Here are some common seller mistakes to avoid during an M&A transaction.
Releasing confidential information without an NDA -This happens more often in a strategic competitor buyout situation, when buyer and seller know each other through previous industry events. While it may seem unnecessary during initial conversations with a buyer, while providing basic information about the company, it's a mistake to engage in the disclosure of company information without a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) in place. An NDA is a key tool in helping to protect the target company's trade secrets and proprietary information. It also requires the potential acquirer to not disclose or use the confidential information of the seller. A well-drafted NDA should also restrict the buyer's ability to contact employees, customers, and suppliers, as well as prohibit the buyer from soliciting or hiring any existing employees of the seller, if a deal is not consummated within an agreed period of time.
Not having an M&A attorney- Sellers often go to their corporate lawyer or family attorney for advice, including advice for an M&A transaction. It might be fine before entering into a letter of intent or due diligence process with a buyer. However, it would be a mistake to hire a family, corporate, real estate, or other type of attorney to negotiate an M&A transaction on the seller's behalf. There are many difficult and complicated issues in structuring M&A deals, drafting acquisition agreements, and executing the transaction. A seller needs a lawyer who understands the issues thoroughly, understands customary market terms and negotiating positions, is responsive with a sense of urgency, and who has done numerous acquisitions. M&A attorney interviews should begin early in the beginning of the selling process. It's essential to have a lawyer who primarily, or exclusively, handles mergers and acquisitions.
Not believing time kills deals - We sometimes hear sellers saying that they would like to close next month instead of this month, or next year instead of this year. Historical data supports that the longer an M&A process drags on, the higher the likelihood that the deal will not happen or the terms will get worse. Many unexpected things can happen while the seller waits for another day or week to close a transaction. Additional time creates risks, such as: the possibility of losing a large customer, vendors increasing pricing, lawsuits, or natural disasters. All of these scenarios have jeopardized deal closings or led to worse deal economics for the seller. It is important to keep the deal momentum, have a sense of urgency in getting things done, responding to due diligence requests, and turning around markups of documents as quickly as possible.
Not using a secured virtual data room- A virtual data room is an online portal to store all of the key information and documents that buyers and sellers must exchange during the due diligence process. This typically includes financial statements, HR information, insurance, tax, environmental, and legal documents, and other sensitive company information. A properly organized and populated data room will allow buyers to complete the due diligence faster. A secure room is necessary to control access. Additionally, tracking buyer access to the data is a great way to keep the process moving forward. Although it's time consuming to build out a data room, it's essential to the control of data and the successful completion of a deal. Furthermore, once a transaction is complete, a virtual data room provides a record of the transaction for future reference, it will allow sellers to archive the data, and, in the case future disputes, the archived data can be used to resolve claims.
Not hiring an M&A specialist- Some sellers don't hire a broker or investment banker, and choose instead to run the process by themselves. This sometimes happens when the seller is approached directly by a potential acquirer or competitor. An experienced broker can bring significant value during the selling process. This includes helping to prepare a confidential information memorandum (CIM) to properly market the opportunity to potential buyers, contacting prospective buyers known by the broker to be a good fit, coordinating meetings with potential buyers, coordinating the seller's responses to the buyer's due diligence requests, and assisting in the negotiations on deal terms and price. Although there is a fee involved when you hire an M&A professional, the bulk of the cost is typically paid upon completion of a transaction, and your advisor can create competition and help to negotiate a much better deal value and deal structure.
These are the reasons many sellers give for experiencing an unsatisfactory or unsuccessful transaction. Planning for a company sale must start early and, by avoiding the mistakes above, sellers can position themselves and their company for M&A success.


