text:
Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Posted on October 5, 2005 at 8:19 pm
Lowest Recommended Age: Mature High Schooler
Profanity: Strong language, including the f-word
Alcohol/ Drugs: Character drinks too much and becomes abusive
Violence/ Scariness: Accidents with graphic injuries, brief domestic abuse
Diversity Issues: A theme of the movie
Date Released to Theaters: 2005
Julianne Moore's radiant performance as Evelyn Ryan does for this movie what the real-life Ryan's "contest-ing" did for her family in the 1950's — it holds it together with such mesmerizing grace that it makes the rough patches seem endearing.
The book that inspired this movie is the memoir by one of Ryan's 10 children about the way that their stay-at-home mother supported the family by winning contests from companies offering money and prizes for the best jingle or limerick or recipe.
We didn't call them stay-at-home mothers back then. They were just mothers, or maybe housewives. And Ryan looks like one of the moms from a 1950's television program, always wearing a dress and an apron, always either diapering a baby, ironing a shirt, or making sloppy joes for everyone. And always smiling. Until most of her children were grown up, Ryan never ate a meal she didn't cook or slept in a bed she didn't make. If she wanted to go somewhere, she needed to ask for a ride because she did not know how to drive. She almost went to New York once, when she won a trip in a contest. But the family needed her, so she stayed home. She heard from another "contest-er" who invited her to visit the "Alpha-Daisies," a whole group of contest-enterers, including one in a cheerfully decorated iron lung, and it became her dream to have a chance to meet those women.
Writer/director Jane Anderson (the biting The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom and the sensitive transgender drama Normal) uses stylized narrative techniques to invoke the perkiness and optimism of the 1950's. At first it seems like a cutesy device to recall and gently tease the perky pastel harmonized style of the 1950's. But it becomes clear that it is emblematic of Evelyn's own imperishable open-heartedness. Like its heroine, the movie has its limits and obstacles, but it is very winning.
Parents should know that a theme of the movie is Kelly's alcoholism and the impact on his family. He uses some strong language, including the f-word, and there are brief depictions of domestic abuse and some graphic injuries following accidents.
Families who see this movie should talk about Evelyn's optimism and patience. Her comment to Tuff is reminiscient of the famous Zen parable.
Families who enjoy this movie will also enjoy seeing Moore as a 1950's housewife coping with a difficult marital situation in Far From Heaven (some mature material).
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Next PostNext Elizabethtown
Profanity: Very strong language, constant use of the f-word
Alcohol/ Drugs: Drinking, smoking
Violence/ Scariness: Character strong-armed, threatened with a gun
Diversity Issues: Diverse characters
There's only one possible reason that Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey), a one-time quarterback with a busted knee turned 900-number sportsline win-predictor sticks around after he finds out what is really going on in the big-money sports betting advice, and it's the same reason we stick around, too. We can't take our eyes off of Al Pacino as Walter Abrams.
Brandon's entire life has been sports for as long as he can remember. First it was because he thought if he was really, really good at sports, his father wouldn't leave. Then, after his father left, it was because of the purity of sports, because it was a place where everything could be made right with just one play, just one score.
But Brandon's hopes for a professional career ended with the knee injury. He worked the 900-number job in Las Vegas for a while and then one day got a call and an airplane ticket from Walter, offering him a chance at the big time.
Walter and his wife Toni (Rene Russo) introduce Brandon to the finer things in life — $12 bottles of water, thousand dollar suits, four-figure-a-night female companionship, use of the f-word, and a roomy apartment in a brownstone that also houses Walter, Toni, and their 6-year-old daughter and his company's offices. It's like a sort of "Real World: High Stakes Gambling" edition.
It's a Faustian hubris story, with aw-shucks Brandon being transformed by Walter. Brandon gets a new look and even a new name. Betting is illegal in 49 states, but giving people advice on betting is not, and Walter has made a thriving business out of a cable show (Call 1-800-Bet-it!) that, like a drug dealer, gives away the first hit for free, and then pushes the high fliers to go for more.
Walter knows that the agression, testosterone, competitiveness, and impulse control problems of gamblers makes them very susceptible to sales pressure, and he has no qualms about applying pressure to his employees to get them to squeeze the suckers even harder. He even trolls Gamblers Anonymous meetings for those who might be ready to fall off the wagon. "You're selling the world's rarest commodity," he tells Brandon, "certainty in an uncertain world."
And Walter knows uncertainty. He insists he can beat anyone else's rotten childhood story with his own. As Toni explains, he belongs to any group with an "Anonymous" at the end of it. The fun of this movie is seeing Pacino dive into the part and hang on for dear life.
That almost makes it possible to ignore the storyline, which zigzags from predictable to inconsistent with a slight detour into makes-no-sense-ville.
Parents should know that the movie has constant use of the f-word and other bad language. The movie includes sexual references (including prostitution and abuse) and an explicit sexual situation with brief nudity. Characters drink and smoke. A character is pushed around and threatened with a gun.
Families who see this movie should talk about what drew Brandon and Walter to each other and what made it hard for them to keep working together.
Families who enjoy this movie will also enjoy Boiler Room and On Any Sunday.
Previous PostPrevious In Her Shoes
Next PostNext Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Posted on October 3, 2005 at 10:30 am
Profanity: Some strong language
Alcohol/ Drugs: Drinking, smoking, character drinks too much
Violence/ Scariness: Tense confrontations, reference to suicide, some spills, sad death
Diversity Issues: None
Siblings divide up the world to prove who they are, and the closer they are to each other, the more they depend on each other, the harder they would to stake their claim to being different from each other. In this formulaic but affecting movie, two sisters are connected by — and torn apart by — the way that only the two of them understand what it was like to grow up in their house.
Rose (Toni Collette) is the good girl, the responsible, honor roll daughter, now a very serious lawyer whose romantic encounters are so rare that when we first see her, she is taking a photograph of the man sleeping in her bed as a souvenir. She works all the time and the closest she gets to having fun is spending money on insanely extravagant shoes, which sit neatly lined up in her closet in mint condition.
Her younger sister Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is the mess, nothing neatly lined up about her. She drinks too much, sleeps around too much, and is happy to take what she can get, lifting cash from family members' sock drawers and smiling at men to get them pick up her bar tab. She gets fired a lot because she is dyslexic. She is afraid people will believe she is stupid. She wonders if they would be right. When her stepmother Sydelle (Candace Azarra) throws Maggie out of the house, all her things stuffed in a trash bag, she moves in with Rose.
Things begin badly and get worse. Maggie takes Rose's money, messes up her apartment, wears her shoes, and seduces he man Rose is hoping will be her boyfriend. Rose throws Maggie out.
Maggie discovers a hidden drawer of undelivered letters from a grandmother she never knew she had, so she takes the train to Florida to meet her. Ella (Shirley MacLaine) lives in "a retirement community for active seniors." At first, Maggie is as hostile and unyielding as a sullen teenager. But Ella's patience and grandmotherly combination of wisdom and unconditional love get Maggie off of the lounge chair by the pool and into scrubs as an attendant at the local assisted living facility. Her sense of accomplishment there, especially her friendship with a blind former professor (Lloyd Nolan) who patiently encourages her to read, help her to find a way to a job that is just right for her.
Meanwhile, Rose is also exploring a different career path, and feeling better about herself allows her to see that there is someone who knew how special she was, even before she did.
The set-up is as heavy-handed as the shoe metaphor, but heartfelt performances, sympathetic direction from Curtis Hansen (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile), and some sharp writing make up for some soapiness and inconsistency. The very different performing styles of Diaz (star dazzle), Collette (drama school), and MacLaine (old-time Hollywood) help convey the clash of their characters. The supporting cast, especially Nolan, go far to try to overcome the usual stereotyping — perfect boyfriend, adorable oldsters, witchy stepmother. And it has several of what my husband considers the definitive requirement of a chick flick — a big, fat apology. You might not want to walk a mile in these shoes, but for a couple of hours, they fit pretty well.
