NEW YORK (Reuters) - When shareholder activist Carl Icahn turned up the heat on Apple in October, demanding a massive $150 billion share buyback, bond investor Bill Gross wasn't having any of it.
Gross, the co-chief investment officer of Pimco, which runs the world's largest bond fun, took to Twitter, saying: "Icahn should leave Apple alone & spend more time like Bill Gates," referring to the Microsoft chairman now famous for his philanthropic efforts.
The aggressive brand of investor activism that irked Gross is starting to unnerve other bond investors.
Activist targets such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.N), Sotheby's (BID.N) and Safeway Inc SWY.N have all seen stock prices rise this year, netting tidy rewards for their largest shareholders.
But bond investors fear the pressure on companies to return cash to shareholders has prompted them to take on more debt, which can erode credit quality and potentially saddle bondholders with losses.
Some fear it is a precursor to a surge of debt-financed buyouts, which can turn steady, investment-grade assets into "junk" credits while shareholders reap big gains.
"Activist shareholders are rarely good news for bondholders. The types of programs advanced typically involve enhancing equity returns to the detriment of a company's overall credit quality," said Bonnie Baha, head of the global developed credit group at DoubleLine Capital in Los Angeles.
Rock-bottom interest rates have made it easy for companies to engage in "financial engineering," borrowing to finance buybacks and dividends, making per-share earnings look better for shareholders while reducing balance sheet quality.
Through September of this year, 21 percent of corporate bond deals referenced "share repurchases" in the "use of proceeds" section, more than double the amount for all of last year, according to Deutsche Bank.
Buyback authorizations for the nation's biggest companies are at levels not seen since 2007. Through December 17, S&P 500 companies had authorized $475 billion in share buybacks, according to Thomson Reuters data.
In some cases, companies' borrowing costs are below the dividend yield on their stock. Low rates have facilitated the debt-laden purchases of Dell and H.J. Heinz - both of which had their ratings cut to junk - and have ensured a steady stream of yield-starved bond investors eager to finance such buyouts.
Verizon Communications (VZ.N) had no trouble finding takers for a record $49 billion bond offering in September to finance its $130 billion buyout of Verizon Wireless.
No wonder Icahn said after his publicly traded investment company, Icahn Enterprises L.P. (IEP.O), reported strong third-quarter earnings, "There has never been a better time than today for activist investing.
Shares of Icahn Enterprises have risen 161 percent this year.
According to Activist Insight, a UK-based company that tracks activist shareholder activity, such investors targeted 138 companies around the world through October and are likely to beat last year's total of 145 by year end.
Things look different from bond investors' point of view. Rumours earlier this year that prominent activist Bill Ackman of Pershing Square might have taken a big stake in FedEx Corp (FDX.N) was enough to boost shares by more than 4 percent.
The company's bonds, however, suffered losses that pushed their yields up by about 20 basis points over comparable Treasuries, scaring investors, said Thomas Graff, fixed-income portfolio manager at Baltimore-based Brown Advisory, which manages $40 billion.
Bond yields move inversely to price. Higher corporate bond yields suggest greater risk of a ratings downgrade or default.
The biggest fear for bond investors is a rerun of the sort of leveraged buyout boom that began in the mid-2000s when interest rates were low. Back then, deals such as those involving Clear Channel Communications, Chrysler LLC and Texas utility Energy Future Holdings Corp - the largest private-equity buyout ever - all ran into trouble, leading to distressed-debt exchanges, bankruptcy or both.
Things haven't heated up that much yet. But there are signs that anxiety is rising. Broad investment-grade indexes show corporate bonds yielding just slightly more than a percentage point above comparable Treasuries, but those spreads are wider in select sectors, including telecom and media.
Bonds from cable operators, investors say, have seen prices slide and spreads over Treasuries widen by an additional 65 basis points or so on speculation that Time Warner Cable TWC.N could become the subject of a takeover bid. If a leveraged buyout was to occur, the company's credit ratings would likely suffer and existing bondholders would face losses.
A repeat performance of the mid-2000s is not certain. Analysts at U.S. Trust pointed out in a recent note to clients that an uncertain outlook for the U.S. economy may act as a brake on LBO activity as it did in 2013.
Still, to protect themselves, bond investors stressed the need to analyze companies more deeply before deciding to lend to them. Laggards with slow growth or stagnant stock prices may become targets in 2014 of activists eager to shake things up.
It's not just underperformers that have had to fend off outside pressure. Icahn tried to pressure Apple, the most valuable U.S. company, to conduct $150 billion in share buybacks. That was on top of a previously authorized $60 billion buyback partly financed by selling $17 billion in debt. Icahn later reduced his demand to $50 billion.
The decision to take on more leverage makes sense for some companies, said Rick Rieder, co-head of fixed income for the Americas at BlackRock.
"If you are running at low levels of leverage and you can continue to finance yourself and your cash flow is robust, you can take on incrementally more leverage. From a debt holder's point of view, I don't have a problem with that," he said.
The surge in activism comes against the backdrop of a roaring stock market; including dividends, the S&P 500 has delivered a total return of 27.5 percent this year and 43.5 percent since 2012 .SPXTR.
If those gains slow as expected in 2014, pressure from activist hedge funds eager to squeeze out returns from poorly run companies could increase. That could get more difficult if interest rates rise as well.


