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November 21, 2015 by Mike Jackson
Sky-high paddies . . .
No, this is not about inebriated Irishmen.
It's a celebration of the ingenuity of human agricultural innovation in northern Luzon in the Philippines where, over the course of several centuries, local indigenous communities tamed the steep valleys to grow paddy rice in irrigated fields high in the mountains (about 1500 m above sea level) and, employing a sophisticated hydrology, to supply water to the terraces and drain them before harvest: the rice terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras, which received UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1995.
Rice terraces in Banaue, Ifugao Province
In March 2009, Steph and me, along with my staff in the Program Planning & Communications (DPPC) office at IRRI—Corinta, Zeny, Yeyet, Vel, and Eric—made a five day, 1000 km trip (see map) north to Ifugao and Mountain Provinces to see these world famous terraces. There is a cluster of five sets of terraces designated under UNESCO, all in Ifugao Province.
L to R: Corinta, Zeny, Rolly (IRRI driver), Vel, Yeyet, Eric, and me – enjoying a San Miguel sundowner near Sagada, Mountain Province.
A long road trip north
We knew it would be a day-long journey from Los Baños to Banaue. Although the first part of the journey to the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija Province took in divided highways, there were two main 'obstacles' in our path. First we had to cross the length of Manila from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the north one (NLEX), a part of the journey fraught with delays and congestion if you hit the traffic at the wrong time. I guess we didn't fair to badly. Then, once off the main highways, there's the ever-present frustration of following jeepneys and tricycles that potter along at their own speeds, oblivious to other road users, and which stop continually to pick up and drop off passengers. So even a short journey on a single carriageway road can take forever (or so it seems).
In Muñoz, we visited and had lunch at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) which is the country's leading research organization on rice, and IRRI's principal partner for all-things-rice in the Philippines.
After a courtesy visit with the PhilRice Executive Director, we toured several laboratories, and the rice genebank that collaborates closely with the International Rice Genebank at IRRI. In fact, IRRI holds a duplicate sample of much of the PhilRice collection.
The majesty of Batad
From PhilRice it was a long climb of several hours into the mountains, and we arrived to our hotel in Banaue just as the sun was setting. It was an early start the next morning, because we visited the impressive rice terraces at Batad, more than an hour from Banaue by jeepney, and then another couple of hours downhill on foot to reach one of the villages from where there is an impressive vista over the amphitheater of terraces stretched across the hillside.
The rice terraces at Batad.
In 2006, Biggs Javellana, one of IRRI's photographers at that time, flew over over Ifugao and took a superb collection of aerial photographs.
The rice terraces at Batad from the air. The photograph above was taken from the cluster of houses at center top in this photo.
In 2008, one of the main articles in Rice Today featured Biggs' photos, and other older ones taken by eminent anthropologist Harold Conklin, Crosby Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University, who had studied the Ifugao for many decades. Just click on the Rice Today cover below to read the article. You can also browse the original photos (and others) here.
I wasn't too concerned about the hike to the Batad terraces from the parking area, although it was a long way down.
I was more concerned about the climb back up. But having gone all that distance I wasn't going to miss out, and with encouragement from Steph and everyone else (and a few helpful shoulders to lean on occasionally) I made it down and up again. And it was certainly worth the effort.
On the north side of Banaue, on our way to Sagada, Mountain Province on the third day of our trip, we stopped to look back down the valley, and admire the beauty of sky reflected in the flooded rice terraces, recently planted with young seedlings. There really is a majesty in rice agriculture under these circumstances.
Looking south towards Banaue town center.
A vista over Banaue in the early morning mist.
Along the route to Sagada there are other rice terraces, at Bay-Yo Barangay near Bontoc in Mountain Province, and just south of Bontoc itself. Sagada is surrounded by quite extensive terraces.
Near Bontoc.
Sagada.
Bay-Yo terraces.
There's lot to see in Sagada, including weaving for which the town is famous. And the indigenous 'hanging burials' with coffins left on the sides of limestone cliffs, or piled up in the many caves that dot the landscape.
Hanging coffins near the bottom of the cliff.
Coffins piled up in a cave.
The return journey to Los Baños took 17 hours, including comfort stops on the way, lunch in Baguio and dinner near Manila. I think we were all relieved to be back home, but very contented that we had made the trip. It took Steph and me 18 years almost before we actually made the effort.
The heritage of rice agriculture in the Philippine Cordilleras
But what is also special about the rice terraces of Ifugao (and the other sites) is that they are still farmed in the same way, and the communities still practice many of the same rice ceremonies and rituals they have for generations. But rather than me try to explain what this is all about, I will leave it to Aurora (wife of my good friend and former IRRI colleague Gene Hettel) who hails from Banaue and is a proud member of the Ifugao community, to explain in her own words in this video (made by Gene).
Heirloom rice varieties
The farmers also plant traditional rice varieties that they have also cherished for generations. With the pressures of modern agricultural technologies and new varieties, there is always a danger that these varieties will be lost, notwithstanding that they are safely conserved in the PhilRice and IRRI genebanks (and duplicated in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault). If the farmers stop growing them these rice varieties will disappear from everyday agriculture. They have to make a living, and although most varieties are grown for home use, there has recently been an effort to bring them to a wider rice-consuming public. With the Philippine Department of Agriculture, IRRI has initiated an heirloom rice project that aims 'to enhance the productivity and enrich the legacy of heirloom or traditional rice through empowered communities in unfavorable rice-based ecosystems.' Details of the project can be found here.
Posted in IRRI, On my mind . . ., People, Travel
Tagged Asia, genetic resources, Ifugao, indigenous civilizations, Philippines, rice, rice terraces, rice varieties
November 5, 2015 by Mike Jackson
An exceptional CEO: Bob Zeigler, IRRI Director General, 2005-2015
When the Director General of one of the world's premier agricultural research institutes talks about poverty and food security, and what has to change, the global development community better take note. The Director General of IRRI—the International Rice Research Institute, located in Los Baños, the Philippines—has a unique perspective on these issues, since rice is the most important staple crop on the planet, and the basis of food security for more than half the world's population who eat rice at least once a day. And rice agriculture is also the livelihood for millions of farmers and their families worldwide. When rice prospers, so do they. They feed their families, they send their children to school. The converse, alas, is also true.
For the past decade, IRRI has been led by a remarkable scientist, someone I am honored to call a friend, and a close colleague for many years. In mid-December, however, Dr Robert 'Bob' Zeigler will step down as CEO and Director General of IRRI, a position he has held since March 2005. Bob is IRRI's ninth Director General. And of all those who have held this position, he perhaps has been uniquely qualified, because of his practical experience of working in many developing countries, his in-depth understanding of international agricultural research funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and his profound knowledge of rice agriculture.
A passion for science
Bob hails from the USA, and completed his BS degree in biological sciences at the University of Illinois in 1972, followed by an MS from the University of Oregon in forest ecology in 1978. He joined the Peace Corps and spent a couple of years in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), and it was there that his passion for plant pathology was ignited. He returned to Cornell University to work for his PhD in 1982 on cassava diseases under the guidance of renowned plant pathologist Dr H David Thurston. For his PhD research, Bob also spent time at a sister center, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia that has an important global cassava research program, and germplasm collection. After his PhD Bob returned to Africa, working in the national maize program in Burundi.
After three years, he joined CIAT as a senior plant pathologist and then became head of the rice program. IRRI recruited Bob in December 1991 to lead the Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Program, and I first met Bob around September of that year when he came for interview. I was also a newbie, having joined IRRI as head of the Genetic Resources Center just three months earlier. After a couple of years or so, he became leader of the Irrigated Rice Research Program. Much of his own research focused on the rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea, and I know he is particularly proud of the work he and his colleagues did on the population genetic structure of the pathogen.
Bob with Gonzalo Zorilla of the Uruguayan rice program.
Henri Carsalade (France), IRRI DG Klaus Lampe, and Bob.
Sitting L to R: Ken Fischer, George Rothschild, William Dar (PCARRD), ??; Standing L to R: Bob, Kwanchai Gomez, Nanding Bernardo, Mike Jackson, ?? (Korea).
As a program leader Bob visited all of the rice-growing countries in Asia, and with his experience in Latin America at CIAT, as well as working in Africa, he had a broad perspective on the challenges facing rice agriculture. And of all his eight predecessors as Director General of IRRI, Bob is the only one who made rice his career. This has given him the edge, I believe, to speak authoritatively about this important crop and rice research. His scientific credentials and passion for 'doing the right science, and doing the science right' ensured that Bob was the candidate recruited as the next Director General when Ron Cantrell stepped down in 2004.
