text:
HomeTv'Tulsa King' may get the 'Yellowstone' treatment at Paramount+
'Tulsa King' may get the 'Yellowstone' treatment at Paramount+
"We think there's a world of storytelling that audiences can enjoy and love the characters. Let's see where it takes us."
Paramount+ hasn't shied away from putting its all into Taylor Sheridan and his ability to build a streaming universe out of "Yellowstone." But why stop here? Sheridan's "Tulsa King" with Sylvester Stallone was also a big hit for the streamer, and Tanya Giles, director of streaming with Paramount Global, told IndieWire that anything is possible.
"The short answer is absolutely. We're open to possibilities, anything," Giles said at Paramount+'s January 9 TCA presentation. "What we love to do is turn this valuable IP and anything into a franchise because we believe there is a world of storytelling. they say the audience can enjoy it and love the characters. Let's see where it takes us."
So far, "Yellowstone" has been called "1883" with Sam Elliott, and the current "1923" with Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford. The series has created such a complicated family tree of Dutton characters spanning decades that Ford needs a literal "flow chart" to keep it straight. Sheridan also has the Jeremy Renner series The Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+. But Giles says there could be a lot more to "Tulsa" based on Sheridan's mindset.
"The huge success with 'Tulsa King' and Sylvester Stallone opens up opportunities for Taylor Sheridan, whose mind is constantly working on universes and backstories, so I think there's always the possibility that there's more to the universe. more for this story. There will be more," Giles said.
"Tulsa King," which premiered Nov. 13 and just aired its season finale, has already been renewed for a second season. Stallone plays a mobster who gets out of prison and is reassigned to start a criminal operation in Oklahoma. The first episode of the series also aired on the Paramount Network following the Season 5 premiere of "Yellowstone," where it drew a total of 3.7 million viewers in its first three days, according to Nielsen. And according to Paramount+, the show's premiere date became the biggest single sign-up day in the streaming service's history.
Sheridan executive produces "Tulsa King" with Terence Winter serving as showrunner and writer. Stallone also serves as an executive producer with David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yar, David Hutkin, Allen Coulter and Braden Aftergood. The series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
Pamela Anderson claims Tim Allen 'flashed' her about 'renovation'
'Shrinking' Trailer: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel Lead Apple TV Series


This is a guide to what's on over the coming week. If you don't see your favourite sport listed just let us..
Your weekly Sports Guide for all the Live Games in your friendly Irish Pub / Bar in Ladadika. There are a lot of Euro 2016 Qualifiers..
Sport 24th to 30th August…..
Then just ask anyone from The Dubliner team and we will try to find it for..
Well Rugby fans, its only 1 month to go until the start of the Rugby World Cup!!!!
You can catch all the games live here in The Dubliner..
Want to watch some sport that is not listed below?
Just contact any of The Dubliner team and we will try to help..
Date Day Type League Playing Time 10 August 2015 Monday Soccer Premier West Brom v Man..
As always The Dubliner is your best location for all the top international and Greek sporting events, air-conditioned and live on our..
As the summer heats up so does the sporting calendar as the start of the new football season draws closer with the advance in the..
Sport in the Summer! Glorious sunshine and the perfect reason to take a break from the heat and have something to eat or a pint while..


Flourish Education are working with school in the Perry Barr area recruiting a full time Computer Science Teacher to work with key stages 3 and 4. This is a full class planning role therefore planning will be involved.
This is a Large and successful secondary school where the department works closely together, sharing good practice and producing lessons of a high standard. The school firmly believe that one of the key hallmarks for success is the positive, friendly and supportive ethos which enables all of their students to make progress.


The historical importance of Dutch East-India with regard to its heir and successor, the Republic of Indonesia, deserves particular attention. The importance of Dutch East-India to Indonesia's socio-economic development, its empire building, its infra-structure, and so on, will be emphasized here in articles, pictures, photographs, maps. This site comes from the author's interest in Dutch colonial-historical remains in the Indonesian Archipelago.
1. The conquest of Makassar, Ujung Pandang, by the Dutch East-India Company V.O.C.
Below a limited photo gallery with some colonial army pictures. An attempt to save Dutch-Indonesian military men from oblivion.


text:
Author: Tara George
Gerry and Lish at Parliament Buildings
Posted on November 19, 2019 January 17, 2020 by Tara George
It was a wonderful night. Gerry and Lish came back from the dead as did a few of the old Stormont MPs to tell the story of the fateful Belfast Celtic – Linfield game on Dec 27th, 1948 that changed local football forever.
The legendary Jimmy Jones was there as were many others from the worlds' of football, theatre, and politics.
Chris Lyttle MLA, Danny Kennedy MLA and I got our hands (probably for the first and last time) on the old Irish Cup which has the names of all the current big clubs as well as Derry City and of course Belfast Celtic on it.
The Irish Times ran a great preview of the event and it was all recorded I am told for BBC TV.
Next week I will welcome an amendment to the Justice Bill which will, for the first time, make sectarian chanting illegal at sporting grounds in our region. It will be a huge step forward from the old Stormont Parliament's debate on the Windsor Park tragedy in early 1949. Then some MPs were accused of leading a chorus of sectarian chanting at Winsdor Park before the trouble broke out.
That great old cup
It is incumbent on us all to support those in sport, politics, and civil society who are working so hard to eradicate sectarianism from the sport. The IFA's Football for All is one such initiative.
Huge thanks are due to the writer of the play Padraig Coyle, the Belfast Celtic Society, the IFA and Linfield Football Club who have all seen the great opportunity to build reconciliation through a better understanding of the past.
SDLP table budget amendment to cap student fees and protect frontline health services
Posted on July 17, 2019 January 17, 2020 by Tara George
The SDLP will today seek to amend the Dup-SF budget to protect frontline health services, ensure there is no increase in student fees and create greater opportunities for job creation in tourism.
Therefore today we will attempt to change the first set of budget proposals to go before the Assembly.
Our amendment, which is technical in nature, calls for a reduction in corporate overheads such as travel and consultants across various departments. We also want the removal of funding from the Sinn Féin/DUP slush fund designed to benefit their chosen groups.
In addition, the SDLP has highlighted the areas of the budget where we believe more spending is required.
These include health to protect frontline services, education and tourism. The SDLP want increased funding for employment and learning in an effort to prevent a rise in student fees.
The SDLP oppose an increase in student fees and have led the campaign against them. Today is an opportunity for Sinn Fein, the DUP, the UUP and the Alliance Party to stand up against increase in student fees and vote to reallocate resources so working families and students can be assured that fees will not increase in the years ahead.
Proposed:
"That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £6,654,663,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2012 and that resources, not exceeding £7,336,432,000, be authorized, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2012 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2011-12 document that was laid before the Assembly on 7 February 2011."
Minister of Finance and Personnel
SDLP amendment
Insert at end; subject to a reduction in requests for resources for the following departments:
£0.7 million DCAL
£0.5 million DFP
£0.7 million DOE
£7.0 million DOJ
£3.8 million DRD
£9.4 million OFMDFM
"and requests the Minister of Finance and Personnel to consider the allocation of the resultant reductions to the Department of Education, for the promotion of community relations, to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for tourism development, to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, for frontline health and social care services, to the Department for Employment and Learning, for student finance and to the Department for Social Development, for tackling poverty; and further calls on the Minister to consider the identification of further financial resources for these purposes prior to the publication of the Budget Bill Main Estimates 2011-12".
Margaret Ritchie
Declan O'Loan
Unionism refuses to outlaw sectarian chanting
Posted on January 17, 2019 January 17, 2020 by Tara George
Unionism coalesced yesterday on the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly to block an amendment to the Justice Bill which would have outlawed sectarian chanting at sporting games in this region.
Only a week after a small minority of local fans brought themselves and their shirt into disrepute it seems bizarre that anyone would have a problem with this proposal.
What was even more bizarre is that the Justice Committee had been debating the need for this measure for some seven months and the proposed amendment, introduced by the Minister for Justice, had the unanimous support of the Justice Committee which is made up of member of the DUP, UUP, SF and SDLP.
Many will be scratching their heads that Basil McCrea led the opposition to the proposed amendment on the floor of the house. He will have a fair amount of apologising to do to Reg Empey and David McNarry who represent his party on the committee following suggestions he made on yesterday's Nolan Show that the committee were not up to the job!
I have been in politics long enough to see a lurch to the right and a return to the trenches coming. Political unionism reverted to type yesterday. Faced with the option of doing the right thing and setting a real example or falling back on old fears and prejudices, they chose the latter. The bizarre u-turn will also alarm many who are concerned about the state of the UUP under Tom Elliot's leadership.
The Justice Committee meets this afternoon. I will challenge the committee to stand by its decision to ban sectarian chanting in sport. There is still an opportunity for unionism to catch up with society, the sporting organisations and the many people across our region who support this move.
77 days to improve politics in our region
Posted on February 23, 2011 January 17, 2020 by Tara George
The Assembly and local government elections take place eleven weeks, or 77 days, from today.
Between now and polling day I hope the many thousands of working families who are feeling the pinch of the recession and the impact of government cutbacks will begin to demand better politics from all of us seeking a mandate on May 5th.
The past four years have been marked by carve up and carve out of government. Over the next eleven weeks, I hope we get to debate the need for more than just peace process politics but before that, we need to settle a better budget before March 14th.
On Tuesday in winding on the budget debate I placed the following remarks on the record of the Assembly.
"The SDLP believes that, if this Budget were passed, we would have no plan for rebalancing the economy of our region. We could be looking at up to 9,000 public service job losses, and we would face a pay freeze for the 7,400 civil servants who earn below the average industrial wage that Sinn Féin MLAs take. The SDLP also believes that thousands more people would face benefit cuts by 2012 and that there would be the potential for hospital closures. We know that. At the same time, the prospect of new medicines and new medical facilities, such as the cancer centre in Altnagelvin, would not be available for patients, and there would be no robust strategy for job creation. There would also be less independent scrutiny of government, because of what this Budget would do to the Assembly, the Audit Office and the other key scrutiny bodies. There would be a massive drop in building, particularly social housing building, with consequential job losses. Over 100 schools would go without the repairs that they so desperately need, and there would be the potential to introduce student fees of £5,750. Such student fees would say to working families that they could not afford to send their children to be educated, they could not afford what a previous generation was able to afford, and they could not afford to become fully signed-up members of society, because we are going to stop them doing that.
For all those reasons, I ask Sinn Féin to adopt the long-standing SDLP motto that there is a better way. If the DUP is serious about living up to its motto of keeping Northern Ireland moving forward, I ask it to seriously revisit this Budget and to return to the House before the end of the process with something that is built on the twin pillars of social justice and economic development. What they bring should mean that we can all face the people, proud of what this place can deliver and of what devolution can mean. It should also mean that we can look the most marginalised in our society in the eye and say that, above all, this Assembly stands up for them."
Budget could put another 9000 on dole – NI needs a better way
The forthcoming election must be about making Northern Ireland work.
The budget that Sinn Fein and the DUP are proposing will put the North on the dole. Over 9000 public service jobs will go with many more lost in the private sector. Over 100 school builds will not proceed and hospital waiting lists will get longer if we don't start taking devolved government seriously and start making decisions that benefit the many rather then the few.
7400 low paid civil servants who get paid less then the average industrial wage will have their pay frozen and tens of thousands of students could face fees of up to £5750.
We had seventy years of bad government in this region. It gave us political policing and gerrymandering. The last thing we need now is slush fund politics and more cronyism.
The next Assembly needs more balance. A stronger SDLP team will bring solutions to water and education and a new politics to Stormont.
We want to create a people's water company to make the necessary investments in out water and sewage infrastructure. A mutual company which puts customers first.
In government we will work hard to break the stalemate in education. We won't let outdated ideology get in the way of what is best for our children. Guided by international best practice we have made proposals which will ensure no child ever has to sit a transfer test and eleven whilst also guaranteeing that educational excellence remains at the heart of all our schools.
Through practical cooperation across Ireland we can save millions for both jurisdictions. Money that can be invested in schools, hospitals and our transport infrastructure. That's why we want a better budget for the North. One which includes new revenue from local sources to plug the gap left by Tory Cuts. A strong SDLP would challenge Sinn Fein and the DUP's surrender policy to the UK Treasury.
Northern Ireland can remain divided and forever a failure or as a region we can make the positive decision to work together in the common interest.
My nationalism is in no way diluted by a commitment to making the North work, nor should anyone else's unionism. Those of us who are serious about Irish Unity need to explore honestly what that means. You can't unite Ireland by continuing to divide the North. That's why the time has come for a generation of nationalist politicians to step forward and make our region work. I want to be part of that movement.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Our best creamy collard greens recipe does contain bacon, whole milk, and heavy cream, but it's so worth it if you want to splurge. Serve as a hearty side dish.
Blanch greens in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green and beginning to soften, 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Squeeze dry.
Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 5–7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain; set aside.
Drain all but 3 Tbsp. bacon drippings from pot, adding butter if needed to measure 3 Tbsp. Add shallots; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add flour and paprika; stir constantly for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and cream; bring to a boil, whisking often. Stir in greens; reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring often, until greens are tender and sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer creamed greens to a serving dish; garnish with reserved bacon.


Create a big impression! Textured Impressions Embossing Folders offer the deepest and boldest embossing experience. You can turn ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece. This set of Embossing Folders showcases the deliciously different style of BasicGrey. It contains two large A2 folders, measuring 5 3/4" x 4 1/2" x 1/8". Textured Impressions Embossing Folders are for use with the Texture Boutique, BIGkick, Big Shot and Vagabond machines (not included). This Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Set includes these two folder designs: Frame, Circle w/Flowers (A2 Large); Rosemary (A2 Large).


