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Our mission is to free investment management from the distraction of back-office operations and ensure precise accuracy and maximum efficiency in every interaction with investors, advisors, regulators, and auditors.
Phoenix began as an investment fund sponsor and thrived because of its unwavering commitment to investors. We have developed our people, designed our systems, and honed our processes with the success and satisfaction of every investor in mind. That commitment is at the core of our approach as an operational partner for our client firms. Our mission is to free investment management from the distraction of back-office operations and ensure precise accuracy and maximum efficiency in every interaction with investors, advisors, regulators, and auditors.
Fund management must be free to concentrate on making sales and acquiring assets. The kind of back-office support that makes this possible takes experience, thorough understanding of management's goals, and a partner-oriented approach to service that is so complete it can only come from an organization that has been in a sponsor's shoes, with a sponsor's sense of responsibility to investors. Our deep experience, service culture, and consultative approach are designed to give clients the practical benefit of our decades of knowledge of funds of every size, structure, asset class, and investment strategy.
The company culture of the Phoenix American workforce is that of a family and team. Your team. Our passion for the work we do and our enthusiasm for working together is what makes Phoenix American a premium provider and a great place to work. Partnering with Phoenix American is as much like working with your own employees as we can make it, with many added benefits. Innovating, problem-solving, anticipating needs, and our cheerful, helpful attitude toward clients, investors, and advisors are the hallmarks of our corporate culture.
Throughout the year, management and employees participate together in team-building events, holiday celebrations, charitable outreach, company picnics, and San Francisco Giant's games to foster our sense of family and enjoy each other's company. The Phoenix family faces changes, challenges, training, and new assignments with an entrepreneurial sense of teamwork. Because of this sense of family, many of Phoenix American's employees have been with the company for years.
Specialized training, exacting standards, and a focus on daily excellence ensure proficient account teams, contented investors, and satisfied clients. A warm, collegial atmosphere and attention to work/life balance are what make Phoenix a great career choice.
Equipment for Companies and Returns for Investors
Founded in 1972 by Gus Constantin, Phoenix Leasing was the sponsor of a successful series of equipment leasing investment funds, sold nationwide through the broker-dealer network to qualified investors for more than two decades. Phoenix Leasing returned impressive returns to investors, supplied essential equipment lease options to businesses large and small, and built up the administrative, accounting, and reporting capabilities that would later distinguish the company as a third-party provider of back-office services.
Branching into the Back-Office Business
In 1982, Phoenix American Financial Services was established to leverage the unparalleled back-office administrative proficiency of Phoenix Leasing as a full-service outsourced administrator for fellow sponsors in the alternative investment industry. STAR-XMS, the company's proprietary shareholder recordkeeping and transfer agent system, was developed based on the long operational experience of Phoenix Leasing to maximize back-office efficiency. It is now available under license for self-administered funds.
Turning Our Technology Focus to Sales
Phoenix American SalesFocus Solutions was founded in the 1990s to leverage the marketing automation and sales reporting capacity of the Phoenix Leasing sales department in support of the sales teams of asset management firms. The MARS system, SalesFocus' CRM sales reporting and compliance application, transforms sales and asset data into actionable business intelligence to drive sales, integrating with all the most widely employed data sources and software providers. Today, SalesFocus serves some of the biggest names in the financial services industry.
Improving and Expanding Cable Television
Stemming from the contacts and knowledge gained from the equipment leasing business, Phoenix Cable was founded in 1990 to acquire, develop, and manage cable television systems for subscribers nationwide as well as agencies of the United States government. Although the principal assets and operations of Phoenix Cable were sold in the early 2000s, the company continues to provide cable television services to the men and women of America's armed forces at the United States Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
On the Front Lines of the Internet Revolution
With the rapid adoption of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s, Phoenix FiberLink was founded to construct and manage fiber-optic networks as the nation and the world embraced the Internet as essential infrastructure for economic activity. Before its acquisition by Worldcom, the company connected businesses in 26 cities nationwide. During the days of the explosive growth of Internet startups that followed, Resource Phoenix was launched as an outsourced accounting provider to companies of all kinds looking to grow their businesses without the burden of in-house accounting teams, and Phoenix Venture Lease provided capital and lease financing to clients such as Yahoo! and Netscape.
Phoenix American Spreads Its Wings With Aviation ABS
Since 1993, Phoenix American has performed corporate services, administration, accounting and cash management for aircraft and engine leasing transactions of every size, scope and complexity. In 2007, our office in Shannon, Ireland was established to serve ABS clients and now employs over 50 finance professionals. Our robust teams of accomplished ABS specialists employ refined processes, procedures and controls to ensure accuracy, efficient implementation and timely delivery of services to our ABS clients.
Today, the expertise and capabilities that Phoenix has gained throughout its long history remains focused on its core mission: serving the needs and exceeding the expectations of investors. With that foundation, our clients' ambition can be unlimited.
Social, Charity, Corporate Responsibility
Phoenix American is engaged with both the local and broader communities, and we strive to set an example for charitable involvement and corporate responsibility. A member of the California Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix American is a proud supporter of important charities and an active participant in local and national outreach.
Phoenix American Blood Drive
Partnering with Vitalant
Much of the medical care we take for granted would not be possible without blood donations. Phoenix hosts the local community in regular drives to ensure there is enough blood available to meet our neighbors' needs.
Phoenix Annual Food Drive
Partnering with San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Together we can end hunger in San Francisco and Marin County.
Partnering with San Rafael Santa Cop–First Responder Elves
Every Child deserves the joy and magic of Christmas.
North Bay Fire Relief Fund
Partnering with Redwood Credit Union
Supporting the immediate needs of North Bay Fire Survivors in the four impacted counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake.
Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund
The CDC Foundation.
Our world. Our response. Joining the CDC to give, share, and unite to make an impact.


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Air Liquide in South Africa About us
Air Liquide aims to deliver innovative gas solutions and technologies to a wide range of customers, driving their performance and helping them reduce their environmental impact. No matter where, we make sure our solutions are safe, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable.
Leadership march 2021
Air Liquide started its business in South Africa over 60 years ago and today employs an estimated 750 people in over 20 sites. Air Liquide supplies industrial gases, specialty gases and related services to the steel, automotive & fabrication, food & beverage, mining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and glass industry customers. It also supplies medical gases through a network of many state and private hospitals as well as solutions and services to home based patients.
Air Liquide production facilities are situated in the 3 main industrial hubs of South Africa, in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern/Western Cape, with over 20 branches strategically located to serve its customers.
Air Liquide has been active in other parts of Africa as well for more than 60 years and is the fastest growing industrial gas company on the African continent.
Top 500 certificate 2021
World's Largest Air Separation Unit located in Secunda, South Africa.
Air Liquide Southern Africa Facts
Our business lines
Today, Air Liquide in South Africa relies on more than 750 employees in over 20 sites, offering industrial gases and related services to a customers in a range of industries, including oil and gas, chemicals, metals, construction, food and beverage, research and analysis, electronics and healthcare.
Air Liquide South Africa, supplies rare gases, industrial gases in bulk quantities to customers and natural gas, specialty gas mixtures, ultra-high purity gases and chemicals and related equipment and services. Products are supplied in compressed gas cylinders with volumes and purities available to meet the needs of customers in a wide range of industries.
Air Liquide Healthcare South Africa, provides medical and therapeutic gases as well as related equipment to hospitals and healthcare institutions in South Africa.
Air Liquide Engineering and Construction South Africa, designs and builds units for Large Industries as well for third-party customers that prefer not to outsource their gas production.
A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 78 countries with approximately 64,500 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients.
€20,485 M
2020 Group revenue
3.8+ million
customers and patients
Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902.
Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability - with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.
Air Liquide's revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in 2020. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.
Air Liquide Values Safety
Safety is a core value at Air Liquide and we take pride in our high safety standards. Our safety performance, which has improved steadily for more than 20 years, attests to the active involvement of employees in Air Liquide's strong safety culture.
Connected store
Innovation is at the heart of Air Liquide's strategy. We constantly reinvent our business, anticipating market challenges and opening up new markets to create new growth opportunities. Air Liquide also innovates for the benefit of society, exploring new technologies to meet the needs of customers and patients.
Major fields of research include bioresources, oxy-combustion, process control and logistics and modeling.
Air Liquide Southern Africa CSI Footprint
We are committed to achieving commercial success in ways that honour ethical values, and respect for people and all our stakeholders. We believe in sustainable development and view it as a process for realising human development in an inclusive, connected and equitable way. We recognize our responsibility as a business, to actively contribute to addressing the inequalities of the country's past.
In order to contribute to SA social-economical development through our business lines, we have identified 4 pillars that reflect SA macro socio-economic challenges:
Industrial capacity building
Shared Growth
At Air Liquide, we view community investment not as a choice but as a serious responsibility. We are committed to supporting the communities in which we live and invest both financially and through volunteering time and expertise.
Air Liquide has recently joined forces with St Anne's Homes in Cape Town.
South Africa Broad Based Black Economic
Air Liquide views B-BBEE as a process and not an event. By Empowerment we refer to a process whereby the company assists and educates previously disadvantaged persons and businesses in surrounding communities close to Air Liquide sites to enable them to contribute positively to the economy of the country.
This process is enshrined in our policies with respect to skills development, employment equity, management, enterprise development, social development and affirmative procurement. An integrated and coherent approach towards the implementation of these policies is fully supported by the Air Liquide Board of Directors and its shareholders.
Confirmation of BEE Consulting and Verfication - Air Liquide (Pty) Ltd
Confirmation of BEE Consulting and Verfication - Air Liquide Healthcare (Pty) Ltd
Confirmation of BEE Consulting and Verfication - Air Liquide Large Industry
Final Certificate
Overview About usOur business lines Safety first Innovation Corporate Social Responsibility South Africa Broad Based Black Economic Our business offerIndustry Healthcare Others Engineering & Construction Work with usJoining Air Liquide Job opportunities Air Liquide Connect - Employee Stories
Country Spaces
Our business offer

