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Firing line gets pretty darn long this time of year
Soon the holiday season will replace the football season. There will be the usual talk about goodwill to all except in those rooms where alums gather to fire coaches. Today the excutioners are on the job. They tuned up with early and/or mid-season sackings at Texas-El Paso and Colorado State. The coaches at Idaho and Northern Arizona have been instructed to flee the country. Well, to flee Idaho and northern Arizona anyhow. Jim Young quit at Purdue. There have been a few others; there will be several more.
"Tis the season to be not necessarily jolly.
And yet, firings of college football coaches are not quite as wholesale as formerly. It cannot possibly be that hearts are growing softer. It is only that it has become too expensive to fire a staff these days.
A common figure bandied about for committing the firing act is $250,000.
"That's the ballpark figure a school has to look at before firing a football staff," a college administrator says. There are the inflated expenses of buying airplane tickets so interviews of prospective replacements can be held. When the new coach and his assistants are hired there are the moving vans to pay off.
There often is the big expense of paying off remaining salaries due the fired coaches. It adds up.
"The only way a school can afford to fire a staff," said the administrator, "is to gamble that a change will generate enough new interest that expenses can be met through additional ticket sales. In other words, if you charge $8 a ticket, and by bringing in a new staff you can sell an additional 10,000 tickets for three games, you can get your money back. Or, in that example, you can take in an extra $240,000."
Last year, in the big school division of the NCAA, "only" 17 schools hired new coaches. And, not in every case, was the former coach fired. John Mackovec left Wake Forest, for one such case, to join the Dallas Cowboys staff. Pat Dye was not fired by Wyoming, but wanted the Auburn job more.
Between now and Christmas rumors and facts will be about equal in number. Rumors typically come prior to facts.
There are rumors surfacing now that Chuck Fairbanks will resign from Colorado a couple of weeks after the season ends, but that one originates from the mouth of a former assistant, and former assistants sometimes speak more hopefully than factually.
There is another story emerging that Texas-El Paso has decided to scrape up big bucks and hire a well-known leader. And this story says Lou Saban, who travels more than Gulliver once did, would be pleased to accept that challenge and the money.
There is talk that Washington State's Jim Walden is going to be given a fancy new contract to stay put, and that he has wrangled a stipulation that his assistant coaches will be financially protected if he's canned anytime in the next four years.
One thing for certain is that football coaches maintain a stronger sense of humor than the alums.
Example: At Idaho, Jerry Davitch has been fired with one game to go.
After the firing it began raining in Idaho. The roof of the football office leaked and two inches of water sogged the carpeting.
"I'm gonna try to get the Fish & Game Commission to stock it, then we'll sell fishing licenses," he told his unemployed staff. BIOG: NAME:
Archive ID: 40852


A selection of James Mann's farm art paintings are for sale as giclee prints on 180lb., acid-free archival watercolor paper.
Each farm print is signed by the artist and numbered. Each print edition is limited to a total of 200 prints and then closed.
Please note that the colors of any print may not exactly match the colors displayed on your monitor.
You may purchase any farm print online using PayPal and the "add to cart" button or contact James Mann directly.


Enter your email address for Ken Stringfellow related news & updates.
"I Never Said I'd Make it Easy: A Ken Stringfellow Collection", to give it it's full title, is a selection of highlights, rarities & covers from Ken Stringfellow's diverse solo catalog. Ken's unique take on songs by Robyn Hitchcock ("Airscape"), Bridget St. John ("Ask Me No Questions"), The Association ("Never My Love") and legendary American rockers The Replacements ("Kids Don't Follow") sit alongside choice tracks from his solo cannon as well as The Posies off-shoot "Private Sides". As an introduction to Stringfellow it's a perfect reflection of his musical dexterity. For fans, it's a chance to hear some formerly obscure tracks with album favorites in a new context.
"I Never Said I'd Make it Easy: A Ken Stringfellow Collection" is out in Australia & New Zealand now (iTunes, CD) and will be released in Europe on 30th June 2014.


Our products and services include long distance transport, passenger cars and vans.
