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It was Friday morning, and I received the invitation to run and test the best of the best from Porsche Puerto Rico. The World Roadshow is...
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How many Pokemon are there in total?
Pokemon 7K views
D.Scarlett
Answered: May 03, 2018
There are 802 Pokémon in total before you count start adding any additional forms.
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Why are Bose speakers so expensive?
gadget 604 views
C. Perez, Writer
Answered: Aug 01, 2019
Bose began releasing speakers in 1966. Years later, they are still one of the leading brands when it comes to sound. For many, they are too high to afford, but the price is due to them using the...Read More
Is Charlie Chaplin actually the worst sex-offender of all time?
charlie chaplin 1K views
Travis Martin, Corporate employee
Answered: Jul 09, 2018
There are just a lot of sex offenders in Hollywood. There are some whose names are already popular in the public eye and then there are some that are still kept a secret. Charlie Chaplin is one...Read More
Why is Disprin banned in the USA?
Medicine 1K views
S. Nicole, Wordsmith
Answered: Oct 04, 2018
Disprin is banned in almost all developed countries due to various reasons. Although, Disprin tablet is widely used by people to reduce pain, fever, headache, and sometimes for heart attacks,...Read More
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How much does a gallon of water weigh?
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All the states of matter, which are the solid, liquid, and gas have their ways in which they can be measured. Just like gas and solid, the liquid can also be measured with the use of gallon unit....Read More
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A. Boaz, Mechanical Engineer
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Why does Alan Walker cover his face?
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Alan Walker is also known as DJ Walkzz. His single "Faded" that was released in 2015 was well-received by a lot of people. This has made him recognizable especially to people who like...Read More
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tinder 4K views
J.Mark, Editor
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J. Harty, Writer
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Circulation is one of the principal factors used to set advertising rates. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulation, since some newspapers are distributed without cost to the reader. Readership figures are usually higher than circulation figures because of the assumption that a typical copy of the newspaper is read by more than one person.
In many countries, circulations are audited by independent bodies such as the Audit Bureau of Circulations to assure advertisers that a given newspaper does indeed reach the number of people claimed by the publisher.
In many developed countries, newspaper circulation is falling due to social and technological changes such as the availability of news on the internet. On the other hand, in some developing countries circulation is increasing as these factors are more than cancelled out by rising incomes, population, and literacy.
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) publishes a list of newspapers with the largest circulation. In 2011, India led the world in terms of newspaper circulation with nearly 330 million newspapers circulated daily. In 2005, China topped the list in term of total newspaper circulation with 93.5 million a day, India came second with 78.8 million, followed by Japan, with 70.4 million; the United States, with 48.3 million; and Germany, with 22.1 million. Around 75 of the 100 best selling newspapers are in Asia and seven out of top ten are Japanese newspapers.
The Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun are still the largest circulated newspapers in the world. The Times of India is the largest circulated English-language daily newspaper in the world, across all formats (Broadsheet, Compact, Berliner and Online). Reference News (參考消息) is the most popular paper in China. The largest circulated newspapers from the United States are the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, the latter having eclipsed the former for a period of years; but according to its own press kit, the circulation of USA Today declined by 3 million in 2009 alone, leaving WSJ on top again.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the daily circulation of the Soviet newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda exceeded 21,500,000 in 1990, while the Soviet weekly Argumenty i Fakty boasted a circulation of 33,500,000 in 1991.
The Herald Sun has the highest circulation in Australia, although somewhat unusually it is based in Melbourne, which is neither the country's capital nor its biggest city.
The Belgian institution CIM (Centre for Information about Media) publishes national circulation figures for all written, audiovisual and web-based media in Belgium. The top ten best selling papers according to their website  are Het Laatste Nieuws, 317,715; Het Nieuwsblad, 245,209; SUD Presse (group of papers focused on community specific content), 147,749; Het Belang van Limburg, 121,428; Le Soir, 113,780; Vers l'avenir, 109,287 (group of papers focused on community specific content); La Dernière Heure, 107,583; De Standaard, 104,758; Het Volk.
The most widely read paper in the country is the Toronto Star, which, as of the six-month period ending on March 31, 2007, averaged 634,886 copies sold on Saturday, 436,694 Monday to Friday, and 442,265 on Sunday. The second most widely read paper is Toronto-based national newspaper The Globe and Mail, which averaged 374,000 copies on Saturdays, and 303,000 Monday to Friday. The most widely read French-language newspaper is Le Journal de Montréal, which averaged 319,899 copies on Saturday, 267,404 Monday to Friday, and 264,733 on Sunday. Unlike in the United States, newspapers in Canada published their biggest and mostly widely read editions on Saturdays.
The 2010 Indian Readership Survey findings shows that the largest read local language newspapers to be Dainik Jagran (with 16.429 million readers) and Dainik Bhaskar (with 14.448 million readers), both published in Hindi. The Times of India is the most widely read English language newspaper ( 4.9 million), followed by Ananda Bazar Patrika (5.5 million), Gujarat Samachar (4.5 million), Hindustan Times (3.9 million), Eenadu (1.7 million), Dina Thanthi (1.6 million), Sakshi (1.45 million). The New Indian Express is another widely read English language newspaper (1.8 million). Malayala Manorama newspaper which is published in Malayalam from, currently has a readership of over 9.9 million (with a circulation base of over 2 million copies) has the most circulation in other languages.
The 2004 circulation figures for the morning and evening editions of Japan's largest newspapers: Yomiuri Shimbun, 14,067,000; The Asahi Shimbun, 12,121,000; Mainichi Shimbun, 5,587,000; Seikyou Shimbun, 5,500,000; Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 4,635,000; Chunichi Shimbun/Tokyo Shimbun,4,512,000; Tokyo Sports, 2,425,000; Sankei Shimbun, 2,757,000; Nikkan Sports, 1,965,000; Hokkaido Shimbun, 1,896,594; Sports Nippon, 1,711,000; The Nikkan Gendai, 1,686,000; Akahata, 1,683,000; Yukan Fuji, 1,559,000; Shizuoka Shimbun, 1,479,000; Sankei Sports, 1,368,000; Hochi Shimbun, 1,354,000; Daily Sports, 999,000.
The Norwegian Media Businesses' Association publishes national circulation figures for every newspaper in Norway every year. In 2011 the most read newspaper was the Oslo-based national newspaper Aftenposten, with a circulation of 235,795 followed by the tabloid Verdens Gang with 211,588. The local evening newspaper Aften averages 101,574 and the tabloid Dagbladet had 98,989 readers. The financial newspaper Dagens Næringsliv averaged 82,595. In the top ten list it is followed by five local newspapers: Bergens Tidende, 79,467; Adresseavisen, 71,657; Stavanger Aftenblad, 63,283; Fædrelandsvennen, 36,604 and Drammens Tidende, 33,352.
The top 6 best selling papers are respectively: Zaman, 1.021.730; Posta, 472,519; Hürriyet, 444,777; Sabah, 353,815; Habertürk, 233,381; Sözcü, 213,314.
According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations the best-selling papers as of January 2011 are The Sun, 3,001,822, The Daily Mail, 2,136,568 and the Daily Mirror, 1,194,097.
The heyday of the newspaper industry was the 1940s, but the percentage of Americans reading newspapers began to decline with the increased competition from radio, television and, more recently, the Internet. A growing population helped the absolute circulation numbers continue to increase until the 1970s, where it remained stable until the 1990s, when absolute circulation numbers began declining.
Newspaper circulation numbers are reported to the Alliance for Audited Media. The best-selling papers in America, measured by combined daily average circulation as of March 31, 2013, are the Wall Street Journal with 2,378,827 in circulation; The New York Times at 1,865,318; and USA Today with 1,674,306. Overall, for the 593 reporting newspapers, daily circulation declined 0.7 percent year-over-year between March 2012 and March 2013. Sunday circulation was down 1.4 percent over the same period.
Newspaper delivery: The circulation department of a newspaper, in addition to soliciting subscriptions, also distributes them to subscribers to the print edition. The last step is newspaper delivery consisting of newspaper routes run either by motor vehicle or traditional adolescent "paper boys."
^ "Print Media grows by 6.25%; Urdu at No. 3". twocircles.net.
^ "World Association of Newspapers". wan-press.org.
^ "Top 25 U.S. Newspapers For March 2013". 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2013-06-09.


