Old School Wednesday – The UK Mix, Volume 4.
Hope you enjou this- and I have to say that I hadn't heard the Simply Red track in a little bit. Shoutouts to Thierno, Ricky, and C. Hyps.
I loved putting this together. Loose Ends delivering one of my favorite tracks, Lisa Stansfield, Junior, and Culture Club are the tracks that start off the mix. I then present another great tune from Savanna, Never Gonna Let You Go, with lead voals from Leroy Osborne, who also provides vovals to Sade ("Nothing Will Come Between Us.") Beggar & Co. follow up with a great track called Mule (Chant #2) which is a track I had never heard.
Heatwave, Light Of The World (Kean Bluey Manuick's precursor to Incognito) follow suit and then are joined by First Light (with Paul Hadcastle). The familiar and classic Soul II Soul, 52nd Street, Mica, and Incognito tracks follow suit smd we end the mix with Ephraim Lewis' most popular track in the US, Drowning In Your Eyes.
Special thanks again to Michael W, RIcky M, and Alana G. Got requests? Send an email to ejflavors at gmail dot com. For those who'd like to subscribe to these podcasts, enter this link manually into iTunes. Also, please be sure to check out on Flowink.com always keepin' you in the loop. Take it light.
This mix was a joy to make. I should call it The Cake Mix. Alana G suggested that I bake a cake that was, for all intents and purposes, the UK mix. I called on Michael W. and Ricky Mc. for ideas (ingredients). Michael W. came out with a multitude of ideas (ingredients) and both he and Ricky Mc. provided enough tracks to even come up with a second mix (another cake), which will be coming soon, so stay tuned.
I got a kick of David Joseph and Central Line, both of which I've used before in previous OSWs so it was natural to start out with those two, since they are consistently requested. Savannah's track totally blows me away as I had never heard it before. It has somewhat of a early mellow house feel which always warms me. Incognito's Roots features vocals by Pamela Anderson (think D*Note) and is a track from 100 And Rising which is a wonderful album, as are Loose Ends' Zagora and Five Star's Luxury of Life. Both th Loose Ends track and the Five Star track were produced by Nick Martinelli. The remixed version of Let Me Be The One has additional solos by Grover Washington, Jr.
I-Level is another track that I rarely get to hear and took a bit of time to track down. Slam Slam featring Dee C.is rarely played, and their CD has some nice gems. Caron and Jazzie B's excellent duet is followed by Average White Band and The Brand New Heavies. Those wonderful cuts are then mellwed out by three tracks: one from Ephraim Lewis (RIP) and cuts from Mica Paris and Omar, both are which were produced by Omar.


text:
Q: VBA: Filter multiple columns and select visible cells to copy into a new workbook New to VBA, not sure if im getting this right:
Im trying to copy a list of visible cells after filtering 2 columns.
The cells copied will be input into a new excel workbook.
I would like the columns formatting to remain the same after pasting it into the new excel workbook.
Sometimes, The code is able to output a result but it takes really long to run. The output still has the columns which i wanted to hide before copying out the visible cells. Is the sequence of my code wrong?
Also, How do i implement a code to format the column and row size according to the content of the cells?
Sub SelectedProducts()
    Dim newBook As Excel.Workbook
    Dim rng As Excel.Range

' This hides columns that are not needed in the output

Range("E16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("G16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("H16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("J16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("M16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("O16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("P16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True
Range("Q16").EntireColumn.Hidden = True

'User to select product type to filter by and wether they would like it to be exported

    Set newBook = Workbooks.Add

    Set rng = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Products").Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible).Select

    rng.Copy newBook.Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1")
End Sub

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings DVD and Blu-ray release date was set for November 30, 2021 and available on Digital HD from Amazon Video and iTunes on November 12, 2021.
Rating: 4.1/5 (168 users) *Please help rate
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Meng'er Zhang
Fala Chen
Florian Munteanu
Andy Le
Destin Daniel Cretton
Kevin Feige
Shang-Chi spent his childhood being trained as an assassin by his ruthless father. This brutal upbringing made him a kung fu master, but he chose a life away from his deadly family. After escaping to San Francisco, Shang-Chi forged a new identity and tried to forget how he was raised. Years later, Shang-Chi finds himself pulled into the secretive organization of the Ten Rings and embroiled once again in the criminal world he had left. He must decide if he will fight for or against his father, who is more powerful than Shang-Chi ever realized.
imdb: 8.0 G
Agent Cody Banks
Daddy Day Care

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Staff Editorial: Graphic Starts Fresh With Renewed Commitments to Coverage
August 23, 2022 by Graphic Staff
Art by Vivian Hsia A fresh start can be intimidating, but also exciting. Each semester, the Graphic assigns new and returning staff members to their positions. This gives us the opportunity to grow in different areas, but also to answer your needs better through a diverse staff with unique experiences, perspectives and skill sets. The Graphic is a place where we aim to inform … [Read more...] about Staff Editorial: Graphic Starts Fresh With Renewed Commitments to Coverage
April 17, 2022 by Emily Morton
Photo by Caroline Conder A presentation that Sonya Singh gave to Pepperdine Graphic Media in Fall 2021 inspired the theme of this edition of Currents. Singh, a professional photographer and professor at California Baptist University, showed her images to the group and spoke about each moment. From there, the idea of moments has captivated my attention. I find that moments … [Read more...] about Letter From the Editor
Opinion: You Should Join Our Perspectives Team
November 3, 2021 by Aj Muonagolu
Art by Vivian HsiaAn organization is more multifaceted than people realize. I mean, not everyone who works at a hospital is a doctor. Not every personnel member practices law in a law firm.The same works for journalism — more specifically, the Graphic. More people need to dabble in journalism and the multitude of ways it allows people to interact with the community. And … [Read more...] about Opinion: You Should Join Our Perspectives Team
Holding on To Hope in an Age of Distrust
September 1, 2021 by Makena Huey
Infographic by Makena Huey Being a journalist at the height of distrust of the media is challenging, especially for those who are early in their careers. But journalists and those who study journalism are working through the problem to find solutions — most of which revolve around relationships and education. Although distrust is most prevalent among younger generations — … [Read more...] about Holding on To Hope in an Age of Distrust
The News Cycle: More Than Meets the Eye
May 9, 2021 by Joe Allgood
Art by Madeline Duvall The news cycle is a household American phrase. It seems that every minute is occupied by this endless cycle of information, especially in today's media landscape. But what exactly is it? Technically speaking, a news cycle is the time that passes between the release of news editions, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. By this definition, … [Read more...] about The News Cycle: More Than Meets the Eye


Clay and concrete tiles are resilient and improve the value of your home. Tiles are durable, attractive and energy efficient.
Metal roofs can last a lifetime and require minimal pitch. They are durable, heat reflective, and relatively lighter weight.
BEST WARRANTY AVAILABLE. BACKED BY GAF.
At High Tower Roofing, we understand how overwhelming it can be to face issues with your roof.We will put your fears to rest. We are here for you. We will walk you through the roofing process, advise you, and work hard to keep you fully protected.
Roofing is our business and an important part of that is providing our clients with the appropriate education regarding this large financial investment to maximize the life of their roof.
No question is too small. We want to be your consultant for any matters concerning your roof!
Ask about rebates for Active and Retired Military!


My experience in the call center industry enabled me to enhance my communication and interaction skills, especially with US-based clients. I am also knowledgeable in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint and basic internet search/research techniques. I strive to learn and master skills that are needed in whatever type of work I am involved in to ensure that I achieve my work goals efficiently and be able to contribute to my employer's success.


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RAPID CITY HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO NOON MDT TODAY.
TIMING... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING GUSTY WINDS TO THE AREA THIS MORNING. WINDS WILL DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON BUT STILL REMAIN BREEZY UNTIL THIS EVENING.
WINDS... NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.
IMPACTS... SUDDEN WIND GUSTS CAN CAUSE DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL... ESPECIALLY IN LIGHTWEIGHT OR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.
STRONG WINDS CAN CAUSE BLOWING DUST... REDUCED VISIBILITY... AND FLYING DEBRIS.


text:
# Fantasy & Science Fiction
"Another world is colliding with this one," said the toad. "All the monsters are coming back.""Why?" said Tiffany."There's no one to stop them."There...
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with...
The Mammoth Hunters
By Jean M. Auel, 殷麗君 (Translator)
Once again Jean M. Auel opens the door of a time long past to reveal an age of wonder and danger at the dawn of the modern human race. With all the...
By Richard Adams
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0380002930 here.Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of...
Imagine America devastated by a vast killer plague that moves from coast to coast. Imagine the countryside destroyed and great cities decimated as...
Mistborn
By Brandon Sanderson
The Mists rule the night.The Lord Ruler owns the world.Once, a hero arose to save the world. A young man with a mysterious heritage courageously...
Assassin's Apprentice
By Robin Hobb
In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.Born on the...
It's bad enough being new on the job, but Teppic hasn't a clue as to what a pharaoh is supposed to do. After all, he's been trained at Ankh-Morpork's...


