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Waste4Fuel or waste for fools?
Professor Robert Lee | 7 years ago
Contempt proceedings
The Environment Agency has failed in its attempt for a committal for contempt against a Kent waste company, Waste4Fuel, and its directors following a hearing in the High Court in London and a judgment handed down on 21 July 2014: see The Environment Agency v Hughes and Others [2014] EWHC 2484 (QB). The charge of contempt followed the issue of an injunction and the firm's failure to comply with an order to install fire breaks and separate areas for new waste at a site located at Cornwall Drive in Orpington.
In the local press, a resident in Cornwall Drive said:
"I absolutely cannot believe it. I don't know how this has happened – it doesn't make sense. The law doesn't seem to protect people like us. Why doesn't the judge come down here and see what it's like for himself."
It was said that the fumes caused by repeated fires at the site caused significant stress among local residents for over two years: "Some claim they haven't opened a window in that time, while others say the continuous stench has made them physically sick." The Daily Mail has posted photographs and a video clip showing the waste towering above houses immediately alongside.
Breach of permit
Waste4Fuel collects and sorts a large variety of waste including tyres, plastics, cardboard, metals and paper. The material is supposed to go for processing into refuse derived fuel (RDF). However thousands of tonnes have accumulated on the site and the environmental permit for the site had been suspended in April, 2013 because of the quantity of the waste and the conditions of its storage. The company had been given a date by the environment Agency of 1 May 2014 to remove all combustible waste from the site. But this date was not met and as recently as June 2014, the fire service were called to quench a fire on the site.
The Environment Agency does seek committals for contempt for breach of an injunction, usually as a last resort when all other attempts have failed: see for example Environment Agency v MacNaughton. Here the company had recently changed hands being run by Shelley Hurst, who was brought in as sole Director, by Jonathan Beckson, a site manager, employed by a separate company, Recoverable Energy Solutions Ltd, to replace the first defendant, Bryan Hughes, who resigned in February 2014. Shelley Hurst has no previous experience in the waste industry. The Environment Agency made a committal application against all of these parties and the company itself.
In court, the company said that the only way in which it could comply with the order to remove the waste was by raising funds through more waste collection which would be brought to the site. It applied to increase the throughput at the site from 75 to 200 tonnes a week. The Environment Agency unsurprisingly opposed this application before the High Court and equally unsurprisingly it was successful in opposing this increase.
Application refused
It may seem surprising, however, that, in these circumstances the applications of the Environment Agency were refused. In addition to the clearance of all combustible waste, restrictions on waste acceptance, provisions for inspection and site security, the injunction contained the following provision at [15]:
"All waste accepted onto Site is to be stored in a separate area, clearly identifiable and segregated from other wastes, specifically created for the storage of wastes accepted onto Site for treatment in accordance with the terms of this Order."
This provision appears to have been fatal to the Environment Agency's case since Sir David Eady, a retired High Court Judge, sitting again in that capacity, stated that if an injunction "is to be enforceable by process of contempt, then an order of the court must be clear and unambiguous." The Judge singles out this provision of the injunction, pointing to ambiguities in relation to the duration of the injunction and the precise application of its final condition in terms of practical questions such as the wastes to which it applied, the timing of storage and the areas to be segregated out. On the first issue of duration, the injunction was to last until a further order was issued, but this was said to be as uncertain as the other conditions by the Judge, who held at [26] that:
"There is too much uncertainty, as to when and how the requirement in paragraph 1(viii) was to be complied with, for it to be enforced by process of contempt. Moreover, the alleged breach set out in the application notice is too imprecise to be capable of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The nature of the breach alleged is simply too vague."
It might be thought that when the injunction was granted, the court had thought that its provisions were sufficiently certain to be enforced, but the decision in this case suggests that any ambiguity in the drafting of provisions of an injunction may negate the later enforcement opportunity allowed by contempt proceedings for its breach. In a case as egregious as this, in terms of breaches of environmental protection laws, this is unfortunate. The assurances of Sir David Eady that the outcome of the case in no way "vindicates the conduct of any of the Defendants" must have sounded somewhat hollow to the residents of Orpington.
Professor Robert Lee
Read articles by Professor
ERIC Director and Head of Birmingham Law School, Professor Robert Lee was co-director of the publicly funded Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society at Cardiff University (BRASS). He is an expert on regulation, including environmental regulation and regulation of biotechnology and biomedicine. He previously worked for two top 10 UK law firms, and remains a professional-development consultant to one of the largest law firms in Europe, working on pan-European delivery of legal services.
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Main Area and Open Discussion > General Software Discussion
Microsoft's Turn-off mode in IE8 not enough, says Opera.
app103:
(Eudora is an example of an excellent software product (from Qualcomm) that basically closed up development because of the bundling of the mediocre Outlook Express.)
-Steven Avery (March 15, 2009, 09:38 AM)
Eudora closed up because they didn't take the right approach to marketing their software. It's as simple as that. They didn't know how to compete, and not just compete with Outlook Express. They didn't know how to compete at all. That isn't Microsoft's fault...and it isn't Outlook Express' fault.
Eudora was so bad at marketing that they couldn't sell a thirsty man in a desert a glass of water. That was their problem...not OE. And that is the problem with most companies that complain about Microsoft bundling apps with their OS.
Seems to me that there are other email applications that managed to be much more successful than Eudora, despite not being included with Windows or the fact that Windows came bundled with Outlook Express. Incredimail seems to have found their way onto many more PC's than Eudora. I wonder how they did that when Windows already has Outlook Express. :tellme:
And I don't think that Outlook Express was the application that ultimately put the nail in the coffin for Eudora. I believe Thunderbird was.
Most of the apps that are included with Windows are starter apps, meant to be replaced. They are not the most feature loaded, fully functional applications that exist. They are very basic and leave plenty of room for developers to write better stuff with more features that users will want to use to replace the basic starter set of applications that Microsoft has provided.
I never once heard Adobe cry because Windows comes with Paint. Or Microsoft ever complain that they couldn't sell copies of Word because they made the mistake of putting Wordpad in Windows, so Eudora claiming they couldn't compete because Windows comes with crappy OE is just plain bull.
I don't recall iTunes being a Microsoft product, but it sure seems to come preinstalled on most brand new Windows based computers. I wonder how it got there. It didn't get there by Microsoft putting it there, that's for sure.
I never once saw a pc that included Eudora, Opera, or a trial version of software from any of the loudest complainers as part of an OEM bundle. And I never hear any of those that did approach the OEM's and get their stuff preinstalled ever complain about any kind of "anti-trust" crap (except Google, who made a deal with Dell to get their desktop search preinstalled, instead of their browser, yet want to complain about IE).
Just be happy that they are only starter apps and Microsoft never went all out and bundled all the software they make into a single product. Although I think if Windows Ultimate came with Office, Visual Studio, and every last one of their other applications & games at a very reasonable price, it would be one heck of a killer package definitely worth upgrading to.
rgdot:
As some of you are alluding to there is something missing in the bigger discussion. The problem is how Microsoft is or at least used to go about doing business, not what it was actually bundling. I fully agree with Josh that bundling (setting aside bloat for the moment) is convenient and for most non-techy users even a life saver. And of course Apple has done just as badly not only in terms of its own browser but iTunes and such too.The issue is how MS was trying to put down others with misinformation and other business tactics.
As far as security goes if a software has two 0-day exploits compared to another having 20 doesn't make the one with less good, it just makes it better. Not a earth shattering difference.
By the way since 9.60 (I hope its not just me or I didn't miss a setting but it certainly didn't use to happen before) on my machine Opera makes itself the default browser when upgrading .
<sarcasm>That's very nice of them</sarcasm>
Sorry for a second post in a row.
Lashiec:
-rgdot (March 26, 2009, 02:26 PM)
There's an option during the installation phase to control that, and it's activated by default. I think it was included in 9.64, but you never know.
Dormouse:
It's always asked me if I want to make it the default; well offered me a checkbox anyway.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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"They're driven by love. And they're fierce." Naomi Klein on the Climate Heroes Who Inspire Her
From Native activists to urban youth, new leadership finds ways to deal with climate chaos.
Naomi Klein. Photo by Aaron Stern.
Sarah van Gelder posted Jan 07, 2015
Note: Sections of this interview appeared at the YES! website on October 3, 2014.
The climate crisis is no longer a future danger: Extreme weather, water shortages, heat waves, and flooding are here now. And the impacts of burning fossil fuels continue to worsen.
Click here to subscribe to YES!
Why has it taken so long to respond? Naomi Klein's new book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, explores that question. Klein points to the "terrible timing" of the climate crisis coming into public awareness—with NASA scientist James Hansen's 1988 testimony to Congress—right at the time free-market "neoliberal" ideology was on the rise. This ideology led to:
1) Anti-government sentiment, austerity budgets, tax cuts, and deregulation, which undercut government's ability to lead a transition to a clean economy and to protect residents from climate impacts.
2) Global trade deals that override environmental regulations and local green-jobs initiatives.
3) Privatization of sectors needed to transition to renewables.
But Germany has gone the other direction, Klein reports. Taking back their electric utilities helped Germany generate a record 27 percent of electricity from renewables this year. Unlike many who write about climate change, Klein goes beyond analysis of the crisis. She reports on the grassroots activists who are standing up to the coal, tar sands, and gas industries and building alternatives that are green and just. These are the powerful people's movements that together, she says, could "change everything."