Our products and services include long distance transport.We are open Mon-Fri Weekdays.
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Theaters Could Be Safe to Open in Fall 2021, According to Dr. Fauci
Stage Directions • Industry NewsTheatre Buzz • January 10, 2021
Top infectious disease expert says timeline depends on U.S. reaching herd immunity, adds mask-wearing may still be necessary
Infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has predicted that live performances could resume this autumn, depending on how widely the COVID-19 vaccine can be distributed by then. Speaking at the Association of Performing Arts Professionals' APAP NYC conference on Saturday, January 9, Fauci told delegates he believes theaters and other live entertainment venues may reopen "some time in the fall of 2021", dependent on the U.S. achieving a form of herd immunity by that time.
According to the New York Times, Fauci said for shows to return, between 70% and 85% of the U.S. population would need to vaccinated against COVID-19. "If everything goes right, this is will occur some time in the fall of 2021," he explained, "so that by the time we get to the early to mid-fall, you can have people feeling safe performing on stage, as well as people in the audience."
Fauci suggested that, should that vaccination goal be met, venues with good ventilation and proper air filters could open without social distancing—though some theaters may ask audience members to continue to wear masks. "I think you can then start getting back to almost full capacity of seating," he said, also suggesting that some venues could follow airlines and require negative COVID-19 tests before entry.
During the conversation, Fauci also referred to Restart-19—the German study that demonstrated that, with proper ventilation and hygiene measures, live events have a low impact on the spread of coronavirus—suggesting there should be similar studies carried out in the United States. "What the performing arts needs to do is to do a little bit more of what the Germans are doing," he commented.
In his concluding remarks, Fauci urged Americans to stay vigilant about public health measures so that the live industry could restart. "We'll be back in the theaters—performers will be performing, audiences will be enjoying it," he said. "It will happen."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


UPDATED: Thursday, Aug. 16, 2:45 p.m.
LAKEVIEW — California Highway Patrol has released additional information after a fatal accident that happened early this morning on the 34000 block of Gilman Springs Rd., in the unincorporated community of Lakeview.
An Ontario man died in the collision that ripped the roof off an SUV that plowed into a dairy hauling tractor-trailer big-rig.
During their initial on-scene investigation, CHP determined that just before the crash, 56-year-old, Carlos Segura, was driving eastbound in a green Nissan Pathfinder on Gilman Springs Rd., approaching Knoch Rd.
At the same time, Raul Moran, 62, of Yucaipa, was northbound on Knoch Rd. while driving a white, semi-truck pulling a silver tank trailer, that was fully loaded with milk.
"The truck driver was pulling out of a local dairy's driveway, east of Jack Rabbit Trail making a left turn to travel west on Gilman Springs Rd," CHP spokesperson Officer Darren Meyer later explained.
Although Moran said from the scene that the victim was traveling 70 to 80 mph when the Nissan smashed into his trailer, CHP has not made a determination how fast the SUV was actually traveling.
"Alcohol or drugs have been ruled out as a contributing in determining the cause of this collision," said Meyer. The driver was later cited and released, pending review and potential charges by the District Attorney's office.
Gilman Springs Rd. was closed between Bridge St. and SR-79 until 8:45 a.m. for the investigation, which is active and ongoing.
Describing Segura as "the most dedicated, lovely, funny, and charismatic man," who could "always make you laugh when you need it and give you advice about life," the victim's family members have created a GoFundMe account to help cover burial and other expenses.
"He was the most responsible man who always took care of his family," one of Segura's sons, Julio Martinez later told RCNS.
LAKEVIEW — Details are beginning to emerge after a motorist was killed early this morning, Thursday, Aug. 16, on the 34000 block of Gilman Springs Rd., in the unincorporated community of Lakeview, between the cities of Moreno Valley and San Jacinto. The tremendous impact caused the SUV's roof to be ripped off and witnesses at the scene later said the victim and sole occupant of the SUV likely died instantly.