text:
Mousetrump – nesting in the greenery.
Trump: The Ultimate Know-Nothing
Jim Moore, Washington, D.C.-based writer, editor, and photojournalist
Donald Trump descended on Iowa this past weekend, dropping from the skies to deliver words of wisdom to the masses of Hawkeye Christian Republicans starving for enlightenment at the feet of The Donald. To no one's surprise — no one outside the GOP at any rate — Trump's inchoate jawboning once again revealed a vacuous puffball incapable of organizing the basic parts of speech into coherent, declarative, and compelling sentences. And the subsequent interviews with the media further exposed a character completely unsuited for public office. When he told ABC's Jon Karl that he would be willing to spend half-a-billion dollars or more in a 2016 White House bid ("I'd be willing to spend that kind of money. I'd spend whatever it took,"), it wasn't so much about his aspiration to achieve a great and responsible office as it was about his desire to buy something new and big.
Maybe it's me, but I've never gotten Trump, never felt the least bit comfortable with his utterances and his maze-like thought processes. I believe most Americans take the measure of a person not by his or her bank accounts, but by his or her accountability. With Trump, there is always a fog that accompanies his pronouncements — a smokescreen of obscuring rhetoric designed to cloak him in pseudo facts and vaguely damning suggestions of impropriety. His visit to Iowa showcased his directionless approach to real-world issues.
Consider this Trumpism, a 54-worder on the Republicans' chances of recapturing a Senate majority, as quoted by NBC's Kasie Hunt:
"Well I think you have six or seven states – I won't mention the states 'cause I don't want to put pressure on anybody, but I think you have six or seven states where you could really have in a couple of cases upsets, really, and you could have some good victories for the Republicans."
When pressed for specific candidates, Trump passed, which is to say he doesn't have a clue.
READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jimmoore/donald-trump-iowa_b_3741408.html
Please sign petition:
We Move to Amend.
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:Firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.Guarantee the right to vote and to participate, and to have our votes and participation count.Protect local communities, their economies, and democracies against illegitimate "preemption" actions by global, national, and state governments.
Signed by 380,00+ and counting . . .to 500,000
PETITION LINK: http://movetoamend.nationbuilder.com/petition
Tags:corporate attack on America, corporate hostile takeover of America, corporate leaders are criminals, corporations betray the constitution, corporations corrupt American justice, Don Trump in Iowa, GOP corruption, impeach the supreme court five, overturn citizens united, Trump the Ultimate Know-Nothing, vote progressive, war of wealth
Posted in Business and Government, Essays, Humor and Entertainment, Politics (mostly), Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
[Don't forget to CLICK the IMAGES for extra information]
JOE KENNEDY and PRESCOTT BUSH:
I was born in 1943 when America, my father included, was fighting the Nazi fascists from Germany. There were many Americans who agreed with the fascists, Joseph Kennedy and Prescott Bush included. Kennedy tried to keep America out of the war. Bush helped finance the Nazis. But democratic America, Roosevelt America defeated the fascists in that war – temporarily as it turns out.
The Nazis came home in our baggage. A former SS colonel named Werner Von Braun developed our space program. The SS colonel who ran Hitler's Gestapo taught our nascent CIA about domestic surveillance, interrogation, martial law, and chemical/psychological techniques. In the meantime, we fought in Korea, keeping the military-industrial complex robust and vitalized (strange word applied to death-dealing), and practiced spying on ourselves – McCarthyism – a fascist witch-hunt for "commies," undermining our confidence in our nation and its democratic institutions.
We next followed nine years of imperialistic colonial French mis-rule in Indochina to inflict seventeen years of violence on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, destabilizing and radicalizing Southeast Asia more than the Japanese had during World War 2. Then as now, the CIA and FBI further brutalized and contaminated domestic America in defense and furtherance of a generally Republican anti-peace message that was as big as the wallets they were filling from war profits.
AMERICA LOSES HER WAY:
Our practice has consistently been to create more powerful and harsher means to oppress and suppress, maim, or kill opponents. Might has triumphed over right and reason, but that makes us neither mighty nor bright. We are damned bullies, forcing our bully will on many victims. That is what America stands for today: death not life, war not peace, greed not generosity.
The Bush administration, and now beyond to Obama, with their well-practiced agents and provocateurs, served the darkest human motives, not the clean wholesome light of genuine American democracy. Justice, liberty, and equality aren't significant words in the Republican vocabulary or principles in Republican governance. We have been subverted from within, hollowed out by a corrupt corporate power structure to serve its war machine in the interest of corporate profits. If we want any hope to rise above and beyond it, we must vote for progressives and reclaim this country for the babes who wait in mothers' arms for fathers to come home from our latest unholy war(s).
The present situation in the United States echoes ancient Rome in important ways: A successful representative republic, proving wildly successful in war and conquest, grows rich and plunges into conspicuous consumption. In time the citizen army is converted to a professional military (a professional army owes allegiance to its paymaster, not necessarily to the nation). Beauty is heavily involved in politics and publicity (experience means less than height). King-sized constructions attest to individual power and glory. The poor get to see the lavish spread, but may not partake of it. The toll of maintaining luxury is its undoing. The general domestic economy weakens with foreign trade, although the rich stay rich and get richer. The dispossessed flock into cities and live on a diminishing dole, manipulated by politicians. The conservative legislature is indifferent to the people's plight. The bureaucracy and the military rule all.
How did it happen? How did it get so bad? Who is hurting? The list includes everyone except the top 1% of the nation's richest and most privileged citizens. The rich characterize any protest of this imbalance as "class warfare," although they've been waging class warfare on the poor and middle class (the rest of us) since Franklin Roosevelt died. The Robber Barons have succeeded in unraveling the New Deal, beginning with the 23rd Amendment, which limited presidents to two terms: the "first stomp on FDR's grave," my father called it. Dwight Eisenhower's administration put "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance (clearly in violation of the constitution), tried to give Social Security away to private insurance companies, and the Tennessee Valley Public Power Authority to private utility owners.
Thirty years ago the conservatives began to advocate for the end of public education on the grounds that it's undemocratic to mandate school attendance. No system is pure on this side of the grave; our society considered it essential to educate all the people so that they can intelligently participate in their own democratic governance, and avoid being swindled by demagogues. The John Birch Society bulletin advised its readers to "join your local P.T.A. and take it over."
Fascists twist democratic institutions and values to gain their selfish ends. They advocate for state control of women's bodies; control the body, control the mind (women vote too liberally). They have besieged health, safety and environmental regulations for over 50 years, but don't ask them to do a cost-benefit analysis on outrageous and endemic corporate welfare.
END GAMES and WISHFUL THINKING:
The end game for Bush wasn't a fortuitous crusade against terrorism, but to bankrupt and reduce the United States government to the influence of a third world nation. Thereafter, the plutocracy will rule. Bush undid the hard-won social and legal advancements of our free and equal society. He dismantled the American Dream. He betrayed the Constitution, reinforcing the United States as a warmongering plutocracy that absolutely corrupts the democratic republic.
Republicans don't have any kind of mandate for their radical right wing agenda. They brought us the Second Great Depression (2016 is gonna be a bitch, according to Thom Hartmann). Republicans are all alarm and greed. The Big Thieves came into our homes as we slept and threaten to never leave. We shall be their economic and social slaves, although we will be called "the public," "the people," "average Americans," whatever. The dream turns into nightmare.
The pinnacle of human achievement can't be George W. Bush (or the Koch brothers). "What a low pinnacle," my wife says. "Bush gives new meaning to the American concept that anybody can become president." They don't even have to be elected. Bush came to power in interesting fashion: a virtual coup overturning the popular will, based on a very tenuous partisan split vote of 5 to 4 in a corrupted Supreme Court – buttressed by legal arguments so weak that even first year law students would blush to use them.
VOTE PROGRESSIVE:
Be well advised, in the next election, cast your ballot for progressive candidates. Turn your back to the greed and close your wallets to them. Save the dream. Defend the republic. Kick the sick twisted bastards out.
© J. Legry
RELATED: RONALD REAGAN WRECKED US
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:
Firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
Guarantee the right to vote and to participate, and to have our votes and participation count.
Protect local communities, their economies, and democracies against illegitimate "preemption" actions by global, national, and state governments.
CONTACT: http://www.movetoamend.org/
Tags:coporate attack on America, corporate hostile takeover of America, corporate leaders are criminals, corporations betray the constitution, corporations corrupt American justice, GOP corruption, impeach the supreme court five, overturn citizens united, vote progressive, war of wealth
Posted in Business and Government, Essays, Humor and Entertainment, Politics (mostly) | Leave a Comment »
"The world is my country. To do good is my religion."
THOMAS PAINE, author-patriot, 1737-1809
On January 29th people around the world working for reform and free thought will celebrate Thomas Paine's birthday. This under-sung founding father well represents all those who forged the American nation and brought modern popular democracy into the world. He deserves to be nationally honored post-911 as a great American who fought for freedom, equality, direct democracy, and human rights.
Paine may be the only true revolutionary in our Revolution. His ideals bring common people together as a community. No one is above the law. Justice and fairness shall prevail. Everyone gets to vote. He argued for social security, childcare reform, universal health care, animal cruelty penalties and animal shelters over 230 years ago.
He warned us to watch, guide, and stop the powerful elite if we want humanity in general to succeed. He proposed that any bill that enriches a corporation or grants a corporate charter should be enacted in one session of the legislature, and confirmed in a second, after a vote of the people, to stop corporate raids on the public treasury.
The Revolution might have failed without Tom, or perhaps not even started. He wrote America's first bestseller Common Sense, taking backroom revolutionary discussion public, which led directly to the signing of the Declaration of Independence six months later. He spent two years in the Colonial Army with Washington, including the brutal winter at Valley Forge where he wrote The Crisis – among the most famous words in the American revolutionary liturgy – to talk the starving, freezing army out of deserting the cause. General Washington personally read them to his men.
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of all men and women."
Paine's words helped save the army and the infant nation. Sent to France by Congress at his own expense to find aid to save America from bankruptcy, he not only got the aid, but bankrupted himself by buying a desperately needed ship and cargo of muskets, powder and shot (since congress wouldn't pay for them), saving the army and the nascent nation a second time, literally by himself.
After our Revolution, Paine was made an honorary citizen of France so that he could be elected to the French National Convention to help form their new republic. He wrote much of the first French constitution and his masterwork The Rights of Man, both of which still inform the world. He was certain that democracy was spreading and would soon free all of humanity from tyranny. He was jailed, instead, as too moderate (!) and his health was wrecked.
He asked his old friend Washington for help to get home, but George ignored him to protect treaty negotiations with England for access to the rich West Indies rum, molasses and slave trade. Tom wrote a bitter letter: Washington was a monarch – who ignored honor to friends and allies who helped set America free; and aided the filthy barbarians who had enslaved her instead – solely for the sake of ungodly profit.
Washington's political party the Federalists was outraged. Tom languished in prison for Washington's eight-year presidency; and four more, because John Adams carried an old grudge for Paine calling him a would-be king (which he was). Paine's liberal friend Thomas Jefferson finally welcomed Tom home after fifteen years, but trouble was waiting.
While in exile, Paine wrote The Age of Reason to "avoid politics and controversy," and rejected religion in it. We can just stare at a tree, he says, and believe in God. Who needs revealed religion? Religionists branded him an atheist, Federalists recalled his insult to their great hero general president, and both went "a-howl in the newspapers over the drunken, atheist, radical Jefferson has let back into the country."
Tom couldn't get a job or a pension. All he wanted was repayment for money he gave to the Cause – dollar for dollar – without other reward, but he was only given a small farm in New Rochelle, New York by the state legislature as compensation. He retreated to it in poverty to write letters to the editor and to Jefferson, and articles on controversial topics. When Louisiana petitioned for statehood with a right to keep slaves, he wrote that admitting slaves to a free and equal society was unthinkable. Pennsylvanians must be sent to teach Louisiana about democracy; and don't call it "Louisiana," for it honors a king, insulting the republic just won by the people's blood.
He tried to vote for his friend Jefferson in 1804, but the New Rochelle election board wouldn't allow it: he was a "French citizen" because of the honorary citizenship permitting him to serve in the Convention. He spent his last days in the courts trying to redress this ultimate indignity, but it was not the final disrespect.
He was refused burial in Quaker ground despite his request, because the Quakers feared someone might immodestly raise a monument to him. He was buried on a remote corner of his New Rochelle farm, and a visiting Englishman later secretly dug up Tom's bones, took them to England, stashed them under his bed, and forgot about them. Upon rediscovery years later, they were sold and parted out all over England as souvenirs, and the whereabouts of Tom Paine's bones is today unknown. It begs the question: How frightened of a man must one be to want to hide his very bones?
After Tom began to grow in popularity and accreditation during the threatened nationally self-conscious democracy of the 1930's and '40's, New Rochelle belatedly admitted his full American citizenship in 1945. In truth, he's a citizen of the world. Tom Paine's fierce principled call for human rights and, yes, loving hearts, still echoes and is still needed, for as much now as then, "These are the times that try men's [and women's] souls."
Citizen Paine was the essence of our great democratic republican experiment: we are rebels as well as patriots. On January 29th, or July 4th, when-, or wherever freedom loving people are gathered, lift your cup and toast a great American, friend to all the world, and champion of nature and humanity. Sing out: "Hurrah!" for Tom Paine. – © J. Legry '08
Liberty crowning defiant American democracy.
SIGN THE PETITION BELOW TO HELP UNDO THE DEMOCRATICALLY DISASTROUS Citizens United DECISION:
The Republicans are bought into the craziness at a very deep level. They will not get better. They will explode or fizzle out, but they will not get "well." These sick puppies prefer revolution and the overthrow of the United States government to honest political dialog and debate. We really need to put these crazies into the booby hatch. At very least, we must stop giving them political credibility.
We Move to Amend. We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:
Signed by 379,547 and counting . . .to 500,000
Tags:animal shelters and social security 230 years ago, control corporations, post 911 hero, reform and freedom, repeal citizens united, sandtar and feather the koch brothers, stop the Koch brothers, thomas paine, universal health care is good
Posted in Business and Government, Essays, Politics (mostly), Religion and Philosophy | 2 Comments »


