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New York Giants: Why Saquon Barkley Will be Even Better in 2019
May 7, 2019 by Wally McKeon
After bursting onto the NFL scene in 2018, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has already proven himself as one of the premier backs in the game. With impressive numbers like an NFL leading 2,028 yards from scrimmage during his rookie year, it's easy to assume he's already reached his ceiling. But, believe it or not, there are a number of reasons why Saquon Barkley will be even better in 2019 – and here's why.
Why Saquon Barkley Will be Even Better in 2019:
He Will be Properly Utilized for a Full Season
If you watched the first half of the Giants' 2018 campaign, you most likely saw an offense that looked disconnected and lost. Much of that struggle came from the strain of finding the best way to use Barkley in the offense.
If you look at Barkley's numbers from the first half of the season, while still impressive, they are not nearly as good as they could've been. His 518 rushing yards on 111 carries and 497 receiving yards on 58 catches are worthy of note, but there are issues with this production.
A running back is meant to run, not be a receiver. Yes, part of being a great back is having great hands and being a weapon coming out of the backfield. But to truly succeed in the NFL, you need to be able to gain yards on the ground.
When he got the number of touches he deserved in the second half of the season, his numbers skyrocketed. His 788 rushing yards on 150 carries would have led the league if they were expanded over a full season.
His 224 receiving yards on 33 receptions, while less than the first half, were still quality numbers for a running back. And perhaps most importantly, the Giants went .500 in the second half of the season. When Barkley is being utilized as he should, he not only elevates his own game, but he makes his team better as well.
He Is Now the Primary Playmaker
With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. taking place this offseason, it is expected that Barkley's role will increase in the coming season. When you have a superstar on your team, you find ways to get him the ball. It is what the Giants did with Beckham, and it got him some great numbers over the years. Now the Giants will be doing that with Barkley.
Take a look at the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. Their main source of offense came from the legs of running back, Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys were one of the best teams in the league that year, going 13-3. Who is the main reason to thank for that? The excellent production from their superstar running back.
Imagine a Giants team where Barkley is getting 25 touches per game and leading the offense each drive. In games last season where Barkley eclipsed over 130 total yards of offense, the Giants went 3-1. If you can get him the ball more, which will likely be the case in 2019, he will have even better numbers.
A Better Offensive Line
Part of what makes Barkley so special are the numbers that he put them up behind such a weak line. As mentioned earlier, he led the league in yards from scrimmage with little help from his big men up front. Suppose Barkley had one of those elite offensive lines? Well, this year we will get closer to seeing what he can truly do.
The only two staples of the Giants' bottom 12 offensive line last year were LG Will Hernandez and LT Nate Solder. The rest of the line featured a carousel of players throughout the season. That will change this upcoming season though, as the Giants found and brought back multiple key pieces this past offseason.
Center Jon Halapio, who started two games for Big Blue last season, will return after a season-ending injury. In those two games that Halapio played at starter, he graded as the fifth-best Center in all of the NFL. That is a great improvement from Spencer Pulley who was a liability at the position.
Along with the return of Halapio, the Giants acquired Guard Kevin Zeitler from Cleveland in the offseason. Zeitler, who played for the Browns' second-ranked offensive line, will immediately help fortify the right side. He finished as the best-graded pass-protecting Guard in the game a season ago.
Besides some uncertainty at Right Tackle, the Giants' offensive line will be much improved in 2019. Barkley will get an opportunity to showcase what he is capable of doing behind one of the better lines in the league. With a better line, Barkley could post some record-breaking numbers.
The Numbers He Could Potentially Put Up
With a full season of proper utilization, a Beckham-less offense, and a much improved offensive line, Barkley could put himself in the running for multiple records. Had Barkley been utilized properly for all of last season, he would have finished with 1,576 rushing yards, 488 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns. Those numbers on their own would pace the NFL in any given year. But adding the offensive line as well, things could be even more impressive.
And by impressive, I mean numbers that could put him in the talk for MVP depending on the performance of the team. It is very possible that Barkly could have a season with almost 2,000 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards, and 18-20 touchdowns. While those numbers may sound crazy, they are extremely possible, if not likely.
Categories New York Giants Tags Giants, New York Giants, NYG Leave a comment
The New York Giants Might Have Drafted Chad Wheeler's Replacement
May 7, 2019 by Alexander Wilson
When the New York Giants drafted George Asafo-Adjei, they probably didn't even realize just how big he was. The seventh-round doesn't often present much starting-caliber talent, but every now and then a quality player slips through the cracks.
Asafo-Adjei, a 6'5″, 305-pound offensive tackle joined Big Blue after a four-year career at Kentucky. The right tackle was not only the team captain but earned several accolades portraying his work ethic and effectiveness on the field. He was two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, starting in 12 games last season.
The New York Giants needed to add more players to the mix at RT:
With the Giants featuring Chad Wheeler at right tackle, it's only fair they add competition. Wheeler was the 78th ranked tackle in the league in 2018 – the bottom of the barrel for starters.
Asafo-Adjei not only brings a massive frame, but also a knack for development and coachability.
Coach: Big George is a powerful man, very physical, he will play right tackle.
— The Giant Insider Newspaper & Podcast (@GiantInsider) May 4, 2019
"It's going be a good thing for me. It's going to get my football IQ up and be good for me, help me overall and in the long run," George said, according to the Giants Wire. "It helps getting reps at different positions because you learn all the assignments for all the lineman and why you have to do certain things."
Big George is used to facing off against top edge rusher in the 2019 NFL Draft, Josh Allen. The top-5 defensive lineman was nearly drafted by the Giants, but quarterback Daniel Jones received the nod instead. However, Asafo-Adjei familiar with playing against premier talent, which will help him translate his talents at the next level.
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"I think so. Going against someone like him definitely helps you," said Asafo-Adjei. "It was good for me and we helped prepare each other for the next level."
The Kentucky product is extremely physical and has great length, two necessary attributed for offensive tackles. He needs plenty of work in regards to his technique, but if he can refine that aspect of his game, he could be an absolute steal as a seventh-round pick.
New York Giants: Mitch Trubisky Vouches For Daniel Jones
May 7, 2019 May 7, 2019 by Cay North
By now, we're all familiar with the controversy around the New York Giants spending a top ten draft pick on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. There's plenty of opinions to go around, ranging from the idea that Giants fans should give Jones a fair chance and that the fanbase is overreacting to their decision, to the one that Dave Gettleman should be fired for making the decision. So far, however, Jones seems to have made a good impression with others within the organization and the league.
One of those to come to the defense of Jones is Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who himself played for a North Carolinian school more known for basketball in college before being drafted quite high. Trubisky, however, was thrown into the action quicker than Jones is expected to be – a fact which is one advantage Jones already has over the former Tar Heels and current Bears quarterback. Trubisky had some things to say about Jones in an interview with Pro Football Talk.
Trubisky believes that Jones can win over the fans given a little bit of time, and can certainly relate to Jones to an extent given the fact that his own arrival with the Chicago Bears was questioned at the beginning.
