Winner of the "Premio Compasso d'Oro" the 'Toscana" side chair was design by Piero Sartogo and Nathalie Grenon for Saporiti Italia. These asymmetrical chairs feature a curved maple burl veneer back and black leather seat and back cushions and rest on elegant tapered legs. An Italian Modern iconic piece, this model was originally designed for "Toscana" Restaurant in NY.


A very classic but simplified satchel style bag, the Heirloom mini in black is as classic as you can get! It can be worn cross body or over the shoulder and will fit more than you might expect. The Rib & Hull design studio is based in Warsaw where there is a focus on simple design and quality materials from the vegetable tanned leather to the Italian-sourced hardware.
The Heirloom mini has a natural suede interior which, due to the hand finishing of the leather in the artisanal process, may sometimes have dye marks. The flap is lined in leather and secured with a snap. The bag features an interior zipped pocket for items that need to be kept secure.


It's been almost 2 years since my FOV and I can't tell you how happy I still am at the results: perfectly clear vision in my right eye! Before coming to see you, I was in a state of despair, having endured a difficult year due to the explosion of floaters in my right eye – it had gotten so bad that I had stopped reading altogether because of the frustration of having to constantly 'wiggle' my eyes around to get the floaters out of the way for just a few seconds. I even wore glasses with one lens covered up when I was working on my computer because it was so difficult and frustrating to see out of my right eye.
My regular eye doctor made things worse: despite acknowledging the unusually high number of floaters, he casually and callously told me "Don't worry about it, you'll get used to it". Needless to say, I never went back to see him again. I also spent thousands of dollars on several sessions of YAG laser treatments (I went to see doctors in VA and CA) and unfortunately those didn't work for me – the treatments (5 total) left me with a large, hazy cloud and the remaining floaters gathered directly in the center of my field of vision.
I didn't have much hope that anyone would be able to help me, until I came to see you Dr. Wong. For the first time since my ordeal had begun, it felt like I finally had someone who was truly 'in my corner' and I can't thank you enough for that. Furthermore, your online accessibility was something I had never experienced with a doctor before – the fact that I could ask questions and that you would actually answer them promptly (!!) made me wonder: "Why aren't all doctors this accessible and this responsive?".
Hi Gerard, I have visited the same Doctor you have visited in Califirnia twice. Three threat nets total with very little improvemts. My question to you is since your vitrctomy, were there any more floaters coming back at all, I mean anything? Looking forward to hearing from you! Thank you!


text:
Apple AirPods 3 could get an all-new design — goodbye toothbrush stems
By Darragh Murphy published 22 February 21
A potential look at the third-generation AirPods and case
(Image credit: Regan Coule/Laptop Magazine)
Apple's next-generation AirPods may be getting a design overhaul to look more like the AirPods Pro (one of the best wireless earbuds), according to leaked images showing off a shorter stem and smaller case of the third-gen wireless earbuds. You know what they say, the third generation's the charm.
As shared by Chinese site 52audio, the new design for Apple's rumoured AirPods 3, which are set to come out in 2021, is looking to lose the long stem of the previous generation, along with adopting silicone ear tips of the AirPods Pro. Well, that seems to fit the description of recent rumours.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 expected to drop in first half of 2021
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro vs AirPods Pro
(Image credit: 52audio)
The third-gen AirPods are expected to look like the Pro in every way, and to even boast a longer battery life. However, the upcoming earbuds won't have certain advanced features, such as the Pro's popular noise cancellation. That makes sense, otherwise, it would just be a supposedly cheaper AirPods Pro.
That said, 52audio also states the new Airpods will have the AirPods Pro's pressure-relieving system, which equalizes pressure in the user's ear to make it more comfortable over long periods. As for spatial audio, the article points out the special Pro feature is "highly" likely for the AirPods 3, although that's just speculation.
As for the charging case, it also shares similarities to the AirPods Pro's design, with a more compact look along with an LED charging indicator.
While 52audio has been known to have false reports, including an image of the AirPods 3 shared back in November which was proven to be fake (as pointed out by MacRumors), these designs share many similarities with what the Apple rumour mill is churning out these days. However, like always, take it all with a pinch of salt.
The AirPods Pro 2 are also set to release alongside the Apple AirPods 3 in the first half of 2021, which will be cutting out the stems altogether, much like the Samsung Galaxy Buds. If these rumours prove to be true, then it might be time to lay off getting your hands on the 2019 AirPods Pro (even though they are pretty great).
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 leak leaves nothing to the imagination — check out the specs, price and renders
Get £10 off Horizon Forbidden West preorder on PS5: Daily Deals
Don't miss this incredible Pokémon Legends Arceus pre-order deal
Best MLK weekend deals and sales to shop now
Valve's Steam Deck is on track to release this February
Laptop Mag is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It must be that time of year again, Santa's on the run delivering pressies!
Fantastic 3D Physical game where you must escape a world made of wood panels using a wood ball.
Move the ball with arrow or WASD keys. Throw cubes out of the floor to gain points and extra time.
You are a piranha that is lost in the waters after a tsunami killed your family.
Your objective is to defend the angular ship with your six missile launcher.
Reach into Santa's Magic Sack and see if you can pull out the gift of your dreams!


text:
[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/jayway/awaitility.svg)](https://travis-ci.org/jayway/awaitility)

Testing asynchronous systems is hard. Not only does it require handling threads, timeouts and concurrency issues, but the intent of the test code can be obscured by all these details. Awaitility is a DSL that allows you to express expectations of an asynchronous system in a concise and easy to read manner. For example:

```java
@Test
public void updatesCustomerStatus() throws Exception {
    // Publish an asynchronous event:
    publishEvent(updateCustomerStatusEvent);
    // Awaitility lets you wait until the asynchronous operation completes:
    await().atMost(5, SECONDS).until(customerStatusIsUpdated());
    ...
}
```

## News

See homepage.

## Documentation

* [Getting started](https://code.google.com/p/awaitility/wiki/Getting_started)
* [User Guide](https://code.google.com/p/awaitility/wiki/Usage)
* [Awaitility Javadoc](http://awaitility.googlecode.com/svn/tags/1.6.2/apidocs/com/jayway/awaitility/Awaitility.html)

## Founded by:

[![jayway](http://www.arctiquator.com/oppenkallkod/assets/images/jayway_logo.png)](http://www.jayway.com)