The fatal crash happened when an SUV plowed into a dairy hauling tractor-trailer that was pulling onto Gilman Springs from Knoch Rd., between Olive Ave./Jack Rabbit Trail and Central Ave./Eden Hot Springs Rd. The driver of the big-rig was reportedly shaken up but uninjured in the fatal collision.
California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, American Medical Response, and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene just after 4:30 a.m., after receiving reports of the fatal collision.
When officials arrived they found a dairy hauler stopped diagonally across the road. A heavily damaged and almost unrecognizable green Nissan Pathfinder was stopped in the middle of the road east of the big-rig, and vehicle parts and debris were scattered across the roadway, which was left impassable after the deadly crash.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman reported the Nissan driver succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified 56-year-old, Carlos Segura, of Ontario, as the victim killed in the crash. According to a coroner's release, Segura was pronounced deceased at 4:51 a.m.
Officials quickly called for the closure of the road and all east and west bound traffic was diverted away from the scene onto other area roads, causing a traffic nightmare for early morning commuters.
Within 30 minutes, area residents and motorists began reporting back-ups and delays on all major arteries throughout the San Jacinto Valley, as motorists sought other routes to their morning destinations. Motorists were still reporting major travel delays several hours later.
The driver of the big-rig later told witnesses and others at the scene that he wasmaking a left turn onto Gilman Springs Rd. from Knoch Rd. when the driver of the SUV hit his trailer, going under it and ripping the Nissan to pieces. The truck driver estimated the SUV was traveling at 70 or 80 mph when it struck the trailer, but CHP has not yet determined how fast the vehicle was believed to have been traveling when the accident happened.
Although M&H Transport is located on Knoch Rd., where the semi-truck was pulling onto Gilman Springs Rd. from, it was not immediately known if the dairy hauler was leaving or related to that business.
Members of CHP's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division responded to the scene to conduct a Level 1 inspection of the damaged trailer and semi, to determine if the big-rig was in full compliance and operating properly.
Officers are still working to determine if intoxication was a contributing factor on the part of either involved drivers.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials eventually responded to the location to take custody of the victim's body and the SUV was later towed from the scene.
Gilman Springs Rd. remained closed for about four hours and was reportedly re-opened around 8:45 a.m.
California Highway Patrol is overseeing the investigation and their investigation is active and ongoing.
Following breaking unplanned and planned incidents in Orange County and surrounding areas, OC Hawk News provides local and national TV networks with footage.
Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.


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1/17/2023 - Southbury Releases Draft of Plan of Conservation and Development
The Southbury Planning Commission has released a final draft of the municipality's updated Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), which will serve as a guide for future growth and development in Southbury, for a four-week review period.
Community input has been solicited throughout the updating process through a community survey in September-October 2021, an Open House in March 2022, an information web page (www.southbury-ct.gov/POCD) which contains the survey results, and now a one month review period of this final draft prior to adoption, pursuant to state statute.
Residents, community members, businesses and organizations may view the plan electronically and submit comments on the town's website at www.southbury-ct.org/POCD. A printed copy is available at the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall, and the Town Library, along with a paper form response option.
The Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing to adopt the updated Plan of Conservation and Development on February 21, 2023.
Work on the plan was overseen by the town's Planning Commission, municipal staff, and Cheshire-based consulting firm, SLR International. The ten-year plan, required under state statute, looks to establish a vision and objectives, address housing, business and infrastructure development, as well parks, open space, historic and natural resources protection and sustainability, among other things.
Southbury's last Plan of Conservation of Development was adopted in December 2012.


CISANET has also requested a number of seasoned personnel to speak at the conference.
CISANET National Director in a statement to members and partners stated that the organisation believes that "Agriculture for Development and Transformation Agenda in Malawi" is subject of the moment as the country is undergoing a number of institutional changes in both the public and the private sector.
Currently Government is undertaking a public sector reform which among other things will institute a National Planning Commission whose role among other things will be to come up with the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy III (MGDS 3) and also take a lead in developing the next national vision.
"Our interest as CISANET is how to position agriculture in all these. How can we make agriculture to be the tool not only for food security but also for industrial and national development," said Nkhono-Mvula.
