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The Thinking Skandha
VOLUME 8, Chapter 4
J9 Greed for profound emptiness.
K1 Samadhi leads to craving and seeking.
Sutra:
Further, in the unhindered clarity and wonder that ensues after the feeling skandha is gone, this good person is untroubled by any deviant mental state and experiences perfect, bright concentration. Within samadhi, his mind craves to enter cessation, so he investigates the nature of transformations as he greedily seeks for profound emptiness.
He looks into how things in a state of existence can transform into nothingness, and how nothingness can transform into things which exist. He studies the way these transformations take place, hoping to experience a profound state of emptiness.
K2 A demon dispatches a deviant force to possess a person.
At that time a demon from the heavens seizes the opportunity it has been waiting for. Its spirit possesses another person and uses him as a mouthpiece to expound the sutras and the dharma.
At that time a demon from the heavens seizes the opportunity it has been waiting for. The demon watches and waits, and when it sees a chance, its spirit possesses another person and uses him as a mouthpiece to expound the sutras and the dharma. The demon speaks through that person's mouth.
K3 The demon's words and deeds that mislead others.
This person, unaware that he is possessed by a demon, claims he has reached unsurpassed nirvana. When he comes to see that good person who seeks emptiness, he arranges a seat and speaks the dharma. In the midst of the great assembly, his physical form suddenly disappears, and no one in the assembly can see him.
Then out of nowhere, he abruptly reappears. He can appear and disappear at will, or he can make his body transparent like crystal. From his hands and feet he releases the fragrance of sandalwood, or his excrement and urine may be sweet as thick rock candy. He slanders the precepts and is contemptuous of those who have left the home life.
This person is unaware and does not realize that he is possessed by a demon from the heavens. He claims he has already reached the wonderful fruition of unsurpassed nirvana. When he comes to see that good person who seeks the deep emptiness of cessation, he arranges a seat and speaks the dharma. In the midst of the great assembly, his physical form suddenly disappears, and no one in the assembly can see him. The demon's spiritual powers cause the possessed person's body to suddenly vanish. He was there speaking the dharma, but suddenly no one can see him.
This is the "emptiness of people and dharmas." People and dharmas are both gone. Then, after a few minutes, from out of nowhere, he abruptly reappears. He can appear and disappear at will. If he wants to appear, he appears. If he wants to disappear, he disappears. He is in control and can do either with ease.
Or he can make his body appear transparent like crystal, so you can see right through it. From his hands and feet, at the flick of a wrist, he releases the fragrance of sandalwood, or his excrement and urine may be sweet as thick rock candy. He slanders the precepts. He says, "Don't bother about holding precepts. That is a small vehicle matter. Why should you hold them? There is no great meaning in it." And he is contemptuous of those who have left the home-life. He says, "Don't leave the home-life. If you want to cultivate, go ahead and cultivate. You don't have to leave home to do it. What difference is there between being a layperson and a left-home person anyway?" That's how he slanders left-home people.
He often says that there is no cause and no effect, that once we die, we are gone forever, that there is no afterlife, and that there are no ordinary people and no sages. Although he has obtained a state of empty stillness, he covertly indulges his greedy desires. Those who give in to his lust also adopt his views of emptiness and deny cause and effect.
He often says that there is no cause and effect. "Don't believe in the law of cause and effect," he says. "It's totally wrong. There is no such thing." He says that once we die we are gone forever. "Once you die, you are gone forever, just like a light that gets snuffed out." He says that there is no afterlife, and that there are no ordinary people and no sages. "There's no such thing as rebirth, nor are there common people or sages. Those are just figures of speech."
Although he has obtained a state of empty stillness, he covertly indulges his greedy desires. Although he's arrived at some sort of theory of emptiness, he indulges in lust on the sly. Those who give in to his lust adopt his views of emptiness. As victims of the demon's energy, the people who engage in lust with him also come to believe that everything is empty and deny cause and effect. They feel there is no need to believe in cause and effect.
K4 Giving the name and pointing out the harm.
This is an essence that was created during an eclipse of the sun or moon. Having fallen on gold, jade, a rare fungus, a unicorn, a phoenix, a tortoise, or a crane, the essence endowed it with life, so that it did not die for thousands or tens of thousands of years and eventually became a spirit. It was then born into this land and in its old age has become a demon. It disturbs and confuses the good person. But when it tires of doing so, it will leave the other person's body. Then both the disciples and the teacher will get in trouble with the law.
What is this? This is an essence that was created during an eclipse of the sun or moon. When there is an interaction between the sun and moon, an eclipse of the sun and moon, an essence falls to the ground. Having fallen on gold, jade, a certain kind of rare fungus, a unicorn, a phoenix, a tortoise, or a crane, the essence endowed it with life, so that it did not die for thousands or tens of thousands of years and eventually became a spirit. It was then born into this land and in its old age has become a demon. It disturbs and confuses the good person who is cultivating samadhi.
But eventually, when it tires of doing so, it will leave the other person's body. It will cease to possess him. Then both the teacher and his disciples will get in trouble with the law. They will be restrained by the law.
[January 1983]
Venerable Master: You must use dharma-selecting vision and wonderful-contemplative wisdom to regard this kind of state. When you contemplate, don't get attached and think, "I'm contemplating." Wonderful-contemplative wisdom functions like a mirror; it's similar to the great perfect mirror wisdom. However, while the great perfect mirror wisdom reveals the actual appearance of all dharmas effortlessly, wonderful-contemplative wisdom requires the power of contemplation in order to be clearly aware. If you can maintain an objective point of view, then you won't be ensnared by such improper views. If you recognize the state, then you won't be turned by it.
Disciple: I have a question. Monkey (in the book Journey to the West) was born from a rock. How did that rock give birth to a monkey? Can such phenomena occur after a rock has been exposed to the essence of the sun and moon over several tens of thousands of years? Is Monkey's case the same as that described in the sutra? That is, there is an essential energy created during an eclipse of the sun and the moon, and it is absorbed by such things as gold, jade, a rare fungus, a unicorn, a phoenix, a tortoise, or a crane, transforming them into demons.
From reading the book, it seems to me that Monkey had a few good roots. He knew that transmigration entailed a lot of suffering, and so after eight hundred years, he started on a quest for the Way. He mastered various spiritual arts and later became a Dharma protector in Buddhism.
Monkey was an example of a good being, but here the text is talking about spirits, sprites, ghosts, and monsters who turn into demons in their old age. Under what conditions do they turn into demons when they get old? It seems that these demons are like bandits because they do evil. Is it the case that some turn into demons while others don't, because some are good and others aren't?
Venerable Master: Monkey was only a demon, and there are many other cases which are similar. Monkey probably ran into trouble as he was cultivating at the level of the thinking skandha, and so as a result, he turned into a monkey that could ascend to the heavens and burrow into the earth. He is exactly what the Shurangama Sutra calls "a representative of the demons." As for other demons, when they are tired of being demons, of course they will also take refuge in the Triple Jewel. With a single thought of reflecting within and awakening, they can become disciples of the Buddha.
Before they awaken, they are still demons. The older demons get, the greater their spiritual powers become. The young ones aren't that strong and their spiritual powers aren't that great. The older ones have inconceivable strength and spiritual powers, which is why they are called demons. Demons are even more powerful than ghosts. The Chinese have the term "demonic ghost" because ghosts can turn into demons.
Have you heard about the "as-you-wish demon woman"? She had been a ghost in the Zhou dynasty, but because she didn't follow the rules, she was struck by lightning. However, the lightning didn't destroy her completely, and she pulled herself back together with a concentrated effort. Then she cultivated and became a demon who went around taking people's lives, because she wanted to increase her own power and the power of her retinue.
Each time she caused a person's death, the other demons would congratulate her: "You'rereally powerful!" It's similar to how other officials act toward an official who has just been promoted. A demon's power increases with the number of people it kills, until even ghosts have to follow its orders.
Later, when the as-you-wish demon woman met me, she took refuge with the Triple Jewel. Thus she was a demon who took refuge with the Buddha. Everything in this world is wondrous and inconceivable. This sutra describes only a small portion. If we were to go into detail, each skandha has myriads of different kinds of demons. The sutra mentions one kind to give people a general idea, so that they know to avoid thoughts of greed and craving.
If you have no desire, you need not fear any demon whatsoever. If you are devoid of greed or desire, no demon can trouble you. Demons will come in only when they see that you've opened yourself up to them. If you always keep the doors closed, they won't come in.
Demons get born in the heavens because they have cultivated many blessings. The sutras talk about demons from the heavens, but you shouldn't think they are only in the heavens. They can go to the heavens, but they are not always there. Demons in the human realm that are endowed with spiritual powers can also be considered demons from the heavens.