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"The LEGO NINJAGO Movie" – an epic tale of good and…dad
By InqPOP!
InqPOP!
From the team behind the blockbuster LEGO movies that have delighted audiences of all ages around the globe, comes an all-new, big-screen event, The LEGO NINJAGO Movie, in Philippine cinemas September 27.
The LEGO NINJAGO Movie stars Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña, Zach Woods, and the legendary Jackie Chan.
Sharing the heart, wit, and irrepressible sense of fun that made the first two outings so unforgettable, The LEGO NINJAGO Movie explores another cinematic world—the fantastic, faraway island of NINJAGO—with a new ensemble of characters and its own signature style: a fusion of state-of-the-art digital brick animation with elements of the organic world that producer Dan Lin calls "the next step in the evolution of the LEGO films."
What the filmmakers envisioned was an expansive action adventure with the handmade look and feel of something sprung from the imagination of a kid creating a LEGO universe in his own backyard. And to re-capture that excitement for the Master Builder in everyone.
"We have fight sequences choreographed by kung fu legend Jackie Chan, giant mech combat and a creature bent on destroying the city. It's crazy," says Charlie Bean, a longtime LEGO fan and one of the film's directors. "I love martial arts movies, robot and monster movies, and this is a love letter to those genres, seen through the unique LEGO lens."
At the same time, the story touches on themes and values that are not only the hallmark of these films but have been the foundation of the LEGO experience for generations. "It's about family, and self-discovery," says Bean, citing the central conflict between the young ninja Lloyd, dedicated to protecting NINJAGO City, and his father, Garmadon, who is constantly attacking it.
"Even though it's played out on an epic scale, it's an intimate story centered on this father and son. They are at odds with each other for many reasons, beyond the fact that
one is a hero and one is a villain. Lloyd feels he missed out on having his father in his life. Through the course of their adventure, they tackle challenges that are bigger than both of them, and they are forced to deal with each other, which requires a process of discovery for each of them."
The story calls upon Lloyd and his fellow ninjas to look within, to find their own true strengths and talents, and their inner… piece.
"These are modern kids and they're obsessed with technology, like all of us," says Bean. "Their teacher, Master Wu, is trying to instill in them the fundamentals of what it really means to be a ninja, but they'd rather fight with loud, shiny mechs. He's trying to teach them that mechs get destroyed and technology can let you down. They need to understand that what's inside them is more powerful than any of that."
"The LEGO NINJAGO Movie" is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Hit fantasy drama series 'Shadow and Bone' season 2 begins production


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Q: Unit tests should mock all external services? I'm creating unit tests for a disk device manager which format disks, manage disk partitions and create logical volumes and groups in Linux. This disk manager is a class in a bigger application. I will certainly have to create tests which test the integration of (1) the disk device manager class and (2) the OS commands and libraries used to perform disk operations.
1) Would these tests be classified as unit or integration tests? They seem unit tests because they only test a module of my application, but they also seem integration tests because they depend on external code.
2) Is it worth it to also mock OS commands and external libraries behavior to create isolated unit tests?
Thanks in advance.

A: The integration tests verify how two (or more) real components are working together. Usually the components have some well defined API and tests are run through it in order to ensure the API implementation. The unit tests are verify the one unit (class) only. We are using mocks to simulate the "external" behaviour in the unit tests.
Therefore when you test your component against the real system (OS) this is integration tests.
It is worth to prepare the mock in order to verify the class behaviour independ from the real environment. For example you may want to launch these unit tests after your builds (Continuous Integration) and verify the regression. In this case you want to run pretty fast and not deal with the real OS.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Diplotop - product comparison - gathers AKG C 417 III users reviews, tests and opinions.With a data base of unprecedented wealth, 6 reviews for the AKG C 417 III, Diplotop compares the AKG C 417 III with its competitors in order to find the best.
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AKG C 417 III Reviews
On average, its users find the user-friendliness of the AKG C 417 III reasonable.The find it doesn't really stand out for its reliability nor its sturdiness., But their opinions differ greatly. You can look at the AKG C 417 III forum to identify problems that users have come across and the suggested solutions.
Its users find it fairly efficient., But they don't all share the same opinion. They think that it is sold at the right price You can download the AKG C 417 III user manual to ensure that its features correspond to your needs.
Is the C 417 III easy to use?
6 users answered questions and rated the product on a scale of 0 to 10. The rating is 10/10 if the AKG C 417 III is very user-friendly.
The average score balanced by the number of reviews is 6.67 and the standard differential is 3.3.
Is the C 417 III highly efficient?
6 users answered questions and rated the product on a scale of 0 to 10. The rating is 10/10 if the AKG C 417 III is, in its domain, the best on a technical level, the one offering the best quality, or offering the largest range of options.
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6 users answered questions and rated the product on a scale of 0 to 10. The rating is 10/10 if you think that the AKG C 417 III is a sturdy product, which will last a long time before breaking down.
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On my trip through Nevada, which is full of mining history, and long stretches of road with not much to see, I was thinking about the concept of "staking a claim".
In literal terms this phrase evolved from the idea of a settler or prospector driving stakes into the ground to mark the property boundaries where they planned to live or work. Today that phrase is generally used to mean that someone is the first to take ownership over an idea or market area or anything they want to claim their own.
Of course, if someone stakes a claim and then fails to develop and improve it, to work the land or mine the ore if you will, then there really wasn't much point in staking the claim anyway — this can be true of a website also.
When a domain name is registered it is like staking a claim on the Internet. Just like a piece of real property, that claim can be sold, transferred, and even abandoned; or it can be improved and developed to become something of even greater worth and value to the owner.
So what does it take to "stake" your website's claim and then make it more than just a claim?
To help remember let's think in terms of S.T.A.K.E.
S – Supply Information (Not Sales): obviously I'm not saying don't sell things online, e-commerce is a tremendous opportunity for brands and products. But there has to be something about your website that is informational and helpful to website visitors regardless of a purchase. A relevant, high content, high value website is more likely to be found by potential customers searching the web. Consumers will have questions and need tips. The more of those questions and tips you can provide for them to discover on your website, or social media, or opt-in emails, the more comfortable and likely they are to buy from you or subscribe to your services at some point in time. Staking the claim is easy, all the hard work starts afterwards.
T – Time: don't expect to be an overnight online sensation. It takes time to develop the informational content and build a community of website users or shoppers. Your website strategy has to be consistent and deliberate over a period of time. In the age of information there is a lot of noise and it takes that time to build an online platform big enough and loud enough to be heard and get noticed. Give it time and don't give up, the "mother load" of gold could be just a few more months away, keep digging!
A – Analyze: don't just assume your website strategy is working. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools to see both the good and bad results from your online efforts. Website metrics, social media metrics, mailing list metrics — good website development tools and services offer an abundance of feedback on what's going on with your website; the when, where, why and how of what's working and what's not. Don't just randomly start digging, setup and use the tools available and use metrics to "tunnel" in the right location; it's called data mining for a reason after all.
K – Know Your Audience: as you develop content and analyze metrics, over time you will begin to have a better understanding of who your audience is, what they want, and how to best serve and inform them. Often times it's not the product or service you are selling that's the problem, it's just not being discovered and seen by the right audience. Other times it may mean listening to audience feedback to re-develop or improve your product into something they want and need more. Over time a good prospector learns where the gold is likely to be found by understanding the surface signs and recognizing areas with the most potential.
E – Evolve: none of the above will make much difference over time if the methods used to improve your website claim don't continue to evolve and improve. Obviously if a website hasn't been updated even once in the last 10 years there are going to be significant issues. A static, out of date, uninformed website is not going to produce very much results. Diminished returns will be the status quo for every website that fails to evolve with both new technology and audience expectations. After all, when was the last time you saw a miner pulling a donkey and swinging a pickaxe?
Eric Ramos is a life long artist, graphic designer, programmer, website developer and entrepreneur who enjoys working with businesses to create, maintain and improve their "home on the web" with an understanding that successful websites require a strategy of ongoing assessment, adjustment and refinement, not just a one time launch hoping for results. Passionate about technology, design and business development, Eric's goal is to not just build better websites, but better businesses, growing and improving with them together, side-by-side.


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Home > Vol 5, No 4 (2021) > Egatz Wozniak
How to cite (IEEE): M. Egatz Wozniak, H. Valdés-González, & L. Reyes-Bozo "Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation," JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization, vol. 5, no. 4, , pp. 481-487, Dec. 2021. https://doi.org/10.30630/joiv.5.4.652
How to cite (APA): Egatz Wozniak, M., Valdés-González, H., & Reyes-Bozo, L. (2021). Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation. JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization, 5(4), 481-487. https://doi.org/10.30630/joiv.5.4.652
How to cite (Chicago): Egatz Wozniak, Marcos, Valdés-González, Héctor, AND Reyes-Bozo, Lorenzo. "Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation" JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization [Online], Volume 5 Number 4 (31 December 2021) https://doi.org/10.30630/joiv.5.4.652
How to cite (Vancouver): Egatz Wozniak M, Valdés-González H, & Reyes-Bozo L . Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation. JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization [Online]. 2021 Dec; 5(4):481-487. https://doi.org/10.30630/joiv.5.4.652
How to cite (Harvard): Egatz Wozniak, M., Valdés-González, H., & Reyes-Bozo, L. ,2021. Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation. JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization, [Online] 5(4), pp. 481-487. https://doi.org/10.30630/joiv.5.4.652
How to cite (MLA8): Egatz Wozniak, Marcos, Héctor Valdés-González, & Lorenzo Reyes-Bozo. "Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation." JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization [Online], 5.4 (2021): 481-487. Web. 1 Feb. 2023 , https://doi.org/10.30630/joiv.5.4.652
author = {Marcos Egatz Wozniak and Héctor Valdés-González and Lorenzo Reyes-Bozo},
title = {Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation},
keywords = {Blockchain; Organic merchandise; Generation of garbage in supermarkets; Hyperledger Fabric; Traceability},
abstract = {This work presents a proposal for a solution to the specific problem of organic waste generated by supermarkets and understood as t merchandise of organic and perishable composition that could not be marketed during its validity period. The goal of this research is to propose a solution based on Blockchain technology in Chile, which would allow an immutable, decentralized, and validated transaction record to be kept. Such a record would enable supermarkets to trace the life cycle of those products that make up organic and perishable merchandise in a transparent, reliable, and scalable way. To this end, the problem is modeled using the Blockchain Hyperledger Fabric platform (an open-source platform started by the Linux Foundation), which is fed with relevant information and data on the status of a representative set of organic merchandise products. At the same time, a qualitative approach is proposed to gather the opinions of executives and logistics operators through semi-structured interviews, and considering a convenience sample. With a sample of 6 executives, it is understood how the proposal is perceived and its applicability in supermarkets and distributors. The data show that both obtaining information and making decisions about it are achieved in a distributed and collaborative way, allowing for reliable and agile traceability, thereby mitigating the low quality of the information provided by the actors that make up the supply chain. This service is perceived as desirable by both customers and operators.  The model enables not only horizontal communications between suppliers, distributors, and consumers, but also vertical ones, and thus, ultimately, makes the company's income statement more efficient.},
@article{{JOIV}{652}, author = {Egatz Wozniak, M., Valdés-González, H., Reyes-Bozo, L.}, title = {Blockchain in Supermarkets: Mitigating the Problem of Organic Waste Generation}, journal = {JOIV : International Journal on Informatics Visualization}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.30630/joiv.5.4.652}, url = {} }


