Die Leitung des IG Farben Campus wird nicht müde die "zivilisierende Kraft der Ästhtik" zu beschwören. Mit skurril-kritischem Kunstverständnis sollen dabei die Geister der nationalsozialistischen Geschichte dieses Ortes befriedet und zugleich mahnend gegen studentische Proteste in Stellung gebracht werden. Anhand des Beispiels der pseudo-kritischen Selbstvergewisserung der Goethe-Universität lassen sich dabei sowohl veränderte Legitimationsstrategien herrschender Verhältnisse diskutieren, als auch Veränderungen von Produktionsbedingungen der Kunst selbst, besonders in jenem Feld das sich als kritisches Kunstfeld versteht.
In Nachbereitung dieser Veranstaltung entstand der Text "Den IG-Farben ein Antimonument. Wie Umgehen mit dem Poelzigbau?" der im November 2010 in der Broschüre der Campus-Antifa Frankfurt am Main veröffentlicht wurde.
Am 04.08.2009 und 05.08.2009 wird sich die Taking Measures Gruppe der Free Class FFM an diesem öffentlichen Workshop während der Interflugs Summer Academy beteiligen.
Es wird darum gehen, den zeitgenössischen Tendenzen der Ästhetisierung von Politik und den Romantisierungen von Politizität einen am Realismus orientierten Begriff von (Selbst)organisation entgegenzustellen. Die Arbeitsgruppe wird auf eine Publikation hinarbeiten, die unsere Position reflektiert und einem möglichst weiten Kreis zur Verfügung stellt. Einige Texte werden ebenfalls in der Dokumentation der Interflugs-Sommerakademie erscheinen.
Big art sponsors shorten their budgets or melt into air, such as the investment bank Lehman Brothers which also co-financed the Städel Museum in Frankfurt am Main. At the same time the "cultural nation" Germany will profit from art as a local investment, especially in times of economic crisis. The abundance of exhibitions adressing the topic of Germany within the last years show how curatorial concepts can turn art, which even takes a decidedly critical stance against Germany, into a very personal and subjective commitment towards the national state. Max Klebb described these developments aptly as "the critical rebirth of nationalism as culture." In this way individualized imperatives of artistic production are turned into a subjectivist nationalism which boasts the claim to harbor and utilize limitless dimensions of differences.
The present form of an increasingly visible crisis development within capitalist economy demands a more realistic view on things. In place of the neoliberal euphoria of deregulated markets steps the similarly neoliberal conflict between globalization and national protectionism. But still there is a governmental consensus about taking the economic crisis as an occasion to finally moralize capitalism. The fact that this isn't primarily meant to flatter NGOs and alter-globalization movements like Attac was made clear by german chancellor Angela Merkel in her new-years speech in 2009: "The crisis reveals the common spirit. Now this common spirit can help us in every situation. (…) We, the Germans, already mastered very different challenges, in the following year we will remeber them." Shortly after, crisis ridden workers in Great Britain were motivated by a similar sense of national community. They reminded their Labour government of its long made promises by means of a wildcat strike demanding "British Jobs for British Workers". Here the other side of such "common spirit" of culturalized nationalism becomes clear. Namely the fact that its ideal of affirming differences is based on precarious conditions of bourgeois political economy. As long as the capitalist factory runs well every working worker is welcome at least until the next crisis argument provides the legitimation to reorganize the inventory of Human Resources on a national level.
This present situation illustrates the urgency for a critique of nationalism. So for us as artists the question arises how a cultural nationalism can be confronted in the field of visual arts. Therefore we attempt to discuss realist potentials in art beyond the mere idealization of neoliberal subjectivisms from self-entrepreneurship to "Du-bist-Deutschland" (You-are-Germany). The cultural revitalization of a nationalist romanticism calls for the actualization of realism – a realist stance in art confronting these contemporary forms of national naturalization. But still, it seems that art has more in common with police than with politics. The romantic idea of the artist continues to serve as a tool for subjectivist normalisation. However, the producer of art is still a subject of the enlightenment and as such capable of solidarity and collectivity without the abandonment of identity. Realism as artistic solidarity in opposition to new cultural strategies of nationalism is what we want to address. This is not achieved in the mere reenactment of the historical framework of the debates on realism in visual arts since the beginning of the 19th century. Realism must continously be redeveloped concerning its specific relation to respective historical conditions of crisis.
 such as "Made in Germany", Hannover 2007 or "Vertrautes Terrain", ZKM Karlsruhe 2008. And in 2009 celebrating the 60th aniversary of Germany: "Flagge zeigen?", Haus der Geschichte Bonn as well as "SIXTY YEARS. SIXTY WORKS.", Martin-Gropius-Bau Berlin. And on April 25, 2009 the contemporary art exhibition "2000 Years Varus Battle. COLOSSAL – Art Fact Fiction" (curated by former documenta boss Jan Hoet) celebrates the 2000th aniversary of the founding myth of german identity – the Varus battle in the Teuteburger forest in the Osnabrücker Land. Under the topic "Deutschland 2009″ the Kulturstiftung des Bundes sponsors a range of projects in different art fields such as the theatre project "60 Years in Germany – Warming up to an Uncomfortable Identity" or the exhibition "Art of Two Germanys / Cold War Cultures" in the Germanische Nationalmuseum in Nürnberg and in the DHM Berlin. Also in cinema the national birthday is celebrated with "Deutschland 09 – 13 kurze Filme zur Lage der Nation" in collaboration with some of the most well known german star-directors.
 Max Klebb in "Die Absage an die Nation Kollektivieren", invitation call for a conference on art and (anti)natioanlism in Berlin, February 2009.
 Du bist Deutschland – "You are Germany" was a social marketing campaign in Germany. Its aim was to achieve positive thinking and a new national feeling.
in solidarity with Faites votre jeu!
An exhibition organized by art students from HfBK Städelschule and HFG Offenbach in the self-organized center for art and culture of the initiative Faites votre jeu!
In The Real Estate Show the artist group Free Class FFM presents works of students from the art academies HFG Offenbach and HfBK Städelschule. The exhibition specifically relates to the precarious status of the exhibition space in Varrentrappstr. 38. The collaborative installation of artistic and non-artistic interventions in the space of the self-organized artistic and cultural center of the initiative Faites votre jeu! are positioned as a manifestation of artistic solidarity.
On the 2nd of August a former youth center in Varrentrappstr. 38 which was empty and unused for 7 years was revitalized as a self-organized artistic and cultural center by the initiative Faites votre jeu!. Since the reclamation of this building, Faites votre jeu!, as an association of artistic and political interest groups, organizes a practical reply to the social restrictions of urban space in Frankfurt am Main.
We, the artists of The Real Estate Show, declare our solidarity with these measures taken. For many years one can observe the systematic limitation and destruction of self-determined options and prospects in this city. This also concerns a great deal of artists who can't afford basic preconditions of work in Frankfurt am Main, such as studios, workshops and other spaces of production. In this situation the initiative Faites votre Jeu! has managed to organize the preconditions for experimental art production by allocating studios and spaces for exhibitions and other events. This is why so many representatives of art institutions in Frankfurt am Main expressed their solidarity: e.g. Judith Hopf (Professor for Visual Arts at the HfBK Städelschule), Prof. Dr. Norbert Abels (Scenario Editor at the Opera in Frankfurt am Main), Max Weinberg (internationaly known artist, since 50 years working in Frankfurt am Main), Michael Krebber (Professor and officiating Principal of the HfBK Städelschule), Tobi Maier (Curator at the Frankfurter Kunstverein until October 2008), the studentrepresentatives of the HfBK Städelschule, the ASTA of the HFG Offenbach, as well as the many artists that already used and will use the spaces in Varrentrappstr. 38, … – All of them expressed their solidarity with the initiative. Faites votre jeu! creates an important signal for this city. The city administration should welcome this proactive initiative with respect and not with criminal complaints or threats to clear the building with police force.
The Real Estate Show will open on the 9th of Januar at 19:00 with regular opening times untill the 31st of January. The entrance is free of charge. The timing of the exhibition could be understood as a reaction to the call to clear the building already on the 15th of January expressed by the responsible representative of the city administration, Jutta Ebberling, head of the communal department for education. We don't believe that the city government of Frankfurt am Main can afford the public consequences of such policed escallation of violence connected to the clearence of this building. Instead we sincerely invite Jutta Eberling to stop the proceeding criminalization of Faites votre jeu! and to take the opening of The Real Estate Show as an opportunity to get a picture of the enormous success of this initiative.
in solidartiy with Faites votre jeu!
The Real Estate Show is financially supported by Städelschule Portikus e.V.
in Solidarität mit Faites votre jeu!
Eine Kunstausstellung organisiert von Studierenden der HfBK Städelschule und HFG Offenbach im Kunst- und Kulturzentrum der Initiative Faites votre jeu!
In der Ausstellung The Real Estate Show präsentiert die Free Class FFM Arbeiten von Studierenden der HFG Offenbach und der HfBK Städelschule. Die Ausstellung bezieht sich konkret auf den prekären Status des Ausstellungsortes. Die kollaborative Installation künstlerischer und nicht-künstlerischer Interventionen, in den Räumlichkeiten des selbstverwalteten Kunst- und Kulturzentrums der Initiative Faites votre Jeu!, positionieren sich dabei als ein deutliches Zeichen künstlerischer Solidarität.
Am 2. August 2008 wurde das seit 7 Jahren leer stehende, ehemals als Jugend- und Kulturzentrum genutzte Haus in der Varrentrappstr. 38 durch die Initiative Faites votre jeu! als selbstverwaltete Kunst- und Kulturinstitution wieder belebt. Als Zusammenhang politischer sowie künstlerischer Interessensgruppen organisiert Faites votre jeu!, seit der Nutzbarmachung des Gebäudes, eine praktische Antwort auf die sozialen Verwerfungen des städtischen Raums in Frankfurt am Main.
Wir, die Künstler_innen der Ausstellung The Real Estate Show, erklären uns solidarisch mit diesen Maßnahmen. Seit vielen Jahren ist zu beobachten wie selbstbestimmte Entfaltungsmöglichkeiten in Frankfurt am Main systematisch eingeschränkt und verunmöglicht werden. Das betrifft auch sehr viele Künstler_innen die sich wichtige Voraussetzungen ihrer Arbeit, wie Ateliers, Werkstätten und andere Produktionsräume, in dieser Stadt nicht mehr leisten können. In dieser Situation hat es die Initiative Faites votre Jeu! geschafft, Voraussetzungen für experimentelle Kunstproduktion zu organisieren, in dem sie Arbeits-, Ausstellungs- und Veranstaltungsräume unkommerziell zur Verfügung stellt. Dies erklärt auch die breite Unterstützung verschiedenster Repräsentant_innen des Frankfurter Kunst- und Kulturbetriebs: z.B. Judith Hopf (Professorin für Bildende Kunst an der HfBK Städelschule), Prof. Dr. Norbert Abels (Chefdramaturg der Oper Frankfurt), Max Weinberg (international bekannter Künstler, arbeitet seit 50 Jahren in Frankfurt am Main), Michael Krebber (Professor und amtierender Rektor der HfBK Städelschule), Tobi Maier (bis vor kurzem Kurator am Frankfurter Kunstverein), die Studierendenvertretung der HfBK Städelschule, der ASTA der HFG Offenbach, sowie die vielen Frankfurter Künstler_innen die bereits die Räumlichkeiten in der Varrentrappstr. 38 genutzt haben und auch in Zukunft nutzen werden, … – Sie alle haben in entsprechenden Erklärungen ihre Solidarität mit der Initiative Faites votre jeu! zum Ausdruck gebracht. Faites votre jeu! setzt ein wichtiges Signal für diese Stadt. Die Stadtverwaltung sollte die Eigeninitiative dieses Projekts mit Respekt begrüßen, und nicht etwa mit Strafanzeigen oder gar polizeilichen Räumungsdrohungen.
The Real Estate Show wird am 9. Januar um 19:00 eröffnet und mit regelmäßigen Öffnungszeiten bis 31. Januar kostenlos zugänglich sein. Die Terminwahl mag als Antwort auf die Forderung der Frankfurter Bildungsdezernentin Jutta Eberling interpretiert werden, welche die Räumung des Hauses bereits für den 15. Januar fordert. Wir gehen nicht davon aus, dass sich die Frankfurter Stadtregierung die öffentlichen Konsequenzen einer solchen polizeilichen Gewalteskalation leisten wird. Stattdessen laden wir Jutta Eberling herzlich dazu ein, die laufende Kriminalisierung von Faites votre jeu! zu beenden und die Eröffnung von The Real Estate Show zum Anlass zunehmen, sich selbst ein Bild vom enormen Erfolg dieser Initiative zu machen.
The Real Estate Show wird finanziell gefördert durch Städelschule Portikus e.V.
The Realism Working Group of the Free Class Frankfurt/M invites you to participate in the Free Class Semester 11/2008 on Art + Realism. All events of the Free Class are free of charge.
and read the online magazine on the topic of Realism.
Feel welcome to visit us!
Language of communication is English.


