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About Sallan
Event Wrap-ups
News & Views Curation
Stimulating In Boston
$6.5 million in federal stimulus funds will go to Renew Boston for delivering energy efficiency and renewable energy services. $2.6 million will be in grants and a revolving loan fund. Plug in
London: Will Johnson Slash Staff?
According to leaked papers, London's Mayor Johnson may slash his climate and energy staff from ten to three. More here
Dems Do A Climate Bill
Congressmembers Waxman and Markey unveil a climate change and renewable energy bill. First look here & Draft Summary here
Climate Roulette
MIT posts a game of climate roulette to grasp the idea that risk management is the way to approach the climate challenge. Take a spin
De-CAFE
The Obama Administration proposes an increase of 2 MPG in fuel efficiency for 2011 vehicles. How incremental!
Teeny-Weeny Greenie
The green stimulus part of Britian's proposed recovery plan adds up to a whopping 0.6 percent of the total. Look closely
Climate By The Numbers
China and India demand numerical GHG cuts by rich nations at global climate talks. Ac-countable?
Follow the $3.2 Billion
The federal stimulus statute created a $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Cities and counties could be big winners, with $1.9 billion in the offing. Lots of links
YMCA: Green Lodgings
A new YMCA lodge in upstate New York aims for a LEED gold rating. Go greenery
EU: Pumping Up Efficiency
By 2015, the EU wants only high efficiency radiator pumps on the market because conventional pumps that circulate hot water from boilers to radiators are big energy eaters. Stay tuned
Tipping Pointers
While use of the tipping point notion in climate science is open to debate, Revkin's latest DotEarth column is loaded with useful links. Point & click
$10 Billion For Energy Efficiency
A bill now in Congress would provide $10 billion over four years to fund energy efficiency alterations in existing homes and commercial buildings. Legal-eyes!
Flywheels Are Fly
NYISO, the administrator of the state's electric system, might allow energy-storing flywheels and batteries to connect to the power grid. Good news for renewables. Get technical
UK: Tax Risk For CHP
New combined heat and power work is threatened by proposed elimination of a British tax incentive. Learn more
Scalable Solutions: Green & Global
Even bigger than calls for green collar jobs, global green reindustrialization could offer scalable solutions to climate, energy and economic needs. Fine print
Scientists forecast killer heat conditions for Sydney Australia by 2060. Watch out mate
Demark Bets on US For Wind Power
Vestas, a Danish wind power company, has big plans for three new turbine manufacturing plants in Colorado. Plug in
Romm v Owens
Joe Romm calls 'Climate vs Economy' by David Owen in the current New Yorker 'irresponsible' and 'disinformation'. What's riling Romm?
Less Great Expectations
Obama insiders signal that domestic opposition may delay US entry into a new international climate pact. Deja vu
Rethinking Carbon
A Chinese think tank floats a GHG trading scheme based on a nation's emissions history. Mull it over
Stimulus=Green Renaissance?
Predictions of the demise of renewable energy businesses were premature. Green shoots up
What's Old Is News
The Preservation Green Lab for greening historic buildings in US cities starts in Seattle, San Francisco and Dubuque. That's historic!
The Bay Area Leads
San Francisco adopts and expands the Berkeley FIRST program to finance solar roofs and other energy efficiency plans. Go left coast!
Grow A 'Green Bank'
A law to establish a public corporation, with $10 billion in initial funding to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technology is proposed in Congress. Check it out
Boom Or Bust Again?
While clean tech firms vie for new federal stimulus funds, it's already time to ask what can make them economically sustainable. Avoid the 80s
UK Green: Markets Won't Do It Alone
Former BP chief Lord Brown warns that without state intervention and public investment British markets will fail to combat climate change. Learn more
Will The Grid Love Coal?
'Economic dispatch' is the standard that selects the cheapest electricity for the grid. With a national grid, more coal-fired power could come to the northeast because of its lower cost. Look into it
Just who are the folks that signed a Cato Institute climate-denier ad? Meta-analysis
Is Either/Or The Right Question?
Delve into an analysis of the latest Gallup poll which asked whether protecting the environment or economic growth was more important. Just asking
Getting to Yes?
While there's agreement about global emissions goals for the year 2050, there's no international consensus yet about how to get there. Follow up
Breathing Earth is a moving image of where we're headed. Click
Research reveals corporate members of CAP, a climate action advocacy group, made big contributions to Congressional climate deniers. Follow the $
Green Homes NYC
Some NYC co-op and condo residents are trying to convince their neighbors to go green. Stay tuned
Stimulating Your Neighborhood - Not
Fear of local opposition to stimulus-funded projects that provide green collar jobs must be faced. WSJ
Advanced Degress Advance Green
UC Berkeley fosters science and b-school links to move green tech from labs to markets. Get smart
What Do Amerians Want?
Unlike a recent Gallup poll, a Yale/George Mason University survey finds strong citizen support for fighting climate change. Learn more [3.4MB]
Forecast: Falling Carbon Prices
Based on recession conditions, CO2 EU market prices could sink by 27%. That's steep
RGGI's Third Auction
The March 2009 RGGI auction of CO2 allowances brings in $117,248.629.80. Learn more
NYISO-Why So Expensive?
The price of electricity in New York is sky high. Is someone gaming the system? Plug in or Listen up
Climate Brawls Heat Up
Breaking news from the front lines of the battles shaping up over US climate legislation. Tune in
Global Green Stars
Although just 2% of commercial buildings and .3% of hew homes are rated green in a recent report, photos and facts about seven of the world's high performers still thrill. Start here
What's Phenology?
Phenology is the relationship between physical conditions and the timing of ecological event; it's where the impact of climate change shows up in the biosphere. It gets weird
Utility Execs Urge Climate Action
Energy company CEO's want EU support for rapid progress on climate-friendly electricity, including nuclear and carbon capture technology. Details here
Get a look at the new coalition of business, industry and environmental groups seeking national energy efficiency action. Plug in
Revolving Loans To Cut Home Energy Bills
Newly proposed federal legislation would create a $10 billion revolving loan fund to help homeowners pay for energy efficiency upgrades. Read it
Tax Carbon On Imports?
US Energy Secretary Chu sees value in imposing carbon tariffs after China issues trade warning. EU also interested in carbon tariffs.WSJ
China & US: Mind The Gap
Chinese diplomatic talks with the US produce no agreement on global climate change strategies. No!
Home Green Home: Romm v Revkin
Looking for handy tips on greening your home? First read the debate. Right or wrong
Green Skills For At-Risk Youth
California kicks off a job-training and public service program for 1,000 at-risk young adults to join the clean tech and green economy. Start here
Carbon's Crystal Ball
Tennessee lures two solar device makers by offering to pay part of any future tax on carbon emissions. Look into it
SF Wants Wave Power
Mayor Newsom launches an ocean wave power plan to supply 100 MW of electricity to San Francisco. Surf's up!
Won't Get There From Here
Scientists attack proposed UK climate targets and doubt government strategies. Look into it
The $100 Million Auction
This week's RGGI auction could bring in $100 million to cut GHG emissions in member states. It adds up
Does the Cost of PV Add Up?