text:
New Zealand Blocks Huawei, in Blow to Chinese Telecom Giant
in: Business, Finance
"We have an existing agreement," William Duma, the state investment minister, told reporters. Huawei has already completed 60 percent of the $200 million project, which is financed by the Export-Import Bank of China. Mr. Duma said that made the 11th-hour effort from the Western powers "a bit patronizing."
The competing offer comes as the allies have watched China's growing investment in the resource-rich island countries of the Pacific Ocean with increasing concern. Earlier this year, Australia agreed to fund an undersea communications cable linking Sydney with the Solomon Islands, following a similar deal with Papua New Guinea.
Australian officials were concerned that if the project went to Huawei, as the Solomon Islands had agreed in 2016, the Chinese company might gain access to Australia's telecommunications infrastructure. Huawei has been banned from bidding on projects for Australia's national broadband network since 2012 because of security concerns.
The joint offer that Papua New Guinea rejected on Tuesday came too late, said Jonathan Pryke, director of the Pacific Islands program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. Still, he said, it was meant to show that the United States and its allies remain a viable alternative to China's money and influence.
"We'd like to show that we're still in this game," Mr. Pryke said, referring to the position of the three allies. "We wanted to maintain our position as a partner of choice."
Officials in Papua New Guinea have raised questions about potential ties between Huawei and the Chinese government, Danielle Cave, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, wrote in a report on Tuesday. But the country has been growing closer to China. It was an early signatory to China's Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious infrastructure program stretching through much of Asia that is widely seen as an effort to extend Beijing's political influence.
Security concerns are "for the big boys to worry about," Mr. Duma, the Papua New Guinea minister, said Tuesday.
Tags:blockschinesegianthuaweitelecomzealand
Previous : Sarah Huckabee Sanders Gets Fact-Checked Live On Air By CNN
Next : Onscreen, Women Are Giving Patriarchy the Pink Slip


To kick start the new year, employees from CSR's lightweight systems division based at Yarraville, Victoria got involved in a locally organised fun run event, "Run for Hope".
They saw it as a great opportunity to get together as a team, while at the same time supporting families, friends and communities through two important charities. Run for Hope 2018 raised funds for "Pink Hope", a charity that supports women and families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and "beyondblue" an organisation who provides information and support to help people achieve their best possible mental health.
The event had a 5km walk / run, or a 10km run which gave team members some options. Event day, Sunday 18 February was a stunning day, Melbourne really put the weather on. The team met up for some "before shots", team encouragement and most importantly, some warm-up stretches. They set off at their own paces but hung around after the event to cheer each other over the finish line. It was a great day for all, and they are looking out for our next challenge.


text:
Girls tennis: Defending champs focused on new season
Ryan O'Leary roleary@seacoastonline.com
EXETER — It was like an early-season ritual. Each year, at the start of spring practices, members of the Exeter High School girls tennis team would glance up at the walls of the gymnasium. It was easy to spot which team sport was missing amongst all those championship banners.
Not anymore for these Blue Hawks. They've added their own piece of school history, and now they're opening the season in a new place entirely — as defending state champions for the first time.
Exeter returned to practice this week, the first for organized spring activities. Its eyeing a short preseason with its season-opening match scheduled for a week from Wednesday at Alvirne.
There's been some changes to the program, most notably the hiring of first-year varsity coach Marran Ranks, a former three-sport star at Exeter who went on to play tennis at Saint Michael's College. The Hawks also lost last year's No. 1 player, Katie Wood, to graduation.
But five of last year's six starters, among others, were present at Wednesday's practice held indoors in the school's small gym. The Blue Hawks return sophomore Melissa Wood, junior Kate Lietz and seniors Anna Heard, Rachel Salzman and Abby Aleksa in what figures to be another intriguing year on the Exeter courts.
"Last year, it was fantastic to win a state championship, and we were all absolutely sobbing when it happened and we were just ecstatic," said Heard, a team captain along with Salzman. "But now it's a new season. … We're not going to go in expecting to be state champs again. We're still going to work 100 percent."
All five of Exeter's returners posted 10 or more singles wins last season, a showcase of depth that ultimately proved the difference in the team's 5-4 win over Bedford in the state final. Aleksa led the team at No. 6 with a 16-1 singles record. Salzman (No. 5) and Lietz (No. 4) each finished at 15-2, Heard was 13-4 at No. 3, and Melissa Wood, playing No. 2 from the onset of the season, went 10-6.
Heard and Salzman have been longtime doubles partners and led the Blue Hawks on Court 2 last season. Reserve Holly Street added a solid 7-2 mark in doubles play.
But the team's more focused on being 0-0 this season, even it knows another memorable season could be in the cards.
"I'm happy about it. It's great to kind of have that success," Ranks said. "I don't want it to kind of hinder our performance and think that it's going to be the same this year. It's a brand new season. New coach for the girls, new team, so new expectations. So (we) don't want to take anything for granted or anything like that, and just come in every day, give 100 percent and just work hard and let the results take care of themselves."


As remarkable as Columbus and the conquistador expeditions, the history of Portuguese exploration is now almost forgotten But Portugal s navigators cracked the code of the Atlantic winds, launched the expedition of Vasco da Gama to India and beat the Spanish to the spice kingdoms of the East then set about creating the first long range maritime empire In an astonishingAs remarkable as Columbus and the conquistador expeditions, the history of Portuguese exploration is now almost forgotten But Portugal s navigators cracked the code of the Atlantic winds, launched the expedition of Vasco da Gama to India and beat the Spanish to the spice kingdoms of the East then set about creating the first long range maritime empire In an astonishing blitz of thirty years, a handful of visionary and utterly ruthless empire builders, with few resources but breathtaking ambition, attempted to seize the Indian Ocean, destroy Islam and take control of world trade.Told with Roger Crowley s customary skill and verve, this is narrative history at its most vivid an epic tale of navigation, trade and technology, money and religious zealotry, political diplomacy and espionage, sea battles and shipwrecks, endurance, courage and terrifying brutality Drawing on extensive first hand accounts, it brings to life the exploits of an extraordinary band of conquerors men such as Afonso de Albuquerque, the first European since Alexander the Great to found an Asian empire who set in motion five hundred years of European colonisation and unleashed the forces of globalisation.
Paz à sua AlmaO Berço dum Império que já morreu.Não contrariando expectativas, trata-se duma narrativa didáctica mas algo maçuda.Para os apreciadores da nossa História!
Amazing how Crowley narrates the events of long ago, as if everything has happened just about now. No deed goes unnoticed, no account neglected, and all that in good perspective.
Generally a very well written book with lot of factual information. However, I did not like the tendency of the author to portray savage Portuguese pirates who killed so many innocent people as great military commanders. Having powerful and modern cannons that were not available to the dwellers of the Indian ocean allowed most of the so called "asymmetric victories"; nothing to do with bravery of the Portuguese.
A very good history of Portugal's imperial adventures that sometimes reads more like a classic adventure novel than history. Could have used a little more analysis and less fight scenes, but a very good bookworth the read. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Excellent book where history is presented at the pace of a good novel. If you put yourselves in the shoes of an East African or Indian at the start of the 16th century, these Europeans turning up bringing death and destruction must have been like aliens from another planet.
Great story telling of Portugal road to global empire. Brings out some interesting questions to me. 1. How should we look at these empire extension? Are they facilitating growth of the world, or just another atrocities against humanity? Or maybe theres just no black and white answers. 2. Author mentioned China as the even earlier fleet exploring the places, why didn't China rose to become a global empire? Issue with ideology?


text:
Q: Tunnel HTTP traffic from Windows machine to local box I'd like to tunnel/forward all HTTP traffic on a given port on a Windows 7 machine to an arbitrary box (in most cases, a MacOS X machine running a web server on the local network, but occasionally on a remote IP). How might I go about attempting this?

