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Mariners Expected To Pursue More Rotation Help After Lockout
By Anthony Franco | December 14, 2021 at 7:31pm CDT
The Mariners have made one of the biggest rotation pickups of the offseason already, signing Robbie Ray to a five-year, $115MM guarantee shortly before the lockout. Even after landing the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, Seattle is expected to pursue additional rotation help whenever the transactions freeze is lifted, writes Corey Brock of the Athletic.
The group behind Ray already looks pretty solid. Chris Flexen had a nice 2021 campaign in his return from a stint in South Korea. Marco Gonzales had some uncharacteristic home run struggles this past season, but he's a reliable mid-rotation arm. Logan Gilbert posted a 4.68 ERA as a rookie, but his peripherals were more impressive and he's one of the most highly-regarded young arms around the league.
A top four of Ray, Flexen, Gonzales and Gilbert is a solid start, and it seems there's only one season-opening spot left up for grabs. While the Mariners ran a six-man rotation at points last season, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto suggested earlier this offseason that's not the plan in 2022. Dipoto noted that last season's six-man starting staff was primarily a function of the club's concern about a drastic pitcher workload spike on the heels of a 60-game schedule in 2020. "Now that we are a full season removed from the truncated 2020 season, we feel the five-man rotation is a perfectly reasonable way to go," Dipoto said (via Brock).
Seattle has a few in-house options for the final spot, albeit none with a whole lot of certainty. Justin Dunn and Justus Sheffield were each well-regarded prospects coming up, but they've been up-and-down as big leaguers. Dunn had a 3.75 ERA over 11 starts last season, but neither he nor Sheffield had especially promising peripherals. Nick Margevicius remains on the 40-man roster, but he missed most of last season after being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.
Each of Dunn, Sheffield or Margevicius could conceivably hold down a rotation role until one of the Mariners' top young arms is ready for a call-up. Matt Brash was selected to the active roster during the final week of the regular season, but he didn't see any major league action. Both Brash and fellow top prospect George Kirby topped out at Double-A in 2021, so it's possible both righties are in line for a bit of Triple-A time to start next season. That's also true of southpaw Brandon Williamson, a well-regarded young arm himself who has posted monster strikeout numbers in the minors.
Given the volume of near-MLB options already in the organization, it's arguable that starting pitching needn't really be a priority for Seattle. Yet the AL West is seemingly shaping up to be a competitive race, and the Mariners may not be content relying on a breakout from one of Sheffield or Dunn or on immediate success from their top prospects. Acquiring another starter could also kick Sheffield and/or Dunn to the bullpen and give the club some extra depth in the event of injuries that typically affect pitching staffs around the league.
Brock suggests the Mariners could look into either free agency or trade in pursuit of another hurler. The top of the free agent rotation market has already mostly come off the board. Aside from Carlos Rodón and Clayton Kershaw, most of the remaining free agent starters are back-end types. It's possible Seattle targets a lower-cost veteran stabilizer — speculatively speaking, a reunion with midseason trade acquisition Tyler Anderson could be under consideration — but the trade market presents a broader array of higher-impact options.
Reds' hurlers Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle and Sonny Gray have been the subject of trade rumors over the offseason, with Gray seemingly most likely to wind up on the move among that trio. The division-rival A's could make any of Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt and/or Sean Manaea available. The Marlins are reportedly willing to trade from their surplus of quality young arms. Landing a pitcher of Castillo's or Mahle's caliber and remaining club control would likely require surrendering a top prospect, something Dipoto has already suggested Seattle's not willing to do. Acquiring a rental like Bassitt or Manaea likely wouldn't require surrendering that kind of young talent, though.
Even after signing Ray, the Mariners' payroll outlook is fairly clear. Jason Martinez of Roster Resource estimates Seattle's 2022 player commitments at just under $87MM, including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players. That's well shy of the club's franchise-record outlays in the $155MM range (via Cot's Baseball Contracts). Dipoto and his staff should have plenty of leeway to pursue multiple upgrades whenever the offseason resumes. In addition to the desire to bolster the rotation, the Mariners are on the hunt for another infielder, a search that has already seen them tied to players like Trevor Story and Kris Bryant.
Latest On Mariners' Infield Targets
By Steve Adams and Anthony Franco | December 13, 2021 at 7:58pm CDT
The Mariners' desire to add a bat has been no secret, with the team linked thus far in the offseason to the likes of Kris Bryant, Seiya Suzuki, Trevor Story and the since-signed Javier Báez (Tigers) and Marcus Semien (Rangers). Though Seattle has already acquired left-handed-hitting infielder/outfielder Adam Frazier in a deal with the Padres, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto figures to come out of the lockout intent on further deepening his lineup.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman indicated recently on his Big Time Baseball podcast that Seattle indeed made an offer to Story prior to the lockout — presumably with the idea that Story would move off of shortstop in deference to incumbent J.P. Crawford. Dipoto plainly stated earlier in the winter that the organization's plan was to keep Crawford at that position, and reports since that time suggested the team's interest in Story would likely be predicated on a move to second base.
In his latest mailbag column Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times expands on some of the Mariners' free-agent targets, reporting that the team never had a one-on-one meeting with Semien — seemingly due to a lack of interest on Semien's end. Regarding the potential of an infielder changing positions to come to Seattle, he further notes that Crawford himself has never expressed that he's unwilling to change positions, but the Mariners aren't keen on moving a player they believe to be a high-end defender at a time when he's making strides offensively.
Regarding Story, a move to the keystone might be preferable even independent of Crawford's presence at shortstop. Divish hears from some scouts who suggest Story's arm might play better at second base than it does at shortstop long-term. The former Rockie is coming off a season in which he ranked fourth among shortstops with 11 throwing errors, his fourth straight season ranking among the top ten at the position in that category.
Story's strong durability and range paradoxically contribute to those error marks — a player can only commit a throwing error on balls he's able to field in the first place — but inconsistency with his arm likely played into mixed reviews from public defensive metrics. While Defensive Runs Saved has continually pegged Story as a plus gloveman over the years, Statcast's Outs Above Average tabbed him at six plays below par at shortstop in 2021.
While Story has never played an inning outside of shortstop as a big leaguer, it's generally expected he'd acclimate well to second base if needed. That's a less strenuous position on the defensive spectrum, and one need look no further than the aforementioned Semien (who won a Gold Glove at second base with the Blue Jays this past season) as an example of a player successfully bouncing from the left side of the diamond to the right. If the M's were to land Story, his pairing with Crawford would make for one of the stronger all-around middle infields in the game.
After acquiring Frazier, the Mariners arguably don't need another infielder. Yet adding a player like Story or Bryant would raise the team's overall offensive ability while freeing up Frazier and/or Abraham Toro to assume a multi-positional role. That'd give manager Scott Servais far more with which to work than he had in 2021, when Seattle hitters combined for an underwhelming .226/.303/.386 slash line (pitchers excluded). Even after accounting for the club's pitcher-friendly home ballpark, that offensive output ranked just 21st among the league's 30 teams by measure of wRC+.
Marcus Semien Seattle Mariners Trevor Story
Andrew Romine Announces Retirement
By TC Zencka | December 11, 2021 at 11:35am CDT
Andrew Romine has announced his retirement from baseball with a post on Instagram.
Romine was a fifth round pick out of Arizona State University by the Angels back in 2007. The 34-year-old infielder played 11 years in the Majors, appearing in 609 big league games for the Angels, Tigers, Mariners, Rangers, and Cubs. His most prolific period came in Detroit, where he was a regular from 2014 to 2017.
Romine wasn't exactly a thunderbolt at the plate, but he was a capable defender and a plus on the base paths. Defensively, Romine can claim the rare distinction of having literally done it all. He appeared in at least one game at all nine defensive positions, though he was primarily an infielder. He took the mound eight times, and for one third of an inning back in 2017, he even suited up behind the plate for the Tigers.
This past season, Andrew appeared in 26 games, slashing .183/.234/.267 in 64 plate appearances with the Cubs. Never known as a slugger, Romine put his stamp on the season back on August 6th, hitting a 3-run, game-tying home run off Craig Kimbrel in the bottom of the ninth inning. Though the Cubs ultimately lost that game, it was just Kimbrel's third appearance on the south side and the beginning of a difficult half season with the White Sox. It was just Romine's 11th career home run across a total 1,391 career plate appearances.
For Romine, the blast was a thrilling moment in an eventful final season in the bigs. Romine got to play alongside his younger brother, Austin Romine, in Chicago. The brothers played alongside one another for the first time in their professional lives.
The MLBTR staff would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Andrew for a successful pro career and wish him the best of luck in whatever comes next.
Andrew Romine Chicago Cubs Detroit Tigers Los Angeles Angels Retirement Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers
Mariners Interested In Trevor Story
By James Hicks | December 1, 2021 at 7:02pm CDT
Per Robert Murray of Fansided, the Mariners have expressed interest in free agent shortstop Trevor Story. This comes in addition to earlier reports that Kris Bryant had also drawn their attention. Evidently, their recent acquisitions of second baseman Adam Frazier (from the Padres) and 2021 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (who they gave a five-year, $115MM deal) hasn't slaked Seattle's interest in acquiring a big-ticket bat to anchor a lineup set to lose longtime third baseman Kyle Seager.
The M's had previously been linked to Story, though Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times suggested a few weeks ago they'd have preferred to utilize him as a second baseman (where he'd have paired with incumbent shortstop J.P. Crawford, one of a small handful of shortstop with defensive chops that compare to Story's) in an effort to keep his throwing arm healthy. With the arrival of Frazier, this option is presumably off the table, though it's possible that the Mariners could also ask him to play third. Buster Olney of ESPN reported last night that he'd also heard buzz regarding Seattle hoping to sign a third baseman, listing Story, Bryant, and Carlos Correa (another stellar defender who'd have to move off short) as possibilities.
With a lockout almost certainly only a few hours away, it's looking increasingly likely that Story will have to wait until the labor dispute is resolved before signing, though that would hardly rule the Mariners out. They headed into the offseason with only $14.65MM in guaranteed 2022 contracts on the books (a number expected to reach only about $40MM after accounting for arbitration salaries) and a young squad that had playoff aspirations headed into the season's final week. Though the signing of Ray obviously sends their payroll number northward, they should have room for at least one more major signing — and quite possibly more.
Indeed, with money to spend and a talented squad, the future is likely bright in Seattle. Beyond Seager and starter Yusei Kikuchi, the Mariners will return all of their major contributors from 2021. They should also be able to count on a greater contribution from 2020 Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis — who was limited to 36 games after a deep bone bruise suffered in Spring Training held him out for the season's first month and a meniscus tear ended his season a bit over a month later — and will look forward to the graduation of several members of their stacked farm system (No. 2 in the bigs, per MLB Pipeline), including outfielder Julio Rodriguez (behind only Adley Rutschman in MLB Pipeline's Top 100).
Though he'll fall well short of the $325MM commitment the Rangers gave to Corey Seager, Story would still cost the Mariners a pretty penny. MLBTR predicts he'll get a six-year deal with a $126MM guarantee, which would make him and Ray the Mariners' highest-paid players on an annual basis by more than $15MM each.
As with any player who's spent his career at Coors Field, Story's home/road splits are an essential evaluative caveat. His career OPS at Coors Field (.972) dwarfs his OPS on the road (.752). Story's park-adjusted OPS+ numbers — 103 in 2021, 112 for his career — suggest a strong hitter, but they don't quite match a player with a career line of .272/.340/.523. He's also entering his age-29 season and coming off an elbow injury that cut into his power numbers in 2021, so decline is likely to be a serious concern to any team considering handing Story a long-term deal.
Seattle Mariners Trevor Story
Mariners Extend Andres Munoz
By Anthony Franco | December 1, 2021 at 10:44am CDT
TODAY: The Mariners officially announced Munoz's extension.
NOVEMBER 30: The Mariners are finalizing agreement on a four-year extension with reliever Andrés Muñoz that guarantees at least $7.5MM, report Daniel Kramer and Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (Twitter link). The deal contains three club options, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com (on Twitter).
Muñoz, a client of Hector Gomez, had been controllable via arbitration through 2025. The deal buys out his final pre-arb season in 2022, as well as all three arb years. The Mariners extend their window of control by three seasons via the club options.
It's a fascinating agreement, as Muñoz has made exactly one appearance in a Seattle uniform. He recorded two outs during the M's season finale against the Angels, his first big league work since his time with the Padres in 2019. Those two seasons mark the entirety of Muñoz's big league career, as he has just 23 2/3 innings of 3.80 ERA ball under his belt at the highest level.
That limited track record is on account of both youth and injury. The Mexico native is still just 22 years old (23 in January), having reached the big leagues at age-20. He blew out his elbow in Spring Training with San Diego in 2020, requiring a Tommy John procedure. While he was rehabbing, Seattle acquired him as part of the seven-player Austin Nola deal. He spent the next year recovering under the eyes of Mariners' medical personnel before returning to health in time for the season's final game.
That lack of track record makes Muñoz a rather atypical extension candidate, but it's also easy to understand why the Seattle front office jumped at the opportunity to lock in some eminently affordable rates over the coming seasons. Muñoz possesses electric stuff, including one of the game's hardest fastballs. He averaged triple digits on the pitch during his 2019 rookie campaign. Upon his return from injury, that average heater had "dipped" to 99.6 MPH. Were Muñoz to emerge as a potential closer or even simply a high-leverage relief arm, he'd stand to earn far greater than a cumulative $7.5MM through arbitration. And that's before considering the most appealing part of the deal from a team perspective — the opportunity to extend their window of control an additional three seasons.
From Muñoz's perspective, the deal affords him the opportunity for up-front financial security. It's possible he'll wind up underpaid, if he lives up to his immense upside. Yet it's difficult to fault a player his age for locking in this kind of money, particularly given that he's yet to establish himself within a big league bullpen. Even independent of injury concerns, Muñoz comes with questions about his strike-throwing ability. He routinely walked upwards of 11% of opponents in the minors until 2019, and there's a chance he never develops adequate command to match his power arsenal.
While the team can shoulder that kind of risk with relatively minor cost, Muñoz struggling early in his career could have had a significant impact on his earnings. He'll forfeit a fair bit of ceiling in order to avoid that downside. All told, it's a fascinating gambit for Seattle — one that, while unconventional, has the opportunity to pay off handsomely if Muñoz emerges as a late-game weapon.
Andres Munoz Seattle Mariners Transactions
Mariners Sign Robbie Ray
By Steve Adams | November 30, 2021 at 11:23pm CDT
The Mariners announced their agreement with reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, as first reported by Michael Mayer of MetsMerized (Twitter link). It's a five-year deal worth $115MM and an opt-out after the third season, reports ESPN's Jeff Passan (via Twitter). Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that the contract includes a full no-trade clause in the first two seasons and a trade assignment bonus if he's moved thereafter. Ray is represented by VC Sports Group.
Ray, 30, has long been a premier strikeout arm with command issues, which culminated in a 2020 season that saw him traded from Arizona to Toronto in what amounted to a salary dump. While the lefty didn't immediately turn things around, the Jays jumped to re-sign him for a year and $8MM right out of the gate in the 2020-21 offseason, clearly believing they could help the lefty find another gear.
Even the Toronto front office's best-case scenario might not have mirrored the 2021 breakout enjoyed by Ray, who was near-unanimously named AL Cy Young (29 of 30 first-place votes). Ray not only restored his command to prior levels but took it to new heights, walking a career-low 6.7% of his opponents. Ray ramped up the usage of his four-seamer at the expensive of his curveball, largely favoring a two-pitch mix that leaned heavily on his plus slider's ability to perplex opponents.
The results were obviously outstanding, as Ray compiled an AL-best 2.84 ERA and also paced the American League in innings pitched (193 1/3), total strikeouts (248) and ERA+ (154). Among pitchers with at least 100 innings, Ray's overall 32.1% strikeout rate trailed only Corbin Burnes, Carlos Rodon, Max Scherzer, Freddy Peralta and Gerrit Cole. His 15.5% swinging-strike rate ranked third among the 129 hurlers who tossed 100-plus frames.
Ray was still prone to the long ball, evidenced by an unsightly 1.54 HR/9 mark, but his ability to keep runners off the basepaths led to nearly 70 percent of those long balls coming with the bases empty. It's fair to wonder how much concern over that penchant might have impacted his market and kept him from reaching a sixth guaranteed year, but one would also imagine that a move to Seattle and a move out of the generally hitter-friendly AL East will only help to lower that mark.
With Ray departing the Blue Jays, it's hard to ignore the striking similarity between his contract and the $110MM guaranteed by his former team to another free-agent starter: righty Kevin Gausman. Perhaps the Jays weren't keen on including an opt-out in the deal, or perhaps they just generally prefer Gausman to Ray when all is said and done. Toronto did pursue Gausman both in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 offseasons, so he's clearly been of interest to GM Ross Atkins & Co. for quite some time.
In signing Ray, who rejected a qualifying offer in Toronto, the Mariners will surrender their third-highest selection in the 2022 draft. Toronto, meanwhile, will pick up a compensatory pick at the end of the first round by virtue of the fact that Ray signed for more than $50MM in guaranteed money.
With the Mariners, Ray will head up a rotation that also includes lefty Marco Gonzales, righty Chris Flexen and righty Logan Gilbert. Gonzales has long been a steady and durable source of above-average innings, while Flexen proved to be a savvy KBO reclamation project for president of baseball ops Jerry Dipoto and his staff this past offseason. Gilbert, meanwhile, is a former first-round pick and top-end pitching prospect who struggled in the middle of the 2021 season but bookended those struggles with a strong start and strong finish to the season.
Other options in the Seattle rotation currently include Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn, though the Mariners are deep in tantalizing pitching prospects after a protracted rebuilding effort. Top prospects George Kirby, Matt Brash and Emerson Hancock are all progressing through the system, with Brash and Kirby in particular not far from big league readiness. Lefty Brandon Williamson, too, could emerge as an option before long.
Of course, it's fair to wonder with all that pitching depth and with a good bit of outfield depth, if the Mariners might not choose to trade for another established rotation piece. Ray figures to be the big-ticket free agent addition on the pitching side — not that they couldn't simply sign another notable arm — but there's a bevy of quality arms rumored to be available in trade. Sean Manaea, Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle and Luis Castillo have all had their names kicked about the rumor circuit already, and the Marlins are reportedly open to dealing from their pitching depth as well. Whether it's a trade or a free agent, another addition to the starting staff to complement the Mariners' new ace seems likely at some point.
For the time being, it's possible Seattle will pivot to acquire the bat Dipoto has already suggested he hopes to sign. Dipoto name-checked both Marcus Semien (now with the Rangers) and Javier Baez earlier this winter in voicing a desire to add some "adaptable" free agents, and the Mariners have also been tied to Kris Bryant and Chris Taylor, among others.
From a payroll vantage point, there's no reason the Mariners shouldn't be able to add a high-end bat and another rotation addition piece. Even after adding Ray, the Mariners are still projected by Roster Resource's Jason Martinez to field a payroll of about $88MM (assuming an even distribution of his $23MM annual value). For a Mariners club that has taken payroll north of $150MM in the past, there's plenty of space to add to pile. Ray currently stands as the largest free-agent addition the Mariners have made under Dipoto, but if he wants to spend more aggressively, the means to do should be present.
After all, the Mariners are staring down a two-decade playoff drought, and now more than ever might be the time for Seattle to push toward ending that dry spell. The Mariners were surprisingly in contention for a Wild Card berth right up until the final weekend of the offseason, and they'll have even more products of their ballyhooed farm system graduating to the Majors in 2022 — headlined by outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Beyond that, the A's are on the verge of a tear-down that will see them trade several key players, while the Astros could lose Carlos Correa in free agency. The Rangers are spending aggressively to help put a contender back on the field in the second season of their newly constructed stadium but may be a year or two from truly competing.
In many ways, the time for the Mariners to throttle ahead is now, and the signing of Ray serves as a firm indicator that the front office feels similarly. Armed with an elite farm system and tens of millions of dollars in payroll space, Seattle appears poised for an aggressive winter where Ray is just one of several high-end additions.
Photo courtesy of Imagn/USA Today Sports.
Newsstand Robbie Ray Seattle Mariners Transactions
Tender Deadline Signings: 11/30/21
By Steve Adams and Anthony Franco | November 30, 2021 at 8:48pm CDT
With the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players looming tonight at 8pm ET — the MLBPA and MLB jointly agreed to move the deadline up a couple days due to the looming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement — we'll likely see a slew of arbitration-eligible players signing one-year deals.
It's commonplace for a large batch of players to sign deals in the hours leading up to the tender deadline. "Pre-tender" deals of this nature often fall shy of projections due to the fact that teams use the looming threat of a non-tender to enhance their leverage. Arbitration contracts at this juncture are often take-it-or-leave-it propositions, with the "leave it" end of that arrangement resulting in the player being cut loose. Given the widely expected lockout, there could be more incentive than usual for borderline non-tender candidates to take those offers rather than being cast out into free agency just hours before a transaction freeze is implemented.
As a reminder, arbitration contracts are not fully guaranteed. In a typical year, a team can cut a player on an arb contract at any point before the halfway point in Spring Training and only be responsible for 30 days' termination pay (about one-sixth of the contract). Releasing a player in the second half of Spring Training bumps the termination pay to 45 days of his prorated salary.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected salaries for each team's arbitration-eligible players last month, although for many of the players listed below, this isn't so much avoiding arbitration as it is avoiding a non-tender. Here's a look at today's agreements…
The Yankees have agreed to deals with infielder Gio Urshela and right-hander Domingo German, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter links). Urshela will make $6.55MM, while German has agreed to a $1.75MM deal. Urshela has two seasons of control remaining; German is controllable for three years. Urshela is coming off a .267/.301/.419 showing while playing third base and shortstop. German tossed 98 1/3 innings of 4.58 ERA ball.
The Twins have signed three arbitration-eligible pitchers, per reports from Feinsand and Darren Wolfson of SKOR North (on Twitter). Right-hander Jharel Cotton signed for $700K, reliever Caleb Thielbar lands $1.3MM and reliever Tyler Duffey signs for $3.8MM. Thielbar and Duffey were both productive members of the Minnesota relief corps in 2021. Cotton was recently claimed off waivers from the Rangers.
The Giants have agreed to terms with outfielder Austin Slater on a $1.85MM deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (Twitter link). The 28-year-old (29 next month) appeared at all three spots on the grass while hitting .241/.320/.423 over 306 plate appearances in 2021.
Reliever Emilio Pagan and the Padres have agreed on a $2.3MM deal, reports Rosenthal (on Twitter). The 30-year-old worked 63 1/3 innings of 4.83 ERA/3.93 SIERA ball this past season.
The Diamondbacks agreed to a $2MM deal with left-hander Caleb Smith, reports Zach Buchanan of the Athletic (via Twitter). The 30-year-old posted a 4.83 ERA/4.68 SIERA across 113 2/3 innings in a swing capacity in 2021.
Earlier Deals
First baseman Rowdy Tellez agreed to a $1.94MM deal with the Brewers, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Acquired in a midseason trade with Toronto, Tellez impressed with a .272/.333/.481 batting line and seven homers in 174 plate appearances. He's controlled through 2024.
The Yankees and lefty Lucas Luetge agreed to a $905K salary for the 2022 season, per Rosenthal. The 34-year-old returned to the Majors for the first time since 2015 and shined with a 2.74 ERA in 72 1/3 innings of relief. New York can control him through the 2024 season.
The Orioles signed lefty Paul Fry to an $850K deal for the 2022 season, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Fry looked like he'd be an in-demand trade candidate well into the summer, but the O's hung onto him and watched his results crumble after the deadline passed. He finished with a 6.08 ERA on the season but pitched effectively through July. Between thats strong start, a big 28% strikeout rate and an affordable salary, it's only sensible for Baltimore to hang onto him.
Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman agreed to terms with the team on a 2022 contract, tweets Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He'll be paid $1.95MM, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic adds. A Gold Glove finalist in 2021, Newman hit just .226/.265/.309 but was one of the best defensive players at any position. He's controlled another three seasons.
The Rays and Ji-Man Choi agreed to a $3.2MM salary for the 2022 campaign, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 30-year-old swatted 11 homers in 305 plate appearances and offset a low batting average with a huge 14.8% walk rate. Overall, Choi hit .229/.348/.411. He's controllable through 2023.
The Rockies agreed to a one-year, $1.025MM deal with righty Tyler Kinley, tweets Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The 30-year-old has a 4.88 ERA in 94 innings over the past two seasons, including a 4.73 mark in 70 1/3 frames this past season. Kinley's big swinging-strike rates and 96 mph fastball velocity suggest he could improve upon this year's 23.1% strikeout rate.
The Orioles are in agreement on a $1.5MM deal with starter Jorge Lopez. The 28-year-old is coming off a tough showing, having worked to a 6.07 ERA over 121 2/3 innings. Lopez induced a fair amount of ground-balls and ate up plenty of innings, though, and he'll now get another chance to compete for a spot in a wide-open Baltimore rotation. He remains controllable through 2024.
The Mariners have agreed on a $1.025MM deal with reliever Casey Sadler, per Murray. The 31-year-old led all pitchers (minimum 40 innings) with a 0.67 ERA over 40 1/3 frames this past season. Along the way, he racked up ground-balls on a massive 62.9% of balls in play against him. He's controllable through 2024.
The Brewers announced they've come to terms with reliever Jandel Gustave. The hard-throwing righty worked 18 1/3 innings of 3.44 ERA/4.35 SIERA ball across 14 appearances this past season. He remains controllable through 2024. Gustave's deal is a split contract that pays him $675K while he's in the majors, according to Robert Murray of FanSided (on Twitter).
The Diamondbacks have agreed to a $1.25MM deal with reliever Noe Ramirez, reports Zach Buchanan of the Athletic (Twitter link). The 31-year-old (32 next month) is entering his penultimate season of club control. The vertex righty had a quietly solid season in the desert, working to an even 3.00 ERA across 36 innings, albeit with less impressive strikeout and walk numbers.
The Padres have come to terms with relievers Austin Adams and Tim Hill, reports Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (Twitter link). Adams will make $925K; Hill is in line for a $1.325MM salary. Both pitchers have an additional two seasons of arbitration control remaining. Adams overcame a staggering amount of hits-by-pitch and walks to post a 4.10 ERA over 52 2/3 innings, striking out 31.5% of opponents. Hill racked up grounders at a 60.6% clip en route to a 3.62 ERA.
The Giants have reached a $1.725MM deal with reliever Jarlin Garcia, per Rosenthal. The southpaw pitched to a sterling 2.62 ERA over 68 2/3 frames in 2021 with solid strikeout and walk numbers. He's controllable through 2023.
The A's and righty Deolis Guerra agreed to a one-year deal worth $815K, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Guerra, 32, posted a 4.11 ERA in a career-high 65 2/3 innings with the A's in 2021. He'll give them an affordable arm for the coming season but doesn't come with a lengthy track record of big league success.
The Rockies and Daniel Bard came to terms on a $4.4MM salary for the 2022 campaign, tweets Rosenthal. Bard's Rockies resurgence after seven years away from the Majors was a remarkable story. The team opted not to trade him at the deadline, and he struggled immensely with a 6.65 ERA thereafter (ballooning his season-long ERA to 5.21). The Rockies view Bard as an important piece in 2022, however, evidenced both by the lack of trade and the $4.4MM commitment despite a shaky finish.
Right-hander Ryan Brasier agreed to a $1.4MM salary with the Red Sox for the upcoming season, tweets Robert Murray of FanSided. The 2021 season was a nightmare for Brasier, who suffered a broken finger in Spring Training, strained a calf muscle while rehabbing that injury and then was hospitalized after being struck in the head by a comeback liner while working back from the calf issue. The 34-year-old made it back to the mound in September and pitched to a 1.50 ERA in 12 frames.
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.15MM, tweets Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The 27-year-old was a bright spot in the 2020 Baltimore lineup but saw his OBP dip back under .300 in a down year at the plate in 2021. Santander still popped 18 homers and 24 doubles. He's controllable for another three years, and the O's will hope for a rebound from this year's .241/.286/.433 slash.
The Braves signed outfielder Guillermo Heredia to a one-year deal worth $1MM, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Heredia, 32 in January, played a larger role than expected in 2021 given the general tumult in the Atlanta outfield. His .220/.311/.354 batting line isn't much to look at, but he was a solid hand against lefties (.258/.330/.427) and is a capable defender at all three outfield slots.
The Brewers announced that infielder/outfielder Jace Peterson signed a one-year contract. The 31-year-old was arbitration-eligible for the final time after hitting .247/.348/.368 through 302 plate appearances. Peterson split his time between second base, third base, first base and the outfield with Milwaukee in 2021, and that versatility likely tickets him for a utility role again in 2022.
Phillies reliever Seranthony Dominguez signed a one-year deal worth $725K today, tweets Rosenthal. That represents a rare pay cut in arbitration — albeit only by $3,000 — which is understandable after Dominguez missed nearly the entire season while recovering from 2020 Tommy John surgery. He made it back to the mound for one inning in the season's final game, and Dominguez should be counted on to play a large role in the relief corps next season. In 83 2/3 MLB innings, Dominguez has a 3.23 ERA and a huge 30.3% strikeout rate against a 9.9% walk rate. He saved 16 games for the Phils as a rookie in 2018.
Right-hander John Brebbia and the Giants agreed to a one-year deal worth $837,500, Rosenthal tweets. The 31-year-old signed an $800K deal with San Francisco last winter after being non-tendered by St. Louis on the heels of Tommy John surgery. Brebbia returned to throw 18 1/3 innings in 2021 but was tattooed for a 5.89 ERA in that brief time. That said, his 22-to-4 K/BB ratio was excellent, and Brebbia held a 3.14 ERA and 3.39 FIP through 175 career innings in three seasons with the Cards. Given that track record and strong K-BB%, it's not surprising that the Giants would want to take another look.
Zach Buchanan of The Athletic tweets that the Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with reliever J.B. Wendelken, signing him to a one-year deal worth $835K. The 28-year-old Wendelken was somewhat surprisingly designated for assignment in Oakland this summer despite a solid track record, and the D-backs pounced on him with the top waiver priority in the game. Wendelken posted a 4.33 ERA in 43 2/3 innings this season but carries a more impressive 3.05 ERA and 3.42 FIP with a 24% strikeout rate and 9.5% walk rate over his past 118 big league frames.
Anthony Santander Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Austin Adams Austin Slater Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Caleb Thielbar Casey Sadler Colorado Rockies Daniel Bard Deolis Guerra Domingo German Emilio Pagan Giovanny Urshela Guillermo Heredia J.B. Wendelken Jace Peterson Jandel Gustave Jarlin Garcia Jharel Cotton Ji-Man Choi John Brebbia Jorge Lopez Kevin Newman Lucas Luetge Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins New York Yankees Noe Ramirez Oakland Athletics Paul Fry Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Rowdy Tellez Ryan Brasier San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners Seranthony Dominguez Tampa Bay Rays Tim Hill Transactions Tyler Duffey Tyler Kinley
Chris Taylor Drawing Widespread Interest
By Darragh McDonald | November 30, 2021 at 8:52am CDT
Super utility player Chris Taylor is drawing interest from various teams and could sign in the coming days, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi (Twitter links). He lists the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Mariners, Angels and Nationals as teams that have been in recent contact with Taylor's camp. The current CBA expires at 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, December 1, leading to a frenzy of transactions in recent days as teams are trying to tick items of their to-do lists before the lockout and transaction freeze that are expected to follow. Morosi says that Taylor could sign by Wednesday, potentially getting in just under the wire.
The fact that various teams are interested in Taylor's services is no surprise, given his extreme defensive versatility. Over his career, Taylor has spent time at every position on the diamond except for catcher, pitcher and first base. In 2021, he appeared in at least eight games at six different positions, and more than 23 games at four different spots. He's also been an above-average contributor on the offensive side of the game for five consecutive seasons now, by measure of wRC+. Over those five years, he has hit 78 home runs, stolen 50 bases and hit .265/.343/.461 for a wRC+ of 116. The combination of those factors makes it hard to imagine a team that wouldn't be upgraded by adding Taylor to supplant the least-productive non-catcher in their lineup and slotting him into whatever position they happen to play.
Taking all this under consideration, as well as the fact that Taylor rejected a qualifying offer from the Dodgers, MLBTR predicted Taylor could earn himself a contract of four years and $64MM, AAV of $16MM. However, the free agent market has been quite robust so far, with the majority of players outearning their projections as teams seem to be rushing to get business done before this week's expected lockout and subsequent transaction freeze. With that in mind, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Taylor, 31, surpass that estimate, either in length or dollars.
The Dodgers are a fairly logical suitor, given that they've been utilizing Taylor's skills for the past five-plus seasons. Although they still have one more season of Trea Turner, whom they acquired at the trade deadline, they've also just seen Corey Seager sign on with the Texas Rangers. At the moment, Gavin Lux would probably be pencilled in as the second baseman, but he also has positional versatility and could be bumped into a bench/utility role. In the outfield, Mookie Betts and AJ Pollock should have two spots accounted for, with Cody Bellinger likely taking up a third. But after Bellinger's miserable 2021 campaign, adding Taylor could provide some insurance in case he can't bounce back to his MVP-winning form from a couple years ago.
Just like the Dodgers, the Blue Jays have also just watched one of their best players depart for Texas, as Marcus Semien is now a Ranger as well. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have two infield spots spoken for, with Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Breyvic Valera on hand as options for second or third base. Taylor could potentially take Semien's spot and bump everyone else down on the depth chart.
The Mariners have already brought Adam Frazier into their infield mix this week, but seem determined to add more. Morosi lists Taylor, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez as infielders they are considering. Baez has since reportedly signed with the Tigers, but Taylor and Bryant both make sense as potential adds at third base, with Abraham Toro then platooning with Frazier at second. Taylor also started his career in Seattle before moving to the Dodgers, which would make for a nice homecoming story. The club has been aggressive in trying to build on a strong 2021 campaign, having also added Robbie Ray in recent days.
Just like Seattle, their division rivals in Anaheim have also been active in gearing up for 2022. They've added pitchers Noah Syndergaard, Michael Lorenzen and Aaron Loup, as well as acquiring infielder Tyler Wade from the Yankees. Taylor would be an upgrade over Wade or David Fletcher for the middle infield, as well as providing insurance for an outfield with a few unproven options, as youngsters Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell have shown promise but haven't locked down jobs just yet.
The Nationals winning the bidding would be a surprise, given that they underwent a huge fire sale at the trade deadline and have been fairly inactive so far this offseason. But they seem determined to avoid a lengthy rebuild and will be aiming to return to contention while they still have the elite production of Juan Soto, whom they control for three more seasons. Other than Soto and Josh Bell, there's almost no certainty in the team's lineup, making it very easy for Taylor to be slotted in.
There's one team that's apparently not in the mix, however, as Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that the Red Sox don't seem to be heavily involved.
Boston Red Sox Chris Taylor Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Seattle Mariners Toronto Blue Jays Washington Nationals
AL West Notes: Ray, Gray, Angels, Bryant, Mariners, Athletics
By Darragh McDonald | November 28, 2021 at 2:08pm CDT
Even after adding Noah Syndergaard, the Angels are still looking to further supplement their pitching staff. In recent days, they've been connected in rumors to Steven Matz, before he became a Cardinal, as well as Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer and Marcus Stroman. But Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes that Robbie Ray "remains atop their wish list."
As Rosenthal notes, the Angels' budget is a big unanswered question surrounding all of this. He lists their 2022 payroll as around $157MM. Adding someone like Ray would likely add more than $25MM to that total. (MLBTR predicted Ray would get a contract of $130MM over five years, an average annual value of $26MM.) That alone would put the Angels above their 2021 opening day payroll of $182MM, per Cot's Baseball Contracts, with still other roster issues to address. A budget increase would likely be required in order to facilitate a plan involving a contract of that size.
Another question is whether the Angels will deviate from their longstanding avoidance of committing to free agent starting pitchers. As recently explored by MLBTR's Steve Adams, the Angels haven't given a starting pitcher a contract longer than a single year since signing Joe Blanton way back in 2012. Ray, who recently turned 30 and won the AL Cy Young Award, would certainly require the Angels to wade into territory they haven't been in for quite some time.
Another potential target is Jon Gray, as Rosenthal notes the Angels "had interest in Gray at the deadline." Signing Gray would likely add less to the 2022 payroll than Ray, but probably still require the club to lay out a multi-year deal. MLBTR predicted Gray to get a contract of $56MM over four years, an AAV of $14MM.
More from the AL West…
Even after yesterday's Adam Frazier trade, the Mariners could still add to their position player mix, with Kris Bryant apparently piquing their interest, per Robert Murray of FanSided. With Kyle Seager now a free agent, Seattle figures to have a new third baseman for the first time in quite a while. Bryant's bat would certainly be welcome in a Seattle lineup that ranked 22nd in runs scored in 2021. Aside from the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Bryant has had a wRC+ of at least 123 in each season of his career. In 2021, he hit 25 home runs and slashed .265/.353/.481, producing 3.6 fWAR in the process. However, Seattle may have to be patient with their interest in Bryant, as Murray relays that he's not expected to sign before the transaction freeze that is reportedly going to be implemented after the CBA expires on Wednesday.
It is widely expected that the expiration of the current CBA on December 1 will lead to a transaction freeze, which has teams and agents scrambling to get business done before then. One thing getting pushed to the backburner is managerial hirings, as Ken Rosenthal reports that teams will still be able to hire managers and coaches during a lockout. (Same link as above.) That means that the two clubs currently without managers, the Mets and Athletics, will likely wait until next week to get serious about searching for new skippers.
Jon Gray Kris Bryant Los Angeles Angels New York Mets Oakland Athletics Robbie Ray Seattle Mariners
Mariners Have Offers Out To Two Free Agents
Timing could be an issue with Baez, as there has been speculation that he would prefer to get his next contract finalized before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on December 1. (Martino is among those who believes Baez will indeed sign prior to that date.) If the gap between Baez and the Mets is too large to overcome in the next few days, that could open the door for one of the other teams known to be interested in the shortstop's services. The Tigers and Red Sox have been linked to Baez, with the Mariners, Rangers, and Yankees somewhat more speculatively attached to Baez via their interest in the shortstop market as a whole.
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said earlier this month that his club had interest in re-signing Tommy Pham, and The Athletic's Dennis Lin writes that the Padres are indeed still considering Pham for their left field vacancy. After subpar performance in his first two years in San Diego, Pham wouldn't be too expensive, which Lin notes is still a consideration for a team trying to manage its payroll under the luxury tax threshold if possible. Today's trade of Adam Frazier to the Mariners cleared some projected salary off the books, and if the Padres do succeed in unloading Wil Myers and/or Eric Hosmer's contracts, that will ease an even more substantial amount of the financial burden from Preller's maneuverings.
Speaking of the Mariners, the Frazier trade represents Seattle's first big strike of the offseason, though the club has been rumored in connection with multiple prominent free agents. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto told MLB.com's Daniel Kramer and other reporters that the Mariners currently offers on the table to two free agents, with Dipoto noting that one of the two players is "notable." Reading between the lines, it would seem as if Dipoto was implying that one of the two offers was a significant multi-year pact, while the other offer may have been a shorter-term, less-expensive deal.
Javier Baez New York Mets Notes San Diego Padres Seattle Mariners Tommy Pham


