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Class Action Decision Considers Secondary Market Misrepresentation Actions
Posted on Aug 28th, 2013 By Michael Beeforth
Categories: Securities Class Actions
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On July 25, 2013, Justice Belobaba of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released his decision (2013 ONSC 4083) certifying a proposed class action brought by the Ironworkers Ontario Pension Fund against Manulife Financial Corp. and two of its former executives, Dominic D'Alessandro (CEO) and Peter Rubenovitch (CFO). Belobaba J. also granted the plaintiffs leave to commence an action for secondary market misrepresentation under s. 138 of the Ontario Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 (the "Act").
In early 2004, Manulife added a number of new guaranteed investment products (the "Guaranteed Products") to its array of segregated funds. Unlike most of its older products, Manulife decided that the Guaranteed Products would not be hedged or reinsured – any risk of equity market fluctuations would be borne entirely by Manulife. The Guaranteed Products were very successful, growing Manulife's business from approximately $71 billion in early 2004 to approximately $165 billion by the end of 2008. However, almost all (if not completely all) of that business was unhedged and uninsured. When the global financial crisis hit in the fall of 2008 and the Canadian and American equity markets fell by more than 35%, Manulife was badly overexposed.
On February 12, 2009, Manulife released its 2008 annual financial statements which disclosed that corporate profits had fallen by almost $3.8 billion from the previous year ($2 billion of which was attributable to the Guaranteed Products line) and EPS had dropped from $2.78 to $0.32. The statements also noted that Manulife had increased its reserves from $576 million at year-end 2007 to $5.783 billion because of its unhedged exposure to the equity markets. Investors reacted immediately: Manulife's share price dropped 6% on the date it released its financial statements, fell a further 37% over the following ten days and, by the end of Manulife's Q1 2009, was trading at $8.92, a 77% decline from its $38.28 trading price six months earlier.
The plaintiffs commenced a proposed class action in July 2009 based on claims of negligence, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and the secondary market liability provision of the Act. The plaintiffs alleged that while Manulife was entitled to make a business decision not to hedge or reinsure its equity market risk, it had a legal obligation to fully and fairly disclose to investors its decision to abandon such techniques and the resulting risks. The plaintiffs further alleged, among other things, that Manulife consistently misrepresented in its core disclosure documents that it had in place "effective, rigorous, disciplined and prudent" risk management systems, policies and practices.
In certifying the action as a class proceeding and granting leave to pursue a s. 138 claim, Belobaba J. focused on two aspects integral to asserting the statutory cause of action: the test for leave to pursue such a proceeding, and the requirement under the Class Proceedings Act, S.O. 1992, c. 6, that the pleadings disclose a cause of action.
Leave Test under Section 138.8(1) of the Act
Belobaba J. discussed at some length the uncertainties surrounding the second branch of the leave test set out at s. 138.8(1) of the Act: that is, that there is a reasonable possibility that the action will be resolved at trial in favour of the plaintiff [1]. In Ontario, class action judges have consistently treated the "reasonable possibility" threshold as a relatively low standard, holding that the plaintiff must simply show, based on a reasoned consideration of the evidence, that there is something more than a de minimis possibility of success at trial. On the other hand, courts in British Columbia have viewed the test as a higher standard which is intended to do more than screen out clearly frivolous, scandalous or vexatious actions.
Belobaba J. pointed out that while his opinion was more consistent with the latter interpretation, the debate may have been decided in favour of the more lenient interpretation by the Supreme Court of Canada's recent decision in R. v. Imperial Tobacco Canada, 2011 SCC 42. In that decision, the Supreme Court held that under the strike-pleadings rule – which allows a claim to be struck if it is plain and obvious, assuming the facts as pleaded to be true, that the pleading discloses no reasonable cause of action – one must only show a "reasonable prospect of success", which amounts to the same thing as a "reasonable possibility of success" and may effectively render the test under s. 138.8 of the Act a de minimis threshold (as articulated by the Ontario courts). In any event, Belobaba J. held that he would have come to the same conclusion in favour of the plaintiffs under either interpretation of the test.
Certification under Class Proceedings Act
In certifying the action as a class proceeding, Belobaba J. addressed Manulife's argument that the pleadings did not disclose a cause of action claim in respect of the s. 138 claim because the action was not commenced within three years of the alleged misrepresentations (as required by s. 138.14 of the Act and the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in Sharma v. Timminco Ltd., 2012 ONCA 107).
While Timminco is currently under review by a five-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Belobaba J. agreed with Manulife that he is bound by the current state of the law. However, he also agreed with the plaintiffs' position that Timminco did not deal directly with the court's jurisdiction to grant leave nunc pro tunc, and that case law subsequent to Timminco has held that the limitation period in s. 138 of the Act is subject to the special circumstances doctrine (which provides a limited jurisdiction to make orders nunc pro tunc that have the effect of reviving a statute-barred cause of action [2]). On this basis, Belobaba J. concluded that he could not say that it is plain and obvious that the limitation period defence applies and the statutory claim is certain to fail.
Justice Belobaba's decision, while uncontroversial in its application of current legal principles, stands as an interesting commentary on future potential developments regarding the threshold to be applied in the test for leave under s. 138 of the Act. Indeed, in light of Imperial Tobacco, it may be inevitable that a lower standard emerges which, in Belobaba J.'s words, renders the test for leave "nothing more than a speed bump". It remains to be seen in future case law whether his premonition proves true.
[1] Belobaba J. held that the first branch – that the action is being brought in good faith – was easily satisfied based on the plaintiffs' argument and content of their expert reports.
[2] See, e.g., Millwright Regional Council of Ontario Pension Trust Fund v. Celestica Inc., 2012 ONSC 6083 at para. 85.
Court Affirms Standard of Review for Decisions of Securities Commissions is Reasonableness
Posted on Aug 21st, 2013 By Michael Beeforth
Categories: Regulatory (OSC/IIROC)
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The Appellants, Sanji Sawh and Vlad Trkulja, who were both mutual fund dealers and exempt market dealers, founded Investment House of Canada ("IHOC") in 2003. IHOC was a member of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association ("MFDA"), a self-regulatory organization ("SRO") recognized by the Ontario Securities Commission (the "Commission").
In 2009, following an investigation into IHOC, the MFDA commenced a disciplinary proceeding in relation to several alleged violations of the MFDA Rules, By-laws or Policies by IHOC and the Appellants. The Appellants and the MFDA subsequently reached a settlement agreement pursuant to which IHOC resigned from the MFDA and wound down, and the Appellants admitted to several contraventions of the MFDA Rules. The settlement agreement was approved by an MFDA hearing panel.
As a consequence of the settlement agreement, the Appellants' registration as dealing representatives of a mutual fund dealer was suspended. Six weeks after the settlement agreement, the Appellants applied to the Commission to have their registrations reinstated, which was denied. The Appellants requested a review of the decision and, after a six-day hearing before two commissioners, the OSC determined that the Appellants lacked the proficiency and integrity required by sections 27(1) and (2) of the Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 (the "Act"), to be registered as dealing representatives of a mutual fund dealer, and that reinstatement of their registrations would be otherwise objectionable.
The Appellants appealed to the Divisional Court, arguing that the conduct reviewed by the OSC was almost exclusively conduct that had already been fully investigated by the MFDA – which had not imposed a sanction barring the Appellants from applying for reinstatement of their registrations – and that by refusing their application, the Commission had departed from its established practice of deferring to the determinations made by expert SROs such as the MFDA.
In delivering the Panel's decision, Justice Sachs agreed with the Appellants that the case law surrounding Commission reviews of SRO decisions highlights the importance of deference to an SRO's findings. In the Appellants' case, however, the Commission was not conducting a hearing and review of the MFDA's settlement agreement or the hearing panel's decision approving that agreement (which, in any event, did not provide that the Appellants' registration would be reinstated).
Rather, the Commission's decision was an exercise of its discretion under section 27 of the Act to consider whether the Appellants were suitable candidates for re-registration, over which the Commission has sole jurisdiction (as the MFDA has not been delegated this authority). Justice Sachs held that the Commission's decision was justifiable and transparent, and met the applicable standard of review of reasonableness.
The Divisional Court's decision serves as a reminder that SROs derive their jurisdiction by virtue of being recognized by provincial securities commissions and that the power of SROs and their members is always subject to the oversight of those commissions. It also reaffirms the principle, recently expressed in other contexts,[1] that the courts will generally afford considerable deference to the decisions of securities commissions by applying a standard of review of reasonableness.
[1] See, e.g., Cornish v. Ontario Securities Commission, 2013 ONSC 1310 (CanLII) which dealt with continuous disclosure obligations, and Rankin v. Ontario Securities Commission, 2013 ONSC 112 (CanLII) which addressed a settlement entered into between the Appellant and the Commission.
UPDATE: Proposed Class Action Based on Offering Document Misrepresentations Certified for Purposes of Settlement
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On May 21, 2013, Perell J. certified a proposed class action against certain defendants in Zaniewicz v. Zungui Haixi Corp. based on misrepresentations in Zungui's IPO offering documents and other disclosure documents, including its audited and unaudited financial statements (2013 ONSC 2959). Perell J. had previously heard and granted the plaintiffs' motion for leave to assert a secondary market liability claim under s. 138.3 of the Ontario Securities Act against certain defendants (click here for a summary of that decision).
By the time of the certification hearing, the plaintiffs had reached two settlements covering all of the defendants except for those that comprised the underwriting syndicate for Zungui's IPO (including CIBC World Markets Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., GMP Securities LP and Mackie Research Capital Corporation – collectively, the "Underwriter Defendants"). As such, the motions for certification were brought for settlement purposes and did not address the claims against the Underwriter Defendants.
In certifying the class action against the settling defendants, Perell J. noted that even in situations where certification is sought for settlement purposes, all of the criteria for certification under s. 5(1) of the Class Proceedings Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 6 must still be met (though compliance with the criteria is not as strictly required because of the different circumstances associated with settlements).
It remains to be seen whether the plaintiffs will continue to pursue their claim against the Underwriter Defendants. Given Perell J.'s determination that the proposed class action against the settling defendants satisfied all of the certification criteria (albeit on a less strict evaluation than would be applied in a contested certification motion), it is more likely than not that the plaintiffs would be successful if they moved to certify against the Underwriter Defendants. On the other hand, the plaintiffs have yet to obtain leave to assert a secondary market liability claim against the Underwriter Defendants and, through the proposed settlements, have already recovered half of their estimated damages ($10M as against the plaintiffs' estimate of $20M). The plaintiffs' intentions will likely become clearer following the settlement approval hearings on August 26, 2013.
Class Proceeding against Investment Advisor, Firm and Trustee Certified at the Expense of Individualized Causes of Action
Posted on Aug 1st, 2013 By Michael Beeforth
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Verbeek was an investment advisor and, at some relevant times, a registered representative of the defendant Dundee Securities Corporation ("Dundee"). According to the plaintiffs' allegations, between August 1998 and June 2001, Verbeek ran an investment scheme pursuant to which his clients could access money in their retirement savings on a tax-free basis. Under the scheme, Verbeek's clients would either create a self-directed, locked-in RRSP at Verbeek's investment firm (such as Dundee) or open a trust account at a third party trustee (such as the defendant Canadian Western Trust Company, or "CWT"). Those RRSP funds were then used to purchase shares in certain Canadian Controlled Private Corporations, or "CCPCs", which were purportedly qualified investments for locked-in RRSPs. Verbeek's clients were then to receive loans using the CCPC shares as collateral. The CCPC shares were subsequently found to be worthless, and Verbeek's clients lost some or all of their money. The plaintiffs also allege that the CCPC shares were not eligible investments for locked-in RRSPs and were immediately taxable, and that the loans were illegal.
The plaintiffs allege that Dundee and CWT are liable on the basis of breach of contract, negligent performance of a service, negligence simpliciter and breach of fiduciary duty. At the certification motion, the plaintiffs sought to certify an overall "Verbeek Class" (which would include all of Verbeek's clients who participated in the investment scheme) and two subclasses: the "Dundee Subclass" (composed of all Verbeek Class members who participated in the investment scheme while Verbeek was registered at Dundee) and the "CWT Subclass" (composed of all Verbeek class members whose shares were held by CWT).
In analyzing the proposed class action, Justice Lauwers found that it met the criteria set out in s. 5 of Ontario's Class Proceedings Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 6, though he expressed reservations about the fact that the class and sub-class definitions were subjective and referenced the merits of the plaintiffs' claim, and held that the common questions required some amendment. Accordingly, Justice Lauwers certified the action conditionally pending completion of the above amendments.
While Dundee and CWT opposed certification on several bases, the most interesting arguments concerned the requirement that each plaintiff's individual claim share a common issue.
Dundee argued that the plaintiffs' allegations of breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty would oblige the court to engage in the fact-specific inquiry of assessing the suitability of the individual investments proposed by Verbeek to each of his clients, rendering those causes of action incapable of being common issues. CWT likewise argued that there was no evidentiary basis for determining that the proposed class members all participated in the same investment scheme in the same way for the same purpose.
In rejecting these arguments and holding that the causes of action disclosed common issues, Justice Lauwers rejected the "degree of hyper-commonality" demanded by Dundee and CWT, holding that it is well settled that courts must not set the bar too high on the common issues test. Justice Lauwers approved of the plaintiffs' position that "the investment scheme was a scam and entirely inappropriate for any investor", which he found to be a plausible assertion on the evidence. In accepting this simple characterization of commonality, however, Justice Lauwers pointed out that the plaintiffs might be limiting grounds for liability that would otherwise be available to individual class members in separate actions – for example, allegations of a breach of an IA's duty to know his client.
Justice Lauwers' decision highlights some of the difficulties associated with asserting individualized causes of action in the IA-client context as "common issues" in a class proceeding. Plaintiffs in such situations will need to determine whether they are willing to sacrifice certain individual causes of action in order to take advantage of the beneficial cost and efficiency aspects of class proceedings.