A: I've used Trivial Proxy to accomplish similar things before.  Rather simple to use and set up.
Using this program, set your local port to 80, your remote port to 80, and remote host to the IP of your Mac OSX machine.


Methods that can regulate blood and treat blood diseases are known as operation blood. One method is using drugs with promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis effect another one is for innerlich anwenden for treating bleeding. On the clinical application, these two works as complementary partners.
It is suitable for the treatment of syndrome of retention and congestion. During heat disease, if having syndromes such as fever, distraction, irritability, deep pulse then it is blood retention; Or amenorrhea, having cold or fever frequently, deep but strong pulse, injury by falling can all cause blood congestion. If the extravasated blood stay in the body and the chest hurts, then blood congestion is diagnosed. All the symptoms mentioned above should apply a method of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
Common medicines are Da Huang, Tao Ren, Shui Zhi, Meng Chong, Gui wei, Chi Shao, Mu Dan Pi, Hong Hua, etc. Prescriptions are The Prescription of Taohe Chengqi Tang, Di Dang Wan, The Prescription of Wenjing Tang, The Prescription of Fuyuan Huoxue Tang, The Prescription of Qili San.
The hemostasis is applied to hot blood syndrome, or unable to control blood of Qi, resulting in hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, hemafecia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, etc. These people have bright red blood, xerostomia, fast pulse, and appropriate treating method is to cool the body blood and stop bleeding; for Qi deficiency people, blood are light or dark, with yellow complexion, pale tongue and coating, weak and deep pulse, and preferably curing method is to use warm property medicines.
Common drugs such as E Jiao, Ce Bai Ye, Da Ji, Xiao Ji, Pu Huang, Bai Ji, Zong Lv Tan, Ai Ye, Xian He Cao, etc. Representative such ast the Prescription of Shihui San, The Prescription of Sisheng Wan, The Prescription of Xiaoji Yinzi, The Prescription of Huaihua San, The Prescription of Huangtu Tang, The Prescription of jiaoai Tang, etc.


text:
Teofil Michał Bisping herbu własnego – podstoli starodubowski do 1713 roku, miecznik starodubowski w latach 1692-1703.

Jako poseł na sejm elekcyjny 1697 roku i deputat do pacta conventa był elektorem Augusta II Mocnego z powiatu starodubowskiego w 1697 roku. Poseł na sejm 1701 roku i sejm z limity 1701-1702 roku z powiatu starodubowskiego. W styczniu 1702 roku podpisał akt pacyfikacji Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego.

Przypisy

Bibliografia

 Suffragia województw i ziem koronnych i W. X. Litewskiego zgodnie na [...] Augusta II obranego króla polskiego [...] dnia 27 VI i przy poparciu wolnej elekcjej jego [...], s. 39.
 Urzędnicy Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego. Spisy, tom IV: Ziemia smoleńska i województwo smoleńskie. XIV-XVIII wiek, pod redakcją Andrzeja Rachuby, Warszawa 2003, s. 341.

Teofil Michał Bisping
Członkowie stanu rycerskiego I Rzeczypospolitej
Deputaci do paktów konwentów Augusta II Mocnego
Deputaci do paktów konwentów władców Polski (powiat starodubowski)
Elektorzy Augusta II Mocnego
Elektorzy władców Polski (powiat starodubowski)
Miecznicy starodubowscy
Podstolowie starodubowscy
Posłowie na sejm elekcyjny 1697
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1701
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1701/1702
Posłowie na Sejm I Rzeczypospolitej (powiat starodubowski)
Sygnatariusze aktu pacyfikacji Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego 1702
Urzędnicy ziemscy I Rzeczypospolitej

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I watched an interesting, yet common, phenomenon today. I attended a networking event where the speaker was a well-known business strategist & speaker. He had a great message – one that touched every person in the room whether they owned a business, or worked for someone else. It was clear that he knew what he was talking about. He put his heart & soul into giving to every person in the room. I felt a little smarter when he was done – that's a good sign.
Afterwards he had a table set up in the back with products and order forms, like most speakers do these days. He referenced a discount that would be extended for all attendees of the day's event – probably around 30%, if I remember correctly.
That wasn't the important thing though.
You see, the actual leader of this particular networking group is a firm believer that members should all sow into the lives of the visitors/guest speakers who come to share their time & value with us. So she reminded the group that we "don't do discounts", we pay full price for speakers' products – just as we'd want someone to do for us and our businesses.
If you think about it, this happens all the time. The last time you barely made your monthly bills, consider what you tithed or gave to charity. When you yelled at your child for making bad grades, think about how much time you spent helping them with homework. You didn't get the job interview; what did you do beforehand to really understand the job, or even to prepare your branding statement for the conversation?
You might have to read this one twice. Next time you reap less than desired results, consider what you sow.
Tanya Smith, the Career Transformation Coach, helps mid-career professional women liberate themselves so they can enjoy waking up daily to work they love. Sign up for her monthly updates & more articles through http://www.designyourwork.com and become a fan for exclusive previews on Facebook at http://facebook.com/workcoach.Find faith-based career coaching resources at http://designyourwork.com.


Looking for qualified, reliable and friendly plumbers in Queens Park? Give us a call at Ready Set Plumb. We have a team of licensed plumbers available 24 hours a day to assist you with all of your plumbing needs.
Ready Set Plumb, are Sydney's leading plumbing services company. With over 10 years of experience, we have helped more than 9,000 satisfied customers, many of which are repeat customers. Our dedicated team of qualified professionals can assist you with everything from clearing blocked drains, to relining pipes, fixing leaking taps and more.
If you need us to help unblock drains, or repair or replace your toilet, or you're performing extensive kitchen or bathroom renovations, then be sure to give us a call at Ready Set Plumb. We can provide you with a free quote or perform the work immediately. We provide same day services, offer competitive rates, and are fully licensed and insured.
All of our work is covered by a 100% guarantee. Give us a call today.
If you're looking for reliable, friendly plumbers with years of experience, then be sure to give us a call at Ready Set Plumb. We service all areas of Sydney. We're polite, friendly, prompt, and most importantly – we're always on time – every time!
All work performed by Ready Set Plumb is covered by a 100% work guarantee. When you work with us, you have piece of mind in knowing that you'll be dealing with a highly qualified, licensed plumbers. So if you need any kind of plumbing work done, just call us at Ready Set Plumb, and we promise to provide you the best plumbing service we can give.
We are available 24/7. No matter what time of day or day of the week your plumbing problem comes up, we assure you that we'll be there to deal with the problem. This includes public holidays. If you are looking for a trustworthy, reliable 24 hour emergency plumber, in the Queens Park area, contact us now.
Go on, give us a call today.


text:
Q: How to re-index subarrays before json encoding? This is my current JSON output:
{
   0: {
      label: 1509521006,
      value: 12.324711
   },
   1: {
      label: 1509531448,
      value: 12.700929
   }
}

What should I do to make my JSON output like this:
[
 [
   1509521006,
   12.324711
 ],
 [
   1509531448,
   12.700929
 ]
]

This is my PHP code for convert my array to JSON
if ($count > 0) {
    $categoryArray = array();
    foreach ($sensObj as $dataset) {
        array_push($categoryArray, array(
            "label" => $dataset["time"],
            "value" => $dataset["value"]
        ));
    }
    print json_encode($categoryArray);
}

A: You're building the output JSON, so just do it in the different way you need:
<?php
if ($count > 0) {
    $categoryArray = array();
    foreach ($sensObj as $dataset) {
        array_push($categoryArray, array(
            $dataset["time"],
            $dataset["value"]
        ));
    }
    print json_encode($categoryArray);
}

Or, as an alternative syntax:
if ($count > 0) {
    $categoryArray = [];
    foreach ($sensObj as $dataset) {
        $categoryArray[] = [
            $dataset['time'],
            $dataset['value'],
        ];
    }
    print json_encode($categoryArray);
}

A: what you trying to print object or array because your result in object and you want in them in array .
[ [ 1509521006, 12.324711 ], [ 1509531448, 12.700929 ] ]

you can create this json by using this code
<?php
if ($count > 0){
   $categoryArray = array();
 foreach ($sensObj as $dataset) {
     array_push($categoryArray,array( $dataset["time"],  $dataset["value"]));
}
 print json_encode($categoryArray); }

Try This.