First departure from IRRI
Bob first left IRRI in 1998, and became professor and head of the Department of Plant Pathology at Kansas State University. But he couldn't stay away from international agriculture for long, and by 2004 he became Director of the CGIAR's cross-cutting Generation Challenge Program (GCP). I like to think my colleagues and I in the System-wide Genetic Resources Program (SGRP) had something to do with the founding of the GCP, since we held an interdisciplinary workshop in The Hague in September 1999 assessing the role of comparative genetics to study germplasm diversity. I invited Bob as one of the participants. Comparative genetics and its applications became one of the pillars of the GCP. And its was from the GCP that Bob returned to IRRI in March 2005 as the institute's ninth Director General.
Back 'home' again
And it wasn't long before his presence was felt. It's not inappropriate to comment that IRRI had lost its way during the previous decade for various reasons. There was no clear research strategy nor direction. Strong leadership was in short supply. Bob soon put an end to that, convening an international expert group of stakeholders (rice researchers, rice research leaders from national programs, and donors) to help the institute chart a perspective for the next decade or so. In 2006 IRRI's Strategic Plan (2007-2015), Bringing Hope, Improving Lives, was rolled out.
Bob wasn't averse to tackling a number of staffing issues, even among the senior management team. And although the changes were uncomfortable for the individuals involved (and Bob himself), Bob built a strong team to support the finance, administration, and research challenges that he knew IRRI would face if it was to achieve its goals.
A born leader
Not every good scientist can become a good manager or research leader, but I do think that Bob was an exception. His major strength, as I see it, was to have a clear vision of what he wanted the institute to achieve, and to be able to explain to all stakeholders why this was important, what needed to be done or put in place, and how everyone could contribute. He nurtured an environment at IRRI where research flourished. Rice research was once again at the center of the international agricultural research agenda. Many visitors to the institute commented on the 'science buzz' around the institute. And if Bob felt he wasn't equipped to tackle a particular situation, he sought—and took—advice. Perhaps uniquely among many of the Directors General of the CGIAR centers, Bob has this ability to listen, to argue fiercely if he thinks you are wrong or misguided. But once convinced of an argument, he accepts the alternatives and moves forward. However, he also admits when he gets something wrong, a very important attribute for any CEO.
Science at the heart of IRRI's agenda
With Bob at the helm, IRRI's research agenda expanded, as did the funding base, with significant funding coming from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for submergence tolerant rice, for C4 rice, and stressed rice environments. Under Bob's guidance IRRI developed the first of the CGIAR research programs, GRiSP—the Global Rice Science Partnership. I think that name is instructive. Science and partnership are the key elements. Bob has vigorously defended IRRI's research for development focus in the face of quite hostile criticism from some of his colleagues and peers among the CGIAR Center Directors. As Bob has rightly rebutted their 'anti-science' attacks, by explaining that submergence tolerant rice varieties for example (that are now benefiting millions of farmers in Asia) didn't materialize as if by magic. There had been an 18 year intensive research program to identify the genetic base of submergence tolerance, and several years to transfer the genes into widely-adapted rice varieties before farmers even had the first seeds.
These are just a few of the research innovations that have taken place with Bob at IRRI's helm. No doubt there will be much more appearing in print in due course that will fill in many more of the details. I'll let Bob tell us a few things in his own words, just published in the latest issue of Rice Today.
Public recognition
Over the past 10 years Bob has been invited to speak at many international meetings, including the World Economic Forum held each year in Davos. He's appeared on numerous television broadcasts and news programs. His contributions to rice science have been recognized with numerous awards and honorary doctorates. Just last week he received from the Government of the Philippines its highest honour awarded to a foreign national—the Order of Sikatuna, Grand Cross (Rank of Datu), Gold Distinction (Katangiang Ginto).
A downturn . . . but continuing strength
It must be rather disappointing for Bob to leave IRRI just as the funding support for the centers has once again hit the buffers, and led to a trimming of IRRI's research and staff. But even with these setbacks, Bob leaves a strong institute that can and will withstand such setbacks. Incoming Director General Matthew Morell, the current Deputy Director General for Research, has big shoes to fill. Nevertheless, I'm sure that the underlying strength of IRRI will enable Matthew to move IRRI once again towards the important goals of supporting rice farmers, enhancing food security, and reducing poverty. Rice research is closely aligned with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, as it will be with the recently-agreed Sustainable Development Goals. In fact it's hard to contemplate the successful delivery of these goals without rice being part of the equation.
Bob Zeigler and Mike Jackson after the unveiling of one of two historical markers at IRRI, on 14 April 2010, IRRI's 50th anniversary.
So let me take this opportunity of thanking Bob for his friendship and collegiality over many years, and to wish him and Crissan many years of happy retirement back in Portland, OR. However, I'm sure it won't be long before he is lured out of retirement in some capacity or other to continue contributing his intellect, experience, and broad perspectives to the global development agenda.
A few anecdotes
But I can't end this blog post without telling a 'tale' or two.
Bob has a great sense of humor, often self-deprecating. Unfortunately this is not always understood by everyone. But I certainly appreciated it, as I'm much the same.
Not long after Bob joined IRRI he took up scuba diving, as did I. And we have, over the years, made some great dives together at Anilao, Batangas. Here are a few memorable photos from a great dive we made at the 'coral garden' site, to the south of Sombrero Island in April 2005.
In the 1990s, Bob rode the IRRI Staff bus to and from Staff Housing each day. The ten or so minute drive down to the research center was a good opportunity to catch up on gossip, check a few things with colleagues before everyone disappeared into their offices, or simply to exchange some friendly banter. On two occasions, Bob was the 'victim' of some leg-pulling from his colleagues, me included.
I don't remember which year it was, but Bob had been asked to chair the committee organizing the biennial International Rice Research Conference that would be held at IRRI HQ. The guest speaker was President of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos, and it was Bob's responsibility to introduce him. For several weeks Bob would be greeted with the sound advice from his colleagues each time he took the bus: "Remember", they exhorted him, "It's President Marcos. Marcos!" In the event, Bob cleverly avoided any embarrassment, simply introducing him as 'Mr President'.
On a couple of occasions, Bob and I were members of the 'IRRI Strolling Players', taking part in a pantomime (usually three performances) in the institute's auditorium. In 1995 the theme was Robin Hood and His Merry Men. I played a rather camp Prince John; Bob was Friar Tuck.
Bob had the awkward line at some point in the play: "My, that's a cunning stunt". And you can imagine the bus banter around that. "Remember Bob, you say it's a 'cunning stunt'!" Fortunately Bob was not susceptible to Spoonerisms.
Both Bob and I have contributed over the years to the Christmas festivities at Staff Housing by taking on the role of Santa (hush, don't tell anyone).
Bob Zeigler, pipe and all.
Santa, Crissan and Bob Zeigler.
It was fun working with Bob. He set a challenging agenda that staff responded to. It's not for nothing that IRRI has continued to retain its high reputation for science and scientific impact. And for the past decade IRRI has indeed been fortunate to have Bob in charge.
Posted in IRRI, On my mind . . ., People, Science
Tagged Asia, CGIAR, IRRI, Philippines, rice, science
Lakes and leaves – spending time in the Twin Cities
Over the years, I've had the opportunity of visiting many of the 'great' cities in the USA: New York, Washington DC, St Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago (most recently). But the city (or should I say cities) I have visited most over the years are the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul in the heart of Minnesota.
And for good reason. First, when I was traveling to the USA in the early 1990s, the international airport in the Twin Cities (MSP) was the hub for Northwest Airlines (now absorbed into Delta), and was the most convenient way for travel from Manila in the Philippines into the USA.
Since September 2008, however, St Paul has been home to our elder daughter Hannah. After completing two years of her 3-year psychology and anthropology degree at Swansea University in the UK, she asked us if she could transfer to Macalester College in St Paul, a highly-respected—but small (maybe 2000 undergraduates)—private liberal arts college that counts former US Vice President Walter Mondale and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan among its notable alumni. The most recent winner of the Man Booker Prize for an original novel in the English language is Macalester professor Marlon James.
So, over the years we have visited many times and come to know and appreciate the Twin Cities, although St Paul is the half of this metropolitan duo that we know much better. There's a vibrant community, and the cities have something for everyone. It's pretty laid back, but I guess you could say that about Minnesotans in general. Maybe that's why I like Minnesota so much.
Among the things I like are the breakfast diners (I like the Grandview Grill on Grand Ave, just below Macalester), some of the best ice cream I've tasted anywhere at Izzy's on Marshall Ave, and only St Paul can boast the Fitzgerald Theater, home of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.