text:
Home Sections
Lebanon uprising
protester arrests
Mada Membership
Morning Digest
Editorial & Marketing Services
Politics / Egypt-Tunisia relations
اقرأها بالعربية
What do the Tunisian elections tell us?
Omar Said
Amira Elmasry
Since the start of the Arab uprisings over three years ago, regional onlookers have often turned to Tunisia for answers.
While other countries have descended into turmoil or seen their democratic voices quickly suppressed, Tunisia appears to be walking the gradual, non-violent path of reform. In Egypt, comparisons between local developments and those in its North African neighbor have always been present.
Changes in Tunisia always presage similar ones here, or so the reasoning goes. Over the past year, however, the two country's different experiences with their powerful Islamist parties has been vastly different.
Mohamed al-Sahby al-Khalafawy, a researcher in the University of Tunis Faculty of Law and Political Science, answers Mada Masr's questions regarding the truth of what is happening in Tunisia, and how accurate the comparison with Egypt is.
Mada Masr: The question of how the Muslim Brotherhood was dealt with in both the Egyptian and Tunisian contexts is a big one. The commonly held belief is that they were overthrown violently here (Egypt), and voted out there. Is this accurate? Was the Brotherhood deposed in Tunisia to begin with?
Mohamed al-Khalafawy: In the recent elections, Ennahda (the Islamist political party) got almost one third of the votes, thereby coming in second place, and confirming that its popularity needs to be taken into consideration by opponents.
The overthrow of the Islamist administration in Egypt was violent, eliminating the Brotherhood from the political scene. Meanwhile, Tunisia took a different course, in which Ennahda may become part of a national coalition government. This could mean taking charge of several prominent offices, or leading the opposition movement formed by Nida Tunis, taking control of the parliament's finance committee (according to the constitution), and monitoring the government.
In a nutshell, to analyze what happened to Tunisia's Islamists by democratic measures, we find that Ennahda has weathered a power transition, and the parliament's majority has become an opposing minority. However, put into the context of events that unfolded in Egypt, it would seem that Tunisia's Islamists have consolidated their position in the political scene. No one can bypass them now or in the future without resorting to drastic measures.
MM: The Egyptian reality imposes the duality of Islamists versus the old regime. In Tunisia, it seems that the alternative to Ennahda is Nida Tunis, packed with figures of [ousted President] Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's regime. Does this duality actually exist in Tunisia? Can associates of the old regime return to the political arena under the umbrella of the secular Nida party facing the reactionary Muslim Brotherhood?
MK: Nida Tunis did not draw figures from the former regime. It drew the middle and junior officers of the Democratic Constitutional Rally, Ben Ali's party, who have maintain a certain amount of clout that did not abate following the revolution. Following the 2011 elections, a need emerged for an organization or a party that would bring equilibrium to the political scene, defending those opposed to the Islamization of the state.
Who was opposed? The answers varied. Beji Caid al-Sebsi came forward as the one who united members of the Democratic Constitutional Rally (the former ruling party) with a handful of democrats and figures from the left. He succeeded in introducing himself and his party, Nida Tunis, as the only alternative to Ennahda, boasting the fact that his party includes members of the dismantled DCR.
This alternative was based on competency and knowledge of how the state is run in opposition to the Islamists and their allies' apparent inability to run it. There was also an underlying discourse on Islamization and [the first president of the Republic of Tunisia] Habib Bourguiba's approach to the dilemma of the state's relationship with religion.
Eventually, members of the former regime managed to normalize their relationship with the new political arena, and some of them even reached the parliament. Therefore, the existing duality differs, depending from which perspective it is viewed. Some may classify it as new versus old, while others would see it as Islamists versus secularists, or those experienced in running the country versus those inexperienced. Yet the situation is more complicated than all those propositions, and a deeper analysis cannot be deduced in one short answer.
MM: The military institution is the strongest player in Egypt. Members of the Tunisian Ennahda party discussed this after former President Mohamed Morsi's ouster, saying that keeping the military out of politics has preserved democracy in Tunisia. What do you think about this?
MK: Whether we approve of Bourguiba's legacy or not, there is no doubt that the founder of the modern Tunisian state succeeded in creating a military doctrine in total compliance with the civil authority, maintaining the state's institutions and dismissive of political action. This kept the Tunisian military from direct interference in the form of governance.
Since independence, Tunisia has been ruled by "civilians" (even though Ben Ali was a general, he followed the lead of Bourguiba's policy concerning the military, and he was probably more radical in keeping the army away from politics). Egypt, on the other hand, has been ruled by the military since July 1952. Based on this historical fact alone, the Tunisian military institution can be considered a main contributor in the democratic transition.
One question remains, however, which only the leaders of the Tunisian armed forces can answer: What would the Tunisian military's response be in case the democratic process was reversed?
MM: The deep state — or, in other words, the bureaucracy inherited from the old regime — plays a major role in Egyptian politics. Is this the same with Tunisia?
MK: In his book The Arab Political Mind, Mohamed Abed al-Jabiri discusses the tripartite relationship between doctrine, tribe and gain. This trilogy was what instigated Ennahda's rise to power, and the reason it failed to deal with the state's administrative body. By observing Ennahda's performance, we see how the Islamists have essentially evolved: from adopting the rhetoric that they were fighting conspiracies against them, to giving up power due to their inability to run state affairs.
As some Ennahda leaders and government officials have confirmed publicly and privately, there seemed to be a kind of animosity between the Islamists and the state officials. This feeling was aggravated when the Ennahda party did not base ministerial appointments on relative expertise, but rather on past struggles and grievances, which hindered the regular running of affairs. Without going into details, this mismanagement by the Ennahda party was countered by a "natural" animosity toward Islamists in power from cabinet members who belonged to the former regime (whether willingly or not).
Under these circumstances, the state's bureaucracy played a major role in the Islamists losing their parliamentary majority. On the one hand, Ennahda's ability to run the country was resisted, and its governments were impeded from functioning normally. Combined with other factors, this led to the complete failure of these governments. On the other hand, several members within the country's institutions joined the Nida Tunis Party and worked on promoting it.
MM: Where did the bloc excluded from this polarization, such as leftist parties, go? What caused their decline?
MK: The classical left (consisting of a mixed bag of nationalists and Marxists) united in the Popular Front, which won 15 seats in parliament. Many people saw this as a positive culmination of sweeping polarization in the elections.
The main challenge which the Popular Front had to face was to stay unified during the elections, which they managed to do. But a more difficult challenge remains, namely to maintain this unity throughout the current parliamentary term, especially with the conflicting members' opinions regarding the practicality of joining the government of Nida Tunis, a party that is considered the descendent of Ben Ali's regime, and a materialization of rightist economic and social policies.
The centrist parties were terribly defeated, receiving less than 10 parliament seats combined. For some of them, this was the price they paid for allying with the Ennahda movement: punitive voting. Others, however, witnessed a vote fallout due to the swing toward Nida Tunis, especially considering that these parties failed to set themselves apart from Sebsi's party, despite the fact that they indeed have political differences.
The elections were also marked by the Free Patriotic Union coming in third place. This party represents a popular right stream reminiscent of Europe in the 1920s, led by a business tycoon who has strong influence over the world of sports and media. All political sides in Tunisia agree that it is an unhealthy phenomenon which may negatively affect the future of the democratic process.
The political arena has definitely not reached its final form yet, and the differences causing rifts in Nida Tunis, together with Sebsi's old age of 88 years, will inevitably lead to many divisions in the majority's party. This will clear the way for parties from the center and the left to regroup and regain some of their influence lost in the previous elections.
The municipal elections expected to be held in the end of 2015 or the beginning of 2016 may be a very good opportunity to do so.
MM: Where does social justice and economic rights come into play within the current context?
Since Ennahda stepped down from power last January, social movements have notably declined. Some relate this to the truce between the Tunisian General Labor Union, the country's national trade union and the new interim government. The economic and social question was definitely present in this year's elections in a manner stronger than the 2011 elections. Future governments will have to face the inevitable challenge to improve the social standards for all citizens, as the economic situation is almost disastrous.
The national trade union and the Union for Commerce, Industry and Handicrafts will have a clear standpoint. Without planning new policies to tackle these issues, the situation will inevitably explode.
MM: Why are the youth, popularly known as the spirit of the Tunisian revolution, missing in action?
MK: Some observers and actors would say that the Tunisian revolution was less of a youth revolution and more of a revolution of some youth. This age group has largely refrained from participation in politics and even in elections. The future president of Tunisia will definitely be over 70 years old, and the youth are not concerned about this. Today, there is a preemptive question to be raised: Will the youth have an active role in making demands and pushing for change in the next phase? Personally, I believe this is unlikely to happen given the political balance reached by the 2014 elections.
MM: Apparently, the Tunisian public is divided between the Islamists and their opponents, even if the latter included figures from Ben Ali's party. How will this affect the political situation? Will there be cooperation between both sides, or will it be a competition to the extent of trying to paralyze the party in power, like what happened in Egypt?
MK: To answer your question directly, I think that the conflict of interests among the different political forces may take the same form of the contradictions between political forces in established democracies. Accordingly, I believe that cooperation will formulate the next phase.
The factor missing in this analysis, though, is foreign interference in the Tunisian course. Some regional and international forces are positively contributing to reach a truce that would make Tunisia a successful model. Other Arab forces may push for interrupting all this, suiting the interests of some local actors to build a new corrupt and oppressive system.
From prison: Trying to deceive pain
From Tora: Harry Potter in an Egyptian prison
Industrial colonialism: Egypt, Germany and the maintenance of the modern world
Becoming 'legal': On Mada Masr's decision to apply for a license under the new media law
80 articles on Mada
You have a right to access accurate information, be stimulated by innovative and nuanced reporting, and be moved by compelling storytelling.
Subscribe now to become part of the growing community of members who help us maintain our editorial independence.
Your support is the only way to ensure independent,
progressive journalism
survives.
Egypt-Tunisia relations
Ennahda Party
Nida Tunis
Tunisian elections
2014 parliamentary elections
Fragmented politics
Mai Shams El-Din | As political forces brace for parliamentary elections in Egypt, which were once scheduled to take place


