The Government's Better Public Service Action Plan target to have 98% of all of NZ's children in early childhood education before starting school is short-sighted and could well backfire resulting in worse health, behaviour, and learning outcomes for children, Dr Sarah Farquhar of the ChildForum early childhood national network says.
"It gives a strong sense that parents and whanau, especially if they are on low-incomes or Maori or Pacific will be 'hunted out' by government agencies and their children 'competed for' amongst providers of early childhood education anxious for the funding these children will bring to them," Dr Farquhar says.
A report released by Every Child Counts, an NZ political lobby group for children, at Parliament on the same day as the government's action plan for supporting vulnerable children shows that improving child outcomes is much more complex than just taking children off their parents and increasing children's participation in early childcare and education.
The Every Child Counts report reviews what the Netherlands does for its children and what NZ can learn from the Dutch.
The Netherlands was selected by the lobby group for study because it stands out as a country that achieves a very high OECD ranking in outcomes for children while spending a lot less than countries with similar high scores.
NZ is well down in the OECD rankings for many child well-being outcomes, with severe disadvantage concentrated among Pacific and Maori families, solo parents and low-income families. Abuse and neglect figures are high and NZ has relatively low wages and low labour productivity.
The Netherlands is described as having a culture of respect for children and of caring responsibilities of parents. There is a strong expectation that parents will provide much of the care and education of children during their first four years. Parent education and support is widely available and very large in scope.
The Netherlands also spends nearly twice more per child than New Zealand, according to OECD calculations.
Recommendations made in the Every Child Counts report include expanding the reach of effective parent support and education programmes such as Early Start, expanding Plunket and well-child health services to include access to practical help with childcare and household tasks, and increasing parental leave.
Dr Sarah Farquhar, an expert in quality early childhood education, says that international research shows that parents and families have the greatest impact on children's early learning.
"At the end of the day what really makes a difference is not whether a child participates in early childhood education, but whether that participation has a positive impact on what children experience at home," Dr Farquhar says.
Dr Farquhar also says that minimum standards in early childhood education need to be raised before Government can begin to claim that participation in ECE will raise outcomes for disadvantaged children. Children would benefit if basic standards such as in staffing (ratios and requiring qualified teachers) were raised and maximum class sizes were introduced.
While research on well-staffed, well-funded, high quality early intervention programmes for disadvantaged children overseas shows there can be strong cognitive benefits there is also evidence that for some children more problem behaviours result and the spread of preventable illnesses becomes more difficult to control in large group settings.
ChildForum recommends that Government's policy for participation in early childhood education and its target for participation be reviewed to increase parental choice/agency and to put children at the centre of policy.
ChildForum supports Every Child Counts recommendation that on-going dialogue be established between Dutch and NZ officials so good ideas can be explored and both parties can learn from their experiences in implementing and maintaining policies.


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IQ Андромеды () — одиночная переменная звезда в созвездии Андромеды на расстоянии приблизительно 48140 световых лет (около 14760 парсеков) от Солнца. Видимая звёздная величина звезды — от +17,3m до +16m.

Характеристики
IQ Андромеды — жёлто-белая пульсирующая переменная звезда типа RR Лиры (RRAB) спектрального класса F. Эффективная температура — около 6905 K.

Примечания

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Contact us Property Search
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It was only as recently as the 1930s that electric light became standard in new homes built in urban areas of the UK. Now, just 90 years later, our fridge-freezers can tell us when we are out of fish fingers. The march of change in materials, technology and taste is as relentless as life itself.
As we look forward to the New Year we all share in the sorrow that the last two years have brought to so many. We also face significant social and economic challenges during this post Brexit, post pandemic and, down-the-line, post fossil fuel era when gas-fired heating will go the same way as gas-fired lighting.
The property market too has seen enormous changes in the past few years, and it will continue to do so as it steadily moves from white hot, Covid-affected panic buying to a more considered mood in the New Year.
The market is in constant flux, just as individuals' personal circumstances are. Buying a home at any stage of life is usually a thrilling event – if somewhat nerve-racking at times. Moving is often borne of new independence or marriage, cohabitation, birth, career success, fulfilled ambition, or even a fresh and exciting chapter brought on by empty nest relocation.
Whatever changes happen in 2022 we hope they will be good for you, and we stand ready to spread the joy in helping people into a new home and a joyous new chapter of their lives.
Happy New Year.
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Description Ecology and Department of Health's interim action plan to address PFAS chemicals in Washington. This chemical action plans identifies the potential health and environmental effects of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals, and recommends actions to reduce or eliminate those impacts. This Interim CAP identifies actions that are underway and recommends immediate actions to address problems with PFAS.