Sarah van Gelder: One of things I love about your book is that you show we can still rise to the challenge of the climate crisis. Let's start by talking about "Blockadia"—the places where people are shutting down oil, coal, and gas extraction and transportation. Why is that so important?
We need investments in the next economy and the next paradigm.
Naomi Klein: The term Blockadia, as you know, comes from the tar sands fight in Texas around the southern leg of the Keystone XL Pipeline. But the movement to keep the carbon in the ground didn't begin there. We've always had local resistance in places like Appalachia and the Alberta tar sands. And, in the book, I start with the Ogoni struggle against oil extraction in the Niger Delta in the 1990s.
But in the past five years, we've seen Blockadia emerge very forcefully in North America as the flip side of the fossil fuel frenzy. In the past, the people who enjoyed more socio-economic privilege were protected from having to see the sacrifice zones and face the risks. But now the hunger to get at the hardest-to-reach fossil fuels is voracious and requires so much new infrastructure. If you're going to dig up the Alberta tar sands, for example, you have to build a whole network of new pipelines. If you're going to open up Montana to Wyoming-style coal mining, you've got to build new railways and new export terminals to get the coal out, because the market for it is collapsing in the U.S.
So this network of fossil fuel infrastructure—and I would include fracking—has built a movement that includes unlikely coalitions, like the Cowboy and Indian Alliance.
What I heard again and again is that their biggest problem is entrenched poverty and decrepit services.
I think it goes deeper than alliances of convenience, though. The fight against the Northern Gateway Pipeline through British Columbia to carry tar sands bitumen has provided a real education for non-Native Canadians. They're seeing on a deeper level the extent to which First Nations' land rights are the single most powerful barrier to putting our whole ecology at risk.
van Gelder: I was in Bella Bella, British Columbia, at a First Nations rally to protest the pipeline. I remember a Haida leader saying, "The non-Natives are finally coming out on the front lines with us."
Klein: When [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper approved the Northern Gateway Pipeline, the immediate response was, "We'll see about that!" Even mainstream editorials were saying, "Wait a minute. How can he do this when our Supreme Court has ruled that First Nations' rights are real and can't just be rolled over?"
In the book, I write that there is also a history in the environmental movement of an extractive relationship to indigenous rights, where it's: "OK, I just want to use your special rights to win our lawsuit." It isn't a reciprocal relationship—it isn't based on fighting for decolonization and for real sovereignty.
van Gelder: What does it look like when the relationship is done right?
Klein: Part of the way it's done right is by listening to people in frontline communities, where the extractive industries are offering jobs that potentially destroy a way of life. What I heard again and again in my research is that their biggest problem is entrenched poverty and decrepit services.
Phillip Whiteman Jr., a spiritual leader in a Northern Cheyenne community, has been fighting coal on Northern Cheyenne land for a very long time. When I first met him, he said, "I can't keep asking my people to suffer with me." When you have unemployment levels around 80 percent and all you're saying is "just say no to coal," but you're not offering other economic opportunities, it wears people down. We need to be able to offer something else.
This one felt like a people's march … because of a remarkable, often painful, coalition that was built.
One of the best examples of people trying to do that is the Black Mesa Water Coalition and their proposal to convert land that has been depleted by coal mining into a utility-scale solar generation farm owned and operated by the Navajo. They say they've taken the coal fight as far as they can take it. They've won some big victories, but when coal is the major employer, it can't just be "no." There has to be a "yes."
van Gelder: As part of Climate Week this fall, there was a big announcement of a $50 billion divestment from fossil fuels. How can the divest/invest movement help build the sort of local economy that can alleviate poverty?
Klein: Divestment isn't about trying to bankrupt ExxonMobil. It's about delegitimizing this industry so that taking fossil fuel money is like taking tobacco money—there is a moral taint to it. Also, if those profits are illegitimate, then that means the public has a right to them to help get us off fossil fuels.
The unexpected piece of news was that the Rockefeller family is divesting parts of the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation. Valerie Rockefeller Wayne [chair of the foundation] said, "I have a moral responsibility—because my family fortune comes from oil—to fund this transition." I think we should call that the Rockefeller Principle.
But it's not just about flipping from big coal to big green. We need to invest in the tools that frontline communities need to win, like real economic options that are owned and controlled locally. We need investments in the next economy and the next paradigm so that people in Richmond, Calif., for example, have the opportunity to work in a solar co-op instead of in the Chevron refinery.
van Gelder: What was it like for you to be part of the People's Climate March in New York City? Did you experience the coming together of social movements that you were hoping to see when you wrote This Changes Everything?
The hope is that climate is the biggest tent—it's our atmosphere.
Klein: Oh, yeah. The march was a glimpse of the movement we need. It wasn't just that it was so diverse. It was that the most energetic parts of the march were the nurses' unions—they were just incredible—and the transit workers, and the South Bronx contingent, which was made up of young people making the connections between climate justice and things like health and jobs.
The sense of threat from climate change and the hope were so powerful. It was in every way different from the last big climate march at a U.N. gathering I attended, which was in Copenhagen in 2009.
van Gelder: How was the New York march different?
Klein: In Copenhagen, it felt like only professional activists were there. This one felt like a people's march, and that was because of a remarkable, often painful, coalition that was built.
One of the things that happened is that the big NGOs checked their branding at the door and actually made real space for communities to lead and speak.
I think that the whole funder model has been part of the problem, where it's all about getting your photo op and showing "Our brand's here!" and then going to a foundation and going, "Look! We did this. Look at our logo. It's everywhere."
People get so pissed off when organizing is done that way. This was the first time that I've seen real progress in this regard. Because everybody is so happy with how the march turned out, I think that, with any luck, this will lead to lasting change in how we build a movement.
van Gelder: You talk in your book about the "unfinished liberation struggles." Many of the people's movements we celebrate—civil rights, anti-apartheid, women's rights—succeeded in some ways, but failed to win economic power. Did you see in the People's Climate March renewed attention to these "unfinished liberation struggles"?
Klein: The kind of hope that climate action represents—to people in the South Bronx and other low-income communities of color in the U.S., but also in countries like Bolivia—is because it directly addresses foundational issues around why our societies are so unequal. Colonialism predates coal, but coal supercharged the colonial project, allowing the pillaging of the Global South, and locked us into these incredibly unequal extractive relationships.
Watching this new generation of women leaders come up with great confidence and humility and eloquence and just love.
We in the Global North have built up an ecological debt. Fossil fuels built the modern world. And the countries that have a 200-year head start on emitting carbon have a special responsibility to both cut emissions first and fastest, and also to help countries that have not been contributing to this problem for nearly as long to leapfrog over fossil fuels and not be forced to choose between poverty and pollution. This is a process by which we begin to heal these colonial wounds.
And so, yeah, I talk about this as the unfinished business of liberation because so many of the past great social movements won on the legal and cultural sides but not on the economic side. There never were reparations for slavery. There never were the investments in the public sphere that the Civil Rights movement demanded.
So the dream is that in responding to climate change through a justice lens—through a lens that is not afraid to look at history and the real roots of inequality—we build a movement of movements that brings together all of these struggles. The hope is that climate is the biggest tent—it's our atmosphere. We just have to know we're all in the tent.
van Gelder: Among the people who you've met in your travels, who has moved you most personally? Who has deepened your connection to this work?
Klein: A few of the women in the book are my heroes. Crystal Lameman is from the Beaver Lake Cree First Nation in northern Alberta, which is suing the Canadian government over the tar sands expansion. Meeting Crystal and seeing what she's up against and how accountable she is to her community and to her elders—and just the huge burden being placed on some of the poorest people in the world to fight some of the biggest battles—is both inspiring and heartbreaking.
The countries that have a 200-year head start on emitting carbon have a special responsibility to both cut emissions first and fastest.
Also Melina Laboucan-Massimo. It was exciting for me to see Melina and Crystal at the front of the climate march on either side of Leonardo DiCaprio.
And Alexis Bonogofsky, a goat rancher in Billings, who says, "Love will save this place." I think that's the best quote in the book. She says, "That's what Arch Coal will never understand—that it isn't about hate."
And Jess Housty who's from Bella Bella, who taught me early on how much these movements are based on the deep love of place.
All are deeply connected to where they live. And they are all relatively young women. There are particular challenges about being a woman in that kind of leadership role, but the joy that all of them bring to the struggle … I mean, it's not simple. It's painful. But it is so much about love of community and love of place.
Jess in particular, when she talks about the fight against the Northern Gateway Pipeline, she's so eloquent in describing this as being a transformative process of people becoming more deeply connected to one another and to the land and water.
That's been the most inspiring thing for me—watching this new generation of women leaders come up with great confidence and humility and eloquence and just love. They're driven by love. And they're fierce.
Sarah van Gelder wrote this article for Cities Are Now, the Winter 2015 issue of YES! Magazine. Sarah is co-founder and editor in chief of YES! Magazine.
The New Grassroots Heroes: They Fight Pollution—and Police Brutality—And They're Changing How Social Movements Happen
Beating Climate Change by Retooling the Economy—The Story Begins in Navajo Country
Good Jobs or a Healthy Planet? We Can Have Both