text:
PG&E Corp - FORM 10-Q - May 3, 2018
EX-32.02 - EXHIBIT 32.02 - PG&E Corp exhibit322-033118.htm
EX-10.05 - EXHIBIT 10.05 - PG&E Corp exhibit105-33118.htm
Washington, D.C., 20549
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
For the transition period from ___________ to __________
Exact Name of
as Specified
in its Charter
State or Other
Jurisdiction of
IRS Employer
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
77 Beale Street
Address of principal executive offices, including zip code
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
PG&E Corporation:
[X] Yes [ ] No
Pacific Gas and Electric Company:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company", and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
[X] Large accelerated filer
[ ] Accelerated filer
[ ] Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
[ ] Smaller reporting company
[ ] Emerging growth company
[ ] Large accelerated filer
[X] Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
[ ] Yes [X] No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common stock outstanding as of April 24, 2018:
PG&E CORPORATION AND
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
NOTE 1: ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
NOTE 2: SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
NOTE 3: REGULATORY ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND BALANCING ACCOUNTS
NOTE 4: DEBT
NOTE 5: EQUITY
NOTE 6: EARNINGS PER SHARE
NOTE 7: DERIVATIVES
NOTE 8: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
NOTE 9: CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS
LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
ENFORCEMENT AND LITIGATION MATTERS
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY INITIATIVES
CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS
RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ISSUED BUT NOT YET ADOPTED
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
The following terms and abbreviations appearing in the text of this report have the meanings indicated below.
2017 Form 10-K
PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company's combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017
asset retirement obligation
accounting standard update issued by the FASB (see below)
California Independent System Operator
Cal Fire
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Community Choice Aggregator
California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission
CEMA
Catastrophic Event Memorandum Account
CPUC
CRRs
congestion revenue rights
Diablo Canyon
Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant
DOGGR
the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources
earnings per common share
FASB
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
general rate case
GT&S
gas transmission and storage
hazardous substance memorandum account
IOU(s)
investor-owned utility(ies)
MD&A
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Item 2, of this Form 10-Q
MGP(s)
manufactured gas plants
NDCTP
Nuclear Decommissioning Cost Triennial Proceedings
Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited
State of California Office of Emergency Services
order instituting investigation
order instituting rulemaking
Office of Ratepayer Advocates
PCIA
Power Charge Indifference Adjustment
petition for modification
Risk Assessment Mitigation Phase
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Safety and Enforcement Division of the CPUC
Tax Act
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
transmission owner
The Utility Reform Network
VIE(s)
variable interest entity(ies)
Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Operating Revenues
Cost of electricity
Cost of natural gas
Operating and maintenance
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning
(220
Income tax provision
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary
Income Available for Common Shareholders
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Basic
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Diluted
Net Earnings Per Common Share, Basic
Net Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans obligations (net of taxes of $0 and $0, at respective dates)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to
Common Shareholders
Balance At
Customers (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $59 and $64
at respective dates)
Accrued unbilled revenue
Regulatory balancing accounts
Regulatory assets
Inventories:
Gas stored underground and fuel oil
Materials and supplies
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Construction work in progress
Total property, plant, and equipment
Accumulated depreciation
(23,811
Net property, plant, and equipment
Other Noncurrent Assets
Nuclear decommissioning trusts
Income taxes receivable
Total other noncurrent assets
(in millions, except share amounts)
Long-term debt, classified as current
Accounts payable:
Disputed claims and customer refunds
Interest payable
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term debt
Pension and other post-retirement benefits
Total noncurrent liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
Common stock, no par value, authorized 800,000,000 shares;
516,003,957 and 514,755,845 shares outstanding at respective dates
Reinvested earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(13
Total shareholders' equity
Noncontrolling Interest - Preferred Stock of Subsidiary
Three Months Ended March 31,
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Butte-related insurance receivable
Butte-related third-party claims
Other current assets and liabilities
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities
(1,470
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $0 and $2 at respective dates
Short-term debt financing
Short-term debt matured
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $0 and $10 at respective dates
Long-term debt matured or repurchased
Common stock issued
Common stock dividends paid
Net cash used in financing activities
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized
Income taxes, net
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable
Noncash common stock issuances
Terminated capital leases
Preferred stock dividend requirement
Income Available for Common Stock
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans obligations (net of taxes of $0 and $0, at respective dates )
(in millions. except share amounts)
Common stock, $5 par value, authorized 800,000,000 shares; 264,374,809 shares outstanding at respective dates
Accumulated other comprehensive income
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock dividends paid
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation
PG&E Corporation is a holding company whose primary operating subsidiary is Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a public utility serving northern and central California. The Utility generates revenues mainly through the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas to customers. The Utility is primarily regulated by the CPUC and the FERC. In addition, the NRC oversees the licensing, construction, operation, and decommissioning of the Utility's nuclear generation facilities.
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is a combined report of PG&E Corporation and the Utility. PG&E Corporation's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of PG&E Corporation, the Utility, and other wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. The Utility's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Utility and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements apply to both PG&E Corporation and the Utility. PG&E Corporation and the Utility assess financial performance and allocate resources on a consolidated basis (i.e., the companies operate in one segment).
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP and in accordance with the interim period reporting requirements of Form 10-Q and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that management believes are necessary for the fair presentation of PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The information at December 31, 2017 in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included in this quarterly report was derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheets in Item 8 of the 2017 Form 10-K. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the 2017 Form 10-K.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions relate to the Utility's regulatory assets and liabilities, legal and regulatory contingencies, insurance recoveries, environmental remediation liabilities, AROs, and pension and other post-retirement benefit plans obligations. Management believes that its estimates and assumptions reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are appropriate and reasonable. A change in management's estimates or assumptions could result in an adjustment that would have a material impact on PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's financial condition and results of operations during the period in which such change occurred.
Beginning on October 8, 2017, multiple wildfires spread through Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma, Butte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Lake, Nevada, and Yuba Counties, as well as in the area surrounding Yuba City (the "Northern California wildfires"). According to the Cal Fire California Statewide Fire Summary dated October 30, 2017, at the peak of the wildfires, there were 21 major wildfires in Northern California that, in total, burned over 245,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 8,900 structures. The wildfires also resulted in 44 fatalities. The Northern California wildfires are under investigation by Cal Fire and the CPUC, including the possible role of the Utility's power lines and other facilities. The Utility expects that Cal Fire will issue a report or reports stating its conclusions as to the sources of ignition of the fires and the ways that they progressed. Further, the CPUC's SED is conducting investigations to assess the compliance of electric and communication companies' facilities with applicable rules and regulations in fire-impacted areas. See "Northern California Wildfires" in Note 9 below.
NOTE 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
For a summary of the significant accounting policies used by PG&E Corporation and the Utility, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2017 Form 10-K.
Variable Interest Entities
A VIE is an entity that does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or whose equity investors lack any characteristics of a controlling financial interest. An enterprise that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is a primary beneficiary and is required to consolidate the VIE.
Some of the counterparties to the Utility's power purchase agreements are considered VIEs. Each of these VIEs was designed to own a power plant that would generate electricity for sale to the Utility. To determine whether the Utility has a controlling interest or was the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs at March 31, 2018, the Utility assessed whether it absorbs any of the VIE's expected losses or receives any portion of the VIE's expected residual returns under the terms of the power purchase agreement, analyzed the variability in the VIE's gross margin, and considered whether it had any decision-making rights associated with the activities that are most significant to the VIE's performance, such as dispatch rights and operating and maintenance activities. The Utility's financial obligation is limited to the amount the Utility pays for delivered electricity and capacity. The Utility did not have any decision-making rights associated with any of the activities that are most significant to the economic performance of any of these VIEs. Since the Utility was not the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs at March 31, 2018, it did not consolidate any of them.
PG&E Corporation and the Utility sponsor a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan and cash balance plan. Both plans are included in "Pension Benefits" below. Post-retirement medical and life insurance plans are included in "Other Benefits" below.
The net periodic benefit costs reflected in PG&E Corporation's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Pension Benefits
Service cost for benefits earned
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of prior service cost
Amortization of net actuarial loss
Net periodic benefit cost
Regulatory account transfer (1)
(1) The Utility recorded these amounts to a regulatory account since they are probable of recovery from, or refund to, customers in future rates.
Non-service costs are reflected in Other income, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
There was no material difference between PG&E Corporation and the Utility for the information disclosed above.
Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The changes, net of income tax, in PG&E Corporation's accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are summarized below:
(in millions, net of income tax)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Beginning balance
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income:
Amortization of prior service cost (net of taxes of $0 and $1, respectively) (1)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (net of taxes of $0 and $0, respectively) (1)
Regulatory account transfer (net of taxes of $0 and $1, respectively) (1)
Reclassification of stranded income tax to retained earnings (net of taxes of $0 and $0, respectively)
Net current period other comprehensive gain (loss)
(1) These components are included in the computation of net periodic pension and other post-retirement benefit costs. (See the "Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits" table above for additional details.)
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income: (1)
Amortization of prior service cost (net of taxes of $1 and $2, respectively)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (net of taxes of $3, and $0, respectively)
Regulatory account transfer (net of taxes of $2 and $2, respectively)
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Revenue Recognition Standard
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which amends the previous revenue recognition guidance. The objective of the new standard is to provide a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets and to provide more useful information to users of financial statements through improved and expanded disclosure requirements. PG&E Corporation and the Utility applied the requirements using the modified retrospective method when the ASU became effective on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of the adoption date or for the three months ended March 31, 2018. A majority of the Utility's revenue from contracts with customers continues to be recognized on a monthly basis based on applicable tariffs and customers' monthly consumption. Such revenue is recognized using the invoice practical expedient which allows an entity to recognize revenue in the amount that directly corresponds to the value transferred to the customer.
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The Utility recognizes revenues when electricity and natural gas services are delivered. The Utility records unbilled revenues for the estimated amount of energy delivered to customers but not yet billed at the end of the period. Unbilled revenues are included in accounts receivable on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rates charged to customers are based on CPUC and FERC authorized revenue requirements. Revenues can vary significantly from period to period as a result of seasonality, weather, and customer usage patterns.
The FERC authorizes the Utility's revenue requirements in periodic (often annual) TO rate cases. The Utility's ability to recover revenue requirements authorized by the FERC is dependent on the volume of the Utility's electricity sales, and revenue is recognized only for amounts billed and unbilled, net of revenues subject to refund.
Regulatory Balancing Account Revenue
The CPUC authorizes most of the Utility's revenues in the Utility's GRC and its GT&S rate cases, which generally occur every three or four years. The Utility's ability to recover revenue requirements authorized by the CPUC in these rate cases is independent, or "decoupled" from the volume of the Utility's sales of electricity and natural gas services. The Utility recognizes revenues that have been authorized for rate recovery, are objectively determinable and probable of recovery, and are expected to be collected within 24 months. Generally, electric and natural gas operating revenue is recognized ratably over the year. The Utility records a balancing account asset or liability for differences between customer billings and authorized revenue requirements that are probable of recovery or refund.
The CPUC also has authorized the Utility to collect additional revenue requirements to recover costs that the Utility has been authorized to pass on to customers, including costs to purchase electricity and natural gas, and to fund public purpose, demand response, and customer energy efficiency programs. In general, the revenue recognition criteria for pass-through costs billed to customers are met at the time the costs are incurred. The Utility records a regulatory balancing account asset or liability for differences between incurred costs and customer billings or authorized revenue meant to recover those costs, to the extent that these differences are probable of recovery or refund. As a result, these differences have no impact on net income.
The following table presents the Utility's revenues disaggregated by type of customer:
Public street and highway lighting
Total revenue from contracts with customers - electric
Regulatory balancing accounts (2)
Total electric operating revenue
Transportation service only
Total revenue from contracts with customers - gas
Total natural gas operating revenue
(1) This activity is primarily related to the change in unbilled revenue, partially offset by other miscellaneous revenue items.
(2) These amounts represent revenues authorized to be billed or refunded to customers.
Presentation of Net Periodic Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), which amends the guidance relating to the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic other post-retirement benefit costs. PG&E Corporation and the Utility applied the requirements when the ASU became effective on January 1, 2018.
On a retrospective basis, the amendment requires an employer to separate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost and provides explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and other components in the income statement. As a result, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for PG&E Corporation and the Utility were restated. This change resulted in increases to Operating and maintenance expenses and Other income, net, of $13 million and $14 million for PG&E Corporation and the Utility, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
On a prospective basis, the ASU limits the component of net benefit cost eligible to be capitalized to service costs. The FERC has allowed and the Utility has made a one-time election to adopt the new FASB guidance for regulatory filing purposes. In January 2018, the CPUC approved modifications to the Utility's calculation for pension-related revenue requirements to allow for capitalization of only the service cost component determined by a plan's actuaries. The capitalization of service costs only will result in higher rate base and will lead to a reduction in the Utility's 2018 revenues. The changes in capitalization of retirement benefits did not have a material impact on PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which amends the guidance relating to the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendments require equity investments (excluding those accounted for under the equity method or those that result in consolidation) to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The majority of PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's investments are held in the nuclear decommissioning trusts and gains or losses are refundable or recoverable, respectively, from customers through rates. The ASU became effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility on January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this update allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. When amounts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income, PG&E Corporation and the Utility recognize the related income tax expense at the tax rate in effect at that time. The ASU is effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility on January 1, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. PG&E Corporation and the Utility early adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, resulting in an immaterial reclassification.
Recognition of Lease Assets and Liabilities
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amends the guidance relating to the definition of a lease, recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, and the disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. In November, 2017, the FASB tentatively decided to amend the new leasing guidance such that entities may elect not to restate their comparative periods in the period of adoption. Under the new standard, all lessees must recognize an asset and liability on the balance sheet. Operating leases were previously not recognized on the balance sheet. The ASU will be effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. PG&E Corporation and the Utility plan to adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2019. PG&E Corporation and the Utility expect this standard to increase lease assets and lease liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and do not expect the guidance will have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, Statements of Cash Flows and related disclosures.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Current Regulatory Assets
At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Utility had current regulatory assets of $646 million and $615 million, which included $444 million and $426 million, respectively, of costs related to CEMA fire prevention and vegetation management.
Long-Term Regulatory Assets
Long-term regulatory assets are comprised of the following:
Asset Balance at
Environmental compliance costs
Utility retained generation
Unamortized loss, net of gain, on reacquired debt
Total long-term regulatory assets
Long-Term Regulatory Liabilities
Long-term regulatory liabilities are comprised of the following:
Liability Balance at
Cost of removal obligations
Recoveries in excess of AROs
Public purpose programs
Total long-term regulatory liabilities
For more information, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2017 Form 10-K.
Current regulatory balancing accounts receivable and payable are comprised of the following:
Receivable Balance at
Electric distribution
Electric transmission
Utility generation
Gas distribution and transmission
Total regulatory balancing accounts receivable
Payable Balance at
Total regulatory balancing accounts payable
Revolving Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper Program
The following table summarizes PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's outstanding borrowings under their revolving credit facilities and commercial paper programs at March 31, 2018:
Total revolving credit facilities
(1) Includes a $50 million lender commitment to the letter of credit sublimit and a $100 million commitment for swingline loans defined as loans that are made available on a same-day basis and are repayable in full within 7 days.
(2) Includes a $500 million lender commitment to the letter of credit sublimit and a $75 million commitment for swingline loans.
Other Short-term Borrowings
In February 2018, the Utility's $250 million floating rate unsecured term loan, issued in February 2017, matured and was repaid. Additionally, in February 2018, the Utility entered into a $250 million floating rate unsecured term loan that will mature on February 22, 2019. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of a portion of the Utility's outstanding commercial paper.
Long-term Debt Issuances and Redemptions
In January 2018, the Utility sent a notice of redemption to redeem all $400 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.25% Senior Notes due October 15, 2018. On January 31, 2018, the Utility deposited with the trustee funds sufficient to effect the early redemption of these bonds and satisfy and discharge its remaining obligation of $400 million on February 18, 2018.
In April 2018, PG&E Corporation entered into a $350 million floating rate unsecured term loan. The term loan matures on April 16, 2020, unless extended by PG&E Corporation pursuant to the terms of the term loan agreement. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including the early redemption of PG&E Corporation's outstanding $350 million principal amount of 2.40% Senior Notes due March 1, 2019. On April 16, 2018, PG&E Corporation issued a notice of early redemption of these bonds, with a redemption date of April 26, 2018.
Variable Rate Interest
At March 31, 2018, the interest rates on the $614 million principal amount of pollution control bonds Series 1996 C, E, F, and 1997 B and the related loan agreements ranged from 1.52% to 1.65%. At March 31, 2018, the interest rates on the $149 million principal amount of pollution control bonds Series 2009 A and B, and the related loan agreements, were 1.60%.
PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were as follows:
Balance at December 31, 2017
Share-based compensation
Balance at March 31, 2018
There were no issuances under the PG&E Corporation February 2017 equity distribution agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, the remaining gross sales available under this agreement were $246.3 million.
PG&E Corporation issued common stock under the PG&E Corporation 401(k) plan and share-based compensation plans. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, 1.2 million shares were issued for cash proceeds of $35.1 million under these plans.
PG&E Corporation's basic EPS is calculated by dividing the income available for common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. PG&E Corporation applies the treasury stock method of reflecting the dilutive effect of outstanding share-based compensation in the calculation of diluted EPS. The following is a reconciliation of PG&E Corporation's income available for common shareholders and weighted average common shares outstanding for calculating diluted EPS:
Add incremental shares from assumed conversions:
Employee share-based compensation
Total earnings per common share, diluted
For each of the periods presented above, the calculation of outstanding common shares on a diluted basis excluded an insignificant amount of options and securities that were antidilutive.
Use of Derivative Instruments
The Utility is exposed to commodity price risk as a result of its electricity and natural gas procurement activities. Procurement costs are recovered through customer rates. The Utility uses both derivative and non-derivative contracts to manage volatility in customer rates due to fluctuating commodity prices. Derivatives include contracts, such as power purchase agreements, forwards, futures, swaps, options, and CRRs that are traded either on an exchange or over-the-counter.
Derivatives are presented in the Utility's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets recorded at fair value and on a net basis in accordance with master netting arrangements for each counterparty. The fair value of derivative instruments is further offset by cash collateral paid or received where the right of offset and the intention to offset exist.
Price risk management activities that meet the definition of derivatives are recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These instruments are not held for speculative purposes and are subject to certain regulatory requirements. The Utility expects to fully recover in rates all costs related to derivatives under the applicable ratemaking mechanism in place as long as the Utility's price risk management activities are carried out in accordance with CPUC directives. Therefore, all unrealized gains and losses associated with the change in fair value of these derivatives are deferred and recorded within the Utility's regulatory assets and liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net realized gains or losses on commodity derivatives are recorded in the cost of electricity or the cost of natural gas with corresponding increases or decreases to regulatory balancing accounts for recovery from or refund to customers.
The Utility elects the normal purchase and sale exception for eligible derivatives. Eligible derivatives are those that require physical delivery in quantities that are expected to be used by the Utility over a reasonable period in the normal course of business, and do not contain pricing provisions unrelated to the commodity delivered. These items are not reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Eligible derivatives are accounted for under the accrual method of accounting.
Volume of Derivative Activity
The volumes of the Utility's outstanding derivatives were as follows:
Contract Volume at
Underlying Product
Natural Gas (1) (MMBtus (2))
Forwards, Futures and Swaps
Electricity (Megawatt-hours)
Congestion Revenue Rights (3)
(1) Amounts shown are for the combined positions of the electric fuels and core gas supply portfolios.
(2) Million British Thermal Units.
(3) CRRs are financial instruments that enable the holders to manage variability in electric energy congestion charges due to transmission grid limitations.
Presentation of Derivative Instruments in the Financial Statements
At March 31, 2018, the Utility's outstanding derivative balances were as follows:
Commodity Risk
Gross Derivative
Cash Collateral
Total Derivative
Current assets – other
Other noncurrent assets – other
Current liabilities – other
Noncurrent liabilities – other
Total commodity risk
At December 31, 2017, the Utility's outstanding derivative balances were as follows:
Gains and losses associated with price risk management activities were recorded as follows:
Unrealized gain (loss) - regulatory assets and liabilities (1)
Realized loss - cost of electricity (2)
Realized loss - cost of natural gas (2)
Net commodity risk
(1) Unrealized gains and losses on commodity risk-related derivative instruments are recorded to regulatory liabilities or assets, respectively, rather than being recorded to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. These amounts exclude the impact of cash collateral postings.
(2) These amounts are fully passed through to customers in rates. Accordingly, net income was not impacted by realized amounts on these instruments.
Cash inflows and outflows associated with derivatives are included in operating cash flows on the Utility's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The majority of the Utility's derivatives contain collateral posting provisions tied to the Utility's credit rating from each of the major credit rating agencies. At March 31, 2018, the Utility's credit rating was investment grade. If the Utility's credit rating were to fall below investment grade, the Utility would be required to post additional cash immediately to fully collateralize some of its net liability derivative positions.
The additional cash collateral that the Utility would be required to post if the credit risk-related contingency features were triggered was as follows:
Derivatives in a liability position with credit risk-related
contingencies that are not fully collateralized
Related derivatives in an asset position
Collateral posting in the normal course of business related to
these derivatives
Net position of derivative contracts/additional collateral
posting requirements (1)
(1) This calculation excludes the impact of closed but unpaid positions, as their settlement is not impacted by any of the Utility's credit risk-related contingencies.
PG&E Corporation and the Utility measure their cash equivalents, trust assets, and price risk management instruments at fair value. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – Other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activities.
The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for PG&E Corporation and the Utility are summarized below.
Assets held in rabbi trusts are held by PG&E Corporation and not the Utility.
Fair Value Measurements
Netting (1)
Global equity securities
Fixed-income securities
Assets measured at NAV
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts (2)
Price risk management instruments (Note 7)
Total price risk management instruments
Rabbi trusts
Life insurance contracts
Total rabbi trusts
Long-term disability trust
Total long-term disability trust
(1) Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and margin cash collateral.
(2) Represents amount before deducting $440 million, primarily related to deferred taxes on appreciation of investment value.