[![Analytics](https://ga-beacon.appspot.com/UA-17489061-2/jayway/awaitility)](https://github.com/jayway/awaitility)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Justia Patents Dimensional DeterminationUS Patent for Method and apparatus for measuring wall thickness, ovality of tubular materials Patent (Patent # 7,231,314)
Method and apparatus for measuring wall thickness, ovality of tubular materials
Mar 2, 2006 - Cudd Pressure Control, Inc.
The wall thickness and ovality of a tubular are simultaneously determined. The theoretical radius of a pipe is computed from a measurement of its circumference. An ultrasonic device conventionally used to measure the wall thickness of tubulars is adapted to also measure the maximum and minimum diameters and ovality by equipping or utilizing existing ultrasound inspection device with contact surfaces which contact the tubular at a fixed distance apart and at a known distance from the surface of the ultrasonic transducer. The contact surfaces define a chord of known length on the tubular under test. The mean radius of the tubular may be computed from multiple water path measurements around the circumference relative to a known fixture. The maximum and minimum diameter and ovality are calculated from the measured differences in distance from the surface of the tubular to the ultrasonic transducer and the theoretical circle. Wall thickness and ovality may be correlated relative to position by using the same apparatus for both measurements.
Latest Cudd Pressure Control, Inc. Patents:
Steering tool system
Device for quenching reaction at variable time points
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BIODEGRADABLE OIL EXTERNAL EMULSION FOR REMOVAL OF ASPHALTENE AND/OR PARAFFIN FROM PRODUCING OIL WELLS
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to a provisional patent application by the same inventors, entitled: "Method and Apparatus for Measuring Wall Thickness, Ovality of Tubular Materials," Ser. No. 60/657,853, filed on Mar. 2, 2005.
This invention relates to methods and devices for measuring the dimensions and mechanical properties of pipes, tubes and the like. More particularly, it relates to an ultrasonic device which measures the wall thickness and the maximum and minimum diameter using an ultrasonic probe, instrumentation and a triangulated fixture. It includes subsequent calculations of the wall thickness eccentricity and the associated ovality [roundness] of the pipe and tube relative to position.
A perfect circle is the most desirable cross section for tubulars. It provides the greatest strength—i.e., resistance to both internal and external pressure—of any known shape. Moreover, a perfectly [or near perfect] circular cross section facilitates the joining of tubulars to fittings, additional sections of tubular material and the like.
Wall thickness and wall integrity are also important parameters of tubular materials. In general, thicker walls and walls that are free from defects in the material forming the wall provide greater strength and hence greater safety. The combination of the wall thickness and associated ovality data along the length of the tubular is necessary calculations to determine collapse and burst pressures.
In the past, wall thickness and ovality have been measured separately, using two different measuring devices. Most commonly, wall thickness has been measured using an ultrasonic instrument with a transducer coupled to the tubular under test with a liquid [water] interface. The time for the ultrasonic waves to reflect from both the external and internal surfaces of the tubular is converted into distance (wall thickness) using the measured the time and the known velocity of the sound wave in the material.
Diameter is presently measured using a mechanical device such as a micrometer, an optical device such as a laser or camera or multiple ultrasound transducers or an array mounted to a known diameter fixture reference which surrounds the tubular.
An oval may be considered a flattened circle or an ellipse. An ellipse is a closed plane curve generated by a point moving in such a way that the sums of its distances from two fixed points (foci) is a constant. The length from one side of an ellipse to the other which passes through both foci may be considered its major diameter. A line perpendicular to the major diameter and passing through the ellipse at its widest part may be considered its minor diameter. Ovality may be defined as being the major diameter minus minor diameter. A perfect circle has an ovality of zero. Alternatively, pipe ovality may be expressed as a percentage:
% Pipe Ovality=100×(Max. Diameter−Min. Diameter)/Mean Diameter
There are many useful applications for applying diameter, ovality, wall thickness and eccentricity determinations to pipe and tubes. Engineers use the combination of pipe wall thickness and ovality for their burst and collapse calculations The process of bending straight pipe to make it into a coil distorts its original, circular cross-section into an oval and leaves it with a permanent curvature. Codes prohibit installing pipe that is more than 5% oval. The diameter and ovality (shape) of pipe ends can greatly complicate aligning the ends for butt-welding the pipes together. Drill pipe is subjected to both outside and inside wear due to the environment Codes govern the dimensional properties of drill pipe.
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for measuring wall thickness and ovality of tubular materials. The invention also provides a method for adapting an ultrasonic device used for measuring the wall thickness on a pipe or tube, to also measure the maximum and minimum diameter and ovality. The transducer water path is measured using a known triangulated fixture for positioning the transducer relative to the surface of the pipe or tube and the mean radius and center is computed. The mean radius, arc height (H) and ½ chord length (C) are related by the derived equation; R=(C2/2H)+H/2. Diameter (and associated ovality) may be calculated by applying the measured arc height changes to the mean radius and calculating actual pipe radius at different positions around the circumference of the pipe or tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a tubular in contact with an ultrasonic measuring device.
The dimensions of the triangulated fixture (including height) are fixed, thus any change in the measured water path results in a corresponding opposing increase or decrease in the chord height (A). From the above diagram the following relationship applies:
H=R−A
R−H=square root (R2−C2)
And further simplified R=C2/2H+H/2
The preferred fixture contact points subtend an arc angle from 90 to 180 degrees.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a tubular 2 of diameter D is shown in contact with measuring device 12 comprised of ultrasonic transducer 6 and coupler 4 which may be filled with a fluid which may, in some embodiments, be water.
Coupler or shoe 4 may include contact rollers 10 for contacting the external surface of pipe 2. The height E (H+W) from the ultrasonic transducer 6 and a chord connecting the contact points of rollers 10 is determined by manufacture and may be measured.
In certain embodiments, fixture 12 is not equipped with rollers 10. Nevertheless, the height E from the chord joining the points of contact and the transducer is fixed and may be measured with a high degree of accuracy.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the water path distance W between transducer 6 and the external surface of pipe 2 may be measured electronically by measuring device 12.
The mean radius of pipe 2 is calculated using the average arc heights (H) for one revolution, the fixed (measured) transducer-to-chord distance E (where E=H+W), and the equation:
R=C2/2H/2
The mean radius of the pipe describes the theoretical pipe center and circumference to which the ovality has been applied. The diameter and circumference may be calculated from the equations of a circle. Alternately the circumference may be measured and the theoretical pipe center and radius calculated.
The theoretical circle describes the real pipe circumference and applicable center for a circle, for an oval shape it is assumed that the change in (A) relative to the major and minor axis will be negated and the difference between the measured maximum and minimum arc height above that of the theoretical circle center will provide for the approximate maximum and minimum diameter of the pipe. The ovality can be calculated using the difference between the maximum and minimum diameter per pipe revolution.
It is known in the industry that the same ultrasonic probe that is used to measure the water path (W) can also be used to measure the wall thickness at the same location. Eccentricity may be calculated using the variation in wall thickness per revolution of the pipe.
Since maximum and minimum diameter (ovality) may be determined using substantially the same apparatus as that used to measure wall thickness and eccentricity they can be correlated relative to position.
While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.
1. A method for determining the maximum and minimum diameter, wall thickness and ovality of a tubular item at a selected position along the length of the tubular item comprising:
determining the circumference of the tubular item at the selected position;
calculating the diameter of a circle having a circumference equal to the determined circumference;
contacting the external surface of the tubular item at two points in a plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the tubular item;
rotating the tubular item while measuring the distance from the surface of the tubular item at a point halfway between the two points of contact to a measuring device located at a known distance from a line connecting the two points of contact;
measuring the wall thickness of the tubular item while the tubular item is being rotated;
calculating a set of observed radii from the measured distances from the surface of the tubular item at a point halfway between the two points of contact to the measuring device and the length of the line connecting the two points of contact;
selecting the minimum and maximum values from the set of observed radii;
calculating the ovality of the tubular item using the difference between the maximum and minimum diameters determined per revolution;
correlating calculated ovality and measured wall thickness values; and
reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the measuring device is an ultrasound transducer.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises displaying numerical results on a display device.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises displaying graphical results on a display device.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises printing numerical results on a printer.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises printing graphical results on a printer.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises storing the results in a data storage medium.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the circumference of the tubular item at the selected position comprises a physical measurement of the circumference.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the circumference of the tubular item at the selected position comprises calculating the circumference of a circle having a radius equal to the mean radius of the set of observed radii.
10. An apparatus for determining the maximum and minimum diameter, wall thickness and ovality of a tubular item at a selected position along the length of the tubular item comprising:
means for determining the circumference of the tubular item at the selected position;
means for calculating the diameter of a circle having a circumference equal to the determined circumference;
a fixture which contacts the external surface of the tubular item at two points in a plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the tubular item;
means for rotating the tubular item while measuring the distance from the surface of the tubular item at a point halfway between the two points of contact to a measuring device located at a known distance from a line connecting the two points of contact;
means for measuring the wall thickness of the tubular item while the tubular item is being rotated;
means for calculating a set of observed radii from the measured distances from the surface of the tubular item at a point halfway between the two points of contact to the measuring device and the length of the line connecting the two points of contact;
means for selecting the minimum and maximum values from the set of observed radii;
means for calculating the ovality of the tubular item using the difference between the maximum and minimum diameters determined per revolution;
means for correlating calculated ovality and measured wall thickness values; and
means for reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values.
11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for measuring the wall thickness of the tubular item while the tubular item is being rotated comprises an ultrasound transducer.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises a display device.
13. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises a printer.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for reporting correlated ovality and wall thickness values comprises a data storage medium.
6272762 August 14, 2001 Kinast et al.
6568096 May 27, 2003 Svitkin et al.
D. Moore; "Design Considerations in Multiprobe Roundness Measurement;" J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 22 (1989) 339-343. Printed in the UK.
Assignee: Cudd Pressure Control, Inc. (Houston, TX)
Inventor: David Glascock (Spring, TX)
Primary Examiner: Michael Nghiem
Assistant Examiner: Stephen J. Cherry
Attorney: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford, & Brucculeri, LLP
Current U.S. Class: Dimensional Determination (702/155); By Ultrasonic (702/171)
International Classification: G01B 7/00 (20060101);


The Ioniq will offer buyers three different electrified drive systems -- Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid or Electric -- for those who want low- or zero-emission driving. The Plug-in Hybrid version has an estimated 25 mile all-electric range before turning to gasoline power. The Electric model will go about 110 miles on a charge.


In 2014 IANS introduced CISO Impact, a research framework examining high-performing information security teams. The core finding of CISO Impact: high performers build two pillars of mastery - technical excellence and proactive organizational engagement. At that time, we provided the CISO Impact Diagnostic to assess organizational engagement.
In 2015, IANS delivers CISO Impact 2.0, a major advance based on tens of thousands of CISO Impact data points. CISO Impact 2.0 redefines the CISO Impact Quotient (CIQ) as the sum of two diagnostics: A new IANS Technical Excellence Diagnostic and an updated Organizational Engagement Diagnostic.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact diagnostic@iansresearch.com.
© Copyright 2019 IANS. All rights reserved.


text:
Had (grško ᾍδης, Haidēs; Ἀΐδης, Aïdēstudi) tudi Pluton, Hades, Pluto, Dis, je v grški mitologiji bog podzemnega sveta.

 Mitologija
Bil je brat Zevsa in Pozejdona in eden od olimpskih bogov. Poročen je s Perzefono, ki je bila hči Demetre. Je eden izmed treh sinov Kronosa in Ree. Spremlja ga troglavi pes Kerber, običajno pa je prikazan s čelado nevidnosti.

Ko je odrastel, je z Zevsom, Pozejdonom sodeloval v Titanomahiji, vojni Titanov, Kiklopi pa so jim darovali orožje: Zevs je dobil strelo, Had šlem nevidnosti,  Pozejdon trizob. V noči pred prvo bitko se je Had odtihotapil do tabora Titanov in jim uničil orožje. Na koncu so bogovi zmagali, trojica bratov pa je vlekla slamice, da bi si razdelili področja vladanja. Zevs je z zvijačo dobil nebo in zemljo, Pozejdon morja, Had podzemni svet.

Had je vladal mrtvim, pomagali so mu demoni, ki so ga brez ugovarjanja ubogali. Mrtvi niso smeli oditi iz podzemlja, živi ne vanj, jer bi se Had razjezil. Vsi ki so prihajali v podzemni svet, so bili v glavnem junaki: Heraklej, Odisej, Enej, Orfej, Tezej in Psiha. Noben od njih ni bil zadovoljen s tistim kar je videl, o čemer govori tudi Homer v Odiseji''.

Čeprav je Had vladal podzemlju, ni bil personifikacija smrti. To je bil Tanat, bog smrti.