Parents should know that Maggie is promiscuous and drinks too much. When we first see her, she is drunk and having sex with someone whose name she does not quite know — until she interrupts sho she can throw up. There are sexual references and non-explicit sexual situations. Characters drink and smoke and use some strong language. There are references to mental illness and suicide and there is a sad death.
Families who see this movie should talk about all of the different feelings Rose and Maggie had about each other. What connected them? What drove them apart? How did they compete with each other? How did they help each other? How did their new jobs change the way they felt about themselves? Why did Simon say he could not marry Rose? What did Maggie and Rose find hardest to like about themselves? Families may also want to talk about people like Sydelle — why do they hurt other people's feelings?
Families who enjoy this movie will also enjoy Terms of Endearment (with MacLaine's Oscar-winning performance), Down in the Delta with Alfre Woodard, and 28 Days with Sandra Bullock. They should also read the poems read by Maggie in the movie, One Art by Elizabeth Bishop and i carry your heart with me by E.E. Cummings.
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Next PostNext Two for the Money
about Nell Minow
Follow Movie Mom on Twitter THE MOVIE MOM® is a registered trademark of Nell Minow. Use of the mark without express consent from Nell Minow constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. All material copyright Nell Minow 1995-2017, all rights reserved, and no use or republication is permitted without explicit permission. Movie Mom's Archives This site hosts Nell Minow's Movie Mom® archive, with material that originally appeared on Yahoo! Movies, Beliefnet, and other sources. Much of her new material can be found at Rogerebert.com, Huffington Post, and WheretoWatch. Her books include The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies and 101 Must-See Movie Moments, and she can be heard each week on radio stations across the country.
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THE MOVIE MOM® is a registered trademark of Nell Minow. Use of the mark without express consent from Nell Minow constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. All material © Nell Minow 1995-2019, all rights reserved, and no use or republication is permitted without explicit permission. This site hosts Nell Minow's Movie Mom® archive, with material that originally appeared on Yahoo! Movies, Beliefnet, and other sources. Much of her new material can be found at Rogerebert.com, Huffington Post, and WheretoWatch. Her books include The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies and 101 Must-See Movie Moments, and she can be heard each week on radio stations across the country.
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text:
Facebook's Zuckerberg Grilled in US Congress on Digital Currency, Privacy, Elections
WASHINGTON – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg conceded on Wednesday that the company's planned digital currency Libra was a "risky project," but sought to reassure skeptical U.S. lawmakers that it could lower the cost of electronic payments and open up the global financial system to more people.
Sporting a suit and tie, Zuckerberg also fended off aggressive questions on election interference, free speech, hate groups and fake news from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee.
Representative Maxine Waters, the panel's fiery Democratic chair, quizzed Zuckerberg on Facebook's steps to combat misinformation and voter suppression ahead of the November 2020 U.S. presidential election. She also suggested policymakers should consider breaking up Facebook.
Waters had previously called for halting the Libra project before its planned 2020 launch, and has drafted legislation that would bar tech companies from entering financial services.
"It would be beneficial for all if Facebook concentrates on addressing its many existing deficiencies and failures before proceeding any further on the Libra project," Waters told Zuckerberg two days after Facebook disclosed it had removed a network of Russian accounts targeting U.S. voters on its Instagram platform.
Bipartisan Criticism
Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike blasted Facebook for failing to crack down on online child exploitation and political misinformation, and for data privacy lapses. Several said they did not trust Facebook to help provide financial services to its 2.4 billion users given the past scandals.
"Facebook's internal model was for a long time was 'Move fast and break things.' Mr. Zuckerberg, we do not want to break the international monetary system," said Representative Nydia Velazquez, a Democrat.
Zuckerberg said Facebook would insist on U.S. regulatory approval before launching Libra, which is being established by a Switzerland-based consortium including venture capital firms and nonprofits. He said Facebook would even leave the Libra Association if other companies sought to launch the currency without that sign-off.
Libra has faltered in recent weeks amid sustained criticism from lawmakers and regulators globally over fears it may aid money laundering and upend the global financial system. Several financial partners including Mastercard, Visa, PayPal and eBay have abandoned the project.
Representative Ann Wagner, a Republican, pressed Zuckerberg on why so many companies abandoned the Libra effort. "You've lost these stable partners and I find it highly concerning," she said. "Why do a number of these founding members have concerns of whether you're up to the task of meeting our money laundering and regulatory standards?"
The 35-year old Facebook CEO conceded that those companies dropped out because Libra is a "risky project" and that he was not sure it would even work. During his testimony, the price of bitcoin versus the U.S. dollar tumbled to a five-month low.
Facebook Has 'Work to Do'
Calm and composed, Zuckerberg navigated the hostile room without major slip-ups and was even afforded a gentle rib by Democratic Representative Katie Porter, who complimented him on his short haircut.
The CEO last appeared before Congress in April 2018 when he fielded 10 hours of questions over two days from House and Senate panels on political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica's misuse of Facebook customer data to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
On Wednesday, he acknowledged Facebook's mistakes, saying he understood the social media giant was not the "ideal messenger" for the Libra project and that the company has "work to do to build trust." But he said past missteps should not stand in the way of Libra, based in Switzerland.
"The vision here is to make it so that people can send money to each other as easily and cheaply as it is sending a text message."
Zuckerberg was unable though to make material commitments on behalf of Libra because Facebook no longer controls the project, sometimes to the frustration of lawmakers.
On Oct. 14, the Libra Association comprising 21 members agreed articles of association laying out how the organization will be governed, as required by Swiss law. Most decisions will require a majority vote of the group's governing council, meaning Facebook will not call the shots.
Lawmakers also touched on other hot button issues, including diversity, inclusion, and charges brought by the housing regulator in March, still pending, alleging Facebook violated fair lending laws.
Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat, hammered Zuckerberg, saying she viewed Facebook's efforts to address civil rights abuses as insufficient, calling them "appalling and disgusting."
Some Republicans did offer support for Zuckerberg and the Libra project, arguing the government should not stop the private sector from innovating.
"I have my own qualms about Facebook and Libra and the shortcomings of Big Tech," said Representative Patrick McHenry, the top Republican on the panel. "But if history has taught us anything, it's better to be on the side of American innovation."
Photo "Mark Zuckerberg" by CSPAN.
News, UncategorizedBig Tech, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg
Judge Rules Father Has a Say in James Younger's Gender Transition
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Tennessee Legislature Convenes Tuesday with Education Issues at Forefront
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen Says Donald Trump is the Reason Why He Had to Travel with People Not Wearing COVID-19 Masks
Democrat-Turned-Republican Georgia State Rep. Vernon Jones to Speak to Nashville Young Republicans Tuesday
2 Thoughts to "Facebook's Zuckerberg Grilled in US Congress on Digital Currency, Privacy, Elections"
Michigan Joins State Attorneys General Investigation Into Facebook - Battleground State News
[…] day after Michigan joined the bi-partisan investigation, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on Capitol Hill for over six hours on the company's cryptocurrency plan. Zuckerberg told Congress […]
Michigan Joins State Attorneys General Investigation Into Facebook | The Michigan Star