But what sets the Twin Cities apart, for me at least, are the numerous lakes dotted around the Minneapolis side, and the tree-lined avenues everywhere. In fact, it's hard to imagine cities that are more leady. And taking into account that Minneapolis-St Paul was founded on the banks of the Mississippi River, and on the 'edge of the prairie', the amount of tree planting over a century or more is implrsssive. Certainly the avenues are lined with some of the most impressive specimens I've seen anywhere, often up to 100 feet tall.
In the (speeded) video clip below, our recent return flight to Amsterdam took off from Runway 30L to the northwest, climbing over the Tangletown and Linden Hills districts of Minneapolis, over Lakes Harriet and Calhoun, before turning right, and heading northeast over the Mississippi just north of downtown Minneapolis, and continuing over the norther suburbs of St Paul.
There are some pretty fancy properties around the two lakes, but you can't see them for the trees. It would be the same if you landed from the west or took off to the east and had a view over St Paul, which lies on the eastern bank of the Mississippi. Trees everywhere. And of course north of the Twin Cities, the landscape is dotted with lakes large and small. Not for nothing is Minnesota known as the state of the Thousand Lakes.
Hannah and her family live between the Macalester-Groveland and Highland districts of St Paul, just three blocks from the mighty Mississippi. Steph and I have mostly visited during the spring or summer months, so we get to see everywhere at its best in terms of flowering and in leaf. And this is what so impresses us as we take our daily constitutional down to the bank of the Mississippi and along boulevards lined with the most impressive trees. And of course there are some very fancy properties along there as well.
The view from the Ford Parkway bridge crossing over the Mississippi River, and looking north towards the Marshall Avenue bridge. Hannah lives just three blocks east of the river.
But having so many tall trees so close to residences has its drawbacks as well, as we saw in June 2013 after a short-lived but rather violent storm passed through (tornadoes are not unknown, but infrequent). Just close to where Hannah lives several large trees had been brought down, and fortunately the damage to houses was much less than we first feared.
Now although we've visited mainly in the summer months as I mentioned, we did spend one Christmas with Hannah and Michael in 2007. And what a baptism of cold it was. I don't think I've ever experienced such cold. And don't forget we had left the tropical weather behind having just flown in from the Philippines! Nevertheless it was fun, and once suitable wrapped up against the cold we did get out and about on foot to savour the experience.
One interesting comparison we were able to make this September was when we walked from Hannah's home to Minnehaha Park, just under two miles away. There is an impressive waterfall, which we have now seen in two contrasting seasons.
One of our favorite places to visit is Como Park, where there's a small zoo and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The conservatory is most exquisitely planted all year round. On a cold day in December it was a wonderful place to get out of the cold, and escape from the grey-out of a cold Minnesota day. But the conservatory was the location where Hannah and Michael were married in May 2006. We had the whole place to ourselves, and it had recently been planted with summer bedding plants. What a delight!
There's also one aspect of walking around the Mississippi River area that we appreciate. It's both human and dog friendly, because there are strict ordinances restricting the length of dog leashes.
Tagged family, Minnesota, St Paul, travel, Twin Cities, USA
Little Big Man – Tom Clemeno (1956-2015)
One of my former staff at IRRI's Genetic Resources Center (GRC) passed away last week. Tom Clemeno had been an employee of IRRI for many years, working his way up to Senior Manager of the institute's Experiment Station (ES). Diagnosed with a lymphoma in 2013, Tom fought the disease with courage but it became clear in recent weeks that he could not win this last battle.
It is a sign of the affection in which he was held by friends and former colleagues that there has been an enormous outpouring of sympathy on his Facebook page and those of his immediate family.
Tom's role in GRC in the 90s
Tom must have been a Research Assistant in GRC when I joined IRRI in July 1991. He was one of at least two staff handling field operations: rice germplasm multiplication, rejuvenation, and characterization. Once I'd made a thorough review of the genebank operations, I separated germplasm multiplication/rejuvenation and germplasm characterization as distinct activities, and we determined the level of field support needed to carry out each of these functions efficiently. I asked Tom to take charge of germplasm characterization, while his colleague Ato Reaño was put in charge of the germplasm multiplication and rejuvenation operations.
GRC field staff measuring various morphological traits of conserved rice varieties during the annual germplasm characterization cycle, on the IRRI Experiment Station.
Towards the end of the 1990s I was approached by the then head of the ES because he wanted to recruit Tom as his 2-I-C. In those days there was a pretty strange job transfer protocol in place at IRRI. An employee was allowed to move across to a new position in another department only with the approval of his/her current head of department. A head could effectively block someone's career, and unfortunately that did happen from time-to-time. As Tom related in a short memoir that he wrote not long before he passed away, he came to see me full of trepidation. He did acknowledge that while I was quite strict, I did listen to my staff. Anyway, I told him that if he wanted to move to the Experiment Station, and if he felt it was an appropriate move for him to progress his career, then the decision was his, not mine. We arrived at an accommodation with the head of the ES to allow Tom to complete some important germplasm characterization activities he was involved with, and so Tom moved on from GRC. He eventually left IRRI in 2010 to manage a 200 ha rice farm in Malaysia, but did return to the institute three years later as a consultant in the plant breeding group.
Tom and CIEM
While Tom was on my staff in the early 1990s, there had been considerable staff unrest at IRRI. I don't remember all the background after so many years. But Tom played an important role for several years as the local staff chair of the Committee of IRRI Employees and Management (CIEM). I think Tom was a born politician, and had a pivotal role in negotiating an outcome to the unrest that was best for everyone. He certainly had the gift of the gab! But these CIEM responsibilities increasingly took him away from his GRC ones. And that was not a sustainable position to be in. His colleagues would have to cover for him when he was called away frequently—and often unexpectedly—to a meeting with senior management.
So we agreed among ourselves to effectively allow Tom a three-year 'leave of absence' from GRC, and we re-organized the field operations with Ato taking on an enhanced role (that he has maintained to this day). I do believe that the support of Tom's GRC colleagues, particularly Ato, should also be recognized during this important phase in IRRI's history. After three years, we asked Tom to return full-time to GRC, but not long after, as I mentioned earlier, he was recruited to the Experiment Station.
Participating in groundbreaking research
But while Tom was managing the germplasm characterization activities in the early 90s, we had begun a research project (with my former colleagues at The University of Birmingham and at the John Innes Centre, and funded by the British government through DfID) to determine how molecular markers could be applied to the study of genetic diversity in a rice germplasm collection. We used rather crude molecular markers by today's standards. These were so-called RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) markers, and we wanted to determine if there might be an association between these markers with ten quantitative traits: culm number, culm length (cm), culm diameter (mm), grain length (mm), grain width (mm), leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), days to 50 per cent flowering, panicle length (cm) and seedling height (cm). I asked Tom to take charge of the important field experiment that was planted between November 1993 and May 1994. Without hesitation I can say that Tom conducted this field trial with great care and generated valuable data. In fact, they were so good that not only were we able to correlate (or 'associate') markers with these morphological traits, but were able to predict the performance of rice germplasm growing in the field at Los Baños. A paper was finally published in the international journal Heredity in 1996, and Tom was included as one of the authors, and rightly so, for his contribution to the research. This paper was one of the first, if indeed the first, rice research paper to definitely demonstrate the link between molecular markers and phenotype in a sub-discipline now known as 'association genetics'. We also believe it's one of the first papers for any plant species. Click on the image below to read the paper.
Committed friends
It was very sad to see Tom's decline over recent months, which I did through various posts on his and others Facebook pages, most often in connection with his beloved and very active Rotary Club of West Bay membership, of which he was Charter President. I think the last time I met Tom in person must have been in August 2014 when I visited IRRI in connection with the 4th International Rice Congress. He seemed his usual robust, and substantial self. Tom was rather short in stature, and we always had a teasing joke between the two of us about that. But that belied a BIG heart.
Another Tom characteristic was his (almost) ubiquitous hat. Everywhere! Here is a photo of Tom (wearing his signature titfer) among GRC friends during a lunch we shared at Tagaytay in late February 2010 shortly before I retired from IRRI, and probably not long before he headed to Malaysia.
Tom Clemeno with current and former GRC colleagues. Sitting, L to R: Steph Jackson, Vangi Guevarra, Zeny Federico, Sylvia Arellano, Adel Alcantara. Standing, L to R: Tom Clemeno, Soccie Almazan, Andong Bernardo, Myrna Oliva, Ato Reaño, Tessie Santos, Nelia Resurreccion, son and daughter of Adel.
Tom, you will be missed. But your memory will linger on in the hearts and minds of your IRRI friends and former colleagues.
My sincere condolences to Tom's wife Jovith, and his three children Jaicee, Teejay, and J2.
Posted in IRRI, On my mind . . ., People
Tagged association genetics, genetic resources, Genetic Resources Center (GRC), germplasm characterization, germplasm conservation, IRRI, molecular markers