Ko so Grki hoteli Hada pomiriti, so z glavami udarjali ob tla, da bi jih slišal. Žrtvovali so mu črne živali, posebej ovce, mogoče je, da so žrtvovali tudi ljudi. Žrtvena kri se je zbirala v jame in vodnjake da bi zagotovili, da bo žrtev prišla do Hada, oseba ki je prinesla žrtev je morala obrniti glavo. Vsakih sto let so se odvijale stoletne igre v njegovo čast.

Svojo ženo Perzefono je ugrabil, vsako leto pa se je lahko za pol leta vrnila na zemljo in s seboj prinesla poletje in pomlad. Had naj bi Persefono vrnil Zevsu, če tam ne bi pojedla ničesar. Zaužila pa je štiri peške zato je morala vsako leto za pol leta v podzemlje. Ko Perzefona odšla v podzemlje, se jesen spremenila v zimo.

Na upodobitvah ga večinoma prikazujejo kot starega in bradatega moškega. Njegov okras je dvozoba ost. Verjeli so, da obstajata dva vzporedna svetova. Ko je v enem svetu sonce zašlo, je v drugem vzšlo. Mrtvi so v podzemlje potovali s čolnom v družbi Tota in Kepra. Ko so prispeli, so morali prestati preizkušnjo s tehtanjem njihovega srca. Če je bilo slednje lažje od peresa, so končali potovanje, se srečali z Ozirisom in odšli v svet mrtvih. Podzemlje pa ni bilo namenjeno zgolj slabim ljudem, temveč vsem.

Podzemlje se je delilo na:
 Asfodelska raven (kraj slabih)
 Elizijske poljane (kraj junakov)
 Tartar (kraj za kaznovanje slabih)

Skozi podzemlje je teklo pet rek: Aheront, Kokit, Stiks, Leta in Flegetont. Had duš iz podzemlja ni izpuščal, a ko je Orfej igral milo glasbo, je Had izpustil Evrikido, pod pogojem, da se Orfej na poti nazaj ne bi ozrl. Orfej se je ozrl in izgubil Evrikido za vedno.

Viri
BELLINGER, Gehard J., Leksikon mitologije, 1997.
STEER, D., Mitoslovje, 1825.
CHRISP, P., Mumije, 2007.
CHRISP, P., Stara Grčija, 2008.

Zunanje povezave

 Had v klasični literaturi in umetnosti
 Had v grški mitologiji

Grški bogovi
Bogovi smrti
Bogovi podzemlja

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This beach is called children's beach. If you go, you'll see why. They are all looking at the fish with goggles, snorkels and fins. But if you don't like to be surrounded by plankton and kelp, you might not want to go in the water.
Here's anothe watercolor of the same place. I dared to put in two figures this time. There were children all over the place since this is Children's Beach, but moving around too much to paint. ha,ha.
La Jolla Beach from the low cliff shoreline Nowadays this area is occupied by large sea mammels and birds. They have made it their own sanctuary.
Another Beautiful Beach is Drake's Beach crossing the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco and a very long drive to get there.
Here is a view of the Alameda Bay Area. I love painting because it takes me back to the moment.
Lake Anza in Tildon Park. The kids all went fishing with Carlos and I got to contemplate this strange tower in the middle of a lake.


text:
What Is Diversification?
The financial markets have never been as complex and troubled as they are today, creating a major challenge to prudent investing. At the same time, investors have never had such effective tools to guide them through the process, chief among them diversification.
Diversification Definition: the practice of including different financial investment instruments in a portfolio to reduce risk and maximize returns.
What is now called Modern Portfolio Theory was introduced in the fifties by Harry Markowitz. Rooted in the concept of minimizing risk over an investor's portfolio by the use of diversification, MPT has transformed the entire field of investment. In fact, it has proven so significant it earned Markowitz the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1990.
Diversification Strategy
One of the main tenets of Markowitz's work was that different asset classes react differently to market conditions. Moreover, those assets would often work in opposition to each other, such as precious metals and interest-bearing bonds. Markowitz asserts that the opposing movement of asset classes can buffer diversified portfolios 1 from the ravages of market cycles.
Learn How to Avoid Costly Rookie Mistakes & Invest in Gold Like a Pro!
Get Free Gold Investor Guide
While the mathematics behind the work that earned Markowitz the Nobel Prize is quite esoteric, the investment community now universally relies on the four tenets of MPT:
Valuing various assets based on their historic and expected rates of return and risk
Allocating assets within a portfolio based on these classifications
Optimizing a portfolio based on accepted risk and return profiles
Measuring portfolio performance relative to the market and industry-related categories
Diversification has proven to be effective in providing an "optimized portfolio" that delivers the highest possible returns at a controlled level of risk based on investor profiles and expectations. Industry professionals speak of an "efficient frontier" that places limits on assets. This standard evaluates investment classes that provide too little return for the relative risk or, from a different perspective, too much risk for the expected return.
Gold's Role in Diversification
For some time after the concept of diversification was introduced, many analysts showed a bias against including gold and precious metals in the optimized portfolio. Central to the arguments of those who eschewed gold was the fact that it pays no dividends or interest.
However, time has shown that point to be something of a red herring, as gold continues to produce significant returns over the long term and demonstrate its portfolio value. 2 In reality, this should not be surprising, as gold has proven for millennia to be a preferred way to store and transfer value. As both a safe haven investment and a hedge against inflation, gold provides both tangible and intangible returns at a low-end risk.
When Paper Currency Fails
It is important to note an additional critical factor. The world economic system has been engaged in a paper currency experiment for more than fifty years. During that time, governments have engaged in massive, unsustainable deficit spending and a global debt crisis.
When that experiment fails, as many believe will happen in the near future, market assumptions about the risk of paper-currency-based investments will prove to be incorrect. The consequent financial collapse will again validate the wisdom of having at least a percentage (10 to 20 percent) of every portfolio invested in gold and silver. 3
With gold continuing to provide a return while providing security and peace of mind, it is easy to understand why investments in gold have reached historic highs.
1 - http://www.investopedia.com/articles/02/111502.asp
2 - https://www.caseyresearch.com/articles/does-gold-belong-in-every-portfolio
3 - https://www.ausecure.com/blog/modern-portfolio-theory-2/


text:
The hotter they come, the harder they fall…
With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O'Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she's felt a connection even her empathic abilities can't explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she's regretted walking out on for three long years.
Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it's the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke's really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again…
Buy: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Audible
Keira O'Shay flexed and released her fingers around the grip of her Colt AR-15 assault rifle, her mind on the little boy inside the religious cult compound. The boy she'd been tracking for over a year now.
She squinted through the hundred-and-twelve degree heat rippling off the hard, dry Nevada landscape. The ranch house and barns of the property danced in watery distortion, shifting like reflections in a House of Mirrors.
Fitting. From the very beginning this situation had taunted Keira with reflections of her own twisted past.
Her commander, FBI Senior Special Agent Angus West, leaned his hip against the bed of an agency pickup ten feet away, arguing logistics with the incident commander from ATF while she and her team steamed in their SWAT fatigues like vegetables.
Fucking departmental posturing. Fucking egos. Fucking waste of time.
So much precious time already depleted in briefing, staging, arming, negotiating.
Gunfire cracked through the air, followed by the clang, clang, clang of bullets against metal. The sting of anxiety burned across Keira's ribs. The half-empty bottle of Gatorade exploded beneath the crush of her fingers, orange liquid drenching her hand. She chucked the shattered plastic at the dirt.
Crack. Crack-crack-crack.
"Don't return fire, you idiots." She clenched her teeth to keep her voice low so the team, hovering beneath the shade of a single pathetic Joshua tree nearby, wouldn't hear. "My boy's in there."
Her stomach coiled tighter, something she hadn't believed possible. She already felt like a bottle of champagne—shaken and still corked.
Enough of this bullshit.
She pushed off the SWAT van acting as a barrier to the hostilities. The men supposedly in charge had ceased their dispute to watch FBI and ATF agents scuttle among pickups and outbuildings for cover.
"Excuse me, sir." From beneath the brim of her uniform ball cap, she trained her eyes on Angus. "What are we waiting for? A neon sign flashing 'Armageddon this way'?"
The ATF leader standing across from Angus sliced her with a critical sneer. One that indicated he had a dick the size of a peanut and had to compensate by making everyone else's life a living hell.
Angus's gaze remained locked on the other man, his demeanor controlled as he raised his index finger to Keira.
Don't push it.
Yeah, she got it. Didn't even need her clairaudient abilities to get that message as loud as the gunshots across the compound and as clear as the growing risk she faced with every passing moment.
But, dammit, this waiting was killing her. She wanted that little boy. Wanted to see him. Wanted to touch him. Wanted to prove that the kid was real, and that she hadn't spent the last year of her life chasing a ghost only to end up in the same haunted, hopeless, helpless place she'd started.
She didn't understand the gravity of her needs. Only that they'd driven her from the moment she'd first seen his photograph. He was important to her. She just didn't know why. Just as she didn't know why another vague anxiety gnawed low in her belly. One she'd cued into as soon as she'd stepped onto the scene.
She scanned the landscape again searching for the source of her discomfort. Clusters of FBI, ATF, local deputies, military personnel, support staff and vehicles cluttered the staging area. Nothing stood out.
She reached into the front pocket of her jumpsuit for the child's photo, a talisman of sorts now after all this time. The moment she touched it, a young voice loped through her head.
Thia, edo eeme. Edo eeme, Thia.
Whatever that meant. She couldn't exactly ask the missing boy's father why the kid was speaking another language without exposing her clairaudient abilities. And if that happened, she faced an ugly path of workplace inquisitions, governmental psychological testing, probable suspension and possible termination. If her powers, or more importantly, the source of her powers, caught the wind, her life and the lives of those she loved would hit the fan.
Keira studied the boy's face for what had to be the thousandth time over the last year. And wondered, for what had to be the hundredth time in the last few hours, whether she'd recognize him now, three years older than he was in the picture. Would his eyes still be warm and trusting? Would his face still be round and full of color? Would he even still be alive?
Crack-crack-crack. Clang-clang-pfffft.
Keira looked up just as one of her fellow agents, crouched behind a metal storage shed for cover, bucked and pitched backward. She sucked an audible gulp of air.
"Oh, shit." Her stomach clenched and burned. Two backup agents swept in, hooked their hands under the armpits of her academy buddy and dragged him to safety. "Was that…Connor Royal?"
"Yes." Angus pressed his fingers to the earpiece feeding him information over the airwaves as he spoke to her. Sweat glistened on skin the color of fresh ground coffee beans. "It was Royal. Not a fatal hit. They're bringing him out."
Nerves split her professional shell. She couldn't stand it anymore. Screw all this testosterone. "Are you going to send us in or wait for him to kill our whole squad?"
She'd catch hell for the attitude later, in private. Now, Angus focused on Keira with his customary intensity. "Yes. You're going in."
The other leader threw his shoulders back. "Now, wait just a—"
Yes! She tuned out the argumentative ATF ass and swung back to signal her team.
Finally. She could get her hands on this kid, turn him over to his father and get the hell on with her life. And even save a few other lives in the process. Win-win.
"Wait." Angus put a hand on her arm and signaled the team to hold tight. "This isn't a rescue mission. Not yet."
"Sir, you can't be serious." She glanced back to make sure the ATF asshole wasn't within earshot. "There are women and children—"
"I'm dead serious, Keira. At this point, the best way to salvage the lives of those women and children is to take out the shooter. Either by capture or elimination." He pulled the Colt from her hand and slapped a Remmington sniper rifle in its place, then released a five-by-seven photograph from his clipboard and held it out. "This is your target: Andre Rostov. And lose the attitude, would you?"
Her new mission came into sharp focus. Sweat slid between her should blades.
She studied the photo, but didn't take it. She wasn't ready.
The man in the image was in his late fifties with nearly white hair and a clean-shaven jaw exposing a fair share of wrinkles and age spots over a plain, expressionless face. Light eyes, a color she couldn't determine, beamed with intelligence and defiance.
"Rostov's got another one of our teams isolated at the west end of the main house." Angus drew her attention. "Pinned between a silo and an outbuilding."
"Once we pull the kids out—"
"No, Keira." He had his boss-face on. Hard. Demanding. Unyielding. "You are going to take him out of the equation before he starts handing weapons to those kids."
A shiver tracked her spine. She stepped closer, forced her voice lower. "But, Angus—"
"No buts. This is what you were trained for. You are our best chance of getting this guy before he hurts anyone else." He pushed the photo toward her. "Do it for Royal."
She peered toward the ranch house—the lower level windows boarded with shutters, the charcoal gray roof and stark white siding wafting in the inhumane heat.
Yes, she'd been trained. Yes, she could kill in self-defense. But, elimination? Assassination? Murder?
The department picnic two months prior flickered in her head. Pictures of Royal's young wife, their two toddler daughters.
The fingers of her empty hand curled into her palm and squeezed hard before she reached for the picture. At the first touch, a tangle of sounds and voices snarled in her head. She let them murmur in the background until she was ready to unravel and apply.
That other, unrelated unease resurfaced, chewing at her belly. And it definitely wasn't coming from the photo. She glanced over the various groups again. Looking for…what? What the hell was bugging her on this subversive level?
"We'll get Tony's kid out, Keira," Angus reassured. "But to get him out alive, you're going to have to remove the threat, and we both know this maniac won't let you take him alive."
Yes, she did know. Which was why she wanted to get to the boy so badly. "I understand, sir."
Keira tuned out the background voices of her colleagues, the rumble of vehicles, the murmur of generators. One by one, she sorted through the sounds: the clink of glass, bubbling liquid, a ringing timer. When none of those made sense, she focused on the disjointed voices. Control group…placebo…quantitative results…
The skin over the back of her neck tingled. "Angus, are you sure about the Intel on this? A religious group?"
He pulled his attention from a map spread over the hood of a pick-up. "Why?"
One more check of Rostov's picture, just to make sure. …Absolute measure…controlled environment…clinical trials…
"I just…" Hear voices that tell me it's wrong. How fast did she want to lose her job and land in a pink padded room and a straight jacket? "Look at him. Not much of a Koresh look-alike. I mean, come on, he's no cult leader."
"It was your research that lead us here."
"To find the kid. I knew it was a commune of some sort, but I never said it was a religious compound."
"Well, others have, and it's a moot point anyway. He's now shooting and holding hostages. "
And she'd been entrusted with this boy's safety. Angus was right. The underlying purpose of this ranch didn't matter anymore. What mattered was rescuing a child from a nut job. Reuniting a loving father with a stolen son. She'd seen the court custody papers, the ex-wife's psych evaluations. Now, she'd all-but-proven the abuse allegations.
Angus yelled at the ATF commander, huddled amongst other big-wigs, "My sniper's ready. Get me your best agent to guide her in."
Sniper. Keira's lip lifted toward a grimace.
"Ransom, suit up." The man's growl stilted the conversation of several agents loitering around the back of an ATF van. "You're going in."
Keira brain's was still pushing around sniper, searching for a comfortable fit in some unused crevice when the name registered.
"What?" she asked Angus. "Who?"
"I don't know. Someone named—"
"Ransom," the asshole yelled again. "Get moving. You're babysitting the Feebs' prima donna."
Ransom? Her stomach jumped and went icy hot.
The hostage she'd vowed to rescue and the cult-leader she'd agreed to kill faded in her mind, replaced by memories of a man she hadn't heard from in three years. A man who shared her complex past and still secretly held far too much of her heart.
Lord, she could not afford to think about Luke right now. Besides the name had to be a coincidence, because Luke was not an ATF agent. He was a fire captain in northern California. He wouldn't be at a government run siege in the Nevada desert.
Surely there were thousands of men by the last name of Ransom in the Western United States. She scanned the ATF camp, focused on one group of swarming men and swallowed hard. Okay, maybe hundreds named Ransom who were also tall, well-built and blond like the one suiting up, his back toward her.
There have to be, because Luke is not ATF. Shit, he's not.
The man dropped a black bullet-proof vest over his navy uniform tee shirt. He leaned down to tighten the holster securing a semi-automatic at his jean-covered thigh and grabbed a Ruger sub-machine gun handed to him by a colleague.
Keira's stomach jumped. Jesus, the fluid movements, the tilt of his head…they created a delicious, familiar pressure in her chest. Which terrified her. Please, no. Please, no. Keira held her breath as the man pivoted toward his commander.
Before he'd fully turned, her stomach bottomed out. She knew the slant of that cheekbone. Knew the angle of that chin. Knew the slope of those lips. In fact, every inch of her body knew that mouth.
No! Dammit. Luke is not ATF.
But denial couldn't erase the fact that he stood yards away, just as striking as the day she'd left him for the academy three years before. Same intense blue eyes. Same long legs. Same wide shoulders. Same commanding presence.
Same Luke.
"Screwed. I'm so screwed." Keira turned her back before Luke spotted her. Not to hide—far too late for that. Just to regroup. Just to get herself together before she faced him.
Angus looked up from his map. "What?"
"This vest is screwed." She yanked at the canvass-covered Kevlar as her heart scrambled for a dark corner. "Who last wore this thing, a two-year-old? It's choking me."
He turned from the truck and took hold of the straps, tugging to test the fit. "It's fine. Fits perfect."
"Then why the hell can't I breathe?"
"It's called anxiety and it's totally normal. Relax, O'Shay." The hint of a pride-filled smile turned his dark lips. "You're the best in the Nation."
"Don't start bragging." She didn't know why, by the thought made her cringe. "You know how guys go all weird when they hear that."
Angus's attention locked on someone behind Keira. Luke. She knew. Her guts knew. She could feel him, as if his presence physically compressed her lungs until she could drag in only a wisp of air on each breath.
Angus sidestepped her with his hand out in greeting. "Agent Ransom, you're going to be taking care of our sharp-shooter. And I promise you, she does not have an ounce of Prima Donna in her blood."
She?
The word popped into her head from nowhere, vibrating like an echo. The same way thoughts from images played beneath her skull. God, it was happening already. She hadn't even spoken to him, hadn't even looked him in the eye and her powers were rising like a kite in high wind.
Keira's eyes closed. She allowed herself a split second of dread, of doubt, of pain before she drew all her strength into her core. Then she envisioned a metal door shutting out every agonizing memory and secured the shield before facing the men.
Luke's clear blue eyes dropped from Angus's face to Keira's. Her stomach sizzled as his gaze held hers. His flat, impersonal expression lasted two full seconds before shock set in. The reaction would have been comical if it hadn't been so quickly followed by a look of heated, almost sickening, contempt.
Her psychic armor took a heavy hit.
"Don't let that sweet face fool you, Agent Ransom," Angus said. "Mobile targets, mobile platforms, extreme distance, night shots, you name it, O'Shay will hit it. She's a pit bull."
For an extended second, his eyes remained steady and unblinking on her face. A deep vertical line pulled between his brows, as if someone had smacked him upside the head, and he hadn't quite recovered.
He hadn't had a hair cut in months, hadn't shaved in at least two days, hadn't been using enough sunscreen. And he looked…amazing. Absolutely mind-numbingly amazing.
Asshole.
"Yyyyyeah. You could say that." His tone suggested an unsavory subject. He squinted at Angus. "Sir, can I have a word?"
Goddamnedsonofabitch. Keira's millisecond of admiration splintered and the hurt and anger from their past boiled to the surface. "If you have something to say, Agent Ransom, say it to my face."
Luke's eyes reconnected to hers with a cold snap. He shifted his weight and cocked his hip, a move she'd once found sexy but which now struck her as arrogant.
"Okay, Agent O'Shay." He put the same venom on her title as she had on his. "Are you qualified to do this job or are you a just pretty face for the news cameras? Cause I'm risking my ass here, and I'm sure as hell not doing it for you."
Air siphoned into her throat with the sucking sound of a gut-punch. Her stomach responded with a painful hitch. After so much time, he could still stab her right in the heart.
That came out really fucking wrong.
The thought drifted from Luke, but his expression remained unchanged. And after that greeting, he didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt.
She forced the imprisoned air out of her lungs. Refused to wince at the pain centered beneath her ribs. And faced Angus.
"I'm not going to recite my resume for this…" Pissant. "If he doesn't trust me, get someone else to take me in."
The ATF commander invaded the group. "Problem here?"
"No." Luke's chin went up. Stubborn sonofabitch never changed. "No problem."
"Then get on with this before that fucker starts throwing bodies out windows."
Luke's boss stomped toward their camp, wiping the sweat from his bald head with a handkerchief.
Keira pulled off her ball cap, tossed it on the hood of the truck, smoothed her hair into a ponytail and pulled on her helmet.
"Keira," Angus said. "Is there a problem here?"
Hell yes. "Nope." Two could play this game. "I don't give a flying fuck whether he goes or not. I can handle this on my own."
You always could. Never needed anyone. Sure as hell never needed me.
Luke's thoughts pierced her skull. She gritted her teeth and forced them out. Luke Ransom's head was the very last place on earth she belonged.
"Play nice, Keira," Angus directed in low tone before refocusing on the map and circling an area of the main building with his dark finger. "We have reports of your target in this area. If you position yourself here," he tapped the paper, "you have opportunities for shots here and here. This is your point of entrance. This your exit. Got it?"
Keira nodded once, her gaze scouring the floor plan she'd already memorized.
Angus dropped a hand on her shoulder. "Alive is preferred. Dead is perfectly acceptable."
Ice spread through her belly, but she met his intense eyes. "Yes, sir."
"You're call sign is Sniper Six." He gave her a gentle push off. "Be careful out there."
"Yes, sir." She started toward the building without waiting for Luke. Her legs pumped hard in an effort to put space between them, but he caught up to her in seconds.
"Keira." He pulled her around by the arm. "What the hell is going on?"
Her lungs decompressed on a whoosh of air. Three long years she'd imagined all the possible ways they might connect again. What they might say. How it might go. None ever slumped to this level. So many daydreams wasted. So many fantasies shattered.
She dug in her pocket for the two photos. The first landed against his chest with a satisfying thump. "This is the man I'm going to either capture or kill." When he took the photo, she hit him with the second. "This is the kid I'm going to find and rescue. Keep your eyes open. If you spot either one, signal me. And stay out of trouble, Ransom, cause you're not on my favorites list. I have enough to think about besides saving your sorry ass."
She started toward the ladder leading to the roof again. Luke easily kept pace with her. "When did you become a fucking sniper?"
The dig pinged off her psychic shield, leaving a dent. Everything he did, said, thought, left a dent. "Probably about the same time you became a fucking ATF agent."
A local deputy stood at the base of the metal ladder, securing it against the building. "Be careful up there."
"Will do." Keira slanted the strap of her Remmington over her chest and whipped the weapon around to lie against her back.
"Watch where you're throwing that thing," Luke groused behind her.
"If I did," she shot over her shoulder. "It would break your perfect nose."
She scaled the ladder with ease. With cool metal beneath her hands, her quads pumping as she ascended, bittersweet memories of her years as a firefighter flooded her mind. The fact that Luke now tailed her only shoved her into a time warp. And as soon as they landed on the rooftop together, couched and ready to attack, their three years apart evaporated. No two people worked together better—professionally, if not personally.
Only now they weren't focused on drowning a fire. They were hunting a psychotic Russian cult leader holding hostages. Kevlar replaced turnouts, subguns replaced Pulaskis, helmets replaced breathing apparatus. Easy reminders of the bizarre event that changed their lives. All seven members of their hazmat unit had gone into that firefight as ordinary people. Six had emerged permanently altered. One hadn't survived. Keira often wondered if he had been the lucky one.
Focus. Get in, hit the target, find the boy, get out.
She scuttled across the roof toward the single window along the second story wall, planted her back against the peeling paint and searched for Luke. He was right there, mirroring her position on the opposite side of the glass.
Despite the Intel Angus insisted was accurate, something felt wrong. Wrong location. Wrong target. Wrong…something. And Keira couldn't tell if the sensation was expert intuition or some enhanced psychic ability, which was really annoying.
She eased forward, glanced through the window. No one inside the bedroom-turned-office, but the laboratory set-up in the corner explained all the sensations Keira had received through Rostov's image. Sink, microscope, slides, test tubes, beakers, floor-to-ceiling glass-fronted cabinets filled with chemicals.
What the hell?
The thought wasn't Keira's, although it echoed her own. Luke also squinted through the glass, studying the mini-lab.
She tilted her chin toward the radio speaker on her shoulder to check in with Angus and pushed the transmit button.
An explosion rumbled through the opposite end of the main building, as if Keira's action had detonated a bomb. Her heart punched toward her throat. In mirror reflex actions, she and Luke braced themselves against the wall. When the roar of the explosion dimmed, she tried again.
"Sniper Six to base. Update. Over."
"Base to SS." Angus's cool tone crackled over the radio. "Target has relocated. Hold for Intel. Over."
"Dammit." She dropped her head back against the siding, just a second to catch her breath.
Is she really the best shot? What the hell is going on here?
Luke hadn't spoken. At least not out loud. He still peered around the corner of the building, watching the fire.
"Yes," she snapped . "I really am the best shot, and you are—evidently—still the jackass who thought I'd fall on my face when I joined the Bureau."
His head snapped around with a what-the-fuck? expression, then eased. "I will admit to the jackass part, but for the record, I never expected or wanted you to fall on your face." His eyes narrowed. "Are you reading minds now?"
"Don't be an idiot. Even if I were, which I'm not, your mind would be the last place I'd inhabit."
She darted to Luke's side and followed his gaze around the wall toward the opposite end of the compound. A twenty-foot section of the two story building in the distance spit flames from every window. Black smoke rolled toward the sky, and somewhere deep inside the structure, sparks surged like a fiery volcano. Cobalt blue sparks. The kind she'd only seen one other time in her life. Five long years ago.
She'd been with Luke then, too.
That reality overwhelmed her. The questions, the repercussions, the complications so vast she simply couldn't process them in the moment. She knew this incident was about to change her life, yet she had no idea how. And, worse, she had absolutely no control over that change. She was on a raft thrown in the rapids with no oars. Hold tight for the ride. Pray you don't drown on the trip.
Every priority in her life altered. Instantly.
Screw following orders. Screw killing Rostov. She had to find that boy.


text:
India, Pakistan trade heavy fire across LoC in Poonch district
Agencies | 1 Min Read
Jammu: The Indian and Pakistani armies traded heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, the Defence Ministry said.
"At about 8.30 am, Pakistan initiated unprovoked shelling using mortars and firing small arms along the LoC in Sawjian sector," Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said.
The Army retaliated "befittingly", he added.
Intermittent firing exchanges were still going on.
Related Topics:kashmir
14-year-old boy found dead in Baramulla
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Jadhav Case: ICJ suspends death sentence, grants consular access to India
The International Court of Justice on Wednesday announced its ruling in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.
Ruling in India's favour, the ICJ affirmed Jadhav's right to consular access and notification, news agency ANI reported, citing Reema Omer, international legal advisor, South Asia.
The court has also directed Pakistan to provide effective review and reconsideration of his conviction and sentences, the agency added.
Sushma Swaraj, India's former Indian minister of external affairs, called it a "great victory for India".
"I thank the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for our initiative to take Jadhav's case before International Court of Justice. I thank Mr. Harish Salve for presenting India's case before ICJ very effectively and successfully. I hope the verdict will provide the much needed solace to the family members of Kulbhushan Jadhav," she said in a series of tweets.
Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, a former Indian navy officer, was arrested in Pakistan's restive southwestern province of Balochistan in March 2016 on charges of espionage.
The 48-year-old was then sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in 2017, sparking outrage in India.
India insists that Jadhav was not a spy and says he was kidnapped in Pakistan. New Delhi is asking the ICJ to order Islamabad to annul the sentence.
India's lawyers told the court in February that it was a "farcical case" based on "malicious propaganda", while Pakistan's lawyers hit back by accusing Jadhav of "terrorism".
The last hearing coincided with a sharp spike in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after a suicide bombing in restive Kashmir, although relations have since improved.
The ICJ was set up in 1946 to rule in disputes between countries.
India, China exercising restraint in Doklam: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
New Delhi: Speaking in Lok Sabha on the current state of relations with China, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that both the nations are committed to uphold existing agreements to maintain peace and tranquillity at the border.
Defence minister added, "Infrastructure like roads, tunnels, railway lines and airfields are being developed on the border of India & China to ensure the sovereignty & security of the nation." Giving an account of the situation at border, Rajnath Singh ensured that both the nations are exercising restraint in Doklam.
Recently, Army Chief Bipin Rawat reacting on Chinese troops' movement in Jammu and Kashmir's Demchok had denied that any intrusion from Chinese side saying, "Celebrations were underway in our side and just to see what was happening, the Chinese troops came."
Moreover, Chinese president Xi Jinping is set to visit India later this year in October. PM Modi and Xi Jinping will hold second 'informal summit' at Varanasi on October 12, reported The Hindu. Earlier in April 2018, the first informal meet had taken place in Wuhan. It is expected that both leaders will take a boat ride in ancient city of Varanasi. The meeting marks the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and China.
In June this year, PM Modi and Jinping met on the sidelines of SCO Summit is Bishkek. Calling his meeting with Jinping 'extremely fruitful' PM Modi had said, 'We shall continue working together to improve economic and cultural ties between our nations.' Xi reciprocated Modi's gesture as he said, "China is ready to work with India to continuously advance the closer development partnership between the two countries."
Moreover, China has for long been derailing India's efforts to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group which widened the rift between both the countries. India, on the other hand, has been apprehensive of China's Belt and Road initiative.
Global News Service
Baramulla, July 17 : A militant was killed after a gunfight broke out between militants and government forces in Gund Brath area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Wednesday morning.
SSP Sopore Javeed Iqbal said that one militant body along with one weapon has been recovered from the encounter site.
The SSP further said that searches at encounter site is still underway.
As per the sources the slain militant has been identified as Adnan Channa resident of Old town Baramulla.
According to the sources, the slain militant had joined LeT outfit in April 2019.
Meanwhile, the partial shutdown is being observed in the old town area of Barmulla after reports of slain militant who is believed to be resident of old town Baramulla spread in the area.
Earlier in wake of gunfight authorities had suspended mobile internet services in Sopore parts, also to prevent any law and order problem Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore Ashiq Hussain Lily in a statement ordered the closure of Degree College as a precautionary measure.


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Download Book The Contested Status Of Political Elites in PDF format. You can Read Online The Contested Status Of Political Elites here in PDF, EPUB, Mobi or Docx formats.
Contemporary Western societies are witnessing ground-breaking social, economic and political changes at an accelerating pace. These changes are challenging the way democracy works and the role that political elites play in this system of government. Using a theoretical and empirical approach, this volume argues that political elites are urged to develop new strategies in order to achieve interest aggregation, to safeguard collective action, and to maintain elite autonomy and stability. The adaptive capacities of political elites are assessed through case studies, comparative and longitudinal analyses of their social structure, their recruitment patterns, and their attitudes. The book includes contributions from reputable scholars in the field of elite research and specialists on individual political systems across Europe and the US. It provides an analytical framework demonstrating that political elites are inevitable and potentially able to respond successfully to varying challenges. The book will be of key interest to scholars and students of political elites, democracy, comparative politics, political participation and European Politics.
This book is set against the burning issue of ethnic uprisings in the Madhes region of Nepal and analyses debates on the idea of contemporary Nepal. The limited view of Nepal as a primarily hill nation with Nepali-speaking people ignores the vast ethnic and linguistic diversity of the country. It has particularly rendered stateless the Madhesi community which inhabits the plains bordering India and shares closer cultural affinity and marital ties across the border. Increasing demands for ethnic and territorial autonomy by the Madhesis suggest the need for redefining the idea of Nepal and establishing Madhesi identity as Nepali identity while at the same time addressing the deeply contested idea of regional versus social identity in the region. This book uses narratives from the Madhesi community including from prominent Madhesi analysts and activists, to define their identity as well as their aspirations in a democratic Nepal. It also provides a perspective on the internal dynamics of caste and language of this region and their possible impact on consolidating ethnic identities in Nepal.
Questions of land tenure and land reform, and their impact on poor and vulnerable communities, are of vital importance throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. From the vast literature on the subject, Robin Palmer has selected and summarized more than 300 recent books, articles, academic theses, and reports of conferences and workshops. This survey includes studies of Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition to major sections on economic and legal issues, special sections feature studies of Land and Pastoralism, and Land and Women.
For a long time, India and China have been seen as the rising economic giants on the Asiatic mainland. Studies of the conflicts which have plagued the borderlands of India and China however have tended to only analyse individual case studies without attempting to compare and contrast the situation in these conflicts. This book compares and contrasts the situation in India's disputed borderlands – Kashmir and the Indian north eastern states – with China's contested borderlands – Xinjiang and Tibet. The book looks at the root causes of the conflict and how these conflicts have evolved and changed their character with the passage of time. Analysing how the countries have dealt with their territorial disputes from the 50's till more recent times, the author shows to what extent these state policies have exacerbated the already strained situation. Using primary data collected primarily through interviews, from the people/inhabitants of these conflict zones, the book throws new light on the problem. This bottom up approach allows the people to speak and provides a different understanding of the nature of the conflict, which may very well be the way forward for long lasting peace. A comparative study of the conflicts in the contested borderlands of China and India, the book will be of interest to scholars studying Asian security studies and Asian Politics particularly and Defence and Security Studies more generally.
China is intensely conscious of its status, both at home and abroad. This concern is often interpreted as an undivided desire for higher standing as a global leader. Yet, Chinese political elites heatedly debate the nation's role as it becomes an increasingly important player in international affairs. At times, China positions itself not as a nascent global power but as a fragile developing country. Contradictory posturing makes decoding China's foreign policy a challenge, generating anxiety and uncertainty in many parts of the world. Using the metaphor of rebranding to understand China's varying displays of status, Xiaoyu Pu analyzes a rising China's challenges and dilemmas on the global stage. As competing pressures mount across domestic, regional, and international audiences, China must pivot between different representational tactics. Rebranding China demystifies how the state represents its global position by analyzing recent military transformations, regional diplomacy, and international financial negotiations. Drawing on a sweeping body of research, including original Chinese sources and interdisciplinary ideas from sociology, psychology, and international relations, this book puts forward an innovative framework for interpreting China's foreign policy.
Research in localities in India, Cuba, Ethiopia, Taiwan and Lebanon is used to develop a broader understanding of global political phenomena such as democracy, representation and accountability. To contextualise aspects of 'good' governance the articles in the volume deal with people's perceptions of and interactions with the state; how they interpret government laws and regulations; how they interact with officials and how they comment on acts and speeches made by local bureaucrats and national power holders. Through a discussion of the much debated distinction between private and public, the articles show how the notions of public and private are interconnected in many ways, how they are contested and reformulated by people based on their experiences, and how they can be used as a tool in questioning dominant ideas and ways of executing 'good' governance.
At the end of the Cold War the People's Republic of China found itself in an international crisis, facing severe problems in both domestic politics and foreign policy. Nearly two decades later, Yong Deng provides an original account of China's remarkable rise from the periphery to the center stage of the post-Cold War world. Deng examines how the once beleaguered country has adapted to, and proactively realigned, the international hierarchy, great-power politics, and its regional and global environment in order to carve out an international path within the globalized world. Creatively engaging with mainstream international relations theories and drawing extensively from original Chinese material, this is a well-grounded assessment of the promises and challenges of China's struggle to manage the interlacing of its domestic and international transitions and the interactive process between its rise and evolving world politics.


Air Jordan 2K9 (2009)? Or Air Jordan XX4?
The simple question of "will there be more?" has been brought up in every Air Jordan lover's mind ever since the Air Jordan XX3 (23) dropped in January of 2008. Jordan Brand did their part to build up the hype by staying quiet and not releasing a word of concrete information. The obvious reasoning that many employed onto the Air Jordan numbered line was that it would stop after their 23rd sneaker due to the fact that Michael Jordan himself wore the number 23 throughout most of his career. From a financial standpoint, stopping the numbered line after the twenty-third model made no sense.
Jordan Brand finally came to the executive decision of retiring the "Air Jordan I – XX3" number scheme in order to honor Michael Jordan's legacy as one of the best basketball players ever. Instead, they decided to employ a new naming scheme which utilized the year number in which the sneaker would be released. Though the naming scheme was changed, the effort and thought that goes behind making an Air Jordan signature sneaker was not. Just like every other sneaker from the Air Jordan line, the Air Jordan 2009 would prove to be a stylish and sophisticated sneaker that reacted well on the courts and looked great off the courts.
For the Air Jordan 2009, Micheal Jordan called upon Jason Mayden, Jordan Brand's Senior Footwear Designer, to work with him in order to create a stylish and eco-friendly basketball sneaker which incorporated the newest technological advancements of the time. Jason Mayden took much time and put much effort into designing the Air Jordan 2009 and decided to integrate Articulated Propulsion Technology, or APT, into the sneaker. Articulate Propulsion Technology is most famous for its appearance on prosthetic legs of several paralympic athletes. April Holmes, a Team Jordan track and field athlete, holds many world records in paralympian competitions and helped inspire Jordan Brand to create their newest signature sneaker.
Aside from the Articulated Propulsion Technology which aids athletes in being quick off their feet, other key aspects of the Air Jordan 2009 include the satin sheets on the side panels and rear of the sneaker as well as the blown-glass midsole which is said to be unique to every sneaker. The aforementioned satin sheets are inspired by Michael Jordan's belief that man on man defense in basketball is very similar to the art of defending oneself in the sport of fencing. The sheets are meant to remind athletes of the importance of defense in light of the satire attire worn by fencers. A diamond shaped hologram is included under the ankle support and premium leathers are utilized on this sneaker so that it is not only functional on the courts, but also look good off the courts. Inside the sneaker, Jordan Brand has added extra cushioning to keep athletes' ankles safe and comfortable. In order to fully understand the amount of effort put into designing this sneaker, one must take a closer look and analyze each part of the sneaker. For example, the outsole includes multi-directional patterns which help to increase grip, and the stitching on the upper is purposely sewn in two rows and three rows below it in order to represent Michael Jordan's famous number 23.
Overall, the Air Jordan 2009 proves to be a stylish, complex, and clean sneaker which utilizes the newest sneaker technology available. Jordan Brand may have retired their famous numbered naming scheme, but the thought and effort put into designing a sneaker will live on via the Air Jordan 2009.
The Air Jordan 2009 is set to release on January 31, 2009 which will be limited to only 2009 pairs, 1005 going to the U.S and 1004 going overseas. After the original limited release, the Air Jordan 2009 will have its first nation-wide release on February 14, 2009 when it will be sold for $190.


When This Pastor Had Given Up Hope, God Delivered Answered Prayers In A Grocery Cart!
Just before 8-year-old Jackson McKie went under anesthesia for brain surgery, he surprised his neurosurgeon with a special request. Of course, Dr. Daniel McNeely didn't have it in his heart to say no. And so, following Jackson's successful procedure, this sweet doctor fixed a teddy bear belonging to his little patient, too!
Dr. Daniel McNeely has been treating Jackson McKie since his birth. Poor Jackson suffers from hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of fluid deep within the brain.
And as 8-year-old Jackson headed into surgery to have a shunt repaired, he had his faithful friend "Little Baby" by his side.
Little Baby is Jackson's beloved teddy bear.
But no one, not even Jackson's parents, realized the little boy was going to hit Dr. McNeely with a special request on his way to surgery. As the medical team started putting Jackson to sleep for the operation, he asked Dr. McNeely if he could operate on Little Baby, too.
"Patient asks if I can also fix teddy bear just before being put off to sleep... how could I say no?" Dr. McNeely, of IWK Health Care in Canada, posted online.
After successfully repairing the shunt that helps drain fluid from Jackson's brain and release pressure, Dr. McNeely turned his attention to Little Baby.
The surgeon diagnosed the teddy bear with a tear in the underarm. He then used some of Jackson's leftover stitches to sew up Little Baby.
"There's always a few stitches that are left over from the case itself and they normally get disposed of," Dr. McNeely explained.
The photos of Dr. McNeely caring for the stuffed bear, including giving Little Baby his own tiny "oxygen mask", received thousands upon thousands of likes and retweets.
The biggest smile (and reward) came from Jackson McKie. His dad says Jackson woke up ecstatic to find Little bear recovering next to him.
"He was so proud. He had Little Baby laying up in the hospital bed with him and everything," Richard said.
Facing surgery can be pretty scary, especially for an 8-year-old boy. The fact that this surgeon went above and beyond to bring a smile to his patient's face is definitely something special. And it meant so much to Jackson and his family.
"It just made us feel better about being there," Richard said.
What a sweet thing Dr. McNeely did for this boy. It's a great reminder that even little acts of kindness can have a big impact!


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233 Landing Rd. overlooks the Major Deegan Expressway, and beyond that, the Harlem River.
Applications are open for 24 discounted apartments in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx through the city's affordable housing lottery.
The apartments are part of a 136-unit building on Landing Road, near West Fordham Road, the Major Deegan Expressway, and the University Heights Bridge. The development is also set to include a 200-bed shelter for working homeless people to get back on their feet.
The units opening up are one and two bedroom set aside for households making $26,949-$57,240, with one bedrooms priced at $714 a month.
The development is a 15-minute walk from the Fordham Road 4 station, and across the street from Bronx hotspots Salsa Con Fuego and the Fordham Road Dallas BBQ. Devoe Park and Bronx Community College are also nearby.
The inclusion of a homeless shelter in the project has angered some neighbors.
Would you rent this duplex with a big patio near Brooklyn Bridge Park for $5,750 a month?


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Our mission is simple: build a healthier community. It's what we've been doing for over 130 years, and today we're doing it in more ways than ever before.
Home > Cardiology > Huntington Hospital Opens the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center
Huntington Hospital Opens the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center
State-of-the-art facility brings comprehensive and innovative cardiac care to the San Gabriel Valley and beyond
Huntington Hospital has opened the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center, the most comprehensive and innovative facility for cardiac care in the San Gabriel Valley. From research and diagnosis to treatment and recovery, the center's wide range of cardiovascular services – along with the latest medical technologies – are all brought together under one roof.
The Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center provides the potential to revolutionize the way we treat patients by integrating traditional cardiac surgery with endovascular surgery techniques and technology, further bridging the best of today with the latest advances of the future," said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. "The opening of this facility is a momentous accomplishment made possible by hard work, careful preparation, and a shared commitment to providing our patients leading-edge heart care. I'm incredibly proud of our project team, drawn from all areas of the hospital, and thankful for the generous support of community philanthropists who made this dynamic new cardiac care facility possible."
World-class cardiac care, close to home
Offering a full spectrum of cardiology services – including screening and diagnostic tests, advanced medical and surgical treatments, and cardiac rehabilitation and education programs – the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center elevates heart care further with:
Increased capacity
Two catheterization suites
An innovative catheterization and surgical hybrid suite
A high-tech electrophysiology suite
Six diagnostic suites
Eight private patient rooms
Latest medical technologies and treatments
Minimally invasive surgical options
Expert cardiac care team
Located directly above our Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center, the new Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center reduce time to treatment for cardiac patients and allows the hospital to increase the number of patients treated by 30 percent.
Find a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon at Huntington Hospital for your cardiac needs.
About Huntington Hospital
Huntington Hospital, is an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Health System, is a Magnet-designated 619-bed nonprofit hospital in Pasadena, California. We offer the full spectrum of care for every need: Whether at our hospital, urgent care, ambulatory surgery center, cancer center, or doctor's office, we're here to care for the physical, mental and social well-being of every person. Our level II trauma center and emergency department, the largest in the San Gabriel Valley, cares for over 70,000 people every year. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Emergency & Trauma
HHP & Blog
Huntington Health Physicians
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HomeHeadlinesChinese ports choke over 'zero tolerance' COVID-19 policy
Chinese ports choke over 'zero tolerance' COVID-19 policy
HeadlinesPortsThe WireTop Stories
Several Chinese ports are facing congestion as vessels due to call at Ningbo are bing diverted and cargo processing is slowed partly due to stricter disinfection measures under China's "zero-tolerance" coronavirus policy.
On Tuesday, more than 50 container vessels were queuing at Ningbo port, China's second largest marine centre, Refinitiv data showed, up from 28 on Aug. 10 when a COVID-19 case was reported at one of its terminals.
Leading international shipping groups have warned their clients of delays and route adjustments. At least 14 vessels operated by CMA CGM, five Maersk vessels and four Hapag-Lloyd ships have decided to skip Ningbo, while dozens of vessels are adjusting their schedules, the shipping groups said.
China's economy is losing momentum as a result of new coronavirus restrictions and global supply chains face further strains with the curbs adding to queues at major Chinese transportation hubs, already stretched by a resurgence of consumer spending, shortage of container ships and logjams at ports.
China's Ministry of Transportation has ordered all ports to have special teams to deal with foreign vessels and required their crews to have health certificates or negative tests before allowing them to load and discharge cargos.
Ports also have their own rules, with some applying additional precautions to vessels that stopped at ports in high-risk regions, such as India, Laos or Russia, in the past 21 days.
"China's zero tolerance policy is good for the pandemic but bad for the supply chain," said Dawn Tiura, chief executive officer of Sourcing Industry Group, a U.S.-based association for the sourcing and procurement industry. "This timing is very tough considering the uptick in back-to-school and return-to-work shopping in addition to the upcoming holiday shopping season."
Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co said in a statement late on Monday its handling volume has resumed to about 90% of its average daily level in July, following efforts to mitigate the impact of the shutdown of a terminal, which accounts for about 20% of Ningbo's container handling capacity, after a COVID-19 case was detected there last week.
Vessels scheduled to call at the terminal are being re-routed to nearby ports. Shanghai port had 34 vessels waiting at anchorage, compared to 27 on Aug. 10, while the number of vessels waiting at Xiamen port – 700 km south of Ningbo – rose to 18 on Tuesday from four early last week.
"Cargoes have been piling up at port recently due to tight labour force from portside and relevant departments, while increasing shipments also weighed," said a bulk ship operator at China's eastern port city Lianyungang.
"China is an important component of the global supply chain … Any shutdowns or delays from China have the potential to delay finished goods two or three tiers out," said Richard Lebovitz, chief executive officer of LeanDNA, a U.S-based supply chain consultancy.
The Freightos Baltic Global Container Index (FBX), a weighted average of 12 major global container routes, hit a record high of 9,770 per forty-foot equivalent (FEU) container this week.


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Media Utility
Cedartown High School
Recruiting Spotlight: Cedartown's C.J. Washington
Hannah Goodin
Cedartown's C.J. Washington is one of the strongest players in UGA's signing class.
Credit: Instagram: @cwashington.27
The University of Georgia is getting a very strong prospect in Cedartown linebacker C.J. Washington. Literally, he's extremely strong. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior was recorded power cleaning 355 pounds over the summer with help from former UGA all-America and current Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb. Chubb is notorious for being a beast in the weight room and Washington was able to get a front row seat.
Washington is the No. 12 overall linebacker in the nation and No. 14 overall player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite. He was the second prospect to commit to the Dawgs in the 2022 recruiting class and he's never wavered on his decision.
Despite playing outside linebacker during his high school football career, there's a chance we could see him following in Chubb's footsteps on offense as well. Find out more about his conversations with head coach Kirby Smart in an interview with GPB's Hannah Goodin:
Don't miss more interviews just like this on Recruiting 2021. The show airs every Friday night at 7 p.m. on GPB. The Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week will air immediately following at 7:30 p.m. If you missed the broadcast, visit us gpb.org/sports for full episodes.
Follow Washington on Twitter @cedric_washing4
Secondary Content
Hannah Goodin is a seasoned sports broadcaster with almost 10 years of experience across the southeast region. She also thrives behind the camera with an extensive background in television and digital production.
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GPB Sports Blog
2023 Basketball Spotlight: McEachern 5-Star Airious "Ace" Bailey
McEachern 5-star basketball forward Airious "Ace" Bailey is taking his talent to Rutgers and the University is celebrating landing its highest-rated men's basketball prospect ever. GPB Sports' Hannah Goodin talks with the all-star about the experience.
GPB Sports to Cover 2023 GHSA Basketball Championships
Basketball coverage is back at Georgia Public Broadcasting. After 6 seasons, GPB Sports will once again air the boys, girls, and adapted sports GHSA Championship games across all classifications. The coverage also includes 3-point contests and a boys slam dunk competition. All games will take place March 8-11 at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, GA.
Football Fridays in Georgia: Former Coaches of UGA Bulldogs Stars Stetson Bennett & Christopher Smith
On this episode of the Football Fridays in Georgia podcast, we catch up with the former coaches of Stetson Bennett and Christopher Smith to find out what its like to watch one of their players win back-to-back national championships. Plus, NIL rules coming for Georgia high school players?
Jon Nelson and


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by Brandon Hill - Tue, Apr 07, 2015
HBO Now Lands On Apple TV, iPhone And iPad Just In Time For 'Game of Thrones' Season Opener
If you've been itchin' to get your HBO fix without having to first subscribe to an expensive cable or satellite TV package, today is your day of celebration. Well, that is if you own an Apple device. HBO Now, which was officially announced last month, is now available on Apple TV and via iOS devices like the... Read more...
by Brandon Hill - Sun, Apr 05, 2015
Don't Count On Seeing 4K Video Support With Next Generation Apple TV
Last month, we were made aware of a number of new features that will make it into the next generation Apple TV. The media streamer is tipped to feature an Apple A8 processor, "well beyond" 8GB of internal storage, support for Siri, and its own App Store that will deliver big-screen accommodating applications and... Read more...
by Brandon Hill - Fri, Mar 20, 2015
Next Generation Apple TV With A8 SoC, Siri And App Store Arriving This Summer
Apple recently slashed the price of its Apple TV media streamer for $99 to $69 earlier this month. The price cut was a long time coming, as Apple's "premier" media streamer hasn't seen a significant update in years (the current generation was introduced way back in March 2012) and there are other more functional... Read more...
by Brandon Hill - Mon, Mar 09, 2015
Apple TV Slashed To $69, HBO Now Will Launch Exclusively On Apple Hardware In April
Apple has announced that it is reducing the price of the Apple TV from $99 to $69, likely in an effort to help the wireless media streamer gain a bit more traction against more full-featured alternatives like Amazon Fire TV and the Roku 3 (not to mention cheaper streaming sticks like the Fire TV Stick, the Roku... Read more...
by Brandon Hill - Tue, Dec 02, 2014
Roku Still Leads in Streaming, Google Chromecast Steals Second from Apple TV
As new players enter the streaming media category, some in the "old guard" are finding it hard to retain their once lofty market share numbers according to Parks Associates. The market research firm's latest analysis shows that Roku remains the number one hardware vendor when it comes to streaming devices despite... Read more...
by Joshua Gulick - Mon, Aug 18, 2014
Apple Wins 2014 'Outstanding Commercial Emmy' For 2013 Holiday Ad
August may seem like the wrong time to be talking about a Christmas holiday-themed commercial, but the Television Academy doesn't think so. The Academy announced the winners of the 2014 Creative Arts Emmys, which recognizes the efforts of the people who work behind the scenes to make your favorite TV shows and... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Fri, Jan 24, 2014
Apple Reportedly Working on Apple TV Update with Gaming and App Store Features
There's no indication that Apple is yet ready to make the plunge into branded television territory, though the Cupertino outfit is reportedly working on another Apple TV device, which is said to be far along in the testing phase. It will be another set-top box of sorts with an overhauled operating system based on iOS... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Fri, Aug 02, 2013
Chromecast Effect: Apple Lowers Price of Refurbished Apple TV to $75
There's nothing like a little competition to help spur price drops, even reluctant ones, as is often the case with Apple. For example, Google recently unveiled its Chromecast device, a $35 gadget that plugs into your HDTV's HDMI port and streams movies, TV shows, music, and more from services like Netflix, YouTube... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Wed, Jun 19, 2013
HBO GO and WatchEPSN Land on Apple TV
Apple's $99 streaming box just got a little bit better today. Effectively immediately, HBO GO and WatchESPN are both available directly on Apple TV, a duo that will appeal to movie buffs and sports fans alike. As for the former, HBO subscribers can now enjoy unlimited access to shows like True Blood and Game of Thrones, as well as hit movies,... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Wed, Mar 20, 2013
Redesigned Hulu Plus App for Apple TV Offers Easier Navigation
Hulu is giddy about a redesigned Apple TV app it just released, and Apple TV users should be just as excited. After all, it's been about a long time since Hulu touched the app, and this latest update purportedly offers an entirely new experience built "from the ground up" with an emphasis on making it easier to find... Read more...
by Joshua Gulick - Mon, Jan 28, 2013
Apple TV Gets Bluetooth and An iOS Update Brings Bug Fixes, LTE
Apple released iOS 6.1 today, bringing LTE support for more carriers to iPhones and iPads. The update also provides some bug fixes and adds functionality for Siri, giving you the ability to make purchases by voice command on Fandango. Another change means you can download individual songs from iCloud with your iTunes... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Tue, Jul 31, 2012
Hulu Plus App Lands on Apple TV
With zip, zero, and zilch ballyhooing from Apple, Hulu today made its premium Hulu Plus app available on Apple TV. Hulu Plus joins the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and other popular streaming services already available on Apple TV, adding the hardware device to its portfolio of supported products that include Roku, various tablets, PlayStation... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Tue, Feb 07, 2012
Best Buy Downplays Apple TV Survey after Getting Hopes Up
Best Buy recently sent out a consumer survey that, among other things, asked participants a series of questions about a 42-inch Apple TV for $1,499 with iOS baked in. This being the age of the Internet and all, it didn't take long for a screenshot of the survey to leak online, which prompted speculation that such a TV not only exists, but... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Mon, Feb 06, 2012
Best Buy Survey Hints at 42-inch Apple TV Selling for $1,499
Best Buy has been sending out consumer surveys asking for people's opinions on potential products and services that could be released. It's a common practice for retailers to do this and normally no one would bat and eyelash at such a survey, but the fact that Best Buy is gauging customers, in detail, about an Apple... Read more...
by Ray Willington - Mon, Jan 02, 2012
iOS Apps Hacked To Run Full-Screen On Apple TV
The Apple TV may be just a hobby for Apple, and sure enough, it's a major hobby for hackers as well. Over the new year, those very hackers were able to get iOS apps to run in full-screen mode on the Apple TV. Steven Troughton-Smith is no stranger to this realm; he's best known for getting Siri to work on devices other than the iPhone 4S. And... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Tue, Dec 27, 2011
Apple Readies Launch of 32-inch and 37-inch Televisions
We've been hearing rumors of an Apple branded television (not to be confused with Apple TV, a streaming media player) for quite some time now, and if the latest online chatter proves correct, we'll finally see a shipping product by the third quarter of 2012. Two products, actually, Citing un-named "industry sources," DigiTimes reports Apple's... Read more...
by Seth Colaner - Mon, Dec 19, 2011
Report: Details On Apple's TV Strategy
Steve Jobs' already-famous comments to his biographer Walter Isaacson about his designs upon the TV market seem to have predicted Apple's next great technological foray. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Apple has been meeting with media executives at large companies and discussing its TV future. The most compelling possibility... Read more...
by Ray Willington - Sun, Aug 28, 2011
Apple Yanks TV Rentals, Suggests People Prefer Outright Buys
If you aren't a heavy Apple TV user, you may not have noticed anything different tonight upon firing up your box. But if you've been on a renting rampage, something may seem... off. And it is. Completely off. Apple has decided to quietly (or as quietly as Apple can do something) pull the plug on TV episode renting... Read more...
by Ryan McLaughlin - Tue, Aug 09, 2011
Apple iTunes Movie Re-Downloads Not Coming Anytime Soon
Bad news for iTunes users that may have lost their movie purchases through data loss: users won't be able to re-download or stream their purchased movies to any PC or iOS device in the near future, thanks to movie studios and HBO. There were claims last week that a service named iTunes Replay was on the verge of launching. The basic... Read more...
by Ryan McLaughlin - Mon, Jul 18, 2011
RIM to Take On Competitors With TV Box
Blackberry developer Research In Motion is reportedly working on a media box that connects to televisions and streams content from Netflix, Youtube, and other nearby media devices. The box, which is code-named the Blackberry Cyclone, is intended to compete with similar products from Apple, Google, and others. The specs for the box, which come... Read more...
by Michael Santo - Sun, Jun 19, 2011
Google Buys Sage TV
Google TV hasn't exactly been lighting up living rooms with Internet-enhanced television goodness, but an influx of fresh software might be in store. Google has just acquired Sage TV, which has been producing its own proprietary DVR software since 2002. Sage TV's software runs on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. Google TV doesn't have DVR or placeshifting... Read more...
by Paul Lilly - Thu, Apr 14, 2011
Would You Buy an Apple Brand HDTV?
You've heard of Apple TV, the $99 set-top box that allows you to rent movies and TV shows, watch Netflix titles, and stream photos and music from your home network to your living room television set. But what would you think about an Internet-connected HDTV built and branded by Apple? According to online chatter, this is exactly what Apple... Read more...