He added that the agriculture sector will also be developing a new Agriculture Sector Wide Approach (ASWAp) and also an implementation framework for the National Agriculture Policy.
Nkhono-Mvula also noted that the recently developed National Agriculture policy is setting up very ambitious targets like increasing agriculture output of major crops like maize by 100%, increasing value of export agricultural output by 50%, increasing number of agricultural technologies by 60% among others, within the next 4 years.
"These targets are being set when agriculture in Malawi is facing numerous challenges like climate change, severe soil and environmental degradation, increasing population and dwindling land holding among others.
"As CISANET we believe that these targets are attainable, however we will need among others to have a strong institutional and coordination framework in place. This conference is therefore coming at the right time to provide space for the stakeholders to contribute to these processes," he explained.
"Our vision as CISANET is a Malawi with a reduced number of people directly involved in agriculture production from the current 85% of the population to about 20%, to see a reduction in the agriculture's direct contribution to the GDP from the current 40% to 15% by the year 2050.
"Our assumption is that the growth and development of agriculture would have triggered a growth in specialised industrial processing and services that will absorb the current agriculture labour force and also contribute more to the GDP thereby reducing the percentage contribution of agriculture," he further explained.
NOTE: Only CISANET paid up members based outside Lilongwe will be provided logistical support.


Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) solutions are immensely valuable when it comes to operating a data center. With the right system in place you can see major cuts in operating expenses and improvements in the entire data center planning process. While a DCIM system is very valuable, there are some pitfalls you need to be aware of as you move to implement your own system. Continue on the adventure below, and learn about these 3 major pitfalls so that you can be prepared to take full advantage of the benefits that can come from a data center infrastructure management system!


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10 Weirdest US Taxes [INFOGRAPHIC]
September 26, 2018 By Michael Taggart Leave a Comment
We listed down 10 of the weirdest, and sometimes ridiculous, taxes in America.
Weird US Taxes You Never Knew Existed
Click here to jump to the infographic.
1. Virginia's Sheep / Lamb Tax
The state of Virginia imposes a $0.50 excise tax on every sheep or lamb sold within the state. Virginia already imposes taxes on eggs, peanuts, and soft drinks. These raise $1.8 million, $172,000, and $191,000 respectively, annually. A little-known fact is the sheep and lamb tax raises $8,000 for the state every year. In fact, handlers file these taxes quarterly. It's one of those weird US taxes that actually makes sense, although it may seem odd at first glance.
2. New Hampshire's Dirt Tax
As the saying goes, the only two constant things in life are death and taxes. It is not surprising to find yourself taxed for your final resting place in New Hampshire. Specifically, they may charge you for digging your own grave. The state of New Hampshire collects a $0.02 tax per cubic yard of dirt excavated if you move more than 1,000 cubic yards. This strange state tax might make you want to dig up just enough dirt for your grave.
3. Maine's Blueberry Tax
When you think of Maine, you think blueberries. Maine provides the U.S. with the bulk of its blueberries. The blueberry industry is heavily taxed in Maine. The state taxes anyone growing, handling, processing, selling, or purchasing blueberries. The tax is to the tune of $1.50 per 100 pounds of blueberries sold. There's even a very specific entry for it in its legislature. When you think about it, putting a tax on blueberries isn't really the weirdest tax in the U.S. – but it's still pretty weird.
4. Illinois' Candy Tax
Sweet tooths may find Illinois a very expensive state, thanks to one of the most unusual tax deductions in the U.S. The State of Illinois taxes all candy items, but weirdly excludes candies that use flour as an ingredient. A funny example is Twix, a Mars Candy Company product. Since it lists flour as an ingredient, the state does not bother taxing it. However, other products such as Snickers bars get taxed because they do not have flour content. If you're thinking of selling candy in Illinois, better make it with flour.
5. Connecticut's Diaper Tax
Now, this is truly one of the more odd taxes in America. The state of Connecticut used to excise a tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products, making hundreds of thousands of dollars off them. However, as of July 1, 2018, Connecticut has made diapers and feminine hygiene products tax-free, much to the relief of its citizens. This fact does not exclude it from this list of weird US taxes, though.
6. Maryland's Flush Tax
If we're talking weird US taxes, you can't leave out Maryland from the list. The state charges its residents $60 per year for flushing their toilets. While you may think this is one of those strange state taxes made for the government to rip people off, you're in for a surprise. The proceeds actually go towards the improvement of sewer and water treatment facilities in the state. All these efforts benefit the rehabilitation and improvement of the health of the Chesapeake Bay, one of Maryland's most important bodies of water.
7. Texas' Belt Buckle Tax
Cowboys take pride in many things, including their apparel. An essential part of the cowboy getup is the belt buckle, which cowboys proudly show off. A lot of belt buckles have intricate designs that require a lot of hours to produce… which is probably why Texas excises a tax on these items. Yes, Texas taxes belt buckles, to the dismay of its cowboys. Thankfully, the belt itself, boots, and ten-gallon hats are exempt from this tax.
8. New York's Bagel Tax
New Yorkers love their bagels. A lot of residents start off their day with a hot coffee and a toasted bagel or two and then head off into New York's chaotic streets. They love their bagels so much that the State of New York started charging taxes for "altered bagels." It costs $0.08 extra to have an "altered" bagel, which means slicing, toasting, or serving it with cream cheese and butter. So yes, enjoy that bagel, knowing that the government profited from you smearing all that butter on it.
9. Pennsylvania's Air Tax
This has got to be a major contender for the title of weirdest tax in the U.S. You may think that the air you breathe is non-taxable, but you'll end up scratching your head with what governments can come up with. Pennsylvania taxes air, as long as it comes out of compressed air vending machines, or a vacuuming vending machine. For example, you drive into a gas station and use their compressor to fill up your tires. That air is literally taxed by the state, even though they had no business in running the air compressor itself. Weird? Very. Justified? Not sure.
10. North Carolina's Pet Tax
North Carolinians must really love their pets because they will brave anything – even taxes – just to get a hold of them. North Carolina requires its residents to declare their pets as personal property, therefore opening them up for tax charges. Spayed and neutered pets pay a $10 tax, while pets that aren't fixed go for a hefty $75. Come to think of it, this strange state tax actually forces owners to be very responsible with their pets.
Don't forget to download, save, or share this handy infographic for reference:
These weird, but sometimes funny tax facts are some of the more weird taxes in the U.S. Some are justified, while others might not be. Regardless, these are unshakeable facts that will always be there. No one can escape taxes – but people can experience some relief from them.
What are some weird US taxes that we missed? Let us know in the comments section.
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About the spray polyurethane foam; this is a spray-applied plastic that can make a continuous insulation and air sealing barrier on walls, roofs, around corners, and on all contoured surfaces. This is formed by mixing and reacting specific liquid components at the job site to make foam. The liquids react within a short period when mixed, expanding on contact to create foam that insulates, seals gaps and can form moisture and vapor barriers. Spray foam insulation is known to curb heat transfer remarkably well, and it provides a very practical solution in reducing unwanted air infiltration through cracks, seams, and joints. The spray has benefits such as; it reduces energy cost, stops drafts allergens and condensation, it allows for enhanced indoor air quality, it increases structural strength, seals cracks and voids and also discourages unwanted pests.
Spray foam offers better thermal resistance compared to outdated traditional methods like fiberglass or cellulose and can be sprayed into areas that are challenging for different forms of insulation. Applying spray foam can encourage more energy savings through insulating your home more effectively. Polyurethane spray doesn't sag like the outdated fiberglass or cellulose and should last as long as the life of your home. The Greenville Spray Company in South Carolina states that; without good air sealing, a building can lose a massive deal of its efficiency through air leakage. Well, just like any building product, insulation is just as valid as its installation and where it is used. In case you choose to build a home that is thermally efficient and airtight, you will not only insulate, but you must also choose the right insulation and air sealing system for the application, and be sure it is properly installed.
With both residential and commercial structures, concrete assumes a vital role in the look, formation, and feasibility of the structure. Concrete restoration is the process of mending old and damaged concrete. Restoring concrete aids in bringing back its original appearance. Know that there is a difference between concrete restoration and concrete repair. While repairing damaged concrete might mend structural issues with the concrete, it doesn't pay much attention to aesthetics. For the concrete restoration, you will be getting both benefits. An advantage of choosing concrete restoration is that it still gives you the appearance of having a brand new concrete on your building. Together with improving the overall look, it repairs the cracks that are in existence.
Well-Installed insulation keeps a structure warm during the winter and cool during the summer. When you have a damaged concrete, air is free to go in and out of your building, impeding its insulation characteristics. There are well-known concrete companies in Dallas like the Smith Insulation which has displayed a track record in offering top-quality restoration, installation and cool roof systems selections to residential and commercial properties.


I picked up Playing the Short Game by Douglas Smith and I've already read it twice. Despite the fact that there's a vast number of books on writing, I've not really found many on selling short fiction in modern markets. What this book offers is a valuable resource on the methods of publishing short fiction at the professional level in modern markets as well as information on licensing and relicensing your works, cover letter creation, and how to leverage your short fiction career into a novel career. Douglas Smith has an encouraging and conversational tone that I enjoyed and as one of the more prolific modern short fiction authors out there, his experience is invaluable.
One of the most important things this book taught me was to not sell myself short. Many times I'll polish up a short story and be rather proud of it and sell it to a semi-pro magazine. Now there's nothing wrong with semi-pro magazines and I have sold things to these venues before, but I never really try to give the 'big dogs' of the industry a chance. I often feel like I shouldn't even try because who gets into those magazines anyway, right? Well, this book really has shown me how writing short fiction in today's world is a numbers game more than anything else, that is, writing quality stories and getting as many out in front of editors as possible. It sounds like obvious advice, yet I really hadn't been following it too well. Often times I would send something out and wait for it instead of immediately beginning work on another piece. My mindset has shifted quite a bit and now I am aiming high from here on out. By the end of the year, I want to place a story in a professionally paying science fiction or fantasy magazine. It's worth a shot.
Check out Douglas Smith's Playing the Short Game if you have an interest in writing and selling short fiction at the professional level. This is a book that I'll have close to my writing desk for a long time.
This entry was posted in Writing Resources and tagged Douglas Smith, Resources, Short Fiction, Short Story, Writing. Bookmark the permalink.


[Haul] My Fabulous Black Friday Haul!
Hey guys! I hope this Monday finds you all well (and not terribly broke, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming back-to-back). I know that Black Friday is the perfect time to not only make questionable choices, but also score some ah-mazing deals, I went out and did just that!
My first steps into this (holiday?) event, was straight to Ulta. I promised myself I was there for lotion, but quickly broke that promise upon entering as I saw all of the Sale signs. I ran all over the store, careful not to trample the other guests, and found what I was low-key there for. Three words: Ten. Dollar. Mascara.
that they had. I'm pretty sister shook that they even had it, since the app told it was out of stock.
Palette from Anastasia. I adore the microglittery, ethereal look that these hi-lighters have, and I had to have them since they were 45%-ish off.
. I'm pretty sure I have some of the colors duped in my current dragon's hoard, so I'll probably be doing a comparison.
lippies in different berry pink hues- I've been wanting more pinks since I more or less default to reds and deep colors.
A little pink for my taste, but I kinda like it.
Then, because, I'm not kidding, I don't know when to stop. I took myself to the mall on Saturday. You probably know where this is going by now, but I didn't. I had it in my head to grab some work-appropriate clothes. Instead, I got sidetracked by lots of makeup. Again. I meandered into Sephora, and grabbed yet another Glitter Flip for my growing stash, and the Becca Glow and Primer kit.
When I walked by Bath and Body Works, I saw that there was another sale. Every body mist was $5.50. Are you kidding me? I love body spray. So, I grabbed a few!
My favorite of these is the Hot Cocoa- it literally is such a warm scent!
(in Luna), at Dillard's. I swear, I wasn't really looking, but it kind of jumped out at me.
My Mall Loot- featuring Java!
". Of course, it's a red.
Then I found this amazing liquid eyeshadow in diamond crumbles. Guys. Guys. Guys. It reminds me of unicorns. Of course, I swatched it. I loved it. I brought it home.
Even more stuff in tow. I was in the home stretch. On my way through JC Penny, when I found two more things. A makeup caddy and a cup. Each for 5 dollars. I gotta organize this stuff, y'know?
Since I kind of went a little trigger happy with the beauty aspect of my haul, that left me with limited room to splurge on the fashion side. I did drag myself into the Posh Peach on Saturday to see what they had going on. Though Black Friday is technically over, they have their 20% on the entire store still, as well as adorable cookies.
Walking into their shop is a dilemma for me, almost immediately. I pretty much love everything I lay my hands on. To my surprise, I found another rainbow cardigan, this one fuzzy and warm feeling. I almost bought that on principle, who doesn't love a good rainbow cardigan? I meandered over to their Last Ones rack and found this adorable ombre` sweater dress in pastels. I don't have anything similar, so I opted for it. Since I had to spend 50 dollars, I decided to pair it with a pair of mildly cat-eye sunnies. I think I'll match this up with my neutral brown booties from Clothes Mentor!
Since I spent just over 50 dollars at the Posh Peach, I got to pop a balloon. Again, I got the 20% off coupon, which went straight into my wallet for next time. I think I'll use that on that rainbow cardigan if it's there next time!
I have some big plans in regards to some of this loot- be on the lookout for an update on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! I don't want to say too much here until I've figured a little more out, but suffice to say, I'm both nervous and excited!
Java and Jeans updated their status.
I'm at least pretending to be productive today and knocking out what I can for biology! It was waaaaay to cold inside to focus, so I had to tap out and move outside. How is everyone else springing this lovely sunday?
I have a #postincoming☕👖 about @nadineweststyle who sent me this outfit in this months subscription. Not gonna lie, the last few times I have been unimpressed but I LOVED this shipment!
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text:
EU's industrial strategy is being wrecked by covid-19
Reuters | May 21, 2020 | 10:33 am Battery Metals Intelligence Europe Cobalt Lead Lithium Nickel Zinc
Covid-19 is taking a rising toll on what remains of Europe's metal production capacity, particularly in the recycling sector. Stock image.
(The opinions expressed here are those of the author, Andy Home, a columnist for Reuters)
German zinc producer Metallwerk Dinslaken (MWD) has just announced it is closing.
You'd be forgiven for not noticing.
The news didn't register with the London Metal Exchange (LME) zinc price.
The company is too small with just 41 employees and annual production of 25,000 tonnes, a metallic drop in the 13.5-million-tonne global zinc ocean.
It's also a secondary processor, converting scrap back into refined metal, and the notoriously opaque recycling sector doesn't feature much in zinc's market narrative.
Yet companies such as MWD are supposed to be the beating heart of the European Union's (EU) newly-unveiled industrial strategy.
The "European Green Deal", aimed at climate neutrality by 2050, will "need a secure supply of clean and affordable energy and raw materials". ("A new industrial strategy for Europe", European Commission, March 20, 2020).
In the dash to secure tomorrow's raw materials, Europe risks losing the metals capacity it already has
The EU's revitalised "raw materials initiative" places great emphasis on the role of recycling as a way of reducing reliance on imported metals to feed the region's manufacturing sector.
None of which is going to help MWD, which is caught between a collapse in scrap collection networks and a collapse in demand for its products.
Covid-19 is taking a rising toll on what remains of Europe's metal production capacity, particularly in the recycling sector.
We could be seeing a rerun of the global financial crisis, which saw a major migration of the world's metals smelting capacity to China.
That is not part of European leaders' vision for the future of their industrial sector.
Looking the wrong way
Europe's new resource activism is fired by dreams of electric vehicles and battery metals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
"We are making significant progress in becoming self-sufficient in the lithium industry," said European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic after a virtual meeting of the European Battery Alliance.
Four sustainable mining projects are now underway with the goal of meeting 80% of Europe's lithium needs in the battery sector by 2025, he said. ("The European Battery Alliance to support EU's post coronavirus recovery," May 19, 2020).
The Battery Alliance might also want to consider the fate of Recylex's German operations, which have just been placed under bankruptcy protection.
We could be seeing a rerun of the global financial crisis, which saw a major migration of the world's metals smelting capacity to China
No conventional vehicle can start without a lead-acid battery. Even most electric vehicles need one for basic start, lighting and software functions.
Lead's super-high recycling rates make it the sort of circular economy material so prized by the European Union.
However, the Weser-Metall lead smelter in Nordenham has been out of action since March, it too suffering from the double blow of broken scrap supply chains and plummeting demand and prices.
With annual production of around 100,000 tonnes of metal, fed by recycled lead-acid batteries, Nordenham is one of Europe's last big "urban miners" in the lead sector.
It may yet survive as might the other zinc and lead recycling components of Recylex' German arm but gone is the French company's concept of a pan-European integrated supply chain.
In the dash to secure tomorrow's raw materials, Europe risks losing the metals capacity it already has.
Save our smelters
"Shutdowns of European aluminum smelters should be prevented", according to European Aluminum.
The 80-member alliance of European aluminum companies, in an open letter to the European Commission, warned that "reduced European production will only increase our dependency on primary imports with a significantly higher carbon footprint." ("Call for a sustainable industrial recovery plan", May 2020)
Every industrial sector has its own case to plead right now but Europe's aluminum sector can point out it never recovered from the last financial crisis.
Many smelters closed a decade ago as aluminum prices tumbled. Not all of them made it back and a second wave of low prices over 2011 and 2012 forced another even bigger round of closures.
European aluminum smelters produced 4.6 million tonnes of metal in 2008. Last year the total was just 3.4 million tonnes.
What are often older higher-cost operators have struggled to compete against a new generation of mega smelters in China, the rising star of global aluminum production.
Covid-19 represents another potential body blow with the LME aluminum price currently trading near four year lows below $1,500 per tonne.
Yet aluminum has been identified as a key material for the green economy targeted by Europe's leaders.
It was found by the World Bank to be both critical for new energy development and a metal that is used across the renewable spectrum of clean energy sources.
It is also highly recyclable.
Can Europe afford to lose more aluminum smelters? If it does, its dependence on imports will only grow.
Back in 2008-2009 the global financial crisis accelerated the hollowing out of Europe's industrial metals production capacity.
Every industrial sector has its own case to plead right now but Europe's aluminum sector can point out it never recovered from the last financial crisis
What Europe lost, China gained. Beijing's massive infrastructure splurge fed the country's booming metals demand over the early years of the last decade.
That in turn accelerated China's own strategy of building out its own smelter network.
China was once the world's largest refined metals buyer. Now, it is now the world's largest buyer of metal raw materials to feed its massive production capacity.
Some of China's metals capacity now feeds the rest of the world in semi-manufactured form such as aluminium sheet or as finished products such as lead-acid batteries and air-conditioning units.
Covid-19 has generated just the same toxic combination of weak demand and low prices that hurt European producers ten years ago.
A similar outcome this time around would blow a big hole in Europe's green and clean industrial revolution before it even starts.
"As world regions begin their recovery from covid-19 at different speeds, there is a real risk that Europe's import reliance further increases," according to European metals group Eurometaux, writing in an open May 14 letter to the European Commission.
"Recovering economies like China will have a strong rationale to oversupply global markets or engage in strategic stockpiling while their domestic demand remains at low levels," it added.
It calls for fair trade conditions, echoing a plank of Europe's new industrial strategy, which stresses the importance of a "rules-based multilateral trading system".
Disputes with China over its aluminium and steel production are long-running and unlikely to be miraculously solved any time soon.
Fair trade may have to wait.
The more immediate priority for Europe's leaders is how to stop coronavirus wrecking a metals supply chain that is core to the continent's vision of remaining an industrial power-house.
(Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)