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Microfluidics reaches the mainstream
Branching out the use of microfluidics to different areas is something that has been thought of for years, but now several new products and breakthroughs are making this idea a possibility. Professor Albert Folch, associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington and a specialist in microfluidics, talks to Medical Device Developments about his own work in the area of 3D printing microfluidic components, as well as other new trends.
Microfluidics is still barely known outside the world of engineering and medical devices. The technology has yet to reach dinner-table conversation in the way that automation, 3D printing or medical imaging machines have. However, teams of researchers around the world continue to develop the practice as a science – and their discoveries are revealing a vast array of potential applications.
Microfluidics has become almost synonymous with the term for its biomedical uses, 'lab-on-a-chip', but its application to 3D printing has been less well known until very recently. Singaporean research published in 2015 noted that "even though microfluidics has been developing rapidly over the past decade, the uptake rate in biological research has been slow. This could be due to the tedious process of fabricating a chip and the absence of a killer application that would outperform existing traditional methods."
The study, led by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, found that "in recent years, 3D printing has been drawing much interest from the research community. It has the ability to make complex structures with high resolution. Moreover, the fast building time and ease of learning has simplified the fabrication process of microfluidic devices to a single step." They stated that this dynamism of 3D printing's applications could possibly aid the field of microfluidics in finding the "killer application" that will lead to its acceptance by researchers, especially in the biomedical field.
In this spirit of changing up and creating new ideas and techniques for this young science, a group of scientists from the University of Washington has taken this idea and run with it. The team has developed new techniques for a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device that involves 3D printing the devices with a new type of rubber polymer that could wipe hours of human labour off the development process, and deliver the product much more quickly and efficiently.
What this essentially means is that a type of polymer previously thought to be unviable in 3D printing has been used to develop new lab-on-chip processes that could be essential to future medical devices.
The question that must be asked is, if these devices are being developed so widely, what can be done with them? For now, it seems the marriage between microfluidics and 3D printing will open up a host of possibilities. So what are they and how exactly did we get here?
PDMS FTW?
Albert Folch has been working in the fields of marrying science, engineering and genetics since the 1980s. He has worked in the laboratories of Seattle's University of Washington School of Bioengineering since 2000, where he is an associate professor and works at the interface between microfluidics, neurobiology and cancer.
In 2016, he released a report about his breakthrough on the stereolithographic 3D printing of PDMS, a biocompatible transparent rubber for microfluidic components. The use of the polymer for this application was a world first, and could be revolutionary in the field of microfluidics. PDMS devices previously had to be fabricated by moulding using slow, expensive human labour, but thanks to this research, 3D printable PDMS resin is now available, and Folch hopes this will change medical device manufacturing.
Folch explains the research around stereolithographic 3D printing (a specific form of 3D-printing technology used for creating models that has been in use since the 1970s) of PDMS – what it is, the pros and cons of its applications, and how it will help with R&D and manufacturing for medical devices as a new horizon for medical device developers.
"PDMS is a very interesting material for many reasons – it is biocompatible, transparent, flexible, inert, impermeable to water, gas-permeable, and it is now copyright-free as its patent has expired," Folch says. "The procedure to cast shapes in PDMS using moulds is very simple, can be learned in a few minutes, and has a very high fidelity down to nanometre-scale resolution. Because of all this, PDMS moulding has been the technique of choice for prototyping biomedical microdevices for almost two decades now."
In more detail (and layman's terms), PDMS is a form of silicone polymer. Its applications range from contact lenses and medical devices to elastomers; it is also present in shampoos (the dimethicone it contains is what makes hair shiny and slippery), food (as an antifoaming agent), caulking, lubricants and heat-resistant tiles. The compound is also widely used in a host of chemical-processing fields.
The team from the University of Washington presented their research on 3D printing PDMS at the Select Biosciences World Congress 2016 in San Diego and are eager to show how these sorts of developments could disrupt the industry in a positive way. This is because the use of 3D printing in microfluidics will allow greater design efficiency in projects – like modular 3D designs, greater 3D complexity, personalisation at little extra cost and in-silico testing of designs before they are even printed – and greater fabrication efficiency, with assembly-free and automated fabrication, zero lead time, reduced waste and zero unsold inventory. "All these elements are virtually absent in PDMS moulding, and that's the reason why PDMS devices are notoriously expensive to share and commercialise," Folch adds.
The future is 3D-printed
3D printing and microfluidics are two areas people might not necessarily put together, but Folch explains that there is a very clear relationship between them.
If we want cheap microfluidics, we need to shift our thinking and ditch PDMS moulding.
"It's very simple: we need a cost-efficient alternative to PDMS moulding. Society demands more efficient, cheaper and smaller instruments, which in biomedicine often calls for the use of microfluidics," he says. "Until now, microfluidic devices were almost always fabricated by PDMS moulding, which requires manual, lengthy procedures that make PDMS devices very expensive to commercialise. So if we want cheap microfluidics, we need to shift our thinking and ditch PDMS moulding."
Folch and his team's work has focused on comparing the salient features of PDMS moulding with those of 3D printing, and gives an overview of the critical barriers that have prevented the adoption of 3D printing by microfluidic developers, namely, resolution, throughput and resin biocompatibility. Folch believes these critical barriers were an issue in the past, and have now been largely overcome, but niggling issues persist.
"Simply stated, the salient features of PDMS moulding and biocompatibility means that 3D printing is not quite there yet," he says.
"If you buy a 3D printer today," Folch continues, "You will notice that it is slow, that it will not print features at the same small size as PDMS moulding and, worse yet, you cannot use most resins for making devices that come into contact with cells because it will kill those cells. Therefore we need to focus on the development of biocompatible resins. We have developed a polyethylene diacrylate (PEG-DA) resin that has excellent characteristics; we can even culture neurons on 3D-printed petri dishes. And we have also developed a PDMS resin that is very promising."
While we may not be 100% there yet, achieving super quick, adaptable 3D-printed polymers is not far off. The rate at which these breakthroughs are happening is fast, and the likes of Folch's research suggest there will soon be a way to achieve many of the goals of marrying 3D printing and microfluidics.
But this raises the question of where this leaves us and, more importantly, what uses the medical device manufacturing sector can get out of this technology.
"We try to keep our focus on disruptive applications and, to me, the most disruptive of all is portable automation – that is, the ability to produce microfluidic diagnostic assays that are as portable and intuitive to use as a smartphone," says Folch. Some might argue that paper microfluidic assays have achieved that, but we see paper devices as a very limited subset of what microfluidic devices can do and we dream of devices that would potentially have timers, hundreds of valves, sieves to capture cells and chambers to process their contents – all hidden from the user except for the result. An example could be a disposable ELISA assay on a plastic device that, on the palm of your hand, processes a drop of blood and tells you the levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), an indicator of heart failure.
FDA specifies that the reason 3D printing is so great in the first place is because "the flexibility of [it] allows designers to make changes easily without the need to set up additional equipment or tools." With this in mind, Folch's team have made a breakthrough that could lead to new examples of this.
"It also enables manufacturers to create devices matched to a patient's anatomy (patient-specific devices) or devices with very complex internal structures. These capabilities have sparked huge interest in 3D printing of medical devices and other products, including food, household items and automotive parts," FDA's guidance continues. All of which Folch's team and other scientists hope to build on.
3D-printed microfluidics are in a pivotal place where they can be become integral to the development of medical devices (especially in the biomedical field) – a labour, resource, money and time-saving initiative that could help bring products to the mainstream. All that is holding them back is the key product to get them there.
Klee's Autopsy by Anna Tourovskaia and Albert Folch. Professor Folch uses microscopy images of microchannels and cells to produce artwork.
Frozen microfluidic displays by Nirveek Bhattachaarjee and Albert Folch in the Drumheller Fountain on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
Professor Albert Folch received his BSc in physics and PhD in surface science and nanotechnology from the University of Barcelona in Spain. Since 2000, he has been associate professor at the University of Washington department of bioengineering.
Chromatic Labyrinth by David Cate and Albert Folch.