Sometimes we bring new life to old structures. This thirty-two-story office tower in downtown Cleveland was constructed in 1967. The 1,462,628 SF building is adjoined on all four sides by public plazas and landscaped with granite pavers and planting areas. For this Ohio construction project, we conducted a multi-phased schedule to make several improvements to the fully occupied building, including complete replacement of the fire alarm system and pumps, complete renovation of the existing building plaza, and an extensive upgrade of the building's MEP systems. Additionally, we worked with existing asbestos and a building that was continually and fully occupied during the project.
With the Façade Replacement project, we helped the building become more than just a pretty face. After 45 years, the existing metal panel and glass façade of the office tower was in poor condition, resulting in high energy consumption for heating and cooling. dck worldwide served as Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) to furnish and install approximately 335,500 SF of new energy efficient curtain wall facade system, including a renewable energy photo-voltaic system on the 36,000 SF.
Learn more about our Federal Solutions and other federal projects.
" In addition to outstanding contract management, the construction team members continue to provide a professional and conscientious approach by identifying alternate construction methods or sequencing that lead to decreased time and cost savings. "
A.J. Celebrezze Federal Building entrance interior.


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Decision on victims of trafficking welcomed
The Nation, April 12, 2016 1:00 am
THE UN refugee agency (UNHCR) announced yesterday that it was encouraged by the government's decision to allow human-trafficking victims to stay and work in the Kingdom temporarily.
On Sunday, Grisada Boonrach, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, said both victims and witnesses of human trafficking would be granted permission to stay in Thailand for up to one year while cases are investigated as part of the larger effort to combat human smuggling and trafficking.
The temporary permits could be extended for another year depending on the progress of human-trafficking trials, and victims would be allowed to apply for work permits while they stay in the country.
"This is a positive step in the right direction," said Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR representative in Bangkok.
"It acknowledges the specific needs of people who have suffered at the hands of smugglers and traffickers, including people who fled conflict and persecution back home.
"This move provides an important alternative to detention, protects them from being returned to a place where their lives and freedoms could be in danger, and grants them the right to work so that they can be self-reliant as they await longer-term solutions."
Every person who has been identified as a victim of human trafficking would benefit from the decision, according to the government, including nearly 400 Rohingya being held in immigration detention centres and shelters run by the Ministry of Social Development |and Human Security around the country.
Source: The Nation, April 12, 2016


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Bosnian Canadian Relief Association
122 North Queen Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M8Z 2E4
bosnianrelief.org
Toronto GTA Regions:
The Bosnian Canadian Relief Association is a Canadian charitable organization focused on humanitarian efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B & H). The organization was established in 1992 in response to the humanitarian disaster that followed genocidal aggression against the civilian population of B & H.
During the Bosnian war from 1992 to 1995, the BCRA delivered large quantities of much needed food, clothing, medicine and medical equipment directly to the victims of aggression. With the conclusion of hostilities, we continued to aid thousands of people through the sponsorship of orphans, funding of soup kitchens, establishment of an annual Qurbani meat distribution program, and assisting in refugee return and reconstruction efforts.
The BCRA has also participated in global emergency relief projects including help for Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami, Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and Gaza following the humanitarian disaster that ensued in January of 2009.
Our primary focus remains financial aid and scholarship support for orphans.
Facebook: Bosnian Canadian Relief Association


