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Q: How can I deploy nginx to AWS fargate in code? Say I have a docker-compose file like the following:
version: '3'
services:
  nginx:
    image: nginx:latest
    ports:
      - 80:80

I want to be able to deploy it to AWS Fargate ideally (although I'm frustrated enough that I'd take ECS or anything else that works) - right now I don't care about volumes, scaling or anything else that might have complexity, I'm just after the minimum so I can begin to understand what's going on. Only caveat is that it needs to be in code - an automated deployment I can spin up from a CI server.
Is CloudFormation the right tool? I can only seem to find examples that are literally a thousand lines of yaml or more, none of them work and they're impossible to debug.

A: You could use AWS cdk tool to write your infrastructure as code. It's basically a meta framework to create cloudformation templates. Here would be a minimal example to deploy nginx to a loadbalanced ecs fargate service with autoscaling, but you could just remove the last to expressions. The code gets more complicated quickly, when you need more control about what to start
import cdk = require('@aws-cdk/cdk');
import ec2 = require('@aws-cdk/aws-ec2');
import ecs = require('@aws-cdk/aws-ecs');
import ecr = require('@aws-cdk/aws-ecr');

export class NginxStack extends cdk.Stack {

    constructor(scope: cdk.App, id: string, props?: cdk.StackProps) {
        super(scope, id, props);

        const vpc = new ec2.VpcNetwork(this, 'MyApiVpc', {
            maxAZs: 1
        });

        const cluster = new ecs.Cluster(this, 'MyApiEcsCluster', {
            vpc: vpc
        });

        const lbfs = new ecs.LoadBalancedFargateService(this, 'MyApiLoadBalancedFargateService', {
            cluster: cluster,
            cpu: '256',
            desiredCount: 1,
            // The tag for the docker image is set dynamically by our CI / CD pipeline
            image: ecs.ContainerImage.fromDockerHub("nginx"),
            memoryMiB: '512',
            publicLoadBalancer: true,
            containerPort: 80
        });

        const scaling = lbfs.service.autoScaleTaskCount({
            maxCapacity: 5,
            minCapacity: 1
        });

        scaling.scaleOnCpuUtilization('MyApiCpuScaling', {
            targetUtilizationPercent: 10
        });

    }
}

I added the link to a specific cdk version, because the most recent build for the docs is a little bit broken.

A: ECS uses "Task Definitions" instead of docker-compose. In Task Definitions, you define which image and ports to use. We can use docker-compose as well, if we use AWS CLI. But I haven't tried it yet.
So you can create an ECS Fargate based cluster first and then create a Task or Service using the task definition. This will bring up the containers in Fargate.


After much fanfare, Kid Kelly has finally learned his Radio Hall of Fame fate: In her Stern Show debut, Lady Gaga sat down at the piano and de livered a. The Howard Stern Show. K likes. The official Facebook page of The Howard Stern Show. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @Sternshow! And of course. View the profiles of people named Howard Stern. Join Facebook to connect with Howard Stern and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to.
FACEBOOK: aeg-dv.com INSTAGRAM: aeg-dv.com New York Chris Stapleton 'Broken Halos' on the Howard Stern Show. 31 replies. Official site features news, show personalities, hot topics and image archive from The Howard Stern Show. The rocker said on "The Howard Stern Show" he's not running for Senate. To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Kid Rock made clear his intentions regarding a run for U.S. Senate during an Rock share a love of music but conceded he's better at guitar (Stabenow is a pianist).


After much careful consideration and debate we made the difficult decision to shut down Elemeno.
The decision was not made lightly. We put our blood, sweat, and tears into Elemeno and were immensely proud of the product we created. Unfortunately, we did not see the growth and adoption rates that were necessary to sustain the business. We are a self-funded two person team that is spread incredibly thin as we juggled everything from marketing and support, to product development and infrastructure management. Quite simply, we did not have enough time or money necessary to continue building and promoting Elemeno.
After looking at the options in front of us, it was clear that the best course of action would be to suspend operations before getting to a point where we couldn't provide the graceful wind down period that our customers deserved.
We want to thank everyone that tried Elemeno, from the bottom of our hearts. We truly loved seeing the amazing projects that were built using a product that we put so much love into. It is heartbreaking that we were unable to turn our product into a successful business. We have learned an immense amount from both our successes and our failures, and we are excited to build something new in the future.


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YEAR IN REVIEW:Duxbury deputy appointed Halifax fire chief
Casey Meserve
With three strong candidates for the fire chief's position, the Board of Selectmen said it would have been impossible to make a bad choice, but, as decisions must be made, the board voted unanimously to appoint Duxbury Deputy Chief William Carrico II.
Carrico began his new job in September.
Carrico joined the Duxbury Fire Department in 1999 after working as a construction engineer on Boston's Big Dig. His father, also named William Carrico, was a firefighter in Brockton. He died from injuries sustained on the job. Carrico skipped over the ranks to become deputy chief three years ago. His family recently purchased a new home in Halifax, in order to be close to work.
Selectman Troy Garron said he liked Carrico's honesty in his interview.
"He had a strong presence and no embellishment. He's just direct and forward about his opinions."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Daniel Bryan has about six months left on his WWE contract. According to recent reports, his contract will expire on Sept. 23 according Sportskeeda. That will be about a month after SummerSlam takes place and according to previous reports, Bryan has every intention of leaving the WWE when his contract expires since the WWE won't allow him to wrestle again due to medical concerns. With that said, fans might see Bryan in a WWE ring a lot sooner than anyone expected. Wrestling insider Dave Meltzer answered a fan question on Twitter and revealed that Bryan does not have the no-compete clause in his contract that other talents possess.
If this WWE rumor is true, that is hugely surprising. Almost all WWE talent contracts have the no-compete clause in their deals. What they state is that a wrestler cannot appear for another wrestling company on television or video until 90 days after their WWE contract expires.
This WWE stipulation dates back to the Monday Night Wars in the '90s when Ravishing Rick Rude appeared on both Monday Night Raw and WCWMonday Nitro on the same night. This was due to Raw pre-taping their events and Nitro being live every week. Since then, the WWE has made sure this could not happen again.
With that said, if Daniel Bryan's WWE contract expires on Sept. 23, the traditional WWE no-compete clause would keep him off TV for Ring of Honor or another company until Dec. 24. That is right around the time of the ROH year-end event Final Battle 2018, which some thought might be when Bryan Danielson made his ROH return.
However, if there is no non-compete clause in his WWE contract, Daniel Bryan could show up for Ring of Honor immediately after that. He could also make the move to Impact Wrestling (doubtful) or New Japan Pro Wrestling, which is where both Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio both recently signed on to compete.
As the Inquisitr previously reported, Daniel Bryan said if he didn't wrestle by WrestleMania 34, he probably wouldn't wrestle again for the WWE. When they offered him a match where he would stand on the ringside almost the entire time and not actually do much wrestling, he rejected the idea.
Both Daniel Bryan and his wife, Brie Bella, have said that he intends to wrestle again. If his contract situation is accurate, as far as Dave Meltzer's claims, expect to see Bryan back in the ring possibly as early as October.


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Home Advertising Gamevertising: what it is and why it matters
Gamevertising: what it is and why it matters
Posted By: Jordan Majoron: December 07, 2021 In: Advertising
Fortnite presented the Rift Tour featuring Ariana Grande
I recently came across an interview of Anna Wintour interviewing Sir Jony Ive (former chief design officer of Apple) and the one question that I found the most fascinating was the what he missed the most about this long-time collaborator and friend Steve Jobs?
His answer struck a chord, in that he missed Jobs' almost superhuman sense of curiosity. One could argue that for marketers today, a sense of curiosity is equally as valuable as applying creativity. The determination to look for new things, and the resilience to keep exploring at times when its more convenient to do what's always been done. To be a marketer in this world is to be occupationally curious by nature.
The latest curiosity to fascinate marketers seemingly everywhere is the question of gaming and advertising. At a time when we seem to be at the beginning of a greater intersection of the physical and the virtual, brands fully integrating more in gaming world seems eventual. Gamevertising – in game branding and experiences – goes far beyond simple media placement and represents a paradigm shift in communication where experiential storytelling becomes paramount.
For all estimations and forecasts, the market is primed for exceptional growth. According to GlobalData the worldwide gaming market could be worth $300 billion – three times that of the global film industry's 2019 record high of $101 billion. Further estimations by the likes of research company Technavio anticipate in-game advertising to grow by $10.97 billion between 2020 and 2024. This year Epic Games announced that their massively successful Fortnite – one of the most prominent battlegrounds in gaming braining – had amassed 350 million registered users and this growth seems set to continue upward.
What is driving the profound growth?
But the question becomes what (or who) is driving such profound growth? The answer lies in the audience: the digitally native Gen Z. All the current data points to the singular conclusion that younger consumers are less engaged with traditional mediums as they look for more experiences and engagement on digital channels such as gaming platforms.
And similarly to their global counterparts this younger generation will drive the local market, both in South Africa and the continent at large. Currently there are more than 200 million under 35 and by 2050 it's estimated that the youth population (those being under 24) across the continent will increase by 50%, making Africa a very young continent in comparison to the rest of the world. Couple this with the historical trend of mobile devices being the primary entry-point to the internet and the opportunities for mobile gaming start to look more promising.
These young gamers will be the fuel in the growing market across Africa. Forecasts estimate that the gaming sector across the continent is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% between 2021 and 2026. In South Africa this trend persists, where in 2017 alone total revenue generated from the industry was estimate at over R3 billlion, reaching some R6.2 billon by next year. Data points via Statista show that 70% of South Africans between 18 – 26 had spent money on gaming.
With the questions of 'what' and 'why' seemingly addressed, the one question that will undoubtably sit marketers locally will be then be 'how'. While gamevertising in it's current definition speaks to more immersive, in-game placements and experiences for many local marketers (and their budgets) bring an assortment of unique challenges. However, there does appear a number of avenues worth exploring that begin with building into this territory by supporting the very communities that it's built upon. That entails solving the tensions of different segments – be them casual gamers to committed e-sports enthusiasts – and making their gaming experience all the more better.
If this experience has taught me anything, it's that there is no one singular solution for gamevertising. There have been immersive experiences on Fortnite with artists like Travis Scott and Ariana Grande. There have been gamified placements with the likes of Vans and Gucci on Roblox. Guerilla stunts (again on Fortnite) with Wendys. An assortment of brands sponsoring e-sports team and streamers. The list goes on, and will grow.
At this point I go back to Ive's words on the determination of such intentional curiosity, and believe that it will be that which ultimately brings us marketers closer to gaming.
Jordan Major is a senior strategist and writer who believes in the power of collaborating with culture to connect brands to their customers. In his role at RAPT Creative he works alongside the creative studio to ensure all work is informed by insights and data to ensure that the work is executed holistically in unique territories and across the relevant channels.
Inclusive marketing a priority for the year ahead
Put your girls on
Global diversity and inclusion census on marketing gives SA top marks for discrimination
Video ad buying should be customer-first, not channel-first
Tags: advertisingAnna WintourAppledigitalDigital MediagamevertisinggamingJordan MajormediaRAPT Creative
Talent development: are you in for the long run?
SHAREit ranked a leading global media publisher joining Google, Facebook and TikTok


The Ladies Mite Society Meeting in June 2016 shows the members enjoying fellowship as they conduct the business at hand.
The Ladies Mite Society was established at Durham Parish on June 6, 1876.
The women of Durham Parish have historically played major roles in helping sustain our church and the people of our parish. Records tell of their "nobly and willingly" coming to the aid of our church in 1843, raising money to complete much needed restoration of the church. It was in 1876 that the Mite Society formally organized and held their first meeting on June 6. Current active membership totals 15 women who meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm in the parish hall.
Favorite projects done by the Mite include the needlepoint tapestry covers on our church's kneelers, decorating the church for Christmas and Easter, ribbon bookmarks for hymnals, molded soaps, and the Angel Tree, which is a collaborative effort with Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School that helps provide Christmas gifts for children in need.
Hand-painted cast models of our historic "Old Durham Church" are available for $50. Proceeds from sales help the Mite fulfill their annual pledge to the general fund of the church.
Please contact Mite President Linda Buffalo, if you are interested in knowing more about the Ladies Mite Society at lsbuffalo@hotmail.com.


People living in poverty have gradually been re-cast, in the eyes of development agencies, from passive beneficiaries of aid to rights-claiming citizens who should hold their governments to account. Citizens and states must be supported to perform their roles more effectively – with citizens developing capacities to 'engage' and state actors becoming more responsive. In reality, existing power relations often prevent the less powerful from being active citizens. Our recent evaluation of the efforts of Swedish civil society organisations (CSOs) and their partners in Nicaragua, Pakistan and Uganda illustrates the challenges posed by, what we describe as, citizens' "rational passivity". Using the Reality Check Approach, we lived with the same poor and marginalised families for 3-5 days, twice, over two-year period.
Policy makers are frequently characterized as being out of touch with the communities they serve. But closing the "gap" between policy makers and people is not straightforward, since distancing effects are produced by a combination of geography, politics and knowledge. This article analyses the case of an experimental initiative in Bangladesh known as the "reality check" that attempted to influence policy makers in the health and education sectors by providing them with people-centered data gathered at community level. The case is analyzed as an example of "methodological populism" that combined participatory and ethnographic approaches, and as one that challenged current managerialist cultures of what can be considered as acceptable evidence for policy. The case highlights tensions between participation, populism and policy that are potentially productive but constrained by three sets of factors: (i) contestations over the status of "popular knowledge", (ii) the need for critical "policy spaces" within policy processes in which policy makers can engage with such knowledge, and (iii) the "disruptive temporalities" within policy processes that tend to inhibit learning. Drawing on the "guarded hopefulness" of meta-modernist theory, the paper concludes that if more attention can be paid to such issues, initiatives informed by methodological populism such as the reality check could be further built upon in ways that may contribute to the humanization or "peopling" of policy processes.
Abstract: This article contributes to debates about ethical and methodological dilemmas experienced in international development studies. It departs from a research experience based on a longitudinal study, the Reality Check Approach, that puts intimacy, immersion and consensus at its core. These concepts signify an ethically motivated approach that aims to 'give voice' to people living in poverty. They also describe an ideal research relationship assumed as the basis for good quality data. The article examines the difficulties encountered when faced with ambiguous meanings in people's responses, and shortcomings of the approach. These include the combining of ethical and instrumental motivations in the research framework and ambivalent roles and conflicting ethics, highlighted in the conflictual notions of 'giving someone space to talk' and 'making someone talk'.
This book is intended for all who are committed to human wellbeing and who want to make our world fairer, safer and more fulfilling for everyone, especially those who are 'last'. It argues that to do better we need to know better. It provides evidence that what we believe we know in international development is often distorted or unbalanced by errors, myths, biases and blind spots.
Undue weight has been attached to standardised methodologies such as randomized control trials, systematic reviews, and competitive bidding: these are shown to have huge transaction costs which are rarely if ever recognized in their enormity. Robert Chambers contrasts a Newtonian paradigm in which the world is seen and understood as controllable with a paradigm of complexity which recognizes that the real world of social processes and power relations is messy and unpredictable. To confront the challenges of complex and emergent realities requires a revolutionary new professionalism. This is underpinned by a new combination of canons of rigour expressed through eclectic methodological pluralism and participatory approaches which reverse and transform power relations. Promising developments include rapid innovations in participatory ICTs, participatory statistics, and the Reality Check Approach with its up-to-date and rigorously grounded insights. Fundamental to the new professionalism, in every country and context, are reflexivity, facilitation, groundtruthing, and personal mindsets, behaviour, attitudes, empathy and love.
Can We Know Better? is essential reading for researchers and students of development, for policy makers and evaluators, and for all those working towards the better world of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Reality Check Approach has proven to be a powerful companion to quantitative research in the design and evaluation of programs. In Chapter 12 of the new publication Monitoring and Evaluation in Health and Social Development: Interpretive and Ethnographic Perspectives, RCA practitioner Dee Jupp discusses examples from Ghana and Nepal where RCA studies added invaluable insights to quantitative research which may have otherwise gone unnoticed or inadequately interpreted. In Nepal for example, a RCA study preceded the evaluation of a DfID-supported Rural Access Programme to help develop a theory of change constructed from people's perspectives and to enhance the design of household surveys. Whereas the initial project theory of change believed that greater access would decrease outward migration, the RCA study showed the exact opposite - people perceived that outward migration would increase. To assist with the households survey, the RCA study noted that many people were using private providers for healthcare, which had not been initially included as a response option in the surveys.
In Ghana, RCA is being used in a mixed method process as part of the Millennium Village Project. The RCA study helped substantiate baseline survey data which indicated that food expenditure was increasing at the same level as increases in total expenditure. Typically, food expenditure decreases as a proportion of total expenditure as expenditure increases, so the survey team was ready to dismiss this as a measurement error prior to listening to the RCA experience in the field. It also helped to explain why the incidence of malaria remained high despite nearly 90 percent of households surveyed as having at least one mosquito net. Basically, the nets were unused for most of the year because it was too hot to sleep with them and many people did not actually understand the connection between using the nets and malaria prevention.
The Reality Check Approach was also employed as part of a multiple methods evaluation looking at 40 years of development interventions in East Nepal. While existing government statistics still had many areas of the Koshi hills area of East Nepal classified as poor, the RCA study found that this was incorrect, and that significant change and development had occurred in this area. The RCA study uncovered that the introduction of cardamom cultivation through people's own efforts rather than external development programmes was, in fact, the main driver that had turned this region from a cash poor area to relatively cash rich.
RCA participated in a multiple methods evaluation study to look at the long-term impact of development interventions in the Koshi Hills region of eastern Nepal. Evaluations typically assess the linear linkages between specific interventions and intended program outcomes, but this is likely to attribute any changes to a particular program(s) while obscuring the wider social and economic factors contributing to changes. This evaluation hoped to limit the normative assumptions that come from a project focus by using multiple methods and by focusing on a much longer period of time not tied to any individual project. With the help of insights gathered from the RCA study in the Koshi Hills region, the evaluation narrative was based around the perspective of the people in that area (their Theory of Change). This helped to limit normative assumptions while adding rigour and explanation to the findings. The RCA study also helped uncover a key driver of significant change in the Koshi Hills region which wasn't reflected in existing data, namely the introduction of cardamom cultivation. This was a particularly important discovery because the cardamom was introduced to the region through people's own efforts rather than through external development programmes.
In this article in the American Journal of Evaluation, the evaluation team, including RCA practitioners Dee Jupp and Ansu Tumbahangfe, discuss the methods used in this unique long-term evaluation along with the lessons learned and implications for future studies.


In 1976, Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood in partnership with a fellow wine lover and over the next half-dozen years, their fledgling operation moved from one winery to another. Ravenswood finally turned a corner after a dozen years and purchased a winery on the northern edge of Sonoma Valley, where the Ravenswood Visitor Center and Tasting Room are still located today. Since its beginning, Ravenswood has been recognized the world over for its amazing Zinfandels.
Joel has been known as the "The Godfather of Zin," and is an acknowledged leader in California wine. He is an articulate spokesman and stylistic trendsetter who helped make Zinfandel the runaway phenomenon that it is today.
Joel Peterson took his first big steps toward personal independence in 1976. Educated as a clinical laboratory scientist with a degree in microbiology, the Oregon State University grad was working full-time in cancer immunology research at a San Francisco hospital and dabbling with wine on the side. The two single-vineyard Zins the longhaired winemaker made from the 1976 vintage would be the first he unveiled to the world.


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Aaron Judge wins the American League Most Valuable Player award, Bo Bichette, Alek Manoah and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got votes
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
As mostly everyone expected, Aaron Judge is the 2022 American League Most Valuable Player.
It really isn't a shock, and even though it wasn't unanimous (Shohei Ohtani got two first-place votes), everyone and their mother knew he was going to win. And yeah, he had an incredible season, slashing .311/.425.686 with an American League record 62 home runs. He had a career-best 11.4 fWAR, and a 207 wRC+.
Not just that, but the 30-year-old dragged the Yankees to the American League Championship Series, despite having next to no protection around him.
Judge is currently a free agent and is set to make HUGE money after one of the best seasons in history. As a Jays fan, I do hope he leaves the American League, but I'd say there's a fairly good chance he sticks with the Yankees for the rest of his career.
Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani finished second, but he had an absolutely historic season like never before. The 28-year-old slashed .273/.356/.519 with 34 homers in 666 plate appearances. This obviously wouldn't be enough under normal circumstances, but unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know why he was a finalist.
Ohtani has a 2.33 ERA and 2.40 FIP in 166 innings pitched as well. This included a 33.2 K% and 6.7 BB%. He also finished in fourth place in the American League Cy Young voting.
Yordan Alvarez finished third in the voting, as he slashed .306/.406/.613 with 37 homers and a 185 K%. Although he plays mainly DH, he still managed to put up an incredible 6.6 fWAR. Instead of winning the MVP, he won the World Series with the Houston Astros.
Unlike in 2021, the Blue Jays didn't finish with a finalist in the MVP voting. However, Bo Bichette finished 11th with two seventh-placed votes, three ninth-placed votes, and two 10th-placed votes. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has one sixth-placed vote and one ninth-placed vote, while Alek Manoah had an eight-place vote, a ninth-placed vote, and three 10th-placed votes.
Will 2023 be the first year since 2015 that a Blue Jay wins the American League MVP, I guess we'll have to find out!
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D. There's a possibility that the birdapp goes down soon, and if that's the case, my Instagram is Brennan_L_D.


When thinking of purchasing stock, most people think about making money, return on investment, and profit. With Green Bay fans and supporters, it is a little bit different. They bought stock to support the organization, be a part of something they love, and be a piece of the team they follow all season long.
In December 2011, the Green Bay Packers football team offered the organization's fifth public stock offering. The shares were priced at $250, with the goal being to raise money for the expansion of Lambeau Field. This $143 million project is expected to be complete for the 2013 season.
The Packers previously had offerings in 1923, 1935, 1950, and 1997. The proceeds from the first 3 offerings went to assist the organization financially, when they were looking at bankruptcy. The fourth offering helped the organization to redevelop Lambeau Field, which was finished in 2003. Fans purchased stock online with a credit card or by mail. The Packers initially offered 250,000 shares, but the stock sale closed with more than 268,000 shares. The organization earned almost half of the money needed for the $143 million dollar project to expand Lambeau Field. Wisconsin fans bought about 50 percent of the shares in this offering.
What do these shares of stock do for the shareholders? Fans should take note that Packers stock is not the same as the traditional investment in shares of stock. It should not be purchased to make a profit, receive a dividend, tax benefit, or any other economic benefits. The value does not go up, and the shares have virtually no resale value.
Some fans have said they bought shares just to show their appreciation to the organization that they follow and love. They say they just want to be able to say they own a piece of the organization. Other fans say it seems too much like a donation, and is not even tax-deductible. They say they would rather spend the $250 to purchase a ticket to a game.
With the amount of money that was raised, I believe this was a good business move by the Packers. It brought the fans closer with the organization by offering them a sense of ownership, and probably will make them more loyal fans. It also accomplished the goal of raising money for the expansion of the stadium. Now the organization has approximately half of the cost paid, which decreases the amount of debt they have to take on for the expansion. It's a wonder why other teams have not offered stock of their own, yet no other team has ever offered stock to the public.
I have loved the Packers since the mid 1950s living in Montreal Are Packer stocks still available?


In this thesis we develop two types of structure preserving Jacobi algorithms for com puting the symplectic singular value decomposition of real symplectic matrices and complex symplectic matrices. Unlike general purpose algorithms, these algorithms produce symplectic structure in all factors of the singular value decomposition.
Our first algorithm uses the relation between the singular value decomposition and the polar decomposition to reduce the problem of finding the symplectic singular value decomposition to th a t of calculating the structured spectral decomposition of a doubly structured m atrix. A Jacobi-like m ethod is developed to compute this doubly structured spectral decomposition.
The second algorithm is a one-sided Jacobi m ethod th a t directly computes the structured singular value decomposition of real or complex symyplectic matrices.
Numerical experiments show th a t our algorithms converge quadratically. Furthermore, the number of sweeps needed for convergence is favorable when compared to Jacobi-like algorithms for other structured matrices.
Chaiyakarn, Archara, "Structure Preserving Algorithms for Computing the Symplectic Singular Value Decom Position" (2005). Dissertations. 1022.


After an intense and much discussed casting session, Marvel and Sony have decided on the actor that will play Peter Parker/Spider-Man for years to come. Get used to seeing 19-year old Brit Tom Holland (The Impossible, Backcountry), the soon-to-be-very-well-known actor playing Spider-Man.
The studios also announced the director for the untitled Spider-Man solo film as well, and well, it's a little surprising. The untitled Spider-Man film scheduled for July 28, 2017 will be directed by Jon Watts.
Notice how there aren't any films in parenthesis listed after his name? His biggest film to date is the hard-to-find supernatural horror film Clown, which debuted in Italy before a home media release in the U.S. a few months later. His next film, Cop Car, is a little more high profile. It's a thriller starring Kevin Bacon that debuted at Sundance, and it hits theaters on August 7, 2015.
Someone somewhere must have really, really liked it, given that Watts is now in charge of what will be one of the biggest films of 2017. It will also be incredibly complicated due its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the two studios that will both want their opinions taken into account, the massive amounts of special effects, and Sony's almost desperate need for this – its third Spider-Man film franchise in 15 years – to be a big hit.
As for Holland, he must have also impressed the hell out of a lot of people. The casting process was an unusual one to say the least. Both Marvel and Sony had a say, and the timing was working against them. Spider-Man is set to appear in Captain America: Civil War, which is already well into filming.
The casting process for the new Spidey began with a pool of around 1,500 actors. It was eventually narrowed down to six , then to two – supposedly. Although reports did correctly identify Holland as a frontrunner, there were plenty of stories that had others in contention. At one point several outlets were reporting that Asa Butterfield had the job, and he was just in the negotiating process.
That turned out to be wrong, but there may have been more to it than just an errant rumor. The casting process wasn't just for a guy to play Spidey in a film or two. The contract hasn't been released (and probably won't be), but it is believed to span multiple films over several years. Part of the reason Sony and Marvel decided to recast (beyond just starting fresh), was to go with a young actor that could stick with the role for years to come.
Holland's name continued to remain in the discussion though, and a video of the actor showing off his Spidey-like skills recently landed online. Now that the news is official, he will likely have to get to work immediately – after maybe buying a new yacht, or whatever 19-year olds that just landed a multi-million acting contract do.
Expect to see leaks of Spidey on set very soon, as there will probably be some big bounties from entertainment outlets for first looks – assuming Marvel doesn't beat them to it and release artwork and set shots itself. His first official appearance on screen will be on May 6, 2016, when Captain America: Civil War is released.


A set of 2 stamps and a mini-sheet were issued on November 13th 2000 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of RLS.
The $5 stamp (above left) prepays the overnight rate.
It shows RLS reading a book to the young Princess Ka'iulani on the steps of "Ainahau" in Waikiki.
The $8 stamp (above right) prepays the Same Day rate.
It shows RLS sitting with King Kalakaua on the verandah of I'olani Palace in Honolulu.
The $5 and $8 stamps are from original miniature watercolors painted by local artist Wayne Takazono.
Both stamp drawings are © Hawai'i Post.
The $3 Mini-sheet (below) plus the $5 stamp prepay the Same Day rate.
written by him for Princess Ka'iulani before she left for Europe in 1889 to finish her education.
To smile in Ka'iulani's eye."
Born in Edinburgh Scotland on November 13th 1850, Robert Louis Stevenson grew up to become a successful writer. His books include "Treasure Island", "Kidnapped", "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" etc. In France, he met his wife Fanny, an American. With her, he travelled widely including a trip to Hawai'i where he visited King Kalakaua and Princess Ka'iulani. Before the Princess left for Europe in 1889 to finish her education, he wrote a special poem for her (shown on the $3 mini-sheet). He finally settled in Samoa and died there in 1894.
A First Day Cover was issued on November 13th 2000 with a special cachet and postmark (above). Covers were made on high-quality paper envelopes in white and gray. The special cachet above depicts a drawing of a young Robert Louis Stevenson and a short biography.
The special First Day postmark for the above covers was issued for November 13th 2000 only. The postmark has a quill pen in an inkwell with the initials "RLS" on it. The circle cancel is in script and reads "150th Anniversary of the Birth of Robert Louis Stevenson" and also "Waikiki, O'ahu. Hawai'i Post" The center lines across read "1850/November 13/2000."
Hawai'i Post operates under the exemption to the U.S. Private Express Statutes that allows urgent mail. The relevant statute is Section 39 CFR320-6.
May 1997, "Hawai'i Post" is established as a messenger and delivery service in Waikiki to pick up and deliver urgent mail.
May 15 1997, "Hawaii Post"is registered as a Tradename in the State of Hawai'i.
February 10 2000, the domain name www.hawaii-post.com is created.
June 13 2000, "Hawai'i Post" starts issuing postage stamps for prepayment of services.
September 19 2000. "Hawaii Post"is re-registered as a Tradename in the State of Hawai'i until February 10 2011.
The name "Hawaii Post" is a pending Service Mark before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.


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Beyoncé Covers Harper's BAZAAR's September 'Icons' Issue
Yeehaw Agenda Aficionado Beyoncé Covers Harper's BAZAAR's September 'Icons' Issue, Talks Parenting & Privacy
by Danielle Canada | August 10, 2021
"The past is the past. I feel many aspects of that younger, less evolved Beyoncé could never f*** with the woman I am today. Haaa!"
Source: Campbell Addy / Harper's Bazaar
Giddy up, BeyHive your Queen has arrived!
Beyoncé is covering Harper's BAZAAR's September 'Icons Issue' and doing so in extravagant IVY Park Rodeo riddled fashion. The icon, 39, chatted with the mag about "listening to her voice alone" ahead of her milestone 40th birthday, parenting to nine-year-old Blue Ivy and four-year-old twins Rumi and Sir, and privacy.
According to Bey, she intentionally sets boundaries between her stage persona and her personal life and there's a Zodiac reason why the "Internet Therapists", "Comment Critics" and "Experts WIth No Expertise" don't see certain things.
"We live in a world with few boundaries and a lot of access. There are so many internet therapists, comment critics, and experts with no expertise. Our reality can be warped because it's based on a personalized algorithm. It shows us whatever truths we are searching for, and that's dangerous. We can create our own false reality when we're not fed a balance of what's truly going on in the world. It's easy to forget that there's still so much to discover outside of our phones. I'm grateful I have the ability to choose what I want to share. One day I decided I wanted to be like Sade and Prince. I wanted the focus to be on my music, because if my art isn't strong enough or meaningful enough to keep people interested and inspired, then I'm in the wrong business. My music, my films, my art, my message—that should be enough.
In this business, so much of your life does not belong to you unless you fight for it. I've fought to protect my sanity and my privacy because the quality of my life depended on it. A lot of who I am is reserved for the people I love and trust. Those who don't know me and have never met me might interpret that as being closed off. Trust, the reason those folks don't see certain things about me is because my Virgo a** does not want them to see it….It's not because it doesn't exist!"
One time for the Virgos!
The Houstonian/yeehaw agenda aficionado also detailed to Harper's BAZAAR the inspiration behind her new IVY PARK collection and noted that it's aligned with celebrating the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy.
The cowboys who were discriminated against and often given the worst, most temperamental horses to work with, formed the Soul Circuit and performed in Black rodeos. This new collection is apparently honoring them and will include kid sizes.
"This collection is a mixture of my childhood growing up in Texas and a bit of American history. I grew up going to the Houston rodeo every year. It was this amazing diverse and multicultural experience where there was something for every member of the family, including great performances, Houston-style fried Snickers, and fried turkey legs."
[…] We were inspired by the culture and swag of the Houston rodeo. We combined classic elements with the athleticwear of IVY PARK x adidas, adding our own spin, monogrammed denim, chaps, and cowhide.
I'm excited that IVY PARK x adidas will now feature kids' clothing with this drop. On our family vacations, we love to coordinate our outfits. My kids are usually on set with me for shoots, and we'd find ourselves putting them in extra-extra-smalls so we could match. So, it is a natural progression for IVY PARK to introduce a selection of key silhouettes in children's sizing."
She also gave a special shoutout to her besties Kelly and Michelle and her little sis Solo, "the dopest person she knows."
"My closest friends are brilliant women who run companies, are entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, and close family. Kelly [Rowland] and Michelle [Williams] are still my best friends. I gravitate toward strong, grounded women like my incredible sister, Solange. She is full of wisdom, and she is the dopest person I know."
Bey is clearly unapologetically telling her own story in her own words.
She also spoke to the publication about a proud mama moment between her and Blue Ivy, hit the flip for that.
At one point Bey details her self-care and admits to struggling with insomnia that has plagued her for "half her life." She also shares her love for "positive rituals" that are already rubbing off on her children.
Bey told Harper's BAZAAR that Blue soaks in mama Bey's homemade blends to decompress.
"During quarantine, I went from overindulgences to creating positive rituals drawing from past generations and putting my own spin on things. I discovered CBD on my last tour, and I've experienced its benefits for soreness and inflammation. It helped with my restless nights and the agitation that comes from not being able to fall asleep. I found healing properties in honey that benefit me and my children. And now I'm building a hemp and a honey farm. I've even got hives on my roof!
And I'm so happy that my daughters will have the example of those rituals from me. One of my most satisfying moments as a mom is when I found Blue one day soaking in the bath with her eyes closed, using blends I created and taking time for herself to decompress and be at peace. I have so much to share…and there's more to come soon!"
Bey also of course dives into when we can expect new music and likens the need for escapism through music to a "renaissance"…
"With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I've been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies. Still, there's nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!"
and speaks to Harper's BAZAAR about what she hopes the next decade will bring:
"My wish is for my 40s to be fun and full of freedom. I want to feel the same freedom I feel on stage every day of my life. I want to explore aspects of myself I haven't had time to discover and to enjoy my husband and my children. I want to travel without working. I want this next decade to be about celebration, joy, and giving and receiving love. I want to give all the love I have to the people who love me back. I want to continue to work to dismantle systemic imbalances. I want to continue to turn these industries upside down. I plan to create businesses outside of music. I have learned that I have to keep on dreaming.
"I want to show that you can have fun and have purpose, be respectful and speak your mind. You can be both elegant and a provocateur. You can be curvy and still be a fashion icon. I wish this freedom for every person. I have paid my dues and followed every rule for decades, so now I can break the rules that need to be broken. My wish for the future is to continue to do everything everyone thinks I can't do."
Stunning shots and a great interview! This surely will keep the BeyHive buzzing.
For more of Harper's BAZAAR's September 2021 cover story on Bey which runs in 24 editions worldwide, click HERE.
Photographs by: Campbell Addy
Styling by: Samira Nasr and Marni Senofonte
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Want to discover all there is to do in Townsville? Click here for a full list.
We enjoyed the comprehensive tour and information about the history and future plans for Townsville and surrounds. Awesome view of the town and Magnetic Island from the top of Castle Hill.Plenty of time to explore and take pics.


Located just East of Hayward, WI, we offer an unparalleled opportunity to help you enjoy your stay in this beautiful area of Wisconsin. Sevinwinds Casino, Lodge & Convention Center provides you with a fun and relaxing time that will bring you back again and again. Our Convention Center can accommodate up to 400 people for business meetings, seminars, conventions, or trade shows, or up to 900 people for special events.


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Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam is a heritage-listed dam in the outer South Western Sydney suburb of Warragamba, Wollondilly Shire in New South Wales, Australia. It is a concrete gravity dam, which creates Lake Burragorang, the primary reservoir for water supply for the city of Sydney. The dam wall is located approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi) to the southwest of Sydney central business district, near the town of Wallacia.
Warragamba Dam wall
Location of the Warragamba Dam
in New South Wales
Warragamba, New South Wales
33°52′59″S 150°35′44″E / 33.88306°S 150.59556°E / -33.88306; 150.59556Coordinates: 33°52′59″S 150°35′44″E / 33.88306°S 150.59556°E / -33.88306; 150.59556
Potable water supply
Construction began
1948; 74 years ago (1948)
14 October 1960; 61 years ago (1960-10-14)
WaterNSW
Dam and spillways
Type of dam
Gravity dam
Impounds
Warragamba River
Width (base)
Dam volume
3,000,000 tonnes (3,300,000 short tons; 3,000,000 long tons)
Spillway type
Controlled chute spillways with five crest gates and a central drum; automatic operation
Lake Burragorang
2,031 GL (4.47×1011 imp gal; 5.37×1011 US gal)
9,051 km2 (3,495 sq mi)
75 km2 (29 sq mi)
Maximum length
52 km (32 mi)
Maximum water depth
Normal elevation
Operator(s)
Eraring Energy
Commission date
Warragamba Dam at WaterNSW
New South Wales Heritage Register
Warragamba Emergency Scheme
State heritage (built)
Designated
18 November 1999; 22 years ago (1999-11-18)
Water Supply Reservoir/ Dam
Utilities - Water
Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board
The dam was devised as part of a collective engineering response to Sydney's critical water shortage during World War II and was originally known as the Warragamba Emergency Scheme. Constructed between 1948 and 1960, the dam created capacity for a reservoir of 2,031 gigalitres (4.47×1011 imp gal; 5.37×1011 US gal) and is fed by a catchment area of 9,051 square kilometres (3,495 sq mi). The surface area of the lake covers 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) of the now-flooded Burragorang Valley. It was designed and built by the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board. A small hydroelectric power station is incorporated into the design of the dam but is rarely operational.
The property is owned by WaterNSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.
Drought has severely depleted the level of the dam at times: on 8 February 2007 it recorded an all-time low of 32.5% of capacity. On 2 March 2012, it overflowed for the first time in fourteen years. It overflowed again in 2016 and in March 2021.[1]
1.1 Warragamba Emergency Scheme
1.2 1948–1960: construction of current dam
2 Description and recent works
2.1 Spillway
2.2 Power generation
2.3 21st century re-engineering and enhancements
2.4 Proposed raising of dam wall
3 Catchment
3.1 Dam level crises and water restrictions
4 Statistical overview
5 Access and recreation
6 Heritage listing
One of the first places in the Gundungurra traditional homelands that most appealed to the Anglo-Celtic settlers were the river flats of the Burragorang Valley (now flooded under Warragamba Dam). Even before the valley was officially surveyed in 1827-1828, many early settlers were already squatting on blocks that they planned to officially occupy following the issue of freehold title grants. From the Burragorang Valley and using Aboriginal pathways, other valleys to the west were occupied and developed by the settlers with construction of outstations and stock routes. These cattle entrepreneurs were then followed by cedar-wood extractors and miners.[2]
In 1845, Paweł Strzelecki drew attention to the Warragamba River as a water supply catchment; in 1867, supporters proposed a dam.[3]
The Gundungurra traditional owners resisted the taking of their lands, and, relying on various laws of the colony at the time, continually applied for official ownership. Although their individual claims failed, in some kind of recognition of the significance of the designated tracts of land claimed, six Aboriginal Reserves (under the control of the NSW Aborigines Protection Board) were formally declared in the Burragorang Valley. Even after these reserves were revoked, many of the traditional owners remained, quietly refusing to leave their traditional homelands.[2]
Finally pushed into the "Gully", a fringe development in West Katoomba from about 1894, the Gully community stayed together for more than 60 years until dispossessed of the Gully by the then Blue Mountains Shire Council so a group of local businessmen could develop a speedway that became known as the Catalina Race Track. The Gully people kept talking about areas of land they had walked in as children - the nearby Megalong and Kanimbla Valleys and the Burragorang Valley. They knew of the profound significance of these valleys for their parents and grandparents.[4][2]
Between 1867 and 1946, supporters of Strzelecki's proposal proposed various schemes before the site and design of the current dam received approval.[3]
Warragamba Emergency SchemeEdit
In 1910, Ernest de Burgh, Chief Engineer for Water Supply and Sewerage, in the NSW Public Works Department prepared a proposal for a dam on the Warragamba River and followed it up in 1918 with more detailed plans. His proposals were passed onto the newly formed Metropolitan Water and Sewerage and Drainage Board in 1925 when it took over from the P.W.D. The completion of the Warragamba Emergency Scheme required during its peak 1,000 waged employees at the Headworks, and a further 1,000 on the Pipeline. All buildings used in the construction of the Emergency Scheme were designed for later re-use as cottages for the future maintenance and operations personnel. Some of these buildings were relocated from elsewhere. The main works office was the original police station at the Nepean Dam site.[2]
In 1940, a weir and water pumping station, known as the Warragamba Emergency Scheme, reached completion, just downstream of the main dam site,[3] located on the east bank of the Warragamba River. Access to the site was along the road currently known as Weir Road. Major elements of the construction works still extant include the weir, a 10-cable cableway, shads, batching plants, roads, electrical substation, chlorination plant, maintenance staff accommodation, balance reservoir, Megarritys Bridge, water pumping station, tunnels, and associated pipelines.[2]
1948–1960: construction of current damEdit
In 1943 the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board invited the geologist William Browne to investigate a proposed site. Browne found a more suitable site and continued as geological adviser until completion.[5] The site was reviewed and approved by Dr John Savage, considered the pre-eminent expert in this field, and formally accepted by the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board on 2 October 1946.[3] The Board appointed Thomas Upton as the engineer.
The Warragamba River flows through a gorge that varies in width from 300 to 600 metres (980 to 1,970 ft), and is 100 metres (330 ft) in depth. This gorge opens at its upper end into a large valley, the Burragorang Valley. This river configuration allows for a relatively short but high dam wall, in the gorge, to impound a vast quantity of water.[3]
Dam construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1960. The resulting dam of the Warragamba River formed Lake Burragorang, which is one of the largest reservoirs for urban water supply in the world.[citation needed]
The dam wall comprises 1,612,000 cubic yards (1,232,000 m3) of concrete. It was laid as interlocking blocks roughly 17 metres (56 ft) on each side, which were later grouted together to form a continuous, monolithic wall. It is so large that engineers had to use two techniques to prevent the temperature from becoming too hot as the concrete set. One was to add ice to the wet concrete, the first application of this technique in Australia. The other was to embed cooling pipes into the concrete and circulate chilled water through the pipes. As a result, the dam wall was cooled in a few months instead of the estimated 100 years it would have taken to cool naturally.[3]
Description and recent worksEdit
The dam impounds the Coxs, Kowmung, Nattai, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, and Warragamba rivers, within the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment.[6]
The dam created capacity for a reservoir of 2,027 gigalitres (4.46×1011 imp gal; 5.35×1011 US gal) and is fed by a catchment area of 9,051 square kilometres (3,495 sq mi). The surface area of the lake covers 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) of the now flooded Burragorang Valley.[6]
SpillwayEdit
The main spillway has five crest gates: A central drum gate with a 27 metres (89 ft) clear span with a pair of radial gates on each side. Each radial gate has a 12 metres (39 ft) clear span. The drum gate is hinged along the upstream edge to the upstream crest and lowers into the dam wall to allow water to flow over it. When fully open, it forms a continuation of the crest profile.[3] All gates open automatically as the dam passes full water level, or can be manually opened.[3][7] The auxiliary spillway is normally closed by a series of fuse plugs that are designed to be washed away in the event of an extreme flood event.[8]
As originally designed, the dam could safely withstand a peak inflow of 500,000 cubic feet per second (14,000 m3/s), leading to a peak discharge of 354,000 cubic feet per second (10,000 m3/s) down the spillway.[3] Following a 1987 and 1989 re-evaluation of the potential rainfall and flood risks, the New South Wales Government authorised for the dam wall to be raised by 5 metres (16 ft) and constructed an auxiliary spillway on the east bank of the dam.[7]
Power generationEdit
There is also a hydroelectric power station at the dam that can generate 50 megawatts (67,000 hp)[9] which is currently disconnected from the electricity grid.[10] Water levels became very rarely high enough to allow operation of the generators. By 2012, it was rarely used.[11]
21st century re-engineering and enhancementsEdit
In 2006, the Warragamba Deep Water Storage Recovery Project, part of the Metropolitan Water Plan, penetrated the base of the dam wall to allow the previously inaccessible lowest water in the reservoir to be available. This new outlet was below the minimum level required for gravity flow, which delivered water from the existing outlets. The project constructed a new pumping station downstream of the dam. The new pumping station is within the Emergency Scheme pumping station chamber. This project provided access to eight per cent more water or approximately six months of extra supply. On 15 April 2006, the project reached a major milestone when it increased the available storage from 1,857 gigalitres (6.56×1010 cu ft) to 2,027 gigalitres (7.16×1010 cu ft).[6]
Enhancements to the dam were completed in 2009, including the addition of an auxiliary spillway to manage extreme flood events.[8]
Other recent[when?] major work includes a complete upgrade of the three passenger lifts within the dam wall, an upgrade of the travelling crest crane and a complete upgrade of the four water supply outlets in the valve house, which includes the replacement of the major valves.[citation needed]
Proposed raising of dam wallEdit
Since 2017, WaterNSW has been working on a risk-mitigation project, aimed at protecting human life and property in the floodplain catchment area in case of major flooding, primarily by raising the dam wall by up to 17 metres (56 ft).[12] Infrastructure NSW's rationale is based on the fact that up to 134,000 people live and work on the floodplain, and urban growth could greatly increase this number in decades to come; giving the dam a greater capacity would enable holding back floodwaters before releasing it in a controlled fashion, reducing the need for urgent evacuations.[12]
However, there are concerns for the more than 50 recognised Aboriginal heritage sites in the 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) of World Heritage Area that would be flooded, parts of which were badly burnt in the 2019–2020 bushfires in Australia. The box gum grassy woodlands are home to threatened species of birds, including up to 50% of the remaining population of the critically endangered regent honeyeater, as well as koalas and greater gliders.[13]
In September 2020, the New South Wales Government was ordered by the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to re-do their Indigenous heritage work, concerned that NSW has not adequately addressed the concerns of Gundungurra and other traditional owners in their cultural heritage surveys.[14] The federal review also said that the environmental impact assessment lacked detail on how the project could affect species such as the platypus and echidna. Engineering experts have also questioned the modelling done by Infrastructure NSW.[15]
CatchmentEdit
The catchment area is 9,050 square kilometres (3,490 sq mi). The areas closest to the lake, making up around 30% of the total catchment, are restricted access special areas. Most of the rest of the catchment consists of cleared farming land and contains large and small towns, which discharge treated sewage into the catchment.
Although the engineers did not design Warragamba Dam as a flood control measure, it can mitigate flooding by holding floodwaters back while the reservoir fills.[citation needed]
Dam level crises and water restrictionsEdit
There have been times when drought has seriously depleted the dam. In March 1983, Lake Burragorang's level reached a low of 45.4% of capacity, only to reach maximum level in the mid 1990s; as a consequence the gates were opened (there was a significant spill in August 1998[15]). Between 1998 and 2007 the catchment area experienced extremely low rainfall (in December 2004, the dam dropped to 38.8% of capacity, the lowest on record to date[16]) and on 8 February 2007 it recorded an all-time low of 32.5% of capacity.[17]
The New South Wales State Government tried to reduce this risk by implementing water restrictions[18] and commissioned the construction of a desalination plant, at Kurnell. Heavy rains between June 2007 and February 2008 restored the dam level to around 67%. Despite this, Level 3 water restrictions remained in place until 21 June 2009.[19]
On 29 February 2012, it was reported that the dam was likely to overflow for the first time in fourteen years, due to continuing heavy rain in the region.[19] The dam began spilling at 18:53 (AEDT) on 2 March 2012 and again on 20 April 2012.[20][21][22][15]
The dam reached full capacity on 17 August 2020, compared with it being less than half full a year previously.[12] During a days long severe weather event, affecting much of New South Wales, it overflowed for the first time since 2016 on 20 March 2021.[1]
Warragamba Dam again reached 100% capacity on the 26th of November 2021 and began spilling following a prolonged period of rain in NSW.[23]
Statistical overviewEdit
Key dam structures
Height 142 metres (466 ft)
Length 351 metres (1,152 ft)
Thickness at top 8.5 metres (28 ft)
Thickness at base 104 metres (341 ft)
Width of central spillway 94.5 metres (310 ft)
Width of auxiliary spillway (at mouth) 190 metres (620 ft)
Length of auxiliary spillway 700 metres (2,300 ft)
Hydro-electric plant capacity 50 megawatts (67,000 hp)
Key reservoir statistics
Available storage (when full) 2,027 gigalitres (7.16×1010 cu ft)
Total capacity (when full) 2,031 gigalitres (7.17×1010 cu ft)
Surface area 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi)
Length of lake 52 kilometres (32 mi)
Length of foreshores 354 kilometres (220 mi)
Deepest point 105 metres (344 ft)
Catchment area 9,051 square kilometres (3,495 sq mi)
Average annual rainfall 840 millimetres (33 in)
Access and recreationEdit
Warragamba Dam was a popular picnic spot for Sydneysiders, but access to the public was restricted after 1999 due to A$240 million of upgrades in that time. It reopened to the public on 8 November 2009.[24]
Access to the dam wall and terrace gardens opened from 23 December 2012 to 28 January 2013 at weekends and public holidays.
Heritage listingEdit
The Emergency Scheme is representative of the collective engineering response to Sydney's critical water shortage during the Second World War period. It was the first stage in the storage and extraction of water from the Warragamba River, and was preliminary to the Waragamba Dam. All of the components are excellent examples of the civil engineering skills of the times; the Balance Reservoir is particularly significant because it provides a stilling pool downstream of Warragamba Dam for the purpose of flood discharge; the group of five cottages associated with the construction of the dam are considered to be of high significance because they housed the operations staff between 1940 and 1959. These have since been incorporated into the Warragamba township, one of the largest townships in the Shire of Wollondilly.[2]
The Warragamba Emergency Scheme was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999, having satisfied the following criteria:[2]
The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
This item is assessed as historically rare statewide and as well as scientifically rare statewide.[2]
Water portal
1998 Sydney water crisis
Warragamba - township originally built to house dam builders.
^ a b "Warragamba Dam overflows for first time in years amid NSW 'extreme weather event'". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
^ a b c d e f g h "Warragamba Emergency Scheme". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01376. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
^ a b c d e f g h i Aird, W. V. (1961). The water supply, sewerage, and drainage of Sydney. Sydney: Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board. pp. 106–117. An account of the development and history of the water supply, sewerage, and drainage systems of Sydney and the near south coast from their beginnings with the first settlement to 1960.
^ Johnson, 2009, 4.
^ Vallance, T. G. "Browne, William Rowan (1884–1975)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
^ a b c "Warragamba Dam". Sydney Catchment Authority. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
^ a b "Warragamba: A dam full of myths". Sydney Catchment Authority. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
^ a b "Warragamba Dam Auxiliary Spillway". Sydney Catchment Authority. Government of New South Wales. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
^ "Hydro Power Stations: Warragamba". Generation Portfolio. Eraring Energy. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012.
^ "Hydro Power Stations: Warragamba". Generation Portfolio. Eraring Energy. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
^ "Annual Report" (PDF). Eraring Energy. 2012. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
^ a b c Cox, Lisa; Morton, Adam (19 August 2020). "Warragamba Dam: is western Sydney about to flood and would raising the dam wall help?". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
^ Cox, Lisa (11 September 2020). "'Mud and dead trees': the dire environmental effects of raising Warragamba dam wall". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
^ Calderwood, Kathleen (11 September 2020). "Plans to raise Warragamba Dam wall could see flood destroy Indigenous artefacts, leaked document says". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
^ a b c Cox, Lisa (17 September 2020). "NSW government ordered to revisit world heritage assessments for Warragamba Dam expansion". the Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
^ Warragamba Dam hits lowest level by ABC News Friday, 10 December 2004
^ "Bulk Water Storage & Supply Report". Sydney Catchment Authority. Government of New South Wales. 8 February 2007.
^ "Mandatory Water Restrictions". Sydney Water Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 May 2007.
^ a b "Warragamba Dam to spill Friday morning: BoM". ABC TV. Australia. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
^ "SCAN" (PDF). The Sydney Catchment Authority's quarterly newsletter. Sydney Catchment Authority. Autumn 2012. p. 3. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
^ "Warragamba Dam finally spills". Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
^ "Warragamba bursts, flood warning issued". Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
^ Gorrey, Sally Rawsthorne, Megan (27 November 2021). "Warragamba Dam spills, 21 flood warnings across the state". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
^ "Warragmba (sic) Dam will re-open to public". ABC News. Australia. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
"Warragamba Dam". 2007.
Attraction Homepage (2007). "Warragamba Dam".
Johnson, Dianne (2009). 'The Katoomba Gully People's resistance to dispossession' in History Council of NSW Bulletin, Winter.
Graham Brooks and Associates Pty Ltd (1996). Sydney Water Heritage Study.
AttributionEdit
This Wikipedia article was originally based on Warragamba Emergency Scheme, entry number 01376 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on {{{accessdate}}}.
Media related to Warragamba Dam at Wikimedia Commons
WaterNSW - Warragamba Dam
FloodSafe NSW Warragamba FAQ
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warragamba_Dam&oldid=1060346084"


Remember the whole point of today....being thankful. It's easy to get distracted.....but just slow down and be thankful.
You could write out a list of 50 things, make a list in your head of your top 3, or call a friend you are thankful for. Your list can include things like laughter, lessons learned, opportunity for growth, new friends, old friends, things that change, things that stay the same. We all have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!


Bad Times at the El Royale is the second feature film from writer/director Drew Goddard, who seems to have watched a few too many Tarantino films. Heavy on the exposition and light on the action, the film starts with a slow burn, the story chopped up into different chapters, each with a full-screen title to introduce it. Jumping from character to character, we watch scenes from their eyes, often witnessing an event that has already occurred but from a different vantage point, revealing more about the story and characters. This plot device has become very common but isn't over used in this instance and it serves the film well, helping the tension to build. These scenes and a few flashback moments are constructed in a way that renders it easy to follow the chronology of the story. In this regard, El Royale is built very well and these scenes that fill the first two acts of film flow seamlessly.
Although the near flawless mechanics and the slow build up create an atmosphere that feels like an incoming missile, the great work is slightly ruined by some lackluster action scenes, some of it awfully predictable. It doesn't last long – over quicker than expected, and the same can be said about the final act as a whole.
This disappointment is forgivable thanks to some rich characters who bring charisma to the screen, Chris Hemsworth as a Manson type cult leader being the most prominent. Jeff Bridges as Father Flynn is unsurprisingly fantastic, as is Cynthia Erivo: a singer with a personality that surprises. Jon Hamm as an FBI agent also brings something different to the table, though some of his lines designed to elicit laughs fall flat.
The hotel itself is a character, with a very dark past, and one element of this becomes an important part of the final act; though this mcguffin of sorts feels a little arbitrary. Built on the state line, amusingly half the hotel is in California, half in Nevada. There is also only one employee who is surprised and clearly rattled by so many people arriving at the hotel at once. Something about the hotel and the way it is presented gives it a personality, aided by an interesting and quiet first scene where the prize that is the centrepiece of the final act is laid underneath the floorboards of a room. But which room number?
Despite the array of characters, the plot never feels convoluted. It is believable and well written, both the story and the characters that inhabit it. The beginning of the final act is also entertaining as the Manson-like Hemsworth steals the show, along with his cohorts. But when the fire is lit, it is extinguished a little too fast. It is far from terrible, but some of it is clumsily executed, set-pieces failing to fall into place as well as they could have.
Tarantino fans will enjoy this film with ease, and Quintin's ability to create supreme set-pieces is perhaps the reason for the action feeling a little underwhelming, as the film feels incredibly like a film made by him. Executed well for the most part, El Royale is a fun film with a long run-time that flies by. If only that final act had delivered what the first two promised.
Once over, the story feels unfinished. Why did so many people arrive at this run-down hotel at once? How do the news stories shown on television relate to the story, as one story seems to bother Darlene? There is also nothing to lead us to believe that most of the characters know about the prize buried in one of the rooms, so consequently, the arrival of so many people in such a short time-span seems unbelievable.
But hey, its only a movie, right? If anything, it is certainly memorable.
Great review man. This sounds wild.
Great review! I liked this too, but I think it would've made a better mini series. It was very Tarantino-y. I thought that a bit while watching.
Yeah it wasn't all that exciting, not a whote lot happened did it?
I did not know that! He was the hotel worker?
I didn't notice how long it was, i like slow burn build ups like that. I agree they went overboard with the Hemsworth shirtless/pants barely staying up scenes, but I still feel that the action was incredibly uinderwhelming. And short. I left very disappointed but I actually really loved the first two acts.


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Home News Kolkata scientists prep for 2018 lunar mission along with Team Indus
Kolkata scientists prep for 2018 lunar mission along with Team Indus
Mary Woods
The nation's space industry has come of age, and many private players and educational institutions are in the fray. For the first time in the history of Indian space research, scientists from Kolkata have made an instrument which will be sent with the payload to the moon. The instrument will land on the lunar surface in January 2018 to commemorate the 69th Republic Day.
The instrument will be a part of the mission to unfurl the nation's Tricolor on the moon's surface. Team Indus, which is a consortium of private players, has embarked on an ambitious project to send a lunar lander to the moon in December 2017. The Bengaluru-based company will also carry the four kg payload aboard the lander. The lander and at least two rovers will be sent aboard the workhorse of the Indian Space Research Organisation, PSLV.
However it will not be an easy venture, and the model will have to be handed over by March 2017. It will be subjected to a series of tests to ascertain if the instrument can withstand the rigors of the launch and the journey to the only satellite of earth. The instrument will also have to endure extreme fluctuations of temperatures and pressure and will have to work in the near vacuum and airless conditions on the moon.
The instrument will have an X-ray detector along with four hi-tech computers and other complex parts. The instrument will increase our understandings about black holes, dark energy, radiations and intergalactic cosmic rays. India's earlier Chandrayaan I mission was limited to the mapping of the moon. The mission had many achievements to its name including the first confirmation of water on the Moon's poles, an achievement which was even acknowledged by NASA.
The race to the moon has intensified, and the country has also joined the quest for the exploitation of the mineral wealth on the moon. The moon has an inexhaustible deposit of Helium 3, which will serve a significant role in Thermonuclear Energy. The Moon will also be used as a springboard for future deep space journeys.
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Mary nurses a deep passion for any kind of technical or technological happenings all around the globe. She is currently putting up in Miami. Internet is her forte and writing articles on the net for modern day technological wonders are her only hobby. You can find her at mary@pc-tablet.com.


258: Clay Hess has earned 258 Hero Points by being an active WPMU DEV member. They can use these to buy real stuff!
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Where do I add in the shortcodes?
Support access has been granted. Sorry. Thought I did that already.
Kris (from support) helped me do this on a site, but it is not documented anywhere. Might I suggest a post or something for others to be able to do it themselves?


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Short Biography of Famous Soccer Player – Del Piero
Alessandro Del Piero brought into the world in November 9, 1974 at Conegliano, Veneto. He is an Italian World Cup-winning soccer player who plays for Serie A club Juventus. Owing to his incredible inclination and record number of appearances and objectives, Del Piero is affectionately alluded to as "The Old Master" and "Il Padrino".
In 1991 Del Piero started his expert profession with Padova of Italian Serie B. He moved to Juventus in 1993 and has been there from that point forward. Along with Juventus, he won the Serie A title multiple times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2005), the Champions League (1996), and the Toyota Cup (1996). His best season was in 1997-1998, when he made 21 objectives in Serie An and completed top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 10 objectives.
His footballing fitness is incredibly respected and he has won huge credit. Pele named him in the FIFA 100, a posting of the 125 biggest living soccer players picked by Pel as a piece of FIFA's centennial festivals. เว็บพนันบอล Online
Furthermore he was chosen in the rundown of best European players for the beyond 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. Del Piero was the world's best-paid soccer player from pay, rewards and promoting benefits in the year 2000. Along with three honors in Italy for courteous direct he has won the Golden Foot grant also, which relates to characteristics and playing ability.
Probably his most prominent power as a soccer player is his flexibility, which gives him to play access different assaulting positions. In spite of the way that he started his club vocation playing as an undeniable striker, he quickly developed into an all the more remarkable part, involving the fundamental playmaker's position simply in the back the strikers. It is in this zone that his capacity as a maker of objectives went to the front.
On January 10, 2006 Del Piero turned into the unsurpassed premier objectives corer for Juventus and took his entirety objectives for the club to 185. The first record holder was Giampiero Boniperti, who scored 182 objectives for the club.
Soccer Gambling
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The fire-breathing performer who set himself on fire last week during an Atlantic High School pep rally says that a teacher organizing the event told him to include the pyrotechnic stunt in his act.
Ricky "Inferno" Charles, who drew international attention when he accidentally ignited himself in front of 2,000 students, told Extra Credit that a student who had seen his act at another school recruited him to perform at last week's rally.
But he said it was teacher William Durgin, in charge of overseeing plans for the rally, who told him to include his fire-breathing stunt at the end of his company's slam dunk exhibition.
Durgin, a school district employee since 2011, did not respond to email or phone messages.
A source familiar with the school district's investigation into the mishap said that school administrators were told about the performance but were not informed that pyrotechnics would be included.
"There was no mention of fire," the source said.
Charles' company is called Inferno's Challenge. An invoice for the performance obtained this week by Extra Credit made no mention of the show's pyrotechnic component, although the company's icon on the invoice shows a man breathing fire through a hoop.
The rally was organized by student government representatives, and it was a student who reached out to Charles about performing.
Charles said that the student had seen his company's performance, including the fire-breathing stunt, at Spanish River High School.
The student connected him with Durgin, who negotiated the details of the show, Charles said.
The fire stunt is just the final part of his company's hour-long slam dunk show, Charles said, and he always asks if organizers want it included.
Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa said last week that he was "shocked" by the news that Atlantic High had allowed a pyrotechnic performance in the school gymnasium.
Administrators are investigating how the act was permitted. A school district spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing and declined to comment further.
District officials say at least two other schools, Spanish River High and Boca Raton High, hired the company for shows that included the fire stunt.
Charles had performed the stunt many times before, including at Miami Heat basketball games, but he last week's rally at Atlantic High was the first time that he experimented with a stronger type of lighter fluid.
He suffered second-degree burns, and videos of students screamed as he was consumed in flames drew international attention to the mishap.
But he said Friday that he is now resting at home and recovering well. He said he plans to remove pyrotechnics from his shows in front of children from now on.


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Erdogan tells Putin to 'Get out of Syria' and Let them Face the Assad Regime
admin / February 29, 2020 / Putin, Russia, Syria, Turkey
As tensions in Idlib province reach the boiling point, Turkey has asked Russia to let it fight the Syrian government face-to-face, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed.
Erdogan asked Putin "to get out of the way" and let the Turkish troops deal with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Turkish leader told his AK Party on Saturday.
Erdogan was explaining to lawmakers his government's handling of the escalation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, where Turkish and Syrian troops have engaged in several clashes over the past weeks. The hostilities have all but ruined Turkey's 2018 agreement with Russia on de-escalating the violence in the area, which remains the last major stronghold of anti-government forces in Syria.
Describing his phone conversation with Putin, Erdogan said if Russia's interest in Syria was to keep a military presence there, Turkey, a NATO member, does not object to it.
I asked Mr Putin: What's your business there? If you establish a base, do so but get out of our way and leave us face to face with the regime.
Moscow intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015 to help Damascus fight against jihadist groups. Moscow said helping the Syrian government prevented future attacks launched by this would-be entity against other nations, including Russia.
Erdogan said Ankara now considers Syrian government troops a legitimate target for its attacks, claiming Damascus lost over 2,100 soldiers in Idlib. It was not immediately clear if the casualty number only represents Syrian troops killed directly by the Turkish military or includes those killed by Turkish-backed armed groups. Erdogan added that "seven warehouses with chemicals" were also destroyed in Syria, but did not offer any details or evidence regarding whether Syria still had chemical weapons in its possession.
The Turkish leader said fighting against the Syrian government is necessary to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Idlib, which would cause a new influx of refugees into Turkey across the border. Part of the Turkish response to the situation was opening the border with Europe to asylum-seekers. Erdogan said the EU failed to support Turkey, which already hosts over 3,6 million refugees from Syria and faces as many as 4 million new arrivals now.
We will not close those doors… Why? Because the European Union should keep its promises.
The Turkish president said he expects the international community and NATO in particular to support his country in the fight against the Assad government.
He claimed Turkey's incursion into Syria was made by invitation "from the Syrian people" and that Ankara is not interested in territorial expansion or capturing Syrian oil. The latter remark seems like a veiled jab at US President Donald Trump, who said "securing the oil" in eastern Syria was a major achievement of the US troops deployed there.
33 People Positive in California For Covid19 and is Monitoring at least 8,400 People More
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Doomsday computer created to decide fate of future asteroids on crash course for Earth
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE ID2020 COVID-19 'IMMUNITY PASSPORT' THAT COMBINES DIGITAL IDENTITY WITH VAC...
Category Putin Russia Syria Turkey
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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MiMedx Announces Concurrent $150 Million Private Equity and Debt Financings
By: MiMedx Group, Inc. via GlobeNewswire News Releases
Equity Financing Led by EW Healthcare Partners and Debt Financing Provided by Hayfin Capital Management
EW Healthcare Partners Managing Director and Co-Founder Martin Sutter and Former Medtronic Chairman and CEO William Hawkins to Join MiMedx Board of Directors
MARIETTA, Ga., July 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiMedx Group, Inc. (OTC PINK: MDXG) ("MiMedx" or "the Company"), an industry leader in advanced wound care and an emerging therapeutic biologics company, today announced the closing of concurrent $150 million private equity and debt financings, consisting of an equity financing pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement with an entity controlled by EW Healthcare Partners and certain funds managed by Hayfin Capital Management LLP ("Hayfin"), and a debt financing pursuant to a Loan Agreement with Hayfin. As part of the transaction, EW Healthcare Partners has designated Martin P. Sutter and William A. Hawkins III to serve on the Company's board as preferred directors.
Timothy R. Wright, MiMedx Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Obtaining this critical financing is a clear turning point for the Company. The additional resources provide us with the ability to strengthen areas critical to stabilizing the business, prioritize investments that enhance our Research & Development, Manufacturing, and Commercial organizations, and pursue the attractive growth opportunities afforded by the Company's amniotic tissue products and know-how. Moreover, the affirmation of the strength of our new leadership team and future prospects from one of the nation's top healthcare-specific investors is a meaningful endorsement of the Company's progress and efforts to return to the patient-centered mission of innovation that helps people heal."
M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D., Chair of the MiMedx Board of Directors, added, "This transaction marks the culmination of an extensive review of potential financing alternatives by the Board, in consultation with the Company's advisors, which included a leading investment bank with in-depth, industry-specific expertise. A new leadership team, new board members, and now the opportunity to welcome these accomplished and well-regarded leaders to our Board of Directors, each demonstrate great progress toward transforming and positioning the Company for the future."
Martin P. Sutter, Co-Founder and a Managing Director of EW Healthcare Partners, said: "EW Healthcare Partners is delighted to become a significant shareholder in MiMedx. We are very impressed with the entire senior management team and Board of Directors, and the tremendous work they are doing to transform the Company. We are aligned with the Company's vision and look forward to assisting the team in regaining its leadership position in the attractive and growing advanced wound care space."
William A. Hawkins III, Senior Advisor to EW Healthcare Partners, added, "The new management team and board members have made great progress in transforming the enterprise and positioning the Company for continued success. MiMedx has long been a leader in bringing forth innovative solutions for the advanced wound care market, and I look forward to partnering with Tim Wright and the entire management team to support the Company's growth and strategic priorities to improve patient care."
Equity Investment
Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company is issuing shares of a newly created Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000,000 (the "Equity Investment"), with $90,000,000 being made by an entity controlled by EW Healthcare Partners and $10,000,000 being made by Hayfin. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, together with any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, may be converted into Company common stock at any time at a conversion price of $3.85 per share of Company common stock. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock carries a cumulative annual dividend of 4% for the first 12 months following the closing and 6% thereafter.
Debt Financing
Under the Loan Agreement, Hayfin is providing MiMedx with a five-year term loan facility (the "Term Loan Facility") in the aggregate principal amount of $50 million, the full amount of which is being borrowed and funded, and a one-year, delayed draw term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $25 million, which is not currently being drawn or funded. The Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR (subject to a floor of 1.5%) plus a margin of 6.75%. The margin will be eligible to decrease to 6.5% or 6.0% after December 31, 2020, based on future total net leverage levels.
The Loan Agreement does not include any equity or equity-linked component.
The aggregate proceeds of the Equity Investment and the Term Loan Facility have been or will be used (i) to repay the outstanding principal, interest, and prepayment premium resulting from the early termination of the Company's Term Loan Agreement with Blue Torch Finance LLC, (ii) for working capital and general corporate purposes, and (iii) to pay transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Equity Investment, the Term Loan Facility and the related transactions.
Background of the Transactions
As will be more fully described within Item 7 of the Company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, during the last two years the Company has experienced a decline in sales and significant non-business expenses, and expects to continue to incur such expenses over the near term and mid-term. In addition, as previously disclosed, the Company required additional capital to implement its strategic plan, including for enhancements to its manufacturing plant to meet current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements, for clinical trials to support Investigational New Drug (IND) and Biologics License Applications (BLAs), to mitigate other risks, and to address ongoing spend for legal matters (including under contractual indemnification requirements for former officers).
The Company held discussions with more than 20 potential financing sources, and after thoroughly evaluating multiple proposals received and carefully considering various financing alternatives, the Board unanimously approved the Equity Investment and the Term Loan Facility.
Further details regarding the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the termination of the Blue Torch Term Loan Agreement will be contained in MiMedx's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 or a Current Report on Form 8-K that the Company will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This filing will be available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and in the Investors section of the Company's corporate website at www.mimedx.com.
J.P. Morgan is acting as sole placement agent and Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Company.
About EW Healthcare Partners
With close to $4 billion raised since inception, EW Healthcare Partners is one of the largest and oldest private healthcare investment firms and seeks to make growth equity investments in fast growing commercial-stage healthcare companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and technology-enabled services sectors in the United States and in Europe. Since its founding in 1985, EW Healthcare Partners has maintained its singular commitment to the healthcare industry and has been a long-term investor in over 150 healthcare companies, ranging across sectors, stages and geographies. The team is comprised of over 20 senior investment professionals with offices in Palo Alto, Houston, New York, and London. For more information, visit www.ewhealthcare.com.
About William A. Hawkins, III
Mr. Hawkins is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, Inc. and has had a long and distinguished career in the medical devices industry. Mr. Hawkins is a Senior Advisor to EW Healthcare Partners and currently serves on several public, private and non-profit boards. He is a director of Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB); Avanos Medical, Inc. (NYSE: AVNS); Virtue Labs; Baebies, Inc.; AskBio; Immucor, Inc. Cereius, Inc.; and Cirtec Medical. He is also Chairman of the Board of Bioventus, LLC and 4Tech, a cardiology startup in Ireland. Mr. Hawkins is the former Chairman and Co-Founder of the Medical Device Innovation Consortium and a past-president of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering ("AIMBE"). He was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering and is an AIMBE Fellow. Mr. Hawkins was elected to the Duke University Board of Trustees in 2011 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Hawkins is also Chair of the Board of the Duke University Health System. He is a member of the NC Biotech board and serves on the Board of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Society. Mr. Hawkins has a dual B.S.E.E. degree in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and an MBA from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.
About Martin P. Sutter
Martin P. Sutter is the Co-Founder and a Managing Director of EW Healthcare Partners, previously known as Essex Woodlands Health Ventures. Mr. Sutter has been directly involved with more than 30 EW Healthcare Partners' portfolio company investments and has served on numerous past Boards of Directors of public and private companies, including ATS Medical, which was acquired by Medtronic, Inc., BioForm Medical, which was acquired by Merz GmbH & Co KGaA, LifeCell, which was acquired by Kinetic Concepts, Inc., St. Francis Medical, which was acquired by Kyphon, Inc./Medtronic, Inc., Confluent Surgical, which was acquired by Tyco International/Covidien and Rinat Neurosciences, which was acquired by Pfizer, Inc. Mr. Sutter currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD), Bioventus LLC, and Prolacta Bioscience. Mr. Sutter is a former Trustee of The Culinary Institute of America. Mr. Sutter holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston.
About Hayfin Capital Management LLC
Hayfin Capital Management ("Hayfin") is a leading European alternative asset management firm with approximately €15 billion of assets under management. Since it was founded in 2009, Hayfin has invested c.€20 billion of capital across more than 340 portfolio companies. Hayfin focuses on delivering best-in-class risk-adjusted returns for its investors across five strategies: Direct Lending, Special Opportunities, High-Yield Credit, Structured Products and Private Equity Funds. Hayfin has a diverse international team of over 135 experienced industry professionals with offices globally, including headquarters in London and offices in Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, New York, Paris, and Tel Aviv. Hayfin is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Further information can be found at www.hayfin.com.
About MiMedx
MiMedx® is an industry leader in advanced wound care and an emerging therapeutic biologics company developing and distributing human placental tissue allografts with patent-protected processes for multiple sectors of healthcare. The Company processes the human placental tissue utilizing its proprietary PURION® process methodology, among other processes, to produce allografts by employing aseptic processing techniques in addition to terminal sterilization. MiMedx has supplied over 1.9 million allografts to date. For additional information, please visit www.mimedx.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements relating to events or results that may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding anticipated future expenses and use of proceeds from the Equity Investment and the Term Loan Facility. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "expect," "will," "intend," "seek," "target," "future," "plan," "continue," "potential," "possible," "could," "would," "may," "anticipate," "to be" and similar expressions. These statements are based on numerous assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could significantly affect the Company's operations and may cause the Company's actual actions, results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future actions, results, financial condition, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include, without limitation, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Unless required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update or publicly release any revision to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of subsequent events, a change in circumstances or otherwise. Each forward-looking statement contained in this release is specifically qualified in its entirety by the aforementioned factors. Readers are advised to carefully read this release in conjunction with the important disclaimers set forth above prior to reaching any conclusions or making any investment decisions and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this release.
Hilary Dixon
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
investorrelations@mimedx.com
Abiomed Inc Avanos Medical Inc Biogen, Inc. Mimedx Group Inc