2018 Spring outdoor design ideas can elevate your mood and outdoor space this season. It might not feel like Summer (yet) though the warm weather is quickly approaching, and we couldn't be more excited to spend Summer evenings on the patio with a glass of our favorite beverage, sitting beside the fire and enjoying memorable moments with friends. The Summer months also bring plenty of outdoor design opportunities through decorative additions that can make a big difference as the seasons change. It's one of our most favorite times of the year!
Winter in Boston can be brutal for the outdoors. Snow, sleet and freezing temperatures can do a number on our outdoor patios and gardens. We've grown accustomed to the Spring and Summer clean-up, though the Summer months are truly all about the outdoor spaces.
First things first, spend time in the next couple of weeks focusing on such spaces. Prepare the foundation for what is to come. Whether it's pressure washing your deck, removing less-than-impressive plants in the gardens or clearing out older patio furniture, outdoor spaces will be your focus in the coming months.
2. All hail the fire pits!
A beautiful patio fire pit can do wonders when it comes to outdoor design. You'll be amazed at how much time will be spent around the fire as the sun fades away, and your guests wrap themselves in blankets around this focal point of your deck.
Fire pits can be found online or in nearly any outdoor furniture or goods store. They have certainly made a come back in the market over the last few years.
In step one we advised that you prepare the foundation for what is to come – that is, clean your outdoor space and lay fresh ground.
Now is the time to revive your garden and planters with fresh patio plants and florals that can withstand the warmth in the Summer, yet hold strong in the Winter. Boxwood hedges are beautiful additions to a patio, as are Calla Lilies. Select the best patio planter for your lifestyle, and have some fun at a local farmer's market or nursery to find exactly what you want!
Outdoor furniture can be so much fun to shop for. Not only do incredible, local companies make some impressive outdoor furniture options, such furniture can also add so much life to your outdoor space. Personally, we love large furniture that takes into account enough space for parties and socializing around the outdoor firepits. Be sure to take into account the space needed outdoors for guests and family alike.
Being outdoors in the Summer, late into the evening, means that you can't forget the lighting. There are plenty of outdoor lighting options that will add character to your space, such as patios with strings upon strings of unique lighting.
We love the addition of string lighting to a backyard patio, as it adds an urban twist to any space. Uplighting can also be used strategically with flat spaces, such as uplighting on your outdoor fence. Visualize your space and use lighting in a thoughtful, unique way to truly impress.
Start off your Summer with some 2018 Spring outdoor design ideas. It's what we love to do here at MDK Designs. It's a time of the year when the days are longer, the evenings are extended and fresh air is plenty. Consider taking a risk this Summer and explore an area of your patio, backyard or outdoor space that you might not have ventured into before. Some new 2018 Spring outdoor design ideas may help you enjoy the entire summer season. Contact Melanie Kokoros at MDK Design Associates to discuss some ideas for your outdoor space this Spring.