The year 2016 likely will be remembered for the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States and the Brexit vote. This year also saw the Fed raise interest rates for the first time since last December, noting that the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace since midyear. While inflation remains below the Fed's target of 2.0%, the Committee expects inflation to rise to its target level over the medium term on the heels of anticipated improvements in energy and import prices and continued labor strengthening. Equities began the year hitting the skids as receding oil prices and a plummeting Chinese stock market pushed stock prices down and bond prices up. By midyear equities had recovered, despite Great Britain's decision to exit the European Union. Following the results of the presidential election, stocks surged to new highs. Whether this trend continues in 2017 remains to be seen following President-elect Trump's first few months in office.
Equities: The year didn't start off well for equities, but by the end of 2016 each of the indexes listed here posted year-over-year gains, some reaching all-time highs. The Dow recorded its best performance since 2013, gaining almost 13.5% from its 2015 closing value. Stocks weathered several financial crises, including China's economic downturn and the Brexit vote. The large-cap S&P 500 proved less volatile during the year, yet closed 2016 up almost 11.0%. The Russell 2000 proved to be the year's biggest gainer, soaring almost 20.0% over last year's closing value. Most of the gains in equities happened during the second half of the year as favorable corporate earnings, resurgent oil prices, and accelerating consumer income and spending encouraged investors to trade. Without doubt, the presidential election proved to be a pivot point for the stock market as expectations of looser regulation, fiscal stimulus, and tax cuts fueled the market rally. The Dow (19974.62), S&P 500 (2271.72), Nasdaq (5487.44), and Russell 2000 (1388.07) each attained record-high closing values during the latter part of the year.
Bonds: Volatility best describes the long-term bond market for 2016. Yields on 10-year Treasuries rose for the second straight year as prices fell. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note closed at 2.44%, up from its 2.26% yield at the close of 2015. During the early part of the year, bond prices rose as yields sunk below 1.40%. However, as investors saw a strengthening economy, higher inflation, and rising interest rates, a period of bond sales occurred, which peaked during the last quarter when the Treasury yield gained almost 0.85 percentage point, marking the largest quarterly gain since 1994.
Oil: As oil producing countries flooded the market, oil prices fell below $30 per barrel during the first quarter. However, by the end of the year, crude oil prices had achieved their biggest annual gain since 2008. With OPEC pledging to cut production, oil prices surged to almost $60 per barrel, finally settling at $53.89 (WTI) per barrel on December 30.
Currencies: The dollar remained strong throughout the year, affecting imports and exports in the process. Falling oil prices, coupled with the expectation of higher interest rates, helped boost the U.S. dollar, which continued to rise over the course of the year. The U.S. Dollar Index, a measure of the dollar relative to the currencies of most U.S. major trading partners, gained about 3.67% over last year's closing value. The dollar also benefitted from interest rates abroad, some of which were even lower than those for Treasuries. Tightening trade restrictions proposed by President-elect Trump may curtail continued growth of the dollar in 2017.
Gold:Gold rose over 8.5% on the year, closing 2016 at $1,152.00. Much of the gain was seen during the first half of the year, as the price fell following a lengthy period of sell offs. Gold prices dropped seven of the last eight weeks as the stock market surged.
Employment: Improvement in the U.S. job market was slow but steady, with employment growth averaging 180,000 new jobs per month in 2016, compared with an average monthly increase of 229,000 new jobs in 2015. The unemployment rate ended the year (as of November 2016) at 4.6%, lower than the 5.0% rate at the close of 2015. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 7.4 million unemployed persons in November 2016, down from 7.9 million unemployed in November 2015. The employment participation rate remained relatively the same — 62.7% in 2016 compared to 62.5% at the end of 2015. The employment to population ratio also remained relatively unchanged (59.7% in 2016 to 59.4% in 2015). In 2016, the average workweek was 34.4 hours. Average hourly earnings in 2016 increased $0.62 to $25.89 — a 2.5% gain over 2015.
GDP: The economy maintained a roughly 2.0% average growth rate through the third quarter of 2016. Economic growth has maintained this pace since 2009. The first-quarter GDP rose 0.8%, followed by a 1.4% gain in the second quarter and a 3.5% increase in the third quarter. Personal consumption expenditures, the value of consumer purchases for goods and services, increased an average of about 3.0% through the first three quarters of 2016. Gross domestic product measures the cost of production of U.S. goods and services. Gross domestic income, which is a measure of all income earned from the production of goods and services, rose 4.8% in the third quarter of 2016, compared to a 2.5% increase in the third quarter of 2015.
Inflation/consumer spending: Based on the growth of consumer income, spending, and inflation, the economy for 2016 may be described as stable at best. Inflation remained below the Fed's stated target rate of 2.0%, but indications are that it is expanding, albeit at a deliberate pace. Personal income through November increased 3.5% compared to November 2015. After-tax income (disposable personal income) over the same 12-month period rose 3.7%. Consumer spending, as measured by personal consumption expenditures, climbed 4.2% from November 2015. The personal consumption price index, an inflationary gauge relied on by the Fed, rose 1.4% year-over-year, while core PCE (PCE less volatile food and energy prices) increased 1.6%. The prices consumers pay for goods and services saw a moderate 1.7% increase from last November.
Housing: The housing market had been relatively strong for much of the year. Through November, existing home sales are up 15.4% over a year ago. The November annual sales rate of 5.61 million is the highest since February 2007. The median existing-home price for all housing types in November was $234,900, up 6.8% from November 2015 ($220,000). November's price increase marks the 57th consecutive month of year-over-year gains. Total housing inventory was 1.85 million existing homes for sale — 9.3% lower than last November. Coupled with a shortage of rental units, home prices and rents are outpacing income in much of the country, according to the National Association of Realtors®. New home sales jumped 16.5% above the November 2015 estimate of 508,000 annual rate of sales. The median sales price of new houses sold in November 2016 was $305,400 ($317,000 in 2015); the average sales price was $359,900 ($376,800 in 2015). The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of November was 250,000. This represents a supply of 5.1 months at the current sales rate compared to a 5.4-months supply a year ago.
Manufacturing: Manufacturing and industrial production were not consistently strong sectors this year. The Federal Reserve's index of industrial production revealed that total industrial production in November was 0.6% lower than its year-earlier level. Overall industrial capacity utilization, a measure of efficiency, decreased 0.4 percentage point in November to 75.0%, a rate that is 5.0 percentage points below its long-run average. Capacity utilization for manufacturing was 74.8%, a rate that is 3.7 percentage points below its long-run average, which contributed to the decline in overall industrial capacity utilization. Evidencing stagnant manufacturing activity, new orders for manufactured durable goods (expected to last at least three years) declined 0.3% year-over-year, while shipments fell 0.8%. Capital goods — tangible assets used by manufacturers to produce consumer goods — also fell back as shipments decreased 4.5% and new orders dropped 3.2% from last year.
Imports and exports: For the year, the goods and services trade deficit decreased $8.8 billion, or 2.1%, from the same period in 2015. Exports decreased $58.7 billion, or 3.1%. Imports decreased $67.5 billion, or 2.9%. The strength of the dollar directly affected both import and export prices. Import prices fell 0.1% while export prices dropped 0.3% over the 12 months ended November 2016.
International markets: The big news on the international front was the United Kingdom's referendum vote at the end of June to exit ("Brexit") the European Union. After the vote was announced, Prime Minister David Cameron, an opponent of the push to leave the EU, resigned, with Theresa May becoming prime minister. Domestically, equities took an immediate hit following news of the vote, but recovered fairly quickly. The value of the pound remains near a 30-year low and Britain lost its AAA credit rating, increasing the cost of government borrowing. However, both the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 closed the year trading higher than before the referendum. Depending on negotiations, the UK is expected to leave the EU by the summer of 2019. In other parts of the world, China's economic growth slowed during the year, but later stabilized following further government stimulus. Central banks in Japan and Europe continued lowering interest rates to negative values, intending to motivate more lending and investing.
As the year came to a close, the Fed raised interest rates based on some favorable economic news, particularly on the labor front and expanding economic activity. The Fed is expected to consider three more rate increases during 2017. New economic policies promoted by President-elect Donald Trump during his first year in office will likely impact the economy and equities markets, both domestically and abroad. Will stock prices, which rose dramatically in the weeks following the election, continue their bull run in 2017? Will oil prices reach $60 per barrel as OPEC attempts to curb production? Will the dollar remain strong, impacting import and export prices? Next year may ultimately prove to be as eventful as 2016.