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Artist CD, All Artist Albums, Artists Vinyl Masterpiece
Switch – This Is My Dream (PTG CD)
Artist: Switch
Sort: Artist CD
Availability: In stock SKU: PTG 34081 Categories: All Artist Albums, Artist CD, Artists Vinyl Masterpiece Tags: 3for2, PTG
CD Description
Switch – Switch
Bobby DeBarge (keyboards), Greg Williams (keyboards) and Jody Sims (drums) collaborated in the Ohio-based funk band White Heat in the early 70s.
After recording an album in 1975 produced by Barry White, the trio left the band, enlisting Philip Ingram (vocals),Bobby and Tommy DeBarge (bass) and Eddie Fluellen (guitar) to form First Class. Jermaine Jackson discovered the band and helped them to secure a contract with Motown Records and produced their first album titled Switch, for which they were renamed to Switch.
The band's dance-orientated brand of soul proved to be popular in clubs and discos, and they enjoyed three major hits in the late 70s, 'There'll Never Be' (Top 10 R&B charts), 'I Call Your Name' and 'Love Over And Over Again'. They were unable to break into the mainstream pop market however, and decreasing returns for their efforts led them to quit Motown in 1982.
Philip Ingram left and went on his own, followed by Bobby and Tommy DeBarge to join other members of their family group DeBarge. Percussionist/vocalist Renard Gallo and Gonzales Ozen and keyboardist Attala Zane Giles were their replacements. Meanwhile, Switch moved to the Total Experience label cutting the album "Am I still your boyfriend" and scored a belated UK hit with 'Keeping Secrets' in 1984.
01. Believe In Yourself (4:26)
02. Love Over And Over Again (4:11)
03. Just Imagine (4:15)
04. All I Need Is You (3:26)
05. You And I (5:02)
06. What A Feeling (4:44)
07. Without You In My Life (4:07)
08. Why'd You Let Love Fall (4:20)
09. We Can Make It Better (1:43)
10. This Is My Dream (4:47)
Atlantic Starr – Brilliance (PTG CD)
Starpoint – All Night Long (PTG CD)
Rockie Robbins – I Believe In Love (PTG CD)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Tain District is one of the twelve districts in Bono Region, Ghana. Originally it was formerly part of the then-larger Wenchi District on 10 March 1989; until the western part of the district was split off to create Tain District on 12 November 2003 (effectively 17 February 2004); thus the remaining part has been retained as Wenchi District (which it was later upgraded to municipal district assembly status and has been renamed as Wenchi Municipal District on 29 February 2008). Later, the northern part of the district was split off to create Banda District on 28 June 2012; thus the remaining part has been retained as Tain District. The district assembly is located in the northeast part of Bono Region and has Nsawkaw as its capital town.

List of settlements

Sources

 District: Tain
 19 New Districts Created, November 20, 2003.