Bike storage shed is a great way to preserve the condition of your bike, as well as deter criminals. Depending on your specific needs, one storage shed may be more suited to you than another. But how do you know which one?
In this article, I've put together a list of the ten storage spaces. Each unit has their own specific set of strengths, which I've outlined for you. I hope this helps you choose a unit that best fits your needs.
Build Your Own Bike Storage Shed?
There's so much that goes into selecting storage shed that's perfect for you and your bike. You'll need to consider variables such as materials, location, windows, and so much more.
Any of these factors affect your bike's safety from the elements and would-be criminals.
First, you'll need to choose the best place for your bike's storage unit. There are two main things to bear in mind when selecting a space.
One, you'll need to choose an area that thieves will have the most difficulty accessing. For example, a fenced yard with a lockable gate is a better choice than your un-fenced side yard.
The second factor is the shed door's visibility from your home. You want to be able to glance out a window and ensure that the door is still closed, for one. Also, it makes it easier to spot any suspicious activity.
A criminal will have to break into the unit in plain sight of your house if they want what's inside. This, in and of itself, can be a powerful crime deterrent.
Lower grade wood is pretty cheap and it blends in well with other structures. The less conspicuous your shed, the less likely criminals will be to target it.
Also, wood offers a certain measure of aesthetic to your property. Metal can be glaring and industrial, while plastic can appear tacky. Wood adds an individual touch of rustic beauty to your property with little effort.
The biggest downfall of wood is its potential to rot or decay. It takes a little extra maintenance to protect wood from rot, termites, and other damage.
If you neglect the upkeep of your shed, then the rot could affect security.
There are many benefits to a metal shed. It's fire retardant, for one, and it can be the most durable choice in some cases. The more expensive models have thick walls, posing a significant challenge to criminals.
Although wood rot or termite infestations won't be an issue, a metal unit is under the threat of rust. Keeping the unit painted and treated can circumvent the problem.
Another issue is that not all metal units are created equal. If you choose a cheaper, lower quality metal unit, you may sacrifice its integrity. Thin metal walls compromise your shed's security, so choose wisely.
The best thing about a plastic storage building is that its low maintenance. You don't need to paint them or worry about rust, rot, or termite infestation. Best of all, they even run cheaper than wood or metal storage sheds!
Plastic accessory buildings offer less security than metal or wood; You'll need to take extra precautions to ensure that your bike is safe.
Plastic units also tend to collect more condensation than wood or metal units. Lack of proper ventilation could cause rust on your bike, possibly ruining the chain.
After purchasing a storage space for your bike, take time to examine it for any possible weak points. You'll need to pay particular attention to the hinges, the lock, and windows.
This resin shed from Suncast is durable and low maintenance. Its compact design makes it ideal for those low on space. Despite its size, it accommodates at least two adult bikes.
The lid of the unit slides back so that it's easier to arrange your bike. There is a place to use two 1 1/2″ padlocks to secure the unit, where the roof meets the doors.
The doors are only attached by two small plastic screws, so only a criminal only needs a crowbar to gain access. These plastic screws break easily under normal use and the company no longer makes them.
When they break, you'll have to salvage from others' discarded units if you want to preserve your shed.
Easy to put together and clear instructions.
Compact, but roomy. Can fit several bikes.
Hinges break quickly, especially after a freeze, as do the plastic screws. There are no replacement parts commercially available.
This plastic shed from Lifetime is a great option for those who need natural light to work on their bikes. It comes with four skylights and one shatterproof window. The window is on the smaller side, helping to eliminate it as a possible criminal entry point.
The steel reinforced doors also offer an internal lock with the option to add a padlock. The only issue is that this model uses wooden screws to secure the panels.
Setting aside the fact that wood is less sturdy than metal, there's also the potential for rot over time. This means that the shed's security may wane over time and the screw's integrity whittles away.
The roof's trusses give under too much pressure, not as sturdy as the doors. Heavy snow sitting atop the shed for too long will cause the roof to cave in.
This bicycle cover from YardStash is excellent for short-term use in the weather. For long-term use, I recommend using it in along with your storage shed. It's a great way to conceal your bike, especially if you have windows.
The cover also has two eyelets so that you can still secure your bike, even while it's in the cover. It can fit two adult-sized bikes comfortably.
The only real issue with this cover is that it breaks down within a year if used outside on a constant basis. The material breaks down in the sun and rain and you'll find rips and holes in it as early as seven months after use.
This is another great reason to use it mostly inside a shed.
Two eyelets to lock the bike.
Breaks down within a year under continuous use.
Rubbermaid storage shed is low-maintenance resin and is less than four feet tall. When placed next to a privacy fence, it's easily concealed from would-be thieves. It's double-walled to withstand the weather.
In fact, some of these models even survived Hurricane Irma!
One of the best features of this model is that it includes eight wall anchors for internal security. Externally, this unit allows for a padlock.
I would advise against placing your new accessory building in direct sunlight. The plastic melts during periods of high, prolonged temperatures. If possible, place your unit in an area where it doesn't get much sunlight.
Easily concealed behind a privacy fence. The entire unit is less than four feet tall.
Doors warp and plastic melts in prolonged direct sunlight.
This is a resin storage unit from Suncast that uses a three-door locking system to ensure the safety of your bike. Despite whether you deem it necessary if you don't place a lock in the provided area, the roof can blow away.
This storage building is capable of storing two ninety-six gallon trash receptacles. A standard adult sized bicycle will fit in this unit.
The accessory building is waterproof, though drainage upon opening can pose a problem. This is easily amended by wiping the surface of your shed before opening it.
Aside from this minor issue, the only other caution is assembling the unit upon a flat, level surface. Failing to do so may result in difficulty closing the doors.
Holds two ninety-six gallon trash cans.
MayBron bike cover is durable and lightweight. It's excellent for high winds and heavy storms.
It incorporates a mix of adjustable buckle and Velcro straps to keep your bike dry. The hem is elastic, so that the cover hugs your bike once in place.
One of the great things about MayBron is their customer service. If a customer happens to come across a defective product, they are quick to correct the issue.
This bike cover also provides lock eyelets in order to secure your bike to an anchor while covered. This is especially helpful if you need to park your bike for a lunch break while you're out.
Spring showers can make for an uncomfortable ride home.
Again, if you leave it parked outside, even with a cover, it still runs the risk of theft. For this reason, it's advised to store the bike inside a locked unit.
It provides plenty of ways to secure the cover to the bike.
Durable cover that withstands constant, heavier weather.
Not compatible with car bike racks; voids warranty.
This tarpaulin tent from YardStash is the most UV resistant in the YardStash line. It's made of a thicker material that resists tearing. The frame is virtually impervious to high winds.
The latest model in the YardStash line is suitable for all weather types. One of the most notable improvements is the higher pitched roof of the tent. This not only prevents puddles from gathering, but also allows for easier snow removal.
The tent only takes fifteen minutes to assemble and does not require a second person. It's designed to be portable. This tent also features a built-in floor to keep your bikes off the ground. It fits two adult sized bikes with ease, but a third may fit.
Withstands high winds when secured at the base.
Little security; accommodates only one small suitcase lock.
KLOUD nylon cover is more of a dust cover and occasional use item. The nylon does tear easily compared to other materials chosen for use in bike covers.
The cover is waterproof and includes a strap to secure the cover over your bike. My advice would be to use this only as a dust cover or travel cover for your bike.
The material is lightweight and easy to fold, so it works well for travel.
It fits two adult-sized bikes beneath it, but with some difficulty. You may want to buy separate covers for individual bikes, depending on the size.
Lightweight and easy to use as a carry-on for daily rides.
Accommodates two bikes, with difficulty.
This polyethylene tent from ShelterLogic doesn't use stitches for the seams. Instead, it's sealed with heat to increase its waterproofing.
The UV blockers are effective up to about six to twelve months, and then you'll notice stretch marks and rips.
There is no floor included with this unit. The steel frame holds up well and there are also eyelets provided for an option to anchor. Putting this tent together will require at least two people.
There is no option to lock this tent, so security will be an issue. If using this to store your bicycle, it's best to keep it behind a locked privacy fence within view of your home.
Conceals bicycles from criminal temptation.
Breaks down within a year.
This galvanized steel storage unit from Bosmere is a tank. It's windowless, has two padlock positions, and you can even bolt it down. Though, with its weight, I sincerely doubt anyone is going to try to haul it out of your yard.
The major problem with most metal units is their potential to rust. Bosmere offers a fifteen year warranty against corrosion, though. It's coated with PVC for added protection against the elements.
The only issue with this model is that it doesn't come with a floor. You'll need to provide a concrete slab or other base to keep your bikes from sitting on the ground. It fits up to three bikes!
When you're looking at the hinges, pay attention to the screws. If they're small, a criminal could rip them right out with a good shoulder or kick to the door.
If they're long, are they Phillips or flathead? If so, all a criminal needs is a screwdriver to take the door down and waltz right in.
So, how do you increase the security of the hinges? Start by replacing the screws with bolts. When the bolts are in place, tighten the nut on the interior of the door.
Use super glue on the nuts for added security. Even if the criminal brings the right tools, the glue adds a time-consuming challenge.
Next, pay attention to the lock. Does your unit come with a reliable one? Either way, it's best to add a second for good measure. A good padlock may not deter the criminal, but it adds extra time to their break-in plot.
Don't place too many padlocks, thinking it will add more security. In fact, it's more of a tip-off to criminals that there's something inside that shed of value. They may be even more determined to break in.
Windows in a shed are like a store's display window. Criminals can peek inside and determine whether there's anything they like inside. It's like window-shopping for thieves.
If you do have to choose a unit with windows, then spraying an opaque film on the inside is helpful. Determined criminals may break the glass regardless of being able to see inside. Especially if the window is large enough to accommodate their entry.
The answer is Plexiglas. A non-shattering substitute can prevent windows from becoming an access point. This is an extra step that requires more work, but it is effective.
Last, when choosing your unit, look for ways that you can secure your bike to the inside of the shed. If the criminal makes it past all your precautions, you need an extra safeguard.
If your unit doesn't offer this option, you can buy and install a floor anchor for your bike. Or, as an alternative, you can bolt a chain to the wall and secure your bike with a padlock.
Using a motion activated alarm system is another great way to secure your bike. If the thief manages to get the door open or climb in through a window, any movement will trip the sensors.
You can buy these sensors in most hardware stores and they're relatively inexpensive. If nothing else, it could work as a deterrent. The alarm may frighten off criminals, even if you don't notice the breach.
It's rare, but sometimes criminals will be brazen enough to just load up the whole unit and drive away. Especially if your shed is near a back alleyway where neighbors are less likely to see.
For this reason, make sure you secure your building to the ground. This is particularly of importance if the unit is relatively small. If it can fit into the bed of a pickup truck, it's in more danger than larger units.
Not all insurance covers accessory buildings that are not attached to the house. Make sure to read the fine print to determine whether you need to take out a policy exclusive to the shed.
If you're handy with power tools, another option is to build your storage shed yourself. This is often a less expensive option and, best of all, it's customized to your exact needs.
You are in complete control of the materials you use for your bike's storage when you build it yourself. You are able to build it in a way that covers all the security flaws found in pre-built models, as well.
When you build the unit yourself, you have the option of excluding windows altogether. This will help conceal your bike from criminals who try to determine whether your shed is worth it.
And last, you'll be able to build a much sturdier door. You'll be able to build it with a floor-to-ceiling lock, reinforced door jambs, and so on.
I think we can all agree that the Bosmere Trimetals A300 ran away with this top ten list. It has everything we're looking for (and not looking for) in a bike shed.
It doesn't have any windows, so criminals can't peek inside. Its doors are solid steel, so it's going to take more than a shoulder or kick to get through them. And there's the option to padlock in two places.
The other units in this list fell short in one respect or another, either by using flimsy materials or not providing security. The Bosmere is a tank by comparison.