Ace Hardware Coupons: $100 Off Select Traeger Wood Pellet Grills and Smokers At acehardware.com Only! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace!
$100 Off Select Traeger Wood Pellet Grills and Smokers At acehardware.com Only! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace!
$100 Off Select Traeger Wood Pellet Grills and Smokers At acehardware.com Only! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace!.
Shop And Save On LED Light Bulbs At acehardware.com! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace!
Save On Products to Create A Healthier Home At acehardware.com! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace!
Ball 1qt Purple Heritage Collection Jars - 6 Pack Now Available At acehardware.com!
Buy an Adirondack chair for $59.99, get the ottoman free At acehardware.com Only! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace! Offer Valid.
Shop Online Only Specials at AceHardware.com!
Shop Tailgating Essentials At acehardware.com!
Groupon Shoppers - Save $15 Off $100+ at acehardware.com Only! Plus Get Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 10/1/2017 - 10/31/2017 Online Only!
Save $15 Off $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 1/17/2018 - 1/27/2018.
Save $15 Off $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 2/20-3/3/2018.
Save $10 Off $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 1/11/2018 - 1/14/2018.
Save 25% Off Any Regular Priced Item Under $50 at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 12/25-12/31/2017 Only!
Save 15% Off $150+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 1/5/2018 - 3/31/2018.
Receive 10% Off $100+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 10/1/2017 - 12/31/2017.
Receive 10% Off $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 10/6/2017 - 10/9/2017.
Receive 10% Off $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 10/14/2017 - 10/17/2017.
Receive 10% Off $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 10/26/2017 - 10/29/2017.
Receive 10% Off Orders $75+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 12/21- 12/31/2017.
Save 10% Off $100+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 1/5/2018 - 3/31/2018.
Save 10% Off $50+ at acehardware.com Only! Exclusions Apply. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace. Valid 2/6/2018 - 2/18/2018.
Shop And Save On Bird Seed Feeders and More At acehardware.com! Plus Free Store Pickup. Buy Online & Pickup Today At Your Participating Neighborhood Ace!