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Spain: 26 May elections – bittersweet victory for the left and setback for the "City Councils of Change"
Lucha de Clases
Spain Featured
The municipal, regional and European elections of 26 May (26M) in Spain have once again confirmed the victory of the left in the general elections of 28 April (28A). In the municipal elections, the most relevant of the three, the left (both the Spanish as well as Basque and Catalan nationalists) got 48.7 percent, while the right (again, the Spanish as well as Basque and Catalan nationalists) received 42 percent.
Read the original in Spanish at Lucha de Clases |
In the European elections, with a similar level of participation, the victory of the left bloc was even more marked: 51.13 percent against 41.33 percent. In addition to this, the votes for Junts (party of Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan President in exile) totalled more than one million (4.58 percent). It would be incorrect to automatically add these votes to right, since they reflect democratic and republican demands, and reject the neo-francoist regime of 1978.
Overall, the left has won in Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, the Balearic Islands, La Rioja, the Basque Country and Asturias. The results of ERC (Catalan Republican Party) and Bildu (Basque Left), respectively, were decisive for this, both in Catalonia and in the Basque Country. In Navarre, the votes of the left and of Geroa Bai (linked to PNV – Basque Nationalist Party), defeated the right bloc, Navarra Suma. The right, on the other hand, only won in Madrid, Castilla y León, Murcia and Aragón and only by a very narrow margin in Aragón.
With regards to the regional elections, PSOE has retained the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Asturias, improving upon their results from 2015. In addition, PSOE has snatched La Rioja from PP, and the Canary Islands from the right-wing regionalists: Canary Coalition. PSOE's only blot has been in Aragón, where the right won the election. As happened in December in Andalusia, with Susana Díaz, now Lambán in Aragón, some of the most right-wing leaders of the PSOE, who have most emphatically attacked Pedro Sánchez, have been punished at the polls. If García-Page, in Castilla-La Mancha, another right-wing socialist, has been saved, it was only because of the life-jacket of Podemos that, upon entering into a coalition government with PSOE, has completely concealed their real nature.
The PP has retained Madrid, its most important seat, Castilla y León, and Murcia. Cantabria remains within the coalition between Revilla's Cantabrian Regionalist Party and the PSOE.
Both the municipal and regional elections had turnouts similar to those of 2015, 65.2 percent compared to 64.9 percent. This contrasts with the 76 percent participation in the 28 April general elections and can be attributed to two reasons: firstly, the proximity of both electoral rounds and the understandable exhaustion of the population from two successive campaigns (three in the case of Andalusia), and secondly, the disappearance of the "Vox factor" as a mobilising element of the social base of the left, after confirming on 28 April the limitations faced by the extreme right in Spain of reaching a growing audience.
Before going into the analysis of the municipal elections, the result of the "City Councils of Change", and the role and perspectives of Unidos Podemos (UP), it is worth reflecting upon briefly, given the outcome of the European elections. Given that the level of participation in these elections was similar to the other two, (64.3 percent) and not being mediated by local or regional factors, they express in a "purer" sense the general political trends of society in the current moment.
Here, the PSOE was the party that received the most votes: 7.3 million (100,000 less than in the general elections of 28 April), or 32.8 percent. The PP got 20.1 percent and 4.5 million votes (150,000 more votes than in 28A). Ciudadanos got 12.2 percent and 2.7 million (it lost almost 2 million compared to 28A). Unidas Podemos got 10.1 percent, 2.25 million votes (850,000 votes less than 28A). Vox barely got 6.2 percent, 1.4 million (1.3 million less than 28A). Left regional nationalists (ERC, Bildu, BNG – Galician Nationalist Bloc) got 5.61 percent, 1.25 million votes (65,000 votes less than 28A). The result of Junts is very striking. Puigdemont won the European Parliament seat in Catalonia. Junts got 4.58 percent and more than one million votes. Thus, the pro-independence parties got 50 percent of the votes in Catalonia and 10 points more support than in the 28A elections.
The turn to the left is confirmed
What we see is that PSOE is reinforced from the 26 May elections, the PP regained positions at the expense of Ciudadanos and Vox, which were defeated. Unidos Podemos also continued their downward course. Even so, the traditional parties, PSOE and PP, only just surpassed 50 percent of the votes. The nationalist parties, mainly in Catalonia and the Basque Country, maintained their vigour, spurred on by the repressive and undemocratic drift of the 1978 regime against the democratic-national aspirations in both areas.
Strictly speaking, the fundamental features that we saw in the general elections of 28 April and the general turn to the left in Spanish society were confirmed. This is despite the poisonous vapours of Spanish nationalism, which remains the watchword of the Spanish right, which has succeeded in keeping its social base mobilised, and also influenced a backward – though not decisive – section of the working class.
PSOE is reinforced from the 26 May elections, the PP regained positions at the expense of Ciudadanos and Vox; and Unidos Podemos continued their downward course / Image: PSOE official
Apart from this general assessment, it is necessary to make an evaluation of the vote of Unidos Podemos in these elections. The decline of Unidos Podemos has a clear political explanation. The suicidal policy of Iglesias-Garzón, already initiated a year ago, of begging PSOE throughout their campaign for a place in the government, as it did in the previous general election campaign, has only strengthened PSOE. Their policy portrays UP as a mere subsidiary organisation of Sánchez. It erases any prospect of presenting itself as an alternative to PSOE, and of offering a clear and rousing change to the living conditions of working families. This tactic also liquidated the image that made it strong four years ago: of being a radical opposition organisation to the 1978 regime, its institutions and its corruption.
The clearest example of this has been the failure in Unidos Podemos in Castilla-La Mancha, where Podemos has been left without representation in the regional parliament. Having entered the previous legislature in a coalition government with the PSOE of García-Page, (one of the most right-wing PSOE politicians in Spain), it has become clear, in the eyes of the majority, that PSOE is a reliable party with progressive policies. Therefore, to avert a victory of the right it was best to deposit the largest possible number of votes in the party that appeared to be the safest bet in the elections: PSOE. This fact, which could be seen even by a five-year-old child, was considered by the leaders of Unidos Podemos to be the pinnacle of a "realistic" and "intelligent" policy. Worse still, one day after the elections, Pablo Iglesias continued to insist on this same policy. On this path, Unidos Podemos is heading for disaster.
In the municipal elections, PSOE got 29.3 percent of the votes (one million more than in 2015), the PP 22.2 percent (one million less), Unidos Podemos and the slate of various related lefts got close to 11 percent, compared to 16 percent in 2015. Ciudadanos got 8.25 percent, just 470,000 more votes than in 2015 when it was still a newly formed party.
Although the left has won the municipal elections in general, however, it has regressed somewhat in the provincial capitals and large cities. Thus, while in 2015 the right only won two of the 10 largest cities in the country (Málaga and Murcia), now it has won four (Madrid, Zaragoza, Málaga and Murcia), plus other important cities that were in the hands of the left (Alicante and Córdoba). Overall, the right has gone from controlling 19 provincial capitals to 23. The left, which won in eight of the 10 most important cities in 2015, has now done so in four (Valencia, Seville, Palma and Las Palmas). Barcelona has also stayed with the left, but with the pro-independence left (ERC) as the party with the most votes. Overall, the left on a national level has gone from controlling 24 provincial capitals in 2015 to only 17. The left and right regional nationalists have gone from controlling seven to 10, including the three Basque provinces and the four Catalan provinces, since it was quite likely that Barcelona would be in the hands of the ERC, given that the Spanish right (PP and Ciudadanos) was unlikely to vote for a coalition of Colau and PSC (Catalan Socialist Party).
The reason for this right advance in large cities is due to several factors. The first is that, although there has been a general decrease in the vote for the right compared to 28A, the right has managed to mobilise a substantial part of its social base, with its usual campaign of hysteria regarding Catalonia, tax increases, etc. The drop of the vote in the working-class neighbourhoods has been much greater than in the bourgeois and middle-class neighbourhoods. Another reason has been the fall of the Podemos-Izquierda Unida (IU) joint vote, due in many cases to the division of the slates. This is mainly a result of the interests of the leadership and not due to political reasons, which has reduced the number of votes and councils in comparison to 2015. As we will now see, this has also weighed more heavily on the so-called "City Councils of Change", such as Madrid, Zaragoza and other cities, reinforced by the timid policies of accepting cuts, which have not brought about a substantial change to the working-class neighbourhoods, and instead have frustrated the enormous illusions and expectations that the working class had in them four years ago.
Nevertheless, the large industrial and workers' belts ("red belts") around the big cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Asturias, Andalusia, etc. have remained in the hands of the left, and especially with PSOE.
Analysis of the "City Councils of Change"
The elections on 26 May have been a serious setback for most of the so-called "City Councils of Change", in the hands of coalitions close or linked to Podemos, IU and related groups, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Coruña, Ferrol and Santiago. Other municipalities that had a left-wing majority, like Alicante, Córdoba or Oviedo, with unstable coalitions of IU, PSOE and candidacies related to Podemos, went to the right. In contrast, in others, such as Valencia, the left has maintained its majority and even reinforced it in Cádiz or Zamora.
In addition to the reasons explained in a previous section, what the experience has revealed in most of these councils has been the negative effects of confining their "progressive" policies to administering the crumbs of the system, without solving the fundamental problems of the working-class neighbourhoods: housing, infrastructure, etc. This is compounded by their institutionalist policy, the distancing of mayors and government officials from ordinary people, and the abandonment of and contempt for popular participation, with which they achieved their victory four years ago.
The suicidal policy of Iglesias-Garzón, initiated a year ago, of begging PSOE throughout their campaign for a place in the government, has only strengthened PSOE / Image: Flickr, UP
Given the blockade imposed by the previous PP government on the increase in social spending, the councils did not call, in any municipality, for popular mobilisation to expose the political and economic blackmail of the right. They have not established genuine mechanisms of popular participation in the neighbourhoods that supervise the work of the councils, to reinforce the link to their neighbourhood base. Nor did the councils establish a common front of state-wide struggle, with action and simultaneous mobilisations for social demands, to wage a political battle against the previous government of Rajoy and the current one of Sánchez. Worse still, in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities, the left wing was purged from the local government and bureaucratic attitudes were celebrated, in the name of "governing for all". Carmena, in Madrid, yielded to the pressure of BBVA Bank to support the urban development project Operation Chamartín and took a shameful position when she endorsed the coup attempt of Juan Guaidó in Venezuela.
There were some progressive changes, but they were limited and insufficient to reinforce and broaden the social base of support for these councils.
Thus, in Galicia, with the general advance of PSOE, all these councils fell in step with the party. In Barcelona, in addition to all the above, the cowardly position of Ada Colau was combined with the Catalan national question, when in certain instances, she tried to compete for the anti-independence base of the PSOE and Ciudadanos in the working-class neighbourhoods, with speeches and reactionary positions that alienated the support of a section of the Catalan republican left, which has benefited the ERC.
Interestingly, the cities that elected mayors further to the left, such as "Kichi" in Cádiz, (from the anti-capitalist section of Podemos), and Francisco Guarido de Zamora (from the right-wing of Izquierda Unida), have come out reinforced with an absolute majority for "Kichi", or close to an absolute majority for Guarido. In the case of Cádiz, with its enormous social problems, a more determined and courageous attitude in "Kichi's" policies, and her greater personal connection to the working-class neighbourhoods allowed her to expand her social base of support. This contrasted with the ivory tower of Carmena in Madrid, Colau in Barcelona and Santisteve in Zaragoza.
The battle of Madrid
Objectively, it was difficult to keep the mayoralty of Madrid in the hands of Carmena and carry the city away to the right, given the result of the general elections on 28 April. Both in the city of Madrid and in the region, the right (PP, Ciudadanos and Vox) won 53 percent of the votes versus 43 percent of PSOE and Unidos Podemos. To drop 10 points in a month, and with predictably smaller participation, was a complicated task. But that is only one aspect of the matter.
In cities with a traditional base for the right, such as Zamora, or that were in the hands of the PP for many years with solid majorities, as was the case of Cádiz or Valencia, the left has won resounding victories in these elections (and also in 2015). In fact, that was the case of the city council of Madrid in 2015.
It is true that, in Madrid, the right has a very strong base, because it is where the fundamental levers of the state apparatus are concentrated, with its legion of administrative officials, judges, military, police, lawyers, and their families, both in the state and regional administration. Likewise, the central headquarters of big business, with their thousands of qualified employees, the labour aristocracy are concentrated in Madrid, and to a greater extent than in other regions, with their petty-bourgeois and Spanish nationalist ideology. All this even permeates to other less-privileged sections of the class.
For this reason, in Madrid, more than anywhere else, much bolder and more radical organisations, leaders and policies are needed to shake the working-class masses (which continue to be the most numerous section of the population) out of their routines. They need to be set in motion by an expectation of real change that will also drag the lower layers of the petty bourgeoisie and the middle class into the struggle. In 2015 we saw that this was precisely what happened, when the left won both in the city council and in the region of Madrid, which the right could only retain because Izquierda Unida did not even get 5 percent of the votes at that time, but remained at 0.8 percent, and did not get a representation that would have automatically nullified the artificial majority of the right in the regional parliament.
The victory of the right in Madrid was not inevitable. Another bolder, braver policy from the left that offered substantial advances in the living conditions would have galvanised the working-class neighbourhoods, and even areas with a strong social base in the right. The aforementioned particular case of Zamora demonstrates this.
