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Canadian Law Schools ›
University of Manitoba Faculty of Law
224 Dysart Road, 303 Robson Hall, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
Email: lawadmissions@umanitoba.ca
The University of Manitoba has been involved in legal education since 1885. The Faculty's undergraduate program provides a standard curriculum.
The Faculty is located on the main campus of the university, which is situated on the banks of the Red River in a suburb of Winnipeg, a city of approximately 727,500 persons in the centre of Canada. It boasts a rich cultural life, being home, for example, to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The university has approximately 29,929 full-time students and 18 faculties and schools, many with extensive graduate programs and full recreational and other facilities.
Enrollment/Student Body
600–800 applicants
107 registered first-year class 2017–2018
52 percent women
Several provinces represented
The size of the student body is small enough that it is easy to become acquainted with most of the students and, over the three-year period, to develop lasting friendships with many of those in one's own year. Approximately 80 percent of the students are residents of Manitoba, with the balance coming from other provinces, mostly British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
27 full time
40 sessional (part time and clinical)
13 full-time women
Library and Physical Facilities
282,000 volumes and equivalents
Westlaw, Quicklaw, and Westlaw Canada
1 full-time librarian, plus 7 other full-time staff
92 credit hours required to graduate
Degrees available—JD, LLM
Approximately one-half of the program is elective courses. Graduating students will have completed a balance of compulsory, elective and experience-based courses. Our program emphasizes clinical courses in second and third year. The teaching year is September to April, with a five-day fall term break, a two-week break in December, and a one-week break in February.
The Faculty's excellent litigation program is supplemented by the opportunity for some students to participate in local, regional, national, and international moot court competitions. Our students' record of success is outstanding.
Legal Aid Manitoba operates a law clinic at the Faculty that allows students to practise law under the supervision of an experienced lawyer. Students participate in all phases of a case from the initial client interview, right through to the trial. The cases involve a wide variety of legal problems. There is also a Small Business Law Clinic, and students can participate in Pro Bono Students Canada. The Faculty also has a special Legal History Project and a Legal Research Institute.
Minimum of 60 credit hours (20 one-term courses) of university degree-level courses, toward a university degree
Application deadline—December 1
LSAT required
Highest LSAT score used
Oldest LSAT score accepted—June 2014
Median GPA—3.92
Median LSAT score—161
Application fee—$100; Visa students—$120
Last term considered is fall in the year of application
Last LSAT considered is January for Index Score (Regular) Category and November for Individual Consideration and Canadian Indigenous
Three categories of admission to first year are offered:
Index Score Category (regular): Eighty percent of the first-year class is admitted through this category. The last LSAT considered is January in the year of admission. The last term included in the adjusted grade-point average (AGPA) is fall in the year of application. Application assessment is a 50/50 weighing of AGPA and LSAT score using this formula:
Individual Consideration Category: Last LSAT accepted is November in the year of application. Coursework needs to be completed by September 1 in the year of application. Application assessment is AGPA and LSAT score, three recommendation letters, personal statement, and résumé. To be eligible for an offer, applicants must be selected for an interview.
Canadian Indigenous Category: Last LSAT accepted is November in the year of application. Last term included in the AGPA fall in the year of application. Application assessment is AGPA and LSAT score, three recommendation letters, personal statement, and résumé.
GPA Calculation: All graded university degree-level credit hours are used. This includes courses completed outside a degree as well as graduate level. The calculation is adjusted (if applicable) based on the table below:
Number of Credit Hours Completed
Number of Lowest Credit Hours Dropped
Please visit our website for complete details.
The Faculty publishes both the Manitoba Law Journal and the Canadian Journal for Human Rights, managed by a student editorial board with the assistance of faculty advisors. Credit can be given for editorial work. The Manitoba Law Students Association (MLSA) has many committees and activities. There is also an Association of Indigenous Students.
Expenses and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees—full time, approximately $12,500; half time, approximately $6,250
Estimated additional expenses—$1,000 for books, supplies, photocopying, etc.
Entrance scholarships and bursaries available
Financial aid available—Provincial Government Aid and Canada Student Loans
For student housing information, see Student Residences.
Career Development Office
The Career Development Office is dedicated to alerting students to upcoming national events and to providing job postings for articling, summer, and clerkship positions. In addition, we maintain postings for international and volunteer opportunities.
Through our Career Development Office, we offer workshops, seminars, and individualized consultations where students can discuss their career goals and obtain guidance on how to achieve them. We provide one-on-one résumé and cover letter review, as well as offer mock interviews. In addition, we hold a career fair, which allows students to network with local and national firms as well as various government agencies in a casual setting.
As an additional service for students interested in pursuing careers outside Manitoba, we host on-campus interviews (OCI's) for out-of-province firms. Information on clerkships and international exchanges are also available.
Applicant Profile
The grid below shows AGPA/LSAT combinations in which offers were made to Index Score applicants only.
Applicant Group Applying for the 2017–2018 Academic Year
Adjusted Grade-Point Average (AGPA)
Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Score
Total Offers
32 8 63 61 35 35 5 5 3 3 112
45 0 52 31 46 46 6 6 0 0 83
38 0 35 3 26 20 10 8 1 1 32
The figures in the above grid reflect decisions as of September 7, 2017. The figures do not include offers made solely in the Individual Consideration and/or Canadian Indigenous Categories.
Total Number of Applications
Index Category
Individual Consideration
Canadian Indigenous Category
Total Applications


Yann was Assistant Choreographer to Arthur Pita for the final scene of new major feature film Sunshine on Leith directed by Dexter Fletcher.
Yann was the Tour Director for God's Garden for its Autumn 2012 Tour. The piece was choreographed by Arthur Pita, Open Heart Productions.
Yann was part of the Fletcher School project which developed and trained young musical theatre performers for The Bodyguard, the West End musical which premiered in December 2012.


Millions of years ago in the age of the dinosaurs, the Deboss Army invaded Earth and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs in their attack. The battle wages on for thousands of years, but Deboss were evetually defeated by the Wise God Torin and the Zyudenryu - ancient dinosaur guardians. In the present day, the Deboss Army - consisting of High Priest Chaos, Raging Knight Dogold, Sorrowful Knight Aigaron, Joyful Knight Candelira and the Funfilled Spy Luckiero, resurface with plans to resurrect their fallen leader. Torin and the remaining Zyudenryu select five brave individuals - Daigo "King" Kiryu (Kyoryu Red), Ian Yorkland (Kyoryu Black), Nobuharu "Nossan" Udo (Kyoryu Blue), Souji Rippukan (Kyoryu Green) and Amy Yuuzuki (Kyoryu Pink) to become the new Kyoryugers and fight back against the Deboss threat.
During their fight they are aided by the ancient spirit rangers Ramirez and Tessai (Kyoryu Cyan and Grey respectively) before gaining a new permanent ally in the form Utsusemimaru/"Utchy" (Kyoryu Gold). The team would later be joined by two more Kyoryugers - Kyoryu Violet and Silver, as the battle intensifies and shocking revelations about the Deboss army are revealed.
Despite being the third series to use the dinosaur theme, Kyoryuger is a show that's littered with good ideas - even when it's reusing concepts. The theme makes good use of the numerous theories of what killed out the dinosaurs in real life, using these ideas in the form of a trio of reoccuring monsters (ice age, virus and meteorite). The Deboss Army generals are particularly interesting as they utilize positive emotions and as well as negative ones - meaning that in rare instances their evil schemes involve spreading joy or happiness in addition to the usual carnage and sorrow. The Kyoryuger team begin divided, wary of sharing their secret identities with each other until their camaraderie eventually unites them. It's an angle Super Sentai hasn't played it a long, long time (if ever), and makes for a so much more interesting opening.
Revisited Super Sentai concepts include an alien/inhuman mentor and "evil" sixth ranger, although these play out a little differently to their predecessors so that even when you know what to expect in the long run there are still nicely.
However for the list of good things Kyoryuger does, there's also a pretty significant list of bad to go with it. As well as the dinosaur motif, the show uses a rather heavy music theme too which stretches into both the narrative. Its inclusion itself isn't the problem - in fact the two actually work quite well together storywise. The problem is the execution of the musical element, which see the rangers samba dancing to transform amid a clashing musical jingle. This gets even worse when Kyoryu Gold is thrown into the mix, resulting in a second jingle is added into the sequence creating an inaudible mash of sound. The mecha transformation sequences also suffer from this problem in the beginning - Kyoryuger takes much appreciated effort to create an elaborate transformation sequence (especially for a robot that's so simplistic) and then spoils it by overlaying an annoying and repetitive musical jingle over the top. Admittedly this is something that mellows out considerably as the show goes on (and I'd be lying if I said the dance wasn't catchy) and so feels like a minor complaint, but still something very apparent in early episodes that could potentially deter viewers.
But Kyoryuger's biggest problem is without a doubt its main hero - Daigo "King" Kiryu. While Super Sentai has certainly placed greater focus on a specific team member (usually Red) before, Kyoryuger does it to such painful lengths that at times you wonder why the show isn't just called "King Sentai Daigoranger". Even ignoring the fact he's the only character to receive a powered up form, Daigo is constantly represented as near perfect - the team leader, the glue that holds it together, the strongest fighter, the most skilled etc. There is even an episode that highlights that Daigo's weakness is that he is too perfect. The other five Kyoryugers all come have their own interesting backgrounds and receive some form of development to varying degrees, but always feel like Daigo's support team rather than actual team members. It says a lot that my favourite episodes involving the Kyoryugers as a team was the two part story where Daigo thought he was a dinosaur and was thus absent.
As a direct result of the previous complaint, Kyoryuger suffers from not expanding on some of its more interesting dynamics as much as it could have. Utchy and Dogold share a rivalry dynamic that is fairly well upheld for the majority of the show, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the much more interesting revenge subplot between Ian and Aigaron. This story has a brilliant opening and conclusion, yet comes up so fleetingly in the rest of the story that it doesn't feel as well grounded as it should. The same applies to the character of Candelira, who's schemes usually prove to be the more interesting of the Deboss but largely is relegated to singing or standing in the background smiling. I'm not denying she has some fantastic moments (episode 40 is one of the best in the entire series) but given her eventual role in the show finale it feels like her importance could have been referenced a lot more. Finally comes the romantic pairing properly established in the final few episodes - thinly mentioned previously, these episodes lay it on so thick that it feels more like a character assassination than a blossoming romance.
Thankfully that even with the red hero hogging the spotlight, Kyoryuger has some absolutely brilliant characters that you long to see more of. The show is the first time a Sentai show has properly featured a team bigger than seven (Dekaranger did it but appearances were very fleeting), with a total of 10 Kyoryugers appearing plus a movie-exclusive evil ranger. Using the concept of Spirit Rangers, it features rangers from different time periods and nationalities as well as ones that aren't even human - giving a bigger scope to a Sentai team than ever before. Even the side characters are great - with veteran Super Sentai actors returning in new roles as the core Kyoryugers' family members. It may not sound like much, but it really makes them feel like proper characters rather than a group with no interaction outside of each other.
After last year's complex and (somewhat) realistic mecha designs, it's not surprise that the Zyudenryu are also given a simplistic approach. Kyoryuger features a total of 11 dinosaur mecha, though six of them are simply limbs that attach to four larger bodies. The dumbed-down approach doesn't work particularly well on screen, and is even more disappointing when only three components are needed to form Kyoryuzin despite it being a FIVE piece team. Kyoryuger does a bad enough job of cementing the team dynamic with Daigo, it doesn't need another thing adding to it.
Reviews are always something that should be taken as guidelines rather than the literal truth, given that one person's opinion isn't going to be the same as another's. Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger was a very popular show among children and fans alike, and the toy line has reported to have been the most successful for the franchise in 10 years. It was bright, colourful, loud and placed a big emphasis on fun - something Super Sentai needed after the darker tones of Go-Busters and something kids (rightly so) would go wild for. But even with all of this in mind I still don't consider Kyoryuger to have been anything special. The protagonist was insufferable, and many of its best story ideas felt underdeveloped and/or wasted potential. It's a show that I'm ecstatic pleased its intended audience, but not one I see myself missing or feeling the need to revisit any time in the near future.