References

2003 establishments in Ghana

Bono Region

Districts of Bono Region

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Podcast Ep. 158: How...
Podcast Ep. 158: How to Market a Sub Brand at a Law Firm
by Guy Alvarez | Apr 14, 2022 | Podcast
In this episode of the Legal Marketing 2.0 podcast, Guy is joined by Lisa Friedlander to discuss NEXT, an innovative law firm that gives guidance to startups and entrepreneurs. Lisa started her career as an attorney, entrepreneur, and angel investor. She practiced corporate and telecommunications law at both small and large firms for 15 years. Lisa joined Shulman Rogers to help launch and grow the NEXT platform, as well as support the business services group. Lastly, she is a mentor and speaker for a variety of entrepreneurship and investment groups along with sitting on the advisory board for several startups.
1. Tell us what NEXT is all about?
After selling my company, I went from being a provider of legal services for a decade to a customer or client of legal services. I experienced the climate every business owner has experienced when they engage with a law firm. Some overall great things, and some not-so-good things. You know, lack of communication, time, and all those pain points that law firms deal with on a regular basis when servicing their clients. In Shulman Rogers, a gentleman by the name of Anthony Millin launched a new division that was all about startups and EGCs. It focused on servicing them in a really innovative and disruptive way. Having just had literally the experience of being on the receiving end of legal services, and personally experiencing all the pain points that Anthony set out to solve with NEXT, I actually reached out to him and kind of raised my hand and said I get this, I get what you're doing and I think a lot of companies, small businesses and startups are really going to react positively to this value proposition. If you need somebody to help you build this, I can do marketing, business development, strategic partnerships, and all.
2. How has the interrelationship with NEXT and Shulman Rogers been? How does that dynamic work, and what challenges have you faced?
I have to give Shulman Rogers a ton of credit, law firms aren't necessarily the most innovative places. But Shulman really, really was not only just open to this idea but really excited by it and willing to put in a lot of resources. They gave time, money, and commitment to the idea that small businesses and startups may have something a little bit different than what your traditional legal model offers. It's not that you necessarily start out with NEXT and then graduate, so to speak. But it's the idea that between all of the skill sets and all of the different business models that Shulman Rogers and NEXT provide we can meet our clients, where they are at the moment that they need legal services. That was sort of the jumping-off point for the acceptance and then it was our job to pay credence and respect to the larger brand. We are always sort of balancing that there's a need for different services that are packaged and paid for in different ways at different times. It was more we saw ourselves as an extension and incorporated ourselves in.
3. How did you develop the right strategy for NEXT?
I think it's worked out really well. We sort of operate in a full silo that's cordoned off from the rest of the firm. Shulman Rogers in addition to myself has two remarkable women that lead marketing and business development. They've been incredibly supportive of NEXT and helpful to me. We've all kind of looked at it as NEXT is an extension of Shulman that is appropriate and offers a certain value that many other firms don't offer. We all look at this together collectively as a way to grow from the managers and as a way to make sure that our clients matter regardless of how big or small their businesses are or how big or small their legal need is. It really is all about that client-centric approach and structure.
4. What makes NEXT unique?
So the pain points that Anthony and his decade of experience of running companies as a serial entrepreneur had is that legal fees have the dreaded billable hour, clients will feel that the law firm model is attorney centric and not client-centric, and lastly, the lack of firms willing to use technology. Our entrepreneurs are great in terms of communicating and making the whole attorney-client relationship just as transparent and collaborative and efficient as it possibly can be. We believe that predictability and reasonableness and sustainability are critical for any company, but it's certainly critical when you're launching a startup, growing, scaling, and raising outside capital. I mean it's honestly not rocket science, it's a commitment to predictability.
NEXT uses its client-centric approach to help grow startups and EGCs in any way they can. Their experience and backing from a well-respected firm such as Shulman Rogers are mixed with their new and innovative strategies. In the end, they have a strong commitment to predictability, reasonableness, and sustainability for all their clients, no matter how large or small.
You can find Lisa Friedlander on LinkedIn and you can learn more about NEXT here.
Paid Search and Paid Social


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The Boss - Book Blitz and Giveaway
Abigail Owen
(Fire's Edge #1)
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Finn Conleth leads his team of enforcer dragon shifters with an iron fist and a cold heart. Every dragon seeks his destined mate, but the process to turn the woman he once thought was his killed her and devastated him. He will never risk his heart again. His team is his family now. When his body eventually gives out, he'll leave, living his last days alone.
Delaney Hamilton moved across the country to escape the freak fires that plague her. But when another suspicious fire erupts and rapidly escalates around her, her hopes for a new life go up in smoke. She has no choice but to turn to the mysterious men who come to her aid.
Finn knows the fire is dragon-caused, which puts Delaney's problems directly in his jurisdiction. No matter how her wounded grey eyes call to every part of him, he refuses to risk her life in the mating process.
Until another dragon threatens to claim Delaney for his own, and Finn has to sacrifice everything to keep her alive…
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
No way was she misinterpreting the need reflecting back at her.
Say it, she silently urged. Too proud to beg out loud. Do something.
"What do you want, Finn?" she repeated.
He tipped his head down, though his gaze remained on her, but the light in those blue depths shifted, turning from banked need, held ruthlessly in check, to a possessiveness that drew her body into aching awareness.
He pulled lightly on her wrist, drawing her across what had been an impassable chasm of space, until she was flush against his hard body. His other hand came under the fall of her hair to rest against her neck.
She didn't look away, not even as he lowered his head, his movement agonizingly slow. His mouth only a whisper from hers, he stopped.
"You," he said. "I want you."
Finally. She had no idea if she closed the distanced between their lips or if he did. She only knew that she was getting exactly what she wanted.
Sensation forced her eyes closed as the heat of him seeped into her skin, her body flushing with it, swamping her senses. Their tongues tangled, his mouth hard and urgent against hers, like he couldn't get enough, like he needed to possess her. The speed of her body's reaction was so fast, so immediate, that she went dizzy with the need, like looking over the edge of a terrifying drop.
She was too out of her element, too out of control, but she didn't want to stop. She wanted more.
He released her wrist, wrapping his arm around her waist, her softness yielding to his hard body as he held her closer. At the same time, he loosened his grip on her neck, brushing over the sensitive skin at her nape with his fingers.
Shards of electricity zapped from that simple touch directly to her core, which throbbed in response. At the same time, warmth from that touch spread through her on a wave of a feeling akin to total acceptance. Like this was where she was supposed to be. A low moan dragged from her mouth as he lifted her, just enough that it put him in complete control. He slipped a thigh between her legs, then pressed her down.
Delaney leaned into him, her body softening into his, attuned to what his wicked hands and lips were doing to her even as her heart beat fast has hummingbird's wings just to be in his arms. She arched into him, moving against him with a moan.
His hand slid under her shirt and he brushed against the sensitive flesh at her waist, his skin warm against hers. Which only made her want more skin.
With eager hands, she tugged at his black t-shirt, breaking their kisses only long enough to pull it over his head. Then she allowed her hands to roam, to feel the rigid strength in his body, loving the heat of him, the bourbon and Coke smell of him.
A shudder shook his body. "I want you." He paused, then said something else under his breath. Something like, "More than I should let myself." But then his lips were back on hers, addling her senses and taking over her mind.
A bellow rent the air and jerked Delaney out of the oblivion of pleasure where she floated. She snapped her head up, breaking the kiss to listen. Another sound that she could only classify as a roar broke the stillness.
"What was that?" she asked. Fear, rather than need, had her heart tripping over itself inside her chest. "It sounds like a…wounded animal."
Finn gave a low rumble that sounded more like a warning growl than anything a human would make, and her heart slammed into high gear. Slowly, dread pulling at her, she turned her head to look directly at him.
To encounter eyes ablaze. Not figuratively. Literally ablaze. Blue flames consumed his irises.
What the hell? Panic spiked inside her, and her breath came out in short, sharp bursts, speeding up as she absorbed what she was seeing.
Adrenaline joined the fear and she shoved his chest. Hard.
She must've surprised him, because Finn released her, stumbling back a few paces. She managed to keep her feet under her, then scrambled back, trying not to trip over any rocks in her path.
He held up his hands. "Delaney, don't—"
She did the only thing she could. She ran.
Award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
No matter the genre, she loves to write witty, feisty heroines, sexy heroes who deserve them, and a cast of lovable characters to surround them (and maybe get their own stories). She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero, her husband, and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.
Abigail also writes award-winning contemporary romance under the pen name Kadie Scott. (http://kadie-scott.com)
For the latest news and exclusive excerpts, sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/Lw2XH
Best of luck with this book.. looks like a great read....
This book has a great cover.
looks quite intense
This so sounds like my kind of book.
Awesome cover, can't wait to check it out!
Dale Wilke
Sounds great.
Bea LaRocca
Congratulations on the new book release. Gorgeous cover and a great excerpt. This sounds like an awesome read.
Bridgett Wilbur
Great cover.
I love the cover! Can't wait to read this!
wendy hutton
the books sounds great good luck on the tour


Okay, well only good books.
I am a bit of a book snob.
I have been to many home school conferences by the awesome Carol Joy Seid, this chic knows her stuff.
Anyway, she gives two pieces of advice on books for children.
2. If it's an Usborne book it IS a good book.
After I heard her say that I started investigating for myself.
I couldn't figure out how to get them online, unless they were from the UK.
I did find some at museums, amusement parks, and libraries.
Once I got a few Usborne books for my girls, I was hooked.
They are educational yet fun. Seriously the girls have no problem looking at these books for hours.
..and on......and ...they are amazing!
Recently I have been wanting to supplement our income, without being away from my girls and hubby too much.
I went to a home school conference and saw Usborne was there. I ran to the booth to buy books for my girls. As I was talking with some of the ladies in the booth they informed me about how they got involved selling Usborne.
You can sell these books on your own?
Now I have never got into selling things at parties, I am not a salesman; but I knew how much I loved these books and they really do sell themselves so I signed up.
Speaking of an FB page, I am having a giveaway right now.
So go like my page and get in on this free book action.
I will give the winner a book that will suit their family. And I will even ship it for free.
I am pumped to get my girls a huge library of Usborne books, help out my family and am also so excited to share them with you!