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Leptolaena delphinensis – gatunek rodzaju Leptolaena z rodziny Sarcolaenaceae. Występującego naturalnie na Madagaskarze, na terenie dawnej prowincji Toliara.

Występuje na obszarze 221 km². Naturalnym siedliskiem są lasy przybrzeżne.

Według Czerwonej Księgi jest gatunkiem krytycznie zagrożonym. Jest często selektywnie wykorzystany w budownictwie ze względu na dobre właściwości drewna. Lokalnie jego kora jest używana do produkcji rumu. Ze względu na ograniczony zasięg występowania oraz z powodu oczyszczania lasu pod działalność górniczą przewiduje się spadek populacji tego gatunku w przyszłości o 80%.

Przypisy

Sarcolaenaceae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Namrata Shirodkar Hails Daughter Sitara For Her Debut In Music Video With Dad Mahesh Babu, Says "She Was Phenomenal"
April 12, 2022 | by Janvi Manchanda
So much can happen over a family dinner, hai na? And it looks like celebs and star kids plan their debuts over dinner. Recently, actor Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar's 9-year-old daughter, Sitara made her debut in her first music video for Sarkaru Vaari Paata's special song titled 'Penny'. The song also features her father Mahesh Babu. In a recent interview, Namrata Shirodkar revealed that the family had a conversation about their daughter's debut in a conversation over dinner.
In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Namrata Shirodkar shared that Thaman came up with the idea after he saw Sitara in a reel on 'Kalavathi'. He mentioned the same to Mahesh Babu in passing after which the actor discussed the same with her and Sitara over dinner when the star kid said that it sounds fun and that she would love to do it. Speaking further, the actress said that they were all nervous as it was Sitara's first time doing it in a professional set up and they weren't sure how it would turn out. She also shared that they decided to try it and release it only if it worked but everyone worked out well in the end. "She was phenomenal, all set and focused. She knew, she wanted to do it and did it fabulously. She was disciplined and all of that takes to be on a film working set. She surprised me and Mahesh. We were proud and pleasantly surprised," the actress told Pinkvilla. The actress also said that while the star kid loves dancing and making reels, she does not think that Sitara will be working in more music videos going ahead.
Recently, Sitara made her parents proud by performing her first-ever Kuchipudi dance recital on Ram Navami. Speaking about the same, Namrata Shirodkar said that her daughter has been learning the classical dance form since the age of 5 and has now perfected the art enough to do recitals now. She went on to add that the teachers also believe Sitara is ready while adding that this was her first recital and everyone including the teachers are happy with the results. The actress called her daughter 'multitalented' while praising her painting and swimming skills. "She does what she likes and what she doesn't, she will not. It would be safe to say these are her skills and hobbies that she tries to become better at," she said.
A post shared by Mahesh Babu (@urstrulymahesh)
Also Read: Meet Falguni Shah Aka Falu, Indian-American Singer Who Won A Grammy Trophy For Best Children's Music Album
Well, TBH, we're glad we got to see Sitara perform beautifully. We're already fans of this star kid and the father-daughter duo!
Namrata Shirodkar And Mahesh Babu Celebrate Their 17th Wedding Anniversary. Actress Reveals Her 'Recipe' For A Happy Marriage!
namrata shirodkar
Janvi Manchanda
Janvi uses her pen to smash the patriarchy. Geet one day and Wednesday Addams the next. Writing is the bane of her existence and the object of all her desires!
April 12, 2022 | by Tejal Limaje
April 12, 2022 | by Kinjal Panchal
April 12, 2022 | by Jinal Bhatt


On Tuesday 16th September we began our autumn programme with a visit from Claire Trévien. Claire brought a refreshing new voice to Tunbridge Wells, with some of the flavour of Brittany, where she was brought up, and some striking imagery which penetrates and stays in the mind. Claire writes in a variety of styles, and takes us into the sea, homes and some surreal places. There was a wide range of mood and subject-matter, and we enjoyed her first guest appearance in the Camden Centre.
The competition is now open to receive entries. Our judge is the renowned poet, Mario Petrucci. Click on competition tab above for details.


