text:
For Professionals » Meeting Highlights » 17th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease
17th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease:
Moving from High Risk to Low Risk Prevention of CVD Outcomes
Written by Kathleen Doheny
with Robert P. Giugliano, MD, Daniel Soffer, MD, and Priyathama Vellanki, MD
The FOURIER Trial (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research of Evolocumab in subjects with Elevated Risk) was the first ''event" study to demonstrate that a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, evolocumab (Repatha), has the potential to induce a significant reduction in serum LDL-cholesterol that subsequently leads to lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.1 Evolocumab is being prescribed for patients with a higher residual cardiovascular risk who are already on statin therapy.1
Treating to reduce cardiovascular disease outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes advances from focus on high to low risk patients. Photo: Shidlovski @ iStock
New Trial to Evaluate Potential to Effect Low Risk CVD
At the 17th annual World Congress on Insulin Resistance Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (WCIRDC), Robert P. Giugliano, MD, SM, FACC, FAHA, clinical cardiologist at Brigham & Women's Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, reviewed the evidence of secondary prevention of CV events with Repatha and then discussed primary prevention, detailing the goals and timeline for the newly-launched VESALIUS-CV trial.
"We've been enrolling since June," Dr. Guigliono told attendees, and setting our sights on primary prevention as the outcomes goal is crucial. We anticipate having at least 13,000 high risk patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes with no history of prior myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke randomized to receive either evolocumab or placebo for up to five years.
They all have a high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) or non-HDL-C levels despite intensive lipid-lowering therapy,1 he said , "but it's important that they [participants] have no prior history of primary cardiovascular events."
Benefits of CVD 2o Prevention in Diabetes: FOURIER
For the sake of comparison, the trial design of FOURIER was to follow 27,564 patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) who were deemed stable but at high risk to receive evolocumab or a placebo for up to five years. They had to have had a prior MI, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. All participants were receiving moderate or high intensity statin therapy for LDL-C at or above 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) or non-HDL-c at or above 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L).2
Patients were randomized to evolocumab 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg QM or placebo group, and the median follow-up was 2.2 years.
The findings of this PCSK9 inhibitor demonstrated that it is safe, well-tolerated, and achieved a significant decrease in LDL-c of 59%, down to a median of 30 md/dl (P < 0.00001). In comparing evolocumab to placebo, the treatment group benefited from a risk reduction in the primary end point (composite of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina or coronary revascularization) by 15% (HR, 0.85, CI, 0.79 to 0.92).3
Analysis of the 11,031 patients with diabetes and 16,533 without found that evolocumab reduced CV outcomes consistently with and without diabetes at baseline. For the primary composite endpoint, the HRs were 0.83 (P = 0.0008) for those with disease and 0.87 (P = 0.0052) for those without diabetes.4
Vesalius-CV Trial to Assess for Primary Prevention
The Vesalius CV Trial, a multinational clinical outcomes study of 13,000 high risk patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes but no prior history of MI or stroke for the prevention of a first cardiovascular event.1 This cohort will be randomized to receive either evolocumab (140 mg, twice weekly) or placebo. The trial will be event-driven, Dr. Giugliano said, with a minimum of four or more years of follow-up.
The dual primary composite endpoints are—coronary heart disease death, MI or ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease death, MI, ischemic stroke or ischemia-driven revascularization.1
These are the key inclusion criteria, Dr. Giugliano said, of which all four parameters had to be met to participate:
Ages 50 to 79 for men, 55 to 79 for women
An LDL-C of 100 mg/dL or higher or non-HDL-c of 130 mg/dL or higher on optimized lipid-lowering therapy.
Evidence of 1 or more: CAD without prior MI, cerebrovascular disease without prior stroke, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes mellitus.
At least 1 high-risk feature.1
"The trial began enrolling patients in June 2019," Dr. Giugliano said, "and the enrollment phase is projected to last for about 12-15 months. The minimum follow-up is four years for the last patient enrolled, so we foresee the trial extending out to the summer of 2024." "There is no plan to release interim data to anyone (myself included), except for the Data Safety Monitoring Board,'' he said.
Who is the ideal candidate for primary prevention? "Patients with advanced diabetes, an LDL more than 100 mg/DL and who have a higher risk for atherosclerotic events. For example, with a family history of premature CHD," Dr. Giugliano told EndocrineWeb.
The VESALIUS-CV is part of Amgen's PROFICIO (Program to Reduce LDL-C and cardiovascular Outcomes Following Inhibition of PCSK9 In different pOpulations) program,5 initiated to investigate the impact of evolocumab on CVD across multiple populations. To date, the program encompasses 36 trials of more than 38,000 patients globally.
Other Potential PSCK9 Inhibitors Are Available But Non Validated for CVD
Alirocumab (Praluent), a human monoclonal antibody given by injection, is on the market already. Another PCSK9 inhibitor, inclisiran, is in development; it inhibits this pathway by interfering with RNA synthesis, and is administered twice yearly by injection. "Neither of these two therapies have a cardiovascular outcomes study data in lower-risk patients or in primary prevention as in VESALIUS-CV," Dr. Giugliano said.
VESALIUS-CV—Reducing Diabetes/CVD Risk Sooner?
In commenting on his takeaway from this presentation, Daniel Soffer, MD, FNLA, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and a local investigator with the VESALIUS-CV Trial,1 challenged the position that this is a primary prevention outcomes study.
"The medical community should stop using the terms primary prevention and secondary prevention," he said, when referring to the group being enrolled. While the participants were precluded if they had had an MI or stroke, they still had atherosclerosis, Dr. Soffer told EndocrineWeb, and if a patient has atherosclerosis, s/he is already at risk, and ''that is what we are treating them for—Our priority is to prevent the first event—to keep them from having an MI or stroke, and to slow progression of atherosclerosis so it stops building up over time."
That said, the review of the FOURIER findings was instructive because it points to the data (together with findings from the ODYSSEY study) that led to changes in clinical practice and updated cholesterol guideline,1,6 according to Dr. Soffer. "FOURIER laid the groundwork for adding PCSK9 inhibitors even in patients who are taking high intensity statins to achieve a reduced CVD risk profile for secondary prevention outcomes."
As such, the next logical step, he said, is to find out what this PCSK9 inhibitor might do for individuals who have not yet had a CV event. In so much as this new study is looking at a lower risk population, these patients still have established atherosclerosis, so it is not accurate to consider this as a "primary prevention" trial. Informative yes, but not truly offering full out disease inhibition.
Will the results change the course of practice? "Clinicians are already using PCSK9 inhibitors for anyone who has coronary artery disease," Dr. Soffer said. For that reason, it might be challenging to enroll people in a true primary prevention trial as patients who are already taking this monoclonal antibody would probably see little personal benefit from joining a clinical trial.
Another endocrine specialist, Priyathama Vellanki, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, agreed with Dr. Soffer. The patients eligible for enrollment in the VESALIUS-CV Trial, she said: ''are not really at low risk,'' so we should not view the findings as informing us of the potential for primary prevention.
What will be important from the data derived from this trial, she told EndocrineWeb, is our ability to evaluate the absolute risk reduction to see how it translates to real life outcomes.
Dr. Giugliano reports research grant support through Brigham and Women's Hospital from Amgen, Daiichi Sankyo and Merck, and CME program, scientific advisory boards and consulting for Akcea, Amarin, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CVS Caremark, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck and Pfizer. Dr. Soffer is on the advisory boards for Amgen, Medicure and The Medicines Company. He has clinical trial support from Amgen, Akcea Therapeuics Astra-Zeneca, Novartis, Regeneron, REgenXBio/NIH. Dr. Vellanki has no relevant financial disclosures.
Giugliano RP. FOURIER and VESALIUS-CV: From Secondary Prevention of CV Events with Evolocumab in Diabetes (FOURIER) on to Primary Prevention (VESALIUS-CV).World Congress on Insulin Resistance Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: December 4-7, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.
Sabatine MS, Giugliano RP, Keech A et al. Rationale and design of the Further cardiovascular OUtcomes Research with PCSK9 Inhibition in subjects with Elevated Risk trial. Am Heart J. 2016:173:94-101.
Sabatine MS, Giugliano RP, Keeh AC, et. al. Evolocumab and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. New Engl J Med. 2017;376:1713-1722.
Sabatine MS, Leiter LA, Wiviott SD et al. Cardiovascular safety and efficacy of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab in patients with and without diabetes and the effect of evolocumab on glycaemia and the risk of new-onset diabetes: a prespecified analysis of the FOURIER randomized controlled trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2017;5(12):941-950
Amgen [Press release]. Amgen Announces New Four-Year Outcomes Study To Examine Long-Term Effects of Repatha (evolocumab) In High-Risk Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Patients Without Prior Heart Attack or Stroke. Available at: https://www.amgen.com/media/news-releases/2019/03/amgen-announces-new-fouryear-outcomes-study-to-examine-longterm-effects-of-repatha-evolocumab-in-highrisk-cardiovascular-disease-cvd-patients-without-prior-heart-attack-or-stroke/. Accessed December 12, 2019.
Schwartz GC, Steg PG, Szarek M, et al, for the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Committees and Investigators. Alirocumab and Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2018;379:2097-2107.
Next Summary:
Addressing Congestive Heart Failure with Concomitant Type 2 Diabetes
From This Meeting
17th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease
Treating Diabetic Nephropathy: Which Way Forward in Patient Care?


