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Digital health awards
Digital Health Awards 2019: Winners revealed
The awards, now in their second year, aim to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the leaders making the biggest contributions to UK healthcare IT.
2018 Digital Health Award Winner Profile: Jackie Murphy
Jackie Murphy may not label herself an IT nerd, but there's little doubt she's successfully supported her organisation's digitisation efforts – her award as Digital Health's inaugural CNIO of the Year is testament to that. Hannah Crouch speaks to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust's chief nurse to find out how a focus on the patient led her to a focus on IT.
2018 Digital Health Award Winner Profile: Ella Worsdale
It's a few months since Ella Worsdale, head of information at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, scooped the first Digital Health Award for future digital health leader. But, as she tells Owen Hughes, the achievement is one that still hasn't quite sunk in – perhaps in part because she's busy with the data work for which she was recognised.
2018 Digital Health Award Winner Profile: Andy Kinnear
Andy Kinnear, the winner of the inaugural Digital Health Award for outstanding contribution to the profession, has had a career path he describes as 'slightly haphazard'. So why is he so convinced of the value of professionalising the field of healthcare informatics? Claire Read speaks to him to find out.
2018 Digital Health Award Winner Profile: Phillipa Winter
In the first of our series profiling the winners of the inaugural Digital Health Awards, Owen Hughes speak to Philippa Winter – victor in the CIO of the Year category. Along the way he discovers why she's known as the pied piper of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, learns about her journey from retail work to occupational therapy to healthcare IT leader, and hears about EPR rollout plans.
The winners of the Digital Health Awards 2018 have been revealed at the annual Summer Schools event in Birmingham.
Last call for voting in Digital Health Awards 2018
With just 5 days left to vote, be sure to take part in the only peer-voted award for health IT leaders.
Digital Health Awards: Deadline extended for nominations
The deadline for nominations has been extended to 17 May 2018 so there's still time for you to nominate a digital leader who is making a difference in the world of UK healthcare IT.
Revealed: Judging panel for Digital Health Awards 2018
The full list of members of the Digital Health Awards 2018 judging panel has today been announced. Be sure to nominate yourself or a colleague who you think is making a difference in the world of UK healthcare IT.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


According to research conducted by Princeton psychologists, you only have one-tenth of a second to make a great first impression.
The same rule applies when it comes to travelers looking at your website or property listing.
If the photos of your vacation rental don't successfully capture their attention in that fraction of a second, they will move on.
At Evolve, we work with homeowners to build fully optimized listings for booking sites like VRBO, HomeAway, Airbnb, and TripAdvisor. We've partnered with thousands of homeowners who have properties of all sizes across North America, and we know first-hand how great of an impact photos can have on the success of a vacation rental.
In fact, professional photographs can help you double your bookings.
The pictures of your property can – and will – make or break your listing. Read on to find out why.
The old cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words is true. In fact, you could even write twice that many words describing your home in great detail, but travelers are unlikely to take your word for it if there aren't photos to back your claims.
Photos breed confidence. They show travelers that your home is as good as you say it is.
What that cliché fails to capture is that there's a powerful difference between a picture that's just OK and one that's great. OK photos prove your vacation rental exists. Great photos go beyond that and help guests picture themselves in your property.
Professional pictures reveal whether your home is warm and inviting, or cool and modern. They establish that your home is actually spacious and has a lot of natural light. They capture the beach views you can see through the dining room windows, which you mention in your property description.
At Evolve, we call this, "as advertised".
An "as advertised" home lives up to the claims the homeowner makes about the size, space, furnishings, amenities, and location. There's no better way to show that a property has everything you say it does than with high-quality photographs.
If you're looking to book either the property on the right or the property on the left, which one would get your business?
The photo on the left was taken with professional camera equipment by a photographer. The one on the right was snapped by the homeowners. There's nothing wrong with the photo on the right, per se. But it's not as crisp, it's not as warm, and it makes the living room look outdated.
Or consider the photos below. The top and bottom images were captured with the same camera equipment, using roughly the same angle. As you can see, the one on the bottom undoubtedly makes the room look more attractive.
What's the main difference between the two? The lighting.
While the first photo fails to capture the texture of the light fixtures, the second clearly shows that – as well as the high-end details in the custom cabinetry and the views out of the living room windows. It makes the room richer and more inviting.
The second picture was taken by someone with experience with real estate or architectural photography who knows how to control glare and adjust lighting to avoid dark shadows. It's this attention to detail that gives the pictures of your property an ultra-polished look.
Put simply: great photos capture the details that make your rental property stand out. They show the special touches that will make guests want to book your property over another in your area. They give guests a clear idea of not just the look, but the feel, of your rental.
High-quality photographs of your rental property don't only create a more enticing image of your home, they say something about you as the property owner. They say that you're invested in the rental and that you're dedicated to creating an amazing experience for your guests – starting with the very first impression they have of your property.
Not to mention that the nicer your property looks, the higher you set the bar for good guest behavior. When guests can see that you keep your vacation rental well-organized and clean, they have a better idea of how they're expected to leave it at the end of their stay.
Consider the reverse: if your photographs are grainy or dark, guests may think your home is not cared for as well. They may not have as clear of a picture (pun intended) of how the property will look when they arrive, or how it should look when they check out.
Your photos speak volumes about how you handle your vacation rental business and how you expect your guests to treat it in return.
High-quality photos are exactly what you need to differentiate your vacation rental from competitors and secure more bookings. They make the kind of first impression that stops travelers in their tracks and convince them to book right then and there – without considering any other properties in your area.
That's why at Evolve, we schedule a free photoshoot for every homeowner we work with. Having great photos is truly a game changer in your ability to attract guests, generate bookings and make your vacation rental profitable.
Lauren Kaye is the Content Marketing Manager at Evolve Vacation Rental Network, a vacation rental management service. Evolve is transforming vacation rental management by offering lower fees, more flexibility, and better results. For even more tips on how to manage, market, and maintain your rental property, visit their blog.


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Underwear Models Help Get Attention For a Listing
posted by The Rahny Taylor Morning Show - Nov 26, 2018
Do you think this is genius, or are you like some... and are upset by this?
There's a woman named Kristin Gyldenege who's a real estate agent in the Houston area. And she was recently struggling to get ANY interest in a house she was selling in Conroe, Texas.
So . . . she took new photos of the house, featuring two fitness models in their UNDERWEAR.
Unfortunately, the Houston Association of Realtors pulled the photos off the listing because, apparently, a bunch of people complained.
But Kristin is still happy. Quote, "When I found out I had 100 complaints, I'm like, 'Sweet, that's like 10,000 people that have seen it.'"
So her plan WORKED. She says the house hasn't gotten any offers yet, but it's finally drawing some interest. Quote, "We had six showings yesterday."
(ABC 13 - Houston / UPI)
(Here are the pictures)


If your city has subpar water, you might be wondering how to deal with hard water on curly hair. Hard water isn't necessarily bad for your health, although some experts claim that it can contribute to kidney stones.
Rather, it's horrendous for performing tasks like washing your hair and face, doing laundry, and cleaning. Basically, all cleansing tasks.
Fortunately, it's easy to make a comeback from hard water on bathroom fixtures and clothing. It won't permanently wreck your new shirt.
Hair, however… that's another problem.
In this post, you'll find out about hard water and some ways you can prevent or counteract the damage that hard water does to hair. If you want to know how to avoid breakage and hard water damage, read on!
Hard water is the common term for water that has a high mineral content. Minerals are necessary for the human body, but too many minerals can cause buildup in your home's water pipes.
For most hard water cities, the minerals are calcium and magnesium, and they come from limestone and chalk deposits.
When water passes through the pipe, the buildup leaches into the water. This buildup causes the water to become hard, and makes it difficult to do everyday tasks, like washing your hair, body, clothing, dishes and shower doors.
Every city has a different level of mineral content, and some are much worse than others. If you're doing everything you can to care for your hair, and it still breaks, it's time to look at your water.
Dull and Dirty Hair. Does it feel like your shampoo isn't working? If your hair still feels unwashed after you get out of the shower, you could have a hard water problem. Calcium is preventing your products from reaching the strand.
Itchy Scalp. If you're constantly scratching, you might want to check and see if it can be fixed by using softer water. Calcium can block skin pores from breathing and follicles from growing hair. This buildup can then lead to scalp acne and clogged hair follicles.
Hard Hair. Is your hair nearly impossible to soften and condition? You may have a hard calcium coating that is preventing hydration and products from reaching the strand.
Brittle, Broken, and Damaged Hair. The calcium in hard water builds up over time and causes hair to become brittle and break. Calcifying your hair every wash day is going to lead to damage.
If it's still too difficult to know for sure by looking at your hair, take a quick peek at your bathroom faucets, glass, and other surfaces.
Tub or Shower Stall is Calcified. Calcified tubs are difficult to clean because you can't reach the actual tub surface. If your shower has a hard calcium layer over the tile or fiberglass, you probably have hard water.
Water Spots. Does your shower door and bathroom mirror constantly have water stains? What about your drinking glasses? If so, you may have a hard water problem.
White Crust on Shower Nozzle. Check out your shower nozzle. Does it contain hard, white deposits that you can scratch off with your fingernail? This is a sign of having a hard water problem.
Cracks in Sink or Bottom of Tub. Fine cracks are a sign that the tub has gotten too dry and brittle to maintain a smooth surface. This is a clear sign of hard water if it's happening to all of your tubs and sinks.
If you're in a city that has hard water, you're going to want to save your hair from the damage the minerals can cause.
Use a Chelating Shampoo. Chelating shampoos are specifically made to remove buildup caused by minerals. You may have already tried a clarifying shampoo, but these two items are not the same. Clarifying shampoos remove product buildup and make your hair squeaky clean. Chelating shampoos remove minerals and soften hair.
Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). ACV rinses are popular in beauty regimens, but did you know that they help to break down mineral deposits? To make an ACV rinse, fill a bottle with one-part ACV and two parts water. Pour it on your hair at the end of your shower.
Use Bottled or Distilled Water. You can use bottled or distilled water as much as possible during your wash session, or at least for the final rinse. Purified water still has minerals in it, but it would still be softer than your tap water. Distilled water contains no minerals, so this would be your best bet for going calcium-free.
Install a Water Softener. You can install a whole house water softener into your main plumbing line. The whole house solution is costly, and you probably need a professional to do it. If you own your house and you're concerned about pipe damage, this is a good way to prevent high costs down the road.
However, the second water softener option is much cheaper and easier. You can buy one small shower filter that fits between the shower pipe and the shower head. They're easy to purchase online and you'll need to replace them frequently, depending on how much water you use.
If you have hard water and your hair is breaking, just add a couple of the above items to your regimen and watch your hair flourish.
Remember, not everybody has the same water. A friend who lives in the next town over might think you're overreacting because she doesn't have a water issue at all.
And you might be seen as being a little eccentric for wanting to use bottled water on your hair. But if it helps give you long and healthy strands, then who cares what others think? It's your hair, and you're the one managing it!
It's your turn to leave a comment below and discuss. Have you tried any of these methods for dealing with hard water on curly hair?
I think it's spot on why I've been seeing little breakage strands that I thought was just "baby hairs" but then yesterday I was like wait! Why would I have baby hairs all around my head when the rest of my hair is long?!" There's about three mini strands here and there that are short, but what I found to work is deep conditioning every wash day and leaving it on for 30 minutes and then applying the Liquid oil cream method. I protective style using the banding method and I keep them in for two weeks while wearing a hijab! Works great and I have minimum breakage this way but I also use bees wax to smooth and lock my hair together while in rubberbands this prevents frizz and static from my hair dress materials!