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ARCHIVED - Order CRTC 2001-193
Order CRTC 2001-193
Ottawa, 5 March 2001
Telemarketing restrictions extended to all telecom service providers
Reference:8665-C12-09/00
The CRTC is extending the telemarketing restrictions to all wireline, wireless and resale providers of telecom services and their customers.
Telemarketing restrictions have historically been issued according to geography and service provider category, resulting in a patchwork application of rules across Canada.
Those rules are no longer contingent upon geography or the type of service provider. Instead, this order provides for applying the telemarketing regulations to all telecom service sectors in all locations.
Public notice issued in June 2000
Soliciting comments to extend telemarketing restrictions across Canada, Public Notice CRTC 2000-91, dated 30 June 2000, expressed the preliminary view that the rules for unsolicited communications using automatic dialing and announcing devices (ADADs), live voice and facsimile (fax) solicitations should apply uniformly across Canada to the following service providers:
· all incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), including independent telephone companies;
· all competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs);
· interexchange carriers (IXCs);
· wireless service providers (WSPs);
· resellers of the telecommunications services provided by the above entities.
The rules and conditions for unsolicited communications were set out in Use of telephone company facilities for the provision of unsolicited telecommunications, Telecom Decision CRTC 94-10, dated 13 June 1994, and Telecom Order CRTC 96-1229, dated 7 November 1996. Local competition, Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8, dated 1 May 1997, extended the rules and conditions to the CLECs operating in the territories of those ILECs to whom the rules apply.
Presently, the Commission's rules for unsolicited telecommunications using ADADs, live voice and fax are not uniformly applied across Canada. That is, the rules now apply only to some telecom service providers and not to others. (See Appendix 1 on regional and sectoral disparity.)
In addition, Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) has solicitation rules in its tariffs which were approved by its provincial regulator prior to the telco coming under the Commission's jurisdiction in June 2000. These differ in some respects from those approved by the Commission for other telcos.
Majority of participating parties support uniformity
The majority of parties who commented on the extension of the present rules supported the Commission's preliminary view. These included the major telcos, the Bell Wireless Alliance (BWA) consisting of Bell Mobility Inc., Island Telecom Inc., MTS Communications Inc., MTT Mobility Inc., NBTel Inc. and NewTel Mobility Ltd. Other parties in agreement were Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus, Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Canadian Survey Research Council, Ontario Privacy Commissioner, Action Réseau Consommateur and the Consumers' Association of Canada (ARC/CAC), Vidéotron Communications Inc. and numerous other organizations and individuals.
Canada Fax Service (CFS) and the Canadian Fax Broadcasting Coalition did not support the Commission's preliminary view.
Compliance in the wireless sector
A number of parties noted that extending the rules to service providers who are not currently subject to them raises a number of compliance issues.
For example, with respect to the use of WSP services for telemarketing, BWA noted that not all WSPs will be able to display the calling number or alternate number from the originating party as would be required by the rules. Display of these numbers is determined by the type of interconnection between the WSP and the public switched telephone network. Eventually, however, BWA stated that WSPs will likely evolve toward trunk-side interconnection which will allow for display of the calling number.
BWA supported uniform application of the rules to all categories of service providers, but it noted that the Commission has determined that wireless telephone numbers are considered confidential and are not to be disclosed without subscriber consent. BWA suggested that the Commission stipulate that this confidentiality should be waived when a subscriber uses a wireless service for telemarketing purposes.
Name display blocking in NBTel's territory
ARC/CAC noted that NBTel now permits telemarketers to block the display of their calling name and number on the called party's set and proposed that this not be allowed.
The Commission notes that NBTel, which prior to this order was not subject to any rules governing voice and fax solicitations, has a tariff for per-line call display blocking which allows callers including telemarketers in its territory to block display of their calling names and numbers on the called party's telephone set. Such blocking by telemarketers is not permitted by the rules in effect for the other telecom service providers where the call to solicit must display the originating number or an alternate number where the call originator can be reached.
Uniform calling hours
SaskTel generally supported the view that all telemarketers should respect the same rules. It stated, however, that it does not support the adoption of uniform calling hours across Canada, because the present rules do not address time zones and apply to a telemarketer's calling hours as opposed to the time consumers receive a call.
The Commission notes however, that its current rules for fax solicitations do take time zones into account by stating that the permitted calling hours for fax are those of the called party.
Rules will apply to resellers
On the matter of applying the rules to resellers, Bell Canada, Island Tel, MTT, MTS, NBTel, NewTel (and TELUS in its own comments) cited a report by the Customer Transfer Group of the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee that had recommended that consumer safeguards be imposed on resellers and enforced through contractual arrangements or other means with local exchange carriers (LECs). This resulted in the CRTC Letter Decision of 1 February 2000 directing all LECs, as a condition of providing services to resellers, to include a contractual stipulation which would oblige resellers to adhere to the consumer safeguards described in the report. Pursuant to their service contracts, resellers are now required to enforce solicitation rules as a condition of reselling a LEC's services.
CMA supported uniform rules, but opposed the current prohibition placed on ADADs solicitations. The CMA stated that once an individual purchases a product or service from a company, there is implied consent and reasonable expectation that the company will attempt to build an on-going relationship with the consumer by marketing similar products or services. The CMA argued that, in this situation, ADADs should be permitted.
Canada Fax Service maintained that the current restrictions and enforcement provisions are unreasonable and argued against expanding the current regime. CFS was of the view that telemarketing "problems" are easily overcome by technology. Among other things, it stated that the Commission's regulation of the current regime has had a harmful effect on niche telemarketing innovations and activities in Canada. CFS did not, however, provide evidence to support its view.
The Canadian Fax Broadcasting Coalition noted that there should be a uniform code of conduct for fax broadcasters, but there should be no hour restrictions on unsolicited faxes since they are directed at businesses, not to residential consumers.
A number of parties did not specifically address uniform application of the rules but commented on unwanted solicitations, the effectiveness of the existing rules, and how they could be changed.
The Commission notes that the lack of uniform application of the rules has led to consumer confusion and difficulties for telephone companies and the Commission in their efforts to resolve customer complaints. Furthermore, currently enforcement for violating the rules can only be invoked by LECs who are subject to the rules and who apply them to soliciting parties who use their facilities.
A uniform application of the rules would enable both service providers and the Commission to deal effectively with customer concerns and consistently explain the rules to customers regardless of their service provider or location.
The solicitation rules already apply to resellers by virtue of the Commission's letter decision of 1 February 2000 and there is no indication that implementing a uniform application of the rules to LECs, IXCs and WSPs will pose operational or technical problems other than the WSP calling number display issue outlined in paragraph 8. Therefore, the Commission concludes that implementation of consistent rules for these service providers is feasible.
The Commission notes that the independent telcos did not provide comments in this proceeding although some were registered parties. The Commission concludes that the rules should apply to them also.
SaskTel's current tariffs on unsolicited calling differ in some provisions compared to those found in similar approved tariffs of the other ILECs because it came under CRTC jurisdiction after the Commission-approved telemarketing rules were in place. The Commission considers that SaskTel's tariffs should be made consistent with those approved for the other ILECs.
Some parties proposed that there be a review of the current rules on solicitations and the Commission notes CMA's arguments for changes to the existing ADADs rules. This is beyond the scope of this proceeding. These comments and replies will form part of the record and will be taken into consideration in a proceeding launched today in Public Notice CRTC 2001-34 to review the current rules and restrictions.
In light of the above, the Commission directs:
All ILECs including the independent telephone companies, to issue forthwith, as required, tariff pages that reflect the conditions and enforcement provisions required under Decision 94-10 and Order 96-1229, consistent with Bell Canada General Tariff Item 1800: (http://www.bell.ca/en/corp/aboutbell/tariffs/)-Part 2-Exchange Service. In the case of NBTel, this also requires an amendment to its tariff to state that per-line call display blocking will not be allowed for outbound solicitation calls by telemarketers.
All IXCs and WSP, pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act, as a condition of offering and providing telecommunications services, to adhere to the rules set out in Appendix 2 of this order. In this respect, the telephone number of telemarketers are no longer to be treated as confidential by WSPs.
Furthermore, the Commission reminds all CLECs that, by virtue of paragraph 288 of Decision 97-8, they are now required to satisfy all of the conditions and enforcement provisions of Decsion 94-10 and Order 96-1229 regardless of where they provide service in Canada.
Similarly, the Commission reminds all LECs that, pursuant to its letter decision of 1 February 2000, they are now required, as a condition of providing services to resellers wherever they operate, to include a contractual stipulation which would oblige resellers to adhere to the telemarketing restrictions of Decision 94-10 and Order 96-1229.
A summary of the rules for solicitations using ADADs, live voice calls and fax is appended to this document (Appendix 2). By virtue of this order, these rules will now apply uniformly across Canada to all of the service providers covered in this order. For service providers with tariffs, the official version of the rules will be contained in that provider's tariffs.
This document is available in alternative format upon request and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
Regional and sectoral disparity in telemarketing rules
This table shows the lack of uniformity prior to this order in the applicable Commission rules regarding ADADs, live voice and fax solicitations amongst the service providers listed below.
(Ö = rules and restrictions in place)
Live voice
BCTEL
Island Tel
NBTel
Northwestel
NewTel
Ö (with variations)
CLECs
Ö in Bell Canada, MTS, TELUS territories
Ö in BCTEL, Bell Canada, MTS, TELUS territories
Independent LECs
IXCs
Wireless providers
Rules for unsolicited calling using automatic dialing and announcing devices (ADADs), live voice and facsimile (fax) calls for the purpose of solicitation
Solicitation is defined as selling or promoting of a product or service, or the soliciting of money or money's worth, whether directly or indirectly and whether on behalf of another party.
ADAD is defined as any automatic equipment which stores or produces telephone numbers to be called, used alone or with other equipment to convey a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to the telephone number called.
ADD (automatic dialing device) is defined as any automatic equipment which has the capability of storing telephone numbers to be called, or a random or sequential number generator capable of producing numbers to be called. ADDs include facsimile machines and predictive diallers. An ADD is often used by an operator delivering a live voice message.
Rules for calls using ADADs
The use of ADADs to make unsolicited calls for the purpose of solicitation is prohibited. These include calls made on behalf of a charity, the use of ADAD messages to request that a called party hold until an operator is available (when the purpose of the call is to solicit), radio station promotions, or calls referring the called party to a 900 or 976 service number.
Calls using ADADs are permitted where there is no attempt to solicit, i.e. calls for public service reasons, emergency purposes, to collect overdue accounts, market or survey research calls or calls to schedule appointments.
Weekday calling hours for permitted calls using ADADs are from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. These hour restrictions do not apply to calls made for public service reasons (i.e. calls made for emergency and administrative purposes by police and fire departments, schools, hospitals or similar organizations).
Permitted unsolicited ADAD calls must not be placed to emergency lines or healthcare facilities.
Permitted ADAD calls should begin with a clear message identifying the person on behalf of whom the call is made, including a mailing address and telephone number of a free call-back line. If the message exceeds 60 seconds, the identification message must be repeated at the end of the call.
ADAD calls are to display the originating calling number or an alternate number where the caller can be reached (except where number display is unavailable for technical reasons).
Sequential dialing is prohibited.
ADAD users must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that their equipment disconnects within 10 seconds of the called party hanging up.
Persons who resell Centrex service must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the end-user does not employ the service to transmit unsolicited ADAD calls other than those made for public service reasons.
Enforcement: Telephone service to the lines used in placing calls which contravene these rules may be suspended or terminated two business days after notification from the telephone company.
Rules for unsolicited live voice solicitations (which may use ADDs)
Caller mustidentify the person or organization they are representing.
Caller must, upon request, provide the telephone number, name and address of a responsible person to whom the called party can write.
Caller is required to display the originating calling number, or an alternate number where the caller can be reached (except where number display is unavailable due to technical reasons).
Caller must maintain a "Do not call" list which must remain active for 3 years.
Names and numbers of called parties must be removed from calling lists within 30 days of the called parties' request.
There are no calling hour restrictions on live voice calls.
Sequential dialing is not permitted.
Random dialing and calls to non-published numbers are allowed.
Calls must not be placed to any emergency line or healthcare facility.
Persons who resell Centrex service must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the end-user does not employ the Centrex call transfer feature to transmit unsolicited live voice calls.
Rules for unsolicited facsimile calls used to solicit
Calling hour restrictions for unsolicited fax are weekdays 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (these permitted calling hours are those of the called party).
The fax must identify the person or organization on behalf of whom the fax call is made, including the telephone number, fax number and name and address of a responsible person to whom the called party can write (this also applies to organizations sending unsolicited faxes on behalf of another organization).
The fax must display the originating calling number or an alternate number where the call originator can be reached (except where number display is unavailable for technical reasons).
No fax calls are permitted to emergency line or healthcare facilities.
A DO NOT CALL list is to be maintained by the calling party and remain active for 3 years.
Names and numbers must be removed from calling lists within 7 days of the called party's request.
Persons who resell Centrex service must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the end-user does not employ the Centrex call transfer feature to transmit unsolicited fax calls.
Enforcement: Telephone service to the lines used in connection with placing calls that contravene the rules may be suspended or terminated two business days after notification from the telephone company.
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Q: Why would a 5V LED strip require voltage higher than 5 volts? I bought a strip of LEDs (WS2812B LED Strip) and it is rated to operate at 5V. So I connect the LED strips to a bench supply with upper limit set to 5V. Everything works fine except after around 30 LEDs, the remaining LEDs won't turn on. Being a noob, I cranked up the upper voltage and until around 10 volts, all the LEDs were on.
Why would an LED strip rated for 5V need more voltage i.e. in the region of 10 V?
ps: Of course I turned up the voltage around 11, and some LEDs blew up too.