Court Confirms that S. 130 of the Ontario Securities Act Applies Only to Primary Market Purchasers
Posted on Feb 21st, 2013 By Michael Beeforth
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In the recent decision of Tucci v. Smart Technologies Inc. (2013 ONSC 802), Justice Perell confirmed that the statutory cause of action for misrepresentation in a prospectus (set out in s. 130(1) of the Ontario Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 (the "OSA")) does not apply to purchasers in the secondary market even when those purchasers buy securities during an ongoing IPO.
In Tucci, the defendant Smart Technologies ("Smart") filed a prospectus for the purposes of an IPO in respect of which the period of distribution began on July 15, 2010. In addition to Smart, both the defendants Intel Corporation and School S.a.r.L. sold Smart shares pursuant to the IPO. The IPO closed on July 20, 2010. However, prior to closing, the Smart shares began trading on the secondary market (on both the TSX and NASDAQ). The plaintiff alleges that on November 9, 2010, Smart made corrective disclosure in respect of a misrepresentation contained in its prospectus. The plaintiff subsequently commenced a proposed class action asserting a claim for damages under s. 130 of the OSA (as well as similar claims under the relevant sections of other Canadian securities legislation).
At the certification motion before Justice Perell, the defendants consented to certification of the action subject to one contested issue regarding the scope of the plaintiff's proposed class definition. Section 130(1) of the OSA provides that where a prospectus contains a misrepresentation, "a purchaser who purchases a security offered by the prospectus during the period of distribution or during distribution to the public" has a cause of action against, amongst others, the issuer and underwriters of the securities in question. This statutory cause of action has conventionally been understood to be available only to purchasers buying securities in the primary market, and not purchasers in the secondary market (who have their own statutory cause of action set out in s. 138.1 of the OSA for which leave is required). The plaintiff challenged this conventional understanding by seeking to certify a class which included persons who acquired Smart shares on the secondary market between July 15 and 20, 2010, arguing that during the period of distribution, purchasers in both the primary and secondary markets are similarly situated and, as a matter of public policy, it is desirable to treat similarly-situated persons equally. The plaintiff also sought to distinguish existing Ontario case law restricting the s. 130 cause of action to primary market purchasers on the basis that those cases only addressed secondary market purchasers who bought securities after the primary market distribution had been completed.
In rejecting the plaintiff's submissions, Justice Perell held that a secondary market purchaser does not purchase securities offered by a prospectus but, rather, purchases securities offered by a secondary market vendor, likely at a different price and on different terms of sale than primary market purchasers. Justice Perell also noted that the plaintiff's "strained interpretation" would have the anomalous result that some s. 130 claimants (the secondary market purchasers) would not have the alternative statutory right of rescission which is only available against the issuer, selling security holders and underwriters (and not secondary market vendors). In the result, the plaintiff's proposed class definition was revised by excluding secondary market purchasers.
This result is consistent with previous decisions, including Menegon v. Philip Services Corp. (2001 CanLII 28396 (ON SC)), in which FMC's J.L. McDougall and Michael Schafler successfully argued that extending s. 130 to secondary market purchasers could expose issuers and their advisors to indeterminate liability, as primary market purchasers might sell their purchased securities during the period of distribution to secondary market purchasers, who may themselves resell the securities several times.
Court of Appeal Agrees to Reconsider Timminco
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On February 6, 2013, the Court of Appeal for Ontario agreed to review its much discussed decision in Sharma v. Timminco Limited (2012 ONCA 107).
Timminco concerned a proposed class action in which the plaintiff sought to assert a claim for secondary market misrepresentation pursuant to section 138.3 of the Ontario Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 (the "OSA"), for which leave of the court is required under s. 138.8(1). Section 138.14 of the OSA provides that an action under s. 138.3 must be commenced within three years of the date of the alleged misrepresentation (or within six months following the issuance of a news release disclosed that leave has been obtained, whichever occurs first). The plaintiff had asserted in his Statement of Claim that he intended to seek leave as required by the OSA but, for various reasons, had not obtained leave by February 2011 (when the three-year limitation period was about to expire). The plaintiff thus sought and obtained an order declaring that the limitation period had been suspended by s. 28(1) of the Class Proceedings Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 6 (the "CPA"), which provides that "any limitation period applicable to a cause of action asserted in a class proceeding is suspended in favour of a class member on the commencement of the class proceeding". The defendants appealed to the Court of Appeal on the issue of whether pleading the intention to seek leave was sufficient to suspend the limitation period. The Court of Appeal overturned the initial decision, concluding that without leave having been obtained, no cause of action under s. 138.3 was being "asserted" so as to engage s. 28(1) of the CPA. As such, the cause of action for secondary market misrepresentation was not a legal right and could not be enforced. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to review the decision.
Since its release in February 2012, Timminco has attracted criticism from the plaintiffs' bar which argues that the court's approach has proven to be unworkable given the inherent delays in the court system, and the ability of corporate defendants to exacerbate those delays. In contrast, the defence bar has praised Timminco as providing certainty.
In the meantime, two further secondary market liability cases had come before the Court of Appeal on appeal: Green v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (2012 ONSC 3637), in which Justice Strathy reluctantly declined to certify a class action because it was time-barred by the three-year limitation period; and Silver v. IMAX (2012 ONSC 4881), in which Justice van Rensburg granted an order issuing retroactive leave under s. 138.8 of the OSA to allow the claim to proceed. IMAX is particularly interesting in that oral argument on the leave application had concluded before – and Justice van Rensburg's decision was released after – the three-year limitation had expired. At the request of the plaintiffs in both cases, the Court stated that it would appoint a special five-judge panel to hear the two appeals and reconsider the issues raised by Timminco. The panel is set to convene in May 2013.
Limitation periods are meant to provide certainty by representing an ultimate cut-off for potential legal proceedings. Recent legislative reforms were aimed at making Ontario's limitation period laws even stricter by eliminating the "special circumstances" doctrine. IMAX represents a departure from this trend and a step back towards the "special circumstances" doctrine. On the other hand, Timminco seemed harsh. What, specifically, has motivated the Court of Appeal to reconsider the issue is not known. Typically, however, full panels of the Court of Appeal are convened to reconsider decisions that have sparked public debate, which has been the case here. It may be that the Court of Appeal wishes to clarify its prior ruling – for example, by promulgating a new test for these types of cases. It may also be that the Court overrules itself. Our own view is that the Court may well provide clarification as to the meaning of the word "asserted" found in s. 28(1) of the CPA; the Court may, for example, hold that the launching of a leave motion under s. 138.3 of the OSA should suffice to suspend the applicable limitation period, since that step is akin to "asserting" a claim within the meaning of s. 28(1) of the CPA. It may also hold that as long as the motion is heard before the limitation period expires, the limitation period will have been complied with.
Deloitte & Touche Inc. Seeks to Discontinue Class Action Against Bre-X Principals
Posted on Jan 22nd, 2013 By Michael Beeforth
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Deloitte & Touche Inc. ("Deloitte"), the long-acting trustee for the Estate of Bre-X Minerals Ltd., has brought motions in the Alberta and Ontario courts seeking leave to discontinue the class action litigation that it has been prosecuting against, amongst others, former Bre-X principal John Felderhof and his ex-wife Ingrid Felderhof, as well as the Estate of founder and CEO David Walsh.
As a brief background, in October 1997, an action was commenced in Alberta by investors who lost money on the collapse of Bre-X. In November 1997, the Alberta Bankruptcy Court authorized Deloitte to prosecute the class action on behalf of these investors; shortly thereafter, Deloitte was granted carriage in Ontario in January 1998 (collectively, the "Deloitte Action"). The Deloitte Action asserted that John Felderhof failed to promptly disclose material changes relating to Bre-X's gold mining properties, and that he conspired with others to deceive investors by issuing false statements, announcements and press releases.
Deloitte's motions for discontinuance are being brought for two reasons: Deloitte no longer has the financial resources to prosecute the Deloitte Action, and it believes that there is no reasonable prospect of significant recovery from the Felderhofs or the Walsh Estate. Deloitte's motions are opposed by David Carom, one of the plaintiffs in a second class action against the Felderhofs and the Walsh Estate which, until recently, was in a litigation partnership with the Deloitte Action.
In anticipation of Deloitte's Ontario discontinuance motion hearing (currently scheduled for March 4, 2013), Mr. Carom recently brought a cross-motion seeking an order that Ingrid Felderhof and Jeannette Walsh (David Walsh's widow) attend to be examined as witnesses under Rule 39.03 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, and that Ingrid Felderhof allow class counsel to obtain an appraisal of a property in the Cayman Islands. Deloitte opposed the cross-motion based on its concern that its discontinuance motion could be affected in the event that either of the proposed witnesses failed to comply with any order made by the court.
At the cross-motion hearing (2012 ONSC 7278), Perell J. held that since neither of the proposed witnesses had actually been served with a summons, the appropriate decision was to adjourn the cross-motion to allow Mr. Carom to serve summonses. Perell J. noted, however, that had summonses been served, he saw no basis for striking them out. With respect to the request for an appraisal, Perell J. dismissed the motion without prejudice due to the lack of advice concerning his jurisdiction to make such an order, noting that Ingrid Felderhof was not a party to the Ontario litigation.
Court Confirms No Need for Defendants to Lead Evidence in Motion for Leave under Part XXIII.1 of the Ontario Securities Act
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In the recent decision of Dugai, Murphy v. Manulife Financial Corporation (2013 ONSC 327), the Divisional Court confirmed the principle that defendants have no obligation to lead evidence on a motion for leave to assert a cause of action for secondary market misrepresentation under s. 138.8(1) of the Ontario Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 (the "Act").
In Dugai, the plaintiff investors proposed a class action alleging inadequacies in the defendant corporation's Risk Management Policies and Practices, including a cause of action for secondary market misrepresentation under Part XXIII.1 of the Act (for which they require leave under s. 138.8(1)). After being advised that the defendants did not intend to file any affidavits on the leave motion (currently scheduled for March 2013), the plaintiffs summoned two Manulife employees under Rule 39.03 of the Rules of Civil Procedure to provide relevant evidence for use during the leave motion. The defendants brought a motion to quash the summonses, and the plaintiffs brought a cross-motion to compel the defendants to file affidavits. Belobaba J. granted the defendants' motion and dismissed the cross-motion; the plaintiffs sought leave to appeal in the Divisional Court.
In upholding Belobaba J.'s decision and dismissing the plaintiffs' application, Harvison Young J. agreed with his analysis that the two issues on motion – whether defendants are required to serve and file affidavits on a s. 138.1 motion, and the availability of Rule 39.03 summmonses in such circumstances – have already been fully adjudicated. Both judges drew particular attention to the decision of Lax J. in Ainslie v. CV Technologies (2008), 93 O.R. (3d) 200 (S.C.J.), one of the first actions brought under Part XXIII.1 of the Act. In Ainslie, FMC's Robb Heintzman and Matthew Fleming successfully argued that the Act only requires a defendant to file an affidavit where it intends to lead evidence in response to a leave motion, and that allowing the plaintiffs to examine the defendants in the absence of such affidavit evidence would amount to an abuse of process, as it would afford the plaintiffs greater rights of discovery than in an action where it is unnecessary to obtain leave.
Harvison Young J. concluded that the number of recent cases which accepted and applied the reasoning in Ainslie "overwhelming supports the motion judge's interpretation of s. 138.8 that it does not require the defendants to deliver affidavits or to be subjected to cross examination when they do not intend to lead evidence in response to the leave motion".
Leave to Assert Secondary Market Liability Claim under Part XXIII.1 of the Ontario Securities Act Granted in Proposed Class Action
Posted on Jan 8th, 2013 By Michael Beeforth
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In Zaniewicz v. Zungai Haixi Corp (2012 ONSC 6061), Perell J. heard and granted the plaintiffs' unopposed motion for leave to assert a secondary market liability claim under section 138.3 of Part XXIII.1 of the Ontario Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 (the "Act").
The defendant corporation, Zungui, is an Ontario public company that indirectly owned a shoe company incorporated and operating in the People's Republic of China, and was a reporting issuer under the Act. The individual defendants Fengyi Cai, Jixu Cai, and Yanda Cai (the "Cai Brothers"), who were directors and/or officers of Zungui, were varyingly responsible for approving, or overseeing the audit committee's approval of, both Zungui's audited annual financial statements and its unaudited interim financial statements.
In December 2009, Zungui raised approximately $40 million in Ontario's capital markets through an initial public offering. In Zungui's financial statements, Zungui and the Cai Brothers represented to the investing public that the financial statements presented Zungui's financial position fairly in all material respects, and that Zungui's IPO offering documents contained full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the offering of securities.
On August 22, 2011, Zungui issued a press release announcing that Ernst & Young ("E&Y"), its auditor, had suspended its audit of Zungui's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2011. Zungui's shares immediately lost 77% of their value, and are now virtually worthless. The Ontario Securities Commission commenced an investigation and, in February 2012, ruled that the Cai Brothers had engaged in conduct contrary to the public interest. The investigation also revealed that when E&Y resigned on September 23, 2011, it advised that all audit opinions that formed part of the IPO prospectus and Zungui's June 2010 financial statements could no longer be relied upon.
In their claim, the plaintiffs alleged that Zungui's financial statements (both those contained in its IPO prospectus and others later prepared and disseminated in the secondary securities market) were neither accurate nor reliable, and that the Cai Brothers made misrepresentations in Zungui's secondary market continuous disclosure documents.
In order for leave to be granted under section 138.8 of the Act, a plaintiff must demonstrate that (i) the proposed action is brought in good faith, and (ii) there is a reasonable possibility that the proposed action will be resolved at trial in the plaintiffs' favour. In granting leave, Perell J. noted that Part XXIII.1 mandates a preliminary, low-level merits based leave test and that, as at the date of writing, three Ontario courts had considered the test and agreed that the standard is a "relatively low threshold" depending "on the evidence that the parties put before the court" (as described in Silver v. Imax Corporation (2009), 66 B.L.R. (4th) 222 (Ont. S.C.J.)). Perell J. held that there was no reason to doubt the plaintiffs' good faith and that, while the evidence adduced by the plaintiffs would have satisfied the second arm of the test, the Cai Brothers had been noted in default and their deemed admissions of the factual allegations in the Statement of Claim were sufficient to satisfy the section 138.8 test.


Soft dates coated in dark chocolate and stuffed with nut butter, fresh berries or nuts. The perfect quick snack for a healthy midday pick-me-up.
This week I took the staple of Middle Eastern snack food, famous for sustaining energy levels, stuffed and coated'em in chocolate. The thing about maintaining daily energy is that many have overcomplicated it by looking to power bars and endless cups of coffee. Its not good for our bodies and, frankly, expensive. For thousands of years dates have been cultivated as a staple ingredient across the Arab world precisely because of their ability to preserve energy packed bites over long periods of time. For me, it's all about finding ways to create quick healthy snacks that keep me energized. I find the best way to do this is to re-imagine traditional ingredients. Today, we are drawing from traditional roots to make a quick snack fitted for the modern world.
These dates are coated in a shell of dark chocolate and topped with everything from crushed nuts, soft goji berries or hemp seeds! It is a painlessly easy snack because all you have to do is melt the chocolate and top it with what you have on hand. Another great way to re-imagine dates is to stuff them with creamy nut butter and slices of fresh fruit. Dates have a natural caramel like flavor, when stuffed with almond butter they become rich, creamy bites.
When preparing for the week ahead, I'm all about making speedy snacks that keeps me satisfied. I make this in bulk, store the extra in the freezer, and take 2-3 to work as an indulgent snack. It's a great recipe, simple enough to add to your repertoire – decadent in flavor and filled with lasting energy.
For the chocolate coated dates - simply melt the bar of chocolate over low heat in a saucepan, stirring as it melts. Then dip the dates into the chocolate sauce, top with crushed nuts, hemp seeds, or goji berries and place in the freezer to harden for 15 minutes. To stuff the dates, simply cut the date in half and remove the pit. Then add a dollop of almond butter into the hole of the date and top with a piece of fruit – I love it with a slice of raspberry and drizzle of honey.
I hope you enjoy this simple treat as much as I have and I'd love to know other ways in which you stuff or coat your dates. Feel free to leave a comment on your favorite way!


Welcome home to this completely updated 4 bed/3 bath with over 2400sf of brand new finished living space and walking distance to downtown Chelsea! Covered front porch welcomes you to beautiful wood floors throughout house w/spacious living room including cozy log FP & big open white kitchen/dining with large granite island & new stainless appliances. Slider door wall leads to rear deck, new patio & stone fire pit in private fenced yard for the kids or dogs. Main floor laundry, new full tile bath & granite top. Built in storage w/ 2 car garage entrance. Large master suite with sliding barn door w/in closet & full tile bath with custom shower. Two addtl beds and 3rd full tile bath. Newly finished basement offers a 4th bed with slider barn door & egress window along with additional finished space/hobby room complete with a kid's cubby/fort under stairs & plumbed for a wet bar. All brand new windows with 30 year warranty too! Fantastic location with short walk to the elementary school. Ready to move in!


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Q: Subsetting by row value in R Firstly apologies if this has been answered else where I have searched all over for this but cannot find the answer. My problem may be due to the way I am searching for info and so I decided to use StackOverflow so I can present my problem with examples.
I have five minute OHLC data DIA_5.csv which I have then added a DayOfYear column to using Lubridate;
library(lubridate)
DIA_5[,6]<- yday(DIA_5[,1])
Which looks like this;
    Date                Open        High        Low         Close       DOY
1   2015-09-21 09:30:00 164.6700    164.7100    164.3700    164.5300    264
2   2015-09-21 09:35:00 164.5300    164.9000    164.5300    164.6400    264
3   2015-09-21 09:40:00 164.6600    164.8900    164.6000    164.8900    264
4   2015-09-21 09:45:00 164.9100    165.0900    164.9100    164.9736    264
5   2015-09-21 09:50:00 164.9399    165.0980    164.8200    164.8200    264

What I wanted to do was create a new d$f with the first column starting with the individual day of year numbers, then I would fill this new d$f by subsetting data from the original OHLC d$f using the day of year number. The aim of this is so that in the new d$f I can extract the MAX value from all the highs on day x and bring it to column on the new d$f and so on with the other variables. The closest I could get to this goal was by using the following code however, this returns me all the values from the OHLC and I cannot find away to change this so that only the day of year number is brought across to the new d$f.
DF<-DIA_5[match(unique(DIA_5[,6]), DIA_5[,6]),]
  row.names DATE    OPEN    HIGH    LOW CLOSE   DOY
1   1   2015-09-21 09:30:00 164.67  164.7100    164.370 164.5300    264
2   79  2015-09-22 09:30:00 162.62  162.9600    162.620 162.7544    265
3   157 2015-09-23 09:30:00 163.26  163.3800    162.980 163.1400    266
4   235 2015-09-24 09:30:00 161.12  161.3700    161.060 161.2300    267
5   313 2015-09-25 09:30:00 163.81  163.9100    163.570 163.5800    268

Despite having more data than needed using the above code I decided to try subsetting the data. So from the above I wanted in the row next to 264 to use this value as a filter on the main OHLC d$f then extract the highest value in the column of highs. Using
DF[,6] <- max(subset(DIA_5[,3], yday(DIA_5[,1]) == DF[,6] ))

gave me
Warning message:
In yday(DIA_5[, 1]) == DF[, 6] :
longer object length is not a multiple of shorter object length

It did give a new column  on d$f but this had the same value repeated.
row.names   DATE    OPEN    HIGH    LOW CLOSE   DOY
1   1   2015-09-21 09:30:00 164.67  164.7100    164.370 164.5300    179.02
2   79  2015-09-22 09:30:00 162.62  162.9600    162.620 162.7544    179.02
3   157 2015-09-23 09:30:00 163.26  163.3800    162.980 163.1400    179.02
4   235 2015-09-24 09:30:00 161.12  161.3700    161.060 161.2300    179.02
5   313 2015-09-25 09:30:00 163.81  163.9100    163.570 163.5800    179.02
6   391 2015-09-28 09:30:00 162.04  162.0600    161.660 161.7100    179.02

I tried using my subset syntax to pull the max high value from a random DOY number and it seems to work fine;
h <- max(subset(DIA_5[,3], yday(DIA_5[,1]) == DF[1,6] ))

But I just cannot find out how to do this so that it creates a new column of the MAX value in the high column on x day of year.
Any help with this would be very much appreciated.

A: You can use dplyr.
I created some fake data which looks like this and stored it in df:
    Date     Open    High    Low    Close DOY
1 2015-09-21 164.6700 164.710 164.37 164.5300 264
2 2015-09-21 164.5300 164.900 164.53 164.6400 264
3 2015-09-21 164.6600 164.890 164.60 164.8900 264
4 2015-09-22 164.9100 165.090 164.91 164.9736 265
5 2015-09-22 164.9399 165.098 164.82 164.8200 265
6 2015-09-22 162.6200 162.960 162.62 162.7544 265
7 2015-09-23 163.2600 163.380 162.98 163.1400 266
8 2015-09-23 161.1200 161.370 161.06 161.2300 266
9 2015-09-23 163.8100 163.910 163.57 163.5800 266

library(dplyr)
x <- df %>%
  group_by(DOY) %>%
  filter(High == max(High)) %>%
  as.data.frame()
x
        Date     Open    High    Low  Close DOY
1 2015-09-21 164.5300 164.900 164.53 164.64 264
2 2015-09-22 164.9399 165.098 164.82 164.82 265
3 2015-09-23 163.8100 163.910 163.57 163.58 266

A: aggregate is a fine 'one liner' for this
#simulate some time series and place in data.frame
set.seed(1)
d = data.frame(replicate(5,cumsum(rnorm(2000))))
d$doy = sort(sample(1:364,2000,replace=T))
print(d[d$doy==1,])

          X1          X2         X3         X4         X5 doy
1 -0.6264538 -0.88614959 -1.1346302 -0.6188271  0.2637034   1
2 -0.4428105 -2.80840448 -0.3700731 -1.7282490 -0.5657484   1
3 -1.2784391 -1.18870374  0.2006371 -3.8985843 -2.0273832   1
4  0.3168417 -0.66943383 -1.1510569 -3.9298873 -0.3433930   1
5  0.6463495 -0.72528376 -3.1809423 -4.1902858 -1.8877173   1
6 -0.1741189 -0.02886615 -2.5904637 -3.6558553 -2.0786045   1
7  0.3133101  0.02464952 -4.0035337 -4.2152947 -1.0623928   1
8  1.0516348 -1.28563397 -2.3931921 -2.6069245 -0.5152666   1
9  1.6274162 -3.40870003 -0.5527496 -2.0502848  0.2398875   1

#aggregate data by DOY and compute some statistics for each column
maxPerDOY.df = aggregate(d[1:5],list(doy=d$doy),max)
print(head(maxPerDOY.df,3))

  doy       X1          X2         X3         X4        X5
1   1 1.627416  0.02464952  0.2006371 -0.6188271 0.2637034
2   2 3.223652 -2.76920768  0.8155484 -1.8646623 2.1378466
3   3 3.216576 -3.39431265 -0.8062283 -0.6656144 2.9014736

A: Using the advice given Teja K I managed to code all the subletting that was required for my project. dplyr is an excellent package and designed exactly for this. They syntax is also incredibly easy for noobs like me. Thanks for all the hall guys.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Next week it's back to school for the kids, but what about us adults?
If you've finished the treacherous task of buying new school uniforms and equipment for your kids this summer, we here at TJC think you deserve a treat, which is why we've selected some of the most practical, fashionable and work appropriate handbags for you to rock, so you return to your desk in style.
From a handy tote great for slipping your laptop into, to a practical crossbody bag to keep important documents close, to an all-rounder backpack perfect for all round activities, we have a snazzy collection waiting to be shopped!


British TV star Denise Van Outen is planning to trek a mammoth 52 miles through the Himalayas this November to raise some much needed money for brain tumour research.
The 42-year-old mum of one is facing a ten day challenge on foot trekking for up to nine-hours-a-day in cold, rainy and windy weather, camping overnight on rough terrain and then setting off again.
Denise said last week that she feels it's important to set herself challenges like this and, to live a healthy lifestyle, to set a good example to her daughter, Betsy, who is seven.
"I take their tablets because I've come to realise as I got older that it's about taking care of yourself from the inside rather than the outside. [It's great to have] a supplement that gives you all the nutrients you need throughout the day," she says.
Denise said that in the past she noticed that she wasn't sleeping as well as she would like at night and found herself snacking on sugary snacks to try to get herself through the afternoon slump.
Denise has lost two good friends to brain cancer, Nicki Waterman and Richard Hopkins, and feels that this is a fantastic way to honour their memory as well as helping a brilliant cause.
Watch the full interview which Denise did with Hello magazine and follow her on Instagram.
Lumity is delighted and very proud to be sponsoring the trek. If you'd like to donate you can text TREK1 to 70070 to donate £5 if you're in the UK, or you can go to Denise's Just Giving Page here to help out.
Are you inspired by this? Here's how Denise trained for last year's charity challenge. here's how to make goals a reality and here's how to stick to a workout routine – without throwing in the towel. Wondering if supplements really work? – here's proof they do.


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We are Ashley Vujcich and Jennifer Butcher from Orewa College, and we would like to see the policy on plastic bags in our country changed. Specifically, we would like to see a 15c levy placed on all plastic bags sold at checkouts in New Zealand.
Humans are killing the environment, and plastic bags are a big part of the problem. New Zealanders use around 1.6 billion single-use plastic bags a year. Plastic bags add tones of rubbish to our landfills, but a huge number of them don't even make it that far; instead, they end up as litter in our streets and parks and waterways, and once in the environment, they can have devastating consequences as a result of their non-biodegradable nature, especially on animals. Tens of thousands off turtles, dolphins, whales, fish, birds, and other animals all die every ear after becoming entangled in or eating plastic bags.
We want to see this changed. So, we are calling on the Government of New Zealand to support the Green Party's Waste Minimisation (Single-use Plastic Bag) Amendment Bill, and impose a 15c levy on all plastic bags in the country. We believe that a levy is (a good idea) to reducing the amount of plastic pollution in our country, and a major step toward keeping NZ clean, green, and beautiful.
Should the Bill pass into legislation, it would place a 15c charge on all plastic bags sold at the checkout, and the money generated would go to environmental non-for-profits and charities involved in waste minimisation projects, education, litter reduction, and beach-and-river clean ups. Thus, the levy has three major consequences: bringing awareness and starting a conversation on the issue, reducing plastic bag usage in NZ, and funding the work to undo the damage they have already done.
A large reason that we are so passionate about this topic is our community. We live in a coastal town on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast, and the beach and estuary are a large part of our lives. It's upsetting to see the plastic bags are strewn up the beach, floating in the estuary, and stuck in our mangroves. We would love to see our beautiful community, and the whole country, free of litter and rubbish, and we believe that this levy is the first step toward that.
Ashley Vujcich needs your help with "New Zealand Parliament : Say No to Plastic Bags in New Zealand". Join Ashley and 19,599 supporters today.


An IBM researcher has figured out how to easily hack into and hijack expensive drones used by police and security agencies from 2km away, and it's all because of a lack of encryption.
IBM researcher Nills Rodday, who is based in Germany, has found a way to hack into $30,000 (£21,000) professional-grade quadcopters by exploiting the fact that on-board chips are not encrypted.
In order to control these drones and enable end-to-end wireless communication with the Android tablets used to control them, low-power XBee ZigBee RF chips are fitted to the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). But because the tablet doesn't have an XBee chip in it, an intermediary relay telemetry box fitted with both XBee and Wi-Fi intercepts radio signals from the drone and then relays them to the Android tablet via Wi-Fi.
Although XBee chips support encryption, in practice, that function is not activated on the drones because it affects their performance. The Wi-Fi part of the connection is secured at altitudes lower than 100m however, but the protection is provided by the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security protocol, which was originally designed for wireless local area networks.
WEP is not considered to be very secure, and today most Wi-Fi networks are secured using the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protocol instead, so this means that technically you could perform a man-in-the-middle attack and inject commands between the drone and the telemetry box.
Rodday bought $40 worth of hardware and using a simple understanding of radio communications, he was able to copy commands from the app on the Android tablet and use it to hijack the drone even from quite a distance away.
"On the Xbee link we can perform a man-in-the-middle attack and inject commands between the UAV and the telemetry box from up to 2km (1.2 miles) away," Rodday told The Register. "An attacker can re-route packets, block out [the operator], or let the packets go through, but I guess most attackers would [steal] it."
However, if the XBee encryption was to be applied to the drones, then it would prevent the man-in-the-middle attack from being possible. The unnamed drone manufacturer which supplied the UAV for Rodday to test is now evaluating how best to fix the problem, and Rodday says that the it would be easiest to encrypt communications within the Android app and within the drone's firmware.
The hacking technique was demonstrated by Rodday at the Black Hat Asia conference in Singapore. His presentation slides can be viewed here and his master thesis paper is available to download here.


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Claire Jones / RedHatPhoto.com
Saints stars given a taste of Wheelchair Rugby
Saturday 5 October, 2019
Northampton Saints' players and coaches took on a new challenge this week while preparing for their Premiership Rugby Cup showdown against Saracens.
The men in Black, Green and Gold welcome their north London rivals to Franklin's Gardens on Sunday afternoon in a repeat of last season's Premiership Rugby Final – which Saints won 23-9 to lift their first silverware in five years.
And while Northampton will be looking to recreate that success this weekend to pick up their first win of the new season, scrum coach Matt Ferguson also found time to welcome the Club's wheelchair rugby side into camp during the week.
"No-one wears their Northampton colours more proudly than Saints Wheelchair Rugby. They are an elite, extremely professional side competing at the very top level of their sport."
Matt Ferguson, scrum coach
Saints Wheelchair Rugby players joined the first-team squad for a meeting and then a team challenge race using the rugby wheelchairs, before attending Saturday's captain's run at Franklin's Gardens.
During the Premiership Rugby Cup, director of rugby Chris Boyd has given his coaching team (made up of Alan Dickens, Sam Vesty, Phil Dowson and Ferguson) the opportunity to lead the week's meetings, training schedule and team activities – and Ferguson was thrilled with his decision to introduce wheelchair rugby to the squad.
"We're always trying out new techniques, bringing in guest speakers, and setting squad challenges during the week to keep the boys focused and motivated," said Ferguson.
"But it's also really important that the squad understands there are other teams also representing the town and this Club – and no-one wears their Northampton colours more proudly than the Saints Wheelchair Rugby side.
"I've been lucky enough to go and watch a few of their training sessions already, and it only takes a few moments watching Saints Wheelchair Rugby to realise they are an elite, extremely professional side competing at the very top level of their sport.
"A group of the Club's coaches and commercial staff had a go at wheelchair rugby last month, and everyone was seriously impressed by the skill level and genuine physicality of the game!
"So it was great for our players to meet them and get a fresh perspective on what it means to represent this great Club."
Saints Wheelchair Rugby were formed in 2018 and are constantly on the lookout for new players – young and old, experienced and amateur – with any level of disability.
The squad trains on Mondays from 6pm to 7.15pm (8-17 years old) and 7.15pm to 8.30pm (18+) at Northampton International Academy, and competes in the national WR5s Premiership.
Ferguson added: "It was fantastic to see the players swapping stories with their wheelchair rugby counterparts.
"Some of those within the Saints Wheelchair Rugby squad have come through some real adversity, and as a playing group your mindset is so important.
"There was a lot that our players could learn from the mindset and attitude of the wheelchair rugby players, and those lessons will be crucial for us moving forwards."
If you have a disability and want to play for Saints Wheelchair Rugby, or if you want to volunteer your time or donate to the club, please email head coach Jamie Higgins on [email protected].
Next Home Match
Saturday 13 February - 4:30pm
Saints Community partners with Mencap to get children moving
Robert Harrison: Saints' Forgotten Lion
Community & Foundation teams deliver online learning to local schools
Vote now for your 'Travis Perkins Player of the Month'
Franklin's Gardens half-term camps postponed to Easter

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E - Winiecki; Saladino; Pickar. DP - ORU 1. LOB - ORU 9; Sooners 10. 2B - Baligod; Elder; Ogle, T.; Black, D.. HR - Saladino(18); Elder(10); Furmanek(23); Reine, C.(6). HBP - Seitzer, C.; Reine, C.. SH - Ellison, C. 2; Seitzer, C.. SF - White, Max. CS - Black, D.; Ross, E..
Win - Duke, R. (2-0). Loss - Johnson (2-4). Save - None. WP - Smolen. HBP - by Smolen (Reine, C.); by Smolen (Seitzer, C.).
Rocha, M. faced 4 batters in the 6th.
Oral Roberts 1st - Winiecki flied out to lf. Sequeira fouled out to 1b. Baligod grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oklahoma 1st - Ellison, C. lined out to rf. White, Max struck out swinging. Buechele, G. singled down the lf line. Seitzer, C. walked; Buechele, G. advanced to second. Ogle, T. grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Oral Roberts 2nd - Saladino flied out to cf. Elder grounded out to 2b. Furmanek flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oklahoma 2nd - Reine, C. hit by pitch. Black, D. singled to left field; Reine, C. advanced to second. Eisenberg, R singled through the left side; Black, D. advanced to second; Reine, C. advanced to third. Bushyhead reached on an error by ss, RBI; Eisenberg, R advanced to second; Black, D. advanced to third; Reine, C. scored. Ellison, C. struck out swinging. White, Max flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Bushyhead advanced to second; Eisenberg, R advanced to third; Black, D. scored, unearned. Buechele, G. flied out to rf. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Oral Roberts 3rd - Sowers flied out to cf. C. Price struck out swinging. Pickar singled up the middle. Winiecki flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oklahoma 3rd - Seitzer, C. hit by pitch. Ogle, T. grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; Seitzer, C. out on the play. Reine, C. lined out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oral Roberts 4th - Sequeira flied out to rf down the rf line. Baligod doubled to first base. Baligod out at second p to 2b, picked off. Saladino struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oklahoma 4th - Black, D. doubled to right field. Black, D. advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on an error by c. Eisenberg, R flied out to lf. Bushyhead walked. Ellison, C. grounded out to 1b unassisted, SAC; Bushyhead advanced to second. White, Max flied out to cf. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Oral Roberts 5th - Elder homered to left field, RBI. Furmanek grounded out to 3b. Sowers lined out to cf. C. Price singled to center field. Pickar walked; C. Price advanced to second. Winiecki grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Oklahoma 5th - Buechele, G. walked. Seitzer, C. grounded out to p, SAC; Buechele, G. advanced to second. Ogle, T. doubled to left field, RBI; Buechele, G. scored. Reine, C. grounded out to ss. Black, D. singled up the middle, RBI; Ogle, T. scored. Black, D. out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oral Roberts 6th - Sequeira singled up the middle. Baligod walked; Sequeira advanced to second. Saladino homered to left field, 3 RBI; Baligod scored; Sequeira scored. Elder doubled to first base. Erben, J. to p for Rocha, M.. Furmanek homered to right field, 2 RBI; Elder scored. Sowers struck out swinging. C. Price struck out swinging. Pickar lined out to rf. 5 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oklahoma 6th - Johnson to p for Smolen. Eisenberg, R struck out swinging. Bushyhead popped up to ss. Ellison, C. popped up to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oral Roberts 7th - Winiecki grounded out to 1b unassisted. Sequeira grounded out to p. Baligod grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oklahoma 7th - White, Max popped up to 1b. Buechele, G. struck out swinging. Seitzer, C. struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oral Roberts 8th - Saladino singled to shortstop. Elder out at first 2b to p; Saladino advanced to second. Furmanek intentionally walked. Sowers struck out swinging. C. Price struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Oklahoma 8th - Ogle, T. struck out looking. Reine, C. homered to right field, RBI. Black, D. struck out swinging to catcher. Eisenberg, R singled to center field. Ross, E. pinch ran for Eisenberg, R. Ross, E. out at second c to ss, caught stealing. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oral Roberts 9th - Pickar struck out looking. Winiecki grounded out to ss. Sequeira singled through the left side. Baligod singled through the right side; Sequeira advanced to second. Duke, R. to p for Erben, J.. Saladino singled up the middle; Baligod advanced to second; Sequeira advanced to third. Elder grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Oklahoma 9th - Bushyhead walked. Ellison, C. grounded out to p, SAC; Bushyhead advanced to second. White, Max flied out to cf to left center. Buechele, G. intentionally walked. Seitzer, C. grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Oral Roberts 10th - Furmanek singled to left field. Sowers fouled out to 1b. C. Price popped up to ss. Pickar struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oklahoma 10th - Ogle, T. struck out looking. Reine, C. singled up the middle. Black, D. singled; Reine, C. advanced to second, advanced to third on an error by cf. Ross, E. intentionally walked; Black, D. advanced to second. Bushyhead struck out looking. Ellison, C. singled to second base, RBI; Ross, E. advanced to second; Black, D. advanced to third; Reine, C. scored. 1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.


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Seahawks Vs. Broncos 2012: Peyton Manning, Denver Ready For Mile High
The Denver Broncos play their first home preseason game on Saturday when they host the Seattle Seahawks.
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Aug 9, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) signals against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Fresh off a 31-3 victory over the Chicago Bears, the Denver Broncos return home to Sports Authority Field at Mile High for a Saturday preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Peyton Manning already has a day of practice in front of the fans at Mile High under his belt, but this Saturday's game will be real debut for the home crowd.
Manning was 4-of-7 for 44 yards and one interception in his debut against the Chicago Bears. His throws weren't perfect, but we're still waiting to see him in extended action. The damage done to his nerves and the recovery from his neck surgeries is still an ongoing process that will take more time to reveal itself.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, enter this contest looking to establish their starting quarterback. Matt Flynn and rookie Russell WIlson -- a former Colorado Rockies prospect -- each played a half in the team's 27-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Both were impressive, though Wilson had the better statistics with 12-of-16 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception, something Flynn did in his 11-of-13 passing for 71 yards.
Game time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Broadcast Info: TV: KUSA-TV Sirius: 113
For more news and notes on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more happening around the league.
Denver Broncos Fall To Seattle Seahawks At Home, 30-10
Seahawks Vs. Broncos: Peyton Manning Healthy, Not Necessarily Happy, Following Home Exhibition Debut


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Le borough de Lake and Peninsula (Lake and Peninsula Borough en anglais) est un borough de l'État d'Alaska aux États-Unis, s'étendant en partie sur la péninsule d'Alaska au sud-ouest de l'état.
C'est le comté américain le moins densément peuplé des .

Démographie

Villes et localités

Rivières et lacs
 Lac Becharof
 Six Mile Lake
 Rivière Newhalen
 Rivière Alagnak

Autres lieux
 Novarupta (volcan)
 Vallée des Dix Mille Fumées, (zone volcanique, dans le Parc national et réserve de Katmai)
 Tanalian Mountain

Notes et références

Liens externes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Karl-Alfred Jakobsson, folkbokförd som Alfred Karl Jakobsson, född 15 januari 1926 i Boston i Massachusetts i USA, död 4 mars 2015 i Göteborg, var en svensk fotbollsspelare. Han spelade större delen av sin karriär för Gais. Jakobsson spelade alltid i tröja nummer 8, och hade positionen som högerinner. Vid Gais 100-årsjubileum 1994 valdes Karl-Alfred Jakobsson till föreningens bästa spelare under det första århundradet. Karl-Alfred var bror till Sanny Jacobsson, som också spelade i Gais.

Biografi
Jakobsson föddes i Boston och växte upp i USA tills familjen flyttade hem till Sverige när han var fem år. Hans far var en svensk sjöman och mamman italienskfödd. Han spelade i junioråldern för Gårda BK innan han gick till Redbergslids IK och senare Gais där han blev allsvensk skyttekung.

Karriär
Jakobsson debuterade i Gais 1945 men lämnade året därpå klubben för en tid i Redbergslids IK, samt för att göra lumpen. Han återkom till säsongen 1949/50 och blev sedan Gais trogen fram till och med säsongen 1959. Karl-Alfred Jakobsson spelade 197 matcher för Gais och gjorde sammanlagt 145 mål. Många av målen var på nick, vilket gjorde att Jakobsson blev känd som en nickspecialist. Han vann skytteligan i Allsvenskan tre säsonger i rad (1951/1952, 1952/1953 och 1953/1954). 1954 vann Jakobsson SM-guld med Gais.

Karl-Alfred Jakobsson gjorde tre mål på sex A-landskamper för Sverige. Han var uttagen i de förberedande trupperna till VM i fotboll i Brasilien 1950 och Sverige 1958 men fick inte plats i truppen när de sista fem-sex spelarna sorterades bort.

Referenser

Fotnoter

Noter

Svenska fotbollsspelare
Fotbollsspelare i Redbergslids IK
Spelare i Gais
Svenska landslagsspelare i fotboll
Spelare i Fotbollsallsvenskan
Svenska idrottare under 1900-talet
Idrottare från Boston
Födda 1926
Avlidna 2015
Män
Svenska mästare i fotboll


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Taliban have undeniable role in providing security: Iran FM
TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (MNA) – Addressing the second meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that the Taliban have an undeniable role to play in providing security and fighting terrorism.
The second meeting of foreign ministers of 6 neighboring countries of Afghanistan plus Russia started with the presence of Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan foreign ministers, as well as the Chinese and Russian envoys at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers attend the meeting through videoconference. Ambassadors of foreign countries residing in Tehran also attended the meeting as guests.
The first meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries was held online on September 8. Today's meeting in Tehran is focused on ways to facilitate the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
All seven foreign ministers delivered a public address before retreating to a private meeting to agree on a joint statement.
They all welcomed the conference and emphasised the necessity of continued cooperation by the neighbouring states to avoid a collapse or civil war in Afghanistan, which would have severe ramifications for the region and beyond.
Many of Afghanistan's current problems rooted in foreign intervention
"Today's meeting is aimed at focusing on the new situation in Afghanistan. We hope to be able to send a common message to the international community, countries in the region and Afghanistan," said Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
"We support the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan," he stressed.
He emphasized that the responsibility for the security of Afghan citizens and borders with neighbors lies primarily with the governing body in Kabul. "We must all help Afghanistan get out of the current crisis."
"Respect for sovereignty, preservation of territorial integrity and non-interference in the affairs of others are among the basic principles of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Iranian FM added. "Resolving today's crisis in Afghanistan requires internal cohesion, utilization of all capacities of Afghanistan's neighboring countries."
He went on to say, "We believe that first, all neighbors and, in parallel, the international community should pay special attention to the political and humanitarian situation, as well as the spread of terrorism, drug trafficking, human rights and women in the current situation in Afghanistan."
"Many of Afghanistan's current problems are rooted in foreign intervention, and the United States must accept responsibility for the catastrophes it has caused in Afghanistan over the past two decades," he added.
"In recent months, we have witnessed the increase of the activities of terrorist groups, especially ISIL, in Afghanistan. In recent weeks, it has become clear to all of us that the group has gained operational capabilities in Afghanistan, and the Taliban have not been able to prevent the group from operating in various cities," Amir-Abdollahian said, adding, "The Taliban, as the ruling power in Afghanistan, has an undeniable role in ensuring security and the fight against terrorism, respecting the rights of various groups, including women, providing living necessities for Afghan citizens, respecting ethnic and religious minorities and eradicating the roots of displacement."
He stressed that it is essential for the Taliban to take a friendly approach towards their neighbors and take steps to ensure that there will be no threat from Afghanistan to its neighbors.
Afghans expect secure, independent, developing country
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber also addressed the meeting.
Referring to the rapid developments in Afghanistan and the crises left by the foreign occupation in this country, Mokhber said, "The people of Afghanistan expect a secure, independent and developing country."
Afghanistan's neighbors have deep historical and cultural ties with the country, and from this perspective, there is a kind of relationship between Afghanistan and its neighbors that ties security, stability and peace in different regions of Central and South Asia together, he added. "The security and stability of Afghanistan's neighbors are tied with the security of Afghanistan."
He noted the people of Afghanistan have been experiencing instability, insecurity, war and bloodshed for more than four decades.
"Two decades ago, the United States and its NATO allies invaded Afghanistan under the pretext of the 9/11 attacks and fighting terrorism," Mokhber said, adding, "But their 20-year military occupation in Afghanistan has resulted in nothing but increased insecurity, extremism, terrorism, economic backwardness and weakening of national cohesion, increasing drug production, and hurting hundreds of thousands of Afghan families."
He was followed by the United Nations chief, Antonio Guterres, who said in a video link address recorded in New York that Afghanistan is facing an "epic humanitarian crisis" that demands immediate action. He said the UN is engaging the Taliban, which has so far provided access, to deliver humanitarian relief to people.
Guterres also said he is "deeply disturbed" by violations of human rights and attacks in the country since the Taliban takeover, and called for efforts to "combat terrorism" and drug trafficking.
China expresses hope neighboring countries can contribute to peace, stability in Afghanistan
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who attended the meeting through videoconference, said, "We believe that the second meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries is being held at a good time, and this will strengthen the diplomatic channels established between us in this regard."
"So far, we have moved in the right direction, and we hope that we can all contribute to peace and stability in Afghanistan," he added. "China has consulted with representatives of various countries on Afghanistan."
"China continues to work with various countries on the issue of Afghanistan to improve the situation in this country so that the Afghan people can have a better life," Wang Yei noted.
Qureshi expresses hope governing body in Kabul to meet intl. community's demands
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed hope that the governing body in Kabul to meet the demands and expectations of the international community, adding that materializing this issue can guarantee improvement of the international community's interaction with the Taliban.
Qureshi also urged the international community to pay attention to the economic situation of Afghanistan to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.
He said that Afghanistan's blocked assets in other countries should be released.
Pakistani top diplomat noted that fight against terrorism is vital, adding, "formation of an interim cabinet can pave the way for the formation of an inclusive government representing people of Afghanistan."
Russia to send food products, medicines to Afghanistan in near future
Moscow calls on Afghanistan's neighboring countries to prevent the military presence of the United States and NATO on their territory, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday in a video address to participants in a ministerial meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries.
"We once again call on Afghanistan's neighboring countries to prevent the military presence of the US and NATO on their territory as those plan to move there in light of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan," he pointed out.
Moscow has consistently advocated the creation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and has no plans to impose its recommendations on the country, the Russian Foreign Minister said. "Russia is not inclined to impose its advice or recommendations on anyone. Moreover, history itself offers effective ways to solve problems. It's vital to take the interests of the country's major ethnic and political forces into account to the fullest extent possible. This is why we have been firmly and consistently supporting the creation of a truly inclusive Afghan government."
"The people need to be sure that their rights and legitimate aspirations will be implemented through action, not just words, and will also be protected by law, certainly based on respect for local traditions and customs," Lavrov explained.
"Russia is ready to contribute to the joint effort. In the near future, we are planning to send to [our] Afghan partners a batch of humanitarian aid consisting of food products, medicines and basic necessities," the Russian top diplomat said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that terrorists disguised as refugees have been trying to infiltrate neighboring countries. "The current task on the agenda is to ease the effects of and control migration flows from Afghanistan, because terrorist and criminal elements posing as refugees may infiltrate neighboring countries and have already been trying to do so."
"This goal can be achieved only by creating normal conditions in Afghanistan. In the long term this will be a major prerequisite for the gradual return of Afghans to their homes," Lavrov added.
Secure Afghanistan 'right of people of this country'
Stating that a secure and safe Afghanistan is the right of the people of this country, Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said, "We must revive Afghanistan's economy."
"We support talks among all Afghan groups and hope that all ethnicities will be represented in the next government," he added. "We will work with the interim governing body of Afghanistan to achieve this goal."
Inclusive government should be formed in Afghanistan
Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov said, "We are ready to help Afghanistan in the field of education and economy, and we also emphasize that an inclusive government should be formed in Afghanistan with the presence of different and ethnic groups in this country."
"The international community must fulfill its obligations to Afghanistan, and the ruling group in Afghanistan must heed and implement the demands and expectations of the international community and the people of Afghanistan," he added.
ZZ/
Zahra Mirzafarjouyan
Raeisi holds talks with Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Pakistani FMs
We have maintained consistently excellent relations with Iran
Tehran hosts 2nd meeting of FMs of Afghanistan neighbors
At least 7 killed in ISIL's second attack in Diyala (+VIDEO)
Joint ministerial statement of Tehran meeting on Afghanistan
Iranian, Tajik FMs discuss mutual relations, cooperation
23 killed, 50 injured in Kabul blasts (+VIDEOS)
Uzbekistan calls for use of Chabahar port transit capacities
Taliban praises Tehran meeting on Afghanistan
Iran not to attend mechanisms with US presence on Afghanistan
VIDEO: Joint Naval Drill between Iran, Russia, China
Yemen to strongly respond to Saudi crimes: Ansarullah spox.
Vienna Talks on Removing Sanctions


Recently, we discussed the risks associated with taking wrongly labeled dietary supplements — specifically, the potential for damage to your liver. But liver health isn't just a concern for people who take supplements. As a recent study shows, certain diabetes drugs may also improve or worsen liver-related outcomes, with potentially dramatic effects on your health and longevity.
The study, presented in October at The Liver Meeting 2017 in Washington, DC, involved at 458 people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As noted in a Medscape article on the study, it's estimated that about 58% of people with Type 2 diabetes have this condition. Out of the study's participants, 305 had Type 2 diabetes, while 153 didn't have diabetes. Researchers were interested in looking at which drug treatments the people with diabetes were taking, and comparing different drugs with liver-related outcomes.
During the study's follow-up period of almost six years, there were 84 deaths or liver transplants, along with 90 cases of hepatic decompensation (a severe form of liver disease) and 42 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common form of liver cancer). Only 6 deaths weren't related to liver disease. People with diabetes were more likely to die during the follow-up period than those without diabetes, as well as to develop severe liver disease and cancer. But not at an equal rate — those who took metformin were substantially less likely to die or require a transplant, with an estimated risk reduction of 67% after adjusting for HbA1c level (a measure of long-term blood glucose control) and other factors that could affect these outcomes.
In contrast, participants who took sulfonylureas — a family of diabetes drugs that includes glipizide (brand name Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase PresTabs, and DiaBeta), and glimepiride (Amaryl) — were estimated to be about five times as likely to die or need a transplant as a result. Taking insulin wasn't associated with any change in liver-related outcomes.
The main lesson from this study, according to its researchers, was that having diabetes makes liver-related outcomes worse if you have NAFLD. But it also showed that what drug you take for your diabetes may have an effect on these outcomes, raising or lowering your already elevated risk of liver disease, needing a liver transplant, or death.
What's your take on this study — do you have NAFLD, or have you ever been told you might have liver disease? Has your doctor ever discussed the liver-related risks of any drugs you take for your diabetes, or for any other condition? Would you be interested in changing your drug treatment to help limit liver-related risks, or are there more important considerations for you when it comes to your diabetes treatment? Leave a comment below!


This pendant is heavy and amazing, from the 1940s, and from a Mayan necklace called a "chachal." Mayans inhabited a large portion of what is now Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and five states of Mexico: Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Campeche and Chiapas. The language of the Mayans is Quiché, and the word for "necklace" in that language is "chachal." Chachal necklaces with trade beads and charms called "Milagros" have been made by Mayan peoples since Colonial times. The pendants were often coins, which came to the region through trade, and coin silver crosses, created by melting pure silver coins. This chachal cross is typical, with the heavy weight, the deeply etched and oxidized lines--in this case with flowers and leaves, and the heart icons representing Sacred Heart. It is a mix of indigenous iconography and that of the Spaniards, and it is simply wonderful. Since the cross is the centerpiece of the chachal necklace, this old cross is meaningful and valuable. Today it is hard to find an authentic piece like this. I have done multiple buying trips to southern Mexico in search for chachales, and while I have found reproduction pieces--new yet made to look old--it is a treat to offer a piece that is 70+ years old.
The cross measures 3-1/4" tall including the eye hook, which is thick and soldered onto the cross, by about 2-1/4" wide measuring to the outer edge of the heart milagros dangling from the two ends of the cross. The cross had quite a bit of tarnish, which we lightly polished so as not to remove the patina.
Authentic piece for the lover of indigenous jewelry.


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The Deeply Unsettling, Not Entirely Surprising Images of Trump's Capitol Hill Mob
As a pro-Trump crowd stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, it was at times hard to actually believe what one was seeing—even if it wasn't entirely shocking in the Trump era.
By Erin Vanderhoof
A rioter sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi inside the US Capitol.By SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images.
For the last few weeks, January 6 has loomed as a final deadline in Donald Trump's quest to deny the inevitable arrival of the Joe Biden administration. For decades, the vote certifying the Electoral College results has been a perfunctory action, but a haphazard legal and media strategy turned it into MAGA's last stand. This morning, Trump led a rally near the White House, where he gave a speech decrying the 2020 election. Eventually the remnants of that protesting crowd breached the Capitol building with woefully inadequate pushback from Capitol Police. Politicians and their staff members were evacuated, and eventually there were reports of gunfire. Hours later, NBC News reported that a woman who was shot inside the building had died.
By JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP/Getty Images.
Despite the dangerous conditions, journalists remained inside—some trapped, of course—and documented happenings that were previously unimaginable. (And that was the prevailing sentiment on social media and in direct messages: I cannot believe what I am seeing.) Almost immediately, scenes of bedlam trickled onto algorithmic feeds and cable television. A fur-clad man in horns, known to the very online as the "QAnon shaman," presiding over a nearly empty Senate chamber. A man in a plaid jacket putting his boots up on the desk of Nancy Pelosi. (Pelosi, third in the order of succession, is currently in an undisclosed location.) A redhead in a Trump beanie happily carrying out a podium bearing the seal of the Speaker of the House. A festival-sized crowd bearing Trump flags filling the risers meant to seat inauguration guests in two weeks, a chilly Coachella for a new lost cause.
By Win McNamee/Getty Images.
The most uncanny aspects of the images might be how much they differ from previous scenes of protest at the Capitol building or elsewhere in Washington. In 2018, disability-rights activists peacefully occupied a congressional office hallway to protest proposed cuts to Medicaid, and officers arrested and forcibly removed them. Over the summer, when a group of racial-justice protesters gathered across the street from the White House, they were cleared violently so Trump could stage a photo-op. We've been conditioned to expect that the security theater on Capitol Hill can be activated at any moment, for any reason. On Wednesday, it was hours before the cavalry arrived.
A note left inside of Pelosi's office.
JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Despite the fumes and gas masks, the invaders often appeared pedestrian. Many looked like they were having the times of their lives. When British soldiers breached the president's residence during the war of 1812, they wore hand-sewn woolen garments with stiff, high collars. Some of the people who stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday also wore tactical gear, but their synthetic fabrics are more familiar, available at sporting-goods stores nationwide and on Amazon Prime. They accessorized with hats from the Trump campaign website. Call it a Dick's Sporting Goods putsch. (Or maybe just the Dick's Putsch, if you will.)
The Trump era began in 2015 with his absurd journey via gilded escalator to deliver one of the most succinct statements of public racism we had seen in years. ("They're rapists" still chills me, even after all these years.) Two years later, we had Charlottesville and his "very fine people on both sides" comment. Before Trump, we weren't accustomed to consuming images or processing experiences that combine stupidity and real threat in such rapid succession. We still aren't great at it now, but at least we've gotten some experience in the unsettling and banal side of violence—and how little it matters whether or not you call it a "coup."
Follow developments from the U.S. Capitol here.Arrow
As the Trump era comes to an end, at least on paper, the defining image of its close may well be the shit-eating grin of a middle-aged white man with his feet on the desk as if he owned the place. While his workwear lent him an ordinary air, the president knew better. He was, in the words of Trump, one of the "very special."
by Samuel Corum/Getty Images.
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Erin Vanderhoof is a staff writer at Vanity Fair.
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RTBF makes waves with new visual radio studio
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Project wins gold medal in the New Technologies category and silver medal in the Media & Entertainment category at the Online Video Awards 2016.
In total, there are nine AW-HE120 cameras in the studio, that are controlled by a AW-RP120 remote operation panel, as well as 36 TH-47LFV5W screens that form four 3x3 video walls.
"The idea was to build a visual radio studio entirely guided and operated by the radio broadcasters," explains Olivier Waty, Technological Developments Manager for the RTBF.
"The number of technicians had to be reduced to be as efficient as possible and the equipment had to be easy to operate, while still offering a clear picture of the televised broadcasts. At the same time, it had to be possible to easily integrate all types of content, animated or not, audio and visual, coming from different sources."
The best image quality
The most important requirement for the RTBF for the choice of camera concerned the quality of the images. "We compared multiple manufacturers and Panasonic clearly came out as the best. The seven members of my team all agreed immediately," says Olivier Waty.
The choice of screens for the video walls also met the same high quality standards. "We selected the Full HD screens by Panasonic because, just like the cameras, we were very impressed with the image quality. The screens display the studio decor, so a perfect picture and flawless transition are absolutely required. Also, the edges of the screens are very thin, which improves the rendering of an image on the video walls."
Only three people to manage everything
The second requirement was that the system was easy to use and needed only minimal training. Only three people work in the control room, so they have to multitask: every technician does the work of several people in a traditional studio.
The audio technician handles everything to do with the audio for a broadcast, the visual technician (in charge of mixing) manages the nine cameras as well as some other available video sources available in Media 1 studio. He also sends the images in the air, selects the plans, goes from one camera to another, prepares the picture-in-picture, and many other tasks.
All these tasks are possible thanks to the the touchscreen control panel. The interface, which can be fully customized, has been carefully constructed by RTBF in collaboration with Panasonic.
Most of the camera controls are pre-set, and can be used by tapping the touch screen panel, e.g. the camera selection, zooming in and out, dragging and dropping content, etc.
The visual technician can also take manual control of the cameras thanks to the very intuitive AW-RP120 controller. The third person is the producer of the broadcast. He can send all kinds of external sources to the person in charge of mixing – for example, a video clip on YouTube – in order for it to be broadcast. On top of that, he commands the video walls and the images that are shown on it, he takes care of subtitling, the RSS feeds, the use of jingles and the studio lighting, which consists entirely of LED lamps.
"The automation of the system helps us in every way," explains Olivier Waty. "For example, when the audio technician uses a jingle, the system recognises it immediately and sends the corresponding images to the director or shows them automatically on the video walls. The system learns on its own as well, it is just like having a fourth man on the team."
The set is a triangular, central control panel for the radio hosts and their guests, surrounded by four 3x3 full HD video walls that show images of the decor. Two of those walls are mounted on a rail so that it's possible to form one massive wall of 6x3 screens.
The eight Panasonic HE120 cameras are spread out around the set, so that they can capture every angle in the studio. A ninth camera is installed in the control room to film the call centre and to improve the level of interactivity within the programme. Additionally, there are two connections provided in the set, where shoulder cameras can be plugged in when there is a specific requirement.
"Panasonic has adapted the cameras specifically to the studio's desires: per our request, they have installed a larger tally and they have installed a better cooling system so that the cameras are less noisy. They have done a remarkable job. And thanks to the operator interface for the cameras, we were able to develop software that answers to our needs perfectly. We are very happy about this collaboration," added Olivier Waty.
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This neighborhood is widely known for the Vasa Park Resort that lies just off the westside shore of Lake Sammamish. The Vasa Park Resort is open from May 15 until October 15 each year features swimming, beach, summer camps, camping and boat launch. The Vasa Park neighborhood is a family-friendly neighborhood as the park provides many different amenities, including: picnic areas, playgrounds, boat launches, beach access to a swimming area with diving boards and water slides. There is easy access to the I-90 Freeway for commuting to work or exploring the surrounding areas, and there is a shopping center just 10 minutes west.
Real estate in the Vasa Park neighborhood feature homes and condos for sale that range from medium (3 or 4 bedroom) to larger (4+ bedroom) family homes. There are many waterfront homes for sale in Vasa Park as well as the traditional single-family homes on the hillside which still allow for beautiful views of the lake and mountains. This suburban neighborhood has some homes for sale that have acres of land for building your dream home, gardens or expanding a current house. Many of the homes and condos for sale have new or updated features and appliances. Many of the homes for sale belong to a private community, with access to a community dock, picnic area and beach.