The work is progressing well on site. It is estimated that the building may be reoccupied in Mid-March.
Thermostats have been installed in all the Portakabins to regulate the heating system.
An intercom system is currently being installed in the Portakabins.
The DES has advised that they are still drawing up the design. The school will then view the design before proceeding to planning.


Welcome to the website of Essig Motors, the Greenville area Chrysler dealership where customer satisfaction is always the number one priority. Whether you're looking for new or pre-owned vehicle sales, servicing, repairs or parts, you'll find all your Chrysler needs taken care of by our friendly and knowledgeable team here at Essig Motors located at 2204 South East Third Street, Aledo, IL 61231.
For your convenience, our entire new Chrysler inventory is listed online for you to browse through here at our website. And as well as all the latest Chrysler models, you'll also find the latest new vehicles from Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Dodge and Jeep too. So, whether you're in the market for something compact and economical like the Chrysler 200 or Chevy Spark, something big and powerful like a Chevy Silverado or anything in between, we've got it covered here at Essig Motors.
Of course, not everyone looking to buy a vehicle wants a brand new one, so we also have an extensive pre-owned inventory for you to select from. As well as pre-owned and Certified Pre-Owned models from the manufacturers we represent new, you'll also find we have models from other major manufacturers. Like our new inventory, all our pre-owned models are available for you to check out here on our website.
Even though we always bring you the latest offers and the most competitive pricing, sometimes our dedicated finance experts can make our already fabulous deals even more affordable with a wide range of auto loan and lease products to fit all types of budgets and circumstances.
As a full-service main dealer representing some of the biggest brands in the auto industry, looking after you and you vehicle long into the future is also a big priority for us here at Essig Motors. Our certified technicians have all the latest training and equipment to handle any job that comes their way, and our friendly advisors will make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible for you at all times. But if you prefer to go down the do-it-yourself route, our fully stocked parts department can supply all the genuine parts and accessories you'll need to complete your project.
Don't wait a moment longer to get in touch with us for more information about anything we have to offer. You can get in touch with us through our online contact forms, by email, phone or by simply dropping in to see us in person.


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Q: Why is Roku player throwing error "reader pick stream error:bad:invalid or corrupt playlist" when play a Stream using AKAMAI CDN We are using the Akamai CDN HLS stream for one of our OTT apps. This app has two types (Live & VOD) stream URLs. When playing the VOD content the Roku player plays the stream smoothly but when we play Live Stream content, the Roku player throws the error "reader pick stream error:bad:invalid or corrupt playlist" When playing this stream on other players like Apple TV, VLC, Exo Player, Android TV and Web Players (JWplayer, HTML5) then steaming is working as expected.
Also, few Live videos playing on the Roku Player.
Already, I have checked these points.

*

*Checked API calling and endpoints

*URL formation for player

*Managed Cookies

*Checked HTTP protocols like 1.0/1.1/2.0

*Checked Bitrates 25000 above

*Matched video codec

*There is although difference in resolution, But same resolution is working fine in VOD Section.

I am digging last 4 weeks but unfortunately I have not got any solution yet.
Any help is highly appreciated

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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James W. Young
James W. Young, 76, of Elwood, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 at his residence following an extended illness.
He was born in Anderson on Nov. 1, 1944, the son of Walter J. Young, and Uva Alice (Kelly) Young.
He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, but was stationed in Germany while he was active duty.
On Jan. 25, 1971 Jim married Rosalie (Robison) Young.
He worked for many years as a landscaper and helped many local farmers with projects on the farms.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalie Young of Elwood; son, Shawn Young of Elwood; daughter, Kathie Meisner of Summitville; several grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Young of New Paris, and Terry Young of Frankton; two sisters, Eileen Young of Elwood, and Janet Heaton of Elwood; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by parents, Walter and Uva Young; and his brothers, Tommy, Tony, and Danny Young.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 at Dunnichay Funeral Home, with Pastor Nathan Lutterman officiating. Burial will follow in the K of P & I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Frankton with military honors provided by the United States Army and the Elwood V.F.W.
Visitation will be Thurs-day, January 21, from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
During the visitation and funeral the wearing of facial coverings and social distancing will be observed. Due to Madison County being in the Red status the funeral home is limited to 25 people in the building at a time. The family understands if family or friends are concerned about the Pandemic and are ok if the person chooses to just attend the graveside or not attend at all.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family to aid in the purchase of a headstone for James.
Online condolences can be given at www.dunnichayfuneralhome.com


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For these and other important reasons, you need a video that promotes your business and educates your customers and employees. Without a doubt, video is the most effective way to convey your message.
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Check out our production for California Operation Lifesaver, (link) "Be Safe...Always Expect A Train".


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2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Overview
Jeff Cobb January 1, 2013
5 / 5L/100km
Few would contest that the redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid is an attractively styled, and thoughtfully designed midsize family sedan.
For its part, Ford Motor Co. has missed next to no opportunities in naming its advantages over competitors, particularly the class-leading Toyota Camry Hybrid.
"Ford's launch of the new C-MAX hybrids and Fusion Hybrid this past fall led the company to deliver record-setting hybrid sales in December," said Ford in a press release Jan. 30, 2013, "resulting in a 9 percent market share gain to 16 percent. In the same period Toyota's share of the hybrid vehicle segment fell 8 points, from 68 percent to 60 percent."
And, "Nearly 70 percent of new Fusion Hybrid owners are new to the Ford brand, while Toyota's conquest rate for its Camry Hybrid is only 53 percent," said Ford.
You can be sure there's plenty more of the self-patting on the back where that came from.
But Ford wouldn't do it if its new design – with smart aesthetics from every angle replete with Aston Martinesque front grille treatment – did not have the goods in place, most notably the class-leading EPA mileage rating.
Its 47 mpg city, 47 highway, 47 combined numbers are impressive. And they are also contested. The company ready to pounce on the offensive found itself soon on the defensive when Consumer Reports said there's no way it could achieve these numbers. And then a class action lawsuit followed contesting the same.
Consumer Reports said the car is good for 41 mpg at best, but even if that is the case, that means it is still competitive with the Camry Hybrid and for that matter, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Kia Optima Hybrid, although these Korean siblings will re-launch sometime in the first or second quarter of 2013 with updates as well.
The U.S. Energy Department's Web site does list the Fusion Hybrid's mpg scores as 47s across the board, but the site also lists an unofficial score based on feedback from vehicle owners. These range from a low of 32 mpg to a high of 53 mpg, and an average of 39.4 mpg. These numbers are not based on the EPA cycle, so consider them just a rough guideline.
Leaving behind the ambiguities of its actual mpg potential, Ford's new hybrid Fusion, manufactured in Hermosillo, Mexico, utilizes a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle engine comprised of an alloy block and cylinder head.
This DOHC, four-valve-per cylinder powerplant is smaller than the 2.5 in the Toyota and 2.4 in the Hyundai/Kia, and merges with a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack.
Ford's previous generation Fusion Hybrid also used a 2.5, but the company says smaller is better for weight savings, awhile offering nearly as much power and improved economy due to its advanced tuning and design.
Total system power is rated at 188 horsepower for the 3,615-pound car. The car uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which helps make good use of the available ponies. Also the updated hybrid powertrain lets the gas engine shut off at higher speeds, so short cruises on the highway can use a minimum of gasoline during these periods.
The Fusion Hybrid rides on four-wheel independent suspension, and utilizes four-channel ABS+ESC brakes which of course incorporate a regenerative capability to replenish the battery pack.
Road manners are controlled, handling is responsive with good feedback and the Fusion Hybrid gives the impression of a much smaller vehicle. Braking action however is just OK.
Ford said in redesigning the car, the Fusion Hybrid's unitized steel body increased in strength by 10 percent.
The car also makes use of a host of technologies for convenience and safety.
One of these is active noise control that uses the audio system to cancel out unwanted powertrain noise for better fuel economy, Ford says.
Another is a Lane-Keeping System which is unique to this class of car. The Fusion Hybrid also offers adaptive cruise control which is intended to maintain proper following distance when slower traffic is detected ahead. It will make a collision warning sound, if it deems it necessary. Another is active park assist to help with the parallel parking challenged and steers the car into the spot with minimal driver input. Another is Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert warns of traffic in a driver's blind spot, or oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking space with obstructed views.
Further standard safety features are AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, dual front airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags, adaptive restraints, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ that flashes signal lights and sounds horn in the event of an accident, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children).
In all, Ford boasts nearly 500 hybrid patents are baked into this rolling technological showcase. The Fusion is also available in regular gasoline models as is the case with its competitors, and it is available as a plug-in hybrid model as well.
Inside the five-passenger car, space is suitable for most average to above-average size people. The rear seats do fold down, which helps for the awkwardly proportioned 12-cubic-foot trunk where the batteries reside.
Driver interface is suitably tech laden as well. The optional MyFord Touch system allows you to pair a smart phone with voice recognition and navigation features displayed on its screen
The car also offers two customizable color LCD screens with the speedometer between them and displays show info hybrid owners have become accustomed to regarding fuel-efficiency and drive mode.
Base MSRP is $27,200 and tacking on features and options can net you up to and over an additional $10,000.
In all, the Fusion Hybrid is fresh, and a competitor to others in its class. Its EPA-rated mpg is likely overstated, but real-world capabilities put it in the running, and worth looking into further.
Tagged as 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid rewview, Fusion Hybrid
Price quote for Ford Fusion Hybrid