If the demons in the heavens need them to go there to cheer them on in battle and to increase their power, they can go at any time. Although they are born in the heavens, they still have desires and huge tempers and are incredibly stubborn. It's just because of their belligerent character that they become demons. If they weren't so aggressive and hot-tempered, then they would join the Buddhas' retinue. Those with bad tempers and heavy ignorance join the demons' retinue.
As for what kind of retribution they will receive in the future, that's a very distant question that cannot be answered. If they encounter someone with great spiritual powers but are rather resistant to being taught and transformed, they may be pulverized into nothingness. Even if they aren't pulverized, if they do a lot of evil and fail to reform, if they still turn away from enlightenment to unite with the worldly dust and continue to be confused, then they will have to undergo retribution and great suffering.
They may fall among the animals and become foxes or weasels. It is the spirits of demons that cause them to turn into such creatures. They may become snakes or rats, or various other strange animals. These are all transformations of beings endowed with malicious demonic energy. Fierce beasts such as tigers are so powerful because they are aided by a bit of demonic power.
K5 Instructions to be aware and not become confused.
You should be aware of this in advance and not get caught up in the cycle of transmigration. If you are confused and do not understand, you will fall into the Relentless Hells.
You should be aware of this well in advance and not get caught up in the cycle of transmigration of the demon king. If you are confused and do not understand, if you do not wake up, you will fall into the Relentless Hells.
J10 Greed for immortality.
Further, in the unhindered clarity and wonder that ensues after the feeling skandha is gone, this good person is untroubled by any deviant mental state and experiences perfect, bright concentration. Within samadhi, his mind craves long life, so he toils at investigating its subtleties as he greedily seeks for immortality. He wishes to cast aside the birth and death of the body, and suddenly he hopes to end the birth and death of thoughts as well, so that he can abide forever in a subtle form.
Further, in the unhindered clarity and wonder that ensues after the feeling skandha is gone, now that the skandha of feeling has become empty, dear, and subtle, this good person who is cultivating samadhi is untroubled by any deviant mental state and experiences perfect, bright concentration. Within that perfect, subtle samadhi, a change suddenly occurs. What is it? His mind craves long life. All of a sudden he thinks, "It would be most wonderful to live forever and not have to die." So he toils at investigating its subtleties. He painstakingly searches into its most esoteric and subtle aspects as he greedily seeks for immortality. He wants to live forever and never grow old.
He wishes to cast aside and renounce the birth and death of the body, literally "share-and-section birth and death." This refers to each individual's birth and death. Each person has a share, and each person has a section. What is meant by "share"? You have a body, and I have a body, too. You are a person, and I am also a person. You have your share, and I have my share. What about "section"? It is the life span, the interval from birth to death. "Section" can also refer to the physical stature, from head to toe. And he suddenly hopes to end the birth and death of thoughts as well.
Ordinary people undergo the physical birth and death of the body. A fourth stage Arhat has ended that kind of birth and death, but still has to undergo the birth and death of thoughts. This refers to thought process in which one thought is produced and another perishes in an endless flow. When he no longer undergoes physical birth and death, he suddenly hopes to end the birth and death of thoughts as well, so he can abide forever in a subtle form, a very refined and attentuated form. To abide forever means to obtain eternal life.
K2 A demon dispatches a deviant spirit to possess a person.
Right when he entertains a thought of greed for long life, at that time a demon king from the heavens seizes the opportunity it has been watching and waiting for. Its spirit possesses another person. The demon king sends one of its followers to possess a person and uses him as a mouthpiece to expound the sutras and the dharma for the cultivator.
K3 The demon?s words and deeds that mislead others.
This person, unaware that he is possessed by a demon, claims he has reached unsurpassed nirvana. When he comes to see that good person who seeks long life, he arranges a seat and speaks the dharma.
He is fond of saying that he can go places and come back without hindrance, perhaps traveling ten thousand miles and returning in the twinkling of an eye. He can also bring things back from wherever he goes.
Or he may tell someone to walk from one end of the room to the other, a distance of just a few paces. Then even if the person walked fast for years, he could not reach the wall. Therefore people believe in the possessed person and mistake him for a Buddha.
Since this person's mind is totally controlled by the demon from the heavens, he himself is unaware that he is possessed by a demon. He claims that he has reached the wondrous fruition of unsurpassed nirvana. When he comes to see that good person who seeks long life, he arranges a dharma-seat and speaks the dharma.
He is fond of saying that he can go places and come back without hindrance. What does this demon like to say? He says, "In this very moment I can go some place a thousand or even ten thousand miles away, and return in the same moment. I can go to Japan without taking a plane, buy merchandise and bring it back with me. If you don't believe it, I'll give you a demonstration."
He is always showing off his spiritual powers. He wants people to see the inconceivable feats he can perform. He says, "I can go and come freely, in no time at all, perhaps traveling ten thousand miles and returning in the twinkling of an eye. I can go and return in the time it takes you to inhale and exhale."
Not only that, he can also bring things back from wherever he goes. He can buy things and bring them back. "You don't believe me?" he'll say. "See this item? It came from such and such a company in Japan, their exclusive model, only available for purchase on site." Then he shows them a radio or a tape recorder of Japanese make, which has not passed through customs or been imported, and which actually was manufactured by the company in Japan.
Or he may tell someone to walk from one end of the room to the other, a distance of just a few, maybe seven or eight, paces. Then even if the person walked fast for years, he could not reach the wall. He couldn't cover that small floor-space at a dead run even in a year's time. Seeing such displays, therefore people believe in the possessed person and mistake him for a Buddha. They think, "Oh! This is a Buddha coming to teat us the dharma."
He often says, "All beings in the ten directions are my children. I gave birth to all Buddhas. I created the world. I am the original Buddha. I created this world naturally, not due to cultivation."
He often says, "You know, all beings in the ten directions are my children. I gave birth to all Buddhas. Do you know whose sons the Buddhas are? They are my sons." He shamelessly boasts that he gave birth to all Buddhas. "I created the world. I am the original Buddha. I was the first Buddha. There weren't any Buddhas before me. I created this world naturally, not due to cultivation. I created this world spontaneously. And I was already a Buddha when I came into the world. I didn't have to cultivate to become a Buddha."
This may be a chamunda sent from the retinue of the demon in the Heaven of Sovereignty, or a youthful pishacha from the Heaven of the Four Kings that has not yet brought forth the resolve. It takes advantage of the person's luminous clarity and devours his essence and energy.
Or perhaps without having to rely on a teacher, the cultivator personally sees a being that tells him, "I am a vajra spirit who has come to give you long life." Or the being transforms itself into a beautiful woman and engages him in frenzied lust, so that within a year his vitality is exhausted. He talks to himself; and to anyone listening he sounds like a goblin.
The people around him do not realize what is happening. In most cases such a person will get in trouble with the law. But before he is punished, he will die from depletion. The demon disturbs and confuses the person to the point of death.
This may be a chamunda sent from the retinue of the demon in the Heaven of Sovereignty. Chamunda is a Sanskrit word that means "slave ghost," a ghost that does the work of a slave. It also means "jealous ghost" because it is always jealous of anything good that anyone else has. It tries to thwart people who want to study the Buddhadharma. If someone wants to be good, it drags him in a bad direction. It's a bad ghost.
The demon in the Heaven of Sovereignty sends this kind of ghost to disturb the cultivator of samadhi. Or it may send a youthful pishacha from the Heaven of the Four Kings. Pishacha ghosts specialize in devouring essence. They eat the essence of various grains and plants and of humans as well. When men and women engage in sexual conduct a kind of essence flows forth, and that's what they eat. Whenever people engage in sexual conduct, there are lots of ghosts waiting on the sidelines to eat the essence. It's very dangerous.
This is a pishacha ghost that has not yet brought forth the resolve. It takes advantage of the person's luminous clarity and devours his essence. Those who have not brought forth the resolve, such as the youthful pishacha and others, crave the cultivator's bright clarity and his soul. They consume his essence, but he remains unaware of it.
Or perhaps without having to rely on a teacher, the cultivator personally sees a being that tells him, "I am a vajrawielding dharma-protecting spirit who has come to give you long life. Now I've come to give you longevity. You'll be able to live a long time." Or after saying that, the being transforms itself into a beautiful woman and engages him in frenzied lust. "Frenzied" means that they engage in this activity of lust over and over again, nonstop, so that within a year his vitality is exhausted. Under the strain, his vitality is depleted before a year is up. His essence, energy, and spirit all "dry up," because this is too excessive.
