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The Mississippi Public Service Commission – Pipeline Safety Division is certified through Agreement 60105 with the United States Department of Transportation - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) as having adopted the minimum federal regulations pursuant to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968. The Mississippi Public Service Commission - Pipeline Safety Division is responsible for safety compliance inspections and enforcing state and federal pipeline safety regulations for intrastate natural gas pipeline facilities. The mission of the Pipeline Safety Division is to protect the public and environment from the accidental release of natural gas with a compliance program that promotes educational standards for the industry and contributes to the health and security of Mississippi.
The Pipeline Safety Division conducts various safety inspections (including but not limited to operator qualification, operation, maintenance, construction, accident investigations and drug and alcohol inspections) of intrastate natural gas private distribution systems, municipal gas distribution systems, master meter gas systems, transmission systems and jurisdictional gathering lines operating in Mississippi to ensure compliance with Pipeline Safety Regulations. These inspections help reduce the risks associated with the transportation of natural gas by pipeline.
The Pipeline Safety Division also promotes damage prevention to underground facilities.
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Unmarked Crosswalk Injuries Are Protected By Law
It may seem self-evident that if you've been hit by a car in California while walking that the driver is at fault. However, the law doesn't work that way. Unfortunately victims must fight for their rights and prove that they were legally crossing the road at the time of the crash in order to seek compensation from the distracted, reckless, or careless driver who injured them. Most of the time that requires that victims prove they were in a crosswalk when the at fault driver hit them. But did you know California law allows pedestrians to legally cross at unmarked crosswalk and affords the same protection as if they were in a painted crosswalk?
Understanding Marked and Unmarked Crosswalk Accidents in California
The NHTSA's National Pedestrian Crash Report shows that nearly 9% of all fatal pedestrian accidents occur while the victim is within a crosswalk. Roughly 800 pedestrians are struck by cars in San Francisco every year alone —many of them legally crossing the street at the time. Sadly, marked and unmarked crosswalk accidents are one of the most common types of pedestrian accidents in California.
When you think about it, it's not hard to understand why. Crosswalks are the point where foot traffic comes in closest contact with auto traffic. Crosswalks are also most often located at traffic chokepoints (intersections) at which multiple lines of cars converge.
But people crossing the street on foot don't have to take their lives into their own hands. California law provides protection for pedestrians within crosswalks and can shift the responsibility (and liability) for protecting these individuals to the driver.
Pedestrians in Marked and Unmarked Crosswalks Are Legally Protected
California Vehicle Code section 21954 codifies legal protection for pedestrians. It specifically says that all drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians within crosswalks. That means that cars must come to a complete stop and allow pedestrians to safely cross before they continue on.
There are a couple of exceptions to the rule.
1) Pedestrians are not protected if a "Do Not Cross" sign or light is posted or flashing.
2) Pedestrians must allow adequate time (and space) for a driver to see them and stop—they can't simply step into a crosswalk without looking.
Most of the time these laws are applied to designated crosswalks (those specifically painted and signed as pedestrian crossings). However, California law applies nmarked crosswalks as well.
Crosswalks are often marked with white lines or yellow at school crossings. Some crosswalks even have flashing lights to warn motorists for pedestrians crossing. Crosswalks in residential areas however are often not marked.
What is an Unmarked Crosswalk?
Unmarked crosswalks are simply crosswalks that are not specifically painted or signed as such. These occur at almost any intersection at where there is NOT a "No Crossing" sign posted. And California Vehicle Code Section 21954(a) provides that same level of protection for pedestrians in unmarked crosswalks at intersections as it does for pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
For example, San Francisco—a city that has recently rededicated itself to pedestrian safety—has taken that responsibility one step further. Unmarked crosswalks in San Francisco are specifically codified by local legislation:
Any intersection of two streets wider than 25 feet is considered a legal (even if unmarked) crosswalk in San Francisco whether it's painted, marked or signed as such or not.
(The only exception to this rule is when "No Crossing" is specifically posted at the intersection.)
That means that drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks within city limits. If they fail to do so and the pedestrian is injured, the driver can be held legally responsible—facing criminal charges or citations. They can also be held financially liable which means they –or their insurance company—could be made to pay out compensation for injuries including restitution for medical expenses and lost wages.
Crosswalk Accident Settlement Amounts Vary
How much could a victim receive after an unmarked crosswalk accident in San Francisco? That's a question that's not easily answered and changes on a case by case basis. As a personal injury lawyer in San Francisco with over twenty years of experience helping victims recover from devastating pedestrian accidents I've personally seen settlement figures range from tens of thousands of dollars to close to a million dollars or more.
Recently my team of pedestrian accident attorneys secured a $155,000 settlement for a man hit by a car while in a marked crosswalk. Of course, as a victim's hospital bills increase, and their livelihood is more greatly impinged upon, that number could increase dramatically.
How much you specifically may be entitled to depends on the circumstances of your accident, the extent of your injuries, and the individual liability of the at fault party (or parties). This is something that we'll discuss with you early in your case so you understand what is at stake and can make a decision about how to proceed.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in San Francisco
Crosswalk accidents can be devastating but your financial recovery process doesn't have to be. Call Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers at (415) 413-0033 today to speak to our San Francisco pedestrian accident lawyer team or get a FREE online case evaluation now to see if we can help.
Cyclist Hit By a Car? These 10 California Bike Laws Protect You!TOP FAQ | Do I Need A Personal Injury Attorney?
Accident Client
If you're someone who is considering an attorney for a personal accident, I highly recommend Sally Morin and her professional staff of attorneys. If you would like to know more details, feel free to contact me via Yelp and I would be happy to share more details. While I use Yelp quite often, I rarely post reviews… unless I'm truly blown away by great service (or angry with horrible service). If there were a sixth star, I would certainly give it to Rebecca and Sally!
We're here to help with your Personal Injury claim
Check out our Personal Injury FAQ Page to learn more about how the process works.
We Handle Your Personal Injury Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life
After an injury, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of the law, including pedestrian and car accidents that involve speeding. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering while we handle the legal details.
We truly care about the people of San Jose and all of California. Contact us today for a
free online case evaluation.
Take action now - protect your rights
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month
Legalizing Safe Street Crossings: What You Need to Know About AB 2147
New Study Shows SUVs, Pickups Hit Pedestrians More Often Than Cars Do
KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AFTER AN ACCIDENT
It is essential to know your rights after a traffic accident so you can protect yourself and the value of your claim.
This guide will help you:
1Know what to do when dealing with insurance claims, police reports and lawyers.
2Avoid making mistakes that undermine the value of your claim
3Put yourself in a position to get the best settlement possible
Yes, I Want The Free Guide


The stated question raised by former Secretary of State Rice's speech tonight was: Where does America stand? But the real question was: Why should a moderate, including a moderate African-American, vote for the Romney-Ryan ticket?
Rice answered the question thoughtfully, in the understated manner that we have come to expect from her. By the end, I believe she had knocked it out of the park.


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APA Foundation Scholarship
Charles Abrams Scholarship
Apply for APA Foundation Scholarships
The APA Foundation awards scholarships to make the planning profession more diverse and accessible to those of limited means. Scholarship awards are made to students currently enrolled in degree programs in planning.
Scholarships are also available through APA Divisions and other organizations.
The 2019 application window is Closed
One facet of the APA Foundation's mission is advancing social equity in the profession and in our communities. In support of this mission, the Foundation is launching the APA Foundation Scholarship. Recipients of the APA Foundation Scholarship will advance social equity in the profession and demonstrate academic success.
Eligibility: Women, people of color and indigenous descent, veterans, disabled persons, and members of the LGBTQ community who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)-approved programs. Applicants must be APA members; membership for students is free.
This scholarship is awarded annually to students intending to pursue careers as practicing planners who will diversify the profession and who are able to demonstrate a genuine financial need.
Apply online by June 20. Applicants must have at least 2 (two) recommendation letters submitted on their behalf.
Charles Abrams was an internationally recognized authority on housing and urban affairs who died in 1970. Throughout his career, he exhibited an active desire to help students in planning programs. In his honor, the American Planning Association administers a scholarship fund established by his widow and a number of his colleagues.
Eligibility: Graduate students who are enrolled or have been accepted for enrollment at one of the five schools at which Charles Abrams taught (see below): Columbia University, Harvard University, MIT, New School University, or the University of Pennsylvania. Students must be citizens of the United States.
This scholarship is awarded annually to students intending to pursue careers as practicing planners and who are able to demonstrate a genuine financial need. One award of $2,000 is made. Students must be nominated by the program's department chair; applications must be submitted through a student's planning program.
Students from the following schools are eligible for the Abrams Scholarship:
Columbia University, Division of Urban Planning
Harvard University, Urban Planning Program (Master in Urban Planning) Harvard Graduate School of Design (formerly Harvard University, City & Regional Planning Program of the Graduate School of Architecture and Design)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies & Planning
New School University, Urban Policy Analysis & Management Program, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management & Urban Policy (formerly New School for Social Research, New York, Department for Urban Affairs & Policy Analysis)
University of Pennsylvania, Department of City & Regional Planning
A letter or statement of nomination by the department chair discussing the reasons why the student was chosen, comments on the student's strengths, areas of interest, and other abilities, as appropriate must be submitted with your application.
View the list of previous winners
Judith McManus Price Scholarship
Note: The Judith McManus Price Scholarship will not be awarded in 2019. Please see the list of previous winners.