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Review of Telling Time: Essays of a Visionary Filmmaker
by Stan Brakhage (Kingston, NY: McPherson & Company, 2003)
To filmmakers, scholars, students, and enthusiasts, the late Stan Brakhage was an icon of American experimental cinema. The publication of Telling Time: Essays of a Visionary Filmmaker, a collection of Brakhage's contributions to the Toronto quarterly Musicworks, makes this an ideal time to consider the broader significance of Brakhage's work.
It is, I believe, time to take Brakhage out of the world of starry-eyed film students and esoteric academics. While Brakhage's films have recently been made available to the general public—stemming from the release of a DVD by the Criterion Collection—Brakhage's writings, which waver in and out of print, help to uncover the full picture.
Brakhage used cinema to confront a cold, demystified, and narrowly perceived world. This aesthetic project aimed at the reawakening of human feeling and expansion of perception within a world that had caged both. He did not want to simply change American experimental cinema; he wanted to use experimental cinema to enhance the way we experience the world and to reject the various ways that modern life was, in effect, dehumanizing through the collapse of aesthetic experience.
When Brakhage first took up both pen and camera, cinema was dominated by the massive studio system. Hollywood had turned film into a commodity, hindering its possibilities for more dynamic and human expression. Cinema was trapped by imposed forms and expectations. In response, Brakhage made his films independently of studios. He acted as director, cameraman, producer, and even sometimes performer for his 400 plus films. Yet, nearly every experimental filmmaker was also forced to take on all of these roles. Brakhage wanted to achieve much more than mere independence from Hollywood.
In the seminal aesthetic manifesto Metaphors on Vision, Brakhage argued for the expansion of vision through cinema. He saw that artistic production of all forms was being radically liberated. In music there was John Cage, in painting the abstract expressionists, and in poetry the Beats. Brakhage felt that by similarly liberating the cinema, both filmmaker and audience would be freed from an increasing narrowness of vision, one which was imposed on cinema by Hollywood.
Cinema was the first art form that utilized machinery to express artistic human impulses. The camera was a product of modern phenomena like industrialization, mechanization, and capitalism. These phenomena produced a new world for people, one in which they worked on assembly lines and in cubicles, only to return home to the bill collector. Human emotion and feeling were being sacrificed to the efficiency of systematized life.
This was the concern that motivated Chaplin, for instance, in his Modern Times. There, Chaplin uses the camera, a product of the machine age, to critique its effects on society. Brakhage saw capitalism and the mechanization of everyday life as a radically dehumanizing force, just as Chaplin did. Yet, Chaplin's film depicts the clash between man and machine. But unlike Chaplin or any other filmmaker, Brakhage shows that a machine, the camera, could be used to reinvigorate the artistic impulse instead of deadening it. He was interested in embracing the machine to extend human vision past the limits placed on it by modern industrial capitalist society.
And it is here that we can glimpse Brakhage's most interesting and perhaps important contribution as a filmmaker and aesthetician. While so many artists and philosophers lamented the coming of industrialization and mechanization as the very death knell of human feeling, Brakhage responded by aestheticizing the machine itself. Speaking of film, Brakhage wrote in Telling Time, "I am primarily interested in the aesthetic possibilities of the medium, and these are those which promote mental reflection (rather than reflective recollection)."
Cinema could introduce new ways of seeing since the camera becomes an extension of the human eye. Innovative use of the camera would provide insight into human perception, expand its capacities, and allow the viewer to see past the mere surface manifestation of everyday life and penetrate into a deeper, more profound essence. The camera is a machine transformed: instead of being the concrete representation of the machine age, it becomes a tool for an alternative way of seeing a world that was reduced by modernity and technology. The camera puts human creativity back at the center of human praxis.
In Telling Time, Brakhage offers "Light moving in time" as the definition of cinema. Because of its very nature, cinema is uniquely able to artistically engage modernity's emphasis on time. In his fascination with light, Brakhage deals with another result of modernity. He acknowledges the scientific explanation for light, but because of his interest in the "magical," he cinematically explores light as a mystery. In this way, Brakhage copes with the transition from a world of mystery, magic, and mythology to the modern age of science, rationality, and reason. He uses light and time to reënchant a world that has otherwise become disenchanted by science's explanations and modern society's use of time to dehumanize people. Brakhage's aesthetic allows people to reconcile the modern world with the human feelings that have persisted for millennia.
The publication of Telling Time provides another chance to recognize the importance of Brakhage's aesthetic agenda. These new writings rely heavily on the older ones and on the films as well to reveal the breadth of Brakhage's vision. The writings of Fred Camper and P. Adams Sitney are invaluable resources for critically approaching Brakhage's work. By delving into Brakhage's work and the critiques of it, it becomes clear that Brakhage was, as Fred Camper has put it, "a poet of freedom." Brakhage's aesthetic relieves people from the apathy and disenchantment that life in modern society forces them to endure, by asserting and reapproaching human feeling through the camera.
Gragory Zucker
By Madeline Hollander
OCT 2021 | Critics Page
Before the pandemic hit I had been in production creating a large-scale performance featuring dancers from companies all over New York City who would come together on one stage to present works that were just about to premiere—future choreographies that they were in the process of rehearsing but had not yet reached the stage or a public audience.
Karen Han's Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema
By Harrison Blackman
DEC 22–JAN 23 | Film
As a careful survey of a filmmaker whose work is not yet finished, Dissident Cinema is a compelling appraisal and appreciation of Bong's body of work. Tackling each of his seven features (and more), Han contextualizes the films and filmmaker through various essays and a series of interviews with some of Bong's frequent collaborators.
Sands Murray-Wassink: In Good Company
By Titus Nouwens
JUNE 2021 | ArtSeen
Over the years Sands has produced an exhaustive amount of paintings, videos, performances, and texts, at once completely and unabashedly about him and at the same time about much more than himself—his loved ones, his fellow artists, the artworld, the role of artists, and patriarchal society at large.
Rithy Panh's Everything Will Be Ok and Irradiés
By Farah Abdessamad
OCT 2022 | Film
The latest two films of Cambodia-born filmmaker Rithy Panh, Everything Will Be OK (2022) and Irradiés (2020), are premiering in North America at MoMA, as part of the first-ever retrospective of his 30-year-long career.


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Q: bash/sh if statement syntax In various guides and scripts I come across people tend to use different syntax of if statements. What's the difference and what are best practices? I believe all the following statements, and many more variants, will return true:
bar="foo"
if [ "foo" = "foo" ]
if [[ "foo" == $bar ]]
if [ "foo" = "$bar" ]
if [[ "foo" = "$bar" ]]
if [[ "foo" -eq $bar ]]

A: As I understand it
= expects strings
-eq expects integers
"$bar" is for literal matches, i.e. z* may expand but "z*" will literally match the wildcard char.
The difference between [] and [[]] is that in the latter word splitting and path name expansion are not done, but are in the former.
Plus [[]] allows the additional operators :
&& (AND),
|| (OR),
> (String1 lexically greater than String2),
< (String1 lexically less than String2)
The == comparison operator behaves differently within a double-brackets test than within single brackets.
[[ $a == z* ]]   # True if $a starts with an "z" (pattern matching).
[[ $a == "z*" ]] # True if $a is equal to z* (literal matching).
[ $a == z* ]     # File globbing and word splitting take place.
[ "$a" == "z*" ] # True if $a is equal to z* (literal matching).
Check out http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/comparison-ops.html for more info

A: [ is a bash builtin, [[ is a bash keyword. Best practice is to always use [[ if the script doesn't have to be compatible with other shells (e.g., if it starts with #!/bin/bash), and use [ only for compatibility with the Bourne shell. See http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/031.