A PV user spells out the costs and policies behind the price of power from the sun. Learn more
Payroll Taxes & Climate Change
What's the argument for cutting payroll taxes and (BTW) creating a carbon tax? Read on
Mike's Stimulus Tracker
NYC's got a website for tracking federal stimulus dollars for infrastructure, energy efficiency & more. Follow the $$
The Flooded Apple
Research finds that climate change will slow Atlantic Ocean currents. This will mean higher sea levels and more floods along the east coast. Watch out NYC
Mazria Testifies
Architecture 2030's Ed Mazria responds to Senators' questions about making buildings energy efficient. Here here
Will The Ferry Sink?
NY Waterways, on the brink of bankruptcy, is on the lookout for a government white knight. Ahoy
Maldives Go Carbon Neutral
The new president of the Maldives commits his climate-imperiled nation to a carbon-neutral path and show others the way. Wade in
What, We Worry?
A new Gallup poll tallies Americans' environmental anxieties. "Not only does global warming rank last...it is the only issue for which public concern dropped significantly in the past year." Going, going
The Green Facade
Green urbanism is just a facade charges this erudite critic. Get deep
Yes, NYC has one of everything, even a wind turbine on Staten Island. Turn, turn
Put The Check In The Mail
States will soon get $780 million in federal stimulus funds for energy efficiency projects. Stay tuned
Australian Climate Scheme In Trouble
The Australian government's climate cap & trade proposal faces opposition from both left and right. Find out why
RGGI Emissions Plunge 9%
With a steep recession-related drop in CO2 emissions from RGGI states, market prices could sink. Plug in
Legal Eagles Turn To Green
Lawyers examine the legal risks of building green and how to avoid problems. Set the bar
California Coast At Risk
Climate-induced sea-level rise poses grave risk to California's way of life. Pay attention
Kolbet's Climate
Environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert weighs in on the media, politics and climate scientists. It's dynamic
Rubber v Rail
A debate is brewing over whether fast buses or light rail is the best emerging mass transit option. Drive in
How To Get There From Here
A new report argues that by expanding use of available alternative energy and energy efficiency , the US can shrink its carbon emissions 23% by 2020 and 85% by 2050. Start here [1.4MB]
Van's The Man
Grist interviews Van Jones, the new White House good green jobs go-to guy. Look ahead
China Sees Green Lining In Economic Cloud
The Chinese government views environmental protection and cleaner cars as part of its economic stimulus plan. Learn more
Now It Adds Up
DOE claims that an arithmetic error derailed funding for a pilot coal fired power plant equipped with carbon capture and storage technology. Make up test?
The Deck Of Denial
Shuffle through a deck of climate deniers. Some deal
How Swede It Is
Sweden will raise taxes on CO2 emissions from conventional cars while exempting green and electric vehicles from taxation. Learn more
Start Counting
The EPA aims to make factories measure their GHG emissions. 10, 9, 8
In An Urban Greenery
Here's why folks who want to protect the planet should settle in cities. Come closer
Going Australian
The fires, heat and drought plaguing Australia are warning signs for the US. Look into it
DOE's Rising Energy Star
Energy Secretary Chu targets efficiency as the best way to cut energy use today and move toward a sustainable future. E&E PM [Subscribers only]
Stimulating NY
What could federal stimulus funding mean for environmental and energy progress in NY? Find out
Ex-Energy Chief Doubts Market Power
The former CEO of British Petroleum converts to market skepticism over the EU-ETS ability to curb climate change without government action. Learn more
Moving Carbon Around
Pipelines to transport captured CO2 to deep underground storage are not currently available in the US but the technology exists. Learn more
What's A Sector Solution?
Track this typology of three sectoral approaches to a post-Kyoto climate agreement. Fine print
Cost Of Carbon Controls Limits Use
An expert panel sees the cost of carbon capture and sequestration as the main obstacle using this technology at coal-fired power plants. Spend time here
Tax, Man!
The proposal to tax carbon rather than cap & trade it finds Congressional support, but not much. Start here
Paterson v RGGI: The Times Opines
If Governor Paterson gives utilities more free CO2 emissions permits it will broadcast "a bad signal to other states, which for years have looked to New York for leadership-not backsliding-on climate change". Editorial here
Up, Up, Up
The EPA's annual greenhouse gas inventory finds emissions rising 1.4% from 2006 to 2007, for an overall increase of 17.1% since 1990. Cold winters and warm summers blamed. Data here
Talking Climate
Senior Administration officials talk to Congress about climate legislation, but is Congress listening? Get the latest
Warm Water Havoc
A new study links a warming Atlantic Ocean to Hurricane Katrina and Amazon rain forest drought in 2005. Connect the dots
Korea's Eco-Paradigm Shift
South Korea launches a $32 billion green new deal for growing new jobs and new economic activity. Stay tuned
RGGI: Pollute For Free
NY's Governor Paterson might override the state's greenhouse gas market rules to give power plants more free allowances to emit CO2, overruling his own environmental agency. Stunned?
Spain: Wind Power At New Peak
Conventional power plants are challenged by Spain's soaring wind power output. Learn more
A Glass Act
While most public attention on big-city, high performance building is drawn to new construction with its emphasis on glassy, transparent facades, experts and climate advocates are raising penetrating questions about whether fashion and consumer demand are overshadowing more sustainable building design.
Buildings with glass skins proliferated and became icons of modernity decades before concerns over climate change and the geo-politics oil and natural gas became defining issues of our time although New York's late-lamented building boom made it transparently clear that shrinking the carbon footprint and easing the energy demands of our built environment simply weren't market-transforming forces. Even the impact of LEED, Energy Star, and other standards of high performance architecture exist more as the exceptions than the rules in our built environment. But a March 2009 panel at the New York Academy of Sciences shone a bright inquiring light onto the possibility that it's time to retire the glass-facade building as both icon and business-as-usual. The panel delved into questions like: can glass buildings be comfortable for occupants without the need for additional energy-intensive mechanical systems? If a glass facade building can meet current energy code requirements, is there a problem with the energy code? Do building professionals see emerging glass technologies that can cut deeply into building energy use? Put bluntly, can any glass building be green enough?
Since New York's historically mixed building stock hides some great lessons in green architecture in plain sight, the Sallan Foundation asked several thoughtful observers to nominate their favorite green buildings constructed over the last century.
Rick Bell, Executive Director of the New York Branch of the American Institute of Architects gave kudos to the lower-Manhattan Municipal Building, opened in 1913 and the 21st century's 4 Times Square. Just what is it that makes these buildings outstanding? According to Bell:
The Municipal Building is outstanding from an energy perspective for four reasons:
large operable windows with angled dust and wind guards at the base that encourage people to actually open the windows
operable transoms over the hallway doors, which encourage natural cross ventilation between what in many other more modern buildings are completely isolated spaces
a million square feet of office space for elected officials (the Borough President and the Comptroller among others) and bureaucrats (including the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and its real estate operations, which presumably could be anywhere); the construction of this huge "back office" space helped to prevent the demolition of the 1812 Joseph Mangin-designed City Hall, saving energy in the best sense of the word.
intermodal transit access — the building still sits atop three subway lines, with the City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge stop stairs literally coming up into the open South Arcade of the building; when the building was new, and until the early 1960's, the Brooklyn Bridge ramps also were accessed through the monumental arch at the end of Chambers Street. Many also remember the adjacent elevated subway line located near the present location of the Police Headquarters Building by Kelly & Gruzen. Intermodal public transit connections in a thirty-two story tower with a million square feet — way ahead of its time! Its surrounding sidewalks were also, reportedly, the first New York use of concrete as a sidewalk paving material.
4 Times Square, also known as the Conde Nast building, by Bruce Fowle, FAIA is distinguished by more modern energy saving characteristics, which have become routine in later nearby buildings from the Times Tower (FXFowle and the Renzo Piano Workshop) and the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park (Cook + Fox). Glazing, mechanical systems and controls, solar shading - the Green Giant was a harbinger when completed of things to come. As such it was what could be called an iconic or transformational building, one that set a pattern that others were to follow.
Energy engineer Adam Hinge named the 1940's Stuyvesant Town apartments as his top pick. Starting with an overview of local construction over the last century, he focused in on a legacy of building envelopes that offered good day-lighting with windows that opened and were deployed to provide natural cross-ventilation. As a thought experiment Hinge envisioned a customer satisfaction survey in the iconic Flatiron building to see if renters were happier before or after building renovations. In this context, he made the telling point that before the era of modern electric lights and air conditioning, architects were able to make building occupants comfortable. From a compatible perspective, Pratt-based urban planner Eva Hanhardt saw the need for a "local industrial archaeology" study. Such research would contribute to a richer understanding of architectural practices and transformations, as New York grew bigger and denser, by pinpointing the shift away from locally-manufactured building materials like stone, terra-cotta and brick to more energy-intensive materials like iron and steel.
Reflecting on his Stuyvesant Town choice, Hinge praised its architects and engineers for designing apartments that were high quality, affordable and relatively simple to operate and maintain. After World War II, energy wasn't cheap for consumers, so energy efficiency in heating, cooling and lighting was an important design goal. Hinge wasn't willing to put a newer building on his list because he would need at least five years of data to see which green buildings were best able to deliver on the promise of energy efficiency and a smaller carbon footprint. As it now stands, the US Green Building Council's LEED green ratings for new building are based more on design promises than actual performance. This means there is much to learn about the performance of green buildings opened over the last decade.
Green, affordable-housing architect Chris Benedict also insisted on the pressing need for data on the energy performance of the City's building stock, but she took a different tack in responding to the question what are your two favorite, greenest, most energy efficient buildings in New York City that have gone up in the last 100 years?
"My favorites are buildings that elegantly and beautifully meet the needs of the people and processes within them... while using the least amount of energy to meet the loads created by the use of the building. While the first part of my criteria is subjective, the energy use is calculated from a building's energy bills, divided by the square footage of the building. This calculation yields a number that can be compared to other buildings of the same use. Since energy bills are not made available to the public, even by the owners of "green buildings" in New York who make energy efficiency claims, I don't have enough information to choose two favorites!"
Let's be clear. Modernists and supporters of high performance buildings with transparent facades should not be thin-skinned about praise for buildings clad in stone, brick or terra cotta or misconstrue the views of Bell, Hinge, Hanhardt or Benedict. Each is a forceful proponent for making much more green architectural progress. For Hinge, energy audits of green building developments like Battery Park City would provide bundles of useful information on what new buildings are doing right. He's a supporter of energy efficient window replacement and on-site recharging plug-ins for hybrid cars. His to-do list also includes developing storm water reuse systems and better water conservation appliances. The education of staff and residents to support the long-term operations and management of green-designed buildings is another must.
Here is Bell's top-ten list of things to do or try for energy-reducing retrofits of existing buildings:
light bulb replacement, compact fluorescents are cheap and easy
motion detectors to limit artificial illumination to areas where activity occurs
increased wall insulation, exterior if possible, interior if existing finishes can be maintained
roof replacement with lighter colored materials or with accessible green roof
green wall exterior additional cladding, which can be vegetation on framing systems that would not be considered as additional floor area for zoning purposes
stair prompt posters to encourage people to "burn calories, not electricity"
stair cosmetic redesign to encourage people to feel that emergency egress fire stairs can be used for normal everyday access
magnetic hold-opens on fire doors linked to fire alarms and smoke alarms so that people are encouraged to use stairs, not elevators
a ban on escalators such as those continually guzzling energy in such lobbies as that of the Hearst Building
and, one more for good measure:
drill wells, like we did at the AIA's Center for Architecture, for a closed-loop geothermal system for both heating and cooling; get rid of the need for cooling towers and petroleum based mechanical systems
Benedict writes about two distinct but interrelated moves that top her list for energy retrofits in pretty much any type of building in New York City. "The first is retrofitting the mechanical system to have room-by-room thermostatic control and the second is to create an air barrier around the building. Energy use for heating and cooling cannot be managed without these two fundamental moves. Once they are achieved, appropriate decisions can be made about how, where and what kind of insulation could be installed, or if the insulation itself can be the air barrier. Some may balk at the extent of the work required to achieve these moves, but the survival of New York City will rely on creative, holistic, inventive solutions that economically incorporate them."
This Torchlight's small gallery of favorite high performance buildings, its caveats about what's still unknown and pointers to the work that lies ahead should serve as a reminder that there is no sign yet of the Mayor's legislative Deep Green Quartet that could forge the public policy instruments able to beef up what we know about the energy performance of New York's 950,000 existing buildings and apply that information toward upgrading their energy performance and shrinking the City's carbon footprint. In the same vein, local climate and high performance building advocates are eagerly awaiting release of the recommendations made by the "Greening the Code" Working Group hosted by the New York chapter of the US Green Building Council.
I'd like to end my Glass Act with a nod toward two great European glass innovations. First, the 1840's Parisian arcades immortalized by Walter Benjamin, with their glass roofs spanning narrow streets that invited strollers in and plate glass windows that tempted strollers with a view of goods for sale. While these 19th Century passageways could not be called buildings, they were early signs of the consumer culture still dominant today and the trophy towers to come, exemplified by the thin-skinned Seagram Building of 1958. With thanks to urban sociologist Christina Spellman, Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele opened in 1877 gets my second nod. The Galleria expanded the scale and lavishness of the Paris arcades and was prominently situated in the heart of the city between the opera house and the cathedral. Walking through the Galleria today resembles a promenade through the lobbies of contemporary glass-skinned towers in Manhattan or any global city. Only now, their iconic nature may be rendered ironic in a century that will be defined by climate change and the geopolitics of energy resources.
Note: Sallan wants to curate a bigger selection of high performance buildings. Send us examples of your favorites of the last hundred years and briefly explain your choices. We'll post them.
Manufacturing Climate Solutions
A new report commissioned by the AFL-CIO and the EDF highlights how to reuse industrial waste heat and cut 400 million metric tons of CO2. Blue & green
Nearly Neutral
Yale University misses its goal of building a carbon neutral structure but see how far Kroons Hall goes! Study up
Car Makers Show Green Auto
The Geneva Auto Show features energy efficient, CO2 cutting ideas from many car makers. Test drive
From Energy Star To Super Star
DOE plans a "superstar" rating for ultra-energy efficient appliances and may also raise overall efficiency ratings. Plug in
EU Split On Carbon Capture Funding
$6.3 billion in economic stimulus funding for carbon capture and sequestration development opens deep rifts among EU members. Learn more
Maldives: Climate SOS
The island nation, the Maldives, fears for its existence in a hotter world with higher sea levels, but it's not alone. Wade in
Pale Green Stimuli
Critics charge that global economic stimulus plans tilt toward high-carbon actions. Look into it
Where The Green Buildings Are
Get the newest list of US cities with the most Energy Star-rated buildings. Top ten
Senator Stalls Climate Nominations
NJ Senator Robert Menendez holds up confirmation of two presidential climate science advisers. His Cuban connection
No, Yours Is Bigger
A new study compares the carbon footprints of European political leaders. Size them up
Drill Baby, Drill
Drill for geothermal power as research finds it could be cheaper than coal power. (Psst - energy efficiency is cheaper still.) Hot stuff
Ed Mazria, green building advocate, takes on the business-as-usual establishment. Gloves off!
Let No Crisis Go To Waste
Economists see a window of climate-saving opportunity in Obama's plan to resolve the fiscal crisis. Look in
It Costs Too Much
Electric utility claims Obama's carbon cap and trade plan can only burden consumers by putting a price on emissions permits. Shocking
UK: Are Car Makers Greenwashing?
Critics charge that auto makers' promises about alternate fuel and electric cars sound like greenwash for getting government funds. Come clean
Movement Moves On DC
The green student movement gathers at the Capitol to press for federal action on climate change and a sustainable economy. Will power shift?
Another Berkeley FIRST
Many urban eco-game changing ideas are born in Berkeley California. Despite some initial skepticism, many of our programs go on to be adopted in cities everywhere. Just a sampling of these Berkeley-spun ideas includes: a ban on Styrofoam, a switch to biodiesel for city vehicles, and curbside recycling. The City's latest first, however, may be it's most important innovation in relation to climate change.
What is Berkeley FIRST?
Berkeley FIRST (Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology) is an innovative renewable energy financing program designed to overcome the barriers to property owners' adoption of renewable energy technologies.
Berkeley FIRST (Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology) is an innovative renewable energy financing program designed to overcome the barriers to property owners' adoption of renewable energy technologies. Berkeley FIRST was inspired by the fact many energy conscious property owners do not invest in energy efficiency because of the high upfront costs and long-term financial commitments. University of California/Berkeley Professor Dan Kammen uses a telling metaphor to explain this dilemma — he asks: "How many of us would have cell phones if we had to buy 20 years of minutes up front?"
In November 2007, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved my proposal to develop Berkeley FIRST. The pilot program provides the upfront cost (projected average installation cost of about $25,000) of PV solar installation through the sale of municipal bonds. The bonds will be repaid over 20 years through the participant's property tax bills. Participation in the program is 100% voluntary and property owners pay for only the costs of their energy project.
The advantages of the Berkeley FIRST program for property owners are:
· Relatively little up-front cost to the property owner
· Up-front costs for the solar system are paid through a special tax on the property, and are amortized over 20 years.
· The tax obligation stays with the property, so if the property is transferred or sold, the new owners will pay the remaining tax obligation.
The advantage of Berkeley FIRST for local municipalities include:
· NO city subsidy or exposure to the City's General Fund because FIRST is based on California's Mello-Roos financing law.
· Partnership with a third party finance administrator, protecting the municipality from financial risk.
· This mechanism contributes to a municipality's climate and energy goals.
· All FIRST program costs can be paid out of bond proceeds.
· The program promotes the green economy.
The Hottest Ticket in Town?
Initial signs look good for the program's long-term success. At 9:00 a.m., November 5, 2008, in partnership with Renewable Funding LLC, Berkeley's third party administrator, the City of Berkeley opened the application process for its $1.5 million pilot program. At 9:10 a.m. the pilot sold out. To date, thirty-eight solar installation projects, evenly distributed throughout the city, have funding committed by Berkeley FIRST. During this pilot phase the City (with help from UC Berkeley's Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab) will evaluate the program and determine whether another round of funding can be made available. The data collected during the evaluation phase will also be used to create a "How To" guide to be used by cities hoping to set up similar programs.
Where Did this Come From?
In November 2006, Berkeley voters forged a mandate for the City to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by passing Measure G with over 81% of the vote. Since the passage of Measure G, I have worked with City staff and the community to prepare Berkeley's Climate Action Plan (CAP) — an emissions reduction plan with a goal of reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050.
Berkeley FIRST will play a very important role in working toward the goals of Measure G. Electricity and natural gas consumption in Berkeley's homes, businesses, industries and public institutions (including the City government) results in over 342,000 tons CO2e per year emitted into the atmosphere — about 53% of Berkeley's total GHG emissions. Residential energy consumption contributes about half of the total emissions from building energy use while energy consumption in non-residential buildings contributes the other half.
To achieve its interim emissions reduction target Berkeley must reduce the emissions that result from building energy use by 35% by 2020. Improving energy efficiency and adding solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems to Berkeley's buildings will go a long way toward reaching these ambitious goals. Without FIRST, our powerful financing tool, these goals would be very difficult to achieve.
Is There More?
If the initial pilot program is deemed successful, Berkeley staff will look to fund a second and larger round of financing for a phase two of the FIRST program. Our phase two goal is for participants to be able to fund energy efficiency improvements with this mechanism, including improved ducting, attic insulation, and hot water heaters. We also plan to include the ability to fund solar thermal (hot water) installation in future FIRST rollouts.
As America moves into a new era of federal leadership, the need to lower our GHG emissions is coming to the forefront of political and economic discussions. To date, much of this dialogue has been centered on technological fixes to lower carbon emissions without much attention to the importance of innovative financing as a key lever of change. Berkeley FIRST will help fill this void and, could be Berkeley's single greatest contribution to reducing GHG emissions.
The impact of Berkeley FIRST is already expanding beyond our borders and one of the greatest advantages of this program is its scalability. Laws in several cities and states now provide a FIRST-style financing mechanism, and other states are pursuing legislation to enable the use of clean energy municipal financing. For example, programs in Palm Dessert, California, Boulder, Colorado and Babylon, New York have adopted Berkeley's financing initiative.
I am happy to report that perhaps yet another homegrown Berkeley FIRST will be coming to a city near you soon.
Tom Bates is the three-time Mayor of Berkeley, California.
Special thanks to Nils P. Moe, Assistant to the Mayor, Office of Mayor Tom Bates and Steve Rasmussen, Berkeley resident.
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Cory Joseph gets his revenge game against Kings
The Kings have lost five straight.
By Christian Rivas@RadRivas Apr 8, 2021, 9:30pm PDT
Share All sharing options for: Cory Joseph gets his revenge game against Kings
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
The "Cory Joseph Revenge Game" went according to plan, to the chagrin of the Sacramento Kings, who extended their losing streak to five games with an embarrassing 113-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons now have 16 wins on the season.