Thank you for inviting me to your holiday/birthday/going-away/celebration party. I want to come and celebrate how fabulous you and/or your work is. I want to get to know your people and expand my own circle of relations. I'm really grateful that you invited me. And… as an ever-increasing-introvert, I might not make it. The journey to get to your party, the anticipation of what it will be like when I arrive and have to navigate moving though humans, making small talk, and finding my place and way in a sea of human activity… well, there's a high likelihood that the hermit in me will say, "Instead, let's stay home. Put on some music and let's find something fun to do here instead. You've had enough people in your life for today. Keep it simple. Send love and gratitude to all those good people at the party and have your own party here." I'll listen to her, and I'll also notice the part of me that is disappointed to miss your party. So, thank you for your understanding if I don't show up, if I leave early or if I play with your kids instead of hanging with the adults. I'm giving it what I've got! And next time there's a small group getting together, those invitations are easier for me to say yes to.
« Why are White Folks so Resistant?


text:
from __future__ import print_function

from BaseHTTPServer import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
from threading import Thread
from urlparse import urlparse, parse_qs

import json
import sys

class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
  def do_POST(self):
    task = parse_qs(urlparse(self.path).query)['task'][0]
    body = self.rfile.read(int(self.headers.getheader('content-length', 0)))

    # Only allow draining instance-0
    allow = True if task == 'devcluster/vagrant/test/coordinator/0' else False

    self.send_response(200)
    self.send_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
    self.end_headers()
    self.wfile.write('{"drain":%s}' % allow)

    print('Request received for {}'.format(task))
    print(json.dumps(json.loads(body), indent=2, sort_keys=True))
    print('Responded: {}'.format(allow))
    sys.stdout.flush()

def start_server(instance, port, handler_class):
  # This service will act as its own SLA Coordinator.
  # We need a static port for the coordinator service so the scheduler can communicate to it when
  # checking SLA. We cannot have 2 tasks binding to the same port so instance-1 will bind to 8080
  # as instance-0 is the one that will be acked for draining. instance-0 will bind to a random port.
  if instance != 1:
    port = 0

  server = HTTPServer(('', port), handler_class)
  print('Listening on port %s' % port)
  sys.stdout.flush()
  server.serve_forever()

thread = Thread(target=start_server, args=[int(sys.argv[1]), 8080, RequestHandler])

thread.start()
thread.join()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Disability Rights Advocates for Technology
aka Segs4Vets | SAINT LOUIS, MO | www.segs4vets.ngo
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for permanently disabled veterans and first responders through the application of new technologies. We focus on the successful reintegration of veterans and first responders into their families and communities by creating customized mobility devices (Segways and ALLY Chairs) and technology-based workforce development solutions that create a sense of purpose and independence for our nation's heroes.
Gerald Kerr
500 FOX RIDGE RD
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63131 USA
Show more contact info
Email contact available with a Pro subscription
Payment Address
Donation Payable
Legal name of organization: Disability Rights Advocates for Technology
Military/Veterans' Organizations (W30)
Engineering and Technology Research, Services (U40)
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Segs4Vets serves veterans and active duty members of the United States military who sustained severe injuries or illnesses that resulted in permanent disability while serving our country. For the 48,000 servicemen and women who were injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, coming home means adapting to physical changes, relearning behaviors and daily tasks, and accepting a new normal that didn't exist when they first left home. These veterans must learn to reintegrate into family life, the workplace and society as a whole, often requiring dedicated help to overcome the daily challenges of their injuries—costs of war borne also by spouses, children, and parents. The Segs4Vets program awards Segways and ALLY Chair adapted Segways, universally designed mobility devices, which are solving many of the mobility issues facing our disabled veterans in a manner which is both psychologically uplifting and physically beneficial.
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Segs4Vets
The Segs4Vets program awards universally designed mobility devices, Segways and ALLY Chair adapted Segways, which do not draw attention to the recipient's physical disability. While the program's historical and primary focus has been on those who have served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, it has since been able to broaden its support to other disabled veterans who meet specific criteria. These unique devices are solving many of the mobility issues facing our disabled veterans in a manner which is both psychologically uplifting and physically beneficial, promoting greater independence and the successful reintegration into their communities resulting in greater opportunities for them to live purpose filled, independent, joyful lives.
Population(s) Served
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To solve many of the mobility issues facing our disabled veterans in a manner which is both psychologically uplifting and physically beneficial, promoting greater independence and the successful reintegration into their communities resulting in greater opportunities for them to live independent, joyful, purpose filled lives.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Segs4Vets program provides assessment, training, device selection and customization of ALLY Chair adapted Segways and Segways to meet the individual needs of newly selected recipients of the Segs4Vets program. In addition to individual assessment and training throughout the United States the program has since 2006 maintained ongoing assessment and training programs at the three major military medical centers providing rehabilitative care to our severely injured military members, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, San Antonio Area Military Medical Center and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego.
In addition, through a partnership with Caterpillar, Inc., Segs4Vets is developing technology that allows disabled veterans and first responders to operate heavy machinery remotely. This revolutionary program will provide new employment opportunities for disabled veterans and first responders with permanent physical disabilities. For example, a disabled first responder can discover a renewed sense of purpose as he operates a CAT Dozer 8 in Missouri, and helps build a new waste management facility in Arizona—using the latest remote technology.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Beginning in 2005, Segs4Vets has developed over the last 14 years, protocols and systems to assess the potential of and train people with disabilities in the utilization of universally designed mobility devices to enhance their independence and improve their overall quality of life. The overall expertise of the program is unmatched anywhere in the world. Volunteerism is the foundation of the Segs4Vets program which consists of a core group of volunteers numbering more than 30 including people with disabilities, retired members of the United States military
including those from the military medical community, physical therapists, disabled veterans, and successful members of the business community throughout the United States.
The Segs4Vets program maintains four continuing assessment and training programs. Three of those are located at military medical rehabilitation facilities, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland, San Antonio Area Military Medical Center at the Center for the Intrepid in the San Antonio Texas and at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego California. The fourth facility, operated by Segs4Vets staff, is located in St. Louis Missouri.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have awarded more than 2000 recipients and annually provide support services to more than 400 prior recipients and their families. Through training, mentoring and collaborating with our recipients, these unique devices are solving many of the mobility issues facing our disabled veterans in a manner which is both psychologically uplifting and physically beneficial, promoting greater independence and the successful reintegration into their communities, resulting in greater opportunities for them to live purpose-filled, independent, joyful lives. The Segs4Vets program has awarded more than 2000 universally designed mobility devices, Segways and ALLY Chair adapted Segways, which do not draw attention to the recipient's physical disability. While the program's historical and primary focus has been on those who have served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, we have has since been able to broaden our support to other disabled veterans who meet specific criteria. The program not only awards new devices but also provides ongoing support services such as battery replacement, key fob programming and replacement, maintenance and warranty services, use and access counseling, advocacy services and ongoing device appropriateness assessment to the more than 2,000 military families since 2005. We recognize the continuing maintenance needs from those who have benefited from the use of Segways and ALLY Chair adapted Segways. As the fleet of devices ages awarded to our earlier recipients, the support services component of the Segs4Vets program will consume an increasingly significant portion of our available resources impacting the number of new devices we can issue each year.
Looking forward, in 2019, Segs4Vets began a collaboration with Caterpillar, Inc.'s (CAT) Autonomy and Automation Construction Digital & Technology Division to assess and develop career opportunities for our disabled veterans that were previously not accessible. Members of our Warrior Board experienced this technology firsthand by operating a D8 dozer in Tucson, Arizona via real-time remote control from a command trailer in St. Louis, Missouri. Ultimately, this program could lead to an extraordinary, untapped workforce of disabled American veterans operating heavy equipment around the globe remotely from the command facilities near their homes. We are working to rapidly expand this program to serve more disabled veterans to provide our American heroes with workforce training, job placement, and high paying jobs—providing them with a purpose-filled life, and creating a pipeline for the rapidly growing waste management and mining industries.
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees
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Hal Hornburg
Alan Maccini
Al Kisler
Email contact information
Financial trends metrics for five most recent years 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016*
Financial statements for 2019
Officer and/or Employee data for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2020, 2019, 2018
Board of Directors data for 2020
*with the ability to download the data for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Helen's House serves patients of Brooks and their caregivers only.
A guest can remain eligible to stay if their loved one remains admitted to a Brooks Inpatient setting (Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, Skilled Nursing Unit) or is taking part in the Neurorehabilitation Day Treatment, Pain Rehabilitation or the Intensive Aphasia Center Program.
All guests and caregivers must reside outside the following five counties: Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Clay and Baker.
A referral is required for patients (guests) from their Brooks Case Manager or Nurse Liaison.
Guests may stay at Helen's House for a minimum of three nights. The nightly room rate is $50 for the first night and $40 per night thereafter. Guests may pay by cash, check or credit card.
Check-in hours for all guests are between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
All patients staying at Helen's House are required to have a caregiver with them 24/7. Caregivers must be 18-years-of-age or older. All minors must be in the presence of or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 24/7.