There is no evidence to suggest that the petty bourgeoisie of Zamora is in any way more progressive than Madrid's. In the general elections of 28 April in Zamora, the right (PP, Ciudadanos and Vox) won almost 56 percent of the votes, compared to 53 percent gained in Madrid; while the left took 41.5 percent compared to 43 percent achieved in Madrid. However, in the municipal elections this Sunday the right in Zamora took 31.1 percent and only Izquierda Unida, the party of the current Mayor Francisco Guarido, got a surprising 48.1 percent of the votes, with the PSOE getting an additional 11.7 percent. That is, the right got 56 percent on 28A (when all the left was mobilised to stop the Trifachito – right-wing coalition) and then the left won 60 percent on 26M in the municipal elections, in the same city and in the space of a month!
This shows that even the backward petty bourgeoisie is able to turn to the left and support advanced policies if it is demonstrated concretely that the policies can substantially improve the living conditions in the neighbourhoods and cities.
The fact that the difference between the right and the left was reduced in Madrid, both in the regional and municipal elections, from 10 to only three points, between 26A and 26M, shows that the conditions existed to have achieved victory for the left.
One of the reasons why this did not happen has already been explained: the timid policy of Carmena in the council, where the neighbourhoods have not seen substantial changes. Another factor, impossible to measure precisely, but which undoubtedly has had an effect, has been the divisive attitude of Carmena and Errejón who, just a few months before the elections, split Unidos Podemos and Ahora Madrid. This was a turn to the right, following their personal ambitions, transmitting an image of anxiety and distrust in the neighbourhoods and working-class areas of the city of Madrid and the region, which reinforced the right and the PSOE.
This left Unidos Podemos in a situation of extreme weakness in Madrid and the region. The weakness of Madrid en Pie, led by Sánchez Mato, driven by Izquierda Unida, Anticapitalistas and sections of Ahora Madrid, arrived late to the battle. It is not very understandable why Izquierda Unida has remained practically silent for two years about the inadequacy of Carmena's administration, and just two months before elections, went out to expose all their criticisms at once. The position of Podemos was worse, because of cowardice: they did not want to break publicly with Carmena so as not to appear defeated if they openly bet on the candidacy of Madrid en Pie, which was predicted a lower result. Although in the last few days leading up to 26M, Pablo Iglesias called very quietly for a vote for Sánchez Mato, his lack of explicit public support for Sánchez Mato throughout the campaign proved fatal in preventing him from reaching the five percent that would have automatically granted him three council positions.
The victory of the Errejón slate, Más Madrid, over Unidos Podemos in the region of Madrid, is not surprising and has no merit whatsoever. Errejón was, until recently, the number two of Podemos and was as well-known and popular as Pablo Iglesias for the broad masses of the population, unlike Isa Serra, the candidate of Unidos Podemos in the region, who was a complete unknown and lacking in charisma, as also happened with number two on the Izquierda Unida slate: Sol Sánchez.
Thus, Errejón benefited from his popularity with a large section of left voters who know little of the internal squabbles of Podemos. His victory over UP was reinforced, moreover, not by his qualities or the power of his rhetoric (he did not present a single policy in his meetings, only general statements), but by opportunistically grabbing the coattails of Carmena, whose image was what really led the campaign, which had no lack of resources.
As if this were not enough, both Carmena and Errejón received the shameless support of the media that surreptitiously silenced Isa Serra and, above all, Sánchez Mato. They tried to exploit the leftist electorate of Madrid on the question of a "useful vote" in support of Carmena and Errejón, and criminalised Mato for facilitating, according to them, the victory of the right in the capital. In the end, if Sánchez Mato's votes had all gone to Carmena there would have been no difference with what finally happened.
Of course, now the regime is going to promote Errejón, making him an example of the "winning" left, versus UP as the "losing" left. The regime would be delighted to have a "soft" left like Gaspar Llamazares when he directed Izquierda Unida, ensuring the social democracy offered loyal support for the system.
In any case, a political movement such as the one that Errejón intends to set up has few signs of taking shape, although it saw relative success in these elections, thanks to its skill in manoeuvring, this was ephemeral. Unfortunately, now there is very little political difference between PSOE and UP. Trying to establish an organisation halfway between the two becomes enormously difficult. Faced with the inevitable social polarisation, the bland "left" of Errejón may excite peripheral sections of the working class and the progressive petty bourgeoisie, but not the broader layers of the working class. It is significant, to reinforce this conclusion, that the candidacies of the supporters of Errejón, were behind Izquierda Unida, Podemos and their confluences in the "red belt" of Madrid, in almost all cases.
Unidos Podemos: to avoid disaster, must radically change its policy and programme
For many months, we have warned ad nauseam that the turn to the right in the speeches and policies of UP, and its servile approach to the PSOE of Sánchez, could only lead to disaster for UP, which was originally seen as a radical reference point of struggle for the overcoming of the system in general, and the Spanish monarchical regime in particular.
The fundamental political problem is that UP leaders do not consider the orientation of the working class to be central, and lack a programme in line with them. This disconnection with the real-life conditions of the class explains the scepticism of an increasing number of workers and young people towards UP.
What is needed is a class-based, socialist policy, which raises great ideals to fight for: an alternative model of society that ignites the imagination of millions, and which today is absent in UP. Unfortunately, we do not see any hint in the current trajectory of Podemos and Izquierda Unida of moving in this direction.
A re-foundation of Unidos Podemos is necessary, which includes Podemos itself and Izquierda Unida. It is necessary to establish a clearly socialist, republican and internationalist conception that aims to be based on popular mobilisation and mass action in order to get its ideas to ever-wider layers.
UP should not be proposed as a companion of PSOE in a government, limited to granting some crumbs, and sacrificing its own programme in the process. That would be the most direct path to complete disaster, as has already happened in Castilla-La Mancha. On the contrary, it must offer an alternative government that favours working families. It must be equipped with a programme that covers all social and democratic demands: the repeal of labour reforms and the Gag Law; the expropriation of the energy monopolies; expropriation of empty housing in the hands of banks and vulture funds; a general salary increase; elimination of temporary employment; a general reduction of the working day to lower unemployment; increased taxes on the rich; ceasing payment of external debt that perpetuates austerity and cuts; purging the state apparatus of fascists and reactionaries; committing to democratic referenda on the right to self-determination for Catalonia and on the continuation of the monarchy. To carry all this out they must call to put the commanding heights of the economy (banks, big business and large estates) at the service of the majority, through their expropriation into common ownership, under the democratic control of the workers that allow them to function.
A re-foundation of Unidos Podemos is necessary. It must establish a clearly socialist, republican and internationalist policy based on mass action / Image: Flickr, Adolfo Lujan
It is necessary to clearly explain that a prosperous, dignified and democratic future for the majority of society is incompatible with this regime and its neo-francoist state apparatus, at the service of the 200 families of the oligarchy. We therefore have to build a democratic, socialist republic, which offers all the peoples of the Spanish state a voluntary union on an equal footing, and which would be the prelude to a revolutionary and socialist movement in the rest of Europe and the world.
These ideas and demands would galvanise millions, who would finally be given a great ideal to fight for, and demonstrate concrete ways in which we can transform this society to end the obsolete and barbarous capitalist system.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is what I'm doing for Halloween tonight! What are you up to?
Too cute. These poems are ideal for lazy breakfast reading or luncheons on the patio. We love to read over our meals and kiddo has really enjoyed Where the Windwalk Begins.
I personally loved Airlephant, mostly because I have a ridiculously large soft spot in my soul for all things regarding elephants. Kiddo's ears perked up the most, however for Flock of Flying Carpets, which I admit is pretty awesome. The alliteration of that particular poem fascinates little people, and her eyes lit up with delight at hearing the same sounds over and over again. We've been working on our phonics lately and you could see the recognition of certain letter's sounds all over her face.
The poems are really fun and the illustrations are equally so. I was pleased with how well paired the illustrator was to the over all vibe of the book. Sometimes you can have a great illustrator and a really great storyteller or poet, but they don't necessarily make the best pairing, but these two seemed pretty in tune to each other. Spunky and very light heart-ed, moms and dads everywhere should keep this title in their personal library stock.
Let me premise by saying I don't review a lot of poetry. I actually didn't read a lot of poetry outside of what was required of me for school and pieces my friends wrote until my daughter was born. It was then, rocking a sleepy baby back and forth in a glider, that I really started to enjoy the genre in its full capacity. Kiddo and I spent a whole year reading Edna St. Vincent Millay and it was very comforting.
Calvert Tynes is not comforting. He's raw, but not in a crass way or anything. Tynes' poetry has very few soft rhythms, instead I imagine his work being best presented in person in a performance setting. There are a few kids at the Poetry Nights in Humble that could read some of these pieces and rock an audience's socks off with them… I'm not so talented and my kid asked me to hush when I tried to read this to her. So though my kiddo didn't much care for the book, she's two and there are some things she just doesn't have a say in right now, whether or not Calvert Tynes is a good poet is one of them.
God's Love is indeed a testament to the love Tynes has found in Christ, but from where I'm sitting it reads more like a memoir than a spiritual guide. I'm probably biased in saying this, as I've never been a fan of things with pictures of Jesus on them… probably a narcissistic issue after the emotional damage of drawing the worst stick figure of Jesus ever on my leather bible when I was seven and getting in a lot of trouble over it; I wasn't upset I was in trouble so much as I was upset that my mother couldn't tell that my stick figure was my portrayal of Christ. But still, knowing what I know about the crucifixion it seems a little grotesque to immortalize the moment in graven images. For that reason, I was a little turned off by the front cover, although a lot of people I know would find it beautiful – it's just me and I get that. Tynes may have turned me off with the cover, but he won me over with his poems.
Of course I adore the sappiest line in the whole book… of course.
I also adore how God is clearly a part of every aspect of Tynes life, but I think this book of poetry (if true) is as much about Tynes as it is about God. In my perfect book world, the front cover should reflect that in some way. The thing I'm finding I love about poetry, that you don't always get with fiction, is how autobiographical a writer's book of poems can be. Poetry is so personal. Especially touching are Tynes pieces on fatherhood and the stories he shares about his children, something I'm not sure I could have appreciated as much three years ago.
In God's Love Tynes shares a full life with God, a full life with poetry, and well, a really full life. He has a lot to offer the world and I'm glad I have a little piece of that offering in my library.
Spoken Word and Live Poetry!
Oh dear boy how you've aged!
Make time in your life this Spring for student led Poetry Nights at Half Price Books in Humble.
I am supposed to be reading The Old Curiosity Shop for HPB Humble's December Book Club meeting. I love and adore Dickens so I'm actually very excited about this. Plus, the weather is perfect for it. But every time I sit down I find something else has made it into my hands and reading time. Yesterday I breezed through Unrecounted by W.G. Sebald and Jan Peter Tripp before starting and completing Sarah N. Harvey's The Lit Report. Both were short, breezy books, but neither were on my immediate TBR pile.
Unrecounted is a coffee table book shrunk down to the size of a trade paper back, in my opinion. Housed in poetry, yet I find myself more captivated by the art. The book is a series of Tripp's art and Sebald's verse married together very simply in a manner you might see at an art gallery rather than in a poetry book. I enjoyed it immensely, but I would have preferred to walk through a perfectly lit hall with the images taking up half the wall, the verse on a plaque nearby, rather than flip through the pages of a book. Although it would be far less accessible that way, the emotional impact would be far greater.
The Lit Report is a fabulous young adult piece for older teens. In the style of So Many Books, So Little Time , the story follows a year in the life of Julia questioning the beliefs of those around her and defining her own world view while reading and walking her best friend through a secret teen pregnancy. Christians are not shown in the greatest light. In fact I doubt that the 'Christians' presented in this book actually are Christians as they tend to be people more focused on beating religion into others or attempting to save themselves from the wrath of God by burying themselves into activities of a highly questionable church, instead of simply believing in the Truth and love of Jesus Christ. The book is also pretty consistent with how most modern teens live and has its fair share of swearing , misbehavior, and (obviously) sexual activity (after all, one girl is pregnant). But the novel rings true as a supposed memoir of a girl's life… while reading it you feel as though this could be someone's experience somewhere – this could happen.
The Lit Report is something I wouldn't mind re-reading with the kiddo when she is older and we can discuss the thoughts and opinions of the girls, their actions, and the actions of their parents. It has valid and necessary topics to discuss: the cruel dogmatic ways of some people who call themselves 'Christians' and how they influence the public's view on what being a Christian means, sexual activity as a teenager, and of course how literature can be a part of your daily life. It is important to see what someone who 'walks the walk' looks like in comparison to somewhat who has hardened their heart and spouts biblical references at people out of context. It is important to know where you stand as a sexual being and what your expectations and standards are, and finally, how your decisions affect those around you. The novel really makes you stop to think what the author's own life experiences with so-called Christians have been.
As for The Old Curiosity Shop, I am a few chapters in and it waits patiently for me on my night stand. Maybe tonight will be the night… or, maybe I'll find myself wasting more time.