A: I recommend case/esac.
case "$foo" in
  "bar" ) echo "bar";;
  *) echo "not equal";;
esac

No fretting about different syntax.


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Senate finance chair says no to giving Trump more tariff authority
FILE PHOTO: Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Charles Grassley (R-IA) speaks during the second day of confirmation hearings on Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) nomination to be U.S. attorney general in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said on Wednesday that Congress will not grant any expansion of President Donald Trump's executive authority over tariff and other trade remedies.
"We ain't going to give him any greater authority. We already gave him too much," Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told reporters in response to a Bloomberg report that the White House is preparing a bill that would seek to give Trump broad authority to levy new tariffs to break down other countries' non-tariff trade barriers.
Trump previously sought to expand his authority on trade with an attempt last year at legislation that would allow "reciprocal tariffs" and that would abandon key disciplines agreed at the World Trade Organization.
Trade has become one of the administration's key priorities, with Trump seeking new trade pacts with China, Canada, Mexico, the European Union and Japan. Washington has already reworked the North American trade treaty with neighbors Mexico and Canada, though it has yet to be voted on by the new Congress.
Grassley said he thought concerns over labor and other elements of the agreement held by Democratic lawmakers could be addressed through side letters, rather than renegotiation of the deal.
Steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico are hurting farmers and "those have to go" in order to get agricultural interests to support congressional approval the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal, Grassley said.
Reporting by Chris Prentice and David Shepardson; editing by Richard Chang


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Scotland Stays in the United Kingdom: Is the Cause Wine-Related?
by Ethan Millspaugh
Above: Is this the reason why the Scottish voted "no?"
In their pre-vote analysis of the push for Scottish independence, The Guardian suggested that fear of losing its cheap supply of Buckfast tonic wine, a highly caffeinated alcoholic drink brewed by Benedictine monks in Devon County, England, may have impacted Scottish voters. With only a five-percent margin separating Scotland from becoming the 197th world country, the question must be asked: could wine have been the deciding factor in Scotland's vote for independence?
At first skeptical of the link between a fortified wine and a "no" vote for Scottish independence, Guardian reporter Libby Brooks noted a number of "genuine concerns about future access to this highly caffeinated alcoholic drink." She goes on to point out that Buckfast tonic wine (also known as "Wreck the Hoose Juice") "is mentioned as a contributing factor in thousands of violent crimes every year in [the] Strathclyde [region of Scotland] alone."
Made exclusively at Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, Devon since the 1880s, the recipe for Buckfast tonic wine was originally created by the French monks who settled at the abbey in the 19th century and past down to the abbots who make the drink today. Although the recipe was slightly altered in the 1920s (when it began to be distributed throughout the United Kingdom), the 750-milliliter bottles of Buckfast are still made with a base of imported mistelle wine and reportedly fortified with the caffeine equivalent of eight cans of Coca-Cola.
With The Herald reporting record-high sales of (what would amount to) well over $60 million for Buckfast in 2013 and an estimated 60 percent of those sales coming from Scotland alone, it may not be entirely unreasonable to think, for five percent of the voting population, the vote for independence was all just a matter of wine.
We reached out to J. Chandler & Co., makers of Buckfast, but they denied comment.