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Please remember that you must be registered for Select Soccer if you are planning on attending tryouts. Please visit www.greenhornets.org to register.
Please remember that you must be registered for "Select Soccer" if you are planning on attending tryouts. Please visit www.greenhornets.org to register.
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苏州美甲
Cops called to Vic Nats missing cash case
Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh says police will investigate a suspicious withdrawal of cash.Police have been called in to investigate a mystery withdrawal from a Victorian Nationals party bank account.
In May 2017 there was $8000 taken from the party's Morwell branch account and despite the sum being repaid, police have been asked to investigate.
"Police will speak to party officials to determine the circumstances of the complaint," a spokesman said on Monday.
An audit of the account between January 2014 and August 2017 is understood to have sparked concerns.
"The audit indicated (the) possibility of unauthorised transactions and of an alleged forgery relating to a withdrawal of $8000 in May 2017," Nationals state president Neil Pankhurst said in a statement.
"This sum was later deposited back into the account."
Party leader Peter Walsh fronted reporters and would not say if the sum was connected to former Nationals MP Russell Northe, who stood down from the party in August after it was revealed he owed thousands of dollars.
Mr Walsh confirmed he loaned Mr Northe $30,000 in 2015.
"He needed money as a contribution to his franchise down there, I took him on face value at the time and loaned him that money on a handshake," Mr Walsh said.
"I don't (usually lend money to colleagues) and it's good practice not to and in this case I regret the fact that Russell wasn't totally honest with me."
Mr Walsh said he was visited by Mr Northe last sitting week, who made a "small repayment" but he would not comment on any other money owed by the MP.
It's believed he could have borrowed more than $685,000.
In a statement Mr Northe – who now sits in parliament as an independent – said the latest reports of his finances had been upsetting for both him and his family.
"Claims of missing money as reported in some media outlets today is simply not correct and I will be seeking legal counsel on this point," he wrote.
He restated that in the past he made "some very poor decisions".
His wife, Jenny, took a swipe at the Nationals.
"Russell worked extremely hard for the party for more than 10 years and is desperately trying to make amends for his mistakes," she wrote in the same statement.
"Moreover, for our family to be dragged through the mud again for political gain is shameful."
When Mr Northe left the Nationals he confessed to recovering from mental health and gambling issues and on Monday confirmed he continues to receive medical assistance.
He is yet to decide if he will try to hold on to the seat of Morwell at the November state election.
On Monday former senator Ricky Muir announced he'll run with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmer's party and Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said Labor would "love to win the seat of Morwell back".
n readers seeking support and information about depression can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Posted in 苏州美甲
WA camper's disappearance suspicious
WA Police are treating the disappearance of Perth man Dean Patrick White as suspicious.The disappearance of a 55-year-old West n man, who was last seen almost a year ago, is being treated by police as suspicious.
Dean Patrick White, known as Whitey to his friends, was a regular traveller who had been camping in March 2017 on the Murray River in Victoria.
He then drove back to WA to meet someone near the small Wheatbelt town of Quairading, with the last reported contact of him on March 31, police said on Monday.
Mr White was reported missing by family in August after failing to get in contact following his father's death.
His older sister Debbie Smith says she last spoke to Dean early last year, on his birthday.
"He was not sure what he was going to do and was feeling a bit lonely so I suggested he come home to WA, as he was camping near Mildura on the Murray River and had been for a while," Ms Smith said.
"That way, he could camp somewhere closer to family and our Dad who at that time was in a nursing home."
Ms Smith, who lives in New Zealand, said she failed to reach her brother through text or phone for a few months but that was normal due to his travelling.
But when other family and friends also heard no reply she reported him missing to WA Police.
She said her brother didn't mind being on his own.
"I don't think he would travel with anyone or pick someone up so if he has, this is a little out of character."
Senior Sergeant Manus Walsh said "the disappearance was suspicious in nature because of (Mr White's) banking transactions and contact with family were inconsistent with his lifestyle".
Mr White lived and travelled in a white 1989 Toyota Landcruiser with a blue trailer, which was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Queensland later in June.
Police say the driver, who is not believed to be Mr White, abandoned the car.
Mr White had suffered a minor brain injury and is affected by mild, short-term memory loss as well as walking with a slight limp.
Ms Smith said her brother was, "a fairly placid easy going guy who enjoys a beer and has a lot of family and mates that are worried about him."
"Please, if anyone remembers seeing Dean or "Whitey" as most people knew him, let the police know," she said.
Police will set up mobile facilities in Quairading and Kambalda on Tuesday and Kambalda and Tammin on Thursday for people wishing to speak to detectives involved with the case.
They will also visit the Eastern Goldfields, including the towns of Cocklebiddy and Balladonia, and the Mid-West Gascoyne town of Cunderdin.
Genia fit for Super clash with Reds
Will Genia will make his Super Rugby debut for the Rebels after making 114 appearances for the Reds.Test halfback Will Genia has overcome a back injury and will make his Melbourne Rebels debut against Queensland, adding extra spice to their Super Rugby opening round clash.
Genia has been sidelined during the pre-season with a fractured back but Rebels coach Dave Wessels said he would be fully fit for their AAMI Park match on Friday night.
Genia started his career with the Reds back in 2007 and hoped to rejoin them this season following a two-year stint in France.
But Wessels said the 30-year-old was now a committed Rebel.
"I think he's really happy where he is and he's enjoying his rugby," Wessels said.
Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete, who has a knee injury, is the only key player unavailable for selection.
Genia will be joined by Jack Debreczeni in the halves, with Wessels saying the big-kicking five-eighth offered the team plenty of options in attack.
Once touted as a future Wallaby, Debreczeni's future with the Rebels looked uncertain after a below-par 2017 but Wessels said he'd regained his confidence and love of rugby through a stint playing in Japan.
"I think Jack (Debreczeni) has got certain abilities that will unleash other parts of our team," Wessels said.
"I know having coached against him that we spent a lot of time planning how we are going to defend against some of the things that he could do; particularly his kicking game.
"He's got a lot of special talents but I think there's been times over the last year or two where he just wasn't enjoying his rugby but he's come back from Japan with a smile on his face and I think that's made the difference."
Wessels joined the Rebels from the axed Western Force, along with a dozen players including Test lock and now Melbourne captain Adam Coleman, to give the perennial strugglers a massive boost of talent.
Wessels said he wasn't feeling any added pressure to perform.
"There's pressure on us because we want to get the reward for all the hard work we put in but we're not solving world peace here.
"If you've worked hard and commit yourself than the games are just about reaping rewards for that."
NRLNine Newcastle Knights debutants are tipped for the round-one clash with Manly.
PAIR OF ACES: Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga talk tactics at training. They shape as a dynamic duo for Newcastle once they have established a combination. Picture: Jonathan CarrollNEWCASTLE are poised to field more new faces in the season-opener against Manly than in any game since the club's inaugural outing, against Parramatta in round one, 1988.
In an indication of the wholesale turnover of players during the past 12 months, Knights coach Nathan Brown is expected to choose his nine mainoff-season recruits fortheclash with the Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium on March 9.
GAME-BREAKER: Connor Watson hopes to establish himself at five-eighth.
Barring any injuries in Saturday's trial against Parramatta at Maitland, Newcastle's first-round squad is likely to include Kalyn Ponga, Tautau Moga, Connor Watson, Mitchell Pearce, Aidan Guerra, Jacob Lillyman, Slade Griffin, Herman Ese'eseand Chris Heighington.
It shapes asthe largest contingent of club debutants since Newcastle's 1988 premiere performance against the Eels, when 16 players wore the red-and-blue jersey for the first time in the NSW Rugby League premiership.
PRIME MOVER: Herman Ese'ese was a key signing from Brisbane.
Brown is no stranger to unveiling revamped teams.
Two years ago, in hisfirst game at Newcastle's helm, seven players – David Bhana, Jaelen Feeney, Trent Hodkinson, Pat Mata'utia, Pauli Pauli and the Saifiti twins, Jacob and Daniel –debuted against the Gold Coast.
In round one, 1989, six debutants– Michael Hagan, Peter Johnston, Mark Sargent, Gary Wurth, John Allanson and Arnold Krewanty – helped the Knights to a season-opening win against Wests Magpies.
In 2008, Brian Smith's second season as Knights coach, he ushered in five new signings: Richie Fa'aoso, Matt Hilder, Chris Houston, Wes Naiqama and Danny Wicks.
Brown's full-time squad this yearfeatures 22 changes sincethe corresponding point of last season.
Brown is set to name his line-up on Tuesday for Saturday's hit-outwith the Eels, which is expected to include Moga, Daniel Saifiti and Mitch Barnett, all of whom had off-season shoulder reconstructions.
The trial, which has attracted a sell-out crowd of 6500, shapes as the last chance forplayers to state a case for round-one selection.
The backline appears settled but there will be fierce competition for spots in the pack, where Josh King, the Saifitis and Lachlan Fitzgibbon are competing for selection with the host of new recruits.
Parramatta are likely to bring their strongest squad to Maitland, including superstar Jarryd Hayne, who has returned after stints in the NFL and with Gold Coast Titans.
Rush repeatedly touched actress: lawyer
Actor Geoffrey Rush's lawyer says a newspaper's defamation defence lacked specifity (file).Geoffrey Rush has been accused of repeatedly touching a colleague inappropriately on stage despite being asked to stop, but the actor's lawyer says the accusations against him are unclear and not specific.
Rush is suing the Daily Telegraph publisher Nationwide News and journalist Jonathon Moran for defamation over articles last year which alleged inappropriate behaviour and touching during the Sydney Theatre Company production of King Lear.
The Telegraph's defence barrister Tom Blackburn SC told the Federal Court on Monday Rush touched a female co-star several times during the final week of the 2015 show, in a way that made her uncomfortable, and in a way he hadn't touched her before.
"Now, she said stop – he didn't. He went on doing it. Our case is that that in itself is inappropriate," he said.
But Rush's barrister, Richard McHugh SC says the accusations are vague and "opaque".
Mr Blackburn was fighting an interlocutory application by Rush's legal team to have all of the Telegraph's truth defence and part of its qualified privilege defence struck out.
Mr McHugh said parts of the defence lacked specificity and still didn't detail what Rush's supposed behaviour actually was.
He said the behaviour supposedly occurred when Rush and his co-star were required to touch on stage.
It wasn't clear how the actor's manner of touching was alleged to have changed towards the end of the production to make his colleague feel uncomfortable, the barrister said.
"To this day it's not clear what they're saying. Not just unclear, it's completely opaque," Mr McHugh said.
A barrister for the Telegraph previously said the articles didn't make allegations that Rush engaged in inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature.
Mr Blackburn on Monday said for the purposes of the defence it wasn't important where Rush touched his co-star, but the fact she allegedly asked him to stop – and he didn't – made it inappropriate.
He said an inference could be readily drawn in the circumstances that the alleged touching was intentional.
Mr McHugh said, from the Telegraph's defence, it appeared Rush's co-star was not one of their sources for the story.
Mr McHugh said the tabloid's sources for the articles, as described in the defence, included three confidential sources, someone from the Sydney Theatre Company, someone living in the United States, social media posts and an email which appeared to be anonymous.
Rush, who was not at court on Monday, denies the accusations including that he was asked to stop.
Justice Michael Wigney has reserved his decision on the strike out application.
Stunning estate opens its doors to a fortunate fewFood News
MEMORABLE: Sweetwater Estate Wines at Belford is hosting a lunch and a dinner next month catered by Troy Rhoades-Brown of Muse Restaurant.
Have you ever wanted to have a bit of a sticky beak at the stunning Sweetwater Estate at Belford? Then perhaps you should try your luck at securing a ticket to an exclusive dining experience on March 17. Tickets, if you are fortunate enough to grab one, cost $150 and includeVIP access to the estate's grounds; canapes and four delectable coursesfrom chef Troy Rhoades-Brown and his team at themulti-award-winning Muse Restaurant; and Sweetwater wines. Phone4990 0702 or [email protected]苏州夜总会招聘.au for more information.
Seafood kingCelebrity chef and television presenter Rick Stein is opening a restaurant in Port Stephens as part of a $7 million overhaul of Salamander Shores.
Bought by Bannisters Hotels last year, Salamander Shores will be transformed into a four-star boutique hotel.
Bannisters Port Stephens, as the hotel will be named, will be similar to the group's hotel in Mollymook where Stein and his wife Sarah have run a restaurant for the past eight years.
Stein said he would be working closely withhead chef Mitchell Turner to design a menu featuring local king prawns, yellowfin bream, flathead, calamari, school whiting andoysters.
The restaurant will be located at the rear of the hotel, above the tavern. The tavern is stilltrading and willremain operational once the hotel is up and running.
Pack a picnicPicnic in the Park returns to Toronto Foreshore this Friday, February 23. From5.30pm to 7.30pm you can enjoyfree games, acoustic music and a storytime session. Bring your ownrugor chair and pack a picnic.This event is an initiative of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance, Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group, Ability Links,Lake Mac LibrariesandLake Macquarie City Council.
Argy to closeThe Argenton Hotel is closing its doors to undergo a multimillion-dollar facelift. The upgrade is expected to take about six months to complete.A function centre will be built on a neighbouring property, the car park extended and the hotel's interior and exterior refurbished. Owners Campbell and Clare Rogers say the overhaul is a response to "the high demand for versatile venues able to cater to the needs of an ever-changing community".
"There are a lot of young families in the community and the area is developing and changing every year," Mrs Rogers said.
"From the outset we have always focused on providing good value and quality pub-style food that caters for the whole family.
"We now want to build on that reputation by bringing a new kind of pub experience to both the people of Lake Macquarie and the wider community."
Under the starsFive Senses Twilight Market returns toLambton Park on Sunday, March 4. The event is acelebration of food, craft beer and wine, live music andmarket stalls aimed at raising money for The Leukaemia Foundation. Be there from 4pm onwards.
Women in wineInternational Women's Day is on March 8 and Cellarmasters is celebrating 's female winemakers at a Meet the Makers: Women in Wine event at Walsh Bay. The Hunter Valley's Gwyn Olsen, head winemaker at Pepper Tree Wines and Briar Ridge Wines, will be there.