text:
Yaping Yang Homepage
Representation theory seminar
Representation theory seminar 2019-S1
Representation theory seminar 2017
2018 Semester 2
Fall 2015_Math132H
Fall2016_Math411
Spring2017-Math412
Spring2017_Math235
Yaping Yang
I am currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne. I am a member of the Representation Theory Group .
I obtained my Ph.D degree in May 2014 from Northeastern University, under the supervision of Prof. Valerio Toledano Laredo. After my PhD, I spent a semester in 2014 as a postdoc at Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley, and I worked as a visiting assistant professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2014-2017).
My profile at the University of Melbourne https://ms.unimelb.edu.au/people/profile?id=2268
The Representation theory seminar at Melbourne: Representation Theory Seminar
👉Contact 👉Employment 👉Publications 👉Talks 👉Teaching 👉Travel 👉Personal
Peter Hall building, Office 165
813 Swanston Street, Parkville VIC 3010.
yaping.yang1 (at) unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61-0383443077
My research lies in the area of Lie algebras, geometric representation theory, quantum groups, and the related geometry and topology. More specifically:
I have an on-going project joint with Valerio Toledano Laredo studying the monodromy representation of elliptic braid groups, which comes from the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov-Bernard equations on the moduli space of elliptic curves.
I also have an on-going project joint with Gufang Zhao. We apply the tool of cohomology theories to study quantum groups and Nakajima quiver varieties.
I am working with Marc Levine and Gufang Zhao about the elliptic cohomology theory in the motivic setting.
I am also working with Ivan Mirković and Gufang Zhao about higher dimensional loop Grassmannians.
Recently, I work with Miroslav Rapčák, Yan Soibelman, and Gufang Zhao on vertex algebras associated to toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds. This is closely related to the moduli space of spiked instantons of Nekrasov.
Nicholas Macleod, PhD student , co-supervised (as a cosupervisor) with Omar Foda.
Michael Swaddle, PhD student, co-supervised (as a cosupervisor) with Paul Norbury.
Tyson Field, Master's student, co-supervised with David Ridout.
Tyson's research presentation slides: Wess-Zumino-Witten Models and the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov Equations
Finley Mcglade, undergraduate student, co-supervised with Arun Ram. AMSI Vacation Research Scholarship: Nov. 6-Dec.1, 2017, and Jan. 23 to Feb. 8, 2018: Finn's Slides.
Employment:
2020-present: Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne.
Aug. 2017- 2020: Lecturer, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
Jan. 2015-Aug. 2017: Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. Postdoc Mentor: Ivan Mirković
Aug. 2014-Dec. 2014: The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley, CA. Postdoc Mentor: Edward Frenkel. https://www.msri.org/programs/276
2009-2014: Ph.D., Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Advisor: Valerio Toledano Laredo
2005-2009: B. S. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Shiu-Chun Wong's undergraduate student Seminars.
Visiting Positions:
Dec 23, 2019-Feb.29, 2020: Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (IPMU), Japan.
Feb.9- Mar.3, 2019: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Canada.
May 20-July.15, 2018: IST, Austria.
Jan.3- Feb.28, 2018: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Canada.
Nov.1-Nov. 25, 2017: IST, Austria.
Oct. -Nov.1, 2017: Hausdorff Research Institute for Mathematics, Bonn, Germany.
June -July 31, 2017: Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn, Germany.
May 17-Aug. 3, 2016: Universitat Duisburg-Essen, Fakultat fur Mathematik, Essen, Germany.
Mar 14-Mar 19, 2016: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Canada.
Feb 7-Feb 12, 2016: The Banff International Research Station: Vertex Algebras and Quantum Groups, Alberta, Canada.
Jan3-Jan 9, 2016: Simons center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook.
June -Aug. 2015: Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn, Germany.
June-July. 2015: Park City Mathematics Institute, Utah.
May-Aug., 2012: Universitat Duisburg-Essen, Fakultat fur Mathematik, Essen, Germany.
May-July, 2013: Universitat Duisburg-Essen, Fakultat fur Mathematik, Essen, Germany.
2021-2023: Discovery Project DP210103081 (with Nora Ganter, Gufang Zhao and Paul Zinn-Justin). Elliptic Schubert Calculus.
2020-2022: Andrew Sisson Fellowship at the University of Melbourne.
May 2019-May 2022:DECRA 190101231 Integrable systems from gauge theories.
Jan.-Feb.,2018, 2019: Emmy Noether Fellowship - Perimeter Institute
Jul.2016-Jul.2018: AMS Simons Travel Grant.
Aug.-Dec., 2014: Cha-Chern Scholarship, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.
May-June, 2013: Ling-Ma Fellowship, Northeastern University.
Articles in preparation
(with Ivan Mirković and Gufang Zhao) Higher dimensional loop Grassmannians, in preparation.
(with Gufang Zhao), Frobenii on Morava E-theoretical quantum groups. https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.14681
(with Miroslav Rapčák, Yan Soibelman, and Gufang Zhao) Cohomological Hall algebras and perverse coherent sheaves on toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds. https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.13365
(with Gufang Zhao) The cohomological Hall algebras of a preprojective algebra with symmetrizer, https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.02689
(with Valerio Toledano Laredo) The elliptic Casimir connection of a simple Lie algebra, https://arxiv.org/abs/1805.12261
(with Valerio Toledano Laredo) Universal KZB equations for arbitrary root systems, https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.10259
(with Gufang Zhao) Quiver varieties and elliptic quantum groups, https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.01418
(This paper is under revision, in collaboration with Dougal Davis. )
Peer-reviewed Journal articles:
(with Marc Levine and Gufang Zhao) Algebraic Elliptic cohomology theory and flops II, SL-cobordism, Advances in Mathematics, to appear, arXiv:1610.00396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aim.2021.107726
(with Miroslav Rapčák, Yan Soibelman, and Gufang Zhao) Cohomological Hall algebras, vertex algebras and instantons. Commun. Math. Phys.. 376, pages1803--1873 (2020).
(with Ivan Mirković and Gufang Zhao) Loop Grassmannians of quivers and affine quantum groups, to appear at Proceedings of the Conference "Interactions between Representation Theory and Algebraic Geometry" held at the University of Chicago, https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.10095.
(with Finn McGlade, and Arun Ram) Positive level, negative level and level zero, https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.11796. In: Hu J., Li C., Mihalcea L.C. (eds) Schubert Calculus and Its Applications in Combinatorics and Representation Theory. ICTSC 2017. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics, vol 332. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7451-1_7.
(with Gufang Zhao) The PBW Theorem for the affine Yangians, Transformation groups, 25, 1371–1385(2020). DOI: 10.1007/s00031-020-09572-6 https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.04375
(with Gufang Zhao) On two cohomological Hall algebras, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Section A Mathematics, Volume 150, 2020 , pp. 1581-1607. arXiv: 1604.01477. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/prm.2018.162
(with Gufang Zhao) The cohomological Hall algebra for a preprojective algebra, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 116, 1029-1074 (2018). DOI: 10.1112/plms.12111 arXiv: 1407.7994.
(with Gufang Zhao), Cohomological Hall algebras and affine quantum groups, Selecta Mathematica, Vol. 24, Issue 2 (2018), pp. 1093-1119. arXiv:1604.01865 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00029-017-0366-y
(with Nicolas Guay) On deformed double current algebras for simple Lie algebras, Mathematical Research Letters. Vol. 24, No. 5 (2017), pp. 1307-1384. ArXiv: 1608.02900 https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/MRL.2017.v24.n5.a4
(with Marc Levine and Gufang Zhao) Algebraic Elliptic cohomology theory and flops I, with an appendix by Jo\"el Riou on dualizability in the motivic stable homotopy category, Mathematische Annalen volume 375, pages1823–1855(2019). arXiv:1311.2159. DOI:10.1007/s00208-019-01880-x
(with Alex Suciu and Gufang Zhao) Homological finiteness of abelian covers. Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa Cl. Sci. (5) Vol. XIV (2015), 101-153. arXiv:1204.4873 DOI:10.2422/2036-2145.201205_008
(with Alex Suciu and Gufang Zhao) Intersections of translated algebraic subtori. J. Pure Appl. Algebra 217 (2013), no. 3, 481-494. arXiv: 1109.1023 DOI:10.1016/j.jpaa.2012.06.025
Conference Proceedings :
Without Peer-review
(with Gufang Zhao) How to sheafify an elliptic quantum group. 2017 MATRIX Annals, Editors: David R. Wood, Jan de Gier, Cheryl E. Praeger, Terence Tao. MATRIX Book Series, Volume 2, Springer, to appear. arXiv: 1803.06627
Notes on Differential Equations on Hyperplane complements, Graduate seminar on Quantum cohomology and Representation theory, Fall 2013, https://gauss.math.yale.edu/~il282/qcoh.html.
https://gauss.math.yale.edu/~il282/Yaping_1.pdf,
https://web.northeastern.edu/iloseu/Yaping_2.pdf
Talks I have given:
The year 2021:
Nov 11: Representation theory seminar, National University of Singapore.
Oct 20 (Wednesday): MIT Lie Groups Seminar, https://math.mit.edu/lg/
Oct 19 (Tuesday): CUHK. https://www.math.cuhk.edu.hk/seminars/frobenii-morava-e-theoretical-quantum-groups
Oct 8: Zoom colloquium, Macquarie University.
Sep?-Oct.1: SMRI Domestic Visitor Program, University of Sydney.
Sep. 27-Oct. 1, Representation theory's hidden motives. https://www.uni-muenster.de/MathematicsMuenster/events/2021/mrt-2021.shtml
Oct 13: Frobenii on Morava E-theoretical quantum groups. Topology seminar at the University of Melbourne.
June 23: Cohomological Hall algebras and perverse coherent sheaves on toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds. GRT at Home. https://grt-home.org/event/grt_at_home_seminar-2/
Sep. 10: An introduction to the Riemann–Hilbert correspondence, the representation theory seminar at the University of Melbourne.
Apr. 7: The Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov functor for rational Cherednik algebras, the representation theory seminar at the University of Melbourne.
Nov. 26, Elliptic weight functions for the cotangent bundle of Grassmanian. Seminar on elliptic Schubert classes.
Feb 4: Cohomological Hall algebras, vertex algebras and instantons, Kavli IPMU, the University of Tokyo
https://indico.ipmu.jp/indico/event/168/
Dec 17-20: Factorization structures and quantization, University of Auckland. http://www.maths.adelaide.edu.au/pedram.hekmati/TQFT2018/
Sep. 19: How to give a 20-minute seminar, masters help classes, University of Melbourne.
June 26: Cohomological Hall algebras, vertex algebras and instantons, CIME School, Geometric Representation Theory and Gauge Theory. June 25-29, Cetraro, Italy http://www.salafrancesco.altervista.org/cime-school.html
May 22: From geometry to quantum integrable systems, University of Birmingham.
May 1: Double current algebras and applications, Pure Mathematics Seminar, University of Queensland.
Apr. 30: From homotopy theory to representation theory, colloquium talk, University of Queensland.
Apr. 27: Double current algebras and applications, Algebra Seminar, University of Sydney
Apr. 13: Double current algebras and applications, University of Melbourne, Pure Mathematics Seminar. https://sites.google.com/site/jessegellredman/home/seminar
Mar. 1: How to sheafify an elliptic quantum group? Yale University. http://calendar.math.yale.edu/public_html/calendar/www/posters/2376.pdf
Jan. 15: Monodromy representations of elliptic braid groups, Perimeter Institute.
Dec. 22: How to sheafify an elliptic quantum group? Geometric R-Matrices: From Geometry to Probability, Matrix program.https://www.matrix-inst.org.au/events/geometric-r-matrices/