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The AV-900 is AeroVironment's heavy duty test solution. With greater voltage, current and power capability, this system is ideal for testing and emulating energy storage and drivetrain components of large electric and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), such as buses, trucks and military vehicles. The AV- 900 is deployed worldwide to support the development of fuel cell buses, hybrid locomotives and other HEVs. All AV power cycling systems are equipped with a real-time clock on the system's control board that enables measurement of Ah and kWh during cycling.


This week's show is full of things to do before the summer comes to an end.
This weekend on FYI Philly....It's the last gasp of summer. We sample some new dining options and refreshing finishers, explore some secret gardens and find some fun down the shore and a fun new way to get fit. Plus where you can see a billion dollars!
FYI Philly airs Saturdays at 7 p.m. and encores Sundays at midnight.
Summer is all about getting out and enjoying the weather here are four restaurants with little secret gardens to help you do that.
Summer is all about getting out and enjoying the weather as much as you can so Jeannette Reyes rounds up some restaurants with little secret gardens.
Looking for new restaurants to try? There are new places popping up in the city and the suburbs.
Some new and interesting choices to end your meal.
When the weather is hot, you want something cool. Here are some restaurants with refreshing desserts to finish your meal.
Summer trips down the shore can be a great escape from the reality of life. Or, in Ocean City, you can enter into a world of virtual reality.
Mixologist to the stars Colin Asare Appiah shows you how to make two D'uss'e cocktails VIPs and celebs will enjoy during Jay-Z and Beyonce's OTR II tour. .
There's a new spot in Chestnut Hill where you can disguise your exercise by busting a move.
We go to Delaware County for some homemade ice cream that's so good it's worth the drive from Philly or wherever you are!
We visit a local ice cream shop where everything is homemade and the chef is self-taught.
It's the first ever Philly's Classic Cook-Off and the city's most iconic foods are getting reinvented.
Philadelphia Magazine is putting a new twist on your favorite dishes. It's the first ever Philly's Classic Cook-Off and the city's most iconic foods are getting reinvented.
Gina Gannon goes In the kitchen with Alessi Foods and Redner's registered dietician Meredith McGrath for some family-friendly recipes perfect for back to school time.
If you're looking for a musical escape, Musikfest is in full swing with nearly 400 artists from around the world.
Musikfest is in full swing with nearly 400 artists from around the world. Melissa hits the road to see how much there is to see, hear and do.
6abc Loves the Arts: Music legends Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson headline Mann Center upcoming shows. Karen Rogers reports during Action News at 7 a.m. on August 5, 2018.
The Mann Center has another two months left in its summer season and it's a jam packed concert schedule with everything from rock to R & B to reggae to country.
Shelter Me: Friends with Vets. David Murphy reports during Action News at 9 a.m. on August 4, 2018.
This week's Shelter Me focuses on a program that connects veterans with adoptable service dogs.
25B Church Street, Mount Holly, N.J.


text: Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South Asia bordering China, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Spanning over 652,000 square miles, the majority-Muslim country's geography can be divided into the highlands, the northern plains and the southwestern plateau. Mountains are Afghanistan's dominant geographic feature, with the Hindu Kush range running at a southwestern angle and roughly dividing the country in half. The four most important cities are the capital Kabul in the east, Kandahar in the south, Herat in the west, and Mazar-i-Sharif in the north. Because of its location, the country functions as a bridge between energy-rich Central Asia and energy-deficient South Asia. Afghanistan's primary geographic challenge is resisting the intervention of outside powers while also maintaining authority over a mostly rural society spread across a rugged landscape. Afghanistan's location at the crossroads of the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent has historically invited external actors, resulting in a country containing diverse languages, cultures and ethnicities. Indeed, Afghan society includes significant populations of Pashtun, Tajiks, Turkmens, Uzbeks and Hazaras. Each of these groups share populations in a neighboring country, encouraging external involvement. The borders of modern-day Afghanistan were drawn during the 19th century to carve out a space between the British and Russian empires. Afghanistan's most contentious boundary is with Pakistan and is called the Durand Line. Afghanistan disputes the border, claiming that its true boundary should absorb Pakistan's Pashtun-majority region. This fuels the antagonism between the two countries and plays a role in Afghanistan's broader challenge of asserting sovereignty as outside actors try to advance their own interests.


text:
State investigators crack auto theft ring
July 30, 2012 (CHICAGO)
A 2008 Cadillac Escalade was just one of the vehicles stolen from a dealership. The Escalade, which would typically sell for more than $40,000 on the used car market, was sold for $10,000.
"Some would walk onto the lot and take one car. Another would take a flat bed and take away three, and there's at least one instance when someone showed up with a car hauler and took eight," said Sgt. Tim Grainer, Illinois State Police Auto Theft Unit.
State police said the thieves would create a fake vehicle identification number, then sell the cars on the street to those who wanted to resell for their own gain. The thieves would also list the cars on Craigslist.com and sell to innocent citizens who thought they were getting a good deal.
"Basically they'd create labels on their computer, fraudulent VIN tags which they'd place over the true VIN tags and disguise the identity," said Officer Elmer Garza, Illinois Secretary of State Police.
"If it looks like the deal is too good to be true, nine times out of 10 it is," said Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State.
Although the announcement came on Monday, cracking the auto theft ring took state investigators more than a year.
State investigators said they were tracking the missing vehicles when a Secretary of State worker noticed some car titles looked counterfeit.
The criminal cases are ongoing. Among the 21 arrested is Dominique Henley, who has already been sentenced to eight years in prison for identity theft. Henley's family member received 30 months of probation for his role in "Operation Baseball Diamond" or "OBD." It is an acronym for On Board Diagnostics, which is the internal computer that holds a vehicle's real identity.
"These cases, although property crimes, have a tremendous impact on our community," said Bob Berlin, DuPage County State's Attorney.


text:
Q: how can we compute this result? Five digit number divisible by 3 is formed using 0,1,2,3,4,6 and 7 without repetition. Total number of such numbers are.
How can we compute the answer in the shortest possible time, i mean without forming the numbers which sum upto a divisible of 3?

A: use the fact that a number is divisible by $3$ if and only if the sum of its digits is divisible by $3$

A: Find number of the combinations so that sum of digit of 5 digits is divisible by 3(eg. 7,4,1,3,6 is one) split those combinations into those that don't have zero as one of the digits let's call them $a_1$ and the one's with the zero $a_0$.The solution is $a_1*5!+a_0*4*4*3*2*1$

A: For 0, 3 and 6, we assign the value 0
For 1, 4 and 7, we assign the value 1
For 2 and 5 we assign the value -1.
Any number divisible by three has the property that the sum of its digits is also divisible by 3. I.e, if their total, newly assigned, sum is -3, 0 or 3.
E.g.
26436 gives -1 + 0 + 1 + 3 + 0 = 3, so it is divisible by 3.
Now, try and find a way of gathering these:
We can have all '0's, and for all '1's we need either 2 more '1's or a '-1'...
This continues in an obvious manner, until you've found all possible combinations, without checking all the sums:)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Bundler json locked You have requested:
  json >= 0

The bundle currently has json locked at 1.5.1.
Try running `bundle update json`

What's the problem?
For the record, if I do try bundle update json, it complains about do_jdbc being locked at 0.10.5 and me requesting >= 0, and if I try updating do_jdbc, I get the exact same message suggesting I update do_jdbc.
Strangely, a different user with the exact same setup on the same machine working in same shared directory gets no such error.

A: You should be able to do
bundle update json do_jdbc

to update both simultaneously.


Before there was air travel, people went from one place to the other by ship. Such voyages took days or even weeks. But these days, adventure sailing vacation is gaining popularity and if you are thinking of booking one, you should know what is inclusive in most packages.
The price tag of adventure sailing depends on the destination and how long you will be at sea. You might be shocked at first glance how much it will cost but if you think about it, you save money in the long run because one thing that is already included here is the food you will be eating.
Another thing that is included will be the cabin. It is not that big compared to the kind you often stay in at a hotel but it will do. You get clean linen sheets, a bed and a pillow which is all that you need to sleep peacefully until you wake up the following morning.
One thing you have to keep in mind is that although food is free, the drinks are not included. This means that you have to pay for whatever you order. You can avoid this though by bringing in some drinks like bottled water, soda or a bottle of wine.
The ship you will be chartering will already have a skipper and crew. Sometimes, if you are lucky which really depends on the mood of the crew, they can teach you a thing or two about adventure sailing so you can help them out or get you hooked into this as a hobby.
Depending on the size of the boat being chartered, you may have to pay for security deposit or insurance that will be retuned when the voyage is over.
Since the ship is not going anywhere just by using its sails, part of what you pay for is the fuel. This will keep the ship moving when there is no wind around otherwise, you will be dead in the water.
Unlike large cruise ships, one thing that is not inclusive here are airport transfers and airfare. With that, you will have to make the arrangements yourself especially if you are coming from out of town.
One thing that chartering companies cannot control is the weather so if it is bad, then your planned sailing adventure will have to moved to another date.
So you know what is inclusive in a sailing vacation package, it is best to look at one of their brochures or see what is posted in their website. If you don't have time to do this, get in touch with your travel agent so he or she will fill you in on the details so you can decide whether or not you want to make a reservation.
Once you know that is inclusive in the adventure sailing vacation, it will be easy for you to decide which one you want to try. The only thing you have to do now is pack your bags and then head down over to the docks so you the voyage can get under way.
If this is your first time and you enjoyed it very much, you can plan another one in the future as these chartering companies sail to different destinations within the year.