Vegan dinnerSprout Dining is hosting a four-course vegan dinner on February 28, 6.30pm to 11pm. The cost is $50 per person. Phone4927 1138 to book.
Curry nightYou might know of Amorelle Dempster for her leading role in Slow Food Hunter Valley.Well, her daughter Georgia Dempster, her partner Adrian Nies and his brother Marshall are shaving their heads for a good cause at a special curry night to be held at Readers Cafe and Larderfrom 6pm this Saturday, February 24. The trio are raising money for The Leukaemia Foundation and donating their hair to make wigs. Tickets cost $25; bookings essential at trybooking苏州夜总会招聘.
Dinner and movieFlicks on the Green returns tothe stunning garden at Gray's Inn, Wollombi, on March 3. Classic movieAll The President's Men starring Dustin Hoffman andRobert Redford is screening. Tickets are $20 for the movie including a glass of Noyce Brothers Wine on arrival, or $65 for the dinner andmovie package atPanino Caffè & Restaurant. Bookings essential by phoning Julie at Noyce Brothers Cellar door on 4998 3483 or 0416 245 655.
Tinder for foodCrave, a food App launched in August by NovocastrianJessica Koncz, has reached a significant milestone – more than 10,000 people have downloaded it and are using it to make food selections. In a nutshell, the App features dishes from Newcastle eateries which can be chosen by "swiping right". Koncz and her team hope to launch Crave in other regional cities, as well as major cities, sooner rather than later.
Kahibah villageThe Cracked Cup Cafe & Pizzeria at Kahibah has new owners, Matt and Catherine, anda new breakfast and lunch menu. There is a nice little village atmosphere along the main shopping strip, too.
A sell outFeast Fest made its Speers Point Park debut last Saturday however it appears that demand exceeded supply and many food trucks ran out of food well before the advertised closing time. Organisers said: "We will be back next month with more food trucks/vendors. We will deliver next month."
Dad's racing death grief read to Vic court
Adem Arpaci (left) has been found guilty of culpable driving that caused two deaths (file).The father of a teenager killed in a high-speed car chase in Melbourne has described how he is plagued by flashbacks of the charred remains of his "baby girl".
Ivana Clonaridis, 18, and Harley Churchill, 19, died on January 27, 2016 when their ute exploded in a fireball while drag racing Adem Arpaci, then 21, along the Western Ring Road.
Arpaci was found guilty by a jury of two counts of culpable driving after he goaded others to participate in a high-speed race following an illegal skids meeting, where drivers go to perform and watch burnouts.
Witnesses claimed they saw the two vehicles "flying past" before Mr Churchill lost control of his ute at 182 km/h.
The vehicle smashed through a road barrier, down an embankment and caught fire.
A statement from Ms Clonaridis' father, Ignos, was read to the County Court of Victoria on Monday.
He grieved his "baby, my little girl", who he said he was never able to hold "one last time".
"The night I found out about my daughter's tragic death, the ground disappeared from under my feet," he said.
"I went to the crash site until the sun came out … I thought 'why was it my baby girl and not me?'"
Mr Clonaridis said as a result of the grief, his relationship with his new wife broke down and he was no longer able to work and support himself.
"I often have flashbacks of seeing my daughter's charred remains at the mortuary," he said.
"My happiness died that night with my baby girl."
Defence lawyer Russ Hammill said Arpaci, now 23, had no previous criminal history and was otherwise a young man of "exemplary character".
He also said Mr Churchill had influenced Arpaci's behaviour to some extent on the night in question, a matter conceded by the Crown.
"Their joint encouragement held with each other – as much as it cuts one way, it cuts the other," he argued.
However, Judge Frances Hogan denied the mutual encouragement reduced Arpaci's moral culpability, referring to his "ducking and weaving", his high speeds and the fear other drivers experienced as the two sped past.
Mr Hammill said Arpaci was young, remorseful and had become "a recluse", finding himself "mentally decomposing" after the fatal race.
Judge Hogan said she would need to "reflect long and hard" before sentencing Arpaci on March 16.
Winter Olympics: Waratah figure skater Kailani Craine edges closer to Games debut in PyeongChang
TIME: Waratah figure skater Kailani Craine at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium earlier this month. Picture: Jonathan CarrollWinter Olympics debutante Khalani Craine has a triple-loop, triple-loop combination in her figure skating kit bag, but the Waratah 19-year-old won't decide whether or not to use it until competition day.
The Hunter Ice Skating Stadium product takes to the PyeongChang stage from midday on Wednesday (ADST), almost a fortnight after participating in the opening ceremony, hoping to impress in hershort program and progress toFriday's event-ending freestyle finale.
"My short is technically really difficult, with a triple-loop triple-loop in the second half of the program,"Craine toldtheNewcastle Heraldat her homeWarners Bay venue earlier this month.
"Thatcombo is harder than a toe-loop combo. A lot of girls do triple something triple toe, but I'mbetter at loop which is why I've decided to have it in the second half of my program because you score morepoints.
"It's going really well at the moment, but I always have the option not too do it. I can make that decision when I get there. The main thing is to have a solid program at the Olympics."
After a few self-confessed "shaky" practice runs Craine, who will be one of 30 international competitors in the preliminary round,has been recently joined in South Korea by US-based coach Tiffany Chin.
"I'm so happy to have Tiffany with me now, and just having her on the barriers to remind me of little things to help my technique," Craine told n Olympic Committee (AOC) media.
"Everything is feeling a lot better."
Craine's parents and grandparents are also set to be supporting the nine-time n champion, including juniors and seniors, from the grandstand.
"I really feel like it's all of us out there competing, not just me," she told the AOC.
"My family has sacrificed so much for me to do this and they've been on this journey every step of the way, so it won't be just me out there on the ice, it will be all of us."
Craine's relatives will also deliver a new custom-made dress from Adelaide for her free program, which goes for four minutes and 10 seconds.
The short program is two minutes and 50 seconds in duration and performed to classicsong Dream A Little Dream Of Me.
"I'vebeen doing my short program for two years now," she said.
"I usually do a new routine each season, but I love my short program so much from the2016-2017 season that Ihad to keep it again for this one.
"My free program remains the same from thisseason."
Craine said it was always important to"stay in the moment andfocus on what I'm doing at that time".
The former Hamilton SFXstudent hasn't set a result-based target, rather she wants to "skate clean andhave a really solid performance".
Elsewhere at the Games and Eleebana 28-year-old aerial skiier Samantha Wells finished 17thin Thursday's qualifiers whileUniversity of Newcastle student Matt Graham became 's first medallist at PyeongChang with silver in the men's moguls.
Calls for more scrutiny of Victoria's cops
The Police Association will face a public hearing into police corruption in Victoria (File).Victoria needs an independent body to investigate allegations of police misconduct because the state's anti-corruption processes are ineffective, a law firm says.
Robinson Gill Lawyers' Jeremy King, who works with people alleging police misconduct, on Monday told a parliamentary inquiry the current system was broken.
He said complaints put to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission were often referred back to the police force, and in the end only about nine per cent were substantiated.
"(The) current complaints system simply is not working," Mr King told MPs.
"The majority of my clients get referred back to Victoria Police, who do an investigation.
"The collective experience of our clients … has been one of uniform dissatisfaction and disempowerment."
As IBAC's scope was limited to corruption, Mr King said there should be an independent body set up to deal with all police complaints.
At the very least, he argued there should be greater scrutiny around when complaints are investigated by IBAC and when they get referred back to the force.
"Historically, complaints which legal practitioners consider very serious have been referred back to Victoria Police," Mr King said.
"If IBAC is going to continue to refer back to Victoria Police …. these complaints should be limited to genuine customer service complaints."
The Police Association rejected calls for an independent body or a broader remit for IBAC to tackle complaints against officers.
"I'm … unconvinced that the public has lost faith in the current system," the association's legal manager Chris Gorissen told the inquiry.
Secretary Wayne Gatt added police work was "inherently susceptible" to misconduct allegations.
"Complaints, at times, are merely lodged … in response to criminal conduct," he said.
Caroline Buchanan opens up about rebuilding her body after a horrific crash
Caroline Buchanan sat silently in the passenger seat next to her fiance, struggling to breathe and with blood smeared across her face.
On the outside she was calm. Silent and focused – just like she is before a BMX race. She stayed like that for four and a half hours.
Caroline Buchanan has returned to the AIS for rehabilitation after her accident. Photo: Karleen Minney
On the inside her body was a mess. A broken nose, broken sternum, two collapsed lungs and dangerous bleeding around her heart.
Then she heard the quivering voice.
The paramedic in the ambulance was calling ahead to The Canberra Hospital to prepare them for Buchanan's arrival.
"I was running on adrenaline. About 30 minutes outside of Canberra the ambulance guy called the hospital and he had a shaky, nervous voice," Buchanan said.
"If you're a paramedic you've seen a lot of things and they handle themselves so well. I thought if he's nervous … that's when I knew it was life-threatening."
Caroline Buchanan after arriving at hospital. Photo: Supplied
Buchanan had an "eerie" feeling before going to a private property 45 minutes outside of Cooma on December 30.
The two-time Olympian and eight-time world champion was at a friend's farm when an off-road buggy rolled and caused the injuries.
The driver was OK but Buchanan was in debilitatingpain andstruggling to breathe. She knew something was seriously wrong and that's when she started to fight.
Her fiance,American BMX rider Barry Nobles, saw Buchanan running towards him with tears in her eyes and blood dripping from her nose.
Knowing they had no phone reception, they did the only thing they could. They strapped Buchanan into the front seat of a car and started driving towards Cooma Hospital.
"I couldn't talk because I knew I would panic. So I went into a meditation of breathing … if someone was talking to me I didn't hear them. If I panicked, that would have put extra pressure on my organs and who knows," an emotionalBuchanan said speaking about the accident for thefirsttime.
"In those situations, you've just got to fight. You've got no option.
"I'm doing rehabilitation now [at the AIS], but myhead spaceis focusing on the human aspect of it rather than the athlete."
From the moment they arrived at Cooma Hospital, it took another four hours to get to Canberra via ambulance, where they drained 2.5 litres of blood and fluid from her lungs over three days and she spent four days in the intensive care unit.
For someone whose racing career is defined by milliseconds, a five-hour ordeal and week in hospital must have felt like a lifetime.
Buchanansays the only way she can describe the pain of collapsed lungs is the sensation of being winded but not being able to get your breath back. That's how she felt for five hours.
But despite her still-obvious discomfort – even now she has to roll herself in and out of bed because of the pain – Buchanan is framing this as a positive story.
One of rebuilding her body,instilling a belief she can overcome any adversity and, remarkably, helping her push boundaries on her bike.
"I'm happy that situation wasn't any worse and I've got opportunities to continue my career and … to just live," Buchanan said.
"When life is so fast, you don't always appreciate little things. I remember sitting in hospital and watching the sunset. It's just genuine gratefulness.
"I know I survived that accident. So in a way I know the forces involved in that accident can never happen on a bike. I know the limit for my body, I know I can heal. Which I guess makes my sport a bit easier now.
"I definitely got that sense of you're not invincible … humans are fragile. And I thrive on adversity, it lights a fire in me."
Buchanan has faced adversity before. Herfamily home was destroyed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires.
She was a gold-medal contender at theLondonandRio Olympic Games, but missed out on a medal at both events. She already has her sights on making amends at Tokyo in 2020.
"I know that if I win another world title, it's going to mean more than anything that I've ever achieved."
Her start to 2018, however, will be delayed by up to six months and will likely mean she misses the BMX world championships for just the second time in her career.
Her lungs and heart have healed, but her broken sternum is still mending and may take another four months until it's strong.
Medical images of the crack in Caroline Buchanan's sternum. Photo: Supplied
When her rehabilitation began, she was told not to lift anything heavier than a plate. When she sneezed for the first time last week she cried in pain, but it was a reminder the bones were healing.
The silver-lining to the injury-enforced break – the longest of her career – is that she has time to plan a wedding with the man who helped save her life.
Adrenaline junkie Nobles has grown up on BMX ramps, motorbikes and hadplenty of experience taking "dudes to hospital" before the harrowing drive with his fiancee.
"Getting injured has been a part of my life. Normally it's me in hospital. I heard my name when Caroline was coming towards me and I turned around and she had blood going down her face," a relaxed Nobles said.
Barry Nobles, left, was in hospital with Buchanan every night. Photo: Supplied
"The bottom of her nose was slit and peeled back down to her lip, her chest was hurting … it didn't really matter what was going on, we were hauling arse to the hospital anyway.
"I'm a glass half-full person. I knew if Ifreakedout, it would make it worse for her. Even if her face was hanging off and she doesn't realise, I wouldn't let her know. Just keep it calm and move forward."
Buchanan adds: "When you love someone, you can be a nervous wreck or take charge. Every hour Barry was checking the machines and monitors. He was unbelievable."
Nobles, who slept at the hospital with Buchanan but has returned to the US to train, will have Buchanan by his side as a "watergirl and fan girl" for a Crankworx race in New Zealand next month.
"We're fortunate that everything is OK, it could have been so much worse. But she's healthy, she's walking … she's normal Caroline," Nobles said.
Caroline Buchanan has started training at the AIS. Photo: Karleen Minney
Buchanan hasn't set a return date. She has been working with AIS medical, rehab and gym staff, including Julian Jones, Greg Lovell and David Hughes, to help her recover.
She was touched by the the way fans and Cycling , the sports commission and other athletes reached out to see if she was OK.
Her parents have been driving her to rehabilitation appointments and been looking after her at home. She says all of those things and her injury will make it so much sweeter when she returns.
"First of all I've just got to rebuild my body. I had an eerie feeling on the day that something was going to go wrong. For something to go wrong, it was probably the worst place for it," Buchanan said.
"But the adversity of everything now excites me, this is my biggest challenge yet."
Caroline Buchanan is working with AIS medical staff to recover. Photo: Karleen Minney
Abbott calls for lower immigration rates
Thousands farewell Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai
Defiant Joyce loses WA Nationals support
Thompson seeks career security at Manly
Nationals MP not sorry for gun-toting post
"Parquetry" theme by The Search Engine Guys, LLC