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Heeere's Bernanke: Will the Fed Finally Get Specific?
Patti Domm	| @pattidomm
Published 9:50 PM ET Fri, 14 June 2013 Updated 10:25 PM ET Fri, 14 June 2013 CNBC.com
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
The Federal Reserve is expected to fine tune its policy message when it meets in the coming week, but whether it is able to rein in volatile financial markets is another matter.
The two-day Fed meeting ends Wednesday with a statement, economic forecast and a press briefing by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. It also follows a rough several weeks for markets, where interest rates have risen, forcing a reassessment and shaking out of asset values across global markets.
There is a heavy economic calendar, including housing and consumer level inflation data, but the focus in financial markets is honed on what the Fed will say about its quantitative easing program and whether it will signal that it is going to start paring back on its $85 billion monthly bond purchases.
show chapters
Wells Fargo Advisors Raises Forecast 11:21 AM ET Fri, 14 June 2013
"I think it's time for them to establish some clarity," said Ward McCarthy, chief financial economist at Jefferies. "I think in terms of near-term balance sheet guidance and rate guidance, nothing will change. However, I think they will also add additional guidance that's specifically related to the timing and rate of the eventual wind down."
Traders are also watching the G-8 meeting in Ireland Monday, after the U.S. this past week said the Syrian government has used chemical weapons and it would now help arm the rebels in the civil war. That helped drive the price of oil to a nine-month high Friday.
"Obviously where it's situated next to Iraq and the spillover-affect into Turkey threatens Iraq's northern exports so there's potentially real amounts of oil hanging in the balance," said John Kilduff of Again Capital. Russia disputes the allegations about chemical weapons, and that adds to the tension in the region, he said.
West Texas Intermediate touched $98 per barrel Friday. "$98 is an important level. We've been here twice before over the past year…There's no such thing as a triple top. We'll likely take out $100 next week as a result," he said.
(Read More: Fast Money: Trading Ahead of the Fed Meeting)
Fed Ahead
Markets have been on edge about a "tapering" of the Fed bond buying program, pricing in a higher rate environment which has triggered selling across fixed income markets and in equities. The Fed QE programs have been seen as favorable to stocks, sending investors further out the risk spectrum, driving up the prices of everything from junk bonds to equities.
At the same time, Japanese monetary policy this year had driven the yen sharply lower and Japanese stocks sharply higher, but that trend has been painfully and rapidly reversed, sending shock waves across global markets in the last several weeks as traders unwind carry trades.
The talk of "tapering" by Fed officials, at the same time, has jolted markets which had a longer view of when the Fed might begin to wind down its programs. McCarthy said the Fed could suggest that it would start the process in the fourth quarter and complete it in the middle of 2014, with the caveats of an improving economy, inflation and the health of financial markets. Other Fed watchers expect the Fed could begin paring back as early as September, and others don't expect it until next year.
"They're not going to give you a date and a time, but I think they can give us a more specific time frame and then as the date approaches adjust it forward or back as the economic data releases suggest they should," McCarthy . "On the clarity front too I think they need to be a little bit more focused on inflation. Maybe there's a dual mandate but the way things appear to be right now is that inflation has been kind of lost in the shuffle here." For that reason, he will be watching CPI inflation data on Tuesday, noting while the Fed has been easing CPI has decelerated from 3.9 percent in September, 2011 to 1.1 percent.
The Fed now is in the spotlight and is in a tough position, since it has elevated rate expectations at a time when the economy is performing unevenly. But its comments have also reversed the prices of assets that some strategists feared were getting overly inflated, like high-yield corporate debt.
"One could argue the last thing the Fed wants to have happen is a stock bubble, or a housing bubble. We're not in a bubble in either of those but maybe they want to nip it in the bud," said Scott Wren, senior equity strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors. "Everything is so orchestrated. Seemingly there could be purpose behind the confusion."
(Read More: Rising Rates Scaring Borrowers Again)
Whether intentional or not, the Fed's impact on markets may have given it an edge in preventing bubbles. "The Fed wants to avoid reintroducing the one-way view on markets and make investors understand that what decisions ultimately should be built upon is not the idea that the central bank will remain active in perpetuity, but in underlying fundamentals," said Tony Crescenzi, portfolio manager with Pimco.
Crescenzi said he does not expect much change from the Fed. "The script is pretty simple. They're not going to taper now," he said. "If he can lay the groundwork for letting data dictate the policy…it will keep markets in a more stable condition when tapering occurs and advances. We would expect the bond buying to last into next year. The key is the policy rate. So long as that is kept at zero or near it, that's enough to keep rates from moving meaningfully."
Crescenzi said the move to higher rates exposed problems in the financial markets, and the bid/ask spread across the spectrum of spread products roughly doubled as rates climbed, in high-yield, investment grade, emerging market debt and municipal bonds. "Investors are realizing the plumbing is somewhat broken in the bond market and the financial system, so when investors go to sell they find fewer primary dealers willing to warehouse risk," he said.
"This illiquidity has caused assets to get harmed indiscriminately, so the Fed's ability to suppress volatility in rates has been harmed by the reduction in liquidity in the financial system. This is in part because the Fed's own actions have caused investors to lever up and go out the risk spectrum at ever higher prices. The goal should be to calm investors, mainly by suppressing volatility, he said, adding that would help lower rates.
The Fed is not likely to change the wording much on the economy, he added. "The more ho hum the statement is the more stabilizing it will be, and Bernanke will be left to emphasize the points he wants to emphasize," he said. The Fed should also indicate it will be accommodative for a long time, emphasizing that reducing purchases is not a tightening of policy, since rates remain at zero and the Fed holds its bond purchases on its balance sheet, he said.
Wren said he does not expect to see the Fed reduce its asset purchases until next year. "The criteria they laid out, the unemployment rate they laid out and the inflation rate, we're still far away from either of those. We're going to see not such a great second quarter GDP. The Fed is going to be careful not to pull the punch bowl away too soon. They're going to be safe rather than sorry," he said.
At issue for markets has been whether rates have risen because of the economy improving, or just because of the Fed's talk about slowing bond purchases.
Binky Chadha, Deutsche Bank chief global strategist, head of asset allocation, said the rise in the 10-year Treasury note yield, since May 2, came in two legs, and the first was because of improved economic news, in the April employment report. But it gained momentum when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before the Joint Economic Committee May 22 and said the Fed could look to start tapering its purchases in a couple of months. Although more hawkish members of the Fed had said the same thing, markets reacted to Bernanke's comments, even though he emphasized that the economy must show sustained improvement before the Fed would slow down.
Chadha notes that the Nikkei, now down more than 20 percent from its highs, peaked on that day.
(Read More: Japanese Stocks May Be Getting Interesting: Pros)
"The first leg was very good for some risk assets, not all of them, not for carry, but good for equities," Chadha said. "The second leg up has been bad…Simply put it has nothing to do intrinsically with higher rates. It has to do with the unwind. The taper has to do with the ending of the easing bias of the Fed and the beginning of the end of QE, and what we're seeing is a bit of unwind of QE type trades and that has morphed into a position unwind in all asset classes."
Stocks were rattled this past week, with the S&P 500 down 1 percent at 1626, and the Dow down 1.2 percent at 15,070. The Nasdaq fell 1.3 percent to 3423, its worst week in two months. The 10-year yield hit a high of 2.23 percent this past week but was at 2.13 percent late Friday.
Chadha expects this to be a temporary downturn for stocks. "If you want to look at it from the vantage point of equities, it's a temporary blip. It's struggling hard to get a five percent down move," he said. As of Friday, the S&P was 3.6 percent off its highs. Chadha also expects the economy to improve as the year progresses.
"We're looking to the Fed for clarity. It's also unfortunate the (Bernanke) taper comments were not part of a bigger picture presentation that there is much greater confidence in growth and the sustainability of the recovery. The market has just responded to the unwind of QE without the normal positive reaction that this is in the context of growth," he said.
He said he expects the economic data to turn and start surprising positively over the summer. "If the Fed provides some clarity...the markets will come back. It's really a market event, not an economic event," he said.
While they expect market volatility to continue in the second half of the year, Wells Fargo Advisors strategists raised their target on the S&P for year end this past week, and now see it at 1650 to 1700, from 1575 to 1625.
"I don't think rates are going to rise very much. I do think they could come down a bit if the Fed gives us some clarity that they're not going to start to taper. We're far from normal rates even in a 2.5 percent growth environment. I do think there is some flight to quality. They're buying bonds. They're buying U.S. stocks. It's become a safe haven equity market as well," he said.
G-8 meets
8:30 am: Empire State survey
9:00 am: TIC capital flow data
10:00 am: NAHB survey
First day of FOMC meeting
8:30 am: CPI
8:30 am: Housing starts
2:00 pm: FOMC statement, projections
2:30 pm: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke holds press briefing
8:30 am: Initial claims
8:58 am: Manufacturing PMI
10:00 am: Existing home sales
10:00 am: Philadelphia Fed survey
10:00 am: Leading indicators
Patti DommCNBC Markets Editor
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The Right Way to Help People Hit By Hurricane Harvey
Scam charities spring up overnight in response to current events. Here's what you must know to help organizations aiding victims of Hurricane Harvey — or any other natural disaster.
Karla Bowsher • August 29, 2017
Photo by AMFPhotography / Shutterstock.com
Days after Hurricane Harvey first made landfall, the storm continues to haunt coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana.
Currently a tropical storm, it's forecast to hover into Wednesday, dumping more rain on the already waterlogged region. The Weather Channel reported Tuesday morning that major rivers will remain above flood stage into Labor Day weekend and possibly longer.
If you're following the news, it's hard not to feel bad for Harvey's victims. But if you really want to help them, start by watching out for scams.
Specifically, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to be wary of charities that spring up in response to current events or natural disasters. So, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the FTC explains:
"Do some research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization that will use the money as promised. Donate to charities you know and trust with a proven track record with dealing with disasters."
To find out whether a charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state, contact the National Association of State Charity Officials. If a charity should be registered but is not, the FTC says you should consider donating to a different charity.
To evaluate a charity's track record, look it up on the websites of organizations such as:
Charity Watch
Wise Giving Alliance
Charity Navigator, a nonprofit that evaluates and rates charities, has made it easy to identify legitimate charities that are helping Hurricane Harvey victims. Charity Navigator compiled a list of highly-rated charities that it says "are located in the most-affected areas and are providing support to individuals and animals." They are:
Houston Food Bank
Food Bank of Corpus Christi
Houston Humane Society
Houston SPCA
San Antonio Humane Society
Charity Navigator notes that it's not certain that all five of these charities will spend 100 percent of donations on Hurricane Harvey relief. The FTC suggests, however, that you designate the disaster toward which you want your donation to go, rather than sending money to a charity's general fund.
If you would rather open your home to victims than open your wallet to a charity, note that Airbnb is matching up Hurricane Harvey evacuees with people willing to host evacuees for free.
If your property has been hit by the storm, try to focus on filing insurance claims. Dallas News reports that lawyers are urging affected Texas homeowners to file claims by Thursday due to a new state law going into effect Friday. The publication explains:
"Starting Sept. 1, House Bill 1774 becomes law in Texas, a measure that advocates for insurance companies say was designed to limit lawsuit abuses while preserving protections for homeowners. Lawyers and consumer advocates, however, say the new law will severely limit homeowners' ability to hold insurance companies accountable when they take months or years to pay for a claim, underpay or wrongfully deny legitimate claims."
The nonprofit Consumer Federation of America has issued tips for ensuring fair payment of insurance claims you file in the wake of Harvey.
What's your take on this news? Sound off below or on Facebook.
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If you're a homeowner, you may be able to get a competitive loan for as much as $150,000 in just days.
Karla Bowsher
Before becoming managing editor of Money Talks News, I covered both personal and public finance. I've worked for a top 50 major metro daily and a community newspaper as well as a ... More
Before becoming managing editor of Money Talks News, I covered both personal and public finance.
I've worked for a top 50 major metro daily and a community newspaper as well as a nonprofit investigative publication. I've won state and national awards for my investigative reporting.
Before journalism, I worked in health care.
When I'm not editing, writing, reading or sleeping, I'm growing obscure tropical vegetables. During tax season, I serve as an IRS-certified volunteer tax return preparer for the VITA program.
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Revamp your traditional Halloween jack-o-lantern display by adding these illuminated pumpkin lanterns to your doorstep this fall. These pumpkin lanterns are an easy Halloween party decoration sure to impress your guests, and the festive do-it-yourself decorations will last even after Halloween has come and gone. Combining the best of carved pumpkins and embellished paper luminaries, these Halloween lanterns add a warm porch welcome for your Halloween party. These classic fall-themed pumpkin templates bring a festive touch to your doorstep with glowing crafty luminaries. A fall family favorite, tricky pumpkin carving is made easier with our premade free printable leaf designs. Looking for more Halloween pumpkin designs? Here are our best pumpkin carving design ideas for you and your family. Leftover pumpkins? Try making a festive fall pumpkin centerpiece. Not a fan of pumpkin carving? Skip the scalpel and try these DIY glowing mason jar jack-o-lanterns.
Follow these simple steps to create a fall display for an outdoor welcome.
As always, be careful when decorating with an open flame.
Cut the bottom off a pumpkin, and remove the seeds and pulp. Place the leaf template in your desired spot, pin in place, and then trace the design onto the pumpkin with a pencil.
Using a pumpkin-carving tool, cut out the traced leaf design.
Cut pieces of yellow vellum, and pin them to the inside of the pumpkin over the leaf openings. Add a battery-operated candle.
Use a glue gun to adhere glass florist beads to a clear jar, pressing them to the inside. Bend and twist wire around the jar's rim to form a handle.


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North Pole Bananas
A blog about Australian Trade Marks Law
What is a trade mark?
Defined terms in the TMA
Grounds for rejecting an application
Grounds of opposition
Removal for non-use
Ben Gardiner is an Australian barrister who specialises in intellectual property law.
Clerk: Jane King
List G Barristers
Authorised Use Case Notes Classic Cases Damages Deceptively similar? Evidence Federal Court procedure Honest concurrent use Non-use Own name defence Passing Off s 41 TMA - adapted to distinguish? s 44 TMA s 60 TM101 Trade Marks Office procedure Trade practices Uncategorized
North Pole Bananas website by Ben Gardiner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Ben Gardiner 8:00 am on 28 February 2017	Permalink Reply
ATMO case note: Monster Energy Company v Disney Enterprises, Inc [2017] ATMO 2
Applicant's mark: MONSTERS UNIVERSITY
Relevant classes: 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear etc), 29 (fresh & dried foods), 30 (various processed foods).
Opponent's marks: MONSTER and MONSTER ENERGY – registered and used in various classes including in relation to carbonated soft drinks.
Grounds of opposition: ss 42(b) and 60 – grounds not established – mark to proceed to registration.
Hearing Officer McDonagh set out the following lengthy passage from Cars on Demand IP Pty Ltd v Cars on Demand Limited [2014] ATMO 87:
A finding of deceptive similarity in wholly contained trade marks is not automatic and may depend on a number of factors. These include:
(a) The extent to which the shared element has retained its identity as an essential feature of the trade marks (See: Bulova Accutron Trade Mark [1969] RPC 102 (Ch D).
(b) The distinctiveness of the common element/s and the distinctiveness of additional element/s. If the additional element changes the idea of the trade mark, this may point towards a finding that the marks are not deceptively similar.
(c) The nature of the additional element(s) – if the additional element(s) is/are particularly distinctive then the marks will most likely not be deceptively similar, even though they share a common element. And vice versa – if the additional element has a low level of distinctiveness then the marks are more likely to be deceptively similar (See: Application by Coles Myer Ltd, (1993) 26 IPR 577, BRATS: BONZA BRATS)
(d) The meaning behind the trade marks – where an additional element changes the meaning of the trade mark or the concept behind it then the trade marks are less likely to be deceptively similar.
(e) The placement, within the trade mark, of the common and non-distinctive elements, including size of text and any other elements may provide a different context and consequently alter the overall impression of the trade mark.
(f) When both the common element and additional element are distinctive – each case will turn on its own facts. See BAREFOOT: BAREFOOT RADLER. E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 934 at 63 per Flick J.
(g) Consideration must be given to the surrounding context of the goods and services, such as methods of sale and common trade techniques. Are customers purchasing goods by name? How are the goods presented? Who are the consumers? (General or specialist?).
The hearing officer considered that in the application of these principles in this case led to the conclusion that the marks were unlikely to be confused. This was particularly so due to the close association of the Opponent's marks with sporting teams: "if consumers are involved with a sporting team, event or individual to the extent that they associate and purchase the Opponent's Goods sold under the Opponent's Trade Marks because of that association and further seek out goods in Classes 25, 29 or 30 to purchase on the basis of those trade marks, it is less likely that they will confuse the Trade Mark with the Opponent's Trade Marks."
Section 42(b)
The section 42 ground failed for the same reason as the s 60 ground: "In the present matter the Opponent has failed to establish a ground of opposition under section 60 of the Act. As the test for misleading or deceptive conduct under section 18 of the Australian Consumer Law ('ACL') is a more stringent test (at the standard 'mislead or deceive') than that for 'deception or confusion' under section 60, I am satisfied that the Opponent has also failed to establish that the use of the Applicant's Trade Mark would be contrary to section 18 of the ACL."
← SCREENTECH v SCREEN TECHNICS
ICC SYDNEY deceptively similar to ICC INTERNATIONAL COURT OF ARBITRATION →


