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Mary Volmer
Reliance, Illinois >
How I came to Write Reliance, Illinois
Crown of Dust >
How I Came to Write Crown of Dust
News and Interviews
"Every page is a pleasure" - Karen Joy Fowler
"There are subliminal echoes of L. Frank Baum in Volmer's mythmaking with Motherlode as an Old West Emerald City, Emaline as the Good Witch and Alex's punitive Gran as the defunct Bad Witch of the East. But Volmer keeps whimsy in check with a terse present-tense voice that invests her pioneers with piquant inner lives and a poker-faced lyricism. " --Jan Stuart, The New York Times "Sunday Review of Books"
"Reliance, Illinois has it all—mystery, politics, war; love, death, and art. In finely wrought sentences, Volmer's novel follows such a lively cast of characters, first and foremost her marvelous protagonist Madelyn. Every page is a pleasure."
—Karen Joy Fowler, author of
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Reviews: Crown of Dust
"Volmer's distinctive, beautifully written debut is set in the California gold rush country in the mid-19th century, when tensions and fortunes were as volatile as the ground prospectors mined ... Volmer's prose is taut and restrained, moving the story along at a healthy clip as her hardscrabble characters rumble and stumble through their dusty domain. Volmer's found a fat vein of gold in some heavily mined territory." --Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)
"Volmer has written a new story of the California gold rush that is as believable and transporting as any I have ever read. . . . Volmer's characters are wonderful and the story is tense and engaging."--Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club
"Mary Volmer possesses such fierce powers of description, I could almost feel the dust of Motherlode clinging to the hem of my skirt. In Crown of Dust, Volmer has created an intensely physical and utterly enjoyable novel, filled with unforgettable characters."--Michelle Richmond, the New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Fog
"Any illusions about the glamour of digging for gold are totally shattered by Mary Volmer's 'Crown of Dust,' a grim and carefully researched book about the California gold rush…. Volmer, in her remarkable first novel, has re-created the reality of an era that few can even visualize now." --Muriel Dobbin (The Washington Times)
"Volmer probes deeply. Crown of Dust is a brooding, compulsively readable tale of identity lost and won." --Dan Barnett (The Buzz)
"Debut novelist Mary Volmer's heartwarming story, set during America's Gold Rush, makes a vital contribution to the literature of women who won the Wild West....Readers will realize that they are indeed being handed a gift, a nugget of pure gold." --Elizabeth Breau (ForeWord)
"Crown of Dust is a lovely paean to all the little towns born during the California Gold Rush, and an emotional elegy to the forgotten souls who worked, loved, and died in such places." Lisa Verge Higgins (New York Journal of Books)
"Volmer brings the danger and wonder of wild California to life in this vivid re-creation of the Gold Rush era. Readers get a real sense of the tensions surrounding the gold miners: unpredictable nature, vicious rivalries, and the intrusion of laws made by "men in small rooms"... Teens will be seduced by the slow revelations of Alex's past, and the collision of her past with those she has come to love in her present." Diane Colson, School Library Journal, "Adult Books For Teens"
Reviews: Reliance, Illinois
"Each woman's journey in this charming novel is one of depth and courage."
"Volmer's unforgettable protagonist lives through social evolution, the fight for women's rights and personal strife, yet she perseveres, and Reliance, Illinois, with its universal themes and evocative period detail, is uplifting."
"A genuine pleasure. Reliance, Illinois is lively, witty, and evocative, with characters who pop off the page and a protagonist you'll never forget."
--Lou Berney, author of The Long and Far Away Gone
"In Reliance, Illinois, Mary Volmer creates a world at once old and new. She evokes an entire time and place through the perfect application of richly enlivening historical detail. In her depiction of the varied and often risky recourses her characters adopt in order to live well or with dignity—or at all, Volmer tells a compelling, timeless story about exigency and survival, especially for women. A deftly written page-turner that addresses universal questions with open-heartedness and verve, Reliance, Illinois offers a captivating read about an important juncture in American history."
—Naomi J. Williams, author of Landfalls
"This Mississippi river town in 1875 is home to murder, misrepresentation and mayhem. Reliance, Illinois is an entertaining historical novel."
—The Missourian
"Reliance, Illinois has smart touches of humor and is well grounded in its place and time. This novel will appeal to readers curious about the lives of women in the post-Civil War Midwest."
"A lovely and moving novel—Beautiful."
—Max Byrd, author of The Paris Deadline
"Mary Volmer's Reliance, Illinois grabbed me from the first page. Staggeringly beautiful prose, a poignant story, the whip smart heroine Maddy who I rooted for all the way. Volmer brings a universal theme of the reliance—all of us who search for it—to be found in ourselves. Do yourself a favor, clear your schedule and drink in Volmer's radiant Reliance, Illinois."
—Cara Black, New York Times bestselling author of Murder on the Quai
"Female protagonists in author Mary Volmer's historical fiction novels are resilient, educated, street smart, intrepid. [Reliance, Illinois] harbors unexpected twists. "
—San Jose Mercury News
"For historical fiction buffs, Volmer's second novel paints a compelling portrait of a small Midwestern town and its residents during a period of great change. "
—Library Journal on Reliance, Illinois
"Mary Volmer's lush prose draws the reader into an intricately detailed world."
—Lois Leveen, author of Juliet's Nurse and The Secrets of Mary Bowser