A: You only need to re-index the subarrays.  Just decode the json, reindex the subarrays, then re-encode it.
Here is a one-liner for you:
Code: (Demo)
echo json_encode(array_map('array_values',json_decode($your_json,true)));

Output:
[["1509521006","12.324711"],["1509531448","12.700929"]]

I believe to implement with your code, you would write:
echo json_encode(array_map('array_values',$sensObj));
// this assumes $sensObj is an array and not an object array


Our modern twist on the classic Miansai screw cuff, this bracelet is made with a matte sterling silver finish and a threaded bar closure. It's set to inspire.
https://www.miansai.com/products/modern-screw-cuff-sterling-silver 11850842703 Modern Screw Cuff, Matte Sterling Silver //cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1994/2941/products/102-0120_color_mattesilver_01.jpg?v=1527542961 //cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1994/2941/products/102-0120_color_mattesilver_01_medium.jpg?v=1527542961 200.00 USD InStock Cuffs Miansai Men's Sale Our modern twist on the classic Miansai screw cuff, this bracelet is made with a matte sterling silver finish and a threaded bar closure. It's set to inspire.


text:
Rajya Sabha Mayhem: Rajnath Singh Slams Opposition, Says Farmers Being Misled
New Delhi: The government fronted six of its top ministers to launch a scathing attack on the opposition on Sunday as Rajnath Singh said the behaviour meted out to the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha was not just "unprecedented" but "shameful". He also said that as far as the no confidence motion against Harivansh […]
Odishatv Bureau
Published: Sunday, 20 September 2020
Last updated: 20 September 2020, 09:29 PM IST
Jobs Railway Invites Applications For Over 2400 Posts, Apply By February 16
Jobs ESIC Recruitment 2022: Apply For Upper Division Clerk, Stenographer & MTS Posts For Kerala Region
New Delhi: The government fronted six of its top ministers to launch a scathing attack on the opposition on Sunday as Rajnath Singh said the behaviour meted out to the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha was not just "unprecedented" but "shameful".
He also said that as far as the no confidence motion against Harivansh Singh is concerned, it is the prerogative of the Rajya Sabha Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu.
"As far as I know, this has never happened in the history of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. This very thing happening in Rajya Sabha is an even bigger matter. There have been attempts made to mislead the farmers on the basis of rumours. What happened (inside the house) was against the decorum of the House," said the Union Defence Minister without taking names of any members.
The upper house saw a massive ruckus on Sunday. An aggressive Derek O'Brien of the TMC, approached the Chair and tore documents in front of him calling the farm bill "Kala Kanoon". He was also heard saying, "You cannot do this" to the chair. Even AAP MP Sanjay Singh was seen in the well, clapping in front of the chair.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi dubbed the approach of the opposition as "violent behaviour". Answering the opposition's charge that their division of votes request was not entertained, Naqvi claimed inspite of repeated requests many members did not return to their seats, a prerequisite for the procedure as sought by the Chair.
Rajnath said he is also a farmer and reiterated that neither MSP, nor APMC systems are going to end.
While refusing to comment on Harsimrat Kaur's resignation from the Union Cabinet, Singh said, "There are some political reasons behind every such decision".
Six senior ministers were present in the press conference. Apart from Singh and Naqvi, Prakash Javadekar, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Piyush Goyal and Prahlad Joshi were also present during the media interaction.
More Related Stories:
Watershed Moment For Indian Agriculture: PM Modi Hails Passage Of Farm Bills
Rajya Sabha Passes Two Agriculture Reform Bills Amid Pandemonium
Farm Bills
Rajya Sabha Mayhem
Indian Navy 3 Navy Personnel Killed In Explosion Onboard INS Ranvir At Mumbai Dockyard
Three Navy personnel were killed in an explosion onboard the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Ranvir at the Naval dockyard in Mumbai on Tuesday, an official statement said.
ISI ISI Planning UAE-Like Drone Attack In India
The Indian intelligence agencies have found that Pakistan is purchasing Chinese drones to use them for the purpose of smuggling arms and drugs into the country, sources...
BRICS India To Host Five BRICS S&T Events Through 2022
BRICS STI is a forum for the scientific community from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to discuss and deliberate on topics of common interest in...
Abu Dhabi Blast Two Indians Killed In Abu Dhabi Blast Identified
Two Indian nationals killed in an oil tanker blast in Abu Dhabi on Monday have been identified, officials said on Tuesday, adding the Indian embassy in UAE...


Doing family photography in Fort Wayne is such a blast. Why? Because I get to meet amazing people like Abigail! This beautiful young lady is stylish and smart. She's currently in school majoring in education and is doing an amazing job -- I can't believe how sweet she is in the midst of her rigorous academic undertakings. I would never have guessed that she's currently taking *18* credit hours. She's way too cool and collected! I don't know how she does it.
Abigail also has a heart for helping others. She's a huge supporter of TOMS, having multiple pairs of their shoes and a pair of their sunglasses. I wasn't even aware that TOMS have sunglasses now until she told me about them. They have expanded their One for One mission by providing eye health for one person for every pair of sunglasses the sell. This is such a phenomenal organization that is creating a difference in the world and blessing so many people -- not to mention revolutionizing the world of fashion. I definitely encourage you to check them out if you haven't already. I love their ministry and so I was very excited to get to photograph their stuff in this portrait session.


Russia would be the biggest loser if it carried out a threat to ban Western airlines from flying over its territory, Richard Branson, the founder of British airline Virgin Atlantic, said.
"It would cost us quite a lot of money but it would actually cost Russia more money. They charge enormous amounts of money for the privilege of flying over Russia," Branson said on the sidelines of a conference in Kiev.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signaled last week that Moscow might ban Western airlines from flying over its territory as part of an "asymmetrical" response to new European Union sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.
A new wave of EU and U.S. sanctions came into effect on Friday as the West steps up pressure on Russia, accusing it of fomenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine and arming the rebels battling Kiev's forces. Moscow denies the accusations.
"What is interesting is that the EU to date have not charged Russian airlines anything for the privilege of flying over Europe. So I think Russia would lose a lot more than European airlines if they impose that," said Branson.
He added that the EU would almost certainly retaliate to a flight ban with a similar move against Russian airlines.
Virgin Atlantic is 51 percent owned by Branson.
On Friday he reiterated his call for greater efforts to end the five-month conflict, in which more than 3,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
A cease-fire agreed one week ago between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists has been broadly holding in recent days, despite sporadic violations.


text:
Sanam Jung Looked Bewitching In Orange Dress – Adorable Pictures
Sanam Jung is one of the most famous actresses of Pakistan. She is one of those fortunate actresses who got fame and acknowledgment from their very first project. Sanam Jung was first seen in the drama serial Dil-e-Muztar. Sanam Jung has worked in a handful of dramas till now. Sanam Jung took a break from acting when she was at the pinnacle of fame because she got married at that time. After hosting the morning show for years Sanam made a comeback with the drama serial Mein Na Jaanoon and which came out to be a big disappointment. Sanam is currently starring in the drama serial Qaraar alongside Mikaal Zulfiqar.
Sanam Jung is a gorgeous actress and we often see her at various shows as guests. People love her polite nature. Here we have a few adorable pictures of Sanam wearing a fiery orange-colored pishwas by Anum Jung. Her makeup and hairstyle were on point and she looked gorgeous:
Iqra Aziz's Bespoke Outfit Had 100 Special Messages Handcrafted On It
Abdullah Kadwani Shared Adorable Picture From His Son's First Roza


text:
Legal Services for Clients Accused of Domestic Violence in Orange County
Domestic Violence Attorney Offering 15 Years of Experience
Attorney Houman Fakhimi is an active member of the State Bar of California's Criminal Section.
Our award-winning attorneys have over a decade of experience defending clients charged with domestic violence in Orange County, CA.
The law firm of Fakhimi & Associates has a 10.0 superb rating on Avvo, with previous clients writing reviews mentioning our top lawyers and their honest and aggressive approach to criminal defense.
A lawyer with one of the best law firms in the Southern California must have the skills necessary to navigate the complicated court system.
A disturbing trend has been in place for years, and it includes a growing number of domestic violence accusations in Orange County, Riverside and around the state.
Domestic violence is taken very seriously by California law enforcement officers and prosecutors. The California Department of Justice reports police agencies field between 150,000 to 250,000 calls for domestic violence annually, and a significant percentage of those involve weapons. Police consider these calls among the most volatile, and any accusation accompanied by any sign of injury is almost certain to result in an arrest.
It's illegal to commit assault or battery against anyone. However, if the alleged victim is someone close – i.e., a girlfriend or boyfriend (including exes), spouse, fiancée, cohabitant, parent of your child or other family member – consequences are enhanced.
At Fakhimi & Associates, our Orange County and Riverside domestic violence defense attorneys defend clients whose charges include everything from a simple assault case to the more complex domestic violence cases in which clients face long jail sentences and other negative effects stemming from a criminal record.
Most California district attorney's offices have budgets that allow for a special unit solely dedicated to the prosecution of domestic violence cases. This is one reason why defendants must carefully select a Southern California domestic violence lawyer who is experienced in domestic assault defenses and who is not afraid to aggressively represent his client.
What is Restraining Order Abuse?
Domestic assault accusations present many challenges. Unfortunately, and though it's still rare, there are a growing number of people who are levying these abuse charges against a spouse or partner Orange County & Riverside Domestic Violence Casesas a way of "getting even" in a divorce. Some restraining order abusers, as they're referred, have abused the process more than once and all in an effort of complicating the lives of someone they once cared for deeply. Now, they game the system for malicious reasons. Often, those making false accusations don't consider the long-term repercussions of their vengeful choices, and worse, cases often proceed even if the accuser backs down from his or her testimony or no longer wishes to pursue charges. The decision rests solely with the prosecutor, and the majority of counties impose some jail time even for first-time misdemeanor domestic violence convictions.
These are serious crimes, and when someone is proven not guilty, it highlights the problems with domestic violence laws. The "he said, she said" element adds to challenges. Still, there is nothing so unacceptable as an innocent person convicted of a crime he did not commit. We take this responsibility seriously and work hard to deliver a powerful defense for our clients. Our team of criminal defense lawyers in Orange County & Riverside, along with our support personnel, conduct independent investigations as part of our commitment to our clients. When the evidence is overwhelmingly in support of the accuser, we work to secure a plea bargain that is acceptable to all parties.
What is the First Offense Punishment for a California Felony Domestic Violence Conviction?
California's penalties for felony domestic violence are found in Penal Code Section 273.5 and can include imprisonment in a California prison up to four years or no more than one year in a county, including Orange County, jail. From a monetary perspective, a person convicted of domestic violence can be fined up to $6,000. He may face both a loss of freedom and fines. Further, probation or parole can be ordered for up to five years. Domestic violence counseling of at least one year may also be ordered, and this can cost the defendant thousands of dollars. Protective orders may be levied against the convicted person as an additional layer of protection for the victim. Along with monetary fines, restitution is also part of California's criminal code. As part of that, the order may include donations to domestic violence education and/or shelters. If there are drugs and/or alcohol that contributed to the violence, treatment may be ordered at the expense of the convicted person.
What is a Deferred Entry of Judgement?
This "second chance" program is available in California, though it doesn't necessarily mean a defendant will have this option. This program allows for a defendant to complete the requirements, whether it's jail time, fines, community service or other punitive orders, and at that time, have the guilty plea can be withdrawn. Your defense attorney will explore this possibility with you when the time is right.
What is the First Offense Punishment for a California Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Conviction?
A misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in Orange County, Riverside, and throughout California can include up to one year spent in the county jail, up to $6000 in fines or a combination of both. At a minimum, the convicted will face probation for 36 months but no more than 60 months. Further, domestic violence counseling of at least 12 months will likely be ordered at the convicted person's expense. The victim will be able to pursue a California protective order. There also exists the possibility of fines, restitution and reimbursement for medical bills the victim endured and community service will likely be ordered as a condition.
Have Domestic Violence Laws Always Been in Place?
There was a time when domestic violence was not unacceptable. What happened between a couple in their own home was their business with neighbors or law enforcement intervening only if there were cries for help. In fact, it's not been in the too recent past that a husband was encouraged to keep his wife focused and obedient, and any physical force that was required was seen as "keeping the missus in line". Fortunately, in our contemporary society, that is no longer acceptable.
Our goal is to aggressively represent our clients who have been wrongly accused. Our domestic violence attorneys are sensitive to the complexities of these cases and are diligent in their efforts of acknowledging certain intimate details while aggressively defending our clients.
Our law offices have many resources, a proven track record and a commitment that's unmatched. If you've been accused of domestic violence in Orange County or Riverside, contact the powerful legal team at Fakhimi and Associates today. The sooner you act, the sooner we can help you pick up the pieces and move forward without the stigma of having been convicted of breaking the California domestic abuse laws.
Domestic Violence | Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyers Fakhimi & Associates