Gus the Garden Dragon is a rhyming picture book for children that focuses on a beautiful garden tended to be a collection of fairies and gnomes. The story follows a fairy named Opal who fails at performing her duty of providing seeds to a young gnome named Felix who is meant to plant the seeds into the garden to foster the growth of more beautiful plants and flowers. Without seeds, Felix decides to take it upon himself to go into the garden to find seeds to plant, convincing Opal to join him since it is her fault they are in this predicament in the first place. It's not long before the two run into the garden dragon, who is surprised to see them there. Opal quickly flees, leaving Felix to be left in the dragon's clutches. It turns out that the dragon is actually a rather nice creature who doesn't care to hurt Felix, so when the fairies and gnomes come to rescue Felix later on, they realize he doesn't really need rescuing at all.
This book offers important lessons to children, making them realize that assumptions are not always correct, and sometimes even if something or someone appears to be dangerous and scary, it might actually be a kind and gentle creature, just like Gus the Garden Dragon. Friends can come in all different shapes and sizes, and the friendship that develops between Felix and Gus as they work together to plant seeds in the garden is a touching and cute part of the story that children will surely enjoy. The illustrations are vibrant, almost feeling as if they come from stills from a television show, as the characters appear as 3-D like animations. The narrative moves quickly and has a nice rhyming scheme, although it is on the longer side for a picture book, and could maybe have been shortened in parts. Nevertheless, this is a charming tale that children and parents alike will have fun reading.


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The Story of 'Fearless Girl,' From the Women at McCann Who Made Her
State Street Global Advisors statue is an instant sensation
By Tim Nudd
It's been three days since McCann New York and its client State Street Global Advisors, under the cover of darkness, dropped a statue called "The Fearless Girl" into Bowling Green Park in lower Manhattan.
Staring down the 28-year-old Wall Street "Charging Bull" statue, she's a potent symbol of female leadership in business, and of the need for companies everywhere to get more women on their boards and into other powerful positions—for reasons not just symbolic but practical, as companies with gender-diverse leaders simply perform better financially.
The statue was literally an overnight sensation. It's become a serious tourist attraction, mobbed day and night by crowds charmed by the girl's confident and defiant pose. It's become the place to take a selfie in Manhattan this week, and it's a remarkable piece of breakthrough advertising in a category—finance—that doesn't see many of them.
"This is about relevance," State Street Global Advisors chief marketing officer Stephen Tisdalle tells AdFreak. "Relevance to investors' portfolios, relevance in terms of our point of view about capital market events, and relevance about investing responsibly. We are firm believers in the principles of stewardship, and we want to reflect that in everything we do—especially as it pertains to our commitment in ESG [environmental, social and governance] investing. The placement of 'The Fearless Girl' in the epicenter of the world's financial capital helps not only promote our commitment to women in leadership today and tomorrow, but it also establishes an interesting emotional and rational aspect to responsible investing."
To hear more about the girl's creation, we spoke with McCann senior copywriter Tali Gumbiner and senior art director Lizzie Wilson, who spearheaded the campaign, working with McCann's production department and outside sculptor Kristen Visbal to bring the idea to life—timed to International Women's Day on Wednesday.
Still ecstatic about the overwhelming reaction to the girl, Gumbiner and Wilson told us about how she came to be.
UPDATE: We also spoke to Tali and Lizzie at Cannes Lions in June. See that video below, and below that, our earlier chat with the creatives from March.
AdFreak: Congratulations on a such an incredible reaction to the piece. Did you expect it to be so huge?
Tali Gumbiner: When we first thought of it, we felt the magic for it. And then once we got into the weeds of production, and midnights at the office, we lost sight of the larger picture. So, when we launched it, we felt humbled and overwhelmed by how the city, and particularly individual girls, have reacted to it. So, I guess the answer is yes and no. But the breadth of the reaction, I think no one can expect that.
Can you put into words why people are so drawn to her?
Lizzie Wilson: I think there is something so relatable about a kid. I think you see yourself in her, but you also see your kids. You see the future, and you see your past. I think there's something so relatable about a little girl.
TG: Also, there was a lot of discussion with State Street about the timing of this, because it was so important and meaningful. Launching it on the cusp of International Women's Day really provided so much fodder for people to emotionally react to her. I think that was a key element of this.
Obviously this is a grander idea than a print ad or a hashtag or even an inspiring video. Where did the idea come from to do a statue?
TG: State Street brought us a pretty once-in-a-blue-moon brief. They have this ETF [exchange-traded fund] called SHE, which only invests in companies with women in leadership. They conducted studies that found companies with gender-diverse leadership, and women in leadership, are actually more lucrative. So, we had this wonderful opportunity where we weren't just advocating for women in leadership because it's a nice thing to do, but because we actually need to change the perception of what a successful company is made of. That is such a challenge, but such a cool one.
https://adweek.it/2mQxNPM
Tim Nudd
@nudd
Tim Nudd is a former creative editor of Adweek.
The Demand for Better Packaging Might Just Save the Planet
WCCB Charlotte Chief Meteorologist
WCCB-TV


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Home SPORTS Nigeria/Libya: U-23 Eagles in make or mar tie against Libya
Nigeria/Libya: U-23 Eagles in make or mar tie against Libya
The U-23 national team have a herculean task to surmount against the Libyans opposition in today's second leg clash of the U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier slated for the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State. Nigeria lost 0-2 in the first leg played in Ben Guerdane, Tunisia, last week Wednesday.
A goal in each half of the encounter ensured that the Libyans triumphed over the Africa champions, coupled with the dismissal of the Nigeria's goalkeeper, who was ruled to have handled the ball outside the box. It made a comeback by the Eagles impossible.
However, with the inclusion of Super Eagles' players such as goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Valentine Ozornwafor and striker Victor Osimhen into the team, the U-23 Eagles may now have enough arsenal to prevail over the threat of the North Africans.
Former U-17 World Cup winners, Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi, who were in Ben Guerdane have been training with the Olympic Eagles with the rest of the players in the camp.
Meanwhile, Kenya's officials have been appointed by the Confederation of African Football for today's game, with Anthony Ogwayo to serve as referee, while Oliver Omondi Odhiambo will be assistant referee one and Tony Mudanyi Kidiya will serve, as assistant referee two. Israel Lemayian Mpaima will be the fourth official. The match commissioner is Marcelin Gaha Djiadeu from Cameroon.
Three Africa's representatives will hoist the continent's flag at next year's Olympics men's football event in Tokyo after emerging from the third Africa U-23 Cup of Nations scheduled for Egypt in November.
Today's make-or-break encounter begins at 4pm.
Olympic qualifier
Previous articleList of 24 Teams ready to rumble in AFCON 2019
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Orede
Mazino Dickson-Amagada has been a practicing journalist with vast experience in print, broadcast and online journalism, as well as early training in the civil society organization sector.


But a judge believed the man, a Sudanese refugee, and awarded him $27,000 in damages, in ruling that carding can be highly abusive. The city's new police chief, Mark Saunders, has vowed to continue the practice in which police gather information by stopping members of the public who are not suspected of a crime. Visible-minority groups have criticized carding, saying it often amounts to racial profiling.
Mutaz Elmardy, then 38, was walking home from evening prayers at a mosque on a frigid January evening in 2011 when a police car pulled up alongside him, on Parliament Street in downtown Toronto.
When Mr. Elmardy responded with hostility to being stopped and questioned, police concluded – according to their own testimony – that he must have something to hide. They ordered him to take his hands out of his pockets, fearing he had a knife. It was –10 C, and he refused.
Constable Andrew Pak then punched him twice in the face and kicked him several times before handcuffing him, Mr. Elmardy testified in his lawsuit against the officer and the Toronto Police Services Board. No knife was found on him.
"Administering street justice is the opposite of a society based on laws," Justice Frederick Myers of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice wrote in awarding damages to Mr. Elmardy.
Constable Pak denied committing any acts of violence, while his partner, Detective Constable Candice Poole, testified that she wasn't looking, leading a skeptical judge to conclude that the beating probably happened. Mr. Elmardy, who had been in Canada for six years, went straight to a police station to complain, even asking Constable Pak to drive him. Mr. Elmardy also had supporting evidence from a doctor at a hospital he went to that night, and photographs of swelling on his face.
"When people are at their most vulnerable, that's when they need the protection of the law the most," Andrew MacDonald, a lawyer who represented Mr. Elmardy, said in an interview. Mr. Elmardy could not be reached for comment.
Carding refers to the filling out of a police form known as a "208 card," which details contacts between the police and members of the public. Constable Pak testified that he tries to fill out as many 208 cards as he can to prove he is interacting with people as his job requires. He and Constable Poole said they receive credit from their superiors for carding. Constable Pak also testified that Mr. Elmardy had been "blading" – standing at an angle to him, which he said is a technique to conceal a weapon.
Justice Myers said there was no evidence that police stopped Mr. Elmardy because of his skin colour. The judge said he would not express an opinion about whether carding is constitutional, useful or a source of hostility between the police and public. He awarded Mr. Elmardy $18,000 in punitive damages on top of damages for the assault and breaches of his constitutional rights.


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Interested in working on exciting projects in the environmental field, as part of a dynamic, international team in Brussels?
shecco is a market accelerator of climate friendly technologies providing market development, publishing and events management services worldwide. Our mission is to bring these technologies faster to the market in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and thereby "sustaining our atmosphere". We especially focus on helping our partners worldwide to introduce sustainable solutions for the Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industries. shecco's team is located in Brussels, Berlin, Tokyo and New York.
shecco is looking to recruit a global events Manager based in Brussels. The global events Manager will manage the shecco events team, providing guidance and a structured approach to organise the best events & conferences of the HVAC&R sector.
This will include managing a team dealing with all aspects of sales, organization and, follow-up to events globally.
This position entails a mixture of management and sales tasks, requiring a personality with a structured, proactive and positive mindset. International travel on a regular basis is required.
Plan and manage the event budgets.
Exceptional organization, planning and monitoring related to event activities.
Background or experience in engineering, environmental science, energy, a plus.
International travel to run events in Asia/Pacific, Europe and North America.
Applications received outside the online system will not be taken into consideration.
Interviews and tests are planned to be held in Brussels during the summer.


Difference between revisions of "Infiltration" - ZineWiki - the history and culture of zines, independent media and the small press.
Difference between revisions of "Infiltration"
Infiltration, "the zine about going places you're not supposed to go," was a Toronto-based zine about urban exploration. It featured first-person accounts of observational (not vandalistic) visits to "off-limits" areas, including abandoned buildings and steam tunnels. It was consistently popular through its run; its success spawned the book Access All Areas.
Until 2005, the print version of Infiltration was published, edited, and largely written by "Ninjalicious"; he published 25 issues. On August 23, 2005, he died from a terminal illness he had been battling for several months.
The print zine is no longer being published, but the official website is still being updated and has a lively forum centered around urban exploration.


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Emergent Capital, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2017 Results
Company Reports Book Value of $1.25 per Share
BOCA RATON, Fla., March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergent Capital, Inc. (OTCQB: EMGC) ("Emergent" or the "Company"), today announced its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017.
Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
Total loss from continuing operations was $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to total income from continuing operations of $3.7 million for the same period in 2016. The reduction was primarily a result of a change in the fair value of life settlements which was negatively impacted by updated life expectancies procured by the Company with respect to the insureds' lives and maturities of approximately $7.8 million compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2016. The updated life expectancy reports implied that in aggregate, the insureds' health improved, therefore lengthening their life expectancies relative to prior life expectancies. This was offset by an increase in the gain on maturities of $5.3 million on three policies during the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to a $3.1 million gain on maturity of two policies for the same period in 2016.
The following table provides a summary of the components of income from the Company's life settlements.
Change in estimated probabilistic cash flows
Premiums paid during period
Change in life expectancy evaluation
Change in discount rates
Realized gain on maturities
Change in fair value of life settlements
*Amounts in thousands
Total expenses from continuing operations were $4.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to $27.3 million for the same period in 2016. The reduction was primarily attributable to interest expense of $7.3 million during the three month period compared to $8.1 million during the same period in 2016, and a gain of $6.7 million for the change in fair value of revolving credit facilities compared to a loss of $14.2 million during the same period in 2016.
Interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2017 includes $4.7 million on the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility; $1.2 million on the 5% Convertible Notes; $824,000 on the 8.5% Senior Secured Notes and $467,000 in participation interest for the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility.
The Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $2.9 million, or $(0.02) per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to a net loss of 23.6 million, or $(0.84) per diluted share for the same period in 2016. The net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 includes an income tax benefit of $3.2 million. There was no income tax benefit during the quarter ended December 31, 2016.
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Total income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $51.9 million compared to $1.1 million during the same period in 2016. The increase is primarily due to13 policy maturities during the year ended December 31, 2017 which resulted in a net gain of $35.9 million compared to 12 policy maturities and a net gain of approximately $17.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Income from continuing operations for 2016 was further impacted by the adoption of the 2015 VBT, which reduced the fair value of the Company's life settlements by $17.6 million.
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2017
2015 VBT Adoption
Unrealized gain on acquisitions
Total expenses from continuing operations were $55.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $50.5 million for the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily associated with a one-time expense of $2.0 million for extinguishment of the 15% Senior Secured notes and $2.5 million in debt modification cost of the 8.5% Convertible Notes, offset by a $6.7 million reduction in operating expenses primarily due to a $2.7 million decrease in legal expenses, a $2.6 million decrease in professional fees and a $1.0 million decrease in personnel cost compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company reduced its headcount from 20 employees to 12 employees and recognized a onetime severance cost of approximately $1.0 million related to this reduction, which is included in personnel cost and is being paid over a period of twelve months.
The Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $3.2 million, or $(0.04) per fully diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to a net loss of $49.4 million, or $(1.79) per fully diluted share, for the same period in 2016.
As of December 31, 2017, the Company had approximately $31.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit of $1.0 million. The Company had 158,495,399 shares outstanding, treasury shares of 608,000 and an undiluted book value of $1.25 per share at December 31, 2017.
Life Settlements Portfolio Highlights
On December 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of the Company's 608 life insurance policies was $567.5 million compared to $498.4 million for 621 life insurance policies at December 31, 2016. The weighted average discount rate was 15.95% at December 31, 2017 compared to 16.37% at December 31, 2016. The aggregate face value of the Company's portfolio of life insurance policies was approximately $2.9 billion at December 31, 2017.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, 13 life insurance policies that served as collateral under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility matured totaling $67.2 million of face value.
Revolving Credit Facility Highlights
During the year ended December 31, 2017, our facility experienced a change in fair value loss of approximately $4.5 million compared to a gain of approximately $1.4 million during the same period in 2016. This change in fair value is a combination of increased borrowings, the lengthening of life expectancies of certain insureds and an increase in the discount rate used to value the facility which was 18.57% at December 31, 2017 compared to 18.50% at December 31, 2016.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, we borrowed approximately $87.3 million from the facility, approximately $42.1 million was collected from maturity proceeds while approximately $19.6 million were utilized to repay principal during the year. In addition, for the first time, the Company was able to participate in the waterfall distribution receiving funds of approximately $570,000.
Assuming no event of default, funds on account from policy proceeds shall be distributed in specified stages of priority. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately $37.1 million of proceeds received from the maturity of policies pledged under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility, were distributed through the waterfall in the following stages of priority (in thousands):
Custodian and Securities Intermediary
White Eagle - Ongoing Maintenance Cost Reimbursable
Administrative Agent - Protective Advances
Fourth:
Administrative Agent - Administrative Agent Fee and Legal Expense Reimbursement
Fifth:
Administrative Agent - Accrued and Unpaid Interest
Sixth:
Administrative Agent - Required Amortization
Seventh:
Administrative Agent - Amortization Shortfall
Eighth:
Administrative Agent - Participation Interest
Ninth:
Tenth:
Administrative Agent Aggregate Unpaid Participation Interest
Eleventh:
Administrative Agent - Remaining Available Amount After Clause First to Tenth
Twelfth:
Wilmington Trust - Custodian and Securities Intermediary - Unpaid Fees
Thirteenth:
Borrower - Any Remaining Available Amount After Clause First to Twelfth
Total Distributions
About Emergent Capital, Inc.
Emergent (OTCQB: EMGC) is a specialty finance company that invests in life settlements. More information about Emergent can be found at www.emergentcapital.com.
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Emergent Capital, Inc. and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although Emergent believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition to the risks and uncertainties noted in this release, there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made. These include (1) loss of key management and other personnel, (2) risks associated with our debt leverage and operating covenants under our debt instruments, (3) changes in economic conditions in the United States and abroad, and (4) other risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K and in the Company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or in materials incorporated therein by reference. Other than as required under the securities laws, Emergent does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
-SELECTED FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW-
Emergent Capital, Inc.
For the Years Ended December 31,
Total income (loss)
Change in fair value of Revolving Credit Facilities
Loss on extinguishment of debt
Personnel costs
Other selling, general and administrative expenses
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
Benefit for income taxes
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Discontinued Operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and Diluted
(In thousands except share data)
Cash and cash equivalents (VIE)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Deposits - other
Deposits - other (VIE)
Life settlements, at estimated fair value
Life settlements, at estimated fair value (VIE)
Receivable for maturity of life settlements (VIE)
Fixed assets, net
Investment in affiliates (VIE)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (VIE)
Interest payable - 8.5% Convertible Notes
8.5% Convertible Notes, net of discount
Interest payable - 5.0% Convertible Notes (Note 11)
5.0% Convertible Notes, net of discount and deferred debt costs (Note 11)
Interest payable - 15.0% Senior Secured Notes (Note 12)
15.0% Senior Secured Notes, net of discount (Note 12)
Interest payable - 8.5% Senior Secured Notes (Note 13)
8.5% Senior Secured Notes, net of discount and deferred debt costs (Note 13)
White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility, at estimated fair value (VIE)
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share, 415,000,000 and 80,000,000 authorized at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 158,495,399 issued and 157,887,399 outstanding at December 31, 2017; 29,021,844 issued and 28,413,844 outstanding as of December 31, 2016
Preferred stock (par value $0.01 per share, 40,000,000 authorized; 0 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015)
Treasury stock (608,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015)
Additional paid-in-capital
Total stockholders' equity
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
Selected Operating Data (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended December 31,
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
Period Acquisitions — Policies Owned
Number of policies acquired
Average age of insured at acquisition
Average life expectancy — Calculated LE (Years)
Average death benefit
Aggregate purchase price
End of Period — Policies Owned
Number of policies owned
Average age of insured
Average death benefit per policy
Aggregate Death Benefit
Aggregate fair value
Monthly premium — average per policy
Period Maturities
Number of policies matured
Average age of insured at maturity
Average life expectancy - Calculated LE (Years)
Gains on maturity
Proceeds collected
SOURCE Emergent Capital, Inc.
For further information: Miriam Martinez, Emergent Capital, Inc., Chief Financial Officer, 561.995.4366, [email protected] , www.emergentcapital.com


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace InitialRound.Common.Helpers
{
    public static class CSVReader
    {
        public static IEnumerable<string[]> Read(string csv)
        {
            // Any extra blank lines at the end of the file should be removed
            csv = csv.TrimEnd('\n', '\r');

            bool insideQuote = false;

            IList<string> currentRow = new List<string>();
            StringBuilder currentCell = new StringBuilder();

            for (int i = 0; i < csv.Length; i++)
            {
                char c = csv[i];

                switch (c)
                {
                    case '"':
                        if (insideQuote)
                        {
                            if (i <= csv.Length - 2 && csv[i + 1] == '"')
                            {
                                i++;
                                currentCell.Append('"');
                            }
                            else
                            {
                                insideQuote = false;
                            }
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            insideQuote = true;
                        }
                        break;
                    case ',':
                        if (insideQuote)
                        {
                            currentCell.Append(',');
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            currentRow.Add(currentCell.ToString());
                            currentCell.Clear();
                        }
                        break;
                    case '\r':
                        if (insideQuote)
                        {
                            currentCell.Append(c);
                        }
                        break;
                    case '\n':
                        if (insideQuote)
                        {
                            currentCell.Append(c);
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            currentRow.Add(currentCell.ToString());
                            currentCell.Clear();

                            yield return currentRow.ToArray();
                            currentRow.Clear();
                        }
                        break;
                    default:
                        currentCell.Append(c);
                        break;
                }
            }

            currentRow.Add(currentCell.ToString());
            currentCell.Clear();

            yield return currentRow.ToArray();
        }
    }
}


text:
NBA Free Picks & Predictions: Dallas Mavericks @ New York Knicks
Mark Weaden Thu 14/11/2019 - 07:17 EST
The Thursday night NBA free pick takes us to the Garden, New York, where the Knicks will be hosting a vigorous Dallas Mavericks in our Interconference matchup.
The Mavericks lead the all-time regular season head-to-head series 41-36, but the Knicks won the most recent one 106-102 in Dallas last week.
Can Doncic and the Mavs win in the Garden?
🚨 BOBBY. BUZZER. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/De5pQrQVMc
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2019
01Dallas Mavericks (1.30) vs New York Knicks (3.35)
02Parlay Pick: Mavericks to win & over 215.5 (2.81)
03The Slovenian to dominate, Dallas win & Luca Dončić over 26.5 (3.26)
Dallas Mavericks (1.30) vs New York Knicks (3.35)
Both teams enter this game off the back of a loss. Dallas were beaten on the road against the league leaders, the Celtics, in their last game 116-106. They sit at 6-4 outright for the season.
The Knicks were beaten by a struggling Bulls side in their last 120-102, which puts them at 2-9 overall for the 2019/20 campaign.
Dallas are second in the Southwest Division, just behind the Rockets. But they've come off the rails recently, conceding two losses in their last three games.
Leading scorer Luca Doncic has been performing, but the rest of the team need to step up.
The Knicks sit at 29th in the NBA power rankings, just above the woeful Warriors, and have struggled in all departments this season. They'll look to Marc Morris and R.J. Barrett for the points in this one.
Take Dallas Mavericks to win.
Dallas Mavericks To beat New York Knicks
Luka's on FIRE 😤
📺: https://t.co/SVuWeC5NJ9 pic.twitter.com/6mE1YSI8bo
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 12, 2019
Parlay Pick: Mavericks to win & over 215.5 (2.81)
This game marks the return of the Latvian Porzingis to Madison Square Gardens, since he was dealt last season. The Mavericks will be hungry to make amends after being handed a loss in the matchup last week.
The Knicks have been a mess. They were playing a competitive game with the Bulls, before collapsing in the fourth and handing the game over.
The Mavericks will know about the Knicks leaky defense and the fact they can take the game to them and make them run at their pace.
We see the young Slovenian Luca and Porzingis running riot on the floor, racking up points from the start.
The NBA betting odds favour a Mavericks win and understandably so, but we saw this pick and thought it was a sure-fire winner.
Expect a Mavs win and total over 215.5 points.
Dallas Mavericks To win & over 215.5
The third quarter is about to start! Let's keep this same energy @doefinney_10! Tune in now on FSSW! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/jGCzFKYk9W
The Slovenian to dominate, Dallas win & Luca Dončić over 26.5 (3.26)
The 20-year old came to the Mavericks at the start of last season from Real Madrid. His impact on the league has been phenomenal.
Luca Dončić has an average of 28.3 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists. For such a young player, he is so confident and sets the pace of matches. We really enjoy watching this young man play.
He put up 34 points in the loss to the Boston Celtics. He will be licking his lips when looking at this fixture. We think we'll see more of the same from the young man, moving freely around the court and dictating the play from the get-go.
Dallas taking the win on the road is difficult to argue with, and if this is to be the outcome, it'll be Luca who nets the majority of the points.
Expect Dallas to win & Luca Dončić to go over 26.5 points.
"It's a pleasure to wear this jersey" - @luka7doncic#MFFL | @DallasMavs pic.twitter.com/S3gPcN59pJ
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) November 5, 2019
Betting & Sports News
Canada's First Club Med Ski Resort to Open in Quebec
Score Media and Gaming Inc. to Fight DraftKings and FanDuel in Canada
Super Bowl Early Payout Offer at Bet365
How to watch the Super Bowl in Canada?
How to make money during Super Bowl


text:
package httptrace

import (
	"context"
	"crypto/tls"
	"internal/nettrace"
	"net"
	"net/textproto"
	"reflect"
	"time"
)

// unique type to prevent assignment.
type clientEventContextKey struct{}

// ContextClientTrace returns the ClientTrace associated with the
// provided context. If none, it returns nil.
func ContextClientTrace(ctx context.Context) *ClientTrace {
	trace, _ := ctx.Value(clientEventContextKey{}).(*ClientTrace)
	return trace
}

// WithClientTrace returns a new context based on the provided parent
// ctx. HTTP client requests made with the returned context will use
// the provided trace hooks, in addition to any previous hooks
// registered with ctx. Any hooks defined in the provided trace will
// be called first.
func WithClientTrace(ctx context.Context, trace *ClientTrace) context.Context {
	if trace == nil {
		panic("nil trace")
	}
	old := ContextClientTrace(ctx)
	trace.compose(old)

	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, clientEventContextKey{}, trace)
	if trace.hasNetHooks() {
		nt := &nettrace.Trace{
			ConnectStart: trace.ConnectStart,
			ConnectDone:  trace.ConnectDone,
		}
		if trace.DNSStart != nil {
			nt.DNSStart = func(name string) {
				trace.DNSStart(DNSStartInfo{Host: name})
			}
		}
		if trace.DNSDone != nil {
			nt.DNSDone = func(netIPs []interface{}, coalesced bool, err error) {
				addrs := make([]net.IPAddr, len(netIPs))
				for i, ip := range netIPs {
					addrs[i] = ip.(net.IPAddr)
				}
				trace.DNSDone(DNSDoneInfo{
					Addrs:     addrs,
					Coalesced: coalesced,
					Err:       err,
				})
			}
		}
		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, nettrace.TraceKey{}, nt)
	}
	return ctx
}

// ClientTrace is a set of hooks to run at various stages of an outgoing
// HTTP request. Any particular hook may be nil. Functions may be
// called concurrently from different goroutines and some may be called
// after the request has completed or failed.
//
// ClientTrace currently traces a single HTTP request & response
// during a single round trip and has no hooks that span a series
// of redirected requests.
//
// See https://blog.golang.org/http-tracing for more.
type ClientTrace struct {
	// GetConn is called before a connection is created or
	// retrieved from an idle pool. The hostPort is the
	// "host:port" of the target or proxy. GetConn is called even
	// if there's already an idle cached connection available.
	GetConn func(hostPort string)

	// GotConn is called after a successful connection is
	// obtained. There is no hook for failure to obtain a
	// connection; instead, use the error from
	// Transport.RoundTrip.
	GotConn func(GotConnInfo)

	// PutIdleConn is called when the connection is returned to
	// the idle pool. If err is nil, the connection was
	// successfully returned to the idle pool. If err is non-nil,
	// it describes why not. PutIdleConn is not called if
	// connection reuse is disabled via Transport.DisableKeepAlives.
	// PutIdleConn is called before the caller's Response.Body.Close
	// call returns.
	// For HTTP/2, this hook is not currently used.
	PutIdleConn func(err error)

	// GotFirstResponseByte is called when the first byte of the response
	// headers is available.
	GotFirstResponseByte func()

	// Got100Continue is called if the server replies with a "100
	// Continue" response.
	Got100Continue func()

	// Got1xxResponse is called for each 1xx informational response header
	// returned before the final non-1xx response. Got1xxResponse is called
	// for "100 Continue" responses, even if Got100Continue is also defined.
	// If it returns an error, the client request is aborted with that error value.
	Got1xxResponse func(code int, header textproto.MIMEHeader) error

	// DNSStart is called when a DNS lookup begins.
	DNSStart func(DNSStartInfo)

	// DNSDone is called when a DNS lookup ends.
	DNSDone func(DNSDoneInfo)

	// ConnectStart is called when a new connection's Dial begins.
	// If net.Dialer.DualStack (IPv6 "Happy Eyeballs") support is
	// enabled, this may be called multiple times.
	ConnectStart func(network, addr string)

	// ConnectDone is called when a new connection's Dial
	// completes. The provided err indicates whether the
	// connection completedly successfully.
	// If net.Dialer.DualStack ("Happy Eyeballs") support is
	// enabled, this may be called multiple times.
	ConnectDone func(network, addr string, err error)

	// TLSHandshakeStart is called when the TLS handshake is started. When
	// connecting to a HTTPS site via a HTTP proxy, the handshake happens after
	// the CONNECT request is processed by the proxy.
	TLSHandshakeStart func()

	// TLSHandshakeDone is called after the TLS handshake with either the
	// successful handshake's connection state, or a non-nil error on handshake
	// failure.
	TLSHandshakeDone func(tls.ConnectionState, error)

	// WroteHeaderField is called after the Transport has written
	// each request header. At the time of this call the values
	// might be buffered and not yet written to the network.
	WroteHeaderField func(key string, value []string)

	// WroteHeaders is called after the Transport has written
	// all request headers.
	WroteHeaders func()

	// Wait100Continue is called if the Request specified
	// "Expect: 100-continue" and the Transport has written the
	// request headers but is waiting for "100 Continue" from the
	// server before writing the request body.
	Wait100Continue func()

	// WroteRequest is called with the result of writing the
	// request and any body. It may be called multiple times
	// in the case of retried requests.
	WroteRequest func(WroteRequestInfo)
}

// WroteRequestInfo contains information provided to the WroteRequest
// hook.
type WroteRequestInfo struct {
	// Err is any error encountered while writing the Request.
	Err error
}

// compose modifies t such that it respects the previously-registered hooks in old,
// subject to the composition policy requested in t.Compose.
func (t *ClientTrace) compose(old *ClientTrace) {
	if old == nil {
		return
	}
	tv := reflect.ValueOf(t).Elem()
	ov := reflect.ValueOf(old).Elem()
	structType := tv.Type()
	for i := 0; i < structType.NumField(); i++ {
		tf := tv.Field(i)
		hookType := tf.Type()
		if hookType.Kind() != reflect.Func {
			continue
		}
		of := ov.Field(i)
		if of.IsNil() {
			continue
		}
		if tf.IsNil() {
			tf.Set(of)
			continue
		}

		// Make a copy of tf for tf to call. (Otherwise it
		// creates a recursive call cycle and stack overflows)
		tfCopy := reflect.ValueOf(tf.Interface())

		// We need to call both tf and of in some order.
		newFunc := reflect.MakeFunc(hookType, func(args []reflect.Value) []reflect.Value {
			tfCopy.Call(args)
			return of.Call(args)
		})
		tv.Field(i).Set(newFunc)
	}
}

// DNSStartInfo contains information about a DNS request.
type DNSStartInfo struct {
	Host string
}

// DNSDoneInfo contains information about the results of a DNS lookup.
type DNSDoneInfo struct {
	// Addrs are the IPv4 and/or IPv6 addresses found in the DNS
	// lookup. The contents of the slice should not be mutated.
	Addrs []net.IPAddr

	// Err is any error that occurred during the DNS lookup.
	Err error

	// Coalesced is whether the Addrs were shared with another
	// caller who was doing the same DNS lookup concurrently.
	Coalesced bool
}

func (t *ClientTrace) hasNetHooks() bool {
	if t == nil {
		return false
	}
	return t.DNSStart != nil || t.DNSDone != nil || t.ConnectStart != nil || t.ConnectDone != nil
}

// GotConnInfo is the argument to the ClientTrace.GotConn function and
// contains information about the obtained connection.
type GotConnInfo struct {
	// Conn is the connection that was obtained. It is owned by
	// the http.Transport and should not be read, written or
	// closed by users of ClientTrace.
	Conn net.Conn

	// Reused is whether this connection has been previously
	// used for another HTTP request.
	Reused bool

	// WasIdle is whether this connection was obtained from an
	// idle pool.
	WasIdle bool

	// IdleTime reports how long the connection was previously
	// idle, if WasIdle is true.
	IdleTime time.Duration
}


text:
Home Entertainment R. Kelly charges: Singer accused of paying off alleged victims to avoid...
R. Kelly charges: Singer accused of paying off alleged victims to avoid investigators – CBS News
R. Kelly will spend the weekend in jail after he was hit with new federal sex trafficking charges. The singer was arrested in Chicago Thursday night while walking his dog and now faces more than a dozen additional charges including child pornography. The federal charges he is facing could put him in prison for life.
Kelly's crisis manager, Darrell Johnson, was confronted Friday in Atlanta by the parents of Joycelyn Savage. They believe their adult daughter has been brainwashed by the singer and held against her will.
According to the 13 count federal indictment in Illinois, 52-year-old Kelly recorded himself having sex with minors. His former manager, Derrel McDavid, who was also charged in the coverup, pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment, in 2001, "Kelly and McDavid learned that multiple videos were missing from Kelly's collection." Worried that the tapes would get out, court records say, "Kelly, McDavid, and others agreed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars on Kelly's behalf to victims, witnesses, and others to ensure that they would not cooperate with law enforcement."
Even after getting those tapes back, court documents state Kelly and McDavid directed people who returned the tapes to take polygraph tests to determine if they had made copies. Kelly apparently also paid an alleged victim and her parents to travel to foreign countries to avoid investigators.
The Gayle King Interview with R. Kelly
The New York federal charges Kelly faces include racketeering, kidnapping, and interstate transportation of victims for illegal sex acts. The three-time Grammy winner allegedly had an enterprise that included managers, bodyguards and drivers, all of whom recruited women and girls as far back as 1999.
"I don't think people accidentally have sex so i'm not really sure what the criminal activity is there," said Steve Greenberg, Kelly's attorney.
Kelly, who remains in custody won't be arraigned until Tuesday in Chicago. Kelly maintains he is innocent.
Previous articleMegan Rapinoe presented with 5,000 chicken nuggets on Kimmel – Daily Mail
Next articleReport: Dwight Gooden Charged With Cocaine Possession In New Jersey – WFAN
Haley Lu Richardson saves Five Feet Apart from its treacly cliches:...
Paul Sterling - March 15, 2019


The heavy-lift Ro-Ro vessel M.V. Aberthaw Fisher was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and launched in 1966. She was used by the UK's CEGB to transport large items of equipment for use in power stations. In the 1990's she was converted to a mining dredger and used in South Africa She was scrapped in 2000.


text:
Q: PHP XML Parser xml_set_default_handler splits special character The XML parser of PHP calls the default handler function twice when it encounters a special character in a string and therefore splits the string. I've tried to solve it using different encodings on the XML header as well in the PHP code, but it still splits the string:
$parser = xml_parser_create();
xml_parser_set_option($parser, XML_OPTION_TARGET_ENCODING, "ISO-8859-1");
xml_parser_set_option($parser, XML_OPTION_SKIP_WHITE, 1);
xml_parser_set_option($parser, XML_OPTION_CASE_FOLDING, 0);

xml_set_element_handler($parser, "startTag", "endTag");
xml_set_default_handler($parser, 'defaultHandler');

function startTag($p, $name, $attributes)
{

}

function endTag($p, $name)
{

}

function defaultHandler($parser, $data)
{
    if(strlen(trim($data)) > 0)
        echo '[' . $data . ']' . '
';
}

Example of the XML:
<variable name="GZH29" type="integer">
    This is a small test with a special ë character. Let's try an ë character too
</variable>

One would expect:
[This is a small test with a special ë character. Let's try an ë character too]

But the result is
[This is a small test with a special ]
[ë character. Let's try an ë character too]

I would like not to have the line splitted, so any idea what the solution is?

A: The xml_parser does create multiple events here for a reason I didn't finally understood fully, I think this is because of the encoding auto-detection.
You can deal with that by creating your own parser class. This is generally useful anyway, not only in this case. But for this case it's especially so that you can put together the text of the label which get's distributed over multiple events.
The basic work is making the callback functions public function of a class, and register these functions then.
Then each time the label tag opens, a temporary store is reset. When text appears, it's added to that temporary store. If the label tag then closes, you can pass this text to a new "event" this time the function you're looking for with it's text:
$variableParser = new VariableParser($parser);

$file = 'data://,'.$xml;
$fp = fopen($file, 'r');
while(!feof($fp)) { $data = fread($fp, 4096); xml_parse($parser, $data, feof($fp)); }

class VariableParser
{
    private $label = ''; # place for the label text
    public function doLabel($text)
    {
        printf("[%s]
\n", $text);
    }
    public function __construct($parser = NULL)
    {
        if ($parser) $this->register($parser);
    }
    public function register($parser)
    {
        xml_set_element_handler($parser, array($this, "startTag"), array($this, "endTag"));
        xml_set_default_handler($parser, array($this, 'defaultHandler'));
    }

    public function startTag($parser, $name, $attributes)
    {
        if ($name === 'label') $this->label = '';
    }

    function endTag($parser, $name)
    {
        if ($name === 'label')
        {
            $this->doLabel($this->label);
            $this->label = '';
        }
    }

    function defaultHandler($parser, $data)
    {
        if(strlen(trim($data)) > 0)
        {
            $this->label .= $data;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Texas Law Enforcement Deputized, Ordered To Arrest Rogue Democratic Lawmakers 'Immediately'
By Tim Pearce
Aug 13, 2021 DailyWire.com
Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Texas law enforcement was deputized and sent to track down absent Democratic lawmakers on Thursday to bring them by force to the state Capitol building.
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said that the process of arresting the rogue lawmakers "will begin in earnest immediately," according to the Texas Tribune. Phelan signed arrest warrants for 52 missing lawmakers on Tuesday, but the possibility of arresting the absent Democrats has been in limbo as many of the lawmakers have sought protection by the courts.
The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday overruled a lower court order blocking the arrest of 45 Democratic lawmakers, clearing the way for Phelan to direct law enforcement to bring the lawmakers into the Capitol by force. The state Supreme Court gave the Democrats a Monday morning deadline for a response.
The missing lawmakers, if arrested, will not be fined or charged with a crime, the Tribune reported. Law enforcement can only bring them to the state House chamber.
Last month, over 50 Democratic House lawmakers fled Texas to Washington, D.C., to protest a GOP-backed election reform bill as well as a host of other legislation. The lawmakers fled the state to avoid the situation they now find themselves in, which is avoiding arrest by law enforcement and being forced on to the floor of the House chamber. As long at the Democrats stayed away from the Capitol, the House lacked the quorum necessary to pass any legislation.
Dozens of members of the D.C. contingent returned to the state over the weekend after the first special session of the Texas legislature ended. Governor Greg Abbott has called another special session on the heels of the first, however, as he and the Republicans attempt to wrangle the missing lawmakers back to the Capitol.
Several of the missing Democratic lawmakers appeared on the House floor on Monday, prompting some backlash from their colleagues who remained in D.C. to continue the protest. As The Daily Wire reported:
On Monday, as many as 95 lawmakers were on the House floor at one time, five lawmakers short of a quorum that would allow the body to then pass bills. Some of the lawmakers on the floor included those Democrats who had returned from Washington, D.C.
"you all threw us under the bus today! Why?" Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos tweeted, tagging fellow Democratic Reps. James Talarico, Mary Gonzalez, and Joe Moody.
Democratic Rep. Gina Hinojosa also piled on, calling out Talarico, Gonzalez, Moody, and Rep. Art Fierro for all appearing on the House floor and risking a quorum.
"For transparency purposes it is important to note that the following Democrats are on the Floor now & no longer breaking quorum: @jamestalarico @RepMaryGonzalez @moodyforelpaso @ArtFierro79," she tweeted. "Quorum is still not met. Praying no other Democrats willingly go to Floor."
Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Crockett ripped into the lawmakers that returned to Texas over the weekend: "I've said this before… it's a Team Sport… now we see who plays what positions on the Team… The fact that some of us secured a Temporary Restraining Order to protect ALL of us, yet some are trying to please the Governor and His OPPRESSIVE Agenda?! JUST WOW!"
"We have a vote this week in the US Senate on voting rights. They could at least wait until the vote. There's nothing so pressing ar [sic] this moment to show up. Not to mention the restraining order allows you to be working in your district instead of on the floor against your district," she added.
The Daily Wire > Read > Texas Law Enforcement Deputized, Ordered To Arrest Rogue Democratic Lawmakers 'Immediately'


Hey @tshead2, I thought you might be interested to see this: http://phylocanvas.org/docs/ An interactive graph/tree plotting library that has many features which I expect you may be similarly developing in toyplot.
@dereneaton Thanks! I'll check it out!


text:
Wal-Mart to Pay Arizona $1 Million for Pricing Fraud; Settlement in '06 Lawsuit Includes More Inspections
Ray Stern
Ray Stern | May 19, 2009 | 3:16pm
Wal-Mart has agreed to pay Arizona $1 million to settle a 2006 consumer fraud lawsuit filed by Attorney General Terry Goddard.
The retail giant has already shelled out $450,000 to the state for screwing over consumers with its inaccurate pricing. In a
history laid out by Goddard's office, from 2001 to 2006 Wal-Mart consistently rang up the wrong prices on items scanned in at the cash registers. It also failed frequently to put prices on items on the shelves, leaving consumers ignorant about overcharges, the lawsuit alleges.
The million bucks goes to consumer fraud prevention (we see another
publication with Goddard's face on it in the future...) and to a
monitoring system that's supposed to ensure Wal-Mart doesn't keeping
pulling the same tricks.
Smartly, Arizona built in an incentive to keep Wal-Mart honest:
Whenever a store screws up and fails a pricing test by an "independent
monitor," the company pays $2,500 for the first violation and $5,000
for each one thereafter. The company failed a total of 526 inspectors
over a five-year period, so it's either going to change its ways or
help Arizona meet its spending budget next year.
Ray Stern has worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.
Facebook: Ray Stern
Twitter: @raystern


text:
Three Rivers should try King government's model for long-term plan, resident says
Daniel Brown/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Three Rivers Coun. Gerard Holland sits alongside his fellow councillors during a committee meeting at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown on Nov. 23. - Daniel Brown/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THREE RIVERS, P.E.I. — Janice MacBeth wants a local, more diverse group of residents involved in setting up Three Rivers for the future.
Having amalgamated in 2018, the municipality is still without an official plan outlining its long-term vision and its planning procedures across the region.
In June, Three Rivers hired an Ontario-based firm to help put one together, and a survey went out to residents for their input this fall.
This prompted MacBeth, a Three Rivers resident, to speak before council during a committee meeting Monday in Georgetown. She believes that council should partner with the community even more by issuing a committee specifically to help create the plan.
"There's just so many factors that we need to consider," she said. "It's a one-hundred-year plan."
PROPOSAL:
Resident Janice MacBeth suggested the following industries be represented by residents in her proposed committee:
As well, MacBeth suggests someone with experience in risk assessment is involved to weigh in on the pros and cons of potential developments.
She had been a part of the committee that helped form Three Rivers leading up to amalgamation. That committee featured a group of community members from various backgrounds, and while she admits planning wasn't always easy, the different viewpoints made for a stronger outcome.
"There was all these people who had different views, but we just meshed and worked together," she said.
MacBeth also referenced the provincial government's council for recovery and growth as a model. It was formed this year in response to COVID-19 and features representatives in sectors such as business, education and arts working to create a 10-year response plan to the pandemic's impact.
MacBeth argues that having more community voices directly involved in creating a road map for Three Rivers would be more beneficial than the survey alone. As well, she doesn't think that the Ontario firm, Fotenn Planning, would be able to adequately cater to the needs of the municipality.
"How do they get the pulse of our region?"
A few councillors found themselves agreeing with MacBeth's pitch.
"I think we need help," Coun. Ronnie Nicholson said.
Deputy Mayor Debbie Johnston suggested council get in touch with Fotenn before making any decisions on the matter to see if a resident-based committee might work within the firm's current operations.
"(This) would be a great way to get the community involved in planning," Johnston said.
Daniel Brown is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
Twitter.com/dnlbrown95


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During the final months of World War One a young American soldier named Bill Wilson visited the cathedral at Winchester. He was in England with a US army unit en route for France and was temporarily quartered in an enormous army camp at Morn Hill just outside the city. Perhaps his visit was in part prompted by understandable apprehension as to what would happen to him once he reached the front.
The 'Big Book' is still very much in active use. It is read and discussed at most AA meetings, and is available in more than sixty languages since nowadays AA holds thousands of meetings all over the world. There are probably very few members of the fellowship who don't have their own much cherished copy. The story of Thomas Thetcher's gravestone is still on the first page.
Click here for source image.
This August there will be a 'Celebration of Recovery' in the Cathedral Close attended by many local organisations concerned with various aspects of recovery. Throughout August there will be a display in the Winchester Discovery Centre illustrating the world of AA – with thousands of meetings held internationally every day, and over 200 self-help groups using the 12 Step Programme developed by Bill Wilson and his friends.
A play about Bill's visit is currently being written.
For further information please contact Chrissie B, AA's Public information Liaison Officer for the Winchester Area at pi.northdown@aamail.org.
Reproduced from PI Service News (Feb 2018) with permission of the author.


Known as the "Oracle of Omaha," Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all-time. As one of the only billionaires to acquire their wealth solely through the stock market, Buffett truly is a master of business and finance. Even in his 80's, he continues to shine as an active investor and philanthropist. With a net worth of $37 billion, Buffett has been one of the richest men in the world for quite some time.
Born the son of a stock broker on August 30, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett was attracted to business and the stock market at an early age. Buffett displayed a keen eye for turning a profit throughout his childhood days. While other children were playing baseball, Buffet was buying six-packs of Coca-Cola for 25 cents and selling them for a nickel apiece, earning a 5 cent profit.
In high school, Buffet was drawn to stock market mogul Benjamin Graham. Buffett left the University of Nebraska during his senior year to study under the tutelage of Graham, who taught the aspiring investor how to calculate the intrinsic value of a company. This was a lesson he would never forget.
After earning a Master's degree in Economics from Columbia, Buffett returned to Omaha to work at his father's brokerage. Shortly thereafter, the starry eyed Buffett joined forces with his mentor by joining the Graham-Newman Corporation. However, after Graham retired two short years later in 1956, Buffett decided to return to his hometown to start an investment partnership.
Buffett spent the next 13 years consistently beating the DOW and compounding his money by 29% annually. In 1965, Buffett bought the textile firm Berkshire Hathaway located in his hometown. The purchase of National Indemnity Company and National Fire and Marine Insurance Company in 1967 marked the beginning of the terrific success story that is Berkshire Hathaway.
A famed value investor, Buffett describes his investment approach as buying stocks below their real value in order to have a significant margin of safety. The secret to Buffett's success over the years has been his unwavering goal of never losing money on a deal.
Always well-prepared, Buffett believes in taking a calculated risk only after much research, analysis, planning, and preparation. Never one to buy tech stocks, Buffett prefers to invest in simple businesses that are easy to understand. Before investing in a company, the investment wizard does his due diligence, focusing on a company's return on equity and forecasting the company's growth over the next ten years.
Following sound investment tactics, Buffett prefers companies with very little debt and a high return on equity. A main principle of his over the years has been to invest in historically good companies whenever their stock drops due to a temporary problem. Using this method, Buffett has bought many companies at bargain prices. For instance, in 1976 Buffett purchased enough stock to buy himself a very high position with GEICO. The stock was previously trading at $61, but Buffett was able to purchase the stock at $2. That turned out to be one of the best buys in the history of the stock market.
As a master buy and hold investor, Buffett's investing strategies have been copied the world over. Though he has amassed untold fortunes over the years, Buffett still lives in the same house he bought over thirty years ago for $37,500. In 2006, Buffet announced he would give away his entre fortune to charity, making him the single greatest philanthropist in the history of the country. In a day and age of obscene consumerism with millionaire hedge fund managers flaunting their wealth, Buffett is a refreshing reminder of the importance of being humble, intelligent, and taking action.


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Case C-394/02 Commission v Greece
7 July 2005, source edie/Semple Fraser feature
Judgement was given by the ECJ in the case of Commission v Greece on 2 June 2005.
The case concerned the application of the Utilities Directive (Directive 93/38/EEC), which sets out provisions co-ordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors.
The Greek public electricity undertaking, Dimosia Epicheirisi Ilektrismoy (DEI) had awarded a contract for the construction of a conveyor-belt system for a project involving the installation of a system for de-sulphuration, stabilisation, transport and deposit of solid waste from a thermal-electricity generation plant.
This had been awarded by means of a negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice, which was therefore held to be in breach of the Directive.
In particular, Greece was held to have failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 20(1) and 21 of the Directive.
While Greece did not dispute that the contract issued was covered by Article 15 of the Directive, it argued that exceptional circumstances existed which permitted the contract to be awarded without publication of a notice, namely that there were technical reasons connected to the works and that due to these it was necessary to award the contract to one particular contractor.
However, neither the characteristics of the product to be transported, nor the instability of the subsoil and the need to attach the system of conveyor belts to the existing one proved that there was only one contractor within the EC with the necessary expertise to carry out the works in question.
Further the need to carry out the works within the time-limits imposed by the competent authority for the environmental impact assessment could not be regarded as "extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting entities".
Greece was therefore found to be in breach of Articles 20(1) and 21 of the Utilities Directive and ordered to pay the costs.
The full text of the judgement is available in English at the following link.
| transport


We are constantly suggesting the best meals to eat and the ones to ignore for diabetics as well as suggesting low calorie food options. You can find selected restaurants offering diabetic meals as well as low calorie diet food options. if you are concerned about foods with high sugar or high cholesterol levels. You can also find instructions on picking the right food from the menus while looking for the best restaurants in Rockland, MI.
Henry's is a great little hidden jewel. Warm and cozy. They have great sandwiches, probably the best BLT I've ever had. Yes, they are smaller, but it only adds to the friendly inviting atmosphere. I stop in whenever I'm in the area!


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Jake Meyer, Clarinet
News & Musings
Clarinetist Jake Meyer is a performer and teacher currently living in St. Paul, MN, and is the principal clarinetist of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. Recently, he has performed with the Round Top Festival Orchestra and served as principal clarinetist of the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra. He has also appeared as a soloist with the St. Olaf Orchestra on six occasions, performing the first movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and Debussy's Première Rhapsodie.
Jake is an avid chamber musician and has played in a variety of ensembles ranging in size, instrumentation and period. He is a member of the Call Street Collective, a clarinet, viola and piano trio, and his wind quintet, Tumultuous Winds, recently won the "Best of Chamber Music" at the Round Top Music Festival. Jake has appeared at the Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival and performed with the FSU Graduate Wind Quintet in a master class lead by the Philharmonic Quintet of New York. As principal clarinetist of the FSU Chamber Winds he performed pieces such as Mozart's "Gran Partita" and Milhaud's Creation of the World.
As an active private instructor, Jake has worked with students of all ages and abilities. He served as a teaching assistant while studying at FSU, teaching private lessons to undergraduate music majors, coaching chamber music and teaching the clarinet methods course. Jake has taught at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN, the Music for the Sake of Music community summer camp in Green Bay, WI, and in the Minnesota and Florida public schools. Additionally, He has written a guide to inform musicians about health and wellness issues they face on a daily basis. Presently, he maintains a private studio encompassing students in the Greater Twin Cities, MN area.
Jake has appeared in the master classes of Richie Hawley, Burt Hara, Dan Gilbert, Corrado Giuffredi, Mark Nuccio, and members of the New York Philharmonic wind section. An elected member of the national music honors society Phi Kappa Lambda, he has won both of the St. Olaf Orchestra concerto competitions, and was a finalist for the La Grange Symphony Orchestra and FSU Young Artist competitions.
Jake holds his Bachelor's of Music from St. Olaf College and his Master's of Music from Florida State University. His primary teachers include Scott Anderson, Deborah Bish, Jonathan Holden, Nina Olsen, Greg Williams, and pedagogue Burton Kaplan. Away from the clarinet, Jake enjoys reading, swimming, exploring sustainable living, and getting involved in his local St. Paul community.
Performance Resume


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The Et Cetera - Eastfield News
Award-winning journalism since 1970
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[ January 19, 2021 ] Dallas College spring athletics season uncertain	Sports
[ January 1, 2021 ] Student dance exhibition	Life & Arts
[ December 15, 2020 ] Pandemic fuels gaming console wars	News
[ December 14, 2020 ] Fall virtual student art exhibition	Campus & Community
[ December 12, 2020 ] Quiet on campus: COVID-19 keeps Eastfield relatively empty	Multimedia
HomeCoronavirusCampus coronavirus updates: Arts & communications
Campus coronavirus updates: Arts & communications
April 1, 2020 etcetera Coronavirus, News 0
The cast of "God of Carnage" performs at opening night in the Performance Hall on March 4. Photo by Baylie Tucker/The Et Cetera
By Lindsey Craft
@LindseycraftETC
Editor's note: This report on the Arts and Communications programs is part of an on-going series by The Et Cetera on how campus departments are handling the switch to online classes and will be updated as more information becomes available.
[April 1, 10:28 p.m.] Drama professor Dusty Reasons Thomas has been working on alternative activities for students to stay engaged with one another following the switch to an online-only basis.
She has been talking to OSER about doing a virtual "Eastfield's Got Talent." She also wants to put together creative drama classes online for students and faculty members who have kids to keep them occupied during the day.
"It's devastating because we work all semester on these projects and then all of them got canceled," she said. "I just feel for all of the people who put a lot of work into things only to have them be canceled or postponed."
[READ MORE: 3 DCCCD students self-report positive COVID-19 test or exposure to virus]
During this time Thomas encourages students and faculty to stick together, keep trying to do their best and not give up on the semester.
[April 1, 10:28 p.m.] Communications program coordinator Lori Dann said her two reporting classes, media writing and news reporting, have been impacted because the students generally cover news and events on campus.
Dann said she will continue to partner with The Et Cetera in order to give students the hands-on experience that is vital for them to learn journalism.
"Unfortunately, we have had to postpone a data journalism project that we had already started with a local professional news organization," Dann said. "Our news photography class also faces a challenge because of the shelter-in-place order. As faculty members, we are trying to find ways to collaborate and get creative so our students can still cover what is basically the biggest news story of their lives."
The Muscle Memory Dance troupe performs Unveil Me at the faculty dance concert on March 13. The concert was closed to the public and live-streamed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo by Baylie Tucker/The Et Cetera
[April 1, 10:28 p.m.] Dance program coordinator Danielle Georgiou said aside from her dance appreciation course, the challenge is determining how instructors will offer dance technique courses online such as ballet, performance and choreography, modern dance, jazz and body conditioning.
Georgiou has been preparing video lectures, online classes and at-home movement analyses and experiments for dance students.
She is also compiling a collection of dance films and recorded live performances for all dance students to access that will help them work on their critical thinking and qualitative skills.
Georgiou has taught lecture-based and theory courses online for years, but said never fathomed a world in which she would be teaching movement digitally.
"It's overwhelming to the point that while I am eating up everyone's advice and methodologies, I myself am stuck trying to find the energy to create the best classes so that the technique and practice that my students and I have been developing for the past 8 weeks won't suffer," she said. "I am constantly worrying about how to transition these classes online, how to give students the best experience from a distance and how to motivate them to keep moving and dancing."
[READ MORE: Campus coronavirus updates: Student services]
Dance instructors are having students write critical analyses of the works and communicate their finds through both written, oral and visual communication which is something that instructors do not want to disappear during this time.
She said instructor Robert Alvarez, who teaches the body conditioning course, is developing a video database for students of house training and work-out videos. These include Zumba, dance fitness classes, yoga and strength building classes.
The course normally focused on the ideas of fitness, conditioning and flexibility so Alvarez will continue those lessons virtually.
"It's a short turnover and we never planned or expected to teach this way," Georgiou said. "There are large learning curves such as the use of certain interfaces and technology, but as long as we remain patient, and so do the students, we will be OK."
She said the main concern she has heard from students is that they can't see each other or be in the studio with the faculty.
"We all just miss each other," she said. "Dance is a special case in regard to education as we quickly bond and become connected to one another through the sharing of movement and physical space. Transition to a digital space will be interesting, but they all seem excited to get back to dance in some form or another."
[April 1, 10:28 p.m.] Digital media program coordinator Oslynn Williams said that this has been a smooth transition for the professors in the department since they already had a setup for students to get an online experience.
"Even in my face-to-face classes my students are used to working online," Williams said. "The only obstacle was making sure some of our early college students as well as our traditional college students had a computer and internet at home."
There have been a few students who have expressed concerns regarding the lack of internet or computer.
Williams is working with the IT department to assist these students. He is also sending these students a list of resources with companies providing free internet and places where students can obtain a computer.
Annette Raleigh throws rice after Veronica Novak criticizes her parenting. Photo by Baylie Tucker/The Et Cetera
[April 1, 10:28 p.m.] Thomas has taught courses such as introduction to cinema and introduction to theatre online for years. But the challenge she faces now lies with transitioning her acting and makeup artistry classes to online.
Thomas said it's difficult for her acting class because they were supposed to put together a production and critique a live play. The production has been canceled due to the campus shut down and venues across the metroplex are closed.
"We're getting creative and making it work," Thomas said. "I don't want anyone to feel like they got cheated by completely doing an online class."
Thomas will have her acting students record their performances and send them to her using the Marco Polo app where she can view and send video feedback to them immediately.
[READ MORE: Campus coronavirus updates: Career and technical classes]
Thomas is worried that students will feel isolated in this process and will quit participating.
"I teach online classes every semester and students will respond to the first discussion board and then never return," she said. "I'm worried about students that originally signed up for face-to-face classes struggling with online and stop participating because they don't get instant gratification or there's no motivation to keep them going."
Another challenge that Thomas and other instructors are facing is the K Building daycare being closed. Instructors are now having to juggle teaching their own children from home and their online students.
"I used to have all this time to myself to focus on my students and that's the biggest thing that I'm worried about now," she said. "I'm teaching five classes so it can be challenging to focus on all of those classes when I don't have a lot of time to myself."
[READ MORE: Campus coronavirus updates: STEM courses]
[April 1, 10:28 p.m.] One of English professor Caitlin Stanford Kintner's main concerns is for her older students who are not as tech-savvy as her younger ones. She said she is working hard to keep in close contact with everyone in class and keep them in contact with each other as well to help one another.
She is having her class meet via google hangouts to ensure they remain closely connected.
"Being isolated is hard on mental health, so communication is going to be key," Kintner said.
She said there is also the issue of instructors teaching online for the first time and that this will be a learning experience for everyone.
Campus coronavirus updates: Continuing education
3 DCCCD students self-report positive COVID-19 test or exposure to virus
COVID-19 ends Harvesters promising season
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