The key word here is "frenzied." It's not describing any ordinary occurrence. It's not referring to the usual manner in which such activities are performed. It's certain that the beautiful woman says, "The more you indulge in lust, the longer your life will be. You will attain long life." In his greed for long life, he fails to realize his life is getting shorter by the minute. He's totally spent before a year is up.
At that time he talks to himself. Actually he's not talking to himself, he's conversing with the demon. And while he's doing so, to anyone listening he sounds like a goblin. He's conversing with the demon, but the people around him don't see it. I've encountered this kind of demon before.
I once met a man who was visited by a woman every night. She didn't come to him in the daytime, but every evening as soon as she came, everyone in the household could hear the clack-clack of a woman's high heels on the floor boards. Although they could hear the sound, they could not see her. Whenever the woman came, the man would strip, hop in bed, and have at it, not caring whether anyone was around or not. That was an instance of this type of ghost. Later on, a shaman in the area went to his home to exorcise the ghost. That night, when the demon came, she conversed with the shaman.
"Fine," she said. "You want to cure this man? All right, from today on he'll be fine. But from this point, I'm going to start coming to your household. We'll have a little contest of dharmas." After that, she actually went to the shaman's home, and his older brother engaged in this sort of improper activity from morning to night with the demon. I'll tell you, this demon is really powerful. The people around him do not realize what is happening.
They are not aware of this situation. In most cases such a person will get in trouble with the law, and his activities will be curtailed by the law. But before he is punished, before he is brought to trial, he will die from depletion. While still in prison, he dies from the total depletion of his essence, energy, and spirit. The demon disturbs and confuses the person to the point of death. The demon destroys the person's samadhi-power to the extent that he perishes.
When I was young, I liked to fight with demons. I fought with them until all the demon armies in the universe wanted to gang up on me. I nearly lost my life on many occasions. Because of this, later on, no matter how much I have wished to fight with demons again, I haven't dared to use any dharma against them. Many demons come to bully me, but I always practice forbearance and don't offer any opposition. I gather them in and influence them with kindness and compassion instead of subduing them with the dharma of subduing.
I remember that at the Virtue Society in Manchuria, the dean of the training school was called Xu Guilan. There were fifty or sixty students in the Virtue Society, and one of them became possessed by a demon. Xu Guilan, thinking that she had some authority as the dean of the training school, tried to get rid of the demon. She spat a mouthful of cold water at the possessed girl, but the demon didn't leave.
It said, "Okay, you want to get rid of me? Then I'll possess you instead, and see what you do about that!"
Thereupon, the possessed girl got better, and Xu Guilan herself was possessed by the demon. Earlier, Guo Hong said he had used this method of reciting a mantra and then spitting on the possessed person, and the person had run off. Probably the demon who possessed him didn't have enough power, and so it left. But the demon that possessed Xu Guilan wasn't afraid of being spat on with cold water, and it didn't go away. Then Xu Guilan started acting demonic. She could no longer live at the Virtue Society and had to move back home. The demon came to disturb her every day at her home, throwing her family into a turmoil.
What demon was this? It was a gibbon spirit, a very large one. When it came, it engaged in sexual intercourse with Xu Guilan. It would possess her body and torture her. Sometimes it would confuse her to the point that she would utter how much she loved it, and so on. Then they would have sex, and after it was over, Xu Guilan would be bleeding from her eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth. The gibbon spirit sucked away all her energy and essence, leaving her paralyzed and near death.
The Virtue Society sent someone to see our monastery's abbot who was known throughout Manchuria as the Filial Son Wang. They had heard that he had great virtue and could subdue the demon, so they sought him out. However, the abbot would always ask me to take care of such matters. He never dealt with them himself, but always sent me to resolve whatever problems there were. This happened many times, such as when the family of Gao Defu in Danangou village was in trouble.
This time the abbot also asked me to go, and so I went. When they informed the gibbon spirit of my coming, guess what it said? "Ah! You wasted your efforts asking him to come. It won't work. Even if you asked Ji Gong to come, it wouldn't scare me." It was not afraid of anything. When I went there, the gibbon spirit came, and we had a real fight! After two days of nonstop fighting, I finally subdued it. The woman recovered. I have been through many experiences such as this.
I'm not willing to interfere in other people's business anymore. For example, although I see that a certain person has an eagle spirit on her, and it is causing her head to shake involuntarily, I'm not going to do anything about it. I act as if I didn't see it. Why? Because I'm cultivating forbearance! Even if someone were to defecate on my head, I would bear it and not get angry. My motto now is that I will not contend with anyone. Guo Hong, you'd better be careful not to stir up trouble in the future. You must have a few good roots, or else that demon would easily have possessed you. This is no laughing matter.
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Michael Jordan makes appearance at NBA Legends Brunch on his birthday
Ralph Orense
Hall of Famer Michael Jordan made a surprise appearance during the Legends Brunch held on Saturday in Charlotte, the city where the All-Star festivities are also taking place.
The six-time NBA champion and current owner of the Charlotte Hornets told NBA.com's Steve Aschburner that he was convinced by colleague and former NBA player Sam Perkins to make an appearance in the event.
"Sam Perkins nagged me for about two months to be here. I'm glad I chose to do this. It's great to see the energy that you [fans] provide to us, and to see the former players and the opportunity that you provided to me."
Coincidentally, it was also Jordan's birthday, and he joked about looking younger compared to the other retired NBA players who showed up in the Legends Brunch.
"I see a lot of old friends, a lot of old adversaries, some teammates. You guys know today is my 56th birthday — I look young compared to a lot of you guys out there."
The Legends Brunch is an annual event that happens during the All-Star weekend, organized by National Basketball Retired Players Association. More than 200 retired NBA players were in attendance.
MJ said that one of the reasons why he attended the Legends Brunch was to congratulate former Hornets players who were given recognition during the event. Dell Curry, father of NBA players Steph and Seth was given the Hometown Hero of the Year award. Muggsy Bogues received the Community Ambassador Award, Alonzo Mourning was given the Global Ambassador Award and Glen Rice was named Hornets Legend of the Year.
"I'm here just to congratulate the four guys who have done an unbelievable job for the city of Charlotte. I played against all four of those guys and they were true, true competitors. But the thing I love most about them — I've had the chance to spend time with them — is what great people they are, and what they have done for the city.
JUST IN: Kevin Garnett thinks process of Anthony Davis' trade request from Pelicans was 'unprofessional'
Related Topics2019 All-Star WeekendHornetsMichael Jordan

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Sunbrella cushions are meant for outdoor use, so they are durable and made to withstand the elements. However, exposure and normal use will eventually result in dirt, grime and stains. While your Sunbrella cushions are resilient to many things, they must be cleaned with care to avoid damaging the special fabric. Mild soap, warm water and a soft-bristled brush will typically take care of most issues. A few additional techniques can be used to get rid of stains and mildew.
Check for a manufacturer's label. Examine your cushion seams – the manufacturer's care label is usually sewn into one of them. If your cushion still has a care label attached, read the instructions provided before you proceed with cleaning. Make sure you stay within those guidelines, or you may void your warranty.
Create a mild soap and lukewarm water cleaning mixture. Combine ¼ cup (30 ml) of mild soap, like Dawn or Woolite, and a gallon of lukewarm water in a large bucket. Stir the solution until the soap dissolves completely.
Soak the fabric in the cleaning solution. Brush away loose dirt, then drench your cushions in the cleaning mixture. Let it sit for about 15 minutes so the fabric soaks it up. This will help break down the dirt and grime ingrained in the fabric.
Scrub the fabric with a soft bristle brush. Dunk your brush into the cleaning solution, then scrub the fabric vigorously with it. Keep the fabric soaked in the solution as you work. Be sure to scrub in the nooks and crannies surrounding the cushion seams.
Rinse the cushions thoroughly. Using fresh, clean water, rinse your cushions very well. You can use your water hose or a new bucket of water. Be sure that you wash away all soap residue. Letting it linger may damage the fabric.
Allow the fabric to air dry. Setting the cushions out in full sunlight can speed up this process. After your cushions have dried completely, you can put them back in their original places on your outdoor furniture.
For extra resilience, try spraying your fully-dried cushions with Scotchguard before returning them to their places.
Put removable casings in your washing machine. Some Sunbrella cushions feature removable casings. Look for zippers on your cushions – if you find them, the outer shells can be removed. Unzip and separate the casings from the cushions, then zip the empty casings back up. Machine wash them in cold water using the delicate cycle and mild laundry detergent.
Double check the care label to make sure machine washing is suggested for your particular cushions. In most cases it will be, but instructions can vary depending on the construction of the casing.
After the cycle finishes, air dry the fabric and then replace the casings.