Distinction between a "Fee Based Registered Financial Advisor" & "Financial Broker"
A "Financial Broker", is an individual who is associated with a broker dealer. A financial broker get compensated by collecting a commission or a sales charge paid on the trade or product. The fiduciary responsibility of a financial broker is limited to the time of the sale.
A " Fee only Registered Financial Advisor" is an individual or a firm that is registered with the S.E.C. or the state and provides financial advisory services on an ongoing basis to its clients for a fee based on the percentage of assets under management. Such advisors are paid only by their clients and do not collect a commission or sales charge from third parties.
So what does this mean for our clients ?
"No matter how big or how small your account is, we take care of it as if its our own... "
"The only way we make more money is if our clients make more money..."


SAN JUAN, P.R. - On January 17, 2017, a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging María Cristina Cotto-Ortiz with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment charges Cotto-Ortiz with: five counts of theft, embezzlement, or misapplication by bank officer or employee; 13 counts of bank fraud; 12 counts of making false entry in a book, report, or statement of a federally insured bank; two counts of aggravated identity theft; and one count for exceeding authorized access of a protected computer. 'Her husband Natanael Pacheco Martínez, is charged with one count of accessory after the fact, that is, while knowing that an offense against the United States was being committed he assisted Cotto-Ortiz in order to hinder and prevent her apprehension, trial and punishment.
According to the indictment, Cotto-Ortiz, who was the second in command at the Ceiba branch of Oriental Bank, embezzled from her employer, and also stole from an elderly couple that banked at Oriental Bank. The total theft by Cotto-Ortiz is estimated to be more than $768,800.
In 2006, according to the indictment, Cotto-Ortiz approached the victims and asserted that she had been authorized by Oriental Bank to offer high rate of interest to two customers. The victims, who knew Cotto-Ortiz from the bank and trusted her, opened a checking and savings account, initially transferring $160,000, and based on Cotto-Ortiz's promises of increasing interest rates, deposited over $400,000 over a 5-year period of time, which sum represented their life's savings.
The defendant, on numerous occasions accepted deposits from the victims but did not deposit the funds with Oriental Bank or record their receipt in Oriental Bank's computer system. On other occasions, Cotto-Ortiz withdrew money from the victim's accounts without their permission or knowledge.
Also, during the relevant time periods, Cotto-Ortiz, while employed at the bank, took money from the bank's vault/working fund without authorization and against bank policy, making false entries in the bank's general ledger to avoid detection of her theft.
In other efforts to conceal her criminal activity, and after she had been terminated from her job in February 2012, Cotto-Ortiz and her husband Natanael Pacheco-Martínez met with the victims and gave them a $500 check as a lulling payment in order to delay the detection of the scheme.
If convicted, Cotto-Ortiz could face a maximum penalty of 30 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 for each bank fraud, misappropriation and false entry charge, a maximum penalty of up to 5 years of imprisonment and a fine for the access of a protected computer without or in excess of authorization charge, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years for the aggravated identity theft charges. For accessory after the fact, Pacheco-Martínez is facing up to half the statutory maximum penalty of Cotto-Ortiz. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The prosecution of this case is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Z. Jorgensen of the Financial Fraud and Corruption Unit.


About halfway through the clip I stuck the camera in the car so you can see how the car behaves. Outside you can't see steering inputs, shifts, etc., but with the camera inside you can see how stable the car is. If you watch the first half you'll find I don't miss apexes or chase it all over. The car just works.


text:
/*
 * StandaloneJarBuilder_Test.java
 * Created: Jun 5, 2007
 * By: Joseph Wong
 */

package org.openquark.cal.internal.machine.lecc;

import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.PrintStream;
import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;
import java.net.MalformedURLException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.URLClassLoader;
import java.util.Collections;

import junit.extensions.TestSetup;
import junit.framework.Test;
import junit.framework.TestCase;
import junit.framework.TestSuite;

import org.openquark.cal.compiler.QualifiedName;
import org.openquark.cal.compiler.UnableToResolveForeignEntityException;
import org.openquark.cal.internal.machine.lecc.StandaloneJarBuilder.InternalProblemException;
import org.openquark.cal.internal.machine.lecc.StandaloneJarBuilder.InvalidConfigurationException;
import org.openquark.cal.internal.machine.lecc.StandaloneJarBuilder.LibraryClassSpec;
import org.openquark.cal.internal.machine.lecc.StandaloneJarBuilder.MainClassSpec;
import org.openquark.cal.runtime.MachineType;
import org.openquark.cal.services.BasicCALServices;
import org.openquark.cal.services.CALServicesTestUtilities;

/**
 * A set of JUnit test cases that tests the {@link StandaloneJarBuilder} and the jar it creates.
 *
 * @author Joseph Wong
 */
public class StandaloneJarBuilder_Test extends TestCase {
    /**
     * A copy of CAL services for use in the test cases.
     */
    private static BasicCALServices leccCALServices;

    /**
     * Set this flag to true if debugging output is desired regardless of
     * whether a test fails or succeeds.
     */
    private static final boolean SHOW_DEBUGGING_OUTPUT = false;

    /**
     * @return a test suite containing all the test cases for testing CAL source
     *         generation.
     */
    public static Test suite() {

        TestSuite suite = new TestSuite(StandaloneJarBuilder_Test.class);

        return new TestSetup(suite) {

            @Override
            protected void setUp() {
                oneTimeSetUp();

            }

            @Override
            protected void tearDown() {
                oneTimeTearDown();
            }
        };
    }

    /**
     * Performs the setup for the test suite.
     */
    private static void oneTimeSetUp() {
        leccCALServices = CALServicesTestUtilities.getCommonCALServices(MachineType.LECC, "cal.platform.test.cws");
    }

    /**
     * Performs the tear down for the test suite.
     */
    private static void oneTimeTearDown() {
        leccCALServices = null;
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.lazyArgs
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_lazyArgs() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "lazyArgs"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasLazyArgs
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasLazyArgs() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasLazyArgs"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasAliasLazyArgs
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasAliasLazyArgs() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasAliasLazyArgs"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasAliasAliasLazyArgs
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasAliasAliasLazyArgs() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasAliasAliasLazyArgs"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.strictArgs
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_strictArgs() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "strictArgs"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasStrictArgs
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasStrictArgs() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasStrictArgs"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.cafEntryPoint
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_cafEntryPoint() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "cafEntryPoint"), "true");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasCafEntryPoint
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasCafEntryPoint() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasCafEntryPoint"), "true");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.mutualRecursion1
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_mutualRecursion1() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "mutualRecursion1"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasMutualRecursion1
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasMutualRecursion1() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasMutualRecursion1"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.mutualRecursion3
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_mutualRecursion3() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "mutualRecursion3"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasMutualRecursion3
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasMutualRecursion3() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasMutualRecursion3"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.cafMutualRecursion1
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_cafMutualRecursion1() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "cafMutualRecursion1"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasCafMutualRecursion1
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasCafMutualRecursion1() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasCafMutualRecursion1"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.cafMutualRecursion3
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_cafMutualRecursion3() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "cafMutualRecursion3"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.aliasCafMutualRecursion3
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_aliasCafMutualRecursion3() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "aliasCafMutualRecursion3"), "Hello World");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.testForeignClass
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_testForeignClass() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support", "testForeignClass"), "Cal.Test.JUnitSupport.StandaloneJarBuilder_Test_Support.JDummy");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on M2.runExceptionHandlerCodeGenTest.
     *

     * This is a regression test for a bytecode generation bug where invalid exception table entries
     * were generated in some circumstances when a foreign call is made inside a tail-recursive
     * loop, and the foreign method is declared to throw a checked exception.
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this
     * test case when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_M2_runExceptionHandlerCodeGenTest() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.General.M2", "runExceptionHandlerCodeGenTest"), "M2.exceptionHandlerCodeGenTest passed.");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on CAL_Platform_TestSuite.main
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     */
    public void testStandaloneJar_CAL_Platform_TestSuite() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {
        helpTestStandaloneJar(QualifiedName.make("Cal.Test.CAL_Platform_TestSuite", "main"), "true");
    }

    /**
     * Tests the building and running of a standalone jar based on the specified entry point.
     *

     * Note that because this test modifies System.out, it is not safe to run this test case
     * when there are other threads running.
     *
     * @param entryPointName the name of the entry point.
     * @param expectedOutput the expected output.
     * @throws IOException
     * @throws ClassNotFoundException
     * @throws MalformedURLException
     * @throws NoSuchMethodException
     * @throws IllegalAccessException
     * @throws InvocationTargetException
     * @throws InternalProblemException
     * @throws InvalidConfigurationException
     * @throws UnableToResolveForeignEntityException
     */
    private void helpTestStandaloneJar(final QualifiedName entryPointName, final String expectedOutput) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException, MalformedURLException, NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, InvalidConfigurationException, InternalProblemException, UnableToResolveForeignEntityException {

        final String mainClassName = "org.openquark.cal.test.Test$Launcher";

        final File outputFile = File.createTempFile("testStandaloneJar", ".jar");
        try {
            StandaloneJarBuilder.buildStandaloneJar(outputFile, null, Collections.singletonList(MainClassSpec.make(mainClassName, entryPointName)), Collections.<LibraryClassSpec>emptyList(), leccCALServices.getWorkspaceManager(), StandaloneJarBuilder.DefaultMonitor.INSTANCE);

            final URLClassLoader urlClassLoader = new URLClassLoader(new URL[] {outputFile.toURI().toURL()}, getClass().getClassLoader());

            final Class<?> mainClass = Class.forName(mainClassName, true, urlClassLoader);

            final Method mainMethod = mainClass.getMethod("main", new Class[] {String[].class});

            final PrintStream systemOut = System.out;
            final ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
            final PrintStream replacementSystemOut = new PrintStream(baos, true);

            try {
                // replace the system output pipe.
                System.setOut(replacementSystemOut);
                try {
                    mainMethod.invoke(null, new Object[] {new String[0]});

                    replacementSystemOut.flush();
                    baos.flush();

                    assertEquals(expectedOutput, baos.toString().trim());

                } finally {
                    // put back the original system output pipe.
                    System.setOut(systemOut);
                }

            } finally {
                replacementSystemOut.close();
                baos.close();
            }

        } finally {
            outputFile.delete();
            outputFile.deleteOnExit();
        }
    }
}


The fact that Reebok is not willing to sponsor Athletes (only a few select ones), allows for us little guys to step up to the plate. Also, out of all the competitions we see, how many is Reebok actually involved in?? Smaller companies get involved in as many as we can. Reebok takes their pick. Not cool.
Whether you are a fan of Reebok, or not, I don't get why it is "not cool" that they get to pick the competitions or athletes they want to sponsor. I am sure they probably don't even know about 1/2 of the little events that various boxes put together during the "off-season." They are the name brand/title sponsor of The Games, so why would they even bother with the little regional events? Why would a "little guy" complain about Reebok NOT being involved? Make it yours, man! Do it right, put your stamp on it, and make a few bucks, or support your favorite charity!
If they want to throw their money behind something - and let's face it, they're the deepest pockets around CF now and for the foreseeable future - then don't you think they would like to have at least a modicum of control over it? If they don't, then the little guys get to run it as they see fit.
Maybe my opinion on the subject has changed over the past year. I was resistant to the idea of having Reebok come in and "make it theirs" with regard to the Games. However, I had some very productive chats (email and telephone) with CFHQ and Reebok in the lead up to last year's Games, and I attended the Games and was able to see it first hand. I thought they did a really good job overall - yes, there were some issues, but I am pretty sure they will work out most of those bugs for this year's event.
Last edited by Sean Dunston : 02-07-2012 at 02:53 PM.
Nah, I just finally got a job that allows me to browse the web more and post more. I'm defintiely getting more involved in this thing now.
And the other posts were specific to discussion of people asking about apparel anyways.
But I'm being serious though. In this subject, I could care less if Reebok gets involved. And we're barely starting out. (I secretly like their shoes).
I just feel bad sometimes for the Athletes they leave out. They don't sponsor or pay at all for these guys (except for a select few), and that is all these athletes do. I just wish they could help out a little bit in that sense.
As far as events, I'm pretty sure they could get involved a little more. There's comps everywhere, you can't miss them. Heck, all you gotta do is stay on facebook for 30 minutes, and you'll hear about one.
But believe me, I LOVE that they're involved. It helps us small guys stand a chance because people are not really fond of paying $100 hoody. lol.
For great Crossfit shirts go to www.reportedtocrossfitlegal.com. You can buy these and either have them put your Affiliate logo on them or do it yourself.


Get ready for some tough decisions: with the Mayan Hammock Chair you're going to have to figure out your favorite place to relax – and that can be tough!
These hammock chairs are made with quality materials like extra thick cotton more than twice as thick as other hammocks, which assures an unparalleled level of comfort, reliability and strength.
With a Mayan Hammock Chair you might be inclined to start a waiting list: these hammock chairs can be very popular among adults and kids alike. There's just no way you can't relax when you sink into your comfy Mayan Hammock Chair.
Soooooo comfortable! My 15 year old kicked me out to "just try it for a minute." He fell asleep in it in the backyard for an hour!
So terrific I had to have another one!
After I tucked myself into my Mayan Hammock Chair for the first time, I promptly grabbed my phone and placed an order for another one for my husband - right from my chair! Comfortable, cool, relaxing . . . I will never be able to enjoy sitting in anything other than my hammock chair! Love, love, love it!
great quality. Easy to install. Very satisfied with product.


what would the heat map look like if everybody took the optimal route?
BC analytics is a web based implementation licensed per year and terminal. Cities can use the tool to plan and evaluate infrastructure projects and soft policies. The more tracking data available, the better for the analysis.
Bike Citizens uses only self-generated data. We do neither buy nor sell tracking data. For scaling calculation BC Analytics can be combined with data from counting stations.
The Bike Citizens Analytics tool is currently (2017) being implemented as integral part of the PING campaign in Brussels. 1000 participants are tracking their rides and mark locations where they feel uneasy, unsafe or in danger as a cyclist. The "pings" are being set into correlation with the overall track data to determine circumstance and relevance.
20k-60k EUR per year depending on features and scale of implementation.