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Home » Cyber Security » Network Security » Multi-factor Authentication Compromised, Is Going Passwordless The Solution?
Multi-factor Authentication Compromised, Is Going Passwordless The Solution?
By Shigraf Ajaz
In the past few years, the cyber threat environment has grown hostile. As organizations face a surge in cyberattacks, more cases of data breaches due to weak or insecure passwords have surfaced. Passwords have quickly become one of the most significant vulnerabilities for an organization. A 2020 Verizon data breach investigation reveals 81% of the total number of data breaches labeling lost or stolen passwords as the cause. It has, therefore, become ever more crucial to enable robust password security. However, the ultimate method for attaining such robust securty is still somewhat unknown.
Previously multi-factor authentication was the ultimate method of ensuing robust password security. However, over the passing years, the term has become somewhat of a buzzword used by cybersecurity professionals, particularly as this method has started failing. The sophistication within the cyber threat landscape now demands a much more effective form of enabling data privacy and security.
What is the problem with the multi-factor authentication method?
Passwordless authentication or MFA?- key differences.
- Adaptive authentication methods
- Decentralized credential store
- Liveness detection
- Asymmetric cryptography
Is going passwordless the ultimate solution?
- Protection against phishing attacks
- Improves supply chain security
- A stronger cybersecurity posture
Possible drawback to passwordless attention?
Admittedly, the multi-factor authentication method has served the cybersecurity industry well. Ever since its advent, the form did prove to help enable data privacy and security. However, multi-factor authentication has become devoid of its original security over the past years. The method now almost seemed a glorification of what it is.
Although, on paper, the concept seems foolproof, however, the main problem with multi-factor authentication lies in its working. Multi-factor authentication works by adding additional layers of security to an already password-protected endpoint. However, the use of passwords makes multi-factor authentication vulnerable to its core. There are several methods available for threat actors to compriomsie these passwords and gain access to endpoints in simple ways. Moreover, the authentication methods that MFA relies on, such as OTPs or SMS verification, or PINs, are somewhat old school and vulnerable to getting compromised in various ways such as:
PINs are passwords and have a high chance of getting stolen
SMS verification or OTP has several security issues that even NIST advises against using.
The ultimate commercialization of cybercrime has led to multi-factor authentication to its slow death. This has made organizations, enterprises, and individuals vulnerable to data theft and other security breaches. The dark web is swarming with various phishing kits to crack even multi-factor authentication. The researcher at Proofpoint said these phishing kits could successfully circumvent multi-factor authentication by stealing cookies.
As its name implies, passwordless authentication revolves around an authentication method that doesn't rely on the need for any password for authentication. Simply put, passwordless authentication is more of a choice or ultimate goal in comparison to multi-factor authentication or single sign-on, which has somewhat become a product.
The main objective of going passwordless is to reduce and potentially eliminate the use of passwords and revolutionize endpoint access management. In essence, passwordless authentication is somewhat like multi-factor authentication, except it stops using passwords altogether. This modern authentication method relies on the use of identity verification methods that don't rely on passwords, such as:
– Adaptive authentication methods
The method relies on analyzing a pattern within the user's behavior. No deviation within the behaviors goes unnoticed, and the risks associated with each login are evaluated through the user's personal information such as location, registered device, etc.
– Decentralized credential store
One crucial aspect of every passwordless authentication method that makes it ultimately secure is that they don't store users' data within a system. Instead, the information is stored within a user's device, making it inherently more secure than traditional password-based security approaches.
– Liveness detection
Passwordless authentication methods mainly rely on the liveliness detection technique, which uses various algorithms to analyze data collected by biometric scanners for verification. The method can help identify a fake login attempt by differentiating from a live person preset at the real-time capture point or a fake object, a lifeless body part of even a prosthetic device.
– Asymmetric cryptography
Methods of authentication in passwordless authentication necessarily rely on the same principle as digital certificates. These methods deploy the use of asymmetric cryptography with a private key to unlock. The secure nature of asymmetric cryptography ensures that only authorized people, servers, devices, or machines can access the private key.
Although passwords have been around for a considerable time, it is no unknown fact that they have become more of a liability than security. It has therefore become exceedingly crucial for organizations and enterprises alike to go passwordless due to its numerous benefits such as:
– Protection against phishing attacks
Phishing is one of the most prevalent types of cyberattacks and is why 36% of data breach attacks. Most phishing attacks revolve around the threat actor duping victims to reveal their login credentials. However, integrating passwordless authentication can help mitigate such phishing attack risks. Since passwordless automation relies on modern authentication methods instead of passwords, the possibility of compromised credentials comes down to zero. Therefore, it leaves no room for users to fall victim to phishing attacks.
– Improves supply chain security
Passwordless authentication secures the supply chain from software supply chain attacks. Since it relies on secure authentication methods for phishing proof access, it also prevents threat actors from entering the database and comprising the network by injecting malicious code.
– A stronger cybersecurity posture
Compromised credentials mean a threat actor has access to sensitive information about your business, clients, and customer. It also means that the threat actor has access to your accounts and finances. With such control, these threat actors can steal your money, exploit customers' and clients' data for identity theft, or even sell sensitive information over the dark web. Therefore it is best to have passwordless authentication that can eliminate such risks.
Like other security measures, passwordless authentication is not a foolproof solution. While it does provide robust privacy and security, it does have some of its drawbacks. For starters, passwordless authentication is designed to store information within the user's device instead of a system. Amidst this, cases o lost or intercepted devices can potentially become the gateway to data theft.
Apart from that, since the technology is relatively new, many professionals are hesitant to trust it. The mistrust probably arises because the idea completely negates the use of passwords, which have long since been the oldest method of ensuring security.
While these drawbacks are somewhat concerning, it is possible to mitigate them quickly. Therefore, in contrast to other password security methods, such as MFA, password authentication seems like an ultimate solution.
Amidst the rising number of data breaches, it is crucial to protect data in the most secure way possible. With MFA getting relatively weak, passwordless authentication seems to be the perfect solution to attaining robust password security. The use of modern technology makes it secure and hassle-free, allowing every individual ease in adopting it.
Shigraf Ajaz
Shigraf is an experienced cybersecurity journalist and is zealous about spreading knowledge regarding cyber and internet security. She has extensive knowledge in writing insightful topics regarding online privacy, DevOps, AI, cybersecurity, cloud security, and a lot more. Her work relies on vast and in-depth research.
Categories Network Security Post navigation
How Phishing-As-A-Service Is Changing Cybersecurity For The Masses
A Closer Look at Account Takeover Attacks and How to Prevent Them


In late 2010 – early 2011 an effort was started to establish a VFW Post in Beatty. With 36 members we were granted a charter in May 2011. The name of the new Post would be John Strozzi Post #12108, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sargent Strozzi was a Beatty resident killed in WWII. Many of his kin still live in the Beatty locality. Our first organizing meetings were held at the Happy Burro under the guidance of Jerry Chamlee,the State Commander at the time. We elected George Wehrly as our first Post Commander. Our first meetings were at the Beatty Community Center. Shortly after we started an Auxiliary for the ladies.
In May we contracted to buy an old church being used as a private residence. The beauty of the old church was it was built Ryolite in 1905. Somewhere between 1915 and 1926, it was torn down and rebuilt at its present location. Demo lasted about 3 months. We have installed new water, sewer, electrical and heating and cooling. We opened the Canteen in late October 2013. After opening the Canteen we immediately started working on the Meeting room. All the work culminated on August 1 2014 when our Post was dedicated by the Commander in Chief of The Veterans of Foreign Wars, John Stroud.


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Williamsburg teen found on remote Windsor logging path died from gunshot wound, medical examiner says
By Nour Habib
Investigators say the body of 18-year-old Aonesty Selby was found in a remote area of Isle of Wight County on Friday, the same day she was reported missing. (James City County Police Department)
The death of Aonesty Selby, a Williamsburg teenager whose body was found Friday night in Isle of Wight County, has been ruled a homicide.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Norfolk completed an autopsy on Selby's body Monday, ruling that she died as a result of a single gunshot wound, according to the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators were treating the death as suspicious since the discovery of Selby's body on a logging road in Isle of Wight County, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.
Selby, a senior at Warhill High School, went missing on Wednesday, a day after her 18th birthday. Her family reported her missing on Friday morning.
Selby's parents and aunt found her body around 10 p.m. Friday on Blue Ridge Trail in Windsor. They had gone to search the area — after notifying police — after a friend of Selby's was able to ping Selby's phone and find its location.
When they found her body, Selby was fully clothed, with her normal full makeup and hair done perfectly, according to family members. The only thing out of place was the blood around her mouth and nose, they said.
Selby grew up on the Outer Banks, living with her mother and attending Currituck High School. She moved to Williamsburg in November to live with family and was attending school there, according to her aunt, Ebony Selby.
"Aonesty moved away from WJCC Schools when she was in 7th grade but rejoined us this school year," Warhill High School Principal Michelle Newcomb wrote in a statement that was posted on Facebook. "She was a quieter student with a close connection to her cousin. She was looking forward to graduating this June and she died far too young."
Newcomb said school counselors would be available Tuesday for students who might need them.
"Even as our students grow, mature, and approach adulthood, the death of a peer is unimaginably tragic and can often have an impact on friends and classmates," Newcomb wrote.
Selby's family has contacted Virginia State Police and the FBI to consider helping with the investigation into the killing. "Now maybe they'll get on the job and do what they need to," Ebony Selby said of the police investigation into her niece's death.
Officials ask that anyone who knew the whereabouts of Selby between Jan. 11 and Jan. 13 call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK- U-UP or submit a tip at www.p3tips.com.
Kari Pugh contributed to this report.
Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
Copyright © 2023, Daily Press