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30+ Fear-Inducing Cyber Security Statistics
ByIvana V.
A business in the 21st century cannot be run offline. Everything from advertising to accounting benefits from the world wide web in some way, shape, or form. However, the dark underbelly of the internet shows itself in the form of cyber attacks on businesses. Cyber security statistics in 2018 show there are an average of 142 attacks on organizations annually. And while the number of cyber attacks per year is increasing, most small businesses spend less than $500 annually on IT security.
What follows is a list of cyber attacks stats, detailing their impact on small businesses and big corporations, the numbers on recent cyber crimes, and the best strategies to deal with them.
Editor's Choice:
Nearly half of all small businesses have suffered a cyber attack in 2018.
A projected 146 billion records will be exposed in the five year period between 2018 and 2023, data breaches statistics show.
In 2018, 52,48% of all mail traffic was spam.
In 2017, US consumer losses to cyber attacks totalled $19.4 billion.
Small Business Cyber Security Statistics
Nearly half of all small businesses suffered a cyber attack in 2018.
(Hiscox)
Cyber security attacks are becoming the new norm, insurance provider Hiscox reports. 47% of small businesses in the US have had at least one attack in the last year, 44% of those having two to four registered attacks. The most common insurance claims in the cyber security sector include ransomware, hackers, and loss or misuse of data. While 66% of small businesses say they are afraid of cyber attacks, the vast majority do not employ even the most basic protection measures.
Cyber security related incidents cost small businesses in the US $34,600 annually.
A data breach doesn't have to be an elaborate scheme. It can be as simple as a stolen laptop with unencrypted delicate information. Mishaps like these, as well as organized hacker attacks, can cost your business tens of thousands of dollars in lawsuits, lost contracts and work hours to remedy the situation. Cyber security statistics show big companies (more than 1,000 employees) lost more than a million dollars on average annually due to security breaches.
Most small businesses spend less than $500 a year on cybersecurity.
(Juniper)
Small businesses take up just 13% of the cyber security market, even though 99% of all companies fall into this category. Companies of this size usually use consumer grade products, cyber security statistics show.
However, with the digitization process fully under way for most of the market, small businesses are slowly but surely becoming more and more vulnerable, according to cyber security attacks statistics.
Two thirds of small businesses do not take the necessary follow up steps after a cyber attack has taken place.
We usually need a shocking experience to jolt us into preparing for the worst. However, a cyber security report published by the insurance company Hiscox claims 65% of small businesses do not take data safety seriously even after suffering an attack.
The three steps to a successful strategy are:
Prevention - Setting up proper security measures, allowing space for it in your yearly budget, and educating your employees.
Detection - Monitoring critical networks and logging security violations both manually and automatically.
Mitigation - Being prepared for any situation and having a dedicated team on alert at all times.
60% of small businesses go out of business six months after a cyber attack.
(Denver Post)
Small companies seem to think cyber attacks are always something that happens to the neighbors. In reality, all it takes to jeopardize an entire business is one haphazard click on a link in a phishy email. According to information security statistics published by the Ponemon Institute, a hacker attack will cost a small business $690.000 on average, enough to put 60% of victims out of business within a six month period after it happens.
Assorted Malware and Ransomware Statistics
According to the latest ransomware statistics, overall occurrences of ransomware attacks went down by 20% in 2018, but the number of attacks on enterprises went up 12%.
(Symantec)
Ransomware is malicious software that attackers use to encrypt files on the victim's computer. After locking them out of their files, the attackers demand ransom from the victims in exchange for unlocking their files. This is one of the most common types of cyber security breaches.
Since most ransomware attacks go through Windows operating systems and more and more people use mobile devices exclusively, the number is declining.
Big enterprises usually communicate through emails, so they are still prime targets for this type of cyber security attack.
48% of all malicious email attachments in 2018 were Windows Office files.
Employees open a massive amount of emails every day. The easiest way for hackers to perform network security attacks is disguising malicious code as an invoice or receipt. One in every 412 emails had a malicious attachment in 2018.
Large companies held a 60% share of the cyber security market in 2017, but that is soon going to change.
(PR Newswire)
Due to the increase in policies encouraging small business employees to bring their own devices to work, cyber attacks in SME are on the rise. Accessing confidential information through privately owned technology is a security hazard. This, in conjunction with the fact that the cost of the average cyber attack rose by 11% in 2017 alone, means that IT security is anticipated to be a key issue in the small business ecosystem.
Over 200,000 individuals and more than 300,000 computers were affected by the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack.
(ABC)
In May 2017, hackers used holes in outdated Windows software to infiltrate and encrypt files on more than 300,000 computers worldwide. Some of the world's leading nations, including the US and the UK, agreed that North Korean hackers were behind the recent cyber attacks. The attack lasted for 4 days and targeted PCs in 150 countries. The "file kidnappers" demanded $300 to $600 in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency for ransom, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
According to ransomware statistics from 2018, 96% of all attacks targeted medical centers.
It turns out that hospitals are very vulnerable to cyber attacks. Hackers know institutions of this type must address security breaches quickly because people's lives are literally on the line. With widespread implementation of the internet of things (IoT) combined with subpar security staff training, hospitals are easy prey for cyber criminals. Hospital employees open one out of every seven phishing emails, so 75% of medical centers in the US are infected by malware.
4,800 e-commerce sites a month were victims of formjacking software in 2018.
A hacker uses malicious code to reach credit card details from online shop users. This is called formjacking, and it is the way the latest cyber attacks usually carry out. A single set of credit card information can be sold for $45 on the underground market. This means that if criminals steal information from just ten credit cards from a single site, they would accumulate a lot of money.
Cryptojacking had a 52% decrease in popularity in 2018.
Cryptojacking security attacks unfold when a hacker takes over part of the victim's CPU for cryptocurrency mining. The victim's computer is slowed down and sometimes rendered unusable.
The profitability, and therefore the frequency, of cryptojacking is directly tied to the value of cryptocurrency. That's the reason behind the procedure's dropping popularity. However, while some altcoins like Monero have depreciated in value by 90%, cryptojacking has become just 52% less frequent.
(Kaspersky)
The antivirus software providers had loads of work in the previous year - the Kaspersky Anti-Phishing system was triggered 482,465,211 times. Yet, because of new legislation regarding internet security, the total number of spam emails in 2018 was less than in the previous year. China was responsible for 11.69% of all spam, the biggest share a single nation held, phishing statistics for 2018 show.
The WannaCry global ransomware attack cost the UK's National Health Service an estimated £92 million.
(UK Gov)
In one of the most recent cyber attacks, the WannaCry ransomware attack, some 19,000 doctor's appointments in the UK were cancelled. The 2017 attack took advantage of the fact that many Windows operated machines were not properly patched to break into the systems and encrypt the files for ransom.
More than 20% of emails inboxes in Brazil were attacked by phishers, a bigger share than in any other country in the world.
Phishing statistics published by one of the world's leading antivirus software developers, Kaspersky, show one in every five Brazilian internet users was a target of phishing attacks. Australia is in second place, with 17.20%, and Spain is in close third with 16.96%.
In the first three months of 2019, Kaspersky prevented almost 112 million attempts to redirect users to scam websites.
General Cyber Security Statistics
The average number of attacks against an organization in 2018 is 145, up from 130 in 2017.
(Accenture)
Cyber attack statistics by year indicate that there has been a 67% increase in security breaches in the last five years. Accenture, the publisher of this study, defines cyberattacks as "malicious activity conducted against the organization through the IT infrastructure via the internal or external networks, or the Internet."
A projected 146 billion records will be exposed in the five year period between 2018 and 2023, data breaches statistics suggest.
Juniper's 2018 study predicts that this is the number of actual breaches, not reported breaches. The new legislature prescribing mandatory reports will lead to 90% of breaches in North America being known. The US will stay at the top of the list of priorities for hackers, since that's where the most valuable information is.
500 million data records were breached from Marriot's Starwoods Hotel in one of the largest 2018 cyber attacks.
(USA Today)
The hospitality industry remains one of the most vulnerable. Chinese hackers are suspected to be behind the attack on Starwoods Hotel discovered in September 2018. The breach is considered to be one of the biggest cyber attacks in history, with valuable and personal travel information of hotel guests dating back from 2014, many of them politicians and diplomats.
American companies lose the most funds from cyberattacks annually - $27.37 million on average.
That's twice as much as the second most expensive country to get hacked, Japan ($13 million annually). Recent cyber attacks in 2018 in the UK increased compared to the year before by 30%.
More than half of the adult US population, 143 million people, were victims of online theft, cyber attacks statistics show. Poor password hygiene - namely using the same password for multiple accounts - is the biggest reason behind the latest security breaches. An average victim will lose 20 hours remedying the effects of an online attack.
The US Federal Government's budget for cybersecurity in 2019 was $15 billion.
(White House)
This represents an increase of $594 million compared to 2018. According to the information security stats, the Department of Defense is the biggest contributor with over $8.5 billion reported investments.
Information leaks are the most costly consequence of cyber attacks, with organizations losing almost $6 million annually from them.
Accenture recognizes four categories of cyber attack consequences:
Information loss
Out of these four, the most costly in recent security breaches, is information theft. Information loss is most commonly caused by malware and web based attacks. Denial of service (DoS) attacks do most business disruption, costing companies $1.1 million in revenue annually.
There is a hacker attack every 39 seconds, according to a study done by experts at the University of Maryland.
(Security)
Security Magazine cited the University of Maryland when they published one of the most alarming cyber security facts - a hacker attack happens each 39 seconds.
The experiment consisted of setting up four computers running the Linux operating system with poor security measures. The research team monitored the activity. Most attackers used simple, brute force "dictionary" software which tries to open up computers by trying common account name and password combinations. The computers were attacked 2.244 times a day, chief researcher Michel Cukier said.
Computer security news show 90% of all security breaches are due to human error.
(Chief Executive)
While investing in cyber security hardware and defense systems may seem like the most logical measure against cyber crime, staff training is actually the best investment a CEO can make. Teaching employees to not fall for simple tricks like impersonations of company executives and other phishing tactics by applying some common sense will yield the best results.
97% of companies with the best cyber security measures have an extensive staff training program.
Raising data security awareness through training is the most vital step to make in order to increase data safety. It's also important to have a defined emergency strategy, make changes after a breach happens, and have insurance, according to cybersecurity statistics.
Seven out of ten businesses are not prepared for a data breach emergency.
In spite of the fact that recent data breaches have demonstrated no company under the sun is safe from a cyber attack, a study including interviews with 4100 professionals in leadership positions has found that 70% of businesses are completely unfit to handle a cyber attack. Information security stats show big companies lose $1.05 million on average annually from insufficient hacker defense.
A cyber security breach has been identified in 32% of business in the UK in 2018.
(DCMS)
A study dealing with cyber awareness from 2019 revealed that one third of all businesses and over a fifth of charities in the UK have had come under attack in the last 12 months. Of those attacked, roughly a third needed new measures for protection.
The cyber security market will be worth an estimated $300 billion in 2024.