On the positive side, I have finished stitching the tree.
I've cropped the picture above so you can see the scale of the problem – to be square, the stitched area should reach all four corners – oh dear.
I'd been discussing ways to stretch it over a frame with the Other Half, but I'm afraid the angle is going to be too extreme. So now I'm wondering about stitching a complementary colour into the missing corners.
So perhaps not quite so finished as I hoped.
In other news, I have started a new piece. After all the tent stitching in tree, I've decided to go for texture in the new work, so lots of different stitching this time. I'll post about it another day, but if you want a preview, take a look at the little widget I've added on the bottom right hand column – it's my latest Instagram snaps.
I have to thank Elizabeth at Bottle Branch for alerting this techno-laggard to Instagram (huge thanks Elizabeth!) – she mentioned in a recent comment, that the Daily Tree Project would be ideal for Instagram, and I wanted to know more about it. I wasn't sure at first – I'm not the biggest social media type you'll find, but when I saw that I could incorporate it into this blog, it seemed to be the perfect way to give snapshots without doing a full post. (I think if you follow me on Twitter, you should also get a link to new snaps).
So if you scroll down there, you'll find snaps from the new embroidery and today's tree photo. I really like the idea of putting snaps up more often, although I'll still do a proper monthly Daily Tree Project update post. So if anyone is interested in a more up-to-date glimpse into the current WIP or the latest tree pics, feel free to scroll down and have a look. (If you click on the snaps, you'll see a bigger version).
Ah, the dreaded problem of keeping things square! It is a lovely piece of stitching though. Very impressive with so much variety and colour, all with tent stitch. Adding a bit more stitching may work fine, if you can keep that bit tight and square! I also love your new piece, it reminds me of work by Gustav Klimt. Look forward to hearing and seeing more of this this.
I think the choice of colours is beautiful. The new piece is looking fab.
Thank you. It is quite colourful although difficult to take a decent picture – so some sections seem unnaturally highlighted.
'Tree' is so beautiful and must be saved, so good luck with the squaring – and with the new piece – such an wonderful beginning!
I always seem to need to go straight into the next piece, but I will find a way with tree – some good suggestions in the comments, I'm going to be brave and have a go.
It is so beautiful – where will you put it when finished? Your new piece is also looking interesting – you are so talented. Good luck with the squaring / stretching!
I use almost the same blocking technique as opusanglicanum, only I just pin things to my ironing board and leave them for a week or so. (Shows you how often I use the iron.) Looks like your piece might be too big for that but I second the idea of trying to correct the shape without more stitching.
So glad you're on instagram now. I like to think of it as a photography app, not a social media app, though it is both. I can imagine all your tree shots stacked up there like tiles.
Thank you so much for introducing me to Instagram – I was a bit slow on the uptake, but once I understood how I could use it, I realised you were right. I'm going to be brave and go for the wet blocking approach – worth a try I think, I'll let you know how it pans out.
Oooh, it looks as though that stretching might work, hurrah! I love the new piece as well, your designs all have this gorgeous flow of line, colour and shape.
I am now cautiously optimistic – this morning it's dry and looking pretty straight! I shall leave it there for another day or two while I offer prayers to all the gods of creative endeavour, then let you know.
I know what you mean about photos – I suppose having been brought up needing to save up for every roll of film and then the processing, digital has thrown open the flood gates and I'm gorging myself.