"I kind of know Daniel a little bit. I think he's up for the challenge. For a lot of these kids, we just get picked and it's a dream come true. You're going to go in there, work your tail off and earn the respect of your teammates. Once you start winning games, that's when you turn the fan base. But first things first you got to get in there and earn the respect of your peers."
However, Trubisky was still a higher rated member of his own draft class than Jones was in this year's one. Jones has a much bigger mountain to climb, and the unique challenge of dealing with the infamous and unforgiving New York media market.
But Trubisky claims to be familiar with Jones through knowing one of Jones' coaches at Duke, and says Jones is up to it. "This kid is all about ball. That's how I was, too. You just go in and you're very fortunate for the situation. You just can't wait to go in and learn, compete and get there with the coaches. Right away, you just got to get in with your teammates and earn their respect, absolutely work your tail off…"
Jones has already picked up positive comments from head coach Pat Shurmur, although it's much easier to be positive about a new quarterback during rookie minicamp rather than the preseason and regular season. We'll all have a chance to see what the true consensus on Jones is once it's time for him to take the field in a situation that matters.
Categories New York Giants Tags Daniel Jones, Giants, New York Giants, NYG Leave a comment
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I had the good fortune of stumbling across an almost one-hour long talk given by Oliver Reichenstein of iA - Information Architects. The talk was titled, Information - Entropy and in it he talked about his principles of good design and how right now the modern world of technology is possibly hurtling our civilisation down a path that of ever accelerating chaos and entropy.
Even though entropy is a fundamental law of the universe according to the second law of thermodynamics and seems to be inevitable even when dealing with metaphorical things like human existence and so on, he mentioned that he believed that life itself can and does act as a sort of counter to this natural phenomenon.
Conscious action by natural occurences and sentient beings can help to stem the universal entropic tide. If we lose sight of this, we will end up in more trouble than we may be able to get ourselves out of.
His talk focused on software design since that is what his company does, but his principles cut across all design disciplines in my opinion.
Slow down - take time to think about what you are doing and how you are doing it.
Negativity - listen to feedback and use it as a catalyst for self-analysis and improvement, even if you do not agree with the criticism.
Repetition - do not be tempted to create "new" things for the sake of being unique. Iterate on old concepts and look for what else can be derived from them.
Intimacy - develop a relationship with your users. Do not be too eager to share everything about your processes and ideas with the world. Being able to choose who and when you reveal certain things to makes the ideas more precious and builds stronger relationships between the designer and the end-user.
Details - paying attention to the details allows for an even greater relationship between the creator and the consumer as spending time to refine details allows for thoughtful users to get even more enjoyment when they notice them.
Whether it is a client brief, or a fashion collection, or coming up with the solution to a problem in one's life, we all need to take time out to not only develop a solution, but also to actually observe the problem itself. Slowing down also allows us to look critically and creatively at the tools at our disposal, our relationships with the people that will be affected by our designs and our own minds at the time we are working.
In today's accelerated world, it feels like less and less time is given to people to design. The fashion season has expanded from two collections a year to four of them, pushed even faster and faster by pressure from the fast fashion industries and the desire for newness that consumers and the industry demands.
When money is the motivating factor, good design suffers as more and more demands are made on its ability to deliver creative solutions to abstract and material problems.
In Nigeria where we are lucky enough to still be in a position where we can set a sustainable pace, I think it is important we do so before globalisation fully embraces us.
We lack a culture of both critique and listening to criticism in Nigeria. It makes us become not only complacent in our various fields, but also ignorant and even disdainful of the needs of the people we are making these things for. Even if a critique is fundamentally uninformed or delivered in a hostile fashion, we should still use the opportunity to inhabit someone else's shoes and see our designs from the outside. We might never get to see things from that particular point of view, but it will still give us a new perspective on the work we are doing.
This process is extremely fundamental to getting better and iterating successfully on our output and processes.
Good design also engenders empathy between the designer and their user and we could definitely use more of that in the world.
In the West generally, there is a stigma against copying and repetition. The capitalist dogma that has given them such economic growth also feeds on the idea of presenting the false proposition that new is fundamentally better than old. This is how they convince consumers to crave new things and look for unique features, even if they are largely superfluous ones.
This attitude is not only unsustainable, but it also puts undue pressure on designers to fabricate features and design elements that have no real value beyond the surface one of making people desire their product.
To copy or repeat a design allows us to observe it better, improve on things that we may have missed before and develop a dialogue with our customers, reassuring them with the familiarity of the old, while improving their experience by further iterating on the designs.
He gave a great example of how little children can watch the same cartoon endlessly and he felt it was because they always see something new with each viewing. The same holds true for design. Even if the design has not changed by the time you come to it again, you might have, and those new eyes will bring with them new insight.
This sort of copying is different from copying without any research or analysis of the original design. In this case, all that one usually ends up with is a poor photocopy that lacks both an intrinsic design goal and extrinsic design elements to aid in the achievement of said goal.
The best designers can create a relationship between their designs and their end-users. This relationship is founded on trust in the quality and suitability of the product to achieve desired aims and more importantly, a dialogue between the designer and the customer that is communicated via elements in the design that can only be discovered by using the product.
Not revealing these details to the world at large and leaving them for users to discover can help to create a special feeling between those users that discover them and the product they are using. It makes them feel that these details were put in for them to discover.
God lives in the details and this point ties in very neatly with all the ones mentioned above. One needs time to iron out details and give them an extra coat of loving attention, not to mention the fact that the more details are repeated and little variations made on their execution, the more special people that have noticed them feel and the more they cherish your product since they now see that you take that much time and care over such small details. For example, a specific type of horn used for buttons on a jacket may not be noticed by the majority of customers, but those that do notice them will appreciate their inclusion and treaure them, enjoying the cataloguing of differences between collections or iterations of the same jacket.
All the principles above if followed diligently will make for intelligent, respectful design that not only empowers the designer, it rewards the diligent customer and aids in helping us as a civilisation take the time to study our progression and ensure that we do not embark on grand moves within our society that may not be sustainable for all of us in the future.
The difference between the simplest Yohji Yamamoto jacket and one from most fast fashion houses lies in more than just the cost of the materials to make them and the name on the label. It lies in the amount of time and care that is taken in something as mundane as the construction of the shoulder seam, the choice of buttons and the time taken to create the fabric.
The latter is a commodity, and with enough time, can form an industry that commoditises its customers as well. Reducing them to nothing more than mobile wallets waiting for the next big thing.
The former is a designed object and can result in dialogue, serving as a focal point of discussion between user and designer and may end up in better products and a better world for all of us.