text:
Q: Query Builder Codeigniter 3 I this mysql query
SELECT project.title project_title, category.category, project_details.description description, SUM(project_details.quantity) total_quantity, project_details.unit, SUM(project_details.price) total_price, SUM(project_details.jan) total_jan, SUM(project_details.feb) total_feb, SUM(project_details.mar) total_mar, SUM(project_details.apr) total_apr, SUM(project_details.may) total_may, SUM(project_details.jun) total_jun, SUM(project_details.jul) total_jul, SUM(project_details.aug) total_aug, SUM(project_details.sep) total_sep, SUM(project_details.oct) total_oct, SUM(project_details.nov) total_nov, SUM(project_details.dec) total_dec
FROM project_details
JOIN project ON project_details.project_id = project.id
JOIN category ON project_details.category_id = category.id
JOIN user ON project.user_id = user.id
RIGHT JOIN office ON user.office_id = office.id
WHERE EXISTS
    (
        SELECT t1.id id1, t2.id id2, t3.id id3, t4.id id4, t5.id id5
        FROM user t1
        LEFT JOIN user t2 ON t2.reports_to = t1.id
        LEFT JOIN user t3 ON t3.reports_to = t2.id
        LEFT JOIN user t4 ON t4.reports_to = t3.id
        LEFT JOIN user t5 ON t5.reports_to = t4.id
        WHERE t1.id = 81
    )
    AND project.approval_status = 22 AND project.reason_for_rejection IS NULL
GROUP BY project.id, project_details.description
ORDER BY project_details.category_id

However I cannot find any documentation in Codeigniter 3.0 where I can find WHERE EXISTS. I already checked this  https://www.codeigniter.com/userguide3/database/query_builder.html  but there are non.
This is my code right now
$this->db->select('project.title project_title, category.category, project_details.description description, SUM(project_details.quantity) total_quantity, project_details.unit, SUM(project_details.price) total_price, SUM(project_details.jan) total_jan, SUM(project_details.feb) total_feb, SUM(project_details.mar) total_mar, SUM(project_details.apr) total_apr, SUM(project_details.may) total_may, SUM(project_details.jun) total_jun, SUM(project_details.jul) total_jul, SUM(project_details.aug) total_aug, SUM(project_details.sep) total_sep, SUM(project_details.oct) total_oct, SUM(project_details.nov) total_nov, SUM(project_details.dec) total_dec');
$this->db->from('project_details');
$this->db->join('project', 'project_details.project_id = project.id');
$this->db->join('category', 'project_details.category_id = category.id');
$this->db->join('user', 'project.user_id = user.id');
$this->db->join('office', 'user.office_id = office.id', 'right');
// THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO PUT THE WHERE EXISTS
$this->db->where('project.approval_status', $user_id);
$this->db->where('project.reason_for_rejection IS NULL', NULL, TRUE);
$this->db->group_by('project.id');
$this->db->group_by('project_details.description');
$this->db->order_by('project_details.category_id');
$query = $this->db->get();
return $query->result();

Can someone please help how can I achieve this in codeigniter? Advanced thanks.

A: When you have a really large query, or the is no built-in function on the query builder made for your purpose you can always use:
$query = $this->db->query('your large query');

You also should be aware of the injections so you should also read this post
This explains pretty well how to use $this->db->query method against sql injections.
Hope this helps


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Discussion in 'Power Off' started by NameGervin, Jun 20, 2018.
Hello do you know a cheap web host on wordpress. Nothing fancy as long as I can post a blog, no ftp or large storage. Only 1 wordpress site. I am no tech expert so I think you guys can help me. I looked around but they are offering large storage and 5 websites and unlimited of something I do not know. Also most of I see is cheap at first (like below $2) but the renewal price is expensive. I am looking for a very cheap price and nothing fancy. Some of what I found are Namecheap but it has no both ftp and cpanel, Fastcomet is at $2.95. Mochahost is at $2.48, Zoom hosting, Hostripples is at $2 but you have to avail 3 years. Also Tsohost is I think cheap. About the domain I don't care if the host comes with free, I prefer to buy at Namecheap. I just like to post blogs on my small site so I do not need ftp users, so if you know $2 host it'll be a great help. Thank you.
You can use the Wordpress managed hosting option that they provide themselves. Other than that, I use Namecheap hosting and find that quite good.
I don't really like ads and 'wordpress' on my domain.
They allow you to pay to remove the ads and park a custom domain, basically the same as hosting yourself but often cheaper and easier.
That'll be added on my watch list, thanks!
I'm hosting my own websites too, and providing FTP access to anyone other than me is an endless struggle.
Since you don't need it, I can make a deal too.
Do keep in mind that I am not a web designer, just a full stack web developer, so theme should be provided by you.
Additionally, my server is located in Japan, so depending on where you live and your internet speed, it might feel quite slow at your end.
Though overall I haven't received any complaints about that from anyone.
Thanks for the offer, I'll keep that in mind. But I might go with wordpress themselve.
Just wanted to add in case you change your mind again, hosting and domains are separate costs.
Hosting fees depend on what your needs are, and domain is just the costs I'm making plus 8% tax plus 35% as a profit.
Both are paid per year though.
I figured that would be useful for anyone, I don't want to hide anything.
Why can't you go for shared hosting for your site and use wordpress as CMS? I think this is the best way tohave a wordpress site. When I got started with my site, all I had in my mind was a personal blog for myself. However, after I launche dmy personal blog, I wanted to have a few mor website. Thanks to namecheap the package I bought allowed to host three websites. I have never tried wordpress managed hosting. However, I hear ipage and Blue host offer cheap wordpress managed hosting.
Thanks for the information. I was looking for cheap wordpress too.
Good that someone ask about this. I'm also looking cheap web hosting site for my blog. I find this informative. I'll try checking out some suggestions here.
Thanks for the comments guys, I really appreciate it.
I made my wordpress website months ago, but I haven't really used it.


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I am a Goth, mind the horn
25 March 2008 kl: 10.00
Last updated: 8 July 2013 kl: 14.59
Gothus sum, cave cornua – I am a Goth, mind the hornHMS Gotland's mottoFor two years the submarine HMS Gotland has been on exercises with the American naval forces in the Pacific. The aim of the exercise has been to prepare for participation in international peacekeeping missions and to contribute to the development of the submarine forces of both countries.
The submarine HMS Gotland on exercise in the Pacific. Photo: FBB
The American navy had already learnt in 2000 that Swedish submarines are worthy adversaries. At that time HMS Halland, the HMS Gotland's sister ship, in the Mediterranean in order to "be put through technical, tactical and operational tests in saltier and warmer waters than those in the Baltic Sea, in preparation for the Swedish Armed Forces future participation in those international submarine operations on which the Government had decided within the framework of the European Union" The Americans made a note of how silent the Swedish submarines were and, consequently, how difficult it was to discover them.
Feather in the cap
It was against this background that, the following year, the head of the US Navy's research centre, discussed the need for joint exercises with Sweden's then defence attaché in Washington, Rear Admiral Bertil Björkman. Björkman made the interpretation that this was an indirect request and emphasised that such a proposal must go through the proper political channels, but that he was prepared, if it were so wished, to raise the question at a higher level.
Björkman went home to Sweden and, under the greatest secrecy, reported back to the highest levels of both Armed Forces and government. They gave a positive response and Björkman could, on his return to the US, commence negotiations on the conditions for collaboration, a process which took around fifteen months to complete.
– Few realise what outstanding PR this has been. It was certainly a feather in the cap for Sweden, says Björkman. At the same time he emphasises the efforts of the crew, who performed their tasks in an exemplary manner
In the summer of 2005 HMS Gotland was stationed at the American naval base Point Loma in San Diego. With Point Loma as home base, HMS Gotland participated in a number of exercises, including submarine search missions involving US ships, aeroplanes and helicopters.
Lieutenant Commander Peter Östbring, the first head of the Swedish contingent, was also the first from Sweden to arrive in San Diego in order to build up a network of contacts.
– HMS Gotland has been involved in collaborations with most of the units of the Third Fleet. Our task has been not only to participate in exercises with large constellations of vessels, but also to avoid capture by American submarine search missions, says Peter Östbring.
When asked if any equipment had been modified or replaced in the run up to the assignment in San Diego, he replies that certain modifications to the radio communication equipment were necessary in order to ensure compatibility, but in all other important regards HMS Gotland was equipped as usual.
Individual responsibility
Even if service on Swedish and American submarines bears many similarities, there are also a number of differences. Female crew members are nothing strange on a Swedish submarine. A woman crew member works under the same conditions as her male counterparts. In contrast, women are never to be found serving on American submarines. They have an entirely different attitude towards female crew.
Lieutenant Commander Paula Wallenburg is a submarine officer and was part of the crew of HMS Gotland. She was attached as an observer to the crew of USS Jefferson City and she was immediately aware that some were uncomfortable with a woman on-board, and that some were even overtly hostile to the notion.
– Things got better as time went on. They usually do, as long as you have an open and giving attitude, says Wallenburg.
She tells as well of the "benefits" that were forced upon her as guest on-board an American submarine, for example that she was allocated a three person cabin for her own use. Wallenburg tried to explain that it was quite unnecessary but she says that her efforts in this regard made not one jot of difference. Crew structures also varied between the two fleets. Paula Wallenburg relates that when on land she planned activities at sea. On-board she was head of starboard watch as well as Fire Control Officer for the vessel's torpedoes. As head of starboard watch she was responsible to the commanding officer for the submarine's manoeuvring and navigation. The position also involves supervision of navigation, bottom depth, transmission and reception of messages. On top of all of that, documentation must be made and reports written. American visitors to HMS Gotland were surprised at how many tasks were allocated to so few people.
– We allow a significantly greater degree of responsibility rest in the hands of the individual member of personnel. For us this is a natural way of doing things, while the Americans take a more restricted view of their respective tasks on-board. There is nothing wrong with that, it just a different way of approaching matters, opines Wallenburg.
Orange radar screens
The US vessels on joint manoeuvres with the Swedish included, for example, destroyers of Arleigh Burke class, cruisers of Ticonderoga class and the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which is the American Navy's newest aircraft carrier. HMS Gotland participated also in exercises with the anti-submarine maritime patrol aircraft P 3 Orion, the anti-submarine helicopter Sea Hawk and the fighter jet F 18 Hornet.
Conditions were totally different from those to be found in Swedish waters. While depths reach seldom over 100 metres in the Baltic, the ocean bottom, in the areas in which the manoeuvres were performed, can lie thousands of metres below the surface. The higher salt content of the water alters, for example, how buoyancy is calculated. Water currents and wind conditions also differ from those in Swedish waters. But that was the point of the exercise – to learn from each other.
– We have to adapt our course of action to the fact that our opponent in the manoeuvres consists of aircraft carriers and cruisers. Apart from that, there is no real difference between operating in the Baltic Sea or the Pacific Ocean, Östbring explains.
However, the sound environment for the sonar operators is very different. The sounds of the Pacific Ocean's animal life, including the whistles and clicks of whales, are not at all like those to be heard in the sea channels of the Swedish coast.
– On several occasions our sonar screens turned orange, as Paula Wallenberg tells it. It turned out to be a school of dolphins wanting to play. When you have four thousand metres of water below your keel, you feel quite small, but with a school of dolphins just outside, it doesn't feel quite so lonely.
Text: Rolf Arsenius
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Companies need to be realistic when it comes to the disaster preparedness of their supply chains. Natural disasters, factory explosions, labor disputes, power outages, chemical spills, geopolitical crises - these supply chain disruptions and continuity risks are not matters of if, but when and where. Once a disaster strikes, do you know what is going on at the part-level of your suppliers? Have you identified which activities and roles you need to concentrate on so your business can weather the storm?
Any effective supply chain resiliency program will include contingency plans that ensure production and product delivery continue - either uninterrupted or with minimal financial, competitive, or customer impact - in the event of a supply chain disruption. A developed supply chain business continuity plan fosters corporate mindfulness and prepares your business and network of supply chain partners to perform uninterrupted regardless of where and when a supply chain disruption event may occur.
Your organization may be required by government legislation or corporate governance to implement a form of Business Continuity Management into its policies.
Insurance companies will view your company more favorably should a crisis require your company to summon their services.
Supplier Business Continuity Planning gives upper management a better grasp of the minute details of the business' suppliers and helps the organization identify supply chain vulnerabilities. It offers useful ways to improve organizational processes, even in areas that were previously unconsidered.
Supplier BCP minimizes Time to Recovery (TTR) whilst fostering supply chain visibility.
Supplier BCP can prepare smaller businesses from large-scale revenue loss from disruptions, disruption which larger enterprises may have been better suited to mitigate.
Business Continuity Planning bolsters your business against large-scale problems affecting suppliers through detailed planning and helps eliminate smaller problems that may have caused continuity interruptions.
A Business Continuity Plan shows your investors and stakeholders that you take your shared business' continuity seriously, and that your organization is prepared and desires to maintain productivity regardless of setbacks.
Your customers will appreciate that your organization has taken steps to ensure continuity to fulfill your commitments. Business Continuity Plans display your commitment to quality service and instill a confidence in your business.
Business Continuity Plans help protect your company's brand, image, and reputation.
Most importantly, a thorough Supplier Business Continuity plan can significantly reduce your revenue losses in the event of a disaster.
Since disasters come in all shapes and forms, and each disaster has its unique cascade of impacts (see: Anna Karenina Principle), this requires companies to prioritize which parts of the business to keep running when a disaster hits. Since there are too many variables to plan a response for each potential disruption, supply chain business continuity plans are vital supply chain resiliency measures.
Resilinc provides a cost-effective and repeatable process for assessing supplier business continuity risk and recovery capabilities at the part level, and integrates that information into a comprehensive supplier risk evaluation and mitigation program. The solution leverages Resilinc's existing network of "on-boarded" suppliers and information repository to facilitate supplier collaboration and data sharing. Analytics are then applied to drive supplier scorecards, revenue impact analysis, and risk mitigation strategies and tactics.
Where Are You in Your SCRM Journey?
Across companies and industries, there is a growing awareness of the importance of supply chain risk management and resiliency programs. However, establishing an enterprise-wide supply chain risk management and resiliency program within your company doesn't happen overnight, nor should it. It's a multi-pronged process unique to each company, and each company is at a different stage of awareness, preparation, implementation, adaptation and maturation.
On the second day of the recent annual Global Supply Chain Resiliency Council event, we held a live poll at the conclusion of our customer training sessions to gauge where attendees were in their respective SCRM and resiliency journeys. The supply chain practitioners in attendance represent some of the largest companies with the most extensive global supply chains. As such, this post provides our poll's findings to give you a better sense of where other major companies are in their SCRM journeys, and as to why they choose to pursue supply chain resiliency.
You will see that companies of all sizes, regardless of industry, can fall along a "resiliency spectrum". While some are well into implementing and maturating their supply chain risk management and resiliency programs, others are still gaining awareness and planning their processes.
Major supply chain disruption events, a.k.a black swan events, can take a tremendous toll on business continuity and revenue, affecting some companies and industries more than others. When we published the whitepaper "Tianjin Explosions Global Supply Chain Impact: It's Worse than You Think", we predicted that the crisis was, as the title suggests, worse than you would think. As the poll data suggests, the Tianjin explosions truly did have a far-reaching, rippling impact across industries.
Black swan events are unpredictable and can take a major toll on an enterprise. Having a formal Crisis Management program gives companies a significant competitive advantage when confronted with unexpected crises. As the poll indicates, Crisis Management programs are growing more common among enterprises with complex multi-tier supply chains. Given that 40% of the polled attendees either did not have a formal Crisis Management program or have non-centralized Crisis Management processes, it is fair to assume that companies that have implemented a cohesive Crisis Management program are better suited to respond and mitigate major supply chain disruptions than those that are not fully prepared.
It is important for SCM departments to identify their weak spots and figure out how they can become more resilient in the coming year. Nearly one third of the polled attendees recognized that governance, or the structures and processes by which supply chain constituents share power, can always have room for improvement and lubrication. One fifth wanted to bolster their Crisis Management programs to be resilient in the face of unexpected crises. About one sixth of the attendees want to address their business continuity planning. Nevertheless, risk mitigation appears to be the most common arena for improvement among companies across industries.
Some companies' SCRM programs are driven from the top-down, while others are driven from the SCM upwards – the motivations to manage risk and become resilient are as varied as risk itself.
As the global supply chain risk terrain continues to evolve, companies across all industries realize they need to adapt. Although addressing and preparing for the encompassing scope of supply chain risk may be intimidating, waiting for risks to manifest and maintaining a reactive stance towards the supply chain risk can be far more damaging to a company's revenue and brand.
For those who are unfamiliar with Resiliency, we highly encourage that you download "The Ultimate Guide to Supply Chain Resiliency". In this document, we provide supply chain risk management practitioners with concrete suggestions and guidance on how to create, roll-out, and institutionalize a global supply chain resiliency program (SCRP). The premise of this guide is that there is an unserved need for information on the topic of building and managing a SCRP that adequately addresses the crucial initial phase of building the business case, establishing strategic alignment, and securing executive sponsorship.
Media outlets are abuzz following a joint investigation report released by Amnesty International and African Resource Watch (Afrewatch) on January 18th titled "This is What We Die For: Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo Power the Global Trade in Cobalt". The report investigated human rights violations in the cobalt supply chain and rebuked several big brands, like Apple and Samsung, for failing to ensure that their products do not contain cobalt extracted by children in the DRC. In this post, we discuss the regulation of cobalt (or lack thereof), examine the report's findings and discuss the potential supply chain brand risks associated with DRC-originated cobalt.
Cobalt: Not Technically a "Conflict Mineral"
Cobalt is utilized in myriad products, particularly consumer electronics, and is an essential element in lithium-ion batteries. High demand for smartphones and the rapidly growing electric automotive industry have also stimulated demand for the metal. However, there is no regulation of the global cobalt market, which has resulted in non-governmental agencies like Amnesty International conducting comprehensive investigations to shed light on child labor in the cobalt supply chain.
Currently, cobalt does not fall under existing "conflict minerals" rules in the USA as stipulated by the Dodd-Frank Act passed by Congress. The rules require that companies disclose the use of "conflict minerals" in their products. These include tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold – also referred to as "3TG". The elements are mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and used in a variety of components that go into high-tech products and automobiles. The intent of the Rule is to reduce a significant source of funding for armed groups that are committing human rights abuses, including the exploitation of child labor, and contributing to the conflict in the eastern DRC.
As it is, ongoing litigation concerning key reporting and disclosure requirements has made conflict mineral compliance and 3TG transparency an industry-wide challenge.
So where does cobalt fit into all this?
It is important to note that 50% of the world's cobalt supply is sourced from the DRC, but since it is not included in conflict minerals legislation, companies have no legal obligation to disclose their use of cobalt from the DRC.
When it comes to sourcing an industrially significant yet now controversial resource like cobalt, child labor and slave labor is a tremendous brand risk, and companies can be unwittingly implicated. Due to complex supply chains and a lack of multi-tier visibility, companies may inadvertently turn a blind eye to conditions in the supply chain until unpleasant realities confront them.
In the report, Amnesty International detailed the unregulated, dangerous, and unhealthy conditions at the cobalt mines in the DRC. The investigation found that children as young as 7 would work in "artisanal" mines for up to 24 hours at a time without the most basic of protective equipment, such as gloves, work clothes, or facemasks to shield them from lung or skin disease. According to UNICEF, approximately 40,000 children worked in mines across the southern DRC in 2014, most of whom would work beyond twelve hours a day, carrying heavy loads to earn a pay between one to two dollars a day.
The report explains how traders buy cobalt from areas in the DRC where child labor is prevalent and sell it to Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese mineral behemoth Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Ltd. (Huayou Cobalt). Using investor documents, Amnesty International discovered that Huayou and its subsidiary CDM process the cobalt before selling it to three battery component manufacturers: Ningbo Shanshan and Tianjin Bamo in China, and L&F Materials in South Korea. These three component manufacturers (that bought more than $90 million worth of Cobalt from Huayou Cobalt in 2013) then sell the processed cobalt to battery makers who supposedly supply big name technology and car companies. It's these three manufacturers that serve as the link between a long litany of consumer brands and child mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Asserting that numerous big brands have failed to do their due diligence and address human rights risks in their supply chain, the report noted 16 consumer brands that are either direct or indirect customers of the three aforementioned battery component manufacturers. Among these listed brands are big names like Apple, LG, Daimler, Microsoft, HP, Samsung, and Lenovo, to name a few.
Seeing these brands frantically respond to Amnesty International's report is understandable, and in a way, they've been caught in a tricky situation trying to protect their reputations. Since litigation has not required these big names to disclose information regarding their cobalt suppliers, there had yet to be a significant impetus for these companies to look further into their supply chains and verify the conditions at their cobalt suppliers. A lack of supply chain visibility and transparency effectively put them in a reactive position where they're forced to reckon with the publicity after the fact, rather than take proactive measures to prevent such brand risks.
Given the ubiquity of cobalt in consumer goods, this report can be taken as a wake-up and a possible harbinger for future legislation. It demonstrates how important multi-tier visibility is in identifying potentially harmful cogs throughout their supply chains. Brand risk management should be taken as seriously as general supply chain risk management because, in many regards, reputation is everything in a fiercely competitive global marketplace. Companies shouldn't have to wait for legislation to inform their corporate social responsibility (CSR) perspective, but rather, should look ahead. Amnesty International's report not only reminds companies of the importance of up-to-date CSR reporting, but also the importance of developing deeper relationships with their suppliers. Utilizing supply chain network mapping services help companies develop a more transparent and manageable supply chain and avoid potential brand risks.
In the recent study "Global Claims Review 2015: Business Interruption in Focus," Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) reported that increased interdependencies in global supply chains have led to a significant increase in business interruption-related insurance claims over the past five years. Analyzing over 1,800 business interruption claims from 68 countries from 2010 to 2015, the study found fires and explosions accounted for nearly 60% of those claims and that the average BI insurance claim now exceeds $2.4 million, 36% higher than the corresponding average direct property damage claim. Fires and explosions are particularly disruptive to sectors with high levels of interconnectivity and concentrations of risks in single locations, such as automotive, semiconductor, and petrochemicals, among others.
The Tianjin explosions dominated this year's loss activity and highlighted the necessity of strategic business interruption (BI) and contingent business interruption (CBI) insurance coverage, especially for disruptions that originate from technical or human error. But CBI insurance is not a panacea for addressing key fire and explosion risks in your supply chain and doesn't guarantee a business will avoid resulting financial loss from sub-tier disruptions and their rippling impacts. More large businesses are recognizing the importance of supply chain event monitoring, visibility, and risk management measures to help to inform their CBI insurance policies and minimize income losses from day-to-day disruptions through proactive mitigation.
According to the five-year study, fires and explosions accounted for the lion share of the surveyed BI property damage insurance claims at 59%. On the other hand, storms were the second top loss driver but only accounted for a mere 6% of the BI claims. Only 12% of the BI property damage claims originated from natural catastrophes while the other 88% were traced back to technical or human errors. This will come to a surprise to many that have the perception that natural catastrophes are the top business loss driver for businesses to seek coverage.
As many large businesses have shifted their manufacturing and production operations overseas to China and the rest of Asia, factory fires and explosions at supplier and sub-tier premises are an increasingly common occurrence. Numerous factors may have contributed to the increased frequency and severity of disruptive fires and explosions, from less adherence to regulations, to higher instances of unskilled labor and faulty machinery. Much to the chagrin of large businesses, factory fires often occur below the tier 1 suppliers and often go undetected and unmitigated, lengthening time-to-recovery and increasing losses.
The Tianjin explosions were a tremendous blow to global supply chains, affecting entire sectors across the board. At the world's 10th largest port, operations were brought to a standstill amidst the chaos, impacting the flow of materials and products in and out of China. Chinese government censors actively removed and restricted information regarding the blasts, making it harder for companies to determine their impacted suppliers. Home to countless direct and indirect suppliers to large businesses across industries, Tianjin became a CBI reinsurance nightmare.
According to the AGCS study, the Tianjin explosions were the largest man-made insurance loss in 2015. Confirmed insurance industry losses via company announcements have already reached $2 billion, although many reinsurance brokers believe the total insured loss could exceed $3.3 billion. However, we must consider that these figures only represent direct insurance losses, and are not representative of the inventory and profit losses faced by countless businesses whose indirect suppliers were affected by the disaster. While ownership of product in transit can be clearly defined when companies enter into a trading agreement, there can still be ambiguities about who owns what and when exactly.
From a CBI reinsurance standpoint, the Tianjin disaster is one of the most complex non-natural catastrophes to understand and untangle financially. It was an unexpected event and the explosion's footprint was much larger than anticipated.
Business interruption insurance does not necessarily safeguard a business from incurring income loss following a supply chain disruption. Contingent business interruption (CBI) insurance is an extension to a BI insurance policy designed to cover an insured's business income loss from the loss, damage, or destruction of property owned by others, which includes direct suppliers and direct receivers of the product or service. However, CBI insurance typically only provides coverage for the direct relationship between the insured company's suppliers or receivers, which can create a rift in coverage for companies involved in multi-tier supply chains. Indirect suppliers, which can comprise a large portion of a supply chain, are usually not covered. In many cases, businesses may be unaware of the indirect suppliers bolstering their direct suppliers and end up paying tremendous policy premiums.
Let's suppose a fire or explosion interrupts operations at an indirect supplier's premises. That interruption in turn causes a disruption to the insured company's direct supplier. Ultimately, this causes an income loss to the "insured" business. Since the direct supplier did not experience direct physical damage per se, the otherwise insured business's CBI policy would likely exclude coverage for the income loss in this case.
Businesses must acknowledge the limitations of CBI insurance to manage business income losses following supply chain disruptions like fires and explosions. Clearly, CBI insurance is critically important to the health of a company's supply chain, but it's no panacea for the increasing levels of risk posed to global multi-tier supply chains.
Despite the prevalence of disruptions like fires/explosions and the aforementioned limitations of traditional BI and CBI insurance policies, there are numerous steps and measures a business can take to help prevent profit and product loss whilst treating and mitigating risk. Implementing supply chain risk management measures can help you avoid additional CBI insurance policy premiums.
Companies can use a broad array of indicators to pick up on potential problems with suppliers. For example, vetting your supplier for a track record of fires/explosions can guide the selection of a primary and alternate supplier. Consider monitoring the competitors of your suppliers to see developments or problems within the industry environment of your suppliers.
Supplier capacity management helps businesses prepare for inevitable disruptions by analyzing and proactively mitigating supplier capacity risks. It involves gathering supplier intelligence at the company, product, part, and process level in order to detect capacity disruptions before they happen.
Supply chain event monitoring services enable businesses to quickly identify relevant disruptions, decrease response times, and reduce time-to-recovery. Since disruptions like factory fires are usually reported at the local level, it's necessary to analyzes multi-lingual feeds to identify disruptions that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. For example, Resilinc's EventWatch supply chain event monitoring service provides tailored email reports with meaningful impact insights from a wide scope of disruption events. As seen in the graph below, factory fires and explosions are EventWatch's top notified event.
Ultimately, the AGCS study's findings indicate the growing need for companies to achieve supply chain visibility. Fires often occur in the clandestine pockets of a supply chain and it's the disruptions that a company doesn't see that can end up affecting it the most. Supply chain network mapping can aid in developing a precise CBI insurance policy that covers as many bases as possible. Building a global supply chain resiliency program can keep your supply chain out of the fire. Don't get burned – get resilient.
It's been just over 100 days since catastrophic explosions rocked the Port of Tianjin, sending shockwaves throughout global supply chains. Upon first word, it was apparent the disaster at the world's 10th largest port was unique and would deeply impact industries across the board. Though the media understandably focused on the environmental and humanitarian impacts, pertinent operational and industrial details were relatively neglected, exacerbating the situation for worried supply chain practitioners. Furthermore, Chinese government censors made significant efforts to control the inevitable bad publicity, throwing smoke screens in front of a situation that desperately needed transparency. Soon after, our whitepaper entitled "The Aftermath of the Tianjin Explosions: A Global Supply Chain Impact Analysis – It's Worse Than You Think" predicted the disaster's long-term supply chain disruptions and explained the difficulty of gauging its impact due to censorship. In this retrospective post, we look at a few of the lingering supply chain impacts that have since come to light. They range from impacts to insurers, automakers, government regulation, and censorship stakeholders.
In a world of globalized supply chains, the Tianjin disaster demonstrates how business interruption is one of the hardest risks for insurance companies to evaluate and assess.
According to the Port of Tianjin website, around 40 percent of China's imported passenger vehicles pass through the Port of Tianjin. Thus, numerous automakers – including Volkswagen, Hyundai, Renault, Ford, Toyota, and Jaguar Land Rover -- suffered direct impacts from the explosions. The first photographs following the explosions show rows of charred cars mangled beyond recognition – an eerie juxtaposition of order and chaos.
British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover lost nearly 5,800 cars from the blasts, leading the company to post a pre-tax loss of 157 million pounds.3 Consequently, Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover's parent company, posted a net loss for the period amidst falling sales in China.
Japanese automaker Toyota reported that over 50 of its employees were injured as a result of the explosions despite being located over a mile away from the blast site.4 Toyota also reported damage to two production plants and a research-and-development facility, as per International Business Times. However, Toyota's implementation of supply chain mapping helped the company identify disruptions and tally losses quicker than others.
Despite being one of the world's most prolific chemical suppliers, weak enforcement of hazardous chemical regulations is a systemic issue in China that threatens supply chains on a day-to-day basis. Factory fires, explosions, and chemical spills are relatively common occurrences in China, yet the majority of these supply chain disruptions occur on such a small scale that they're often undetected without the help of event monitoring services.
Investigations revealed the company responsible for the initial explosions, Ruihai International Logistics, illegally stored over 3,000 tons of hazardous chemicals including sodium cyanide, calcium carbide, and fertilizer nitrates.1 Offering lower prices, minimal paperwork, and speedy government approvals, Ruihai International Logistics built a reputation as a simple solution for international shipments of hazardous chemicals by exploiting weak governance. Though enticing to a business looking to cut costs, companies like Ruihai International Logistics show how non-compliance can even lead to catastrophe.
In early October, state authorities declared all hazardous chemical companies in the Tianjin Binhai New Area were to be relocated to Nangang Industrial Zone, 19 miles from the blast area and 6 miles from the closest residential area.8 Whether or not the mass relocation does anything to ameliorate the situation, supplier relocations can present their own set of supply chain disruption risks. However, there has yet to be any public confirmation that this mass relocation has even taken place.
Censorship is nothing new in the People's Republic of China. Yet, in the case of the Tianjin disaster, state censorship of emerging details made it nearly impossible for businesses and the global community to assess the disaster's supply chain implications. Though information began pouring into the internet soon after the explosions, it didn't take long for state censors to begin removing internet content mentioning the words "Tianjin" and "explosion." Webpages critical of China's lax governance were taken down with haste. Though careful Internet maneuvering allowed one to excavate details here and there, the entire picture of what happened remained out of sight for far too long.