Collecting information and details about your time in the field is a crucial step in the preparation process. This includes information about the country where you'll be traveling, the region and sub-location where you'll be working and living, and the customs and religious practices of the people you'll be living with. In addition, a basic understanding of the geography and demographic breakdown of the country is essential. It is also highly likely someone at UCSF has already worked where you are going. It will be extremely helpful to you and your onsite partners and advisor to connect with them prior to your departure.
StudyAbroad.com Handbook - Information on exploring cultural differences, health and nutrition, safety and security, legalities and emergencies, etc.
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Because the Lawn Soaker installs only a few inches below the surface, building permits are not typically required. You simply need to measure your lawn area and draw the shape on our grid sheet for placement. The size of your lawn will determine which types of sprinkler heads you need. For instance, if you have a larger yard you may want to use rotor sprinklers which spray out up to 20 fee and are completely adjustable.
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text:
Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Freight Rail, Passenger Rail
Loan repaid for Kalgoorlie to Perth line
A $1.3 million payment from WA to the Commonwealth has settled a 50-year, $106 million loan to build the Kalgoorlie to Perth standard-gauge rail line.
Known as the Eastern Goldfields Railway, the line between Perth and Kalgoorlie was built in stages in the 1890s. It was converted to standard gauge in the 1960s, as part of a Menzies-era plan to build a standard-gauge line from Sydney to Perth.
Minister for infrastructure and deputy prime minister Warren Truss announced on Thursday that 50 years on, the money lent to WA by the Commonwealth to convert the line has been repaid, with the cost of administering the loan now disproportionate to the amount outstanding.
"The project reflected the forward-thinking nature of the Menzies Government," Truss said.
"Standardising the rail line was one of the most important projects in Western Australia and Australia's history, facilitating mining development, improving the defence of Australia, and delivering stronger trade and commerce.
"The project connected Sydney with Perth in 1968, making it possible today for the Australian Rail Track Corporation to operate a modern railway that transports around 80 per cent of the freight across the continent.
"Then and now, the Australian Government's focus is in helping fund transformational infrastructure projects that improve productivity and promote economic prosperity."
Truss said repayment of the loan marked the final act of one of the important infrastructure reforms in the nation's history and delivered on the Government's deregulation agenda by removing the need for continued administration of the loan for both governments.
Repayment of the loan also means that the enabling legislation, Railway Agreement (Western Australia) Act 1961, can now be repealed.
"It is apt that repayment of the loan comes when we are commencing one of the next big rail reforms for the 21st century – the Inland Rail project between Brisbane and Melbourne," he said.
"The Inland Rail will enhance the national standard gauge connection and, building on the full standardisation of the East-West transcontinental rail line, connect Brisbane to Perth and Adelaide, without going through Sydney and the 19th century coastal route.
"The Australian Government is committed to creating a rail freight network that will meet the needs of industry into the 22nd Century, supporting jobs and the economy more broadly."
Oliver Probert July 23, 2015, 3:15 pm July 23, 2015
Below Rail Infrastructure, Freight Rail, Workforce, Certification & Training
New ARTC chair appointed
Finance minister Mathias Cormann has announced who will succeed John Caldon as chair of the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
Cormann announced the appointment of Dr Helen Nugent as the ARTC's new chair, appointing her for a period of three years.
Cormann was joined by deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure and regional development Warren Truss to make the announcement on July 16. The pair praised Nugent's significant executive management and board experience, which they said made her well suited to serve as chair.
"She brings extensive expertise in finance, governance, infrastructure investment, and risk management to the Board," the pair said in a joint statement.
Nugent's previous appointments include as Partner at global management consultancy, McKinsey & Company and as Director of Strategy at Westpac. Over the past 20 years, she has served on multiple boards, both private and not-for-profit, including at Swiss Re Australia, the State Bank of New South Wales and Opera Australia, as well as at infrastructure investment entities including United Energy, Macquarie Airports and Macquarie Group.
Nugent was a Menzies Scholar to Harvard University, where she gained her MBA. In 2004, she was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for services to business, the arts and the community.
She will replace acting ARTC chair Lucio Di Bartolomeo, himself standing in for former full-time chair John Caldon, who held the position of Chair of the ARTC for five years from 2010.
Truss and Cormann thanked Caldon for his service to ARTC over this period.
"Mr Caldon has overseen significant investments aimed at improving the competitiveness of the interstate rail network during his term," they said. "Mr Caldon has made an invaluable contribution to ARTC and leaves the company well-placed to meet future challenges in the freight rail and broader transportation market. During his leadership, ARTC more than doubled in size since 2010."
Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Freight Rail
Tender kicks off Tasmania's rail revitalisation
Tasmania minister for infrastructure Rene Hidding says the opening of a Request for Tender for the replacement of more than 10,000 sleepers marks the beginning of the state's $120 million Freight Rail Revitalisation Program.
TasRail on Wednesday launched the Request for Tender for the Re-sleepering and Re-railing of track sections on the Melba and Main (South and Western) lines.
The railway operator opened the tender to experienced, qualified and competent contractor(s), and will conduct a pair of compulsory site visits at the Western line (July 21) and South line (July 22).
The tender includes the replacement of around 10,600 sleepers, and six kilometres of rail. Works are planned to be completed by October 4 on the South Line, November 8 on the Western Line and December 6 on the Melba Line.
TasRail will supply all railway specific materials for the project, including ballast, and timetabled rail traffic will be maintained during the conduct of the work.
The Freight Rail Revitalisation Program is a four-year, $119.6 million project, jointly funded by the state and federal governments. Hidding said he was pleased to see the re-sleepering and re-railing RfT, which signalled the start of work under the Program.
"These priority works will improve the safety and reliability of the TasRail network," Hidding said. "This is the first tranche of a joint Commonwealth-State project to continue the upgrading of Tasmania's rail freight networks.
"With the funding confirmed in May, it is pleasing to see the first tenders issued so promptly. The projects will provide a major boost for Tasmania's civil construction industry, creating new jobs, and begin the task of building a more competitive rail freight network, which will strengthen our economy."
Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Freight Rail, Passenger Rail, Research & Development, Safety, Standards & Regulation
Report questions ATSB's intent
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau too often hides behind a 'no-blame' policy and hesitates to label the true cause of rail incidents, a new paper suggests.
Rail engineer Ross Mitchell and solicitor Adam Bisits teamed up to put together the paper Lessons from Australian Derailment Investigations, which they presented recently at the International Heavy Haul Association Conference in Perth.
The paper finds some reports of derailments from the ATSB's national railway accident investigation unit do not identify cause, or proper cause, when a cause seems fair – or even obvious – to identify.
Mitchell and Bisits believe investigators are too hesitant to label the cause of an incident, because they are instructed by legislation and the Bureau to not attribute blame, but they are also not explicitly instructed to label cause.
"The issue is that the ATSB looks at factors rather than causes," Bisits told Rail Express.
"The ATSB hides behind the provision in their legislation that their job is not to distribute blame … well that's fine, but you should still have to find a cause."
The ATSB says on its website, "An ATSB investigation is purely aimed at determining the factors which led to an accident or safety incident so that lessons can be learned and transport safety improved in the future."
"This is not practical and too general," Mitchell and Bisits respond in their paper. "Rail operators and others want to know causes."
Establishing cause is the dominant purpose of incident investigations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and in many other jurisdictions, the pair said in their presentation. But in Australian legislation – with one exception being Queensland's – does not ask for cause.
Speaking with Rail Express, Bisits recalled one incident in 2006 where a bridge repairer at Geelong was seriously injured when a freight train collided with the elevated platform he was working on. The train had gone through a signalbox which should have instructed the driver to stop, but was instead cleared well before the train got there – a fact which Bisits tells Rail Express should have been clearly labelled as the 'cause' of the incident.
But because investigators could not identify whether the missing stop signal was caused by a single-person error, or a misunderstanding between multiple people, the report did not identify a "single decisive factor leading to the collision," instead choosing to label a number of potential safety factors which contributed to the incident.
"That's just not good enough," Bisits said, adding in his presentation: "This does not show a proper regard for railway workers."
Ross Mitchell is a Sydney-based rail operations and design engineer, who has consulted to engineering and mining companies. Adam Bisits is a Melbourne-based solicitor, who has for a long time had a ports and railway specialty.
The pair's report also suggests investigations take too long to put together, and finds there is a possible lack of independence and conflict of interest, due to the Bureau working with a high level of anonymity.
"In Australia the actual investigators (assuming the commissioners are not personally investigating) are a mystery," the report says, "including those who come from outside the public service, the special investigators, or consultants.
"Yet in Australia the pool of actual investigators is small and their past may have been with current important train operators or track owners.
"Thus there is a potential for ATSB investigations not to be completely independent, and for this to be hidden because the actual investigators are not publicly identified."
Hunter Valley shut down for maintenance
Maintenance has shut down the Hunter Valley coal network, with the closure scheduled from Tuesday, July 14 at 6am, to late in the evening on Thursday, July 16.
The network-wide maintenance shutdown means limited train operations to allow multi-million-dollar packages of work to be delivered in a safe and efficient way at dozens of worksites across the region, the ARTC said in a release.
Nearly 1000 ARTC and contracted staff will work in the rail corridor during the shutdowns, which are part of the coal chain calendar and allow work to take place throughout the Hunter Valley, from the Port to Narrabri, and from Muswellbrook to Ulan.
ARTC executive general manager for the Hunter Jonathan Vandervoort said the maintenance would ensure the third-busiest railway network in the country stayed reliable.
"By 'closing down' the network and with fewer trains running we can ensure we get the maximum amount of rail maintenance done more efficiently; but, above all else, it helps provide the safest possible environment for workers," Vandervoort said.
"These shutdowns are planned more than a year in advance to allow customers to manage their throughput and production schedules and to ensure integration across the intricately-managed Hunter coal chain.
"Unfortunately, with work of this scale there will be some disruption and we would like to ask motorists and members of the community to be aware of changed traffic conditions and heavy work vehicles entering and exiting sections of the rail corridor.
"We would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding while the works take place as we appreciate it will be causing some inconvenience."
The next scheduled maintenance closure is for August 18 to 20.
Passenger services are influenced by the closure, and customers should check www.nswtrainlink.info and www.sydneytrains.info for more information.
Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Passenger Rail
$10m overhaul for Victorian line
V/Line has begun $10 million in critical maintenance works on the Bendigo to Echuca rail line, according to public transport minister Jacinta Allan.
Allan said the work includes the replacement of 34,000 timber sleepers with concrete ones.
Maintenance crews are targeting 1000 sleepers to be replaced every day between Bendico and Ecucha.
Level crossings at Wakeman Road in Bagshot, Holmes Road in Goornong and Ellicert Road in Echuca will also be resurfaced as part of the works, with new asphalt and tracks laid through the crossings, Allan added.
"These $10 million maintenance works will keep the Bendigo to Echuca line safe and reliable," Allan said.
"The V/Line crews will be working hard over the next few months, replacing a thousand sleepers a day and renewing three level crossings.
Around 3km of ballast renewal and drainage improvements will be completed at the same time.
The works which involve around 50 workers are part of V/Line's regular maintenance program, Allan said.