text:
Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope begins unprecedented task of aligning itself
The telescope has to align its 18-segment mirror so that it can capture its first photos
Nasa has begun the process of focusing the James Webb Space Telescope so that it may capture images of stars and galaxies shortly after the Big Bang.
The $10 billion telescope has to unfold its huge 6.5-metre, 18-segment mirror, made of gold-plated beryllium metal, over a series of months. This is a much larger light-collecting surface than that found on the 30-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, the precursor to Webb.
Those segments must now be detached from fasteners that held them in place for the launch and then moved forward half an inch from their original configuration - a 10-day process - before they can be aligned to form a single, unbroken, light-collecting surface.
The alignment will take an additional three months, Lee Feinberg, the Webb optical telescope element manager at Goddard, told Reuters by telephone.
Aligning the primary mirror segments to form one large mirror means each segment "is aligned to one-five-thousandth the thickness of a human hair", Feinberg said.
When will the James Webb Space Telescope send back its first photos?
Nasa reaches another huge milestone in its plan to look at beginning of the universe
Nasa successfully completes hardest part of deployment of James Webb Space Telescope
"All of this required us to invent things that had never been done before," such as the actuators, which were built to move incrementally at -400 Fahrenheit (-240 Celsius) in the vacuum of space, he added.
The telescope's smaller, secondary mirror, designed to direct light collected from the primary lens into Webb's camera and other instruments, must also be aligned to operate as part of a cohesive optical system.
If all goes as planned, the telescope should be ready to capture its first science images in May, which would be processed over about another month before they can be released to the public, Feinberg said.
The telescope will mainly view the cosmos in the infrared spectrum, allowing it to gaze through clouds of gas and dust where stars are being born. Hubble has operated primarily at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths.
Webb is about 100 times more powerful than Hubble, enabling it to observe objects at greater distances, thus farther back in time, than Hubble or any other telescope.
Astronomers say this will bring into view a glimpse of the cosmos never previously seen - dating to just 100 million years after the Big Bang, the theoretical flashpoint that set in motion the expansion of the observable universe an estimated 13.8 billion years ago.
Webb will eventually reach orbit around the Sun – an optimum place to collect solar energy – and full alignment is expected to be reached on 24 April, approximately four months after its launch on Christmas Day 2021. One month later, we should expect to see its first photos.
Humans could live on Mars and Venus by building 'giant shields', Nasa director says
Scientists spot 'intruder' flying through space
Scientists make biggest 3D map of the universe – and find something intriguing inside
The efficiency of the Webb launch also means the telescope is expected to run for 20 years, rather than the decade Nasa predicted, giving scientists a longer time to study the origins of our universe.
Additional reporting by Reuters
NasaJames Webb Space Telescope
1/1Nasa begins unprecedented task of aligning James Webb Space Telescope
Nasa begins unprecedented task of aligning James Webb Space Telescope