A: LED strips have a thin copper conductor for VCC which has some resistance. As such, there is a voltage drop as current increases. Measure the voltage at various points along your strip and you'll find that the voltage at the far end will be lower than at the supply end. For this reason, you should provide power at multiple points along LED strip runs (every 5 meters or so, but it depends on your strip characteristics and requirements).


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The pigeons of Venice
What do you call someone from Venice who can't see? A Venetian blind! I'm here all day, folks. Obviously, Venetian blinds didn't originate in Venice (actually Persia; Venetian traders in the 1700s bought them back to Venice and Paris – the French still refer to their country of origin by calling them les persienes), just as, say, Jerusalem artichokes aren't from Jerusalem (nor are they even artichokes). Anyway, I digress.
We arrived in the medina that is Venice at about two in the morning. Wondering aimlessly around the maze of alleyways trying to find our hotel, I naturally thought of Don't Look Now, and told H if she sees a little girl in a red raincoat, Don't Follow Her.
Is there anywhere else like Venice in the world? A city with no cars! With roads made of water! It's simultaneously antiquated and futuristic (cars – driverless or flying Blade Runner-style – do not figure in my vision of the future at all), though climate change doesn't make the future for Venice look great – it'll be like Atlantis in years to come.
Which, in a roundabout kind of way, is why we went. H and I had wanted to see Damien Hirst's (no, never been a fan of his before) Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable exhibition all year and finally got a cheap deal in November. The exhibition has received mixed reviews but there was no doubting the boldness of vision. Ten years in the making, costing millions of pounds, employing 250 craftsmen in 5 countries and housed in two galleries, this was art as blockbuster movie (I wasn't even going to mention this, but I will. Yes he employs people to execute his art! Like a film director does! Like Michelangelo did! Like Jeff Koons does! Enough!).
A year ago, almost to the day, we'd seen the British Museum's 'blockbuster' show, Sunken cities: Egypt's lost worlds, the tale of two 'lost' ancient Egyptian cities recently 'rediscovered'. I'd been underwhelmed by it all, but more than that – and I said as much to H at the time – I felt all the artefacts looked too new, and possibly, well, fake (we all mock modern art by saying it's only called art because it's in a gallery; very rarely do we question the veracity of a museum). Though Hirst's exhibition was planned years before the British Museum's, Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable felt like a personal affront to Sunken Cities.
Before I went to the exhibition, I wasn't altogether clear on the story. Did Damien really find treasure off the coast of East Africa, and then doctor it – Chapman Brothers-style – with Mickey Mouse and Mowgli? Or was it all a hoax? The clue's in the exhibition title, the anagrammatically-named Cif Amotan II ('I am fiction', the wealthy freed slave from 100AD whose treasure this is) and, well, actually visiting the exhibition. Even though there is a strikingly similar and realistic documentary (or mockumentary, if you will) to the Sunken Cities one of divers finding the treasure haul in the depths of the ocean when you enter the exhibition, it very soon becomes apparent that it's all fake (though not fake art but fake news). Okay, it's a hoax but an amazing one.
There are one hundred artefacts, from drawings and sculptures to jewellery and weapons, some the size of a building, some the size of a fingernail. There are sculptures of serpents and beasts, of Kate Moss and Mickey Mouse, Rihanna an an Egyptian goddess, made from marble, stone, bronze, silver and gold, all encrusted with barnacles and coral. There is a mash up of cultures and religions – Egyptian, pre-Columbian, Buddhism. It has to be seen to be (un)believed.
We'd spent half a day at the two Hirst galleries, but there was other art everywhere in Venice. Not just the city itself – the churches and palaces, the beautifully crumbling buildings – but the Venice Biennale, the bi-annual arts festival which consumes the city. Everywhere we looked was free art – in abandoned buildings and churches (my advice to anyone visiting Venice: when you're in a building, any building, always look up – the ceiling will invariably be stunning) as well as the two main locations: the Central Pavilion and Arsenale. For these it was 25€ for a day pass, but worth every cent. We were there from 12 til 6 and had only seen probably half of the art on display. Some was crap, some was amazing (my own idea for an installation in the city was to have hundreds of balloons in the shape of a lion with wings – the symbol of Venice – floating around one of the churches). Just about every country in the world is represented in every kind of media – even painting! And hardly any female nudes, that fine tradition of the male gaze in western art for the last five hundred years, but lots of cocks.
As an aside from all the art and beauty (sigh; it gets so overwhelming, day after day), we did stumble across other stuff. Like a charity shop. I was hoping it to be full of cut price Tintorettos and designer wear – some Prada garb for 50 cents etc. Alas, no. The very persuasive old woman working there forced me to try on a horrible 1970s blue-patterned cardigan, which I did, before taking it off again immediately and walking out the shop. That didn't stop her from chasing after me down the street, waving the cardigan in the air and shouting Italian in my direction. (A note on the Venetian old ladies: they're stunning! And ballsy! Compared to shrivelling old English women, all beige, afraid and shuffling along, senior Italian ladies are stylish and loud.)
I thought there was no way we'd ever find the Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop I'd heard about, but H found it (she's on a par with my brother in map-reading skills but also has the female intuition thing going on) down a dark alleyway one evening (and even managed to find it again the following morning). Meaning 'bookshop of high water', the shop's solution to the constant flooding it receives every year from the nearby canal is to store its books in baths and a full-size gondola (no, we never went on one if you're asking; not for €80 for 35 minutes), as well as storing its books to the ceiling. With more people taking photos of the shop (including me) than buying books, it's a wonder they stay afloat at all.
We experienced all weather – sun when we arrived; then atmospheric mist and cold and finally rain (we'd prematurely high-fived each other when we overheard an American woman say it was to rain the next day – when we were leaving. We hadn't taken into account that the rain would start in the early hours of the morning, and we'd got soaked getting to the ferry).
Anyway. Venice, city of dreams. Pigeons and tourists, tacky souvenirs, pasta and pizza, ice cream, getting fleeced €6.50 for a coffee (well, I was glad in a way, it had to happen, and could have been a lot worse; still, it leaves a sour taste). The city's sinking, it's a theme park for tourists, a victim of its own success, begger's everywhere. Even so, it still feels like a city of dreams, no cars, water, beauty and art everywhere you look. And no sign of a girl in a red raincoat.
Venice in the movies
The Talented Mr Ripley (all set in Italy, with a few scenes in Venice)
The Tourist (watched against my better judgement, but actually thoroughly enjoyed it.)
Venice in literature
The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare
Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, Geoff Dyer
Venice, Jan Morris
Death in Venice, Thomas Mann
My Flickr photos of Venice are here.
H said...
i'm not sure which one would be more scary-catching a glimpse of the little girl in the red raincoat or you in that blue cardigan ...i did warn you..
The sparrows of Kosovo
Seven days of nothing


The sailing lists for departures from the ports of Hamburg, Bremen / Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven are automatically accepted in Scope. Alternatively, the sailing lists can be managed manually if necessary.
Import of data in shipment entry.
Data such as ETS (Estimated Time of Sailing), ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) and closing are automatically included in the shipment entry.
No manual entry of data.
The direct data import speeds up the creation of a shipment and, in contrast to manual data entry, prevents input errors. This reduces the risk of unwanted delays.


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Patriot Coal: An American Bankruptcy The strange, brief life of Patriot Coal
The strange, brief life of Patriot Coal
This story is the third part in the series Patriot Coal: An American Bankruptcy. To begin reading the story from the beginning, jump back to the first part, Take Warning.
In the late 2000s, Peabody Energy was shifting its focus to international energy markets, particularly in East Asia, and was buying up coal mining properties in Australia. The company was a dominant player in the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming where low-sulfur coal was suddenly in demand because of tightening emissions regulations. In the eastern United States, however, labor costs were high and the amount of easily accessible coal was dwindling.
Patriot was born on Oct. 31, 2007, stitched together from Peabody's eastern holdings and union mines, and loaded with up to 45 percent of Peabody's legacy liabilities—obligations to miners, retirees and environmental cleanup.
Peabody CEO Gregory H. Boyce in November called the spin-off a "key element in transforming our business portfolio." The company's CFO trumpeted the advantages of a spin-off: "Our retiree, healthcare liability and related expense will be reduced by about 40 percent. Workers compensation liability will be cut nearly 90 percent… In total, our legacy liabilities, expenses and cash flows will be nearly cut in half."
The move was viewed differently by the United Mine Workers of America, the coal miners' union.
Cecil E. Roberts has been president of the UMWA since 1995. A sixth-generation miner from Cabin Creek, West Virginia, he is famous for his fiery tirades against what he perceives as the injustices generated by the industry. He described the arrangement between Peabody and Patriot as akin to parents handing their 18-year old children the mortgage on the day they graduate high school.
"As they went out the door, their obligations on their balance sheet were reduced dramatically, making Peabody Energy a much more lucrative company," he said.
Patriot became the second-largest coal company in the Central Appalachian region at the time of its creation, containing 13 percent of Peabody's assets, 40 percent of its liabilities and all its union mines save one—an operation on the Navajo nation in Arizona. About 61 percent of the miners at Patriot were represented by the UMWA. Across the industry, the union represented and continues to represent about one-third of all working miners.
Patriot began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCX on Nov. 1, 2007 at an initial price of $15 a share. Peabody shareholders received one share in Patriot Coal for every 10 shares of Peabody Energy they owned. The spin off included eight company-operated mines, interest in several other mines, eight coal preparation facilities and 1.2 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves.
Patriot reported revenues of approximately $1 billion. Its assets totaled $1.2 billion in 2007 while retiree healthcare liabilities amounted to $603.4 million.
In 2008, Patriot purchased Magnum Coal—which had been spun-off from Arch Coal in 2005—for $709 million in stock. Like Patriot, Magnum also had substantial obligations to its retirees. Patriot healthcare liabilities zoomed to $1.1 billion at the end of 2008, an increase of nearly $500 million, representing obligations to some 2,300 retired employees, according to SEC filings and press reports.
Retiree healthcare liabilities now represented more than a third of Patriot's total liabilities of $2.8 billion and two-thirds of its total revenues of $1.6 billion.
Patriot's losses started mounting. After earning profits of $126 million in 2008 and $140 million in 2009, it began hemorrhaging money due to falling demand and rising costs. In 2010, it recorded a loss of $104 million; in 2011, a loss of $145 million. In the first half of 2012, it lost $430 million. In its 2011 annual report, management pinned the company's troubles on "low natural gas prices, mild weather and weaker international and domestic economies."
Just after 5 p.m. on July 9, 2012, Patriot announced it was filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in the Southern District of New York, despite having no operations there. The following day, its stock was de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange. It had been trading at $1 to $2 per share.
The company, which had been selling most of its coal to electricity producers in the U.S. and abroad, couldn't service its debt due to collapsing prices and increased regulations. In 2010, Patriot was also hit with a judgement requiring it to pay for selenium water pollution associated with mountaintop removal mining sites in West Virginia. The company estimated the cost to be $400 million over 30 years.
Retired coal miners and their families, concerned about what Patriot's bankruptcy case would mean for their pensions and health benefits, sent hundreds of letters to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman asking her to move the case out of New York and to a court house nearer to the coal fields where the people most directly affected lived.
"Hundreds of hand-written letters have been received by the Court from 'the people whose hands mine the Debtors' coal' and their widows and children," Judge Chapman wrote in her decision moving the case to St. Louis. "Many of them enclosed family pictures, or lists of ailments and medications. Some of them asked for a personal response. All of them were respectful, and compelling."
According to UMWA General Counsel Grant Crandall, the union saw a unique threat emerging in the Patriot case. The petition to move the case out of New York was part of a broader strategy to focus attention on the concerns of the retirees.
"In an extractive industry, you have bankruptcies all the time," said Crandall. "But to have one where somebody's challenging the ability of people to get pensions and retiree healthcare, that's a different animal. So, we took it seriously and mobilized the membership."
Thousands of UMWA members marched on Peabody's headquarters in St. Louis and on Charleston, West Virginia, where Patriot had offices. Union demonstrators were arrested in Charleston and St. Louis.
As the pressure increased, the company became more candid. In April 2013, Patriot CEO Bennett K. Hatfield told the State Journal, West Virginia's leading business publication, that he agreed with the UMWA's claim that Peabody had set up Patriot to fail. He concluded this even back when he was an executive at competing coal companies such as International Coal Group.
"Frankly, as a competitor, we looked at that and said, 'how could that work?' It looks like a bad balance here—too many liabilities and not enough assets," Hatfield said. "I think it's a fair assessment. It's one of the areas where I frankly agree with many of the things [UMWA President] Cecil Roberts has said. Something doesn't quite smell right here."
On May 29, 2013, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kathy A. Surratt-States—the judge assigned the case upon its transfer to St. Louis—ruled that Patriot could reject its collective bargaining agreement with the UMWA and change the agreements it had made regarding retiree benefits.
"Was debtor Patriot Coal Corporation created to fail? Maybe not. Maybe," Judge Surratt-States wrote in a 102-page ruling. "Maybe the executive team at debtor Patriot Coal Corporation's inception thought the liabilities were manageable and thus the reality of debtor's bankruptcy was more attributed to unwarranted optimism about future prospects."
Delbert Richie participated in a march on the Bankruptcy Court the day Judge Surratt-States made the ruling. He stuck an American flag in the ground in front of the court house to show his defiance. "I was madder than hell," he said.
In August 2013, the union reached a $300 million settlement with Peabody Energy, according to Crandall. The money went toward funding healthcare for 22,000 people, including retirees from Peabody, Patriot, and Arch Coal and their dependents.
Peabody Energy did not respond to a request for comment. The company has always contended that claims it set Patriot up to fail are false and has often pointed to Patriot's initial success as proof of this assertion. Those who have looked closely at this issue have questioned whether Patriot, as overloaded with liabilities as it was, could withstand a normal market downturn in a competitive boom and bust industry. The year 2015 tested this contention not only for Patriot but for the entire energy sector.
Half of all public company bankruptcies in 2015 and 2016 were from the energy industry, a sector that traditionally accounts for between 2-15 percent of all bankruptcies, according to BankruptcyData. While these bankruptcies included natural gas and even renewable energy companies, coal was hit particularly hard, with several of the industry's largest operators filing for bankruptcy, beginning with Alabama-based Xinergy Corp. in April 2015, followed by Patriot, Walter Energy, Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, and finally Peabody Energy in April 2016.
Patriot filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time on May 12 in Richmond, Virginia. This time, there was little hope that it could continue to operate as a stand-alone entity. The company, which had come under the control of bond-holders in 2013, said it was in "active negotiations" to sell itself under the supervision of the court. Blackhawk Mining LLC, a young company that had grown rapidly through acquisitions, emerged as a potential purchaser.
Blackhawk, which had no union mining operations, didn't want to have anything to do with Patriot's obligation to pay into the UMWA's pension plan. Blackhawk made it known that its bid was contingent on being able to avoid any liabilities associated with the plan. The union challenged Patriot's bankruptcy plan calling it "deja vu all over again."
In early July, Patriot sought court approval for $6.3 million in employee bonuses, with potentially $3.5 million scheduled to go to top management. The bonuses were approved later that month.
As the summer waned, the UMWA marched on Patriot's headquarters and the company announced that its creditors would get back 80 percent of the money they had invested. Dan Kane, the secretary treasurer of UMWA District 17, told the Charleston Gazette that the "bankruptcy laws need to get tossed out and rewritten. The CEOs, investors and lawyers all get paid. But the workers get sent away with cents on the dollar or nothing."
On August 31, declaring it was "out of options," Patriot filed a motion to reject its collective bargaining agreement with the union.
On October 20, a few days after the sale to Blackhawk was approved, Patriot and the UMWA filed a lawsuit accusing Peabody of trying to renege on its agreement to pay approximately $145 million in retiree benefits as part of a 2013 settlement in the first Patriot bankruptcy. The UMWA was ultimately able to recover the money, though it was not enough to cover the full amount of the benefits.
Patriot emerged from the Chapter 11 process on Oct. 28, 2015, having sold its assets to Blackhawk and the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund, a newly formed nonprofit that sought to offset coal's environmental impacts.
If Peabody had created Patriot as a gambit to absolve themselves of millions of dollars in legacy obligations to Richie and his fellow miners, then it wasn't enough to overcome other kinds of financial pressures. The company was unable to service the $10.1 billion in debt it had incurred, mostly for its expansion into Australia. Like Peabody, many of the companies that went bankrupt in the 2015-16 period had loaded up on debt in the late 2000s to make expensive acquisitions when coal prices were high. When the price of coal tumbled, especially met coal, the house of cards came down with it. According to Roberts, "If the price of metallurgical coal had stayed as high as say $125 or up to $130 [per ton], you'd never have seen a bankruptcy. And at one time it was two and a half times that."
Patriot was the first in a wave of bankruptcies that crashed over coal country. Peabody was the last. The two companies bookended one of the sharpest periods of turmoil in the industry in recent memory, leaving a great deal of uncertainty in their wake.
Previous: Part IV
History and consequences
Next: Part II


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KGUN 9 On Your SideNewsCoronavirus
Target extends holiday shopping hours, reduces hours for seniors
Charles Krupa/AP
Retail giant Target announced on Monday that they are giving out more than $70 million in bonuses to frontline employees ahead of the holiday shopping season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, FIle)
As Christmas approaches, Target is extending its store hours for holiday shoppers.
On its website in its FAQ section, Target said most of its stores would open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. leading up to the holiday.
But on Christmas Eve, stores will close at 8 p.m. Target is closed on Christmas Day.
The retail store says hours can vary, so check the store locator before you head out.
The company also announced that special hours for seniors and at-risk shoppers have also changed.
According to Target, stores will open an hour early, but only on Tuesdays. Target added that if there are no "vulnerable guests" waiting to shop, the store could open to everyone, but that's being left up to the store leaders.


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https://deloitte.wsj.com/cio/2020/11/25/google-cloud-pandemic-fast-tracks-transformation/
Google Cloud: Pandemic Fast-Tracks Transformation
In the rapid shift from physical to digital, the current health care crisis is accelerating efforts to transform, according to executives from the cloud services provider.
Eric Ranta
Earlier this year, COVID-19 forced many of the world's businesses to find new ways to provide safe, reliable, and high-quality services to their customers, moving numerous physical interactions and services to digital as demand for e-commerce and contactless engagement increased. For many organizations, however, the crisis has shone a harsh light on the limitations of their existing digital infrastructure, says Eric Ranta, director of Google's Cloud Value Advisors for North America.
"If you had a data center that was not fully equipped or could only be accessed through direct lines, you were in a lot of trouble," says Ranta. "This is one area companies often underestimate. You have to prioritize your data architecture and ensure that your employees can use it in any way, shape, or form; that you can do it in a secure and compliant way; and that you can do it when you're competing for bandwidth with three other people in your own house."
One result the Google team has observed is that many enterprise technology buying decisions that might usually take months—and involve lengthy due diligence—are now being made much more quickly. But beyond faster decision-making, the cloud can lead to quicker results, enabling scalability by allowing for rapid application to new use cases.
"You can't cross the chasm in three small steps. You have to take a big leap of faith."
"Years ago, we were explaining to companies why they would want to keep their data outside their four walls," explains Ranta. "We don't have those discussions anymore; the fear factor is gone. Today, the speed to decision and the speed to provisioning that solution have become the defining factors. The crisis essentially eliminated a lot of the noise."
Brice Challamel
For Google, many pre-COVID projects were suspended when the pandemic hit. However, in the last six months, there has been a dramatic increase in new project requests—many from large, incumbent businesses, according to Brice Challamel, transformation lead at Google Cloud.
"The new breed of customer we have are the ones we always hoped we'd have," Challamel says. "Previously, customers had opted for smaller incremental improvements, but now they are looking for more transformative change. You can't cross the chasm in three small steps. You have to take a big leap of faith."
Defining Resilience
Google sees many of these new requests coming from companies seeking to build resilience by seizing on the disruption as an opportunity to adapt to the transforming market, Ranta notes. In general, he says, resilient organizations have key traits in common:
Cross-channel flexibility. Many resilient organizations can shift significant percentages of their demand from one channel to another with relative ease.
A predictable supply chain. As a result of the pandemic, many are reevaluating their supply chains, particularly with an eye toward finding more local sourcing options.
A prevailing culture of service. "Companies that already had a service business model and thought proactively about the needs of the consumers and businesses they support have tended to do fairly well," Ranta says.
A formalized approach to resilience. Many leading organizations have appointed a resilience leader, for instance.
The pandemic will ultimately redefine everything from disaster recovery to compliance to regulation, Ranta believes, and the resilient companies will be those that can plan for a disruption extending far beyond an isolated data center failure.
"What happens when there's a true existential threat that puts your business, your employees, and your suppliers in harm's way, and how do you pivot your business to funnel everything through a completely different channel?" asks Ranta. "This shock can truly prepare us for the unknown."
Resilient companies may see the crisis as an opportunity; Challamel sees it as an accelerant as well. "We're in an extraordinary situation," he says. "Collectively, we could make 10 years of progress in the next 12 months."
—by Dr. Gerald C. Kane, professor of information systems and faculty director, the Edmund H. Shea Jr. Center for Entrepreneurship, Carroll School of Management, Boston College; Rich Nanda, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP; and Anh Nguyen Phillips, senior manager, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Editor's note: This story is part of a series of conversations with leaders for an upcoming book, "The Transformation Myth," a collaboration between Deloitte and academics from Boston College and Northwestern University, to be published in 2021 by MIT Press.
PUBLISHED ON: Nov. 25, 2020 3:00 pm ET
This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication. About Deloitte: Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Copyright © 2020 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
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Johann Heuras (* 8. Oktober 1957 in Amstetten-Preinsbach) ist ein österreichischer Politiker (ÖVP) und ehemaliger Lehrer. Er war Bildungsdirektor für Niederösterreich (seit 2018; früher Landesschulrat).

Von 1997 bis 2011 war er Bürgermeister von St. Peter in der Au. Von 2009 bis 2011 war er Landesrat in der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung Pröll V, zuständig für Jugend, Bildung und Sport. Von 2011 bis 2015 war er Zweiter Präsident des Niederösterreichischen Landtages.

Leben
Heuras besuchte das Stiftsgymnasium in Seitenstetten und studierte im Anschluss Mathematik, Geschichte und Physik an der Universität Wien. Ab 1981 unterrichtete er an der HTL in Waidhofen an der Ybbs.

Er zog 1991 in den Gemeinderat von St. Peter in der Au ein und übernahm 1995 das Amt des Vizebürgermeisters und wurde in diesem Jahr zum Bezirksobmann des ÖAAB Amstetten gewählt. Von 1997 bis zu seiner Wahl in die Landesregierung im Februar 2009 war Heuras Bürgermeister der Gemeinde. Er wurde 2006 zudem zum Vizepräsidenten des Verbandes Niederösterreichischer Gemeindevertreter der ÖVP gewählt. Heuras war zwischen dem 16. April 1998 und dem 26. Februar 2009 Abgeordneter zum Niederösterreichischen Landtag, wo er die Funktion des Gesundheitssprechers innehatte.

Er wurde im Zuge der Regierungsumbildung der Landesregierung Pröll IV am 26. Februar 2009 in die Niederösterreichische Landesregierung gewählt. Heuras übernahm das Ressort Jugend, Bildung und Sport. Am 28. April 2011 schied er aus der nunmehrigen Landesregierung Pröll V aus, kehrte in den Landtag zurück und wurde als Nachfolger von Herbert Nowohradsky zu dessen zweiten Präsidenten gewählt. Sein Ressort-Nachfolger in der Landesregierung wurde Karl Wilfing.

Ab 2015 war er Amtsführender Präsident des niederösterreichischen Landesschulrates und trägt daher den Amtstitel Hofrat. Im Februar 2018 wurde er von Bundesminister Heinz Fassmann zum Bildungsdirektor von Niederösterreich und damit zum ersten Bildungsdirektor Österreichs ernannt. Zu seinem Nachfolger ab dem 1. November 2022 aufgrund der Pensionierung von Heuras wurde Karl Fritthum bestellt.

Er ist verheiratet und hat zwei Kinder.

Auszeichnungen
 2008: Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich
 2014: Silbernes Komturkreuz mit dem Stern des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um das Bundesland Niederösterreich

Einzelnachweise

Literatur
 NÖ Landtagsdirektion (Hrsg.): Biographisches Handbuch des NÖ Landtages und der NÖ Landesregierung 1921–2000 (= NÖ-Schriften. Band 128). NÖ Landtagsdirektion, St. Pölten 2000, ISBN 3-85006-127-2.

Weblinks

  auf den Seiten des Landes Niederösterreich

Landtagspräsident (Niederösterreich)
Landesrat (Niederösterreich)
Bürgermeister (St. Peter in der Au)
Politiker (20. Jahrhundert)
Politiker (21. Jahrhundert)
Berufsschullehrer
Träger des Großen Silbernen Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich
Träger des Silbernen Komturkreuzes mit dem Stern des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um das Bundesland Niederösterreich
Hofrat
Absolvent der Universität Wien
Person (Amstetten)
ÖVP-Mitglied
Österreicher
Geboren 1957
Mann