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Archive for the 'Sara Gallardo' Category
Land of Smoke
It comes as no surprise that the final story in Sara Gallardo's collection Land of Smoke (the first of her work to appear in English, translated by Jessica Sequeira) is entitled 'A Loner':
"The life of a loner is just that: the life of a loner. No one scattered in the multiple existence of family life can imagine the way certain perceptions of the recluse set about crystallising."
Almost all the stories and sketches which have preceded feature loners of one kind or another. Take, for example, the pensioner in 'Things Happen' who finds himself swept out to sea with his house and garden. Or 'The Man on the Araucaria' whose home-made wings can only raise him as high as the tree-top. His obsession takes him further and further from others until, in the story's final, melancholy line we are told:
"He lives amongst the chimneys of a factory. He's old and eats chocolate."
Even 'White Glory', a horse with "eyes like black diamonds and the head of an archangel" is destined to be solitary:
"Yes, he went about free. But once again he was alone. How alone, and how free."
Many of Gallerdo's lonely characters are men, however, in a country where war and violence seem commonplace. In the opening story, 'On the Mountain', the narrator, a soldier "left for dead", is rescued by a man who once belonged to the other side but now lives in a cave in the mountains. The narrator, like his captor / rescuer, is cynical in his view of war:
"They were the maggots that fed on liberty, and vice versa. We were the maggots eating away at the Empire without mercy."
The man will not talk to him, however, and he fears his "alliance" with "a monster of an unknown species" which also lives on the mountain. The story is suffused with potential violence; a violence which erupts in shorter pieces like 'Red' and 'Even'. In the latter the narrator seeks revenge on life for having killed his son at the age of twenty-two. The landscape of Argentina itself is often violent and inhospitable:
"The Puna is a desert. People in the city like to listen to songs naming it. They don't know oxygen isn't breathed there, that water boils cold. Children often die on their way to school."
In 'Cristoferos' a statue –presumably of Christopher Columbus – reflects, "I didn't know what a sad continent I was inaugurating." In 'Georgette and the General' the house Georgette has so carefully preserved in beautiful order decays:
"The house finally let go. The leaves could move again over the avenues, the gazebo rotted, wasps settled on the chandeliers. The balcony collapsed; it lost its doors. The Eden turned into desert."
This happens, not on her death, but when her soul is put to rest by a mass. It's one of a number of stories to feature hauntings, though some are in more unexpected places as in 'The Case of Mrs Ricci' where the ghost appears daily at the offices of the Pension Fund. In 'The Embroiderer' the title character, executed by the Inquisition, appears only briefly at the end:
"They saw him, luminous, waving like a banner, hands deformed by the needle, black from the fire, throwing out rays of light through the spikes of Christ. The game hunts and meadows he had embroidered ran through him."
Hauntings on a grander scale take place in 'The Trains of the Dead':
"They crossed like rays of lightning above the world. Some came and others went, rising and falling without direction or destination. In the windows he saw the faces of the dead in this world."
Land of Smoke is a wonderful collection. It reads like a selection from a lifetime's work but was apparently written after the death of her second husband and published in one volume in Argentina. Some stories reflect Gallardo's talent as a writer of children's fiction, particularly those about animals; some read like fables (including one of my favourites, 'Cristobel the Giant'), others as if they have been excised from history. All originate from an imagination as wild and restless as White Glory himself:
"He was the only one who got away, for no other ran like him. No one could jump as high or as far… Rumour spread that there was a horse from heaven roaming free."
Tags:land of smoke, Sara Gallardo
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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California Finance Litigation Blog
FYI: 9th Cir Upholds Judgment for Deceptive Disclosures Against Online Lender
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that an online payday lender's "loan note" violated § 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act") because, although it was "technically accurate", the lender's online loan portal made it difficult to discern the loan terms and therefore likely to mislead consumers about the terms of the loan.
Accordingly, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the trial court's summary judgment and relief order in favor of the FTC.
A copy of the opinion is available at: Link to Opinion
The defendant owner ("Owner") controlled a series of companies that offered high-interest payday loans to borrowers. The loans were offered exclusively through a number of proprietary websites.
Potential borrowers would enter personal information into one of the Owner's websites, and approved borrowers would be directed to a webpage that disclosed the loan's terms and conditions by hyperlinking to seven documents, including the Loan Note and Disclosures ("Loan Note"), which provided the essential terms of the loan as mandated by the federal Truth in Lending Act ("TILA").
Borrowers could open the Loan Note if they chose, but they could also ignore the document and electronically sign their names by clicking a button that said: "I AGREE Send Me My Cash!"
In April 2012, the FTC filed a lawsuit against [the Owner] and his businesses alleging their business practices violated § 5 of the FTC Act prohibition against "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce." 15 U.S.C. § 45(a)(1).
Specifically, the FTC alleged that the Owner violated § 5 because the terms disclosed in the Loan Note did not reflect the terms that the Owner actually enforced. Thus, the FTC asked the court to permanently enjoin the Owner from engaging in consumer lending and to disgorge "ill-gotten monies."
The parties agreed to bifurcate the proceedings in the trial court into a "liability phase" and a "relief phase."
During the liability phase, the FTC moved for summary judgment on the FTC Act claim, which the trial court granted.
In the relief phase, the trial court enjoined the Owner from assisting "any consumer in receiving or applying for any loan or other extension of Consumer Credit," and ordered the Owner to pay approximately $1.27 billion in equitable monetary relief to the FTC.
The trial court then directed the FTC to direct as much money as practicable to "direct redress to customers," and then to "other equitable relief . . . reasonably related to the Defendants' practices alleged in the complaint," and then to "the U.S. Treasury as disgorgement."
The Owner subsequently appealed both the entry of summary judgment and the relief order.
On appeal, the Owner first argued that the trial court erred in granting the motion for summary judgment finding him liable for violating § 5 of the FTC Act.
As you may recall, to prevail on a claim under § 5, the FTC must show that a representation, omission, or practice is "likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances." This consumer-friendly standard does not require the FTC to provide "[p]roof of actual deception," only that the "net impression" of the representation would be likely to mislead – even if such representation "also contains truthful disclosures."
The FTC argued that the Loan Note was likely to mislead borrowers about the terms of the loan. Specifically, although the top third of the Loan Note contained the so-called "TILA box," which contained the "amount financed," "finance charge," total of payments," and "annual percentage rate," the fine print below the TILA box was essential to understanding the loan's terms.
The densely packed text below the TILA box set out two alternative payments scenarios: (1) the "decline-to-renew" option, and (2) the "renewal" option.
Importantly, borrowers hoping to exercise the decline-to-renew option had to navigate through an online customer-service portal and affirmatively choose to "change the Scheduled" payment, and agree to "Pay Total Balance." This had to be done at least three business days before the next scheduled payment.
Alternatively, borrowers who did nothing would default to the "renewal" option, which would end up costing the borrow significantly more than the amount listed in the TILA box.
Based on these facts, the Ninth Circuit agreed with the FTC "that the Loan Note was deceptive because it did not accurately disclose the loan's terms."
In reaching its conclusion, the Court noted that "under the terms that [the Owner] actually enforced, borrowers had to perform a series of affirmative actions in order to decline to renew the loan and thus pay only the amount reported in the TILA box."
Further, "the fine print's oblique description of the loan's terms fails to cure the misleading 'net impression' created by the TILA box."
The Owner argued that the Loan Note was not deceptive because it was "technically accurate," but the Ninth Circuit explained that "the FTC Act's consumer-friendly standard does not require only technical accuracy."
The Owner next argued that the court's narrow focus on the Loan Note failed to capture the "net impression" on borrowers. The Court disagreed, ruling that the Owner "wrongly assumes that non-deceptive business practices can somehow cure the deceptive nature of the Loan Note." Instead, the FTC "must show only that a specific 'representation' was 'likely to mislead.'"
Finally, the Owner argued that summary judgment was inappropriate because he demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact. Specifically, the Owner pointed to deposition testimony from consumers that they had not read the disclosures but understood them upon reading them at their depositions, and his expert's testimony.
The Ninth Circuit again disagreed, ruling that because proof of "actual deception" is unnecessary to establish a violation, and the Owner could be liable if the Loan Note "possesses a tendency to deceive." The Court further ruled that the Owner's expert testimony was insufficient to create a question of fact.
Thus, the Ninth Circuit held "that the Loan Note was likely to deceive a consumer acting reasonably funder the circumstances," and therefore "the trial court did not err in entering summary judgment against [the Owner] as to the liability phase."
With respect to the relief phase, the Owner argued that the FTC improperly used § 13(b) to pursue penal monetary relief under the guise of equitable authority, because § 13(b) provides only that trial courts may enter "injunction[s]." 15 U.S.C. § 53(b).
Although the Ninth Circuit found the argument to have "some force," it concluded that it was "foreclosed by our precedent," which had "repeatedly held that § 14 'empowers trial courts to grant any ancillary relief necessary to accomplish complete justice, including restitution.'"
The Owner requested that the Court revisit its precedent in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Kokesh v. SEC, 137 S. Ct. 1635 (2017), wherein the Court determined that a claim for "disgorgement imposed as a sanction for violating the federal securities law" was a "penalty" within the meaning of the federal catch-all statute of limitations.
The Owner argued that Kokesh severs the line of reasoning that links "injunctions" to "equitable monetary relief."
However, the Ninth Circuit explained that a "three-judge panel may not overturn prior circuit authority unless it is 'clearly irreconcilable with the reasoning or theory of intervening higher authority,'" which threshold the Court determined was not met.
Further, the Owner argued that the trial court abused its discretion in calculating the amount of the award, because the $1.27 billion judgment overstated his unjust gains. The Ninth Circuit again disagreed, ruling that "the trial court did not abuse its discretion when calculating the amount it ordered [the Owner] to pay."
Finally, the Owner challenged the trial court's decision to enjoin him from engaging in consumer lending, but Ninth Circuit again could not "find fault with the trial court's decision to enter a permanent injunction."
Accordingly, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the judgment of the trial court in its entirety.
Eric Tsai
Maurice Wutscher LLP
71 Stevenson Street, Suite 400
Email: etsai@MauriceWutscher.com
Admitted to practice law in California, Nevada and Oregon
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Posted by Eric at 1:18 PM
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FYI: Cal App Ct (3rd Dist) Holds Servicer May Owe Borrower Duty of Care as to Loan Mod Efforts
Adding to the growing split of authority among California's various state appellate courts, and among various federal courts in Califor...
FYI: 9th Cir Confirms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Exempt from State and Local Excise Taxes on Transfers of Real Property
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently held that the statutory charters of Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie...
FYI: Cal App Ct Soundly Rejects Borrower's Third Attempt to Challenge Foreclosure
Noting that "[t]here are no free houses," the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District, recently held that a b...
FYI: Cal App Ct Rules Against Assignee of Sold-Out Second
Friday, April 13, 2012 The California Court of Appeal, Second District, recently held that : (1) the holder of a "sold out second...
FYI: SD Cal Rejects FCC's Interpretation of ATDS Under TCPA, Enters Summary Judgment in Favor of Defendant in TCPA Putative Class Action
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California recently ruled that a company's promotional text message platform did not c...
FYI: Cal App Holds Post-Petition Recording of Mechanics Lien Did Not Violate Automatic Stay, and BK Tolled Statute of Limitations
Monday, December 26, 2011 The California Court of Appeal, Second District, recently held that California's limitations period for fili...
FYI: 9th Cir Allows Borrower's Allegations of "Deceptive Loan Mod Efforts" Under Hawaii UDAP Statute to Proceed
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently reversed the dismissal of a borrower's claim of deceptive loan modification effort...
FYI: Cal App Ct Holds Lender Liable Under CA Construction Lien Claimant "Stop Notice" Provisions
Sunday, February 16, 2014 The California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, recently interpreted several California construction lien clai...
FYI: 9th Cir Limits Scope of RESPA "Qualified Written Requests," Following Similar Seventh Circuit Ruling
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently held that written borrower demand s seeking only...
FYI: Cal App Ct Holds Assignee's Claim for Origination Fraud Was FDCPA "Debt," and Fraud Claim Was Not Assigned with Loan
Thursday, May 2, 2013 The California Court of Appeal, First District, recently ruled that: (1) the assignment to a debt collector of ...
FYI: 9th Cir Holds State Contract Law SOL Applies ...
FYI: 9th Cir Upholds Judgment for Deceptive Disclo...
FYI: Cal App Ct (4th DCA) Rules Servicer and Inves...
FYI: SD Cal Dismisses Data Security Breach Class A...
The editors and sponsoring law firm of this blog represent and serve banks, lenders, loan buyers, loan servicers, debt collectors, and other financial services companies. We do not represent consumers.
Please note that any communications or information obtained may be provided to our clients, including for the purpose of debt collection.
The information in this blog and related updates is general in nature, and should not be considered legal advice.
Legal advice requires a full and complete understanding of a particular situation. Your situation may involve material facts that prevent the direct application of the information in this blog and related updates.
You will not become a client of the editors or sponsoring law firm simply by reading this blog. In order to become a client of the editor or sponsoring law firm, the editor or sponsoring law firm must agree to represent you in writing. Until we agree to represent you in writing, we are not prevented from representing any other party.
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We have a couple of reviews on deck today, starting with The Summer After You and Me.
I loved Jenn's dual debuts in 2013, and I've been waiting for summer to read this book. It's a gorgeous tale about a girl who finds herself and figures out what she wants in terms of life and relationships after Superstorm Sandy, and it should absolutely make it on your summer reading list ASAP.
Jennifer Doktorski has built up a quiet reputation for writing smart, intelligent YA romances since her debut, and The Summer After You and Me is no different.
Set against the backdrop of a New Jersey beach town that has been struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy, Lucy's summer of turbulent sibling relationships, romantic struggles and trying to figure out her own life, is smart, intensely relatable, and perfect for any contemporary fan.
I've loved Jen Doktorski's work since she dually came out with How My Summer Went Up in Flames and Famous Last Words in 2013. Her characters are smart and funny, and her female characters are empowered in a way that I don't always see in YA.
So to say I was excited to read The Summer After You And Me was a bit of an understatement. However, I decided to wait until summer rolled around to do so, so I could truly enjoy the book!
One of my favorite parts about a Doktorski book, is the fact that her young female protagonists are always smart, intelligent women, and Lucy is no different.
From the second we meet her, we quickly learn that she's passionate about all things science, and sees the world through a scientific lense. But rather than go the stereotypical teenaged-movie route of being a science geek with no social skills, Lucy is also a well-balanced young woman, with a boyfriend, friends, a part-time job and an occasionally dysfunctional family.
There's so much to like about Lucy, but what I appreciated the most is that this is a young woman who both knows and speaks her mind, with the occasional sheepish nod to the fact that she can occasionally go on random tangents. The fact that she is so passionate about science, and finds people who not only accept that, but encourage that, is such a great reminder to all young female readers who might struggle with being different or not being a "cool" kid.
Part of Lucy and the book's loveability - yes, I know that's not actually a word, but it works for this! *g* - is based on the fact that Lucy is surrounded by a group that accepts her for who she is.
Doktorski does an amazing job of showing the importance of surrounding yourself with people who get you, but also how important it is to work things out with people who don't. Lucy starts the book at odds with her twin brother Liam. Despite being only born minutes apart, they're constantly fighting and competiting.
But Doktorski beautifully illustrates just why both siblings feel the way they do, and how important it is to find common ground - especially for those who truly, genuinely love you deep down - even after bickering and disputes. It's a beautiful way of handling sibling rivalry, and I'll be honest: I wish I had Lucy and Liam's wisdom, when I was dealing with my brother at their age.
Doktorski gives Lucy two very different boys to choose from during the summer, and does a fantastic, thoughtful job of showing all the reasons why these relationships may or may not work out for Lucy.
While Doktorski makes it clear early on that one relationship is more suited to her romantically than the other, she doesn't hesitate to show how the other relationship might still fit into Lucy's life. There's a significant amount of raw honesty and internal questioning as the trio struggle to work out their feelings for each other, and I was mentally cheering all of them on as they asked these questions of themselves and each other.
They're just the type of questions that I should have known to ask myself when I was Lucy's age - had I only been as half as smart or self astute - and I hope that these questions help younger readers reflect when they encounter similar situations in their own lives.
Also, even while Lucy works things out with her love interest, Doktorski nicely acknowledges that they have obstacles, but it never devolves into high drama. Both parties are smart in how they handle their adversity - often making the point of doing the hard thing, including apologizing and confronting problems head on - and I suspect both younger and older readers will appreciate the implicit maturity that Doktorski is showing in these characters who are learning to grow up.
Science plays a huuuuuge part in The Summer After You and Me - each chapter opens with snippets from Lucy's dissertation on relationships/partnerships in science - and I love how it ultimately had a two-fold purpose throughout the book.
First, the fact that Lucy is so unabashedly a scientist = awesome. Science still isn't always perceived as a girl's field, so this will inspire each and every young female reader that reads this book, and finds science awesome as well.
Second, throughout the book, Lucy struggles with the idea that things like relationships aren't necessarily as clear-cut as what she sees in science. Doktorski does a nice job of showing how she can utilize her science in her daily life, but how sometimes, it's also good to go with the flow. It's all about balance, which is also an important lesson at this age.
It's always hard writing about real-world events, especially when it comes to something that wielded as much destruction and personal pain as Sandy.
While Doktorski doesn't hesitate to show the sheer destruction that Sandy wielded in her unrelenting path, she also balances that fine line between tragedy and optimism. We see how families have struggled to recover in the face of the storm, but we also see the generosity of spirit and teamwork that have brought people together in the aftermath.
At the risk of sounding extremely corny, it's really touching seeing how the community continues to thrive and be reborn, and also realizing that this is exactly what's happening in real-life.
Honestly? Nothing. I loved this book dearly, and I'm planning on politely shoving it in the hand of friends and the young teens that I work with, alike.
However, I do suspect that some younger readers may have some questions about Superstorm Sandy, and the effect of the devastation in the region. Doktorski smartly makes it a point to include an author's note, and also provides further resources for readers to learn more.
I'm both delighted and slightly mad at myself for waiting to read The Summer After You and Me. It did exactly what I wanted: Lucy's journey, helped make me smile and put me in the right mood for summer, but man - I probably should have read this book back in March, when it felt like summer would never come.
Bottom line though, this book is gorgeous. Doktorski has again written a compelling female protagonist who fearlessly goes after what she wants academically, but also doesn't hesitate to pick herself up after she falls in the romance department. Lucy and her friends are intelligent, likable and wholly real.
More importantly though, by choosing The Summer After You and Me against the backdrop of a town struggling to recover from Sandy, Doktorski does what every contemporary story strives to do: she puts Lucy's story in a real-world context, helping us to better understand both a teenager's struggles, but greater obstacles at large.
I can't recommend this book enough. This book needs to go on some more must-read summer reading lists, and I'm going to do my part to get it there.
Oh noooo. How did I miss this when it came out? I'm buying this today.


text:
from __future__ import division

# Built-in modules #

# Internal modules #
from pymarktex.templates import Template

# First party modules #
from autopaths import Path

# Third party modules #

###############################################################################
class LatexFigure(Template):
    def escape_underscore(self, text):
        if text is None: return None
        return text.replace('_', '\\_')

    def abs_path(self): return self.path.unix_style

###############################################################################
class ScaledFigure(LatexFigure):
    """
    A figure in latex code which can have its size adjusted.
    For instance you can adjust the size like this:

        >>> from pymarktex.figures import ScaledFigure
        >>> return ScaledFigure(path='~/graph.pdf', width='5em')
    """

    def __init__(self, path    = None,
                       caption = None,
                       label   = None,
                       graph   = None,
                       **kwargs):
        # Check inputs #
        if path is None and graph is None:
            raise Exception("You need to specify a graph or a path.")
        # Path #
        if path is not None:    self.path = Path(path)
        else:                   self.path = graph.path
        # Caption #
        if caption is not None: self.caption = caption
        else:                   self.caption = ''
        if graph is not None and hasattr(graph, 'caption'): self.caption = graph.caption
        # Label #
        if   label is not None: self.label = r"\label{" + label + "}\n"
        elif graph is not None: self.label = r"\label{" + graph.short_name + "}\n"
        else:                   self.label = ''
        # Graph #
        if graph is not None:   self.graph = graph
        # Keyword arguments #
        self.kwargs = kwargs
        # Call the graph if it's not generated #
        if graph is not None and not graph: graph()
        # Check the file was created #
        if not self.path.exists: raise Exception("No file at '%s'." % self.path)
        # Check unique extension #
        if self.path.filename.count('.') > 1:
            raise Exception("Can't have several extensions in a LaTeX figure file name.")

    def graph_params(self):
        params = list('%s=%s' % (k,v) for k,v in self.kwargs.items())
        params += ['keepaspectratio']
        return ','.join(params)

###############################################################################
class BareFigure(ScaledFigure):
    """A simple `includegraphics` command in latex code."""
    pass

###############################################################################
class DualFigure(LatexFigure):
    """A figure in latex code which has two sub-figures."""

    def __init__(self, path_one, path_two, caption_one, caption_two,
                 label_one, label_two, caption_main, label_main):
        # Both paths #
        self.path_one, self.path_two = Path(path_one), Path(path_two)
        # Both subcaptions #
        self.caption_one = self.escape_underscore(caption_one)
        self.caption_two = self.escape_underscore(caption_two)
        # The main caption #
        self.caption_main = self.escape_underscore(caption_main)
        # Both reference labels #
        self.label_one = r"\label{" + label_one + "}\n" if label_one is not None else ''
        self.label_two = r"\label{" + label_two + "}\n" if label_two is not None else ''
        # The main reference label #
        self.label_main = r"\label{" + label_main + "}\n" if label_main is not None else ''
        # Check existance #
        if not self.path_one.exists or not self.path_two.exists:
            raise Exception("File missing.")
        # Check extension #
        if self.path_one.filename.count('.') > 1 or self.path_two.filename.count('.') > 1:
            raise Exception("Can't have several extension in a LaTeX figure file name.")

    def abs_path_one(self): return self.path_one.unix_style
    def abs_path_two(self): return self.path_two.unix_style

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Have you ever found something but hadn't realized it was ever lost in the first place? Like finding money in the pocket of a coat that you haven't worn in a while? Last week it happened to me while I was editing some photographs and I found this image. I captured this sunrise on an early morning trip to a place called Cape Spencer in Saint John, just on the edge of the city (literally). The area provides some incredible views of The Bay of Fundy and on a clear day the outline of the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia can be seen. This particular day everything cooperated so well; the clouds, a minimal amount of haze or fog and I was there at the right time to see the sun break over the clouds.
Photo was taken with a Canon 50D and an EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens extended to 135mm for 1/25 of a second @ f22 and ISO 100.
Now how that slipped through the cracks I will never understand. It is stunningly gorgeous. I had one reader say she would never read a blog that posts sunsets and sunrises, but I responded that they are so peaceful and calming that they should be appreciated in everyone's life.
Thank you for the comment Maria. I really appreciate it. I hope you visit again.


My TV will not play back my video files correctly, how can I fix this?
AVI (MPEG-1/2/4, H.264), MP4 (MPEG-1/2/4), MKV and MOV.
AVI, MP4, MKV and MOV are container file types, and can contain a variety of video codecs.
Our TVs support the most common codecs, but it's not possible to support all codecs due to the vast number.
You can check which codecs were used when your files were encoded by playing back the files in a program called VLC on your computer and selecting the 'Media/Codec Information' option under 'Tools' at the top of program.
In the event the files are not of a supported codec type, you can try converting the files to suit the TV using a video converter. A popular free application for this is Handbrake.


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Footlights Dedicated to Illuminating Theater and Connecting to Audiences
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Theater/Company Profiles
Bow and Truss
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Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 50 and Going Strong
Boxing Lessons – New American Theatre
Walk into the 24th St Theatre
Don't miss Bronco Billy!
Red Ink – Playwrights Arena
SCRAPS, Let's Talk
Sacred Fools – The Broadwater
Tales of Thespis
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Challenge of the Ages
Peter Finlayson February 16, 2018	Leave a comment 2,912 Views
When my grandfather Norman T. Finlayson was born, his hometown of Dundas, Ontario, did not yet have electric lighting. In fact, the notion of electrifying a city, let alone homes, was brand new. In the eighth grade, my grandfather stopped his formal education school, so he could get
Norman T. Finlayson far left with a Bertram-Nordberg display. circa 1955
a job at a machine shop. He started as the janitor. Nearly 70 years later, he retired from that same company, as one of its directors and Senior Vice President. The company had become the largest engineering tool and die company at that time in Canada Bertram-Nordberg.
I mention this out of pride, but also to exemplify what the dreams and ambitions were for a young man during the industrial revolution. His eldest son, my father Lorne D. Finlayson, became the first person in the family to go to university. When he was born, automobiles were a rare novelty and only with my father's
Lorne on the right in 1935 working on a micro-qualitative set.
impending birth was a telephone installed in my grandfather's house. My father got his education in chemistry, math and physics. He was a child in the age of science. In his life time, he was a plant manager, professor, an engineer and an extremely well-read man.
Growing up, I was often in the company of both these men. Their inquisitive natures rubbed off on me and more than a few of their character traits were absorbed. One of the lessons that I learned was passion for a vision. My grandfather saw everything as a function of machinery, industry. My father picked up that belief and applied his science. Everything could be explained either by chemistry, mathematics or physics.
My two older brothers went into engineering, further following the path that had been set out for us, and while I was intrigued by what they did, it was apparent from the outset that I was not cut of the same cloth.
I was nine years old when my parents married, and while my mother and I had lived at substance levels, we had a television. My father to be, while not rich, lived well, certainly enjoyed a life style befitting his position as director of glass operations at Ford Motor Company. Yet his household, had never had a television. There was much discussion on this difference as their union approached. My father thought it the great sin, calling the object of his disdain the idiot box, and my mother saw it as the only way to keep me quiet. When my father's sensible compromise was eventually reached, I was allowed 1 hour of my choice of shows each night, assuming my homework was done.
What we quickly discovered however was that my father was a news junkie. And watching the nightly news sated some of his interest. So every night, aside from my allotted time, we watched the national news. And just as this habit was forming, the presidential race of 1960 went underway.
Now I was a child, so the meaning of what was being said by the candidates was certainly beyond my comprehension. But as I was already an avid reader, with a pretty good memory, words and phrases began to be planted in my head. There was a tonal reference that I have since ascribed to phrases such as:
The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of the nation, is close to the center of a nation's purpose – and is a test to the quality of a nation's civilization.
― John F. Kennedy
Part of the message that Kennedy was espousing at the time, which he later expanded to:
I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all of our citizens. And i look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization as well.
These were not messages that spoke to my consciousness, but they were words that infused my young mind with ideas. Arts, culture, creativity… my formative years were filled with words and ideas that I would not comprehend until a much later date. I was growing up at a time when art was introduced not as something to admire from afar but was a vehicle for contribution to the culture. And not just by the elite, but for the population at large.
In 1961, there were 23 of what are now called regional theaters throughout America. By 2003, that number had grown to 1,800. Along with this growth, there are the thousands of civic theatres, community theatres, church theatre groups, intimate theatre, the list goes on.
Why is this significant beyond the sheer numbers? Because theatre is a comprehensive collaborative art. It is a common point of practical demonstration of virtually the entire scope of creative effort. There is not a single art form that is not able to be incorporated and "displayed" through theatrical production. From the ethereal – writing, composing conceiving, to the practical – painting and building, to the performing, and theatre encompasses it all.
In 1961, this hub of artistic collaboration was relegated to very few opportunities. By 2003, it was possible to find some theatrical effort even in the smallest of hamlets in America.
In that light, we begin to see that the seeds that JFK had planted, had moved beyond vision, and into the fabric of American culture. The age of American Arts was born.
In 1962, Kennedy said,
I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.
For millennia, humanity moved from hunters and gathers to an agricultural society. The primary function of the human race was to sustain itself; food, shelter, promulgation. And while there have always been occurrences of humankind genius in innovation and arts, survival was the dominant force.
Plow iron age to Eckert, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami – 1875.
In 1800, 83% of the US population worked in agriculture. By 1910, that number had dropped to 31%, and by 2012, less than 2% of Americans were involved in Agriculture.
In the process of that transformation, the United States of America went from being a backwater country, to the most dominant nation in the world. Most of that can be attributed to the refocus of effort. As the pool of talent grew for efforts beyond growing food, the genius of mankind was freed to more creative effort.
Industrialization and convenience were the earmarks of the 20th century. Sadly, much of that was fueled by two world encompassing wars, but genius was engaged none the less. Kennedy recognized that and in perhaps one of his most incitefull moments said;
This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.
Later in an interview for Look Magazine, JFK said, in regard to goals.
… To further the appreciation of culture among all the people. To increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all the processes and fulfillments of art — this is one of the fascinating challenges of these days.
Was this a clarion call to arts participation, or was it a look into the crystal ball seeing the better part of humanity prevailing? Less than a month before his death, he said;
I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty.
Thus, with incomprehensible words in my head, the tragedy of an assassination on my heart, I along with many of my generation embraced the quest that had been laid out for us.
That quest continues to this day, now embraced by our children and their children. We have long forgotten the idealism of Camelot, but the fundamental truth that JFK envisioned was that we were more to America than a society collected together for survival. We innately have sparks of genius, and the role of society is to best tap into that creativity. FL
American Theatre culture history John F Kenn politics social commentary theater culture	2018-02-16
Peter Finlayson
Tags American Theatre culture history John F Kenn politics social commentary theater culture
About Peter Finlayson
Peter Finlayson is the Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-chief of FootLights magazine and footlight.click. While working on a prelaw program at the University of Michigan, he happily got involved with the theatre program. Much to his mother's chagrin, law school never happened, but in a career spanning more than 4 decades, Peter has performed, directed or designed more than 150 productions. In his spare time, he is working on a new play. You can follow him on Twitter @Thtrdog .
@Thtrdog
Previous This week: LA Theatre
Next Word of Mouth
Bronco Billy, the musical, is a delightful romp and a nostalgic adventure into the world ...
Safe Space?
William Salyers: Bless you! And I stand well corrected. I'm aware that we have allies on the east...
allie: Please don't perpetuate the idea they are more "considerate" of NY members. It's...
William Salyers: "Revolt." I'm doing my best. :) "Form a new union." That was looked into early o...
Wendy Worthington: I have to agree. Equity's attitude toward its LA members has, with a few excepti...
Jerry Hoffman: More pissing into the wind, folks. It's time to DO SOMETHING! Revolt. Form a new...
Amanda Carlin: THANK YOU THANK YOU for this article, and for helping to raise awareness. You ar...
Mark Hensley: As a first time producer, who has never been involved with live theatre, I am ap...
Jerry Hoffman: AEA is doomed on the West Coast. Isn't that clear yet? When will West Coast memb...
Allison Bibicoff: I fully support NMI, and I am furious that AEA is not only acting unfairly again...
Pissed off Fringe producer: The AEA has been a disaster for the Fringe. And they've been woefully unprepared...
Beyond The Hollywood Fringe - Footlights: […] founder Ben Hill spoke to the excitement and changes with each HFF sea...
David J Bondelevitch: Thanks for writing this, Kevin. As you point out, when we lose the sciences in t...
Strangevista: SAG FICore members most certainly receive nearly all the same benefits (the impt...
Aaron Shanks: AEA Members, Since 2011, Actors Equity Association's policy is to treat requests...
Cam: You would do well to check for typos and errors prior to publishing. Just a thou...
Dakin Matthews on Acting
Members of Actors' Equity file lawsuit against their Union
Theatre 68 Finds a Permanent Home
Newly Formed 'Independent Theatres of Los Angeles' To Hold Citywide Auditions
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Abdulla Abdin
Bahrainclear
Abdulla Abdin has Masters in Business Administration from the University of Glamorgan UK, and has held the position of Senior Director of Operations – Bahrain Clear since 1999. He is the Chairman of the Guarantee Fund Committee and Vice Chairman of the African Middle East DepositoriesAssociation (AMEDA) representing Bahrain Clear. Mr. Abdin has 28 years of experience in Banking and Capital Market structure, regulations and operations.
Manoj Aidasani
Head of Securities Services GCC
Manoj is Head of Securities Services for GCC within Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank. Securities Services covers the region via a presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia offering services to large asset gathers, global custodians, broker dealers and asset managers. Manoj is also the Branch Manager for Deutsche Securities and Services in Dubai and is responsible for risk and governance of the Branch.
Manoj has over 19 years of experience, and he has been with Deutsche Bank since 2004. He has held various roles in operations, product and client services in Securities Services. In his 10 years in UAE, Manoj has overseen Deutsche Bank's participation efforts in market reforms across the GCC markets. He also worked closely with clients, intermediaries and regulators towards seamless market developments. Prior to moving to Dubai, Manoj was based in Deutsche Bank's India Securities Services team servicing Custody and Fund Services clients.
Dubois Alain
the Bank of New York SA NV
Senior Netwok manager
Alain is a Senior Network Manager at the Bank of New York Mellon based on Brussels. Alain has 20 years' experience in the Securities Industry. Before joining the Bank of New York Mellon in 2012, Alain spent several years as a Director of Product at Euroclear and in State Street Global Advisors where he was in charge of the asset gatherers and ETF segment in Europe. Alain hold a Master in International Relations form the University of Brussels and a LLM form the Edinburgh University.
Nasser Al Habsi
Addleshaw Goddard Oman
Haitham Al Salmi
Muscat Stock Exchange
Khalfan Al Sharji
CMA Oman
Chief Researcher
Khaldoun Altabtabaie
Kuwait Clearing Company
Khaldoun Al-Tabtabaie is the CEO at Kuwait Clearing Company, which is the central clearing, settlement, depository and registrar entity for the Kuwaiti Securities Market.
He is also an active member of the tri-lateral committee of the Kuwaiti Capital Market Authority (CMA) for market development and planning and has played a major role in the recent upgrade of the Kuwait's market to Emerging Market Index by MSCI effective May 2020 and its inclusion in the FTSE Russell Emerging Markets Index in September 2017 and S&P Dow Jones Indices' Global Equity Indices effective September 2019.
He holds a Master degree in MIS and a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the George Washington University, USA and a Diploma in Financial Market Operations from the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) & University of Reading, UK.
Khaldoun has over 20 years of experience in Financial Market Operations, IT and Project Management.
Ahmad Aweidah
Palestine Stock Exchange
Madhur Bhandari
Head of Securities Services, HSBC Saudi Arabia
Madhur Bhandari heads the Securities Services business for HSBC In Saudi Arabia and has responding for leading the custody, fund administration and issuer services proposition in Saudi Arabia. Madhur has been with the HSBC Group since 2007 across various roles in Asia and Middle East and North Africa. He joined the team in Saudi Arabia in 2014 and since then has been closely involved in the various developments within the capital markets in Saudi Arabia.
Global Head of Digital - HSS
Paul has over 20 years' industry experience working in asset management, custody and securities servicing organisations. Much of this time has been leading change management teams covering large transformation programmes and new product design.
In 2017 Paul moved into his current role leading HSBC Securities Services' Digital & Data function, with responsibility for strategy relating to digital transformation, utilisation of emerging technologies and the effective management of underlying data. Paul runs a global team across HSS and is based in London.
Director, SeS KSA
Charles joined Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia in mid-2015 and brings over 25 years of securities services experience in custody product development, product management and product delivery. Additionally he has held a variety of client facing and relationship management roles over the course of his career. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank Charles worked at JP Morgan where he held product management/development and client facing positions. Prior to that Charles worked for State Street Bank and Trust and State Street Southern Africa.
Steven Costermans
Steven joined Standard Chartered Bank in 2016, and is responsible for all aspects of securities-related agent bank appointments and oversight in the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, Mauritius and Turkey, on behalf of the Securities Services, Financial Markets, and Private Bank & Wealth Management businesses. Previous to joining Standard Chartered Bank, Steven spent time with Euroclear Bank in Brussels, Hong Kong and Singapore in various teams.
Kashif Darr
First Abu Dhabi Bank
Managing Director, Head of Securities Services
Kashif is responsible for the Securities Services businesses of FAB. This comprises a comprehensive range of services for issuers and investors, including IPO management, corporate trust, global custody, direct custody & clearing and fund administration.
Kashif brings with him over 20 years of experience within the Securities Services industry in Europe and the Middle East with previous positions as Head of Sales with NBAD, and a range of relationship management roles within BNY Mellon, State Street and Barclays Capital in London. He has a wealth of experience in creating and delivering solutions to some of the world's largest investors, including Sovereign Wealth Funds, Asset Managers, Insurance Companies and Pension Funds.
Kashif holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester, UK.
Scott Dickinson
Managing Director, Regional Head, Financing & Securities Services, Africa and Middle East
Scott joined Standard Chartered in September 2017. He is currently based in Dubai and is the Regional Head of Securities Services for Africa and Middle East. In a career spanning over 35 years' in financial services he has held senior roles in global custody, investment banking and fund management. He is a graduate in Economics and Accountancy and a sovereign wealth specialist.
Mustafa Domanic
Oliver Wyman
Mustafa Domanic is a Principal at Oliver Wyman's Dubai office with 13 years of experience across different roles in finance and consulting to leading financial institutions. His primary areas of expertise are corporate strategy, finance & risk management, development of capital markets and market infrastructures. His professional experience spans USA, UK, Turkey, Russia, South Africa and the GCC.
György Dudás
Bourse Consult
György was from 2003 until 2017 the CEO of KELER group. Member of the Board of Directors of both KELER (the CSD, also a financial institution) and KELER CCP (the central counterparty clearing house for cash and derivatives products).
Besides running the company, György was one of the founders of CEECSDA (Central and Eastern European CSD Association) and acted as Secretary General of the Association between the years 2003 and 2006. After merging CEECSDA and ECSDA in 2006, György was a deputy chairman of ECSDA until September 2017. Also, he was a Board member of ANNA (Association of National Numbering Agencies) for 6 years and chairman of AFM (Association of Futures Markets) in 2004 and 2012.
After leaving KELER Group György entered into advisory business – specializing in financial intermediaries, exchanges, clearing houses and central depositories.
A Partner of Bourse Consult LLP (UK) – an independent capital market infrastructure consultant firm - since April 2019.
Bernard Ferran
General Manager, EMEA & CIS
Bernard Ferran, General Manager, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the CIS at Euroclear Bank. He is in charge of the Business Development activities across his region. He supervises a large team of Account and Relationship Managers located in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels and Dubai. He also acts as Chief Representative Officer for the Euroclear Bank office in Dubai. His mandates also includes the coverage of the Global Financial Institutions on top of the 1,000 clients in his assignment.
Michael Grifferty
The Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association (GBSA)
Michael Grifferty founded and leads The Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association (GBSA) the industry association representing the Arabian Gulf fixed income market. The GBSA is composed of the region's leading banks, law firms, issuers, ratings agencies and service providers and plays a leading role on all major matters concerning development of bond markets in the region.
Previously, Michael served as advisor for the US Treasury on sovereign debt and bond markets, advising over forty countries and regional organizations. He has also consulted extensively for the International Monetary Fund and Arab Monetary Fund.
Prior to his international career, Mr. Grifferty was a senior vice president at Government Finance Associates, providing problem-solving financial advisory services to US state and local governments. He has degrees from New York University and Georgetown University in Public Finance and International Relations, respectively. A native English speaker, Michael speaks French and Russian.
Dianne Heard
Director- Head of Europe and Deputy Head of Global Custody Network Management
Dianne has worked within Global Custody services for over 25 years. Working within Operations for State Street in Australia and the US, Security Pacific in the US, JP Morgan and Citi in London. She has worked at Citi since 1995, initially managing an Operations unit for 3 years and then working within Network Management.
Citi's global custody footprint covers 104 markets, Dianne is Head of Europe, and Deputy Global Head of GC Network Management
Lina Hediah
Chain Tech Solutions
Lina Hediah is a Financial Technology Executive with over 20 years experience in the industry. She has well-rounded experience in Capital Markets, Payments as well as Compliance and Risk Management Solutions.
Lina always had a strong customer facing role and responsibility, from Tier 1 Banks and Financial Institutions, to government, market infrastructures and regulators, including as the CTO for the Cairo Stock Exchange.
Since 2016, Lina has focused on working in the blockchain space. Between March 2017 and December 2018, Lina was Executive Director for ConsenSys in MENA and was responsible for the establishment and growth in the MENA region, and also held a global leadership role as part of the Fintech Solutions team. During this time, she secured several Government projects for ConsenSys, and managed to position the startup as a trusted adviser for the Government of Dubai, who is a leader in the Blockchain space worldwide. Later, in January 2019, Lina established Chain Tech Solutions LTD, at the DIFC, a company focused on Blockchain and Digital Assets consulting and solutions, with special focus on FinTech Solutions.
Prior to Lina's time with ConsenSys she was CTO for a global Payments and Compliance (AML) solutions provider (Eastnets), with offices in New York, Brussels and in MENA headquartered in Dubai. With Eastnets, she has put together with the Executive team an ambitious growth strategy, which took the company from being a regional SWIFT systems integrator to becoming one of the leading and recognized AML and Payments brands worldwide