text:
IoT Singapore
IoT Indonesia
IoT Vietnam
IoT Myanmar
IoT Malaysia
IoT Thailand
IoT Philippines
Taiwan IoT Expo | WCIT 2017
IoT China
Events Highlights Videos
DRIVING DIGITALISATION ECOSYSTEMS IN ASEAN
Which markets are you interested in?
Market Trends & Outlook
IoT Water
IoT Weather
KaHa Leads Strategic Multipartite IoT Innovation Lab – the COVE R2C IoT Innovation Lab – to Accelerate Singapore IoT Development and Commercialization (Business Insider)
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 26 October 2018 – Internet of Things (IoT) and smart wearable company KaHa today announced plans to open a multipartite innovation and research lab in Singapore, modelled after the network philosophy of IoT and created in response to market demands for faster development and commercialization. Public and private partners across the IoT development value chain including A*STAR SIMTech, Bridgestone, Curtis Australia, MHA Manufacture de Haute Accessoirie Partners, Tex Line and Titan, will come together under-one-roof to streamline development resulting in faster prototyping, testing, and go-to-market.
The new multipartite COVE R2C IoT Innovation Lab will find its home in the vibrant one-north technology hub of Singapore. Designed for efficient multi-party collaboration, the various development stations will be onsite and in close proximity – from business to project management, hardware to software, prototyping to testing, and from remodification up to delivery. Development time and costs will be greatly reduced, for instance speeding up schedules of weeks into just days. Whereas in conventional processing, work is done piecemeal and transported partially and gradually at intervals, and delays occur frequently and are exacerbated by minor changes.
The lab's core infrastructure is the KaHa platform and its AI capabilities. KaHa has over the past 3 years developed an architecture which is unparalleled and optimised for consumer-centric experiences like health and wellness, fitness and sports, digital payment and safety. The company has big data architecture and tools for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and recently its proof-of-concept on natural language processing (NLP). The company has also created a Network Operations Lab (NOC) that facilitates the proof-of-concept process through real-time testing of available/simulated data with live demonstrations all within the same space. Regular reviews at the NOC will ensure data integrity and projects timeliness.
The lab is located at the vibrant one-north technology hub of Singapore and the launch is targeted for initial projects in healthcare and wellness, smart apparels, sensor hub and power consumption. The lab will also work with KaHa's brand partners and co-plan their roadmap and play the role of bringing all stakeholders towards achieving these use case on smart wearables, as well as the building of a comprehensive healthcare IoT ecosystem capable of integrating medtech and public-private healthcare and related service providers. The pioneering partners are:
KaHa: Singapore-based and the region's only end-to-end IoT and smart wearable platform company with patents in IoT platform architecture. KaHa possesses deep industry links, including being the strategic partner for A*STAR SIMTech and EAC flagship industry programmes.
A*STAR SIMTech: Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology develops high value manufacturing technology and human capital to contribute to the competitiveness of Singapore industry.
Bridgestone: A Hong Kong-based watch manufacturer with International reach including its own production base in China. The company specializes in creative design, production and sales of lifestyle and fashion watches.
Curtis Australia: With a heritage from the 1890's, an international jewellery, watch and pen atelier known for its distinctive, handmade and desirable luxury products crafted in solid carat golds and precious gems.
MHA Manufacture de Haute Accessoirie Partners: A division of Niklaus LNI SA, established over 110 years ago on the foundation of swiss watch manufacturing, MHA is the premier Swiss designer and manufacturer of private label luxury accessories.
Tex Line: A one-stop apparel and sportswear sourcing supply chain and service provider, with reliable capability in overseeing sourcing to production and delivery.
Titan Company Limited: The fifth largest integrated own brand watch manufacturer in the world. Over the last three decades, Titan has expanded and explored into under penetrated markets and created leading brands across categories.
To read the rest of the article, please use this link: https://www.businessinsider.sg/kaha-leads-strategic-multipartite-iot-innovation-lab-the-cove-r2c-iot-innovation-lab-to-accelerate-singapore-iot-development-and-commercialization/
By Business Insider | November 9th, 2018
COPYRIGHT © 2017-2021. INDUSTRY PLATFORM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