text:
Chapter 223 – The Whale's Ingestion of Water Blade
Li Qingshan smiled. "Alright, feel free to guess!"
"Looking at your stature, you're definitely not choosing some regular spiritual artifact that can be controlled. Instead, you're looking for a heavy weapon suited for close combat specially used by Body Practitioners. Am I correct?"
Li Qingshan's eyes lit up. He smiled. "Correct! That's quite impressive of you, little Zhang!" As his strength grew, his demand for a weapon increased as well. He was no longer satisfied with just the Wind-entwining blade, and he had not reached the sixth layer as a Qi Practitioner, so he could not control a mid grade spiritual artifact.
And, even if he did reach the sixth layer, he would not necessarily use a small blade or sword as his main weapon for combat, as his body would definitely reach a whole new level by then. Directly swinging a Wind-entwining blade at someone was much more satisfying than controlling a sword remotely.
As a result, he required a weapon different from the ordinary. Little Zhang managed to tell what he needed with a single glance; he knew that Li Qingshan needed a heavy weapon. That also meant they sold weapons like that, so why wouldn't he be happy?
Little Zhang also smiled from ear to ear when he heard how Li Qingshan was willing to call him that. He waved his hand gently, and a series of mechanical sounds rang out. The weapon racks actually slid away rapidly, changing directions before coming to a halt.
A weapon rack slid right in front of Li Qingshan. As expected, there were huge swords and axes on there.
Li Qingshan casually weighed a large spear in his hand and asked, "Don't you have any mid grade spiritual artifacts here?" All of the spiritual artifacts on the rack were low grade.
Little Zhang smiled. "Of course we do!" Regular Qi Practitioners could not afford mid grade spiritual artifacts, so he only brought people to see low grade spiritual artifacts most of the time. He clapped his hand and another weapon rack slid before Li Qingshan. The spiritual artifacts on there shone even brighter. "If you hadn't come to us, buying a mid grade spiritual artifact for close combat would have been quite difficult."
Liu Ruping's eyes immediately lit up. She would receive a commission for items purchased under her guide, so she obviously hoped that Li Qingshan would buy a lot and spend a lot.
This was why she was rather reluctant to receive Li Qingshan as soon as he had walked in, wanting to exchange with someone else. Even among the world of regular people, the way Li Qingshan dressed made him look penniless. Among cultivators, he was the standard for broke. He did not have a single item on him that shone.
But now, she thought, You really can't judge a book by its cover. Her smile immediately became more sincere.
Li Qingshan looked at the mid grade spiritual artifacts and appeared satisfied as well.
"Look at this Broken Gold sword. It's forged entirely out of essence gold, and it weighs one hundred and five kilograms and a half. It can launch Metal Crescent Slashes. Originally, it was designed to be wielded with two hands, but I think just a single hand will be enough for you. It's both simple and flexible. Isn't it perfect?" Little Zhang slapped a huge, golden sword as he introduced it.
Li Qingshan asked, "How much is it?"
"We'll be taking only seventy-five spiritual stones for it."
Li Qingshan gained a rough idea of the price of a mid grade spiritual artifact. If he compared it to exchanging with contribution within the Hawkwolf Guard, it was around the same price. However, he shook his head. "I don't really know how to use swords."
Liu Ruping chimed in. "Look at how beautiful this sword is? If you carry it on your back, you'll definitely look extraordinary."
Little Zhang shot her a glare. "When it comes to men choosing weapons, it's even more important to them than choosing a wife. Women shouldn't butt in." He could tell that Li Qingshan was a person who actually used a weapon to kill; he was not some young master who came from a sect or clan. He could not be fooled by mere appearances.
Liu Ruping pouted, but as expected, she shut up for good. If you think that you're capable, try to sell it yourself. It's just a mid grade spiritual artifact. I don't even want to waste so many words trying to sell it!
Little Zhang introduced several weapons. None of them were less than a hundred kilograms in weight.
Li Qingshan was very interested. If he could use a heavy weapon like this in battle, he could probably even smash through protective true qi. However, after quite some thought, he suddenly asked, "Do you have any high grade spiritual artifacts?"
Little Zhang was slightly surprised. "Sir, we do have a few high grade spiritual artifacts here, but they're all treasures of the store. Even at a minimum, they'll cost several hundred spiritual stones, and they can go for over a thousand spiritual stones. They're not items that regular Qi Practitioners can see unless they really do plan on buying them."
Li Qingshan smiled. "If you won't show them, who'll buy them? Do you think I'm not actually interested in purchasing them?"
Liu Ruping's gaze towards Li Qingshan immediately softened. A high grade spiritual artifact was equivalent to ten mid grade spiritual artifacts. It was a rare transaction of quite the size.
Little Zhang studied Li Qingshan and smiled. "Fair enough. Come with me!"
The three of them arrived in a firmly-sealed room. Little Zhang took out something from his hundred treasures pouch. "Please take a look!"
The item was not made out of metal, wood, or rock. It was blue in colour, like ice, and it was sculpted into the shape of a whale. It shone brightly, a high grade spiritual artifact as expected. "There are even fewer high grade spiritual artifacts suited for close combat. We only have this one. It costs eight hundred and fifty-two spiritual stones,"
Li Qingshan had never seen such a strange weapon before. When he heard the price, his heart sank slightly. A high grade spiritual artifact was actually so expensive. He only had around three hundred spiritual stones left on him, which was only a third of the weapon's price. And, he had to save some spiritual stones for purchasing pill formulas and a pill cauldron. He did not have enough money on him, but he remained unfazed on the surface. "How do you use this?"
Seeing how Li Qingshan was actually interested in buying it, little Zhang could not help but become even more enthusiastic. He shot a glance at Liu Ruping. They had encountered a wealthy customer this time.
"The name of this weapon is the Whale's Ingestion of Water. You can use it however you like. Allow me to demonstrate." As he said that, he took out a huge tank from the hundred treasures pouch. It was filled with water.
Little Zhang placed the Whale's Ingestion of Water into the tank. The blue whale immediately opened its mouth, and in just a while, it sucked away all of the water in the tank. "Please watch carefully, sir!"
He raised his hand, and the whale's mouth spat out the water again, condensing it into the shape of a blade. It suddenly froze up, turning into an ice blade with the whale's body serving as a hilt. Coldness permeated the secret room.
Liu Ruping could not help but shiver. She said, "How wondrous!"
While Li Qingshan knew that she was just putting on an act, he could not help but nod in agreement. He had never seen a weapon like this before. As a matter of fact, he had not even thought of such a weapon before.
"It's the Whale's Ingestion of Water blade right now!" Little Zhang said. He waved his hand again, and the blade turned back into water, freezing into a sword this time. "This is the Whale's Ingestion of Water sword!"
"No matter what weapon you want, whether it be light or heavy, it's all within your control! What do you think?"
"It's fantastic!" Li Qingshan nodded. Regular weapons were all forged from metal. It was rare to see a weapon completely composed of water. If he wielded it with Gui Water true qi, it would definitely achieve quite an impressive effect. This was basically a weapon made for him.
If men really chose weapons like choosing wives, then he would have fallen in love at first sight with this Whale's Ingestion of Water. However, he was worried as well. "This blade of ice is so fragile. Won't it shatter when it clashes against metal?"
Little Zhang said, "You don't need to worry at all, sir. The weapons created by the Whale's Ingestion of Water are akin to profound ice. It's even tougher than essence steel. I'll be honest with you, sir. The ice blades condensed from the Whale's Ingestion of Water are slightly weaker than regular high grade spiritual artifacts, but they are definitely stronger than mid grade spiritual artifacts. As long as it doesn't shatter from a single attack, it can automatically repair itself no matter how many cracks or nicks there are. You won't need any maintenance from an artifact smith at all."
Liu Ruping said, "Then you sure can save a lot of spiritual stones and trouble. Just a small repair of a high grade spiritual artifact can set you back several dozen spiritual stones!"
Little Zhang added, "And if you use spiritual water instead, it'll be even stronger. Sir, since you're willing to buy this weapon, you might as well buy some spiritual water too."
Li Qingshan thought of something. Didn't he have an icy spring underground? He lifted the ice sword and flicked it forcefully.
With a clang, it seemed to reverberate like metal. The sound echoed through the secret room with great intensity. Liu Ruping could not help but cover her ears.
Little Zhang's hand shuddered. He saw how a white mark was left on the sword and praised, "What strength, sir!"
Li Qingshan knew that he was telling the truth. Not only had he poured all of his strength into the flick, but he had used true qi as well. Even treasured blades made from refined steel would shatter, but only a white mark appeared on the ice sword. If he used Ice Condensate water instead, he would not have to worry about its toughness at all. And, he could just hang it on his waist normally, which would be convenient and easily accessible at all times.
Moreover, he could create a blade that was even larger and longer so that he could unleash the advantage of his physical strength. Or, he could just condense a spiky club weighing more than five hundred kilograms. If he swung down with something like that, any protection from true qi or techniques would be no different from paper. For a moment, basically all the advantages of the Whale's Ingestion of Water filled Li Qingshan's head. He utterly admired the artifact smith who created this weapon.
"What other uses are there aside from this?" Although Li Qingshan's expression remained the same as before, little Zhang had dealt with countless customers before, so he could read his face. He could already tell that Li Qingshan actually wanted to purchase the item, which was why he had been so meticulous and gone to such detail. He was utterly delighted. He immediately opened the secret room and brought Li Qingshan to a field for demonstrating the usage of weapons. He pointed at the steel target in the distance.
All of the water was sucked into the whale again. The whale opened wide and countless, tiny icicles suddenly shot out. The steel target was peppered with countless holes instantly. It was fiercer than the Thousand Mechanism crossbow both in power and might, and it had more than just thirty rounds. It could be used in close combat and as a ranged weapon. Li Qingshan was tempted to snatch the Whale's Ingestion of Water over and try it for himself.
Looking at Li Qingshan's expression, little Zhang's smile grew wider. The Whale's Ingestion of Water suddenly lit up, gradually gathering near the whale's mouth. With a bang, a ball of water shot out and struck the peppered target, blasting it to pieces.
Li Qingshan cried out, "The Gui Water blast!" He had looked through the Gui Water Method of Condensing Qi last night, along with the techniques that it came with. Most of them were for healing, defence, and restricting the opponent. Gui Water true qi was not particularly suited for attacking, but among all of these techniques, the Gui Water blast was the most powerful and the most important technique.
Little Zhang asked confidently, "Fellow Niu, what do you think?"
Li Qingshan said, "It's a nice item, but could you help me out with the price?"
Before little Zhang could say anything, Liu Ruping said, "Sir, you are welcomed to ask around, but every single item in the store of Miscellaneous Goods is clearly marked with a price. You can check in the main catalogue. We're not permitted to accept even a single spiritual stone more or less from you. This is to avoid disputes. It's definitely fair."
3 thoughts on "Chapter 223 – The Whale's Ingestion of Water Blade"
Thanks for the chapter, in moments like this is when you want to yell 'WOMAN DON'T BUTT IN THE CONVERSATION' HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Menalith says:
Joseph Mcknight says:
If only author wont suddenly attack women, its the 3rd time i noticed this