Dec. 13: Algebraic elliptic cohomology and flops, AustMS meeting, Sydney.
Dec. 12: Towards a construction of higher dimensional loop Grassmannians, AustMS meeting, Sydney.
Dec. 4: A geometric construction of affine quantum groups, University of Sydney: https://sites.google.com/site/ausreptheory/conference2017
Dec. 1: From homotopy theory to representation theory, US-Mexico Conference, Mexico City. https://sites.google.com/view/usmexico-2017/home
Nov. 21: Lusztig's character formula and Morava K-theory. IST, Austria.
Oct. 19: Macdonald polynomials and generalizations, Junior Hausdorff Trimester program.
Oct.18, A geometric construction of affine quantum groups, Junior Hausdorff Trimester program, "Symplectic Geometry and Representation theory".
http://www.him.uni-bonn.de/de/programs/current-trimester-program/representation-theory-2017/description/
Sep. 24-26, Towards a construction of higher dimensional loop Grassmannians, WIMSIG Conference 2017. http://www.austms.org.au/WIMSIG-conference-2017
Sep.11-15, Monodromy representations of elliptic braid groups, University of Adelaide. http://www.iga.adelaide.edu.au/workshops/WorkshopSep2017/
Aug. 10, An introduction to rational Cherednik algebras. Representation theory seminar at University of Melbourne https://sites.google.com/site/yapingyanghomepage/representation-theory-seminar
March 10-12, 2017: From homotopy theory to representation theory, AMS sectional meeting, Charleston, SC.
http://www.ams.org/meetings/sectional/2228_progfull.html
December: Monodromy representations of elliptic braid groups, University at Albany.
November: Cohomology theories and affine quantum groups, University of Melbourne, Australia.
November: Cohomology theories and affine quantum groups, Australia National University, Canberra, Australia.
August: Quantum groups and cohomology theories, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
February: Cohomological Hall algebras and affine quantum groups, the Banff International Research Station, Banff.
January: Cohomological Hall algebras and affine quantum groups, Simons center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook.
August: Yangians and Cohomological Hall algebras for a preprojective algebra. Oberseminar, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn.
April: Conformal blocks and the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations. Representation Theory Seminar, UMass, Amherst.
February: Algebraic elliptic cohomology theory and flops. Valley Geometry Seminar, UMass, Amherst.
January: The vertex representations of quantum toroidal algebras. Seminaire Math Jeunes, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France.
November: Conformal blocks and KZ connections. Representation Theory Mini-Workshop, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
October: Monodromy representations of braid groups. Geometric Representation Theory Pizza Seminar, MSRI, Berkeley, CA.
October: Loop Grassmannians and the Zastava spaces of reductive groups. The GRASP (Geometry, Representations, and Some Physics) seminar, UC Berkeley, CA.
May: Functor between finite-dimensional representation categories. Workshop on Yangians and Quantum Loop Algebras, Austin, TX.
January: $\mathbb{A}^1$-homotopy theory and the slice spectral sequence. Graduate Student Research Seminar, Northeastern.
October: Universal KZB equations for arbitrary root systems and the elliptic Casimir connection. Non-commutative algebra seminar, M.I.T., Boston, MA.
September: Differential equations on hyperplane complements II. Graduate seminar on Quantum cohomology and Representation theory, Northeastern, Boston, MA.
September: Differential equations on hyperplane complements I}. Graduate seminar on Quantum cohomology and Representation theory, M.I.T., Boston, MA.
November: Algebraic Elliptic cohomology theory and flops II. Graduate Student Seminar, Harvard University.
November: Algebraic Elliptic cohomology theory and flops I. Graduate Student Seminar, Harvard University.
October: Universal KZB equations for arbitrary root systems. Graduate Student Research Seminar, Northeastern.
May: Representations of Lie Algebras and D-modules, Tapas Seminar, Northeastern.
April: Homological finiteness of abelian covers. AMS Sectional Meeting, Worcester, MA.
2018, Semester 2: The University of Melbourne.
Advanced Topics in Geometry and Topology (MAST90124)
https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2018/subjects/mast90124
Course webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/yapingyanghomepage/teaching/2018-semester-2
2015-2017: University of Massachusetts Amherst.
1. Math412:Introduction to Abstract algebra II, room: LGRT 173,
Tu Th 8:30am-9:45AM,
Course webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/yapingyanghomepage/teaching/spring2017-math412
2. Math 235: Introduction to Linear Algebra, Tu Th 10:00am-11:15AM, Room: LGRT 121
Course webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/yapingyanghomepage/teaching/spring2017_math235
Course ID: yang81334 (you will receive a 50% penalty on late assignments).
Fall 2016:
1. Math 411-02 Introduction to abstract algebra I https://sites.google.com/site/yapingyanghomepage/teaching/fall2016_math411
2. Math 132.07, Calculus 2
Spring 2016:
2. Math 412, Introduction to Abstract algebra II
1. Instructor, Math 132H.01, honors Calculus 2, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The course webpage https://sites.google.com/site/yapingyanghomepage/teaching/fall-2015_math132h
1. Instructor, Math 132.12 Calculus 2, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
2009-2014: Teaching Assistant, Northeastern University, Boston, U.S.A
Spring 2014: Teaching Assistant, Math 2331 Linear Algebra.
Fall 2013: Instructor, Math 1215 Mathematical thinking.
Spring 2013: Instructor, Math 1231 Calculus for Business and Economics.
Spring 2012:Teaching Assistant, Math 2280 and 2285 Statistics and Software.
Fall 2011: Recitation Leader, Math 1241 Calculus 1.
Spring 2011: Instructor, Math 2321 Calculus 3 for Science and Engineering.
Fall 2010: Recitation Leader, Math 2321 Calculus 3 for Science and Engineering.
Spring 2010: Instructor, Math 2280 Statistical thinking.
December 26-30, 2022: Conference in honor of Bong Lian's 60th birthday. Tsinghua Sanya International Mathematics Forum.
October 2 - October 7, 2022. Geometry and Physics of Quantum Toroidal Algebra, Hangzhou, China.
http://www.birs.ca/events/2022/5-day-workshops/22w5190
July 11-15, 2022: String Math 2022. https://stringmath2022.fuw.edu.pl/
June 27 to July 2, 2022 (ICCM2022): Yau Mathematical Sciences Center (YMSC), Department of Mathematical Sciences of Tsinghua University.
14 Feb 2022 - 25 Feb 2022, FRONTIERS IN REPRESENTATION THEORY. Matrix.
https://www.matrix-inst.org.au/events/frontiers-in-representation-theory/
The Year 2021(postponed due to COVID-19)
May 17-21, 2021? New Perspective in Categorification and Quantization - Oaxaca, Mexico - Summer 2021
The Year 2020 (postponed due to COVID-19)
Sep 6-11, 2020: Geometry and Physics of Quantum Toroidal Algebra
Mar 1-Mar 6, 2020: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HK. (cancelled)
Dec23, 2019-Feb.29, 2020, IPMU, Japan
Dec 16-20: Geometric Representation Theory and Quantum Field Theories, Tsinghua Sanya Internationl Mathematics Forum: http://www.tsimf.cn/meeting/show?id=200#MMM2
Feb. 25-March 1, Cohomological Hall Algebras in Mathematics and Physics
https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/conferences/cohomological-hall-algebras-mathematics-and-physics
Feb. 4-8: Representation theory, gauge theory and integrable systems at Kavli IPMU, the University of Tokyo
Dec. 17-21, 2018: A conference on character varieties and quantisation, the University of Auckland.
http://www.maths.adelaide.edu.au/pedram.hekmati/TQFT2018/
Dec 10-16: https://www.matrix-inst.org.au/events/geometric-and-categorical-representation-theory/
Dec. 4-7, 2018: Co-organiser of the session on the topic of Representation Theory, Australian Mathematical Society Annual Meeting, the University of Adelaide. http://maths.adelaide.edu.au/austms2018/
June 25-29:CIME School, Geometric Representation Theory and Gauge Theory http://www.salafrancesco.altervista.org/cime-school.html
June 3-7, 2018: Helvetic Algebraic Geometry Seminar https://people.math.ethz.ch/~rahul/ChAGS18.html
May 20-July 15: IST, Austria.
Apr. 29-May 5, 2018: University of Queensland, https://smp.uq.edu.au/event/1391/maths-colloquium
Apr 27-Apr. 29, 2018: University of Sydney Algebra Seminar, http://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/AlgebraSeminar/
Mar.2-Mar. 9, 2018: UMass, Amherst. http://people.math.umass.edu/~mirkovic/
Feb. 28-Mar.2, 2018: Yale university. Hosts: Sasha Tsymbaliuk and Philsang Yoo.
http://calendar.math.yale.edu/public_html/calendar/www/posters/2376.pdf
Feb.19-Feb.23: University of Alberta, https://sites.ualberta.ca/~nguay/
Jan.1-Feb.28, 2018: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, CA. https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/
Dec.18-22, 2017: MATRIX program, Geometric R-Matrices: From Geometry to Probability, Creswick Campus of The University of Melbourne
https://www.matrix-inst.org.au/events/geometric-r-matrices/
Dec.12-15, 2017: AustMS meeting, Sydney. [One talk in Representation theory, and one talk in K-theory!! 25mins/each] https://www.mq.edu.au/about/about-the-university/faculties-and-departments/faculty-of-science-and-engineering/departments-and-centres/department-of-mathematics/news-and-events/austms-annual-meeting-2017
Dec.4-8, 2017: University of Sydney: https://sites.google.com/site/ausreptheory/conference2017
Nov.27-Dec.1, 2017: US-Mexico Conference in Mexico City in the Mathematics Institute of of UNAM. https://sites.google.com/view/usmexico-2017/home
Nov.1-Nov. 25, 2017: IST, Austria Tamas Hausel's group. https://portal.app.ist.ac.at/#/home
Oct.1-Oct.31, 2017: HIM, Bonn/ Talk on Oct. 16-18. http://www.him.uni-bonn.de/de/programs/current-trimester-program/representation-theory-2017/description/
Sep.24-26, 2017, University of South Australia in Adelaide, http://www.austms.org.au/WIMSIG-conference-2017, [25-minute talk (including time for questions)]
Sep.11-15, 2017: http://www.iga.adelaide.edu.au/workshops/WorkshopSep2017/ [55mins + 5mins for questions.]
July 3-7, 2017: Summer school at Dijon: http://school-tlag2017.math.cnrs.fr/index.html
Jun.1-Aug. 1, 2017: Max Planck institute, Bonn, Germany.
Mar. 12-20, 2017: University of Connecticut.
Mar. 10-12, 2017: AMS Spring Southeastern Sectional Meeting "Geometric Methods in Representation Theory", the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC
Co-organizer of the workshop on "Elliptic cohomology and physics" May 25-28 2020, Perimeter Institute, Canada. https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/conferences/elliptic-cohomology-and-physics.
Co-organizer of the workshop on "Geometric Representation Theory and Quantum Field Theory" December 16-20 2019, TSIMF, Sanya, China. https://ymsc-strings.github.io/events/GeoRepSanya/index.html
Co-organizer of the workshop "Cohomological Hall algebras in Mathematics and Physics" at Perimeter Institute, February 25-March 1, 2019 https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/conferences/cohomological-hall-algebras-mathematics-and-physics
Co-organiser of the session on the topic of Representation Theory, Australian Mathematical Society Annual Meeting, the University of Adelaide. http://maths.adelaide.edu.au/austms2018/
Co-organizer of the Representation Theory Seminar at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
A panel member for the job hiring at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
The Year 2012-2014
Co-organizer of the Graduate Student Research Seminar at Northeastern University.
My husband Gufang Zhao is also a mathematician.
My son Leo is working.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Lahr is in Germany, located on the coordinates 48.34 latitude, 7.87 longitude. The time zone is Europe/Busingen (GMT+1) and its currency is EUR.
When visiting Lahr, you'll have plenty of activities, sights and culinary experiences to keep you more than busy!
The closest airport to Lahr is Lahr Airport and is about 2.75 miles away.