The rise of cyber crime and computer related attacks has led to an increasing need for cyber security services. Cyber security statistics from 2017 show the market was worth $120 billion back then, and projections show it will be worth $300 billion in 2024.
20% of the workforce in the cybersecurity industry will be female by the end of 2019.
While the balance of gender representation is still off kilt, more and more women are taking key roles in all branches of the cybersecurity industry, cyber security industry stats show. The total ratio is still far from 50%, but the RSA Conference 2019, the industry's biggest conference featuring more than 40.000 visitors and participants, hosted 46% female keynote speakers.
High risk applications can be found in one in thirty-six mobile phones.
The overall number of malware infections has dropped in the previous year, but the number of ransomware infections has been on the rise. There were 33% more than in 2017. Cyber attacks statistics for 2018 show most ransomware attacks happened in the US - 63%.
75% of smart devices that get infected by malware are routers.
Hackers use routers as a spring-board to other devices. They are also the easiest to reach, given their connection to the internet.
Europe had a 20% share of the cyber security industry in 2017; that percentage is estimated to grow exponentially.
Due to massive government investments in cyber security in Europe, the market share in this region is expected to rise exponentially. The massive industrialization and the rising number of mobile devices users in Asia-Pacific also indicate that the region will experience a 20% CAGR in the next 5 years, according to cyber security stats.
30 million users' personal data was compromised in a Facebook data leak in a recent cyber attack.
(The Guardian)
As if the Cambridge Analytica scandal did not shake the trust Facebook's community puts in the most popular social network in the world, recent cyber attacks in 2018 affected 30 million profiles. Fortunately, no credit card information was leaked during the attacks.
In the UK, cyber attacks cost charities twice as much money annually as they do businesses.
On average, charities that have been targeted by cyber attack lose £9,470 a year because of leaked data, compared to the £4,180 damage suffered by businesses. A third of charities had to take up staff time to take care of the breaches, a fifth had staff that had to halt daily work completely. A monthly breach is identified in 39% of charities, according to cyber security statistics.
Hiscox Symantec White House SecureList ABC The Guardian Kaspersky USA Today
Sophos PR Newswire Juniper Accenture Chief Executive UK Government Denver Post
Ivana V.
Ivana is a staff writer at SmallBizGenius. Her interests during office hours include writing about small businesses, start-ups, and retail. When the weekend comes, you can find her hiking in nature, hanging off of a cliff or dancing salsa.
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Incorporating enough physical activity into our increasingly sedentary lifestyles is difficult. However, people are more aware nowadays that regular exercise has significant health benefits. That awareness created room for the fitness industry to grow - and these exciting fitness industry statistics will tell us just how much. Read on! Fitness Stats (Editor's Choice): The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the fitness industry's market size by 16.24%. The digital fitness market is set to reach $26.55 billion in 2026. 17% of US gyms were permanently closed due to COVID-19. 44% of the fitness industry workforce was left without a job in 2020. In 2019, Americans visited gyms and fitness clubs 6.7 billion times. The average monthly fitness club membership in the US costs $52. Millennials make up 35% of the fitness industry's customer base. Fitness industry job prospects are predicted to grow 39% in the following ten years. 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The projected fitness industry CAGR between 2021 and 2026 is 7.21%. (Mordor Intelligence) As countries lift strict restrictions, the fitness world is getting back on its feet. The main driving factors for this industry will most likely be the growth of disposable income now that the job market is recovering, increased health awareness, and the possibilities for safe exercising on location. The global digital fitness market size is expected to reach $26.5 billion in 2026. (360 Research Reports) In 2020, the market for fitness wearables that record your health and assist in training regimens was estimated at almost $9.6 billion. With a predicted CAGR of 18.5%, it's expected to triple by 2026. Fitness Industry Market in the US: COVID-19 Aftermath The US fitness industry dropped from an all-time-high revenue of $35 billion in 2019 to only $15 billion in 2020. 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Another 14% of traditional gyms had to shut down for good. Seven major sport and fitness companies filed for bankruptcy in 2020. (Business Insider) Companies like Cyc Fitness, Yoga Works, Flywheel Sports, Town Sports International, 24 Hour Fitness, Modell's Sporting Goods, and Gold's Gym are some of the major business franchises severely weakened by the pandemic. In 2019, 24 Hour Fitness was an industry leader, earning more than 1.4 billion in revenue. Unfortunately, in 2020 it had to file Chapter 11 and close around 144 locations. Likewise, Town Sports International had to shut down over 100 sites. 44% of the fitness industry workforce lost their jobs in 2020. (IHRSA) These fitness industry statistics are unfortunate, and the industry employee count dropped from 3.2 million to 1.8 million. This affected small-business owners as well, and with extended restrictions, some of these job prospects may never recover. 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By Dusan Vasic · December 08,2021
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Artificial intelligence or AI is one of the technologies that's being rapidly adopted, with 37% of sales teams implementing these advanced tools globally in 2020. That marks a 76% increase since 2018. According to recent sales statistics, 77% of sales leaders and 84% of sales ops professionals claim their digital transformation has become more rapid since 2019. The AI tools also help power CRM software, which is crucial for managing customer relationships. The use of smart sales tools has gone up by 300% since 2017. (Membrain) The substantial increase in both the types and the use of sales technology tools is being fuelled by online purchasing. Sales stats from 2017 reveal that most organizations at the time used only two main tools: CRM software and online meeting tools. Two years later, leads list/database, social selling, account targeting, and skills training and recruiting were added to the list. With six tools in regular use, the sales sector started to see more opportunities for leveraging technology to better cater to customers. 91% of consumers would like to see interactive content in marketing emails. (Hubspot) A Litmus report dubbed 2021 State of Email reveals most respondents feel that only interactive content in marketing emails can get their attention. However, only 17% of marketers actually use such content when advertising their products or services. Depending on your target audience and relevant sales information and analytics, you can add interactivity into your emails by including an embedded video, animated GIFs, a form, faux video, or carousel. Think about creative SMS content, too, or employ mass text software to help you create one with catchy phrases. An average of 18 calls is needed to connect with buyers. (Gartner) Reaching potential buyers isn't always easy. Consumers are generally suspicious when it comes to calls from sales reps and tend to avoid them by hanging up or not answering the phone at all. Likewise, only 23.9% of sales emails are opened, and others usually end up in a bin. The sales numbers indicate that more investment is needed into technologies that help locate potential buyers and improve the quality and quantity of communication. 60% of all contacted buyers reject the offer four times before saying yes. (Invesp) Follow-up calls can make all the difference. But almost half of the salespeople (48%) never make a single follow-up attempt. Statistics that expose this passive trend among sales reps also indicate that consumers tend to change their minds if called at least four times. An astounding 60 percent of contacted prospects agree to buy a product or service during the fifth call, according to sales follow-up statistics compiled by the US consulting company, Invesp. 57% of people prefer buying from sales representatives that do not hassle them. (Invesp) Even though follow-ups are essential for convincing customers to purchase your product, more than half of the respondents said they prefer buying from sales representatives who aren't too pushy. Salespeople have a reputation for hassling potential consumers, and these figures show that they would improve their chances of making a sale if they change their approach. 70% of businesses agree that retaining customers is cheaper than acquiring new ones. (Invesp) Prospecting statistics reveal that even though most newly established businesses have to focus on acquiring new customers, the long-run focus should be on retaining them. Namely, it costs five times as much to gain a new buyer than to keep an existing one. Unfortunately, despite the convincing figures in favor of focusing on retention, only 40% of companies and 30% of agencies cultivate the same approach to acquisition and retention. The American auto industry was showing signs of recovery in the summer of 2021, with nearly 1.2 million cars sold in July. (Goodcarbadcar) Following a sharp decline that saw sales plummet from 17 million in 2019 to just a little over 14.5 million in 2020, the car industry started showing signs of recovery by mid 2021. But according to United States car sales statistics, the positive trend failed to extend into the spring, with only 589,743 automobiles sold in October. Those are the lowest monthly sales figures in years. California accounts for the highest number of car sales in the US. (Statista) Research from 2019 shows that the state of California registered more than 14.8 million automobiles that year alone. The state is also the biggest market for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and for used car sales. Statistics by state reveal that Texas had the second-highest number of automobile registrations, with just over 8.3 million cars registered. Texas is followed by Florida (7.8 million) and New York (4.4 million). Handgun sales in the US in 2020 rose by 65% compared to 2019. (Statista) The US gun industry is having a good pandemic, with Americans buying handguns in record numbers. Research shows that in October 2020, around one million handguns were sold, marking a 65% increase compared to the same period in 2019. Gun sales statistics also reveal a spike in handgun sales in June 2020, when 1.511.710 items were sold. The American trade book market recorded a 9.7% increase in revenue in July 2021. (Association of American Publishers) During the pandemic-induced global lockdowns, many people turned to books. Perhaps unsurprisingly, book sales generated $750.7 million in revenue in July 2021. Reading once again became a favorite pastime in many American households, who contributed to the 9.7% growth in this sector, compared to July of 2020. According to book sales statistics, eBook revenues in July 2021 went down 16% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, Paperbacks went up by 30%, generating $274.3 million in revenue. Video game sales amounted to $4.93 billion in July 2021, marking a 5% year-over-year increase. (Statista) Video games had a huge 2020 with more people than ever buying and playing games during the pandemic. Sales soared to $177.8 billion - an increase of 23.1% from 2019. The future looks equally promising, with some forecasts suggesting that the global gaming market will be worth $268.8 billion by 2025. Video game sales statistics for the US market in 2021 show that the industry is maintaining its upward trajectory. 2020 has seen a significant decline in draft beer sales, while canned beer sales went up. (NBWA) The forced closures of bars and restaurants during the pandemic had a significant impact on alcohol sales. Draft beer's share of total volume declined from 10% in 2019 to around 6% in 2020. Beer sales statistics also show that demand for canned beer rose from 60% in 2019 to 67% in 2020. At the same time, sales of beer in glass bottles remained relatively unchanged, accounting for 29% of the market share in 2019 and 28% in 2020. Toilet paper sales in the US spiked by 845% in 2020. (Business Insider) Toilet paper hoarding in 2020 resulted in a spike in sales of 845% in March 2020, compared to 2019, with a total of $1.45 billion sold in a single month. In March 2020, 73% of all grocery stores ran out of toilet paper. By May, that figure dropped to 48%. Toilet paper sales statistics in 2020 exposed a somewhat disturbing and equally commercial side of consumer behavior in times of crisis. Girl Scout cookies sales amount to around $800 million during each cookie season. (Girl Scouts) Selling Girl Scout cookies has been a tradition in the US since 1912 and has become a lucrative business for many. Girl scouts sell about 200 million boxes of cookies each season and earn nearly $800 million in revenue. According to mouth-watering girl scout cookie sales statistics, the most popular variety is Thin Mints, followed by Samoas, Caramel deLites, and Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties. Sales: the Bottom Line In the choppy waters and hazy horizons of the pandemic-hit world, steering your business in the right direction isn't easy. There are many challenges facing sales teams and managers, especially when it comes to locking down customers and promoting products and services. On the other hand, some industries are doing better than ever. Business sales statistics show that demand for canned beer, video games, and guns has never been higher. But that doesn't change the fact that the future is uncertain for everyone, and the new business world is yet to shape out.
By Danica Djokic · November 10,2021


text:
折线图控件

Easy LineChart

Use like this

1. make lines

RZDLineChartModel *line1 = [[RZDLineChartModel alloc]init];
line1.aLineModelYs = @[@80,@0,@140];
line1.aLineModelColor = [UIColor colorWithHexString:@"#8526c2"];

RZDLineChartModel *line2 = [[RZDLineChartModel alloc]init];
line2.aLineModelYs = @[@20,@100,@60];
line2.aLineModelColor = [UIColor colorWithHexString:@"#19b48e"];

2. initial chart

RZDLineChart *chart = [[RZDLineChart alloc]initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0,100, [UIScreen mainScreen].bounds.size.width, 200) andYMax:150 andCoverLinesArray:@[@50,@100] andWithCountNum:0];
[chart setLeftMargin:21 andRightMargin:21 andMultiple:4.5];
[chart setXUnitsArray:@[@"周一18",@"周二19",@"周三20"] andLinesArray:@[line1,line2] andXUnitsLabelColor:[UIColor colorWithHexString:@"d9abff"]];
[self.view addSubview:chart];

也许还应该配置一些东西,都在config里

最后效果是这样的

![Alt text](https://github.com/RyanZD/RZDLineChart/raw/master/Screenshots/show.png)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Show me the money! The infamous line from the movie Jerry Maguire is what first springs to mind when someone asks me is it all about the money? Anyone who watched the movie will remember that the crux of the story was that it's more than just being about the money. And outside of Hollywood the truth is the same; for most people their jobs are more than just their paycheck.
I had a call yesterday to schedule an interview with a candidate. Before agreeing to do a first round phone screen he asked me two questions; what are the benefits and does Ding offer flexible working hours? Satisfied with the answer he agreed to do a call with one of my colleagues. That was uncommon ten years ago – it's almost the norm now.
So what is important then if it's not all about the money and what are women in particular looking for from their employers?
Flexible working hours is the first thing to roll off the tongue; not having set working hours that restrict you. The 9am – 5pm job should be a thing of the past. It doesn't provide people with enough flexibility. What if you have crèche collection to do and your fixed hours don't allow you to get there on time for collection? What if there's an evening class you want to do but it means having to leave at 4.30pm once a week? At Ding we have core working hours where we say people should be in the office during these hours to facilitate meetings but other than that you can make up your working hours whatever way you want. It's an honour system and we trust that people won't muck it up for their colleagues. Does it work? Yes! It's one of the most frequently cited "perks" that our team members love. Your job should allow you to live your life outside of work; it should not be your life.
Flexibility extends that little bit further too. Having an employer who understands that when the little one breaks a leg in crèche or when the elderly parent suffering from Alzheimer's has gone missing that tools need to be downed immediately. This isn't a time to have to request annual leave for the afternoon etc. These are extenuating circumstances that don't need to be taken from annual leave entitlements. I can assure you the employer that facilitates these emergencies gets it back in spades from the employee. It works both ways.
At Ding we're pretty typical for a Tech company. 40% of our staff are female and the average age of our female staff is 32. Well guess what, when you're competing with the trendy Tech giants to hire incredible talent then you've got to realise that people vote with their feet. And with announcements almost weekly as to how many jobs are being created in this sector, the competition is fiercer than ever. Why should a female who wants to start a family stay in employment with you if she can take a job down the road in the trendy US tech firm that offers paid maternity leave? Your maternity leave policy could very well be encouraging female team members to leave a year or two before they plan their families to take up employment in other firms with better maternity leave policies. Is that a risk you want to take?
Again go that bit further. Don't be restrictive with your policies for parents unless you have to be. Where possible facilitate the one day off a week, the shortened working hours etc. to allow people to juggle their priorities in life with their work. It's incredible the loyalty you create in team members by facilitating these requests.
Then there's your benefits programme. It's not just about a pension anymore (although it's still nice to have!). At Ding, we've found giving employees a choice works best. We let our team choose between healthcare (for them, their families or their housemates), gym membership, pension contributions and/or car parking. Then we add on a comprehensive yearly calendar of wellness and CSR events. Our own employees are now our best source of recommendations for inspirational speakers, charity ideas etc. They are excited and interested in the programmes we run for them and so when they come across ideas or people they are quick to let us know. Then again unfortunately we still have to turn down the requests for the permanent massage therapist, the hairdresser on site and an in-house crèche. We're not there yet!
And finally there's one thing that's important for employees to remember. Creating additional perks and policies to facilitate Mums and Dads is a great idea but not all your staff are parents. Those that aren't also need to be catered for. Make sure you don't only benefit the parents and isolate others. It's not just about the money for them either.


"Polar Express" Bike Giveaway by Grand Traverse Pie Co.
Just in time for Christmas, enjoy the movie, "Polar Express" at the State Theatre and possibly win a bike to be given away to one lucky child in attendance. This bike giveaway is quickly becoming tradition as the Grand Traverse Pie Company continues its commitment to positively impacting children and families around the state. The kid's matinee is just 25¢.


Sticky: Poll: Who is using CNCzone?
Poll: Is your Hobby Shop located in your home?
Poll: Have you finished a cnc machine?
Poll: How fast is your homemade CNC?
Poll: Is Machining a Good career to get into?
Poll: Website is finally working. Can you please tell us what you think?
Poll: New website design. Can you tell us what you think?
Poll: What is your future interest and involvement in 3d printing?


Teacher of Biology at High School Level for six years in Ireland.
Lessons I provide will be geared towards students who not only want to do well in exams but also enjoy the subject material. Lessons will be discussion based and participation from both tutor and student will be required. The idea being to provide a less formal approach to study in a fashion that can make it enjoyable.
Currently, a journalism student but a high school bio student teaches Biology to school students.
My teaching method includes explaining each topic first and then asking the student to read and ask for doubts. I also don't mind conducting doubt clearing classes beyond the regular class hours. My ultimate aim is always to make the student understand.
I provide lessons on the subject of zoology to students of various ages and backgrounds. My lessons are structured where I discuss the characteristics of the different Phyla in the Animal Kingdom with an underlying context of taxonomy and phylogeny. Lessons will be presented through Webcam.
Biology being my area of expertise, I offer academic tutoring for all grades.
I focus more on clearing basic knowledge first, I take classes by not just following the bookish protocol, but also going out of my way to find and offer more visual knowledge to make it a more interesting and fun learning session for students.
I like teaching with examples of real-life applications. So, if you want to learn about genetics, we would discuss one particular published research, and pick apart the methodology of the work. This way you get to learn about up to date techniques and concepts.
Dr. Sanjana enhances learning skills in Perth. As a Psychologist, she can aid all round development.
My teaching methods are based on reflective discussions, innovative teaching strategies such as role plays, video based discussions, books related to the topic and quizzes.
My teaching method is through providing clear and comprehensive examples. I like to give naturally occurring examples and situations that demonstrate and capture the topics I teach. I like to engage my students by using both visual cues and place emphasis on understanding how the details of a topic fit within the larger subject.
My teaching methodology is based on the students needs and preferred learning processes. Because of this it will be unique to the individual I tutor so that I can give them the most beneficial learning experience.
A graduate in Botany, living in Crawley and providing lessons that are environment friendly!
My approach to teaching is simple and conceptual. I start from the basics and gradually help students understand the core knowledge of the context as I explain. I make provisions for students to ask questions and clear any doubts if they have.
The way I approach teaching is based on the needs of individual students. I can help with homework, go through a whole topic or answer any specific questions to the best of my abilities. I will base my lessons on my students' learning objectives for their course to make sure to meet the requirements set by their school.
I have tutored previously and I teach with visual aids, videos. Definitely not the boring videos. Some quiz with no marks and tricks to remember things.
I would like to blend and use all my research based and theoretical knowledge over different aspects of biology to generate unique teaching method to cover the student's institutional study curriculum with significant focus on recent and real life sciences based examples so that biology becomes easier, understandable, and interesting!
Masters Student at University of Western Australia- Marine biology, Have studied Zoology,Bioinformatics,Biotechnology.
I am very friendly and love to impart good values along with knowledge that would help the person not only grow in his professional life, but would also help them grow as an individual, Lesson structures depend on topic to topic and like to have more of practical approach where ever possible.
UWA Zoology and Conservation Biology final year student gives biology lessons in Perth.
Super friendly and varied teaching methods. I know everyone learns differently so my goal is to find the best method that suits you. Let me know what you struggle with and we will overcome those challenges. Sometimes it just takes describing something in a different way for you to understand.
Biology, Human Biology and General Science teacher with 16 years experience available for private lessons.
I have vast teaching experience, the final few years focussed on AS level Biology (Human Biology). I am passionate about the subject and enjoy the practical component, as hands on experience is integral in learning. Fun and interesting lessons on all aspects of Biology, including Human Biology. Worksheets and notes, including as much practical application as possible.
My teaching method is to provide more attention to their weak areas in their subject and try to make it interesting for them to learn by giving real life situations and examples.
My teaching method changes based on each individual. I like to do a lot of discussing problems and getting feedback from each other. I try to accommodate each persons learning style since we are all different! Visual, independent work and group work.
Diploma in Biomedical Sciences. Whether you're 16 or 96, my teaching methods are simple and effective!
I am patient, empathetic and I believe that every student learns in their own way, and I change the way I present information to them based on their learning methods, so as to maximize their knowledge absorption. I will find a way to teach you the best way you know how to learn.
find private lessons close to Perth.
Pick your own coach to help you learn zoology. Superprof will help you to find the most relevant tutor: we put together all the teachers skilled in zoology in Perth and close by.
Whether at home or in a classroom, take advantage of the close supervision in Perth by an experienced tutor. Improve your grades or your performance, refine your accent, work better and more efficiently with someone guiding you.


Provided through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
Provided through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). Retirement formula and Employer Paid Member Contribution determined by hire date.
2.0% at age 62 Formula (pension reform) for those hired after 1/1/13 with three-year averaging final compensation.
Employee pays the "employee share" toward his/her retirement.
Currently 6.25% for PEPRA employees.
Tuolumne Utilities District participates in Social Security and Medicare.
The District participates in Social Security and Medicare.
Provided for employees and eligible dependents through CalPERS.
Provided for employees and eligible dependents through the California Public Employees' Retirement System. The District pays 85% of the premium for employees and their dependents.
Provided by the TUD through the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA-JPIA).
Provided by the District through the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA-JPIA). The district pays the entire premium for employees and their dependents.
The District provides a policy for coverage of two times annual salary.
The District provides a policy for coverage of two times annual salary. Employees may purchase additional life coverage equal to their basic coverage with evidence of insurability.
Employees receive 66 2/3% of salary to a maximum dollar amount for non-work related injury or illness.
A confidential hotline to help with emotional concerns, alcohol or drug abuse, relationships, financial and legal concerns, and more.
Provided by the District for employees and their eligible dependents. A confidential hotline to help with emotional concerns, alcohol or drug abuse, relationships, financial and legal concerns, and more.
Varies depending on hire date; distribution as prescribed in Section 22892(b)(1) of the Government Code.
Employees hired after May 1, 2013 receive the minimum employer contributions per month as prescribed in Section 22892(b)(1) of the Government Code.
The District provides time off, varies depending on years worked with the District.
Accrue 3.69 hours per pay period (12 days per year). Sick leave may convert toward CalPERS service credit upon retirement.
All District employees have up to 12 holidays per year.
All District employees have up to 13 holidays per year.
Jury Duty Leave, Bereavement Leave, Educational Leave, Continuing Education and Tuition Assistance, District-Issued Uniforms and Boot Allowance.
Four plans are available - MassMutual, AIG VALIC, CalPERS 457 plan and TD Ameritrade.
Additional retirement savings plans. Four plans are available – MassMutual , AIG VALIC, CalPERS 457 plan and TD Ameritrade.
Employees may set aside part of their salary for out-of-pocket medical and childcare expenses.
Financial Center Credit Union, CEFCU, Golden One Credit Union.
Discount propane available at local propane company.
An employee discount is available for some plans with Verizon Wireless.
Discount memberships in local health and fitness centers.
Employee-funded supplemental policies for multiple insurance types.


text:
Emo Pop
April Jai releases an unhappy emo-pop ballad, entitled, "Me Too"
June 11, 2021 0 3 min read
April Jai is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter based in London, England. Not too long ago, she released an unhappy emo-pop ballad, entitled, "Me Too."
April Jai – "Me Too" single
"This is when I tell the story about what is true. About the sh*t that happened between me and you. But don't worry, I won't name names because it ain't about you. It's about that little girl, grew up too fast because she had to. 'Cause I have stayed quiet for so long because it felt right. But now I know these wounds won't heal with time. You might have your version about all those times. But I bet they don't haunt you when you sleep at night." – lyrics
'Me Too' tells a sad tale about a young woman who reveals that something bad happened to her when she was younger. Apparently, she experienced great trauma but kept that painful experience within her for such a long time, until now. She believes talking about what happened, or getting it off her chest, will free her to take back the person who she is inside.
"Don't worry, I won't shame you 'cause it would do me more harm. I'm just tryna make it through without feeling alarmed."
"Writing 'Me Too' was the most cathartic experience for me. I had been told that 'time heals all wounds' by so many people before. And it just made me feel incredibly horrible and guilty for not having healed from my trauma. So out of those feelings, this song was born. This might be the saddest song I'll ever write but there's definitely a message of hope in there too. I've been super nervous about releasing this song but I know for a fact that it will help someone who is also trying to heal from a traumatic experience." – April Jai explained
April Jai moved away from Scotland at the age of seven. She spent her childhood and teenage years growing up in Bruges, Belgium. Music has always been present in April's life. During her high school years, she taught herself how to play the guitar, which sparked her love of songwriting.
April Jai
After finding her voice, April was accepted into Edinburgh Napier University's Popular Music program – despite having no formal music education. During this time, she sharpened her sound. After graduation, she moved south to London where she began writing and recording her debut five-track EP, The Last Goodbye, which landed at the #2 spot on the iTunes Country Chart.
April spent the majority of 2018 and 2019 performing at gigs and festivals across the UK and Europe. Also, she opened for international artists such as Sarah Darling and Angel Snow. Since then, April has been working on a string of releases with a brand new sound set to drop in 2021.
"Me Too" single
'Me Too' contains an emotional narrative, ear-pleasing vocalization, and tuneful melodies that will resonate well with fans of Elina, Lennon Stella, and Julia Michaels. The gloomy tune possesses piano-laden instrumentation flavored with a warm emo-pop vibration. Furthermore, "Me Too" serves as a tasty appetizer to what listeners can expect to hear from April Jai in the near future.
We recommend adding April Jai's "Me Too" single to your favorite emo-pop playlist. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc's famous catchphrase, "That's All Folks!" Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment. And always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E).
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