Thus, businesses with supply chain operations in China must acknowledge censorship as a supply chain risk, especially in times of disaster. Censorship compromises the integrity of journalism and the passage of information from one avenue to another. When it comes to supply chain risk management, the proper inflow of pertinent details allows businesses to make conscious, money-saving decisions and avoid further supply chain risks. Furthermore, censorship leads to misinformation, and a misinformed supply chain can unwittingly sabotage its self.
Indubitably the most impactful black swan event of 2015, the Tianjin disaster was a wake-up call to the entire supply chain community, reminding businesses to not take sub-tier stability for granted. It's been over three months since the explosions, and only time will tell how much additional impact will be felt. Though nobody could have expected such a catastrophic event, businesses that had implemented supply chain visibility measures and contingent business interruption insurance were much better prepared to mitigate supply chain impacts. Confronting the opaque tiers your supply chain will help you to manage the unexpected. Don't censor the inevitable - it's only a matter of time before the next black swan lands on your supply chain.
Confronting the ethical and humanitarian issues that could be hiding in the shady nooks of your end-to-end supply chain is neither easy nor enjoyable to think about. Yet, for the sake of your business's brand and operations, it's a necessary inspection. Due to a lack of supply chain visibility, some businesses are caught off guard when accused of using conflict minerals from unverified sources or utilizing slave labor at some stage of production – activities which may have transpired at a sub-tier level despite the company's efforts to prevent them. With a greater public focus on corporate social responsibility, the widespread use of social media, and the advent of better technology for mapping sub-tier supplier visibility, businesses need to take a deeper look at the inner-workings of their supply chains to avoid the wrong attention.
In this post, we explore three modern supply chain brand risks that could be sabotaging your supply chain without your knowledge: counterfeit materials and products, slave labor and human trafficking, and conflict minerals.
While globalized supply chains and world markets have given businesses tremendous opportunities to grow and thrive, broad global demand also stokes the production of counterfeit goods and intellectual property infringement. Counterfeiting is a tremendous brand risk because its prevalence affects all industries at various levels, from the consumer to the brand owner to the companies that unwittingly utilize or sell fraudulent products.
In the pharmaceutical industry, for example, counterfeiting poses tremendous consumer health and safety risks. At every corner of the pharmaceutical supply chain – from sourcing raw materials to production to distribution – there are plenty of opportunities to interject mislabeled, forged, or fake ingredients and materials. In 2006, over 78 people died in Panama from ingesting a cough medicine that used unauthorized ingredients from China. It was discovered that the cough syrup contained diethylene glycol (used in antifreeze) instead of glycerin, an inactive ingredient in most cough syrups. Authorities found that barrels were mislabeled to indicate they contained glycerin, when in fact the barrels were full of diethylene glycol.
Successful brands cannot afford risk the consequences of inauthentic goods and components. Properly verifying the chain of transfer from supplier to distributor to customer is critical to ensuring counterfeit products don't infiltrate your supply chain and tarnish your brand.
Slavery and human trafficking are crimes under state, federal, and international law. Yet slavery and human trafficking still exist in every country, even in the United States. From mines to factories, forced labor and child labor plague supply chains worldwide, yet consumers inadvertently abet these crimes by purchasing goods whose production is facilitated by slave labor. Due to the criminal natures of slavery and human trafficking, they are usually hidden from view and challenging to uncover, making it difficult for procurement professionals to assure their supply chains do not unwittingly involve exploitative labor.
Moral bankruptcy aside, the use of forced labor is a supply chain brand risk your business should be avoided at all costs. In September 2009, the United States Department of Labor released a report detailing 122 goods from 58 countries believed to be produced by labor in violation of international standards. Governments and consumers are demanding that businesses act to implement ethical sourcing programs. If found to be sourcing from suppliers using exploitative labor, a business can face legal ramifications, suffer reputational damage, and risk losing both consumer confidence and market share.
In recent years, significant legislative efforts have been underway to identify and punish perpetrators of slave labor and human trafficking. However, there has been a lack of legislative momentum towards addressing the wider market for tainted goods and products. Given your supply chain is compliant with international labor laws, publishing a formal statement of supply chain compliance can help assure supply chain integrity, build consumer trust, retain market share, and ensure compliance with international labor laws.
The term "conflict minerals" refers to minerals including tantalum, tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold – also referred to as "3TG" – that are utilized in the production of various products, predominantly consumer electronics. In 2010, the United States Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act which requires certain companies to disclose their use of conflict minerals, due to concerns that the exploitation and trade of conflict minerals by armed groups is helping finance genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the main sources of these metals. As per the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Conflict Mineral Rule requires: 1) the company files reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act, and 2.) the minerals are "necessary to the functionality or production" of a product manufactured or contracted by said company.
However, ongoing litigation concerning key reporting and disclosure requirements has made conflict mineral compliance and 3TG transparency an industry-wide challenge. The Dodd-Frank Act requires compliance from nearly 6,000 companies, companies which are waiting for answers from nearly 250,000 suppliers. If a company sources minerals from the region, it must determine if they are from banned sources and report the findings to the SEC. Dodd-Frank compliance can be an arduous and expensive process, but it pales in comparison to the potential bad press, damage to reputation, and loss of business from non-compliance.
Nevertheless, some of the world's biggest companies, like HP and Intel, have made commitments to being "conflict-mineral free." Though difficult promises to upkeep, they've recognized the inherent brand risk of non-compliance, having proactively invested in conflict mineral compliance solutions to improve their supply chain transparency. Conflict mineral compliance services can help achieve reporting compliance, manage on-going compliance risks, increase the level of sub-tier engagement, and provide a repeatable process for quality data collection and reporting.
Though mired in geo-political complexity, the aforementioned brand risks are not untreatable – they just require transparency and proper protocol. Once supply chain visibility solutions are put in place, you can more easily root out malignancies in your supply chain. Strategic implementation of these services can establish a track record of ethical procurement activities, encourage investment in your business, and strengthen the brand. In short, resiliency pays off.
Are Zombie Factories Invading Your Supply Chain?
The range of supply chain risks is daunting in an increasingly globalized economy. They comprise extreme weather and other natural disasters, to man-made threats, including geo-political and pandemic crises, factory fires/explosions, and labor strikes. Add to that list "Zombie Factories" as described in a cover story in yesterday's Sunday Business section of the The New York Times: "The Zombie Factories That Stalk China's Economy" (Michael Schuman).
Zombie factories are companies that the Chinese government keeps "limping along in a kind of march of the undead." To protect jobs and plants, the government and its state-owned banks keep money-losing businesses— so-called zombie factories—on life support with restructured loans and credit. They do this to maintain social stability or to back struggling factories deemed important to the economy, according to the article.
To be fair, supplier financial risk is not a new risk category for supply chain risk management practitioners. And the Chinese zombie companies discussed specifically in the New York Times piece are limited to the beleaguered cement industry which has only a regional supply chain impact. However, it is reasonable to assume that the government policy of propping up struggling suppliers includes companies that are sub-tier partners to global OEMs/brands.
While the government policy of intervening financially to ensure uninterrupted production at struggling factories may be viewed as a positive for downstream companies—an added fail safe against financial failure—the experts believe this policy will ultimately prolong the economic downturn. A study of China's labor market by the International Monetary Fund referenced in the article indicates that from a long-term economic perspective, China would be better off downsizing or closing struggling factories and shifting resources away from less proactive parts of the economy. A more forceful strategy to enact pro-market reforms is recommended.
There are two key implications of zombie factories to downstream customers. First, if zombie factories live in your supply chain sub-tier, it is unlikely that the health of the business is transparently reported. As a result, it might be impossible to detect any financial risk. As pressure to more aggressively pursue pro-market reforms mounts, zombie factories may be shuttered with little warning. The impact may reverberate if the shuttered supplier is key sole supplier of a particular component or part.
As alluded to above, the effect may be less direct and more systemic. The health of the China economy is important on many levels to the larger OEM/brands. Zombie factories will ultimately be a drag to the Chinese economy. According to the article, by pumping up growth and labor with fresh credit and stimulus, the government might temporarily revive some factories, but also exacerbate the economy's problems of excess capacity and high debt and that the accumulating debt will ironically kills jobs.
It is wise to assess your supply chain exposure to Chinese factories. In addition to zombie factories, China is also dealing with massive stock (market capitalization) upheaval, and a pending regulatory/compliance crack down as a result of the August 12th Tianjin chemical explosions. The first step is mapping your supply chain to achieve basic supply chain visibility. Until you know who your suppliers are and how they are connected, you can't start the important work of proactively mitigating supply chain risk.