Promoting the theme of Connections, Culture and Communication, the 2013 Atlantic Health Quality and Patient Safety Learning Exchange (ALE 2013) brought together over 200 healthcare professionals from Atlantic Canada to learn from experts and one another. ALE 2013, an initiative of the Atlantic Health Quality and Patient Safety Collaborative (AHQPSC) in partnership with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, was hosted by the Province of New Brunswick and held in Moncton on May 14 and 15, 2013.
The conference focused on changing culture in organizations, improving communication, and helping people connect with sharing and learning. Dr. Brian Goldman, an emergency physician provided the keynote address, Mea Culpa. Relaying a personal experience that resulted in a medical mistake, Dr. Goldman highlighted how "connections, culture and communication" are the foundation to advancing patient safety. Hugh MacLeod, CEO, Canadian Patient Safety Institute highlighted the way care is delivered and perceptions of good care to challenge old ways and promote new approaches to safer care.
Panel discussions focused on leadership being everyone's responsibility with discussions on citizen engagement to enhance quality and patient safety accountability; reducing falls and injuries from falls through a patient safety culture; and learning and optimism in time of challenge.
One key aspect of the ALE was the opportunity to learn about innovative initiatives underway in Atlantic Canada, through short and snappy six minute presentations. Over the two days, there were 28 rapid fire presentations on improving quality and patient safety. Not only did participants learn what was happening in their own backyard, the format provided the opportunity reach out to one another and network with the presenters.
Patient stories provided poignant and thought-provoking examples that set the tone for each day. Natalie Pece, Raeline McGrath and Tanya Barnett shared their powerful stories and reinforced the importance of involving patients and families in finding new and creative ways to make healthcare safer.
Visit www.saferhealthcarenow.ca or click here to download presentations from the 2013 Atlantic Learning Exchange. The biennial Atlantic Learning Exchange will be hosted by the province of Nova Scotia in 2015.