After the release of his single "Masoyina", Myke E. breeds a groove hit in his dialect (Bajju) titled: "Nchat"(I love). "Nchat" is a song that expresses his love for God and singles God out of many idols out there to be his lover and featuring one of Kaduna's finest, Mike Kantiyok (Kaniyangka).
This is the generation arising with hearts, which are bored to dispatch the streams of the throne. "We love because he first loved us" (1Jn 4:19).
Former Alyhills Records artiste, songwriter, and producer, Tolulope Abraham Adesina who recently stopped singing secular songs have just opened up on how the journey back to Christ began. According to the House On The Rock chorister, several people have met him since he succeeded at the MTN Project Fame to continue doing gospel, but he never heeded.
As God will have it, veteran singer and producer, Cobhams Asuquo met with him and reminded him that he never fit in in the secular world unless he returns to doing gospel, he may not blow. These words got him restless until December 31st, 2017, the day he took that difficult decision and he became saved by grace.
However, he promised to reveal more subsequently.
The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo had mentioned in a statement that he considers it an insult that people say he is worth just a paltry $150million.
In a video released by the Winners Chapel London has said in a message "The secrets of prosperity", the man of God stated that he is worth much more than that. In fact, $150million is just a small amount of money.
Bishop David Oyedepo, in his statement, while quoting the bible from the book of Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." says it is a total insult for some people to have rated him so low.
Coming in as a supposed host of the Holy Ghost with the most, Bishop David Oyedepo heads the single largest church in the world, Winners' Chapel, which seats 50,000. As one of the main founders of the Nigerian Christian Charismatic movement, he also exerts control over churches in 45 African nations, as well as several in Dubai, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Having been mentored by Adeboye, it is quite clear he took the formula of church expansion up a notch.
Alongside churches, there has also been active outreach within his native continent where his ministry has aided in the development of hospitals, schools, and maternity homes.
As to be expected with such successes, two of his sons are following in his footsteps by heading up both the London and South African Winners' Chapel divisions.
Wearable technology has made great strides in the last few years – just like their owners. Be it running, walking, or swimming, smartwatches make great fitness companions, and could even replace your personal trainer (though won't be as attractive, of course).
So if you're after visual goals to keep you motivated, or just want to record your progress towards a stronger, fitter you, a smartwatch makes it easy. There are plenty to choose from, so to help you pick the best of the bunch, we've put together a list of our favorites.
So read on and prepare to blitz those new year fitness goals.
Since its launch in 2015, the Apple Watch has excited fans with its sleek design and intuitive interface. Apple Watch's latest iteration, the Series 3, now includes an altimeter as well as GPS to track your hikes and trail runs.
Being waterproof to 50M, you can dive, surf, or swim without worrying about breaking your watch, and the heart-rate monitor tells you when to crank things up a notch. There's also optional LTE connectivity, so you can answer calls and texts without taking your phone with you.
The intelligent tracker monitors all your activity – from biking to squats – and encourages you to complete your daily goals. And while the Series 3 isn't cheap, starting at $399 for the LTE version, if you've got the spare cash it's worth splashing out.
In 2008, Fitbit began measuring fitness activity with clip-on trackers. They then developed wristbands, and now, smartwatches. The Fitbit Ionic is their latest creation – a GPS-enabled smartwatch with a fully-integrated fitness coach.
The Ionic's SmartTrack detects the type of activity you're doing and adjusts settings automatically, meaning you can spend more time training and less time fiddling. It's waterproof to 50M (like the Apple Watch) and includes a heart-rate monitor and onboard storage for your favorite songs.
There's no LTE support, which could be a good thing if you want to stay focused, and also makes the Ionic cheaper than the Apple Watch at just $269.95.
Garmin is well-known for its GPS navigational gear, and now they're shaking up the wearable tech market. Designed with runners in mind, the Forerunner series measures a range of useful data, including balance, cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and more – helping improve your technique and time.
As well as a heart rate monitor, third-party apps for taxis, weather, and other info, the Forerunner 645 Music stores up to 500 songs – enough for a marathon. At $449.95 the Forerunner is the most expensive smartwatch on this list, but as a comprehensive wearable assistant for the professional athlete, it's tough to beat.
Samsung has delivered a range of quality smartwatches, and the Gear Sport is designed for the active, health-conscious user. It's equipped with a heart-rate monitor, GPS, Samsung Pay (for grabbing those energy drinks before the race), and personal coaching while you work out.
The circular design gives the Gear Sport a more traditional look, and the Super AMOLED display means vibrant colors and deep blacks. The 4GB storage lets you soundtrack your run with offline Spotify playlists – handy if you don't have your phone with you. At $249.99 it's the cheapest smartwatch, so a great buy if you're on a budget.
Any of these smartwatches would make a great virtual fitness coach. As they share a lot of features, choosing between them will come down to style, budget, and whether you want to take your phone with you while you train.
The world knows that 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in what is now called Israel. He traveled about the region and gained a large following. After a few years, the religious leaders in Jerusalem falsely accused him of crimes and handed him over to the Roman authorities. They executed him by nailing him to a cross. A short time later, his followers preached in the name of Jesus Christ, whom they said rose from the dead. More and more followers were added to this movement which has become the Christian church of today.
John wrote about Him: In the beginning was the Word [poetic description of Jesus], and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1 ESV). He created the world and all that is in it (John 1:3). The religious leaders of his time understood that Jesus claimed to be God (John 5:17-18). Paul wrote that when Jesus died, the Father revealed to the entire world that He was God (Philippians 2:5-11).
2. JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.
3. JESUS BECAME HUMAN THROUGH THE VIRGIN BIRTH.
The eternal Son of God already existed in heaven (John 17:5). Through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20), He was born as a human being, who was then named Jesus (Matthew 1:25). To demonstrate that Jesus was not a mere man (Colossians 2:9), God chose a virgin to give birth to Him (Luke 1:34-35).
4. JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
Anytime we disobey God is called sin. The penalty for sin is death, but God in his love wants us to live. Therefore, he sent the promised Messiah (also called Christ) to save the world (John 1:41). The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to earth to die in our place. Because He lived a life without sin, only He was qualified to pay for our sins by His death on a cross. He then demonstrated His power over death when He rose from the grave three days later. Only through Jesus can our sins can be forgiven and we can come to God (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ is the Savior of everyone in the world (John 3:16).
All through his time on earth, Jesus performed miracles. He healed the sick (Matthew 8:16 among many other instances), controlled the weather (Mark 4:39), multiplied food (Matthew 14:14-21), and provided money when needed (Matthew 17:24-27). Even after leaving the earth, He still does miracles in people's lives (Acts 3:12-16).
People who followed Jesus turned away from their sins. He cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) and she became a devoted follower who told others that Jesus had risen from the dead (John 20:16). Zaccheus, a tax collector, repaid people whom he cheated when collecting taxes and gave half of everything else to the poor (Luke 19:1-10). When followers were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they were able to declare the message of Jesus, perform miracles, and live free from sin (Luke 10:1-20).
For nearly 2,000 years, Jesus Christ has been changing the lives of people all over the world. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV). He can change your life as well. Jesus will deliver you from sin's addiction (Romans 6:22), renew your mind (Romans 12:2), and heal your hurts (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
7. JESUS LIVES IN HEAVEN AT FATHER GOD'S RIGHT HAND.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven to the place where he was before becoming human. From there he is able to hear our prayers (Romans 8:34).
8. JESUS WILL RETURN TO JUDGE ALL HUMANITY.
While he was still on this earth, Jesus said, Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man [a title Jesus used for Himself], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30 ESV). When Jesus returns, He will separate those who will live with Him forever in heaven from those who will be punished (Matthew 25:31-33).
9. JESUS CHRIST WILL RECEIVE YOU IF YOU COME TO HIM.
Jesus said, Whoever comes to me I will never cast out (John 6:37 ESV). This was why He came to earth—to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10 ESV). It does not matter what you have done, Jesus still wants you to come to Him. He said, I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32 ESV).
PRAY WITH ME NOW TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST YOUR SAVIOR AND YOUR FRIEND.
Following the death of Ghanaian Dancehall singer Ebony Reigns, renowned International Evangelist, Dr Lawrence Tetteh has expressed sadness while speaking on his encounter with the singer few days before the accident.
Speaking on the incident on Hot 93.9FM's 'Maakye' show with Kwabena Owusu. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh who expressed shock said he preached to her about Jesus Christ when she came to see him.
"Ebony not long ago came to see me to pray for her, and I prayed for her and spoke to her about Jesus Christ. She wanted to travel to Europe to Hungary, she even asked permission from the embassy if she can have audience with me and I gave her audience. I witnessed to her and prayed with her. Its very sad that after that not long encounter she passed the way she passed." He said.
The man of God who described Ebony as a vibrant young woman said she showed him so much respect and promised to come to church.
"She showed me a lot of respect and she was happy with the extension of that warmness I gave to her, it helped her and that's why she put it on Instagram. She wanted to come to church so it was something everybody was happy that she opened up like that. She said I talked to her like a father so she referred to me as Daddy and of course she was about the age of my children so it was heartwarming that she received Christ.
Sympathizing with Family and friends of the deceased, Dr. Lawrence Tetteh cautioned celebrities and the youth to worship, love and fear God since no one knows how the are going to end up.
"If we can love God, fear God and worship God, he will guide us because we all don't know what our end will be. If Ebony was told that she will have an accident and die, she would not have believed it.
Ebony Reigns died in a motor crash which occurred in late hours of Thursday February 8, 2018 at Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region along with two others, a military officer and a young lady identified as Franky Kuri who is said to be her personal assistant and best friend.
Nigerian Gospel music icon Sinach has been nominated alongside other international Gospel acts in the Jamaican Sterling Gospel Music Awards. Sinach was nominated in the International artiste of the year category alongside Travis Greene, Todd Dulaney and Jonathan Nelson.
Speaking on the nomination, Sinach thanked the organizers of the awards. Sinach is not one to make a big deal out of an award but seems Sterling made quite an impression on her.
The Sterling Gospel Music Awards (SGMA) is one of its kind in Jamaica.Founded by Basillia Barnaby-Cuff, who is also the event director, it is designed to highlight the creativity, talent and overall contribution of individuals to the gospel industry in Jamaica. The maiden edition of the award held last year March at The Heritage Hall in Mandeville. This year's edition promises to be bigger with the event set to hold at Grand Ballroom of Golf View Hotel, Mandeville on the 24th of March, 2018.
According to reports, a mystery snake was said to have sneaked into the accounts office of JAMB in Makurdi and 'stolen' N36 million cash.
A sales clerk, Philomina Chieshe, told JAMB registrar and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.
Philomena denied the allegations that she stole the money but confessed that her housemaid connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to "spiritually" (through a snake) steal the money from the vault in the account office.
JAMB candidates usually purchase scratch cards to gain access to the Board's website for either registration or for checking their admission status. But new reforms introduced by JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, who assumed office in 2016, ended the use of scratch cards, replacing it with more efficient and effective platforms.
A team of auditors was dispatched to different state offices of JAMB to take inventory of the sold and unsold scratch cards and recover whatever money that might have either been generated or mismanaged during the period of the sale.
The spokesperson of the board, Fabian Benjamin, believed there was indeed a case of fraud and criminality in the Benue State office.
The question now is, a very huge amount of money went missing and Philomina Chieshe, who is accountable for the fund resulted to superstition to explain the mystery behind the missing fund. Obviously, this cannot in anyway rationalize the law but how many Nigerians are actually gullible enough to believe and get carried away by sentiments such as this? We sometimes are too focus on the enemies and their powers rather than the Spirit that lives inside us and His preeminence.
Obviously, Philomina must have felt she stood on good grounds with her explanation before blotting out the ridiculousness, hoping to cajole the enquirers with sentiments. While they were not fooled by it, it reveals the level of decadence religion has locked many minds into.
Many feel they are Christian while they worship God like another idol, without a profound knowledge of who He is. They spend their time of fellowship with Him battling enemies, mean-mugging neighbors and their diabolic methods of attacks. Others who tend to know, are driven by different winds of doctrine according to where their emotions drive them.
We have also seen various wrong doctrines amongst the Muslim counterparts resulting in political instabilities, religious crisis and terrorism.
Knowledge is profitable to direct. No religion can save but a good knowledge through relationship with the One you worship does. If we do, no one will be crippled by beliefs in ancient curses from the father or mother's lineage, the "enemies" and their power, let alone, a N36m-eating-snake!
This is not to stand in oblivion of the forces that exist in the world but to turn our perspective to the greater power that is available to all.
#TheEagle shows no mercy for money-swallowing snake(s).
Atlanta-bound Delta Air plane, in the early hours of Wednesday, made emergency landing at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos shortly after taking off when the pilot of the plane noticed that the left engine of the aircraft caught fire mid air in-flight.
The pilot of the Delta Air flight DL055 (ATL)ETG immediately contacted the control tower at the Lagos Airport to prepare for emergency landing. All emergency aviation officials were immediately contacted and fire fighters placed on standby. After landing successfully, all the passengers aboard were quickly evacuated via the emergency sliding door within few minutes.
Meanwhile, the incident led to the closure of the runway as the Delta Aircraft was on the Runway for over 1hour thereby preventing KLM, Lufthansa and Air France already positioned for taking off from departing. The aircraft was later towed with a push back truck to the open parking bay close to Boarding gate E 63.
The remaining casualty – free passengers have been taken to a Hotel after the flight was announced canceled and rescheduled for a date yet to be specified and communicated.
Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Suleman Johnson while delivering a sermon in his church recently urged Nigerians to pray for the president who is currently receiving treatment abroad.
The controversial clergyman who has been in the news lately made this known during a sermon at his church in Edo-state.
"It is an irresponsible thing for people to be wishing a president death." Apostle Suleman said."Nobody who has a good heart, would be wishing a leader death. You don't wish your leader death. Nigerians should be careful. Only God has the power of life and death. Stop wishing the President death. If your husband is sick do you wish him death? Do you know that man is somebody's husband? If your father is sick do you wish him death? That is somebody's father…and you are wishing him death. I know this thing I am saying now some Christians wouldn't like it. Stop wishing him death. Pray for his health. Life belongs to God. Don't wish any leader death. Only an irresponsible country wishes their leader death".
Apostle Johnson Suleman has prophesied that unless Nigerians pray for the country, the 2019 election will not hold.
Apostle Suleman has been credited for many precise prophecies made in years past.
The self-acclaimed 'Oracle of God' is the first pastor in Nigeria that prophesied in a December 2013 prophecy, the crowning of former Central Bank of Nigeria's governor, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Lamido, as Emir of Kano.
He equally foresaw the death of a serving cabinet member in Nigeria and asked for special prayer during a church service in January 2015.
Likewise, during his ministry's 'Fire and Miracle Night' programme in August 2015, the servant of God foretold the trouble in the last Kogi State governorship election that brought in Governor Yahaya Bello and warned of 'a death'.
Also, as Edo State prepared for the September 10th 2016 governorship election, Apostle Suleman at a church service said he did not see the election holding on the appointed date.
Subsequently, the INEC shifted the election to September 28 2016, citing security challenges.
"I see presidents being removed in Africa and presidents being installed", the man of God declared in his 2016 prophecies.


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RAMS ROLL OVER HOUSTON
Defensive effort wears down in 33-7 Texans loss
Brien O'Donal
Tom Savage had another rough day. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Anyone who thought this game was going to be a blowout wouldn't have been laughed at. The Rams came into the week with the No. 1 scoring offense, averaging 33 points a game and the Texans still had Tom Savage. There was a lot of concern that this game would be over before it even really began but the first half was a surprise. The Texans' defense was strong to start the game and their offense gave them little help. At halftime it looked like it could be a low scoring game. The Rams didn't let it end that way. They made big plays and ran away with the game 33-7.
The very first drive made Houston fans fear the worst as defensive tackle Aaron Donald got to Savage for a sack fumble that was recovered to the Texans 12-yard line.
It was the first possession by the Rams that Houston felt like there was hope. They forced a 3-and-out and a field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein to make the game 3-0. The offenses then traded punts twice and Savage was able to get something going.
He led them on a nine-play drive into the red zone where penalties by the Rams and a few mid-range throws put them in great position to tie the game. For the second week in a row, Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a makeable field goal.
The Rams took over on the 24 yard line and took only 6 plays to go 62 yards. Zuerlein made his second field goal and gave them a 6-0 lead. The big play on that drive for the Rams was a 43-yard screen pass from Jared Goff to Todd Gurley that set them up on the right side of the 50-yard line. The very next play was a 15-yard run by Gurley and it looked like the Texans' defense was falling apart. But they held again and it was time for them to get help from the offense.
They actually did. The Texans took over on their 25-yard line and marched 75 yards in 8 plays for a touchdown. Big passes for Savage included a 17-yarder to Stephen Anderson, an 18-yarder to DeAndre Hopkins, and the 26-yard pass to Bruce Ellington for the score. Unexpectedly the Texans led 7-6, with a defense that was holding the other team at bay.
The Rams must have sensed a momentum shift was needed if they were going to get back in the game. After their offense stalled again they attempted a trick play on 4th and 7. Their punter Johnny Hekker completed a pass to wide receiver Pharoh Cooper. A great open field tackle by safety Kurtis Drummond held the play to 6 yards and gave the ball back to the Texans offense at the Rams 38-yard line.
But Savage couldn't make anything happen. In 6 plays they made it to the 20-yard line where he threw an interception to linebacker Mark Barron. That led to a 2-minute drill by Jared Goff and another field goal sending Los Angeles into halftime with a 9-7 lead.
A slow start to the second half ended on the Rams second possession. Their 9-7 lead quickly grew to 16-7 when the third play of their second drive was a 94-yard pass from Goff to Robert Woods. For the Texans offense, that was too much. From then on they had to force plays and were not able to make anything happen.
Meanwhile; special teams--another area of weakness--allowed a 27-yard punt return that gave LA great field position and set them up for a three play touchdown. A loss of five on the first play was followed by completions of 24 and then 17 yards to Sammy Watkins, the second a touchdown. Now it was 23-7 Rams and there was no looking back.
One play later LA had the ball back. Linebacker Samson Ebukam sacked Savage and forced a fumble putting the ball at the Texans 12-yard line. One play after that the score was 30-7 on a pass from Goff to Woods, his second touchdown reception of the day and 14 points in 19 seconds for them.
The Texans were done after that. There are no 30 point plays in the NFL. The Rams just controlled the clock on their next possession, taking 6:26 seconds to finish with a field goal and 26 point lead with 7:38 left in the game. Meanwhile their defense was now in prevent mode and could wait for Savage to throw another interception, which he did.
For everyone who thought there was a slim chance the Texans could salvage anything the rest of the way, today was a wake up call. Sure, the Rams have a great offense but Savage turns the ball over too much. Today he threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. He was wildly inaccurate most of the day and held the ball too long. They managed only 89 yards on the ground and despite the one touchdown looked like they couldn't get it done.
There are still 7 games left in the season and each one of those is a chance for something good to go Houston's way. It will start next week at home against a Cardinals team that is equally having its struggles.
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BUYER'S REMORSE?
How the media in New York could make Rockets fans feel better
Ken Hoffman
The media has mixed feelings about the James Harden trade. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
James Harden was 100-percent exactly right earlier this week when he said the Houston Rockets were "just not good enough."
How could they be? Not when their moody superstar scorer, who makes about half a million dollars per game, shows up chubby, looking like a kielbasa about to explode in the microwave. Hey, some people eat when they're unhappy, it's a defense mechanism. In Harden's case, the only defense he's exhibited this season. At least he had a good excuse for missing pre-season training camp and alienating his teammates - he was busy partying with Cinnamon and Cherish in Atlanta and Vegas without a mask. Worst of all, he went into the tank his last four games in a Rockets uniform, standing around, arms folded, scoring fewer than 20 points each time, all Rockets losses. Fans in the front row were asking him to move, he was blocking their view of players who cared about winning. James Harden sabotaged his own team, a team that offered him $50 million a year to stay. Something that crazy could only happen in professional sports these days.
There's a saying that drives the American labor movement: "a fair day's wage for a fair day's work." It's the motto of the American Federation of Labor. The National Basketball Players Association is not a member. Harden's sulking on the court, cheating the Rockets and their fans, was unforgivable.
Harden, sitting out games while somehow being on the court, forced the Rockets to trade him - and quick - to Brooklyn. The trade, when you ignore the fine print and unindicted co-conspirators Cleveland and Indiana, sent Harden to Brooklyn in exchange for Caris LeVert (immediately flipped for Victor Oladipo), Jarrett Allen, three first-round draft picks and four swapped first-rounders. It's true, when you trade a superstar, you never get back equal value. The other team wins.
If it makes Rockets fans feel any better, the media in New York already has problems with their new problem child. I should say newest problem child. Kyrie Irving plays for the Nets.
"They (the Nets) gave up everybody! There's nothing left now. I just want to cry, It's awful," weeped WFAN Radio talk host Evan Roberts. For those who don't subscribe to weekly Arbitron ratings reports, WFAN is the most powerful, top-rated sports talk station in the Apple.
"You're leading down the road of doom. Harden and Durant could be gone in a year and a half. I'm not convinced this gives them a better chance to win a title. I'm living a nightmare again. They better freaking win."
Circle March 3 on your Rockets schedule. That's when the Brooklyn Nets, with their Big 3 of Kevin Durant, James Harden and possibly Kyrie Irving visit Toyota Center. I hear talk radio salivating over the record jeers that will cascade over Harden's name, although I'm not buying it. Fans don't think like the media does. I'm thinking that Rockets fans will welcome Harden back - one night only - with cheers.
Toyota Center public address announcer Matt Thomas: "Usually when former Rockets come to town for the first time since leaving, I give them a positive introduction. It's up to the fans how to react."
James Harden spent eight seasons with the Rockets. He is a spectacular player who watched other NBA players engineer trades so they could compete for a title. Harden didn't think the Rockets were good enough, and he's right. So he wanted out. We've all been there, a job we didn't like for a company we didn't like, for a boss we didn't respect. Harden wanting to be traded is understandable. How he went about it was deplorable. He hurt his co-workers.
Houston will make Harden pay for his disrespectful departure. He has an upscale restaurant set to open here. The name of the steakhouse will be "13." Harden's business partners may want to change that number ... before the restaurant's telephone number is disconnected. There are plenty of other restaurants in Houston. Rich people who can afford steakhouse prices hold grudges.
Rockets fans searching for a silver lining say, "We got two decent players and a whole bunch of precious first-round picks" for a malcontent who would rather be anywhere (except maybe Sacramento) than Houston." Yes, a bunch of first-round picks does bode well for the future. Anywhere, except maybe Houston.
Houston's draft war room isn't the most successful operation in the NBA. Over the past decade prior to 2000, under the direction of general manager Daryl Morey, the Rockets made 16 draft picks. Not one of them is still in a Rockets uniform, many of them have sought employment outside of America, some outside of basketball. Among their first-round whiffs: Nikola Mirotic, Terrence Jones, Sam Dekker - all out of the league. Best of all, Royce White, who played three whole games in his NBA career and finished with a scoring average of 0.00 points per game.
Examining the Harden trade and everything that led up to it ... ›
What the next chapter looks like for a Harden-less Rockets ... ›
Reaction to James Harden being traded on ESPN Houston ... ›
Blockbuster trade sends James Harden to the Nets - SportsMap ›
houston rockets nba james harden james harden trade rockets

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


WE BOARD THE BOAT FIRST THING ON THE FRIDAY, LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT A HUGE STORM WAS ROLLING THROUGH, LIGHTNING STRUCK THE BOARDING TERMINAL AND THE SYSTEM CRASHED, WE WERE ON THE BOAT FOR 6 HOURS UNTIL WE DEPARTED SINGAPORE FOR MALAYSIA.
THIS WASN'T A BAD THING AT ALL, WE HAD UNLIMITED BOOZE, PLENTY OF NEW FRIENDS AND A HUGE SHIP TO DISCOVER, ALSO A BUFFET KITCHEN WHICH WAS ON THE HOUSE!
THE BOYS WERE PLAYING LATER THAT NIGHT SO BY THE TIME THEY STARTED THE PARTY WAS WELL AND TRULY UNDERWAY, I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, IT WAS A SHAME WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DEPART THE NEXT DAY TO MAKE IT TO SHENZHEN, CHINA FOR STORM FESTIVAL.


You would have definitely appreciated playing the board game edition of Monopoly in the past and if you wish to continue actively playing this particular wonderful game in a brand new style then you definitely now have an opportunity to get rich while having fun at the monopoly slot machine. Having said that, unlike the actual board game, you now have the chance to turn wealthy easily when you play at this slot machine game whenever you play it at a casino casino game.
Even though there's a ton of fancy on-line slot games online, slots have still managed to appeal to aged and brand new players into their fold. This really is apparent by the fact that most casinos which includes those found in Vegas still get crowds of guests that want to test their hand at various slot machines. Each player starts placing coins with the expectation that he or she has a guaranteed technique to master slot machines and many gamers do manage to win small or even quite a bit after a couple of games. You too could have certainly experienced the sensation of crazy fulfillment at observing those gleaming coins fall into the outstretched bucket following a fortunate win at the slot machines.
You can find hundreds of distinct slot machine games which can be enjoyed when you visit any gambling establishment in your area. Nevertheless, one such game that is currently excellent fun to play on the board is now available in slot machine form. The monopoly slot machine game generally presents 5 reels in the 20 line structure. The fundamental reasoning behind the overall game is still the same although the results in the slot version are available instantaneously as compared to the board type that can take hours. You are able to avail of a number of functions just as in the board game version like Free Parking Bonus and Rolling of the Dice in order to enhance your likelihood of earning a lot of money. You can gradually inch towards the huge jackpot winning prize if you're actively playing at any casino and can also try to play the online version of the fascinating slot machine game in the comfort and ease of your property.
Nevertheless, if you're truly a devoted enthusiast of real slot machines then you can certainly seek out a genuine monopoly slot machine online where select retailers do offer you these in restored kind. These types of restored slots are ordered from various casinos as they are regularly substituted by brand new games so you too are now able to get your favored slot machine game directly into your own home simply by placing an on-line order. You should go through the warranty clause offered on your selected device and really should also check if you can wrangle out free delivery on the deal. It's also advisable to make sure that in case of any kind of technical glitch, the seller will send technicians to your house to resolve the issue given that these types of slots can weigh a great deal and shifting them could truly result in bodily and financial discomfort. Nevertheless, you and all your family members will surely remain hooked on this particular edition of monopoly once your chosen machine is set up in your home or even garage useful source.
Monopoly is truly a ageless game that offers financial wisdom in the form of a game title. If you have loved actively playing the board edition of this iconic game then you will really love to play when the game actually reaches your own home in the form of a slot machine. You can undoubtedly get loaded with make-believe or even real terms while having fun at the monopoly slot machine game which could genuinely be appreciated in a casino or in your own home too.


The modulation instability (MI) is a universal mechanism that is responsible for the disintegration of weakly nonlinear narrow-banded wave fields and the emergence of localized extreme events in dispersive media. The instability dynamics is naturally triggered, when unstable energy sidebands located around the main energy peak are excited and then follow an exponential growth law. As a consequence of four wave mixing effect, these primary sidebands generate an infinite number of additional sidebands, forming a triangular sideband cascade. After saturation, it is expected that the system experiences a return to initial conditions followed by a spectral recurrence dynamics. Much complex nonlinear wave field motion is expected, when the secondary or successive sideband pair that is created is also located in the finite instability gain range around the main carrier frequency peak. This latter process is referred to as higher-order MI. We report a numerical and experimental study that confirms observation of higher-order MI dynamics in water waves. Furthermore, we show that the presence of weak dissipation may counterintuitively enhance wave focusing in the second recurrent cycle of wave amplification. The interdisciplinary weakly nonlinear approach in addressing the evolution of unstable nonlinear waves dynamics may find significant resonance in other nonlinear dispersive media in physics, such as optics, solids, superfluids, and plasma.


Changing an industry this important takes an entire team united behind something big. At SOMA, we work hard, we have a lot of fun, we are constantly brainstorming, innovating and breaking molds. If you like big challenges and big changes, join our team.


BBC One have announced that Jed Mercurio, best known for penning hit crime drama Line of Duty, will be adapting the latest screen incarnation of DH Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover.
Mercurio's adaptation of the novel will be one of four 90-minute adaptations of iconic stories of the 20th century. Speaking of the news, Mercurio said, "Lady Chatterley's Lover is a novel that constitutes a milestone of English literature. I'm immensely excited by this opportunity to dramatise its iconic themes in a fresh and original way."
Ben Vanstone, who adapted The Borrowers for television back in 2011, is tasked with bringing Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie to the screen. Lee's evocative coming-of-age story will be directed by Philippa Lowthrope and made by Origin Pictures.
David Thompson and Ed Rubin from Origin Pictures say, "We are so thrilled to be making a new version of Laurie Lee's timeless classic that has been adapted so masterfully by Ben Vanstone and will be brought to life by the brilliant Philippa Lowthorpe. BBC is the perfect home for this cherished story and we hope it will be a real delight for all the family as we follow the trials and tribulations of Laurie's adolescence in the years following the Great War."
Fresh from bringing The Musketeers back to television, Adrian Hodges' next project will be an adaptation of LP Hartley's The Go-Between. The Go-Between follows Leo Colston, and elderly man who pieces together his childhood memories after finding his diary from 1900, which he wrote when he was 13 years old. A nostalgic tale about lost innocence, The Go-Between paints beautiful pictures of British life, humanity and social hierarchy at the beginning of the 20th century.
Commenting on this new project Hodges said,: "adapting The Go-Between has been a real labour of love. It's a book I've admired ever since I read it many years ago, and its subtle power and devastating emotional impact remains undiminished. Hartley's detailed portrait of class tensions, sexual betrayal and emotional devastation remains as powerful as ever. It has been a privilege to work on it and the fulfilment of a personal ambition."


text:
AaronHardie 23 yrs
Born:Jan 7, 1999Bournemouth, Dorset
Right-arm medium fast
vs ADS
A young upcoming right-arm medium-pacer, Aaron Hardie is a professional cricketer for Western Australia. An aggressive lower-order batsman, Hardie was awarded a rookie contract for both Warriors and Scorchers squads for the first time in 2018-19. The 22-year old also skippered the U-19 side of Western Australia to a victory in National Championships in the 2017-18 domestic season.
After a string of impressive domestic performances, Hardie earned a callup to the U-19 Australian side and dazzled everyone with a majestic 85-run knock against Pakistan. Known for getting the big scalps of the opponent's side, the youngster grabbed headlines when he struck the wicket of Joe Root during their tour match against a WA XI in 2017, and then sent Virat Kohli home during Cricket Australia XI's clash against India in November 2018.
Hardie was signed by Perth Scorchers prior to the eighth edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) but appeared in just a handful of games in his debut season. After featuring in every game in the last edition, he has a mountain of potential and would be hoping to break into the Australian side in the upcoming years.
(As of November 2021)
Western Australia XI, Australia U19, Cricket Australia XI, Perth Scorchers, Western Australia
Aaron's Bio


text:
Intuitive Surgical Acquires Schölly Fiberoptic's Robotic Endoscope Business
Oberg Medical
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions
Edge International/Supra Alloys
Huron Tool & Cutter Grinding Co. Inc.
ARCH Medical Solutions
Materialise and Consensus Orthopedics Expand Partnership
Materialise N.V., a Belgium-based provider of 3-D software and printing solutions, and Consensus Orthopedics Inc. are expanding their association.
El Dorado Hills, Calif.-based Consensus plans to use the Acetabular Cup Orientation (ACO) Hip Guide System from Materialise. In June, the companies announced a partnership using knee-imaging technology from Materialise.
The Materialise ACO Hip Guide System, a platform consisting of 3-D surgical planning software and patient-specific surgical guides for hip surgery, allows surgeons to predictably plan hip procedures based on the patient's unique anatomy and structural damage. Based on that pre-operative plan, patient-specific guides are designed and 3-D printed for use during surgery.
Jeroen Dille, director of Materialise's Clinical Unit, said: "Through this growing partnership, more surgeons will have access to 3-D planning and printing solutions, which ultimately means that more patients can benefit from this technology. Since the start of Materialise 25 years ago, our mission has been to create meaningful 3-D printing applications for a better and healthier world. This partnership is perfectly in line with that mission statement."
"Surgical outcomes have a higher rate of predictability once our surgeons have access to preoperative planning and are able to use patient-specific guides based on a patient's CT (computed tomography imaging)," said Colleen Gray, president and CEO of Consensus.
An Overview of the Tools Available to Identify and Mitigate Risk
Risk is crafty—it can take on the shape of many different forms, sizes and types, but if you look closely enough at your company's data it is possible to take control. Data is constant, it never stops flowing and it can be overwhelming…
Emily Ysaguirre, VERSE Solutions 05.23.16
The Value of Design Controls
I've never met anyone who does not readily acknowledge the benefits of design controls (21 CFR Part 820.30). Considered essential for medical device design firms, design controls are invaluable, as they help companies maintain regulatory compli…
James A. Dunning, QPC Services 05.23.16
Building the Fundamentals: Why Bold Sales Incentive Schemes Need Efficient Administration
It appears that few medical products companies are very satisfied with the administration of their incentive schemes for salespeople. This finding from the 2015 Incentives Practices Research study for the medical products industry, carried out recent…
Russell Schubert and Andrea Traverso, Contributing Writers 11.17.15
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions Acquires Swiss Maker of Coated Devices
Holt, Mich.-based orthopedic device design and manufacturing company Orchid Orthopedic Solutions has acquired Alhenia AG, which makes coated orthopedic implants. Alhenia is headquartered in Switzerland. In addition to coating technologies, geographi…
Sterigenics Expands Reach South of the Border with Buy in Brazil
Sterigenics International LLC, a provider of contract sterilization, gamma technologies and medical isotopes, acquired Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Companhia Brasileira de Esterilização (CBE), the largest specialist in sterilization and micr…
CoorsTek Embarks on Five-Year Strategy to Increase Medical-Grade Ceramic Production Capacity
Fort Worth, Texas-based CoorsTek Medical Inc. has initiated a five-year, multi-million dollar capital investment program to support the growing worldwide demand for its ceramic hip replacement components and turn-key hip arthroplasty solutions. The i…
Oberg Begins Construction on Expanded Manufacturing Site
With a symbolic shovel of earth, Oberg Industries' board members and executive management team marked the start of construction for a new multi-function manufacturing facility on the company's Sarver, Pa., campus. Oberg Industries i…
Banner Medical to Establish Facility in Indiana
Banner Medical, a Carol Stream, Ill.-based supplier and processor of medical grade raw materials, announced plans to build a new facility in Warsaw, Ind. The company will invest $6.3 million to construct a 43,000-square-foot material processing ce…
OrthoWorx Initiates Study to Guide Workforce Development Efforts
OrthoWorx has rolled out the OrthoWorx Future Orthopedic Resources Gap Evaluation (FORGE) study, which, according to the group's leadership, will serve as a cornerstone for OrthoWorx talent and workforce development plans, working with its Univ…
Nitinol Devices & Components and Interface Catheter Solutions Merge
Fremont, Calif.-based Nitinol Devices & Components Inc. (NDC) has completed the acquisition of Interface Catheter Solutions. Together, the companies will be renamed Confluent Medical Technologies, a company that makes specialized medical devices…
Millstone Medical Plans Growth Down in Dixie
Fall River, Mass.-based Millstone Medical Outsourcing has secured an additional 120,000 square feet at its facility in Olive Branch, Miss. Now totaling more than 270,000 square feet, Millstone's Olive Branch facility has added the capacity requ…
Virtual Population Analysis Improves Orthopedic Implant Design
The orthopedic industry is seeking new methods to drive innovation as greater attention is given to improving patient outcomes and controlling healthcare costs. One method that has been embraced by many companies over the past few years is the use of…
Sjoerd Kolk and Mike Lawrenchuk, Contributing Writers 08.05.15
TransPerfect Establishes New Device Division
TransPerfect, one of the world's largest providers of language services and content management technology to the medical device industry, has created a new business division called TransPerfect Medical Device Solutions. The division combines th…
A Look Outside the Top 10: Orthopedic Startups Making a Mark
Orthopedic Design & Technology's Top 10 issue highlights giants in the industry, providing insight into the successes and pitfalls experienced by the companies in orthopedic technology that bring in the most money. On the opposite end of th…
Ranica Arrowsmith, Associate Editor 08.05.15
Single-Procedure Ratchet Developed by ECA Medical
ECA Medical Instruments, a designer and manufacturer of single-procedure torque-limiting and fixed-driver surgical instruments and sterile-packed procedural kits, has developed what the company calls the "industry's first single-procedure…


I can understand where they're coming from. I'm a reader too, and I know what it's like to fall in love with a character, to gasp when they get hurt and swoon when they fall in love, then cheer them on from the rooftops as they go into battle. But the thing is, if you put someone through a life-changing event, they will not be the same on the other side. They can't be, because that's kind of what 'life-changing' means.
Maybe they'll have been improved by the experience, transformed; maybe it's unlocked reserves of courage or self-reliance they never knew they possessed. Or maybe they'll come out of it broken in ways they can barely articulate. Either way, the event has left its mark on them, for good or ill.
But I also understand that whilst some authors have made very nice careers out of basically writing the same book umpteen times, just with different names in, I am not one of those authors. My books are driven by the characters, not by plot, and that means those characters have to grow and change on their journey through a story. Sometimes that growth only comes as a result of taking them into dark places to find out what makes them shine.
And if my characters aren't growing as a result of what they've seen and done, then I'm not doing my job properly.
You tell them, Anne! Blummin' characters, swanning round like they own the place – they need to do what they're told!
I'm a few months behind you in the publication stakes, Ellie, so I'm waiting nervously for reactions to my second book! Unlike you I don't introduce new protagonists but I do take the current bunch somewhere else and of course things have changed for them since the first book happened.
If anything, though, I most anxious about the third book (which I'm writing now) because it's going to be significantly different from the first two. Can't be helped, though – I've set up this situation and now the characters have to bloody well deal with it!
I Know exactly what you're writing about in this post. I haven't read book #2 (if luck's on my side I'll have to wait until Febraury), but I knew there was going be some turn in your characters after what happened at the end of book #1.
I don't know if you're familiar with Ursula K. LeGuin's GIFTS trilogy, but there's a diametral turn of events between books 1 & 2, and then again in book #3 all the characters meet at one point but you cannot follow then just as a straight line.
Also Tolkien did it more than 50 years ago…and now Martin with his Ice & Fire series is showing us that we cannot fall in love with a character more than a few pages in time.
So for those who wants you to write & re-write your first book again and again, plase GO FIND ANOTHER AUTHOR!!!
Keep on writing, please. Do it for you, with your own vision….and forget about those who wants Gair to be always the apprentice.
Greetings from Havana, and I look forward to read your 2nd book….and the forthcoming ones.
In my opinion you have just the right measure of character change and growth going on (plus some lovely new voices). Keep up the good work! Looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thanks very much – I'm delighted to know you enjoyed them both. P.S. I think this is my first feedback from Brazil!


Recently, I won a giveaway on another blog, Nuts 4 Stuff.
I received a $25 gift code to 100% Pure Cosmetics.
I have to tell you about one of the things I chose because it is my new favorite thing.
I picked out a 2 fl oz container of Vanilla Bean Hand Buttercream.
Oh my goodness! This stuff smells amazing. It smells like……dessert! I think I want to marry it.
If you look at the product on the website, check out the reviews and you will see that many people agree!
All of their products are 100% natural, and standard shipping is always free! Check them out!
I did also purchase a few other products but haven't tried them out yet! I am sure they will be great though!


text:
Оста́нній бронепо́їзд () — спільний білорусько-російський телесеріал 2006 року.

Сюжет
Липень 1941 року. Початок німецько-радянської війни. 63-й стрілецький корпус генерала Леоніда Григоровича Мальцева відчайдушно стримує ворога і опиняється в оточенні.
Лінія фронту порушена, зв'язок перерваний, солдати знесилені, майже відсутні набої. Єдина надія корпусу — бронепоїзд. Але найближчий помічник Мальцева зраджує своїх і переходить на бік німців. Ті захоплюють бронепоїзд, а разом з ним і декількох бійців на чолі з Лісорубом (колишнім комбригом РСЧА Михайлом Романовим). Романов був заарештований напередодні війни і направлений спокутувати вину на фронт рядовим бійцем. На карту поставлено долю корпуса і життя сотень солдатів. Полонені на чолі з Лісорубом вирішують за будь-яку ціну відбити бронепоїзд у німців і допомогти корпусу генерала Мальцева вийти з оточення…

Актори і ролі
 Андрій Панін — Лісоруб, він же колишній комбриг Михайло Олексйович Романов.
 Андрій Соколов — старший лейтенант Шевцов, він же Герман Дітріх, диверсант.
 Катерина Реднікова — Соня, колишня вчителька німецької мови.
 Марина Александрова — Тома, дочка комкора Мальцева.
 Іван Кокорін — Льоха Лазар, колишній злодій.
 Денис Нікіфоров — Михайло Тепло, призовник-червоноармієць.
 Олег Корчиков — Фадєєв, залізничний машиніст.
 Анатолій Кот — полковник Петро Гірявой.
 Олександр Тютін — Мальцев Леонід Григорович, командир корпусу.
 Ігор Сігов — Клюге, німецький офіцер.
 Андрій Оліференко — Серпень.
 Дмитро Муляр — майор Щербань.
 Євген Нікітін — капітан Яхонтов.
 Борис Хімічев — залізничник.

Посилання
 Кино-Театр.ру: Последний бронепоезд (2006).

Телефільми 2006
Фільми Зіновія Ройзмана
Військові телесеріали Білорусі
Військові телесеріали Росії
Фільми про німецько-радянську війну
Фільми про потяги
Фільми російською мовою

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia