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Sweden has reopened its rape investigation into Julian Assange, as the US tries to extradite him over hacking
WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange, in London on May 1.
Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty
Prosecutors in Sweden on Monday announced they would reopen their investigation into claims that WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange, raped a woman there in 2010. He has denied the claims.
He was first accused in 2010, but the case was disrupted by Assange's almost seven-year stay as an asylum seeker in Ecuador's London embassy.
Eva-Marie Persson, a senior Swedish prosecutor, said she would pursue the case as she believed there was probable cause to try him.
Assange is being held in London's Belmarsh prison, serving a conviction for breaching bail conditions.
The US is also seeking to prosecute Assange over computer hacking linked to WikiLeaks. It is not clear which case will get precedence.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Swedish prosecutors have decided to reopen a rape investigation into WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange.
Assange is already serving a prison sentence in the UK for breaching bail conditions, and he also faces extradition to the US on claims of hacking a government computer linked to his activity with WikiLeaks.
Eva-Marie Persson, the lead prosecutor in the case, announced Monday morning that Sweden would reopen its investigation into one allegation of rape.
Assange on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in May 2017 — before his asylum was revoked and he was arrested from the complex.
Persson made the decision for the legal reason that previous court hearings in Sweden established that there was enough evidence to warrant a trial. If convicted, Assange could face up to four years in Swedish prison.
Persson plans to request a warrant for Assange's detention.
She added that because Assange was being held in the UK, British authorities could decide how to prioritize Sweden's arrest warrant should it conflict with a US extradition request.
Assange when he was forcibly removed from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in April.
Screenshot/Sky News
Swedish prosecutors in 2010 had been considering two allegations against Assange. The first was an allegation of rape, and the second was an allegation of molestation. Assange has consistently denied the allegations.
In 2012, the UK ruled that Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face questioning, but this never took place because of his stay in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London as an asylum seeker.
Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation into Assange in August 2015, saying they could not pursue the case while he was in the embassy.
Eva-Marie Persson, Sweden's deputy director of public prosecutions, on Monday announced her country's decision to reopen a case against Assange involving a rape allegation.
US prosecutors requested Assange's extradition last month after Ecuador revoked his asylum, and Assange was arrested and forcibly removed from the embassy.
One of the women involved in the Swedish allegations, whose name has not been made public, asked for the investigation to be reopened after Assange's expulsion from the embassy. Reuters and Sky News reported her lawyer as calling Monday's decision "very gratifying."
'Embarrassing for Sweden'
Assange and his supporters continue to maintain his innocence, and said the reopening of the rape case would let Assange "clear his name."
Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief, said in a statement cited by Reuters "there has always been political pressure surrounding this case," and that "its reopening will give Julian a chance to clear his name."
Per Samuelson, Assange's lawyer in Sweden, described the country's decision to reopen the rape probe as "embarrassing for Sweden," according to Reuters.
"His attitude is that he is happy to cooperate with Sweden and that he wants to be interviewed and that he wants to clear his name," Samuelson also told Reuters.
But the lawyer also added: "How that will happen now, I don't know. He has his hands full with, for him, much more important issues, namely avoiding being extradited to the US."
An Assange supporter outside London's Southwark Crown Court, where Assange was sentenced to 50 weeks in a UK prison, on May 1, 2019.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters
Two weeks ago, a British court sentenced Assange to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail conditions in the UK and avoiding extradition to Sweden seven years ago.
Assange is being held in the high-security Belmarsh prison in southeast London.
SEE ALSO: The DOJ's indictment of Julian Assange ignited a fierce debate between First Amendment advocates and national-security experts, and it's a harbinger of what lies ahead
More: Julian Assange Sweden News UK BI Select


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Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
Age distribution among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who are ages…
Generational cohort among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who are…
2014 7% 15% 27% 36% 14% 1% 962
2007 < 1% 12% 32% 37% 17% 2% 990
Gender composition among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
2007 47% 53% 1,001
Racial and ethnic composition among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who identify as…
2007 81% 8% 2% 6% 4% 997
Immigrant status among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
Educational distribution among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who have completed…
Marital status among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
2014 62% 3% 15% 5% 15% 968
Parent of children under 18 among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
Belief in God among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say they…
2014 95% 4% < 1% < 1% < 1% < 1% 970
2007 97% 3% < 1% < 1% < 1% < 1% 1,001
Importance of religion in one's life among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say religion is…
2014 91% 8% < 1% < 1% < 1% 970
2007 94% 5% < 1% < 1% < 1% 1,001
Attendance at religious services among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who attend religious services…
2014 71% 23% 7% < 1% 970
2007 79% 16% 5% < 1% 1,001
Frequency of prayer among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who pray…
2014 89% 8% 1% 1% < 1% 970
2007 90% 7% < 1% 2% < 1% 1,001
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who attend prayer group…
2014 57% 12% 9% 23% < 1% 970
2007 59% 14% 6% 20% < 1% 1,001
Frequency of meditation among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who meditate…
2007 56% 6% 3% 33% 3% 1,001
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
2007 79% 9% 7% 3% 1% 1,001
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
2007 43% 15% 9% 27% 5% 1,001
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say…
Frequency of reading scripture among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who read scripture…
Interpreting scripture among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say the holy scripture is…
2007 74% 17% 5% 2% 3% 1,001
Belief in Heaven among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who …in heaven
2007 85% 6% 8% 1,001
Belief in Hell among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who …in hell
Party affiliation among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
2007 61% 11% 28% 1,001
Political ideology among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
2007 65% 24% 7% 3% 1,001
Views about size of government among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who would rather have…
Views about government aid to the poor among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say government aid to the poor…
Views about abortion among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say abortion should be…
2007 20% 77% 3% 1,001
Views about homosexuality among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say homosexuality…
Views about same-sex marriage among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who …same-sex marriage
Views about environmental regulation among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
Views about human evolution among Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong
% of Evangelical Protestants adults with a household income of $30,000-$49,999 who say religion is their primary source of guidance on what's right and wrong who say humans…
2014 5% 19% 1% 72% 3% 970

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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False Domestic Violence Allegations
Forcible Felonies
Plantation man found guilty of murder, 9 other felonies
by [email protected] | May 14, 2012 | Felonies, Firm News
Broward residents may have been following the trial of a 45-year-old Plantation man who was accused of murdering his landlord and setting the man's house on fire with his wife and child inside. The case has made headlines because of the severity of the allegations and because the defendant's sons claimed he masterminded the home-invasion murder.
Now a jury has found the defendant guilty of 10 felony crimes, including armed robbery, burglary, arson, kidnapping, attempted murder and first-degree murder. The court will decide later this year whether the man will face the death penalty.
In terms of criminal law, the case is especially interesting because the defendant's eldest son admitted to a number of crimes in connection with the home invasion and the house burning. The 23-year-old son, who was said to have a crack addiction, already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. His plea agreement allowed him to avoid the death penalty. Despite his taking part in the crimes, the son claimed that his father planned the attack.
Remarkably, the jury found the father guilty despite a lack any physical evidence that could place him at the scene of the crime. The murder weapon was never found, and the man's defense argued that he wasn't physically capable of committing the murder and setting the house on fire. A physician testified that the man had serious health problems and that he wore a knee brace and sometimes walked with a cane.
Another noteworthy detail is that the wife of the murdered man said that she could hear her husband in another room on the day in question. He was pleading for his life, and she heard him say the name of his killer. However, both the accused father and the accused son share the same first name.
The trial serves as a reminder that criminal charges are not all cut and dry. Evidence has to be closely scrutinized, and there are specific rules pertaining to what kind of evidence is admissible in court. Readers in Broward County who have been accused of a crime should be aware of the laws pertaining to admissible evidence.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Tundidor jury verdict: Guilty on all counts," Daniel Chang, May 10, 2012
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Home Lifestyle Culture The origin of the "Otaku" culture
The origin of the "Otaku" culture
Created in 1970, the term "otaku" was used to refer to someone who liked and was passionate about popular culture.
Throughout the years, the true meaning for the word has never been definite; ongoing media and cultural trends have shaped the term's perception over time.
Osamu Tezuka, known as the godfather of anime in Japan, created classics such as Astro Boy that drew wide fanbases.
Credit: https://www.irasutoya.com
The boom of anime began after the economic bubble burst in the late 1980s. As the manga and anime industries grew, the fandom searched for ways to connect with the masses.
From 1988 to 1989, media coverage surrounding a convicted murderer highlighted his participation in fanzines and conventions, giving the term otaku a dark connotation.
Even as the case faded from the spotlight, the negative stigma continues to plague the word otaku. Today, after years of evolution, the term has come to refer to "not just fans, but connoisseurs, critics and authors themselves". This blurring of the distinction between producer and consumer is another characteristic of the otaku.
(This feature first appeared on WAttention Singapore magazine, May/Jun 2018 Vol. 44)
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Happy Holidays! The bucket bowl is awarded to the best team in the third quartile of three quartiles of teams in Fantasy Football. It is just a nice way to say we are at the bottom of the heap battling for a bucket. Still battling for any championship is a learning experience and this week, the virgin faced a little known enemy. That would be myself of course and the fate of the teams my starters played for. And, of course we have the end of the line for the HMS Demolition.
And Because Tampa Lost, Then What?
The hands of fate were dealt on the gridiron this last Saturday. If Tampa Bay won, then Carolina would have to win. If Carolina has to win, they will start their star running back Stephen Davis. But here is where it gets fatalistic. Since Tampa Bay lost, Carolina clinches and rests Stephen Davis. That means 0 points from one of the top fantasy football RBs this year! Ouch! There is no surviving that. This means that in the irony of all cruel ironies, you have to have a hungry team that is fighting for a playoff spot.
So there is no hunger at the top of the food chain? What do you think about it at the bottom? My other running back is Travis Henry and the Bills stopped running after turning the ball over 4 times. So the Bills had a tough week as well and this combined with no Stephen Davis meant a mere 6 points from both my RBs. So, now this means to win a fantasy football championship, you have to pick players on teams that are still in it the last few weeks of the season, are not out of it, but have not clinched a playoff berth, and still have to play all out and don't abandon the running game because that is what got you there! Take comfort in this my friends, the team that won your playoffs got there by a circuitous route and it ended in glory by happenstance. Still the comfort would be better if we circumnavigated that sphere of randomness but we thusly were wrent asunder. How did the Captain fair?
The bucket was ours for the taking. I could see the dingy dingy (din-gee ding-eee) holding it up in the distance past our final obstacle. For some reason, it didn't look all that bad and through me telescopic lens, it seemed somewhat respectable. Then we got hit from the side and Artemis stated that our crew had broken rank. He stated that ½ thought the season was over so they were resting in the Lesser Antilles and the other ½ knew the season was over so they abandoned ship. Spare conscripts were not to be had and our ship met a true sea change in an ongoing attempt for final victory in this tempest. With the bucket lost, I looked over the crew and addressed them the final time. It went something like this. "Mates, it was a great year and it was nice knowin' ya. We were victorious 4 of the last 5 weeks and our group gave it the best. And we met a nice Voodoo woman too. I think I will have a good new year for we ship into harbor and restock and retool for next season. As long as the August fair breezes lead to bitter cold and holiday faire, there will be the need for a Captain, boatswain, a trusty ships mate like Artemis and fine people such as yourself to fill our journey through the next series of obstacles. Fair thee well my good souls and hug your loved ones for lettin' you get into this silly mess. God bless ye and to all a good evenin'. The Captain bids you fair well and Balooo!" The crew screamed "BALOOO". And with that the Captain led the crew down the gangplank. It seemed only a short time ago they boarded this vessel with hopes and dreams of victories resplendent with fine charms and earnings and much rights d' bragging. As they say in Boston, there is always next year.


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Today marks one of the most important and transformative events in Einstein's history. Yesterday, an agreement was signed between Yeshiva University and Montefiore Health System to transfer financial and operational responsibility for the College of Medicine to Montefiore.
The agreement, which took most of this year to negotiate, transforms our 50-year affiliation with Montefiore—formerly our University Hospital and academic medical center―from a partnership to a single institution in which the College of Medicine will function as a new 501(c)(3) that is part of Montefiore. From a historical perspective, this transition further reinforces core values that Einstein and Montefiore share, including a deeply held commitment to social justice.
1955 Two years after scientist and humanitarian Albert Einstein agrees to lend his name to a new medical school, the College of Medicine welcomes its first class of students (pictured here on graduation day, 1959).
1963 Einstein affiliates with Montefiore. Seated, from left: Jacob W. Schwab, president, Montefiore Hospital; Samuel Belkin, Ph.D., president, Yeshiva University. Standing, from left: Marcus D. Kogel, M.D., dean, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Martin Cherkasky, M.D., director, Montefiore.
1969 Montefiore assumes operational responsibility for Einstein's Jack D. Weiler Hospital.
1980 The Einstein and Montefiore departments of medicine merge, combining the strengths of both campuses. Louis Sherwood, M.D., becomes the first unified chair of medicine.
1990 Montefiore employs joint Einstein-Montefiore faculty.
2009 Dean Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., and Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO of Montefiore, sign a renewal agreement reaffirming the partnership between Einstein and Montefiore. The two institutions agree that Einstein will administer research grants awarded to Montefiore.
2012-2014 Continuing the effort begun in 1977 to develop unified departments, each headed by a single chair, Einstein and Montefiore jointly recruit Judy L. Aschner, M.D. (pediatrics), pictured above; Mark P. Schoenberg, M.D. (urology); Matthew N. Bartels, M.D. (physical medicine and rehabilitation); and Sharmila K. Makhija, M.D. (obstetrics & gynecology and women's health).
2015 The YU-Montefiore agreement is finalized. Montefiore has operational and financial responsibility for Einstein, and Einstein becomes its own legal entity. Transfer to Montefiore of Einstein clinical programs (e.g., the Division of Substance Abuse, the Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center) is complete.


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Wonder Woman 3 May No Longer Be Happening: Report
New leadership appears to be creating big shakeups for DC Comics on screen
Wonder Woman 1984 (Warner Bros.)
Liz Shannon Miller
December 7, 2022 | 8:08pm ET
Add this to the chaos that currently surrounds DC Comics properties: A Gal Gadot-starring Wonder Woman 3 may not be moving forward. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the previously greenlit film looks to be a casualty of the regime change at WarnerMedia-owned DC, which recently hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to guide the next phase of the beloved characters on screen.
Wonder Woman 3 was set to be directed by Patty Jenkins, and she and writer Geoff Johns had turned in a treatment for the new film before being told by Gunn and Safran that it wouldn't fit into future plans for the franchise. (THR notes that canceling the film could save Warner millions of dollars, as both Gadot and Jenkins were to receive pay bumps.)
More awkwardly, just a day ago Gadot posted a message to social media about her time as the Themysciran warrior, ending with this: "Can't wait to share her next chapter with you."
She might not be the only superhero waiting to hear what's happening next for them: This fall, Henry Cavill took to the internet to confirm his eventual return as Superman, followed by the announcement that he would be leaving Netflix's The Witcher after Season 3, theoretically opening up his schedule for a return to Metropolis.
But as the remaining DC films greenlit by the previous leadership — Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and of course The Flash — it's unclear what the future holds right now for any of the actors cast during the Zack Snyder era. (Also, don't forget — these days, even a completed movie starring Oscar-nominated actors can vanish overnight).
A few years ago it was announced that I was going to play Wonder Woman.I've been so grateful for the opportunity to play such an incredible, iconic character and more than anything I'm grateful for YOU.The fans.Can't wait to share her next chapter with you🙅🏻♀🙌🏼💃🏻♥ pic.twitter.com/XlzhrMx4xe
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) December 6, 2022
Tommy Lee Flashes Twitter With Another Nude Pic: "I'll Bring the NUTZ!!!!"
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Rare top quality phosphosiderite and stichtite in sterling silver. This is a unique rosary--only 1 available!