Fantasica Frontlines: Rites of Spring is an event where you battle other players for amazing rewards!
In Fantasica Frontlines, battle will take place on a 9-square grid called the Soldier's Square. The best attack position differs for each unit. Placing your units strategically will contribute to victory in battle. A battle is won when all the units on the opposing team have fallen.
Starting a battle consumes CP (Clash Points). One CP is restored every 15 minutes. Potions and Soothing Balms may also be used to restore CP.
For more information about preparing your square, please look through the [Preparing your Square] section. For more information about battles, please look through the [Battles] section.
Win battles and rack up loads of BT Pts! There will be Ranking Rewards determined by the number of BT Pts earned. Get a high rank for amazing rewards!
You will earn BT Pts for winning battles and assisting other players within the event.
BT Pts will affect your rank in the event. Getting a higher rank will get you higher level rewards!
There are several ways to gain BT Pts within the event.
You can also get more BT Pts by sending Wartime Relics to other players.
CP (Clash Points) are consumed with each battle.
Starting a battle consumes CP. 1 CP is consumed in each battle. 1 CP is restored every 15 minutes. CP can be restored instantly by using Potions or Soothing Balms.
・Each Potion restores 1 CP. ・Each Soothing Balms restores all CP.
The MAX number of CP is 6.
Using an item to restore CP will not bring your CP over 6.
Prepare for battle by setting up your team.
In Rites of Spring, there are 2 types of event items: Soothing Balms and Wartime Relicss.
・Soothing Balms Soothing Balms can be used to restore ALL CP instantly.
Soothing Balms will be consumed upon use.
・Wartime Relics Wartime Relicss can be sent to assist other players. Receiving Wartime Relics assists will initiate an [Relic Attack!] that will defeat one enemy unit in a battle.
Wartime Relics will be consumed upon use.
Prepare your units for battle!
Before you can join a battle, you must first prepare your square. In Fantasica Frontlines, troop placement in the Soldier's Square is of utmost importance!
When preparing your square, follow the guidelines listed below: ・Position your units within the 9-square grid, Soldier's Square. ・Deploy up to 10 units to your square. ・You can place multiple units in one position.
When multiple units are in one position, the order you deploy them will decide which unit is active.
If you have multiple units in one position, the active unit will receive an HP boost.
Each unit type has a specific location they like attacking: ・Melee → Melee units love attacking the center position up front. ・Missile → Missile units prefer to snipe units on the Relics. ・Magic → Magic units like to attack somewhere in the middle.
When you attack enemies who are in your preferred range and location, you will deal MASSIVE damage!
Attacking enemies out of preferred range or location will result in less damage.
You cannot set a unit deployed in your Square as your leader. Please remove them beforehand.
Bonus units need only be included in your team to confer bonuses during the event.
Before entering a battle, you must choose your opponent.
Players with similar ranks will be included in the opponent list. When you win a battle with an opponent you have lost to in the past, you will get a greater amount of BT Pts than usual. If you run into an old foe, gear up your team for battle!
In the Rites of Spring event, you will battle other players for BT Pts and rewards!
Assist Attacks Assist Attacks occur at the start of a battle when you have received assists from other players. Normal Assist Attacks will deal 5% damage to one random enemy unit. Relic Attacks will automatically defeat one random enemy unit. Up to 10 assist attacks will be used in one battle.
Of these 10 attacks, only 5 Relic Attacks can be used in a single battle.
Battle When a battle starts, units will attack in order as determined by their speed. Units will attack enemies in their preferred range and location first. If there are no units in those positions, they will target the enemy closest to that preferred location.
Replacement You can place multiple units in one position. When the unit on top is destroyed, the unit beneath will join the battle in its place.
Victory in Battle A battle is won when all the units on the opposing team have fallen. Battle will continue until all the units of one team are defeated.
Victories in battle are only counted when you reach the post-battle results screen. If the game enters maintenance before you reach the results screen, you will not get Rewards, BT Pts, or receive a Victory Count for that battle.
Skills You can equip up to 3 skills, and each skill can be used once per battle. Skills will be set off when the next unit attacks.
Hint In Fantasica Frontlines, troop placement in the Soldier's Square is of utmost importance! Once you get used to battles, you should take the time to strengthen your square. Also, one of the best strategies is to focus on destroying one position in the enemy's square at a time. The faster the speed of the units you deploy, the faster you can attack and destroy your opponents!
Skills can be used during battles in Fantasica Frontlines event.
Poisons/petrifies target. Poisoned units take damage each turn. Petrified units will not attack.
Slows target. Slowed units attack later in the rotation. This effect lasts the entire battle.
Poisons target unit. Poisoned units will take damage each turn they take for a length of time.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units.
Raises attack of all deployed male units on team.
Raises attack of all deployed female units on team.
Raises attack of all palace guard units on team.
Units under this effect will completely nullify attacks made against them.
Units under this effect will attack twice in one turn.
Units under this effect will attack three times in one turn.
Units under this effect will attack four times in one turn.
Units under this effect will attack five times in one turn.
Units under this effect will gain increased ATK power.
Units under this effect will restore lost HP when damaging foes.
Speeds up all friendly units. Affected friendly units will attack earlier.
Performs a normal attack and speeds up all friendly units. Affected friendly units will attack earlier. Speed increase is greater than Speed Order.
Grants damage reduction to your team. While active, your units will suffer less damage.
Performs a normal attack and grants damage reduction to your team. While active, your units will suffer less damage. Defense increase is greater than Defense Order.
Ignites target unit. Ignited units will take damage every turn.
Units under this effect will gain ATK, SPD, and Poison. Effect lasts the entire battle.
Units under this effect will attack their lowest priority unit as if they are highest priority. Location-based penalties will be ignored.
PConilyzes target unit. PConilyzed units may lose their turns.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May petrify damaged units. Petrified units cannot attack.
Units under this effect will attack the enemy unit with lowest HP. Location-based penalties will be ignored.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May poison damaged units. Poison units take damage at the start of their turns.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May poison damaged units. Poisoned units take damage at the start of their turns. Deals more damage than Acid Rain.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May pConilyze damaged units. PConilyzed units may lose their turns.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May pConilyze damaged units. PConilyzed units may lose their turns. Deals more damage than Chain Lightning.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May ignite damaged units. Ignited units take damage EVERY turn.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May ignite damaged units. Ignited units take damage EVERY turn. Deals more damage than Fire Storm.
Units under this effect will reduce damage taken and reflect a portion of damage back at attacker.
Units under this effect will reduce damage taken and slow the attacking unit. Slowed units attack later in the rotation.
Units under this effect will have increased ATK the lower their HP become. This effect lasts the entire battle.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May petrify damaged units. Petrified units will lose their turns.
Restores HP to all friendly units.
Reduces target HP by a percentage.
Units under this effect will will suffer reduced damage and take damage in place of friendly units until defeated.
Curses enemy target. Cursed units suffer fire damage every turn and both poison and fire damage on their turns.
Grants damage reduction and increased ATK to your entire team.
Units under this effect will attack seven times on their turn.
Units under this effect will attack eight times on their turn. Each attack deals slightly reduced damage.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May slow damaged units. Slowed units may lose their turns.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. May slow damaged units. Slowed units may lose their turns. Deals more damage than Sleetstorm.
Units under this effect will reduce damage taken and reflect a portion of damage back at the enemy team.
Deals damage to target and surrounding units. Also reduces a percentage of the enemy team's remaining HP.
Deals damage to target. May also inflict Balefire on target and surrounding units.
Slows and pConilyzes the targeted unit.
Deals damage to target. Also slows and pConilyzes surrounding units.
Restores the HP of the most recently felled friendly unit. Revived unit will reenter battle.
Increases one unit's ATK. The unit under this effect will attack the enemy unit with the highest HP.
Restores the HP of all felled friendly units. Revived units will reenter battle.
Deals damage to target. Reduces ATK of target and surrounding units.
Deals damage to target. Reduces DEF of target and surrounding units.
Unit has a set chance to inflict damage to any melee attacker that attacks it.
Raises the ATK speed of the slowest unit on your team to an extent.
Effectiveness of skills will vary depending on Arena Skill Lv.
Skill effects are subject to change without prior warning.
During the event, you can request assistance from other players.
Assist requests can be sent to allies and other players once an hour.
・Normal Assist Send assistance and receive BT Pts in return.
No items will be consumed.
・Wartime Relics Assist Send assistance using a Wartime Relics. You will receive more BT Pts for a Relic Assist than for a Normal Assist.
Wartime Relics will be consumed once sent.
Bonus ranking began on February 04, 2019 at 12:00am and ended on February 11, 2019 at 10:00pm PST.
All players that ranked through 8,000th were also rewarded with 3 items for the next event.