text:
Pre Cooked Sausage
Ring Bologna & Loops
Cocktail Smokies
Milwaukee County Parks
Wisconsin State Fair
Sausage that links people together.
At Klement's, creating quality products with great-tasting flavor isn't all we do. Our sausage links people together through relatable recipes and memories that last a lifetime. It's our unique way of bringing friends and families together over a traditional, home-cooked experience.
Made in Milwaukee. Built on European Tradition.
It began nearly 60 years ago, when three brothers – John, George and Ron Klement – purchased a small sausage company in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In many ways, the roots of the Klement Sausage Company can be traced back even further through several generations in central Europe. For it was there, in a part of the world where sausage-making is knitted tightly into the fabric of the community, that the techniques and recipes which would one day make Klement's so special, first started being handed down through the family.
When the brothers first opened their doors, they found a natural market in the immigrant-rich neighborhoods of Milwaukee. These working-class men and women longed for the genuine, old-country flavor that they left behind, but Klement's had a taste and texture that brought them right back. Word spread quickly, and before long, Klement's was a favorite among people from all walks of life.
Over the years, Klement's has grown from a humble 6-person storefront into Milwaukee's largest producer of authentic, handcrafted European sausage. In spite of our growth, we're proud to say that we've never lost sight of what made our family business a success: hard work, a dedication to excellence, and the ability to look towards the future, without forgetting our past.
Old World quality and robust flavor – a thing of pure beauty.
Here at Klement's, we can safely say that to us, there are a few things more appealing than a plump, perfectly-seasoned Bratwurst - Italian, Polish, Jalapeno, you name it.
We put our all into making the finest authentic, hand-crafted sausages you've ever seen...or tasted. They're leaner and more flavorful, and have a high protein/low carb nutritional balance that's perfect for today's active lifestyle.
We're living proof that no matter how materialistic the world around us grows to be, it's what's on the inside that counts. Pick up your favorite style of Klement's and get cooking!
If you're ever in our homeland of Milwaukee, swing by our factory store Monday through Friday. We have a feeling you won't regret it.
© 2020 Klement's Sausage Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved


text:
Q: Multiple ssh access types from a given user1/client to the same user2/server I want to access from one user/client combination (say, user1@cl) to a user/server combination (say, user2@srv) via ssh, with two different types of Access:

*

*Access type #1 would be restricted to interactions with a bazaar repository.
For this, I added a line (#1) in ~user2/.ssh/authorized_keys like

command="bzr serve --inet --directory=/repodir --allow-writes",no-port-forwarding,no-X11-forwarding,no-agent-forwarding ssh-rsa ... user1@cl

*Access type #2 would be a login shell.
For this, I added a "usual" line (#2) in ~user2/.ssh/authorized_keys like

ssh-rsa ... user1@cl

As I understand, and as I tested, both lines cannot be used simultaneously.
I.e., if line #1 appears first in ~user2/.ssh/authorized_keys, then I would be able to interact with the bzr repo, but I will not be able to do
[user1@cl]$ ssh user2@srv

If line #2 appears first in ~user2/.ssh/authorized_keys, then I would be able to do ssh, but any bzr operation gives
bzr: ERROR: Not a branch ...

Is there any way to work this out?
I am using RHEL7, but I guess this is not important.
Related posts (but not addressing my case, as I understand):
Best way to use multiple SSH private keys on one client
https://serverfault.com/questions/142997/what-options-can-be-put-into-a-ssh-authorized-keys-file
https://serverfault.com/questions/749474/ssh-authorized-keys-command-option-multiple-commands
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1962/how-can-multiple-private-keys-be-used-with-ssh

A: I made it work, with two different key pairs (say, pair 1 for bzr and pair 2 for ssh login).
I added the corresponding lines in ~user2/.ssh/authorized_keys.
The private key 1 was stored in file id_rsa (which is read by default),
and the private key 2 was stored in file id_rsa_ssh.
Then, bzr was working normally, and for logging in I use
[user1@cl]$ ssh -i id_rsa_ssh user2@srv

which indicates using an alternative identity.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Sant Sadurní de Vernet, o Santa Maria de Vernet, o del Puig, és l'església parroquial romànica del nucli de Vernet, a la comuna del mateix nom, al Conflent (Catalunya del Nord).

Està situada dalt del turó que domina el Vernet actual, on es troba el nucli vell del poble, al costat del Castell de Vernet. En un principi era la capella del castell, però amb el pas del temps es convertí en l'església parroquial del poble de Vernet en abandonar-se l'antiga església parroquial de Sant Sadurní de Vilallonga.

La primitiva església parroquial es esmentada per primera vegada l'any 874, però una avinguda del Cadí l'ensulsià el 1710. Aleshores la funció parroquial passà a la capella de Santa Maria del castell, que acollí també l'advocació de sant Sadurní. La capella del castell era esmentada el 1176, quan l'abat Pere de Sant Martí del Canigó renovava la concessió a Pere de Castell d'una terra que es trobava prop del temple. Torna a esmentar-se el 1217, quan l'abat del Canigó autoritzà els habitants del lloc a construir cases en els vessants del turó.

Es tracta d'una església força gran, de planta rectangular, capçada a llevant per un absis semicircular, que queda amagat exteriorment, pel castell annex. Una volta molt apuntada cobreix la nau, amb arcs torals apuntats sobre pilars adossats a les parets laterals. L'arrencada de la volta està marcada per una cornisa correguda al llarg de la nau. El fet que l'interior de la nau sigui emblanquinat fa que el visitant es perdi molts detalls de la construcció.

La porta d'entrada s'obre a la meitat occidental de la façana sud. Està formada per un únic arc de mig punt adovellat, llinda i timpà monolítics sense decoració. Conserva un conjunt de ferramenta i forrellat de tradició clarament medieval. L'aparell de l'edifici és variat: els murs sud i oest presenten un parament de carreus de granit de color daurat i d'una grandària considerable, ben escairats i polits, mentre que el mur nord té carreus petits i blocs de pedra no gaire escantonats. En conjunt es pot considerar una construcció de la segona meitat del .

A l'interior es conserva una columna fragmentada que sembla que procedeix de l'antiga església de Sant Sadurní de Vilallonga, destruïda per una inundació el 1710.

Referències

Bibliografia

Esglésies romàniques del Conflent
Vernet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Posted by Nicole Richards on Thursday, October 30th, 2014 at 2:32pm.
Is there a more of an amusing way to thrill the weekend than it being Halloween?
Performances, scary movies, drink specials and frightening or maybe even goofy costumes! Even if you have not prepared any plans for Friday night yet, there is no excuse to stay home-base with the porch lights off and mope around street corners watching the carnival of people pass by. The Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach County have plenty of fun and entertaining events that don't need reservations, plus some parties have chances to win cash prizes!
• Fright Nights- South Florida Fairgrounds: 6:00p.m.-12:00 a.m.
• Trick or Beats Festival Day One- Sunset Cove Amphitheater: 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
• Halloween Costume Ball- The Funky Biscuit: 9:00 p.m.
• Tim Burton Halloween Spectacular Show- Revolution Live: 10:00 p.m.
• Quentin Tarantino-themed costume party- Stache 1920's Drinking Den: 6:00 p.m.
• Trick-or-Treating at the Museum- Museum of Discovery and Science:6:00 -9 p.m.
• Rocky Horror Show Live- Andrews Live Art Studio: 8:00 p.m.
• Halloween Bash- America's Backyard: 5:00 p.m.
Enjoy the Holiday & Happy Halloween!


Finish a Hidden Object scene in under one minute.
Find three hidden items in three seconds.
Finish a hidden object scene without a hint.
Finish half of the hidden objects scenes without a hint.
Finish all of the hidden object scenes without a hint.
Finish a puzzle in under a minute.
Finish a puzzle without skipping.
Finish half of the puzzles without skipping.
Finish all of the puzzles without skipping.
Unlock the secret entrance to the museum.
Find the legendary ship of the Order of the Griffin.
Brew up a healing potion.
Complete the 5 Faces Medallion.
Open the Gate of Champions.
Defeat the King of Ice.
Defeat the Queen of Fire.
Open the gates of the temple.
Dive into the ocean deep.
Use the Dragon Torch to subdue the dragon.
Arrive at the HQ of the Order of the Griffin.
Explore the secret of the old cannon.


text:
Q: How to create a file and make it downloadable in GWT? I want to export the data in a celltable to a CSV file. I understand this must be done in the server side. I'm a bit lost on how to create a file, write the lines and then make the client download it.
One it's served, it could be downloaded automatically or by a "Download" button, is the same.

A: If you just want to generate file and serve it directly you can create a servlet and hit the servlet url in a Window, You may want to take the same datasource and use it at the server side to convert it into a csv. Please follow along the steps as described in (Download a generated pdf from client) and for downloading that from GWT Window follow  (How to download a file via a button click i GWT?),


I decided at the end of the year that it would be fun to start getting involved with other hikers near Salt Lake, so I signed up for Meetup.com and started going on outdoor adventures with some new groups.
This group planned a snowshoeing adventure on Thanksgiving morning to a popular hike in Big Cottonwood that I had been on before. It was to Donut Falls.
This short hike starts out on a road and goes up about a mile to a waterfall that drops into a hole in a rock that looks like a donut hole, hence the name.
In the winter the hike was similar, but a new white winter world replaced the normal greens and browns of the summer. We followed the trail and got to the base of the falls in about 30 minutes. Snow and ice cover the rocks that you can normally scramble up to see the falls from above, so we just stayed at the bottom.
Since the hike was so short, a lot of the group wanted to keep hiking. So, we went back to the main trail that split and followed the other route up a long, gradual hill to a beautiful sunlit, snow-covered basin. We stopped and admired the pristine view of the deep, untouched powder and how the sun threw sparkling flecks of rainbow at you as it reflect of the surface of the snow.
We hiked back at about the same pace to the cars and we all departed to our various holiday gatherings. It was a fun and beautiful morning and a great way to start the holiday season!


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Once again we have passed from the sacrifice of Lent into the Glory of the Resurrection. The dark shadows of Christ's suffering have faded in the light of His conquering power. One of the most powerful Easter Narratives is St. Luke's account of the appearance of the Risen Christ to His followers on the Emmaus Road. In this setting we see two men walking along the long lonely road. They are talking about the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Their concern seems to be more then that of a passing interest. By the way they talk each one must have personally known our Lord.
Then "Jesus Himself drew near." He was close enough to touch them and yet they did not know who he was.
I often wonder if we as Christians would know Jesus Christ if He were to walk amoung us. Many would say "of course, I wait with joy to see Christ." But think for a moment, would we recognize Him. If He were standing on the street corner or in the mall would we fall down to worship Him? And if we did not know Him would we believe the story of a woman, who living in obscurity, became pregnant by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and then claimed that this child was the Saviour of the world? Or would we believe His claims later in life that he was the Son of the living God, and that He had the power to save men from their sins? When people started talking about healings and miracles would we try to explain them as scientific fact or as acts of God the Saviour?
Years ago, I remember a friend asking me why I had gone to see the stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar. I answered "why not?" His response was, "I think it is an affront to Christianity." I agreed, it lacks the reverence due to the life and Cruxifation of Christ and it neglects the truth of the Resurrection. But, it does represent the way most people of that time preceived the Christ. If we, today, did not have two thousand years of expierence behind and all the teaching of the Apostles and scholars since that time we would probably act the same way with scoffing and disbelief to the claims of this mad man.
Just as the two men along the road did not realize the Son of God stood in their midst neither do we with our vast knowledge see Christ in our lives. Lets us pray that the sacrifices we have made during Lent will cause us to be more aware of the Saviour who stands in our midst. Pray that on that Easter morning our eyes will be opened that we will know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, the Son of our Father in Heaven and the giver of eternal life.
May the joy of Easter remain yours always.


What code do I need to program into my universal remote control so I can use it to operate the CM7001?
Each manufacturer of universal remote controls uses their own codes for each device that it is capable of operating. You will need to contact the manufacturer of your universal remote control to find out what codes they programmed into it for the CM7001.
Harmony Remotes are cable of controlling the CM7001.


text:
2 minute readFebruary 8, 202110:16 PM UTCLast Updated ago
KKR beats estimates with 15% rise in fourth-quarter earnings
By Chibuike Oguh
Trading information for KKR & Co is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., August 23, 2018.
Feb 8 (Reuters) - KKR & Co Inc (KKR.N) said on Monday its after-tax distributable earnings rose 15% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, driven by growth in management and transaction fees from its capital markets business.
KKR's after-tax distributable earnings (DE) – the cash used to pay dividends to shareholders – rose to $431 million from $375.1 million a year earlier. This translated to DE per share of 49 cents, surpassing the average analyst estimate of 41 cents, according to data from Refinitiv.
Last month, KKR rival Blackstone Group Inc (BX.N) reported a 60% rise in fourth-quarter distributable earnings, while Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O) said last week its earnings climbed 38% year-on-year. Apollo Global Management Inc (APO.N) posted a smaller-than-expected drop of 30% in fourth-quarter distributable earnings.
KKR said its private equity portfolio rose 32% during the quarter, while real estate and infrastructure funds gained 8% and 3%, respectively. Its leveraged credit funds rose by 7%.
In the fourth quarter, KKR said net income reached $1.47 billion under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), driven by a sharp rise in investment gains.
Total assets under management rose to $252 billion from $233.8 billion as of the end of September. KKR expects its assets under management to reach $342 billion following the completion of its $4.4 billion acquisition of annuities and life insurance provider Global Atlantic Financial Group Ltd.
KKR, which ended the quarter with $67 billion of unspent capital, declared a dividend of $0.135 per share.
Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York Editing by Matthew Lewis
Future of HealthcategoryU.S. CDC still looking at potential stroke risk from Pfizer bivalent COVID shot, article with image 8:31 PM UTC
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Autos & TransportationcategoryTesla, insurers take different paths to deal with expensive repairs, article with image 9:50 PM UTC
Autos & TransportationcategoryToyota boss bows out on news outlet he trusts - his own, article with image 3:57 PM UTC
Exclusive: U.S. Energy Department to allocate $118 mln to biofuels projects, article with imageEnvironmentcategory · January 26, 2023 · 6:43 PM UTC
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday will announce over $100 million in funding to expand U.S. biofuels production, as the Biden administration works to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and meet climate goals, the department told Reuters.
Media & TelecomcategoryExclusive: JPMorgan looking to finance Italy's Serie A for up to 1 bln euros -sources, article with image 10:18 PM UTC
FinancecategoryBlackstone's earnings fall 41% as assets sales slump, article with image 10:53 PM UTC . Updated undefined ago
Retail & ConsumercategoryBed Bath & Beyond gets loan default notice from JPMorgan - filing, article with image 8:55 PM UTC
Retail & ConsumercategoryHome Depot Canada found sharing customer personal data with Meta - privacy regulator, article with image 9:43 PM UTC


PocketLibrarian, I'm the author of Pi Scan so I'm happy to work with you to debug your issue. You can PM me or start a new thread (this is not the right place for it).
Other than that, I'd say that TwoCamControl is a great controller system. And Using a USB trigger like Konos93a describes is also a reasonable alternative.