Turntables are part of the current vinyl transcription landscape. Each year, more and more record enthusiasts get involved. Vinyl has not, despite all of the digital sound recording and playback options, come to an end.
Yes, there are plenty of options for those who want to purchase a new turntable—Pro-Ject, Rega, Music Hall are a few that make very nice decks. However, there are those of us who look at a deck produced in the '70s or '80s and remember their dad's system or even their own. These are real craftsmanship and quality that you can see, feel and hear. Just like the film cameras and sports cars of that era, it's not just a fad. It's a cottage industry – fixing up old turntables and getting them working again and getting that sound.
But isn't it easier to just hop onto Amazon and purchase something new, a nice shiny new Pro-Ject or Audio Technica deck? Why vintage turntables? Aren't vintage tables just beat up junk?
Well, in this article, we're going to discuss the best vintage turntables you can get for under $500, so you can find out how some of the old school turntables stack up to modern ones made today.
And, to better help you, we've compiled a list of a few modern turntables in the table below, so you can directly compare how some of the best turntables of today compare to the vintage ones we'll discuss throughout this article.
Why Use a Vintage Turntable?
Here's the deal with vintage sound repro equipment — it's hard to find and even when you find an old deck, it's may be in pieces. Maybe the platter isn't even spinning. Yet people are still hunting for their dream deck.
Perhaps it's because, just like those who lurk on Jalopnik to read about barn finds of 40 year old Porsches, people like to collect vintage sound equipment. You see, analog sound equipment was in a sort of evolutionary phase from the early 1950's until it's apparent demise in the late 1990's. All kinds of improvements and upgrades were done to advance analog sound reproduction for the audiophiles.
These were the people who had the money to spend on a nice system, so the engineers went to work. This is well before companies like AR, Kenwood, and even Sony began outsourcing their parts and assembly to stay in business, thus losing quality control.
Have you ever done this? Gone out to a garage sale or thrift store and found something made in the '60s or '70s? It's the thrill of the hunt. Because, unbelievably, there are still a lot of them out there that still work. That's how well they were built. A couple of years ago I picked up a Dual 1218 turntable. It was just sitting there, on the back wall at a GoodWill.
This thing was hardly used. I took it home, re-lubricated some parts and there it was. Even the cartridge was in good condition. There is something to be said for recycling, especially things that look nice and work well. Sound equipment from the 20th century is one of those niches that fit into that description. They were made well. The turntables- idler-drive, direct-drive or belt-drive were made in Germany, Japan or the USA.
The parts were, mostly made to last. These decks were not cheap. You will probably need or want to understand how to repair or restore the turntable to working condition. Some people will go so far as to build their own plinths or bases and find aftermarket dust covers. Just like vintage cars, really. Only cheaper.
Here's a list of seven high quality turntables that I would recommend. This is not a truly comprehensive list, obviously, but they represent the best and most reliable decks, in my opinion, that you can purchase for under 500 dollars or less.
This list includes turntables that you can purchase to restore or ones you can buy that have already been refurbished by other enthusiasts who have the kind of time and resources to provide customers with the vintage experience without the time and learning curve required to do it yourself.
So, in no particular order, here are my choices for the 7 of the top vintage turntables under $500.
This is the idler-drive deck of choice for the medium priced, great value category. Honestly, you can also pick up a 1218 (10 inch platter vs 12 inch) or even the 1019 and do just fine. All of the Duals from this time period have the all wood base. This will retail, refurbished in working condition for around $400.
There are also a good number of them on Ebay for less, but there is possibly work involved. The good news is that Dual turntables are one of the most reliable, easy to work on decks. Spare parts are available, but you really need to learn how to work on them. The major thing to look for on Dual decks from this era is the steuerpimpel. It is a small rubber cap that assists the tone arm return and most vintage Duals will most likely need it replaced.
A very popular belt-drive model with both modders and audiophiles just starting out. This is a very simple yet high-end deck. The only deal breaker may be that the tone arm is not auto return, which means you have to manually lift the tone arm at the beginning and end of a record. There are workarounds for this, with aftermarket fixes to return the tone arm.
Other models to consider are the TD 124, TD 125 which do have auto return. Prices will range from $200 – $500 for a TD 160 in working condition. Some people prefer belt-drive over idler or direct-drive decks so it's a matter of what you like. Most likely, the drive belt on decks from this time period may need to be replaced. Fortunately, you can buy them online pretty easily.
In the direct-drive category, this Japanese-made model gets my vote. It is considered one of the more reliable vintage direct-drive decks and holds up to this day. It is a fully manual player, so, like the Thorens TD 160, no auto-return here.
For auto-return you'll want the Technics SL-1300. It's aluminum die-cast base gives it a look not so much like that of vintage decks like the Duals or Thorens, but more like the all metal decks of the late '70s and early '80s. Used spare parts are still available.
You will find some nice examples of this elegant Swiss-made idler-drive deck on Ebay or on some audiophile sites. The guts of this deck remind me of a Swiss watch.
If you can find one in working condition, grab it. In stock form, they can sometimes go for $400-$500 and with a bit of work can be operational with a decent amount of available parts.
Here's another belt-drive deck that is simple to use and mod as well. This was considered one of the first mass-market belt drive turntables, originally produced in the early sixties and remaining in production until the early seventies.
It broke ground as being one of the first decks to eliminate the noise generated by the tone arm and uneven vinyl. Beautifully designed and, well, it's an Acoustic Research product. As with the above examples, you will be able to find parts for this deck.
Here is a quality-built Japanese made deck from the early '70s. Sometimes hard to find, you can still pick one up for around $450 in decent condition. This is a belt-driven turntable and parts are available.
Although not the most sought after of the Sansui decks from that era, it is still a good catch for the price and will not disappoint.
From the 1975-1980 era, this is a direct-drive deck that has the classic wood block plinth that personifies high end turntables from this time period. Set up is not that hard and parts seem to be available, if needed.
Note: The only disadvantage to buying one of the above turntables in 'as-is' condition is that you may need to repair the deck yourself. Owner's manuals and repair manuals for many of these decks can be found online. So can a lot of parts.
This can be a problem if you aren't mechanically inclined, have problems reading instructions or don't have the time or patience to do the restoration. Vintage turntables are a lot of times finicky and random issues pop up frequently.
So, this should be a passion for you, whereby your TLC and understanding of the mechanics of the deck override those issues. Think vintage British or Italian sports cars – lovely to own, incredible to drive, but require maintenance and the ability to live with any shortcomings due to age or engineering flaws.
Don't get into all of the tech specifications the first time around. There are too many overly-technical descriptions, mostly meant for seasoned audiophiles, that drown out the real important points to be aware of when purchasing a turntable.
1. If you're buying from a thrift store, take a good look at the unit. You should also use your smartphone and search for that unit on the web, right there in the store. You will get enough data in the first two or three search results to tell whether or not this is a dog or a diamond in the rough.
2. Are all the parts there (or at least the most important ones)? If there is no cartridge or stylus, don't worry. You can buy these new all day long. If the platter is missing or there is no tone arm, you might run into a problem, but that is also solvable.
I actually used his parts to rebuild a United Audio Dual 1228 (check out a video someone uploaded onto YouTube below to see what this turntable looks like). Most of these decks can go from $5 to $25 each, because the people at the thrift stores have no way to test them.
Sure, it's a crap shoot, but if you see a nice Dual or a Technics deck for $15, pick it up and take it home. If nothing else, it's a learning experience.
3. If you're buying from a web store or brick and mortar seller, then you will have to know a bit more about the condition of the turntable before shelling out $300 – $500 for a nice deck.
Ask the salesperson to play something on the turntable. Make sure the tone arm comes off the rest and lands on the run-in grooves, listen to the sound and make sure there is no obvious distortion (that would come from an improperly set-up tone arm or cartridge).
Make sure the tone arm returns smoothly to the rest and turns off. Try both manual and auto functions. Hell, try all of the buttons, bells and whistles that are on it. If you don't know, just ask the salesperson, 'what does that button do?' and make him activate it.
The bottom line is, listen to the deck and the album being played on a decent pair of speakers right there at the store or the living room (if you are buying on Craigslist).
4. Aside from thrift store or CL finds, make sure you get some kind of guarantee on the deck. Look, if they're charging you $400 for a forty-year-old turntable that they are selling as refurbished, they need to have some sort of quality assurance.
Thirty days should be fine. Just get it home, test it on your own equipment and play the hell out of it for a week. If it still works fine after a week, you should be alright. But, remember, you're dealing with older equipment and old equipment can break down, even after it's been refurbed.
1. Thrift Stores – Goodwill is my go-to, but there are others, such as Habitat For Humanity, the local Humane Society and other local places in your town or nearby. The rule is: if you don't look, you'll never find it.
2. Craigslist – While I have never purchased equipment on CL, I know some people who have found decent decks there. You just have to go visit the seller and do the above test on the equipment. There's really no guarantee on this stuff and once you pay, that's that, so do your research as above.
3. Ebay – Yes, you will find all kinds of wonderful turntables for sale on Ebay. Not always the best deal in town, but there are a few ethical sellers who actually know their stuff who really do a decent job of reviving vintage equipment. Shipping is high, unless there is local pick up. The good thing is that Ebay has a good return policy for buyers receiving stuff in non-working condition or something that is not as advertised or listed.
4. Vintage Turntable websites – There are more than a handful of these. Fixmydual.com is a pretty well-established site for Dual decks. Vinylnirvana.com is the place to go for both Thorens and AR decks in refurbished condition.
Your best bet when finding something you like, is to thoroughly research the deck you are interested in, using other sites and forums, to see what other people who use vinyl think about the product.
AudioKarma and Vinylengine are both an widely used forums with lots of great opinion, reviews, resources, user manuals and specs on all kinds of turntables and a place to pick up well maintained decks from members who are ready to upgrade.
For parts, you can head over to Organdonorparts.com and look for what you need. I personally was able to restore my Dual/United Audio Dual 1228 with parts from his inventory.
5. Brick and Mortar Vintage Sound Equipment Stores – There are a few of these, mostly in the more heavily populated areas, but that is changing, due to the continued interest in all things vintage. Just follow those recommends for testing and you should be fine.
The main thing with purchasing a turntable is to know what you want before you buy. There are so many variations of turntables, even within the same brand or type, that to go into a buying mode before you understand what you're buying is asking for disappointment or frustration. So, do your research. Look for the best deck that you can currently afford. Don't spend thousands of dollars on one piece of your system.
You've got amps, speakers and other components that will best match each other. Keep it fun. Try joining a vinyl forum, such as AudioKarma or VinylEngine to get a better idea of what is being discussed, but don't get into the back and forth of it. Just pick a few moderately priced units and do your research on them until you feel comfortable with one, then pull the trigger.
That should get you going on your vinyl hobby. Maybe you'll tire of it and want something better in a few months or a year. That's fine, just pick up another deck and sell your old one on Craigslist.