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Western Growers Board Selects Dave Puglia as Next President and CEO
IRVINE, Calif. (October 16, 2019) – The Western Growers Board of Directors has unanimously selected Dave Puglia as the organization's next President and Chief Executive Officer. Puglia will succeed current President and CEO Tom Nassif, who is retiring after 18 years as a forceful and effective leader in the nation's agriculture industry, on February 1, 2020.
"Fifteen years ago, Dave came to Western Growers with an extraordinary pedigree in California politics, having served in senior roles on statewide political campaigns and in public service in addition to private sector experience," said Ratto Bros. President and Western Growers Chairman of the Board, Ron Ratto. "Since joining our organization, Dave has demonstrated an unyielding passion for our members, a deep understanding of the issues facing Western agriculture – water policy, in particular – and an unrivaled capacity for leading our association and industry into the next decade and beyond."
"Words are not adequate to express how deeply honored I am to be entrusted with this great opportunity and responsibility," stated Puglia. "The people of this industry welcomed me into their hearts from the first day on the job, rain or shine. As their advocate, I am as energized and optimistic as ever about the opportunities and challenges ahead."
The Western Growers Board of Directors engaged in an extensive nationwide search to ensure that Western Growers' leadership in federal and state public policy would carry forward and grow while continuing to provide innovative business services to the association's members. The Western Growers Family of Companies is built on the strength of 445 dedicated employees providing expert advocacy and services across multiple business lines.
"The mentoring and support I have received from Tom Nassif and so many current and past directors has been amazing," continued Puglia. "My talented and dedicated Western Growers colleagues have also helped propel me on this journey, and there is no better professional staff in the entire agriculture industry. We are ready to go."
Puglia will inherit an association that experienced a renaissance under Nassif's leadership. Over the course of nearly two decades, Nassif elevated the national prominence of Western Growers and established the organization as a recognized leader in food safety, labor and immigration, water, technology and innovation, international trade and many other areas impacting the viability of Western Growers members.
"Tom Nassif was the right leader at the right time for our organization and the industry," said Ratto. "The strength and influence our association enjoys today is a credit to his intelligence, work ethic and personal charm. Our membership owes Tom a debt of gratitude for employing his fierce devotion and incomparable talents on our collective behalf."
"My service to Western Growers and the fresh produce industry has been a fulfilling culmination to my career," stated Nassif. "Every day since 2002, my inspiration has been derived from the hard-working, innovative and ethical family farmers who comprise our membership. I am proud of the major strides we have taken as an industry during my tenure, and it brings me great satisfaction knowing that the future of our association is secure in the hands of Dave Puglia."
Puglia joined Western Growers in 2005 and currently serves as Executive Vice President, overseeing four departments in addition to the organization's non-profit charitable foundation and its political action committees. He is also intimately involved in the internal operations of the organization. Prior to joining Western Growers, he was Vice President of APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs consulting firm, and previously served for seven years in the California Attorney General's Office, first as Press Secretary and later as Director of Public Affairs and Communications.
A high-resolution image of Dave Puglia is available here.
A high-resolution image of Tom Nassif is available here.
About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation's fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America's fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Vision and services
Lavoielegal blog: What's new?
Court of Justice rules on the evidence needed to show a 'concerted practice' in the context of online platforms: Eturas and al v Lietuvos Respublikos konkurencijos taryba, case C-74/14, judgment of 21 January 2016
Posted by Chantal Lavoie on 15 February 2016
The Court of Justice (the Court) ruled on 21 January 2016 on a request for a preliminary ruling from the Lithuanian Supreme Administrative Court with respect to proceedings between Eturas and 19 travel agencies on the one hand and the Lithuanian Competition Council (Competition Council) on the other hand relating to a decision fining Eturas and 30 travel agencies for taking part via the E-TURAS online booking system in an anticompetitive practice contrary to Article 101 TFEU.
The ruling is of particular interest as it considers the application of the evidentiary standard needed to prove a 'concerted practice' in the context of an e-commerce platform. Whilst some adaptations were required as explained below, the Court relied on existing case law in the 'brick and mortar' space to provide guidance on the kind of evidence to be adduced to show whether Eturas and travel agencies had engaged in a concerted practice. The Court ruled that the dispatch alone by the system administrator Eturas of a message to travel agencies regarding the maximum discount to be applied to clients for sales over its online platform is not sufficient evidence of a concerted practice. However, evidence that the message was received without the travel agency objecting or distancing itself could implicate it in illegal price fixing.
Eturas owns and administers in Lithuania an online travel booking system called E-TURAS. Several travel agencies have been granted an operating licence by Eturas to offer travel bookings through that system. The Competition Council received information from a leniency applicant that the travel agencies using the E-TURAS system were coordinating the discount rates offered to their clients on bookings made through the system. The investigation revealed that Eturas had sent an email to several travel agencies participating in the system asking to vote on the appropriateness of reducing the online discount rate from 4% to 1%-3%. A few days later, Eturas sent a message, through the internal messaging system of E-TURAS, informing travel agencies that going forward Eturas will cap discounts at 3% for bookings made through its system; this was followed by a technical restriction which the system applied to limit the discount rate to 3%. As a result, discounts offered by travel agencies above 3% were automatically reduced by the system to 3%. Subsequently, the website of several travel agencies advertised online discounts of 3%. It appears that, whilst the travel agencies were not prevented from offering online discounts above 3%, additional technical steps had to be taken to make this possible.