Spray the mild soap and water solution onto stains. When stains occur, Sunbrella suggests spot cleaning. Mix up the same solution you'd use for general cleaning in a spray bottle. Spray it directly on the stain and let it soak for at least 15 minutes.
Sprinkle corn starch on oily stains first. If you've spilled something oily, like sunscreen, it may stain the fabric. Sprinkle corn starch over the affected area. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then proceed with the cleaning process.
Corn starch acts as an absorbent and helps to soak up the oily residue.
Use a straight-edge or ruler to scrape away the dried corn starch after 10 minutes have passed.
Blot at the area to soak up excess moisture. Dab a fresh towel or sponge at the spot, soaking up as much excess moisture as you can. If you have a wet-vac, that also works well. Allow the fabric to air dry the rest of the way.
Create a bleach, soap and water solution for mildew. Sunbrella cushions are formulated to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, but it can still occur. Combine 1 cup (120 ml) bleach, ¼ cup (30 ml) mild soap and a gallon of lukewarm water in a bucket. Pour it into a spray bottle.
Spray the fabric with the bleach solution. Be sure to mist the affected area thoroughly, but also apply it to the entire surface of the cushion. If you only concentrate on the affected spot, a water ring or light stain may form. Let the solution sit on the fabric for about 15 minutes.
Wipe down with a sponge or brush. After 15 minutes, wipe the surface of the cushions with a sponge or scrub with a soft bristle brush. To avoid rings and stains, be sure to clean the entire cushion from seam to seam. This should take care of even tough mold and mildew stains.
Rinse with fresh water and air dry the cushions. Thoroughly rinse your cushions to remove all traces of the bleach solution. Let them air dry. Setting them out in direct sunlight can help speed up the drying process.
Brush dirt off the fabric regularly. Outdoor cushions are going to get dirty – there's no way around that. However, you can limit how dirty they get by brushing loose dirt from the surface whenever you notice it. This will prevent the dirt from becoming deeply ingrained in the fabric.
Wipe up spills as soon as possible. To limit staining, try to wipe the spilled substance from the cushions right after it happens. If that's not possible, get rid of the spilled substance as soon as you notice it. The longer it sits on the fabric, the more ingrained the stain will become.
Blot gently at liquid spills. When a liquid spill occurs, use a clean cloth to blot the substance up. Never rub the spilled liquid, since this will force it deeper into the fabric fibers. After you've soaked up as much as possible, proceed with the spot cleaning technique.
Don't forget to sprinkle the corn starch on oil-based stains first.
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Free concessionary bus passes
The Age Related Concessionary Bus pass pages, which can be used to make a new application or replace a lost bus pass will be unavailable on Tuesday 18th January 2022 , due to improvements being made to this system. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this work.
Residents of Gloucestershire who are of pensionable age, or residents who are disabled and/or cannot drive for medical reasons, are entitled to free off-peak* travel on local buses anywhere in England.
Who can apply for a concessionary bus pass?
People of pensionable age
You qualify for a concessionary bus pass when you reach the pensionable age applicable to a woman, irrespective of whether you are male or female.
Calculate your State Pension AgeOpens new window.
To use the calculator, select 'female' (even if you are male) and enter your date of birth.
You may apply up to 28 days before you become entitled to use your pass.
People who are disabled and/or cannot drive for medical reasons
You're eligible for a disability-related pass if you:
are blind or partially sighted
are profoundly or severely deaf
are without speech
have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk
don't have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms
You're also eligible if your application for a driving licence would be refused under section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (physical fitness). However, you won't be eligible if you were refused because of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
If you are unable to travel alone due to your disability you may be eligible for a companion bus pass. This will allow you to be accompanied by any person over 16 years of age, free of charge.
Apply for a pass
Age-related pass
My first age related bus pass:
There is no paper application for an age related bus pass
The most straightforward method is to
apply for your pass online
Please note: you will need a digital photograph of yourself to apply online.
This must be recent, colour, full face, without glasses (unless you are blind) and without a hat.
You can also apply
Libraries can assist with the renewal of Age Related Bus Passes, replacement of lost or stolen bus passes (for both Disability and Age Related). Unfortunately at the present time, Libraries cannot arrange new Age Related or new Disability Bus passes due to ICT issues. For assistance with new applications:
Please call 01452 426265 for advice.
at any of Gloucestershire's participating libraries
at Wotton-under-Edge One Stop Shop
(Council offices cannot process applications.)
You must take a suitable proof of age and address with you to apply in person.
List of suitable proofs of age and address
Lost, stolen or damaged Age related bus pass:
Usually you can do this online.
At the moment, due to ICT updates, to get a replacement bus pass, you'll have to visit a library.
List of Gloucestershire's participating libraries
More advice at Wotton-under-Edge One Stop Shop
Disability-related pass
Paper application. Please apply using your free bus travel pack; visit Applying for a disability related bus pass to find out more.
From 1 April 2016 the return fare for concessionary pass holders travelling from a Park & Ride site is £1.
The £1 fare applies to any return journey to or from Park & Ride sites at Arle Court, the Racecourse or Waterwells on production of a valid English National Concessionary Travel Pass after 9.30am on weekdays and at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 1 April 2016.
Prior to 9.30am on weekdays the full adult fare will still apply.
This charge has been introduced by Gloucestershire County Council in line with Government guidance and is used to help meet the operational costs of council funded public transport services.
Renew a pass
Your pass will be automatically renewed if you have used it within the last 13 months. Please ensure you let us know of any change of address well in advance of the expiry date. If you have not received an automatic replacement of your age related bus pass, this isn't a problem. you just need to go to a participating Library and they will arrange for your new bus pass to be issued. However, if you have changed your address and not notified us, please take proof of your new address (e.g. Council Tax bill, Utility bill , Bank statement etc.) to the participating Library so your record can be updated. There is no charge for the renewal of a bus pass.
Libraries can assist with the renewal of Age Related Bus Passes, replacement of lost or stolen bus passes (for both Disability and Age Related). (Unfortunately at the present time, Libraries cannot arrange new Age Related or new Disability Bus passes due to ICT updates). For assistance with new applications...
Please call 01452 426265 for advice).
List of participating Libraries
If your current bus pass has not expired you can continue to use it , but then cut it up once your new pass arrives.
If your bus pass is due to expire soon:
You will receive a new bus pass automatically if you have used it within the last 13 months.
You will receive a letter advising you what you will need to do to get a new bus pass.
If you do not receive your new pass or a letter please contact us on 01452 426265.
Change of circumstances:
If you have changed your address and not notified us, please take proof of your new address (e.g. Council Tax bill, Utility bill, Bank statement etc.) to a participating Library so your record can be updated. There is no charge for the renewal of a bus pass.
Libraries can assist with the renewal of Age Related Bus Passes, replacement of lost or stolen bus passes (for both Disability and Age Related). (Unfortunately at the present time, Libraries cannot arrange new Age Related or new Disability Bus passes due to ICT updates). For assistance with new applications:
If your application is successful your pass should arrive by post within 7 to 21 days. Please note that if you have sent us your disability-related pass application by post, it may take a few days longer to process.
Where, when and how can I use it?
Conditions of issue and use of Gloucestershire Concessionary Bus Passes
Your concessionary bus pass is valid on participating bus operators' services from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and at any time at weekends and bank holidays for journeys within England. You may also use your pass for travel between any bus stop in Gloucestershire and Monmouth or Chepstow
Your concessionary bus pass may be used before 9.30am on weekdays only on certain Gloucestershire routes and services, details of which are available in this service list or by calling 01452 426265. Gloucestershire County Council reserves the right to change such routes and services at any time at our absolute discretion
You must show your concessionary bus pass to the bus driver on every qualifying journey you undertake. Failure to do so will result in you having to pay the full adult fare for that journey
The bus driver or inspector has the right to question your entitlement to travel free under the concessionary travel scheme
The bus operator's normal conditions of carriage and passenger regulations will apply when you use your concessionary bus pass on their buses
Your concessionary bus pass cannot be used to purchase Season, Express Coach, Excursion or other tickets
Your concessionary bus pass is for your personal use only. It is not transferable and must not be used by any other person
If you have a 'disabled with companion' card which is marked with a 'C' in the top right hand corner your concessionary bus pass allows a companion to travel with you for free. Your companion may not use the card other than when they are accompanying you as the card holder. This additional concession is available only in respect of journeys undertaken within Gloucestershire. It is possible that similar concessionary travel schemes are in operation across other counties, though it will be necessary for you to seek confirmation of this from the relevant Travel Concession Authorities
Your concessionary bus pass will be rendered void if it is altered, defaced, mutilated or out-of-date
In the event that you lose or damage your concessionary bus pass the decision as to whether you will be provided with a replacement pass will be at the sole discretion of Gloucestershire County Council. You will be required to pay a replacement charge for any concessionary bus pass that is provided to you
Your concessionary bus pass, including any photograph attached thereto, remains the property of Gloucestershire County Council and must be surrendered to the Council or any of its representatives on demand
You acknowledge and agree that Gloucestershire County Council is not responsible for bus services that are provided by bus operators participating in Gloucestershire's concessionary travel scheme, and that your use of such services is subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant bus operator. For the avoidance of doubt, you acknowledge and agree neither Gloucestershire County Council nor any other local authority in Gloucestershire that is participating in the said concessionary travel scheme accepts responsibility or liability for any personal injury or other loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from your use of a bus operator's services
If, due to a change on your circumstances, your main place of residence is no longer in Gloucestershire, or if for some other reason you no longer use or are no longer eligible to use your concessionary bus pass, please return your pass to
The Integrated Transport Unit
Shire Hall
Gloucester GL1 2TH
so that it may be cancelled. Details of eligibility can be found above
If you move residential address and remain resident in Gloucestershire, you are required to inform Gloucestershire County Council of your new address by writing to
in order that we may update our records and contact you about any pass renewals or changes in the conditions of use for your pass that may occur
If you are granted a Gloucestershire concessionary bus pass under the provisions of the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 you will not be entitled to receive any alternative concession such as travel tokens from your Local District Authority other than at their discretion
If you have applied for a disabled concessionary bus pass, Gloucestershire County Council may require you to attend a disability assessment to assess your eligibility. Refusal to attend such an assessment will result in any existing disabled concessionary bus pass you may hold being annulled
By applying for a concessionary bus pass you acknowledge and agree that it will be necessary for Gloucestershire County Council to make such enquiries as it considers reasonably necessary to check the information you have given in your application form. Should a concessionary bus pass be issued on the basis of information that is subsequently found to have been submitted fraudulently, the County Council reserves the right to prosecute
Misuse of your concessionary bus pass may result in prosecution and/or withdrawal of your pass
Gloucestershire County Council follows best practice in managing personal information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and Data Protection Act 1998. By applying for a concessionary bus pass you are granting your consent for Gloucestershire County Council to use or share any information given by you with other authorised bodies for the purposes of administering the scheme; issuing your concessionary bus pass; and auditing or fraud prevention
On the bus
You must show your concessionary bus pass to the bus driver when boarding the bus. No other evidence of your entitlement to concessionary travel will be acceptable. The relevant full fare will be payable if your pass is not shown
When boarding a bus you are required to inform the bus driver of your intended destination
Some bus operators issue tickets or receipts for concessionary journeys. If one is issued to you, please take it and keep it throughout your journey
Some buses will be crowded, particularly at times of day when workers and children need to travel. If you can, please arrange your journey times to avoid these buses.
Conditions of Issue and Use of Gloucestershire Concessionary Bus Passes (printable)
How do I replace a lost or stolen bus pass?
Lost, stolen or damaged bus passes:
The answer to your questions may be found by reading our Concessionary Bus Pass Frequently Asked Questions
This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers and to this end may use the information you provide in your application for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information see www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/fairprocessing
Council services affected by Covid-19
Bus pass renewal
Applying for a disability related bus pass
Concessionary Bus Pass terms and conditions
Frequently asked questions about concessionary bus passes
0930 Exceptions List Updated December 2021
Local and National bus timetables
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© 2022 Copyright Gloucestershire County Council


text:
Get used to being in the Trump-Xi firing line
Jennifer HewettColumnist
Aug 11, 2019 — 5.00pm
The Australian government may keep calling for "cool heads" and professing its faith in a liberal rules-based international order. But global politics looks more like the rapid unravelling of post-World War II security and economic stabilisers – nowhere more evident than in the Asia-Pacific.
Global stock markets will be nervously hoping the turmoil and major price falls at the beginning of last week are not about to be repeated via the inflammatory channel of Trump tweets inviting retaliation by China. But the imminent September 1 deadline for the imposition of new tariffs by the US on an additional $US300 billion worth of Chinese exports ensure there can be no return to calm or confidence.
Donald Trump criticises allies as much as enemies. AP
The optimistic assessment is that this is merely another example of messy disruption in the steady march of globalisation that can still be managed, if with more difficulty. That view is proving increasingly difficult to sustain.
Donald Trump remains more symptom than cause of many American grievances even if stagnating incomes of much of the American middle class did not mean the inevitable rise of such a capricious character. China's economic rise and assertion of power were predictable although the extent of Xi Jinping's authoritarian style of leadership far less so.
It's the combination of these forces and personalities, however, that is proving so unexpectedly volatile. The US and China are not only confronting each other as rival super powers. The Trump administration is simultaneously trashing the accepted rules for dealing with American's allies as much as it is convulsing politics domestically. Xi Jinping's uncompromising sense of control is aggressively enforced within China's borders but also increasingly beyond them.
As a trade-exposed, mid-sized power, Australia has been greatly advantaged by 20th century rules on international trade and institutional norms, underpinned by the authority and military might of the US. The Australian economy of the early 21st century then received a massive boost from the remarkable growth in China's demand for commodities.
Yet this privileged position sitting between Australia's two great "partners" looks startlingly less comfortable in the era of Trump and Xi .
The growing risks extend well beyond the collision of a reckless but determined US President and and a hardline but equally determined Chinese autocrat.
Instead, a range of US allies are also now openly brawling amongst themselves – almost as if the lack of discipline by the head of the family permits aggressive shows of rivalry amongst siblings looking for a chance to fight.
Trump's focus is more on dealing with America's enemies than showing any interest in shoring up its key allies.
So two key US allies, Japan and South Korea, are now engaged in their own bitter battle, for example – including Japan blocking access to crucial materials it supplies to the South Korean tech industry.
The mutual aggravation dates back to South Korea's grievances over what it believes is Japan's inadequate reparation and apologies for its treatment of South Korean women and confiscation of property during World War II.
That this has flared into open trade retaliation so many decades on is symptomatic of a broader breakdown in the rules of international engagement in the region, compounded by the lack of direction from the US.
Little interest in shoring up alliances
This President is certainly not neglecting the Asian region as some of his critics initially feared. Yet his focus is more on dealing with America's enemies than showing any interest in shoring up its key allies in a web of mutual economic and strategic security.
Trump sounds far more conciliatory towards Kim Jung-un than he is to either Japanese PM Shinzo Abe or South Korea's Moon Jae-in, for example. That's despite the evaporation of any hoped for progress on North Korea's denuclearisation program after the first big and much-celebrated summit between Trump and Kim. Don't mention the elephant in the peninsula, apparently, even as North Korean missile testing resumes.
Instead, the US President is more prone to publicly dismiss America's traditional security alliances with Japan and South Korea, regularly complaining the US is not getting a fair deal and berating the relative lack of contribution from either of its partners.
As another close ally, Trump's embrace of Australia and the "100 years of mateship" will certainly be celebrated at the White House dinner in honour of Scott Morrison next month. But as the visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper to Sydney clearly demonstrated, the goal of this administration is oriented towards having Australia join it in more openly challenging China's behaviour.
Morrison has been relatively cautious in avoiding publicly taking sides in the deepening confrontation by condemning China or lamenting its rise. He certainly doesn't appreciate freelancing by abrasive voices like Liberal MP Andrew Hastie comparing the rise of China to Nazi Germany.
But he stresses the shared values of Australia and the US while criticising Chinese militarisation of the South China Sea and pointing to the need for Beijing to address issues like intellectual property theft and fair rules of investment. He also emphasises the need to improve and reform international trade rules, responding to US complaints.
Not that most other countries in the region express enthusiasm for China's rise to challenge US dominance. Antagonism and suspicion of China predate by many centuries the founding of Communist China but Xi's assertive stance has only intensified that. Witness the long-running maritime disputes over territory with Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The turbulence on the stock market and the threat to the global economy reflect these geopolitical tensions now bubbling over. Martin Parkinson, departing head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, says he thinks the sovereign risk on markets will last for years, perhaps decades, without some new and sustainable accommodation between the US and China. And that looks more remote than ever.
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Jennifer Hewett is National Affairs Columnist at The Australian Financial Review and writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com.au
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Developing with an eWON is easy. When you know how to.
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Visa and the National Football League have teamed up to help teach financial concepts with Financial Football, a fast-paced, interactive game that engages students while teaching them money management skills. The fall 2018 release features new 3D graphics and game changing opportunities with audibles, blitzes and game breaking plays. Are you ready for the new game?
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One of the architects of Obamacare says it won't be easy for Republicans to replace it.
Ezekiel Emanuel, who helped shape the law as a White House adviser, defended it on CNN's "New Day" and said Republicans have yet to present a reasonable alternative.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to "repeal and replace" the law, but he has not laid out a detailed plan.
For health care to be affordable, everyone needs to sign up, healthy or sick, Emanuel said. Trump's campaign website says he would work with states to establish "high-risk pools" of people who have not maintained continuous health care coverage.
Emmanuel it called an "inefficient disaster" that would cost $25 billion for 3 million people.
Republicans "have never given a proposal that has done better," Emanuel said. "Here's the issue: If only sick people get insurance ... then the prices go up."
Obamacare premiums are set to climb sharply next year, CNN's Chris Cuomo pointed out. The premium for the benchmark plan will rise an average of 22%. In Arizona, the premium for the benchmark plan is expected to jump 116%.
"That's a one-year increase," Emanuel said, because not enough people bought insurance.
As for the public's perception of the health care overhaul, he acknowledged that the Obama administration could have done a better job selling it, but he said that doesn't mean it's a bad bill.
"The publicity around it was a mistake," he said, "but that doesn't mean that the bill has not been a very big success and an improvement on the American health care system."


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there is too much towards the top of the market and not towards what some people call the real economy. ♪ anna: a very warm welcome to countdown everybody. i am anna edwards. manus: i am manus cranny. you had in the headline. over they in the u.s. past five days up by 50%. in europe, up 19%. a wonderful story on the bloomberg. it is called misery, not talking about me. [laughter] misery loves a companion. have a look at this. it really does tell i suppose a phenomenal story about asset class correlation. let's have a look at the full screen, dollar for us. oil a big culprit. gold down 22 out of 24 of the developed markets. they are indeed done, in terms of the equity market.
is not assigned to them, as it was for some people in brussels, or immigrants, or other things. di: aiming to resume launching in november, following the dramatic explosion of a spacex rocket. it also destroyed and israeli satellite that facebook atlanta use to improve net service across africa. they're still trying to determine the cause of the incident. global news 24 hours a day powered by more than 2600 journalists and analysts in more than 100 countries. you can find more on the top . this is bloomberg. manus: thank you very much. let us see what asia is doing in terms of the space. we have futures in the u.s. and europe. david, how is asia coping with that in between session? think what isso i well worth noting about asia is that asia never quite switched from the risk aversion.
gary herbert do something. we think it would be a big mistake. anna: your point on inflation, one year deflation probability index it has increased. the odds of lower inflation, having increased, to your point -- anna: i love that sort of image of janet yellen being bullied by bond traders. let's talk about the dollar. how does it affect your world? it is interesting. gundlach says the dollar dropped. would you agree? peter: we are more balanced on the dollar. exactly. our core scenario is that we do not believe the fed is going to raise rates in september. you know, because of these external drivers, meaning that if rates start going up in the u.s. the flood of money into the u.s. will be destructive. so, we do not believe that we will see a significant uptick in dollar.
european numbers. europe.lower in the estimate was for a fall of 13%. we missed on the global headline. we missed on the european context, as well. when it comes to asia-pacific, down 9%. that is just a skip above what the market was expecting. worse in europe. the u.s., tiffany had a tough time. american sales down 6%. the estimate was 6.5%. a little bit of a beat. what you have on hermes? handbags? anna: nothing yet. the maker of luxury goods, more details, momentarily. manus: i have not been buying anna jewelry. the watches down 50%. anna: worse than the estimate. manus: both worth in the estimate. we will wait for the handbags and scarves.
showed this chart a little while back, because you can see we hit a real low in inatility te earlier september. perhaps the end of august. it has come roaring back. gauges for japanese and hong kong equities have actually climbed this week, to their highest level in more than a month. now, talking about the selloff, just wanted to show you the yield on the global developed market sovereign bond index. yesterday,d to 0.6% the highest since june 23, the highest since brexit in other words. it has risen as you can see my record low in july, so a global bond selloff that we have been seeing. now, treasury yields of course have hit the highest since brexit, as well. with them, about her has been moving higher, heading for the strongest level since august. the bloomberg dollar index. goldman sachs has been bullish on the greenback since 2014.
expected, even on the strength of the yen, not much chinese. and some quite parables, the second side was when i look at the whole portfolio, they do not have enough coverage in the u.s.. where the u.s. a lot of numbers have been faced by better u.s. numbers. they are down now. we are looking at what is happening in terms of brands. we would like to know what they're doing with cartier. we know it is doing very well. in linearound 20 times, with the sector. it has underperformed by around 10%, versus the rest of the sector the last three months. so, i do not think these. rise overall, more about as you said the long-term outlook. manus: looking back at some the trading notes and updates from barclays last month, talking about this weakness and watches. when you look at the split in richemont, looking at the probability of jewelry versus watches, there talking overcapacity.
♪ just after 6:44 in london.
energy, giving us a status check on the stockpile in the u.s. this is their data. as you see, a pretty perfect inverse relationship between how much oil they have in the u.s. and the stockpiles, and the brent crude price. the higher the inventory number, the loyalty overprice -- the price.the ovail we had industry data suggesting the last week stockpiles rose by 1.4 4 million barrels a day. that is not an awful lot. that is less than an hour of global consumption, but it is a trend that oil will not welcome, because what they want to see are the stockpiles declining rapidly. that is not something we're seeing just yet. anna: we spend a lot of time discussing the likelihood of an oil freeze in algeria. how important is that? do not get my hopes up? ryan: i think that is fair. the market is not getting hopes up.but here's the thing.
they are actually not talking about an oil freeze, what they're talking about right now, the opec countries plus russia are agreeing to, caps that they themselves would come up to. iraq for example would say i will cap at 4 million barrels, producing tule and barrels right now, but i would agree to 4. i would not go beyond that. the same with opec used to have quotas, amongst themselves. so it does not mean even if they do reach a deal in algeria that they would actually cap levels where they are today, or that we would see supply removed from the market. that is really important to keep in mind. nonetheless, talk while it may be cheap compared opec, it is useful. suisse announce the last time opec announced talks, you see the short line white against oil. the price of oil went up. same thing this time around.
of $137 a share. the latest is 20% above monsanto's closing price on tuesday. it is below what some analysts were saying was needed to actually clinch the deal between 130-135. but if it is successful, this would lead to the biggest deal this year, and the largest ever by a german company. we're talking about $56.5 billion at this offer level. manus: what exactly happens next? i mean, this comes down to what? valuation? breakoff agreements? what is driving this? bernstein released a report, they always knew this was going to be a higher bid. bayer yeah, i mean what is also considering is raising that break the two around $3 billion. manus, what will happen next is monsanto's board is scheduled to discuss and potentially approve the proposal tuesday.
now, of course wednesday and we haven't heard anything yet,ba but i guess we could. board is set to reveal the deal today. and announcement to come shortly thereafter, this all according to people familiar. but of course, talks they still fall apart. remember that bayer's wooing comes against the backdrop of consolidation in the crop and seed industry. a series of deals could use just a few global players. you have china agreeing to acquire syngenta. dupont and dow chemical agreed to merge. the thing is no one wants to make the last deal, coming under great scrutiny from antitrust officials. but that is the rest. anna: the race against antitrust. nejra with the details of that m&a. the u.k. government will outline aims for future relationships when it issues a letter, formerly trickling the process of leaving the bloc.
europe. u.s. equity futures are up. what is doing? david? david: we are not quite getting the bit at the end of the session. at this time, it is 2:00 p.m. in hong kong. we have a lot of major markets closing up shop. let me get started with a look at the currency. cohesiveness,this the correlation remaining strong. that is another example of that happening. have a look at currencies. there is a lot of demand for the dollar. not all are falling against the euro-dollar. have a look at equity markets right now. currencies, bonds i will show you in a bit. equities are mostly lower, fifth straight day of decline. we are down by about 4%.
from the nikkei, if the boj does act to adjust its stimulus package, it is going to be on the right side further hurting the net interest margins. anna: david, thank you very much. jean-claude younger is set to give up his vision for europe later when he gives his annual state of the union speech. manus: brexit, growth and migration are a few issues that he plans to touch on. francine lacqua is in stroudsburg. ahead of this money speech -- this is going to be a broad church of subjects. what is going to percolate to the top? i think people be disappointed that he will not say as much as we would hold on brexit. we understand that the president's position is brexit has been voted for it is not actually happened.
the european parliament is meeting at the state of the union which starts in an hour where our inbox was so empty as this morning and they expected the empty in terms of the of article 50 for quite some time. in preparing hisun speech, he went to all heads of state and he was asking them what they wanted to talk about. he was asking them the proposals a wanted to put forward and it is clear the president was coming back disappointed that there was less interest than there was even let 12 months ago. brexit will be mentioned. he will talk about the fact that it puts in play some kind of existential question about europe. he won't address it had on. this is a 19 minute speech so he will be touching on various other things.
the baton. the volatility is about writing this volatility -- purchasing of assets and into the unknown of when this does go stimulus comes on board. in europe, the task is far more difficult than it is in japan where we are close to coordinate central-bank, government policy. the u.s. perhaps as well under a trump presidency. but perhaps a clinton presidency will see stimulus as well. manus: how do european assets react to a substantial younger plan.- younger i'm having a little dream there of what might happen. how might european assets react.
bid to 129 dollars per share -- $129 per share. 22% of monsanto's closing price in europe yesterday. buffett has $12.14 billion -- that comes as berkshire hathaway fell 2%. wells fargo losing its position as the world's most valuable bank to jpmorgan. the shares price has been hit by revelations of employees opening more than 2 million accounts after approval. a softwarel push out update and south korea -- at 16%. it is a soft get measured that prevents overheating. global recalls proceed.
dalia says there is risks to the economy. saying let'sarion get over and done with. let's raise rates. john: i think the fed will like to raise rates almost desperately so. that is the signal they have been giving off. the economy is not operating with the latest round of numbers it hike but it is looking to be more likely a december hike -- numbers. they hike but it is likely to be more likely a december hike. toward.eading anna: what you see in the underlying u.s. economy that will support or get in the way of that? the inflation story -- john: some of the data points to strength in the economy. there is a difficulty in disentangling the collapse energy. -- the collapse in energy.


Thanks for the elaboration, Paul.
see if Steve could put them up for the more shy members of the  forum.
170°C and establish a curve of cycles to failure plotted against  temperature.
interconnect separation present in the  product, this method is less effective.
life is the next logical reliability  test.
protocol, its applications and uses.
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text:
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Debuts As World's Most Powerful SUV
The rest of the Durango lineup sees some changes too, including an 8,700-pound towing rating.
Jul 02, 2020 at 12:00pm ET
By: Brett T. Evans
Although many of us thought the 2021 Dodge Durango would be all-new, instead we get a facelifted version of the sporty SUV. That's not terrible, given the model's inherent goodness, and what's more, Dodge is finally giving the family-sized Durango the Hellcat treatment, creating the world's most powerful SUV in the process. The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat will produce a heart-pounding 710 horsepower (529 kilowatts) and 645 pound-feet (875 newton-meters) when it arrives at dealers early next year.
You knew it would happen eventually. With the arrival of the Durango Hellcat – and the departure of the uninspiring Grand Caravan and Journey – every single 2021 Dodge model now offers a high-performance SRT variant. The Durango's transformation is more than just an engine transplant, though. As with the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, the supercharged Dodge needed a significant amount of body work and muscle building to tame the beastly mill.
Hellcat Hellcat Hellcat:
FCA Says Dodge Durango Hellcat Won't Overlap With Jeep Trackhawk
⠀ 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat Tears Up Track, Tows Trailer In First Vid
Forceful Induction
Foremost, though, let's talk about that engine. Although down on power slightly compared to the 2020 Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats, which make 717 hp and 656 lb-ft (535 kW and 889 Nm), the Durango still takes top honors among SUVs. Its 710 ponies beat out the BMW X5 M Competition, Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo by more than 100 hp – only the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid comes close, with 670 hp and 663 lb-ft (500 kW and 899 Nm) from its turbo V8 and electric motors.
As such, the Durango Hellcat sprints to 60 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 180 mph. The quarter-mile passes by in 11.5 seconds. Notably, the Durango SRT Hellcat made our list of the Fastest SUVs for this year. And if that extra-legal performance isn't enough, the big Dodge does normal family-SUV things too, with an 8,700-pound towing capacity that might even humble the larger, more trucklike 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
Giving it that performance edge is a massive 2.4-liter supercharger with twin-screw rotors, capable of spinning 14,600 rpm and delivering boost pressures of 11.6 psi. Charge-air coolers integrated into the supercharger, comprised of a water pump, coolant reservoir, and heat exchanger, keep intake air temperatures below 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius).
Gallery: 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Like other SRT Hellcat models, the Durango's V8 gets a variety of strengthening measures, including a forged steel crankshaft, pistons, and connecting rods, as well as piston-cooling oil jets and block-cooling water jackets. A pair of variable-pressure fuel pumps, a supercharger-feeding cold air scoop in the lower body, and a free-flowing dual exhaust with a crossover X-pipe (the largest in the Hellcat family) ensure proper engine operation in both low- and high-load conditions.
Controlled Chaos
Keeping that kinetic energy in check is the job of an eight-speed automatic transmission, the same as the one found in the Trackhawk. All-wheel drive is standard, keeping all four Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires turning (Pirelli P-Zero summer tires are available, too).
The suspension, based on that of the 2020 Durango SRT, has been revised to offer both greater comfort and handling, thanks to a 20 percent increase in total rebound control depending on the selected drive mode. Dodge also claims reduced understeer and body roll, improving responsiveness when faced with a corner. (Of note, the non-supercharged Durango SRT will get some of the same suspension changes for 2021, though we still expect the Hellcat to handle a bit better than its still-capable sibling.)
Brembo-branded brakes provide even more control, with 15.8-inch slotted, two-piece front rotors and 13.8-inch slotted rear rotors, with six-piston front and two-piston rear calipers providing bite. Stops from 60 mph happen in 116 feet, a number that would humble many two-seat sports cars.
Work That Body
The 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat hit the gym and the tailor, by the looks of its spiffy new duds. Along with the rest of the 2021 Durango lineup, it receives a new front fascia design with a grille inspired by that of the Charger four-door sedan. Slimmer headlamps recall the Ram Heavy Duty in our eyes, a styling element likewise shared with more plebeian members of the SUV family. "Racetrack" LED rear lighting again appears on the 2021 Durango Hellcat.
Unlike other Durangos, the Hellcat does without foglights, using those openings in the front bumper to provide the engine with greater cooling, while a two-piece front splitter reduces lift at speed. Around back, a reshaped rear spoiler actually provides downforce – 400 pounds at 180 mph. 20x10-inch wheels with a Hellcat-specific design come standard, although the available Black Package includes different rollers of the same size.
Inside, every 2021 Durango gets a revised and restyled interior, with a larger console, redesigned center stack, and more traditionally shaped gear shifter. A 10.1-inch touchscreen display is the largest in its class – powered by FCA's next-generation Uconnect 5 infotainment system – and the SRT Hellcat also gets the Performance Pages app, which allows for greater customization of the gearbox, suspension, steering, and engine response. Both the SRT 392 and the SRT Hellcat get a flat-bottomed steering wheel with integrated shift paddles, featuring a red backlit SRT logo on the center spoke. Red-trimmed gauges join standard ventilated Nappa leather seats with suede accents and an embroidered Hellcat logo – posh Laguna leather upholstery with an embossed logo is optional.
The entire 2021 Dodge Durango lineup sees a few changes. Properly equipped, the Durango R/T – powered by a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 – can now pull 8,700 pounds worth of trailer. Enabling such high ratings is the work of the silly-named Tow N Go package. So equipped, the 2021 Durango can tow 1,300 pounds more than its 2020 equivalent – equal to the much larger Lincoln Navigator even. Tow N Go includes cosmetic frippery like SRT-inspired bumpers, fender flares, and 20-inch wheels, as well as functional upgrades like Brembo brakes with six-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, clamping down on 15.0-inch vented and slotted front rotors and 13.8-inch vented rear rotors. An SRT adaptive damping suspension and limited-slip differential are also included.
Gallery: 2021 Dodge Durango
For 2021, gone is the formerly signature crosshairs grille, replaced once and for all with a notched-trapezoid opening that recalls the Charger sedan. That's right, alongside the departure of the Grand Caravan and Journey, Dodge is also officially retiring the quadrilateral grille that has been a staple of the company's products for decades. We think the new grille works well on models like the R/T and SRT Hellcat, but it's a bit too aggressive for the formerly graceful and handsome Durango Citadel.
Bookending the front grille are headlights that appear slimmer, with a delicate LED light signature that looks very slick. The front bumper has been reshaped and resized – again, the aggressive and large front fascia works well on the R/T and SRT, but on the Citadel, it looks a bit Leno-esque. Around back, a new rear bumper joins what look like a carryover hatch and taillights – Dodge's distinctive "racetrack" LED remains, so we won't complain.
Inside, the alterations are far more substantial. A modernized dashboard with an accent-stitched knee panel improves the Durango's dated appearance quite nicely. For 2021, even the base Durango SXT comes standard with an 8.4-inch Uconnect display, quite an impressive stat for an entry-level midsize SUV. However, Citadel, R/T, and SRT models come standard with a tied-for-best-in-class 10.1-inch touchscreen also found in the Hellcat, oriented horizontally on the dashboard and running a much faster Uconnect 5 operating system.
However, all is not right in the Durango, with a few areas that could stand some improvement. Dodge didn't make any official announcements regarding standard safety features, but the company's official announcement about the 2021 Durango mentioned forward collision warning and prevention, lane departure prevention, and blind spot monitoring only when discussing the Citadel trim level. Given other automakers' focus on democratizing safety, we think that means the 2021 Durango will still require owners to tick a box and fork over some cash to get certain driver-assist and collision prevention features.
We hope that's not the case, because in most other respects, the already poised Durango sees a raft of useful improvements for 2021. With a solid, granitic structure and aggressive proportions, the unibody Durango continues to serve as a sort of anti-crossover, offering excellent on-road performance without sacrificing bona fide work credentials or visual attitude.
Hey Big Spender
Order books for the 2021 Dodge Durango open soon, with dealer deliveries beginning in the fall. Pricing should fall within a few hundred bones of the current Durango's $30,795 starting price.
The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat hasn't been priced quite yet, but thanks to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawk brethren, we can estimate that it'll cost about $20,000 more than the "standard" Durango SRT. That would put its price at about $83,000, using the 2020 Durango SRT as a jumping-off point.
Perhaps more relevant will be the Durango Hellcat's rarity and the effect it might have on resale values. Available only for the 2021 model year and boasting such power, quarter-mile, top speed, and towing superlatives, the Hellcat might be an investment-grade family SUV, holding its value in the future as it enters the used-car market. Another single-year special, the Challenger Hellcat–based 2018 Dodge SRT Demon, is trading for quite a bit more than its original $84,995 suggested price, particularly for low-mileage examples. Might the Durango Hellcat enjoy the same fate?
Source: Dodge
Dodge Durango Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat


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Memphis Grizzlies & NBA Basketball
Tennessee Professional Sports
Stern goes power happy again
By Gerry Bertier, April 24, 2006 in Memphis Grizzlies & NBA Basketball
Gerry Bertier 36
Ron Artest was suspended for a elbow that he gave Manu Ginobili in Game 1 of the series. He wasn't given a technical or a flagrant foul for it. The replays show that Manu contributed by acting as if it was a violent elbow, guess his soccer acting skills came in handy. So how does this warrant a suspension? Don't ask me. I guess the league feels they need to keep harassing Artest till he leaves the league. He has been on good behavior since he arrived in Sacremento and the league has to go do this.
Guest dare_2_dream
I didnt see the elbow that Ron gave Manu but i did see when Ron went after the ball and drilled duncan in the head and papa got mad and yelled at ron. stern is getting out of hand.
bballer13 0
Record Holder
I think this suspension is way overboard, I dont think Artest deserved the suspension.... Stern is definitely getting out of hand...
Solomon 42
That's what happens when you set yourself up as a trouble-maker. People will always think the worst of you. Have not seen the elbow, nor could I care less, but all of Artest's problems are self-inflicted. He's been on double-secret probation since the whole mess last year.
So your saying since someone's rep is that of a trouble maker, they deserved to be suspended? you havent seen it so how can you make the call? your worse than stern.
Ok, my original post was to play devil's advocate.
I just saw the highlight, and yes, it was an intentional elbow, and yes a elbow to the head is worth a suspension. They were tangled up on one side of the screen and when they got through he threw the elbow at him. You don't look directly at a guy, throw an elbow, and claim it wasn't intentional. It wasn't a elbow to the gut, it was a elbow to the head.
And yes, when people have constatly done stuff then they are going to be more likely targeted than others. Sorry, his problems are of his own making.
muffin 2
I agree,he brings it on himself.
He elbowed Manu, the most annoying basketball player in the NBA. Manu runs his mouth and then runs and cries when someone steps up to him. He deserved it, I applaud Ron.
You may, but he still threw an elbow to his head. That warrants a suspension. Nevermind the fact that it's a playoff game.
Why didnt Manu get suspended for the elbow he threw and landed on Artest, that sent Artest down for a couple of minutes in the beginning of the game? Cause the leauge is out to get Artest. Even the Spurs admitted that after they heard about the suspension, one that Manu didn't even think Artest deserved.
Maybe not. But, why do people with arrest records get harsher treatments the second time around, even if what they did wasn't bad? Why did Julian Tavarez get a much harsher punishement last year for the dirty hat and his actions than what it actually warranted? Because in both situations they people involved had strikes against them.
Like it or not, it's how life works. Maybe not in Fairview (actually I know first hand it does in Fairview) or Martin, but it's how it goes. Once you screw up (and can we at least admit Artest has done plenty to warrant this status) then you are automatically on the "bad list" for the rest of your career or life.
Your issue is that you don't like Stern, and he could find a cure for cancer and you would find a problem with it. The NBA is a business first and foremost, and unfortunately businesses have rules, and the boses have the final say about the rules and how to enforece them. Factor is that the NBAPA is very weak because of players' actions, and Stern is basically dictator. And I may be worng, but I have yet to hear of a grevience or any action by the Player's Assocation defendinf Artest.
Just to prove my point even more that this was justified......
Updated: April 25, 2006, 1:31 AM ET
Artest suspension dictated by NBA's rulesBy Marc Stein
It was on the eve of the NBA playoffs that Ron Artest announced that his Sacramento Kings were "going to shock a lot of people."
So far . . .
They have and they haven't.
After finishing the season with a 27-14 flourish after acquiring Artest, Sacramento shocked us all -- San Antonio included -- when they slinked back to the visitors' locker room with a 34-point halftime deficit in Game 1 against the Spurs.
Then came the non-surprise.
The second half was exceedingly rough and Artest, with a backdrop of loud told-you-so's back in Indianapolis, was especially chippy.
When a game gets out of hand, history says that Artest will soon follow ... and the forearm he landed on Ginobili in the third quarter of San Antonio's 122-88 romp was not the first swipe Artest took in the quarter. There was also a clip to the back of Tim Duncan's head before that and a takedown of Tony Parker.
So you can't be too surprised that Artest was hit with a one-game suspension Monday. Artest's new supporters in Sactown will undoubtedly wail about Ron-Ron being punished only because he's Ron-Ron, and point out that he hasn't flirted with any serious trouble since becoming a King in late January, but not me. This was a classic case of Artest, a great frontrunner and not so great when his team is unraveling, began that second half in a retaliatory mood.
It's fairly evident that the league office wants to take a strong stance on disciplinary matters from the start of the playoffs, as confirmed by the one-game suspension Miami's Udonis Haslem also received Monday for firing his mouthpiece at referee Joey Crawford in the Heat's Game 1 victory over Chicago on Monday.
In Artest's case, though, this was about more than message-sending. The rules clearly state that intentional contact above the shoulders will result in a one-game suspension. For anyone.
Deliberate contact above the shoulders in a 30-point game?
That pretty much seals the deal. Whatever your name and history is.
The league undoubtedly deemed Artest's hit to be a cheap shot -- after an earlier cheap shot -- that left them no choice, even though Ginobili wasn't injured and even though the encounter didn't escalate into something bigger.
The angry Kings and their loyal subjects believe that Artest, because of his history, gets less leeway than anyone else in the game. And they're right.
But there's a difference between the elbow Artest took from Ginobili on the game's opening possession, which required three stitches to close a cut on Artest's lip, and the third-quarter extracurriculars. The league deemed Ginobili's elbow to be unintentional.
However . . .
In spite of all of the above, I'm holding off on the Same Ol' Artest analysis. He's been too good for the Kings until now to be written off this quickly.
I can't pretend to tell you, furthermore, that I have a conclusive feel for how he'll respond from here.
Who does?
Who knows? Maybe, in a weird way, this makes the Kings even more dangerous in Game 2. They've sure got nothing to lose now on Tuesday night and are bound to play looser.
Who knows? Maybe Artest comes back from suspension and dominates Game 3 with a King-sized chip on his shoulder. Maybe he'll be so amped, fueled by the roaring denizens of Arco Arena, that Artest won't even notice the nagging pain in his sprained right thumb.
This much I do know: Artest's history of volatility is not why Sacramento placed only 15th last week in my 16-to-1 ranking of each playoff team's championship chances. The Kings were 15th because they were playing San Antonio in Round 1, simple as that.
Artest comported himself so well post-trade and made such an impact defensively that, until Saturday's lapse, I had almost forgotten about his dark side.
Almost.
Marc Stein
Edited April 25, 2006 by Solomon