text:
package com.tle.webtests.pageobject.searching;

import com.tle.webtests.framework.PageContext;
import com.tle.webtests.pageobject.AbstractPage;
import com.tle.webtests.pageobject.PageObject;
import com.tle.webtests.pageobject.PrefixedName;
import com.tle.webtests.pageobject.WaitingPageObject;
import com.tle.webtests.pageobject.generic.component.EquellaSelect;
import java.text.DateFormat;
import java.text.ParseException;
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.Calendar;
import java.util.TimeZone;
import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.NoSuchElementException;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.support.FindBy;
import org.openqa.selenium.support.ui.ExpectedCondition;
import org.openqa.selenium.support.ui.ExpectedConditions;

public abstract class AbstractSearchPage<
        T extends AbstractSearchPage<T, RL, SR>,
        RL extends AbstractResultList<RL, SR>,
        SR extends SearchResult<SR>>
    extends AbstractPage<T> {
  private static final TimeZone USERS_TIMEZONE = TimeZone.getTimeZone("America/Chicago");
  public static final String SEARCH_WITHIN_COLLECTION_ID = "searchform-collection";
  public static final String SORT_BUTTON_ID = "sra_sort";
  public static final String SHARE_BUTTON_ID = "sra_share";
  public static final String FILTER_BUTTON_ID = "sra_filter";
  public static final String FILTER_BOX_COLLECTION_ID = "in";
  public static final String FILTER_RUN_SEARCH_CONTROL_ID = "fbakw_s";
  protected RL resultsPageObject;

  @FindBy(id = SORT_BUTTON_ID)
  private WebElement sortOpener;

  public AbstractSearchPage(PageContext context) {
    this(context, -1);
  }

  public AbstractSearchPage(PageContext context, int timeout) {
    super(context, null, timeout);
    resultsPageObject = resultsPageObject();
  }

  @Override
  protected abstract WebElement findLoadedElement();

  public abstract RL resultsPageObject();

  public WaitingPageObject<RL> getResultsUpdateWaiter() {
    return resultsPageObject.getUpdateWaiter();
  }

  public final RL results() {
    return resultsPageObject.get();
  }

  public boolean hasResults() {
    return results().isResultsAvailable();
  }

  public String getStats() {
    String fullStats = null;
    By stats = By.id("searchresults-stats");
    if (isPresent(stats)) {
      fullStats = driver.findElement(stats).getText();
    }
    return fullStats;
  }

  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  public T setPerPage(String perPage) {
    AbstractSearchPageScreenOptions<?> screenOptions = openScreenOptions();
    WaitingPageObject<RL> waiter = resultsPageObject.getUpdateWaiter();
    screenOptions.setPerPage(perPage);
    waiter.get();
    return (T) this;
  }

  public int getPerPage() {
    return openScreenOptions().getPerPage();
  }

  public AbstractSearchPageScreenOptions<?> openScreenOptions() {
    return new DefaultSearchPageScreenOptions(context).open();
  }

  public T setSort(String sort) {
    WaitingPageObject<RL> waiter = resultsPageObject.getUpdateWaiter();
    new EquellaSelect(context, getSortList()).selectByValue(sort);
    return waitForResultsReload(waiter);
  }

  public WebElement getSortList() {
    WebElement sortList = getCollapsibleControl("sort", SORT_BUTTON_ID);
    return sortList;
  }

  /**
   * @param controlId the id of the inner control, to override the default of "sort", so we can ask
   *     for "rs" (reverse sort checkbox) for example.
   * @return
   */
  public WebElement getSortList(String controlId) {
    WebElement collapsibleControl = getCollapsibleControl(controlId, SORT_BUTTON_ID);
    return collapsibleControl;
  }

  public WebElement getFilterControl() {
    WebElement sortList = getCollapsibleControl("q", getFilterOpenerId());
    return sortList;
  }

  /**
   * @param controlId the id of the inner control, to override the default of "sort", so we can ask
   *     for "in" (institution) or "dr" (date range) for example.
   * @return
   */
  public WebElement getFilterControl(String controlId) {
    WebElement filterControl = getCollapsibleControl(controlId, getFilterOpenerId());
    return filterControl;
  }

  /**
   * @param inputControlId
   * @param controlName
   * @return
   */
  protected WebElement getCollapsibleControl(final String inputControlId, String controlName) {
    WebElement collapsibleElement = null;
    try {
      collapsibleElement = driver.findElement(By.id(inputControlId));
    } catch (NoSuchElementException e) {
      driver.findElement(By.id(controlName)).click();
      waiter.until(
          new ExpectedCondition<Boolean>() {
            @Override
            public Boolean apply(WebDriver arg0) {
              return Boolean.valueOf(isPresent(By.id(inputControlId)));
            }
          });
      collapsibleElement = driver.findElement(By.id(inputControlId));
    }
    return collapsibleElement;
  }

  public boolean ensureSortSelected(String sortOption) {
    EquellaSelect sortOptions = new EquellaSelect(context, getSortList());
    return sortOptions.getSelectedValue().equalsIgnoreCase(sortOption);
  }

  public T selectViaFilterFromResourceCollection(String resourceOption) {
    EquellaSelect resourceOptions =
        new EquellaSelect(context, getFilterControl(FILTER_BOX_COLLECTION_ID));
    String selectedText = resourceOptions.getSelectedText();
    if (!resourceOption.equals(selectedText)) {
      WaitingPageObject<RL> waiter = resultsPageObject.getUpdateWaiter();
      resourceOptions.selectByVisibleText(resourceOption);
      return waitForResultsReload(waiter);
    }
    return get();
  }

  public T waitForResultsReload(WaitingPageObject<RL> resultWaiter) {
    resultWaiter.get();
    return get();
  }

  public T clickPaging(int page) {
    WaitingPageObject<RL> waiter = resultsPageObject.getUpdateWaiter();
    driver
        .findElement(
            By.xpath("id('page')/ul/li/a[text()=" + quoteXPath(String.valueOf(page)) + "]"))
        .click();
    return waitForResultsReload(waiter);
  }

  public boolean onPage(int page) {
    return isPresent(By.xpath("id('page')/ul/li/span[text()='" + page + "']"));
  }

  public int getCurrentPage() {
    By currentPage = By.xpath("id('page')/ul/li/span");
    if (isPresent(currentPage)) {
      return Integer.parseInt(driver.findElement(currentPage).getText());
    }
    return -1;
  }

  public boolean hasPaging() {
    return getCurrentPage() != -1;
  }

  public FilterByDateSectionPage getDateFilter() {
    openFilters();
    return new FilterByDateSectionPage(context, resultsPageObject).get();
  }

  public T setDateFilter(String option, Calendar[] dates) {
    openFilters();
    new FilterByDateSectionPage(context, resultsPageObject).get().setDateFilter(option, dates);
    return get();
  }

  public T setItemStatusFilter(String status) {
    openFilters();
    new FilterByItemStatusSectionPage(context, resultsPageObject).get().setItemStatusFilter(status);
    return get();
  }

  /**
   * @param date format yyyy-MM-dd
   * @return
   */
  public T setDateFilterBefore(String date) throws ParseException {
    DateFormat dfm = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");
    dfm.setTimeZone(USERS_TIMEZONE);
    dfm.parse(date);
    Calendar d1 = dfm.getCalendar();
    openFilters();
    new FilterByDateSectionPage(context, resultsPageObject)
        .get()
        .setDateFilter("BEFORE", new Calendar[] {d1});
    return get();
  }

  // Abstract all the calender making stuff to the page because I need to do
  // it a few times
  // Just for convenience, use setDateFilter if you feel like building your
  // own calenders...
  /**
   * @param date1
   * @param date2

   *     Format: yyyy-MM-dd

   *     date-date = between

   *     null - date = before

   *     date - null = after
   * @return
   * @throws ParseException
   */
  public T filterByDates(String date1, String date2) throws ParseException {
    Calendar c1 = null;
    Calendar c2 = null;
    String option = null;