A thirteen episode mini-series of Beowulf is being created by the the British broadcaster ITV.
ITV announced this week that they have commissioned the epic drama, and filming will begin in April. In a press release, they say "this action-packed series is set in the mythical Shieldlands, a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures. Essentially, a western set in the Dark Ages of Britain's mythic past, the story unfolds on a huge canvas, filmed amongst the breathtaking beauty of England's North East.


text:
Opposition to medical cannabis based on 'faith, not logic', former WA Liberal MP Mal Washer says
by | | News |
Medical cannabis will eventually be legalised in Australia and opposition is based on "faith, not logic", the chairman of a business granted permission to grow crops on Norfolk Island has said.
Former West Australian Liberal MP Mal Washer, who is a GP and chairman of a Perth-based company which has just been granted permission to grow medical marijuana on Norfolk Island for export to Canada, said the growing operation would be closely monitored.
The company had previously sought permission to grow cannabis in Tasmania but encountered too much opposition.
"Norfolk Island has a fairly autonomous government so they were fairly receptive because they have economic problems and they need employment opportunities for the people there," Dr Washer told 720 ABC Perth.
The Australian Federal Government will soon take governing control over Norfolk Island and the growing plans will have to be approved by the incoming island administrator.
Dr Washer said if the plans went ahead, the company would plant crops in November and hoped to harvest two tonnes of the product next year.
"Canada will take all that we can produce at the moment; the market is really open there," Dr Washer said.
"There are a lot of illnesses that have benefited terrifically from medical cannabis – post-traumatic stress syndrome, terminal illness and the pain, anxiety and nausea associated with that, muscle spasm in multiple sclerosis.
"There have been at least 60 trials done, globally, proving the benefits of cannabis in certain illnesses."
Several trials of medical cannabis are now underway in Australia, and Dr Washer believes it is only a question of "when, not if Australia legalises it".
"Twenty countries and 23 US states have now legalised it.
"I'm sure that will happen in Australia, it's just a matter of time."
Dr Washer said the cannabis growing operation on Norfolk Island would be monitored by both Canadian and Australian government authorities.
The Canadian medical marijuana model, which has been in place for 10 years, is "well policed and probably the best model in the world for handling medical cannabis", he said.
Source: Opposition to medical cannabis based on 'faith, not logic', former WA Liberal MP Mal Washer says – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)


text:
Travel & Dining
BusinessToday
Home News Business Same Day Delivery Service MrSpeedy Gears Up Acceleration With New Funding
Same Day Delivery Service MrSpeedy Gears Up Acceleration With New Funding
Dostavista, the Russian based leading crowdsourced same-day delivery service operating globally, and parent company of MrSpeedy has raised USD15 million (MYR60 million) in a Series B funding round led by Vostok New Ventures, and other existing investors Flashpoint and Addventure.
Founded in 2012, Dostavista will use the funding to continue to focus on product, new bold experiments, more aggressive marketing and sales, and strengthening their global team to make it all happen.
The company's annual GMV run rate is approaching the USD100 million (MYR400 million) milestone and it employs almost 400 people with offices and operations in 11 countries including Brazil, India, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and five countries in ASEAN.
Dostavista deploys over one million registered couriers globally and its customers range from individuals to Fortune 500 organisations.
In July 2017, Dostavista first forayed into the ASEAN countries with Indonesia carrying the brand's first 'MrSpeedy' label. A year later, the company expanded its MrSpeedy operations to Thailand, Vietnam, Republic of the Philippines and Malaysia.
These countries have shown month-on-month double digit growth and with the new injection of funds, the goal is to dominate the local markets and expand their reach within ASEAN and beyond.
Since its launch, MrSpeedy Malaysia has seen a growth of more than 300 percent in active users. With more than 1000+ active users and 4000+ registered couriers to date; Malaysian based customers can enjoy the speed and convenience from as low as MYR5.00 per delivery within the Greater Kuala Lumpur area.
Using highly advanced algorithms enable affordable, fast, precise delivery for the mass market. Customers enjoy tremendous convenience, while sellers have the advantage of shipping products in extremely short time, via any route, transport, weight or size. Couriers can even collect the cash payment for these sellers.
"These days it's possible to order food to your house in a half-hour, taxi in minutes, but your options for affordable, same-day delivery of goods are very limited," says Mike Alexandrovski, founder of Dostavista. "That's a problem and one we intend to solve."
"Over the years we observed how our on-demand delivery changes people's habits and frees up time for better things in life, creates new business opportunities and provides employment to hundreds of thousands of people. We are already the market leader by number of countries of operation and we are preparing our technology, operations, and sales for exponential growth ahead," Alexandrovski adds.
"We are very happy to be investors in Dostavista which embodies a beautiful mix of a strong proven entrepreneur, a great team, and a great tech producing a world class product into the truly huge global market of last mile delivery," says Per Brilioth, Managing Director of Vostok New Ventures.
MrSpeedy
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Volatility In The Local Bourse To Continue: Malacca Securities
SCS Has Issued Its Annual Report 2021
The leading English-language monthly business magazine, Business Today, has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in June 2001. Today, it is instantly recognised all over Malaysia as the definitive business magazine that delivers strong, intelligent and insightful content with perspectives from leading figures in the region. Learn More About Us
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Netccentric lays foundation for potential Metaverse future
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eBizLink: Malaysian Exporters Going Global Digitally
Reinforcing Malaysia's Cloud Ecosystem With The Best Offering