text:
US Textiles Sector Outlines Priorities for Biden
President-elect Joe Biden. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) president and CEO Kim Glas issued an extensive agenda on Thursday that the domestic textile industry urges President-elect Joe Biden's administration and a new Congress to address to bolster the U.S. manufacturing sector.
"The U.S. textile industry looks forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden's transition team and his administration to provide input on key policies outlined in the campaign to prioritize investing in American manufacturing and its workforce, onshoring critical supply chains, and cracking down on the predatory trade practices that have harmed the manufacturing sector and U.S. jobs," Glas said. "We agree with the President-elect that we must not revert to status quo trade policies that have undermined our nation's resilience and exacerbated income inequality by impacting the manufacturing sector and promoting a race to the bottom that have especially hurt the nearly two-thirds of the American workforce without college degrees."
She said as domestic manufacturers, the U.S. textile industry fully supports Biden's campaign pledge to strengthen "Buy American" rules and invest in government purchases of U.S.-made products. Glas said it is "imperative that we strengthen the domestic personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain to achieve a long-term goal of ending our over-reliance on China and begin onshoring the production of critical medical textiles."
Glas told Sourcing Journal that she believes the issues surrounding PPE will be a "high priority" for the administration.
Pakistan's Nishat Mills to Acquire Denmark Protective Fabric Maker
Trade Groups Team Up to Speak Out Against Tariffs
"When President-elect Biden was a candidate, part of his core economic plan was around strengthening the domestic supply chain on essential products," she said in a phone interview. "I absolutely believe that this is going to be one of his top priorities and since our industry has been on the front lines in trying to address some of the PPE crisis that our health care workers have faced, I believe that there's a strong roadmap on how to do it to ensure that we see investment here in America and for the long term."
She wouldn't specify whether NCTO has had any direct contact with the transition team, but said she and the organization look forward to working with Biden and his team to "strengthen and maintain these supply chains, which is a paramount national and healthcare security issue."
"The Covid-19 crisis has made clear to Democrats and Republicans alike that our past trade policies have left the United States too reliant on imports of essential goods," Glas said. "Our national trade and economic agenda must put American manufacturing workers at the center. President-elect Biden has committed to taking on China and other countries that utilize predatory trade and economic tactics that have hurt domestic manufacturers and we welcome that call."
Glas laid out four immediate steps the Biden administration can take in the first months in office to help boost investment in the U.S. textile industry and onshore critical PPE supply chains.
The first is to expand investment in U.S.-made PPE. NCTO noted that the Berry Amendment, a domestic procurement law that governs purchases by the Defense Department, has been an essential tool of national security policy to ensure military personnel are wearing 100 percent Made-in-America product and that the U.S. is not relying on foreign supply chains from China and elsewhere to supply critical military materials.
"Regrettably, our over-reliance on China for these essential products failed to meet our needs during a time of crisis," Glas said. "That can never happen again. We must onshore and diversify these critical supply chains moving forward."
She called for adoption of The American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act, which expands the Berry Amendment to all federal purchases of PPE. In addition, NCTO urged the federal government to deploy long-term federal contracts for PPE to spur investment and create jobs in the U.S., a key element of separate pending bipartisan legislation named the Make PPE in America Act. The organization believes the federal government should use tax incentives to help promote the domestic manufacturing industrial base and U.S. manufacturing jobs.
Secondly, to help ensure industry is meeting federal government needs and priorities, NCTO said it is critical that the U.S. textile industry and PPE producers have a high level of communication and coordination with key officials across all the government agencies procuring medical PPE.
"Establishing a key point person and team is critical to ensure the necessary collaboration to help industry and government respond quickly and effectively to national, state and local PPE needs," Glas said. "A high-level team comprised of experts committed to U.S. manufacturing is vitally important in advancing both short-term needs and long-term supply chain efforts."
NCTO said it is prepared to help develop a "streamlined, high-level coordination structure that ensures that the contracting process yields timely acquisition of quality U.S.-made PPE and other medical items."
NCTO also called for continued support of tariffs and strong trade Enforcement. Glas reiterated what she told Sourcing Journal regarding an interview Wednesday in the New York Times in which Biden pledged to continue aggressive trade enforcement actions against China and to work long-term with international coalitions to comprehensively address systemic predatory trade practices.
"For far too long, our industry, like so many others in the manufacturing sector, has been hindered by predatory trade practices," Glas said. "The U.S. textile industry is highly automated and is proud to compete with anyone in the world on a level and fair playing field. But the rules of the road are not always abided by or fair and, regrettably, the U.S. textile industry has far too often faced that sobering reality."
She said that's why aggressive enforcement actions, including continuing punitive tariffs on finished products, is critical to getting the Chinese to address "systemic unfair trade advantages," such as government subsidies, state-owned enterprises, forced labor practices, weak environmental standards, intellectual property theft and currency manipulation that non-market economies use to manipulate global markets and hurt U.S. producers.
"Punitive tariffs coupled with other enforcement mechanisms are also necessary to increase negotiating leverage to address these larger systemic issues," she said.
Lastly, NCTO urged Biden and Congress to provide targeted stimulus to U.S. manufacturers and workers. Glas said the unprecedented reduction in consumer demand since the onset of Covid-19 has significantly hurt the U.S. textile industry and other key manufacturing sectors of the economy and that it was critical that the textile industry and other impacted manufacturing sectors and their workforce have access to critical support like the Paycheck Protection Program.
"Additionally, this program should be expanded to ensure more medium-sized manufacturers that have made PPE have the opportunity to participate," Glas added. "A robust manufacturing stimulus will help stabilize the industry and lead to critical domestic job growth in this important sector and we urge Congress and the administration to come together to implement a plan as soon as possible."
Glas said she feels the Biden administration will be supportive of the traditional domestic textile industry, as well.
"Whoever has been in the presidency, our industry has interfaced with Republicans and Democrats," she told Sourcing Journal. "It's such an important industry that's gotten a lot more recognition in the last year because of the role it played with respect to PPE, but I absolutely believe we are poised to work with the Biden administration to make sure that they understand some of the critical issues affecting our industry and what our recommendation are."
domestic manufacturing
NCTO


text:
jQuery(document).ready(function() {

	module("Activity creation and parsing");

	test("Activity: Create with no objects", function() {

		var entryNode = $activity.create("My Activity");

		equals( toString(entryNode), '<entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><title>My Activity</title><verb xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/">http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</verb></entry>');
	});

	test("Activity: Create with objects", function() {

		var statusNode = $activity.object.status({status: "My Status"});
		var entryNode = $activity.create("My Activity", [statusNode, statusNode]);

		equals( toString(entryNode), '<entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><title>My Activity</title><verb xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/">http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</verb><object xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/"><object-type xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/">http://onesocialweb.org/spec/1.0/object/status</object-type><content type="text/plain" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">My Status</content></object></entry>');
	});

	test("Activity: Parse activity with no objects and all fields", function() {

		var entryNode = toDom('<entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:activity="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/"><title>My Activity</title><id>testing</id><published>2003-12-13T18:30:02Z</published><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:actor xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><name>friend</name><uri>friend@example.com/home</uri></activity:actor></entry>');

		var activity = $activity.parse( entryNode );

		equals( activity.id, "testing" );
		equals( activity.title, "My Activity" );
		equals( activity.published, "2003-12-13T18:30:02Z" );
		equals( activity.verb, "http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post" );
		equals( activity.name, "friend" );
		equals( activity.jid, "friend@example.com/home" );
		equals( activity.objects.length, 0 );
	});

	test("Activity: Parse activity with no objects and no fields", function() {

		var entryNode = toDom('<entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:activity="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/"></entry>');

		var activity = $activity.parse( entryNode );

		equals( activity.id, "" );
		equals( activity.title, "" );
		equals( activity.published, "" );
		equals( activity.verb, "" );
		equals( activity.name, "" );
		equals( activity.jid, "" );
		equals( activity.objects.length, 0 );
	});

	test("Activity: Parse activity with objects", function() {

		var entryNode = toDom('<entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><title>My Activity</title><verb xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/">http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</verb><object xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/"><object-type xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/">http://onesocialweb.org/spec/1.0/object/status</object-type><content type="text/plain" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">My Status</content></object><object xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/"><object-type xmlns="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/">http://onesocialweb.org/spec/1.0/object/status</object-type><content type="text/plain" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">My Status</content></object></entry>');

		var activity = $activity.parse( entryNode );

		equals( activity.objects.length, 2 );
	});

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


More than 100 people attended a touching private service this morning for Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder and heroine for Special Olympics. Shriver's legacy with her work and support for Special Olympics touched the lives of millions.
The solemn service was held at Saint Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Special Olympics was born literally in Shriver's own backyard in 1962 when a desperate mother sought her help for a summer camp for her own child with mental retardation. She took up the challenge herself and set up a summer camp free of charge at Timberlawn, the family estate in Maryland, where she even personally carried out swimming lessons.
In July 1968, she opened the first edition of Special Olympics at Soldier Field in Chicago and launched a movement that would give the intellectually disabled an athletic competition that would grow like wildfire.
Last year on the 40th anniversary of this first event, Sports Illustrated honoured her with the Sportsmen of the Year Legacy Award. The movement had exploded from a few hundred athletes then to nearly 3.1 million athletes worldwide participating in 228 programmes in 170 nations on all continents.
Shriver is also the only woman to ever have her portrait appear during her lifetime on a US coin, the commemorative 1995 Special Olympics silver dollar.
Not only did she understand with compassion the needs of the intellectually disabled, but she also found a perfect way through sport to give them a vehicle for hope and enhance their lives and this has resonated through their families, friends and fans.
Shriver leaves a flourishing legacy that will enrich the lives of many for generations to come. She is survived by Sargent Shriver Jr, who managed President Lyndon Johnson's War On Poverty in the 1960s, her daughter Maria Shriver who is California's first lady, and sons Robert Sargent Shriver III, Timothy Perry Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver, and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver. Maria's husband and the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, himself is a strong advocate of Special Olympics.
- Over 103,500 people have visited www.eunicekennedyshriver.org and have viewed 827,000 pages. Over 2,800 people have posted personal tributes posted to the website.
- "RIP Eunice Kennedy was a top 5 Trending Topic on Twitter for approximately 9 hours on Tuesday.
- "RIP Eunice Kennedy was the number 2 topic, with Special Olympics as the number 3 topic for approximately 90 minutes.
- Numerous Tweets and re-Tweets of personal messages from celebrities and luminaries were received, including Lance Armstrong, Sarah Brown (wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown), Chris Cuomo, Paula Abdul, Marlee Matlin, Steve Case (Chairman and CEO, Revolution, Co-Founder, America Online, and Chairman, The Case Foundation).
- The Special Olympics Facebook page gained 1,300 fans in only one day.
- 7,132 television stories have been broadcast.
- The number of local, national and international print media and radio stories is too large too count this time.
Personal letters of condolences and tributes have come in from celebrities and world leaders, including statements from US President Barack Obama, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Oprah Winfrey, and leaders from around the globe.


Utilitarian rolltop and rucksack shaped bags with modern color blocking and easily accessible storage to support the urban commuter.
mulitiple concept rounds were conducted based on the thumbnail exploration. the rolltop and rucksack silhouettes were chosen to expand further upon.