    DateFormat dfm = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");
    DateFormat dfm2 = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");
    dfm.setTimeZone(USERS_TIMEZONE);
    dfm2.setTimeZone(USERS_TIMEZONE);

    if (date1 != null) {
      dfm.parse(date1);
      c1 = dfm.getCalendar();
      option = "AFTER";
    }
    if (date2 != null) {
      dfm2.parse(date2);
      c2 = dfm2.getCalendar();
      option = "BEFORE";
    }
    if (date1 != null && date2 != null) {
      option = "BETWEEN";
    }
    c1 = c1 == null ? c2 : c1;
    c2 = c1 == c2 ? null : c2; // Trust me
    return this.setDateFilter(option, new Calendar[] {c1, c2});
  }

  public RL exactQuery(PrefixedName query) {
    return exactQuery(query.toString());
  }

  public RL exactQuery(String query) {
    return search('"' + query + '"');
  }

  public abstract RL search(String query);

  public void delete(SR searchResult) {
    searchResult.clickActionConfirm("Delete", true, updateWaiter());
  }

  public
 P edit(SR searchResult, WaitingPageObject
 editorPage) {
    return searchResult.clickAction("Edit", editorPage);
  }

  protected void openSort() {
    if (!isPresent(By.className("sortaction"))) {
      sortOpener.click();
      waiter.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(By.className("sortaction")));
    }
  }

  protected void openFilters() {
    By filterContent = By.xpath("id('actioncontent')/div[contains(@class, 'filter')]");
    if (!isPresent(filterContent)) {
      driver.findElement(By.id(getFilterOpenerId())).click();
      waiter.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(filterContent));
    }
  }

  protected void openShare() {
    By shareContent = By.xpath("id('actioncontent')/div[contains(@class, 'sharesearchquery')]");
    if (!isPresent(shareContent)) {
      driver.findElement(By.id(getShareOpenerId())).click();
      waiter.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(shareContent));
    }
  }

  protected String getFilterOpenerId() {
    return FILTER_BUTTON_ID;
  }

  protected String getShareOpenerId() {
    return SHARE_BUTTON_ID;
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Professor Roger T Johnson
Professor Roger T Johnson - Roger T. Johnson is a professor in the Department of Curricu-lum and Instruction with an emphasis in science education at the University of Minnesota.. Roger T. Johnson has written: 'Structuring Cooperati Go. science math history literature technology health law business All Sections. Authors, Poets, and Playwrights. What has the author Roger. ROGER T JOHNSON, PAC – NPI #1316038607 Family Medicine. Profile for ROGER T JOHNSON in PINEVILLE, WV. Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family..
Roger Thomas Johnson is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Roger Thomas Johnson and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share. Johnson, David W.; Johnson, Roger T. – Journal of Education for Teaching: International Research and Pedagogy, 2017 Two aspects of teacher education for cooperative learning are the content taught and the processes used to teach the content.. Roger T. Johnson was born 17 Aug 1927. In 1941, he began working for his father's In 1941, he began working for his father's construction firm, and married in 1948..
Find the obituary of Roger T Johnson (1952 - 2017) from Duluth, Minnesota. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care.. Este libro presenta las estrategias para poner en práctica el aprendizaje cooperativo en el aula. El enfoque propuesto reemplaza la estructura basada en la competitividad por otra organizada en torno al trabajo en equipo y el alto rendimiento. Pero el trabajo en equipo, con sus ventajas y dificultades, exige un análisis profundo y pautas. There are 2 individuals that go by the name of Rogert Johnson. These individuals collectively are associated with 2 companies in Bruceton Mills WV and Portland OR..
DAVID W. JOHNSON, Professor, University of Minnesota, Coop Learning Center, 202 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive, SE, Min MN 55455. Specializations: Social psychology, experiential lear MARY BETH STANNE, Research Assistant, University of M Cooperative Learning Center, 202 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury D Minneapolis, MN 55455..


text:
Bristol Energy – what are they hiding?
tags: Bristol Energy, Council owned companies, Mayor of Bristol
Bristol's taxpayers have sunk about £40million into trying to make a success of Bristol Energy Limited. I say taxpayers because the money spent by Bristol City Council all comes from households or businesses, one way or another. But we taxpayers were never really asked whether we wanted to take such a large punt in the volatile energy market. We don't know how our money's been spent, despite repeated attempts to find out by opposition party councillors. Mayor Marvin Rees is determined to keep it that way, presiding over an energy company where we are all kept in the dark. He and his Labour colleagues voted down a joint Liberal Democrat and Conservative motion that called for an independent inquiry into the company's finances.
I wonder why the Mayor is being so secretive. What is he trying to stop us seeing? Nobody should reasonably expect him to be an expert in the complexities of the energy market. But we are entitled to expect our political leaders to have a care for the stewardship of our money in their hands. It's been a concern of many people for a long time that Bristol Energy was haemorrhaging cash. Rather than a return on its investment, the city was propping up an ailing and maybe ultimately failing company. When did Mayor Rees become aware of this fact? Did he understand the scale of the problem? Did he pay due attention to briefings and warnings? Or was he distracted by more interesting stuff in his in-box?
Mayor Rees and I are both keen watchers of American politics, so I know he will be aware of this quote – "You campaign in poetry but govern in prose." It was said by the former (and father of the current one) Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo. The speech was a warning Cuomo gave his fellow Democrats that you can have all the highfalutin language and soaring phrases you like but the people expect politicians to work hard, study the detail and act to make a difference. Many of us have sat through a speech from Rees and wondered what it all meant. Anyone watching Rees at Mayor's question time in City Hall will have cringed at the disdainful way he responds to both councillors and the public. This is a mayor who does not react well when challenged and appears to fear scrutiny.
Another well-known aspect of Rees's behaviour is his taste for foreign travel. We have a city mayor who clearly enjoys globetrotting and one suspects has desires to be seen as a global figure. I'm not opposed to politicians travelling, I did some myself when in office. But the travel must have some purpose, to win investment for the city (which is actually the West of England Mayor's job) or to learn some policy lessons to transform services in Bristol. Rees is actually in charge of several essential services in Bristol. The biggest, social care, is critical during the COVID crisis. But I suspect that Rees finds all this prosaic stuff about budgets and services rather dull. Much more fun to attend a global parliament of mayors.
Perhaps this is what the Mayor wants to keep from our eyes. That he was so busy travelling around the world and talking about illusory billions for an Underground that will never be built that he failed to act soon enough to stop the wasting of tens of millions at Bristol Energy. He managed to stop the true scale of the horror from emerging before the elections that were scheduled for May this year. Now the peoples' verdict on his term of office has to wait till next year and by then we will surely know the full scale of the mess and what it's cost us all. The outcome for Rees could be dire and maybe more people will conclude that it's time to switch off the post of elected mayor too.
This article was originally published by Bristol 24/7 – https://www.bristol247.com/opinion/your-say/why-is-marvin-rees-being-so-secretive-about-bristol-energy/?fbclid=IwAR1ansCgqSwjHrMTVwMaOxyo54uDW-Oo6b_zFhfP68wvobyCfF1rSikUo_8
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ffranc_sais permalink
These local authority-sponsored energy companies seemed like a good idea at the time, but I doubt that there is one that has succeeded. Surely it is time for Bristol corporation to pull the plug, with or without an Inquiry.
Paul Nash permalink
How did they seem a good idea?
The plan is to try and buy energy from generators and sell it on at a skinny margin in a very competitive market place. At the time OVO energy (similar business plan) were making a 2% margin and really struggling to turn a profit.
Even a Junior School maths lesson could have worked out the skinny margins and the amount of time to repay the initial investment. One thing the lesson wouldn't have done is predict a profit by 2019 (originally it was supposed to be making a 35% NET profit by 2016)
The problem is at the outset the predicted NET profit margin was 35%. Just to put that in perspective energy resellers make around a 2% NET profit and the generators around 6% NET profit.
At the original scrutiny the only Councillor to query this 35% was a UKIP Councillor (the shame of it). I've tried several FOI requests to establish where this 35% figure came from and who sat on the original scrutiny committee. I'm sure you know a few Councillors Stephen, any idea?
stephenwilliams permalink*
The origins of the Bristol Energy company were pretty soundly based – it was not intended to be (a minor) player in the retail market. Rather, the original Lib Dem plan was for it to generate renewable energy from wind turbines, the city's waterways and from PV panels on city buildings. This original mission would have provided sustainable jobs and helped tackle fuel poverty with a Bristol tariff. All of that was abandoned by subsequent administrations to chase margins in the volatile retail market. I always thought this was nuts. It would have been better to have done a joint venture with existing players nearby such as Good Energy, Ovo or Ecotricity. Sadly, propping up an ailing and failing council owned company was a mayoral vanity project.
I've had a quick look for the Lib Dems pre 2015 plan, be interesting to see it and how it might have performed over the last 6 or so years compared with Bristol Energy. The market has changed radically since 2015 for both the smaller resellers and the smaller generators. It would be interesting see where they projected the energy market would go in 2015-2020.
If it was small scale generators, I'll go out on a limb and suggest it was based on incentivising local generators by offering a slightly above rate FiT with a generous 20+ year term and making a margin on the ever increasing FiT market and by 2020 we'd be making out like bandits on a 35% margin?
I don't know the intricate financial details of the original proposal. All I know is that the company launched in 2016 had a business plan that differed radically from the original idea.