text:
Jim DePasquale, Green candidate for State Senate, goes on the record
BY JOHN DUKE
Q: Tell us something the voters might not know about you?
A: Until recently I lived within walking distance of the once wonderful Hoyt Lake. When I was young my parents were able to take my sister, myself and a few of our friends there for summer picnics.
Nowadays I would never consider bringing my son and daughter there because of the polluted water. I've listened as one State Senator after another promised to remove it's hazardous chemicals. Senators Anthony Masiello, Anthony Nanula, Byron Brown and Antoine Thompson etc. tried and failed. Channel 2, WGRZ, is always reporting on the disaster in the middle of Western New York.
Q: Then cleaning the lake would be a Top Priority?
A: Now that we are no longer living under the threat of having Fracking Water dumped into the Niagara River, bringing Hoyt Lake back to life will be my Top Priority. Aerating the lake is simple – it's not rocket science.
Q: Do you know any of the other candidates or their positions on the environment?
A: I've seen 3 of the 4 other candidates at environmental meetings and protests but I've never met them.
Q: Who have you seen and where have you seen them?
A: Well, I've seen Kevin Stocker protesting Tonawanda Coke and he went ballistic over the crematorium on Sheridan Drive spewing human ashes on the Tonawanda and Amherst neighborhoods. I don't understand why they couldn't control the smokestacks. Chris Jacobs and a lot of elected officials come to all of the meetings at the Marcy Casino about the pollution in Hoyt Lake, but I really don't believe the City or County will have enough money to clean the lake. It'll have to be the State. At the Army Corp of Engineers meeting they said the price tag would only be $4.4 million, unless they have to dredge it. And Al Coppola, he's everywhere. I first saw him when he was councilman for the Italian Delaware District of North Buffalo. It wasn't his job, but he was Buffalo's top fiscal watchdog. He caught Andy Sanfilippo asleep at the wheel and called in Alfreda Slominski when Bob DeLano was dumping anti-freeze into Hoyt Lake. Al's been at all the Hoyt Lake meetings like Jacobs and before that Al stopped the hospitals from burning medical waste and dumping dangerous ashes into the neighborhoods, just like Stocker did with the crematorium.
Q: What about the 4th candidate, any opinion?
A: No, not really. I've never seen or heard that person at any of the environmental meetings or protests. I'm sure there are good qualities in everyone and the environment doesn't have to be everybody's priority. 4 out of 5 candidates ain't bad.
Q: Do you have an opinion on the Safe Act?
A: Well, I believe the writers had good intentions. The way they wrote it and passed it in the middle of the night as an emergency made it a bit chaotic.I join former Gubernatorial Candidates Howie Hawkins and Zephyr Teachout in opposing the Safe Act. To almost quote Hawkins, "after all, we are a party of environmentalists, hunters and farmers. Why should only criminals have guns?"
Q: Do you have a preference in this year's Presidential Race?
A: I'm looking forward to writing in Bernie Sanders name regardless of which party boss likes or doesn't like it. I'm not an autotron, no one should be. It'll be an honor to vote for Bernie and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Writing-in a candidate's name has never been easier.
Q: Thanks so much for being concerned with Western New York's future. Is there anything else you want to ad?
A: Yes, Vote Green this November, be at Peace and Breathe Easier.
TagsJim DePasquale
Importance of Art and Music in Online Casino Slots
Something is rotten in the State of Denmark, and Hoyt Lake - says:
[…] Party over reach is trying to control the Green Party. The Dems are attempting to stop environmentalist James DePasquale environmentalist James DePasquale from running on the Green line in the 60th State Senate […]
Graphic Traffic: Astronauts in trouble
An interview with Kevin Stocker


text:
Q: Selection Events in ArcObjects using Java I am trying to have an ArcMap addin receive ISelectionEvents, but I can't figure out how to register the event handler. I'm using ArcObjects 10.0 for Java. I'm able to catch IDocumentEvents as follows:
public void init(IApplication app) throws java.io.IOException, com.esri.arcgis.interop.AutomationException{
    super.init(app);
    this.app = app;
    MxDoc doc = (MxDocument) this.app.getDocument();
    doc.addIDocumentEventsListener(new EventCatcher()); // EventCatcher implements IDocumentsEvents and ISelectionEvents
}

Any suggestions on where to look would be greatly appreciated.


Dianne Moran's list of classroom supplies is anything but typical.
Snakes, chinchillas, lizards and chickens join Moran, a former keeper at the St. Louis Zoo—into the classroom at Keeven Elementary School in Hazelwood. The program on this day is "Amazing Creatures," a popular workshop that introduces a variety of critters to students.
The veteran Springboard to Learning Teaching Partner has been delivering nature and historical programming to St. Louis area-schools for the past 21 years. In total, Moran offers 17 different programs that engage students in learning about wildlife and American history.
Nature and wildlife isn't just a point of interest for Moran—it's a part of her everyday life. For the past 28 years, she has made her home on a 105-acre plot of land in Richwoods, Missouri. In addition to being the home of her diverse collection of animals, the town is the resting place of Toussaint Charbonneau, the husband of the Native American guide and explorer, Sacagewea. It was her hometown's distinction that helped fuel the idea for Moran's program titled, Lewis and Clark's Sacagewea.
Her history programs cover topics surrounding everything from Missouri history to the American Revolution. Her work in area classrooms became her focus after completing her career with the St. Louis Zoo, where she worked with area kids in a variety of educational and storytelling programs, in addition to her work as a zookeeper.
Moran's career with Springboard to Learning has 21 of the organization's 51 years in serving St. Louis-area youth, and has lauded the effect the organization can have on a diverse population of students.


text:
Is FFXI dead?
Is Final Fantasy XI dead?
Can you solo ff11?
Can you play Final Fantasy XI offline?
Does Final Fantasy XI have a monthly fee?
Can you still play Final Fantasy 11 on ps2?
Can you play ff11?
Is ff11 free to play?
Are FFXI and Ffxiv connected?
Is ff14 a sequel to ff11?
Is Ffxiv turn based?
Why did FF stop turn based?
How does turn based combat work?
What does ATB mean in Final Fantasy?
What is ATB in ff7 remake?
What does ATB mean?
Is Final Fantasy XIII good?
Which Final Fantasy 13 is the best?
What is the most popular Final Fantasy?
Why is ff15 so short?
If you want to play FFXI in 2018, you should play on a fan server. The real FFXI is dead and cannot be salvaged. Playing on fan servers present it's own issue as well.
So no, the game is not dead. I have never had more fun with FFXI than I am having with it right now.
Yes, it is worth it. Its possible to solo now that they introduced trust npcs(NPC party members essentially). You can solo a good bit of content, but the very endgame requires parties which aren't too hard to find.
This game's multiplayer is extremely needed for everything in the game. The server is a giant world and only functions through the community. The soloing is so limited that it would be impossible offline.
Currently, Final Fantasy XI costs $12.95 a month to play.
Final Fantasy XI became the final active server on the PlayStation 2 online service. Support for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions was ultimately ended on March 31, 2016, leaving only the PC platform playable.
In order to play Final Fantasy XI, you need to sign up for PlayOnline, an online gaming service created by Square (now Square Enix) in 2000.
To play FINAL FANTASY XI, you will need to pay the game's basic service fee and all service fees for each option associated with your service account. Service fees are billed to the payment method registered to your service account. Service fees can also be paid by using Square Enix Crysta.
Nope, they're separate worlds – as far as we know. There's zero direct linkage, but – as with most FF games – there's a lot of common lore regardless. Well, depends what you mean by "direct" links. For an event, Shantotto (FFXI) came to Eorzea through dimensional travel.
But FFXIV is by no means FFXI-2. It is not a sequel and besides the races, it is not meant to resemble FFXI in any way. Square Enix made this game to be a completely different game then FFXI and it's competitors' games (WOW etc…)
It's an MMORPG, so no, it's not turn based.
Final fantasy is dropping the turn based combat most likely because turn based combat doesn't sell well anymore. It doesn't show well in trailers. Square Enix needs this game to sell gangbusters to even start making their money back on it.
The turn-based combat system in this article is text-only, and works by allowing players to choose to defend against or attack their opponent in turn. The battle ends when only one player has some health remaining. Each Player taking part in the battle is added to the static players list as it's created.
active time battle
Party members use normal attacks to build up their ATB (Active Time Battle) gauges. ATB charges can then be consumed for a wide variety of abilities and spells provided by weapons and materia fitted on weapons and armor, in addition to items.
Definitely worth $13 for 35+ hours of fun. Honestly, it's like 35-40 hours long, and it's a good game. It's not a good game when you consider it's a Final Fantasy game, but it's a good game on its own and it doesn't deserve all the hate it gets, necessarily.
Opinion: Lightning Returns is by far the best 'XIII' game
The XIII brand has gotten less serious with each game, to its benefit:
Lightning Returns has a real ending, with no DLC needed:
The pacing is flexible, and there's actual exploration involved:
It's challenging, and the combat system is engaging:
It's not perfect, but I'm a fan:
Top 10 ranked Final Fantasy Games
1.Final Fantasy IX (94%)
2.Final Fantasy VII (92%)
3.Final Fantasy VI (92%)
4.Final Fantasy XII (92%)
5.Final Fantasy X (92%)
6.Final Fantasy VIII (90%)
7.Final Fantasy IV (89%)
8.Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (86%)
The story's short because everything that was done up to 2012 was essentially binned. They decided to completely restart from the ground up and thought they'd be able to do it in 3 years. Good open world games take much longer than 3 years. That's why pretty much everything that was interesting about this game was cut.