text:
Celsius Co-Founder and CEO Raises His Year End Target for Bitcoin to $160,000
Michael Lavere
On Monday (June 14), Alex Mashinsky, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of lending platform Celsius Network predicted that Bitcoin's price could reach $160,000 by the end of this year.
Here's some information about Mashinsky from his bio page on the Celsius website:
"Alex is one of the inventors of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) with a foundational patent dating back to 1994 and is now working on MOIP (Money Over Internet Protocol) technology. Over 35 patents have been issued to Alex, relating to exchanges, VOIP protocols, messaging and communication. As a serial entrepreneur and founder of seven New York City-based startups, Alex has raised more than $1 billion and exited over $3 billion… As one of the pioneers of web-based exchanges, Alex authored patents that cover aspects of the Smart Grid, ad exchanges, Twitter, Skype, App Store, Netflix streaming concept and many other popular web companies."
In an interview on June 14, Mashinsky told Michelle Makori, editor-in-chief of Kitco News:
"We may reach all the way to $160,000 this year. I'm sticking to that prediction."
As for El Salvador's move to make Bitcoin legal tender, he said:
"So if we can get a Brazil, if we can get a Nigeria, if we can get countries with large populations to accept this as legal tender… you're going to see a huge explosion in the price because just the adoption of all those users is going to create tremendous new demand."
And with regard to Tesla CEO Elon Mush, he had this to say:
"I call him a [Bitcoin] tourist because anybody who comes from fiat land to crypto land and is coming in here for the wrong reasons and then leaves for the wrong reasons, is a tourist. He does have a very strong following worldwide, but inside the Bitcoin community his influence is waning."
/latest/2021/06/celsius-co-founder-and-ceo-raises-his-year-end-target-for-bitcoin-to-160000/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Drop in adult basketball - all abilities welcome. At the new City Wide Community Center (CWCC).
Drop in adult pickleball at the new City Wide Community Center (CWCC). All abilities welcome as we will have 4 courts going.


text:
Bauchi State Government releases N100 Million to reduce N27 Billion Outstanding Pension Payment.
August 11, 2019 August 28, 2020 PensionNigeria	Bauchi State Pension, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Pension Arrears
Chairman of Bauchi State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Alhaji Habu Gar, has disclosed that the state government is owing retirees N27 billion accumulated gratuities.
He disclosed this in Bauchi while reacting to the release of N100 million by the state government to reduce the backlog of the gratuity.
He said that though the amount released was paltry considering the magnitude of arrears owed, it was still better compared to none release of the funds by previous administrations in the state.
In his words,
"If the previous administrations embarked on such exercise, we would not have been talking about accumulated gratuities.
"I, therefore, urge my members yet to enjoy the gesture, to be patient because gradually, it will reach them.
"I have received over 2,000 phone calls from my members, some commending the government over the gesture, while some were demanding to know their fate.
"I want to tell them that the exercise commenced with retirees who retired in the year 2010 and early 2011.
"Government has promised that it will be a monthly exercise, therefore, I am sure that in no distant time, everyone will be paid."
He also called on the government to adhere to its promise to enable the retirees, most of whom have suffered in the last nine years, enjoy their sweat.
He commended the government for according priority to families of deceased retirees, which according to him, would enable them off-set their rents, school fees and even build houses.
The chairman advised the state government to take steps at ensuring that the exercise was not marred by fraudulent act.
Special Adviser to Gov. Bala Muhammed on Civil Service Matters, Mr Abdon Dalla-Gin, confirmed the amount owed, saying the debt profile was within the region of N28 billion or N29 billion.
← No Need for National Assembly Bills Seeking Autonomy & Charter for various aspects of the Accountancy Profession – 55th ICAN President
Chartered Accountants are Strategically Relevant for a Country's Sustainable Development – ICAN President →
Pensioner Who Returned N1 Million Over Paid Long Outstanding Gratuity, Speaks Out
August 12, 2019 August 28, 2020 PensionNigeria
Imo retirees owed over N60b, Set to Protest
November 4, 2020 November 4, 2020 PensionNigeria
Make Adamawa Pensioners Welfare a Priority, Else.


Introducing the stylish La Boheme strap watch from Cluse, ideal for elegant evening wear. The attractive minimalist design features an ultraslim rose gold plated case, housing a round black dial with matching rose gold tone details for a feminine finish. Complete with interchangeable black leather strap so you can customise your look to suit the occasion.


Who needs a visa to enter Algeria?
All non-Algerians or nationals non-residents in Algeria need to apply for a visa to enter Algeria.
Some nationals are exempted from visa. In order to know if you need a visa to enter Algeria, click the letter corresponding to the initial of your country. If the name of your country is on the displayed list, then you will have to apply for a visa.


Published 04/20/2019 06:20:21 am at 04/20/2019 06:20:21 am in Utilitech Sump Pump Reviews.
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The last time I made a Netflix recommendation post was - can you believe it?! - 8 months ago. I've been quite ill and tired lately, and whenever that happens I seem to start watching a silly amount of Netflix, this time being no exception. And as such, here's five more things I've been watching on Netflix lately!
When I started watching this show, I didn't realise that I had inadvertently started on what is apparently the most talked about show at the moment. I got through this show very quickly - a combination of the fact that I was genuinely enjoying it, and that I kept accidentally reading spoilers so wanted to finish the whole thing before any more of it was ruined for me. I know this show has been receiving some really mixed reactions, but for my part - I actually really liked this show. The show focuses around a girl named Hannah who committed suicide, and sends out 13 tapes explaining the reasons why she had killed herself. A lot of negative reactions about this show seem to be based around the character of Hannah - however, I don't think she's actually supposed to be seen at particularly likeable or rational, and my dislike of her didn't change my enjoyment of the rest of the show. It does have some graphic scenes on it, but I found it to be enjoyable and interesting.
This is a lighthearted show based around a pair of married realtors and their perfectly ordinary lives - until, that is, the wife becomes undead. I wasn't sure on this show based on the first episode as I found the acting to be very strange, however the show did grow on me and has some very funny moments to it. It's a short show so great for filling some gaps when you don't have much time and it doesn't take too much concentration - but it is very enjoyable, has some great lines to it, and Olyphant is a bit of a babe which always helps!
It's not a new show by any means - in fact, the seasons available are pretty darn old - but one that I always enjoy. I was delighted when I found out Netflix was getting some Project Runway episodes as I absolutely adore this show and find it so interesting seeing what people are able to create. I'm not a creative person at all, so I love challenges involving unusual things like going shopping from a party store and yet somehow making an outfit out of it. As mentioned, the seasons available are quite old but I'm hoping some more recent ones will go up at some point as they're good fun to watch.
Again, this is by no means a new show - but I think another one that is fairly new to Netflix. This has been the show that me and my boyfriend have been watching together recently. I don't typically enjoy cooking or kitchen shows but I do enjoy Ramsay and the fact that the USA version is so ridiculously over dramatic makes it great watching. There are three seasons available right now and the only downside to them is that the seasons are soooooo long. Still, an enjoyable background watch!
It's quite unusual that I'll use Netflix for movies, however Me Before You is one that I'll recommend - though find very strange to be doing so! I first watched this on a plane a few months ago and watched it purely because the movie selection was terrible and there wasn't much else available. However, I did actually enjoy it. It's a romance movie, but an enjoyable one. I'm not sure I'd be tempted to read the second book to find out what happens next, but this is still a film I'm surprised to say is worth watching!


You recently stated that there are three main asset classes in which retirees should invest — cash, property and shares. However, you did not mention the fourth asset class — gold and silver. Several money experts believe this last-mentioned asset class is just as important as the other three, especially as the Australian dollar seems to keep depreciating. If things go downhill in the share market, gold and silver are a safe haven and can be sold in small parts, if needed. We would like to hear your thoughts. Would you rather buy gold or silver? Where can we purchase and safely store it?
I am well aware that there are gold aficionados but I take the Warren Buffett view that gold is not a good long-term investment and therefore stay away from it.
When you buy gold, or silver, you are taking a punt that the price will go up — it may or may not.
I much prefer shares, which have a superb track record over the long term.
As the saying goes, "you pays your money and you takes your chances" but if gold is to be your "thing," I suggest you invest in shares in leading gold producers, such as Newcrest Mining or Evolution Mining.
They give you an income and there is no problem with storage or insurance and, being listed shares, they can be redeemed quickly in whole or in part, if you wish.
If you are concerned about hedging against a falling Australian dollar, you could simply invest in international managed funds. All things being equal, their value will rise in Australian dollars, if the Australian dollar depreciates.
Are our fund managers ripping us off by keeping our dividends? Our six monthly and yearly reports make no mention of the dividends they receive and the franking credits that we should be enjoying from the Australian shares in our allocated pension. I have rung a number of managed funds and none of them can give me a straight answer that I can understand.
The franking credits received by a fund are not allocated to an individual investor. They are allocated to the managed fund pool. This is why you won't see an individual amount allocated to yourself.
Keep in mind that, even though you are not given a specific number, the returns should be higher in pension mode, as opposed to an identical investment option in accumulation phases, due to tax-free pension returns and franking credits.
I am a 62 year old single woman still working full time. I intend to gradually reduce my work hours and retire at about 67, when I will be eligible for the pension. My main concern is that I want to pay off my mortgage before I retire. I still owe $180,000 to my bank and pay about $430 in interest each month. I have over $450,000 in super. I salary sacrifice $244 each fortnight into my super. I was thinking of setting up a transition-to-retirement pension, drawing the maximum amount of 10 per cent a year to help me achieve my goal. Is this a worthwhile strategy for me to take and what are the tax implications should I implement it. Alternatively, should I just wait until retirement and pay off my mortgage in full then?
I assume the rate you are paying on your mortgage is about 4.5 per cent. If that is the case, it is reasonable to assume that your super fund will perform at a higher rate than 4.5 per cent.
Therefore, I think the best strategy is to continue salary sacrificing to super, while using any additional surplus resources to pay back the loan as quickly as possible.
Then, hopefully, when you retire, your superannuation will be much higher than it is now and your loan will be lower. This should give you the best of both worlds.
Is the 17 per cent "death duty" payable on inherited assets by non-dependants applicable to bonds, term deposits and cash?
The 17 per cent "death tax" payable on superannuation proceeds paid to a non-dependent is levied on the taxable component of the balance of the member's account. The assets in which the fund invests are not relevant.
Could you advise please at what point does someone who no longer works have to move their superannuation from accumulation to pension mode, and start to withdraw the minimum of 4 per cent a year? I was born in 1955 and may stop working in the 2019-2020 financial year. Also, can you have part of your super in accumulation and part in pension mode, on the basis that accumulation will continue to grow (hopefully), whereas the value in pension I think is not set as something to grow, only be drawn down. Are there rules on what are the percentages might be?
There is no requirement at any age to withdraw money from the accumulation section of your superannuation fund. You only face mandatory drawdowns if you are in pension mode.
It's common for people to have both pension mode and accumulation mode in their super funds.
You can choose the amount you have in each, unless your individual balances are more than $1.6 million. That is now the maximum you can hold in the tax-free pension mode.


text:
"""This file allows the bots to be easily configure and run the tests.

Running this script requires passing --config-path with a path to a config file
of the following structure:
  [data_files]
  passwords_path=<path to a file with passwords>
  [binaries]
  chrome-path=<chrome binary path>
  chromedriver-path=<chrome driver path>
  [run_options]
  write_to_sheet=[false|true]
  tests_in_parrallel=<number of parallel tests>
  # |tests_to_runs| field is optional, if it is absent all tests will be run.
  tests_to_run=<test names to run, comma delimited>
  [output]
  save-path=<file where to save result>
  [sheet_info]
  # This section is required only when write_to_sheet=true
  pkey=full_path
  client_email=email_assigned_by_google_dev_console
  sheet_key=sheet_key_from_sheet_url
"""
from datetime import datetime
import ConfigParser
import sys
import httplib2
import os
import shutil
import subprocess
import tempfile
import time
sheet_libraries_import_error = None
try:
# TODO(vabr) Remove this dependency http://crbug.com/418485#c4.
  from Sheet import Sheet
  from apiclient.discovery import build
  from gdata.gauth import OAuth2TokenFromCredentials
  from gdata.spreadsheet.service import SpreadsheetsService
  from oauth2client.client import SignedJwtAssertionCredentials
  import oauth2client.tools
except ImportError as err:
  sheet_libraries_import_error = err

from environment import Environment
import tests

_CREDENTIAL_SCOPES = "https://spreadsheets.google.com/feeds"

# TODO(dvadym) Change all prints in this file to correspond logging.

# TODO(dvadym) Consider to move this class to separate file.
class SheetWriter(object):

  def __init__(self, config):
    self.write_to_sheet = config.getboolean("run_options", "write_to_sheet")
    if not self.write_to_sheet:
      return
    if sheet_libraries_import_error:
      raise sheet_libraries_import_error
    self.pkey = config.get("sheet_info", "pkey")
    self.client_email = config.get("sheet_info", "client_email")
    self.sheet_key = config.get("sheet_info", "sheet_key")
    _, self.access_token = self._authenticate()
    self.sheet = self._spredsheeet_for_logging()

  # TODO(melandory): Function _authenticate belongs to separate module.
  def _authenticate(self):
    http, token = None, None
    with open(self.pkey) as pkey_file:
      private_key = pkey_file.read()
      credentials = SignedJwtAssertionCredentials(
          self.client_email, private_key, _CREDENTIAL_SCOPES)
      http = httplib2.Http()
      http = credentials.authorize(http)
      build("drive", "v2", http=http)
      token = OAuth2TokenFromCredentials(credentials).access_token
    return http, token

  # TODO(melandory): Functionality of _spredsheeet_for_logging belongs
  # to websitetests, because this way we do not need to write results of run
  # in separate file and then read it here.
  def _spredsheeet_for_logging(self):
    """ Connects to document where result of test run will be logged. """
    # Connect to trix
    service = SpreadsheetsService(additional_headers={
              "Authorization": "Bearer " + self.access_token})
    sheet = Sheet(service, self.sheet_key)
    return sheet

  def write_line_to_sheet(self, data):
    if not self.write_to_sheet:
      return
    try:
      self.sheet.InsertRow(self.sheet.row_count, data)
    except Exception:
      pass  # TODO(melandory): Sometimes writing to spreadsheet fails. We need
            # to deal with it better that just ignoring it.

class TestRunner(object):

  def __init__(self, general_test_cmd, test_name):
    """ Args:
     general_test_cmd: String contains part of run command common for all tests,
      [2] is placeholder for test name.
     test_name: Test name (facebook for example).
    """
    self.profile_path = tempfile.mkdtemp()
    results = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False)
    self.results_path = results.name
    results.close()
    self.test_cmd = general_test_cmd + ["--profile-path", self.profile_path,
                                        "--save-path", self.results_path]
    self.test_cmd[2] = self.test_name = test_name
    # TODO(rchtara): Using "timeout is just temporary until a better,
    # platform-independent solution is found.
    # The website test runs in two passes, each pass has an internal
    # timeout of 200s for waiting (see |remaining_time_to_wait| and
    # Wait() in websitetest.py). Accounting for some more time spent on
    # the non-waiting execution, 300 seconds should be the upper bound on
    # the runtime of one pass, thus 600 seconds for the whole test.
    self.test_cmd = ["timeout", "600"] + self.test_cmd
    self.runner_process = None
    # The tests can be flaky. This is why we try to rerun up to 3 times.
    self.max_test_runs_left = 3
    self.failures = []
    self._run_test()

  def get_test_result(self):
    """ Return None if result is not ready yet."""
    test_running = self.runner_process and self.runner_process.poll() is None
    if test_running: return None
    # Test is not running, now we have to check if we want to start it again.
    if self._check_if_test_passed():
      print "Test " + self.test_name + " passed"
      return "pass", []
    if self.max_test_runs_left == 0:
      print "Test " + self.test_name + " failed"
      return "fail", self.failures
    self._run_test()
    return None

  def _check_if_test_passed(self):
    if os.path.isfile(self.results_path):
      results = open(self.results_path, "r")
      count = 0  # Count the number of successful tests.
      for line in results:
        # TODO(melandory): We do not need to send all this data to sheet.
        self.failures.append(line)
        count += line.count("successful='True'")
      results.close()
      # There is only two tests running for every website: the prompt and
      # the normal test. If both of the tests were successful, the tests
      # would be stopped for the current website.
      print "Test run of %s %s" % (self.test_name, "passed"
                                   if count == 2 else "failed")
      if count == 2:
        return True
    return False

  def _run_test(self):
    """Run separate process that once run test for one site."""
    try:
      os.remove(self.results_path)
    except Exception:
      pass
    try:
      shutil.rmtree(self.profile_path)
    except Exception:
      pass
    self.max_test_runs_left -= 1
    print "Run of test %s started" % self.test_name
    self.runner_process = subprocess.Popen(self.test_cmd)

def run_tests(config_path):
  """ Runs automated tests. """
  environment = Environment("", "", "", None, False)
  tests.Tests(environment)
  config = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
  config.read(config_path)
  date = datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S')
  max_tests_in_parrallel = config.getint("run_options", "tests_in_parrallel")
  sheet_writer = SheetWriter(config)
  full_path = os.path.realpath(__file__)
  tests_dir = os.path.dirname(full_path)
  tests_path = os.path.join(tests_dir, "tests.py")
  general_test_cmd =  ["python", tests_path, "test_name_placeholder",
     "--chrome-path", config.get("binaries", "chrome-path"),
     "--chromedriver-path", config.get("binaries", "chromedriver-path"),
     "--passwords-path", config.get("data_files", "passwords_path")]
  runners = []
  tests_to_run = [test.name for test in environment.websitetests]
  if config.has_option("run_options", "tests_to_run"):
    user_selected_tests = config.get("run_options", "tests_to_run").split(',')
    # TODO((dvadym) Validate the user selected tests are available.
    tests_to_run = list(set(tests_to_run) & set(user_selected_tests))

  with open(config.get("output", "save-path"), 'w') as savefile:
    print "Tests to run %d\nTests: %s" % (len(tests_to_run), tests_to_run)
    while len(runners) + len(tests_to_run) > 0:
      i = 0
      while i < len(runners):
        result = runners[i].get_test_result()
        if result:  # This test run is finished.
          status, log = result
          testinfo = [runners[i].test_name, status, date, " | ".join(log)]
          sheet_writer.write_line_to_sheet(testinfo)
          print>>savefile, " ".join(testinfo)
          del runners[i]
        else:
          i += 1
      while len(runners) < max_tests_in_parrallel and len(tests_to_run) > 0:
        runners.append(TestRunner(general_test_cmd, tests_to_run.pop()))
      time.sleep(1)  # Let us wait for worker process to finish.

if __name__ == "__main__":
  if len(sys.argv) != 2:
    print "Synopsis:\n python run_tests.py <config_path>"
  config_path = sys.argv[1]
  run_tests(config_path)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
If a bridge to France is a technical possibility, it is worthy of consideration
Voices | Published: Mar 1, 2019
By Richard Digard
FUNNY how folk react to things. Ask me about a bridge to France, for instance, and I'd immediately wonder whether it was technically possible. It is? Neat, bring it on.
You see, I'm a sucker for big infrastructure projects. They're inherently exciting and we all like seeing stuff being done. Especially when that leads to sustainable and positive economic benefits. So sticking with the bridge example, I'd then be asking what the advantages are.
Yet so many in Jersey have reacted to Kevin Keen's suggestion about a physical link to France in a frankly baffling way. It would end the Island's independence, destroy its way of life and wipe out its culture, identity and people, social media foamed and fretted.
Eh? Are you all mad? That stuff's long gone. It was sold out/replaced (delete according to age and wealth) when folk realised that working in an office with a couple of holidays a year and a centrally heated home was preferable to digging potatoes in the driving rain or rioting in the street because the States just devalued the liard to six to the sou – as they did in 1729.
Fewer than half of you are proper Crapauds; your birth rate's falling and without immigration Jersey has no future. Well, unless you wish to return to eating vraic and limpets I suppose.
So, forget about the good old days. Despite your fond-but-faulty memories, no one wants to return to Izal (ask your gran) and outside privvies.
Which means maintaining a vibrant economy with well-paid jobs, a congenial tax regime and plenty of reasons for people to want to come here – or, increasingly, remain here.
Guernsey has similar problems. Or, if you're Gus from Drop the Dead Donkey, 'opportunities'. So one of our leading business leaders has suggested a tunnel to Jersey.
Think about it a bit, and you realise that the 20 minute drive means Guernsey could abandon its airport and use yours instead, because it's bigger, better and with greater connectivity. In return, Jersey gets to use Guernsey's non-tidal harbour and access times to St Helier are actually reduced.
Link the two islands to France and the possibilities suddenly explode. A major, modern hospital an hour's drive away? That'll do nicely for two islands trying to justify full health services on cottage hospital populations.
I'm not going to labour this because the bridge – and our tunnel – is at this stage a flight of fancy. But it has merit because other remote communities elsewhere have benefitted hugely from such links and been able to fund them.
So why not here? Realistically, the only thing preventing such developments is our own narrow-mindedness and, to be blunt, prejudices.
I mean, what's wrong with thinking the unthinkable? After all, with a straight face Jersey is contemplating a 100-year plan to protect the Island from rising sea levels.
Good luck with that. The last time a Jerseyman looked around and mused, 'you know, that's a bloney high tide', you were still part of France and Doggerland was being engulfed by a megatsunami caused by a submarine landslide off the coast of Norway.
True, that was back in 6200BC and civil engineering has moved on a bit, but expecting to protect all 70km of your coastline is still a mammoth undertaking.
It's also expensive (although as yet uncosted), which means there's a certain irony to the project.
If you look at it this way, Jersey's gearing up without a murmur to spend colossal amounts erecting walls around itself but won't contemplate reaching out to build bridges with its French cousins.
I find that odd, especially since your economy is pretty fragile. An analysis by accountant Richard Hemans in the CI magazine Business Brief shows GDP per capita here is 17% below Guernsey's.
Crucially, he says, Jersey's dependence on finance, and banking in particular, is falling 'but it is struggling to replace it with another engine of growth'.
Cue Mr Keen's bridge. If feasible, there's a guaranteed income stream and what should be a real engine for growth – possibly more relevant now given the question marks over Condor and your popular French connection since the ferry company's up for sale.
So, ask me about a bridge to France and I'd have to be convinced that it physically couldn't be done before dropping the idea. There's too much to be gained if you can turn that vision into reality.
Voices Comment


New video "DAY" by Quadron !
New video by Quadron! One of our favorite songs, from day 1. No pun intended. What an amazing journey that Coco gives us some insight into.
QUADRON "DAY" from Coco + Robin = Quadron on Vimeo.


text:
Q: How do we debug a 3rd party ruby gems in a Windows machine I am running a Ruby gem in a Windows virtual machine.
This is a 3rd party gem used to integrate 2 systems (servicenow and nexpose).
I have no expertise in Ruby or Ruby gems so let me know how we can do this.

A: You have the gems on your local machine.

*

*Run bundle open gem_name and you will open the gem source code. If you don't configure a text editor for this command you will have to do it. Add a break point where you want to debug) byebug or debugger for example).

*In the Gemfile of your main app find the gem you just changed. Add the path option to it -> gem_name, path: 'local_machine_path_to_the_gem.

*Run bundle install again.

*Start debugging by testing the code that calla the gem.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The countertop card machine is ideal for any type of business, big or small who wish to take credit and debit card payments at the till or sales desk.
Our Ingenico countertop credit card machines are fast, reliable and easy to use. The countertop card machine is ideal for any type of business, big or small who wish to take credit and debit card payments at the till or sales desk. All standards transaction types including sale, cashback, refunds and gratuities are configurable and all major credit and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express can be processed. The iCT250 model can also accept contactless payments – the latest fast, easy and secure way for your customers to pay. Our countertop card machines are easy to install – follow the simple instructions to start accepting card payments within minutes!
Offering EMV Chip & PIN, MagStripe and Contactless, the iPP350 PIN Pad can be supplied as an attachment to the iCT250 countertop terminal.
Robust for intensive use and optimized for fast checkout, the iPP300 Series is designed to meet all retail environment needs. Very compact, the iPP350 takes up minimal counter space and fits perfectly in a customer's hand. Large 16-key backlit keypad, large LCD display and function keys provide day-to-day convenience and comfort.


We recently had a whole school inspection and we are delighted to share the Department's report with you.
The Department Inspectors have deemed our school to be outstanding and have recognised the exceptionally high standard and exemplary quality of education which the pupils at Little Angels receive.
We hope you enjoy reading the report which you can access by clicking here.


Explore best places to visit in Malaysia this year!
Malaysia! This is the other name of fun and entertainment. The people love to go to Malaysia for its beaches, parks, shopping and a lot more. If you are thinking to go for a honeymoon tour, a family tour, with friends, or with business partners, then of course, Malaysia should be your top priority.
Malaysia is also one of the best and top choices of tourists, as 33.1 million tourists have visited this beautiful country in 2018. There are many places in Malaysia which are well known and famous for entertainment and attraction. Here we are listing top 10 places to visit in Malaysia in 2019.
This is a best place to live and roam here and there for fun and that is also having no fear of culture barriers. This is because this place is a mix of Indian, Chinese and Malay culture.
You will find people from different races and cultures in this city. Perdana Lake Gradens, Petronas Towers and a lot more places are present in the neighborhood of this attractive city.
If you are in Kaula Lampur, then don't miss to visit Menata KL Tower. As this is the highest place in the city and it gives a very superb and pretty clear birds-eye view of the city. Its length is 421meter.
It's a telecommunication and broadcasting tower. This tower has the honor of hosting the highest McDonalds outlet in the world. This is really going to be very favorite place to visit in Malaysia in 2019.
As you are in Malaysia, then how can you miss visiting the Sunway Lagoon theme park, located in Petaling Jaya. This place is the choice of people of all age groups.
This park is divided into 5 major activity areas, i.e. Amusement Park, Scream Park, Water Park, Wildlife Park and Extreme Park. In short it can be said that you will see an adventurous life from all aspects in this park.
This is an island on the west coast of Malaysia. This is the 2nd most attractive place to visit in Malaysia. This beautiful island is famous for its awesome landscape.
There are awful museums, historic places, seaside forte and last but not the least is the scene of its food street. If you are planning to go on a relaxing tour then Penang is one of the top attractions to visit in Malaysia.
If you love to enjoy your vacations in fine sand and amazing diving all the day, then you should stop searching after this name. The Perhentian Islands consists of one small Kecil and second large Besar Island.
These islands are full of attraction for everyone including, families, travelers, businessmen, celebrities and of course for teenagers, too. Catering and diving on these beautiful islands will give a sense of dreamy world.
If you love to do adventures in the rainfall forest, then Borneo is the right option for you. This is top attractive place of 2019 tourism world. You can go for do camping with friends, no matter in which age you are. You can feel the real essence of nature and purity in Borneo.
In the list of best places to visit in Malaysia, Islamic Arts is ranked at number seven. As you know, Malaysia is famous for entertainment and fun, this country also has one of the top artistic place to visit in 2019, i.e. Islamic Arts Museum.
Its location is in the heart o the city, i.e. Perdana Botanical Garden. To my surprise, in South East Asia, this is the largest Islamic Art Museum.
Do you love adventures? If yes, then hold your breath and visit the Langkawi Sky Bridge. This is free span bridge which is 410 feet long. This is not a straight bridge; it is a curved bridge which added more fun and excitement in the tour to Malaysia in 2019. There you will find a complete stunning and blood thumping adventure.
You can find all kind of beach activities in this attractive place to visit in Malaysia in 2019. This park is actually a combination of 5 different Islands, including Pulau Sapi, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Sulug and Pulau Gaya. This is a very demanding and interesting place to visit in 2019.
You need to book your place beforehand for all kind of activities in this park. There you can find different activities like witnessing beautiful coral, amazing marine life, scuba diving and snorkeling. This Park is located in just 20 minutes boating ride from the Kota Kinabalu.
This is an amazing historic city, where visitors can witness the cultural tradition and history in its fullest form. This city is located at the drive of just 2 hours from the Kaula Lampur. This historic city has a lot of attractions for tourist in 2019.


3 Tips to Write the Most Creative Cover Letter & Land Your Dream Job | Yellow Co.
Looking for a full-time job can be its own (non-paying) full-time job. When seeking work, it can feel like drafting cover letters consumes the bulk of your time. "Does anyone even read these?" you may wonder.
Certain industries may automatically disqualify you if you attempt to break the traditional cover letter format. However, if you are applying for an employer who works to deploy creativity in their work, a "broken medium" cover letter may blow them away.
For example, I know a girl who wanted to work at a social media marketing agency and based on her intel of the company, she knew that everyone there frequently communicated with GIFs. In lieu of a traditional cover letter, she created a password-protected Tumblr page for the hiring manager and wrote the entire cover letter out in GIF-form. The hiring manager loved it. This applicant proved that she understood the social media platform (Tumblr in this case), that she understood the company culture (which loved GIFs), and that her capacity to develop creative content for her cover letter would be the same creativity that the agency's clients were seeking.
You don't have to completely break the medium to stand out; a GIF-filled Tumblr cover letter may make you look crazy for many applications. However, consider your industry and think about other unique ways that you can infuse a "fluency" of that specific industry's language into your cover letter.
It used to be that hiring managers were unimpressed with design elements in resumes. Today, that's changing. Heavily designed resumes may be extremely appropriate for designers attempting to show their design chops. In fact, in 2013 a web designer named Robby Leonardi gained national coverage for creating such a remarkable and interactive résumé. This is an extreme approach and you may not be a designer. However, for even for the average job seeker, a light design touch like a signature accent color, small infographic, unique font and well-placed bullets can help you stand out from the crowd. Templates abound for the non-designer in need of one; typically, the ones for sale (at a nominal price) are the best.
If you opt to apply design elements to your resume, can you mirror that same font, color and branding on your cover letter? This reflects a cohesive package in your storytelling.
Moving on from the cover letter's aesthetic, it's important that the content of the letter is creative and tells the full story of your skills. Remember to "write small" and make this your mantra. While you be tempted to try to broadly explain the many reasons you're qualified, it's often better to tell your non-fiction narrative in a spotlighted and creative way. The specific can reveal the universal.
"The bigger the issue, the smaller you write. Remember that. You don't write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid's burnt socks lying on the road. You pick the smallest manageable part of the big thing, and you work off the resonance." -Richard Price.
How can you write small in your cover letter? Rather than speak broadly about your generic qualifications, instead identify a specific example of a challenge in the workplace, how you rose to overcome it, and how that applies to your capacity to shine in this new role as well. Write about how you helped your last employer saves thousands on their holiday marketing campaign or the time you stepped up when your co-worker left on medical leave when no one else would. This will give your application personality and help the interviewer have an inroad to ask more about these examples in person.
Talitha holds an MBA and currently works in Corporate Social Responsibly for Fullscreen, an LA-based media company. She has a long history of non-profit work, investing 10+ years into organizations like Invisible Children and The Giving Keys. She is a real "get-it-done" kind of gal with a love for yoga, travel, interior design, cats, and craft beer.


text:
Q: A stick of fixed length is broken into 3 pieces. Construct triangle A stick of length 1 is broken into 3 pieces in the following way:

*

*We chose random interior point on the stick and break it into two pieces

*After that we choose the longest of the two pieces, choose random point on it and break it again, getting 3 pieces total.

*The task is to find probability that it would be possible to construct a triangle using that pieces.

I've came up with the following idea:
Let $X_1, X_2$ be random variable, uniformly distributed across all points on the stick ($X_1, X_2\in [0,1]$). It is clear, that Probability space may be illustrated as follows (marked with yellow):

And basing on triangle inequality we may highlight areas on the graph, that would suit us in terms of constructing triangle:

So, we get that $|\Omega|=S_{yellow section}=\cfrac{3}{4}$
And probability we are searching for: $Pr(A)=\cfrac{S_{blue section}}{S_{yellow section}}=\cfrac{1}{3}$. So answer here is $\cfrac{1}{3}$, however my mate got very different result, including $log$. Can you help me with this task/find mistake in my solution?
Any response is welcome and would be appreciated a lot.

A: Your solution does not fulfill the random protocol described in the problem. The second break is not at a random point in $[0,1]$, but at a random point in the longer piece of the first break.
Choose the first breaking point at $x\in\,\bigl]{1\over2},1\bigr]$ and the second at $xy$ with $y\in\,\bigl]{1\over2},1\bigr]$. The variable $(x,y)$ is then uniformly distributed in the square $Q:=\bigl]{1\over2},1\bigr]^2$ of area ${1\over4}$. In this way we obtain three pieces of length
$$\ell_1=xy,\quad \ell_2=x-xy=x(1-y),\quad \ell_3=1-x\ .$$
The $\ell_i$ can be the sides of a triangle iff all of them are $<{1\over2}$. For $\ell_2$ and $\ell_3$ this is automatically the case, and we are left with the condition $\ell_1=xy<{1\over2}$. Let $S$
be the corresponding part of $Q$. The required probability then is
$$p={{\rm area}(S)\over{\rm area}(Q)}=4\int_{1/2}^1\left({1\over2x}-{1\over2}\right)dx=\ldots=2\log2-1\approx0.3863\ .$$


text:
EC President José Manuel Barroso speaks at Barcelona GSE during EEA-ESEM
On Tuesday evening the Barcelona GSE hosted an institutional session of the EEA-ESEM Congress at its Bellaterra campus location that featured a thirty-minute talk by President of the European Commission Mr. José Manuel Barroso.
President Barroso was joined at the plenary table by Prof. Antoni Castells, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Government of Catalonia; Prof. Andreu Mas-Colell, Chairman of the Barcelona GSE; and Prof. Nicholas Stern, President of the European Economic Association (EEA).
Welcoming the audience of EEA and Econometric Society (ES) members to Catalonia, Minister Castells highlighted the Catalan economy as "one of the most dynamic of Europe" and emphasized that governments must play a key role, together with the market, to overcome the crisis.
President Barroso, Prof. Antoni Castells, Catalan Minister of Economy and Finance, and Prof. Andreu Mas-Colell, Chairman of the Barcelona GSE.
President Barroso's speech, "Overcoming the Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities," reflected on the vital role that economists should play in creating the policies that will bring the global economy out of crisis, even as the world takes a hard look at the possible failure of current economic analyses to predict the crisis in the first place. [Download the full text of President Barroso's speech [pdf]
"It is a curious coincidence that I am attending your annual congress for the first time just when the economics profession is coming under scrutiny," he said. "Many people…are asking why you failed to see the crisis coming. Others even argue that you helped to cause it."
He went on to note that while some economists did warn of an impending crash, many governments and institutions relied too heavily on mainstream economic models that can provide useful approximations but also fail to describe completely the complex nature of human behavior.
"In the end, the failure to predict and head off the crisis was a collective failure. A failure on the part of economists, but also banks, regulators, supervising and - yes - politicians too," President Barroso said.
Rather than dwelling on who was to blame for the crisis, he went on to discuss the opportunities it presented for new theories and research in economics.
Deputy Governor of the Bank of England Prof. Charles Bean discussed the web of interconnected risk exposures in the British and worldwide financial markets.
"The crisis has unleashed a great deal of fresh thinking in economics. Macroeconomists are apparently re-examining their models. Financial economists are revisiting the influence of incentives on market efficiency…there is new research too on policy responses to crises…on how to conduct monetary policy when interest rates are close to zero, on interactions between fiscal and monetary policy, and on the effects of fiscal stimulus."
President Barroso told the audience that the new research and theories that will emerge in the near future will be essential to politicians and policy makers, who will continue to rely on advice from economists. "Your advice will be more necessary than ever as we face the daunting challenges which lie ahead," he said.
He then outlined briefly some of the specific economic challenges and opportunities facing the European Union before fielding questions from the audience. During this Q&A he spoke frankly about issues such as national versus European solutions considered the first days of the economic crisis; the usefulness of economic summits; dollar trade talks; and the strength of the euro.
The institutional session was followed by the Schumpeter Lecture, delivered by Prof. Charles Bean, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, and attended also by Minister Castells. In his lecture, "The Great Moderation, the Great Panic and the Great Contraction," Prof. Bean discussed the web of interconnected risk exposures in the British and worldwide financial markets. He illustrated why this web of risk exposure made it so difficult to foresee or to pinpoint weaknesses in the complex new varieties of assets that have become commonplace in recent years. [Download Prof. Bean's presentation slides [ppt]
Full playlist of EEA-ESEM09 videos on the GSE YouTube channel
President Barroso at the GSE's Bellaterra campus on Tuesday evening during the institutional session of the 2009 EEA-ESEM Congress.
Video (European Commission)
EEA-ESEM Photo Galleries
President Barroso's speech [pdf]
Prof. Charles Bean's slides [ppt]


text:
ICU INSIGHTS
ICU DNA
Cellphone hack
Cheating Spouse
Doxxing
Internet Slang
Insurance Fraud Death
One Party Consent
Uber: A Victim of Serial Hit and Runs? Or Insurance Scam?
According to Bristow Marchant of www.thestate.com, Columbia, SC has been the epicenter of a series of hit-and-run motor vehicle crashes with Uber vehicles. This has sparked a lawsuit between at least fifty fraudsters and the rideshare company's insurer, James River Insurance.
The lawsuit alleges that between June 2017 and January 2019, 21 separate motor vehicle accidents were reported to James River Insurance, involving 52 people who staged the Uber hit-and-runs. The insurer claims that these accidents either didn't happen or were staged to collect benefits in an insurance scam, totaling over $75,000. There are a lot of moving parts here, no pun intended. Here are the details of the lawsuit as shared on The State:
Multiple defendants named in the lawsuit initiated Uber rides that were then rear-ended by another vehicle. Passengers then went to the hospital and filed claims with James River Insurance.
Marchant and the lawsuit state, "Of the 52 people identified in the lawsuit as being part of the scheme, 'many…. are social acquaintances, neighbors, and/or have other personal relationships with their co-defendants.'" Side note: This plays a HUGE ROLE in why we include personal relationships and scour the social media accounts of family members/friends/acquaintances in our social media investigations!
The lawsuit also states, "Such personal relationships decrease the likelihood that the defendants were all actually involved in real hit-and-run accidents while using an Uber ride share and increase the likelihood that these alleged 'accidents' are actually staged motor vehicle accidents for the purpose of committing insurance fraud."
"All but seven of the individuals named in the suit are identified as Richland County residents. In at least two instances, the Uber drivers were in on the scam, James River alleges in its suit," according to Marchant.
The lawsuit refers to specific incidences to include the following:
"In one instance, an Uber ride was rear-ended on Augusta Highway by a car that then drove away. The Uber driver followed the car and even collided with it a second time. An unidentified man eventually abandoned the car and fled in another vehicle, which was later determined to be owned by the passenger in the Uber that was hit."
In another instance, "the insurance company disputes an Uber driver's account of a hit-and-run because the $3,000 in damage to the car is 'consistent with an impact with a fixed object and inconsistent with an impact with a moving vehicle.'"
Additionally, "the lawsuit alleges an Uber driver was in cahoots with two Uber riders in her car, plus the driver and two passengers in another car that allegedly ran a stop sign at Duke Avenue and Mountain Drive and collided with the Uber, causing almost $9,000 in damage to the Uber driver's car."
Furthermore, "One woman involved in the case was pregnant at the time of a staged collision on an Interstate 26 on-ramp from Harbison Boulevard, in which the Uber was rear-ended twice by a car that then fled the scene."
No criminal charges have been filed at this time.
Internet Profile Reports: The Most Valuable Tool in the Investigative Process
It's Here: 2021 Insurance Fraud Hall of Shame
Are you being tracked using Apple AirTags?
Vector link to page top. Private investgator near me.