text:
New Editor for the CCHA Bulletin
Jacqueline Gresko, incoming Bulletin Editor, presents Terence Fay, Editor of the CCHA Bulletin for 25 years, with the prestigious G E. Clerk Award for excellence in Canadian Catholic History.
Jacqueline Gresko, retiring as President General of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association, has taken on the editorship of the CCHA Bulletin. Terry Fay SJ, the editor of the past 23 years, after this issue will have stepped down in favour of the new editor, Jacqueline Gresko.
Mark and Eileen McGowan initiated the Bulletin as a way for historians interested in Catholic history to keep in touch with one another and share information on their research and upcoming publications. The Bulletin was conceived as a forum for the comments, brief articles, and information about members and their work.
In the first issues, Mark McGowan contributed "Current Publications," Brian Clarke was book editor, and Linda Wicks contributed information on Catholic archives. Brian Hogan, John Moir, and Margaret Sanche collaborated to produce an annual "Current Bibliography of Canadian Church History" which was most useful for those teaching and researching church history. Current bibliography has been recently discontinued in favour of a lengthy online publication, Bibliography of Canadian Church History.
In the summer of 1991, Mark and Eileen McGowan resigned their editorship to Terry Fay when Mark was appointed Principal and Academic Vice-President of the University of St Michael's College. At about the same time, Fred J. McEvoy became the book editor of the Bulletin and regularly contributes "Current Publications." Members have contributed articles and obituaries on a regular basis. The Bulletin can be received as a hard copy or read online on the CCHA web site.
Published on: 9 April 2014


text:
Tulip bulbs led to the first recorded speculative bubble in the world. If you had the right bulb, it could be worth as much as a canal house in Amsterdam. Some of the finest Delft tiles with tulips were made during this iconic happening; the 'Tulip Mania'!
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Tulip, c. 1630
Tulip hearth, c. 1630
Star tulip, c. 1620
Tulips, c. 1650
Largest stock of reclaimed Delft tiles
Tulip heart, c. 1620
Tulip in circle, c. 1620 - 1640
Catalogue sales exhibition 2022 now online
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Sales exhibition of rare Delft tiles 2022
Open to the public on the 9th and 10th of July
The history of Dutch Delft tiles in Cadiz, Spain
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How we guarantee quality
The largest stock of Delft tiles to choose from
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What to expect when visiting our gallery?
Our gallery is located in the Dutch city of Franeker. Franeker is a small town that played an important role in history, as the second university of the Netherlands was built here. Although the university is closed, the buildings and the homes of professors still remain. Next to that, Franeker is home to the oldest still operating planetarium in the world.
In the historical center of the town, on a five minute walk from the planetarium, you will find our gallery. In our gallery you will find over 1000 boxes on display, all filled with antique Delft tiles. If you are visiting us, we will take the time to tell you all about our tiles, their history and our company. To take the virtual tour through our gallery, click here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Antiquities Collecting: Power Relations and Social Approval
Dr Donna Yates,
photo: Mark Gibson
There is an article in the Scottish Herald focussed on Dr Donna Yates who offers some thoughts on why the present system of dealing with trafficking is failing, and what we need to do about it. Above all though it depends on power relations and social approval:
"The other side is that there is a market for it. There's a desire to own, to keep for yourself something that others might think should be public and available to everyone. "I'm mostly in this," she volunteers, "because of the power imbalance between somebody who has a huge amount of financial buying-power, who wants to keep these bits and pieces of the past to themselves, and people who don't have a strong international voice, who don't have that power. Translating it to criminology, it's like white-collar crime versus the masses, but for me, working in the developing world, it's very poor people being taken advantage of by very rich people." Ultimately, Donna Yates would like to see the collecting of antiquities become socially unacceptable, "like having a gigantic elephant tusk on your mantle. I want somebody who has, say, Iraqi figurines on their mantle - I want all their fancy dinner-guests to go …" and here she mimics a sharp, disapproving intake of breath. Yes, she concedes, such a collective attitude would require a huge cultural shift. "It will, but I think we're moving in that direction. At least, I hope we are."
Russell Leadbetter, 'The expert aiming to make antiquities-collecting socially unacceptable - "like having a gigantic elephant tusk on your mantle"...', The Herald 25th April 2016.
I am not sure many collectors give a flying tinkers about elephants, remember this from not so long ago? 'The "Green" Credentials of Hobby Lobby's Mr Green' PACHI Sunday, 1 November 2015.


text:
The inspirational woman who is still volunteering at a local nursery at 91 years old
At 91-years-old, our inspirational resident Ida proves that age is no barrier to continuing to do things you enjoy.
Volunteering for over 35 years, she is still helping out at a youth club for teenagers with special needs, at a mother and toddler group and also at a centre that provides supervised parental visits for children.
The many benefits of volunteering
Resident and former primary school teacher Ida said: "I loved helping children grow within my local community and when I retired I wanted this to continue.
"I get such a lot out of volunteering; it is a labour of love. I get a buzz from helping others and it keeps me busy. I especially love the hugs given by the teenagers at the youth club!"
Always keen to do more, she has recently started volunteering at Wee Care Day Nursery, which is located close to Bell Rotary House where she lives.
She explained: "I joked to the house manager Anna one day that I needed a job. She took me seriously and we spoke about my interests. She then approached the nursery on my behalf and helped me with the application paperwork to become a volunteer. The staff at Bell Rotary have given me all the encouragement in the world."
According to pre-school leader Claire, "Ms Martin always comes into Wee Care with a smile on her face! Not only does she visit us to impart her lifelong teaching expertise onto the children, but she could teach us all a thing or two about how to live life to the full!"
She said: "When she's here, it's clear to see that mutual enjoyment takes place across the ages. Everyone is mesmerised by her enthusiasm and drive to be involved in as many different activities as possible. She is an inspiration to us all and we look up to her, in the hope that one day we will be just as happy, determined and outgoing as she is."
Proving that age is just a number
While family and friends wonder whether she will slow down anytime soon, Ms Martin admitted she doesn't feel ready just yet. Even at 91 years old, she cannot imagine a time when she would want to stop working closely with the local community.
"Some days I am tired and it would be easy not to go, but if you stop doing things, before long you find you are no longer able, so I push on," she said.
"It makes me feel really happy making other people happy, that's what life is all about and I want to prove that I am not just an old woman, I still have lots to give."
Encouraging volunteering in later life through Abbeyfield's 'Residents as Volunteers' project
While volunteering is good for individuals and the communities they live in, research shows that there is a significant decline in the number of people who volunteer after the age of 75. At Abbeyfield, we actively encourage our residents to get involved in volunteering for causes they care about.
Our Big Lottery funded 'Residents as Volunteers' project aims to increase volunteering activity in those over seventy five years old, measuring the impact it has on the well-being and quality of life of those who participate. Click here to read more about the project.


text:
Once Upon a Farm: Lessons on Growing Love, Life, and Hope on a New Frontier
Author: Rory Feek
Sometimes, it's not only what we plant but where we're planted. Now raising their 3-year old daughter, Indiana, alone, after Joey's passing, Rory Feek digs deep into the soil of his life and career to share the choices made and lessons learned that helped turn a middle Tennessee farm into a place that grew love and hope. As opposed to homesteading, this is instead a book on lifesteading, as Feek learns to cultivate faith, love, and fatherhood on a small farm, while doing everything but farming. With frequent stories of his and Joey's years together, and how those guide his life today, Rory unpacks just what it means to be open to new experiences. Much like Jesus' biblical parable, when we scatter our seeds, some will grow in the fertile land and warm sun. Feek contends that it's the same way with our dreams but we must always pay attention to what our story is teaching us. It's long been said that timing is everything, and it is, unless you haven't done the work to be prepared. What does it mean to cultivate life, to be open to new directions, to invest in another person as a way of connecting with God Through his wealth of stories and vulnerable spirit, Rory opens up on those struggles in his own life and, in the process, shows the way for us all. "This isn't a 'how to' book, it's more of a 'how we' or more accurately "how He" (God) planted us on a few acres of land and grew something bigger than Joey or I could have ever imagined." It's an ongoing story of a new frontier, all woven into a new season of learning to grow a new life and love in the land that his wife loved so much.
Tags: Biography, Biography & True Stories, Family & relationships Hardback, History, Memoirs, November-2021, Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works, religious & spiritual


You would like the kitchen to flow with the remainder of your house for aesthetic appeal and possible resale value in the future. The heart of the house, the kitchen is easily the most-used room in the home. No doubt the white kitchen is readily dirty, but if you decide on the proper materials, White Kitchen is readily maintained also. Following that, you are going to be able to settle back and watch as our experienced and certified installers transform your kitchen. If your kitchen is small or cramped and you merely have a little region to work with, you'll have more limited possibilities for a kitchen remodel. Trust us from today, and you'll get your fantasy Kitchen in your home.
You are the person who will use the kitchen so the cabinets should be functional and stylish — the kitchen functions as the heart and hearth of your residence. One-wall, L-shaped, walk-through or galley kitchens are a number of the preferred alternatives for smaller homes.
One thing to bear in mind when designing a room is that there aren't any rules. In case the room lacks cabinet space, you will want storage. It is preferable to hang two mirrors and that too in the same room, put them on the opposite walls, and you are going to see that your room will appear more prominent in dimension.
A sensible layout can enhance efficiency and substantially lower your workload. On account of the sheer number of alternatives available, in regards to picking an ideal arrangement, lots of people begin to feel slightly clueless. Whether your existing kitchen layout needs renovating or you want to refresh a tired color scheme, now's the ideal time to produce the kitchen of your dreams.
To pick a suitable layout, think hard about the space you are just about to decorate. When space isn't a constraining factor, it is preferable to honor the timeless triangle between sink, oven, and refrigerator. When available space is small, extend a part of your current kitchen to the outdoor area you intend to decorate. An additional way to organize your ample storage space is to purchase pantry fittings.
One final tip is to maintain your home clean and organized. Whatever you envisage your house looking like, you will find all the pieces you must make your dream a reality. Individuals can clean their house to conserve money, but between time and efficiency, it'll be better to put money into a professional cleaner, especially considering that many cleaners are cheaper than you would think. By `set up,' it's assumed that your residence is built out and you've been living in it for quite a while. You must keep your house perfectly clean to uphold its value later on.
The fact you're going to be dwelling in the house for a long time to come means which you'll continue to find value in their repeated use. Possessing a clean home is a necessity no matter the location and the sort of house you have. It is normal to upgrade your home if you have lived in it for many, many years. Cleaning a house demands a whole lot of things for a complete job done. Whether it is a new home or an old one that requires renovation, leave it to Lora Kitchen to create the best decision for you.


text:
Q: Issue with switching fragments while using navigation drawer im having an issue with the navigation drawer. I am using eclipse and using the code it provides for the drawer. I have managed to add additional links to the drawer. When I click on them, the title (in the action bar) changes correctly, but the information doesnt change. I have created all the fragments inside the MainActivity.java file. Below is the code from my MainActivity.java...
MainActivity.java
public class MainActivity extends ActionBarActivity
    implements NavigationDrawerFragment.NavigationDrawerCallbacks {

/**
 * Fragment managing the behaviors, interactions and presentation of the navigation drawer.
 */
private NavigationDrawerFragment mNavigationDrawerFragment;

/**
 * Used to store the last screen title. For use in {@link #restoreActionBar()}.
 */
private CharSequence mTitle;

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    mNavigationDrawerFragment = (NavigationDrawerFragment)
            getSupportFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.navigation_drawer);
    mTitle = getTitle();

    // Set up the drawer.
    mNavigationDrawerFragment.setUp(
            R.id.navigation_drawer,
            (DrawerLayout) findViewById(R.id.drawer_layout));
}

@Override
public void onNavigationDrawerItemSelected(int position) {
    // update the main content by replacing fragments
    FragmentManager fragmentManager = getSupportFragmentManager();
    fragmentManager.beginTransaction()
            .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
            .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenIIFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
            .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenIIIFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
            .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenIVFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
            .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenVFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
            .commit();
}

public void onSectionAttached(int position) {
    switch (position) {
        case 1:
            mTitle = getString(R.string.title_suiko1);
            break;
        case 2:
            mTitle = getString(R.string.title_suiko2);
            break;
        case 3:
            mTitle = getString(R.string.title_suiko3);
            break;
        case 4:
            mTitle = getString(R.string.title_suiko4);
            break;
        case 5:
            mTitle = getString(R.string.title_suiko5);
            break;
    }
}

public void restoreActionBar() {
    ActionBar actionBar = getSupportActionBar();
    actionBar.setNavigationMode(ActionBar.NAVIGATION_MODE_STANDARD);
    actionBar.setDisplayShowTitleEnabled(true);
    actionBar.setTitle(mTitle);
}

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    if (!mNavigationDrawerFragment.isDrawerOpen()) {
        // Only show items in the action bar relevant to this screen
        // if the drawer is not showing. Otherwise, let the drawer
        // decide what to show in the action bar.
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
        restoreActionBar();
        return true;
    }
    return super.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu);
}

@Override
public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
    // Handle action bar item clicks here. The action bar will
    // automatically handle clicks on the Home/Up button, so long
    // as you specify a parent activity in AndroidManifest.xml.
    int id = item.getItemId();
    if (id == R.id.action_settings) {
        return true;
    }
    return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
}

/**
 * Suikoden 1 Fragment Class
 */
public static class SuikodenFragment extends Fragment {
    /**
     * The fragment argument representing the section number for this
     * fragment.
     */
    private static final String ARG_SECTION_NUMBER = "section_number";

    /**
     * Returns a new instance of this fragment for the given section
     * number.
     */
    public static SuikodenFragment newInstance(int sectionNumber) {
        SuikodenFragment fragment = new SuikodenFragment();
        Bundle args = new Bundle();
        args.putInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER, sectionNumber);
        fragment.setArguments(args);
        return fragment;
    }

    public SuikodenFragment() {
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
            Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.test_drawer_item1, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }

    @Override
    public void onAttach(Activity activity) {
        super.onAttach(activity);
        ((MainActivity) activity).onSectionAttached(
                getArguments().getInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER));
    }
}

/**
 * Suikoden 2 Fragment Class
 */
public static class SuikodenIIFragment extends Fragment {
    /**
     * The fragment argument representing the section number for this
     * fragment.
     */
    private static final String ARG_SECTION_NUMBER = "section_number";

    /**
     * Returns a new instance of this fragment for the given section
     * number.
     */
    public static SuikodenIIFragment newInstance(int sectionNumber) {
        SuikodenIIFragment fragment = new SuikodenIIFragment();
        Bundle args = new Bundle();
        args.putInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER, sectionNumber);
        fragment.setArguments(args);
        return fragment;
    }

    public SuikodenIIFragment() {
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
            Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.test_drawer_item2, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }

    @Override
    public void onAttach(Activity activity) {
        super.onAttach(activity);
        ((MainActivity) activity).onSectionAttached(
                getArguments().getInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER));
    }
}

/**
 * Suikoden 3 Fragment Class
 */
public static class SuikodenIIIFragment extends Fragment {
    /**
     * The fragment argument representing the section number for this
     * fragment.
     */
    private static final String ARG_SECTION_NUMBER = "section_number";

    /**
     * Returns a new instance of this fragment for the given section
     * number.
     */
    public static SuikodenIIIFragment newInstance(int sectionNumber) {
        SuikodenIIIFragment fragment = new SuikodenIIIFragment();
        Bundle args = new Bundle();
        args.putInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER, sectionNumber);
        fragment.setArguments(args);
        return fragment;
    }

    public SuikodenIIIFragment() {
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
            Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.test_drawer_item3, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }

    @Override
    public void onAttach(Activity activity) {
        super.onAttach(activity);
        ((MainActivity) activity).onSectionAttached(
                getArguments().getInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER));
    }
}

/**
 * Suikoden 4 Fragment Class
 */
public static class SuikodenIVFragment extends Fragment {
    /**
     * The fragment argument representing the section number for this
     * fragment.
     */
    private static final String ARG_SECTION_NUMBER = "section_number";

    /**
     * Returns a new instance of this fragment for the given section
     * number.
     */
    public static SuikodenIVFragment newInstance(int sectionNumber) {
        SuikodenIVFragment fragment = new SuikodenIVFragment();
        Bundle args = new Bundle();
        args.putInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER, sectionNumber);
        fragment.setArguments(args);
        return fragment;
    }

    public SuikodenIVFragment() {
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
            Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.test_drawer_item4, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }

    @Override
    public void onAttach(Activity activity) {
        super.onAttach(activity);
        ((MainActivity) activity).onSectionAttached(
                getArguments().getInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER));
    }
}

/**
 * Suikoden 5 Fragment Class
 */
public static class SuikodenVFragment extends Fragment {
    /**
     * The fragment argument representing the section number for this
     * fragment.
     */
    private static final String ARG_SECTION_NUMBER = "section_number";

    /**
     * Returns a new instance of this fragment for the given section
     * number.
     */
    public static SuikodenVFragment newInstance(int sectionNumber) {
        SuikodenVFragment fragment = new SuikodenVFragment();
        Bundle args = new Bundle();
        args.putInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER, sectionNumber);
        fragment.setArguments(args);
        return fragment;
    }

    public SuikodenVFragment() {
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
            Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.test_drawer_item5, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }

    @Override
    public void onAttach(Activity activity) {
        super.onAttach(activity);
        ((MainActivity) activity).onSectionAttached(
                getArguments().getInt(ARG_SECTION_NUMBER));
    }
}

I have checked this site many many times to come up with a solution and have found some 'solutions' that havent worked. For example, placing the onSectionAttached content inside the onNavigationDrawerItemSelected class. However, this doesnt work or crashes the app. I feel that I am close to figuring it out. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

A: What is this code:
fragmentManager.beginTransaction()
        .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
        .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenIIFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
        .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenIIIFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
        .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenIVFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
        .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenVFragment.newInstance(position + 1))
        .commit();

It should be like this:
switch(position){
case 0:
 fragmentManager.beginTransaction()
        .replace(R.id.container, SuikodenFragment.newInstance(position + 1)).commit();
//similar for others
}

A: I ran into the problem of the action bar not updating properly on Back presses using navigation drawer and also that the fragments just weren't working as intended, I posted a code example on this question here.
Android - How to change fragments in the Navigation Drawer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
https://www.barrons.com/articles/orbimeds-sam-isaly-steps-down-amid-accusations-of-sexual-misconduct-1512796420
OrbiMed's Sam Isaly Steps Down Amid Accusations of Sexual Misconduct
The tentacles of the sexual harassment crisis plunged into OrbiMed Advisors last week, lifting out Samuel Isaly, one of firm's founders who had once led the Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences fund to market-beating performance.
On Thursday, Isaly, 72, stepped down from OrbiMed, a prominent health-care investment firm with $14 billion in assets, after health and science publication STAT reported that Isaly had "perpetuated a toxic culture of sexual harassment … routinely subjecting young female assistants to pornography in the workplace, lewd jokes, and pervasive sexist comments." In a statement, OrbiMed said that Isaly would be replaced as managing partner by a committee composed of Sven Borho, Carl Gordon, and Jonathan Silverstein, three of the firm's longtime executives. A spokesman said OrbiMed has retained Theodore Rogers, the managing partner of Sullivan & Cromwell's labor and employment group, to investigate the matter, but declined further comment.
Isaly was one of four fund managers cited in our Jan. 9, 2016, cover story, "The Market Beaters," who ran mutual funds that, at that time, had outpaced the market over one, three, five, 10, and 25 years. (The folks at OrbiMed aren't averse to a little exaggeration—their website says Isaly was the only manager to have done so.) Under Isaly—who is wheelchair-bound and has trouble with his hands as a result of a high school wrestling injury—OrbiMed built one of the largest dedicated health-care investment funds and developed a number of related businesses, including a venture capital operation and a hedge fund unit that leveraged the same expertise. OrbiMed was said to be early to a number of advanced treatments, such as CAR-T, a promising cancer immunotherapy treatment, and RNA Interference, or drugs that try to block the effects of faulty genes.
"They had this idea that if you were an expert in a certain technical or therapeutic area, you could invest in it in a number of ways—private, public, restructurings, and so on. They've been a model for quite a few firms," says one well-known analyst familiar with the company.
That legacy may now be tarnished.
In July 2016, Eaton Vance (ticker: EV) brought management of the health-care fund (ETHSX) in-house, under Jason Kritzer and Samantha Pandolfi. The two are bullish on health care, according to an interview with Barron's this past summer, but are still finding their feet. This year, the fund is up 15%, versus 22% for its category.
OrbiMed continues to sell research to Eaton Vance. An Eaton Vance spokeswoman said: "We were not aware of these allegations against Sam Isaly until reported in the news earlier this week. We take them very seriously and we have been in contact with OrbiMed officials and are reviewing the matter now." The firm, she added, has "an ongoing due diligence process" with subadvisors.
Isaly also resigned as co-manager of £1.2bn Worldwide Healthcare Trust (WWH.U.K.), a top-performing European fund, amid accusations of misconduct. It will continue to be managed by Borho.
The details of Isaly's exit are complicated and are still being worked out. He owns the economic majority of the firm and was a managing partner who controlled the firm. According to a person close to the company: "The complaints about Sam's sexual harassment are serious and are being addressed in the investigation. How do you discipline a majority shareholder for bad behavior in his own business? Ultimately, the outcome depends on the owner." This person said that the firm had hired a dedicated HR professional in 2012 and began annual harassment training by an outside expert.
The Isaly news isn't the first allegation of sexual harassment in the fund industry—and almost certainly won't be the last. Two Fidelity fund managers departed this year, following allegations of inappropriate behavior.
OrbiMed has a deep bench, but much depends on what Sullivan & Cromwell finds. It's ironic that the news came this past week, as biotech had one of its best days in weeks, partly on reports that activist investor Elliott Management wants Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) to do more to lift its stock price. Alexion, OrbiMed's second-largest position, closed Friday up 7.2%.
Email: editors@barrons.com


text:
Zaandam and Rotterdam Situation (merged topics starting March 22, 2020)
By bouhunter,
March 22, 2020 in Holland America Line
tupper10
I apologize to all of my fellow cruisers for the Florida governor's statements. Luckily he is not the one who makes the final decision.
I want to know why our federal government is not assisting Broward County in dealing with all of the cruise ships coming in with people who are sick and need to go home, whether they are crew or passengers. We have loads of empty hotels that can be used to quarantine everyone for 14 days. Yes we are having a surge here so let us bring in more resources to address this, not leave people stranded on ships at sea w/o adequate care.
Please if you are a US citizen write to your Senator and Congress person so this nightmare can be over for the staff and crew of these ships. Here is a link to do this.
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
YXU AC*SE
YXU - London, ON
Latest from HAL:
source: https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/ships/ms-rotterdam/zaandam-and-rotterdam-await-permission-from-local-south-florida-authorities-for-humanitarian-disembarkation-of-guests/
Holland America Line is awaiting confirmation to disembark guests from Zaandam and Rotterdam in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We remain fully engaged with the Broward Unified Command and other governmental and embassy authorities to resolve this humanitarian situation and get the nearly 1,200 well guests home immediately who are fit for travel per guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both ships are scheduled to arrive at the boundary of U.S. waters by early tomorrow morning and will remain outside U.S. waters while awaiting clearance to enter.
Guests fit for travel per the CDC would transfer straight from the ship to flights for onward travel home, the majority on charter flights. Out of an abundance of caution, these guests will be transported in coaches that will be sanitized, with limited person-to-person contact and while wearing masks. These provisions well exceed what the CDC have advised is necessary for their travel. Guests have not left the ship since March 14 and have self-isolated in their staterooms since March 22.
The approximately 45 guests who still have mild illness and are unfit to travel at this time will continue to isolate on board until recovered. Disembarkation would be at a later date to be determined and only after they have recovered and are in alignment with CDC guidelines for being fit to travel.
For the estimated less than ten people who need immediate critical care shoreside, we have secured approval from a local health system partner that they will accept them for treatment. This small number is the only group that will require any support from medical resources in Broward County and is necessary to prevent further harm to their health.
Since March 22, 97 guests (83 on Zaandam/14 on Rotterdam) and 136 crew on Zaandam (0 on Rotterdam) have presented with influenza-like symptoms. We have seen a significant decline in the presentation of new cases on Zaandam, with only 1 new case reporting in the past 24 hours.
There are 808 guests and 583 crew on Rotterdam. On Zaandam there are 442 guests and 603 crew.
Holland America Line calls for compassion and reason in the review and approval of our disembarkation plan by Florida officials and we are grateful for those that have supported our efforts.
We appreciate the support of President Trump in resolving the humanitarian plight of our guests – 311 of whom are American citizens and 52 of whom are residents of Florida. There are also four children under the age of 12 on board.
Due to global health concerns, Holland America Line made the decision to suspend its global cruise operations for 30 days and end its current cruises in progress as quickly as possible.  At the time, Zaandam was sailing a South America cruise that began in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 that was originally scheduled to end at San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. Attempts were made and denied to disembark guests in Chile on March 15 and in other ports along its route to the U.S.
On March 21, Zaandam was originally scheduled to begin a 20-day South America and Panama Canal cruise from San Antonio, Chile, and end in Fort Lauderdale on April 7. On March 30 an additional 30-day extension of cruise cancellations was announced, including departures through May 14.
1 hour ago, donaldsc said:
I wonder if HAL is still charging for booze and internet service. The least that they could do is let people to contact loved ones at home and to get drunk if they want to. I assume that they are providing free internet. Not that sure about the free booze.
Yes, they are getting free wifi and free ship to shore phone calls. Last I heard, no booze was being delivered to their cabins when they deliver their meals. I saw vblog of one couple saying they were on the rotterdam and confined to an interior cabin which didn't make any sense as they took everyone off zaandam that was an interior cabin to put them in a room with verandah or ocean view.
I heard on previous princess ships that had issues the passengers were given points for the extra nights - not sure if HAL will do this but they should get extra 2 points per night IMO.
Cruisin Kay D
Middle of Tennessee
1 hour ago, Host Anne said:
If you want to weigh in with your thoughts on Zaandam and Rotterdam docking in Florida, I recommend sending an email to the governor GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com and the President https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.
This is not a political comment. This simply is suggesting that if you have a comment to make regarding Zaandam and Rotterdam, now is the time to do it.
DONE!!! Appalled that the local, county & state government are even considering NOT accepting these ships!!!
Nymich
Just now, Cruisin Kay D said:
FYI watch Commissioners Meeting yesterday. They are doing much more than considering it. I have no doubts they will come in.
Vict0riann
6 minutes ago, YXU AC*SE said:
Well worth reading a second time! Thank you.
conwakr
Well assuming Hal's numbers are accurate - and I assume they are - 10 people need to go to hospitals. I have to assume that through all the chest pounding that that number was known. God speed for the last bit of the trip to Florida and then to home for the healthy. And speedy healing for those that are still symptomatic.
Babr
2 minutes ago, tupper10 said:
That has been my question all along. I don't think anyone expects Florida to deal with this alone. As a matter of fact, I said so in another post, but it disappeared. This one may also when I ask where the leadership is. If your governor is consulting the White House, he is receiving poor counsel. We are way too far into this pandemic to be dithering and passing the buck.
Niagarawine
5 hours ago, Himself said:
4 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:
Whoops - my bad, I hadn't seen it previously posted elsewhere. Scott.
MmmMango
1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:
1 hour ago, Sue from Canada said:
Let them dock at Half Moon Cay so the passengers can at least get off, stretch their legs, enjoy the sun, go for a swim etc. And of course try to maintain social distancing.
Isn't Half Moon Cay a tender port?
Seasick Sailor
President Trump said he will take Canadians and UK off ships and sending home!
For the Canadians on board, 237 of them , when 9/11 happened do you Americans remember what happened ? The planes landed in Newfoundland and we fed and cared for you.
Aquahound
2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:
IS HE KIDDING?????????????? I was joking when I said that I hoped he would let more than just the Florida Fifty disembark. No other state that took passengers limited it to people from their state.
Is there any way for HAL to appeal this?
I'm racking my brain to figure out how a state governor has the authority to only allow Florida residents to debark a ship through a federal point of entry. I just don't see how that can happen.
Copper10-8
City of Angels, CA
16 minutes ago, Stratheden said:
As there are Australians on these ships, It would be really appreciated if the US and in particular Florida allowed our citizens to disembark and be flown directly home as we allowed all the US citizens on the Amsterdam and many other ships in Perth. It is not difficult. Bus them directly from the port to the airport and send them on their way.
I have watched a few interviews with your leading politicians and to say it is unbelieveable and horribly disorganised what is happening in your country is an understatement. I hope and pray it improves very soon.
The plan calls for the Aussies and apparently, also some Kiwis, is to be placed on a charter aircraft, with the Californians, for a flight to a California location. From there, they (Aussies and Kiwis) would fly home
tgsul09
Trump stated in his news conference a few minutes ago that the passengers will be taken care of. Canada and UK sending charter flights.
South Florida & Shenandoah Valley, VA
16 minutes ago, Aquahound said:
I think he knows he doesn't or his staff knows and added this comment noted in the latest Sun-Sentinel article (https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-ships-infected-port-everglades-20200401-mf4komanench5m7lwp34oeajly-story.html) (my bolding):
"I obviously am not in control of the port. That's run by the counties in southern Florida, in this case Broward County," DeSantis said. "Clearly, we're going to be willing to accept any Floridians who are on board. My understanding is that most of the passengers are foreign nationals."
Edited April 1, 2020 by capriccio
rkacruiser
Centerville, Ohio, USA
1 hour ago, travel09 said:
Is this really happening in our world of today, the most terrible thing I have ever heard, like a" related to genocide event", in the supposedly civilized world...! Shame on every one involved,this will go down in history as blind selfishness ,and the deaths of innocent people, who are unwittingly caught in this terrible web.. !
Due in part to the ignorance of today's world's citizens about history, we are seeing a repeat of the issues of the S.S. St. Louis and her passengers during the 1930's.
SeaMatesNYC
Is it safe to breathe again?
20 minutes (ok 5!), seated with eyes closed or unfocused, hands in lap or on knees, breathe in for 5, hold for 2, out for 3. Repeat as needed thru the day. 😊
Edited April 1, 2020 by SeaMatesNYC
22 minutes ago, MmmMango said:
Yes. So what? Social distancing can still be implemented.
DFD1
Winter Haven FL
Note to those who rely on the news media for facts in any situation....DON'T DO IT.
I have on good authority (okay mostly-shaky-all-y'all-shouldn't-listen-to-me personal authority) that Crown Royal is internally applied hand sanitizer.
#gowashyourhands. 🙂 Scott.
2 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:
Wow! My husband and I were talking about that just last night. We remembered the event but couldn't remember the name of the movie about it. " Voyage of the Damned"
VennDiagram
we are seeing a repeat of the issues of the S.S. St. Louis and her passengers during the 1930's.
I have been thinking of that since this started 😞
That was the first comment out of my husband's (with a PhD in European history) mouth. His second was an unpublishable rant against our governor.
Apr 2 CCHelp changed the title to Zaandam and Rotterdam Situation (merged topics starting March 22, 2020)
Apr 3 CCHelp locked this topic


text:
Q: PHP datelog localhost on mac permission denied I am trying to make a datelog file with PHP. I am running this on xampp on a macbook. It says all the time that permission is denied. How do i fix this?
the error that i am getting is:
Warning: fopen(Friday-01-April-16.txt): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/htdocs/aowigman/index.php on line 6
Unable to open file!
The code:
<?php
date_default_timezone_set("Europe/Amsterdam");
$datum = date("l-d-F-y");
$ip = $_SERVER["REMOTE_ADDR"];

$myfile = fopen("$datum".".txt", "a+") or die("Unable to open file!");
$txt = $datum. " ". $ip."\n";
fwrite($myfile, $txt);
fclose($myfile);
?>

Thanks in advance!

A: You may need to change the permissions as an administrator. Open up terminal on your Mac and then open the directory that file is located in. Then type:
sudo chmod 777 -R on directory file located

A: Go to your Xammp directory, right click and select Read informations. At the bottom of it, click on the chains, enter your password and change permission to read and write to everyone. Now, click on the cog and choose Apply to included elements.
Refresh your page that includes the code, and tadam, fopen(), file_put_contents(), etc, will work.


beautiful blog..and what a lovely post...I love romance..
i like the relationship you've created between the hands and the piano... the piano craves to be touched and played... the hands sets the music free... wow!!!
Where have I been all this time? I should have visited your lovely blog much earlier. Will be here more often now.Great post.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!!!
I remember this one now. I have no idea what I wrote when I saw it on myspace, but I'm sure it was something good;) Even on re-reading, the piano thing didn't occur to me at first. A very thoughtful piece.


text:
Germany invades Russia - Operation Barbarossa sees the Nazi forces sweep into Russia, in a massive effort to conquer the Soviet Union so it could be repopulated with Germans
On June 22, 1941, Adolf Hitler launched his armies eastward in a massive invasion of the Soviet Union: three great army groups with over three million German soldiers, 150 divisions, and three thousand tanks smashed across the frontier into Soviet territory. The invasion covered a front from the North Cape to the Black Sea, a distance of two thousand miles. By this point German combat effectiveness had reached its apogee; in training, doctrine, and fighting ability, the forces invading Russia represented the finest army to fight in the twentieth century. Barbarossa was the crucial turning point in World War II, for its failure forced Nazi Germany to fight a two-front war against a coalition possessing immensely superior resources.
The Germans had serious deficiencies. They severely underestimated their opponent; their logistical preparations were grossly inadequate for the campaign; and German industrial preparations for a sustained war had yet to begin. But the greatest mistake that the Germans made was to come as conquerors, not as liberators–they were determined to enslave the Slavic population and exterminate the Jews. Thus, from the beginning, the war in the East became an ideological struggle, waged with a ruthlessness and mercilessness not seen in Europe since the Mongols.
In Barbarossa's opening month, German armies bit deep into Soviet territory; panzer armies encircled large Soviet forces at Minsk and Smolensk, while armored spearheads reached two-thirds of the distance to Moscow and Leningrad. But already German logistics were unraveling, while a series of Soviet counterattacks stalled the advance. In September the Germans got enough supplies forward to renew their drives; the results were the encirclement battles of Kiev in September and Bryansk-Vyazma in October, each netting 600,000 prisoners.
Moscow seemingly lay open to a German advance, but at this point Russian weather intervened with heavy rains that turned the roads into morasses. The frosts of November solidified the mud, so that the drive could resume. Despite the lateness of the season and the fact that further advances would leave their troops with no winter clothes or supply dumps for the winter, the generals urged Hitler to continue. The Germans struggled to the gates of Moscow where Soviet counterattacks stopped them in early December. In desperate conditions, they conducted a slow retreat as Soviet attacks threatened to envelop much of their forces in a defeat as disastrous as that which befell Napoleon's Grand Army in 1812. In the end the Soviets overreached, and the Germans restored a semblance of order to the front; the spring thaw in March 1942 brought operations to a halt. But Barbarossa had failed, and Nazi Germany confronted a two-front war that it could not win.
World War II Database - Operation Barbarossa
The Atlantic - Operation Barbarossa
US Holocaust Memorial Museum - Invasion of the Soviet Union
Imperial War Museum - Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Failure in the Soviet Union
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - a surprise attack on the US naval base in Hawaii by the Japanese Imperial Navy Air Force prompts America to enter the war
On the morning of 7 December 1941, at 7.55am local time, 183 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Their intention was to destroy and damage as much of the US Pacific Fleet as possible, before it could respond to Japanese operations taking place on the same day against British, Dutch and US territories in southeast Asia.
This first attack wave began bombing the hangars and parked aircraft of the island's airfields while at the same time launching torpedoes against the US warships moored in the harbour. In the first five minutes of the attack, four battleships were hit, including the USS Oklahoma and the USS Arizona. Minutes later, the Arizona exploded after a bomb hit its gunpowder stores, sinking the ship and killing 1,177 of its crew.
This devastating attack was followed an hour and a half later by a second wave of 170 Japanese aircraft. Within two hours, 18 US warships had been sunk or damaged, 188 aircraft destroyed and 2,403 American servicemen and women killed. Many of these ships were repaired and fought in later battles, and, crucially all three of the Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers were not at Pearl Harbor during the attack and so escaped damage. They were to prove vital in the coming Pacific Campaign.
Although the attack was a complete surprise, many American servicemen were able to fight back. Some US airmen were even able to get their aircraft into the sky while their runways were under attack. 2nd Lieutenants Kenneth M. Taylor and George Welch had been sleeping after a late-night Christmas party when they heard the sounds of explosions and machine gun fire. Still wearing their tuxedoes from the night before, they raced to their waiting aircraft. Together they shot down seven Japanese aircraft and were both awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for gallantry in the US Army Air Corps at the time.
Before the attack on Pearl Harbour the United States had been supporting Allied forces with weapons and supplies, under the Lend-Lease Agreement, but many in the country were reluctant to enter the war. The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech to the United States Congress urging for a formal declaration of war against Japan. War was declared an hour later, bringing the United States into the Second World War and unifying the country behind the war effort.
SOURCE: IWM.org.uk
World War II Database - Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Atlantic - Pearl Harbor
Eyewitness to History - Attack at Pearl Harbor
BuzzFeed News - America After The Attack On Pearl Harbor


text:
Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo review
Samsung released the Galaxy Grand Neo on February 17, 2014.
The Galaxy Grand Neo price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo prices from around the web here on The Informr.
Where can I download the Galaxy Grand Neo manual?
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy Grand Neo with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
I have Galaxy Grand Neo problems. Where can should I go for support, replacement or repairs?
If your Galaxy Grand Neo has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
2How to convert Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo to 4G?
0Why does the Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo restart automatically and not support SD card?
0Why does Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo say I don't have enough storage when I actually have?
0How to change brightness control from auto to normal on the Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo?
16Can the Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo be updated to 4G and Android 5.0?
Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo Manual (PDF)
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo's screen size is 5.01 inches with x pixels resolution.
There is a ARM Cortex-A7 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).
There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
Internal memory is 8/16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.
The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2100 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 17.9 days standby time, 660 minutes, 600 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.
Galaxy Grand Neo Specs
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+
ARM Cortex-A7 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Up to: 17.9 days
White, Black, Orange, Lime Green
14.4 x 7.7 x 1.0 cm (5.7 x 3 x 0.4 in)
POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance, Sound & Shot, Metering, Exposure value
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, DivX, XviD, RealVideo, AVI
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
VGA (640 x 480)
MIDI, MP3, AAC, AMR-WB, AMR, WMA, WAV, M4A, OGG
Downloadable ()
Other Names (AKA): Samsung Galaxy Grand Lite, GT-I9060
Dual SIM version also available.
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
Help inform others by sharing your experience with Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo


Bob Lipply does it again! CONTRACT PENDING IN TARPON WOODS IN 2 DAYS! Very nice home on the Tarpon Woods Golf Course, priced at $299,900. Palm Harbor Real Estate doesn't get much better than this. If you are looking to sell your home in Palm Harbor this summer, call us at 1 888 423 5775.


This city-state has to be the poster child for stupid opulence. Below is a picture of a British jet on a flyby over a man made island shaped like a palm tree, Palm Jumeirah. Real estate on that island isn't moving as expected.
Believe it or not, there are three Palm Islands and another group called "The World."
Then you have the Dubai Ski resort. This kind of gives you an idea where the money, we pay for gas, goes.
How about the world's tallest building the Burj Dubai? Notice the foreground is a replica of Venice, Italy (to show it all would take another 15 pictures).
These things are visible, want to guess at what can't be seen? The "Cash for Hookers Program," is working quite well in the Arab world; better so than the "Cash for Clunkers" plan here in the States. These girls are bringing our oil dollars back to us (God bless them).
Dubai is a house of cards. It is beyond being absurd. The UAE is stepping in to bail them out. (they had a change of heart) It tends to be obvious that something is out of whack from an investment perspective when you see a ski resort in the hot desert; it is not a mirage. The estimates are around 90 billion dollars to contain the damage (multiply that by a factor of 10 for a more realistic estimate).
Now if the Arabs have been storing their reserves in our banks--- and Ben has spent it all--- and they need to make a large withdrawal,- - - hmmmm.
The next time you go to get gas, think "Ski Dubai." You might mispronounce the word "Ski" and that is understandable.
This health care plan being pushed through Congress is pretty much nothing more than a tax hike on the young paying for the benefits of the old. The additional funds raised and not paid out could be "borrowed" by Congress, just like our Social Security taxes were.
Look at the picture below. 23 percent of our budget is for Medicare, 21 percent is for Social Security, 10 percent is other, and interest on the debt is 8 percent. The only things Congress can "adjust" (cut) are the 21 percent for defense or the 17 percent of discretionary spending. Good luck there.
In the second chart look at the sources of income; Social Security provides 36 percent of tax revenues. Notice, the government is only paying out 21 percent in benefits to Social Security recipients; the other 15 percent is "budget money." Note: FDR claimed that Social Security would only amount to a 1 percent tax (Democrats seem to have a problem with math and that goes hand in hand with voters having a bad memory).
This is where the health care tax will be the new revenue generator. Just like Social Security was during the Great Depression. But this time it will back fire on them. Congress in its infinite stupidity thinks this will solve all of our country's budget problems. They raise taxes and the taxpayer gets "free" health insurance. But there is one little item, that right now is insignificant, but will rise up to bite them. It is the assumption that most families will continue to have two wage earners.
The younger generation may be able to beat this tax. When our son was born, I became Mr. Mom. My wife had a real good job and at the time, my real estate career wasn't setting the world on fire. My wife wanted me to get a "real" job and put our son in day care. I mentally figured it out, day care would cost about $18,000 per year and gas to drive to my job would probably be $2,000 per year. Plus we would both have to do the cooking, cleaning and shopping; figure that has to be worth about $5,000 per year. Add it up and it totals up to $25,000 (after tax income) so in reality, you need to earn $30,000 (before taxes)to justify getting a job. On an hourly basis, that figures out to about $14.42 per hour (figure $15.50 if health insurance passes). Being a house wife, may be a big positive for family financing especially if the prospective employer is only offering $9.00 per hour.
Government health insurance would be one less worry for the wife and kids. The husband could come home for "lunch." Their actual standard of living would be better than the family with two wage earners. The net effect of this health insurance could inadvertently reduce the number of working women (with young children), which would be a reduction of taxpayers paying into the system.
Any way you look at it, there will be more people "not working," or working under the table. Social Security collections as well as the new Health care tax could probably decrease well below anticipated government expectations.
Tax increases did not work during the Great Depression, including the Social Security tax. I read history, I don't interpret it. Congress needs to share a cell with Bernie Madoff. They both played the same game, the only difference, Bernie knew his investors.
Geithener Sends US Gold to China???
The IMF just sold 403 metric tons of gold, this amounts to 12,965,649 fine troy ounces. 200 tons of it went to "India." In order to sell gold, the IMF has to have an 85 percent approval of all of the members and from what I can surmise the US has about 17% of the voting rights, the toys were ours so no one objected to this transaction.
To the IMF and the countries of the world, gold has no real value. Each country can purchase gold from citizens with their own currency. It used to be that a currency was backed by gold and could be redeemed at the gold window. President Nixon closed the gold window for the US. So in essence, gold has little meaning as far as trade goes. With the financial markets, options can be bought to cover currency fluctuations. Gold has been removed from the equation.
One factor not often considered is that there are security considerations for storing gold. You have to keep it in a secure and controlled environment. In third world countries that is just about impossible. Several countries have "gold rooms." This is where gold is stored in different locations around the world. So if the US was to transfer gold to Brazil in the New York office, it would go from room 10A to 12b. If the room 12b got filled up, Brazil would send a boat to pick up the surplus. This is how it worked when the world was on a gold standard; that all ended 35 years ago.
Figure that the IMF doesn't deal in gold, it deals in currency. It loans money not gold. Gold is not a commodity that is useful in lending, it is not bad as collateral, but to a bank, it has to be sold for currency before they can use it. The IMF doesn't need gold, it needs currency. Gold has no value to them. It is like a person in the desert with 1000 ounces of gold and no water, you can't drink the gold.
I contend that the IMF never had any gold and doesn't need any; it has no functional purpose to them. They have the rights to currency valued with gold for each country, based on their current conversion rate and that is all they need to operate as a bank lender. Our representatives at the IMF are Tim Geithener and Ben Bernanke.
So what are we looking at here? Figure that India was just the middleman. Let me suggest that China wanted some assurances that the money loaned to us was not just paper. I am suggesting that the US transferred to the Chinese 403 metric tons of gold as a down payment on our 1.5 trillion dollar tab with them. That figures out to be about a 10% 1% cash payment on debts owed. Can you imagine the headline "US gives China 12 billion in Gold." Let's face who else has 403 tons of gold and a need to back the paper they have already printed?
I could be dead wrong on this, but something smells funny here.
Unemployment benefits have been extended to 99 weeks, (93 if you are in Kalifornia). If I was 40 years younger, I'd buy a surf board and a gallon of suntan oil.
You know times are tough when you hear on the radio that the Mexicans are sending money to the US for illegal aliens out of work.
The good news is that the country can still afford to pay the interest on the national debt. Notice that it is also figured as a percent of Gross Domestic Production [GDP = private consumption +gross investment + government spending + (exports-imports)]. So as a percent of GDP, you have the ratio Debt to GDP. It kind of obfuscates the dollars and cents/sense.
The red check mark at the bottom of the chart points to the sentence; "The United States ranked as the 23rd-largest in the world as a percentage of GDP. It gives the reader the warm and fuzzy idea that 22 other countries are messing up worse than the US.
Here we are with visual aid number two. This shows standings according to public debt as a percentage of annual GDP. Japan is almost at the top, beaten out by the small country of Zimbabwe. Take your pick of whose figures work best for you. No surprise here, the US is way down the list, just like the claim from the chart above.
Look at the next chart below. Here the countries are listed by the dollar amount of external debt. The US is at the top. This is where you ask the waiter for your check and choke. What happened to Zimbabwe? Note that Japan is a special case. They have 7 trillion in debt but most of it is internal.
The last chart is more or less a financial report card for the major world players. Ireland looks like is has run out luck. As long as interest rates remain low, these governments can keep the punch bowl full.
Take away Australia, Hong Kong and the US, and the rest are members of the European Union that is tied to the Euro. Some of these countries have real good health care plans. It looks like it just gets put on a "bar tab" AKA National Debt.
Right now the US government doesn't even have two pennies to rub together and they are busy printing money to stimulate the economy. By god, everyone will have a home, a car and health care ("A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage" sounds kind of familiar--Hoover comes to mind). Worry about getting a job after the handouts stop! Congress is in too much of a hurry to spend the country out of this "Recession." It's a little like dropping a frozen turkey into a hot deep fat fryer. You mise well attach a radio beacon to it, so you can track it, after lift-off.
If we summarize the present banking problems (including Fannie and Freddie), it is pretty obvious that the Federal Reserve and Treasury have bought all of the bad housing. No depositor has lost a dime. The last 16 bank closings have had absurd balance sheets. Oddly enough U. S. Bank Corp took over the last nine closings. In my opinion, this isn't really the time to expand your market share in the banking industry. The absorbed banks just might make U.S. Bank Corp too big to fail and I imagine any losses from the assumed loans are insured by the FDIC or put on the books at a marked to market value (some sort of "can't lose" deal).
If you simplify all of this, the FDIC is cashing out the failed housing loans written by the closed banks. Then they avoid further losses by folding the rest of the failed bank's loans into the buyer bank.
In the normal market of the 60's and 70's, a home mortgage included a 20% down payment. So if there was a problem with the market, the bank was not out of pocket until the home values decreased 20%. With the 100% loan, the bank is the real owner of the property the minute the note is signed. With the drop in property values of 40%, the banks are left holding the bag. The words "Road Kill" come to mind.
The picture below displays the info on the last failed nine banks, assets to deposits should match in value. Some of the values are so out of whack, it questions whether or not you really need a book keeper to tell you that your broke!
Now we have a new FDIC ruling that commercial loans can be carried on the books at original price for bookkeeping purposes. They don't have to be marked to market. I would call this "Creative Financing." Common sense suggests that this is wrong, and I am just pointing it out.
If you thought housing loans were bad, commercial loans are toxic. If a 10 million dollar shopping mall goes into bankruptcy and is sold for 5 million, the buyer might only have to come up with a 5% down payment (250K--- insurance companies do this all the time). So to the person with an expiring lease can probably get a real rent reduction by switching malls. What happens next? Retailers vote with their feet. The irritating thing here is that more commercial property falls into bankruptcy. It's not a fast process; it will take about 5 years (In our area, this was evident 2 years ago). So I guess we have a head start. I just don't know if winning a bankruptcy race is the sort of race we really need to win.
So far there have been 116 banks that have failed this year, 10 times more could fail over the coming year. Transferring the assets from small banks to larger banks, doesn't make the problem loans any more secure, it just passes the problems into the future.
It is very comforting to know that the FDIC has everything under control--We get to watch them paint themselves into a corner.


Kensington Market | You windy rathole!
I thought the "No Pigeons" sign on the door of My Market Bakery was a joke until this morning. But when I walked into the Kensington Market bakery, a staffer came out of the kitchen with a pair of tongs. "You let the pigeon in," she explained.
Apparently, this particular pigeon hangs around the front of the bakery each morning, waiting for a customer to open the door. She then runs inside and tries to eat as many crumbs off the floor as she can before being hustled outside again.
On my way out of the bakery (with some excellent multigrain bread), the ejected pigeon was once again waiting by the door, and nearly made it past me.


Failure is not an option when it comes to designing motion systems in aircraft or military applications, even under the harshest and most demanding conditions. Mechanics and motion control systems must be dynamic and respond instantly, accurately and reliably.
Elevators and rudders, horizontal stabilizers, satellite tracking systems, pointing and tracking systems, antenna systems, door and hatch actuators, landing gear, braking systems and more.
Armor actuation, suspension, electric brakes, seat actuation, mast systems, weapons systems charging, engine systems, utility actuation, door/hatch actuation.
For land-based systems, high torque servo motors are required to dynamically accelerate and decelerate the mass of the antenna and to accurately hold position. For pedestals mounted on vehicles and ships, a more compact, efficient direct drive motor solution is suitable.
Azimuth and elevation actuators must be durable to the same harsh conditions as the vehicle itself. Furthermore, They must ensure reliably and accurate positioning while in motion.
UAVs, UGVs and UUVs require compact, light, energy-efficient servo systems that do not compromise on performance and can respond instantly and accurately under extreme conditions.
Laser or IR guidance, JDAM systems, and more.
The dedicated project manager and weekly face to face meetings were crucial to the success of the project.
Our requirements for motion control were quite demanding and unique, and still Servotronix was able to give us a complete motion control solution, customized exactly to our needs.
Servotronix has the expertise to analyze our exact requirements and develop effective, application-specific solutions that strengthen our competitive advantage.
Servotronix showed great commitment to the project, and never gave up in any step of the way.


Home improvement projects are best done in spring when the weather conditions are perfect for installation, replacement and repair. Focusing on the planning and scheduling of your projects is important, but it's equally important to pick the right home improvement company.
Quality Home Exteriors are your local and experienced roofing contractors. In this post, we discuss some tips to keep in mind when choosing a contractor for your home improvement project.
Ideally, you should work with a local contractor that offers more than just what you're planning to do. Certain parts of your home go hand-in-hand with one another; for example the roof and the siding, the roof and the gutters and the windows and doors.
At Quality Home Exteriors, we're more than just roofing contractors. We offer full-service installation and replacement services. From roofing to window replacement, we'll develop a smart home improvement plan that takes into consideration the interconnected elements of your home that ensure your property's energy efficiency, utility and curb appeal.
You'll also want to secure the services of a contractor with both workers' compensation and liability insurance. The former protects the contractor's crew from injuries while the latter protects you from damaged caused by the crew during the project.
While we guarantee expert workmanship every time, we also understand the importance of insurance and that's why we have both. Peace of mind is what you get when you work with us.
Finally, it's important to hire a company that offers the best materials for your home, whether it's roofing, siding or the windows and doors. At Quality Home Exteriors, we believe that homeowners deserve to get industry-leading products and warranties at an affordable price. You can always expect us to recommend the best materials and hardware for your home, all backed by some of the strongest warranties in the industry.
Quality Home Exteriors is one of the top roofing companies in Nebraska. Call us today at (402) 403-5815 to learn more about what we can offer. We are local roofing contractors serving homeowners in Omaha and Lincoln, NE.


text:
Chile's miners teach world hope rarely misplaced
Posted: 04:28 PM ET
By Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN
(CNN) - A hero's welcome awaits them when they get to the top, not because they did anything markedly noble - besides defy odds - but because they showed us there is hope even when the worst seems certain.
By this time Wednesday, the historic moment should be long under way. After 69 days beneath the earth, the last of the 33 miners trapped in the San Jose gold and copper mine in Chile should be preparing for their ascent to freedom.
Their survival, many will say, was born of the strength, patience and resilience God instilled in them.
Already, there have been myriad times a higher power was more than a mere specter or matter of faith to the men. Crammed like the canned fish that first sustained them into a space the size of a Manhattan studio apartment, they have expressed a oneness with the Holy Spirit that resonates with Chileans, 87 percent of whom are Christian.
"We 33 miners are walking hand in hand with God," miner Mario Sepulveda reported on August 31, about 26 days after the mine collapsed and nine days after the world first learned they were alive.
Another 42 days have passed since that profession of faith. Each day has doubtless required similar, sustaining thoughts.
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WV miners not responding to first hole drilled
A bore hole was drilled early Wednesday into the area of a West Virginia coal mine where four miners, unaccounted for following an explosion Monday, are expected to be found, Gov. Joe Manchin said.
Pipes were lowered into the hole, and officials banged on the pipes in an effort to contact those underground, but there was no response, Manchin said.
The hole punched through about 4:15 a.m. ET, the governor said. Two more holes were under way, and a fourth is planned.
"There's a sliver of hope, but we know that the odds are not in our favor," West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin told CNN.
"Everyone's going to cling to the hope of a miracle," he told reporters. "That is the true agony of this."
NOTE – Miner Stanley Stewart will be among our guests tonight discussing the latest in the rescue effort – Stewart was between 300 – 400 feet below the surface preparing for his shift when the explosion occurred. Read more about his story HERE and be sure to tune in TONIGHT at 9pmet.
Filed under: Breaking News • Larry King Live
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Latest on the mine explosion in West Virginia – 25 dead
It could take up to two days to drill bore holes into a sprawling West Virginia coal mine, scene of a massive blast that left at least 25 miners dead, a mining official said Tuesday.
Bulldozers will be used to clear a path through the hills and bring in equipment to reach the affected part of the Upper Big Branch Mine, Kevin Stricklin of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said.
The holes will be drilled 1,200 feet down to help ventilate the mine and collect samples. Rescue crews early Tuesday halted their efforts to reach four miners still unaccounted for, as concentrations of methane and carbon monoxide posed a safety risk, Stricklin said.
"I think it's a dire situation but I do think that it is a rescue operation and it will be that way until we confirm that these four additional people are not living," he said earlier. "I mean, there are miracles that go on."
"Basically all we have left," Stricklin said, "is hope."
*NOTE – We'll be discussing the latest on the mine explosion on tonight's LARRY KING LIVE – tune in at 9pmet!
Chelsea Clinton Engaged to Longtime Beau
From People.com
By Michael Y. Park and Sharon Cotliar
It'll be a first-family wedding for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton. The daughter of President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Marc Mezvinsky, it has been confirmed to PEOPLE.
Clinton, 29, of course, is the former first couple's only child. Mezvinsky, a banker and fellow Stanford alumnus, is the 31-year-old son of former Iowa congressman Ed Mezvinsky and former Pennsylvania congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinksy. The two became engaged on Thanksgiving, which they spent in New York.
On Friday, the pair sent out an e-mail to friends and family, saying: "We're sorry for the mass email but we wanted to wish everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving! We also wanted to share that we are engaged! We didn't get married this past summer despite the stories to the contrary, but we are looking toward next summer and hope you all will be there to celebrate with us. Happy Holidays! Chelsea & Marc."
Filed under: Bill Clinton • Breaking News • Celebrity News • Hillary Clinton
Update: Tiger Woods injured in car crash
(CNN) - Golfer Tiger Woods was taken to a Florida hospital after suffering facial injuries in a car crash early Friday, police said.
The one-car accident occurred about 2:25 a.m. near Woods' home in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, according to an incident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
A statement from Woods' publicist and Health Central Hospital called the accident "minor" and said Woods was "admitted, treated and released today in good condition."
Woods, 33, had just pulled out of his driveway in his 2009 Cadillac SUV and had begun to drive down a street when he struck a fire hydrant, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The front of his vehicle then struck a tree.
Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn told CNN that local police arrived within two minutes of being notified. The golfer was taken to Health Central Hospital, where he was treated for facial lacerations and released, Bruhn said.
"I think it's nothing more than an accident," he said.
Breaking News: Tiger Woods in hospital after car crash
(CNN) - Golfer Tiger Woods has been taken to a hospital after being injured in a car wreck near his central Florida home early Friday, officials said.
The one-car accident occurred about 2:25 a.m. in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, according to an incident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Woods, 33, had just pulled out of his driveway and begun to drive down the street when his Cadillac SUV struck a fire hydrant, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The front of his vehicle then struck a tree. He has been transported to Health Central Hospital, the statement said.
The crash is under investigation and charges are pending, though it was not clear who could face charges. The accident did not appear to have been alcohol-related, the statement said.
Woods lives in Orange County with his wife, supermodel Elin Nordegren, and two children.
Woods has won 93 tournaments, 71 of those on the PGA Tour, including the 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005 Masters Tournaments, 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007 PGA Championships, 2000, 2002, and 2008 U.S. Open Championships, and 2000, 2005 and 2006 Open Championships, according to his official Web site.
Picture emerging of suspect in Fort Hood shooting
A picture began to emerge Thursday of the suspect in the Fort Hood shootings as a mental-health professional who had worked to help others in high-stress situations.
The alleged gunman was identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, military officials said. Hasan's office at the base's Darnall Army Medical Center is about a mile from where the shootings occurred. Though it was previously reported he was dead, officials reported late Thursday he was alive, wounded and in stable condition.
Staff Sgt. Marc Molano, currently based at Fort Knox, Kentucky, told CNN he was treated by Hasan for post-traumatic stress disorder while at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington earlier this year.
"Dr. Hasan provided me with nothing but the best care," Molana said. "He was a very well-mannered, polite psychiatrist, and it's just a shock to know that Dr. Hasan could have done this. It's still kind of hard to believe." Molano described him as "far and away one of the best psychiatrists I ever dealt with."
A soldier who served two tours in Iraq and is awaiting medical retirement for chronic PTSD and severe mental disorders called Hasan "a soldier's soldier who cared about our mental health."
But, he added, "Hasan hears nothing but these horror stories from soldiers who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan - just hearing it I'm pretty sure would have a profound effect."
Filed under: Breaking News • Crime
6-Year-Old Boy Found Safe After Balloon Floats Away
Via thedenverchannel.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - A 6-year-old boy, who was feared adrift in a wayward homemade helium balloon, was found safe in his home after a massive search Thursday afternoon.
6-year-old Falcon Heene was found after hiding in the attic
The discovery ended a nerve-racking four-hour chase and hunt because authorities and family members had believed that Falcon Heene accidentally lifted off in the family's silver saucer-shaped weather balloon when it became untethered from their Fort Collins back yard. Millions worldwide watched on live TV and on the Internet as helicopter cameras tracked the balloon as it floated thousands of feet above rural Colorado before it crashed in a field.
Swarming deputies soon reported that the boy was not on board.
"Be advised it's empty ... It's empty," an official announced on the Larimer County dispatcher radio.
That prompted a massive ground search, with law enforcement agencies retracing the balloon's path in an effort to try and locate the missing boy.
((READ MORE...))
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BREAKING NEWS: Search is on for missing 6-year-old boy
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The search is on for a 6-year-old boy who is missing after floating over northeastern Colorado in a homebuilt helium balloon that touched down about two hours after lifting off.
The balloon landed south of Prospect Springs, Colorado, on Thursday afternoon.
The balloon landed about 2 miles northeast of Prospect Reservoir at 1:35 p.m., in Weld County, but the boy was not inside. That's about 50 miles from where the balloon lifted off.
The boy has been identified as Falcon Heene, the youngest of three sons of Richard and Mayumi Heene, of Fort Collins.
The family reported Falcon could not be found after the balloon lifted off. His older brother told his parents that he saw Falcon climb into the small compartment at the bottom of the balloon and the balloon lifted off, Larimer County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kathy Messick said.
BREAKING NEWS: Balloon lands; boy not found
(CNN) - A runaway balloon has touched down in Colorado after a 6-year-old boy untied it from his family home in Fort Collins.
The dome-shaped balloon is 20 feet long and 5 feet high, Larimer County Sheriff's Office says.
The boy was not inside the helium aircraft when it landed, CNN affiliate KMGH reported.
A sibling saw the boy get into the craft Thursday morning. Officials were concerned that the boy may have fallen out of it, an undersheriff said.
Margie Martinez of the Weld County Sheriff's Office said a sibling saw Falcon Heene climb into the basket before the balloon took off from his parents' Fort Collins, Colorado home.
Since the door on the balloon was unlocked, it's possible the boy had fallen out, Martinez said.
The balloon appeared to be a saucer-shaped, Mylar-coated helium balloon, similar to a party balloon. The craft was drifting eastward, authorities said.


Email your updated resume to our email id - �recruitment@dreuae.ae' with a subject line as "Document Controller"
i am looking for my job.i am civil engineer.i have one year indian experience in civil construction field.
MBA Qualified with 14 Years of Project Management UAE Experience.
and i wish to be considered for this possision.


Embassy of host country or Embassy of employer's country in Pakistan.
The demand letter must specify job description such as categories of workers required, number of jobs against each category, terms and conditions of the service and qualification/experience, if required, for each post. Power of attorney and Demand Letter combined will also be accepted in case it is duly attested by any of the authorities mentioned above. Visa slip/Labour approval duly verified shall also be submitted along with the demand documents. In case visa slip/Labour approval is not available, the OEP shall submit an Undertaking that the jobs are available with employer(s) and he shall be liable for action against him under the emigration laws if it is proved otherwise.
The Overseas Employment Promoter can apply to Protector of Emigrants for grant of permission on any working day. The Protector of Emigrants will acknowledge the receipt of such application and shall dispose it of on the same day before closing hours. In case of any objection on the relevant documents i.e. power of attorney, demand letter visa slip etc the same will be conveyed to the Overseas Employment Promoters in writing the same day. Every permission so granted shall be entered in a register and allotted a number (with date) in sequence in a calendar year. Permission will be valid for a period of 120 days. In case permission is not granted PE shall record the reasons thereof on application form and return to Overseas Employment Promoter on the same day. The Overseas Employment Promoter may file an appeal with the Director General against the decision of Protector of Emigrants and the decision of Director General on such appeal shall be final.


text:
Production: Traditions may fall by the wayside during the search for new inventions
A series of major fairs is about to start, and new ideas abound everywhere from the IAA to IT or technology fairs. In the past, design-to-cost was the main issue. Under given framework conditions, engineers had to develop and construct new products while keeping costs as low as possible. They had to adhere to the maxim: "Construct your product in such a way that, while respecting the existing conditions, you do not exceed the target costs."
Looking for the latest trend
Now, everyone is looking for a new trend, a new "key driver" for the next product revolution. What might that be? Perhaps an answer to the question of how to efficiently get relevant information from the available mass of data? Of how to use fewer resources by making smaller products which offer (at least) a comparable range of functions? Or of how to keep carbon emissions as low as possible during the production or use of certain products (for example electric cars)?
Clock, smartphone, armlet – all-in-one
Mobile phones are a good example of how things may develop. Initially, mobiles had one primary use, namely to make and receive telephone calls. Over time, new functions were added, for example texting. Simultaneously, the phones became smaller and lighter. And now, we have smartphones, and placing and receiving calls has become only one function of many. Now, producers are hoping to create a new hype by offering a "smartwatch". Flexible displays will help to make the smartphone a smart accessory. A Samsung manager even expects the computerised watch to become a fashion icon. In that case, the smartwatch would be in for a similar development as traditional watches. When Swatch watches made their appearance, watches became a fashion accessory, which, as a side effect, showed the time.
Watching TV without television (Source: Handelsblatt, 05.09.2013)
The continued search for the next trend and the latest hype has another effect, too. Whole categories of products may vanish from the market as new products fulfil their functions. Take computers, for example. First, laptops and notebooks gradually replaced traditional desktops, and now, smartphones and tablets take the place of laptops and notebooks, as they offer roughly the same range of functions. With more and more people watching films on their smartphones and tablets, producers of traditional TV sets will be in for a rough ride, too. Still, as TV sets will likely be linked to the internet in the future, the traditional TV set will survive for now.
Weighing less
Besides the "crowding-out effect", computer technology and the replacement of desktop PCs by laptops/notebooks and (later on) tablets/smartphones illustrates a second general trend in technology: that towards miniaturisation. There are two simple reasons for it:
Smaller gadgets which offer the same range of functions are lighter.
If fewer complex components are needed to offer the same functions, producers need less material and can reduce their processing and assembly efforts. That, in turn, is in line with the sustainability trend.
This trend has spread from electronics and related sectors to other products of daily life. The German business newspaper Handelsblatt writes that household appliance producers are starting to wonder whether a washing machine necessarily has to be a 60x60x85 cm cuboid (see Handelsblatt, 5 September 2013).
Whether we are speaking of household appliances, computer technology or cars – the question is whether it is possible to produce a given product (and obtain a given benefit) with less material and fewer processing steps. Doing so will help to reduce energy consumption and, in turn, carbon emissions.
In fact, people have been so busy looking for the new trend that they have overlooked that it has already started. Design-to-resources appears to have replaced design-to-cost. The new maxim is: "Construct your product in such a way that, while respecting the existing conditions, you do not exceed the target resource consumption." This will lead to new procedures and requirements in terms of material components and surface processing. Companies in these sectors should benefit significantly from the trend.
Overall, we have seen how technological change (for example touchscreens), market changes/changing customer requirements (for example miniaturisation) or social trends (such as sustainability, resource protection) drive the development of new products and production procedures. That is good for innovation – and a clear alarm signal for all those who believe that their product is the best and will not need to change over time.
Dieser Eintrag wurde veröffentlicht in Business Innovation, Production und verschlagwortet mit Design-to-Cost, Design-to-Resources, Miniaturisation, Smartwatch von Guido Beyss. Permanentlink.
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