As a result of its investigation, the Competition Council fined Eturas and 30 travel agencies for participating in an anticompetitive practice consisting in coordinating discount rates by applying a cap of 3% through the E-TURAS online booking system. The Competition Council considered that (1) the infringement arose from the moment the message appeared on the E-TURAS online booking system and the discount cap was implemented; and (2) it implicated all those travel agencies using the E-TURAS system which had failed to object to the message. The decision was appealed to the Vilnius District Administrative Court which upheld the grounds for appeal in part and reduced the fines. The matter was then appealed to the Lithuanian Supreme Administrative Court which stayed the proceedings in order to obtain guidance from the Court.
Findings of the Court
The ruling of the Court focuses on the concept of a concerted practice under Article 101 TFEU and more precisely on the evidentiary burden and standard of proof to be applied by a national court in applying Article 101 TFEU. The concept of concerted practice is based on three elements, namely evidence of concertation between parties; conduct of the parties on the market; causal connection between the two. These are considered in turn below. The other aspect to finding an infringement of Article 101 TFEU – whether the concerted practice has the object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition – is not considered in this ruling.
Prior to addressing the evidence required to show a concerted practice, the Court also touches on a few important preliminary issues regarding the relevant rules applicable to the evidentiary standard and standard of proof. The Court held that this is a matter for each Member State's legal order, with the caveat established under previous case law that the national rules applied cannot be less favorable than those governing similar domestic situations (principle of equivalence) and should not make it excessively difficult or impossible for parties to exercise their rights under EU law (principle of effectiveness). The Court was guided throughout this ruling by these principles.
1. Concept of concerted practice: concertation between undertakings
Relying on previous case-law, the Court ruled that the existence of a concerted practice can be proven by direct evidence or if can be inferred from consistent and objective circumstantial evidence.
1.1 The dispatch of an electronic message alone is insufficient evidence but…
The Court clarifies that the question whether the dispatch of a message alone is sufficient evidence that the travel agencies were aware, or ought to have been aware, of the content of the message is a question of evidentiary standard to be determined under national law. However this determination under national law must take into account both the presumption of innocence enshrined under EU law and the principle of effectiveness. This means that the national court cannot conclude that the travel agencies knew or ought to have known of the content of the message solely from the dispatch of the message. Nevertheless, EU case law does recognise that a concerted practice can be proven by indirect evidence and accordingly the principle of effectiveness requires a national court to allow such indirect evidence. As a result, the Court held that the dispatch of a message combined with other objective and consistent indicia does give rise to a presumption that the travel agencies knew or ought to have been aware of the content of the message.
1.2 Grounds for rebutting the presumption
The Court makes clear that, where an electronic message providing for a restrictive practice to be put in place is dispatched to several travel agencies, it can be inferred from the dispatch of the message and other consistent and objective indicia that the travel agencies were aware of the message. The Court suggests that travel agencies can nevertheless rebut the presumption that they were aware of the message by showing that, for example:
(i) the message was not received; or
(ii) the party did not "look" at the relevant section or did not look at it "until some time had passed" since the date of dispatch.
The examples provided by the Court are expressly stated as non-exhaustive and presumably other arguments could also be put forward. In fact, the Court recalls that, in line with the presumption of innocence, national courts must also allow parties to rebut the presumption by means which do not impose an excessive or unrealistic burden on parties. Whilst the Court does not discuss these examples in more detail, it is likely that receipt of a message by any employee of the travel agency, regardless of her/his position or role, would amount to receipt by that travel agency. Of specific relevance to e-commerce platforms, the Court also suggests that travel agencies which did not consult the 'notices' section of the E-TURAS booking system where the message announcing the discount cap was posted - or did so at a later stage - could rely on this argument to rebut the presumption that they were aware of the content of the message. It is not clear however how consultation of the 'notice' section "until some time had passed" could exonerate a travel agency, unless the consultation occurred at a very late stage, say once the investigation by the Competition Commission had started.
2. Causal connection between concerted practice and conduct on market
The concept of concerted practice also requires evidence of a causal connection between the participation of the parties in a concerted practice and the market conduct of the undertakings participating in the practice. There exists under EU law a presumption that, where parties remain active on that market, these parties are presumed to take account of the information exchanged with their competitors to determine their conduct (also referred to as the 'Anic' presumption from Commission v Anic Partecipazioni ). The Court makes clear in its ruling that national courts are required to take this EU presumption into account in applying their national rules on evidentiary standard. As previously decided also in T-Mobile Netherlands and Others, this presumption forms an integral part of the concept of concerted practice and therefore is not related to the assessment of evidence which is governed by national law.