text:
Borlänge is de hoofdstad van de gemeente Borlänge in het landschap Dalarna en de provincie Dalarnas län in Zweden. De plaats heeft 39.422 inwoners (2005) en een oppervlakte van 3413 hectare. De plaats is de grootste stad van Dalarnas län. De rivier de Dalälven stroomt door de stad.

In Borlänge staat het Jussi Björlingmuseum dat gewijd is aan de operazanger Jussi Björling die er geboren is.

Verkeer en vervoer
Bij de plaats lopen de E16, Riksväg 50, Riksväg 70 en Länsväg 293.

De plaats heeft een station aan de spoorlijnen Gävle - Kil/Frövi, Uppsala - Morastrand en Västerdalbanan.

Bij de stad ligt de luchthaven Dala Airport.

Stedenbanden
  Larvik (Noorwegen)
  Wuhan (China)

Geboren

 Jussi Björling (1911), tenor
 Göran Arnberg (1957), voetballer
 Björn Dixgård (1981), zanger van Mando Diao
 Lars Frölander (1974), zwemmer
 Lasse Nilsson (1982), voetballer
 Carl Norén (1983), zanger van onder andere Sugarplum Fairy
 Gustav Norén (1981), zanger van Mando Diao
 Victor Norén (1985), zanger van onder andere Sugarplum Fairy
 Maja Dahlqvist (1994), langlaufster

Plaats in Dalarnas län
Stad in Zweden

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Ross Robinson Consulting is the new entity of Ross Robinson Surveys, a professional surveying consultancy established in 1995 (20 years ago) and based in Yamba NSW. We currently consult in Sydney, Mid-North Coast NSW, Gold Coast and Gladstone Qld.
A local identity ideally located to your project and offer exceptional expertise, instrumentation, and project survey management.
Ross Robinson Consulting specialise in large scale infrastructure development projects and our core business revolves around cadastral land surveying products, road and bridge construction, flexible and concrete pavements, drainage, airport infrastructure development (including aircraft movement areas and aprons), tunneling, pipelines, railway infrastructure development, urban and rural subdivision and greenfield developments, and precise deformation monitoring (dam walls, soft soil treatments, bridge abutment earthworks, incremental launching etc.).
Ross Robinson Consulting hold current insurance certificates for Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Workers Compensation cover.


The first 8 years of education in Malawi are compulsory. Children enter primary school at age 6 where the first four years of teaching are in a local traditional language. Thereafter, the medium of education shifts to English for the balance of the Malawi education program. Primary schools are distributed throughout the country. Some are state-controlled, while others are privately operated, usually by religious missions.
Many secondary schools are boarding establishments where discipline is form and uniforms are required. The period of education is 4 years, after 2 of which students write the Malawi junior national certificate. Two years further on a good pass in the Malawi school certificate of education examination is required for entrance to university.
The technical, entrepreneurial and vocational training authority is mandated by law to facilitate professional training throughout Malawi. Its objective is to ensure a sustainable workforce, and thereby promote the nation's economic growth.
Access to tertiary education in Malawi is competitive because classroom space is in under-supply. Few candidates are chosen for university, although others may apply at teachers training colleges, and also technical institutions.
There are three universities in the country, namely the Catholic University, Mzuzu University, and the University of Malawi established in 1964 and illustrated here. Its constituent colleges include Chancellor College, Bunda College of Agriculture, The Malawi Polytechnic, Kamuzu College of Nursing, and a College of Medicine where doctors are trained.


New Delhi, (IANS) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of silencing dissent, saying it was a part of their ideology.
"Anyone who speaks against BJP is silenced…" Rahul Gandhi said.
He was commenting on the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bangalore.
"People say that the Prime Minister is quiet and Prime Minister has not said anything. The point is the entire ideology is to silence voices," he told reporters.
"Sometimes, under pressure, the Prime Minister makes some statements. But the entire idea is to crush dissent," adding that "non-violence is the history of this nation… Murder cannot be justified," he added.
He also said that he spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and has been assured that the guilty will not be spared.
Senior Kannada journalist and social activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead on Tuesday night by unidentified men at her residence, police said. She was 55.


text:
Q: Check if a cell in an ActiveRecord Array have been changed I'm using PostgreSQL which supports arrays, which is very convenient. Sometimes I need to see if an element have been changed.
I know we can do this:
MyActiveRecordArray.changed?
=> true
But is there a way do this:
MyActiveRecordArray[0].changed?
Thank you for your answers and help!

A: Although you can't do it directly, you may use the changes method:
model = Model.new
model.array_field = [1]
model.changed?
=> true
model.changes['array_field']
=> [[], [1]]

doc: https://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActiveModel/Dirty.html#method-i-changes

A: Here is the solution I come up with, thanks to your answer
changes_index = []
old_array, new_array  = model.changes['array_field']
new_array.each_with_index { |x, i| changes_index << i if x != old_array[i] }

A: You can ask directly your ActiveRecord instance if a specific attribute has changed by using attribute_name_changed? method.
On your case:
MyModel.active_record_array_changed?

This would return true or false depending whether the specific attribute has changed.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Today's main news: PayPal likely to buy big target like Square or Klarna soon. LendingTree acquires non-lending assets of SnapCap. Funding Circle boost revenues, narrows losses. ZhongAn raises $1.5B in Hong Kong IPO. Funding Societies intros first crowdfunding chatbot in Southeast Asia.
Today's main analysis: Hong Kong private wealth sees double-digit growth.
Today's thought-provoking articles: The next billion dollar startups. UK punches above its weight in alt finance. Fintech has not yet made impact on trade finance gap.
How CRE fundraising is changing.
New survey explores online homebuying attitudes.
3 stocks that could double your money.
Sumero leads $45M growth equity round with Kyriba.
Amazon effect makes advising small clients less profitable.
Amazon is not yet a monopoly, says Levchin.
Funding Circle boosts revenues, narrows losses.
UK punches above its weight in alt finance.
How financial advisors engage third-party services is changing.
Advisers warned of robo-advice 'cliff edge'.
British Business Bank reaffirms support for fintech.
Spotcap announces UK Fintech Fellowship winner.
ZhongAn surges, bodes well for future tech listings.
Private wealth in Hong Kong grows by double digits in 2017.
Ant Financial partners with CK Hutchison on payments.
Fintech still hasn't made impact on trade finance gap.
Leveraging alternative data to energize lending portfolio.
Only 3% of advisers offer robo-advice.
Australia becoming regional leader in alternative finance.
Funding Societies intros first Southeast Asian chatbot for crowdfunding companies.
Fintech firms look to disburse loans under Mudra.
Dubai Economy to develop emCash in new deal.
Toronto: Digital banking underdog poised to be global fintech leader.
Cash-rich PayPal Holdings (PYPL) is likely to pull the trigger on a big acquisition soon, and may be eyeing Europe or a big target like Square (SQ), says a Wall Street analyst.
Ellis says PayPal has $6 billion in cash on its balance sheet and could raise $4 billion or more by selling off its consumer credit business.
Both Square and Stripe, however, would be costly acquisitions. Square's market valuation tops $10 billion, while privately-held Stripe's latest funding round in December gave it a whopping $9.2 billion valuation.
LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE) announced today that it has acquired certain assets of Snap Capital LLC, a tech-enabled online platform connecting business owners with lenders offering small business loans, lines of credit and merchant cash advance products through a concierge-based sales approach.
The acquisition purchase has a possible total consideration of $21 million, which consists of $12 million in cash at closing, and contingent consideration payments of up to $9 million.
Every year for the past three, Forbes has gone looking for 25 young U.S. companies with a strong shot at reaching a valuation of $1 billion or more. This year, with the help of TrueBridge Capital Partners, we asked venture firms which companies they thought most likely to hit the billion-dollar mark soon. Then we cut that list down to a final 25, evaluating strategies, funding and competitive challenges as well as estimating current revenues.
What it does: Makes cloud-based software that lenders use to originate mortgages online. Today, Blend works with about 30 mortgage originators, including Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp and Mason-McDuffie Mortgage. It also plans expansions into student and auto loans.
What it does: Provides short-term financing to small businesses. Fundbox intends to reduce the cash-flow headaches of small companies, both those waiting for payment and those that need short-term credit to pay what they owe. Fundbox started as an invoice-financing company, lending money to small businesses against their accounts receivables at rates lower than those for cash advances and without prepayment penalties. Its new model, expected to launch in 2018, is meant to work like a credit card for business-to-business transactions. A company that owes money has Fundbox pay the invoice. The company that is owed gets its cash immediately (minus a small interchange fee). Meanwhile, the first company has 60 days to repay Fundbox before being charged interest. With U.S. businesses doing some $41 trillion in business-to-business transactions a year, the potential market is enormous, but setting up such a network is hard.
What it does: Makes software that helps technology startups and banks work together. Plaid's products provide authentication of accounts and routing numbers, income validation and real-time balance checks. Among its customers: Venmo, Robinhood, Coinbase and Clarity Money.
Affirm, Inc., the company started by Max Levchin to provide fair and honest consumer financing, today announced that Detroit-based design brand, Shinola, is using Affirm's point of sale service to put customers first in an era when a merchant's values often outstrip price for shoppers' making a buying decision — especially among millennials.
Known for its dedication to thoughtful manufacturing by creating jobs and making watches, bicycles, leather goods, journals, jewelry, and audio equipment of the highest quality, Shinola is obsessive about customer experience to ensure a high-touch shopping experience that accurately matches the finely crafted watches, bicycles, jewelry, bags, accessories and gifts for sale on its website.
Since Shinola began offering Affirm's financing to its shoppers, the company's average order value (AOV) has increased by 52 percent. Also, 50 percent of the Affirm users on Shinola's site are now between the ages of 18 and 34, a market Shinola has been working to grow.
Nearly 90 percent of marketers said customer experience would be their primary differentiator this year, according to a recent study by research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc. And, the majority of respondents — 55 percent — in a recent survey conducted by Affirm and Qualtrics of more than 1,000 22 to 44-year-olds in the U.S. said they prioritize a company with high values and ethical business practices, over minimizing their out-of-pocket costs.
CPE: Is the real estate crowdfunding industry a solution? What are the risks?
Burian: I see real estate crowdfunding as an alternative to traditional private equity real estate and an alternative source of investors and not as a solution to any problem. As we know, it is just an avenue for every day individual investors seeking exposure in their portfolios to real estate without acquiring shares of REIT's.
Government regulation is always a risk for this relatively new industry sector. There are questions about the amount of government regulation and whether there is enough to make it a safe playing field. Until crowdfunding matures, with the proper level of regulation, there is always a risk that someone is taking advantage of that gap that currently may exist.
A new survey has concluded that then it comes to researching mortgages, Millennials prefer the D.I.Y. aspect of the online world, while Baby Boomers prefer to communicate with people.
According to the survey, "The Digital Mortgage Experience: A Study of Shifting Borrower Expectations," from Los Angeles-based Velocify, more than one-third of all borrowers prefer self-service websites, especially during the research stage of getting a mortgage. But as the process evolves, demographic shifts occur. The survey found Millennials were 45 percent more likely to find their lender online than Baby Boomers, who were 87 percent more likely to use their current bank or lender for their home loans.
Boost Insurance USA, a NY-based technology-enabled insurtech development platform provider, raised $3m in funding.
The round was led by Norwest Venture Partners with participation from IA Capital Group, Greycroft Partners, and re/insurance industry leaders State National Companies (NASDAQ: SNC) and Nephila.
DATA SOURCE: TD AMERITRADE. PRICES AS OF SEPT. 26, 2017.
Peer-to-peer lending platform Lending Club has lost roughly three-fourths of its market value since its first trading day in 2014, thanks to several quarters of stagnant growth and a scandal that worried investors.
However, the company's most recent earnings report shows that things may finally be starting to pick up, with 10% growth in loan originations, higher profit margins, and impressive revenue growth. In addition, the company said it could be on the verge of profitability by the start of 2018, and it expects double-digit sequential revenue growth in the third quarter of this year.
Lending Club's current loan portfolio represents roughly 0.4% of the U.S. consumer lending market, and if the company could even manage to boost its market share to one or two percent, it could mean a big payday for the company's investors.
After raising $23 million in a Series D funding round last September, Kyriba says today it has raised $45 million in a growth equity round led by Sumeru Equity Partners, a tech-focused private equity firm that specializes in mid-market deals. Previous investors Bpifrance, Iris Capital, Daher Capital (all growth equity funds) joined the deal, along with HSBC.
The venture rounds are over for Kyriba, a cloud-based provider of corporate treasury and financial management software that is based in New York and San Diego.
Daniel Ketchum prides himself on his low fees and independence, but after 27 years as a financial adviser he is finding it harder to make a living working with smaller clients.
Increased government regulations and savers becoming more knowledgeable about investing have created what he calls the "Amazon effect" for US financial advisers.
But the US Department of Labor's fiduciary rule, which came out this year, is making it harder for him to make a profit from advising small plans, he says.
The regulation requires advisers servicing retirement accounts to work in the best interest of the client and has disrupted the wealth management industry.
Max Levchin, a cofounder of PayPal and former chairman of Yelp who is now CEO of the online lending startup Affirm, told BuzzFeed News on Wednesday that Amazon has "not yet" become a monopoly because of competition from major retailers like Walmart as well as from smaller brands, which are investing in ways to attract and keep customers in the real world as well as online.
Walmart is still much larger than Amazon in terms of net sales. During 2017 fiscal year, Walmart reported$485.9 billion in revenue and $481.3 billion in net sales. Amazon, on the other hand, reported about $136 billion in net sales in 2016.
The UK's largest marketplace lending platform marginally narrowed its losses in 2016. Funding Circle, a business loans marketplace, lost £35.7m in 2016, slightly down from £36.9m in the previous year. Meanwhile the platform boosted revenues by 59 per cent to £50.9m, and saw its total loans outstanding climb 61 per cent to £1.37bn, according to a Companies House filing.
Funding Circle has also flagged that its group operating results for the first half of 2017 demonstrate that revenue growth has accelerated further, approximately doubling year-on-year.
Crowdfund Insider recently spoke with Raghavendra Rau to better understand his perspective on the crowdfunding market. Rau is the Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Professor of Finance at Cambridge Judge Business School. He is also a founder and Director at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF). At the most recent CCAF annual conference in Cambridge, Rau shared some insightful research he had recently completed on the global crowdfunding market.
First, to clarify, in the UK crowdfunding encompasses both debt and equity so peer to peer lending (IE Marketplace Lending) is included in aggregate terms. It is more about many people (and perhaps some institutions) funding a single project. Rau, in his research, emphasizes that in the UK the debt crowdfunding market is far larger than the equity side. This makes sense and mirrors the public markets. Yet access to capital at a very early stage may require equity capital. But globally, over 90% of the crowdfunding market is debt, not equity. It is a debt financed world, at least for SMEs, said Rau.
Rau said there are two different paths. Banks or crowdfunding. With crowdfunding there is less paperwork. It is easier to process and in some instances less risk averse. Banks are pulling back from lending across the spectrum. SMEs, the engine of economic growth, are not getting the necessary capital via the traditional route.
So has the UK crowdfunding system been effective?
The UK is recognized as the top Fintech hub in the world but this required policymakers to be more creative and to take some chances. So far, it has paid off.
Wealth Mosaic aims to build "a resource covering all of the main business needs of wealth managers" in about a dozen verticals, says its co-founder Stephen Wall, who has worked as a wealth management consultant with Boston-based Aite Group and Scorpio Partnership in London. At first, though, he says the service will focus where it's needed most: on technology and data resources as well as consulting and research options.
Though Wall sees a role for Wealth Mosaic with all "different types of wealth managers," he sees particular growth opportunities helping "smaller independent" firms that lack in-house consulting arms to help them match their needs to third-party providers, whether the services in question are critical to the firm's core mission or add value around the edges.
A panel of experts at the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment's financial planning conference in Newport today (26 September) said robo-advice did not necessarily pose a risk to financial advice as long as advisers adapted.
George Rooke, head of UK portfolio management at Wealthsimple, said there were advisers who would "struggle" because of their refusal to engage with robo-advice.
Michelle Pearce, co-founder of robo-adviser Wealthify, said advisers did not necessarily have to worry about being replaced by companies such as hers.
THE BRITISH Business Bank (BBB) has published a new report underlining the importance of diverse sources of funding for smaller businesses, including peer-to-peer lending.
The report, titled The Benefits of Diverse Finance Markets for Smaller Businesses, explains why and how the state-backed lender works to increase the number of providers and finance options available to small firms in the UK.
Spotcap, an online lender for SMEs, has announced Mohammed Hussan as the winner of its Fintech Fellowship 2017. The Fellowship awards one aspiring masters or MBA student with a £8,000 stipend towards their studies.
ZhongAn, the online insurance seller with ties to China's two largest internet companies, raised $1.5 billion from its Hong Kong IPO as investor flocked to the biggest listing to date by a new generation of Chinese financial technology (fintech) companies.
Shares of ZhongAn Online Property & Casualty Insurance Co. Ltd. were priced at HK$59.70 ($7.64) apiece, representing the top of their previously indicated range, according to a company announcement on Wednesday to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The offering raised HK$11.5 billion after being nearly 400 times oversubscribed.
ZhongAn Online Property & Casualty Insurance Co jumped 18 percent on debut on Thursday after the biggest ever IPO by a financial technology firm in Asia, boosting Hong Kong's hopes of luring future Chinese technology startups away from New York.
It also bodes well for expected listings from other fintech giants in Hong Kong, including Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial and peer-to-peer lending and wealth management platform Lufax.
Both Ant Financial and Lufax are considering IPOs in the city, sources previously told Reuters, although the timing for the deals is uncertain.
THIS July, Hong Kong's private wealth management industry recorded a 14% increase in assets under management (AUM) compared to a year ago. Hong Kong's wealth management professionals believe that the growth is primarily driven by mainland China's growing wealth, according to a recent report.
The estimated total private wealth in terms of AUM in Hong Kong is over US$800 billion as of July 2017, according to a survey by Private Wealth Management Association (PWMA) and PwC. This is an increase of 14% from US$700 billion in July 2016. PWMA's annual members survey was produced with PwC in July 2017, with 33 out of 45 PWMA member firms participated.
In the survey, 100% of respondents cited mainland China as the main driver of growth in Hong Kong's private wealth AUM. This may be unsurprising, as China has become home to the highest number of billionaires in the world. According to Hurun Report in 2016, China now has 568 billionaires, surpassing the 535 billionaires in the US, and now ranks first globally.
Ant Financial, the payment affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, said it will create a joint venture this year with CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd to operate its payment app in Hong Kong, ending Ant's solo management of the service.
Kommunalkredit is a specialist bank for infrastructure financing based in Vienna, with a branch office in Frankfurt am Main. Its new online offering KOMMUNALKREDIT INVEST targets retail investors, who want to deposit their savings at attractive conditions. Their funds will be used to support key infrastructure investments made by Kommunalkredit such as schools, hospitals, care homes, wind farms, solar energy installations, waste-to-energy facilities, and transport projects.
FinTech Group provides a broad range of fully digital solutions and interfaces for KOMMUNALKREDIT INVEST: they include frontend processes such as online account openings, e-banking, and identification solutions such as video identification, e-signature and mTAN. On the backend side, FinTech Group will also run a data warehouse and carry out compliance monitoring as well as regulatory reporting.
Thirty firms – ranging from start-ups to established corporates – have already selected the Fintech District as their home; they include businesses working in crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, blockchain and cryptocurrency-based technologies, and robo-advisory.
Trade finance revenue is slipping at the world's largest banks, especially as companies struggle in a global trade environment operating with a $1.5 trillion gap in trade finance availability.
According to the ADB's latest survey findings, though, outlined in its Trade Finance Gaps, Growth and Jobs report, FinTech players have yet to make a meaningful impact on the trade finance industry.
The survey polled more than 515 banks and 1,336 companies across 103 countries, finding that FinTech innovators can, indeed, help address the $1.5 trillion trade finance gap which disproportionately impacts small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Approximately one-fifth of the companies surveyed said they had used some type of digital finance, alternative lending or FinTech platform to access trade finance, according to the ADB results.
Banks aren't just dealing with customers who want lending and credit information faster. Government regulations are also requiring them to do so, such as Australian banks requiring affordability checks as part of new consumer loans.
Venkat Srinivasan, Head of Lending at Monzo, said that as a new digital bank, they began to question why it was often a month or two months before consumers could see the transaction come through on their banking or credit card. Venkat noted that while technology is improving and customers are evolving, data availability is evolving at the same time.
Roger Vincent, Head of Banking and Innovation at Equifax, discussed how they're finding new ways to store data, facilitate data movement, and turn data into insights in the form of scores and characteristics.
Phil Grady, CEO of Castlight Financial, discussed how they created a business that has taken traditional credit data from consumers and integrated it with transactional data. This involves categorizing income and expenditures, and then determining essential expenditures versus non-essentials. This enables Castlight to determine consumers' real disposable income, which in turn helps lenders make better lending decisions. This type of granular level data has allowed Castlight to create the first real-time Financial Capability Formula.
Only three per cent of 162 advisers surveyed said they offered fully automated wealth management services, the research found.
The study, which was conducted by research firm Platforum on behalf of JP Morgan, also found that only 14 per cent plant to implement it in the next two years.
Australia's alternative finance market has grown by 53% over 12 months according to a report released by KPMG, becoming the second largest in the Asia-Pacific region.
The report revealed Australia's alternative finance market increased from US$27 million in 2015 to US$610 million in 2016 as Aussies turn to peer-to-peer lending, balance sheet business lending and crowdfunding.
In the US$245.28 billion Asia-Pacific alternative finance market, China was found to be the leader, accounting for 99.2% and representing 85% of the total global market.
P2P consumer lending was Australia's second most popular alternative finance model behind balance sheet business lending, increasing from US$43 million in 2015 to over US$158 million in 2016.
Funding Societies, Singapore'sand Southeast Asia's leading crowdfunding platform, has announced the launch of its chatbot Miyu. This is the first such chatbot created by a crowdfunding company in Southeast Asia. Miyu works round the clock to answer queries that a business owner or an investor may ask about the products and services offered by Funding Societies.
"We created Miyu via self-learning with guidance from our seniors. She is different from most other chatbots in the financial services space. Personally, I like that Miyu can escalate to human support whenever required, giving our users a seamless experience," said Sherman Lim, who is a Singaporean and majors in Economics and Strategic Management at Singapore Management University (SMU).
The future plans for Miyu include acting as a Virtual Relationship Manager who can assist SMEs in loan application, and help investors navigate through the platform, initiate video chats with real customer experience managers as well as perform account opening and management activities such as investments, deposits, withdrawals, etc. without human intervention at any time of the day.
Financial Technology (Fintech) firms are in early discussions with the government and Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd (MUDRA), exploring opportunities under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), said three people close to the development.
So far, PMMY loans have been extended by all public sector banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), cooperative banks, private sector banks, foreign banks, micro finance institutions and non-banking finance companies. Fintech companies have not been involved yet.
Under Shishu, refinancing is provided for loans up to Rs50,000. Kishor offers refinancing for loans above Rs50,000 up to Rs5 lakh whereas, Tarun provides refinancing for loans above Rs5 lakh up to Rs10 lakh. Mudra also offers services like credit guarantee for micro units and securitization of loan assets against micro enterprise portfolios.
Emcredit, a subsidiary of Dubai Economy, and the UK-based Object Tech Group have signed a partnership deal to facilitate financial transactions through contactless payment.
Emcredit and Object Tech will develop a competitive, accountable and legally compliant emCash ecosystem together. Several associated products to protect emCash wallet and digital documents, enable direct real-time settlement and peer-to-peer lending, and provide credit rating based on the distributor ledger of emCash will also be developed.
emCash is based on blockchain technology and will be the digital currency in emPay wallet. The payment method, according to Dubai Economy, will allow the UAE residents to make varied payments through the near field communication (NFC) option on their phones. With emCash, emPay users will have the option of a secure digital currency, and merchants can receive such payments in real time without going through intermediaries.
It's estimated that in 2017 alone, nearly $60 billion worth of payments will be made on mobile platforms. Comparing these figures to just two years ago, only $8.71 billion worth of transactions were made digitally in 2015.
In line with other frontrunners in the industry, such as London, Silicon Valley and New York City, Toronto, Canada, my hometown, stands apart as an emerging FinTech ecosystem, and it's become a well-recognized leader amongst the largest and most stable financial centers in the world.
Ontario has been a global leader in digital payments for more than a decade, with Toronto leading in a high concentration of cryptocurrencies,blockchain, alternative lending and e-commerce growth verticals.


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Sightseeing on wheels
Activities for couples
Piazza di Pietra: Our most recommended tours and activities
1. Rome City Center and Villa Borghese Tour by Segway
Explore Rome on a guided Segway tour to sights like Piazza di Pietra. Glide through Villa Borghese and climb up Pincian Hill without breaking a sweat. Cruise through the Campo Marzio district with ease. Learn how to operate a Segway upon meeting your guide on Piazza del Popolo, and then head towards the grounds of the magnificent Villa Borghese once everyone is confident on this easy-to-ride, self-balancing vehicle. Discover the ancient monuments of the third largest park in Rome, including the legendary Borghese Gallery, home to a treasure trove of art by the most famous painters from Italy. Continue to the lake before riding over to Piazza di Siena. Make your way up the Pincio (Pincian Hill) to get breathtaking view over the city. Head back down into the bustling city center and visit some of the main squares and alleyways of the Campo Marzio district. Admire the impressive Pantheon and get a closer look at the colonnades of the Temple of Hadrian in Piazza di Pietra. See Bernini's glorious Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Boat) in Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps.
2. Rome: Walking City Tour with a Guide
Enjoy a fantastic walk through the squares of Rome with the support of one of our guides who will tell you the history and secrets of the most famous corners of the city. Explore Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, Pantheon, Piazza di Pietra, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza della Rotonda. Our tours will also leave in the event of rain, however, we will ensure that the tour runs safely. The duration of our tours may be longer than planned for reasons beyond our control.
3. Rome Night Segway Tour
Experience Rome at night on a 2.5-hour Segway tour of some of its most historic sights, and soak up the infectious energy of "La Dolce Vita" after dark. Meet your Segway leader on Via dei Delfini for a short orientation session and briefing. Once you are comfortable on the easy-to-use Segways, glide from Trajan's Forum - the last of the imperial fora - to the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), one of the legendary 7 hills of Rome. The Segway leaders will take care of you throughout your tour, and share fascinating stories about the history and culture of Rome. Go to Piazza Navona to experience the energy of Rome at its most accute. Then, visit the Temple of Hadrian and Pantheon, temple to all gods. Cruise along an historic alley to the Spanish Steps. Your last stop will be the Trevi Fountain, where you can throw in a coin to ensure that you will one day return to Rome.
4. Rome: Guided Baroque City Tour by Segway
Come with us to discover the beauties of Ancient Rome following our 2-hour tour with our ecological vehicles that will allow you to avoid long and stressful walks and at the same time using our green vehicles you will always respect the environment. Explore Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, Piazza Venezia, Largo di Torre Argentina, Campo dè' Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Piazza di Pietra, Piazza Colonna, Trevi Fountain, and more. Follow our guides on our totally green electric vehicles and discover with them the most beautiful squares and the most important monuments of the Eternal City while enjoying the city and avoiding fatigue. Our tours will also leave in the event of rain, however, we will ensure that the tour runs safely. The duration of our tours may be longer than planned for reasons beyond our control.
5. Rome: 2-Hour Highlights & Hidden Gems Private Walking Tour
Uncover the little-known treasures of Rome on a private guided walking tour. Explore narrow alleys, hidden riches of art and history, and grand piazzas and fountains. Follow your guide as you learn the history of this Eternal City and its ancient roots. Admire Renaissance and Baroque architecture, visit markets and savor the perfume of Rome's everyday life. See top attractions like the Spanish Steps, neighborhood gems like the Antico Caffè Greco, and wonders such as the famous Trevi Fountain.
6. Rome: Ancient Sites Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide
Start your self guided adventure from the most iconic landmarks in Rome, The Colosseum, and finish at the wonderful and historic Roman temple, the Pantheon. On this 60 minute self guided audio tour you will marvel at the impressive architecture of the Roman Empire, while admiring some of the city's Modernism landmarks such as Piazza Venezia and Altar of the Fatherland. Highlights included in the self-guided tour: Colosseum Imperial Forum Roman Forum Trajan's Market Domus Romane at Palazzo Valentini Pantheon St Ignazio Church Hadrian's Temple ...and many more!
7. Rome: City Highlights Walking Tour with Ice Cream
Explore the heart of the Italian capital on a guided walking tour. Admire major landmarks, including the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, while enjoying the flavors of an authentic Italian gelato. Start your tour in front of the Spanish Steps, one of Rome's top attractions. Continue to the Baroque Trevi Fountain and then to the Pantheon, where you will stop for a real Italian gelato. Step into the past with entertaining stories about each monument from your guide. Finally, arrive at Navona Square and hear the meaning behind its unusual name. Admire the Four Rivers Fountain before scouting out lesser-known gems, such as Piazza di Pietra and Piazza Sant'Eustachio.
8. Discover Rome: Walking City Tour
Discover the secrets of the Eternal City and learn of its rich history throughout the centuries, stopping at the most breathtaking sites, monuments and squares along the way. Arrive at the office and meet your expert guide to begin with an introduction and stroll along the famous Imperial Forum road and admire the ruins of the Roman Forum on either side before arriving at Piazza Venezia and Trajan's Column. From here the next stop is the Trevi Fountain, the most famous fountain in Rome. Hear the connection between water and the city as the guide points out interesting details in its beautiful facade. From the Trevi, pass through the busy shopping street of Via del Corso and into Piazza di Pietra, a little-known square that is home to the Temple of Hadrian. Walk further into the historic center along the cobbles and come upon the Pantheon, the most well-preserved building in Rome. Hear the amazing feats in Roman architecture and marvel at its dome, which is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Inside, peer up at its oculus and learn of the famous figures in history whose tombs are inside, such as the artist Raphael. Just near the Pantheon there is the small church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and Bernini's beloved Elephant statue standing just outside. Continue from here to Largo di Torre Argentina, which is believed to be the site of Julius Caesar's assassination. The final stop will be Piazza Navona, the largest and most elegant square in Rome and also the site of Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers. Learn about the wonderful elements that comprise this beautiful fountain and the meaning behind them. Finish up with a tasty authentic Italian gelato as you say farewell!
9. Rome: City Center Hidden Highlights Guided Walking Tour
- Explore the heart of Rome on a guided walking tour. See top attractions like the Piazza Navona square, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. Admire an old aqueduct at the Vicus Caprarius museum and see the Stadium of Domitian. - Meet your guide at fountain of Bernini in Piazza Navona and begin your guided tour through the center of Rome. Listen as your guide tells you an introduction and points out highlights in the square. - Hear your guide clearly with the provided headsets. - Continue to the stadium of the emperor Domitian where you can see this ancient athletic venue which seated 15,000-20,000 viewers. Make your way to the well-preserved Pantheon which was once a Roman temple before being converted to a Catholic church. -Travel to the Saint Ignazio church to admire its stunning 3D frescos. Stroll to the Baroque Trevi fountain. Visit the underground excavations of the old aqueduct and the water city of Rome at the Vicus Caprarius museum. Finish your tour at La Rinascente.
10. Rome: Highlights Baroque Private Guided Segway Tour
Follow our guides on our totally green electric vehicles and discover with them the most beautiful squares and the most important monuments of the Eternal City while enjoying the city and avoiding fatigue. Itinerary: Piazza dei Santi ApostoliThe square takes its name from the Church of the Saints Apostles that stands here, flanked by the Della Rovere Palace, also known as the Palace of the Saints Apostles. Piazza VeneziaIt is a famous square located at the foot of the Capitol, where five of the capital's most important streets intersect. The square is dominated by the Altare Della Patria, one of Italy's patriotic symbols; three monumental palaces surround it on the other sides: the oldest is the 15th-century Palazzo Venezia, which gives its name to the square and is home to the national museum; the other palaces are the 17th-century Palazzo Bonaparte and the Palazzo Delle Assicurazioni Generali, built in the early 20th century. Largo di Torre ArgentinaLargo di Torre Argentina is a square. In its center is an archaeological area with the ruins of four Roman temples dating from the Republican era. Here were found the ruins of the Curia of Pompey, where the senators of Rome met, and famous for the assassination of Julius Caesar Campo De' FioriCampo de' Fiori is a famous square. Until the 15th century, the square didn't exist; in its place was a flowery meadow, hence the name. According to one tradition, the square took its name from Flora, a woman loved by Pompey, who had built his theatre nearby. Executions took place in Campo de Fiori. In 1600 the philosopher and Dominican friar Giordano Bruno, accused of heresy, was burnt alive there. In 1889 a bronze statue was erected in the center of the square in memory of the philosopher Piazza NavonaPiazza Navona is a symbol of Roman Baroque, with architectural and sculptural elements by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. In ancient Rome, it was the Stadium of Domitian, which was built by Emperor Domitian in 85. The name of the square was originally 'in Agone' (from the Latin in agony, 'games') because the stadium was used exclusively for athletic competitions. In the square stands the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, which commemorates the martyrdom of the Saint that occurred in that part of the square. PantheonThe Pantheon was built as a temple dedicated to all the divinities of the past, present, and future. It was founded in 27 BC by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian after fires had damaged it. In the early 7th century, the Pantheon was converted into a Christian basilica called Santa Maria Della Rotonda or Santa Maria ad Martyres. It was the first case of a pagan temple being transposed to Christian devotion. Almost two millennia after its construction, the dome is still one of the largest domes in the world, and specifically the largest built in Roman concrete. Piazza di PietraLocated in the historical center, the square is dominated by the colonnade of the Temple of Hadrian, erected by Emperor Antoninus Pius in honor of his adoptive father Hadrian: this colonnade was incorporated in the late 17th century into the new building of the Customs House of Land Goods by architect Carlo Fontana. The name of the square is of popular attribution, most probably due to the imposing stones of the colonnade Piazza ColonnaIt owes its name to the Column of Marcus Aurelius which has stood here since antiquity. It is surrounded by some of the most important historical palaces in Rome, including Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Trevi FountainThe fountain is the largest of Rome's famous fountains. It was built between 1732 and 1762 and became world famous after Fellini's film La Dolce Vita.
Rome Night Segway Tour
Rome: Walking City Tour with a Guide
Discover Rome: Walking City Tour
Rome City Center and Villa Borghese Tour by Segway
Rome: Ancient Sites Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide
Rome: Guided Baroque City Tour by Segway
Rome: 2-Hour Highlights & Hidden Gems Private Walking Tour
Rome: City Center Hidden Highlights Guided Walking Tour
Rome: City Highlights Walking Tour with Ice Cream
Rome: Highlights Baroque Private Guided Segway Tour
Rome: Guided Baroque City Tour by Scooter
Rome: Best Squares and Fountains Private Tour
Walking Tour of Central Rome & Pizza Making Experience
Rome: 3-Hour Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour
Rome in a Day: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Colosseum
Rome: Private City Center Tour
Top Attractions in Rome
1 Vatican Museums
2 Colosseum
3 St. Peter's Basilica
4 Pantheon, Rome
5 Castel Sant'Angelo
6 St Peter's Basilica Dome
7 Borghese Gallery
8 Leonardo Da Vinci Experience
9 Cortile del Belvedere
10 Welcome to Rome Heritage Museum
11 Domus Aurea
12 Doria Pamphili Gallery
13 Vittorio Emmanuel II Monument
14 Piazza Navona
15 Mamertine Prison
16 Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
17 Capitoline Museums
18 Colosseum Underground
19 Sistine Chapel
20 Piazza del Popolo
Things to Do in Piazza di Pietra
1 Piazza di Pietra Activities
2 Piazza di Pietra Culture & history
3 Piazza di Pietra Architecture
4 Piazza di Pietra Landmarks & monuments
5 Piazza di Pietra Deals & discounts
6 Piazza di Pietra Entry tickets
7 Piazza di Pietra Tours
8 Piazza di Pietra For first-time visitors
9 Piazza di Pietra Religious & spiritual activities
10 Piazza di Pietra Archaeology
11 Piazza di Pietra Museums & exhibitions
12 Piazza di Pietra Guided tours
13 Piazza di Pietra Audio guides
14 Piazza di Pietra Walking tours
15 Piazza di Pietra Art
16 Piazza di Pietra UNESCO sites
17 Piazza di Pietra Garden & park tours
18 Piazza di Pietra Outdoor activities
19 Piazza di Pietra Castle & palace tours
20 Piazza di Pietra Rainy-day activities
2 Venice
10 Turin
Other Sightseeing Options in Piazza di Pietra
Want to discover all there is to do in Piazza di Pietra? Click here for a full list.
What people are saying about Piazza di Pietra
Had an excellent experience with Matt as our guide. He was a great balance between being knowledgeable and fun and took the time to answer all our questions as well as providing recommendations for city. Would definitely recommend for those who want to see a different side of Rome at night.
Rome Night Segway Tour Reviewed by Wendy, 10/28/2022
It was a wonderful tour, covering key Rome landmarks as well as some quieter locations. Our guide, Alejandro, was lovely. He was very informative, considerate and kind, allowing us plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy the sights. Would highly recommend.
Rome: Walking City Tour with a Guide Reviewed by Steve, 10/24/2022
Was an absolutely amazing experience! Couldn't fault our tour guy (Matt), he was so informative and he looked after us and kept us safe on the roads. He also gave us plenty of time to have a wonder about! Would highly recommend.
Rome Night Segway Tour Reviewed by Amy, 12/15/2022
It was a very nice experience , you have to get used to the steep way but after a few minutes you have mastered it . The guide was very nice and spoke good English and really showed us the history of Rome briefly to recommend it
Rome: Guided Baroque City Tour by Segway Reviewed by Peter, 9/25/2022
Immersive experience! Alessandro our guide very prepared and available!
Rome: Walking City Tour with a Guide Reviewed by Alessia, 1/7/2023


Bad Soden, Germany. - In the anniversary year 2018 - from now on until December - we will tell the exciting story of the Messer family business.
Europe is not enough. The land of unlimited possibilities has done it to Adolf Messer. With ten welding and cutting torches including oxygen cylinders, acetylene torches and other accessories in his luggage, he entered a ship in 1912 which brought him to America.
Shortly after arriving in New York, he sells all his equipment. The first "Original Messer" machines overseas are used for steel girder work in a courthouse or clean-up work in a burnt-down department store.
With the proceeds of 5000 dollars, Adolf Messer founds the US company Messer Company in Philadelphia.


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Young man who killed five at house party to be reintegrated into Edmonton community
In 2014, Matthew de Grood fatally stabbed five people at a Calgary house party. He was originally charged with five counts of first-degree murder but was found not criminally responsible in 2016 after a two-week trial.
Dylan Gibbons Montreal, QC
October 3, 2019 11:47 AM 2 mins reading
This article was published more than 1 year ago, information might not be accurate.
In 2014, Matthew de Grood fatally stabbed five people at a Calgary house party. He was originally charged with five counts of first-degree murder but was found not criminally responsible in 2016 after a two-week trial. At the time, the judge ruled that de Grood suffering from schizophrenic symptoms at the time of the attack, believing there was an impending war, and that he was not capable of understanding that what he was doing was wrong.
He is now being transferred to a Edmonton hospital where he is to be slowly reintegrated into society, and may be allowed to live in a halfway house.
According to CBC, "The new freedoms were approved by the Alberta Review Board, which held an annual hearing in September when members of de Grood's treatment team testified about his progress and risk to the community.
"In its decision, the board ordered that de Grood — who has been described as a "model patient" — be transferred to Edmonton in order to ease his reintegration into the community because of the "toxic" nature of what he would likely experience in Calgary."
Critics of his release have claimed that de Grood is only getting out so soon because his father is a police officer, and say that there is no way, given the nature of his crimes, that he has been rehabilitated in such a short time.
This makes ZERO sense. De Grood killed 5 people. (FIVE innocent young people. Stabbed.) He should remain in a psychiatric facility for many years. NO unsupervised outings! My God – please re-think! Endless nightmare for the families. No guarantee of safety. #cdnpoli @MinJusticeEn https://t.co/kOMeO0xTGf
— Helen Stratigos (@HelenStratigos1) October 2, 2019
Big mistake…..he will never be any different. The psychiatrist who let him out should be held responsible for What ever this man does.
— prettyinpink (@VerstraetB) October 2, 2019
"Clearly the Alberta Review Board carefully considered my client's progress in his treatment and how far he's come and were satisfied that these recommendations would not in any way jeopardize public safety," said de Grood's lawyer Allan Fay.
For obvious reasons, Edmonton, rather than Calgary, has been chosen for de Grood to be reintegrated and eventually released.
"You don't want to have a situation where members of the victims' families are bumping into him when he's on a community outing," said forensic psychologist Dr. Patrick Baillie. "That would be particularly distressing for them, and probably for Matthew as well."
The victim's families are highly concerned over the release of de Grood, and wrote a joint statement condemning the decision. However, other family members aren't surprised given his sentencing.
"We strongly defy anyone that suggests this risk is manageable or acceptable," wrote the families last month in a joint statement. "The absolute evil and heinous nature of the crime he committed can not be overstated and the prospect of this person being re-integrated into our community is beyond comprehension."
"The recommendations from the treatment team are showing you the acceleration that's occurring within this process for a guy that killed five people," said Gregg Perras, a father one of the victims.
"It just seems unfathomable to us."


In February we told the story of a great horned owl visiting our backyard. Before that day, we never saw or heard one in our yard. Today we had the privilege of a second visit.
This time it perched on a lower branch than before, and Jim was able to get some terrific shots.
Great Horned Owl. Eastern Iowa. 11/15/2017. Photo by Jim Ruebush.
Click on any picture below to embiggen.
And here is a short video to show a bit of personality.
We watched it as a cat roamed through our yard beneath it. The cat was lucky the owl wasn't ready for dinner. Later a squirrel grazed under the bird feeder and similarly escaped a violent death.
It was quite a treat to see this beautiful bird.
This entry was posted in Backyard, Birds, Nature and tagged Great horned owl, Owl on November 15, 2017 by Melanie McNeil.
You're welcome. We always enjoy having owls visit. Usually it is barred owls, regulars in our neighborhood. Thanks for taking a look.
Oh, those eyes! Loved the video – thanks for sharing these!
Yes, it's so amazing! I give Jim credit for his patience and steadiness waiting for the bird to turn our way.
Wow! I've caught fleeting glimpses, but nothing like these pictures. We do have a screech owl in our neighborhood that lets off blood-curdling screams. I can't tell you how many times we checked on our neighbors!
I think that would be terrifying! 🙂 Thanks for taking a look.
It was very beautiful. If we're lucky, it will come back again.
These are wonderful photos. I only recently learned that the owl isn't the only bird that turns its head rather than its eyes: apparently most (all?) raptors have fixed eyes but incredibly flexible necks. The owl is the most flexible, though: able to turn its head 270 degrees.
The pattern in its feathers is so intricate. It occurred to me that it's perfectly outfitted for hiding away in a tree. In dappled shade, it could be nearly impossible to see.
I loved looking at its feathers. And the colors, especially on its face! It was fun. We hope it will come back.
On another topic entirely, I was going to tell you and Jim about something that showed up in my mailbox: a gift catalogue from the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse. By the time I got to the page with the breaded pork tenderloins, I was ready to get out the credit card. I resisted, but my goodness — you just can't get a decent breaded tenderloin down here. How I got on their list is a mystery, but it was fun leafing through the catalogue.
Actually, I could buy enough gas to get me to Kansas City and back with what they're charging. I'll just go to KC and get my aunt to go out with me for a pork tenderloin!
I was excited to see these wonderful photos and the video of the owl. Wow! We've been hearing them in the neighborhood lately. I understand that skunks are their favorite food, and we do have an abundance of skunks….or at least, we did!
What a treat it is to have such a beautiful creature take residence in your yard. I just love it when nature not only stops in to say hello but graciously allows us to capture their spirit. Seeing how windy it was, you got some excellent shots…love the video!
Oh my goodness, Jim got some lovely pictures! We'll look forward to its next visit, but of course they can be so quiet, they might be here all the time and we never know. Thanks for taking a look.
Isn't it amazing? It was such a treat to see. Thanks for reading and commenting today.


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