Our white bedding doesn't look this way, so I'm not sure why the sofa is so much worse. And yes, the joys of having a slipcover is that you can wash it, but I can't wash the thing every day! Sheesh. Maybe I should just shave the dog?
It has been a relaxing weekend so far. (You can see Nigel chilling out through the open window on the back of our sofa. It's definitely been lazy dog days of summer for our two bark-monsters.) Thankfully the weekend isn't over yet though… we have today off as well. Woohoo! Who doesn't love a three day weekend?!
As it happens each summer, I'm obsessed with porch living. Of course, it would be less difficult if I wasn't living in [what appears to be] the world's most humid climate in the Northeast U.S. at the moment. (What gives North?! I thought I moved here from the South to escape all that humidity and brutal weather?!) Anyways…just as I was obsessed with sleeping porches last summer, that trend continues this summer as well. Anyways, I did a story at the beginning of June for my day job about Porch Living, and this image was from that shoot.
I'm including it here b/c I thought it was nice enough to post, and people just don't talk about living on the porch enough in my opinion. (And also b/c I'm clearly still obsessed.) Another item that's perfect for summer relaxing & sleeping outside is a Mayan Hammock. Nick and I saw a lot of these while we were in Mexico two weeks ago. We even had the pleasure of sleeping on a couple one lazy afternoon.
The Country Home kitchen makeover story finally hits newsstands!!
I realize I've been terrible about posting anything here lately. So while I'm waiting [anxiously] for my wedding photos to arrive back, the Country Living makeover article finally hit newsstands!! Our kitchen is a two-page spread on pages 68-69! Very exciting!!
So I took a LONG time off from this blog b/c I've been completely immersed in work and wedding planning. Doing both sometimes felt like I had two and a half full time jobs. But soon I'm going to begin posting more here…beginning with pics of my wedding and all the little details that went into it. Here's the first pic we got back. It was a perfect day (with the slight exception of massive humidity).
We're picking up our new bed this weekend, and I still haven't figured out what color to paint the bedroom! Nothing is making me happy. I might have to admit that I don't actually like/want color on my walls in the bedroom. It's a hard thing to admit b/c it sounds so good in theory…but every color is not right (even though they're good colors on their own). Gah! Time (and my patience) is running out for this painting project.


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Curbell Aids in Creation of "Weather Machine"
Curbell Plastics, Inc. is pleased to be part of the "Weather Machine", Western New York Meteorologist Andy Parker's popular invention and teaching tool for students.
"The Weather Machine demonstrations are meant to inspire the scientist and inventor in each student," said Parker, with the purpose of getting the next generation interested in weather and science.
The Weather Machine is built using a large polycarbonate sheet, donated by Curbell Plastics, that's bent and fits into a frame creating a clear tube inside allowing actual weather simulations to be created from tornadoes and lightning to snowstorms. Students can reach in and touch a tornado, for example, to feel the air and the vortex, without fear. Parker designed the Weather Machine for children in grades K-6, but it creates a sense of wonder and awe at any age.
Parker began this project by creating "desktop" sized weather experiments for single classroom presentations, but realized their popularity with the students and teachers meant he needed to create one larger demonstration piece that could be used to engage hundreds of students in an auditorium at one time.
Among the requirements, the demonstration piece had to be clear from all angles, with no obstructed views; lightweight, so it could be moved quickly and easily for set up and take down, and durable enough to last for numerous presentations.
Having to take time off during COVID gave Parker a chance to re-engineer the Weather Machine, and think about how he could improve it. Version 2.0 of the Weather Machine, is created using a thinner sheet of polycarbonate, making it lighter in weight with greater optical clarity. Curbell worked with Parker to select a polycarbonate sheet that would still perform under the conditions it was exposed to yet would be easier to bend for the curved machine wall shape.
For more information, contact Beth Summers, Curbell Plastics, Inc., 7 Cobham Dr., Orchard Park, NY 14127, 888-287-2355/716-667-3377, Fax: 716-667-3432, E-mail: bsummers@curbellplastics.com, Web: www.curbellplastics.com.


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Niki Daly Collection
This collection comprises original artwork (50+) and dummies (15) for children's books by South African illustrator Niki Daly. There is a complete body of work for "Jamela's Dress".
Daly, Nicholas
Elsworth Deeds
Papworth
Ballot Papers
Material relating to the early history of Graaff-Reinet and the Ballot, Watermeyer, Ziervogel, Kicherer and Mare families.
Van Riebeek's Prayer
Jan van Riebeeck's prayer, with which he opened the Council of Policy meetings. In his own handwriting.
Council of Policy, Dutch East India Company
English Political Prints
1. Sir John Glanville, Speaker to the House of Commons in the reign of K, Charles 1st. ("From an original picture in the possession of William Fletcher Esq, at Oxford"). London Pub. Dec 1, 1792, by E & S Harding, No. 102 Pall Mall.2. The Right...
Provenance unknown
NICOLSON FAMILY PAPERS
Bain Family Papers
Journals of journeys undertaken by Andrew Geddes Bain; copies of letters reflecting his building of military roads in the Eastern Cape; TS copies of articles on Geology, Geological reports; items relating to his play Kaatje Kekkelbek.Pamphlets and...
Maseus
ZA UCT BCS13
One small notebook with a poem by the Greek poet Musaeus "rendered into English verse", probably a 19th century translation.
Kendall and Earle Collection
Specifications, quantity schedules and correspondence refer ring to several hundred buildings in the Cape Province planned by the firm of Baker and Masey, with which Sir Herbert Baker was connected (1892-1910), and its successor firms, incl. the S...
Earle, Leslie Marriott


His name is David, but he is not the king and his wife is Ester, but not the queen, and their son is Matthew, but not the tax-collector. Pastor David's education has taken him from Hong Kong, to the Philippines and to UK (London and Cambridge), studying Psychology, Biblical Studies, New Testament Studies, Chinese History, Church History and Christian Missions.
Pastor David's ministry began in 1986 as a Youth Pastor and it has taken him from being a solo Pastor in an inner-city church, a missions executive, a missions mobilizer, a seminary lecturer, a seminary president, an author, a conference speaker and now the senior pastor at Immanuel CRC, where he has been since 2010.
During his down time, Pastor David enjoys guitar music, reading to learn (less, to be entertained), watching a nice movie with his family and performing close-up magic tricks to the kids (and adults) at church!
Jason's passion in ministry is living and dwelling in a community of Christians, to draw them more deeply into their life with Christ, and to equip them for living out that life in the communities, vocations, and context where God has placed them.
Jason grew up in Vermont and met his wife Kristie in Virginia while at college. Their studies and ministry work took them to Taiwan, where all four of their children were born. The family moved to Canada, where they have been serving at Immanuel CRC since 2015.
During his off time Pastor Jason enjoys being in the outdoors of beautiful British Columbia skiing, hiking, camping, and he often bikes to church. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) is currently pursuing a Master of Theology at Regent College.
Pastor Zhai and his wife Alice joined Immanuel CRC in 2005 and served as fellowship leaders, teachers and as a Deacon. In 2010, they left to pursue a full-time pastoral ministry and 7 years later, they were called to serve their home church once again, this time as a full-time pastor.
In that time, Pastor Zhai was licensed by The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada and he received his Masters of Art in Christian Spiritual Formation and got his license of Christian Spiritual Director at Carey Theological College. Prior to Christian ministry, Pastor Zhai was a Senior Business Manager at Philips, Motorola, Nestle and others. He completed the MBA program of Arizona State University.
He served as an Associate Pastor and Acting Senior Pastor of Vancouver West Alliance Church, and the Preaching & Teaching Pastor of the Evangelical Chinese Bible Church and he was ordained in 2016 at Vancouver Chinese Tabernacle Baptist Church. He has preached at many Chinese churches in greater Vancouver area, the Far-East Broadcasting Company and its seminary in PRC China.
Pastor Zhai is a dedicated gardener and he can spend hours in his garden under the sun listening to his plants whisper to him! He has seven fish tanks, one boy-cat called KyeKye and two love birds. Along with his two children, Mary and Jason (who are are all plants-lovers!), their family has their family devotion time every Wednesday night and their cat KeyKye always wants to join!
Pastor Nancy's ministry began in 2013 where she started in Short Term Mission training while serving as a Sunday school teacher. After her studies at Regent College, she worked as a part-time minister at Granville Chapel, then as a transitional pastor at VCBC and has now been at Immanuel CRC since 2017.
Pastor Nancy is passionate about the women ministry and believes that women play an important role because they are called to educate young kids into following our Lord, and to share the good news.
Pastor Nancy and her family came from mainland China in 2008. Her husband is an artist, and her son just graduated from McGill University. When she gets the chance, Pastor Nancy enjoys reading and cooking.
After graduating from Biblical Seminary of the Philippines for Masters in Biblical Studies, Ester served in United Evangelical Church of Pasay beginning in 1989. After she got married, she served in Christ Universal Mission with her husband and then became the coordinator of CCOWE Philippines Resource Center for 5 years as a volunteer.
After their son Matthew was born, she became a full-time mother with volunteer ministries in small group, Bible study, teaching Bible to high school students, Sunday School and VBS. After migrating to Canada, she became full-time church worker involved with Children Ministry at Immanuel CRC where she's been since 2010.
Coming from a family of 11, with 16 nephews and nieces, Ester knows all about working with children. Her passion is to establish God's people in God's word especially through the Children's Ministry by nurturing the next generation to grow in faith and serve God. Ester's hobbies include gardening, listening to music and sewing!
Pastor Markus is the youngest member of the Immanuel CRC pastoral team! His studies took him from St. Mary's University, to McGill University and to Presbyterian College.
His journey started after finishing Sunday school, where he turned around and began to teach the teen Sunday School. He then helped out with his local University Christian society, The Navigators. After finishing his first degree, he went to McGill University and Presbyterian College for ministry studies, even going as far as South Korea for a year to teach, then returning to do his field placement at a Taiwanese Presbyterian church.
After graduating, he went out to seek some more experiences in ministry as he steps closer to full Minister of Word and Sacrament, and is now the Youth Pastor for Immanuel CRC.
Pastor Markus has a great interest in tea culture, as well as exploring the many faces of theology, religion and faith; on the side, he enjoys some more geeky (his words) things like Pokemon.


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Published on: Oct. 5, 2020, 3:50 p.m.
Kansai Nerolac's colourful journey
Bharuka: the driving force
Poised to grow
The backing of global paint player Kansai Paints as its parent, has strengthened its capability in a big way. In the last few years, the company has aggressively tried to diversify its portfolio by getting into less cyclical and high-margin businesses.
By Arbind Gupta. Assistant Editor, Business India
On 2 September, 2020, paint major Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd (KNPL) has completed its 100th year. From one pandemic (Spanish Flu 1920) to another (Covid-19), it has been a journey of not only resilience but also sheer determination of a true winner. Amidst global calamities and challenges – World Wars, the Great Depression of 1930 and Financial Crisis of 2008 – the company marched its way to a leadership position in the paint business, setting new benchmarks and milestones all along the way.
Started as Gahagan Paints and Varnish Co Ltd way back in 1920 with a small factory at Lower Parel in Mumbai and then acquired by Lead Industries of the UK in 1933; rechristened to Goodlass Nerolac Paints Ltd in 1957 to becoming a part of the Tata group in 1976 and then subsequently a subsidiary of world's 8th largest paint company, Kansai Paints of Japan in 2000 and thereafter getting rebranded to its present name Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd in 2006, the company has come a long way. Kansai Paints currently holds 74.99 per cent share in the company.
"Our journey of 100 years is mapped by many strategic initiatives and mileposts, helping us build and sustain our leadership in the Indian paint industry. From creation of a strong brand, expansion of distribution and manufacturing footprint, new products and categories, to new geographies and collaborations, we have judiciously scaled our capabilities and offerings to cater to the transforming demands and needs of our diverse and growing clientele," says H.M. Bharuka (60), vice chairman and managing director, KNPL.
Today, Mumbai-based KNPL is the third largest paint company (after Asian Paints and Berger Paints) in the Rs50,000-crore domestic paints market with a clear leadership position in the industrial paint segment. In the automotive coatings business, the Rs5,000-crore company which has grown at a CAGR of over 12 per cent in the last decade, is a distinct leader with over 50 per cent market share. All the major automotive OEMs like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Toyota, Honda, Ashok Leyland, TVS, Bajaj and Volvo are its clients. In fact, every second car and two-wheeler on Indian roads is coated with Kansai Nerolac paints.
The company is also ramping up its decorative paint business where it commands over 10 per cent market share. Last year, it commissioned a state-of-the-art digital factory in Goindwal, Punjab for decorative paints. This 52,800-tonne capacity plant is the country's first most modern and digital decorative paint manufacturing facility in the country. KNPL is also looking to put up one more manufacturing facility (7th one) in Vishakhapatnam for an estimated project cost of around Rs400 crore.
In 2018, the company commissioned a modern automotive coating facility in Sayakha, Gujarat. KNPL which augmented its overall paints and coatings capacity, from 410,000 tonnes per annum two years ago to currently 525,000 tonnes (across six facilities), has invested over Rs1,100 crore in setting up these two recently-commissioned facilities.
Currently, the decorative paint business contributes around 55 per cent to its total revenue, from less than 50 per cent sometime back. However, in the overall paint market, the decorative paints business accounts for more than 75 per cent and considered to be more dynamic and vibrant due to its inherent non-cyclical nature and its ability to generate regular cash flow. Moreover, the decorative paint segment is a consumer-facing business and provides an organisation a greater degree of brand recall and often draws more investors' attention.
Jain: in pursuit of new ways to improve
Amidst growing consumerism, increasing income and changing demographics and aspiration level, the decorative paints business on the line of FMCG space in India, has witnessed a major transition. The per capita consumption of paints in India is abysmally low at 4 kg as against the global average of around 14 kg.
Responding to this market transition, KNPL has also repositioned itself afresh in the market and aggressively pursuing its newly-formulated strategy where it is diversifying its portfolio in the high margin and high potential areas, even as it continues to build on its core areas. Over the years, KNPL has been expanding its horizons by foraying into new market segments and new geographies. In order to scale up leadership position in the powder coating segment, the company acquired 100 per cent share in Marpol Pvt Ltd in April 2018 for R36 crore. Marpol is a Goa-based company engaged in the business of powder coating. It manufactures products such as epoxy polyester, pure polyester, pure epoxy, and polyurethane powder.
As part of its strategy to tap newer areas, the company is also diversifying its portfolio. In August 2019, KNPL formed a 60:40 joint venture with Polygel Industries, a manufacturer of adhesives, construction chemicals and sealants. The JV named Nerofix which will be aggressively tapping the adhesive and sealants market and thus allows the company to add this new business to its portfolio.
Earlier, in April 2019, the company had acquired a Gujarat-based small construction chemicals company, Perma Construction Aids Pvt Ltd for around Rs30 crore, to give a boost to its construction chemicals business where the company has already launched a new range of construction chemicals under the Nerolac Perma brand. KNPL has also entered into high-potential wood finishes segment and recently inked an agreement with Italy's ICRO Coatings as it is looking to set up dedicated manufacturing capability for wood finishes at its Jainpur facility near Kanpur.
In the past few years, the company while increasing its presence within the country, has also expanded its footprint in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, through acquisitions and joint ventures. KNPL has operational presence in these neighbouring countries through its subsidiaries. The company is in the process of ramping up all these operations even as it recently launched the Nerolac range of decorative paints through its subsidiary RAK Paints Ltd in Bangladesh and received good response from the market. It entered the Bangladesh market in 2018.
In Sri Lanka where it entered in 2017, the company has changed its branding from Kansai to Kansai S-lon and revamped its distribution strategy. S-lon is a leading brand in the hardware sector of Capital Maharaja Organisation Ltd, KNPL's partner in Sri Lanka. The company has taken a major step to further boost its Nepal business by starting a project to upgrade the Birgunj Plant. The company, having got into the Nepal market in 2012, sees its international operations (which though is insignificant in size at present) as growth opportunities and is all committed to invest in them.
KNPL's modern plant: creating paints and solutions for a healthy and beautiful future
"As a part of our strategy, we on the one hand are strengthening the core product portfolio, on the other hand leveraging existing capabilities to create new growth engines by expanding into nearby geographies and allied businesses. The objective is to deliver long-term sustainable value to our stakeholders through a strong platform of organisational capability," says Anuj Jain, 51, executive director, KNPL who has been with the company for 30 years. Joined the company in 1990 as a management trainee, Jain became vice-president, marketing & sales in April 2003 and from 2018 he has been serving as executive director – in charge of entire sales and marketing, manufacturing and technical function.
The company currently boasts of a well-diversified portfolio of products across industrial and decorative paints. In the industrial paint business, it offers a range of products to auto makers, including pre-treatment chemicals, electro deposition primers, intermediate coats/primer surfacers, solid and metallic top coats, clear coats and touch-up paints. It offers performance coating (general and high performance) products to industries, such as power, railways, metal, cement, fertilisers, petroleum/petrochemical, infrastructure, floor coating, and offshore. Besides, there are powder coating products for applications in industries like refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners, light fixtures, electrical, auto components, pipes and rebar steel.
In the decorative segment, the company has got a wide range of exterior and interior products across enamels, distemper, emulsions and primers. It has also made its presence in categories like wood finishes, adhesives, construction chemicals, waterproofing and soldier paints.
Backed by around 3,000 employees, KNPL currently has six factories located in Jainpur (UP), Lote (Maharashtra), Bawal (Haryana), Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Sayakha (Gujarat) and Goindwal (Punjab). These facilities, in case of industrial business, are strategically located near key Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), thus giving the company a strong competitive edge. The manufacturing capability of the company is well backed up by in-house R&D facilities, both centrally and across the plants located in customer proximity.
The company has recently also commissioned a modern R&D lab in Vashi near Mumbai. Moreover, it also has access to Kansai Paints' global R&D facilities, and leverages technical capabilities of its parent and group companies – Oshima Kogyo Co. Ltd; Japan; Cashew Co. Ltd, Japan and Protech Chemicals Ltd, Canada.
While the company is focussing on R&D and technology and aggressively carrying out innovations, its manufacturing strategies are directed towards environment-friendly innovations, which help in reduction of water and energy consumption, as well as air emission, thus minimising its carbon footprint. All plants are zero liquid discharge, and also ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified.
"We are constantly in pursuit of devising new ways to improve our manufacturing competency by implementing state-of-the-art technologies, embracing digital and automation, and undertaking green initiatives in business operations," says Jain.
"With sustainability at the core of our business strategy, we are continuously imbibing sustainable business practices to address social and environmental concerns. To meet our stakeholders' expectations with respect to the global development challenges, we are continuously striving to enhance our contribution towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," states Bharuka.
Graph: Mathew Thomas
KNPL, has been actively working on the sustainability agenda for nearly a decade and has been voluntarily publishing the Sustainability Report on its Website since 2012. The company focuses on water management where it has achieved zero liquid discharge at all its manufacturing plants, reduction in hazardous waste, reduction in carbon footprint, energy management where it focuses on renewable energy, health and safety and emission management.
"While continuing its focus on pioneering innovative, globally best-in-class products in diverse market segments, enabling dramatic improvements across key parameters of finish quality, reduced cost of ownership, consumption and baking time, the company has proactively been coming out with environment-friendly products across its portfolio. Today, we boast of a comprehensive range of 100 per cent heavy metal free and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) products that offer total painting solutions to consumers across price points," says Jain.
Amidst all this, backed by a well-established distribution network, KNPL has established a pan-India presence through 104 sales depots and 27,500+ dealers/customers to reach out effectively to customers across regions, where north and east command a stronger presence for it. With these measures and capabilities in place, KNPL has established itself as a strong consumer brand and is today one of India's Top 40 brands.
"Paints are no more only for looks and aesthetics. Today's discerning consumers are much more informed than ever before and seeking for differentiated products in terms of functional and environment-friendly aspects. Nerolac is a trusted brand and lately, they have tried to enhance their exposure in the decorative paints segment, which is more into retail consumer-facing business and hence further adds to their brand recall," says N. Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Research, a consumer analytics and brand insights company.
Despite beginning its journey as a traditional company over 100 years ago, the company has never shied away from imbibing new-age technologies. Almost two decades ago in 2000, the company took a conscious decision to take a leapfrog upgradation to introduce SAP ERP from having a rudimentary IT base. In fact, it was one of the very few companies in the paint industry to do so at that time. This was followed by a number of other upgradations that transformed the company into a dynamic entity with robust processes and functions in place.
"We have always considered these initiatives as a continuous process and worked towards improving upon our existing base. With the goal of becoming smart, agile and intelligent in the prevailing dynamic environment, we have set targets towards digitalising our plants and business processes. In line with this, we have taken definitive steps to deliver transformative solutions. Digitalising our plants would reduce manual material handling, improve productivity and efficiency, and also optimise resource utilisation," says Jason Gonsalves, director - corporate planning, IT & Materials, KNPL, who joined the company in 1994. Gonsalves who is currently responsible for driving the company's strategy, holds a Bachelor's degree in Production Engineering and Master's degree in Business Management from Mumbai University. Under his leadership KNPL was certified as one of the Great Places to Work by GPTW.
"As a company, KNPL has grown a great deal over the decades evolving a holistic, technology, service and a knowledge driven approach to develop and pioneer a variety of coating solutions for its consumers to touch everyday lives from homes, automobiles, white goods and infrastructure projects. In recent times, the company has pioneered the concept of healthy home paints by bringing in heavy metal-free and low VOC paints. At this historic juncture of our 100th year of existence, we want to take forward this ethos of care to the next level. We want to do so by sparking a positive change among customers and keeping their need for 'well-being' and 'holistic care' as our guiding light," states Bharuka who has been the driving force behind KNPL's transitional journey in the past over two decades.
'Colours that Care' is the brand's new positioning statement
The great churn
KNPL, in its centenary year, has decided to commemorate the occasion by unveiling a new positioning and a refreshed brand outlook. The new visual identity has been inspired from the great 'Manthan' – the churning of every element of nature to isolate the purest, freshest and most vital elements. This is also symbolic of the need of the hour and what the company aims to deliver to its customers and stakeholders going forward.
Being the pioneer of healthy home paints (ultra-low VOC and ultra-low odour), the brand aims to continue playing a proactive role in its customers' lives by creating paints and solutions for a healthy and beautiful future. This is even more relevant in today's unprecedented times when we are faced with challenges of a scale previously unknown to humanity.
"Colours that Care" is the brand's new positioning statement and a new campaign has been launched titled `Aaj Careful toh Kal Colourful' promoting the hashtag #ACKC that puts the new positioning in the context of today's times. A series of digital films have been released by the brand encouraging people to act responsibly today as the world seeks to rebuild towards a sustainable and bright future.
"Nerolac has always believed in creating products and solutions to nurture a healthy and beautiful environment for future generations. When we decided to look at our business with a fresh perspective and renewed focus as a means to plan for the next 100 years, we didn't know how significant a step it will be for us as a brand in today's context. We are proud of our 100 years journey and humbled by the constant support and encouragement received from each one of our partners and customers who have been part of our journey. Now is the time to take it forward," adds Bharuka.
Ever since Bharuka was appointed as managing director in April 2001, he has been instrumental in building and positioning the company as a leading player in the domestic paint industry. A qualified AICWA from the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India, he joined the company in 1985 and steadily rose through the ranks to become managing director. Before joining KNPL, he had brief stints in the engineering, textile and paper industries.
He inherited a company where profitability was low, and it was facing serious competition from global players in India. The biggest challenge before him was to not only revive KNPL but also to make it relevant for the times ahead and do it at a faster pace. He worked hard to turn the business around by implementing what he described as "bold, decisive initiatives".
He closed all the factories that were operating at a loss and had outdated plants and machinery; confronted unions; undertook a high-risk SAP enterprise resource planning implementation; and tackled supply-chain issues. On top of that, he set up new plants, put a heavy focus on productivity and cost reduction, expanded the product range, rebranded the company, and created a team of leaders that spawned a new organisational culture.
"The initiatives were without precedence in the history of the company and were a culture shock for the workers. All these strategies, and many more, were led from the front and we had to sacrifice everything to restore the credibility of the company," says Bharuka who when took up the top job, the company had an annual sales revenue of around Rs682 crore, which has currently soared to around R5,000 crore.
These measures helped rebuild KNPL into a high-quality, fundamentally strong organisation with high profitability, despite being one-third the size of the industry leader. Efforts were carried out to diversify the portfolio and strengthen the decorative business in order to build a well-diversified portfolio and leverage the fast changing market place.
On the decorative side, the company's main challenge was to build the brand, infrastructure and capabilities as also build a distribution network which was consumer-facing in the B2C space. For doing that, the company adopted a multipronged strategy involving multifaceted investment in product differentiation.
To create differentiation, KNPL was the first to launch environment-friendly products, with the tagline 'Healthy Home Paints,' and it created Colour Shoppe, an experience centre for customers to touch and feel the products. "We also had influencer programmes like Nerolac Premium Painters to create long-term relationships with painters," explains Bharuka.
On the industrial side, where the company was the undisputed leader and known for its innovations and differentiation with regard to technology, quality, delivery, cost and service, KNPL kept looking for improving upon its existing capability and adding newer innovations and technologies. It developed breakthrough technology like acrylic CED for two-wheelers, which eliminated the need for a second coat and reduced consumption and energy by 50 per cent. It also developed the 3C-1B, wet-on-wet application for four-wheelers, reducing energy consumption by a third.
Based on the company's performance, as well as India's contribution to the global performance of Kansai Paints, Japan, in June 2017 Bharuka was made a director on the board of the parent company. He was the first non-Japanese person to be given this position.
Going forward, the company will continue to pursue its strategy where it will continue to strengthen its core product portfolio, even as it will leverage existing capabilities to create new growth engines by expanding into allied businesses and nearby geographies. Having entered some of the key markets in the subcontinent, the company is betting big on newer areas like adhesives, construction chemicals and powder coatings. It is looking to grab 2-3 per cent market share in the next couple of years.
Meanwhile, the company which has significant exposure in the automotive sector has seen some pressure on its revenue. Moreover, the overall demand for the industrial paints has also faced challenges in the last couple of years. The Covid-19 has further impacted the scenario in the last couple of quarters with demand for both decorative and industrial paints are under pressure, even as the company's operations have now fully recovered after couple of months of closure during the initial period of the lockdown.
"Our operations are fully back on track. The demand is gradually picking up. We expect more revival in demand during the festival season. Though urban revival will be slow, we expect good demand from the rural side and hence expect a good deal of revival in our sales in coming months," says Bharuka.
In decorative, KNPL has outpaced its bigger rivals
Outpacing rivals
The company, in line with the industry expectation, has seen contraction in revenue in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY21). The sales declined by 59 per cent (YoY) to Rs598 crore, while net profit hit by 71 per cent to Rs43 crore. For the full year of FY20, the company had seen its revenue slowing down by around 4.5 per cent to Rs4,943 crore, even as its net profit improved by over 15 per cent to Rs535 crore.
"Though the challenging macro and micro economic factors adversely impacted the revenue during FY20, the company's prudent strategy of adopting aggressive cost control, dynamic formulation management, product mix changes and overhead control measures, helped us on the profitability front," says Jain.
Analysts are of the view that KNPL like any other players, may face demand contraction in the short run. However, given its dominant share in key auto accounts, they believe the recovery could be swifter than the industry as auto market leaders typically lead the recovery given their strong distribution and after-sale touch points. Moreover, they are also of the view that in the last few years, the company has been beefing up its relatively less cyclical non-auto industrial portfolio. In decorative, KNPL has outpaced its bigger rivals, thanks to its aggressive marketing and distribution push.
"Despite near term demand uncertainty due to sporadic lockdowns, long term outlook led by shift towards organised sector, housing push in Tier II/III cities and shorter painting cycle will boost demand for decorative paints in coming years. We believe auto paints demand will show steady improvement given rising demand for personal mobility, while rising demand for powder coatings from appliances, infra coatings, transport/metros, rebar and industrial applications will power non-auto industrials," says a research report of Prabhudas Lilladher.
"For the last few years, KNPL has consciously been increasing its presence in the decorative segment and this along with introduction of differentiating products, has helped it put up a more robust portfolio. With increasing sales and marketing efforts, the company, backed by its Japanese parent, seems to be better placed in the market currently," says Deven Choksey, promoter, KRChoksey Shares and Securities Pvt Ltd.
No doubt, the scenario has been challenging for the industry lately as also KNPL as a company in particular. But the company is known for its resilience and determination all through its long journey of over 100 years. It has successfully paved its way surmounting many ups and downs in the past and positioned itself quite strongly in the market. The backing of global paint player Kansai Paints as its parent, has strengthened its capability in a big way.
In the last few years, the company has aggressively tried to diversify its portfolio by getting into less cyclical and high-margin businesses. Its conscious move to increase its exposure to decorative paints business, will certainly provide its whole business with more risk-hedging ability as also add to its topline as also bottom line. All in all, the company, backed by its recent measures and efforts, is well positioned to continue its forward journey.