The Court stated that the travel agencies may rebut the presumption of a connection between their market conduct and their participation in the concerted practice by several means:
(i) public distancing by means of a "clear" and "express" objection sent to the administrator Eturas; or
(ii) reporting the practice to the administrative authorities; or
(iii) other evidence, such as evidence of a "systematic application of a discount exceeding the cap in question".
As regards the means of public distancing, the Court draws a distinction between public distancing from illicit meetings and public distancing from illicit online communication. Under the existing case-law of the Court, public distancing - in the context of a physical meeting to discuss illicit coordination -must be made to all competitors attending the meeting. In the circumstances of this case, the travel agencies were not able to inform all recipients of the message that it objected to its content. Indeed, the message was sent by Eturas through its internal messaging system without the recipients knowing who else received the message.
Interestingly, these arguments for rebuttal are unlikely to be of much support to those travel agencies not having taken any action with respect to the message sent by Eturas but reported not to have sold a single package to clients over the E-TURAS booking system after the discount cap was implemented. Indeed, if they were aware of the message and continued to offer their services through the E-TURAS system, this may suffice to show their participation in an illicit concerted practice. As the practice is likely to qualify as an 'object' restriction, then these travel agencies could be liable under Article 101 TFEU even though they did make any actual bookings through the E-TURAS system. Indeed the courts have repeatedly held that, in the context of 'object' restrictions, it is not necessary to show the actual effects on the market (see T-Mobile Netherlands and Others ; and Dole Food and Dole Fresh Fruit Europe v Commission ).
The Court's ruling is of interest for several reasons, notably:
1. The Court confirms that a unilateral online message can amount to a concerted practice under Article 101 TFEU, assuming there is tacit approval of its content from the parties receiving the communication. This highlights the risks for businesses of inaction when receiving messages which may also have been sent to other competitors and which touches on sensitive business practices.
2. The message triggering the concerted practice was sent by a third party – not by a competitor. Nevertheless, the message was received by competing travel agencies and its content was aimed at coordinating the pricing behavior of the travel agencies. Whilst the Court did not express views on this issue, it seems implicit from its ruling that the horizontal nature of the pricing coordination arising from the message was not affected by the fact that the messenger was a third party. Eturas was presumably viewed as a third party facilitator, comparable to the role played by AC-Treuhand in the recent Court case in AC-Treuhand. In this latter case, AC-Treuhand was not active on the market where the practice took place but it was found to have facilitated the practice and therefore to have participated in the illicit practice.
3. The Court confirms its previous finding in T-Mobile Netherlands and Others and extends it to the online world: a single (online) message to competitors can suffice to give rise to an illicit concerted practice.
4. In the specific context of internal messages sent to users through an online system, the Court has made some needed adaptations to the means for rebutting the presumption of causal connection between participation in a concerted practice and the parties' conduct on the market. Indeed the Court accepts in its ruling that, where the anti-competitive act arose in the context of an online message and the recipients are not known to each other, a "clear" and "precise" distancing to the administrator would suffice. This is of course an exception to the existing case law of the Court in the 'brick and mortar' space. Indeed, the Court has held on several occasions that proof of public distancing from anticompetitive meetings must be assessed by reference to the competitors' perception, such that "the undertakings must demonstrate that it had indicated to its competitors that it was participating in those meetings in a spirit that was different from theirs" (see Total Marketing Services v Commission, at paragraph 20). Arguably, informing only the administrator and not the competitors would fall short of this concept of 'public distancing' which must be perceived as such by the competitors participating in the concerted practice.
5. The ruling provides some valuable tips for users of online platforms in reviewing their compliance programmes.
The case is a reminder that inaction poses a clear risk for online businesses. Staff should be trained to react to incoming messages and exchanges of emails and be alert to the type of content requiring attention and escalation. As we know, failure to react to a single message can be a costly mistake.
Businesses should also take this opportunity to review their arrangements with platform administrators or other third parties. Communication from/with the systems administrator should be monitored and screened by compliance-trained staff. One should also consider from a risk perspective whether the system administrator can override your actions, act on your behalf or implement measures unilaterally which affect the way you carry out business? Have checks been put in place to oversee the administrator's actions?
Evidence is key to rebutting the presumption of participation in a concerted practice. In the fast moving e-commerce sector where indirect contacts are made easier and more quickly, it is critical to keep track of communications from/with third parties, suppliers or competitors; to identify the channels of communication for receiving messages (e.g. posting of system notices; pre-defined group emails; chats; blogs); to know when communications contain sensitive information; to know how to react and to do so promptly and clearly.
EU anti-competitive arrangements (non-cartel)
Copyright 2015, Lavoielegal. All rights reserved. www.lavoielegal.eu