They will be carried out in 10-day blocks over the coming months, with work expected to be complete by the end of August. The operator plans to carry out work between trains, so there is not expected to be any impact on services.
The works come as community consultation on the new Victorian government's short, medium and long term plan for regional public transport kicks off. Sessions are underway in Gippsland, with consultation across the Loddon-Mallee regional in August. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.
Allan said the Regional Network Development Plan will move Victoria away from ad hoc service improvements, towards a more coordinated regional public transport network where train and bus services work together to get people where they need to go quicker and safer.
The plan will also consider infrastructure upgrades, network extensions and rolling stock requirements, she explained.
Oliver Probert July 8, 2015, 7:33 am July 8, 2015
Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Freight Rail, Passenger Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation
Port of Melbourne lease crucial to level crossing removal
COMMENT: The lease will help make a good port, a great port, and its proceeds will fund the removal of our 50 worst railway crossings, Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas writes.
Removing level crossings will create thousands of construction jobs and get Victorians home safer and sooner. It's a boost for jobs, industry and our transport system.
The lease will make our port even better, increasing efficiencies and competitiveness, and maintaining Victoria's position as the freight and logistics capital of Australia – good news for producers and manufacturers who export all over the world, and consumers who want affordable products.
A 50-year lease is proposed allowing the leaseholder to plan for capacity-expanding investment and providing future port land development flexibility.
The Essential Services Commission's existing regulatory arrangements will be strengthened with the leaseholder to set prices in line with transparent principles.
Annual increases will be capped at CPI for at least 15 years to protect Victorian producers, manufacturers, other exporters and importers, and consumers.
To keep our supply chain costs competitive, capacity at the port of Melbourne needs to be optimised before a second port is built.
Industry has been calling for investment certainty, and we want to provide it.
The coalition's KPMG report advises that developing the port of Hastings now would be "materially negative on a net present value basis over the life of the asset" and difficult to justify on a whole-of-state basis.
Victoria University puts the cost of developing the port of Hastings in excess of $12bn, casting doubt on it as a viable option.
Yet the opposition keeps prosecuting the case for Hastings even though their own 'how to lease a port' bible says it will lose money and warns of the costs and risks of the premature development of a second port.
Their report also puts the landside costs of the port of Hastings at more than double those of the port of Melbourne – a looming disaster for our exporters and hiking up costs for all Victorians.
The KPMG report calls for a lease of between 40 to 50 years. In line with this, Labor proposes a 50-year lease, allowing the leaseholder to plan for capacity-expanding investment and providing flexibility about future port development.
The lease arrangements clearly stipulate a 50-year lease and anyone who says otherwise is simply wrong.
There is no obligation on the government to extend the lease beyond 50 years. Any extension would need to be agreed between the government of the day and the leaseholder.
The opposition's claims that blasting at the heads will be required are false. This is scaremongering – plain and simple; blasting at the heads hasn't occurred for over 80 years.
Any future dredging of the shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay will continue to require the relevant environmental conditions and approvals.
The bill recently introduced into parliament, foreshadows a contractual regime should a second competing container port be required, to be negotiated with the preferred bidder – motivating the leaseholder to maximise the port's capacity and minimise the need for a second, competing, container port.
This is a complex transaction. It isn't easy, but it is right.
It's a great example of asset recycling –unlocking billions of dollars from the port lease to plan and build vital transport infrastructure and making us eligible for significant funds through the Commonwealth's asset recycling initiative.
Leasing the port of Melbourne to create jobs, fund the removal of Victoria's 50 worst level crossings and make our port even better was an election promise – now the Andrews government is getting on with it.
This op-ed originally appeared in Rail Express sister publication, Lloyd's List Australia.
Industry Opinion July 3, 2015, 7:39 am July 3, 2015
Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Environment and Sustainability, Freight Rail, Passenger Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation
Report questions buried track at unsealed crossings
The 2013 derailment of a Pacific National train in northern Victoria raises several issues over the construction, monitoring and maintenance of buried track at unsealed level crossings, a report has found.
Pacific National train 9054 derailed at the O'Tooles Road level crossing, at Pyramid Hill, in the early hours of March 5, 2013. The train's three locomotives remained on the track, but 19 of the first 20 wagons derailed, resulting in severe damage to wagons, a significant loss of grain load and damage to about 270 metres of track.
The train's crew was unharmed.
A recent report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the train derailed at a fracture in one of the rails, most likely created by a passenger service which had gone through the crossing earlier that night.
The ATSB found the fracture was a result of the rail's heavily corroded and wasted condition, and said the poor condition of the rail had not been detected by the rail operator, V/Line, nor by V/Line's ultrasonic testing contractor, Speno Rail Maintenance.
Examination of the track following the incident found it had been heavily corroded – over a number of years. The rail web was most severely wasted in a horizontal band approximately 20mm wide, commencing about 50mm below the top surface of the rail head, the ATSB found.
Based on established corrosion rates and local conditions, the wasting of the rail must have occurred over several years, the Bureau said.
But walking and ultrasonic inspections by V/Line and its contractor – which took place a maximum of 12 months apart and had most recently occurred 10 months prior to the derailment – had not shown the rail to be in need of replacement.
"Level crossings at unsealed roads can present difficulties for automated ultrasonic testing due to contamination of the rail head and the presence of corrosion on the underside of the rail that can disrupt return signals," the ATSB explained.
Also contributing to the corrosion going unnoticed was the method with which the rail was installed at the unsealed crossing.
"Covering of rails, fixtures and track support with loose road material increases the potential for corrosion and more rapid track degradation," the ATSB found. "It also limits the ability to conduct efficient and effective visual inspection."
Moreover, the Bureau found the network standard for level crossing construction did not directly address the challenges of unsealed roads.
"The standard primarily addressed crossings at roads with paved (sealed) surfaces, other than a reference to the application of a bituminous coating to rail that would contact fill material," the ATSB said.
"The particular challenges related to drainage, the rail and track environment and the mechanisms for inspection, were not addressed within the standard."
After the derailment, 126 higher risk sites were inspected from a total population of about 1000 unsealed road crossings on Victoria's regional network. A more careful, detailed assessment of the rail, sleepers and fastenings was undertaken at these locations.
Of the sites inspected, 111 had sufficient data for assessment and analysis.
Two were identified as having priority faults due to web reduced thickness, and 58% were found to have foot height loss meeting the criteria for priority attention.
Deterioration was also found in fixtures and about 25% of crossings had sleepers identified as ineffective. On the Bendigo-Swan Hill section of track, which includes Pyramid Hill, 30% of unsealed crossings were inspected, of which 21% were identified as requiring immediate remedial works – this compares to 12% across the full sample set, the ATSB said.
The Safety Bureau also found that V/Line, and Transport Safety Victoria (the regulator at the time) missed an opportunity to potentially fix these issues following an earlier derailment, at Warracknabeal two years prior.
"In response to the [Warracknabeal] incident, the frequency of ultrasonic inspection on freight lines was increased from every three years to every two years [annual inspections on passenger lines remained in place], and Speno re-emphasised with its operators the requirement to hand test if indications of corrosion were identified during automated ultrasonic testing."
These ATSB found these changes were not sufficient, however.
"An opportunity was missed to undertake a wider review of track condition monitoring at unsealed crossings and to review the standard of construction at such crossings," the Bureau found.
Overall, the Bureau found a trio of safety issues associated with the derailment.
One issue was classed as a contributing factor to the incident:
The track inspection regime did not identify the deteriorated rail condition at the O'Tooles Road level crossing. The regime placed an over-reliance on ultrasonic testing and did not include sufficient supplementary systems for monitoring the condition of buried track at unsealed level crossings.
The other two identified safety issues were defined as increasing risk in the lead-up to the incident:
The ultrasonic testing regime was not effective in consistently identifying corrosion and wasting of the rail web at unsealed level crossings.
The method of constructing crossings at unsealed roads heightened the potential for corrosion and track degradation and limited the opportunity for effective visual inspection. The network standard for crossing construction did not directly address the particular challenges of unsealed roads.
Read the full report at http://www.atsb.gov.au/
Below Rail Infrastructure, Freight Rail
Inland Rail critical: ALC
The Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project was the focus of discussion at Australian Logistics Council's (ALC) recent Logistics Industry Parliamentary Function.
"Inland rail is critical to Australia's freight future and will be a transformative project for generations to come," said Michael Kilgariff, ALC Managing Director.
Freight volumes on Australia's east coast are predicted to soar, doubling by 2030 and tripling by 2050. Whilst around 80 per cent of freight currently moving between the east and west coasts of Australia travels on rail, the volume plummets to 30 per cent between Melbourne and Brisbane.
"The rail freight link between Port of Melbourne and Port of Brisbane will help support improved supply chain efficiency in the movement of freight around the country.
"As Australia's freight task is expected to increase dramatically over the years to come, rail has to make a greater contribution to the efficient movement of freight on the north – south corridor.
"The effective completion of this project will see the connection of all of our major mainland cities with a world class rail network providing the backbone for moving goods across the country, with increased safety, reliability and efficiency", he added.
Mr Kilgariff commended the Government for the allocation of $300 million to make a start on this project, and the work being undertaken by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to develop the delivery program and to undertake detailed planning.
When completed, the 1700km route will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via Wagga, Parkes, Moree and Toowoomba.
A typical train travelling on Inland Rail will have the capacity of 108 B-Doubles and will complete the journey from Melbourne to Brisbane in less than 24 hours.
Staff Writer July 1, 2015, 8:49 pm July 1, 2015
First track installed on Epping to Thornleigh Third Track project
Sydney's freight rail network has received another significant boost with the first track section of the Epping to Thornleigh Third Track project installed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the laying of the first section – two 85-metre track turnouts at Thornleigh over the June long weekend – was another step towards a stronger national freight rail network.
"The $477 million Epping to Thornleigh Third Track is a key part of the North Sydney Freight Corridor programme, with the addition of six kilometres of new track set to increase freight rail capacity across the national network," Mr Truss said.
Federal Member for Berowra Philip Ruddock said the addition of a third track will safeguard the effectiveness of the Sydney to Brisbane freight rail route.
"The Main North Line between Sydney and Newcastle has been identified as a significant bottleneck, impacting on commuters and businesses alike, including those in the Berowra electorate, and I am pleased to see action being taken to meet this challenge."
NSW Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister, Duncan Gay, said the project was a significant investment in the state economy, while also helping to separate freight and passenger trains.
"Thousands of people are employed by businesses which rely on this rail link, notably people in the Hunter and Gunnedah basins working in the mining and agriculture industries," Mr Gay said.
"The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor programme has already created around 1000 jobs in construction and its related industries, and this project will continue to support NSW businesses and jobs more broadly."
The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor project will remove about 200,000 heavy vehicle movements from local roads each year.
The Epping to Thornleigh Third Track project is expected to be completed in June 2016.
Staff Writer June 22, 2015, 2:08 pm June 22, 2015
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