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Chicago Cubs coaching staff expected to lose Dave Martinez
What do we know about the man behind the scenes, Dave Martinez ...[Image via Talknats/YouTube]
The Chicago Cubs bench coach is reportedly the next man to make a move
by Oliver VanDervoort (article) and Meenu T (video)
October 29, 2017 at 8:58 AM Sun 29 Oct 2017 08:58:15 AM EDT
Chicago Cubs coaching staff expected to lose Dave Martinez - Video
The Chicago Cubs' promise that all of their coaches were expected back after their NLCS ouster continues to look silly. The club's manager made the comments immediately before his team was run out of the playoffs. Joe Maddon was asked whether or not he believed his staff was going to stay in tact and he responded that he truly believed it would. In fact, he seemed to act as though any questions about someone leaving was rather silly.
Two days later, the Chicago Cubs fired pitching coach Chris Bosio. A few days after that they fired their hitting coach and their third base coach. While no one was going to shed a tear for either John Mallee or Gary Jones, the departures made a liar out of Maddon on a massive scale. Now it appears the team is going to lose another coach in Dave Martinez.
Chicago Cubs could be looking for new bench coach
To Maddon's credit, the loss of Martinez is out of his hands.
The team's bench coach has long made it clear that he wants to be a manager. When the Washington Nationals decided they were going to fire Dusty Baker, it was a given that Martinez would apply for the job. There's also no guarantee the Cubs are going to lose their bench coach.
Martinez has applied for this kind of job plenty of times before. He's obviously never gotten the job as he has followed Maddon from when they were both in Tampa Bay to Chicago.
On the other hand, the Cubs Insider is reporting that Martinez has the inside track this time around.
The only reason the Cubs bench coach has not been announced yet is because the World Series is still going on. This is the only source that is reporting the Nationals have made their choice. The Washington Post is reporting nothing has been finalized just yet. The Post also pointed out there was a time when the Nats were supposedly going to announce Bud Black as their man before Dusty Baker. Turns out those rampant rumors weren't true.
World Series champs rebuilding in a different way
All of this means the team could be losing yet another coach in the very near future. It's an interesting look for a team that has appeared in three straight NLCS and won a World Series. Should Martinez leave, it would mean about 80 percent of the staff has been changed over.
Per multiple sources @fox5dc can report Dave Martinez will be the next #Nationals manager, won't be announced til after #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/oUzKwMQl0Z
— Brody Logan (@BrodyLogan) October 28, 2017
Whether or not the Chicago Cubs having a bunch of new voices is a good thing is something we won't learn until next season.
There is certainly an argument to be made that it might be exactly what a team that looked flat and lifeless in the playoffs had to have happen. The team isn't retooling on the player level yet but it already has a new makeup.
Oliver VanDervoort
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US Environmental Group to Fight Dakota Pipeline Construction in Courts
© AP Photo / John L. Mone
https://sputniknews.com/us/201702111050570544-group-fight-dakot-pipeline/
The US federal government's decision to grant an easement to Dakota Access will encounter legal action and demonstrations, the US Center for Biological Diversity Public Lands representative Taylor McKinnon told Sputnik.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, the US Army Corps of Engineers granted the easement needed to immediately resume work on the final phase of the $3.7 billion Dakota Access pipeline, which Native American tribes claim threatens sacred territory and vital water resources.
"We're going to fight like hell," McKinnon said. "We're going to be in the streets, we're going to be in politicians' and agencies' offices. We're going to be in the courts."
The US fossil fuel industry, McKinnon claimed, will face little opposition from Trump's administration considering cabinet picks such as former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson now serving as State Secretary and Environmental Protection Agency Secretary nominee Scott Pruitt, who as attorney general of the US state of Oklahoma filed multiple lawsuits against the EPA over regulations that limit exploration and production of fossil fuels.
"His [Trump's] approach to NO DAPL is a microcosm of the fossil fuel crony capitalism that we expect to see throughout his administration," McKinnon said. "That crony capitalism is going to cause massive backlash."
© AP Photo / Damian Dovarganes
FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Probes Dakota Pipeline Protesters
On January 24, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to advance construction of the Dakota Access pipeline without the environmental review.
Besides desecrating sacred tribal grounds, MacKinnon claimed the pipeline will cause climate pollution, disrupt fragile habitats and cause oil spills.
Since 1986 pipeline accidents have spilled an average of 76,000 barrels per year, the CBD noted. On average, the government's data shows that more than 31,000 barrels of oil or other substances are not cleaned up following pipeline incidents, and in some years many more barrels are left, the CBD stated
The nearly 1,200-mile Dakota Access pipeline is intended to transport domestically produced light crude oil from North Dakota through the states of South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois.
Sioux Tribe Challenges Easement for Dakota Access Pipeline in US Court
US Army Grants Finale Easement Required to Complete Dakota Access Pipeline
Seattle Council Votes to Divest From Megabank Over Dakota Access Pipeline
Standing Rock Vows to Shut Down Dakota Access Operations If Built
DAPL, Dakota, United States


The next step in closing the loop on the Jimmy Butler era in Minnesota arrived Tuesday when both Butler and the players the Wolves received when they traded him were introduced to their respective new teams and fan bases.
Butler is the celebrity of the bunch, and his news conference was earlier in the day. Stop me if you've heard this before, but Butler made a strong first impression on his new fan base in Philadelphia.
Watching the livestream video on Twitter – complete with all the hearts and comments that go with it in real time – was a reminder of how good Butler is in these situations.
His over-the-top introduction with the Timberwolves just 16 months ago at Mall of America might have been the single biggest occasion of "winning the press conference" that I've witnessed in local sports.
On that day, he gushed about the potential he saw with the Wolves young core, promised to recruit even more talent to play in Minnesota and sold a fan base on his sincerity.
Anybody, it turned out, except for Butler.
The future, as is often the case, wasn't quite what we imagined – particularly as it hurtled and sputtered toward an uncomfortable present.
Less than a year after that introduction, there were signs Butler wanted out. Those signals became amplified two months ago with his official trade request.
If there is any lingering residue from all that happened in Minnesota, Butler did his best — of course — to downplay it. He said his relationship with longtime coach Tom Thibodeau is still in good standing and that he wished all his former teammates well.
He probably needs to, in this case. If he wears out another welcome as quickly as he wore out the one here, Butler might start running out of chances to win the press conference.


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SoundCloud & Noisey Singles – Melo Makes Music "Remember"
SoundCloud September 27, 2018 June 4, 2019
https://blog.soundcloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/MELOMAKES_TEASER_15SEC.mp4
From uploading his first track in 2014 to making major waves on the Chicago indie hip-hop scene, there's a reason Melo Makes Music (born Carmelo Cianflone) was a SoundCloud Artist to Watch in 2018.
With a sound that's not nearly as straightforward as his name (but just as catchy), Melo stands out for his ability to merge the contradicting styles of grunge and classical to create works that are unexpected and original. And as an artist, he's progressive – weaving themes of empowerment and positivity into his lyrics and propelling important narratives forward.
As part of the Noisey x SoundCloud Singles program, Melo made a video for his lo-fi synth-infused single, "Remember." Seagull calls set the scene, barber-shop snaps lay the beat – and Melo's textured tenor spread vocals over chords like butter on toast. Melo's vision for the video was a vibe that was both vibrant and dark, "like The Beatles meets Evanescence," he said. And with melancholy lyrics backed by ferris wheel imagery shot on 16mm film, we think he hit the nail on the head.
So yes, Melo Makes Music. But he makes memorable music with a twist; music that's liberating and different. And if his latest offerings are any indication of what's to come, we're going to be watching him well into 2019.
For more information on the SoundCloud x Noisey Singles Program click here.
Stream Melo Makes Music's latest tracks on his SoundCloud page here