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Kali is a Goddess of destruction. She has a fearsome reputation as a destroyer of demons. This fierce mother warrior destroys sin, ignorance and decay, and opens the gates to freedom.


text:
Q: Can't get an Entity from db I have a postgree db. And spring+hibernate. When i wan't to get entity by any criteria, it is return me 0 length list. Looks like some dependency are missed, or like entity isn't recognized like Entity.
My maven config:
    ...
   <spring.version>4.0.3.RELEASE</spring.version>
   <hibernate.version>3.6.9.Final</hibernate.version>
....
<!-- Spring framework -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
        <version>${spring.version}</version>
    </dependency>

    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
        <version>${spring.version}</version>
    </dependency>

    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-web</artifactId>
        <version>${spring.version}</version>
    </dependency>

    <!--Spring and Transactions-->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-tx</artifactId>
        <version>${spring.version}</version>
    </dependency>

    <!-- Spring ORM support -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-orm</artifactId>
        <version>${spring.version}</version>
    </dependency>

    <!-- Hibernate -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.hibernate</groupId>
        <artifactId>hibernate-entitymanager</artifactId>
        <version>${hibernate.version}</version>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.hibernate</groupId>
        <artifactId>hibernate-core</artifactId>
        <version>${hibernate.version}</version>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>postgresql</groupId>
        <artifactId>postgresql</artifactId>
        <version>9.1-901.jdbc4</version>
    </dependency>

my spring config
<context:component-scan base-package="com.helper.api,com.helper.db.model"/>

<bean id="eyeDataSource" class="org.springframework.jdbc.datasource.DriverManagerDataSource">
    <property name="driverClassName" value="${db.driver}"/>
    <property name="url" value="${db.url}"/>
    <property name="username" value="${db.user}"/>
    <property name="password" value="${db.password}"/>
</bean>

<bean id="hibernate3AnnotatedSessionFactory"
      class="org.springframework.orm.hibernate3.annotation.AnnotationSessionFactoryBean">
    <property name="dataSource" ref="eyeDataSource" />
    <property name="annotatedPackages">
        <list>
            <value>com.helper.db.model</value>
        </list>
    </property>
    <property name="hibernateProperties">
        <props>
            <prop key="hibernate.dialect">org.hibernate.dialect.PostgreSQLDialect</prop>
            <prop key="hibernate.current_session_context_class">thread</prop>
            <prop key="hibernate.show_sql">true</prop>
            <prop key="hibernate.connection.url">jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/xxxxxxxxx_db</prop>
            <prop key="hibernate.connection.driver_class">org.postgresql.Driver</prop>
            <prop key="hibernate.connection.username">xxxxxxxxx</prop>
            <prop key="hibernate.connection.password">qwerty123</prop>
        </props>
    </property>
</bean>