Sky Deutschland reported revenues for its fiscal first quarter up 10 percent year-on-year to EUR 431 million. Growth was led by an increase in the customer base, while ARPU was stable at around EUR 34 per month. Sky added a net 96,000 subscribers in the quarter, for a total 3.908 million at the end of September. Customer retention efforts helped reduce quarterly churn to 8.6 percent from 12.5 percent a year ago. EBITDA for the three months to September jumped 86 percent to EUR 54 million, and the net result moved to a profit of EUR 12 million versus a loss of EUR 14 million a year ago.
Sky said it increased HD users by 75,000 to 2.311 million, and Sky+ users rose by 105,000 to 1.786 million. The number of customer sessions on Sky Go grew by 43 percent year-on-year to 26 million in Q1.
Sky published its results a day earlier than scheduled to coincide with the expiry of BSkyB's extended bid for the company. The companies expect the acquisition to close by mid-November. The German provider reiterated its outlook for the 2014/15 financial year, for subscriber net growth of 400,000 to 450,000, EBITDA of EUR 80-110 million and a continued strong increase in revenues.


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UK gives £50m to stop childbirth deaths in developing countries
Simone Rensch
The UK is giving £50m to help stop mothers and babies dying in childbirth in developing countries.
The money will go to the World Bank's Global Financing Facility, which is working to close the funding gap for health services for mothers and babies in developing nations.
More than five million mothers and children die from preventable causes related to pregnancy, such as blood loss and infection, or low birth weight due to malnutrition.
Penny Mordaunt, the secretary of international development, said on Tuesday: "Empowering women and girls and investing in health services not only saves lives but also helps the most marginalised people to realise their full potential.
"UK aid is supporting the Global Financing Facility to make a bigger impact in this area, bringing together governments and the private sector to fill the gaps in healthcare around the world."
The money will support investment in medicines, equipment and life-saving resources. It will be made available to pregnant women, babies and children in 27 countries across Africa and Asia until 2023.
The announcement was made at the Global Financing Facility Replenishment event in Oslo on Tuesday, hosted by the president of Burkina Faso, prime minister of Norway and Melinda Gates, philanthropist and founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The GFF will also improve women's access to healthcare in remove areas and work with governments to improve nutrition, access to contraception and empowering girls and women to choose whether they want children.
The UK support comes on top of a £30m investment in the GFF made in London last year.
The announcement comes after an aid watchdog claimed last month that the Department for International Development could have exaggerated the number of women's lives saved through its maternal health and family planning programmes.
Simone Rensch | Reporter | Public Finance International
Healthcare latest
IMF chief: We must tackle global inequality
EU pledges €34m to help refugees in Uganda and Kenya
Australia and donor bodies renew support for Pacific island nations
'BRICS development bank' launched in Shanghai

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yes, we are glad indeed. The product manager's talks of a 320 page art book explains why FUNimation has prices the upcoming release at a premium price (the retail price is $89.98) unlike any other DVD&BD bundle it has formerly released. However the 24 page restoration booklet might not be a part of the regular release – Right Stuf! have announced some time ago that they will be bundling a free gift with the Lain set while supplies lasts. This free gift might end up being that separate 24 booklet. Of course this is a pure speculation on my behalf and time might prove me wrong but there have been such instances in the past.
Lastly the abovementioned post also revealed the box art for the upcoming release (which you can see above). Although other retailers have yet to attach a box art to their listings of Lain this picture, coming from an official online retailer, seems valid.
Those who would like to preorder the Serial Experiments Lain DVD and Blu-ray combo and secure their free gift right now (whether it proves to be a booklet or not) can do so here.


text:
Q: how to select column name from a inner query i am trying to do something like
select * from  table_name
I will get the table_name from below query:
select distinct table_name table_name from all_tab_columns where table_name = 'test_table'

Is there any  other way to do it other than execute Immediate

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Meaning and definitions of estate, translation in Samoan language for estate with similar and opposite words. Also find spoken pronunciation of estate in Samoan and in English language.
What estate means in Samoan, estate meaning in Samoan, estate definition, examples and pronunciation of estate in Samoan language.


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THE place was Siddington All Saints'. The occasion was a harvest festival, when the church was packed to the rafters with corn dollies and Christians, all ploughing the fields and scattering at the tops of their voices.
THE place was Siddington All Saints'. The occasion was a harvest festival, when the church was packed to the rafters with corn dollies and Christians, all ploughing the fields and scattering at the tops of their voices. Well, maybe the corn dollies weren't precisely vocal, but you get the general idea.
As the hymn drew to a close all those decades ago, the late Sir Walter Bromley Davenport turned round and said something surprising to the woman behind him.
To its recipient (my mum) the inelegant sincerity of that unexpected compliment was memorable, pleasing and utterly unique. In short, not a bad description of Siddington itself.
The village has been in existence since Anglo-Saxon times. Its name is derived from the Old English words suthan and dun, denoting a place 'south of the hill'. By the time The Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, the sobriquet had become Sudendune. Over the centuries it took on a variety of forms, the 1383 version of Siddington ultimately becoming the norm.
In the midst of undulating countryside, the precise hill referred to in the place name cannot be identified, but there is little doubt that in essence the settlement remains what it always was: a farming community. Indeed, many of the farms and byways still in existence provide vital clues to the appearance of Siddington in times past.
The terrain could be boggy and moss-covered, judging from Carditch ('marsh ditch'), Crabtreemoss, Mere Moss and Siddington Moss; or open and scrubby, as at Siddington Heath. There were also plenty of trees around to provide timber and fuel.
The Domesday Book mentions woodland 'one league long and half a league wide' (a league was roughly three miles), and Ordnance Survey maps still record locations such as Horse Wood, Simonswood and Northwood Farm. Thorn trees proliferated at Thornycroft Hall, Pyethorne ('magpie thorn') Wood, and Turnock ('thorny place') Farm. There were ash trees in Heskey (aesc haeg) Wood, hazels in Hazelwall ('hazel spring') Wood and rowans (cwicen) at Wickenhall.
All the shade provided an ideal habitat for ferns to flourish along Fanshawe ('ferny wood') Lane. Perhaps most intriguing of all, Colshaw ('charcoal copse') Wood may have harboured a charcoal burner, painstakingly firing conical piles of wood under a seal of turf or clay to yield blackish carbon.
This would have been valued as a constituent of all sorts of substances, from gunpowder to indigestion remedies, but any made in Siddington probably went straight to the smithy, where generations of craftsmen wrought elemental magic with semi-molten metal. Thanks to the current smith, Peter Robinson, the creative tradition still thrives at the flowerdecked forge.
Over to the east, Henshaw Hall Farm occupies a place formerly known as Henneschae ('hens' copse'). When the term 'hen' was originally coined, it was frequently applied to wild birds, such as pigeons, woodcocks or waterfowl, rather than domestic poultry, so the copse was probably a good venue for bagging game until an aspiring farmer decided to convert it to agricultural use.
Farm similarly grew up on the edge of the township, while Blake House Farm must have had a somewhat sombre appearance in 1638, when it was known as 'the Black house'.


Denmark has announced a crackdown on migrant-dominated ghettos, but how likely are the new measures to actually come into force, and will they make a difference? The fate of Europe's previous anti-ghetto plans offers a guide.
Proposal Twenty-two initiatives have been put forward by the center-right government, including doubling sentences for crimes committed in areas designated as ghettos, a reduction to benefits for people who move into them, and a right-of-refusal to rent out property to those with recent criminal convictions. Positive measures include financial bonuses for non-Western origin students who excel at school, and (compulsory) daycare for all children.
Results Rasmussen himself has freely admitted that this is Denmark's sixth anti-ghetto drive since 1994. Unlike several previous initiatives, it easily has enough votes to pass through parliament, where the opposition Social Democrats, now led by tough-on-migrants Mette Frederiksen, have also endorsed the plans. Human rights activists have attacked proposals such as double ghetto punishments as a fundamental violation of human rights and principles of non-discriminatory justice.
Proposal Deputies were shocked when Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven appeared to agree with the black sheep of Sweden's parliament, the nativist Jimmie Akesson, who had earlier suggested that the army should be deployed in ghettos, during a chamber debate in January. Lofven said he was "prepared to do whatever is necessary to make sure that serious, organized crime is stamped out." The discussion had been prompted by a report of a record 300 shootings in Sweden in 2017, and a series of hand grenade attacks.
Results Following a backlash, Lofven went back on his words, saying that the "army is trained for a completely different task" while promising $850 million in extra funding and "sharper tools" for the police.
Proposal In 2014, just prior to the seismic migrant influx of the following year, the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), the influential regional sister party to Angela Merkel's CDU, introduced a "well-prepared and widely backed" proposal that both recent arrivals and established immigrant communities must communicate in German both in public and in private to aid integration, and to help their children catch up with locals in school.
Quote"People who want to remain here on a permanent basis should be obliged to speak German in public and within the family." – CSU draft proposal.
Results While the sentiment may have played well with the party's conservative base, the idea set off a storm of rage and ridicule, not least from the CSU's coalition partners, who accused the party of "cultural dementia." The CSU backtracked almost immediately, saying that its proposals had been "misunderstood," and were never intended to be mandatory. In 2016, Germany adopted a new Integration Law that provides financial incentives for those attending language and civics courses, and allows the government to allocate any newcomers away from immigrant-heavy areas to prevent ghetto creation.
Proposal As he campaigned for his one-term presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy outlined a typically grandiose vision of a "new Marshall Plan" for France's ghettoized banlieues, still alienated in the aftermath of the 2005 riots. The candidate promised a top-to-bottom makeover – better transport links, more jobs, second-chance schools and a promise to the poorly-educated, largely unemployed population of "access to every position of responsibility, including the very highest."
Quote"We will no longer have young people who are foreigners in their own country," Sarkozy told an audience of hand-picked second and third generation immigrants at the Elysee Palace once elected.
Results Most of the proposals weren't budgeted or costed, and by 2010 the initiative lost priority – Sarkozy's specially-created Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity Development was abolished, while Fadela Amara, the politician in charge of urban renewal, left the government. In the 2012 election Sarkozy lost to Francois Hollande, ghettos were barely a talking point, edged out by economic issues, though the socialist government later announced similar initiatives with less fanfare. The banlieues have continued to be a breeding ground for foreign and domestic terrorists, while Marine Le Pen has become the leading voice for enforced integration.
Proposal Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders has long called Islam an "existential threat" to Western civilization, while accusing Muslim immigrants of wreaking "street terror" upon communities where they constitute a noticeable percentage. As his party surged into the lead ahead of the 2017 parliamentary election, he published a manifesto that would "de-Islamize" the Netherlands. Among the proposals: a stripping of all licenses for mosques and Islamic schools, a ban of the Koran, and a denaturalization of dual-nationality criminals, coupled with a revocation of all asylum permits.
Quote"Millions of Dutch citizens have simply had enough of the Islamization of our country. Enough of mass immigration and asylum, terror, violence and insecurity." – first line of the Party for Freedom manifesto.
Results Wilders' party underperformed expectations in the election one year ago, and captured 20 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives, where it remains the biggest opposition party. Its ideas have not been adopted by the ruling center-right, while Wilders himself remains embroiled in an appeal over an earlier conviction for inciting hatred against Moroccans.
No-go zones: Alt-right fantasy or new face of Europe?


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CJ 4DPLEX and Cineworld Group plc Partner to Bring 145 4DX Locations Across U.S. and Europe
85 4DX Locations in the U.S. and 60 in European Nations to be Accumulated in the New International Rollout Plan,
Across Regal Entertainment, Cineworld Cinemas and Cinema City Venues
Seoul, South Korea and Los Angeles, CA (April 23, 2018) – CJ 4DPLEX, the world's leading 4D cinema company, and Cineworld Group plc have expanded their partnership to bring the immersive 4DX technology to theatres across the U.S. and EMEA regions. As a result of this agreement, there will be 145 total 4DX auditoriums across Cineworld Group's worldwide footprint, adding 79 Regal Entertainment locations in the U.S and 20 Cineworld Cinemas and Cinema City theatres across Europe and the Middle East.
This marks a major expansion of 4DX - the fastest-growing premium cinema format, featuring motion seats and environmental effects that add to the moviegoing experience. It also significantly builds on the relationship between its creator, CJ 4DPLEX, and Cineworld, which combined with Cinema City International in 2014, and completed its acquisition of Regal Entertainment earlier this year. Cinema City was the start of the relationship between the two companies when, in 2012, the exhibitor opened the group's first 4DX in Israel and has constantly developed since.
There are currently six Regal 4DX locations in the U.S. Today's news expands the rollout plan from 15 to 79 additional Regal theatres across the country. Already confirmed markets in the partnership include Atlanta, Chicago, Jacksonville, Honolulu, Philadelphia, Houston, Irvine, Nashville, Miami and San Diego. The new deal will bring the total of 4DX locations set to be opened in the coming years to 85.
Across Cineworld Cinemas and Cinema City-branded theatres, there are currently 40 4DX locations: 16 in the UK, six in Poland, five in Romania, four in Israel, three each in Hungary and the Czech Republic, two in Bulgaria and one in Slovakia. In addition to this, 20 more 4DX sites will be expanded across the EMEA regions to complete 60 remarkable 4DX locations.
"The success we have seen so far in this partnership has been outstanding and we expect our moviegoers will continue to seek out the newest titles in 4DX. Being at the edge of cinema exhibition is always a goal and working with CJ 4DPLEX is one of the ways we can deliver future-thinking cinema experiences to our audience members." said Mooky Greidinger, CEO of the Cineworld Group.
4DX – which incorporates features effects such as motion, vibration, rain, wind, bubbles, lightning, scent and more into popular movies to bring fans into the action – recently became the fastest premium cinema format to hit the 500 location milestone (link to release). Since debuting in 2009, more than 480 Hollywood titles have been screened utilizing the popular, immersive technology.
"Cineworld continues to be an excellent partner and by further adopting 4DX at even more locations in the U.S., it shows that the company has a commitment to bringing its patrons the most advance cinema experience possible," said Byung Hwan Choi, CEO of CJ 4DPLEX.
About Cineworld Group plc:
Cineworld Group was founded in 1995 with its roots going back to 1930 through the combination with Cinema City in 2014. In December 2017, Cineworld acquired US cinema chain Regal Entertainment Group. Following completion of the deal in February 2018, the enlarged Group became the second largest cinema chain in the world, with 9,538 screens across the US and Europe. Cineworld is operating cinemas today in ten countries: the US, the UK, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Israel, Hungary, Czech, Bulgaria and Slovakia, covering a market of approximately 500 million people. The acquisition of Regal provides Cineworld with a major presence in the US cinema market, the largest box office market in the world. Cineworld's primary brands are Regal (in the US), Cineworld and Picturehouse (in the UK & Ireland), Cinema City (throughout Europe) and Yes Planet (throughout Israel).
We believe that the size, reach and quality of Cineworld's theatre circuit provides its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable movie-going experience. We are committed to being 'The Best Place to Watch a Movie!' More information can be found at www.cineworld.com.
CJ 4DPLEX is the world's first 4D cinema company, headquartered in Seoul with international offices in Los Angeles and Beijing. The company created 4DX, the first and leading 4D cinema technology for feature films, providing moviegoers with an immersive cinematic experience that utilizes all five senses, allowing the audience to connect with movies through motion, vibration, water, wind, snow, lightning, scents, and other special effects that enhance the visuals on-screen. CJ 4DPLEX brings 4DX auditoriums to exhibition partners along with 4DX codes for both major Hollywood blockbusters and local titles. Each auditorium incorporates motion-based seating synchronized with more than 20 different effects and optimized by a team of skilled editors, maximizing the feeling of immersion within the movie, beyond the limits of audio and video. Since 2009, more than 520 Hollywood and local titles have been screened in 4DX. As of April 2018, more than 61,000 4DX seats operate in 500 auditoriums spanning 58 countries. CJ 4DPLEX was named a Most Innovative Company of 2017 in Live Events by Fast Company. The company was awarded the Silver Edison Awards in the Media and Visual Communications-Entertainment category in 2015 and 2018. For more information, please visit www.cj4dplex.com.