The Kings' decision to trade Joseph and the $25.2 million left on his contract to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Delon Wright was widely-viewed as a savvy move because, well, it was. Wright is a year younger than Joseph and makes roughly $3 million less annually. He's also a better with the Kings' core pieces than Joseph was.
That being said, if the Kings knew that Joseph was going to go off against them in the thick of their play-in run, they likely would have held onto him because now, Sacramento are 2.5 games back of the No. 10 seed with the Utah Jazz up next on their schedule. That doesn't mean the Kings are out of the play-in race — after all, this is a team that went 9-5 in March — but sooner rather than later, these losses against teams they should beat are going to catch up to them.
The Kings will try and bounce back against the Jazz on Saturday.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We are so used to looking everything up in Wikipedia. Yet sometimes something gets lost in translation. And for those who do not have foreign languages, Wikipedia is useless. On her birthday, Latvia deserves its national encyclopedia where everyone could find out about the important things in Latvian. And, in their spare time, also about the not so important ones.
Just like we laugh at our silly haircuts and hilarious pants in old photo albums, one day we will look at these films which will inevitably bear the date of their making. A hundred years is a grand anniversary and we deserve to have documentaries and feature films, short ones and full-length ones. We will make sure that for decades after the Centenary it will be remembered as the golden age of Latvian cinema.
This school bag will contain a variety of professional art and cultural events experience which we will be a present to our children and young people. It will help them learn without cramming – through songs that they can sing along with and through movies they have only seen in their dreams. This bag will not weigh them down – it will be a small parcel to easily take along wherever they go.
Never mind the title – the Song and Dance Celebration is a festive occasion even for those who do not sing or dance. And those who cannot sing a note can contribute to this grand event by organizing, arranging or informing! All the while humming under their breath, of course.
Is the national costume only right for a brawny ploughman on a traditional farm? Of course not! It is right for young and old. Skinny and fat. An IT specialist, a cameraman and a shepherd. In the Latgale countryside, on the streets of Riga and on the plane to London. "A National Costume for Everyone" will prove that traditional Latvian clothing will look good on any lady or gent. On any chick and dude.
TUESI.LV creates stories about young people in various places of Latvia. Their example and work inspires for better Latvia. We believe that young people are great resource for our country. The aim of TUESI.LV is to create 100 stories of inspiration about young people in Latvian regions until Latvia's 100th birthday in 2018.


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This Bollywood superstar has become the most followed Indian national on Weibo
He's surpassed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
By Yvette Tan on May 22, 2017
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Mandatory Credit: Photo by AP/REX/Shutterstock (8518932b) Bollywood actor Aamir Khan speaks to media on his 52th birthday in Mumbai, India Bollywood, Mumbai, India - 14 Mar 2017 Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock
Bollywood star Aamir Khan is certainly making waves in China.
Khan has overtaken Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to become the most followed Indian national on Chinese social media.
SEE ALSO: Bill Gates blogs about why he is 'impressed' with the Indian PM
The 51-year-old actor and director now has almost 650,000 fans,(Opens in a new window) up against Modi's 160,000(Opens in a new window) -- previously the highest amount of fans for any Indian national on Weibo.
The reason for his success? His new movie, Dangal.
Smashing box office records
The movie, which is known as "Let's wrestle, Dad" in Mandarin, is based on a true story of two female wrestlers -- and has gone on to become the highest-grossing Indian film ever in China.
The promotional image for "Dangal" Credit: Topgyal/AP/REX/Shutterstock
It tells the story of Indian wrestler and coach Mahavir Phogat -- played by Khan -- who defied social norms and trained his daughters to become wrestlers.
One of his daughters, Geeta Phogat, became the first Indian female wrestler to qualify for the Olympics, and went on to win the country's first ever gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.
Geeta Phogat (bottom) up against Sakshi Malik (top) in 2015 Credit: Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The film has already made $100 million(Opens in a new window) at the Chinese box office -- and Chinese internet users have nothing but praise for the film -- and for Khan.
The hashtag #LetsWrestleDad(Opens in a new window) started trending on Weibo, and was mentioned 25.8 million times on the site.
"I cried when I watched this film. Amir Khan is such a good actor, I'm a new fan," said one user on Weibo.(Opens in a new window)
"In order to play the character at age 19, 29 and 55 years old, Amir Khan had to go from 140 pounds to 194 pounds and back to 144. He is so dedicated. A true actor uses his life to show his art," another user added.
Credit: weibo
"I really look forward to the day when China will have such a feminist movie," one commented.
"The whole theatre applauded when this film ended," said another.
Why the film has struck such a huge chord in China?
Many of the movie's main themes -- such as bias towards women, and the importance of filial piety -- are important themes in Indian and Chinese culture.
China has typically not been part of the "traditional" foreign market (Opens in a new window)for Indian films, which usually target regions with large Indian populations such as the US, UK and UAE.
Perhaps Khan's success marks the beginning of more Bollywood hits in China.
The most inspiring (or terrifying) monologues in film history
Yvette Tan
Yvette is a Viral Content Reporter at Mashable Asia. She was previously reporting for BBC's Singapore bureau and Channel NewsAsia.


Wash the fish fillet, drain and pat dry with paper towels. Then cut the fillet into serving portions. Heat a small saucepan with about 2 tablespoons of oil. Saute the onions until soft. Add the garlic and ginger and stir over moderate heat until golden brown. Add lemon rind, Laos powder, sambal ulek, lemon juice, soy sauce, sugar and salt to taste. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, and set aside. Heat a deep frying pan with the peanut oil and fry the fish until golden brown on both sides. Darin, put on serving place and spoon the sauce over before serving hot with rice.


Swedish high-end fashion brand Acne Studios opened its doors to NYC bargain shoppers early this afternoon. With the label's signature cool off-duty styles at discounted prices, Acne's fans lined up outside waiting to be treated to a bargain remedy. I decided to drop by to see what they had to offer. Unfortunately, today's Acne sample sale turned out to be a major bust.
Originally established as a creative consultancy, Acne Studios creates clothing that are equal parts comfortable and chic. But sadly, today's sample sale was a big waste of my time. With only 7 loosely spaced racks of women's clothing & 6 racks of men's, today's inventory of sale merchandise could be charitably called "limited". Also, to the contrary to the company's advertisement that promised fall '13 offerings, the stock at today's sale was mostly lightweight materials rather than autumnal styles.
The women's section consisted of items like feather-weight tanks, T-shirts, printed dresses, skirts, jeans, and an anemic selection of outerwear (2 shearling coats & only a few leather jackets). Denims, I thought, were the best part of the sale but sizes were mostly available in 27 and up. As for prices, furs & shearlings were $500, leathers were $350, jeans were $100, dresses were $100, blazers were $150, skirts were $100, shirts were $75, tanks were $50, boots were $200, and shoes were $150. Though the prices for accessories such as bags, belts, wallets, gloves, and hats were written on their list, there were absolutely no accessories available. A few pairs of unappealing shoes were the only non-apparel items at today's sale.
The men's section was pretty scarce as well. There were only 6 racks of clothing consisting of lightweight blazers, jeans, T-shirts, and pants.
I know Acne has a large cult following but this week's sample sale may not be worth your time. Though the sale runs till tomorrow, the inventory was very low and no replenishment or further markdowns are expected for tomorrow.
Wow, that looks pitiful. Much thanks for valiantly sacrificing your time so we won't have to.
The sale really was a bust, but thank you for your kind words.


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Forms+Patient Central
Tooth Fairy Land
Forms + Patient Central
Contact + Find Us
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With the mission of Love. Health. Connection. our practice and each of our staff members embraces the passionate challenge of changing the world around us. Giving is who we are and is a result of the 3 Pillars of Our Practice. By joining hands and reaching out to our community to give back and encourage our neighbors, we make an impact together.
To us, love looks like: faith, trust, support, giving/generosity, unity, encouragement, comfort. Our Vision is to change our community by loving people. Our Mission: To be love and to treat our patients with open hearts.
To us, health looks like: peace, beauty, cleanliness, growth, balance, healing, receiving and accepting, therapeutic, preventative. Our Vision is to see a whole mouth, body, and spirit healing. Our Mission: To provide holistic dental care with a focus on prevention.
To us, connection looks like: community, professionalism, relationship, laughter, integrity, connecting oral health with whole body health, connecting with vendors and partners. Our Vision is to see our community restored. Our Mission: To heal through relationships of integrity and openness.
Dr. Salathe's Story
Dr. Salathe's story started in Russia which, at the time, was the Soviet Union. At the age of 8 her family moved to America, having only the five family members in tow. They had to leave everything behind, but they were so grateful to have each other.
This experience solidified the cornerstone of Olesya's life, "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what stuff you have. It's your relationships that matter most," she shared.
Today, this value has spread through to the whole Dentist off Main team, to their patients grown and young, and to the entire Molalla area community.
It is also the driving force behind the values embraced below...
Read Dr. Salathe's Full Story
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© 2017-2019 Dr. Salathe, DMD – The Dentist Off Main | Designed by Propel Businessworks


Do Pakistani need Visa to Russia?
Yes, the citizens of Pakistan must apply for a Russian visa at an embassy or consulate of the Russian Federation if they want to visit Russia. In order to do that when applying at the Russian embassy they must have not only their passport and a certain amount of money to pay the consulate fee but an invitation to Russia as well. Such invitation is issued by an inviting party located in Russia. It can be a friend, a relative, an inviting company, a business partner, a tourist company or an employer.
How to Get Russian Visa from Pakistan?
Where to apply for a Russian visa in Pakistan?
You can obtain a visa to Russia in any of the Consulates of the Russian Federation located in Pakistan. See the list of Russian Consulates in Pakistan, along with their phone numbers and location indicated on this page below.
To apply for a visa a citizen of Pakistan should go to a Russian embassy. He should bring a passport and an invitation from Russia. Moreover he/she should have a certain amount of money to pay a consulate fee (it would be charged notwithstanding the fact whether the visa is issued or not). It should be noted that Pakistan is in the list of the countries with a high migration risk that is why some citizens of Pakistan may be refused from having a visa.
The issuing of the invitation to get a Russian visa is a responsibility of those who invite a foreigner to the Russian Federation. Depending on the type of a visa it can be an employer, a friend, a legal entity or a tourist company. Visas can be valid for a single entry to Russia, two entries or multiple entries within a certain term.
In order to obtain a tourist visa, a citizen of Pakistan, among other documents has to give in a tourist invitation. Such invitation can be received from a tourist company which is responsible for his/her trip to Russia. This type of invitation to visit Russia for Pakistani can be made within 1 working day.
Not any tourist company can issue an invitation but only the one registered with the Tourist Operators Register of the RF. The outward appearance of such invitation has not been legally fixed so each firm can print it on its own letterhead.
The embassy or a consulate will check whether a foreigner was law-abiding during his/her previous visits to the RF. If it is found out that he/she had any deportations from the country or had any serious violations of the Russian laws he/she will be refused in a visa despite the issued invitation. Otherwise, if all documents are fine and the truthfulness of the information performed by the citizen of Pakistan was confirmed he/she will be given a visa allowing him/her to stay in the RF for the term up 30 days.
To apply for a private visa to the RF must a Pakistani citizen who wants to visit his/her relatives or friends in Russia. In order to have this visa a private invitation is needed which should be properly issued by the inviting party and sent by an express mail.
In order to receive a private invitation a person who invited a citizen of Pakistan to visit him/her must give in a special application form and a copy of passport of the invited foreigner to a department of the Federal Migration Service at the place of his registration. He/she should also submit a sponsorship letter where an invited foreigner would be guaranteed a place to stay at, a payment for all medical treatment if needed as well as for the cost of a possible deportation of the guest in case of any law violation. Moreover the inviting person should give in the statement of his/her income and must pay a state tax.
The considering process for a petition to have a private invitation may take up to 30 days. During this time the law-abidance of the invited citizen of Pakistan during his/her previous visits to the RF will be examined. Final decision on whether to give the invitation or to refuse in it will be taken after the interview of a person who invited a Pakistani citizen with an officer from the Federal Migration Service.
Apart from individuals, legal entities can also be dealing with private invitations. In this case the consideration of a petition may take less time – 12 and 17 work days for a single and a double entry visas.
If the decision is positive, after receiving the invitation the inviting party should send it by an express mail to Pakistan. A visitor visa may be issued with such invitation for a period of up to 90 days.
If a citizen of Pakistan plans to visit Russia to extend his/her business, hold negotiations or sign agreements he/she must apply to an embassy of the RF for a business visa. In order to receive such visa it is necessary to have a business invitation.
Only those companies which were duly accredited at the Federal Migration Service can issue invitations on their own letterheads (usually it takes 1 day). It will take more time to have a business invitation on a standard state form. It will be only issued if the inviting party applies for it. An invitation by telex is an order from the Ministry for Foreign Relations of the RF to a Russian embassy abroad. If a citizen of Pakistan was issued a telex invitation he/she should just quote its number at the embassy.
Business visa applied for with a business invitation can be obtained for a period up to 1 year.
In order to have a work visa Pakistani citizens first have to find an employer which will provide them with a work invitation and a work permit. In case all the requirements of the consulate are met the work visa will be issued for 3 months in the beginning. After arrival to the RF a foreign citizen must prolong it for the term of the work permit.
Business hours: Thues., Thurs. — from 09.00 to 12.00.
Tel: (8-10-92-21) 3583-03-22, 3537-53-55, 3587-85-28.
Business hours: Thues., Thurs. — from 09.00 to 13.00.
Thank you for your message and request.
Could you please let us know your citizenship?
I need work visa invitation for 2 years kindly guide me further about work invitation and work permit as well.
Thank you for your comment and interest in our company's service.
Unfortunately, at this moment we don't do invitations for work visas, only for business.
If you would like to apply for business visa with our company, please let us know your citizenship.


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Kathleen Roche-Nagi: Director, Trainer, Supervisor and Developer
Haseena
Lockhat: Trainer, Supervisor and Developer
Dr Hanan Hussein: Trainer, Supervisor and Developer
Kathleen Roche-Nagi
Director, Trainer, Supervisor and Developer
Kathleen Roche-Nagi is the managing director of Approachable Parenting she is also one ofthe developers of "The Five Pillars of Parenting" 4-11 years and pregnancy to 3 years programmes.
Kathleen has a varied background, she is a qualified Nurse (SRN) and Midwife (SCM) from Dublin, Ireland. Following this in 1997 she became a community Mediator, in 2002 she gained a diploma in Counselling at Lincoln University. In 2007 she obtained a diploma in Life-Coaching from ANM and presented a paper on 'How coaching is suitable for Muslim women' at the BPS annual conference, which was attended by Sir John Whitmore. In 2011 she obtained her diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, from Warwick University and has also gained QTLS.
She has been working with BME children and families for the past eighteen years, enabling them to overcome parenting issues, to increase their self-esteem and confidence while shaping their abilities to achieve. Previously, she developed and delivered the "Positive About You" programme which was a successful emotional intelligence programme delivered to 1500 children within mainstream schools, prior to SEAL in the West Midlands. She also managed the "Get Qualified" project which supported sixty women to gain qualifications and to progress either into education or the workplace.
She is a licensed trainer of the Five Pillars of Parenting programme and supervises others trainers. Kathleen delivers the Train the Trainer course to gain the OCN qualification for the Five Pillars of Parenting.
Kathleen is a convert to Islam and is married with four children.
Dr Hanan Hussein
Trainer , Supervisor and Developer
Dr Hanan Hussein is a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist working in the speciality of Primary Care Adult Mental Health within the West Midlands. Dr Hussein completed her Doctorate in 2007 from the University of Birmingham, after which she began her professional career working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. During this time she helped develop the Five Pillars of Parenting programme. As a parent, she values the contribution parenting programmes have on the wellbeing of children and parents. Dr Hussein has an interest in engaging with community based initiatives and understanding the impact of faith and culture on psychological theory, research and practice. She is a licensed trainer and supervisor for the Five Pillars of Parenting Programme.
Dr Haseena Lockhat
Trainer, Supervisor and Developer
Dr Haseena Lockhat works as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Worcestershire Health and Care Trust. She completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manchester in 1999 and specialises in the field of child and adolescent mental health.
Haseena is currently a partner at the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); and Vice President of MOSAIC West Midlands – a mentoring initiative founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007, for young people growing up in the most deprived communities.
Haseena stands as a leading figure both in the UK and internationally on healthcare issues relating to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Her publications include the acclaimed book 'Female Genital Mutilation: Treating the Tears' which culminated from research that she carried out in order to investigate the psychological effects of FGM. She has a special interest in developing and delivering interventions for BAME communities and has been involved in the development and delivery of parenting programs for the Muslim community in the UK. She is a licensed trainer of the Five Pillars of Parenting and a clinical supervisor with Approachable Parenting.


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Homenewsftx wants judges help over 450 million robinhood shares
FTX Wants Judge's Help Over $450 Million Robinhood Shares
Troubled cryptocurrency exchange FTX has sought the help of a US bankruptcy court regarding the ownership of $450 million worth of Robinhood (HOOD) shares. This is according to a filing that was filed on Thursday.
FTX battles ownership of Robinhood shares
The shares under contention are around 56 million, valued at around $450 million. These shares are owned by Emergent Fidelity Technologies Ltd, an institution based in Antigua and Barbuda. The FTX founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, controls 90% of the company.
According to the filing, three parties had attempted to gain control of,bn, who is an FTX creditor who was granted permission to sell the shares under supervision by a court in Antigua. The third party is Bankman-Fried, who has legal bills to settle.
The FTX bankruptcy estate had urged the brokerage platform where the shares are custodied, ED&F Man Capital Markets, to freeze the shares. According to FTX, Emergent holy holds nominal ownership of the shares, but they rightfully belong to FTX. FTX further said that Emergent was a special-purpose holding company with no other operations.
FTX has also added that the judge in charge of the bankruptcy case needs to order these shares to remain frozen as the exchange looks for ways to repay all the creditors. FTX further adds that the fact that multiple p[people were seeking control over these shares showed that they needed to be frozen until the court could resolve the bankruptcy case.
Sam Bankman-Fried released on bail
In other news around the FTX fallout, the former CEO of the exchange has been released on bail after he was extradited to the United States. A federal judge granted the release of Bankman-Fried after he appeared in a US federal court in New York on Thursday. The bail was set at $250 million.
Bankman-Fried is facing multiple charges, including fraud and the illegal movement of customer funds on FTX. He is also being accused of money laundering and violating campaign financing.
The bail for Bankman-Fried was secured by equity for his parents' home in Palo Alto. The bail release also comes with other requirements where he is not allowed to make financial transactions of over $1000. He is also barred from opening new lines of credit. The judge has also ordered that he undergoes treatment for substance abuse and mental health.
The prosecution, in this case, has been closing in on Bankman-Fried. The prosecution has already secured plea deals with some of the other executives at FTX, including the exchange's other co-founder Gary Wang and the former CEO of Alameda Research, Caroline Ellison.
Ellison and Wang have pled guilty to federal charges, including violating securities laws. Before his arrest, Bankman-Fried repeatedly denied that he committed fraud and maintained that he did not know the level of risk that the company carried.
How to Buy FTX Token in 2022 – Where to Buy FTT
FTX (FTT) Crypto Price Prediction – Is FTX Token Dead?
Firms Now Playing the FTX Crypto Victim Card
Ali Raza
Ali is a professional journalist with experience in Web3 journalism and marketing. Ali holds a Master's degree in Finance and enjoys writing about cryptocurrencies and fintech. Ali's work has been published on a number of leading cryptocurrency publications including Capital.com, CryptoSlate, Securities.io, Business2Community, BeinCrypto, and more.
View all posts by Ali Raza
Propy Price Prediction: Could PRO's 44% Spike Finally Initiate A Recovery?
Join Our Telegram channel to stay up to date on breaking news coverage Propy ...


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AAPL, FB, GOOGL, TWTR
Big Tech Companies Reap Gains as Covid-19 Fuels Shift in Demand
Big Tech reported robust earnings in the latest quarter.
Justin Birnbaum
(Koshiro K)
It was a big quarter for Big Tech, WSJ reports. Let's dive in on earnings:
Amazon's revenue increased 37% to a record $96.2 billion. The e-commerce giant's profit almost tripled, reaching $6.3 billion.
Driving Factors: E-commerce has boomed since the pandemic hit in March. Strong online sales, digital advertising and a growing cloud-computing business drove Amazon's recent quarterly success.
Stepping Back: Amazon remains undeterred in its growth prospects, even with its physical grocery business, Whole Foods, reporting a 10% decrease in sales and Prime Day shifting from July to October. The company projects between $112 billion and $121 billion in sales during Q4.
Alphabet's Google "blasted through the coronavirus pandemic with gangbuster earnings," reporting a third-quarter profit of $11.2 billion. The company's digital advertising revenue improved to $37.1 billion compared to last year.
Driving Factors: With the pandemic "buoying online commerce" and keeping people online and mobile devices more often, Alphabet had gains across the board. YouTube earned more than $5 billion in advertising, a 32% improvement over last year. Google Cloud revenue rose 44% and surpassed $3 billion in the quarter. Google's "Other Bets," which, according to WSJ, includes "areas such as self-driving cars and internet hot-air balloons," also posted improved numbers.
Bonus: It's important to note Google does have its hands full right now, making the positive quarter all the more critical. The Justice Department recently launched an antitrust suit against the company, and CEO Sundar Pichai appeared before the Senate earlier this week to field questions on Section 230 and content moderation practices.
Facebook's revenue hit a record $21.47 billion in Q3, a 22% increase. The company forecasts even faster growth in Q4 as "the holiday season bolsters ad spending."
Driving Factors: Robust digital-ad spending "outweighed a high-profile ad boycott, data-gathering restrictions and continued fallout from the coronavirus pandemic."
Looking Ahead: While the shift to online commerce will benefit Facebook in the long-term, CFO David Wehner said the company faces "substantial regulatory threats" along the way. He cited an order from European regulators prohibiting the transfer of European users' data back to the U.S., which the company is appealing. Facebook is also dealing with antitrust and content moderation scrutiny.
Apple's total revenue improved slightly by 1%. iPhone revenue dropped 21%, but revenue excluding sales iPhone sales increased by 25%, with Mac computers drawing in $9 billion. Apple's profit fell to $12.7 billion.
Driving Factors: An surge in laptop and iPad sales due to the pandemic buoyed Apple even as iPhone sales fell, and the company had to delay the latest release of its flagship smartphone.
What Else: Apple has its own issues to contend with — a House subcommittee is accusing it of asserting monopolistic power over the mobile device market with its App Store. It's also very much tangled in Google's antitrust issues.
Twitter pulled in $808 million in ad revenue, a 15% improvement from the same period last year.
Driving Factors: With the social media company's ad business "driven largely by promotions around current events like sports and product launches," the return of professional sports this summer provided a "nice tailwind."
Bigger Picture: Longer-term user growth is a concern. Twitter did add 29% more users this time around than Q3 of last year. But it only added around 1 million following Q2 of 2020.
Microsoft reported earnings earlier this week.
Justin Oh:
I'm still hugely bullish on Amazon (even at 22x forward EBITDA). This is an eat-the-world company, with slight antitrust risks that might disallow them to favor their own products on the platform.
I've upgraded Facebook ($FB) on the compounder list on how strong the business is looking from their earnings call and because of their stock drop today. They are now trading at under 14x forward EBITDA with great growth and profitability.
Alphabet ($GOOG) is up today and trading at a juicy 13.3x forward EBITDA, but I've moved it down on the compounder list because I am now more spooked by how big an antitrust smackdown would affect its search volumes.
Analyst Read: Affirm IPO Stock ($AFRM)
Let's take a quick look at Affirm ($AFRM) stock, which IPO'd six days ago.
Tesla Starts Delivering China-Made Model Y Crossover
Elon Musk expands his product offering.
Poshmark Stock Climbs 142% Above IPO Price
Another IPO proceeds to boom.


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Tag: Atlus
News The '10/10' Persona 5 Royal Is Now Available On Xbox Game Pass
"One of the greatest JRPGs of all time" arrives today!
Just one title is coming to Xbox Game Pass today, but it's safe to say it's a very worthwhile addition! Atlus' ever-popular JRPG Persona 5 Royal makes its Xbox debut today, October 21st, and it's launching straight into the Game Pass library. Here's a brief introduction to the game: Persona 5...
Fri 21st Oct 2022
News Xbox's Phil Spencer Visits SEGA Booth At TGS 2022, Where Persona 5 Royal Was Playable
The series finally returns to Xbox next month
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been snapped alongside Xbox's Sarah Bond, both visiting the Persona booth at this year's Tokyo Game Show before the series returns to Xbox. Microsoft has had a big presence at TGS 2022 with their own showcase, however, it appears the team hung around for much more than that...
Wed 21st Sep 2022
Video Here's 25+ Minutes Of Persona 5 Royal On Xbox Ahead Of Game Pass Launch
Royally entertaining
Buried within the depths of Gamescom 2022 is some new footage of Persona 5 Royal on Xbox Series X! Atlus and SEGA have shown a good chunk of gameplay here as the game moves over to Xbox in October, which includes a Game Pass launch. The clip has been pulled from a Japanese livestream, with a full 25 minutes of gameplay showing...
Roundup Here's What The Critics Think Of JRPG 'Soul Hackers 2'
Atlus' new RPG under the microscope
Soul Hackers 2 received quite a bit of attention from the Pure Xbox community when it was announced for Xbox back in February. Six months on, and we're now a week out from launch, with early reviews beginning to hit the web. So, here's a roundup of some early reviews for Atlus' new JRPG, Soul Hackers 2...
Thu 18th Aug 2022
News Atlus Survey Asks If You Want Persona And Other JRPGs On Xbox
If you want it, fill in the survey!
Want to see JRPGs like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei on Xbox? Atlus, the developer behind these IPs, wants to hear from you if so, as the company has just published its annual survey questioning fans about all sorts of things. The bits we're most interested in arrive quite late into the survey, where Atlus asks...
Fri 13th May 2022
Random The Microsoft Windows Twitter Account Sure Is Interested In Persona 5
What's going on here?
Xbox and Windows PC already have a number of Persona games, so when are we getting the main course? While there's still no announcement in sight, the official Windows Twitter account has been caught in the act discussing Persona 5, which is rather odd considering the game hasn't been made available on any Microsoft platforms...
Fri 15th Apr 2022
News Atlus Announces Soul Hackers 2, Launching On Xbox This August
Yes, an Atlus game is coming to Xbox!
Big news for Atlus fans! Soul Hackers 2 has just been announced as launching on a variety of platforms later this year including Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, with the worldwide release date set for August 26th, 2022. This marks the first Atlus game to be released on Xbox since Persona 4 Arena...
Mon 21st Feb 2022
News Atlus Is Revealing Seven Projects To Mark Persona's 25th Anniversary
Is it time for the series to return to Xbox?
It's been a long time since we've seen a Persona title on Xbox, and even then it was only an arena fighter back on the Xbox 360 under the name of Persona 4: Arena. Since then we've watched Persona 5 get two releases, witnessed various spin-off games, and seen tons of critical acclaim. With the series'...
Wed 14th Jul 2021
News Atlus Wants To Know What Games It Should Port To The Xbox Series X
Where do we start?
It's no secret that Microsoft wants the Xbox to be a great system for Japanese games, and to make this happen, it needs more developers and publishers from this region to sign-on. Phil Spencer has already managed to secure games like Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age for Game Pass, and now it seems the company Atlus -...
Sun 7th Mar 2021
Review Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (Xbox 360)
The P-1 Grand Prix is back and better than ever
Few fan bases are more passionate about what they care about than Persona fans. So when acclaimed fighting game developer Arc System Works was tasked with creating a fighting game based on Atlus' beloved RPG series, many were skeptical on how it would be able to translate the turn-based gameplay into a...
Fri 21st Nov 2014
Arc System Works
News Become A TV Editor In 'Not For Broadcast', Launching On Xbox Consoles This March


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Height: 83 in., 95 in.
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