So problem is
session.createSQLQuery("SELECT * FROM account").list()

This is returns correct data. i have 1 record in table. that was returned
But it was simple SQL. When i change it to equal criteria
session.createCriteria(AccountEntity.class).list()

it has no return me anything.
AccountEntity:
@Entity
@Table(name = "account", schema = "public", catalog = "XXXXXXXX_db")
public class AccountEntity {
    private int mId;
    private String mName;
    private String mPassword;
    private Collection<AccountInProductEntity> mAccountInProductsById;
    private Collection<ProductEntity> mProductsById;

    @Id
    @Column(name = "id", nullable = false, insertable = true, updatable = true)
    public int getId() {
        return mId;
    }

    public void setId(int id) {
        mId = id;
    }

    @Basic
    @Column(name = "name", nullable = false, insertable = true, updatable = true, length = 250)
    public String getName() {
        return mName;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        mName = name;
    }

    @Basic
    @Column(name = "password", nullable = false, insertable = true, updatable = true, length = 50)
    public String getPassword() {
        return mPassword;
    }

    public void setPassword(String password) {
        mPassword = password;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object o) {
       ....
    }

    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        ....
    }

    @OneToMany(mappedBy = "accountByAccountId")
    public Collection<AccountInProductEntity> getAccountInProductsById() {
        return mAccountInProductsById;
    }

    public void setAccountInProductsById(Collection<AccountInProductEntity> accountInProductsById) {
        mAccountInProductsById = accountInProductsById;
    }

    @OneToMany(mappedBy = "accountByOwnerId")
    public Collection<ProductEntity> getProductsById() {
        return mProductsById;
    }

    public void setProductsById(Collection<ProductEntity> productsById) {
        mProductsById = productsById;
    }
}

A: My mistake was in spring config
i used
   <property name="annotatedPackages">
       <list>
          <value>com.tac.helper.db.model</value>
        </list>
   </property>

instead
    <property name="packagesToScan">
        <list>
            <value>com.tac.helper.db.model</value>
        </list>
    </property>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to pass a function as a prop into a React component? I want to pass a function to a custom button component in React. The expected behavior is for "test!" to be printed when you click the button displayed on the screen.
Right now, nothing happens when you click the button.
App.js:
import "./styles.css";
import { Button } from "./button";

export default function App() {
  function testFunc() {
    console.log("test!");
  }

  return (
    <>
      <Button onClick={() => testFunc()}></Button>
    </>
  );
}

button.js:
import React from "react";

export function Button(onClick) {
  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={() => onClick}>test</button>
    </>
  );
}

Code sandbox: https://codesandbox.io/s/crimson-browser-pxpo9?file=/src/reactStruggle.js
Disclaimer: I realize this has been asked before. And yet, none of the existing answers I have found work for this case.

A: Try this:
export function Button({onClick}) {
...
... <button onClick={onClick} ....>
}


text:
Gustav Adolf Ludwig Baur, född den 14 juni 1816 i Hammelbach, Storhertigdömet Hessen, död den 22 maj 1889 i Leipzig, var en tysk evangelisk predikant, bror till Wilhelm Baur och till Franz Adolf Gregor von Baur.

Baur, som från 1870 var professor och förste universitetspredikant i Leipzig, utgav utöver predikningar bland annat Grundzüge der homiletik (1848; "Grunddragen till homiletiken", 1878) och Die christliche erziehung in ihrem verhältnisse zum judentum und zur antiken welt (I, II, 1892).

Källor

Födda 1816
Avlidna 1889
Tyska teologer
Tyska professorer
Personer verksamma vid Leipzigs universitet
Män
Personer från Hessen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Sucofindo is the first inspection institution in Indonesia and was established on October 22, 1956. The Indonesian government is the major shareholder with 95 percent ownership, while the Societe Generale de Surveillance Holding SA (SGS) holds the remaining 5 percent.
Sucofindo started our business operation in trading, particularly agricultural commodities, in facilitating export-import of goods, and in securing national income from international trading.


text:
Buy Dining Passes
Guests can visit our Ride Information Center to obtain Six Flags' Safety & Accessibility Guide to review the rider requirements of each ride or attraction.
For your convenience, wheelchair rentals are also available to rent in Orleans Place. The fee for a standard wheelchair is $25 plus $25 refundable deposit, and an Electronically Controlled Vehicle (ECV) is $50 plus a $25 refundable deposit. Because there are a limited number of wheelchairs and ECVs for rent, we suggest you bring your own and/or come early to ensure availability.
Guests may also use their own wheelchairs or ECV's. Battery recharging is also available at the Rental Center.
Trained service animals are welcome at our Six Flags Theme Parks. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person's disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals. Miniature horses that have been individually trained to do or perform tasks for people with disabilities will qualify as service animals.
Service animals must be house broken and remain on a leash or harness and under the control of their handler at all times. Guests whose service animal demonstrates aggressive and/or annoying actions toward a Guest or Team Member will be directed to remove the animal from the park.
Further, the Park has service animal relief areas located in the grassy area next to Triple Play in Hometown Square and near the restrooms outside the front gate. These locations can also be referenced in the Safety and Accessibility Guide below.
Safety and Accessibility Guide
To obtain an Attraction Access Pass at a different Six Flags park, simply stop by the Ride Information Center (Guest Services) located in Mardi Gras. Present your photo ID (for children under the age of 16 a student photo ID will be acceptable, or a parent's or guardians ID for children under 12 who do not have a photo ID). We will look up your file in our system and provide you with the Attraction Access Pass.