others PhD	cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line1284

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.