text:
carew388 December 2022
Crash December 2022
Derf January 21
larryB December 2022
LewisBraham January 20
Observant1 December 2022
Old_Joe December 2022
sfnative December 2022
sma3 January 21
Soupkitchen January 21
stayCalm December 2022
yogibearbull November 2022
How the Hospice Movement Became a For-Profit Hustle
LewisBraham
November 2022 edited November 2022 in Other Investing
Terrible how this "industry" is taking advantage of taxpayers and patients at their weakest moments:
https://propublica.org/article/hospice-healthcare-aseracare-medicare?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter&utm_content=feature
It should be only non-profit or government-run and strictly regulated.
sma3
Another well written and hard hitting Pro publica article on health care.
Our local hospital was bought by Prospect Medical, a hedge fund, with dismal consequences
https://www.propublica.org/article/investors-extracted-400-million-from-a-hospital-chain-that-sometimes-couldnt-pay-for-medical-supplies-or-gas-for-ambulances
In my medical career, I watched with dismay as all of the non profit home hospice programs, run by the VNA etc, were run out of business by for profit ( frequently private equity funded) companies like Vitas.
They targeted the hospital discharge planners who made most of the referrals. Most of the docs didn't see anything wrong with making referrals to Roto Rooter
Vitas is run by the same people who run Roto-Rooter
Roto-Rooter is one of the two subsidiary divisions of publicly traded Chemed Corporation, of which the other one is hospice care provider VITAS Healthcare
KKR owns many of the Ambulances in America, having bought AMR
larryB
For profit is to be expected in this country. The bottom line is the bottom line. Sadly,,,, why should hospice be any different than the hospitals and medical groups the folks see first? Some of the non profit medical systems don't seem any different that those that are blatantly for profit. Here in nor cal one predatory non profit stands out.
Amedisys, one of the companies mentioned in the article for these kinds of abuses and which funds own it:
https://morningstar.com/stocks/xnas/amed/ownership
Chemed Corp, which owns the also mentioned Vitas Healthcare and Roto Rooter—funds that own it: https://morningstar.com/stocks/xnys/che/ownership
Perhaps the saddest and most ironic owner is Ave Maria Rising Dividend, a Catholic values fund that has a 4% position in Chemed:
https://morningstar.com/funds/xnas/avedx/portfolio
I do not necessarily disagree that non profit hospitals can be just as predatory but they tend to be more responsive to consumers when their abuses are publicized.
In CT, Yale and Hartford Hospital Health Care own over 2/3s of the hospitals and doctors with two other big non profits owning three each. There are only 6 independent hospitals left several in rural areas.
This degree of market concentration drives up prices and eliminates professional independence, as there is nowhere else for physicians to practice, if they object to one system's policies or procedures.
One of the first thing the new hospital owners do is "encourage" MDs to not refer to specialists outside the network. While they cannot usually make it punitive, they have "incentives " to ensure docs use the "right" radiologists, specialists, labs etc.
What is the oncologist in network is incompetent? You will never know
stayCalm
If you peel back the onion, there is no such thing as non-profit in the USA (and I don't have an expectation that there should be).
If the cost structure of a "non-profit" org is high and non optimal that is the equivalent or worse than a for profit operation.
Non-profit is a legal structure and many nonprofits do in fact exist. Whether you cynically peel back the onion or not, they are held to a different standard than for-profit companies, which require that shareholders always be put first even when human lives are at stake. That said, there are many poorly run corrupt nonprofits. But in general they don't have the pressure to hit a quarterly revenue or earnings target like for-profit companies do. That sort of short-term profit orientation leads to many of the abuses the hospice article described such as trying to enroll as many people in hospice as possible even if they don't belong there and then skimping on necessary but costly medical services for people who do belong there.
Nonprofits are getting tax breaks, so they have public accountability.
carew388
Ave Maria Mutual Funds are owned by theocrat and pizza mogul Tom Monaghan. The Catholic Values he promotes are pro-life, anti- contraception, anti-premarital sex, laissez-faire capitalism. Predatory capitalism is never a problem for these Catholics !
Duly noted, @carew388. Yup.
The concept of non-profit within the uber capitalist system of the USA is an oxymoron. It's like lipstick on a pig no matter the legal underpinnings.
Old_Joe
I'll bet that MFO is non-profit. Counting the labor of those who maintain this place, probably even negative-profit.
@staycalm Structurally, there are significant differences between non-profit and profit. Yes, there can be corruption and overpaid executives at both, but the fundamental goals are different. For-profit C-Corps have a fiduciary duty to put shareholder profits above everything else. Non-profits are supposed to live up to their mission statements. Those are very different things. Yes, there is also corruption in non-profits, only of a different sort. Within the range of non-profits one could say there is Doctors without Borders on one end of the spectrum and shady televangelists and weird underground churches on the other. While there can be all sorts of shenanigans going on inside a non-profit, it is not the same as a company that has outside shareholders it is beholden to. Companies can have all sorts of shenanigans going on inside them as well plus having that profit-at-all-costs mentality.
Non-profits are supposed to follow their mission statements--not the same at all. That said, there are ones in the middle--major "non-profit" hospitals and universities come to mind--that rake in the cash and would be highly profitable were they businesses. Still, the top-ranked ones at least adhere to their missions and tend to think long-term instead of trying to churn out a quick profit every quarter. And what they have left over after paying their bills either goes into expanding the institution or to their endowments, not to shareholders.
All of this said, I would rather have a non-profit hospice with a mission to care for the dying in a dignified and attentive manner than a company that sees the dying as a business with the goal of extracting as much profit from them as possible. It is very possible the non-profit could fail at its mission but at least the idea behind it is ostensibly sound. It lacks the conflict of interest that the profit motive creates in this particular situation when people are at their most vulnerable and need help.
I doubt that most universities would be profitable. Private universities rely on about 5% draw from their endowment funds; tuition may cover about 50%. Public universities have state subsidies that may range from 10-80% (depends on their types); tuition may cover about 30%. They do have separate taxable and very profitable for-profit operations - bookstores, sports, possibly other auxiliaries, etc; some college/university coaches make more than their university presidents.
MFO is indeed 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
https://www.mutualfundobserver.com/support-us/501c3/
More than half of the country's roughly 5,000 hospitals are classified as nonprofits.
These nonprofits gain lucrative tax exemptions in exchange for providing services that benefit their communities.
Certain hospital systems have shirked their responsibilities and have also deployed very aggressive billing tactics to extract the maximum amount of money from their patients (some of whom qualified for free care).
The Providence hospital system profiled in the NY Times article linked below is headquartered in my county.
Until recently, I had no idea that Providence operated this way.
I'll never utilize their services unless it's a life/death situation and there are no viable alternatives.
Edit: Providence will refund payments made by low-income patients who were wrongly charged for medical care.
Coincidently (or maybe not!), Providence ran full-page ads in the Oregonian and The Seattle Times promoting its charity-care on the same day the NY Times published its investigation.
As Louis Brandeis stated over a century ago, "sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants."
mother pus buckets.
I agree with Observant1 about the problems with many "nonprofit" hospitals failing to deliver on their missions for poorer patients. But it is a mistake to think for-profit hospitals are somehow better in this case: https://cnn.com/2021/05/17/us/hospital-lawsuits-pandemic-invs
It's shameful how some hospital systems, profit and nonprofit alike, treat their patients.
Their ruthless debt collection strategies can wreak havoc - especially for those of limited means.
I'm very disappointed with the overall "healthcare system" in the U.S.
We're one of the richest countries on the planet, yet many residents don't have health insurance
and our healthcare costs per capita are higher than any other developed nation.
Reading articles likes the ones in this thread which detail unethical and
sometimes criminal behavior by these institutions make me wanna holler.
For sure. Capitalism at it's finest. But the sad fact is that even the US government can't do a decent job in health care- the VA "system" is, in it's own way, just as bad. Except, of course, for the President.
This is exactly why latinate western European countries snort derisively at Anglo-Saxon capitalism. We are sunk in in a system that puts profit above all, and I mean all, else.
Congress bought and sold. Stoopid voters. The gummint will screw up ANYTHING, but it can't be worse than it already is.
+1 observant1 When countries like Uruguay and Portugal provide health insurance to all their citizens, you have to ask: Why can't the U.S. provide the same !!
Years ago the biggest issue with non-profit hospitals was the insider dealing on the boards, esp the smaller ones. CEO puts buddy lawyer on board. He gets all the legal work and votes to increase CEO pay and benefits year after year after year. Same thing with local construction guy and accountant. Nobody cared that hospital lost money year after year after year. This is what drove the two non profit hospitals I worked at to near bankruptcy, forcing sale to Hedge Fund.
A legitimate state government would have stepped in, but the Democrats were bought off by the employee unions to look the other way, until it was too late. Even then the Unions successfully got the Governor to block two proposed mergers to much better partners than the hedge fund that finally bought the hospital. Governor was quoted as saying to the CEO of Tenant Hospital Corporation at their only meeting "I don't like to talk to people like you, but they tell me I have to".
Now almost all "Non-profits" are owned by massive chains that are in fact really profit companies. They just spend all the excess cash at the end of the year on something (CEO salaries first, of course) so they end up with only the minimal surplus allowed legally.
I worked at the VA for ten years. It was far far worse with no incentive to spend money on better care at all until disasters were too obvious to overlook any more. Horrible post op infection rates because there were pigeon nests in the air intake of the OR. Wouldn't pay for new drugs because they were too expensive, etc etc.
I don't know much a bout track record of European or Canadian systems, but the UK is a disaster.
Recent data shows their target for beginning cancer therapy is 90 % within TWO MONTHS!
They are currently at 60%. So almost half of newly diagnosed caner patients wait over two months to start treatment.
UK per capita health care expenses are LT 50% of the US, which of course is the highest in the world.
I haven't a clue about how to post a link but Dec 1 Salon.com has a timely article about private equity buying up all manner of health care practices with predictable results.
@sma3 It's a mistake to generalize about unions. There are good ones and bad ones. The nurses' union, SEIU, is one of the better ones and it has been in the forefront of exposing some abuses at hospitals: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/health-news-florida/2022-02-10/nurses-union-accuses-hca-of-unnecessary-hospital-admissions-to-drive-profits
https://hcavsamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SEIU_Investigative_Report_FINAL-1.pdf
Moreover, it's hard to argue that unionized labor such as nurses and orderlies are behind the problems at non-profit or for-profit hospitals. Nurses until the pandemic didn't have adequate wages for the amount of work they did. Now they are getting paid better because of a significant shortage. Orderlies were far worse, and remain severly underpaid for doing the worst bed-pan work.
Nurses and orderlies in my experience do most of the labor in hospitals, with doctors visiting their patients for a few minutes each day during their rounds. During the pandemic, nurses experienced the brunt of some of the exposures to the disease and caring for these patients, some of whom were hostile to even the notion that the pandemic existed: https://npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/11/955128562/for-health-care-workers-the-pandemic-is-fueling-renewed-interest-in-unions
Yet I agree with you about the comparison between the U.S. healthcare system and Britain's. Ours is broken. Britain's still works, despite the Tories best efforts to break it and turn it into ours: https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/11/tories-fear-loathe-nhs-workers-strike
Health care at the level of society is an interplay of incentives, cost, breadth and depth.
Many countries have selected the greater good approach -- universal healthcare covering basic services for everybody but "rationing" access to the more complex stuff like cancer. This system is supported by a rational tax base. Breadth over depth -- ensuring that all have good healthcare for the majority of life.
Meanwhile here in good ole USA, we have taken an altogether different path because despite all metrics to the contrary we believe that we are smarter than everybody. Insurance firms acting as an expensive intermediary, lax regulation, low taxes, the finest on demand healthcare available for any ailment but at the cost of shutting out 30% of the population from any healthcare at all (Obamacare made a notable dent in coverage but costs are way too high) and in general allowing various players (drug firms, medical associations, insurance cos, unions, universities, hospitals, etc..) throughout the system to buy up the fine and honorable folks in DC.
People gripe over outlier cases in the British and Canadian systems but at the level of society these systems produce far superior outcomes at a lower cost to society than the American way.
Single payer is the solution, this isn't even an experiment or a question, it is known to work but for a variety of reasons it benefits many players to obfuscate this.
+1. stayCalm.
Our healthcare system (if one can even call it that) needs an overhaul with a focus equivalent to the Marshall Plan or the Manhattan Project. We need an entity the equivalent of Federal Reserve to manage.
Absent that, it is all lip service and more of the same cow dung. We have lost the script -- somehow we can defend all of Europe and rebuild Europe from the ashes of WW2 but can't rebuild the severely broken "healthcare system" in our own country.
@LewisBraham
I wasn't generalizing about health care unions, just reporting the fact that much of the opposition to the much needed merger of the two hospitals in a very small town ( big enough for only one, really) came from the nurse and hospital unions at the non Catholic hospital, as the prospective buyer did not plan on retaining union personnel.
I know many examples of Unionized nurses standing up for patient safety and fighting for better staffing etc, but in this case the union did little to object in the past to years of mismanagement by the non profit administration, which is why a merger or sale was the only alternative to bankruptcy
Equally at fault was the Catholic Bishop, who refused to allow the merger of the Catholic Hospital and the non-profit even after significant work arounds were developed to allow tubal ligations after caesarian sections to continue ( there were about 25 a year). This has been worked out in a variety of ways nationwide in other Catholic hospitals, but he canceled the deal because the sheets of the patients would have been intermingled with those of the "Faithful", as he put it.
Consequently, both hospitals remained separate and desperate. Their bonds were selling for 50 cents on the dollar. One was driven into the arms of the hedge fund and the other taken over by a large Catholic hospital chain. Neither is doing well, as they continue to compete with each other for patients and reimbursements from commercial insurance companies who can play one off against the other on price alone.
This reminds me of the off color joke of a young Catholic woman of modest means living the simple life in a rural town who goes to the big city and visits her folks in a few months wearing fancy bling. When the mother asks the daughter the source of the new riches the daughter whispers into her mother's ear and the mother promptly faints. After the mother regains consciousness the daughter whispers again into her ear, the mother breathes a huge sigh of relief and goes on to proclaim "Thank heavens, I thought you said Protestant"


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Q: implementing a data loading system in oracle I am trying to implement a system in Oracle that will load data from a txt file which will have data in comma separated fields. The txt files will be dumped in a file system location 10-12 times a day but times are not fixed. I am thinking of using external tables to load the data from the txt files to a temp database table and from there to a final table. There may be some invalid data(e.g.  invalid date)  which I need to log and send a mail with those rows included.  Can somebody please suggest an optical way to accomplish this? Thanks in advance :)

A: I had a similar requirment in one of my project and think a  similar approach can be used in your case also, with some modifications  :
a.) Schedule a job to poll the data at fixed intervals to find if a file is present or not.
b.) Once the file is found, use SqlLoader direct path load to get data into a staging table. The insertion scheme for this table will be trunc/insert. Rename the flat file or move it to an archival location, so that it is not picked up again.
c.) The data with invalid format will be recorded in the .bad file generated by sql loader. This can be mailed to business after some formatting.
d.) Move this data to a date partitioned table if you need to maintain a history of data (which is usually needed). You can use partition exchange for this
e.) If you want to use some business logic for marking a data as invalid you can run procedures on these tables to find out invalid records, store them in a table and mail the failed records to the business.
Hope it helps
Vishad

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Written by Tim Webb
Grouted in Place Panel Lining Rehabs Stormwater Relief Tunnels,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Written by Tim webb, SVP Channeline-international.
A Unique Piece of Buried Art in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
In an effort to relieve the growing transit congestion, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was committed to replace its existing fleet of Canadian Light Rail Vehicles (purchased during the 1970s and 1980s) with newest version of Low-floor Articulating Streetcar by 2019.
Associated with the introduction of a new fleet of street cars, new tracks had to be build, situated along Leslie Street — a major traffic hotspot — and home to many subsurface utilities and infrastructure including two large diameter, stormwater relief interceptor tunnels. It was deemed necessary, regardless of the existing condition of these tunnels, to reinforce the structures in order to withstand the additional live loads and stress that would inevitably be caused by the new tracks and rolling stock.
Toronto's sewer collection system dates back to the 1800s and consists of 10,561 km of sewer pipe, ranging in size from 100 to 5,500 mm, with many different profiles.
During the design phase, several different technologies were assessed and a trenchless technology option quickly appeared as the preferred option, causing the least amount of disruption to traffic at this busy intersection. As the tunnels in question consisted of five different, non-circular profiles ranging from box to elliptical, a grouted-in-place panel lining (GIPPL) system was selected and specified by the authorities.
Following the initial CCTV Inspection and condition assessment for the two interceptor tunnels, a rather unusual section of the Upper Interceptor was found. This involved an elliptical profile, which transitioned into an inverted arch profile over a 7-m length. To further complicate the issue, the transition section occurred around a 90-degree bend that was positioned underneath the main track intersection between Queen Street and Leslie Street, a critical area of the project.
At this point, Channeline International was approached to offer its technical expertise into the viability of lining the "transition zone" with custom-molded GRP. With more than three decades of experience in manufacturing structural, non-circular GRP panels and following detailed engineering into the feasibility, Channeline International confirmed that the project could be done.
A WRc-Type 2 liner was proposed, giving a 28-mm wall thickness for the elliptical profile liner and a 23-m wall thickness for the Inverted Arch Profile Liner. Due to the friction coefficient of the inside of the GRP liner, flow calculations offered an increase of up to 0.3 m3/sec, which is normal with this type of liner. The increased velocity of flow will also improve the self-cleaning characteristics of the renovated sewer.
Approval and acceptance of the Channeline GRP Structural Pipeline Rehabilitation System's final designs were given in May 2014 and the custom-made GRP pipe sections were produced and delivered to site by late July.
The installation contractor for this project was Sade Canada, based in Quebec City, Canada. Taking just four days to install the transition zone panels from two access points, the liner panels were pulled into place along pre-installed, sacrificial steel rails. Once in place, the joints were filled using structural epoxy putty and all lateral connections cut and reinstated using cured-in-place sport repair materials to bridge the gap between the newly installed panels and the connection. Annular backfill grout was performed using a small low pressure grout pump and Ready mix cementitious grout giving a 28-day compressive strength of 1,750 psi.
The general concept of the Channeline product is that a very stiff and strong panel section is constructed, but with a relatively thin wall. The product differs from that of standard GRP hand or filament wound pipework in several fundamental and important ways. Normal GRP pipework consists of windings of layers of resin-saturated glass, which is impregnated with sand, achieving its stiffness by building up ever increasing wall thickness. Channeline derives its strength and stiffness through a different method, employing the mechanics of sandwich panel design, incorporating a unique polymer and aggregate core.
There really is no theoretical limit to the shape and size of Channeline panel that can be effectively manufactured. Because Channeline technology includes the evolution of multi-piece segmental construction, where necessary for transportation, even very large, peculiar shaped rehabilitation projects can be accommodated using Channeline products. All Channeline products are custom built and can be produced in any size and shape, including eggs, boxes and elliptical shapes, maximizing the rehabilitated cross-sectional area, thereby optimizing the flow capacity.
Large diameter pipelines and culverts represent the backbone of any city's utility network for the collection and disposal of sewerage and effective drainage of stormwater.
In many cases, the fabric of these pipelines, which may consist of brick, stone, concrete or clayware will have been constructed decades ago and although proven resilient, has eventually succumbed to the ravages of time, suffering the effects of H2S attack or erosion and may even be exhibiting signs of imminent failure due to structural loading beyond that of its remaining capability.
The Leslie Street Project is an example of the unique benefits of the Channeline product, whereby even the most challenging shapes can be produced, customized to the extraordinary circumstances encountered in this more than 30-year-old inceptor tunnel in Ontario.
Channeline has been involved in the provision of specialist GRP structural lining elements for over 4 decades
Address: Channeline International Fiberglass Manufacturing L.L.C P.O. Box 8091 Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Telephone classes - Other services - Langues Mobilité Inc.
Second language classes by telephone are an effective way to improve oral comprehension and expression.
They are discussion-based and can include role-play scenarios for professional settings.
These oral expression exercises are adapted to your needs.


I've seen this happen on occasion but thought it was fully resolved.
I'll followup on this with the board hosting company.
Hope you're doing well. It seems to have happened again. My signature is changed, but I did not change it. I've never had this happen to me on any other forum before - it's strange. Any idea what's going on?
Am I the only person having this issue? Any assistance is appreciated.
I'll do some testing on this and report any issues to our hosting company. Please keep an eye on this and let me know if the problem persists.
Hello all. Just wondering if anyone is having issues with their biography or signature here on the forums. It seems that some of my information is getting lost or changed and I can't figure out what's going on. Any guidance is appreciated!


This lovely, sunny Ski in Ski out apartment situated in the complex Domaine de l'Ariondaz, is fully equipped & finished to a high standard. It has stunning views from both bedrooms, lounge and balcony. Start your day with a short scoot across to the Petit Moriond lift and ski back to the building via the Piste Bleue. The apartment is located a 5 minute level walk from the centre of Courchevel 1650 and directly opposite the free resort bus stop with access to Courchevel 1850 in 10 minutes.
Towels are NOT included. Please bring your own.


Every musician, whether new or old, just starting out or running the business, needs a bio. It's an integral part of how to promote your music and should be part of every music marketing plan. Aside from the music itself, it's the thing that tells people who you are, where you came from, what you've done, and where you want to go. A fantastic bio should be well-written, succinct and to the point, and contain almost everything that a person might want to know about you and your career. Keep in mind that while it might seem like nothing more than a simple blurb, this is a piece of work that will be shared left and right, and how good it is and what it contains (or fails to include) may get or lose you paying work at some point.
Fitting everything into a bio in a manner which still keeps the document readable and flowing is incredibly difficult, but there are ways to make it work. Whether it's you, your Manager, your Publicist, or someone else putting pen to paper (figuratively, of course), make sure the following pieces of information are included in whatever you share with the world.
This may seem like the simplest and most obvious piece of information to include, and it is! Just because something is simple, that doesn't mean it isn't still important and valuable, though. The most helpful way to show the reader who is who and what they do in the group is by captioning a photo with the names, what instrument they play, and perhaps most crucially, their position in the photo. It's extremely annoying to both musicians and writers when someone is labeled incorrectly in a photo posted on a write-up, as it then requires a correction, and that's always a pain.
This might seem like another fairly simple addition, and it is…but it can be easy to ignore. Throwing in the hometown of both the band and each individual member can be a great, easy way to form an instantaneous connection with Bloggers from that region. It costs nothing, takes up essentially no space, and while you never know if anything will come of it, you should include where your bandmates are from. It is subtle, but reminding everyone where you originate from is a fantastic way to immediately connect with people who also call that place home. Any opportunity that can help you become slightly more endearing to a person in power in the music industry should be seized, and this one requires nothing but a sentence.
Most bands have a fun story about how everyone met and how and why they started creating music together. It's great to have one, and at this point, it's basically a necessity of being in a band, right alongside struggling to make ends meet and, you know, actually making music. Share just a piece of that tale in your bio, but don't give it all away. Telling the person reading the how, when, and why is helpful, as your history helps put into context everything you've done since then. Having said that, you'll want to save funny tidbits or particularly interesting details for later, because you want to have something extra to give people when you meet them, or when you're doing interviews. Regurgitating your bio or a press release is never ideal, but it's almost just as bad when a band has nothing fun or exciting to say beyond what someone was given ahead of time.
Feel free to again use this as an opportunity to compare your music with that of someone who has been hugely successful. "If Ed Sheeran had a more upbeat brother" or "OutKast, but even weirder" are fun examples, and they instantly get the point across in just a few words.
It's a good idea to show how much music you've created and properly released in some way, be it through quick descriptions or a list, if that's necessary. Showing your back catalog is easy if you only have an album or two, but it becomes a little less interesting if you're moving on to album nine reading-wise, so keep that in mind when you're writing. There's nothing wrong with a bulleted tally at the end of your bio with the simplest of details: name of release, date it dropped, and so on. Don't describe every piece of music you've ever written and shared with the world, but also don't leave people in the dark about how prolific you are!
That term is fairly vague, and that's on purpose. Numbers don't have to be massive to be important, they just have to be, well, important. It's up to you and your team to decide which figures to showcase in your bio, but be smart when choosing. Has your first album sold 10,000 copies? Did you hit one million clicks on YouTube with a particularly fun to watch music video? Maybe your streaming figures are increasing by 100% every year (which would be in line with the industry's growth pattern, keep in mind). All of these numbers catch the eye and will help bolster your profile as a successful musician (or at least make you seem like one). Figures like these are perfect for bios, as long as they are significant.
Everybody making music and everybody writing about music these days knows that touring and playing live is where the real money's at and that this part of the business is more important than ever. It would be extremely tedious to discuss or even list every show you've ever been a part of, but since playing live is such an enormous part of what you do, you should highlight some of the bigger moments of your career that have taken place on a stage. Perhaps you've sold out a well-known venue in your hometown, or maybe you were on the bill for a successful fundraiser. If you've opened for any bands that have widespread appeal, that's the first thing you should lead with, as attaching your name to theirs is a proven method of impressing someone else.
Regurgitating your bio or a press release is never ideal, but it's almost just as bad when a band has nothing fun or exciting to say beyond what someone was given ahead of time.
Many artists hate describing their music, and comparing their work to that of others is particularly onerous for some. While it's understandable why someone who works incredibly hard at their art wouldn't want to immediately lump it in with someone else's intensely personal creations, failing to do so can only hurt you in the end. People, especially those reading your bio, such as Booking Managers and Music Journalists, are very busy, and they get inundated with information from bands and artists every day. Including just a line or two of description about your music—"heartbreaking acoustic folk" or "unabashedly in-your-face Atlanta classic hip-hop" are just fine—immediately prepares the person reading for what they're about to hear. If they don't work in your genre, it tells them to move on, and you've saved their time. That won't be lost on many important figures, but they'll take note if they're forced to stream something and then it ends up having been all for naught. That's no way how to get your songs heard.
Also, feel free to again use this as an opportunity to compare your music with that of someone who has been hugely successful. "If Ed Sheeran had a more upbeat brother" or "OutKast, but even weirder" are fun examples, and they instantly get the point across in just a few words.
Just as with "important numbers," this is somewhat purposefully vague. What one musician might consider a huge accomplishment, another might not really care about. What you end up including is up to you and what you think will be met with interest. Accomplishments can start small, such as selling out a venue or tour, and grow right along with your career. If you've managed to win any kind of award, placed an album on any notable charts (Billboard, Hypebot, Spotify trending, etc.), or maybe you and your bandmates were named Artist of the Day by a publication, don't leave that out! All of these things should make you proud, and including them is a great idea.
Anybody can say great things about themselves and their own work, but when someone else puts their stamp of approval on a piece of music, especially if that someone else writes for a well-known blog or is a fellow musician in a band with fans of their own, that endorsement becomes incredibly valuable. If you're just starting out, you probably don't have many reviews of any kind, but if you can rustle something up, it's a great idea to insert a quote or two. Make sure you don't copy and paste an entire blog post and do attach the name of the reviewer or outlet name, as it will show who stands behind you.
Your biography should be a document that can be sent out at any time, and most of the information won't change. The band only formed once, and past tours and releases aren't going to be altered, but the focus of your bio should. You'll want to update the slant and what's highlighted when entering a new era of your career. If you're gearing up to release a new album, there should obviously be more information provided about that, rather than older pieces of work. Include names and successes of singles, a bit about the writing and recording, and even talk of what's coming up next, such as a tour around the new record. Your bio still needs to have plenty of backstory but it's a living document, and it should change with time.


text:
Bob Arum on board with Pacquiao v Matthysse, Freddie Roach replaced as trainer by Buboy Fernandez
Nick Giongco
Chris Farina
Over at the Top Rank headquarters in Las Vegas, the July 15 (July 14 US) show starring Manny Pacquiao in Malaysia is "locked and loaded."
A day after Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) publicized Pacquiao's crack at the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown of Lucas Matthysse of Argentina, Arum told the Manila Bulletin on Wednesday that his company is also on board.
With Pacquiao's MP Promotions at the forefront and Arum and De La Hoya's providing the experience and the technical know-how, everything now hinges on the Malaysian financiers of the event to deliver.
"Over on this side of the ocean, everything is on board," said Arum, who is keeping his fingers crossed that the Malaysians will live up to their promise of showing the major players the money needed to stage the first landmark bout there in over 40 years.
"I really hope this fight happens," said the 86-year-old Arum from Sin City who is sending Brad Jacobs, Top Rank's chief operating officer, to Manila to represent him during the kickoff press conference on April 18 and in Kuala Lumpur as well for the Malaysian stop of the whirlwind promotional tour two days later.
Matthysse, 35, was Pacquiao's personal choice as opponent in his first fight since dropping a controversial verdict to Jeff Horn last July in Brisbane, Australia.
Last January, Matthysse crowned himself as the WBA 147-lb king when he flattened Tewa Kiram of Thailand in Los Angeles.
WBN Note: Freddie Roach will not be in the corner after being replaced by Pacquiao's long-time best friend and cornerman Buboy Fernandez.
"That's Manny's choice," Koncz told Philstar.com in a text message. "I believe he will give Buboy the chance to prove himself after all these years," he added.
Courtesy of Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSpeaks