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Jonathan Appoints Bassey Akpanyung As NPC Secretary
by News Editor on Apr 29, 2015 | No comments
President Goodluck Jonathan, has appointed Mr Bassey Okon Akpanyung, as the secretary to the National Planning Commission (NPC).
A statement by Salisu Haiba, Head of Information, NPC, noted that the appointment letter, dated 27th April, 2015 and signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, took effect from 14th April, 2015.
According to the letter, the appointment is for a first tenure of five (5) years in accordance with Sections 6 (1) and 8 (1) of the National Planning Commission Act, 1993.
Mr Akpanyung has been the Acting Secretary to the Commission since October 2014.
Born in 1956 in Akwa Ibom State, the secretary holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Ibadan in 1991, and a Master of Arts Degree in Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), Dakar – Senegal in 1993. He joined the service of the NPC in 1982 as Planning Officer Grade II and rose to the position of a Director in the commission and had served in almost all professional departments in the commission.
Appoints Bassey Jonathan NPC Secretary
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"Take no prisoners"
Iconic 6km trail run in Portmeirion
The 6th Trail 2021 – CANCELLED
*****URGENT NEWS – 2021 6th TRAIL PORTMEIRION Race is cancelled, again, sorry *****
2019 6th Trail, was postponed due to weather.
2020 race is CANCELLED due to the 'pandemic'
2021 race is CANCELLED due to the ongoing situation in the country.
WE WILL BE BACK – WE WILL BE SEIENG YOU – 2022
****************************************************************************************************************
6km Trail – It will have a 6km race route in the secretive, designated Conservation area, mythical trails, and tracks of the "Gwyllt" woods within the iconic, unique village of Portmeirion in the Snowdonia National Park.
Portmeirion is a popular tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust. Portmeirion has served as the location for numerous films and television shows, most famously serving as The Village in the 1960s television show The Prisoner.
Being on a Saturday, we also hope that many runners and families will stay on for the weekend with one of the accommodation providers in the area or why not treat yourself with a Stay in Portmeirion itself. Offers and discounts are available.
6th TRAIL Promotional Video https://vimeo.com/96106502
Click here to view accommodation at Portmeirion.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


They plan to ask a federal judge here in Charleston for an injunction by the end of the week.
For now, it appears that five companies will be allowed to start seismic airgun testing from Delaware to Florida.
The test helps reveal fossil fuels below the ocean floor.
A big concern here in South Carolina, though, is old military weapons that were dumped in the ocean decades ago.
A recent study from the American Petroleum Institute estimates offshore drilling would add nearly 300,000 jobs and $23 billion to the U.S. economy every year.


Home to the majority of Hawaii's population, the state capital of Honolulu and world famous Waikiki, Oahu is often the first stop for visitors to Hawaii. Flights arrive at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Hawaii's major airport and the entry point for most of Hawaii's visitors, roughly 20 minutes from Waikiki. All major domestic carriers and many international carriers serve Oahu, so you can get here from just about anywhere. You'll find the majority of hotels and resorts in Waikiki, but you'll also find three renowned Oahu resort areas on the North Shore, the Leeward Coast and in the Kahala area of east Honolulu.
Sometimes called "The Gathering Place," Oahu certainly lives up to its name. The third largest Hawaiian island is home to the majority of Hawaii's diverse population, a fusion of east and west cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people. It's this fundamental contrast between the ancient and the modern that makes discovering Oahu so enjoyable.
Oahu is separated into 5 main areas: Honolulu, the North Shore, the Windward Coast, Central Oahu and the Leeward Coast. Note that world-famous Waikiki is actually a neighborhood located in greater Honolulu. Oahu occupies 597 square miles and is the second oldest of the six Islands of Aloha, lying between Kauai and Maui. Oahu is made up of two major mountain ranges that were once shield volcanoes that are now extinct. These two mountain ranges – the Waianae range to the west and Koolau range to the east – run almost parallel to each other. Over a hundred ridges extend from the spines of each range creating beautiful valleys and stunning mountain vistas.
●	Do I need a car to get around Oahu?If you're planning to stay in Waikiki, you can get around by shuttle, tour bus, taxi, or Hawaii's excellent public transportation system. But to really experience Oahu outside of Waikiki, you should consider renting a car.
●Where are the major hotel and resort areas on Oahu?Most Oahu resorts and hotels can be found in Waikiki. You can also find luxury resorts in east Honolulu, the North Shore, and the Leeward Coast.
●What should I pack on my trip to Oahu?It's warm on Oahu, so pack your summer attire. You may want to bring a light jacket or sweater for the evenings.
●When is a good time to visit Oahu?Anytime of year is a good time to visit Oahu. The average temperature here is between 75˚-85˚ F. Summer, between April and November is warmer and drier while winter, between December and March, is a bit cooler. Trade winds keep things comfortable year-round. Winter is big wave surf season on Oahu's North Shore with major competitions in November and December. Whale watching season begins in December and ends in May. Peak whale watching months are between January and early April.
●How far is it from Waikiki to Oahu's attractions?
Oahu is generally drier on the Leeward Coast (west) and wetter and greener on the Windward Coast (east). The resort area of Waikiki and the surfing mecca of the North Shore offer pleasant weather year round. There are generally two seasons on Oahu. Winter (November through April), when temperatures typically range in the low-70s to mid-80s, and summer when the high can run into the low-90s. Average air temperature ranges from 74 degrees F (23 degrees C) to 88 degrees F (31 degrees C) with moderate humidity of 53% during the day. Gentle trade winds keep even the warmest months comfortable, so any time of year is a good time to visit Oahu.
From the Hawaiian monarchy to the attack on Pearl Harbor, an exploration of Oahu's history reflects the key influences that have impacted all of Hawaii. In 1795, King Kamehameha I led his forces in the legendary Battle of Nuuanu near the scenic precipices of the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. This pivotal battle resulted in the conquering of Oahu and the eventual unification of the Hawaiian Islands under one rule in 1810.
Seven Hawaiian monarchs followed after Kamehameha the Great. King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) permanently established the Hawaiian Kingdom's government on Oahu. King Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho) and his wife Emma's summer retreat, the Queen Emma Summer Palace, can still be visited in Honolulu's Nuuanu Valley today. King Kalakaua, also known as the Merrie Monarch, built the majestic Iolani Palace in Downtown Honolulu. Queen Liliuokalani was Hawaii's last reigning monarch after American colonists overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in a controversial coup in 1893. In 1898, Hawaii became a territory of the United States.
In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States. Completed in 1969, the Hawaii State Capitol is located in Downtown Honolulu, behind Iolani Palace. From the largest museum in the state, Bishop Museum, to the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, Oahu is home to numerous landmarks and significant points of interest that shed light on the fascinating facets of Hawaii's past.


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The Thor: Ragnorok trailer's glorious, space-based nonsense shows an MCU matured to its full potential
By David Houghton 2017-04-10T17:56:09.99Z Feature
I'll openly admit that the first two Thor films left me feeling rather flat. And not just because they were fairly boring. No, the biggest reason their distinct lack of remarkability wore me down is that they were always frustratingly close to hitting a much greater, more creative potential that they seemed annoyingly scared to reach for.
Back in those Phase One and Two days, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was still just finding its feet. When Thor: The Dark World was released, we were still six months away from the genre-bending shake-up of the Cold War-tinged Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy was nearly a year off. Only the indie-tinged dramedy wit of Shane Black's Iron Man 3 had really hinted at more experimental ambitions.
Thus, we got two Thor films that promised much but ultimately delivered somewhat neutered safe-bets. We got visions of grandiose space-fantasy in Asgard, propping up films that consistently felt too strong a drawback to more traditional superheroics on Earth, where presumably audiences could relate more easily to the scenario, and feel more empathy for the encroaching threat. We got flashes of Chris Hemsworth's considerable comic chops, but in films that too often swerved around the character's inherent goofiness in favour of knowingly brash cockiness and the occasional fish-out-of-water juxtaposition. And with the charisma-vacuum of Natalie Portman's pathologically dull Jane as Thor's chief, non-Loki foil, the character's vast entertainment potential was yet further mired.
But good Lord, that new Thor: Ragnarok trailer. It's the rallying cry of a studio that really could no longer give but the tiniest of fucks for expectation. The freshest, funniest, and most bravely bonkers Marvel trailer in years, it channels – after a few years of what have felt like, if not dull, then certainly safe and logical extensions of the MCU mythos – a concentrated, lava-hot shot of precisely what made Marvel movies such a vital and important venture in the first place. The lack of care for existing genre convention. The focus on character and off-kilter fun. The sheer, unbridled, punk invention of it all (insofar as any multimillion dollar movie from a global corporation can deliver such a thing). In short, all the things that made Marvel comics themselves so important when Stan Lee started shaking things up in the early '60s.
In the current, dramatically-minded superhero movie ecosystem (in which the Avengers are at war with each other, and the DC movies seem intent on making everything feel more doom-laden just by existing), the aesthetic of the trailer alone is like a triple-espresso to the eyeball on a long morning commute. It could have gone wrong. It could have gone Suicide Squad wrong. You don't just assume the right to use Led Zeppelin and '80s-style hologram fonts. And you certainly don't get to use either without looking silly and try-hard indeed unless you really know what you're doing.
But the Ragnarok trailer earns it all. By steering so hard into what the cinematic Thor should always have been, and doing so with such glee, with that important balance of knowing awareness free from contrivance or irony, it earns the right to every ludicrous excess it presents. Because it's doing everything it does so completely earnestly, simply because these excesses are the Right and Most Awesome way of dealing with this material.
Because let's think about what we have in Thor. We have a magic space-Viking with a hammer that only he is magic enough to lift (and a method of flight built around throwing said hammer really hard and not letting go), who fights magic space-elves, giants, and inter-dimensional aliens. He travels using a bridge made of rainbows, speaks in pseudo-Shakespearean twang, and once, for a time, was a frog.
With Ragnarok looking to embrace all that silliness (apart from the frog bit), it now seems that the early, disappointing Thor movies were not the product of an unsuitable lead character (though he does arguably need someone to bounce off, in order to really emphasise his uniquely goofy brand of heroism), but rather the victim of logistics.
They had to be made early in the MCU's life in order to set up the Asgardian's role in The Avengers, but that alas meant that they had to be made before Marvel was confident that audiences would accept space-magic-Marvel's full, psychedelic scope. They had to be made before Guardians of the Galaxy blew the lid off the giddy, garish, bizarre space-opera side of the Marvel Universe, and before Doctor Strange got just plain weird. They had to be made before Marvel got braver about attracting more eclectic – and more specifically comedic – writers and directors to the fold, or could cultivate the reputation for treating such diverse talent well, Joss Whedon's latter-day sadness notwithstanding. They had to be made before Thor's own, weird kinks had been properly established and leveraged into different superheroic relationships throughout multiple cross-over outings.
For all of these reasons Marvel had to play it safe. But it's now clear that Marvel knows it no longer has to. Thor: Ragnarok feels for all the world like the lunatic product of The Chronicles of Riddick, Star Wars, Guardians, and Masters of the Universe. The kind of grand, free-wheeling, knowingly excessive sci-fi spectacle that recalls the coke-and-lasers fuelled grandiosity of mid-'80s, mid-budget Hollywood in the post Star Wars genre boom, albeit big, and glossy, and expensive, and good. The kind of movie that a passionate, ambition-over-quality schlock studio like Cannon would have made, had they possessed the money and the talent.
This is great news not just for Thor, but for the MCU in general. Because just as things were beginning to feel a little predictable, just as alien apocalypses were starting to feel standard; as once-exciting heroes were beginning to settle into tropes of their own, and major story arcs looked to be coming to a head with nowhere in particular to go afterward, Marvel seems to be pulling the rug away again. Having steadily and carefully raised the bar on what mainstream audiences will accept over the last near-decade, hooking viewers in with heart and personality before gradually turning up the weirdness-dial, it seems the studio is finally in the place it wanted to be all along. The place where the full gamut of its comic-book content is acceptable, all bets are off, and it can deliver whatever it wants, with whatever tone it likes, with total confidence. ie. The place where it can deliver a trailer like Thor: Ragnarok, and get the most universally positive, snark-free response it has enjoyed in a good long while.
In hindsight, yeah, things were never going to be the same after they made Howard the Duck canon again.


During the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. This is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur.
Tihar also known as Deepawali is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. It is the celebration of lights and color dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, too unfolds social joy throughout the nation.
Tihar is the second biggest Nepalese festival after Dashain. It is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the gods, but also to the animals like crows, cows, and dogs that maintain an intimate relationship with humans.
Buṅga Dyah Jatra is a chariot procession honoring the Buddhist deity of compassion Avalokitesvar in Lalitpur. It is one of the greatest religious events in the city and the longest chariot festival celebrated in the country.
Rato Machindranath and is revered as the giver of rain. The name Rato Machhendranath means Red Machhendranath in a reference to the color of the deity's image. Preparations for the festival begin with the construction of a 60-foot tall chariot at Pulchok at the western end of Lalitpur. When the chariot is complete, the image of Bunga Dyah from his temple is installed in it. The chariot is pulled through the streets of Lalitpur on a tour that lasts a month.
Seto Machindranath, also known as Janabaha Dyo is a deity worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Kathmandu. The temple of Seto Machindranath is believed to have been established around the 10th century.
The chariot procession festival of Seto Machindranath is celebrated during the month of Chaitra (March/April). This is three days long festival. The deity is bathed and repainted every year as a ritual that symbolizes the changes occurring throughout our lives. The ceremony is held on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of the third month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar. The main highlight of this event is that The Living Goddess, Kumari attends this ritual.
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birthday of the Lord Buddha which dates back in about 543 BC. It falls on the full moon night of either May or June. Buddhist communities like to make their pilgrimage at Buddha's birth place Lumbini of Nepal in this auspicious day.
Mahashivaratri is the celebration dedicated to the Lord Shiva which falls in February and March. It is the celebration of birthday of supreme god of Hindu mythological figure. Thousands and thousands of visitors make their pilgrimage visit in Kathmandu on this day.
Shiva is the third God in the Hindu triumvirate. The triumvirate consists of three gods. Brahma, responsible for creation, Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destruction of the world.
The eight-day long Indra Jatra festival falls in September and is one of the most exciting and revered festivals of the Newari community of the Kathmandu Valley. It begins with the erection of a wooden pole made of pine at Basantapur Sqaure in front of the old Hanuman Dhoka Palace.
For the pole-raising ceremony, hundreds of spectators gather at the Palace Square and on the surrounding temples. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.


"Lost in Thought" was the original piece that started this series. It was designed and sculpted in response for a call to artist, the exhibition set for SOFA Chicago 2010. The work was not selected for the show however it was included the same year with del Mano's SOFA Chicago booth. Although Dave knew who Ray Leier and Jan Peters were, he was introduced to Ray through a mutual friend during AAW's 2009 Symposium in Albuquerque. Ray knew of the piece and had him bring it, along with two others, to the loading docks at Navy Pier. He came back to the door, inspected the work, and proceeded to take it in. It literally came in through the back door. Jan didn't like the idea but "Lost in Thought" sold.
The Nouveau series finds its main inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement. From posters and print, to household decorative items, to architecture, the flow of lines are an enticing and seductive. Historically Nouveau artists and craftsmen drew inspiration from natural and geometric forms. Another influence of Dave's, the natural world, fits right into this. He particularly enjoys the early photographic work of Karl Blossfeldt, illustrations of Ernst Haeckel, and other sources focused on the natural environment.
Exaggerating flows and lines, most designs start as simple line drawings within the pages of Dave's sketch books. One of the more exciting parts of the process comes after the sculpture outline is translated to the medium. Although the general direction is thought out, characteristics in the wood drive changes as the rough sculpting takes place.
During the photography process of "Lost in Thought", Dave made an unexpected observation. Each picture was taken from a different angle revealing a "sculpture" with in the sculpture. One particular picture immediately gave the abstract sensation of Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" leading to its title. Starting from a drawing in a sketchbook, viewing finished sculptures from all different angles provides the proverbial icing on the cake.


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Archive for the 'Grunge' Category
Seether announces 2015 tour dates with Papa Roach, Kyng and Islander
Posted: November 5, 2014 in Band, Concerts, Entertainment, Grunge, Hard Rock, Metal, music, New Music, rock, Tour, Video
Tags: Islander, Kyng, Metal, music, Papa Roach, Rock, Seether, Tour
Seether have just announced their tour dates with Papa Roach and special guests; Kyng and Islander. The month long tour will start off on January 9th at House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, FL and wrap up on February 7th in Las Vegas. Check the dates below:
1/9/15 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
1/10/15 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
1/11/15 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
1/13/15 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
1/14/15 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore
1/15/15 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort & Casino
1/17/15 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre
1/20/15 New York, NY Terminal 5
1/21/15 Bethelehem, PA Sands Entertainment Center
1/23/15 Detroit, MI Fillmore
1/24/15 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
1/25/15 Chicago, IL The Riviera Theatre
1/28/15 Waterloo, IA McElroy Auditorium
1/30/15 Houston, TX Bayou Music Center
1/31/15 Dallas, TX Southside Ballroom
2/2/15 Wichita, KS Cotilion
2/3/15 Denver, CO Fillmore
2/5/15 San Francisco, CA Warfield
2/6/15 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
2/7/15 Las Vegas, NV The Joint
You can pick up tickets as well as a variety of VIP or meet and greet packages by visiting http://www.seether.com/. We are excited to see a San Francisco date so we can bring you full coverage of the show. Check out Seether's awesome music video for their song, Same Damn Life:
You can also check out the latest video from Papa Roach for their song, Face Everything and Rise:
Kyng is another great band that we have brought you a lot of coverage and can't wait to see once again. Here is a tribute video for their song, I Don't Believe featuring footage and photos from their Sacramento show:
Another highlight will be to catch Islander, they were the highlight at this year's Mayhem and Aftershock Festivals. Check out our feature on them here: Islander. Make sure to mark your calendars and pick up your tickets! You can also visit the social media sites of all the bands and stay up to date on their latest news.
Seether:
Website: http://www.seether.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seetherofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seether
Instagram: http://instagram.com/seetherofficial
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/seethervideo
Amazon: http://found.ee/r-4j
iTunes: http://found.ee/r-9o
Papa Roach:
Website: www.paparoach.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/paparoach
Twitter: www.twitter.com/paparoach
Merch Store: www.paparoach.com/store
Kyng:
Website: http://www.kyngband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyngRocks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyngband
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KYNGband
Itunes: Itunes
Islander:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareislander
Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareislander
Instagram: http://instagram.com/weareislander/
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/islander/id43768810
The Grounds release new single, Lilac
Posted: October 22, 2014 in Alternative, Alternative Rock, Classic Rock, Grunge, music, New Music, New Release
Tags: Alternative, Classic Rock, Grunge, music, Rock, The Grounds
The Grounds from Calgary are set to tickle your classic rock fancy with their new single, Lilac. These young musicians have breathed fresh new life into the alternative rock scene with hints of classic 90's grunge and dipped in pure classic rock bliss. Their music is well beyond their years as they show a great level of maturity in their sound, evolved and well developed. Check out their new single, Lilac and you will hear what I mean:
You can pick up the single on iTunes here and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegroundsmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGroundsMusic
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lilac-single/id923797510
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGroundsBand
Check out The Grayces video for Do It To Me as their album is set to release this week
Posted: October 11, 2014 in Band, Classic Rock, Grunge, music, New Music, New Release, Psychedelic, rock
Tags: Band, Classic Rock, Grunge, music, Psychedelic, Rock, The Grayces
Nashville is definitely not just the home of country music and has been giving us the gift of great rock bands lately. One notable band to check out is The Grayces which have a classic rock style meshed with psychedelic grunge. It is a refreshing new style that will capture your attention. The Grayces are set to release their new album, Westing this Tuesday, October 14th. Check out their video for their song Do It To Me:
The Grayces are:
Iz Stone – Vocals & Guitar
Chas Cantrell – Drums
Patrick Ward – Bass
1) Posthumous Fame
2) Walls of the Dead
3) Rattlesnake
4) Drop in a Bucket*
5) Do It To Me*
6) Mercy Kill
7) Terminator
8) Skin
9) Old Man
10) Westing
11) Mona Lisa
12) Lord & Gods of Alcohol*
Make sure to pick up Westing on Tuesday and also visit their social media sites. We will be bringing you a review of the album later this week.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrayces
Bandcamp: http://thegrayces.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGrayces
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrayces
BullyWest proves that nothing can stop their need to Rock!
Posted: September 11, 2014 in Americana, Band, Blues, Concerts, Entertainment, Folk Rock, Grunge, Indie Rock, Interview, music, New Music, rock
Tags: Americana, Band, Blues, BullyWest, GoFundMe, Indie Rock, music, Oakland, Petaluma, Phoenix Theater, Rock
BullyWest, an indie rock band from Oakland may have had to weather a few bumps in the road, but these determined rockers prove that nothing can stand in their way and their need to ROCK! With a sound that blends grunge/rock/alternative/blues/americana and classic rock into their own unique style, they will truly capture your attention. We had the chance to see BullyWest perform at The Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, last Saturday night and they blew us a way. I was bummed to have not heard of them before because it would have insured Music Junkie Press' presence at their performances!
The band has had to endure through the recent challenge of having thousands of dollars of their gear stolen at a recent show. This in no way, will stop them from forging ahead. Their fans and friends quickly stepped up with support and they held a benefit concert with Iron Heart, Six Gun Saints and other bands performing at Red Hat. They raised some money but still have an upward climb to replace their gear. They have created a GoFundMe campaign and you can check it out here and see how you can help: http://www.gofundme.com/di3a3g. We had the opportunity to talk with members of the band after their bad ass set at the Phoenix and are pleased to share that with you here:
Their set was really spectacular and had me already thinking about their next show. Manny on guitar and vocals is really mesmerizing, he has a soulful voice that brings back flashbacks of early Chris Cornell. He brings out this great emotion through his songs. Shane on bass is a madman and has a great stage presence, he lays down his bass lines as he is bouncing around his area. Bernt on drums delivered a solid heavy set and you can feel his energy. These guys are great and I can't wait to catch them again. Check out the photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:
Make sure to visit their social media sites, support them on their GoFundMe or share the links, and be sure to stay up to date on their latest news. I will leave you with several videos from their set at the Phoenix.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BullyWestband
GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/di3a3g
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bullywest
Dreamers from Brooklyn are creating a buzz with their new video, Wolves
Posted: August 5, 2014 in Alternative, Alternative Rock, Band, Grunge, music, New Music, New Release, Video
Tags: Band, Dreamers, Grunge, music, Rock, Video, Wolves
Dreamers, the rock trio from Brooklyn are creating a buzz with their new video, Wolves and deservedly so! The video for Wolves was filmed on Hi8, directed by Nikolai Vanyo and animation provided by Nick Wold. The filming on a Hi8 brings the retro style which is perfect for the romantic werewolf storyline. Check out the video here:
Wolves is the first single from Dreamers' upcoming album This Album Does Not Exist, which is set for release on November 18th. Their style brings a fresh take to grunge rock sprinkled with psychedelic tones. Definitely a band you will be hearing a lot more from.
Dreamers is:
Nick Wold
Chris Bagamery
Website: http://www.dreamersuniverse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DREAMERSuniverse
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dreamersjoinus
EMPIRES announce the upcoming release of Orphan as major label debut
Posted: August 5, 2014 in Alternative, Bands, Bottle Rock Napa, Entertainment, Grunge, Indie Rock, music, Music News, New Music, New Release
Tags: Band, Concert, Empires, entertainment, music, New Release
Empires was one of our featured bands for Bottle Rock Festival and they did an awesome job and were one of the festival highlights. Empires have announced their major label debut Orphan, out September 23rd on Chop Shop/Island Records. Produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, The Black Angels, Explosions in the Sky), Orphan is a collection of songs immersed in classic post punk and indie rock n' roll circa 1989-1991, exploring the sonic adventures and emotional heft of artists such as Roxy Music, Wire, and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Check out their track, Please Don't Tell My Lover here:
From the first time I listened to Empires, I was taken back to the nightlife of the '90s as I would go club hopping and enjoy grunge, alternative, and mod. It was a time for you to feel the music and literally have it take over you. Empires are an Indie Alternative band from Chicago that do just that. You can't help but listen to them and be "in the moment". Fantastic songwriting, blended with grunge vibes, alternative style, and stirring vocals make this band have the winning combination.
The band is currently on the road with Chain Gaing of 1974, are looking forward to playing this year's Austin City Limits and plan to spend all of 2014/15 on the road. Pre-orders will be available starting August 19th. Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news.
Website: www.weareempires.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/weareempires
Twitter: www.twitter.com/weareempires
Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareempires
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/weareempires
Radio Black working on new album and this is definitely one you want to be part of!
Posted: July 16, 2014 in Alternative, Alternative Rock, Band, Grunge, Kickstarter, music, New Music, New Release, rock
Tags: 606 Studios, Alternative, Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters, Grunge, KickStarter, music, Radio Black, Rock, Taylor Hawkins
It was only a couple weeks ago where we told you about the great new song, Run Away by Radio Black featuring Foo Fighter's Taylor Hawkins on drums. You can read that original post here. The grunge three piece rock band, Radio Black recorded the song at Dave Grohl's studio and home of the famed Sound City mixing console, Studio 606. "Run Away," is the first song off a to-be-announced upcoming album. Check out the new song here:
They recorded three songs for their new album, which was recorded and produced by John "Lou" Lousteau, Fireball Ministry front-man and "Sound City" documentary producer Jim Rota, and Brad Smith of Blind Melon and features appearances from studio players including Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), and Mick Murphy (My Ruin, Chevy Metal).
Now they are ready to finish this album and you can be a part of the making of this highly anticipated debut album. The band hopes to raise $12,000 to go back to the studio where they recorded the first 3 songs of their debut album, using the Sound City Neve 8028 analog mixing console, previously graced by the likes of Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney and of course, the Foo Fighters. Incentives range from digital MP3 downloads, to personalized thank you videos, and fans can even pledge to receive executive producer credits on the album.
Head over to their Kickstarter campaign page for more information or to pledge a contribution here: http://kck.st/Wd9muU
This band has such a great grunge/alternative style with hints of seventies classic rock, complete with compelling vocals, catchy chorus and melody rich in tones. I look forward to what Radio Black has in store for us. The powerhouse trio consists of lead singer/guitarist TJ Courtney, drummer Derek Geldhill, founding member of Smile Empty Soul, and bassistDan Kremer, a seasoned touring musician.
About recording at Studio 606 with the same Neve 8028 analog mixing console previously used by his childhood musical inspirations including Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters – Radio Black lead singer/guitarist TJ Courtney explains, so he "Recording the song was somewhat of a nerve-racking experience. The first couple days at 606 were devoted to sorting out instrumental arrangements, tracking drums, bass, and guitars. Everything was going very smoothly and I felt very comfortable, until it was time to track vocals. Maybe it was just my nerves, but after spending time in the studio and working with some of the amazing rock musicians involved days prior, I now felt intimidated," He continues, "More jitters started to pop up when I started thinking about all the artists that had recorded in the room recently, like Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, and Trent Reznor.The first mic setup didn't seem to be a good match for my voice, and things weren't clicking right off the bat…We took a much needed lunch break and I was super nervous thinking, 'What if I can't get these vocals down? This whole thing would be a bust.'
Luckily, after lunch Lou returned with a different mic and after channeling every ounce of his confidence, Courtney was able to try again. "I calmed myself down and just tried to relax and connect with the song, instead of thinking about all the other crap. Then I felt a moment of calm and belted out the first take on the chorus. It felt good! Then Rota and Lou both chimed in, 'That's what we've been looking for man! Nice Job!' Then it was smooth sailing from there."
About the inspiration for "Run Away" Courtney explains that it's a song "about taking risks in life and having the courage to abandon your prejudices, restrictions and anything else holding you back from being who you really are."
So stay tuned for more new music by Radio Black and make sure to visit their social media sites.
Website: www.radioblackband.com
Facebook: facebook.com/radioblackband
Twitter: twitter.com/radioblackband
Youtube: youtube.com/radioblackband
Lullwater is grabbing everyone's attention as they are out on tour with Blacklite District
Posted: July 15, 2014 in Alternative Rock, Band, Grunge, music, rock, Tour
Tags: Alternative, Band, Grunge, Lullwater, music, Rock, Tour
There is a great band that I must tell you about! They are Lullwater from Athens, GA and I am hooked on them. Their sound can be described as a grunge, rock, or alternative. Whatever you want to call it is fine with me, I just call it damn fine music! Lullwater have just headed out on tour with Blacklite District and they are capturing everyone's attention with their energetic rockin sets. They will be touring well in to September so make sure to get yourself to a show. The tour dates are as follows:
7/16 Clifton, NJ Dingbatz
7/17 Wantagh, NY Mulcahys
7/18 Cranston, RI 1150 Oak Bar
7/19 Lawrence, MA Claddagh
7/24 Niagara Falls, NY The Evening Star
7/25 Pottsville, PA Goodfellas
7/26 Washington, WV The Pourhouse
7/29 Dayton, OH Oddbody's
7/31 Fredericksburg, VA Hard Times Cafe
8/08 St. Petersburg, FL Octave
8/15 Corpus Christi, TX Theos
8/16 San Leon, TX 18th St. Pier
8/23 Bismarck, ND Rise Festive at Missouri Valley Fairgrounds
8/27 Crest Hill, IL Bada Brew
8/28 Chesterfield, MI Diesel
8/30 Battle Creek, MI Planet Rock
8/31 Bangor, MI Hogg Bash X
9/01 South Bend, IN Cheers
9/03 Cudahy, WI Metal Bar
9/04 Jefferson, WI Rox
9/09 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
Lullwater is:
John Strickland – Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Brett Strickland- Lead Guitar & Vocals
Joseph Wilson – Drums
Roy Beatty – Bass
They currently have their self titled debut album out that has been stuck on my playlist for the past week now! You can pick it up on iTunes here. You have searing vocals, dirty and fierce guitars, alternative rockin style from start to finish. With solid tracks like Blind, Albatross or Waste Yourself, you will be drawn in to the world of Lullwater.
Make sure to visit their social media sites and we will see if we can bring you an interview with vocalist, John.
Website: http://www.lullwatermusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lullwatermusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lullwatermusic
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lullwatermusic
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lullwater/id697123749
Radio Black premieres new song featuring Foo Fighter's Taylor Hawkins on drums
Posted: July 2, 2014 in Alternative, Alternative Rock, Band, Grunge, music, New Music, New Release, rock
Tags: Alternative, Grunge, music, Radio Black, Rock, Taylor Hawkins
Grunge three piece rock band, Radio Black has premiered a new song, "Run Away" featuring Foo Fighter's Taylor Hawkins on drums. The song, which was recorded at Dave Grohl's studio and home of the famed Sound City mixing console, Studio 606. "Run Away," is the first song off a to-be-announced upcoming album, which is recorded and produced by John "Lou" Lousteau, Fireball Ministry front-man and "Sound City" documentary producer Jim Rota, and Brad Smith of Blind Melon and features appearances from studio players including Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), and Mick Murphy (My Ruin, Chevy Metal). Check out the new song here:
It is a great grunge/alternative style song with hints of seventies classic rock, complete with compelling vocals, catchy chorus and melody rich in tones. I look forward to what Radio Black has in store for us. The powerhouse trio consists of lead singer/guitarist TJ Courtney, drummer Derek Geldhill, founding member of Smile Empty Soul, and bassistDan Kremer, a seasoned touring musician.
Seether premieres new music video for "Words as Weapons" and countdown to album release of Isolate and Medicate
Posted: June 15, 2014 in Band, Entertainment, Grunge, Hard Rock, Metal, music, New Music, rock, Video
Tags: Album, Band, Grunge Metal, music, New Release, Rock, Seether
Seether has been getting a lot of great attention for their first single, Words as Weapons from their forthcoming album, Isolate and Medicate. The song is already in the Top 10 and is climbing the Active Rock Charts. The album is set to release on July 1st and Seether released another track, Suffer it All earlier this week. Now you can check out the official music video for Words as Weapons. The video, which was shot at the historic Vasquez Rocks, was inspired by the work of French expressionist, Jean Conteau and his 1949 film, Orpheus. Check it out here:
Everybody is getting excited for the new album release on July 1st and Seether have also confirmed a special album release show at The Gramercy Theatre in New York City. A limited amount of tickets for the July 1st performance are on sale here:http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00004CCAD578C565
If you like this song as much as I do, you can get it as an instant download when you pre-order the Isolate and Medicate frm iTunes here. Seether is currently on tour in Europe and will be returning for a headline tour this Winter. In addition, stay tuned for the announcement of summer dates as well.
Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on the latest Seether news.


Good morning,everyone. It is my great honor to stand here to present this lesson to you. Thank you. Let me start my lesson from unit one "How many people are there in your family? " This is an oral reading class, which includes three parts, materials analysis, teaching instruction design and teaching program.
1. This unit's topic is based on family, while Tony and Lingling are talking about family members. During the dialogue, there are a few new words, like grandfather\grandmother\grandparents\uncle\aunt\sister\brother\many\have etc, and other difficult sentence patterns and sentences.
2. Key points Guide the student to learn and use the following words and sentence skillfully. A. Words: grandparents\uncle\aunt\sister\brother\many and have B. Sentences: a. --How many…are there…? ?There are… b. -Have you got any…? --Yes,I have.\No,I haven't.
3. Difficult points Make students understand and use words and sentences with multi-meaning or special meaning. a. Words and expression: people\family\or\how many b. Sentences: ①--How many people are there in your family? -- There are four?my mom and dad, my sister Linda, and me. ②So I've got one aunt and two uncles. c. Speak English according to practical situation.
4. Teaching aims a. Technical aims: the student can understand the dialogue and the conversations between the teacher and the student, which is related to this topic. The student can start a dialogue, knowing and deliver information; can make sentences based on the difficult points without grammar mistakes and can create dialogues related to this topic. b. Knowledge aims. The student should remember the new words, expressions, sentence patterns, sentences, difficult sentences, including pronunciations from keys letters and monogram, which can lay the foundation for speaking English fluently. c. Emotion aims. Stimulate the student's interest and enthusiasm through English lessons, make them like English, like speaking English and want to speak English. d. Learning targets: Focus on the language practice, including listening, speaking, reading and writhing, changing traditional mechanical teaching methods. Encourage students to speak English bravely, to improve language comprehensive ability in practice and deepen the basic knowledge in mind.
1.Listen to the tape . This is a good way to learn english and key step at class. We can copy the standard pronunciation during listenning.
fun,which makes a good foundation for learning engliash.
3.Guard students to start situational dialogues . The teacher can talk to a group of students or any one student. Other students should be quiet when the teacher talks to the student. We should ask those students who learn better , and then others . Let every student have an opportunity to practicewith the teacher, and inspire them; which can make the students feel they are important. Finally, let students talk to each other freely.The dialgue can be made according to the pratical minds, no limitation from the text.
4.Let students show independently. Ask some groups or some couples of students to show the dialogues after the demonstration between the teacher and the students .
5.Teacher should set out some completions and one-choice questions to test students.
1.Form a good habit of listenning and copying the standard pronunciation. Listening to the tape and english songs help the students in learning english a lot.
2. Store knowledge scientifically. Master a wide range of vocabulary and grammers , and express the communication contents based at dialogues. It is more impressive and flexible to learn in practice.
3. Timely review and repeated in usage.The student should timely organize, refresh and use the key points which was taught at class and practice the learnt lessons repeatedly.
4. Active practice, oral practice first. The teacher should encourage the student to say hi and talk with classmates in English.
3、Review:Make a dialogue related to the unit topic with the student, ask the whole class first and then some students optionallly. T: Are there any students in the classroom? Ss: Yes,there are. T: Is there a computer on my desk? Ss: No,there isn't. T: Is there a book in your bag,Xiaoming? Xiaoming: No,there isn't. T: Is there a pen in your pencil case,Xiaofang? Xiaofang: Yes,there is. T: Are there boys and girls in this classroom?
4、New Lesson: ⑴ The teacher plays tape and writes new words on the blackboard. ⑵ Ask what the topic is according to what is played. ⑶ Point out every new word's key letter and monogram's pronunciation. ⑷ Let the student read new words according to what was learn before. Ask one or two students for every word. The teacher should correct the pronunciation if it is read wrongly, and the other students read it togather twice if it is read right. ⑸ The teacher leads in reading new words,the student following reading at the blackboard, which can make the students remember the new words quickly following the teacher's gesture. ⑹ Consolidate new words in games. For exsample, react quickly. The teacher says the word in Chinese, the student says it in English, or in return. Practice a few times to consolidate new words. ⑺ The teacher leads in reading the whole full text twice. ⑻ Oral pratice in Key sentence and pronounciation, repeated consolidation in games. ①? How many people are there in your family?
grandparents brothers ②? Have you got any sisters aunts uncles Yes, I have. I've got … His\Her name is… Their name are… No, I haaven't. Assign roles. Dialigue between the teacher and the students, then between students groups, and among students. ⑼"How many students are there in our class?" "How many books are there on the desk?"… Design situational dialogues. The teacher askes the student, expanding the text range. ⑽ Grammer explaination ① words:family,people,or,many,how many. ② Sentences:--How many people are there in your family? --There are four?my mumand dad,my sister Linda,and me. So I've got one aunt and two uncles. ⑾ Test. (一) Fill in the blank with the first given letter.
1、There are m students in our school. uncles?
3、There are five p in Bob's family.
4、How m students are there in your family? or a big one?
(二)Select the right word to complete the sentence.
1、There are (seven people, seven peoples) in his family.
4、-(How many,How much)people are there in your uncle's family? --There are five.
5、 (Have, Are)you got a sister?


Holiday cottage in the Gloucestershire Countryside.
Cooks Green Cottage, a self catering holiday let in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds.
Cooks Green Cottage is semi-detached and found in Lower Apperley, Gloucestershire in the beautiful countryside of the Severn Vale. Cooks Green Cottage has easy access to the region's towns and cities (5 miles from the M5), places of interest, walking and touring.
A combined sitting room and diner with multi-fuel wood burning stove. -Starter pack provided with further supplies of wood available.
The cottage sleeps 5 adults (two double beds and one single). It is a non-smoking house. Well-behaved pets are more than welcome.


text:
January 22, 2023 World
Maldives' 2023 Election Will Shape Indian Ocean Geopolitics
The Maldives will hold its next presidential elections in September 2023. As Maldivians brace for elections portending important domestic consequences, regional powers will be watching keenly – albeit with their own considerations in mind. Long famed as a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives has gained a strategic importance belying its small size, owing to its central location in the Indian Ocean, with critical sea lanes of communication cutting through its territory.
These facts no longer escape the attention of larger and more powerful actors eager to consolidate their competing regional interests. The Maldives' politics – and thus the upcoming elections – are increasingly entangled with those competitions, particularly the maritime rivalry between India and China, the latter of which has been steadily expanding its Indian Ocean presence.
A Maritime Great Game
China began its naval expansion into the Indian Ocean in earnest in 2008, under the aegis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851, which authorized an international taskforce to combat piracy off the Gulf of Aden. China has only expanded its maritime presence since then.
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In fact, under President Xi Jinping, China has seized upon two new principal reasons to justify expanding its regional presence: first, to prevent a foreign power from gaining control over the Malacca Straits, through which much of China's commerce and energy supplies flow; second, to advance Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and complementary Maritime Silk Road (MSR) linking Eurasia and Africa through a series of massive infrastructure and connectivity projects.
India perceives China's growing presence as an encroachment into its traditional sphere of influence. This exacerbates a complicated Sino-Indian relationship on land, stemming from border disputes in the Line of Actual Control in the Himalaya Region – left unresolved after the 1962 Sino-Indian war – and from China's close relationship with India's neighbor and rival Pakistan, exemplified by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key component of the BRI.
With regard to the Maldives, both India and China are seeking to influence its politics. India wants to maintain its grip in South Asia, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "neighborhood first" foreign policy, and to prevent China from building an alleged "string of pearls," or naval bases surrounding the Indian littoral. China, meanwhile, wants to continue its steady expansion into the Indian Ocean and advance its BRI and MSR aspirations.
Swings in the Maldives' Foreign Policy
Traditionally, the Maldives has been a close ally of India, owing to proximity and longstanding socio-cultural ties. It has often relied on India as its security guarantor: India launched "Operation Cactus" in November 1988 at the request of then President Maumoon Qayoom, to thwart a coup attempt launched by an invading force of the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam. Maumoon would remain in office for 30 years, from 1978 to 2008, until his replacement by the country's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed maintained friendly relations with India. Yet in 2011, his administration's decision to award a contract to develop the country's international airport on the island of Hulhule to Indian conglomerate GMR was characterized by the opposition as a concession of the Maldives' sovereignty to India. Marching under a nationalist banner, the opposition began a series of protests, which added fuel to wider discontent against Nasheed and pressured him into resigning from office on February 7, 2012 – following which the GMR contract was unceremoniously canceled. Subsequent and much delayed elections in 2013 saw Maumoon's half-brother, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, secure power.
Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) continued to draw upon hyper-nationalist sentiments and cast itself as a party devoted to protecting the country's independence, especially from India. Under Yameen's administration, the Maldives pivoted to China, building a strong commercial relationship with Beijing, and awarding tenders to Chinese companies to carry out infrastructure and housing development projects in the spirit of the BRI.
This included the Sina-Male bridge, linking Male with the nearby island of Hulhumale and the airport island, Hulhule. Yameen also tried to enter the Maldives into a free trade agreement with China, which he forced through parliament on an accelerated timeline but was unable to ratify.
During the scheduled elections in September 2018, despite Yameen's efforts to intimidate his political rivals, the electorate delivered a strong mandate to current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who belongs to Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Nasheed himself, who is now the speaker of Parliament, had been forced to sit out those elections because a now-overturned terrorism conviction against him barred his candidacy.
In terms of foreign policy, the Solih administration reversed course, committing itself to the traditionally strong India-Maldives bilateral relationship and to an "India First Policy." India has reacted positively: Modi was present at Solih's inauguration, and the two countries have continued to deepen engagement and exchange high level visits at both the head of government and ministerial levels.
Among other bilateral cooperation projects, India is financing the Greater Male Connectivity Project, linking all the islands within the Maldivian capital's administrative region. India has also opened a line of credit to the Maldives to fund further development projects. India was a key provider of COVID-19 vaccines to the Maldives through its Vaccine Maitri policy and is currently helping build a police academy in the country's southernmost island, Addu.
The "India Out" Campaign
In the past, close cooperation with India has been a divisive issue in the Maldives; that history is now repeating itself. In anticipation of the upcoming election, Yameen's PPM has launched an "India Out" campaign, protesting the current administration's alleged overdependence on New Delhi. As examples, they point to the government's decision to sign an agreement with India to allow a dockyard in the country's north at Uthuru Thilhafalhu, which they allege will double as a full-fledged military base.
The PPM also criticized the government's agreement with India for allowing Dornier helicopters gifted by India to operate in the Maldives. No Maldivians are yet trained to operate Dornier aircraft; thus their operation requires a contingent of Indian personnel to be based in the Maldives, with all the customary diplomatic immunities. (It should be noted, however, that despite their current opposition to renewing the Dornier agreement, its original iteration was signed under a PPM administration.)
In April of this year, Solih issued an executive order banning the "India Out" movement, to prevent a deterioration in India-Maldives bilateral relations and to combat rising xenophobia targeting Indian nationals. The latter was illustrated by a bizarre episode in November 2021, when a mob waving Islamic flags distributed at PPM headquarters stormed the Maldives' national football stadium during a "yoga day" celebration led by the Indian embassy.
The opposition alleges that the ban is an unconstitutional infringement on free expression and continues to use "India Out" rhetoric, hoping that it will resonate with the electorate and influence the next elections in its favor.
What Is at Stake?
If Solih wins the 2023 presidential election, the Maldives will likely continue its current trajectory of solidifying ties with India. While the Solih administration does not characterize itself as "anti-China" and continues bilateral engagement with Beijing, the MDP is more skeptical of uncritically allowing BRI projects on Maldivian soil and has thus far been content to let the Free Trade Agreement with China remain unratified.
Nasheed, however, is emphatically opposed to closer relations with China, demonstrated by several public pronouncements, including on his official Twitter account, that have characterized China as an economically predatory power. He often repeats his anxiety that China might lead the Maldives into a "debt trap" and alludes to Sri Lanka's experience with Hambantota Port as a cautionary tale.
Nasheed and Solih are currently estranged, and their rift is reflected in internal party politics. For instance, pro-Nasheed and pro-Solih factions supported alternate candidates for the MDP's internal chairperson election in 2022. Nasheed is presently advocating for a referendum on changing the country to a parliamentary system, ostensibly so that he can become prime minister. He has also announced that he will challenge Solih in the MDP primary. If he is successful in these efforts, an MDP administration with Nasheed at the helm is likely to retain a friendly India posture while evincing far more hostility to China.
On the other hand, if Yameen returns to power on the momentum of an "India Out" campaign, it would represent a significant setback for India. True, as president, he would have to temper rhetoric better suited to a crass, populist campaign. The Maldives after all cannot fully disengage from India, which is a close neighbor and a giant in its eponymous ocean. Yet, the example of his first term cannot be dismissed.
A second Yameen administration will likely draw closer to China, including by ratifying the Sino-Maldives Free Trade Agreement, and further increasing commercial cooperation. China would thus be in a better position to continue its BRI and MSR projects and expand its Indian Ocean presence.
As Maldivians prepare to head to the polls in 2023, foreign policy considerations might not be foremost on their minds. Yet they should be aware that their choices in this election will carry reverberations far beyond the country's borders; they will have direct implications for the Indian Ocean Region's balance of power. Both China and India will be watching closely.
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text:
AVEVA Unified Supply Chain Infuses Refinery Scheduling with Artificial Intelligence Capability
AVEVA Schedule AI Assistant enhances the latest release of AVEVA Unified Supply Chain for refineries by automating repetitive tasks and ranking scenarios for profitability and emissions
London, United Kingdom, 07 June 2022 – AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has elevated refinery scheduling with the addition of the AVEVA Unified Supply Chain, Schedule AI Assistant. Using the power of artificial intelligence (AI), Schedule AI Assistant analyzes hundreds of scenarios within seconds to provide a choice of optimized schedules, doing away with the need to manually run repetitive tasks.
"Schedulers' strategic capabilities will be transformed by the latest offering as they will be supported by an AI-powered system that recommends the most practical course of action, saving time and enhancing productivity by allowing schedulers to focus on value-added tasks and encouraging them to exceed objectives. This can be a huge enabler of enterprise agility, allowing operations to respond faster to market changes or disruptions in the supply chain," said Harpreet Gulati, Senior Vice President, Planning, Simulation and Optimization Business, AVEVA.
Scenarios ranked for efficiency, profitability, and emissions
AVEVA Unified Supply Chain, Schedule AI Assistant, is an optimization and AI-infused cloud-based solution. The offer is designed to enable operational schedulers at refineries and petrochemicals plants to explore and rank various scenarios for efficiency, profitability, and emissions. The new solution accomplishes days' worth of work in mere seconds, optimizing decision-making and boosting business agility.
Across the entire supply chain, analytics automatically produce and assess multiple schedules and anticipated events, offering planners a range of choices for optimized schedules. AVEVA's Schedule AI Assistant then recommends a scheduling strategy that best meets the organization's safety, sustainability, and value chain optimization objectives.
To increase productivity and stabilize production flows, refineries attempt to enhance their planning and scheduling operations. Management teams can take responsibility and prepare for changing situations by optimizing schedules. A production scheduler coordinates the flow of crude oil through a refinery, from the point of unloading through transfer to storage tanks. They prepare charging schedules for distillation units, perform tank maintenance, and manage end-product delivery to maximize spot market profitability – all while taking into account unit capacity, flow, and compositions. Along the way, human fallibility and time limits can hinder efficiency. The multi-step procedure and multiple variables can lead to mistakes, making overall optimization challenging.
Customers can now leverage AVEVA Unified Supply Chain, Schedule AI Assistant to make scheduling decisions easily, while capitalizing on economic opportunities and unlocking additional value across the production process.
AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, sparking ingenuity to drive responsible use of the world's resources. The company's secure industrial cloud platform and applications enable businesses to harness the power of their information and improve collaboration with customers, suppliers and partners.
Over 20,000 enterprises in over 100 countries rely on AVEVA to help them deliver life's essentials: safe and reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. By connecting people with trusted information and AI-enriched insights, AVEVA enables teams to engineer efficiently and optimize operations, driving growth and sustainability.
Named as one of the world's most innovative companies, AVEVA supports customers with open solutions and the expertise of more than 6,400 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers. With operations around the globe, AVEVA is headquartered in Cambridge, UK.
Copyright © 2022 AVEVA Solutions Limited. All rights reserved. AVEVA Solutions Limited is owned by AVEVA Group plc. AVEVA, the AVEVA logos and AVEVA product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of AVEVA Group plc or its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and other countries. Other brands and product- names are the trademarks of their respective companies.
AVEVA Media Contacts
Guy Smith
Global PR Director
Tel: +44 (0) 7824961442
guy.smith@aveva.com
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Global External Communications Manager
catherine.singh@aveva.com
External Communications Alias
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FCC Getting Shady With Anti-Pirate Enforcement?
When it comes to pirate-hunting, the FCC's off to a relatively sedate start in 2018. The total number of enforcement actions reported so far for January stands at 15, which is six more than were reported in 2017, but equal to the number reported in 2016, the final full year of previous (Democratic) chairman Tom Wheeler's tenure. So far this month there have been eight actions, as opposed to 11 in February 2017 and 12 in February 2016.
Many of these cases originated last year. The most notable at present is the case of "Gerlens Cesar," who was sent a Notice of Unlicensed Operation earlier this month for operating four pirate stations on two FM frequencies in Boston and its surrounding suburbs. Interestingly, a principal by the name of "Cesar Gerlens" has already run afoul of the FCC – having received multiple visits and warning-letters in the latter half of last year – some of which named additional collaborators – for operating unlicensed stations in the Boston area.
Keeping in line with the Trump administration's penchant for dehumanization, FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly used some of his time testifying in front of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee last week to hype his signature issue: going to war on unlicensed broadcasting.
If you read the latest round of ex parte filings in the FCC's AM revitalization proceeding, you'd think the future of the band hangs on its eventual migration to FM. Yet of the many things the agency's considering to help AM broadcasters, opening a new applications window for AM stations to acquire FM translators has not been one of them. Now the drafting of new policy has begun that would take AM revitalization from consideration to implementation — and broadcasters are making a last-minute push to grab some FM crumbs.
In many respects, I feel sorry for FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. He's the #2 Republican on the five-member panel – the politically-weakest Commissoner. And he's had to languish in the shadow of fellow Republican Ajit Pai, who's commandeered the minority party's bully pulpit on a plethora of issues ranging from journalistic independence to network neutrality.
Author diymedia_tu6doxPosted on April 13, 2015 Categories FCC, Media Policy, Pirate RadioTags ajit pai, can-spam act, enforcement, lawsuit, massachusetts, mike o'reilly, mike o'rielly, spam2 Comments on Should Broadcasters Sue Pirates?
Lawmakers in Massachusetts are hard at work trying to outlaw unlicensed broadcasting. H.1679 was introduced in the state House of Representatives in January and got a hearing in the legislature's Joint Committee on the Judiciary just last week. Floor votes are expected before the end of the year.