text:
Q: What is the best method to set image sources? I have created a website that has expand-collapse icons. In my localhost, it works fine. however, once online, the images are not displayed in mozilla (displayed in IE). in my image sources, I have used absolute links src="http://example/icons/expand.png" instead of relative src="/icons/expand.png. I do not understand why images are not displayed in mozilla.
I do not know if using absolute links for images sources is a good practice, so I need your help.

A: Usually, is best practice to use relative links, because you can resize and minimize the images to let users load the page faster. You can use softwares like Gimp or Photoshop to minimize them and then upload to your online space.
Hope to help you :)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
SportsBiz
EagleBank Bowl: Get selling
← return to SportsBiz
By Tim Lemke The Washington Times - November 6, 2008, 03:51PM
Officials with the new EagleBank Bowl now have about six weeks to sell tickets and sponsorships tied to the inaugural game at RFK Stadium, and Navy's win to become bowl-eligible over the weekend should help.
Execs from the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, which is working with the D.C. Bowl Committee on pulling off the event, said Navy has an allotment of 15,000 tickets and could ask for at least 10,000 more. That could mean 25,000 fans from Navy alone, though it will be another month before the Midshipmen find out their opponent.
In any case, let's assume Navy fills its first 15,000. From there, it's not too tough to predict a crowd of around 30,000 if the fans of Navy's opponent travels half-decently and you sell 5,000 tickets from unaffiliated football fans in the area. Once you hit 30,000, you're talking about crowds comparable to the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, which Navy played in last year.
"The biggest thing is getting the word out," sports commission CEO Erik Moses told board members Wednesday. "It's hard to sell tickets when you don't know who's playing."
A bigger worry is sponsorship sales. Aside from EagleBank, the bowl has announced just one other major sponsor in Ameritel. And with the economy the way it is, nailing down corporate partners may be easier said than done.
"In all seriousness, sponsorship is a concern," Moses said. "We got a late start on this thing."
Officials said the pace should pick up now that Navy has qualified, suggesting that local defense contractors might pitch in with some dollars. There will be even greater interest if it appears that a team with a local following willqualify in the ACC 9th spot.
Moses mentioned Maryland off-hand, but it appears that Virginia or Virginia Tech would be more likely if you're eyeing local teams. But my hard-working colleague Patrick Stevens has been tracking the EagleBank Bowl tie-ins for weeks, and he predicts either Boston College or Duke at this point.
- Tim Lemke
Tim Lemke
First Down: Best weekend bets
SportsBiz: What the next decade holds
Shifting sands for NCAA
Monumental sports year will connect fans on a global scale
SportsBiz: Selling a new career