Beware: Is Flavor of the Day Marketing Draining Your Marketing Resources?
Are You Guilty of 'Spray & Pray Marketing?
When trying to attract your target market, you would be wise to stay away from the "spray & pray" marketing approach.
In Part 2 of the Marketing Recipes for Failure Series we discuss "Casual Marketing" which can lead to marketing casualites!
I'd like expose you to what NOT to do with your approach to marketing in this first part of four articles. I will break down each one of the 3, as I call them, 'marketing recipes for failure' and share what to do to avoid them.


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Q: Which fields maintain the link between Jira and Aha! integration I'm looking at integrating Aha! roadmaps with Jira and see you can sync:
Jira release with Aha! version
Jira Story with Aha! Feature
Jira Story with Aha! Requirement
What I am struggling with is finding a document or article on which fields are used to maintain the relatinship between the identities e.g. If a Jira release goes to sync with Aha! version which field is used to match the records so the corresponding Aha! version is updated?
Thanks for any help

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A multitrack hard-disk recording system facilitates the recording and mixing of multiple tracks of digital audio on a computer's hard disk. Recording to disk has many advantages over the older method of multitrack recording to analog tape: CD-quality digital audio is cleaner than tape, with much greater dynamic response (better recording of very soft and very loud signals), and random access allows immediate record and play from any point in your songfile. And the hardware required for multitrack hard-disk recording is not inaccessible: Large, fast hard disks (10 gigabytes and larger) are inexpensive these days, as are fast CPUs. Linux can claim a number of excellent hard-disk recording systems to take advantage of this hardware bounty. In this chapter we will look at three of those systems: SLab, Multitrack, and Mix."
"Which Program Should I Use?
Selecting the multitrack recorder/mixer that works best for you depends on your specific background and needs. Of course, considering that they are priced at $0.00 each, you could just try them all and decide which one you like best-but you may not have the time to do so. Each one of these programs is strong in particular ways: SLab will appeal immediately to users familiar with recording in a tape-based studio, Mix is best suited to complex arrangements of pre-recorded soundfiles, and Multitrack is best suited to quick, small-scale recording sessions (such as a four-piece band or a single performer)."


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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources History
True North Basecamp
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a Minnesota State-based organization that is responsible for the preserving and running of all the natural resources in the state. It is in charge of taking care of the forests, trails, parks, leisure areas, and leisure trails of the state. All the mineral resources found in this state are monitored by this agency, in combination with its forestry and wildlife.
How It Began
It all began in 1876, when initial attempts were made towards preserving the wildlife within the state of Minnesota. Within this period an agency was placed in charge of the timber, and another effort was made towards inhibiting the damage of the natural assets which all yielded no results. The first productive service to preserve the forests via the inhibition and safety against fire was formed in 1911 called the Minnesota Forest Service.
In 1931, the Department of Conservation, an agency empowered to take care of the natural
resources in the state was formed by the Minnesota Legislature. Other sectors like tourist bureau, parks, forestry, drainage and water and others were included in the package of this department.
The Department of Conservation played a very vital role during the great depression, it was able to help the citizen to get jobs by giving them work to plant trees, build and also clear trails. This really assisted the people with income through the collaboration of this agency with other Federal programs like the Works Progress Administration.
There are some of those buildings still existing currently at the State's park. Because the scope of the divisions and sections handled by the Department of Conservation increased to cover a lot, its name was changed to the Department of Natural Resources in 1971. This was necessitated to depict the relevance of all divisions and sections covered.
Divisions of the Department of Natural Resources
This was the first division created in 1911 called the Minnesota Forest Service. Its main goal is that through land, forest and fire maintenance the forests are kept healthy always. This division existed before the Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation that was before it. This continues to still be part of the DNR division, taking care of state forests like Badoura, Big Fork, Cloquet Valley, Emily, Foot Hills, George Washington, Lake Isabella state forests, and much more.
In 1935, this branch became a division on its own
while under the Department of Conservation, but it
was previously with the Minnesota Forestry Service. It is laden with the responsibility to conserve cultural and natural resources, allow tourists to have fun in all its parks, and then to teach all tourists of the 73 parks of the state. The DNR managed state parks and recreation areas include Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and the yurts provided throughout the state. It also manages the Itasca State Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park and the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to name a few.
These are the three main responsibilities of this division of the DNR. They exist to help everyone enjoy and know the precious resources that have been passed down to them from one generation. They periodically release access maps of waterways, snowmobile trail, trails, rivers, off highway vehicle trial, and other maps that are very helpful to tourists and natives as well.
This division engages in the research of all ecosystems in the state. After research, the data retrieved is investigated to draw reasonable conclusions on the workings of the ecosystem, and its relevance and essentials to those residing in the state of Minnesota. They also search for and take care of the species that about to be extinct, along with other entities that will help prolong the existence of the fatal species. These animals are preserved to maintain their lifespan and forth coming generations. The Ecological and Water Resources department are also responsible for protecting the Ecosystem and prevention of any upcoming dangers that might want to affect it in any way. Dangers such as predators, diseases, and human industrial and other pollutants that might be harmful in any way to the ecological system are prevented.
The biggest portfolio with this division is the Nongame Wildlife Program of the State that ensures the preservation of all non-hunted creatures. They also take care of all the waters, rivers, and all water ways in Minnesota. This is one of the largest branches within the Department of Natural Resources.
This is the law enforcement division of the Department of Natural Resources. They are empowered to instill the strict observance of all the laws of this department. With this division the public and all citizens of the state obey the DNR laws. They previously belonged to the Fish and Game division before becoming a stand-alone division. They are also responsible for providing general safety training to all citizens. All the laws of all the other divisions are enforced into strict compliance. With their activities all the species in the environment are protected, because all citizens obey animal protection laws enforced by this division.
Fish and Wildlife
The Fish and Wildlife division which was formerly called the Fish and Game Division was part of the first Department of Conservation. Its main responsibility is to make sure all wildlife and fish within the state are preserved and protected. All pieces of real estate purchased by the Department of Natural Resources are maintained by this department as well. They are also laden with the issuance of licenses and registration of leisure vehicles within the State of Minnesota.
Cuyuna
True North Basecamp in Crosby, MN Hits Outside Magazine's Top Destination 2017 List
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MN Mining History is a fascinating
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Everything You Need to Know About the History of Cross-Country Skiing
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REI recognizes Cuyuna as top winter biking destination
Camping & Mountain Bike Trip Check List
Top 10 Things To Do In Cuyuna With Kids
36 Hours Of Summer Fun In Cuyuna That Does Not Require A Mountain Bike


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Al-Hilal defeats Zamalek to secure Lusail Super Cup in Qatar
Mohamed Eltayeb
The Lusail Super Cup left fans on the edge of their seats as Al-Hilal led their country to victory in a 4-1 penalty shootout, triumphing Egypt's Zamalek. A fast-paced match…
Qatar puts final touches ahead of Turkish Super Cup final
Rejan Gaafar
For the first time ever, the Turkish Super Cup final will be held in Doha, the match kicks off at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium at 8:45 pm on Wednesday…


This was the finding of recent research which we carried out amongst our members earlier this month.
It showed more than one in five firms now rely on guides and handbooks to educate their staff, while traditional alternatives such as courses are becoming less popular.
Cost was identified by almost two thirds of respondents as the biggest barrier to providing training for employees.
For the sake of small businesses and the economy, it is important that small businesses are able to access the right training for their staff at the right price. Unfortunately, while there have been some improvements recently, our research implies this is not always the case at present.
Entrepreneurs are, however, finding ways to provide the skills training their staff need that are more affordable than traditional routes such as expensive courses – anecdotal evidence has recently suggested delivery of which is not always of a consistent standard.
This is particularly relevant given the training and guidance required in order to negotiate the minefield of red tape, which is why small businesses value handbooks such as our own employment and health and safety guides.
Our research suggests time and money spent on red tape training is hindering coaching in key skills and other areas of staff development, affecting recruitment and, subsequently, economic growth.
We think, however, this research ultimately strengthens the case for the education system to better equip school leavers with the necessary employability skills. Education institutions should forge better links with small businesses too, and steps should be taken to reduce the cost of training for small businesses.
And small businesses should be given better guidance on how to identify training needs.


This video discusses how to determine if a turtle shell is healthy or not and can help to identify some early issues with your turtles shell.
Shell Rot - This is a fungal or bacterial condition caused by any of the following, poor diet, lighting, water temperature, water condition or anything else relevant to their habitat. Can also have white spots, it may show the flesh underneath.
Alternate signs of a turtle being healthy include Skin color - The one in the video has bright colors and a shiny shell which shows it is well taken care of. If your turtle has a grayish tint to it, or perhaps is head is too small for its body than this may be an indicator of rapid growth which is caused by poor diet.
If your pet turtle's water conditions are kept clean then the should be no algae present on the turtles shell either.


text:
Q: Using ActiveMQ instead of microsoft service bus I have tried to use ActiveMQ as Microsoft Service Bus. I configured ssl layer on activemq and also $cbs queue has been already created by an c# application using azure servicebus SDK.
But when I tried to use azure IotHub SDK C for my device, it seems that I should pass activemq username and password . How can I change the iothubtransport_amqp_common.c to connect my device to ActiveMQ.
I could connect to Azure IoTHub by using amqpnetlite. If I wanted to connect to activeMQ, I should pass Username and Password. And it works OK. so I want to know: in azure iot sdk how can I pass these 2 options(Username and Password)?

A: Azure iothub sdk using MSSBCBS for sasl mechanism but activeMQ uses PLAIN sasl. so for passing username and password, we should use PLAIN sasl. for changing the sasl mechanism you can edit this file:
azure-iot-sdk-c/iothub_client/src/iothubtransport_amqp_connection.c
in line 49 instead of :
if ((sasl_mechanism = saslmechanism_create(saslmssbcbs_get_interface(), NULL)) == NULL)

put:
 SASL_PLAIN_CONFIG sasl_plain_config;
            sasl_plain_config.authcid = "username";
            sasl_plain_config.authzid = NULL;
            sasl_plain_config.passwd = "password";

 if ((sasl_mechanism = saslmechanism_create(saslplain_get_interface(), &sasl_plain_config)) == NULL)

You also need to add
     #include "azure_uamqp_c/sasl_plain.h"


There are four ways you can silence or mute notifications and other alerts on Apple Watch.
Tap the bell icon from the Control Center of your Apple Watch to mute sounds.
Tap the crescent moon icon to turn on Do Not Disturb.
Select the duration you'd like to turn Do Not Disturb on for.
Tap the icon with two masks to turn on theater mode.


text:
Has the Obama administration gone "full Watergate?" Break in at whistleblower's law f
Thread starter Wehrwolfen
Wehrwolfen
by: Phineas
**Posted by Phineas
Somewhere, G. Gordon Liddy and James McCord are thinking "copycats!"
"The offices of a Dallas law firm representing a high-profile State Department whistleblower were broken into last weekend. Burglars stole three computers and broke into the firm's file cabinets. But silver bars, video equipment and other valuables were left untouched, according to local Fox affiliate KDFW, which aired security camera footage of the suspected burglars entering and leaving the offices around the time of the incident.
The firm Schulman & Mathias represents Aurelia Fedenisn, a former investigator at the State Department's Office of the Inspector General. In recent weeks, she raised a slew of explosive allegations against the department and its contractors ranging from illicit drug use, soliciting sexual favors from minors and prostitutes and sexual harassment.
"It's a crazy, strange and suspicious situation," attorney Cary Schulman told The Cable. "It's clear to me that it was somebody looking for information and not money. My most high-profile case right now is the Aurelia Fedenisn case, and I can't think of any other case where someone would go to these great lengths to get our information."
According to the KDFW report, the firm was the only suite burglarized in the high-rise office building and an unlocked office adjacent was left untouched."
[Excerpt]
Has the Obama administration gone "full Watergate?" Break in at whistleblower's law firm. « Sister Toldjah Sister Toldjah
There is o doubt that the break-in was planned and executed by the Progressive Left. Was this order made by the man in the Oval office, or the esteemed Lady of the State Dept.? Will the FBI catch the perpetrators? They've dragged their feet on each of the scandals, why not this one too?
Re: Has the Obama administration gone "full Watergate?" Break in at whistleblower's l
It is hard to imagine who but the government would be interested. Perhaps the media but the government would be more likely to affect a break-in.


Fontifier turns a scanned sample of your handwriting into a handwriting font you can use in your word processor or graphics program. You have to purchase the font, but you are able to preview it for free.
1998: Year in which Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" (from "Titanic") became the world's best-selling single. Dion was born on this day in 1968.
March 31, 2004: In Fallujah, Iraq, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA are killed and their bodies mutilated after being ambushed.


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The range of talent you provide is diverse, and the artists we've dealt with have been very professional and 'hit the mark' according to our vocal directions. They have also met deadlines way ahead of time.
The talents were professional and sensitive to our needs. They went above-and-beyond our expectations to make sure the audio fit our project's specifications.
We have utilized 'The Voice Realm' for our voice over projects during the past year, and have been delighted with both the quality of the voice over work itself, as well as the live support they provide on their website.
I love The Voice Realm! I've used it for so much of our burgeoning audio business at Microsoft. The voiceover talent is second to none and I can hire people to do any language in the world. For a global business like Microsoft this is essential.
Quick turnaround times with friendly voiceover personalities. I can't speak more highly of the platform and service.
Working with the Voice Realm was fast, easy and straightforward. We got a demo, made a small edit and hired our talent in two days! We set up a live direction to make sure the audio was great and got our edited recording the same day.
The talent was professional and easy to work with. Payment, edits, and receiving of files was painless. We will definitely use the Voice Realm for our next project!
I'm really delighted with both the service and the voice I used, and the Voice Realm will be my first port of call next time I need a professional speaking voice.
Finally, the prices are very competitive, probably the best value out there - not cheap, but realistic and within the realms of possibility for a short, self-published audiobook like mine.
I recently did a job with an associate of The Voice Realm on a marketing project for my company in Asia. Ernie did a fantastic job for us and would highly recommend using this organization for any voice over or narrating that you need.
The work done for my animated marketing video was really professional and working with The Voice Realm was so easy.
We needed professionally recorded voice over for a short website explainer, quickly and without spending huge amounts of our budget. Sign up, selecting the talent and submitting our script took just 15-minutes and, much to our delight, the professional recording was back to us within the hour.
The results were perfect, first time!
We have utilized 'The Voice Realm' for our voice over projects during the past year, and have been delighted with both the quality of the voice over work itself, as well as the live support they provide on their website. I highly recommend them.
I love The Voice Realm! I've used it for so much of our burgeoning audio business at Microsoft. The voiceover talent is second to none and I can hire people to do any language in the world. For a global business like Microsoft this is essential. Quick turnaround times with friendly voiceover personalities. I can't speak more highly of the platform and service.
Working with the Voice Realm was fast, easy and straightforward. We got a demo, made a small edit and hired our talent in two days! We set up a live direction to make sure the audio was great and got our edited recording the same day. The talent was professional and easy to work with. Payment, edits, and receiving of files was painless. We will definitely use the Voice Realm for our next project!
There's so much stunning talent to choose from - in all the showreels I listened to there wasn't a single voice that sounded anything except professional (which actually left me feeling a bit bad because I had to choose between three superb professionals, so I felt as if I was letting a couple of voices down...) I'm really delighted with both the service and the voice I used, and the Voice Realm will be my first port of call next time I need a professional speaking voice. Finally, the prices are very competitive, probably the best value out there - not cheap, but realistic and within the realms of possibility for a short, self-published audiobook like mine.
I recently did a job with an associate of The Voice Realm on a marketing project for my company in Asia. Ernie did a fantastic job for us and would highly recommend using this organization for any voice over or narrating that you need. The work done for my animated marketing video was really professional and working with The Voice Realm was so easy.
We needed professionally recorded voice over for a short website explainer, quickly and without spending huge amounts of our budget. Sign up, selecting the talent and submitting our script took just 15-minutes and, much to our delight, the professional recording was back to us within the hour. The results were perfect, first time!


Autoscribe Informatics is providing two opportunities to have a close-up look at the new Environmental Sampling module for the Matrix Gemini LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). A 4-minute video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0saxCdGPhA)provides a short demonstration of this versatile module which has been designed in conjunction with a leading food safety organization, Deibel Laboratories. Aimed at anyone involved in environmental sampling of production and storage areas in food/beverage production and other industries, it uniquely links sampling point locations, test results and corrective action plans in one easy to use graphical environment.
For those who would like a longer and more detailed demonstration of the system, a recording of a webinar on the subject (https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4255505100217238788). recently presented by Autoscribe Informatics, is now available to view. The software demonstration is presented against the background of the need to move away from screening towards preventative measures against food-borne contamination both as required by the new Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) implemented by the FDA, and in terms of the financial benefits of this approach.
The software provides clear documentation of preventative measures against food-borne contamination. This includes the ability to report the results and corrective actions taken when microorganism levels exceed safe levels. It provides an easy framework for expert set up and adjustment of the system while reducing the expertise needed to operate it on a daily basis. It allows the implementation of data management strategies that increase security and the availability of data.


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AI is Revolutionising Industries. What Does it Mean for Us?
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, as it's popularly called, is so omnipresent that it's almost become inconspicuous – you don't even realise when you come across it. Take the most common usage, for example – a web search. When you search for anything on the web, you get the information you seek, as well as other, "related" information. It's AI at work.
Healthcare.
The most relevant example here would be that of BlueDot, a Canada-based artificial intelligence platform, that spotted COVID before it became widespread knowledge. On 30th December 2019, it saw a large number of what it called, "unusual pneumonia" cases coming up around a market in Wuhan, China. This was nine days before the WHO sent out a statement about the deadly virus. That was AI at its best.
So, yes, AI is revolutionizing many industries and the healthcare industry is one of the primary ones. AI is able to crunch large amounts of data and make meaningful connections in record time. Surgeries involving robots, for instance, have enjoyed larger success rates due to invariably better preciseness compared to the ones performed by their human counterparts. This is possible due to the underlying AI systems. Patients can be constantly monitored using sensors that are capable of identifying biological fluctuations and can provide data for diagnoses.
Recently, Sony filed an application for a patent that uses a machine learning algorithm to adjust the difficulty levels of games based on how the user interacts with it. If the system realises that a gamer is struggling, it will automatically adjust the difficulty levels of the game in order to encourage the user to continue playing. Simply put, the possibilities of applying AI in real-life are endless. But what exactly is it?
What's AI – tell me in a nutshell?
Simply put, AI is a branch of computer science that deals with the development of machines that possess the potential to make intelligent decisions that resemble human intelligence. These machines can be developed so that they can mimic human behaviour, very closely. The devices can be trained to read the environments they are part of, so they can work out possible solutions for problems that may arise.
Why do we try to build AI that can behave like a human?
Because we want machines to do tasks that are either too complex or are too time-consuming when performed by humans. In a very generic sense, the core functions of AI include learning and problem-solving that are addressed using multiple techniques. The question that may now come to mind is – how do we train AI? We basically take tons of data, clean the information based on what needs to be processed, configure the AI to suit requirements, let the system know what it should do, pass in data to see if the end result matches your requirements, tweak the configuration to produce better results, and repeat until you are satisfied. This is a very broad overview of how AI can be trained. It comprises a lot more processes in between that is way too complex to be explained in this space.
Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/concept-deep-learning-vs-machine-learning
AI encompasses concepts such as machine learning and deep learning. Machine learning deals with the process of developing machines that are capable of learning from experience. Just like how a child learns things from experience, the machines learn from previous instances of similar activities. Of course, there's the added advantage of not having to spend a lot of time changing a machine's diapers. Deep learning, on the other hand, deals with systems that are trained using a large amount of data. These systems make use of the huge amount of data and train themselves to perform operations relevant to the requirements. AI is being used extensively to analyse data and predict patterns, classify and process large amounts of data, automate business processes, and provide a platform for businesses to interact with their clientele without requiring a lot of manpower. AI has been exceptional at providing support during the ongoing pandemic in terms of data analysis, helping various governments in developing action plans regarding the delivery of vaccines etc.
The elephant-in-the-room question- are we going to lose our jobs?
We'll win some, we'll lose some. That's the way it goes. The genuis lies in understanding which the former and latter would be. And that's the tough part, because as AI evolves, it needs humans to work it, but it also replaces some human aspects.
Some examples of the areas AI is taking over, and thereby reducing the human need.
Smart drug delivery has been improved because scientists have access to AI that can help with identifying the target location and the exact amount of medication to be administered. Autonomous vehicles have taken the world by storm due to their popularisation by giants like Google and Tesla. We already have colossal engineering plants that make use of robots to automate the process of manufacturing. We read about machines replacing factory workers because the former cranks up productivity while being way more economical.
But, here's the thing. AI is not replacing only the tedious, repititve, manula kind of tasks, but even the si called "cerebral" ones. Take GPT -2 for example. It's a language model developed by researchers which generates text in the form of coherent and comprehensive summaries of passages, without the use of content specific input data for training. This has the potential to replace content writers but the researchers who developed the model have released only a smaller model to the public as of now.
However, the truth is that though these achievements in AI are significant, we have only begun to scratch the surface. AI will continue to evolve – sometimes predictable and sometimes not so predictably – the fact remains that AI and humans need to work together. It's never going to be either, or.
Bottom line is – although AI has made our lives simpler, human-centric roles are a necessity as AI does not yet possess the ability to understand concepts like a human can (yet being the operative word). Having said that, the prospects of someone with the right skills getting an AI-centered job is at an all-time high, due to the number of skilled people required to develop pathbreaking AI technologies.
At the moment, it looks like AI is creating more jobs than leading us down the path of unemployability. The potential remains huge while the resources, minimal. There is a lot of scope for people who possess AI skills. Everybody starts small. In fact, one could go from a complete computer novice to a skilled scientist with a bit of hardwork and some time to spare. A large number of resources are available for people who are interested in learning AI related skills. Universities offer specialized courses on AI and other related programs. These programs ensure that one is ready to develop AI based systems capable of performing complex tasks.
An AI-pocalypse?
Will AI really take over the world? Who can say – it's one of those questions that has many theories, but no clear answers.
And while studies have shown that AI has begun to influence the way humans make decisions, does this mean AI is becoming all-powerful? We are influenced by sci-fi shows that depict a dystopian future where humans are controlled by AI. That may be possible but, not for the foreseeable future. What we have now is technically "pseudo-AI". That is, we are the ones fuelling the AI systems and training them to identify patterns in order to help us in simplifying complex processes. Even if AI is truly a threat to humanity, it has become so intertwined with our lives now that it is quite impossible to stop the AI revolution if we wanted to.
AI, together with quantum computers, can evolve to such an extent that the answers to most of the questions that have plagued humanity for ages will finally be found. At least, that's what we hope to achieve. The field was developed based on the idea that the human mind could somehow be quantified and transferred to a device but we are far from achieving the perfect artificial intelligence capable of completely replacing a human. It has, however, made our lives sophisticatedly simple. Twenty years ago, if you told someone that they'd only have to carry one device for navigation, photography, checking emails, gaming and watching movies, you'd probably have been be scoffed at. But, here we are, with one device ruling our existence – our smart phones.
AI still has a long way to go and humans will need to keep reinventing their skills to work with it.
BACK TO AI is Revolutionising Industries. What Does it Mean for Us?


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Home Movies Michigan Movies: REINDEER GAMES
Michigan Movies: REINDEER GAMES
Shawn Bird
Tis the season to spread joy, cheer and happiness to those around you and friends and family. It's Christmas time! For most people reading this though, I will not be doing any of that. As I'm talking about the movie Reindeer Games.
Now, in Europe the movie didn't have that title, it was released under the name Deception (real original). Apparently, that's because reindeer are not common there? I mean, sure I guess, but you've all heard of Santa and his seven reindeer, right? I'll have to ask our Outposters from Europe and the UK to check my ignorance on that.
It's a guilty pleasure for me. The way I see it, a movie is a guilty pleasure when most people dislike it and/or it flops at the box office. This movie covers both of those bases. The movie got generally negative critical reception and only grossed $32 million against a budget of $42 million.
Reindeer Games takes place in my great state of Michigan, however, was filmed in Vancouver and Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. You can be forgiven if not being able to tell the two apart because the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (otherwise known as "the UP") is filled with forests and wilderness. Much like a lot of Canada apparently is.
We also have a lot of casinos here in Michigan. We're ranked at 10 on the list of states with the most casinos, totaling at 26. 23 of them are Indian casinos, with the other three being commercial casinos in Detroit. However, none of them from what I can tell are called Tomahawk Casino, like in the movie.
I don't know what building they used for the casino, could very well be a casino, but it's really small. From the outside and inside, the place doesn't look at all big enough to be a casino. From the manager's office overlooking the place, you can see everything there is. I've only been in a couple of casinos here and they seemed much bigger.
If you haven't seen Reindeer Games, you're probably asking why I'm talking about casinos. Well, that's the plot of the movie, a casino heist, which is a big reason I like this movie. Ben Affleck plays a car thief in prison named Rudy and his cellmate is his new best friend named Nick (James Frain)… Get it? Rudolph and Saint Nick?
Their names are an allusion to the famous Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Nick sets up the plan and Rudy leads it. Nick keeps telling Rudy about this girl he has on the outside, that he's going to get with when they get released in a few days. That's until he gets shanked for protecting Rudy in a brawl that breaks out in the cafeteria. Just a couple of days until his retirement too, oops! I mean prison release.
Rudy feels bad seeing her all alone when released and pretends to be Nick. Her name's Ashley (Charlize Theron) and the two get a motel room and have some holiday greetings and not so gay happy meetings.
Everything is going great until her brother, Gabriel (Gary Sinise) shows up to beat up who he thinks is Nick and forces him to help plan the heist of the Tomahawk Casino. Basically, Gabriel and his friends bully Rudy. That's the short version of the plot and how it's tied to the song. It's also where the title of the movie comes from, Reindeer Games.
The term "reindeer games" is a colloquial expression, usually used for bullying activities of a clique or group, much like the herd of reindeer that made fun of Rudolph and ostracized him. I've never heard this term being used, but it's pretty interesting, gives some depth to the movie.
One of Gabriel's henchmen is played by Donal Logue. Originally the part was going to be played by Vin Diesel, which sounds interesting. There are conflicting stories of why they changed to having Logue instead.
One story is that Diesel had disagreements with the character with John Frankenheimer, the movie's director. Another that apparently came from Danny Trejo (one of the henchmen) said that Diesel was replaced in the role because he was offered a starring role in The Fast and the Furious and was discharged from this movie.
I don't know which is true, if either is or maybe both are. I could see there being differences of opinion and struggle and the opportunity for Diesel to leave for another movie came up and took it.
Although the movie was filmed in Canada, it really wanted to let us know it was supposed to take place in Michigan. It feels like every sign in the background says "Michigan" on it in one form or another. It's actually kind of distracting, maybe more so for me, because I live here.
The movie also makes mention a few times about it being Michigan, so it comes off as being a bit much. Rudy walks past a sign that says something like "Sidnaw 15 Miles," the Township he mentions being from. Just have that and a couple of lines, none of the other stuff is needed.
There's a scene on a frozen lake that kind of annoys me and should for anyone that has been on one. Rudy tries taking Ashley and escaping, but Gabriel and his friends catch up. Some guy comes out of his ice fishing shanty to see what the problem is. Once he notices he should leave well enough alone, runs back in. Gabriel shoots him through the wall and then opens the door, shoots the ice and the man falls in. You can tell the ice used is thin, thin enough that no one in their right mind would have a shanty out on the lake.
I'm not a big ice fisherman or anything, most times I've done it was as a kid. The ice was always a good foot thick, give or take. Otherwise, we sat our asses in the cold instead. So seeing that was annoying, but a non-issue really. Just something I thought about when watching the movie again.
Reindeer Games is a good movie and gets too much hate. Even Theron said it was her least favorite of all the movies she's done.
"That was a bad, bad, bad movie. But I got to work with John Frankenheimer. I wasn't lying to myself – that's why I did it."
I don't think it's at all bad. It's not a great movie, but it's a fun action movie about a group of Santas robbing a casino on Christmas Eve. The movie was released in 2000, but if this would have come out in the late-80s/early-90s, I think it would have been better received.
To be fair, the movie got chopped up in editing, it wasn't the dark, gritty and sexier version that Frankenheimer created. It's the test screening that did it in for the most part and the reason it came out in early 2000 and not Christmas 1999. That and the MPAA's objections over the infamous dart torture scene. For Christ's sake, where were they for Cuties?
It was also Frankenheimer's last movie, which is sad because he directed some great movies. If you do watch it, I recommend the Director's Cut. In fact, I believe that's the only version I've seen, other than the one time seeing it in theaters. Maybe that's why I liked watching it so much.
Michigan Movies
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text:
Sono indicate in questa pagina le statistiche e i record del Torino Football Club, società calcistica italiana con sede a Torino fondata il 3 dicembre 1906.

Campionato di serie A

Statistiche di tutte le squadre affrontate

 G = partite giocate; VC = vittorie in casa; PC = pareggi in casa; SC = sconfitte in casa; VF = vittorie fuori casa; PF = pareggi fuori casa; SF = sconfitte fuori casa; VT = vittorie totali; PT = pareggi totali; ST = sconfitte totali; GF = gol fatti; GS = gol subiti.
Saldo vittorie-sconfitte:  = positivo;  = neutro;  = negativo.

Statistiche aggiornate al 19 gennaio 2020.

Fonte:

Campionati vinti

Il Torino ha vinto 7 volte il campionato italiano di Serie A.

1927-1928:  1º titolo
1942-1943:  2º titolo
1945-1946:  3º titolo
1946-1947:  4º titolo
1947-1948:  5º titolo
1948-1949:  6º titolo
1975-1976:  7º titolo
Il Torino ha vinto anche il campionato 1926-1927, titolo però revocato a seguito del Caso Allemandi.

Secondi posti

Il Torino ha chiuso per 7 volte il campionato in seconda posizione.

1907
1928-1929
1938-1939
1941-1942
1971-1972
1976-1977
1984-1985

Terzi posti

Il Torino ha chiuso per 5 volte il campionato in terza posizione.

1935-1936
1936-1937
1964-1965
1977-1978
1991-1992

Titoli d'inverno
Il Torino ha conquistato per 3 volte il titolo ufficioso di Campione d'Inverno, terminando al primo posto in classifica il girone di andata. Nelle stagioni 1942-1943 e 1948-1949 i granata vinsero poi lo Scudetto alla fine del campionato.

1942-1943
1948-1949
1976-1977

I record in Serie A

Con l'appellativo di Grande Torino è ricordata la squadra del Torino campione d'Italia per 5 anni consecutivi nella seconda metà degli anni quaranta. L'intera squadra, insieme a giornalisti e accompagnatori, perì nella Tragedia di Superga. Il Grande Torino stabilì numerosi record calcistici, molti dei quali sono tuttora imbattuti. Il capitano Valentino Mazzola, oltre ad essere considerato uno dei più forti calciatori italiani di tutti i tempi, fu autore della più veloce tripletta in Serie A in Torino - Vicenza 6 a 0, giocata il 20 aprile 1947 (gol al 29', 30', 31').

Il Torino è rimasto imbattuto in casa 10 stagioni nella sua storia: nella stagione 1941-42; dal 1943 al 1949 (imbattibilità record in Serie A); dal 1975 al 1978 e nella stagione 1990-1991.

Il Torino è l'unica squadra, in tutti i campionati di Serie A a girone unico, ad essere riuscita a realizzare dieci goal in una partita. Il 2 maggio 1948 allo stadio Filadelfia sconfisse l'Alessandria con il punteggio di 10-0.

Il Torino detiene il record di punti raccolti in casa in un campionato a 16 squadre: nella stagione 1975-1976 vinse 14 dei 15 incontri disputati, fermato solo dal Cesena all'ultima giornata. Questo pareggio sarebbe potuto non bastare per lo Scudetto, ma la Juventus venne sconfitta a Perugia e i granata tornarono a vincere lo scudetto 27 anni dopo Superga.

Dati aggiornati alla stagione 2020-2021

L'asterisco (*) indica un record assoluto nel campionato italiano

Fonte: archiviotoro.it,  (resoconti stagionali),

Campionato di serie B

Il Torino ha disputato 12 campionati di Serie B, il primo dei quali nella stagione 1959-60. Il miglior marcatore dei granata e giocatore con più presenze nel campionato cadetto è Marco Ferrante, 79 reti in 146 gare giocate. Il peggior piazzamento dei granata in Serie B è il dodicesimo posto ottenuto al termine della stagione 2003-04. Il Torino ha ottenuto la promozione in Serie A in 7 delle 12 stagioni disputate nel campionato minore.

Campionati vinti

Il Torino ha vinto 3 volte il campionato italiano di Serie B.
1959-60
1989-90
2000-01

Secondi posti
Il Torino ha chiuso per due volte il campionato di Serie B al secondo posto (ottenendo la promozione in entrambi i casi).
1998-99
2011-12

Terzi posti
Il Torino ha chiuso per due volte il campionato di serie B al terzo posto. Nella stagione 2005-06 ottenne la promozione vincendo la finale play-off contro il . L'anno precedente, nonostante avesse vinto anche in quel caso i play-off, rimase in Serie B a causa del fallimento societario.
2004-05
2005-06

I record in Serie B

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Fonte: archiviotoro.it,  (resoconti stagionali)

Coppa Italia e Supercoppa italiana

Coppe Italia vinte

Il Torino ha vinto 5 volte la Coppa Italia.

1935-36:  1º titolo

1942-43:  2º titolo

Il Torino realizza il primo double di una squadra in Italia, vincendo scudetto e Coppa Italia nella stessa stagione.

1967-68:  3º titolo

Il Torino concluse il gruppo finale (di cui facevano parte anche ,  e  ) al primo posto con 9 punti.

1970-71:  4º titolo

Torino e Milan conclusero il gruppo finale con lo stesso punteggio (7 punti). Fu così necessario disputare uno spareggio.

1992-93:  5º titolo

Secondi posti
Il Torino ha terminato 8 volte al secondo posto in Coppa Italia.

1937-38
1962-63
1963-64
1969-70
1979-80
1980-81
1981-82
1987-88

La miglior vittoria dei granata in questa competizione risale al 20 settembre 1942: Torino-Ancona 7-0. Il giocatore del Torino più presente nella Coppa Italia è Giorgio Ferrini(80) mentre Paolo Pulici è quello andato a segno più volte (29).

Supercoppa italiana

In qualità di vincitore della Coppa Italia, il Torino giocò la Supercoppa italiana nel 1993 contro il  campione d'Italia. L'incontro terminò 1-0 per i rossoneri e venne disputato il 21 agosto a Washington per promuovere il calcio negli Stati Uniti.

Secondi posti
1993

Competizioni internazionali

Competizioni ufficiali UEFA

Il Torino ha partecipato 19 volte a competizioni organizzate ufficialmente dalla UEFA, disputando 97 incontri e ricavando 44 vittorie, 25 pareggi e 28 sconfitte. Per tre volte l'accesso fu il frutto di squalifiche di altri club: nel 1980 e nel 2019 del Milan, e nel 2014 del Parma, mentre nel 2002 la partecipazione in Intertoto avvenne per rinuncia dell'Atalanta. Il miglior traguardo raggiunto dai granata in competizioni ufficiali UEFA è la finale di Coppa UEFA 1991-92, persa per la regola del gol in trasferta contro l'Ajax (la gara d'andata a Torino finì 2-2, 0-0 il ritorno nei Paesi Bassi). Walter Casagrande fu l'autentico trascinatore dei torinesi: segnò un gol nella semifinale d'andata contro il Real Madrid (gara persa dal Toro per 2-1, ma nel ritorno a Torino i piemontesi ebbero la meglio per 2-0) e 2 gol nella finale d'andata contro l'Ajax.

La Coppa dei Campioni 1976-1977 è l'unica edizione del massimo torneo europeo a cui il Torino ha partecipato. L'esordio fu con gli svedesi del Malmö, sconfitti all'andata per 2-1, mentre la sfida di ritorno terminò con un pareggio (1-1). Agli ottavi di finale i granata incontrarono i tedeschi del Borussia Mönchengladbach: dopo la sconfitta all'andata (1-2 a Torino), lo 0-0 in Germania eliminò il Toro dal torneo. Da segnalare come nella gara di ritorno i piemontesi finirono in 8 giocatori, complice le espulsioni di Caporale, Zaccarelli e Castellini.

Nel 2014 il Torino tornò a giocare in una competizione UEFA dopo 12 anni dall'ultima volta. Il Toro, dopo aver terminato al secondo posto il Girone B, eliminò ai sedicesimi di finale l'Athletic Club, vincendo 3-2 al San Mamés (prima e unica squadra italiana a vincere sul campo dei baschi). I granata vennero poi eliminati agli ottavi di finale dallo Zenit Sankt-Peterburg: all'andata ebbero la meglio i russi (2-0) e la vittoria per 1-0 al ritorno non bastò ai piemontesi per passare il turno.

Il miglior marcatore del Torino in competizioni UEFA è Francesco Graziani con 8 reti (Walter Casagrande è lo straniero andato a segno più volte, 7) . Il giocatore più presente è invece Paolo Pulici con 26 partite disputate.

Bilancio stagione per stagione

 G = partite giocate; V = vittorie; N= pareggio; P = sconfitta; GF = gol fatti; GS = gol subiti.

Fonte:

Bilancio squadra per squadra

La squadra più incontrata dai granata è la Dinamo Zagrabia : 2 gare nella Coppa delle Coppe 1964-1965 (una vittoria e un pareggio per i piemontesi) e altre due partite nella Coppa UEFA 1977-1978 (una vittoria per entrambe le squadre).

 G = partite giocate; V = vittorie; N = pareggi; S = sconfitte; GF = gol fatti; GS = gol subiti.
Saldo vittorie-sconfitte:  = positivo;  = neutro;  = negativo.

Fonte: calcio.com, archiviotoro.it

Competizioni non organizzate dalla UEFA

Il Torino raggiunse la vittoria della Coppa Mitropa nell'edizione 1991 grazie al 2-1 inflitto al Pisa in finale. Per l'occasione tornò a vestire la maglia granata il brasiliano Júnior.Il Toro contribuì inoltre alla vittoria italiana della Coppa dell'Amicizia italo-francese 1960 pareggiando all'andata e vincendo al ritorno contro il Nancy.

 G = partite giocate; V = vittorie; N= pareggio; P = sconfitta; GF = gol fatti; GS = gol subiti.

Fonte: archiviotoro.it

Competizioni amichevoli

Il 28 luglio 2016 il Torino venne invitato dal Benfica a disputare la Eusebio Cup, trofeo organizzato dai lusitani in onore di Eusebio. I granata vinsero l'incontro 6-5 dopo i calci di rigore (l'incontrò terminò 1-1 nei tempi regolamentari).

 G = partite giocate; V = vittorie; N= pareggio; P = sconfitta; GF = gol fatti; GS = gol subiti.

Note

Bibliografia

Torino F.C.
Torino

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


M&A within the global Power & Utilities sector is moving further towards renewable generation and related disruptive technologies, as new policies and market changes open up a mid- and long-term transformation towards sustainable energy assets. Europe in particular has seen a large number of deals in the renewables sector, while in the Americas, players are seeking to leverage disruptive technology in distributed energy and storage.
In a new report from EY, titled 'Power transactions and trends', the professional services firm displays the M&A trends within the global Power & Utilities (P&U) sector throughout Q2 2016. The analysis is based on information from global financial releases and Merger-market data, as well as the opinions of their analysis regarding current market trends.
Across the globe, deal activity has picked up slightly on Q1, with 128 deals in Q2 compared to 116 in Q1. Deal value, is down slightly, from $44.4 billion in Q1 to 43.5 billion in Q2; the Americas sees the largest drop in deal value, while both Europe and Asia-Pacific see larger deal value to the previous quarter. Deal value and volume exceeded that of the same quarters in 2015, although they are relatively far behind Q3 and Q4 2015, when value reached almost $80 billion.
he report highlights that in both emerging and developed markets there is a growing investment shift towards cleaner forms of energy generation, with new technologies, changing consumer behaviour as well as government incentives and related programmes they key drivers. Disruptive technologies are also being invested in, including distributed energy and battery storage capabilities.
COP21 put the wind up the global market that complacency and kicking the can down the road is no longer an option, energy generation needs will need to quickly shift towards sustainable forms, to avoid dangerous climate change in the near future. The research finds that a drive for renewable across Europe is reflected in the M&A numbers, with around half of the value of the 58 M&A deals within the P&U sector in Europe, related to renewable deals. The research suggests that bolt-on deals continue to be the main driver in the renewables segment, although a number of large deals – two billion-dollar acquisitions – generated 35% of the value in the segment in Q2.
Highlights for the sector include an increase in Asian corporate activity within Europe (for example China Three Gorges Corporation acquiring an 80% stake in WindMW for $1.8 billion) and the growing demand by integrated oil companies seeking to diversify their bets by investing in technologies and downstream P&U assets (for instance Total's acquisition of Belgium-based electricity and gas distributor Lampiris and the launch of a subsidiary, BatWind, by Statoil to develop energy storage for offshore wind). The consultancy notes that, while renewable activity has been hot, the current regulatory environment across Europe remains tough, with the UK and Germany removing clear regulatory and incentive support for renewables.
In the Americas, a range of regulatory, investor and technological developments are rocking the P&U market. The region is continuing to see consolidation, as part of a move to mitigate the effects of regulatory pressure and low energy prices. Great Plains Energy, for instance, announced the acquisition of Westar Energy for $12.1 billion. The region is also seeing increased attention paid to distributed energy technology, with Edison International for instance starting its own consultancy in the technology segment to diversify its offerings. Technological development in energy storage are further driving market changes, with as yet uncertain consequences for distribution and generation as grid parity approaches.
In total, the Americas saw 35 deals in Q2 2016, valued at $24.7 billion. Deal activity favoured generation and T&D, with few renewable energy deals within the market. Notable renewable related deals include Tesla's bid to acquire SolarCity for $2.8 billion.
Related: Improved gender parity boosts financials of Utility companies.


Roof mounted mixed flow fans, low energy consumption.
Body injection moulded in thermoplastic material. Base and cowl made of sheet steel, protected against corrosion by black polyester coating.
Body and base made of sheet steel with an aluminium cowl, all protected against corrosion by black polyester coating.
All models incorporate a bird guard and base cable gland entry point as standard.
Brushless DC motor, high performance and low energy consumption, power supply: 90/260V-50/60Hz, IP44, ball bearings, thermal protection.
Brushless EC motor, high performance and low energy consumption, power supply 230Vᄆ15% 50/60Hz, IP44, ball bearings, thermal protection.
With a built in potentiometer to adjust the speed from 10 to 100%, analogue input to control the fan with a 0-10V signal. Working temperature from -20ᄎC to +60ᄎC.
Supplied, in the standard version, as extractors. The motor and impeller casing can be removed and turned through 180ᄎ to provide supply air ventilation.


text:
Home NewsRegional Kagame Courts Angola to Do Business with Rwanda
Kagame Courts Angola to Do Business with Rwanda
by Dan Ngabonziza March 21, 2019
written by Dan Ngabonziza March 21, 2019
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has told leaders in Angola that the two countries share a lot in common and hence the need to work together to transform their people.
Kagame concluded a two-day working visit to Angola – known as one of the mineral and oil-rich countries in Africa.
Speaking during a joint press conference in Luanda, Kagame said that in the level of relationship the two countries have developed, "we have looked at areas where we can cooperate and learn from each other, across sectors."
In the course of working together, the President said he sees no obstacles in place.
"There are no limitation to what we can do together or how much we can benefit from each other," he said.
According to President Kagame, "There are many things that bind our two countries, through history, culture and ideologically. What we believe in is developing our people and doing everything we can for the transformation of our people."
"We believe it can be achieved through investment with and in each other," he added.
Dan Ngabonziza
@deave204">
Rwanda Named Global Billionaires Destinations 2019
World TB Day: How is Rwanda Dealing with the Silent Killer?


The 16th hole at the Waste Management Phoenix Open can be a raucous scene on the weekend of the tournament, but on Wednesday during the pro-am, it was also the scene of a crime.
Archie Bradley, a pitcher for the MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, played alongside Byeong-hun An, but in the aftermath of the pro-am, Bradley took part in the celebrity closest-to-the-pin contest on the 16th hole… and that was the last time he saw his clubs.
Bradley, an avid social media user, posted that his clubs had been stolen.
According to ABC15.com, inside the bag, Bradley had his wallet, phone chargers and sunglasses and noted that the bag was "definitely stolen" on the 16th hole.
Not long after the heist was realized, Bradley put out another tweet, this time with the culprit unabashedly selling the clubs online.
The Scottsdale Police Department were on the case, but being a professional athlete with thousands of followers on social media has its perks. Before his clubs were even found, PXG presented Bradley with a new set of sticks the very next day.
By Super Bowl Sunday, the clubs had been recovered.
However, Scottsdale Police are still searching for the thief. They posted his picture across social media over the weekend.
Beings that Bradley was able to uncover the alleged thief's social media accounts with his bag for sale on them, it's only a matter of time before this criminal mastermind is apprehended.


text:
Home / Sierra Hotel Blog / Spy plane? What Spy plane?
Spy plane? What Spy plane?
Pictured: A U-2 spy plane prepares for flight from Groom Lake, also known as Area 51, Watertown, The Ranch, Neverland, Paradise Ranch, The Box, or Restricted Area 4808N.
You know that feeling when you are on the highway, low on fuel and wondering how far until the next gas station...
September 24th 1959; A Lockheed U-2C, 56-6693, Article 360, of the SAC's 4028th SRS, Det C, out of Atsugi Air Force Base, Japan, and clandestinely operated by the CIA ran her tanks completely dry in flight.
Now in an unpowered top secret glider, pilot Tom Crull was forced to make an emergency landing at the civilian airfield at Fujisawa Japan.
The all black CIA aircraft with no identity markings was damaged during the forced landing, and much to the angst of the CIA, the appearance of the Area 51 originating spy plane attracted a multitude of curious locals.
Officials and Military Police were quickly dispatched to cordon-off the area, at gunpoint, no less, which ended up attracting even more unwanted attention. Soon, much to the horror of the CIA, public pictures of the top secret U-2C began to appear all over the Japanese press.
Pictured above: In this "NASA" photograph is another example of the CIA's attempt to hide a U-2 spy plane. Immediately after word was received that U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union, the CIA scrambled to cover up his true mission of espionage. NASA quickly issued a press release claiming the U-2 spy aircraft was actually an atmospheric research aircraft inocently conducting scientific studies, and that it had unfortunately strayed off course. To back up their claims, a U-2 plane was hastily painted with NASA markings and a fictitious serial number, then put on display for the media, at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.


text:
Cry My Beloved Country, Articles | THISDAY LIVE By Dele.Momodu@thisdaylive.com
Cry My Beloved Country, Articles | THISDAY LIVE
Many have come to a conclusion according to which the nation instead of progressing is seriously moving to its damnation . Some false patriots call such men who refuse to bow down to unnecesary glorification of an unprogressing State non patriots. But I am thinking that there is a cause for a national reflection on which way forward. This is exactly what Dele Momodu is proposing in the this beautiful article that make a potrait of a decaying nation.
Dele.Momodu@thisdaylive.com
Fellow Nigerians, I'm in one of those foul moods and please don't blame me if I choose to spoil your day a little. Recent events have made it impossible for me not to be angry. Some ardent readers of this column recently described my apparent frustration with the Nigerian state. They are right in their interpretation and assessment of my intermittent outbursts on this page. Every right-thinking, and truly patriotic, Nigerian should be worried about our state of anomy and abject backwardness and, as a matter of utmost urgency, join others in rescuing what God created to be one of the greatest nations on earth. I believe we were not created to be led by a set of ruthless, recklessly wasteful and incompetent leaders. But the way we have been conducting our affairs seems to suggest otherwise. The manner we allow government to trample on our fundamental human rights calls for general
Let me start with what should have been a simple and straight-forward matter, the arrest and detention of a popular Nigerian actor, Babatunde Omidina, alias Baba Suwe, who was booked to fly to Paris, France, when he was stopped for a routine body scan by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. According to reports, the result from the scanner showed very clearly that the talented comedian had buried within his belly many wraps of an illicit substance suspected to be cocaine. The news was as unexpected just as it was most shocking. Until that fateful night, Baba Suwe was a folk hero. He was a god of Yoruba drama who was worshipped at home and abroad. He was supposed to be on his way to Paris and was booked to be the compere at the naming ceremony of the child of an Air France staff in Paris when his ordeal started like a horror movie. That was the beginning of this incredible tragi-comedy.
All hell has broken loose since then. I didn't know Nigerians were such great fiction writers. The superlative tales that poured out of the decadent Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos made me wonder why we have not produced our own Sidney Sheldon or James Hardley Chase since all these years. I read some incredible pieces on the internet and on Blackberry in particular. A broadcast on Blackberry on October 14, reported: "Just confirmed from NDLEA that as at 3pm, Baba Suwe had excreted 16 wraps of Cocaine. Scanner machine confirms more drug substance in his stomach." Even Alfred Hitchcock would have marvelled at the delivery of such suspense. There was also a comic side to this report: "Unconfirmed Report from NDLEA Maternity Ward! Cocaine! Celebrate with us Baba Suwe is reported to have excreted 16 pallets of cocaine"
Yet another one wrote: "…Baba Suwe 16 wraps 'cocaine' delivery, NDLEA insists cocaine examination results inconclusive. Baba Suwe formerly known as Adimeru would now wish to be addressed as Ajesara. All former documents remain valid." The same reporter returned later to write that NDLEA said Baba Suwe had excreted only twice in six days and there was a minimum number of excretions a suspect must make to fulfil all righteousness, or fail so woefully, which was three times. After the man had excreted three times, a new theory emerged that he would have to do it six times as some of his predecessors started delivering their babies by the fourth push after falling into labour. It was not stated if they needed any epidural support.
Somewhere in between this melodrama, some newspapers interviewed several Nigerians on their view of Baba Suwe's tribulation. The responses were as varied as they were instructive. While some sympathised with him, most of the respondents convicted him with automatic alacrity. Some even said Nemesis had caught up with him. Some of the most vociferous voices were those of his actors' clan. They claimed they had always suspected him of augmenting his income from acting by engaging in such illegal business. The rumour-mongers even linked the earlier death of his wife to this type of hanky-panky. There were those who blew hot and cold air at the same time. They couldn't make up their minds on whether to support or reject him. Such is the fall of man. Only success breeds many friends and families. Baba's Suwe's cataclysmic fall from the pinnacle of the temple to the pit of hell was the classic definition of adversity.
In the midst of this sensational hullabaloo, Baba Suwe was wasting away in detention with no reasonable justification about why the NDLEA should have such monstrous power to hold our citizens, or anyone for that matter, beyond the mandatory time span stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution. If after one week the NDLEA's investigation has remained inconclusive, the NDLEA should have gone to court to seek permission to detain Baba Suwe further. In fact, the Agency should have done that before attempting to detain the man indefinitely. The manner NDLEA chose to celebrate the arrest so gleefully as if it had a cast-iron proof of his culpability was most unfortunate. For me, this is the crux of the matter.
Fellow Nigerians, I chose to cry out today because it seems we are not ready to do away with the jackboot mentality in our country. In a civilian dispensation, Nigerians continue to be harassed by military and paramilitary agents. I have never seen an airport swarming with all manner of uniformed and plain-clothed agents like it is in ours. It makes a trip to the country very cumbersome and suffocating. In one airport, you are at the mercy of Health protection officers, NDLEA, Quarantine, State Security Service, Immigration, Customs & Excise, etcetera.
The biggest victims of too much protocol at our airports are media practitioners. The moment you fill media or Journalist under the profession column on the immigration form, you are likely to face a barrage of questions from the State Security Service. Your documents would be searched with a toothcomb. On one occasion a female officer was being over-efficient as she looked through my Nigerian passport. She handed me a form and insisted I must fill it. I looked at other passengers to see if they had filled any forms and discovered to my utter consternation none had been handed a form.
The unimpressed lady stood her ground and told me in a very firm voice, "Oga, you are a VIP and must fill a form." If I thought it was a poor joke, the lady refused to release my passport and I also refused to fill an illegal form. Some senior officers had to step in to rescue my dear old passport from this stubborn officer. I politely reminded the officer that since I'm still a Nigerian, I did not have to fill a form. Depending on who you meet at our hellish airport, a simple journey can be turned into a nightmare.
We've witnessed so many instances where some members of the armed forces unleashed terror on fellow citizens in order to settle personal scores. A friend's wife recently lost her pregnancy in the hands of some Naval officers in Calabar for daring to enter into an argument with them. Instead of showing some remorse these supernatural guys are still carrying on with the intimidation of the hapless lady's family. Let's even buy their argument that the lady provoked them to high heavens, is that enough reason to beat her into a pulp and stupor? Have we lost our sense of mercy and compassion?
The essence of my epistle today is to encourage our citizens to rise up vigorously against all manner of kangaroo justice. No matter what you want to say about the Boko Haram sect, we must all admit that the Nigerian state has created a terrible menace by summarily killing their leader. That stupid and erratic decision has put the lives of so many Nigerians and foreigners at risk. It was the same foolishness that gave birth to militancy in the Niger Delta. Ken Saro-Wiwa did not carry a gun when he and others were killed and buried like common criminals. What was our reward? A strange crop of militants who would not speak big grammar and write beautiful prose like Ken descended on our land with a vengeance. Before our very eyes, the Niger-Delta was turned into a theatre of war. And we soon realised that in Nigeria, the gun is mightier than the pen.
The big lesson in it is that the arbitrariness of our leaders must be resisted and curbed. Every Nigerian must be allowed a say. Every Nigerian must be protected under the laws of Nigeria. Even certified criminals must be given access to their lawyers. A situation where a man is arrested on mere suspicion and cannot be allowed to brief his lawyer is totally reprehensible and unacceptable. We cannot continue to pronounce Democracy in words only and not in action.
I'm sure it took the arrest of Baba Suwe to bring our attention to this unfortunate matter. Only God knows how many passengers have gone through this ordeal, how many passed the test, how many failed and how long they spent before they were released. In the cases of those who were heavily scandalised before they were released, as the case at hand about Baba Suwe is likely to turn out, what compensation was awarded to the victims? How would a Baba Suwe be able to clean up his name and image if he's found to be free of drug trafficking?
I know why I'm asking these questions. It is because I know for a fact that Immigration officers at many advanced airports now have easy access to Google. It is certain that an alarm would flash wherever the passport of Baba Suwe turns up. Those who are laughing at this matter and over-dramatizing it don't seem to know the big trouble awaiting Baba Suwe whenever he walks out into freedom. If indeed he carried the drug as suspected by NDLEA, then deserves whatever degradation he has suffered. But if he's innocent, his life would have been damaged beyond redemption. He will carry that heavy Cross forever.
As I was ending this piece reports flew in again that NDLEA has finally done what it should have done since last week. The agency has gone to court to ask for permission to detain Baba Suwe in its custody for another 15 days. But what I find curious is the argument that the man will die if he does not excrete this expensive drug. Is it possible for a man to control this act? If his life is in such danger, are we going to watch the man die? Someone should please educate me…
Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/cry-my-beloved-country/101056/#.TqNQf3k_PmZ.blogger
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