text:
I loved the touchpad on my old laptop. It was just so easy to use, no wrist aches... I bought myself a cute infra-red mouse with scrolly-wheel, but sorry, I think after a touchpad (with such delights as hold-drag and tap-click), a mouse of any sort is a retrograde step.
Question - I can open my Pearl catalogue and see lots of mice. Chunky bog-standard mice. Mice that look like mobile phones. Mice with faces. Mice with built-in fans for the seriously wussy. There's probably erotic mice to go with the erotic manga-girl-with-huge-tits mousemats.
But you know what there isn't? A touchpad.
One single sodding Synaptics touchpad to plug into the PS/2 or USB port.
Arrrgh! PANDEMIC! Arrrrrrgh!
Okay, so the WHO has decided to finally call the monster-flu-of-certain-painful-death a PANDEMIC. It's sure to make loads of tabloid front covers, but really all it actually means is that the flu is continuing infection in two different parts of the world (i.e. Japan/Australia and Europe). That's all it means.
While some news outlets are making allusions to the Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed over 50,000,000 people (and I think is the illness referred to in The Secret Garden), we must keep in mind some obvious things. Firstly sanitation and medicine are a lot more advanced now than back then. Secondly, you might not realise it, but Swine Flu is present in 70 countries, is increasing infection in most of them, and has already affected 30,000 people. In correlation with those figures (source BBCi 2009/06/12) the flu has claimed 140 lives.
In keeping with my three-figure prediction of 26th April (a month and a half - quite a long time in infection transfer/gestation terms), the figure is overall. There is no immediately available figure of deaths in developed vs developing nations, nor are there figures for how many deaths were purely related to the flu and how many had 'other complications'. To know what I mean: AIDS cripples the body's immune system, but it doesn't tend to kill by itself. If an AIDS sufferer catches pneumonia, they're probably a goner as the immune defences won't offer any resistance. Is it fair to say the person died of pneumonia (which is what actually did them in) or that the person died of AIDS (which is what put them in the vulnerable state in the first place).
Likewise Swine Flu - how many fit and healthy people from a developed nation, could be walking down Farnham high street on a sunny Tuesday in July, have caught this flu and dropped dead because of it? What's that statistic? Because that figure, contrary to 30,000 known infections, will tell us if any worry is necessary or if it will just be like a version of the boring normal winter lurgy, only in the summer...
Mom reports that on her radio they're saying the WHO are also very concerned that the flu as it currently is may mutate into something quite nasty when the next round of winter flu comes. While that is a possibility, is this really anything new? One year (2005?) I was struck down three times with flu - in December, in January, and less so in March. Why? Probably because it was a rapidly mutating flu and having been already established it was fairly simple for it to evolve and jump back. My immune system would know type 1 but not know type 2. Get over that, type 3 comes. There may have been a dozen mutations, if not more, thankfully I only encountered three forms. That was three too many.
We can certainly hope and pray that Swine Flu, like SARS, makes a few headlines and then fades away. But if it doesn't, if it evolves, this is not unexpected. It's just proof that Darwin is mostly right and Creationalism is mostly not. ☺
Go go, Gordie, goodbye!
He's a stubborn old bastard, isn't he? Had his eye on the premiership for ages, gave Blair the sereptitious shove, now he is clinging on for dear life because he's damned well not going to be ousted. The general public hate him (local elections: the BNP (not-quite National Front) got a seat while Labour scored lower than the green party! this is unheard of!), his own MPs have been bailing (though one might wonder if they jumped before they were pushed, at least we're done with Hazel-bloody-Blears), but he is simply not going to go. He reckons he alone can fix the problems. Hell, on Question Time a Labour MP (name escapes me, it's the 2009/06/11 transmission) was making out like Gordie was the only person who could rescue the world's economy and Obama praised him highly as nobody else (no Sarkos, no Merkels, no Obamas) could put together such a package. I'd love to hear an American's take on that. In fact, anybody suitably qualified in mental health please email me to explain the extent of this delusion!
[Gordie! Master of The Universe!] (say it with a deep echoey voice)
I suppose there is one good thing about Gordie staying. There is still a Labour party. While I don't have much time for them [I lie, I have no time for New Labour], if he stepped down (or better, dissolve parliament and force a general election), the landscape would be quite strange with blue on one side and yellow on the other, and a teeny-tiny patch of red sat beside the token BNP seats. Effectively Labour would cease to exist if an election was called now. Those in the cabinet are, to a depressing extent, neither elected nor Brown's first choice for those people quit or defected. Who remains? The runners-up. There are some who remain faithful, but is this a strong belief in Brown or the perks&expenses talking? There are many who aren't faithful. It's no longer a back-bench revolt as the Tories experienced from time to time, but rather an attempted coup to get rid of him (which failed) coupled with a public that don't want to know him from Adam.
This is further fuelled by rank dissillusionment in what the government is doing. Consider... The government spent a horribly obscene amount of money on the banks. And it is offering what to manufacturing? Oh, if you are a Labour advocate (all one of you!), don't email me to point out the plan that what's-his-name set out five months ago. I'm talking cold hard cash. In the five months, little has materialised. In less time, the taxpayer owns something akin to 70% of RBS. No, let me correct that, the taxpayer owns bugeralle but has kindly agreed to take on 70% of the problem. Kinda makes you think the low/middle income brackets deserve a corresponding 70% off their loans and mortgages as a "thank you".
It actually makes sense. The government got shafted. It had to rescue the banks, and quickly, for if they went down the toilet the country's entire economy would go with it. But the government wisely tossed loads of money at banks. So who is running the banks now? With a big public-sector share, are they being run by a public committee? Errr... no, I think they're being run by the same management that cocked up so badly in the first place. Excuse me, why?
So to manufacturing. Lots planned, little materialises. There were workers from BLD (British Leyland DAF) on Question Time and they wanted to know why the government had put so much money into banks and wouldn't give a support package of around £55m to BLD. Well, if it helps, I'd have taken on the banks on the proviso that top level management collect their UB40s that self-same day. I'd have fired the whole lot of them. But the banks had to be saved. Money is the lynchpin of modern society. It's $#!+ but it's true. As for BLD, it seems the company had been making losses for quite a while. So it had some projects up-and-coming. And? If the rescue package was approved, would that tide the company until better days, or would it delay the inevitable for a year? I suspect the latter. The government had to make a decision. I don't entirely support that decision, for if I was the government I'd realise that British manufacturing is actually quite small. What is made and exported from the UK nowadays?
Learn a lesson from Iceland. Lovely country full of extremely eccentric people (okay, we really only have LazyTown, Sigur Rós, and Bjork to compare against...) but a country that doesn't make anything. Their huge booming economy was virtual. When the caca hit the air circulation device, the economy went into meltdown because Iceland had nothing to back it all up with. What could they sell? What could they offer as a guarantee? What could they manufacture to help keep the whole system running?
This is something that the UK govt had better think long and hard about. Instead of misquoted rhetoric, get those British workers into British jobs to make British goods for export, or you'll soon find that your once-skilled workers are dead or retired and all the younger lot are a dab-hand at making an ever increasing selection of utterly pointless Powerpoint presentations, but have no clue how to calibrate a Webber carburettor for optimum engine performance. Manufacturing, like my job, may not be sexy and it may not be particularly well paid, but it's more necessary than any amount of "middle management".
Lose that, you lose the backbone of the country...
Here's an idea:
Why don't you try to think of five things that Britain manufactures and exports. Five things uniquely British that are strong products that can aid economic recovery.
Now try doing that for Germany.
Ourselves, ourselves über alles!
It might get a bit annoying with Sarko going on about how good the French are, but he has both a point and a not-so-secret weapon. The French are quite patriotic. Not a sickeningly in-your-face as American patriotism, but it's definitely vive la France!. Britain? Why is it "Made in England" is oft taken as a mark of derision? Perhaps this is a part of what is wrong in the country. Where's the patriotism? Where's the confidence? Where's the belief in yourself? There's no Great in Great Britain, it's more a pathetic little whimper.
As for the not-so-secret weapon - I wonder how many foreign diplomats actually hear what Sarkozy is saying, and how many are busy looking at what Carla is wearing and having thoughts that would set the confessional on fire? ☺


Depending on their budget and/or skill level a family or private school may choose one of two options for the fee-based courses. Parents or private school teachers may choose to 1) teach the course themselves for $49 per trimester or 2) hire one of our distance learning professionals. In the latter case, some courses require a tutor ($199) and others require a monitor ($99). Tutor level courses (humanities courses) require a high level of synchronous interaction in a weekly "classroom". Our state-of-the-art, Web4m conferencing system combines voice and keyboard interaction in a stimulating On-line learning environment. Monitor level courses (math & science) are generally self-taught to a large degree, requiring much less student-teacher interaction. Monitors are available via asynchronous e-mail or b-board to answer questions or in some cases to grade papers.
Home Taught: The tuition-free, introductory (grammar) level course in every course sequence is self-taught, computer graded and archived with no Academy instructor provided. Parents or local TAs serve as tutors where necessary to facilitate learning, but the courses are designed to be self-taught for the most part. In many cases, students will choose to print out material to study off-line and then go back on-line for testing. These courses are self-paced and may be taken at any time. In some cases it will become necessary for parents to manually enter grades using the "details" button next to the course on the registration page, located on the right side of the screen.
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Tutor Taught: All humanities courses above the introductory level require a high level of synchronous interaction in a weekly "classroom". Our state-of-the-art, Web4m conferencing system combines voice and keyboard interaction in a stimulating On-line learning environment. Students engage in lively discussion with a tutor and fellow students; this is the dialectic process so critical to the classical approach. These courses meet at the same time each week and have a fixed starting and ending date. All math courses have the option of all three methods: home taught, monitor or tutor.


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Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen Sued Over Collapsed Crypto Company FTX
Cover Images/INFphoto.com
In addition to the newly divorced couple, investors sue the bankrupt company's ex-CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and celebrity endorsers including David Ortiz, Steph Curry, Naomi Osaka and Shaquille O'Neal.
AceShowbiz - Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are now roped into a legal battle together. The newly divorced couple has been named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by investors over collapsed crypto company FTX.
FTX investors filed the paperwork late Tuesday, November 15 in Miami. They sued the collapsed company's ex-CEO Sam Bankman-Fried as well as several celebrities who have endorsed the platform. Among famous names mentioned in the lawsuit were Tom, his ex-wife Gisele, David Ortiz, Steph Curry, Naomi Osaka, Shaquille O'Neal, Larry David, Kevin O'Leary, Trevor Lawrence and Udonis Haslem.
"The deceptive FTX platform maintained by the FTX entities was truly a house of cards," the proposed class-action lawsuit stated, "A Ponzi scheme where the FTX Entities shuffled customer funds between their opaque affiliated entities, using new investor funds obtained through investments in the YBAs and loans to pay interest to the old ones and to attempt to maintain the appearance of liquidity."
It continued, "Part of the scheme employed by the FTX Entities involved utilizing some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment … pouring billions of dollars into the Deceptive FTX Platform to keep the whole scheme afloat."
When the crypto exchange faltered on liquidity concerns, the investors sustained $11 billion in damages, the lawsuit alleged. The proposed class action also pointed out that FTX yield-bearing accounts were unregistered securities that were unlawfully sold in the U.S.
The lawsuit came as Sam, the self-exiled dethroned king of crypto, hides out in the Bahamas, where he went on a foul-mouthed rant about regulation amid calls for an investigation in Washington.
Sam, who has often voiced support for oversight of the unregulated crypto markets, changed his tune during an extended Twitter conversation late Tuesday night with Vox. Vox's Kelsey Piper asked him if his previous comments to her that some regulation would be good were just a public relations ploy. "Yeah just PR," he replied. "F**k regulators. They make everything worse. They don't protect customers at all."
Sam, whose net worth was valued as high as $17 billion at one point, is now broke. A shocking fall from grace for someone once widely hailed as a genius in the cryptocurrency industry.
Jay Leno 'in Good Spirits' After Surgery to Treat 'Serious' Burn Injuries
Viral Sensation Ray Singleton's Wife Roslyn Dies After Battling Brain Cancer
Tom Brady Allegedly Lost 15 Pounds Amid Gisele Bundchen Divorce
Tom Brady Unsure If He'll Return to NFL for 24th Season
Fans Convinced Tom Brady Sends Cryptic Goodbye Message to Buccaneers
Tom Brady Takes It 'One Day at a Time' When Making Decision for Next Season
Idina Menzel Has One Big Regret About 'Let It Go'


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Virginia man arrested after brothers killed in Fourth of July road rage incident
Deputies: 'Subjects did not know each other'
Two brothers were shot and killed on July 4 when a road rage incident led to a shooting.
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. -- A man has been arrested after the bodies of two brothers were found in their car following an apparent road rage incident in Spotsylvania County on the Fourth of July.
Dispatchers received a 911 call at 10:15 p.m. Saturday about a shooting in the area of Fox Run Drive, according to Capt. Elizabeth Scott with the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office.
When deputies arrived, they found the bodies of the brothers, 38 and 39 years old, in their vehicle in the middle of the road, Scott said.
Officials said 48 year-old Danny Lee Huffman of Spotsylvania called 911 alleging he was cut on his arm during an "altercation" with the brothers.
"The investigation is still on-going but appears to be related to a road rage incident that occurred," Scott said. "The subjects did not know each other and had no prior history according to the initial investigation."
Scott said the suspect did have a cut on his arm, which was treated by rescue crews.
Huffman was charged with two counts of malicious wounding, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and felony child endangerment, but Scott said those charges will likely be upgraded this week.
Divers located the weapon used in the crime in a pond on Huffman's property, according to Scott.
Deputies said Huffman's 17-year-old son was in the vehicle with him during the incident.
Huffman is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Scott said the identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.
Officials said their investigation into the case is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office at 540-582-7115 or 800-928-5822.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can submit a news tip here.


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W&M report finds uncontested races for state legislatures at all-time high
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Reves Center for International Studies
by staff | November 3, 2014
A report from the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy at William & Mary found that more elections for state legislative seats across the country are going uncontested this fall than at any other time in the 21st century. Just 57.41 percent of the 5,800 state legislative seats up for election involve competition between Democratic and Republican candidates, the study found. The drop this year is the third straight decline after two-party contests peaked in the 2008 presidential election year.
The reasons for the continued drop are varied, noted John J. McGlennon, professor of government and public policy.
"The decline in competition can be explained by a number of factors, but especially increased partisan gerrymandering designed to make more seats 'safe' for one party or the other and increased party polarization which has reduced the pool of 'swing' voters who split their tickets from office to office," he said.
McGlennon also cited California's adoption of the "top two" primary, which has led to a substantial decline in the number of two-party contests and replaced them with "second primaries" between two candidates of the dominant political party in a district. In that state, he said, two-party contests for the legislature dropped by 18 points between 2010 and 2014, largely for that reason.
McGlennon authored the study, "A Report on Partisan Competition in State Legislative Elections, 2014: Two-Party Contests Hit Lowest point in Past 7 Cycles," with the assistance of Jacob Derr, a master's in public policy candidate and government major Jakob Deel '16.
This year's report, released Friday, is part of a continuing series that has reported on legislative competition in federal election years since 2006.
Data in the report includes states holding elections in both presidential and midterm congressional election years. This year's numbers, the authors noted, showed slightly fewer than three of five elections feature both a Democratic and Republican candidate, down three percentage points from the 2012 elections.
The trend toward declining competition, McGlennon said, lessens the likelihood of major changes in party make-up in state legislatures nationwide, but doesn't mean there won't be shifts in party control.
"There are a number of closely divided state legislative chambers this year. In these cases, even a small shift in seats could produce transfer of control from on party to another," he said.
Still, the study found some states are bucking the trend. Four states, with an interesting geographic tie, showed partisan competition in better than 80 percent of their races.
"It is interesting to note the consistency of individual states," McGlennon observed. "Four of the five most competitive states– Michigan, Maine, Minnesota and Montana -- are along the nation's northern border, and these states appear time after time," he said.
In contrast, he noted, the report shows that states with one-party dominance, like Rhode Island for the Democrats and Georgia or Wyoming for the GOP have little competition.
The full report is available online and provides several tables detailing the level of competition in individual states as well as trends in most and least competitive states over time.
Law students to host annual VOTEline Nov. 4