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About Jennie Bond
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Broadcaster and journalist Jennie Bond appears regularly on a wide range of television and radio programmes - from light entertainment to documentaries.
She's known to young and old for her exploits in the jungle of ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here when she was buried in a coffin full of rats and had to eat a variety of live insects.
Since then she has been a presenter on two of the BBC's most popular shows: Cash in the Attic, and Rip Off Britain. She also presented the highly successful BBC2 series Great British Menu.
Most recently Jennie has appeared on The Day I Met The Queen. Other projects include: Channel 4's Drugs Live, Royals at War, Masterchef, Too Many Cooks, Stars in the Fast Cars, Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman, Christmas of My Lifetime With Len Goodman, The Big Call and Jennie's own personal account of her time as a royal correspondent in a three-part documentary series for Channel Five, Jennie Bond's Royals.
As the BBC's Royal Correspondent during 14 of the most turbulent years the monarchy has endured, Jennie was at the heart of events that made headlines around the world: from the fairytale marriages to the adultery, the divorces and the deaths.
Jennie reported on it all and now enjoys sharing her experiences and often hilarious adventures with audiences at home and abroad. Her "confessions" include her faux-pas when she tried to amuse the Queen, her long and intimate conversations with the Princess of Wales and what Prince Charles really thinks of her white stilettos! She loves to make people laugh and to show them that she is quite different from how people imagined her when she stood outside the Palace. For many years Jennie was also a regular news presenter on BBC Television and presented the main bulletins as well as Breakfast.
She began her career in journalism after graduating from Warwick University in 1972. She worked on local papers as a reporter for five years before joining BBC Radio News. During the next few years she gained a thorough grounding in radio news, editing the main bulletins. She also worked as a producer on current affairs shows, including the very popular Woman's Hour, and in light entertainment, with Noel Edmonds.
She returned to full-time reporting in 1986 with BBC Radio, covering major news stories, for example in Northern Ireland. She also began her career as a presenter, anchoring among other programmes, the top current affairs show in the UK, Today, on Radio 4.
Jennie Bond has written a book Reporting Royalty that tells in detail of her years keeping tabs on Britain's Royal Family. It was published in September 2001 by Headline. In the Queen's Golden Jubilee Year, Carlton Books published her Elizabeth: 50 Glorious Years, a commemoration of the Queen's reign. She updated this book for the Queen's 80th birthday. Married with a daughter, she lives in Devon and thoroughly enjoys getting away from it all at her seaside home.
Jennie also chairs conferences and seminars and is a highly skilled conference facilitator and after dinner speaker. She has a wealth of experience hosting events and award ceremonies, both at home and abroad.
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As the BBC's Royal Correspondent during 14 of the most turbulent years the monarchy has endured, Jennie was at the heart of events that made headlines around the world: from the fairy-tale marriages to the adultery, the divorces and the deaths.
Since then she has become a presenter on two of the BBC's most popular shows: Cash in the Attic, and Rip Off Britain. She also presented the highly successful BBC2 series Great British Menu.
Other projects include: Royals at War, Masterchef, Too Many Cooks, Stars in the Fast Cars, The Big Call and Jennie's own personal account of her time as a royal correspondent in a three-part documentary series for Channel Five, Jennie Bond's Royals.
Jennie is popular and engaging host at awards and speaker at events.
Recent testimonials include:
Host British Wills & Probate Awards
A note to thank Jennie for being a tremendous host last night. We honestly didn't think she could be any better than last year but were proved wrong because she was sensational.
Jennie's blend of intelligence, wit and warmth won over the audience again.
Campaign for Better Hearing
We just wanted to say a big thanks to Jennie for having been such a superstar today. It was a total pleasure to have her in the studio, she is such a professional and also great company!
Keynote on Positive Ageing at the EAHSN Conference
Jennie's opening address was fantastic – the insights which she shared from her extraordinary experiences brilliantly captured the themes of the conference and her humour coupled with touching anecdotes energised and inspired the delegates for the programme ahead.
Keynote at Rotary Club
A consummate professional with a seamless presentation
Host, the Women in Construction Awards
Jennie was brilliant. Pleasure to work with, really funny and made every effort to engage with guests - still going strong a good hour after the awards had finished.
Host, the Walpole British Luxury Awards
It was a really fabulous evening and Jennie was a terrific host.
Talk at the Malcolm Gifford Wealth Management client lunch
Jennie Bond is just one of the nicest people you will ever meet she was a complete success. She arrived early to set up and make sure the equipment worked for her, she went round and mixed with all my clients as they arrived before going on to give the most brilliant insight into the Royal Family and her life as a reported with the BBC, everyone enjoyed her company, and I will definitely use her services again.
Moderate Panel Discussion at KPMG Inclussion Week
I thought Jennie was a really great moderator, she asked her own questions when it got a little quiet and I think our event was so well attended because of her appearance.
Opening of a New Homes Development for the over 55s for Blue Cedar Homes
On behalf of all the Blue Cedar Homes team, I would like to thank you for all your efforts in helping to make our formal opening events in East Devon such a resounding success. Your professionalism, enthusiasm, genuine warmth and sense of humour were very much appreciated. We look forward to working with you again in the future.
Radio Morning for Austravel
Jennie did a really fantastic job and we would love to work with her again. She gained great responses from all outlets. We were thrilled, she was great.
Guest Speaker at Conference on Technology, Media and Telecommunications and Emerging Risk
The feedback from the delegates as well as the host has been very positive. They really enjoyed Jennie Bond's speaking session and she really did entertain those in attendance. I think the video clips added an additional dimension to the session and were very entertaining (including the 'jungle' clip which had many of us squirming in our seats)! Please thank Jennie for being so incredibly positive and lovely to deal with at every stage of our planning.
Trade News Awards Luncheon
Jennie was a true star. She was very professional, cutting through the script instantly with new suggestions and correcting grammatical errors. Only a true professional can do that. She was also brilliant at co-presenting with only an hour's notice. The audience loved her.
Speech, Hampshire WI
Jennie was an absolute delight and entertained us with stories of her career and life highlights. Please thank Jennie from everyone from the Hampshire Federation of WIs.
Disneyland Event, New York
We loved her, the press loved her - thank you so much.
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Presenter News Items
2020 is off to flying start over here at Knight Ayton Management, with plenty of familiar faces hitting our screens. Lucrezia Millarini is swapping the ITV news room for the skating rink on ITV's Dancing On Ice, while Martin Lewis's ratings continue to soar with The Martin Lewis Money Show also on…
Jennie Bond features in Holidaying with Jane McDonald on Friday 3rd January at 9pm on Channel 5. For this week's episode, Jennie and Jane explore all that Lisbon has to offer.
Many Knight Ayton clients have commented on and written about the recent royal news and events. Patrick Jephson has written from his expert perspective on the criticism of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the Daily Mail, Telegraph and Observer. He is also a consultant on the next series of the…
Jennie Bond, Suzannah Lipscomb and Joan Bakewell present a number of films in the new Channel 5 series Secrets of the National Trust which airs throughout August. From a curious round house in Devon to a tiny Hawkers Hut in Cornwall they take a look behind the scenes at some of the Trusts loved…
A host of Knight Ayton clients will feature across a variety of broadcasters to cover on Princess Eugenie's Wedding. Professor Kate Williams will join CNN's live news coverage from 8.30am, Jennie Bond will be on Channel 5's Jeremy Vine from 9.15am, whilst Camilla Tominey and Alice Beer will be on…
Jennie Bond takes a look back at the most popular British TV programmes from 1978 on Top of the Box, Sunday 10th June at 10pm on Channel 5.
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Electric vehicles could save drivers up to 60% on their trips, according to Consumers Energy
By Keith C. Smith	 Last updated Dec 16, 2021
According to new data released by Consumers Energy, using electric vehicles in Michigan could reduce driver costs by up to 60%, thanks to charging costs as low as 16 cents per kWh.
By comparison, the average price per gallon of gasoline in Michigan right now, amid skyrocketing inflation, is around $ 3.18 per gallon. This means that for an 80-mile trip driven by an electric vehicle, the costs would be around $ 2.63, while for a sedan or an average gasoline-powered light vehicle, the costs would be more than double that at about $ 6.36, more or less take. Discounts provided by consumers and others for home charging system installations and reduced charging rates for electric vehicles also contribute to the use of electric vehicles.
"Consumers Energy wants to help electric vehicle drivers have confidence in their ability to navigate the state with many charging options available," said Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, vice president of customer experience at Consumers Energy. "Today, an EV driver can travel from Bronson to Traverse City – or from Flint to Grand Rapids – with the public charging network currently in place."
So far, more than 1,200 Michigan homes have used the home rebate offers. At the same time, Consumers installed 34 fast-charging stations and nearly 200 public level 2 charging stations across the state. More than 200 charging stations are currently slated to come into service over the next two years to help the approximately 13,000 registered electric vehicles operating in the consumer service area.
Every year, consumers have calculated that electric vehicle sales have grown by more than 20%, with greater acceleration expected due to the build-up of electric vehicle commitments and sales commitments made by automakers. Americans. As a result, Consumers intends to be able to power 1 million electric vehicles in Michigan by 2030, to position itself in a market where up to 50% of new car sales could be electric.
Indian stocks win over autos and technology; Cipla gets up
Don't want to pay the sticker price for a new car? Good luck.
There are reasons to buy a car from a dealership
Overall auto sales post a solid second quarter finish as CU struggles
Saturn architect Don Hudler has died at 87
Who will apply Governor Gavin Newsom's new COVID mask mandate?
New car sales in Japan down 3.3% in 2021
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Hyundai, Automotive News, ET Auto


The joys of classic car restoration projects can only be matched by the frustrations they can bring – the rewards of working a car back to its former glory counterbalanced by the potential escalating costs. If you want to avoid the pitfalls on your next project on the car pit here are ten things to avoid if you do not want to end up working on a 'rust bucket' – that is to say a project whose bottom is sure to fall out.
In more than two decades of lovingly restoring cars to their prime the team at White's Bodyworks have seen their fair share of restoration horror stories. "This car looked great in the photos…" is just one opening for a tale of a restoration project whose bottom has fallen out: a rust bucket project. In truth there is very little that is not restorable as the team's work on a Morris Minor for Discovery Channel's Wheeler Dealers (one of the most popular car shows on TV) proved. However, by choosing your car carefully and being clear about what you want there are ways you can avoid your car pit becoming a money pit.
Here are 10 classic car restoration tips to help your project avoid being a rust bucket.
Rust is the curse of the classic car restorer: do not let it haunt you. It is the fantasy of many a restorer to find a car on the scrap yard and lovingly restore it but rust is the most difficult and costly damage to a car to restore. Areas of rust must be cut out and removed before repair panels can be made and installed. This can really cost.
Always check for rust in areas where water can collect, such as inside the wells in the boot or in the lower fender and door areas. Check the inner panels (under the hood, boot, doors and door jambs) for signs of rust and always inspect the car in clear daylight to be sure.
If you are restoring a post-war model they were usually made in sufficient numbers to mean you should not hesitate to refuse a rusty car and look for one in a better condition instead. Unless the car is particularly rare or has some other historic interest you are better to avoid it like the plague. Instead seek out a more expensive – but cheaper in the long run – car with a solid body and good frame to avoid the bottom falling out, sometimes literally, of your project.
Unlike rust the use of a large amount of wood in a car should not immediately scare you off but it can lead to a more difficult restoration project. This is something you should take into account when choosing a model to work on. Let us take the classic Model A Ford. Looking at the body styles alone there would be a great deal of added complexity and cost in restoring a fordor body or a Victoria than a cabriolet or an A 400 thanks to the amount of wood used. Of course, you may have a struggle finding some parts for the cabriolet – and there is the additional cost of plating to consider – but in general a car with a lot of wood can cause more headaches and require more money than one with less.
The cost and availability of parts is another issue that can lead to the bottom falling out of your restoration project. Even if you can locate the parts online you should consider the added expense of shipping costs for heavy items and the possibility of customs taxes for foreign parts.
The reason for the relative popularity amongst restorers of American cars of models like the Buick Riviera (1963-65) or the Chevrolet Bel Air (1953-54) over, say, the Pierce-Arrow, Forties-era De Soto or V-16 Cadillac is that the former are supported by a huge parts supply, making them a lot easier and cheaper to restore.
Before deciding on a car restoration project make sure you have taken into account the sum of its parts. Forget those dreams of restoring a rare car because cars like the Mopar could have your project coming to a grinding halt after a lot of expense.
It is true, you have to be a bit of a basket case to consider a basket case. Only the very experienced should ever consider buying a car in pieces. It is always safer to pay the extra and buy an assembled, complete, running car. Invariably there will be something missing with a basket case and it is impossible to always tell exactly what when you make your purchase. Never underestimate the difficulties that can arise from trying to assemble something someone else has dismantled. Many basket case projects are placed up for sale again in a rather similar state to how they were purchased.
Always check body panels to ensure that dents have been fixed properly – but be warned that magnets will not always tell the true story. A project that we worked on was a 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MK111 which on the surface looked to be in fairly good condition. When the body was stripped down, however, the nightmare began. The panels had been filled with body filler to push dents out rather than the metal being worked.
We have also come across projects where the filler is mixed with metal shavings, presumably to escape a suspicious buyer's magnet test. Tap a few panels with your knuckles and listen out for dull or dead sounds which can indicate excessive build-up of plastic fillers. If you have any suspicions ask for a photo of the car sanded down to be bare metal and walk away if one is not available. If you are restoring to sell make sure you have photographic evidence of every stage of your restoration work.
Assessing a car's true condition can be difficult. It pays to be wary of any car that has been freshly painted. This can sometimes hide rust and damage that has been poorly repaired with plastic fillers. A classic car's beauty can literally be only skin deep. It may be advisable to look for another car that is not freshly painted.
If you have suspicions check the edges of the doors and the boot for thick, uneven edges that suggest there has been excessive material applied to repair damage. Tell-tale cracking or checking of the paint usually indicates a horror that lurks beneath the surface.
Perhaps the majority of rust bucket projects could have been avoided with a little bit of research and a little more knowledge. Never buy an unknown quantity. For every car type, car make and car model there will be a car club just packed to the rafters with people happy to share their knowledge, enthusiasm and opinions with you. Never underestimate the value of such knowledge before embarking on a project rather than seeing it as something you may need to call on when your restoration work has begun. Similarly you should always consider taking a prospective purchase into an expert before you lay your money out – it could save you money and heartache in the long run.
Many people would love to have a car from the golden age of the 1920s, 30s or 40s. Before embarking on the restoration of such a car, however, think twice. The cost is prohibitive to start with: there are very few unrestored on the market (though restored examples abound). The usability, practicality and safety of vehicles of this era are other factors: they are slow to accelerate, offer unresponsive brakes and are equipped with none of the safety features we have come to expect. They can also prove very expensive to restore and quickly drop their value if not restored 100% authentically.
That said do not think all classic cars of later years are a sure bet either. Take the American Muscle Cars, as many people still choose to. The 1970's saw a number of cars such as the Ford Mustang Stallion (1976) or the Pontiac GTO (1974) that were manufactured under the auspices of Environmental Protection Agency regulations that effectively ripped the muscle out of these cars. Pick your models carefully or you could be saddled with a very pale imitation indeed.
Of course, it is not just the car that can make a restoration project fail. You need to be clear about your budget, skills and intentions as well. If it is as an investment then number matching and authenticity are key. If it is for a drive then maybe they are not so important so a solid car rather than an authentic car may be higher on your list of priorities.
It can cost you twice as much to make a show car as a Sunday driver, and twice as much again if you want a 100-point show car. Once you've started in one direction, it can be very costly to change goals and may lead to you having to abandon your project.
Horror stories may abound but with a bit of care, thought, planning and perseverance (and more than a little blood, sweat and tears) there is no reason you should not get pleasure and pride from your car restoration. At the end of the day we do it because we love it.
Mat Fidge loves everything to do with cars – especially classic ones. He has had a few rust bucket projects himself and has written for White's Bodyworks who have clocked up more than two decades of experience restoring classic cars and have been featured on the Discovery Channel's Wheeler Dealers, a very popular car TV show.
A version of this article was originally published in April 2013.
Avoiding headaches with your classic car restoration can save time and money.
Thanks for the advice. However, I am headed down the restoration road, with a rust bucket Iso Rivolta #007, anyway. I am encouraged by the photos in Roberto's shop.
How about share more photos?
Let's not overlook a truthful assessment of one's personal skills, tools, and shop space if you are planning to do a restoration yourself. Many people want a classic car, know they can't afford a professional restoration, and figure they can do it themselves. Only in rare occasions can they.
And Michael, stop punishing us with that sad, rotten ISO sitting on the woods. Ha ha.
Thom, It is good to hear from you. Your comments are spot on.
That sad Grifo sitting in the woods was bought by someone and I hope to see it restored someday.
I have heard the work coming out of Italy on the Iso's is not what it used to be. Better off getting your restoration work done by the right place in the US!
IT ALWAYS ASTOUNDS ME HOW ANYBODY, CAN LET A SPORTS CAR OR OBVIOUS OLD, PIECE OF ART CAR, TO GO TO ROT ? I HAVE RESTORED A NUMBER OF CARS, PARTICULARLY, E-9 BMWs , OF CANCER, AND BROUGHT THEM BACK TO LIFE, AND TO BE ENJOYED ONCE AGAIN, BY DRIVER AND LOOKER ON.
These are great tips to keep in mind! My brother has an old Lotus Europa in his garage and I've been really bothering him to let me take and restore it!
My friend just recently expressed interest in restoring cars so I'll have to share this. Thanks so much for the advice!
My friend tried to start restoring a car that was a project started by some guy he met on Craigslist. Big mistake. Ended up costing so much more time and money than it's worth. Never trust that other people have any standards of quality is the biggest lesson we learned from that.
We do it cause we love it! Even when you think you have a rust bucket and it turns out to be a basket case…you just keep loving it! Thanks for the great read!
This is great advice about restoring old cars. There's something timeless about an antique car, especially when seeing the finished project. My best friends dad has a beautifully restored Model T that was his grandfathers first car. His best friend has a beautifully restored car from 1917 that I even got to drive, which was terrifying. Awesome read, I'll have to share!
Rust is always a problem. Thanks for these great tips!
I'm a sucker for wood panels but wood restoration can definitely be a pain. That being said, it ends up being a longer and therefore more memorable experience (at least for me). No pain, no gain!
Restoring cars into their former grandeur is a definite art form. Great and informational read!


text:
Karbowanez (Singular und Plural gleich; ukrainisch Singular: Карбованець Karbowanez, Plural: Karbowanzi / Karbowanziw, Betonung: Karbówanez) war eine Währungseinheit der Ukraine in drei verschiedenen Epochen des 20. Jahrhunderts.

Etymologie
Der Terminus Karbowanez entstand in 18. Jh., als während einiger Jahrzehnte Rubelmünzen mit schiefen Kerben ("karb,-en" auf russisch und ukrainisch) auf dem Rand statt Randschriften herausgegeben wurden, weshalb diese Münzen "Karbowanez" genannt wurden.

Erste Epoche
In den Wirren nach der Oktoberrevolution, in der auf bis dahin russischem Gebiet gegründeten Ukrainischen Volksrepublik, hieß die erste Währung Karbowanez. Nach dem Zusammenschluss mit der auf dem ehemaligen Habsburgergebiet entstandenen Westukrainischen Volksrepublik am 22. Januar 1918 beschloss der Zentralrat am 1. März 1918 die Einführung einer neuen Währungseinheit: die Hrywnja im Wert eines halben Karbowanez. Vorerst wurden weiterhin Karbowanez ausgegeben, die dann gleichzeitig mit den Hrywnjas im Umlauf waren.

Ausgabe der Geldscheine in chronologischer Reihenfolge:

 5. Januar 1918 – 100 Karbowanez
 6. April 1918 – 25 und 50 Karbowanez
 17. Oktober 1918 – 10, 100 und 500 Hrywnja
 Oktober 1918 – 1000 und 2000 Hrywnja
 August 1919 – 10, 100, 250 und 1000 Karbowanez
 Oktober 1919 – 25 Karbowanez

Nach dem Anschluss an die Sowjetunion galt in der Ukraine zunächst der "Bolschewistische Tausender", der jedoch einen sehr schlechten Kurs gegenüber dem Karbowanez hatte. Erneut gab es zwischen 1922 und 1924 Währungsreformen, die zunächst den sowjetischen Tscherwonez, dann den sowjetischen Karbowanez und später schließlich den Rubel einführten.

Zweite Epoche

Zur Zeit der deutschen Besatzung 1942 bis 1945 wurden von der Zentralnotenbank der Ukraine mit Sitz in Rowno (heutiger Name Riwne) Karbowanez-Banknoten (zu 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 und 500) ausgegeben. Diese waren in der Reichsdruckerei zu Berlin gedruckt worden. Die 2-Karbowanez-Banknote wurde nie in Umlauf gebracht. Die Karbowanez wurden am 25. Juli 1942 eingeführt, die Bevölkerung des Reichskommissariats Ukraine musste alle sowjetischen Geldscheine im Werte über 5 Rubel abliefern. Diese wurden wie Teile der Gehälter der Ostarbeiter auf Sperrkonten der Zentralwirtschaftsbank Ukraine gegen Quittung gutgeschrieben, allerdings nie ausbezahlt. Deshalb waren danach Reichsmarkscheine, Karbowanez, sowjetische Scheine zu 1 und 3 Rubel, sowjetisches Kleingeld und deutsche Kleinmünzen zu 1, 5 und 10 Pfennig aus Zink im Umlauf. Es galt ein offizieller Kurs von 10 Reichspfennig = 1 Karbowanez = 1 Rubel.

Die Karbowanez liefen ausschließlich auf dem Territorium des "Reichskommissariats Ukraine" um. Der laufende Kurs war sehr schwankend und im Frühling 1944 wurden die Karbowanez fast wertlos (der sowjetische Rubel ebenfalls). Im Mai 1944 begann die Massenablehnung der Karbowanez- und Reichsmarkscheine, sowie der 1-, 5- und 10-Pfennig-Münzen. Nach der russischen Machtübernahme der Ukraine wurden die Karbowanez- und Reichsmarkscheine außer Kurs gesetzt und vernichtet. Besitzer von Karbowanez wurden zumeist von der sowjetischen Geheimpolizei NKWD festgenommen und als Kollaborateure abgeurteilt. Auf Besitz von Karbowanez stand als Strafmaß die Todesstrafe.

Dritte Epoche
Nach der 1991 erfolgten Auflösung der Sowjetunion und der Gründung eines neuen ukrainischen Staates wurde 1992 eine Übergangswährung (Kupon-Karbowanez/купоно-карбованець) eingeführt, die wegen der wirtschaftlichen Krise in dieser Zeit unter einer Hyperinflation zu leiden hatte. So war der mittlere Jahreskurs 1992 135 Kupons für eine Deutsche Mark, 1995 gab es für eine DM 102.886 Kupons. 1996 wurde der Karbowanez durch die Hrywnja abgelöst.

Galerie

Einzelnachweise

Historische Währungseinheit (Europa)
Ukrainische Wirtschaftsgeschichte
Ukrainische Geschichte (20. Jahrhundert)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Contact Lisa to learn more about getting the care and attention you need for impactful communications.
Feel free to send a note to lisa@lisarostoks.com. Or, use the form below and I'll be happy to schedule an initial consultation to chat about your challenges and how I might assist you.
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If you're leading an organisation or a team, a big part of your job is to help others to do their jobs.
Making work meaningful is about vision. It means making sure people understand why what they do is important. What's the point? Who are you there to serve? What difference are you making as a whole, and what difference will it make if a team member does this particular job and does it well?
Making the worker effective is about helping your colleagues to do their roles as well as they can. At its core, the best way to do this seems to be to equip them with useful tools. This means stuff like computers, vehicles, resources. It means equipping them with processes that work – "this is how we train a teacher to teach reading", "this is how we respond to an email and process a sale". And most useful of all, it means equipping your team with the tools to make decisions (often these come back to your vision and values) and giving them the information they need to make new tools.
There's a hierarchy in there somewhere.


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Fika Ventures, a seed investor in startups, has secured $40 million for its first fund. According to a report, Fika is aiming to invest in enterprise companies that are in the seed stage. While Los Angeles' tech scene, where Fika is based, is focused on eCommerce, digital media and ad tech, enterprise tech is just starting to flourish in the area.
While L.A. churns out a lot of engineering graduates, many stayed away from startups until the big tech IPOs started happening.
The other general partners of the fund include Eva Ho, who previously cofounded Susa Ventures. Its limited partners include Cross Creek Advisors and Knollwood Investment Advisory, as well as 15 founders Ho and Zhou backed in prior funds.
Some of the L.A. enterprise startups that are making a name for themselves include Comparably, a business software startup; DataScience, a data science company; and Renew.com, a benefits platform for senior citizens.


I finished uploading the videos I took from the music conference and made a separate page here on the blog to organize them, the "Music Conference" tab up top there. I'm waiting on info for the last two songs I didn't have copies of and will update when I get my hands on it.
In the meantime, lots of great music aside, this is how I will best remember the weekend.


text:
BAGUIO MARKET VENDORS MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE (BAMARVEMPCO), REPRESENTED BY RECTO INSO, OPERATIONS MANAGER, PETITIONER, VS. HON. ILUMINADA CABATO-CORTES, EXECUTIVE JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BAGUIO CITY, RESPONDENT.
For review[1] are the Orders[2] of the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City finding petitioner Baguio Market Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative liable for payment of foreclosure fees.
Petitioner Baguio Market Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative (petitioner) is a credit cooperative organized under Republic Act No. 6938 (RA 6938), or the Cooperative Code of the Philippines.[3] Article 62(6) of RA 6938 exempts cooperatives:
from the payment of all court and sheriff's fees payable to the Philippine Government for and in connection with all actions brought under this Code, or where such action is brought by the Cooperative Development Authority before the court, to enforce the payment of obligations contracted in favor of the cooperative.[4]
In 2004, petitioner, as mortgagee, filed with the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City (trial court) a petition to extrajudicially foreclose a mortgage under Act 3135, as amended.[5] Under Section 7(c) of Rule 141, as amended,[6] petitions for extrajudicial foreclosure are subject to legal fees based on the value of the mortgagee's claim. Invoking Article 62 (6) of RA 6938, petitioner sought exemption from payment of the fees.
The Ruling of the Trial Court
In an Order dated 30 August 2004, Judge Iluminada Cabato-Cortes (respondent), Executive Judge of the trial court, denied the request for exemption, citing Section 22 of Rule 141 of the Rules of Court, as amended, exempting from the Rule's coverage only the "Republic of the Philippines, its agencies and instrumentalities" and certain suits of local government units.[7]
Petitioner sought reconsideration but respondent denied its motion in the Order dated 6 October 2004. This time, respondent reasoned that petitioner's reliance on Article 62(6) of RA 6938 is misplaced because the fees collected under Rule 141 are not "fees payable to the Philippine Government" as they do not accrue to the National Treasury but to a special fund[8] under the Court's control.[9]
Petitioner maintains that the case calls for nothing more than a simple application of Article 62(6) of RA 6938.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), in its Manifestation (in lieu of Comment), joins causes with petitioner. The OSG submits that as the substantive rule, Article 62(6) of RA 6938 prevails over Section 22 of Rule 141, a judicial rule of procedure. The OSG also takes issue with respondent's finding that the legal fees collected under Rule 141 are not "fees payable to the Philippine Government" as the judiciary forms part of the Philippine government, as defined under the Revised Administrative Code.[10]
Although not a party to this suit, we required the Court's Office of the Chief Attorney (OCAT) to comment on the petition, involving as it does, issues relating to the Court's power to promulgate judicial rules. In its compliance, the OCAT recommends the denial of the petition, opining that Section 22, Rule 141, as amended, prevails over Article 62(6) of RA 6938 because (1) the power to impose judicial fees is eminently judicial and (2) the 1987 Constitution insulated the Court's rule-making powers from Congress' interference by omitting in the 1987 Constitution the provision in the 1973 Constitution allowing Congress to alter judicial rules. The OCAT called attention to the Court's previous denial of a request by a cooperative group for the issuance of "guidelines" to implement cooperatives' fees exemption under Article 62(6) of RA 6938.[11] Lastly, the OCAT recommends the amendment of Section 22, Rule 141 to make explicit the non-exemption of cooperatives from the payment of legal fees.
The question is whether petitioner's application for extrajudicial foreclosure is exempt from legal fees under Article 62(6) of RA 6938.
The Ruling of the Court
We hold that Article 62(6) of RA 6938 does not apply to petitioner's foreclosure proceeding.
Petitions for Extrajudicial Foreclosure
Outside of the Ambit of Article 62(6) of RA 6938
The scope of the legal fees exemption Article 62(6) of RA 6938 grants to cooperatives is limited to two types of actions, namely: (1) actions brought under RA 6938; and (2) actions brought by the Cooperative Development Authority to enforce the payment of obligations contracted in favor of cooperatives. By simple deduction, it is immediately apparent that Article 62(6) of RA 6938 is no authority for petitioner to claim exemption from the payment of legal fees in this proceeding because first, the fees imposable on petitioner do not pertain to an action brought under RA 6938 but to a petition for extrajudicial foreclosure of mortgage under Act 3135. Second, petitioner is not the Cooperative Development Authority which can claim exemption only in actions to enforce payments of obligations on behalf of cooperatives.
The Power of the Legislature
vis a vis the Power of the Supreme Court
to Enact Judicial Rules
Our holding above suffices to dispose of this petition. However, the Court En Banc has recently ruled in Re: Petition for Recognition of the Exemption of the Government Service Insurance System from Payment of Legal Fees[12] on the issue of legislative exemptions from court fees. We take the opportunity to reiterate our En Banc ruling in GSIS.
Until the 1987 Constitution took effect, our two previous constitutions textualized a power sharing scheme between the legislature and this Court in the enactment of judicial rules. Thus, both the 1935[13] and the 1973[14] Constitutions vested on the Supreme Court the "power to promulgate rules concerning pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, and the admission to the practice of law." However, these constitutions also granted to the legislature the concurrent power to "repeal, alter or supplement" such rules.[15]
The 1987 Constitution textually altered the power-sharing scheme under the previous charters by deleting in Section 5(5) of Article VIII Congress' subsidiary and corrective power.[16] This glaring and fundamental omission led the Court to observe in Echegaray v. Secretary of Justice[17] that this Court's power to promulgate judicial rules "is no longer shared by this Court with Congress":
The 1987 Constitution molded an even stronger and more independent judiciary. Among others, it enhanced the rule making power of this Court [under] Section 5(5), Article VIII[18] x x x .
The rule making power of this Court was expanded. This Court for the first time was given the power to promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights. The Court was also granted for the first time the power to disapprove rules of procedure of special courts and quasi-judicial bodies. But most importantly, the 1987 Constitution took away the power of Congress to repeal, alter, or supplement rules concerning pleading, practice and procedure. In fine, the power to promulgate rules of pleading, practice and procedure is no longer shared by this Court with Congress, more so with the Executive. x x x x (Italicization in the original; boldfacing supplied)
Any lingering doubt on the import of the textual evolution of Section 5(5) should be put to rest with our recent En Banc ruling denying a request by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for exemption from payment of legal fees based on Section 39 of its Charter, Republic Act No. 8291, exempting GSIS from "all taxes, assessments, fees, charges or dues of all kinds."[19] Reaffirming Echegaray's construction of Section 5(5), the Court described its exclusive power to promulgate rules on pleading, practice and procedure as "one of the safeguards of this Court's institutional independence":
[T]he payment of legal fees is a vital component of the rules promulgated by this Court concerning pleading, practice and procedure, it cannot be validly annulled, changed or modified by Congress. As one of the safeguards of this Court's institutional independence, the power to promulgate rules of pleading, practice and procedure is now the Court's exclusive domain.[20] x x x (Emphasis supplied)
WHEREFORE, we DENY the petition. We AFFIRM the Orders dated 30 August 2004 and 6 October 2004 of the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City.
Let a copy of this Decision be furnished the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts.
Brion, Del Castillo, Abad, and Perez, JJ., concur.
[1] Under Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.
[2] Dated 30 August 2004 and 6 October 2004.
[3] Effective 27 April 1990, 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette on 2 April 1990 following Article 130 of RA 6938.
[4] For a comparison of the varying tax treatment of cooperatives created under RA 6938 and cooperatives created under Presidential Decree, see PHILRECA v. Secretary, 451 Phil. 683 (2003).
[5] An Act To Regulate the Sale of Property Under Special Powers Inserted In Or Annexed To Real- Estate Mortgages.
[6] Most recently by Administrative Matter No. 04-2-04-SC, effective 16 August 2004.
[7] Section 22 provides: "Government exempt. - The Republic of the Philippines, its agencies and instrumentalities are exempt from paying the legal fees provided in the Rule. Local governments and government-owned or controlled corporations with or without independent charters are not exempt from paying such fees.
However, all court actions, criminal or civil instituted at the instance of the provincial, city or municipal treasurer or assessor under Sec. 280 of the Local Government Code of 1991 shall be exempt from the payment of court and sheriff's fees."
[8] The Judiciary Development Fund, created under Presidential Decree No. 1949.
[10] Executive Order No. 292.
[11] A.M. No. 92-9-408-O, 6 October 1992, Re: Request of the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives, Inc. (Min. Res.)
[12] A.M. No. 08-2-01-0, 11 February 2010 (Res.).
[13] Article VIII, Section 13.
[14] Article X, Section 5(5).
[15] The 1935 Constitution provides: "The Congress shall have the power to repeal, alter or supplement the rules concerning pleading, practice, and procedure, and the admission to the practice of law in the Philippines." (Section 13, Article VIII). Similarly, the 1973 Constitution provides: "The Supreme Court shall have the following powers: x x x (5) Promulgate rules concerning pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, and the integration of the bar, which, however, may be repealed, altered or supplemented by the Batasang Pambansa." (Section 5(5), Article X).
[16] In Re Cunanan, 94 Phil. 534 (1954).
[18] The provision reads in full:
Section 5. The Supreme Court shall have the following powers:
(5) Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the integrated bar, and legal assistance to the under-privileged. Such rules shall provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts of the same grade, and shall not diminish, increase, or modify substantive rights. Rules of procedure of special courts and quasi-judicial bodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme Court.


text:
The Sad Emergence of Dictators and Authoritarians On The African Continent
By Moses Kofi Yahaya
Across the political landscape on the African continent, from Cairo in the North to Kigali in the South, dictators and authoritarians are holding sway through the employment of a variety of dubious methods and means to cling to power.
They are manipulating national constitutions, intimidating, jailing and murdering political opponents, muzzling the press and terrorizing civilians.
Indeed, across Africa, we are witnessing the gradual and systemic rise of imperial presidencies, runaway authoritarianism and unhinged demagoguery and most worrisome, the slow death of democracy and the steady erosion of the gains we have made over the course of almost three decades.
If you ask these so-called strong men to explain away their propensity to violate fundamental norms, rules and ethics, the response is always vapid, half-hearted and grossly dishonest. "We are trying to preserve national unity; dissension is unpatriotic, it retards progress."
Their behavior flies in the face of a political dynamic that was unleashed years ago and has become an increasing reality across the continent; the diminution of military political power.
Africans have managed against all odds to do away with military rule. We have successfully confined our soldiers to the barracks and implored them to stay put and allow civilians to run the show.
To a large extent our soldiers listened. Military takeovers of civilian administrations are now, thankfully, are a thing of the past, a relic of history. Coup d'etats are simply no longer in vogue or fashionable like they were in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
The fact of the matter is that African armies who dare use their military might to push aside democratically elected civilian governments run the risk of facing the wrath of their own citizens and crucially sidelining and ostracizing by the international community. They become instant pariahs nobody wants to deal with.
But the civilians we have entrusted through elections with the management of our affairs have only grown big in their shoes with the passing years; they have become arrogant, self-conceited, impervious and unrepentant violators of fundamental human rights.
They are using the concept of democracy to do as they please, to sweep aside political enemies and to amass wealth and power. Little wonder therefore that the African continent is crawling with dictators, men ruling with an iron fist with everyone is scared to death to confront them.
If you were to draw up a list of dictators and authoritarians on our continent, it will undoubtedly contain the names of these men; Mr. Alpha Conde of Guinea; Mr. Paul Kagame of Rwanda; Mr. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Mr. Paul Biya of Cameroon, Mr. Musevini of Uganda and Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi and across the border in my parents native country of Togo, Mr. Faure Yassinagbe.
They are indeed giving Africa a bad eye and by their very actions, are thwarting our gallant efforts to democratize the continent through free and fair elections, freedom of speech, free assembly, a free and fair judiciary and the free flow of information.
Ghana's political system has its inherent problems, but juxtaposed against systems in other African countries, we are light years ahead. That is something we should wear proudly on our sleeves.
Despite the shenanigans of the dictators next door, all hope is not lost yet. Democracy on the continent will continue to grow by heaps and bounds. As the bad guys leave the scene as they invariably will, their places will be taken by young African men and women wholly committed to democratic principles and driven by the sheer determination to make the continent ground zero for good governance.
Let me end this long editorial with a quote from the great Martin Luther King Jnr. He said: "There comes a time in a person's life when a person gets tired of being trampled on by the iron fist of oppression."
Moses Kofi Yahaya
By Failing to Criticize Mr. Addo Christian Religious Leaders Are Failing Their Congregants
Bawumia Falls Short Touting the Achievements of the NPP Administration
Kpantinga Explodes And Indicts The Whole Northern Region In The Process
President Akuffo Addo's Near Obsession With John Mahama


Protest Purim Carnival at Ofer Prison: release circus artist Abu Sakha!
Hunger-striking detainee Mohammad Al Qiq - in life danger!
"Don't take part in a demagogic campaign against the Arab MKs"
Support imprisoned CO Tair Kaminer!
We will not be silent, we stand together!
Down with the occupation! No more victims, no more bloodshed!
We will not surrender to despair - We will stand together!
Emergency protest: Break the Cycle of Bloodshed!
No building of a Jewish community by destroying a Bedouin village!
Protest: No to incitement and violence!
Demonstration - save Susya from destruction!
Gush Shalom, the Israeli Peace Bloc, calls upon Israel's citizens and all people of good will to write to the Knesset Ethics Committee and call upon its members not to take part in a demagogic campaign against the Arab Knesset Members, even though it is orchestrated by Prime Minister Netanyahu in person.
Already for months, the government of Israel and its extreme right auxiliaries are conducting a hunting expedition, targeting those who dare to raise their voice against the occupation and speak out for basic human rights.
After Im Tirzu's notorious video clip accusing the most famous Israeli writers and artists of being traitors and foreign agents, there was a strong reaction among the public, forcing the clip's authors to hastily to retract it. Now, the Prime Minister and his fellows turned to the most convenient scapegoat – the Arab Members of the Knesset. Unfortunately, in this move Netanyahu gained the support of most of the media as well as of the political system - not only from government supporters but also from the so-called 'opposition'.
The Prime Minister also appealed to the general public to pour even more oil on the flames, to write to the Knesset Ethics Committee complaints against Knesset Members Jamal Zahalka, Hanin Zoabi and Basel Ghattas, and to demand that severe measures be taken against them. We of Gush Shalom appeal to the public to send to the Ethics Committee requests of an altogether different kind, and call upon members of the committee to act with responsibility and discretion.
In recent days, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been conducting a massive campaign of demagoguery against Knesset Members Jamal Zahalka, Hanin Zoabi and Basel Ghattas, asking you of the Knesset Ethics Committee to take sever measures against them. Moreover, the PM called upon the general public to lodge with the Ethics Comittee complaints against the three. I would like to send you a message of a different kind, and call upon you to act with discretion and not let yourselves and your committee be used as the tools of an inflammatory demagogic campaign.
We would like to remind the Ethics Committee that in going to meet with Palestinian families, the three MKs of the Balad Party (Arab National Democratic Assembly) had a very specific and openly declared aim: to resolve a difficult humanitarian problem – namely, the government policy of holding on to the bodies of killed Palestinians and refusing to return them to their families for burial.
This is a very controversial policy, which is also strongly disputed in the military and security system itself, opposed among others by the Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of Staff.
It should also be noted that there is a fundamental difference of attitude between Israel's Jewish citizens and their Arab fellows with regard to what is called 'the wave of terror' in recent months.
The great majority of Israeli Jews are fully convinced that all Palestinian who were 'neutralized' and killed by soldiers and police were dangerous terrorists who 'deserved to die' and that there had been no cases of an excessive use of force.
Among the Arab public in Israel, the opinions on these issues are quite different. The Arab Knesset Members, who have won the vote of hundreds of thousands of citizens, are committed to represent in Knesset to represent the opinions of their own voters – not those of the Likud Party or 'The Zionist Camp'.
Finally, it is worth noting that in recent years, Israel faces an increasing tide of worldwide critics asserting that 'Israel is an Apartheid state'. Against such accusations, a staple argument used by the government's 'hasbara' propagandists is to point to the Arab citizens of Israel having the suffrage and taking an active part in Knesset elections (glossing over the fact that no such rights were granted to the Palestinians living under Israeli military rule for the past 48 years). Those who use the Arab MKs as a fig leaf in international propaganda campaigns cannot at the same time attack those same Knesset Members for acting in accordance with the mandate of their voters".


text:
[3] => fan-favourite-aldi-cult-classic-is-back
"Fan favourite" ALDI cult classic is back
ALDI fans are thrilled as the German supermarket giant has brought back their $179 pizza oven as part of its Special buys.
By Over60
ALDI's popular 3-in-1 barbecue and pizza oven is set to make a comeback and fans are thrilled.
The oven is set to appear in Saturday's September 26 Special Buys sale for just $179.
An Aldi spokesperson described the popular item as a "fan favourite".
"This week, the fan-favourite Special Buy Woodfire Pizza Oven will be returning to the middle aisle," they wrote.
"While a trip to Italy might be off the cards for now, for just $179 you can cook up a storm in your own backyard."
While the last pizza oven was $30 cheaper, an ALDI spokesperson confirmed that improvements have been made on the latest oven.
"This year, the pizza oven comes with an improved heatshield to the oven, to help maintain a high temperature when cooking so you can perfect a crispy base. For recipe inspiration, visit ALDI.com.au."
Excited fans are already thrilled with the news.
"I have this one. We love it."
"We have had ours for 2 years it's great."
"It's great! My dad and partner both have one."
Photo credits: Honey
This article originally appeared on Over60.


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The Saints might have assembled the deepest roster of the Sean Payton era.
If you start ordering players, when you get somewhere around spots 45-50, you'll begin considering where to place players like Malcom Brown and Margus Hunt. Dwayne Washington might also be in the mix.
This is a significant difference from a couple of years ago, when, in 2017, guys like Hau'oli Kikaha and Adam Bighill were in that range. That team was outstanding, and the talent at the top of the depth chart was comparable and perhaps even better in some spots than this year's squad, but this team should be loaded top to bottom.
In previous seasons, I usually waited to publish a version of this exercise until the preseason. There wasn't enough information to separate the players into tiers without defaulting and putting nearly everyone "on the fence." This year is different. A lot of the players have been around for a while, and most of the newcomers are veterans with established track records.
So, without context, it might not mean much when I see 29 players who are locks to make the team this early because that number is close to other seasons. I had 29 players locked on the roster when I did this exercise before the first preseason game in 2018, and 27 locked in 2017. But that was after seeing weeks of practices. This list will swell once we get basic answers to questions like are Sheldon Rankins, Kiko Alonso and Alex Anzalone healthy?
There will probably be some names listed in spots that come as a surprise to some people. But it is supposed to be hard to be considered a lock. Those spots get reserved for players where it would knock you out of your chair if you saw them get cut.
Podcast: Best case scenarios and predictions for 2020 season
Analysis November 21, 2020
What did NFL scouting reports say about Taysom Hill in 2017? Here's an inside look at what teams said about the QB
NewOrleans.Football acquired scouting reports on Hill from August 2017 via two league sources, which show what teams were thinking about the quarterback at the time.
Why Marshon Lattimore and other NFC South CBs deserve more credit
There aren't many carefree days for cornerbacks in the NFC South. Guys in other divisions will catch a gimmie or two every season. But if you're the No. 1 guy on an NFC South team that has its cornerbacks travel with top receivers, you'll have to face elite competition at least six times per season. […]


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Q: Defining the Set of Rational Numbers I was wondering about how to define the set of rational numbers, as I am currently learning about set theory in a class of mine. We were going through using set builders to define sets and produced two different ways of defining the set of Rational Numbers ($\mathbb{Q}$):
Definition 1: $\mathbb{Q} = \lbrace \frac{a}{b} \vert \ (a \in \mathbb{Z})  \ \wedge (b \in \mathbb{Z}) \ \wedge (b \not= 0) \rbrace$
Definition 2: $\mathbb{Q} = \lbrace x \vert \exists a,b \in \mathbb{Z}, \ x = \frac{a}{b} \rbrace$
Definition 1 introduced the concept of a "multiset," since multiple instances of the same element will occur (for example, $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{2}{4} = \frac{3}{6} = 0.5$) in the set defined by Definition 1.
My first question is whether Definition 2 would also produce a multiset.
It is my instinct that Definition 2 would not produce a multiset, since it is simply asking the question "Given some numerical value, are there two integers whose quotient equals that value?" and answering "If so, that value is in the set of rational numbers". Therefore, something like the value of $0.5$ (imagined purely as a value, a point on a number line for example) would only be included once since even though it can be described as the quotient of two integers in many different ways, the set is not asking for those different expressions but just the value that the expressions describe.
My second question is whether it is necessary to include the proposition $b \not= 0$ in Definition 2.
My instinct here is that this condition is not necessary for Definition 2, since it would be impossible to produce any value x by taking the quotient of an integer and $0$, so given any value $x$, there won't exist a quotient $\frac{a}{0}$ (where a is an integer) that will yield $x$.
__
Thanks!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Technical Coordinator - Balionis Group, Inc.Balionis Group, Inc.
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Q: Python Find the words in the set have word pairs on dataframe I have set of words
{'DNA',
 'pada',
 'yang',...}

I am trying to find whether the words in the set have word pairs on the following bigram dataframe
                bigramf    freq
0           (DNA, yang)      15
1          (DNA, dalam)       6
2            (DNA, ini)       5
3       (DNA, memiliki)       4
4         (DNA, unting)       4
5           (pada, DNA)       4
6        (pada, urutan)       3
7     (yang, diperoleh)       3
8         (yang, lebih)       3
9      (pada, sejumlah)       2
10          (pada, RNA)       2
11          (pada, satu)      2
12       (yang, berbeda)      2
13          (yang, sama)      2
14       (yang, tumpang)      2

If so, then the expected output will be like this:
yang [('lebih', 3), ('diperoleh', 3), ('berbeda', 2), ('tumpang', 2), ('sama', 2)]

DNA [('yang', 15), ('dalam', 6), ('ini', 5), ('memiliki', 4), ('unting', 4)]

pada [('DNA', 4), ('urutan', 3), ('sejumlah', 2), ('RNA', 2), ('satu', 2)]

How do I find?. Can anyone can help? Thanks. Any help is much appreciated.

A: First convert column with tuples to new 2 columns (dont use apply(pd.Series), because slow), then filter matched values by Series.isin in boolean indexing and convert in GroupBy.apply values to list of tuples:
s = {'DNA',
 'pada',
 'yang'}

df[['s', 'v']] = pd.DataFrame(df['bigramf'].tolist(), index=df.index)

s = df[df['s'].isin(s)].groupby('s')['v','freq'].apply(lambda x: list(map(tuple, x.values)))
print (s)
s
DNA     [(yang, 15), (dalam, 6), (ini, 5), (memiliki, ...
pada    [(DNA, 4), (urutan, 3), (sejumlah, 2), (RNA, 2...
yang    [(diperoleh, 3), (lebih, 3), (berbeda, 2), (sa...
dtype: object

If need dictionary add Series.to_dict:
d = s.to_dict()
print (d)
{'DNA': [('yang', 15), ('dalam', 6), ('ini', 5), ('memiliki', 4), ('unting', 4)],
 'pada': [('DNA', 4), ('urutan', 3), ('sejumlah', 2), ('RNA', 2), ('satu', 2)],
 'yang': [('diperoleh', 3), ('lebih', 3), ('berbeda', 2), ('sama', 2), ('tumpang', 2)]}

Another solution with collections.defaultdict:
from collections import defaultdict

d = defaultdict(list)
for (s1, v1), f1 in df.to_numpy():
    if s1 in s:
        d[s1].append((v1, f1))

d = dict(d)
print (d)
{'DNA': [('yang', 15), ('dalam', 6), ('ini', 5), ('memiliki', 4), ('unting', 4)],
 'pada': [('DNA', 4), ('urutan', 3), ('sejumlah', 2), ('RNA', 2), ('satu', 2)],
 'yang': [('diperoleh', 3), ('lebih', 3), ('berbeda', 2), ('sama', 2), ('tumpang', 2)]}

A: What I did is for matching words
I looped through the data frame and took each element and passed it to a def like this
def match_words(actual_word, word):
    return set(actual_word.split()).intersection(word.split())


Some people might notice me because I have a very distinct face but my name is Petunia and I LOVE getting attention. I am a dark tabby and I am a bit on the older side but who doesn't love older kitties!
Most of the cattery staff notices me because if someone goes to pet me I put my ears down like I'm mad but I'm actually reallllly excited!
I would love to have a home to call my own and a human to be my best friend who I can cuddle with every night.
I'll be looking and I hope you are too!


SIR ALEX FERGUSON twice turned down the chance to manage England.
Fergie was most recently offered the England job before the FA appointed Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2001.
And they approached him before in 1999 when Kevin Keegan went on to take the reigns.
Ferguson, in his new book My Autobiography, wrote: "Can you imagine me doing that? A Scotsman?
"It wasn't a bed of nails I was tempted to lie on."


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Ashleigh Barty
All posts tagged Ashleigh Barty
6 Grand Slam Champs, 3 Former #1 Players Highlight @VolvoCarOpen Player Field
Posted by Admin on March 10, 2021
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: 2021 Volvo Car Open, Ashleigh Barty, charleston, COVID-19, fans, Garbine Muguruza, Kiki Bertens, madison keys, Sofia Kenin. Leave a comment
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Volvo Car Open, to be held without fans April 3 – 11 on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC, has announced its preliminary player field for the 2021 tournament. The field for the premier women's-only professional tennis tournament in North America is led by World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and features some of the top players in the world.
The Volvo Car Open's 56-player draw is made up of 43 direct entries into the tournament, five wild cards and eight qualifiers. Kim Clijsters has already accepted a wild card for the event. Four additional players will join the main draw via wild card entry, to be announced at a later date.
"The world of live sporting events has had to make many difficult decisions over the past year," said Bob Moran, Tournament Director for the Volvo Car Open. "We wish we could host a stadium full of fans in 2021 to appreciate the world-class talent represented in our player field, from WTA's top-ranked Ashleigh Barty and our defending champion Madison Keys, to next generation tennis stars like Sofia Kenin and Coco Gauff. We are grateful that our broadcast partner Tennis Channel will air first ball to last ball main draw matches, providing our fans with more than 70 hours of live tennis and an opportunity to watch the powerful and entertaining competition on our courts this year. We look forward to getting back to normal in 2022 with a newly renovated stadium and celebrating 50 years of professional women's tennis."
Highlights from the main draw include:
21 countries represented in the international player field, including 10 Americans
Three past Volvo Car Open champions: Madison Keys (2019), Kiki Bertens (2018) and Sloane Stephens (2016)
Six Grand Slam champions: Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open), Ashleigh Barty (2019 French Open), Garbiñe Muguruza (2016 French Open and '17 Wimbledon), Sloane Stephens (2017 US Open), Jelena Ostapenko (2017 French Open) and Kim Clijsters (2005, '09 & '10 US Open and '11 Australian Open)
Three Former World No. 1 Ranked Players: Ashleigh Barty (current), Garbiñe Muguruza and Kim Clijsters
Debut player field appearance by Coco Gauff and Kim Clijsters
Charleston native Shelby Rogers to compete in hometown tournament again
At the top of the Volvo Car Open player field is current World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty. The 2021 Volvo Car Open will mark the Australian's second time playing in Charleston. She has held the top WTA singles ranking for the past two seasons, stemming from winning her first Premier Mandatory title at the Miami Open, her first Grand Slam title at the French Open and her first WTA Finals title.
American Sofia Kenin celebrated her first Top 10 season in 2020. She earned her first Grand Slam title at the 2020 Australian Open and ended the year as World No. 4. The 2021 Volvo Car Open will be the 22-year-old's fourth time competing in Charleston.
2018 Volvo Car Open champion Kiki Bertens will play the Volvo Car Open for the fifth time. The Dutch player finished 2020 in the top 10 for the third year in a row and has amassed 10 career WTA titles.
Rounding out the top-four in Charleston's player field is Garbiñe Muguruza. Since her last appearance at the Volvo Car Open in 2013, the Spanish player has captured seven career titles, including the 2017 Wimbledon and 2016 Roland-Garros titles, and reached the World No. 1 ranking.
Current Volvo Car Open champion Madison Keys will also return two years later to defend her title. Keys defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the 2019 Volvo Car Open final to capture her fourth career WTA title and her first on clay.
The 2021 Volvo Car Open will be held without fans due to the ongoing pandemic. The tournament has partnered with the WTA and the Medical University of South Carolina to develop its health and safety protocols for the event, which will allow the team to create a safe atmosphere for players, essential staff and operational partners. Both Tennis Channel and WTA Media have agreed to broadcast the 2021 Volvo Car Open, providing a full week of coverage and more than 70+ hours of live tennis for fans both in the U.S. and abroad.
The Volvo Car Open was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since 1973, the tournament has been a pioneer in women's professional sports, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is now played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Volvo Car Stadium.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages the Volvo Car Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, recently announced plans to renovate and modernize the 20-year-old Volvo Car Stadium. The city-owned facility will undergo upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.
For more information on the Volvo Car Open, visit volvocaropen.com or call 843.856.7900.
—A. Alpino, Volvo Car Open
2020 @AustralianOpen Week 1 Women's Preview, Predictions, Long Shot R1 Picks
Posted in: Australian Open, WTA. Tagged: 2020 Australian Open, Ashleigh Barty, Marketa Vondrousova, melbourne, Naomi Osaka, Pocks, predictions, previews, serena williams, Simona Halep, Women's Tennis Association. Leave a comment
2020 Australian Open Week 1 Women's Preview, Predictions, Long Shot R1 Picks
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic
It's been a bummer summer down under: On the upside, Serena Williams ended a three-year title drought by winning in Auckland, and the leftovers of the Hopman Cup produced some exciting matches. The downside: No Hopman Cup, and the optics of players having to retire due to smoke from devastating bush fires at qualifying in Melbourne. It's not a good look when you're supposed to be in the business of protecting your hard assets, the players, by playing dumb during a natural disaster.
And that's exactly what Tennis Australia has done. Perhaps the Australian tournaments have given Ozzies something to take their mind off of the daily troubles of worrying about their friends and loved ones. The Australian Open has dealt with the disaster on a reactionary basis, waiting for players to speak out before they do. My heart goes out to Australia and a Shake-My-Damn-Head goes out to Tennis Australia.
In the meantime, let's turn the page on pre-Open action, get this major on and get this sport out of here so this country can get back to recovery.
Alas, the first "jewel" of the Grand Slam is upon us.
Whether Serena William's title in Auckland will break the floodgates here and get her back to Grand Slam glory remains to be seen. As close as she has been in New York in back-to back years tells me it's been a cerebral condition and flat out, I expect to see her in the semifinals at worst.
Who's quarter is this anyway?
Naomi Osaka is the #3 seed, and she'll be tested if she wants to reach the semis. After an opening round match against Marie Bouzkova, she'll likely square off against Saisai Zhang before heading to the third round against one of Venus Williams, Coco Gauff, Sorana Cirstea or Barbora Strycova. I'll predict that she'll face Cirstea in R3 before falling to Serena Williams in the quarters.
Serena's path is far more manageable than Osaka's to win the section. After an opening round match against Anastasia Potapova, Williams may face Qiang Wang for a second round win. In the third round, I'll go with Dayana Yastremska after surviving Johanna Konta in the second round. A win over Yastremska to reach the quarters is no easy feat, but Williams should prevail.
R4: Osaka d. Kenin
R4: Williams d. Yastremska
QF: Williams vs. Osaka
2020 Adelaide champion Ashleigh Barty has a surprisingly easy ride to the semifinals in her quarter. Her main challengers, Petra Kvitova and Madison Keys, face difficult early round contests and it will be impressive if Kvitova and Keys can even make it to the quarterfinals.
R4: Barty d. Riske
R4: Kvitova d. Linette
QF: Barty vs. Kvitova
Simona Halep's section of the draw is also a glide path to the quarterfinals, provided she gets by the plucky Jen Brady in R1, which I expect. Belinda Bencic should face her in the quarters of what would shape up to be an upset free quarter of the draw, but I'm going with Kontaveit to upset her in the third round before Kontaveit loses to Sabalenka in the fourth round. Just a hunch here.
R4: Sabalenka d. Kontaveit
R4: Halep d. Muchova
QF: Halep vs. Sabalenka
Karolina Pliskova already has a trophy in the bag this year with a 3rd Brisbane title. That's good for her because the draw is filled with spoilers. World #6 Elina Svitolina is the least of her problems should she reach the final.
Pliskova starts with the unpredictable Kristina Mladenovic. A second round match would see her facing the winner of the Siegemund-Vandeweghe contest. After that, she could hit a speed bump against Pavlyucheckova, Vondrousova, Giorgi, or even Kuznetsova.
R4: Bertens d. Svitolina
R4: Vondrousova d. Pliskova
QF: Vondrousova vs. Bertens
And finally, it's time for a new segment called "Potentially Worthy Picks". These are big upset bets with big paydays. Remember that this is for amusement purposes only, and if you actually place a real bet and it doesn't win, please don't flame me on twitter.
Potentially Worthy First Round Upset Picks
Viktoria Kuzmova (+300) d. Julia Goerges
Daria Kasatkina (+420) d. Madison Keys
Fiona Ferro (+180) d. Van Uytvanck
Sorana Cirstea (+140) d. Barbora Strycova
Who Will "Find it Here" in Ohio? Three @WTA Players Vie For World #1 at @CincyTennis
Posted by Admin on August 14, 2019
Posted in: Western & Southern Open, WTA. Tagged: 2019 Western & Southern Open, Ashleigh Barty, cincinnati, Karolina Pliskova, maria sharapova, Simona Halep, WTA Tour. Leave a comment
Steve Fogleman in Mason
Who will find it here in Ohio? Today should give us some clues and the women's world No. 1 ranking hangs in the balance. Naomi Osaka became world #1 on Monday but she can hardly afford to relax. Yet when you see her off the court, she's pretty good at projecting a relaxed persona.
#2 Ashleigh Barty has carried the mantle for most of the summer before yielding it to Osaka on Monday and #3 Karolina Pliskova has held the position albeit briefly in 2017. Pliskova's only 232 points behind Osaka in the rankings and Barty is a mere 161 points behind the Japanese 2-year-old's 6417.
Osaka owns a 3-0 record against today's opponent, Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Barty should be tested today with a healthy Maria Sharapova eager to settle the score after the last time they met in January at the Australian Open when Barty went on to a three set victory.
Pliskova, the 2016 Cincinnati champion, comfortably faces off against Yafan Wang in a first meeting for both.
World #4 Simona Halep, while unable to return to #1 this week, is in an interesting position with finalist points to defend in order to stay in striking range. After that, she'll have nothing to lose at the US Open as she was ousted in the first round there last year by Kaia Kanepi.
A-Listers @AshBar96, @SabalenkaA, Anastasija Sevastova Added to All-Star Field @VolvoCarOpen
Posted by Admin on February 20, 2019
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: 2019 WTA, Anastasija Sevastova, Aryna Sabalenka, Ashleigh Barty, charleston, draw, player field, South Carolina, Volvo Car Open, WTA Tour. Leave a comment
Aryna Sabalenka, 2018 Connecticut Open, (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Volvo Car Open has added three top 15 players to its 2019 field – Aryna Sabalenka, Anastasija Sevastova and Ashleigh Barty. They join a strong international player field featuring Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki, Kiki Bertens, Madison Keys, Julia Goerges, Elise Mertens, Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko. The 2019 tournament is scheduled for March 30 – April 7 on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
"We are ecstatic to announce that Aryna, Anastasija and Ash have entered the Volvo Car Open," said Eleanor Adams, Volvo Car Open Tournament Manager. "Ash is one of the most well-rounded players on the tour, Anastasija is a returning VCO semifinalist and Aryna is making her Charleston debut!"
World No. 9 Sabalenka will compete in the Volvo Car Open for the first time in 2019. The 20-year-old has had a strong start to her season, winning the title in Shenzhen and reaching the semifinals in St. Petersburg. The Belarusian also won two titles in 2018, in Wuhan and New Haven, reached the finals in Eastbourne and Lugano and the semifinals in Cincinnati.
Ranked World No. 11, Sevastova recently made the fourth round of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals in Brisbane. She won the title in Bucharest last season and reached the finals in Beijing and Mallorca. She was a semifinalist at the 2018 US Open, as well as in Moscow, Charleston and Brisbane. The 2019 Volvo Car Open will be the Latvian's sixth time competing in Charleston, where she also reached the quarterfinals in 2017.
Barty is ranked World No. 12 in singles and World No. 6 in doubles. Already in 2019 she made a splash in her home country of Australia, when she reached the finals in Sydney and the quarterfinals in Melbourne at the Australian Open. Last season she won the title in Zhuhai and Nottingham and reached the semifinals in Wuhan, Montreal and Strasbourg as well as the final in Sydney.
Earlier this month, all three players helped their respective countries win the Fed Cup World Group first round to reach the semifinals.
The nine day Volvo Car Open is the largest women's-only tennis tournament in North America and attracts an average of 90,000 attendees and more than 100 of the top singles and doubles tennis players.
—A. Alpino, VCO
WTA @BrisbaneTennis, Shenzhen, @ASB_Classic Previews and Predictions
Posted by Admin on December 30, 2017
Posted in: Auckland, Australian Open, Brisbane, Shenzen, WTA. Tagged: 2018, Ashleigh Barty, auckland, Barbora Strycova, Brisbane International, Caroline Garcia, caroline wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, madison keys, maria sharapova, picks, Prediction, preview, Shenzen Open, Simona Halep, WTA Tour. Leave a comment
WTA Brisbane, Shenzhen, @ASB_Classic Previews and Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic
The WTA season of 2018 is up and running and it promises to be a cracker. The season opens up with events in Brisbane, Shenzhen and Auckland and we have a run down of all three draws.
World number two Garbine Muguruza kicks off her season at the Brisbane International that boasts a stacked field of top ten players.
When you look at the top half you look immediately to the possible semi final between Muguruza and fourth seed Caroline Garcia. However both players have some tough matches ahead to reach this point.
Muguruza has a BYE in the opening round, but her tournament really gets going in the quarter finals where she could face the tricky Anastasija Sevastova. The Latvian faces home favourite Sam Stosur first however, and the ever dangerous floater Sorana Cirstea has also landed in this section.
Garcia opens against compatriot Alize Cornet whom she has a good record against. But her quarter final could be very interesting because she has draw Kristina Mladenovic in her section. The Frenchwoman ended 2017 on a losing streak however and that could allow Petra Kvitova through to the last eight.
The bottom half hosts a lot of big names including second seed Karolina Pliskova and third seed Elina Svitolina who are projected to meet in the semi finals.
Svitolina has a tough draw. Carla Suarez Navarro is an experienced player in round one, then Ana Konjuh is a dangerous youngster in round two. Johanna Konta meets Madison Keys in the match of the first round and the winner of that should make the quarter finals.
Pliskova has a decent draw to the quarter finals. After a first raw BYE she could face Cici Bellis in the second round. But in the quarters it will get tricky with Ashleigh Barty projected for the last eight. The Aussie's biggest obstacle to the quarter finals is fellow youngster Daria Kastakina which will be a very entertaining second round.
Predictions:
Semi finals:
Garcia def. Muguruza
Barty def. Svitolina
Barty def. Garcia
Simona Halep begins her campaign in China at the Shenzhen Open, and she is joined by French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and the unseeded Maria Sharapova
Simona Halep enters as the favourite here and her half suggests that she should at least make the final.
Maria Sakkari is the biggest challenge in her quarter. The young Greek has a tough potential round two against Monica Niculescu though. Halep opens against Nicole Gibbs then faces the winner of Ying-Ying Duan vs Evgeniya Rodina.
We could end up with an all Romanian semi final match with Irina Begu the fourth seed here. She has a good draw too with Timea Babos the biggest challenge in the quarter finals. The Hungarian has a tougher path with Jana Cepelova or Magda Linette waiting in the second round
Ostapenko is the highest seed in this half, but she has a possible clash with Sharapova in the semi finals. Will we get this mouth-watering match? Or will someone upset the odds?
Ostapenko has a tough opening round match against big serving Krystina Pliskova, the twin sister of Karolina. Camila Giorgi is also a dangerous floater to have in your section, and that is without mentioning her quarter final against Katerina Siniakova.
Shuai Zhang is the seed of the section, but all eyes will be on Sharapova. The Russian returns to action against Mihaela Buzarnescu and then could potentially face home crowd favourite Qiang Wang in the second round. There will be plenty for the Chinese fans to get excited about.
Halep def. Begu
Ostapenko def. Sharapova
Halep def. Ostapenko
Caroline Wozniacki headlines Auckland this year with Julia Goerges as the second seed.
Wozniacki vs Agnieszka Radwanska is the stand out matchup when you look at this draw, and if all goes to plan then we will see that match in the semi finals. But there are a few potential spoilers in this section.
The Dane opens up against Madison Brengle first of all, and she could face the dangerous Mona Barthel in the quarter finals. Radwanska may face Lauren Davis in the last eight, but there should not be any major obstacles standing in their way.
Goerges
Julia Goerges has a tough draw to the final with Barbora Strycova one of the few players capable of knocking the German out of the tournament.
Arguably the match of round one is Goerges' opener against Monica Puig. The winner of this should be able to advance to the last eight to face the winner of Donna Vekic vs Kirsten Flipkens which is another stand out match in the opening round.
Strycova faces wildcard Sara Errani in the first round who is still on the comeback from a doping suspension. Yulia Putintseva is the other seed in this section, and she could be on a collision course with Strycova in the quarter finals.
Wozniacki def. Radwanska
Strycova def. Puig
Wozniacki def. Strycova