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Here's Why Canadian Oil Prices Are Finally Rallying | OilPrice.com
TOPICS: thecapacitycompaniesCreativeexpandinggettingpipelineprettysomethey're
Posted By: admin 6 months ago
"The pipeline companies are getting pretty creative on how they're expanding some capacity out of the country," Keith Chiasson, Executive Vice-President, Downstream at Cenovus Energy, said on the Q2 earnings call at the end of July, describing how midstream operators are trying to get more oil barrels out of Canada until at least one of the major pipeline projects begins service at some point in 2020 or later.
Pipeline companies—including TC Energy, Enbridge, and the Canadian subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline—have recently announced plans to increase capacity on some of their pipelines out of Canada to the United States.
Although the amounts are small compared to what a major new pipeline would bring, the increased capacity will still provide some temporary short-term relief to Canadian oil prices. Demand for Canada's heavy oil from U.S. refiners, especially those on the Gulf Coast, has increased this year after the U.S. slapped sanctions on Venezuela, essentially banning U.S. imports of Venezuela's heavy crude, while the U.S. sanctions on Iran have additionally choked the Islamic Republic's heavy grade exports to its customers, tightening the global heavy oil market.
Canadian producers and Canadian oil prices now appear more positive than they used to be at the start of the year, but the oil patch continues to believe that the long-term solution to Canada's oil industry's woes is the construction of major new pipelines to increase market access, and potentially, to tap new export markets outside the buyer of nearly all Canadian oil exports, the United States.
Canadian producers have had a tough couple of years with constrained market access that drove the price of Western Canadian Select (WCS)—the benchmark price of oil from Canada's oil sands—to a discount of US$50 to WTI Crude in the fall of 2018. This blow-out in the differential between the Canadian benchmark and the U.S. benchmark prompted Alberta's government to impose at the beginning of 2019 a mandatory production cut across all companies in the province to help ease congested takeaway routes and lift the abnormally low price of Canadian oil. Related: Is Algal Biofuel A Lost Cause?
Just as the production curtailment started, the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela cut off Venezuelan heavy oil supply to the U.S. Gulf Coast and opened an opportunity for more Canadian heavy barrels to go to Gulf Coast refineries. However, full pipelines out of Canada haven't helped Canadian producers to take full advantage of this opportunity to seize more market share.
Now several pipeline operators have recently announced that they have additional capacity on some of their existing pipelines. Despite the small additional volumes, they will still help Canadian producers in the short term to ship more of their oil to the United States.
TC Energy plans to add 50,000 bpd on the Keystone pipeline in 2020 that "will allow TC Energy to respond to the demand for additional transportation capacity for crude oil from western Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast," company spokesman Jamie Harding told Bloomberg in an email.
In early July, Plains Midstream Canada (PMC), a subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline, announced a proposed expansion of its Rangeland crude oil pipeline system, expected to provide in 2021 incremental southbound takeaway capacity of 80,000 bpd out of the Edmonton market hub.
"We remain focused on leveraging our existing systems in creative ways to meet the growing needs of our customers," Tyler Rimbey, Executive Vice President, Commercial, PMC, said.
Enbridge launched last month an open season to support a 50,000-bpd expansion of the Express pipeline.
In late 2019, Enbridge expects to deliver some 85,000 bpd of incremental throughput via its Mainline. The additional flows will be achieved within Enbridge's current system capacity and operating parameters "through crude delivery and receipt window efficiencies, optimization of crude quality slates, as well as the recovery of Line 4 capacity, which had been previously planned for in early 2020."
Canadian producers expect some relief to come from these incremental volumes on existing pipelines and from increased crude-by-rail shipments. Related: Oil Could Plunge By $30 If China Restores Iranian Oil Imports
"As we all know, market access has in effect been a cloud hanging over the Canadian oil and gas industry's head for some time now and rightly so," Steve Laut, Executive Vice Chairman at Canadian Natural Resources, said on the Q2 earnings call last week, adding that we could be nearing the end of "endless regulatory and legal hurdles."
"We're also starting to see a potential break in the clouds as the Trans Mountain pipeline is set to start construction, access to rail shipments is increasing with capacity ramping up to 500,000 barrel a day range and a potential 50,000-barrel day enhancement on Keystone. Although optimism is in short supply, there are some positives out there," said Laut.
Alex Pourbaix, President and Chief Executive Officer at Cenovus, said on the Q2 call at the end of July that his company boosted its Q2 crude-by-rail shipments to the U.S. Gulf Coast to average 36,000 bpd from about 16,000 bpd in Q1, and remains on track to ramp up its rail capacity to around 100,000 bpd by the end of the year.
Pourbaix, however, added:
"It's important to note here that while expanding rail capacity is critical to resolving Alberta's near-term market access issues, we still need new pipelines."
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
This post was originally posted on OilPrice.com Daily News Update – View Original Article
Have lived and invested in Venezuela full time for the last eight years and visited for each of twelve years prior to that. Studied and closely followed developments in Venezuela since 1996.


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In Israel, Can Technology Prevent Democratic Erosion?
posted on February 3, 2022 by Itai Grofman
University of Chicago Tagged With: Israel, Pegasus, Technology
In Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition, Robert Dahl posits "three necessary conditions for a democracy" [1]. Underlying all three conditions is the availability of "alternative sources of information" [2]. For this reason, it seemed – early in the information revolution – that new technology would catalyze the spread and improve the strength of democracy. And yet, as the information age dawned, it became clear that the same technology could be used to spread pervasive misinformation and to create a chilling effect on political expression. In this way, technology can break through with truths and disseminate lies, can organize protests and chill opposition. This dynamic is on full display in Israel, a democracy with a leading high-technology sector.
In 2016, 5 corruption cases revealed that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who was simultaneously the Minister of Communications – had maneuvered to ease regulations on two media organizations in exchange for favorable coverage. In response to these findings, Israelis used the internet to organize protests that lasted for months and attracted tens of thousands of people. Meanwhile, Netanyahu called these protesters "anarchists," fanned the flames of anti-protester violence, and dismissed the protesters and his opposition as illegitimate and un-Israeli. In so doing, Netanyahu displayed "denial of the legitimacy of political opponents [and] toleration or encouragement of violence," two of Levitsky and Ziblatt's key indicators of authoritarian behavior [3]. Netanyahu also put in place new lockdowns and curfews meant to curb these peaceful protests, a clear violation of civil rights. In response, the protesters tweeted out peaceful videos and photos and organized around the measures that were designed to curb protests. The results were even larger protests that ultimately played a role in Netanyahu's ouster. In this way, technology seems to have played a rather significant role in fighting democratic erosion. As those who believed that technology would support democracy imagined, protesters used social media to organize, counter government misinformation, and fight erosive measures.
However, recent reporting in Israel's Calcalist newspaper sheds light on the harm to democracy that technology can do in the hands of nefarious actors. Netanyahu is such a nefarious would-be autocrat. His moves to fuse the power of Prime Minister and Minister of Communications represent executive aggrandizement, and his weakening of the independent media constitutes an essential part of democratic erosion. Additionally, Netanyahu has rejected the democratic rules of the game by casting doubt on the legitimacy of free and fair elections; denied the legitimacy of political opponents; encouraged violence; and appeared ready to curtail civil liberties. In his 15 years as Prime Minister, Netanyahu displayed all four of the key indicators of authoritarian behavior. As a would-be autocrat, then, Netanyahu's erosive actions using technology action can shed light on how eroders may use technology and the danger such use presents.
As the Calcalist article reveals, the Israeli government used the cutting-edge Pegasus spyware to spy on protest leaders. Pegasus uses a vulnerability of which the phone's manufacturer was unaware ex-ante to gain complete control over a phone without its user doing anything; it is essentially undetectable. As one researcher described it, Pegasus is "the most invasive [and] advanced spyware imaginable." While Pegasus was intended to infiltrate terrorist groups, it – perhaps unsurprisingly – has found its way to governments that use it to spy on citizens. In Israel, Netanyahu's government used Pegasus to spy on protest leaders. In one instance, a married protest leader was found "on the gay dating app Grindr and followed as he went on dates — information that was to be leveraged in future police interrogations," which appears emblematic of the Netanyahu government's use of this technology. That is, the Netanyahu government used Pegasus not to investigate or prevent a crime but to blackmail and coerce political opponents.
Therein lies the fundamental danger to democracy that technology represents. The fact that this software is so invasive not only makes planning protests secretly much more difficult but also dramatically increases the price of protesting. After all, the government has shown its willingness to hack into protesters' phones to blackmail them. Because there is essentially nothing protesters can do to defend themselves, such action feels inevitable to protesters. The combination of the risk of public disclosure of private information and the feeling of the inevitability of this outcome makes protesting an entirely undesirable proposition. And for backsliders, technology like this, thus, represents a potent tool. After all, what is described above is a tool that governments need not even use to make protesting much more difficult; indeed, Pegasus' existence alone represents a threat to would-be protesters.
In analyzing the use of Pegasus spyware in Israel, technology's ability to invade privacy – and governments' subsequent ability to use that to curb opposition – becomes clear. More than the spread of misinformation or even the incitement of violence, this is the biggest threat that technology presents to democracy. As the protesters in Israel showed, citizens can fight misinformation; they can quell threats of violence. But there is simply nothing protesters can do against a tool like Pegasus – which feels omnipresent and destructive even when it is not being used. This is what makes technology so potent and dangerous a tool for would-be autocrats; it advances and evolves so quickly that the "good guys" cannot stay in front of eroders. All of which is to say that, for all of technology's ability to aid in the organization of opposition and supply alternative sources of information, it is ultimately a more effective tool in eroding democracy than defending it.
[1] Robert Dahl, Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1971).
[3] Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die (New York: Penguin Random House, 2019).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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In Japan, a  is a washbasin provided at the entrance to a holy place for visitors to purify themselves by the ritual washing of hands and rinsing of the mouth.  This type of ritual cleansing is the custom for guests attending a tea ceremony  or visiting the grounds of a Buddhist temple. The name originates from the verb , meaning "to crouch" or "to bow down", an act of humility. Guests attending a tea ceremony crouch and wash their hands in a  set in the tea garden (roji) before entering the tearoom.

 are usually of stone, and are often provided with a small ladle, ready for use.  A supply of water may be provided via a bamboo pipe called a .

The famous  shown here stands in the grounds of the Ryōan-ji temple in Kyoto, and was donated by the feudal lord Tokugawa Mitsukuni. The kanji written on the surface of the stone are without significance when read alone. If each is read in combination with  (kuchi), the shape of the central bowl, then the characters become  which translates literally as "I only know plenty" ( =  = I,  =  = only,  =  = plenty,  =  = know). The underlying meaning, variously translated as "what one has is all one needs", or "learn only to be content" reflects the basic anti-materialistic teachings of Buddhism.

See also
, a musical cave to drain handwashing water
Chōzuya (or ), a Shinto water ablution pavilion
Ritual purification

References

External links

Tsukubai Design & Construction - Tea instructor Elliot Mitchnick discusses the design and construction of the Tsukubai arrangement.

Chadō
Japanese style of gardening
Buddhist rituals
Water and religion
Ritual purification

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Keeping in mind all these factors, Fiji Dairy Limited had scheduled a NCD Screening for its employees on 18th August in association with Ministry of Health. The screening session was conducted by the staff nurses of Nuffield Health Centre under the leadership of zone nurse Asinate Gadekilodoni.
The screening activities comprised of body mass index (BMI) calculation, blood sugar test, cholesterol test, and blood pressure check. This has been an eye-opening exercise for FDL Team and it has motivated the team to strive towards a healthy living.
After all, a healthy worker means healthy future and healthy business.


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Home/Finance/Penn State Harrisburg acknowledges excellent alumni achievement – pennlive.com
Penn State Harrisburg acknowledges excellent alumni achievement – pennlive.com
Penn State Harrisburg recently announced the recipients of the college's annual Alumni Achievement Awards. One graduate from each of the college's five academic schools received the award for their outstanding professional achievements.
A virtual ceremony was held on October 8 to recognize the award winners.
Here are the biographies of the five recipients.
Rita Girondi
Rita Girondi 1973, 1979g
The School of Behavioral Sciences and Education has recognized Rita Girondi, President of Training Masters Inc. She is the leader of a team with a combined 20 years of experience in teaching, technology, school management, corporate responsibility, corporate governance, sales and personal training fields. Girondi spent nearly five decades as an education professional, including 12 years as a teacher, before moving to leadership positions in schools in Pennsylvania and California. She founded Thompson Learning Corporation in 1995 and served as President and CEO for seven years until the schools became part of Kaplan Higher Education. She founded Training Masters Inc. in 2002. Girondi is a strong advocate of community fundraising after serving as co-chair of the I.O. Silver Hearts and the Style and Strong Events for a decade. These events helped raise nearly $ 2 million for the Penn State Health Cardiovascular Specialties Clinic. She is a recipient of the President of the National Education Center and the Pennsylvania Business Woman & # 39; s Award. Girondi earned a bachelor's degree in humanities and master's degrees in teaching and curriculum from Penn State Harrisburg, her certificate in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in education from Temple University.
Brian Rusignuolo
Brian Rusignuolo 2013g
The School of Business Administration honored Brian Rusignuolo, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Select Medical Group Corporation. He offers technology vision and strategy for one of the largest providers of specialized acute and post-acute care in the country. Select's network includes more than 130 hospitals that specialize in long-term acute care, as well as more than 1,700 outpatient clinics that offer physiotherapy and occupational therapy. He joined Select Medical in 2001 where he has built talent and mentored executives on the information services team. Rusignuolo serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Central Pennsylvania's Technology Council and serves on the Penn State Harrisburg IT Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for IT Professional Development at the University of Harrisburg. Rusignuolo is a graduate of Gettysburg College and earned his M.B.A. at Penn State Harrisburg.
Carol the show hat
Carol Schaubhut 1991
Carol Schaubhut, the owner of Steri-Clean Maryland / Delaware, is this year's recipient of the School of Humanities. Her company is a leading biohazard, crime scene and hoarding specialist in the Maryland and Delaware area. Steri-Clean Maryland / Delaware's goal is to serve those affected by hoarding by providing individuals with the tools and skills necessary to lead a tidy life. Most recently, Schaubhut and her company played a major role in the renovation of numerous schools, office buildings and government buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to Steri-Clean, Schaubhut worked for an IT recruitment company after a 21-year career in broadcasting that included stints in Dallas, Texas, Allentown, Pennsylvania and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Humanities from Penn State Harrisburg after graduating from Harrisburg Area Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Mass Communication.
La Verna fountain
La Verna Fountain 1983
The School of Public Affairs honored La-Verna Fountain, the founder and president of Meaningful Communications Matter, LLC. Your organization uses training to focus on bridging the gap between household, community, and workplace misunderstandings and developing intentional and healthy dialogue. She was previously the vice president of strategic communications and construction business initiatives at Columbia University. While there, she directed internal and external communications for the university's largest administrative office, which consisted of 2,000 employees, and managed a number of award-winning programs and products designed for minority, women and locally owned business improvement. She is currently a lecturer at the Columbia School of Professional Studies. Fountain is a former senior advisor to Save the Children, an international children's charity that serves low-income rural and urban communities across the country. She began a career in government in Pennsylvania and became the first black and first female press secretary / intelligence officer for the Pennsylvania State Police. A US Army veteran and author of two books, Fountain earned her MSc in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in Colombia, her BA in Public Order from Penn State Harrisburg, and her Associate in Police Administration from Harrisburg Area Community College.
David Ellis 1991
David Ellis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy New Orleans, LLC, has been recognized by the School of Science, Engineering and Technology. His responsibilities include overseeing the company's financial and operational performance, customer service, regulatory and government relationships, economic development programs, communications, charitable donations, and environmental policies. Ellis has nearly 30 years of experience providing global solutions for reliability and clean energy technology. He was previously President of Global Power Technologies in New Jersey. He has also held numerous leadership positions with energy-focused companies, including demand response company Comverge and wholly owned subsidiary Clean Power Markets. His current organization supplies electricity and natural gas to hundreds of thousands of consumers. Ellis has authored and contributed to various professional publications and newsletters, and presented at several national venues including the Edison Electric Institute, the National APPA Conference for Colleges and Universities, and the World Energy Engineering Conference. He earned his M.B.A. from Eastern University after receiving a BS in electrical engineering from Penn State Harrisburg. He has also completed certificate-based courses from Drexel University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Contact the Alumni Office to nominate a Penn State Harrisburg graduate for a future Alumni Achievement Award.
Smith's $1M legacy to Penn State Harrisburg Library helps scholar success – Penn State Information
City Churn to shut stand at Broad Road Market, improve Harrisburg location – PennLive
Harrisburg Park challenge maxes out funds, building halts – Unbiased Tribune
Harrisburg Council race begins to take form as Allatt declines run for 2021 – The Burg Information
Household mourns Harrisburg teen after lethal taking pictures – ABC27


Just as Iran and the United States seem to be emerging from a diplomatic freeze that started with the 1979 hostage crisis at the American embassy in Tehran, Iran has appointed a new ambassador with links to that very incident.
Hamid Aboutalebi has served as an Iranian diplomat in posts across Europe and Australia over the last several years. It wasn't until he applied for an American visa to begin his new role as Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations did his place in the organization that seized the American embassy in 1979 first garner notice. The infamous stand-off, in which 52 American hostages were held captive, lasted for 444 days.
For his part, Aboutalebi doesn't deny his membership in the group Muslim Students Following the Imam's Line that took over the embassy, but he downplays his involvement in actual capture of the building.
In 1980 Aboutalebi, along with Abbas Abdi, a student instrumental in the US Embassy takeover, traveled to Algeria to invite representatives from several "liberation movements" to attend a meeting in Tehran."
In other news, a deal over Iran nuclear program remains elusive as diplomats from Iran and the P5+1 group failed to make headway in Geneva this weekend.


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Q: React Big Calendar not working with React 15.x.x React Big Calendar works well with React 16 but the same code gives error with React 15
It gives error - NoopWrapper(...): A valid React element (or null) must be returned. You may have returned undefined, an array or some other invalid object.

A: Downgrading the react-big-calendar to 0.19.2 worked, Here is a working sample with react 15.6.2 + react-big-calendar 0.19.2
https://codesandbox.io/s/70455vlnq

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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PCA model clauses
PCA Optional Rules for Arbitrating Disputes between Two Parties of Which Only One Is a State Model Arbitration Clauses
Updated at: September 2020
Section I. Introductory Rules 73
Scope of Application (Article 1) 73
Notice, Calculation of Periods of Time (Article 2) 73
Notice of Arbitration (Article 3) 74
Representation and Assistance (Article 4) 75
Section II. Composition of the Arbitral Tribunal 75
Number of Arbitrators (Article 5) 75
Appointment of Arbitrators (Articles 6 to 8) 75
Challenge of Arbitrators (Articles 9 to 12) 77
Replacement of an Arbitrator (Article 13) 79
Repetition of Hearings in the Event of the Replacement of an Arbitrator
(Article 14) 79
Section III. Arbitral Proceedings 80
General Provisions (Article 15) 80
Place of Arbitration (Article 16) 80
Language (Article 17) 81
Statement of Claim (Article 18) 81
Statement of Defence (Article 19) 82
Amendments to the Claim or Defence (Article 20) 82
Pleas as to the Jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal (Article 21) 82
Further Written Statements (Article 22) 83
Periods of Time (Article 23) 83
Evidence and Hearings (Articles 24 and 25) 83
Interim Measures of Protection (Article 26) 84
Experts (Article 27) 85
Failure to Appear or to Make Submissions (Article 28) 85
Closure of Hearings (Article 29) 86
Waiver of Rules (Article 30) 86
Section IV. The Award 86
Decisions (Article 31) 86
Form and Effect of the Award (Article 32) 87
Applicable Law, Amiable Compositeur (Article 33) 87
Settlement or Other Grounds for Termination (Article 34) 88
Interpretation of the Award (Article 35) 88
Correction of the Award (Article 36) 88
Additional Award (Article 37) 89
Costs (Articles 38 to 40) 89
Deposit of Costs (Article 41) 91
Notes to the Text 92
These Rules supersede the '1962 Rules of Arbitration and Conciliation for Settlement of International Disputes between Two Parties of Which Only One Is a State.' The Rules are based on the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules with changes in order to:
(i) indicate the facilitating role of the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and the availability of the International Bureau to furnish administrative support;
(ii) provide that agreement to arbitrate under the Rules constitutes a waiver of any sovereign immunity from jurisdiction (parties who choose to do so may also provide for waiver of sovereign immunity from execution by adding language such as shown in the optional provisions to the model clause set forth at page 233);
(iii) clarify that if a party-appointed arbitrator on a three-person tribunal fails to participate, the other arbitrators have the discretion to continue the proceedings and to render a binding award.
The Rules are optional and emphasize flexibility and party autonomy. For example:
(i) the Rules, and the services of the Secretary-General and the International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, are available for use by all States and their entities and enterprises, and are not restricted to disputes in which the State is a party to either The Hague Convention on the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes of 1899 or that of 1907;
(ii) the choice of arbitrators is not limited to persons who are listed as Members of the Permanent Court of Arbitration;
(iii) parties have complete freedom to agree upon any individual or institution to be appointing authority. In order to provide a fail-safe mechanism to prevent frustration of the arbitration, the Rules provide that the Secretary-General will designate an appointing authority if the parties do not agree upon the authority, or if the authority they choose does not act.
These Rules are also appropriate for use in connection with multiparty agreements, provided that appropriate changes are made in the procedures for choosing arbitrators and sharing costs. Guidelines to assist parties in adapting these Rules for use in resolving disputes that may involve more than two parties are included at page 245.
A model clause that parties may consider inserting in contracts to provide for arbitration of future disputes and a model clause for arbitration of existing disputes are set forth at pages 233-234.
Explanatory 'Notes to the Text' appear at page 92.
PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION OPTIONAL RULES FOR ARBITRATING DISPUTES BETWEEN TWO PARTIES OF WHICH ONLY ONE IS A STATE
Effective July 6, 1993
SECTION I. INTRODUCTORY RULES
Where the parties to a contract have agreed in writing that disputes in relation to that contract shall be referred to arbitration under the Permanent Court of Arbitration Optional Rules for Arbitrating Disputes between Two Parties of Which Only One Is a State, then such disputes shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with these Rules subject to such modification as the parties may agree in writing.
Agreement by a party to arbitration under these Rules constitutes a waiver of any right of sovereign immunity from jurisdiction, in respect of the dispute in question, to which such party might otherwise be entitled. A waiver of immunity relating to the execution of an arbitral award must be explicitly expressed.
These Rules shall govern the arbitration except that where any of these Rules is in conflict with a provision of the law applicable to the arbitration from which the parties cannot derogate, that provision shall prevail.
The International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague (the 'International Bureau') shall have charge of the archives of the arbitration proceeding. In addition, the International Bureau shall, upon written request of all the parties or of the arbitral tribunal, act as a channel of communications between the parties and the arbitral tribunal, and provide secretariat services including, inter alia, arranging for hearing rooms, interpretation, and stenographic or electronic records of hearings.
Notice, Calculation of Periods of Time
For the purposes of these Rules, any notice, including a notification, communication or proposal, is deemed to have been received if it is physically delivered to the addressee or if it is delivered at the addressee's habitual residence, place of business or mailing address, or, if none of these can be found after making reasonable inquiry, then at the addressee's last-known residence or place of business or mailing address. Notice shall be deemed to have been received on the day it is so delivered.
For the purposes of calculating a period of time under these Rules, such period shall begin to run on the day following the day when a notice, notification, communication or proposal is received. If the last day of such period is an official holiday or a non-business day at the residence or place of business of the addressee, the period is extended until the first business day which follows. Official holidays or non-business days occurring during the running of the period of time are included in calculating the period.
Notice of Arbitration
The party initiating recourse to arbitration (hereinafter called the 'claimant') shall give to the other party (hereinafter called the 'respondent') a notice of arbitration.
Arbitral proceedings shall be deemed to commence on the date on which the notice of arbitration is received by the respondent.
The notice of arbitration shall include the following:
(a) A demand that the dispute be referred to arbitration;
(b) The names and addresses of the parties;
(c) A reference to the arbitration clause or the separate arbitration agreement that is invoked;
(d) A reference to the contract out of or in relation to which the dispute arises;
(e) The general nature of the claim and an indication of the amount involved, if any;
(f) The relief or remedy sought;
(g) A proposal as to the number of arbitrators (i.e., one or three), if the parties have not previously agreed thereon.
The notice of arbitration may also include:
(a) The proposals for the appointments of a sole arbitrator and an appointing authority referred to in article 6, paragraph 1;
(b) The notification of the appointment of an arbitrator referred to in article 7;
(c) The statement of claim referred to in article 18.
Representation and Assistance
The parties may be represented or assisted by persons of their choice. The names and addresses of such persons must be communicated in writing to the other party, to the International Bureau, and to the arbitral tribunal after it has been appointed; such communication must specify whether the appointment is being made for purposes of representation or assistance.
SECTION II. COMPOSITION OF THE ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL
Number of Arbitrators
If the parties have not previously agreed on the number of arbitrators (i.e., one or three), and if within thirty days after the receipt by the respondent of the notice of arbitration the parties have not agreed that there shall be only one arbitrator, three arbitrators shall be appointed.
Appointment of Arbitrators (Articles 6 to 8)
If a sole arbitrator is to be appointed, either party may propose to the other:
(a) The names of one or more persons, one of whom would serve as the sole arbitrator; and
(b) If no appointing authority has been agreed upon by the parties, the name or names of one or more institutions or persons, one of whom would serve as appointing authority.
If within thirty days after receipt by a party of a proposal made in accordance with paragraph 1 the parties have not reached agreement on the choice of a sole arbitrator, the sole arbitrator shall be appointed by the appointing authority agreed upon by the parties.
If no appointing authority has been agreed upon by the parties, or if the appointing authority agreed upon refuses to act or fails to appoint the arbitrator within sixty days of the receipt of a party's request therefor, either party may request the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague (the 'Secretary-General') to designate an appointing authority.
The appointing...
PCA Arbitration Rules 2012 Model Clauses
Model Clause for PCA Services under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
PCA Optional Rules for Arbitrating Disputes between Two States Model Arbitration Clauses
PCA Optional Rules for Arbitration Involving International Organizations and States Model Arbitration Clauses
PCA Optional Rules for Arbitration between International Organizations and Private Parties Model Arbitration Clauses
PCA Optional Conciliation Rules Model Conciliation Clauses
PCA Optional Rules for Arbitration of Disputes Relating to Natural Resources and/or the Environment Model Arbitration Clauses
PCA Optional Rules for Conciliation of Disputes Relating to Natural Resources and/or the Environment Model Conciliation Clause
PCA Optional Rules for Arbitration of Disputes Relating to Outer Space Activities Model Arbitration Clause


Can I add you chadlyn?
Of course you can Heaven. Everyone can add me if they want to. Btw, call me Lyn.
I don't have MSN.. only YIM and AIM..
Alea, you should soo get it. It takes like a minute to get.
but everyone I talk to has YIM or AIM..
Yea, but you should still get it.
*in Mr. Burns voice* Excellent.
Great. I added you Lyn. Alea you should also get it. lol Alea.


Over seventy family and friends of the Vero Beach Varsity Sailing Team gathered on Saturday evening, May 20, 2017, at Rich and Paula Findley's home to celebrate the end of the 2016-17 sailing season and award varsity letters and other trophies and certificates.
Everyone enjoyed a full evening that featured a Vero-to-Norway Skype conversation with former YSF Sailing Director Gary Griffith and his wife Jules, live entertainment, an awards ceremony, and a wonderful buffet dinner. YSF Director George Hinman addressed the team, congratulating them on a very successful season that began and ended with clean sweeps in regattas. Sailing Director Mary Morgan awarded six first-time Vero Beach High School Varsity letters, and recognized three repeating lettermen, giving special recognition to graduating senior and team captain Alden Findley along with departing foreign exchange students Virginia Zedda (Italy) and Clem Goffart (Belgium).
Though the regular season is over, quite a few YSF high school sailors will stay engaged over the summer by staffing YSF Summer Sailing Camps, participating in recreational Saturday sailing, or both. With Coach Morgan and all but three team members returning in the fall, the varsity sailors look forward to another season of continued progress and success. Way to go!


text:
Q: count no of occurences of a substring in a string using bash
It is giving count as 2 where as pattern occurred thrice in the string
echo "axxxaaxx" |  grep -o  "xx" | wc -l
echo "axxxaaxx" |  grep -o  "xx"

A: grep doesnt support overlapping matching of regex. It consumes the characters which get matched. In this case you can enable Perl Compatible Regex (PCRE) using -p switch and use positive look ahead assertion like this:
$ echo "axxxaaxx" | grep -oP "x(?=x)"
x
x
x
$ echo "axxxaaxx" | grep -oP "x(?=x)" | wc -l
3
$

regex(?=regex2) Positive look ahead assertion finds all regex1 after which regex2 follows. While matching chars for regex2 it does NOT consume the chars hence that's the reason you get 3 matches.
x(?=x) Positive look ahead assertion finds all x that has x after it.
In the string xxx, 1st x matches because it has x after it, 2nd x too and 3rd x doesn't.
More info and easy examples can be found here

A: Using -P will enable PCRE which supports lookarounds:
echo "axxxaaxx" | grep -P '(?<=x)x'

In this case we are using a lookbehind which means that we will match an x which have an x before it. This makes us able to have overlapping matches:
How the regex is "evaluated":
 xxx
^^
|Cursor
Looking for x on this position, since there is nothing this will not match

 xxx
 ^^
 |Cursor
 Looking for x on this position since it's found we got a match

 xxx
  ^^
  |Cursor
  Looking for x on this position since it's found we got a match


For you as a company, it is important to support your customer in each of the stages. An excellent tool to do so is your website - check out this article to learn more about how your website can be of use during each of the five steps.
Calls-to-Action - what do you want your customer to do - call, visit, or shop?
With social media, it's less about the what (your product), and more about the why. Why are you in business? Why do you sell your product? Profit is the only reason - you need to care about the customers and their needs!
Your blog can help you explain this.
Think about which problems your customers and prospects have and how you can solve them. Dig deeper and get creative to show your audience that you truly care - and that your caring is not only based on sales figures! Establish yourself as an expert in a subject when placing a desire for your products or services in your customer's head!
Instead of only talking about your product, try to create a context. If you are a boutique that sells clothing, educate your prospects about your newest collection, but also give useful extra information. Talk about colors that go well together, what types of clothes fit which body type, and the newest trends for the summer. From articles to infographics, videos, and tutorials - everything works!
The 70/20/10 rule can help you to build your content. Your content should include 70% information (industry news, business tips, tutorials, etc.), for 20% of the content you should share posts and ideas of others (make sure you give credit!), and only 10% should promote your business!
To increase the reach of your blog, use your other social media accounts for promotional purposes! Make sure you include a URL within your social media posts!
After seeing your blog and getting aware of your products or services, prospects move on to the second research phase. Your website is your digital business card - and especially during the research phase prospects turn to your homepage to get an overview of your business and what you have to offer.
Your homepage is a summary of your website. It contains a short and sharp summary of each of your other pages. For example, it can contain information about your products or services, values, and missions as well as your unique selling proposition.
Potential customers have gotten an overview of who you are and what you have to offer on your homepage. Now they want to dig deeper. Prospects are looking for information about your products or services.
What product or service will I get?
What happens if I don't like it the service or the product is not working?
How will I use the product after purchase?
Offering of demos, free trials, limited time offers and detailed information on your service- or product-page(s) will help to eliminate risk.
Do You Need a Policies Page? It's Recommended If You Are an Online Shop!
For some businesses - especially companies with an online shop/e-commerce, a policy page is a helpful tool to have all policies gathered on one page. The policies page could include details about shipping, guarantees, warranty, return and delivery times. However, if you do not have an online shop, this information can be included in the service or product page(s).
The contact page should include every possible way customers can communicate with you. Information to include is your physical address, telephone number, opening hours, the area you serve, as well as your email address, and a contact form. Make sure all information on this page is up-to-date so possible clients can get a hold of you!
The prospects now know which service and products you have to offer. And they are almost ready to buy. But buying a product from an unknown business for the first time contains a certain risk level. Prospects are wondering if your company does exist, is reliable, and if you provide good services or products. The "About Us" page is essential to answering those questions and to building trust. Turn your website visitors to buying customers by being as trustworthy as possible!
Reasons you are in business, your values, and your mission.
Success indicators like awards, certifications, etc.
Word-of-mouth marketing is vital for building trust. Authentic customer quotes, success stories, or testimonials are more trustworthy to customers than advertising! Thus, it is necessary to have good reviews. Start today and ask satisfied customers to leave a review on your website!
The customer bought your product, but the work doesn't stop there! The customers will now be asking: Should I buy again from this company and should I recommend it to a friend? Make sure you keep your social media and blog up-to-date to keep customers interested in what you're doing. You could also think about adding an FAQ page to your website.


Dr. Siobhan McDonagh - Quincy, MA - Milton Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, Inc.
Dr. Siobhan McDonagh is a chiropractor in our Weymouth office. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology at Bethany College in West Virginia in 2012 and her Doctorate of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in 2015.
Throughout her chiropractic training, she worked with many different types of patients, including children and their parents, pregnant women, college athletes, and the elderly. She understands that each person is unique and makes sure to customize care based on individual needs and goals.
Dr. McDonagh is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. She is currently Webster certified and is working towards becoming Certified by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (expected May 2018) as well as a certification in BirthFit. She is also certified in Nimmo technique.


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text:
trending Market Intelligence /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/IL71EYUNLHIevHSAZMCYgQ2 content esgSubNav
Netflix posts subscriber data; NBCU names new CEO; Intel buys AI chipmaker
TMT News & Research: 2020 Recap
Charter, DIRECTV and Comcast rank as the top 'RSN-friendly' MVPDs
Quibi's $2 billion bet on mobile video fizzles out
Cable nets struggle with cash flow declines due to cord cutting, pandemic
Author Phoebe Magdirila
Theme Technology, Media & Telecom
* Netflix Inc. provided a detailed breakdown of its international subscribers and regional revenue for the first time in a Dec. 16 regulatory filing. The filing showed that the streamer's most lucrative region per subscriber remains the U.S. and Canada, where it reported average monthly revenue of $12.36 per paid membership. Subscriber growth is fastest internationally, however. The company reported the strongest growth in paid net streaming additions in Latin America, where net additions more than tripled between June and September, to 1.49 million additions as of Sept. 30. In the Asia-Pacific region, net subscriber adds nearly doubled quarter over quarter, to 1.54 million as of Sept. 30.
* NBCUniversal Media LLC's head of film and network television will become CEO of the Comcast Corp.-owned media company Jan. 1, 2020, as longtime executive Steve Burke prepares for retirement after the Tokyo Olympics. Jeff Shell will become CEO of NBCU, reporting to Burke, who will resign as CEO and become chairman.
* Intel Corp. purchased Habana Labs Ltd., an Israel-based developer of programmable deep learning accelerators for data centers, in a $2 billion deal that Intel said will strengthen its artificial intelligence business. Habana will continue to operate as an independent business unit based in Israel and will be led by its current management team.
* Apple Inc. and The Walt Disney Co.'s ABC News Inc. teamed up to provide coverage of key events of the 2020 presidential election through the Apple News app, according to a news release. The livestreaming coverage will begin from the Democratic primary debate on Feb. 7, 2020, up until the election night and the 2021 presidential inauguration.
Internet & OTT
* Hulu LLC will premiere an original documentary on climate activist Greta Thunberg in 2020, Deadline.com reports. The upcoming show, under the working title of "Greta," will be produced by Cecilia Nessen and Frederik Heinig through B-Reel Films Inc. and directed by Nathan Grossman.
* Warner Media LLC announced that upcoming streaming service HBO Max will debut an unscripted holiday-themed dating series, "12 Dates of Christmas," in 2020.
* Vox Media Inc. is set to lay off hundreds of freelancers in the coming months in preparation of a California law that bars nonemployees from submitting more than 35 articles per year, CNBC.com reports. The changes will mostly impact people covering sports for the SB Nation website, according to the report.
* Apple started offering a $49.99 annual subscription plan for its Apple Arcade gaming service, CNET.com reports, citing the Ifun.de website. The company launched the service earlier this year with a monthly subscription fee of $4.99.
* Facebook Inc. is introducing a new feature on Instagram that notifies users when their photo or video captions may be considered offensive. Instagram is using artificial intelligence technology to detect bullying on the platform.
* British regulator Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into Google LLC's proposed acquisition of analytics company Looker Data Sciences Inc. over concerns that the deal will hurt competition in the market. The regulator is accepting public comments in relation to the probe until Dec. 20.
* Cisco Systems Inc. unveiled plans to acquire Australia-based network devices manufacturer Exablaze for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to close in the fiscal third quarter of 2020.
* Steve Louden will step down as CFO of U.S.-headquartered Roku Inc. Louden, who joined Roku in 2015, plans to stay until the company finds a replacement.
* ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE's NuCom Group division is considering plans to acquire U.S. livestreaming solutions company Meet Group, Reuters reports, citing sources. NuCom has submitted a preliminary expression of interest, but it remains to be seen if talks will lead to a transaction.
* FreeWheel Media Inc. and Google are expected to bid for ViacomCBS Inc.'s tech business as the newly merged entity is looking to consolidate its tech ad vendors, Broadcasting & Cable reports. The move is part of ViacomCBS' initiative to examine all departments and vendor relationships to cut costs and streamline operations.
* Activist shareholders may urge other Apple shareholders at an annual meeting in 2020 to push the iPhone maker for a public commitment to respect freedom of expression, London's Financial Times reports. Apple lost a bid to have the resolution removed from the agenda items for the meeting. The move is in response to criticism Apple faced for removing a controversial mapping app during the Hong Kong protests.
* U.S. technology companies rejected a request from the Trump administration to pledge that they will stop sourcing supplies from Chinese companies, London's Financial Times reports. The U.S. Department of State sought telecom and chip companies to sign a set of principles that may have imposed greater restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and other Chinese companies.
* Google warned Turkish business partners that it will not be able to work on new Android phones to be released in Turkey amid a ruling by the Turkish competition board, Reuters reports. In a ruling, Turkey's competition authority said changes made by the Alphabet Inc. unit to its contracts with the business partners were not acceptable and the U.S. company still not allow changes to the default search engine.
* Human rights group The International Rights Advocates filed a lawsuit against major technology companies over claims of "aiding and abetting" the use of young children to mine cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The suit alleges Microsoft Corp., Apple, Alphabet, Dell Technologies Inc. and Tesla Inc. knew that cobalt used in their products could be linked to child labor.
* Diane Rinaldo is stepping down as acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The NTIA is a division of the U.S. Commerce Department that advises the White House on telecom policy and oversees government spectrum holdings.
* Some U.S. carriers, including T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corp., started rolling out Google's Android 10 mobile operating system for Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s Galaxy S10 devices in the U.S., 9to5Google reports, citing posts on Reddit and other publications. Verizon Communications Inc. confirmed the availability of Android 10 OS on Galaxy S10 smartphones, TheVerge.com reports.
Content & Advertising
* Senior lenders of Kew Media Group Inc. provided notice of an event of default under the company's senior credit facilities due to inaccurate information provided by a former CFO of Kew Media. Kew Media said it continues to "discuss its short-term liquidity requirements with its senior lenders."
* James McLaughlin will retire as CEO of Boston Omaha Corp. unit Link Media Holdings LLC, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The company tapped Scott LaFoy, the head of mergers and acquisitions at Link Media, as interim CEO of the company.
* AMC Networks Inc. is seeking the dismissal of a 2018 lawsuit by Frank Darabont, a former member of "The Walking Dead" production team, Variety reports. In the filing, AMC Networks argued that Darabont's claims in the second suit lacked merit and his profits were rightly calculated in accordance with the terms of his contract with the company.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower opening for the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Hang Seng was up 1.22% to 27,843.71, and the Nikkei 225 rose 0.47% to 24,066.12.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 fell 0.21% to 7,503.42, and the Euronext 100 was down 0.38% to 1,141.94.
On the macro front
The housing starts report, the redbook, the industrial production report and the Labor Department's JOLTS report are due out today.
Click here to read about today's financial markets, setting out the factors driving stocks, bonds and currencies around the world ahead of the New York open.
The Daily Dose Europe: BT sells Spanish unit; Liberty Global, Sunrise end deal; NuCom eyes Meet Group: British Telecom is selling its Spanish operations to Portobello Capital Gestión SGEIC SA-backed funds, Liberty Global PLC ended talks to sell UPC Schweiz to Swiss operator Sunrise Communications Group AG, and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE unit NuCom Group is considering acquiring U.S. company Meet Group.
The Daily Dose Asia-Pacific: Brookfield to buy Jio's tower unit; Dentsu to restructure; Viu exits India: Reliance Industries Ltd. struck a deal to sell the tower arm of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., Dentsu Inc. will shed about 11% of its employees in seven markets under a restructuring plan, and Hong Kong-based video streaming service Viu is exiting India.
M&A Replay: Intel buys AI chipmaker for $2B; Sony unit buys Silvergate Media: Intel purchased Israel-based Habana Labs in a $2 billion deal, while Sony Pictures Television Inc. acquired Silvergate Media Holdings Ltd..
M&A Replay: Altice Europe to sell stake in Portuguese fiber unit; Apple buys UK tech startup: A Morgan Stanley-backed fund will buy a minority stake in Altice Europe's Portuguese fiber business, while Apple acquired U.K.-based startup Spectral Edge Ltd.
The Week in OTT: 'The Irishman' viewership numbers; AT&T TV launch date: Netflix expects 40 million households to watch "The Irishman" during its first month of release, while AT&T Inc. is set to launch its AT&T TV service nationwide in February 2020.
ITV, BBC's BritBox lacks content, budget to thrive in UK: The public service broadcasters' streaming service is curbing its appeal by launching with previously aired shows that will mainly resonate with older viewers, analysts said.
The Best Of: Kagan research and analysis, editor's picks: Kagan presents the editor's top picks from its exclusive research and analysis for the week ended Dec. 13.
Economics of TV & Film: 'Frozen II' ices out other theatrical releases in November: "Frozen II" was the biggest theatrical hit released in November 2019 and carried that success over to the most recent film profit projections.
Multichannel Trends: 2020 US multichannel outlook: Sector at a crossroads: A year of sector-altering developments threatens to converge with a softening economic environment to increase headwinds in 2020, prompting operators to explore creative solutions.
Wireless Investor: Bids rise at good clip in week 1 of 37 GHz-39 GHz Auction 103: The auction of 14,144 licenses in 37 GHz-39 GHz-47 GHz bands hit $2 billion after three days of bidding, with heavy demand in the lower bands and little in the upper band.
Economics of Networks: Cable network Q3'19 distribution revenue recap: Distribution remains the dominant revenue stream for most of the major U.S. cable programmers that reported earnings for the quarter ended Sept. 30, even as the multichannel universe continues to shrink.
Global Multichannel: 2019 LatAm groups report: Broadband has largest share of fixed service revenues: During 2018, broadband overtook TV to reach 38.9% of top groups' fixed revenue. América Móvil SAB de CV and Telefónica SA dominate the Latin American market with 48.7% of total subscribers at year-end 2018.
Global Multichannel: 2019 LatAm groups report: Top groups' pay TV subscriber base grew 2% in 2018: Latin America's top multichannel providers experienced mixed results during 2018, with the subscriber base growing but revenues dropping due to economic turbulence in key markets. AT&T remains the top revenue generator despite losing subs in 2018.
Global Multichannel: 2019 LatAm groups report: Megacable had strongest financial position in 2018: Megacable had the best financial position during 2018 due to high margins and low debt levels. Foreign exchange volatility in large markets affected EBITDA as well as groupwide revenues, which stood at $98.37 billion.
Economics of Advertising: Media Trends: Kagan presents its annual look at trends in media, including a focus on patterns in consumer spending on entertainment and other related services.
The Daily Dose has an editorial deadline of 7:30 a.m. ET. Some external links may require a subscription. Links are current as of publication time, and we are not responsible if those links are unavailable later.
Phoebe Magdirila


text:
Thomson Reuters reports second-quarter 2017 results
TORONTO – Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Based on its first-half results, the company raised its full-year 2017 outlook for several metrics, as reflected on page 5.
"It is encouraging to see the continued improvement in underlying operating performance," said Jim Smith, president and chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters. "Based on the solid start to the year, we are increasing full-year EPS guidance. Our execution focus is paying off, and we believe efforts to improve customer experience will keep the trend lines moving in the right direction."
Consolidated Financial Highlights
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except for adjusted EBITDA margin and earnings per share (EPS) (unaudited)
IFRS Financial Measures 1 2017 2016 Change Change at Constant Currency
Revenues $2,782 $2,769 0%
Operating profit $399 $401 0%
Diluted EPS (includes discontinued operations) $0.27 $0.45 -40%
Cash flow from operations (includes discontinued operations) $834 $770 8%
Non-IFRS Financial Measures 1
Revenues $2,782 $2,769 0% 2%
Adjusted EBITDA $838 $757 11% 11%
Adjusted EBITDA margin 30.1% 27.3% 280bp 230bp
Adjusted EPS $0.60 $0.47 28% 28%
Free cash flow (includes discontinued operations) $580 $525 10%
1 In addition to results reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the company uses certain non-IFRS financial measures as supplemental indicators of its operating performance and financial position. These and other non-IFRS financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable IFRS measures in the tables appended to this news release.
Revenues were slightly higher compared to the prior-year period as higher recurring revenues and contributions from acquisitions were mostly offset by the impact of foreign currency.
At constant currency, revenues increased 2%.
Operating profit was essentially unchanged as slightly higher revenues and lower expenses, which reflected savings from the company's simplification initiatives, were offset by the unfavorable impact of fair value adjustments associated with foreign currency derivatives embedded in certain customer contracts.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 11% to $838 million and the margin increased 280 basis points to 30.1% from 27.3% primarily due to higher revenues and simplification initiatives which resulted in lower expenses.
Diluted EPS, which includes discontinued operations, decreased 40% to $0.27 due to the same factors that impacted operating profit, as well as non-cash foreign currency fluctuations on intercompany loans and the loss of earnings from IP & Science following its sale in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Adjusted EPS was $0.60, an increase of 28%, or $0.13 per share, primarily due to higher adjusted EBITDA.
Cash flow from operations increased 8%, despite the loss of cash flow from IP & Science following its sale, due to higher operating profit before the impact of non-cash items, such as fair value adjustments.
Free cash flow increased 10% to $580 million, primarily reflecting stronger adjusted EBITDA performance, partly offset by the loss of cash flow from IP & Science following its sale.
The company repurchased 6.7 million shares during the second quarter at a cost of $294 million and repurchased 13.5 million shares during the first six months of the year at a cost of $578 million under its $1.0 billion share buyback program.
Highlights by Business Unit
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except for adjusted EBITDA margins) (unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30, Change
2017 2016 Total Foreign Currency Constant Currency
Financial & Risk $1,517 $1,524 0% -2% 2%
Legal 842 846 0% -1% 1%
Tax & Accounting 350 324 8% 0% 8%
Corporate & Other (Reuters News) 74 79 -6% -1% -5%
Eliminations (1) (4)
Revenues $2,782 $2,769 0% -2% 2%
Financial & Risk $477 $443 8% 0% 8%
Tax & Accounting 103 82 26% 2% 24%
Corporate & Other (includes Reuters News) (62) (78) n/a n/a n/a
Adjusted EBITDA $838 $757 11% 0% 11%
Financial & Risk 31.4% 29.1% 230bp 50bp 180bp
Legal 38.0% 36.6% 140bp 30bp 110bp
Tax & Accounting 29.4% 25.3% 410bp 20bp 390bp
Corporate & Other (includes Reuters News) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Adjusted EBITDA margin 30.1% 27.3% 280bp 50bp 230bp
n/a – not applicable
Unless otherwise noted, all revenue growth comparisons by business unit in this news release are at constant currency (or exclude the impact of foreign currency) as Thomson Reuters believes this provides the best basis to measure their performance.
Financial & Risk
Revenues increased 2% to $1.5 billion. Organic revenues grew 1% and acquisitions contributed 1%.
Revenues by type:
Recurring revenues grew 1% (77% of total)
The increase was primarily due to an annual price increase and positive net sales.
Transactions revenues grew 8% (15% of total)
Growth was due to increased revenue from Tradeweb and the BETA brokerage processing business, as well as contributions from acquisitions. These increases were partially offset by the impact of lower foreign exchange trading revenues.
Recoveries revenues decreased 5% (8% of total). The company does not expect recoveries to have a significant impact on Financial & Risk's revenue growth in the second half of the year.
Revenues by geography:
Revenues were up 3% in the Americas, up 1% in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and were up slightly in Asia Pacific, despite the impact of lower recoveries revenues in each region.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 8% to $477 million.
The margin increased to 31.4% from 29.1%. In constant currency, the margin increased 180 basis points primarily due to savings from the company's simplification initiatives, including the 2016 severance charges, and higher revenues.
Net sales were positive in the quarter.
Revenues increased 1% to $842 million.
US Print revenues declined 8% (14% of total)
Transactions revenues declined 8% (10% of total)
The margin increased to 38.0% from 36.6%. In constant currency, the margin increased 110 basis points due to higher revenues, savings related to the fourth-quarter 2016 severance charges and ongoing simplification initiaties.
Revenues increased 8% to $350 million primarily due to higher recurring revenues and improved transactions revenues. Revenue growth also benefited from a favorable year-over-year comparison, as the Government business reported lower revenues in the prior-year period due to delays on certain contracts.
Transactions revenues grew 36% (16% of total)
Adjusted EBITDA increased 26% to $103 million.
The margin increased to 29.4% from 25.3%. In constant currency, the margin increased 390 basis points due to higher revenues and savings related to the fourth-quarter 2016 severance charges.
Corporate & Other (Including Reuters News)
Reuters News revenues were $74 million, down 5%.
Corporate & Other costs at the adjusted EBITDA level were $62 million compared to $78 million in the prior-year period.
The reduction was driven by savings generated by the company's simplification initiatives and the elimination of certain costs following the sale of IP & Science.
Including depreciation and amortization of software, Corporate & Other costs were $74 million compared to $94 million in the prior-year period. On this basis, the company expects full-year Corporate & Other costs to be approximately $280 million.
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except for adjusted EBITDA margin and EPS) (unaudited)
IFRS Financial Measures 2017 2016 Change Change at Constant Currency
Operating profit $843 $711 19%
Cash flow from operations (includes discontinued operations) $466 $1,228 -62%
Adjusted EBITDA $1,714 $1,505 14% 14%
Free cash flow (includes discontinued operations) ($5) $748 n/m
n/m – not meaningful
Revenues increased 1% as higher recurring revenues and contributions from acquisitions were partly offset by the impact of foreign currency and a decline in Financial & Risk's recoveries revenues.
Operating profit increased 19% as higher revenues and lower expenses were partly offset by unfavorable fair value adjustments associated with foreign currency derivatives embedded in certain customer contracts. Lower expenses reflected continued simplification initiatives.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 14% to $1.7 billion and the margin increased to 30.6% from 27.1%, primarily reflecting higher revenues and the positive impact of the company's simplification initiatives.
Diluted EPS, which includes discontinued operations, decreased 15% to $0.67 as higher operating profit was more than offset by non-cash foreign currency fluctuations on intercompany loans and the loss of earnings from IP & Science following its sale.
Cash flow from operations declined 62% primarily due to a $500 million pension plan contribution, $116 million of payments related to 2016 severance charges, and the loss of cash flow from IP & Science following its sale ($243 million year-on-year variance).
Free cash flow was negative $5 million reflecting similar factors as noted above.
Free cash flow for the full year is expected to be between $0.9 billion and $1.2 billion, as reflected in the company's outlook.
Six Months Ended June 30, Change
Legal 1,666 1,668 0% -1% 1%
Corporate & Other (Reuters News) 148 154 -4% -2% -2%
Tax & Accounting 244 196 24% 0% 24%
Corporate & Other (includes Reuters News) (97) (179) n/a n/a n/a
Adjusted EBITDA $1,714 $1,505 14% 0% 14%
Legal 37.6% 36.5% 110bp 0bp 110bp
Tax & Accounting 31.8% 27.5% 430bp -10bp 440bp
In February 2017, the Thomson Reuters board of directors approved a $0.02 per share annualized increase in the dividend to $1.38 per common share. A quarterly dividend of $0.345 per share is payable on September 15, 2017 to common shareholders of record as of August 17, 2017.
Business Outlook 2017 (At Constant Currency)
Based on the results of the first half of the year, the company raised its full-year outlook for adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook for revenue growth and free cash flow. For the full-year 2017, the company currently expects:
Low single-digit revenue growth
Adjusted EBITDA margin to range between 29.3% - 30.3% - up from previous guidance of 28.8% - 29.8%
Free cash flow to range between $0.9 billion and $1.2 billion, which reflects cash payments in 2017 relating to the fourth-quarter 2016 charges, the $500 million pension plan contribution made in the first quarter of 2017 and the loss of free cash flow from the sale of the IP & Science business
Adjusted EPS target of $2.40 - $2.45 – up from previous guidance of $2.35
The company's 2017 outlook does not factor in the impact of acquisitions or divestitures that may occur during the year.
The information in this section is forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with the section below entitled "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, Material Assumptions and Material Risks."
Thomson Reuters prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
This news release includes certain non-IFRS financial measures, such as adjusted EBITDA and the related margin (other than at the business unit or segment level), free cash flow, adjusted EPS, and selected measures excluding the impact of foreign currency. Thomson Reuters uses these non-IFRS financial measures as supplemental indicators of its operating performance and financial position. These measures do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures used by other companies, and should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable IFRS measures in the appended tables. The term "organic" refers to Thomson Reuters' existing businesses before the impact of acquisitions.
The company's business outlook contains various non-IFRS financial measures. For outlook purposes only, the company is unable to reconcile these non-IFRS measures to the most comparable IFRS measures because it cannot predict, with reasonable certainty, the 2017 impact of changes in foreign exchange rates which impact (i) the translation of its results reported at average foreign currency rates for the year, (ii) fair value adjustments associated with foreign currency derivatives embedded in certain customer contracts, and (iii) other finance income or expense related to foreign exchange contracts and intercompany financing arrangements. Additionally, the company cannot reasonably predict the occurrence or amount of other operating gains and losses, which generally arise from business transactions that it does not anticipate.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, MATERIAL ASSUMPTIONS AND MATERIAL RISKS
Certain statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, statements in the "Business Outlook 2017 (At Constant Currency)" section, Mr. Smith's comments and statements regarding recoveries revenues and corporate costs, are forward-looking. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. There is no assurance that the events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. A business outlook is provided for the purpose of presenting information about current expectations for 2017. This information may not be appropriate for other purposes. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
The company's 2017 business outlook is based on various external and internal assumptions. Economic and market assumptions include, but are not limited to, GDP growth in most of the countries where Thomson Reuters operates, a continued increase in demand for high quality information and workflow solutions and a continued need for trusted products and services that help customers navigate changing geopolitical, economic and regulatory environments. Internal financial and operational assumptions include, but are not limited to, the successful execution of sales initiatives, ongoing product release programs, our globalization strategy and other growth and efficiency initiatives.
Some of the material risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economy; actions of competitors; failure to develop new products, services, applications and functionalities to meet customers' needs, attract new customers and retain existing ones, or expand into new geographic markets and identify areas of higher growth; fraudulent or unpermitted data access or other cyber-security or privacy breaches; failures or disruptions of telecommunications, data centers, network systems or the Internet; increased accessibility to free or relatively inexpensive information sources; failure to meet the challenges involved in operating globally; failure to maintain a high renewal rate for recurring, subscription-based services; dependency on third parties for data, information and other services; changes to law and regulations; tax matters, including changes to tax laws, regulations and treaties; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates; failure to adapt to organizational changes and effectively implement strategic initiatives; failure to attract, motivate and retain high quality management and key employees; failure to protect the brands and reputation of Thomson Reuters; inadequate protection of intellectual property rights; threat of legal actions and claims; failure to derive fully the anticipated benefits from existing or future acquisitions, joint ventures, investments or dispositions; risk of antitrust/competition-related claims or investigations; impairment of goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets; downgrading of credit ratings and adverse conditions in the credit markets; the effect of factors outside of the control of Thomson Reuters on funding obligations in respect of pension and post-retirement benefit arrangements; and actions or potential actions that could be taken by the company's principal shareholder, The Woodbridge Company Limited. These and other factors are discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Thomson Reuters annual and quarterly reports are also available in the "Investor Relations" section of www.thomsonreuters.com.
Thomson Reuters will webcast a discussion of its second-quarter 2017 results today beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of www.thomsonreuters.com. An archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.
David Crundwell
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Email: david.crundwell@tr.com
Email: frank.golden@com
Q2 2017 Earnings Presentation
Q2 2017 Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures


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Last Minute Shoppers, Rejoice: Here are the 15 Most Beautiful Art Coffee Table Books Published This Year
If you're looking for a new coffee table book, we have you covered.
Sarah Cascone, December 22, 2017
Some of the best art book covers of 2017.
As we turn the page on 2017, we're looking back at some of the most engaging and beautiful art coffee table books of the year.
1. Cast: Art & Objects Made Using Humanity's Most Transformational Process by Jen Townsend and Renée Zettle-Sterling
Cast: Art and Objects Made Using Humanity's Most Transformational Process by Jen Townsend and Renée Zettle-Sterling. Courtesy of Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
This gorgeous tome takes a comprehensive look at casting, touching on fine art, craft, design, and everyday objects made in all manner of materials through the use of molds. With more than 800 photographs, Cast will make you newly aware of the process's omnipresence, both today and throughout history.
2. The Apparently Marginal Activities of Marcel Duchamp by Elena Filipovic
Elena Filipovic, The Apparently Marginal Activities of Marcel Duchamp (2016). Courtesy of Amazon.
In this unusual look at the career of the groundbreaking artist, Elena Filipovic argues that for Marcel Duchamp, his most important work wasn't his art, but the behind-the-scenes work of art dealing, putting together exhibitions, and publicizing his work. She makes her case through many rarely seen images in this richly illustrated book.
3. Love: Contemporary Art Meets Amour by Danilo Eccher
Danilo Eccher, Love: Contemporary Art Meets Amour (2017). Courtesy of Amazon.
Love is a universally recognized emotion, so it's no surprise that it has been a timeless artistic inspiration. Here, Danilo Eccher has gathered together love-themed works by contemporary artists including Tom Wesselmann, Andy Warhol, Tracey Moffatt, and, of course, Robert Indiana, pairing them with essays by Federico Vercellone, Pierangelo Sequeri, Mattia Fumanti, and Woody Allen.
4. The Art of the Erotic by Rowan Pelling
Rowan Pelling and Phaidon Editors, The Art of the Erotic (2017). Courtesy of Phaidon.
Where there's love, there's often sex—an equally if not more-popular topic among artists. Phaidon explores human sexuality throughout the centuries with art historical works from everyone from Titian, Paul Cézanne, and Picasso to Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, and Cecily Brown.
5. Feast Your Eyes by Brittany Wright
Brittany Wright, image used on the cover of Feast Your Eyes (2017). Photo courtesy of the artist.
Brittany Wright is the artist behind wright kitchen, the popular website and Instagram account featuring gorgeous photographs of vegetables and other foodstuff arranged, enticingly, by color. Her beautiful images look great on your iPhone, so imagine how impressed you'll be to see them in a glossy hardcover book.
6. The Secret World of Renaldo Kuhler by Brett Ingram
Brett Ingram, The Secret World of Renaldo Kuhler (2017). Courtesy of Blast Books.
Outsider Art fans will want to meet Renaldo Kuhler (1931–2013), who for 60 years worked in secrecy, creating the fantastic world of Rocaterrania, inspired by his hometown in Rockland County, New York. His fictional kingdom—replete with its own religion, government, and language, as well as an Olympic Games, prison system, railroad lines, and richly detailed history—comes to life in this new book by Brett Ingram. Most of the expertly drafted illustrations, done in graphite, ink, acrylic, oil, gouache, and watercolors, among other mediums, are being published here for the first time.
7. Life? Or Theatre? by Charlotte Salomon
Charlotte Salomon, Life? Or Theatre? (2017). Courtesy of the Overlook Press.
Can't make it to Amsterdam to see the first complete exhibition of Charlotte Salomon's magnum opus, the nearly 800-piece series "Life? Or Theatre? A Play With Music" at the Jewish Historical Museum (on view through March 25, 2018)? The next best thing is this book, featuring 1,300 color images, scholarly essays, and the mysterious letter in which Salomon claims to have murdered her grandfather, translated into English for the first time.
8. Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005–2016 by Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz, Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016 (2017). Courtesy of Amazon.
Featuring never-before-published photographs, Annie Leibovitz's new volume of work focuses on her most memorable portraits of the last 11 years. The over 150 images include shots of such luminaries as Meryl Streep, Queen Elizabeth II, and Joan Didion. (On the other hand, she's also included a portrait of Kanye West taking a photo of Kim Kardashian taking a selfie with her baby, which may be a little too meta for some, and, odiously, Donald and Melania Trump.)
9. Gustav Klimt: Complete Paintings by Tobias G. Natter
Tobias G. Natter, Gustav Klimt: Complete Paintings (2017). Courtesy of Amazon.
Gold, glittery, and erotic, this gorgeous tome showcases the major works of Gustav Klimt (1862–1918), just in time for the centenary of his death.
10. Signs of Hope: Messages From Subway Therapy by Matthew "Levee" Chavez
Signs of Hope: Messages From Subway Therapy by Matthew "Levee" Chavez. Courtesy of Bloomsbury.
This diminutive but still good-looking volume is tiny for a reason: It documents the small Post-It Note messages left in New York City's subway stations in the days and weeks following the election of Donald Trump. The project, started by Matthew "Levee" Chavez, became an important means of communal catharsis, and, through the power of social media, spread a message of hope far beyond the streets of New York. The book's photographs document the large scale of the project, which has since been staged in cities around the world, as well as individual notes from everyday people, assuring that "peace and intelligence prevails."
11. WOMEN: Portraits, 1960–2000 by Susan Wood
Susan Wood, Barbara Chase-Riboud. Courtesy of Point Leaf Press.
Perhaps best known for her Look magazine cover featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Susan Wood has photographed some of the most iconic female figures of the 20th century. Over her more-than-40-year career, she has shot for Mad Men types in New York in the 1960s, on the front lines of the women's liberation movement in the 1970s, and on the sets of such films as Easy Rider. In her new book, see her stunning images of the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Martha Stewart, Nora Ephron, Alice Waters, Jayne Mansfield, and Gloria Vanderbilt.
12. Anne Collier: Women With Cameras by Anne Collier
Anne Collier. Women With Cameras (Anonymous), 2017. Courtesy of Karma.
As the name suggests, Collier's book is a collection of found photos dating from the 1970s to the 2000s, all featuring women with cameras. Individual pictures range from the melancholic to the funny to the strange, but as a whole, the collection is a poignant reflection on the lack of power women have had, traditionally, over their own representation.
13. Darren Harvey-Regan: The Erratics by Darren Harvey-Regan
Darren Harvey-Regan, The Erratics, 2017. Courtesy of RVB Books.
In Darren Harvey-Regan's book The Erratics, elegant photographs depicting chunks of chalk atop a plinth are paired with a text in which the artist contemplates representational imagery, abstraction, and the function of photography. The result is a moving meditation on memory and the relationship between photography and writing.
14. Borrowed Light: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection edited by Ian Berry and Jack Shear
Borrowed Light: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection (2017). Courtesy of DelMonico Books, Prestel, and the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.
Bringing together over 350 photographs from the collection of photographer and curator Jack Shear—which were gifted to the Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College and made up an exhibition there in 2016—Borrowed Light is inspired by another influential collector and book: A Book of Photographs from the Collection of Sam Wagstaff from 1978. And like that previous title, it provides both a mini-survey of photography in the 20th century, as well as a glimpse into the life of the visionary person who recognized the importance and longevity of that work early on.
15. Vermeer: The Complete Works by Karl Schütz
Vermeer: The Complete Works by Karl Schütz. Courtesy of Taschen.
See the complete works of Dutch Golden Age master Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), barely known during his lifetime but now one of the world's most sought-after painters, in this authoritative, beautifully reproduced monograph. If you love the Girl With a Pearl Earring, this is your chance to dive deeper into the artist's oeuvre.
Additional reporting by Taylor Dafoe.
Contemporary Impressionism & Modern Old Masters
15 Scintillating Art Books to Read on the Beach This Summer
By Artnet News , Jun 29, 2017
Our Favorite Art Books of 2016
By Artnet News , Dec 28, 2016
Five Gorgeous Art Books to Peruse This Thanksgiving
By Amah-Rose Abrams , Nov 24, 2016
14 Exhilarating Art-Inspired Documentaries to Stream This Holiday Season
By , Dec 25, 2017
From Mona Lisa's Secret Obsession to Meryl Streep's 'Brush' With the Alt-Right: The Best and Worst of the Art World This Week


In October, Building Safety Group (BSG), the UK's largest construction safety group, hosted its 2017 Health & Safety Awards at the Williams F1 Centre in Oxfordshire. We are pleased to announce E G Carter & Co Ltd were awarded, Member of the Year – Central and West.
On Wednesday October 18th, the annual BSG Awards were held at the Williams F1 Conference Centre in Oxfordshire. E G Carter & Co Ltd won the Regional Safety Award – Central and West. This award is particularly prestigious to E G Carter & Co Ltd as it recognises our ongoing commitment and dedication to delivering our projects to the highest levels of Health & Safety. This is the fifth award to be secured by E G Carter in the last 2 years.
Nominations came from BSG members across the UK, who wished to see their Health and Safety achievements recognised by BSG.


A new video has been published showing a demonstration by ExxonMobil, the oil major that makes lubricants for Mobil UK stockists, from the exhibition floor of MRO Americas 2018, a leading event for the aviation maintenance industry.
Despite all this, though, any oil will eventually Continue reading How can your Mobil stockist help prevent equipment failure?
Flushing a lubricating system can be a great move if it is performed correctly, and if there is a need to do so, in many cases adding years of life to a system, However, the process of performing a flush is Continue reading To flush or not to flush: does your turbine's lubricant system need flushing?


Shop Manhattan and Brooklyn like a local!
Shops, boutiques and sample sales are hand selected based upon the interest, style and budget of you and your group.
Score incredible discounts from local stores and wholesale showrooms!
Get styling tips and rock star treatment at NYC boutiques.
Hit the best sample sales.
During the duration of the tour we will generally visit 2-3 different unique shopping areas.
Rox Customizes the neighborhoods based upon the interest's of your group.
Great for 1st time visitor's or those wanting to see a local side of the city.
Cost: Email shopwithrox@gmail.com for pricing.
If taking the tour alone, email shopwithrox@gmail.com for pricing.


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Intro To Curriculum
Origin of Man
The Sumerian Tablets
Ghosts & The Paranormal
UFO's & ET's
Poison Planet
HAARP & Blue Beam
Truth In Entertainment
11 Signs That The U.S. Economy Is Rapidly Deteriorating Even As The Stock Market Soars
Published on May 12, 2016 by admin · 1 Comment
Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,
We have seen this story before, and it never ends well. From mid-March until early May 2008, a vigorous stock market rally convinced many investors that the market turmoil of late 2007 and early 2008 was over and that happy days were ahead for the U.S. economy. But of course we all know what happened. It turned out that the market downturns of late 2007 and early 2008 were just "foreshocks" of a much greater crash in late 2008. The market surge in the spring of 2008 was just a mirage, and it masked rapidly declining economic fundamentals. Well,the exact same thing is happening right now. The Dow rose another 222 points on Tuesday, but meanwhile virtually every number that we are getting is just screaming that the overall U.S. economy is steadily falling apart. So don't be fooled by a rising stock market. Just like in the spring of 2008, all of the signs are pointing to an avalanche of bad economic news in the months ahead. The following are 11 signs that the U.S. economy is rapidly deteriorating…
#1 Total business sales have been declining for nearly two years, and they are now about15 percent lower than they were in late 2014.
#2 The inventory to sales ratio is now back to near where it was during the depths of the last recession. This means that there is lots and lots of unsold stuff just sitting around out there, and that is a sign of a very unhealthy economy.
#3 Corporate earnings have declined for four consecutive quarters. This never happens outside of a recession.
#4 Profits for companies listed on the S&P 500 were down 7.1 percent during the first quarter of 2016 when compared to the same time period a year ago.
#5 In April, commercial bankruptcies were up32 percent on a year over year basis, and Chapter 11 filings were up 67 percent on a year over year basis. This is exactly the kind of spike that we witnessed during the initial stages of the last major financial crisis as well.
#6 U.S. rail traffic was 11 percent lower last month than it was during the same month in 2015. Right now there are 292 Union Pacific engines sitting idle in the middle of the Arizona desert because there is literally nothing for them to do.
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Social Security is expanding its services with my Social Security account, a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing throughout the time they receive Social Security benefits.
More than 60 million Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients can now access their benefit verification letter, payment history and earnings record instantly using their online account.
Social Security beneficiaries also can change their address and start or change direct deposit information online.
Social Security beneficiaries and SSI recipients with a my Social Security account can go online and get an official benefit verification letter instantly. The benefit verification letter serves as proof of income to secure loans, mortgages and other housing, and state or local benefits.
Additionally, people use the letter to prove current Medicare health insurance coverage, retirement or disability status, and age. People can print or save a customized letter.
Social Security processed nearly nine million requests for benefit verification letters in the past year. This new online service allows people to conduct business with Social Security without having to visit an office or make a phone call, and very often wait for a letter to arrive in the mail.
It also will reduce the time spent by employees completing these requests and free them to focus on other workloads.
Those age 18 and older can sign up for an account at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Once there, they must be able to provide information about themselves and answers to questions that only they are likely to know. After completing the secure verification process, people can create a my Social Security account with a unique user name and password to access their information.
People age 18 and older who are not receiving benefits can sign up for a my Social Security account to get a personalized online Social Security Statement. The online statement provides eligible workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information, and estimates of future benefits they can use to plan for their retirement.
In addition, the portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability and Medicare.
For more information, visit socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.


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Mark Appel update
By Greg Thurston
Mark Appel, continuing to work his way back from emergency appendectomy surgery, threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday morning. Throwing for the first time in ten days, Appel said he felt good after the session.
The top pick in last year's draft, Appel is happy to be in his first big league camp and eager to see game action. But the Astros are exercising caution with Appel — and understandably so. Jeff Luhnow said last week that Mark could appear in multiple games before Spring Training is over. That still remains to be seen.
After today's 10-9 walkoff win over the Nationals, Appel was feeling good enough to head out to a local eatery with one of the stars of the game. Jason Castro drove in three runs with a double and a homerun and still had time to take this awesome photo of his fellow Stanford alum enjoying some dessert.


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Orioles game tickets to go on sale Wednesday
Team recommends fans purchase tickets online
Updated: 11:12 AM EST Mar 6, 2015
Individual tickets for Baltimore Orioles regular season games are scheduled to go on sale Wednesday.Ticket sales are scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and the team recommends fans purchase them online at orioles.com/tickets.Fans with questions, or who would prefer to buy tickets via phone, can call 888-848-BIRD.Tickets will also be on sale at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and at the official team store at the York Galleria in York, Pennsylvania.Warehouse Wire subscribers can participate in an exclusive online pre-sale on Tuesday. To register, fans should visit orioles.com/newsletter. The deadline for registration is Monday at noon. Current subscribers do not need to re-apply.Opening Day tickets will not be included in the sale of individual game tickets, and the only way for fans to guarantee a ticket to Orioles Opening Day on April 10 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays is through the purchase of a Full or 29-game Season Plan. Purchasing a 13-game Season Plan will provide fans with a chance to buy Opening Day tickets through a separate pre-sale opportunity without a guarantee.
Individual tickets for Baltimore Orioles regular season games are scheduled to go on sale Wednesday.
Ticket sales are scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and the team recommends fans purchase them online at orioles.com/tickets.
Fans with questions, or who would prefer to buy tickets via phone, can call 888-848-BIRD.
Tickets will also be on sale at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and at the official team store at the York Galleria in York, Pennsylvania.
Warehouse Wire subscribers can participate in an exclusive online pre-sale on Tuesday. To register, fans should visit orioles.com/newsletter. The deadline for registration is Monday at noon. Current subscribers do not need to re-apply.
Opening Day tickets will not be included in the sale of individual game tickets, and the only way for fans to guarantee a ticket to Orioles Opening Day on April 10 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays is through the purchase of a Full or 29-game Season Plan. Purchasing a 13-game Season Plan will provide fans with a chance to buy Opening Day tickets through a separate pre-sale opportunity without a guarantee.


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HANNAH RIVERA IN NBC'S THE BRAVE
Sofia Pernas currently stars as Hannah Archer, a member of the esteemed Defense Intelligence Agency, on NBC's new drama series "The Brave."
Half Moroccan and half Spanish, Pernas has extensive film and television credits, including an arc on the popular daytime series "The Young and the Restless," as well as a recently recurring role on the hit series "Jane the Virgin." Pernas can also be seen in the feature film "Indigenous" and in the family film "Age of the Dragons," alongside Danny Glover and Vinnie Jones.


At Novamar we understand a client feels the most vulnerable when a loss to their yacht or an injury aboard their yacht occurs. The two most important things to remember are; ensure the safety of your guests and take necessary steps to minimize further damage to your vessel. If there are injuries or serious damage to your vessel, another vessel or other property, immediately call local authorities by VHF or cell phone and report the incident.
The main objective is to stabilize the situation then report the loss to Novamar as soon as possible. In case of a claim be sure to contact Novamar to allow us us to explain your yacht insurance policy coverage as it relates to the circumstance of your claim.
To notify Novamar of a loss by phone, please call (800) 823-2798 or complete the following loss notification form and e-mail to info@novamar.net. A Novamar staff member will report your claim to your insurance company. Novamar will provide you with a claim number and insurance company adjuster contact information by e-mail.