Sula Vineyards Pvt. Ltd. - Taste The SULA Life Food & Wine | Sula Vineyards Pvt. Ltd.
Allow us to help you choose the perfect Sula to go with your next BBQ, dinner party or Sunday lunch with the family. Whether you've got a sweet tooth or prefer strong, bold flavours, our easy Food Pairing guide below can help you pick the best wine to highlight your food.
Select one of the three small pans below based on the type of cuisine you'd like to pair with your wine: Vegetarian, Desserts, Meats & Seafood. If you'd like to see all, click on the large pan.
Once you make a choice, click on any of the reference images below that best matches the kind of cuisine or food you've got in mind. Your wine recommendations will be on the next page!
A light fruity sparkler, slightly sweet in style, perfect for everyday celebrations. Goes well with spicy curries, biryani, desserts, and is perfect for mixing into your favourite Champagne cocktails.
Our Dindori Reserve Viognier is an exotic elixir of peach and lychee flavours. Floral, spicy, stunning. Great as an aperitif and terrific with spicy food.
A versatile "anytime" wine great for picnics, parties and hot summer days. Lovely with poultry and spicy dishes. Serve well chilled.
Best enjoyed nicely chilled, Riesling is a versatile wine for pairing with food, because of its balance of sugar and acidity. Pairs well with Indian, Thai and Chinese cuisine.
Abounding with aromas of mango, honey and tropical fruit, our award winning Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is the perfect close to a delicious meal, but is also an elegant aperitif. Available in half bottles only. Perfect with fruit and nut platters, desserts, cheeses, cakes, cookies and pies.
Aged in premium French oak barrels for over a year and then further matured in the bottle before release, makes this wine elegant, velvety smooth and perfectly balanced. It can be enjoyed in the full flush of youth or cellared for a future special occasion.
A fraction of the wine was barrel aged in French oak adding to its texture and appeal. Layered aromas of honey and melon lead to a myriad complex flavours on the palate, and a fresh and racy finish.
A refreshing, light, semi-dry wine bursting with tropical fruits like pineapple, pear and green apple. The perfect aperitif wine! Also terrific with food that has a hint of sugar and spice, such as Thai and Gujarati cuisines.
A smooth, medium-bodied red wine accentuated by ripe cherry and plum notes, black pepper aromas and soft, silky tannins. A food friendly wine, also great to drink on its own.
A blend of the favourite Syrah with the debutante grape (for India) Grenache, the red Mosaic ¬fits perfectly into the Mosaic of Life with great food, friends and conversation. Pairs well with kebabs and curries.
Crafted in the true "Méthode Champenoise" style, this sparkler is creamy, smooth and well balanced. A versatile wine that pairs perfectly with spicy Indian food as well as smoked salmon, brie, berries and chocolate.
Exceptionally smooth, buttery & complex wine can be paired with fried or creamy dishes as well as lighter Asian cuisine such as dim sum and steamed food.
Herbaceous, crisp and dry, with aromas of bell peppers, intermingled with tropical fruits like passion fruit and gooseberry (amla) with a racy, zingy finish. The classic accompaniment to seafood and dishes containing greens like asparagus and spinach.
Grown on the red hills of our Dindori estate and barrel-aged in American oak, our Dindori Reserve Shiraz is a powerful, intense wine, with flavours of berries and vanilla and a long pleasing finish. Pairs beautifully with meat dishes like mutton biryani, seekh kebabs and lamb roast.
This deliciously fruity Rosé is a blend of Grenache & Syrah bursting with red berry aromas. It can be enjoyed with a wide variety of food. Good to drink anywhere, anytime!
A medium-bodied blend of Tempranillo, Malbec and Merlot with hints of black cherries and ripe red fruit. Pair this wine with meat or spicy meals to fully experience the best it has to offer.
A blend of the crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the fruity Chenin Blanc resulting in a light, easy drinking wine. Goes well with fish and summer salads.
A luscious, jammy red Zinfandel redolent with blackberry aromas and cinnamon and plum flavours. Balanced, spicy, supple, and delightful! Ideal to serve with light dishes, also superb with soft cheeses.
A sweet & fruity bubbly, with attractive aromas of nectarine, water melon, soft white fruits and deep scented white flowers. Seco Rosé is a lively, light, refreshing wine perfect as an aperitif. Goes well with light & spicy Indian food.


When it comes to construction demolition services, there is a lot more to think about than just swinging a giant wrecking ball and smashing the building apart. What exactly do demolition contractors do? Find out what kind of demolition projects professional companies handle and how the process works.
Many residential demolition projects stem from cleaning up a landscape or improving a recently purchased property. Old structures on your property could be dilapidated and dangerous, and they need to be removed for safety or aesthetic reasons. That's why so often the first step to making upgrades and enhancements to your home is construction demolition. Whether you want to tear down a whole house or take out individual features like ugly decks, walkways, walls, or carports, most demolition contractors can handle the project. By working with a demolition service, you can rest assured that the project will be completed safely and correctly, rather than stumbling through the job yourself and risking personal injury or property damage.
It's wise to search for a licensed, bonded, and insured demolition contractor to take on your demolition needs. You may find a quality junk hauling or trash removal company that also does demolition. That means that the company can complete the construction demolition and then they can even assist with the cleanup of debris for your convenience.
Commercial demolition can span a wide variety of projects. Smaller junk removal and construction demolition contractors can handle demolition needs for jobs of limited scope while major demolition operations can work on taking down structures as big as factories, large shopping centers, or hospitals. Keep in mind that many commercial demolition projects require even more concern about safety practices than small-scale shed or home demolition services. Check to see if the company you hire is also lead or asbestos certified, because these environmental hazards have to be removed from the building before demolition can begin. Consider visiting your state's local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Web site to find out more about dealing with construction and demolition debris.


HappyCar might not be a familiar name in the world of rental cars. But they are one of the best online car-rental portals in Thailand.
HappyCar connects you with the best deals from car rental companies throughout Thailand.
They are one of the very few sites that work with local car rental companies like Thai Rent A Car, Chic Car Rent, and Bizcar Rental. Why does this matter? These local companies usually offer better deals than international companies.
HappyCar also works with international car rental companies like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar, and much more.
But what makes HappyCar standout is their ability to quickly compare prices from a myriad of car rental sites, saving you both time and money.
HappyCar is an online portal that connects you to all the best rental car deals in Thailand. When using their website you're bound to find the cheapest prices while saving tons of time.
HappyCar compares prices from both car rental companies and other rental-car portals. This means you'll find the best deals on one convenient page–no scouring the internet through dozens of car rental websites.
And the price you get from HappyCar can even be less than booking directly with a car rental company.
We wanted to rent a car in Phuket from June 27, 2018 8:30 AM to July 4, 2018 8:30 AM.
The price we got from HappyCar was $141.24, which comes out to 4,650 baht, for a Mitsubishi Mirage through one of their partners, Thai Rent A Car.
But when we checked the price at Thai Rent A Car's website, they listed the same car on the same dates for 6,741 baht. That's 2,091 baht, or $70 more expensive.
It only takes a few minutes to find a good deal and then book. Once you fill out your pick-up and drop-off locations you'll be shown a list of available deals, sorted by price.
HappyCar displays the results in a very user-friendly way, listing you all the info you need on a single page.
Once you pick out a car, you'll be directed to a booking page where you can review your booking info, add extra options such as GPS or child safety seat(s), and then pay for your rental car.
If you have to cancel your trip for any reason, you can get a full refund if you notify HappyCar 24 hours before your scheduled pick-up date.
Please remember that the price you get from HappyCar doesn't include a security deposit. You still need to deposit a security payment when picking up your car.
Also, you might need to pay for extras, such as GPS and child safety seats, depending on which car rental company you use through HappyCar.
The amount you'll have to deposit or pay for extras is the same amount you'd pay if booking directly with a car rental company.
So, if you're looking for a quick and cheap way to rent a car in Thailand, HappyCar is the site for you.


My Wordless Wednesday is a picture of one of my favorite drawings my husband did for a client. I just love how he drew the hair and eyes!
Mother's Day isn't far off, but if you are interested...he could turn around a drawing in one week and have it shipped a few days following..granting you are happy with what you see...he does make adjustments for clients. We only sell through Etsy for seller and buyer protection purposes.
An 8X10 of one subject (like above) head and shoulders...is $45. This is the same price that I have seen many selling Computer/Digital "sketches" of photos. Those are not handmade and are done by a computer. These are hand drawn pieces of original art and take many hours to complete.
Never too late! :-) Have a great day!


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