text:
Dr. Edmondo Robinson Highlights the Growing Use of AI
Telehealth isn't the only enduring technology that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic; artificial intelligence (AI) was being used more than ever across Moffitt Cancer Center, said Edmondo Robinson, MD, MBA, MS, FACP, senior vice president and chief digital officer at Moffitt Cancer Center.
What new technologies or services did Moffitt implement during the pandemic that you think have good applications after the pandemic is under control?
A couple of things that come to mind in terms of response to the pandemic in order to make sure that we were still driving our mission to prevent and cure cancer. So one — and this is common, you hear this theme for everyone who responds to the pandemic — which is telehealth, telehealth, telehealth. Right? And so, you know, we pivoted very quickly. We had a 7,500% increase in our telehealth visits. That's come down since the height of the pandemic, but not all the way. So, there's some middle ground in there between where we were before, and where we were at the height of the pandemic. You know, virtual visits are just gonna be a standard channel through which to deliver care.
And so you know, that there's a whole suite of activity that has to go with that. All the workflows, you know, the technical components, as well as just making sure patients are ready for that. There's a concept of digital health, in terms of literacy, right? So we think about literacy, and then there's health literacy, and then there's digital health literacy, right? And so, we have to actually pay attention to that.
But in parallel to really, one, getting getting a lot of our employees to work from home, and then doing the virtual visits, something else that happened in parallel and actually continued to accelerate during the pandemic is the leveraging of artificial intelligence throughout the enterprise, though. So, everywhere from predictions of outcomes, like sepsis, to driving our business operations, leveraging robotic process automation, for example, but layering in artificial intelligence so that with AI, the bots are not just automating, the AI is finding the next opportunity to automate or the AI is fixing the bot if it breaks on its own. Those kinds of concepts.
So again, leveraging AI everywhere from business operations to clinical operations, is another thing that we actually accelerated during the pandemic.


text:
Merger & Acquisition Digest
Latest B2B News, Top News February 5, 2017February 4, 2017 B2BNN Newsdesk
A roundup of this week's mergers and acquisitions in B2B…
Nielsen announced it has completed its acquisition of Gracenote, the industry's leading media and entertainment metadata provider. The acquisition of Gracenote's global database and technology solutions – which span across platforms including multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), smart televisions, streaming music services, connected devices, media players and in-car infotainment systems – significantly expands Nielsen's footprint with major clients.
xG Technology, Inc., a leading provider of wireless video solutions to broadcast, law enforcement and defense markets, and private mobile broadband networks for critical communications, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Vislink Communication Systems and has now assumed full ownership of the business.
Lightspeed Marketing Communications and Intelligent Registration & Events (iReg) have merged to create a full-service event marketing agency.
Cologix, a network neutral interconnection and data center company, and Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement, through which Stonepeak will acquire a majority interest in the company. The transaction will provide Cologix increased access to capital for its growth plans and Stonepeak a marquee platform to enter the data center and interconnection market in North America.
IBM Security announced it has completed the acquisition of Agile 3 Solutions. The software is used by the C-Suite and senior executives to better visualize, understand and manage risks associated with the protection of sensitive data. IBM Security had previously announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Agile 3 Solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
B2BNN Newsdesk
We marry disciplined research methodology and extensive field experience with a publishing network that spans globally in order to create a totally new type of publishing environment designed specifically for B2B sales people, marketers, technologists and entrepreneurs.
Latest posts by B2BNN Newsdesk (see all)
4 Common Questions People Have About Term Insurance Plans - January 16, 2021
How Technology is Influencing Human Behaviour - January 15, 2021
acquisition, cologix, ibm security, lightspeed marketing, merger, nielsen, stonepeak, xG technology
B2B Trending Conversations: Instagram Marketing (and more)
Woman Incognito: The Gender Spectrum


text:
Oconto County Circuit Court: Woman charged with 7th OWI
CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS
The following defendants recently made initial appearances in Oconto County Circuit Court on the date listed with the bond. Felony counts punishable with a prison sentence are denoted by an "(F)," though certain charge enhancers, such as "repeater" for repeat offenders on a misdemeanor charge can also result in a prison term.)
Patricia J. Beyer, 47, of Little Chute, was charged Nov. 20 with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence-7th offense, over an incident Nov. 19 in the town of Townsend, following a traffic stop. Bond on Nov. 23: $3,500 cash.
Michael A. Renner, 43, of Marinette, was charged Nov. 18 with possession of methamphetamine (F), possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia over an incident Nov. 17 in the town of Little River, in which about 1 gram of methamphetamine and 7.2 grams of marijuana were found in a vehicle following a traffic stop on U.S. 41 north of County A. Bond on Nov. 19: $1,000 cash.
Joshua E. Stone, 30, of Oconto Falls, was charged Nov. 17 with possession of narcotic drugs (F), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance over an incident Nov. 14 in the town of Oconto Falls, after officers and EMTs responded to a report of an overdose. Bond on Nov. 17: $5,000 cash.
Peter W. Berres, 57, of Milwaukee, was charged Sept. 28 with felony bail jumping (F) over an incident Sept. 15 in Milwaukee County, in which a man responded to a group of 50-60 protesters outside his home by pumping a shotgun while inside his home, and whom police officers believed was intoxicated when they contacted him. He was arrested and charged in Milwaukee County with operating a firearm while intoxicated over that incident, disorderly conduct and criminal damage over an incident the day before, and with disorderly conduct and intentional point a firearm at a person, both using a dangerous weapon, over an incident Aug. 10. He is accused of violating the no alcohol and no criminal conduct requirements of his bond in a felony case in Oconto County. The protest was sparked by the Dec. 14 incident, in which a man threatened to harm a neighbor while holding a chainsaw, according to WDTJ-TV. Bond on Nov. 12: $5,000 signature.
Calen J. Hudson, 27, of Bonduel, was charged Sept. 21 with felony bail jumping (F) and possession of drug paraphernalia over an incident July 23 in the town of Gillett, in which a marijuana pipe was found in a traffic stop on Yarwood Lane, in violation of the driver's bond in a felony case. Bond on Nov. 25: $10,000 cash.
Angel R. Tomow, 17, of Shawano, was charged Sept. 1 with attempt to operate motor vehicle without owner's consent (F), obstructing an office and theft, over in connection with an incident Aug. 25 in the town of Bagley. About 6:42 a.m., a resident of the home heard the pickup start and start to move, then yelled at the person inside, but ran off. Bond on Nov. 9: $500 cash. A second person charged in the case has already appeared in court.
Devin L. Jerabek, 24, of Manitowoc, was charged July 27 with manufacture/deliver up to 3 grams of heroin, manufacture/deliver from 1 to 5 grams of cocaine, and maintaining a drug trafficking place, all party to a crime, over an incident Nov. 19, 2019 in the town of Lakewood, in which a confidential informant purchased 1 gram of heroin for $300 and 2.5 grams of crack cocaine for $350 at a residence in the 14000 block of Fairway Circle. A warrant has been issued for a second person charged with being involved in the sale. Bond on Nov. 13: $5,000 cash.
James R. Schiller, 59, of Oconto, was charged Nov. 13 with bail jumping-repeater over an incident Nov. 11 in the city of Oconto. Bond on Nov. 13: $500 cash.
Travis G. Temple, 24, of Townsend, was charged Nov. 13 with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct-use of a dangerous weapon over an incident Nov. 10 in the town of Townsend.
David J. Engel, 28, of Oconto Falls, was charged Nov. 9 with two counts of burglary (F) and two counts of theft, all as a repeat offender, over break-in to storage units in the town of Stiles in August, in which military apparel and related items, several deer or fish mounts, and numerous other items were stolen. Bond on Nov. 12: $1,000 cash.
Joseph D. Gaffney, 64, of Lakewood, was charged Nov. 2 with operating a motor vehicle-third offense, operating with prohibited alcohol content-third offense and obstructing an officer over an incident Sept. 13 in the town of Lakewood. Bond on Nov. 13: $850 cash.
Brett A. Shauger, 50, of Lena, was charged Oct. 21 with bail jumping over an incident Sept. 14 in the city of Oconto. Bond on Oct 21: $2,500 signature bond.
Patricia L. Denny, 54, of Green Bay, was charged Oct. 19 with two counts of felony bail jumping (F), possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing an officer, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct over an incident Sept. 25, in which the passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation was found to be in violation of the terms of bonds in two felony cases in Brown County. Bond on Nov. 12: $5,000 signature.
Adam R. Spice, 40, of Suring, was charged Oct. 9 with four counts of bail jumping and operating motor vehicle while revoked over an incident Aug. 13 in the town of Gillett. Bond on Nov. 12: not listed.
Alex K. Young, 26, of Oshkosh, was charged Oct. 5 with two counts of bail jumping over an incident July 10-11 during which he violated the terms of his bond in Oconto County while in Oshkosh. Bond on Nov. 9: $5,000 signature.
Lauren K. Askenette, 32, of Oneida, was charged Sept. 10 with five counts of issuing a worthless checks on Sept. 26 and Dec. 21, 2019, in the city of Oconto; Sept. 26, 2019, in the city of Oconto Falls; Jan. 12 in the town of Lakewood and March 10 in the city of Gillett. Bond on Nov. 25: $1,000 cash.
The following defendants were recently sentenced in Oconto County Circuit Court by the Hon. Michael T. Judge or the Hon. Jay N. Conley. Unless otherwise noted, the defendants pleaded either guilty or no contest as part of a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office. Felony counts punishable with a prison term are denoted by an "(F)." (Certain charge enhancers, such as "repeater" for repeat offenders as part of a misdemeanor county, can also result in a prison term.) A defendant sentenced to prison and deemed eligible by the judge for the Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP) or the Substance Abuse Program (SAP) can enter the program at the discretion of the Department of Corrections, with successful completion converting the remainder of their confinement to extended supervision. The amount of restitution includes local and state surcharge totaling 15 percent. A "read in" charge is one the judge can consider when deciding a sentence but is then dismissed as part of a plea agreement. COMPAS is a risk and needs assessment used to prepare plans to guide offenders throughout their time in criminal justice system. If expunction is granted, the defendant must successfully complete the sentence, stay crime free during a prescribed amount of time and file a petition with the court. All aspects of a sentence may not be included.
Trenton J. Propson, 26, of Manitowoc, was sentenced Nov. 13 by Judge Judge to two years in prison and two years extended supervision for strangulation and suffocation-domestic abuse (F), and to 152 days jail (time served) for bail jumping, which had been changed to a misdemeanor from a felony count. A second charge of strangulation and suffocation-domestic abuse (F), along with counts battery-domestic abuse and disorderly conduct-domestic abuse were read in and dismissed. Propson was charged June 17 over an incident June 16 in the city of Oconto Falls in which a woman reported she was grabbed by the neck and choked four times for three to five seconds each.
Alexandria T. Beres, 19, of Shawano (formerly Lena), on Nov. 2 was granted three years probation by Judge Judge, who stayed a one year in prison and two years extended supervision for stalking (F), on the condition of 30 days jail (with good time and work release), payment of $288 court costs, $250 DNA surcharge and DOC fees, maintaining absolute sobriety and completing any assessment and follow-through as required by DOC. Expunction was granted. Beres was also fined $390 for reckless driving-endanger safety citation, reduced from a misdemeanor count of second-plus offense reckless driving-endangering safety. A second count of that charge, along with a count of computer message with threat or obscenity, was read in and dismissed. A charge of operating while revoked, which had been reduced to a operate without carrying license citation, was dismissed. Beres was charged Nov. 26 over incidents in the city of Oconto Falls on Oct. 21 and Sept. 10, in which a 16-year-old complained of harassment on social media and that another car was swerved into the direction of her vehicle, nearly colliding with it.
Felonies dismissed, deferred or amended to misdemeanors
Jennifer M. Ott, 43, of Gillett, was sentenced Nov. 11 by Judge Conley to 30 days jail for theft, and ordered to pay $263 court costs and $200 DNA surcharge. The charge was amended from theft-special facts-repeater (F) over an incident, filed March 25 over an incident Feb. 13 in the city of Oconto Falls, in which a walker belonging to a disabled person, left outside Witt's Piggly Wiggly, was stolen while the owner was shopping.
Clinton R. Samsa, 29, of Peshtigo, on Nov. 11 was granted 18 months probation by Judge Judge, who withheld sentences on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting/obstructing an officer. The first count was amended from manufacture or store methamphetamine (F) and the second count was added to the complaint after the initial filing on June 4, 2019. A count of possession of methamphetamine was dismissed. Samsa was one of four people stopped in the city of Oconto in connection with criminal drug interdiction conducted by the Northeast Tri-County Drug Enforcement Group in the Oconto area on May 23, 2019.
R. Brandon Bender, 35, of Antigo, on Oct. 28 was granted 18 months probation by Judge Judge, who withheld sentences on counts of resisting/obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct, on the conditions of paying $526 court costs, $400 in DNA surcharge, DOC supervision fees and attorney fees, maintaining absolute sobriety, and completing anger management programming and follow-up. The resisting/obstructing charge was amended from a count of battery. A count of strangulation and suffocation (F) was read in and dismissed. Bender was charged July 8, 2019, over an incident July 5, 2019, in the town of Doty.
Lester F. Moesch, 37, of Shawano, on Nov. 11 was granted 18 months probation by Judge Judge, who withheld sentence on counts of bail jumping and operating while revoked, on the conditions of paying $705 court fine/court costs, $400 in DNA surcharges and DOC supervision fees. Moesch was charged March 6 over an incident Feb. 12 in the city of Gillett.
Jeffrey P. DelPriore, 43, of Citronelle, Alabama, (formerly Suring), was sentenced Nov. 3 by Judge Judge to pay $803 fine/court costs and $200 DNA surcharge for disorderly conduct. The charge was filed Sept. 16, 2019 over an incident Aug. 16, 2019 in the town of Spruce. He was also ordered to pay an $843 forfeiture for first offense operating while intoxicated. His license was revoked for seven months.
Amanda Borkovec, 32, of Pound, on Nov. 2 was granted six month probation by Judge Judge, who withheld six month jail terms on counts of battery-repeater, obstructing an officer-repeater, and bail jumping, on the conditions of maintaining absolute sobriety and not entering taverns, and paying $789 court costs and $600 in DNA surcharges. The battery and obstructing charges – along with battery-domestic abuse-repeater and disorderly conduct-repeater counts that were read in and dismissed – were all filed June 8 over an incident June 4 in the city of Oconto. The bail jumping charge, along with a possession of drug paraphernalia count that was dismissed, were filed July 20 over an incident June 12 in the city of Oconto.
Kenneth J. Gutierrez, 54, of Suring, on Oct. 29 was sentenced to 120 days jail (with work release and good time) as a condition of one year probation granted by Judge Judge, who withheld sentence on operating while intoxicated-third offense. Other conditions include paying $2,122 fine/court costs and $4,893 restitution, maintain absolute sobriety, complete alcohol assessment and follow through, and use an ignition interlock for one year after completing a 30-month revocation of his license. Counts of criminal damage to property, resisting/obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct and operating with prohibited alcohol content-third offense were dismissed. The charges were filed Aug. 9, 2019, over an Aug. 4, 2019, crash about 2:49 a.m. in the town of Spruce, in which a vehicle struck a utility pole and a fence, then left the scene, but was found in a driveway a short distance away, with the driver behind the wheel.
Joseph Z. Wisnowski, 29, of Lakewood, on Oct. 20 was granted two years probation by Judge Judge, who withheld sentence on counts of resisting an officer and obstructing an officer, on the conditions of serving 42 days jail (time served), and paying $536 court costs, $400 in DNA surcharges and DOC fees. Counts of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct were read in and dismissed. Wisnowski was charged Sept. 9 over an incident Sept. 6 in the town of Lakewood.
Tara A. Berceau, 35, Oconto, on Oct. 20 was granted 18 months probation by Judge Judge, who withheld sentence on obstructing an officer, on the conditions of serving 28 days jail (time served), paying $263 court costs, $200 DNA surcharge and DOC fees, maintaining absolute sobriety and have no association with drug activity. A count of disorderly conduct was dismissed. Berceau was charged Sept. 3 over an incident Sept. 1 in the city of Oconto Falls.
RELATED:Truck driver accused of hitting pedestrian in Oconto Falls bound for trial
RELATED:Oconto County man charged with 10th drunken driving offense
RELATED:Pair no longer face armed robbery charges in Oconto incident


text:
Council votes in favor of innovation center
Home|Feature Story, Local News, News|Council votes in favor of innovation center
SHERIDAN — Sheridan city councilors expressed opposing views on government financial involvement in the Wyoming Technology Business Center in Sheridan as it moves and expands into what will be known as the Innovation Center and Economic Development Co-Location facility. Ultimately, council voted 6-1 in support of the letter supporting the center.
Councilor Jacob Martin spoke to Councilor Clint Beaver's opposition to the letter of support and financial backing for the project, which would potentially include the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce, Forward Sheridan, North Main Association, Downtown Sheridan Association and Phorge Makerspace.
"One of the biggest issues Wyoming's facing and the last big issue — even on the governor debate stage — is we have a labor shortage," Martin said. "We don't have a lot of working-age people or diversity here."
Beaver opposed the motion to support a letter written from the city of Sheridan to the Wyoming Business Council in support of the innovation center pilot program offered through the WBC.
In addition to simple verbal support, the city would support Sheridan County's application requesting $125,000 per year over a two-year period for the program. The city also stated it would continue its funding commitment, which was established years ago when the WTBC first started in Sheridan.
"As I've studied the services provided by this program, it's my conclusion that all those services can be provided by the private sector," Beaver said. "We don't need to have a public entity, taxpayer funded, to accomplish that."
Beaver continued to say he doesn't like the government intruding on the private sector.
"I don't support spending the tax dollars the city has been spending or proposes to spend to compete with private business interest," Beaver said.
Martin provided the example of his personal experience with starting a business and how opportunities like pro bono legal counsel — nodding to Beaver's full-time position as an attorney — was not available him but that the WTBC provided expertise he would likely not have found for free elsewhere.
"I think if a city and government can support that, even just with a letter of support, I think that's a good move," Martin said.
Mayor Roger Miller said in two years he might crack down harder on the WTBC, but for now he's reviewed past years of support and the success is evident. Several people with incubator success stories came to speak to council Monday, as well, in hopes of them supporting the letter.
The request for proposals process through Sheridan County for the proposed Innovation Center continues, now with the support and backing from the city of Sheridan.
By Ashleigh Fox|Apr. 17, 2019|
About the Author: Ashleigh Fox
Ashleigh Fox joined The Sheridan Press in October 2016 as the public safety and city government reporter before moving into the managing editor position in November 2018. She is a native of Colorado and graduated from Biola University in Los Angeles, CA. Before working in Sheridan, she worked as a sports editor for the Sidney Herald in Sidney, Montana. Email Ashleigh at: ashleigh.fox@thesheridanpress.com


text:
Elite Ranks Won't Swell & Other Misconceptions about the AA Devaluation
by Devils Advocate
From the desk of the Devil's Advocate…
So the long predicted American AAdvantage devaluation finally came to be this week, and as expected, it wasn't pretty. Of course, no one thought it was going to be a cause for joy and celebration, but some were hoping for a bit of a reprieve from the worst aspects of Delta and United's recent program changes. Unfortunately it was not to be.
Probably best just not to look.
American seems to have gone ahead and copied most of Delta and United's changes verbatim, once again proving that less is most definitely not more when it comes to competition in the marketplace.
But while no one is ever happy with a devaluation (and yes, this is a big one), there's been lots of moaning and groaning about this week's turn of events, some of it perhaps a bit over the top. And since it's my job as the Devil's Advocate to argue against the prevailing wisdom, why don't we take a walk through the wreckage that is AAdvantage 2016 and see if we can't articulate a slightly more upbeat view on what was changed?
Or more importantly, on what wasn't changed.
Let's talk about those elites.
Up until now American has been maintaining 3 different methods of qualifying for status — miles (EQM), segments (EQS), and points (EQP). Miles and segments are self-explanatory, but EQP's were awarded based on a combination of miles traveled and fare class. Now, starting in 2016, EQP's will be eliminated entirely and there will simply be bonus EQM's awarded for more expensive fare buckets.
The Conventional Wisdom is that this will increase the elite ranks because there won't be two separate metrics. Instead customers will be able to mix and match premium fares with regular fares, allowing those folks who might not have qualified with only points or only miles to now make it to a higher status.
But to that, I say hogwash!
Hogwash, I say!
While we can't know exactly how some of these changes will end up playing out, we know that people who previously qualified via either points or miles will also qualify under the new system. So the only new elites we're talking about are those people who had some premium fares but also some discount fares and therefore couldn't qualify on either EQP's or EQM's (or qualified at a lower level).
But exactly how many people do we think fall into that category? I'm sure there are some, but we're not likely talking about tens of thousands.
American is also increasing the multipliers for first and business class, which in theory could mean more elites. But American has also been running an EQP promo for the majority of 2015 that made EQP's equivalent to the new EQM premium rates (obviously this was no accident by American). So we've effectively already had the 2016 EQM earning system in place through most of the past year, which means any extra bump in elites has already happened.
The end result? We're not going to be fighting a ton of additional elites under the new system.
It's all about the redemption side.
Yes, the new AAdvantage earning model blows. Despite what American claims about the new system rewarding high spenders, it's not any more true than it was when Delta and United said the same thing (nor it it any more "innovative" than when United copied it directly from Delta). The fact is the majority of U.S flyers, including those who buy expensive tickets, are now earning less for each flight than they were two years ago.
But for folks like us in the points and miles community, it's been a long time since we earned most of our miles from flying. Credit card signup bonuses have been the standard method of accumulating miles for several years now, and more recently manufactured spend has become another avenue to increase our miles inventories.
Yes, there are still people who accumulate their miles by flying and those people will take a hit (though the ones who fly a lot and have status will take much less of a hit). But in my estimation, those folks no longer comprise a majority of this community.
Award prices also increased and that also blows. But the much bigger danger — and the one we've avoided for the moment — is the possibility that one day the legacy carriers will move to a revenue-based redemption system in which the value of miles are locked to a specific amount or narrow range. This would effectively eliminate any possibility of high-value redemptions for premium cabin space, as the cost in miles would become astronomical.
Southwest and JetBlue have programs like this (though they also have smaller footprints with limited international routes) and the Big 3 are clearly intrigued by the possibility. But I think the legacy carriers realize that making such a drastic move would risk killing the golden goose. Flyers who primarily purchase domestic tickets in economy are already better served with a Capital One or Arrival+ or 2% cashback card than by one of the airline programs. If customers no longer had that pie-in-the-sky first class redemption to aim for, why would anyone even care about loyalty programs anymore?
However, if at some point one of the Big 3 decides to test that theory, it will be a much darker day than the one we saw this week.
The AAdvantage of low expectations.
To be honest, American is benefiting from going last with a major devaluation. Had they been the first ones instituting a revenue-based earning model and 110,000 mile prices for first class one ways to Asia, there'd be a lot more screaming than there is today.
But in basically matching their competitors and not trying to out-devalue them, American can say they're simply catching up to the rest of the market. They can certainly no longer claim to have the best loyalty program of all the U.S. airlines, but it's no worse than everyone else.
Also, in all fairness, everyone knew this devaluation was coming for months now. I even took part in an expert prediction game on this question back in February, and while I underestimated some of the changes, I can't say there are any true surprises in the details. Yes, it might be harsher than expected in some places, but American didn't go any further than either Delta or United already had.
In fact, we've been anticipating this devaluation for so long that one could argue we've had more notice of it than any in the history of loyalty programs. Officially we've got until March 22, 2016 to book under the current chart, which in and of itself is roughly 4 months of notice. But in essence we've been on the devaluation clock for almost a year.
The Devil's Advocate says the bright side is what wasn't changed.
Listen, I hate devaluations as much as the next guy, but with miles being printed like candy in the last few years, they are an inevitable part of the game. American had three options here: go small, go big, or just match the others. They chose option #3. While we all would have preferred for them to decide that having a superior loyalty program was an asset to attracting and retaining customers, they obviously don't see it that way.
But let's consider the positives — we've dodged the revenue redemption bullet, there's no spend requirement for elite status, miles are easier to earn than ever, and premium airline cabins are improving all the time (like American's 321T transcontinental first class). It's not as good as it was, but there's still tremendous value to be found in the AAdvantage loyalty program.
At least until the next round of devaluations begins. Delta is now on the clock…
Devil's Advocate is a bi-weekly series that deliberately argues a contrarian view on travel and loyalty programs. Sometimes the Devil's Advocate truly believes in the counterargument. Other times he takes the opposing position just to see if the original argument holds water. But his main objective is to engage in friendly debate with the miles and points community to determine if today's conventional wisdom is valid. You can suggest future topics by following him on Twitter @dvlsadvcate or sending an e-mail to dvlsadvcate@gmail.com.
Recent Posts by the Devil's Advocate:
The Devil's Advocate and the Case of the Terribly Troublesome Toilet
Yeah, I Was Completely Wrong About That Hyatt Visa Deal
It Lives! Amex Platinum Reimbursements For Gift Cards Lives!
Find the entire collection of Devil's Advocate posts here.
Updated 2014 Airline Elite Status Tables
American Airlines Elite Challenge
Side-by-Side Comparisons of Airline Elite Status
About Devils Advocate
Julian plays the Devil's Advocate with a unique perspective on travel loyalty programs and the points and miles community. He encourages a healthy (and respectful!) debate here or via Twitter at @dvlsadvcate.


Kingfisher, the owner of Screwfix and B&Q, has reported a 1.0 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland for the three months to 31 July, dragged by a 4.7 per cent drop in B&Q sales.
B&Q seasonal sales were down 11 per cent in the quarter against a 10 per cent lift last year in better weather.
Screwfix was again the star performer, with like-for-like sales up 10.8 per cent in the second quarter and up 17.2 per cent in total to £365 million.
However the strong Screwfix performance was not enough to lift overall UK and Ireland sales, which fell 2.0 per cent overall - and 2.1 per cent on a constant currency basis - dragged by a 7.7 per cent fall in total sales from B&Q to £967 million.
Currency translations lifted a weaker like-for-like performance, with total group revenues up 4.0 per cent overall to £3.14 billion, though on a constant currency basis sales were down 1.7 per cent overall.
In France, where Kingfisher operates under the Castorama and Brico Dépôt brands, like-for-like sales were down 3.8 per cent – and down 3.3 per cent on a constant currency basis, though after currency translations total sales were up 5.2 per cent to £1.18 billion.
International sales, excluding France, rose 16.6 per cent, boosted by currency translations, though international sales were up 2.3 per cent on a constant currency basis with a strong performance in Poland offsetting declines of 5.0 per cent and 6.5 per cent in Russia and Spain respectively.
The group notes it entered into a binding agreement in Romania in August it says will "significantly strengthen" its presence in the region, though the agreement remains subject to regulatory approval.
Commenting on the Q2 performance, Kingfisher chief executive, Véronique Laury, said: "Q2 has broadly followed a similar course to Q1 although B&Q's performance was impacted by seasonal swings across Q1 and Q2.
"We have also continued to experience some disruption across the businesses, although on an improving trend.
"Availability of this year's unified and unique product is now approaching normal levels.
She added: "Having been very aware that this year would be challenging given the step up in transformation activity, we already have self-help plans in place to support our overall Year 2 performance, though we remain cautious on the H2 outlook for the UK and France as previously guided.