The sought after content writing can be opinion, best practices, information, and policy analysis pieces.
The contractor is hiring freelancers interested in economic and community development issues with particular emphasis on addressing these issues as relevant to small communities.
The web site [login to view URL] exists to stimulate conversation around issues relevant to the US Virgin Islands community particularly, but with broader application to small and rural communities in the Caribbean and the United States.
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The Contractor is not limiting the way the writer chooses to interact with the content material. Writers are encouraged to be challenging and controversial both in topics and presentation of opinion and material. Content, however, must be accurate, factual and source-credited, where appropriate. The contractor will remove any content that does not meet these standards and will not compensate for any material that is removed from the site because of a failure to adhere to these standards.
The writers are asked to register and post directly to the forum site. Longer articles for posting on the Archive page must be submitted via email to the site Administrator for review , illustrating, and posting. Each will be compensated consistent with terms agreed to at the onset of their engagement.
There are online newspapers from which the writers can understand issues important to the Virgin Islands community([login to view URL] ; [login to view URL]). The Administrator can provide other source material. Writers should take the lead from these news pieces, articles and content already on the site when developing their own product, which they believe will be of interest and produce engagement with the target community.
The assignment is for a three month period but can extend. The expectation is at least two archive piece ( 850 words) or three forum post (550 words) monthly. The word count is the minimum expected.
The writer will be acknowledged as the author, however, the content is the property of the site with all rights to reuse in any manner consistent with the policy of the site.
The contractor envisions engaging several writers to work on this assignment.
Please provide two examples of relevant writing style.
Business terms will be individually negotiated.


'What should my students play for the recital?'. This brand new series provides easy answers to this common question. For these winning collections, some of the most popular and effective pieces have been selected from the Hal Leonard Student Library - from early-elementary to late-intermediate levels. You'll love the variety of musical styles found in each book. Collect all four in the series!


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Wine from Portugal....not one that many people head straight towards but there is a lot of really delicious wine coming from here at the moment. So, on my hols this year I decided to pit online wine club wines against one I bought in a wine shop to see which really hit the spot. All three wines we tasted were slightly different blends but all had the staple grape of Portugal, Touriga Nacional, somewhere in the mix. This grape is a full bodied lovely - a bit like Cabernet Sauvignon and works well in all sorts of blends. It's also eminently drinkable!
The first wine we tasted, the Galodoro, (£6.99) is from Naked Wines which is a fab company. I have been a customer of theirs for years and their ethos is just fantastic. (More on wine clubs in my next blog posts but this one is a real fave and well worth the wait to join!) This one is a blend of 3 Portuguese grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was a gorgeous deep ruby red and smelt of bramble and oak. On drinking this was an absolute pleasure and in fact my favourite of the three. Really well balanced and smooth with tons of juicy cherry and blackberry flavours. An absolute treat.
The second, Alta Corte (£7.99) from Rude Wines was a funny old thing. Again a blend of grapes which included Touriga Nacional. A slightly more intense blood red and still very deep coloured, the nose was amazing....bramble, fig, leather, spice and oak promising a beauty of a wine....which it sort of failed to deliver on. The taste was fine, smooth and balanced, a touch of fig and cherry but really not up to the gorgeous bouquet. If I'd have tasted this on it's own I think I would have really enjoyed it but it paled a little compared to the other two.
Our third and final wine as the Ciconia (c £9.99), the only wine with Touriga Nacional as the main grape in the blend with added Tempranillo and Shiraz. I bought this from the absolutely wonderful Bodnant Wine Cellar (well worth a visit, great range and lovely staff, if you're around North Wales) but it's a bottle which can be found in quite a few places. Once again a lovely deep and intense ruby red colour and a nose of oak and spice with very little fruit but then on the palate this was super-fruity with some lovely raspberry notes coming through.
Not clicked to be in touch? Could you tell us why?
Erica - company director, wine newbie (relative...) and lifelonglearner.


Do I need to empty my hot tub after each use?
All of the Malibu Hot Tubs have pre-built in filtration systems so that the water is constantly filtered and by adding chemicals, you will not need to empty your hot tub regularly, similar to how a swimming pool works. However, we do believe it's viable to empty your hot tub about once every 3 months, as the water can begin to become over-saturated with all sorts of chemicals!
Do I need to turn my hot tub off every time I'm finished with it?
There is a switch to turn your hot tub off but we're here to tell you that there is no need to do it every single time because that's just a pain! As the filtration system cycles, keep the water fresh to ensure that the right temperature is always maintained so that you can minimise energy costs but the built-in heating has to be on – unless you want a cold tub?. All of our hot tubs here at Malibu have an 'Economy' option so that you can have minimal expenditure costs.
What is the best season to use a hot tub in?
Although it's more of an opinion based answer, a general consensus within the hot tub department suggests that you can't beat hot tubbing in the snow, wind or rain. The popularity of hot tubs in places such as Germany, Holland & Scandinavia supports the popularity of bathing in not arctic, but colder climates, can you think of anything better than relaxing in a 35-40 degree hot tub whilst the snow falls around you with a bru in hand? As you can see I much prefer colder climates but it's an opinion guys and no one can tell you that you're wrong.
The chlorine itself doesn't and isn't supposed to cause any form of irritation. When the PH level is imbalanced (All sciency' stuff so I'm not going to go all professor on you all) it can contribute towards over-acidic or alkali water causing a nasty 'sting' on your eyes.
Another huge contributor regarding stinging eyes is the bacteria from other people, which aren't being eradicated by chlorine (when it should!); this suggests a low chlorine level and poor sanitisation rather than chlorine itself causing eyes to sting. Swimming pools portray this perfectly, more people get in a swimming pool rather than a hot tub, and so the 'eye sting' will be worse in the pool so remember this as it can be important.
We love giving our friendly free tips here at Malibu Hot Tubs, and all our hot tubs are designed with neat little features and gadgets and you don't need to worry about getting stingy eyes as that will never happen with us unless you share the hot tub with hundreds of other people…do you? Give us bell today on 01889 508787 or come and visit us in our new showroom – visit the contact page for further details people.


The Communist Lao government expects domestic and foreign private investment to climb to 23,086 billion kip ($2.7 billion) in 2019 from around $2.36 billion last year, accounting for 52.06 per cent of total investment or 13.95 per cent of GDP, the Vientiane Times reported.
The figure was revealed on January 9 at the Lao central and provincial investment promotion and management committee meeting held in the capital Vientiane. It was chaired by deputy prime minister and chairman of the central committee for investment promotion and management, Sonexay Siphandone.
Under the socio-economic development plan for 2019, the Lao government expects GDP to grow at 6.5 per cent this year.
China, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK have been the leading sources of foreign direct investment in Laos in the past couple of years.
Private investment and investment in special economic zones is one of the government's four funding sources for achieving its target, deputy minister of planning and investment Khamlien Pholsena told the meeting.
In particular, the Lao government is addressing a number of specific business sectors for investments, including electricity projects, mining projects, agricultural projects and service projects, mainly in banking and hospitality. In 2018, the investment committee approved 43 concession investment for such projects.
With regard to special economic zone promotion and management, 593 domestic and foreign companies have registered operations in special and specific economic zones in Laos, the report said.
With regards to public investment, the Lao government earlier in January has approved a special budget package worth 500 billion kip ($58.5 million) to repair infrastructure facilities that were damaged by floods caused by a broken hydropower dam last year.