text:
Merkel calls for more Europe to offset crisis
By Simon Miller
The German chancellor Angela Merkel has called for "more Europe" to solve the economic crisis.
Merkel opened the World Economic Forum at Davos by saying that the financial and economic crisis "that started in America left a deep imprint on Europe" which left European countries still working on the fallout.
"Europe was a work of peace … and we cannot overestimate what a success this was, after a century of wars tore us apart," said Merkel. "We are lucky to be able to be with others and share our common future."
She continued: "There is a clear lack of the political structures of the necessary underpinnings to make this project work... Do we dare more Europe? Yes."
Merkel added there was erosion in confidence over Europe with the problem of public indebtedness at the foreground.
However, she added that Europe also had "difficulties and weaknesses as regards competitiveness and that's even more difficult to combat".
Even with the problems of indebtedness, Merkel said austerity was not the only part of the solution.
"It's not only austerity measures. This is not only in and of itself of the essence, but also structural reforms that lead to more jobs. We all know this takes longer than 12 months or 18 months to achieve. We still have to convince each other that this is necessary," Merkel said.
Home More News
Other stories you may find of interest:
Reforms still needed in Chinese financial sector
China has to reform its financial sector if it is to achieve its goal of a new structure for economic growth according to the World Bank.
Bernanke fails to convince with no QE announcement
The head of US Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke has refused to rule out another round of quantative easing, insisting that there were a range of tools at his disposal.
EU countries' €552bn exposure to Greece
Banking on a liquidity solution
Banking on a reputation
Finish minister: ESM must start with clean slate
Greek talks paused over weekend
Libor can be reformed says review
BBA willing to concede role in Libor
CFTC chief calls for observable transaction rate
This website is a part of Perspective Publishing Limited, registered in England No 2876166.


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text:
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// <copyright file="AtomXmlTests.cs" company="Microsoft">
//      Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
// </copyright>
//---------------------------------------------------------------------

namespace Microsoft.Test.Taupo.OData.Writer.Tests.Atom
{
    using System;
    using System.Linq;
    using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
    using System.Xml.Linq;
    using Microsoft.OData.Core;
    using Microsoft.Test.OData.Utils.CombinatorialEngine;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.Common;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.Execution;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.OData.Atom;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.OData.Common;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.OData.Writer.Tests;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.OData.Writer.Tests.CollectionWriter;
    using Microsoft.Test.Taupo.OData.Writer.Tests.Common;
    using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;

    /// <summary>
    /// Tests to verify writer correctly writes out all the XML necessities for ATOM
    /// </summary>
    [TestClass, TestCase]
    public class AtomXmlTests : ODataWriterTestCase
    {
        private static readonly Uri ServiceDocumentUri = new Uri("http://odata.org");

        [InjectDependency(IsRequired = true)]
        public PayloadWriterTestDescriptor.Settings Settings { get; set; }

        [InjectDependency(IsRequired = true)]
        public CollectionWriterTestDescriptor.Settings CollectionSettings { get; set; }

        [TestMethod, Variation(Description = "Tests that root elements have the right namespaces. Uses custom data namespace.")]
        [MethodImplAttribute(MethodImplOptions.NoOptimization)]
        public void RootElementNamespaces_CustomDataNamespace()
        {
            // Support custom data namespace for compatibility with WCF DS client.
            RootElementNamespacesTest(TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespace + "/custom", true);
        }

        [TestMethod, Variation(Description = "Tests that root elements have the right namespaces.")]
        [MethodImplAttribute(MethodImplOptions.NoOptimization)]
        public void RootElementNamespaces()
        {
            RootElementNamespacesTest(TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespace, false);
        }

        public void RootElementNamespacesTest(string odataNamespace, bool clientOnly)
        {
            var testCases = new Func<string, Action<WriterTestConfiguration>>[] {
                odataNs => this.WriteFeed(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    version => "<feed xmlns='" + TestAtomConstants.AtomNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespacePrefix + "='" + odataNs +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssNamespace +
                              "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GmlPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GmlNamespace +
                        "' />"),
                odataNs => this.WriteEntry(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    version => "<entry xmlns='" + TestAtomConstants.AtomNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespacePrefix + "='" + odataNs +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GmlPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GmlNamespace +
                        "' />"),
                odataNs => this.WriteCollection(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    version => "<" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + ":" + TestAtomConstants.ODataValueElementName +
                        " xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespacePrefix + "='"+ odataNs +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GmlPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GmlNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespace +
                        "' />"),
                odataNs => this.WriteServiceDocument(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    "<service xmlns='" + TestAtomConstants.AtomPublishingNamespace + "' xmlns:atom='" + TestAtomConstants.AtomNamespace + "' />"),
                odataNs => this.WriteProperty(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    version => "<" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + ":" + TestAtomConstants.ODataValueElementName +
                        "  xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespacePrefix + "='" + odataNs +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GeoRssNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.GmlPrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.GmlNamespace +
                        "' xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespace +
                        "' />"),
                odataNs => this.WriteError(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    "<m:error xmlns:" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespacePrefix + "='" + TestAtomConstants.ODataMetadataNamespace + "' />"),
                odataNs => this.WriteEntityReferenceLinks(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    "<ref xmlns='" + odataNs + "'/>"),
                odataNs => this.WriteEntityReferenceLink(
                    ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations,
                    "<uri xmlns='" + odataNs + "'/>",
                    clientOnly,
                    odataNs),
            };

            this.CombinatorialEngineProvider.RunCombinations(
                testCases,
                this.WriterTestConfigurationProvider.AtomFormatConfigurations,
                (testCase, testConfiguration) =>
                {
                    string expectedODataNamespace;
                    testConfiguration = testConfiguration.Clone();
                    testConfiguration.MessageWriterSettings.SetServiceDocumentUri(ServiceDocumentUri);
                    if (clientOnly)
                    {
                        testConfiguration.MessageWriterSettings.EnableWcfDataServicesClientBehavior();
                        expectedODataNamespace = TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespace;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        expectedODataNamespace = TestAtomConstants.ODataNamespace;
                    }

                    testCase(expectedODataNamespace)(testConfiguration);
                });
        }

        [TestMethod, Variation(Description = "Tests that root elements have the right namespaces.")]
        public void XmlBaseOnRootElement()
        {
            Uri baseUri = new Uri("http://odata.org/base/");
            string expectedXmlBase = "<root xml:base='http://odata.org/base/'/>";
            string noXmlBase = "<root/>";

            var testCases = new Action<WriterTestConfiguration>[] {
                this.WriteFeed(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    version => expectedXmlBase),
                this.WriteEntry(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    version => expectedXmlBase),
                this.WriteCollection(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    version => noXmlBase),
                this.WriteServiceDocument(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    expectedXmlBase),
                this.WriteProperty(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    version => noXmlBase),
                this.WriteError(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    noXmlBase),
                this.WriteEntityReferenceLinks(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    noXmlBase),
                this.WriteEntityReferenceLink(
                    ExtractXmlBase,
                    noXmlBase,
                    false,
                    null),
            };

            this.CombinatorialEngineProvider.RunCombinations(
                testCases,
                this.WriterTestConfigurationProvider.AtomFormatConfigurations,
                (testCase, testConfiguration) =>
                {
                    var tc = testConfiguration.Clone();
                    tc.MessageWriterSettings.PayloadBaseUri = baseUri;
                    tc.MessageWriterSettings.SetServiceDocumentUri(ServiceDocumentUri);
                    testCase(tc);
                });
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteFeed(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, Func<ODataVersion, string> expectedXml)
        {
            return (testConfiguration) => TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyODataPayload(
                new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataItem>(
                    this.Settings,
                    ObjectModelUtils.CreateDefaultFeed(),
                    expectedXml(testConfiguration.Version),
                    null,
                    fragmentExtractor,
                    null,
                    /*disableXmlNamespaceNormalization*/ true),
                testConfiguration,
                this.Assert,
                this.Logger);
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteEntry(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, Func<ODataVersion, string> expectedXml)
        {
            return (testConfiguration) => TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyODataPayload(
                new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataItem>(
                    this.Settings,
                    ObjectModelUtils.CreateDefaultEntry(),
                    expectedXml(testConfiguration.Version),
                    null,
                    fragmentExtractor,
                    null,
                    /*disableXmlNamespaceNormalization*/ true),
                testConfiguration,
                this.Assert,
                this.Logger);
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteCollection(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, Func<ODataVersion, string> expectedXml)
        {
            return (testConfiguration) =>
            {
                if (testConfiguration.IsRequest) return;
                CollectionWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyCollectionPayload(new CollectionWriterTestDescriptor(
                    this.CollectionSettings,
                    "Collection", new CollectionWriterTestDescriptor.ItemDescription[0],
                    (tc) =>
                    {
                        return new AtomWriterTestExpectedResults(this.Settings.ExpectedResultSettings)
                        {
                            FragmentExtractor = fragmentExtractor,
                            Xml = expectedXml(tc.Version),
                            DisableNamespaceNormalization = true
                        };
                    },
                    null), testConfiguration, this.Assert, this.Logger);
            };
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteServiceDocument(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, string expectedXml)
        {
            var sampleWorkspace = ObjectModelUtils.CreateDefaultWorkspace();

            return (testConfiguration) =>
            {
                if (testConfiguration.IsRequest)
                {
                    return;
                }

                ODataMessageWriterSettings actualSettings = testConfiguration.MessageWriterSettings;
                if (actualSettings.PayloadBaseUri == null)
                {
                    actualSettings = actualSettings.Clone();
                    actualSettings.PayloadBaseUri = new Uri("http://odata.org");
                }

                TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyTopLevelContent(
                    new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataServiceDocument>(this.Settings, sampleWorkspace, expectedXml, null, fragmentExtractor, null, /*disableXmlNamespaceNormalization*/ true),
                    testConfiguration,
                    (messageWriter) => messageWriter.WriteServiceDocument(sampleWorkspace),
                    this.Assert,
                    actualSettings,
                    baselineLogger: this.Logger);
            };
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteProperty(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, Func<ODataVersion, string> expectedXml)
        {
            var sampleProperty = new ODataProperty() { Name = "Property", Value = 42 };

            return (testConfiguration) =>
            {
                TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyTopLevelContent(new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataProperty>(
                    this.Settings,
                    sampleProperty,
                    expectedXml(testConfiguration.Version),
                    null,
                    fragmentExtractor,
                    null,
                    /*disableXmlNamespaceNormalization*/ true),
                testConfiguration,
                (messageWriter) => messageWriter.WriteProperty(sampleProperty),
                this.Assert,
                baselineLogger: this.Logger);
            };
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteError(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, string expectedXml)
        {
            var sampleError = new ODataError();

            return (testConfiguration) =>
            {
                if (testConfiguration.IsRequest) return;
                TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyTopLevelContent(new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataError>(
                    this.Settings,
                    sampleError,
                    expectedXml,
                    null,
                    fragmentExtractor,
                    null,
                    /*disableXmlNamespaceNormalization*/ true),
                testConfiguration,
                (messageWriter) => messageWriter.WriteError(sampleError, false),
                this.Assert,
                baselineLogger: this.Logger);
            };
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteEntityReferenceLinks(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, string expectedXml)
        {
            var sampleLinks = new ODataEntityReferenceLinks();

            return (testConfiguration) =>
            {
                PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataEntityReferenceLinks> descriptor = new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataEntityReferenceLinks>(
                    this.Settings,
                    sampleLinks,
                    expectedXml,
                    null,
                    fragmentExtractor,
                    null,
                    /*disableXmlNamespaceNormalization*/ true);
                // Top-level EntityReferenceLinks payload write requests are not allowed.
                if (testConfiguration.IsRequest)
                {
                    descriptor.ExpectedResultCallback = (testConfig) => new WriterTestExpectedResults(this.Settings.ExpectedResultSettings)
                    {
                        ExpectedException2 = ODataExpectedExceptions.ODataException("ODataMessageWriter_EntityReferenceLinksInRequestNotAllowed")
                    };
                }
                TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyTopLevelContent(
                    descriptor,
                    testConfiguration,
                    (messageWriter) => messageWriter.WriteEntityReferenceLinks(sampleLinks),
                    this.Assert,
                    baselineLogger: this.Logger);
            };
        }

        private Action<WriterTestConfiguration> WriteEntityReferenceLink(Func<XElement, XElement> fragmentExtractor, string expectedXml, bool isClient, string odataNamespace)
        {
            var sampleLink = new ODataEntityReferenceLink { Url = new Uri("http://odata.org/link") };

            return (testConfiguration) =>
            {
                PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataEntityReferenceLink> descriptor = null;
                    descriptor = new PayloadWriterTestDescriptor<ODataEntityReferenceLink>(
                        this.Settings,
                        sampleLink,
                        expectedXml,
                        null,
                        fragmentExtractor,
                        null);

                TestWriterUtils.WriteAndVerifyTopLevelContent(
                    descriptor,
                    testConfiguration,
                    (messageWriter) => messageWriter.WriteEntityReferenceLink(sampleLink),
                    this.Assert,
                    baselineLogger: this.Logger);
            };
        }

        private static XElement ExtractRootElementAndNamespaceDeclarations(XElement root)
        {
            var e = new XElement(root);
            e.Attributes().Where(a => !a.IsNamespaceDeclaration).Remove();
            e.Nodes().Remove();
            return e;
        }

        private static XElement ExtractXmlBase(XElement root)
        {
            var e = new XElement("root");
            e.Add(root.Attribute(XNamespace.Xml + TestAtomConstants.XmlBaseAttributeName));
            return e;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
[Source Photo: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/iStock]
Meet the woman leading a sex revolution for seniors
Sex after 70 has never been better.
the new business of growing old
May 10th 2019 7:00 am May 10th 2019
Joan Price was a high school English teacher for 22 years. She was divorced and never had kids. It wasn't until she was 57–decades after any Hollywood rom-com director would think it possible–that she met the 64-year-old man who would sweep her off her feet.
Joan Price
"It was instant lust and then turned into the great love affair of my life," she recounts. "We eventually married. I lost him to cancer. But along the way, we were having such a glorious sex life that I didn't understand why this was such a hush-hush topic." Price saw a culture that wanted to grandmother her and books that were urging her to settle into her "golden years." "They were all gloom and doom, 'You've dried up, forget about it, and play bingo,'" she laughs. "I didn't have grandchildren or play bingo, but I did have a great sex life."
Fourteen years later, Price is the energetic face offering practical sex advice to seniors who don't lose their libidos just because they've been on this earth a little bit longer than the rest of us. While research on senior sexuality lagged until the '90s, we now have a pretty clear picture that stereotypes around sex and aging are wrong. A majority of seniors are sexually active into their 70s. A majority of that subset still have vaginal intercourse, while many masturbate and practice oral sex. A quarter of all people who are sexually active between ages 75 and 85 reported having sex at least once a week. And without the concern of getting pregnant, many opt not to use protection and so sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates can actually balloon later in life.
The erotic video site Pornhub confirms that people over 55 comprise 11% of its audience (people over 65 represent 4%)–which is in line with the demographic balance across the internet in general. People from 55 to 64 are 245% more likely to search for "mature amateur" and 167% more likely to search "hot granny," illustrating that older people aren't just having sex in real life; they desire their peers in fantasies.
And still, news headlines treat the proven-normal practice of senior sexuality as shocking, even laughable. "Our culture has this horror of old wrinkly people having sex at all," Price says. "And having good sex? Who could be?"
But it's exactly this phenomenon that's created incredible opportunity for Price and others in the sex wellness industry to change things, as the aging population is becoming the majority of our population. "Here's this huge demographic. We would rather buy from companies that didn't see us as invisible," says Price. "That saw us as not only active and present and visible but as desirable. Valuable."
In response, Price publishes a blog and newsletter that answers reader questions and reviews vibrators, taking concerns like arthritis into account. She recently completed her fourth book–this one on sex when grieving the loss of a loved one. And she has just filmed an explicit educational video, helping teach seniors how to have sex as they age.
As she points out, aging does change sex and for all sorts of reasons. Many issues are biological. Women in particular can face a loss of desire. They also have more trouble lubricating, and their vaginal walls may tighten, making penetration difficult. Men will most often have problems getting or maintaining erections. And then, of course, there are the tolls of aging on our bodies for everyone that can interfere with sex–the loss of strength and flexibility, chronic conditions, and surgeries can make the logistics of sex difficult or even impossible.
The even trickier problems can be about the social dynamics that change as you age. Price, who gets more emails every day than she can possibly respond to, answers questions like: What happens to your sex life when your partner gets Alzheimer's–is it possible to desire them? Is it okay to desire them? What do you do when the partner in your life has passed and you are left with sexual desire–a combination of guilt and game that's decades out of practice? "I get a lot of questions about dating," says Price. "'I'm widowed, haven't had sex in 30 years. What do I expect when I'm dating?'"
But in Price's mind, none of this should thwart a healthy sex life–and it doesn't have to, so long we can all unlearn some of what society has taught us. "I'm honored really to be doing it because it's helping so many people, but I'm also a little anger that this has to be so difficult for people as they age–to continue seeing ourselves as sexual beings–because our culture does not see us that way," says Price.
[Image: Hot Octopuss]
Repackaging sex
Price's core, practical teaching, if she has one, is to urge people to draw no distinction between penetrative and non-penetrative sex. Because while many seniors can continue having traditional intercourse, others can't, and they should just learn to work around that hurdle. She is quick to point out that sex toys–while often imagined for the young and kinky–are actually useful tools for overcoming the practical challenges of sex and aging. But in a marketing world that champions the 18-24 demographic and the promise of eternal youth, they aren't always marketed that way.
Case in point: A sex toy brand called Hot Octopuss developed a vibrator for men that can wrap around a penis, even when flaccid. Its hands-free stimulation can actually give some men orgasms without erections. At the same time, its outer shell can vibrate for a partner, allowing a couple to grind to climax together. This sort of tool is right in Price's wheelhouse–just the sort of thing she would want to promote to her readers–because it enables sex without intercourse.
"When I first saw their website, it was very stark white on black, lots of photos of young people with tattoos. I said to them, 'Your product is perfect for my age group. Instead of young people with tattoos, put some older people on there,'" says Price. "The next time I looked, here are some old people with tattoos. Now the website is full of old people!"
Joan's story might sound like an exaggeration, but it's not. Today, Hot Octopuss walks a fine line of branding, showing the gradient of sexuality across age groups, and that's because the company took some unpaid, unsolicited criticism to heart. "She gave us her views, that if we wanted to be inclusive, we need to think about how we looked to someone who is more mature," says Julia Margo, cofounder of Hot Octopuss. "Since, we've used more inclusive imagery. That's what we're trying to do as a company. It's very difficult to find imagery of older people who've been photographed to look sexy and sexual, so it's actually much harder than it should be. But we make a special effort to make sure we do."
Hot Octopuss has gone so far as to include aging in its FAQs. And it's all paid off in a meaningful way to their bottom line. Today, half of the company's customer base is over 45 years old. They receive frequent testimonials from older couples who report how a few battery-operated devices have enabled a satisfying sex life when all else failed. "When you hear things like that, you obviously want to keep feeding that demand, because there's a massive demand," says Margo. "As a business, you want to make money, but you want to serve a purpose."
Jessica Drake [Photo: Wicked Pictures]
Demystifying senior sex
Now, Price has made the leap from writing about sex to making videos about it. Five years ago, Price met Jessica Drake–an adult film star who became a certified sex educator–at a sex education conference. Since the '90s, Drake has been under contract with a company called Wicked Pictures, which produces big budget adult films aimed at couples. Around 2010, long before she met price, Drake pitched herself, not as a performer, but as a writer and director for a new series that would teach people about sex.
"She was about 70, and I wasn't 40 yet. Something in Joan really resonated with me. I took to her immediately," recounts Drake. They grabbed a meal together. And in the relatively small world of sex education trade shows and speaking events, they bumped into each other again and again.
"I thought to myself, I want to do something with her, but I don't know what that's going to be," says Drake. Around the same time, Drake was touring sex shops across the United States to offer advice and promote products. Sex shop operators often serve as the sex educators of their communities, answering all sorts of questions from customers on a daily basis. "I ask them what topics they'd like to see in the future. Something that had been really coming up was sex and aging," Drake says. "They were phrasing it in all different ways. I was getting things like, 'Why don't you address sex and menopause?' or '[what happens] when couples are together a long time and don't want to do it anymore?'"
[Photo: Wicked Pictures]
Two years ago, at another conference, Drake and Price discussed making a Wicked Sex guide to sex and aging. "Initially she expressed some reluctance . . . because while my series are educational, make no mistake, they demonstrate hard-core sex. Joan was afraid her fan base would be scared to have explicit content in their product," says Drake. So Price polled some of her users on the idea. She got positive feedback. She then cowrote, codirected, and narrated a guide to sex for couples over 60 in Los Angeles last April.
Casting the film was a story unto itself. It was so hard to find participants that talent was flown in from all over the United States rather than pulled from the L.A. area (as is the case with most adult film shoots). The four stars–who are not models or actors but everyday people–were all first timers on camera. They demonstrate positions that are less likely to exacerbate injuries, toy use, and communication. They even give their own testimonials of how sex has changed over the course of their lives.
"I think doing this project helps to combat what we are fed by society about ageism, when we're made to feel like sex has an expiration date, or casual sex is not something older people do," says Drake. "My goal for making this movie was to give people who are older permission to claim their sexuality."
The unique emotional circumstances of sex and older age
As the video guide is being edited, Price awaits the release of her fourth book this August, about sex and grieving, or navigating sexuality after losing someone you loved. While it's not her most explicit book, it may be Price's most personal, digging deep into the emotional pains of losing lifelong partners, only to be left with a desire for intimacy.
"It might seem like a narrow niche, but it's so important. When people are grieving a loss of a partner, they don't know what to do with their sexual feelings . . . is it okay to have them?" says Price. "People will tell you how you should act because it's too soon or not soon enough. They'll say wait, 'How can you betray your deceased spouse by dating someone else,' but on the other hand, 'Isn't it time you stepped out already?' It's very destructive behavior from well-meaning loved ones." But of course, it's no one's business but your own.
The topic of loss is one Price has tackled for a long time–at least since her book Naked at Our Age was published in 2011. Sometimes partners die; other times, their memory and personalities alter with conditions like Alzheimer's Disease. People with Alzheimer's can lose their sex drive, or in rare cases they become hypersexual, talking about and desiring sex constantly. Meanwhile, their partners may still desire them–and act on their desires. Or they might feel too much like a caregiver to feel romantic anymore. In any case, as someone loses their mental faculties, the option for sexual consent may disappear, at which time experts recommend you find nonsexual ways of exploring intimacy. And while some may frown upon the idea, the Alzheimer's Association gives permission for people to date again, if it feels right, when their partners are afflicted with the disease.
Which is to say, societally, we're still quite ignorant about what the social norms of aging and sexuality should be, because even a few decades in, we're still overcoming our dated notions of sex and aging as a society. "I don't know what type of sex life my grandparents had because who'd ask them. Who knows? We don't have any comparative studies on sexuality from 1800 to 1900, versus 2000," says Price. "I have people in my family who have never read any of my books. There's nothing I'm doing that is creepy in any way. I'm just bringing this out in the open."


text:
Nigeria Rattled By Strikes, Sectarian Violence
By Ofeibea Quist-Arcton
Sunday Alamba
The Nigerian government removed fuel subsidies, which drove up prices and prompted nationwide strikes this week. Here, a young man protests in front of burning tires in the commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan is facing the most sustained challenge to his presidency as he confronts crises on two fronts.
His government recently removed fuel subsidies, which has sent transportation costs soaring and prompted nationwide strikes that were in their third day Wednesday.
And a radical Muslim group is warning of renewed sectarian violence in a country that has a roughly equal split between Muslims and Christians.
Boko Haram is the anti-Western and anti-government Islamist sect that has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks, mainly on Christian targets since Christmas.
We are saying to Muslims, our Muslim friends and brothers, co-owners of Nigeria, please, let us work together, show us that we are one. We can't continue to pay the price. Join us.
The group released a 14-minute video on Wednesday, which shows the man regarded as the group's leader, Abubakar Shekau, sitting between two Kalashnikov rifles, wearing a bullet-proof vest, as he attempts to justify the killings.
"We are ready to negotiate if that is in line with how God says it should be done," Shekau says. "But we will not negotiate on the terms of infidels. The Koran is clear on when to negotiate and when not to – and says how the Holy Prophet Muhammad negotiated, as well as how those who came before us did it."
Shekau says the recent attacks on churches and other targets are retribution for the killing of Muslims. He warns that the police and the army are no match for Boko Haram militants, who want Islamic law imposed in northern Nigeria, where most residents are Muslim.
The sect is also warning Christians to leave the north.
Muslims and Christians Fearful
President Jonathan says Boko Haram has supporters and members within the government, military, security forces and judiciary. And there have also been reports that the sect may have links to Al Qaida.
Nigerian Muslims and Christians are both living in fear, as tension, suspicion and violence increase.
Five people were killed in an attack on a mosque and an Islamic school this week.
Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP/Getty Images
Thousands of protesters gather at a park in Lagos on Wednesday to protest the higher prices brought on by the removal of fuel subsidies.
"We are sad, we are saddened by everything that is happening," says Ayo Oritsejafor, a pastor who heads the Christian Association of Nigeria. "Our people are being killed like animals. We are saying to Muslims, our Muslim friends and brothers, co-owners of Nigeria, please, let us work together, show us that we are one. We can't continue to pay the price. Join us."
President Jonathan also has big problems with the labor unions and Nigerians who accuse their leaders of corruption and living off the country's oil revenues, while most people remain poor.
Much of the country was shut down for a third day Wednesday, part of a crippling strike that was called after the president announced the scrapping of what he says are unsustainable government fuel subsidies. The pump price for gas immediately doubled, with the price of many other goods and services also shot up.
"I assure all Nigerians that I feel the pain and share the anguish that you all feel," says the president. "I personally feel pain to see the sharp increase in transport fares and the prices of goods and services. I probably would have reacted in the same manner as some of our compatriots or hold the same critical views about the government."
The president's apparent empathy only enraged many Nigerians. Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets this week, vowing to force Jonathan to reverse his decision.
Ofeibea Quist-Arcton
Ofeibea Quist-Arcton is an award-winning broadcaster from Ghana and is NPR's Africa Correspondent. She describes herself as a "jobbing journalist"—who's often on the hoof, reporting from somewhere.