We hereby present three fine antique photographs of Kikuyu women from the three traditional regions of Kikuyuland, Gaki – Nyeri, Metumi – Murang'a, and Kabete – Kiambu. The original photographs are all in the Library of Congress and are catalogued as having belonged to an Eric and Edith Matson taken on a 1936 flight with the Imperial Airways on a World Trunk route following the Nile from the delta to the Victoria Nile and the Victoria Lake. From their collection, it seems like the group visited Nairobi and neighbouring sisal and coffee estates up to Fort Hall, Murang'a and upcountry up to Nanyuki as well as Mombasa and Kisumu. It is while they were between Nairobi and Karatina that they stopped at Fort Hall, then Murang'a where they took the beautiful photo of the Murang'a woman. They stopped at Karatina where they took many photos of what they described as a native market under a tree and that is where they took the photograph of the Nyeri woman banana seller. The other photo of the Kiambu woman was taken as "Kikuyu Girl near Nairobi" on their way from Kisumu to Nairobi therefore we may conclude that she was a Kiambu woman.
Although it is a very small sample from which to draw conclusions, we can compare the combative unsmiling frown of the Nyeri woman with the comfortable smile and grace of the Murang'a woman. We can compare the Kiambu woman's radiant smile and open hands with the Muranga closed but unconcealed hands and the Nyeri woman's hidden hands. In terms of economics it is very clear; the Kiambu woman is the richest followed by the Murang'a and the Nyeri woman, though not poor comes last. All of them engage in commercial activity of one kind or other and it seems again, the Kiambu woman comes tops in terms of riches. The Muranga region was the breadbasket of Kikuyuland and the people were the best farmers of grains. Their stores were the richest and one of the reasons given for Francis Hall to have established a Fort in present day Murang'a town was that it was the best source of food. Kiambu women were more into exchanging articles with Maasai at Dagoreti market and it is apparent that our Kiambu woman has a lot of decorations associated with the Maasai. The true Kikuyu adornments for women can be seen from the Murang'a woman who among the three still retains her leather garments. The Kiambu woman is elegantly dressed in the white calico cloth that was introduced by the whites.
Each of these women is of course extremely attractive and it is a toss. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This beautiful picture is said to be of an old woman. The photographer seems to have had a better rapport with her and she seems more relaxed. She seems to have been resting and her load is next to her. She is adorned with the traditional beaded ear bangles, hang'i and the two iron spirals worn by married women. Her hang'i however are hanging from the earlobes and not strapped over her head as was the more common practice. In terms of health, again no modern Kikuyu woman can hold a candle to her even those half her age. The flabby arms and overflowing flesh from tummies and waists of today's woman are not even worth talking about in front of such a physique.
This fine picture reveals the beauty of soul of the Kiambu woman. She is a queen and is adorned as one and she knows it. Even if her husband may be poor and all the riches are due to her, no one will ever know it. We give her the name of Njeri aka Waceera, the traveller. Because of her journeys she is exposed to other cultures and trades with them. Her clothing betrays her Aceera clan ancestry, flamboyant, sharp and posh. She is alone as the saying goes, Mũceera ndaceeraga na ũngĩ, or "a Muceera does not travel with another". Note that she wears rings on her fingers, a mark of royalty, that is, she is not a woman of dirt or grow arrow roots like our Nyeri or Murang'a specimens. Again her health is such that if we cared about our own health, we would do everything to learn the secret behind it and not believe the over glorified white coated prescription clerks for pharmaceutical companies who tell us only what is necessary to increase their business.
Quite an interesting read. Keep up with the good job sir! Mwene-Nyaga akurathime ni kugeria gucukia ruui mukaro.
We fictionalised the pictures to make the Muranga woman a Wanjiru, the Nyeri woman a Waithiegeni and the Kiambu woman a Waceera or Njeri. The Aceera clan are sharp dressers and not short of vanity. If you see a guy in town driving a Maserati he is likely a Muceera and that was why we noted that the Muceera woman wears rings to show she is not associated with dirt but with travel. Today they are mostly in the diaspora. We never intended it as an insult to the other clans and we apologise if it came out thus.
Does it mean that to you that Aacera are only found in Kiambu?If not do the Aacera women in Muranga and Gaki also exhibit the asserted lifestyles?
Of cause the Aceera and even all the other clans are distributed in all regions though some regions have more concentrations of particular clans than others. The discussion of characteristics of each clan is a complex one and we are planning on an explanatory text soon.
Maaaan, You must be from Kabete!
Ati evil? Beautifully evil u say. I like.
In all the three instances the women are all hard workers.
and the one from kiambu is holding a coin! was she paid for the photo to be taken? maybe.
Good observation! Very likely a token of appreciation. Tourists even today do it when they photograph "natives".
Very interesting treatise on the Kikuyu women. I am a Muithiegeni from Wariruta, Karatina. I think the woman from Gakii may be an ancestor. She looks very much like my aunty who incidentally sells foodstuff in Wariruta market. Thanks for sharing!
The woman from Nyeri is very industrious she's selling bananas that she got from her farm meaning she's fed her whole family and is selling the surplus.
The surplus explains her physique that she's a hardworking woman who ensures her children are well fed and her physique doesn't mean it's for wrestling men.
Ni githomo kiega muno. Ni ngatho nyingi muno.
The usual Nyeri disdain, Rĩu ndũngana ici ikaigania kworota andũ na tũnyamũ tũtũ rĩ, mmmmmh? ungĩmoona!" hahaha. That cracked me.


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Meek Mill Drops Video for "Mandela Freestyle" to Celebrate Receiving Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award
Meek Mill has added another award to his mantel. On Thursday, the Philadelphia rapper/activist was presented with the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award for his work with REFORM Alliance. The honor was presented by PTTOW! (Plan to Take on the World)—an invite-only community/summit for inspiring figures spanning across 70 major industries.To celebrate the achievement, Meek dropped a video for his new track "Mandela Freestyle"on Friday. You can watch the visuals up top.The Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award recognizes leaders who are continuing Mandela's legacy of peace and social justice.
Meek his been very vocal about his own experience within the criminal justice system, and has continued to use his platform to push for meaningful change."I'm speaking for the people who are actually caught up in these situations . . . People in this world make mistakes," he told This Morning's Gayle King in 2019. "[I want] "do something for the people who come from where I come from."Other recipients of the Nelson Mandela Changemakers Award include Sharon Stone, Sophia Bush, Toronto Raptors President and Founder of Giants of Africa Foundation Masai Ujiri, Global Citizen CEO/Founder Hugh Evans, and Dr. Martin Luther King's advisor, Clarence Jones.
Via: Complex
issu3.com August 13, 2021


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Markets | E&P | LNG | NGI All News Access | NGI The Weekly Gas Market Report
EIA Bumps 2016 NatGas Price Forecast Back Up to $2.25/MMBtu
By David Bradley
Henry Hub natural gas prices will average $2.25/MMBtu this year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecast Tuesday, up 7 cents from the agency's previous prognostication. It was the first time EIA has increased its 2016 forecast in nearly a year.
Last month, EIA said it expected 2016 Henry Hub prices to average $2.18/MMBtu and 2017 prices to average $3.02/MMBtu (see Daily GPI, April 12). In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA increased the 2016 price forecast and held steady on the 2017 forecast.
"Through the 2015-16 winter, prices remained relatively low because of lower demand as a result of warmer-than-normal temperatures, record inventory levels, and production growth," the agency said. "EIA expects prices will gradually rise through the summer, as demand from the electric power sector increases, but forecast prices remain lower than they were last summer. Monthly average Henry Hub spot prices are forecast to remain lower than $3.00/MMBtu through December 2016."
The latest natural gas price forecasts are back to where EIA had placed them two months ago (see Daily GPI, March 8) but remain sharply below the agency's February forecasts of $2.64/MMBtu this year and $3.22/MMBtu next year (see Daily GPI, Feb. 9). It was the first time EIA has increased its natural gas price forecast for 2016 since the March 2015 STEO, when it predicted $3.48/MMBtu, a penny higher than the previous STEO. EIA's price forecasts declined steadily throughout 2015 (see Daily GPI, Dec. 8, 2015; Jan. 13, 2015) before firming a bit in January (see Daily GPI, Jan. 25).
Henry Hub prices averaged $1.92/MMBtu last month, an increase of 19 cents from March, according to the STEO. Natural gas futures prices for August 2016 delivery (for the five-day period ending May 5) averaged $2.36/MMBtu.
Current options and futures prices imply that market participants place the lower and upper bounds for the 95% confidence interval for August 2016 contracts at $1.64/MMBtu and $3.39/MMBtu, respectively. At this time last year, the natural gas futures contract for August 2015 averaged $2.85/MMBtu and the corresponding lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval were $1.98/MMBtu and $4.11/MMBtu, EIA said.
Plump natural gas storage inventories don't paint an optimistic picture for those hoping for higher prices next winter. EIA last week reported an injection of 68 Bcf, leaving 2,625 Bcf in natural gas storage, significantly more than a year ago (1,764 Bcf) and the five-year average (1,789 Bcf) (see Daily GPI, May 5). The agency expects end-of-March working inventories to reach 2,288 Bcf, compared with 2,096 in the previous STEO and 666 Bcf more than the five-year end-of-March average.
"Inventories in March ended at 2,478 Bcf, the highest end-of-withdrawal-season level on record," EIA said. "The first significant inventory increase of the injection season occurred the week ending April 22, with a 73-Bcf build." EIA expects gas inventories to be 4,158 Bcf at the end of October, which would be the highest level on record to begin the heating season.
Total marketed production averaged 80.1 Bcf/d in February, a 1.4% decline from January and the second highest production level on record, EIA said. "Growth was strongest in the Marcellus and Utica production areas," EIA said. "Production in Pennsylvania (measured in Bcf/d) increased by 3.5% from January levels, and production in Ohio and West Virginia increased by 10.7% and by 1.7%, respectively." But preliminary data since February indicates that production growth may be slowing because of reduced drilling activity in response to low natural gas prices.
EIA expects natural gas exports by pipeline to Mexico will increase because of growing demand from Mexico's electric power sector and flat natural gas production in Mexico. EIA projects liquefied natural gas (LNG) gross exports will increase to an average of 0.5 Bcf/d in 2016, with the startup of Cheniere's Sabine Pass LNG liquefaction plant in Louisiana, which sent out its first cargo in February (see Daily GPI, Feb. 24). EIA projects gross LNG exports will average 1.3 Bcf/d in 2017, as Sabine Pass ramps up its capacity.
Total natural gas consumption is expected to average 76.5 Bcf/d this year and 77.4 Bcf/d next year, compared with 75.3 Bcf/d in 2015. Gas consumption is expected to increase in the electric power sector by 4.0% this year before declining 1.6% in 2017 as natural gas prices rise and contribute to increasing coal generation. Forecast industrial sector consumption of natural gas increases by 2.4% in 2016 and by 2.0% in 2017, as new fertilizer and chemical projects come online.
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