The colorful capital of the southern Caribbean island, Willemstad was founded in the 1500s by the Spanish, who dubbed the town Sint Anna. Curaçao has been one of the southern Caribbean's most important commercial centers since The island's sheltered, deepwater harbor supports a thriving shipping industry and a flourishing capital. Willemstad is home to about 150,000 people hailing from 55 nations.
Before October 10, 2010, Curaçao was one of the five island territories of the Netherlands Antilles. Today, it is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The independent nation now reaps the benefits of its local economy, which is fueled by tourism, offshore banking, and oil. Refineria Isla Curaçao, the Caribbean's largest oil refinery, processes crude from nearby Venezuela.
At the point of land by the harbor's entrance, Fort Amsterdam has stood sentry over the city since 1635. The UNESCO World Heritage site is the most important of the island's eight forts, and it currently serves as the seat of the government.
The Punda district is crowned by the 300-year-old Penha building, a baroque yellow landmark opposite Government House that is the oldest existing merchant house in Willemstad. The iconic building is home to Penha & Sons, a retailer with an illustrious history dating back to 1865.
Unlike many Caribbean islands where the past plays a distant second to fun in the sun, Curaçao has a rich history that has been well-preserved in its museums. Museum Kurá Hulanda is an anthropological chronicle of the predominant cultures of Curaçao, from the origin of man to West African empires through the middle passage to the Americas. The Curaçao Museum showcases the island's geological history and displays pre-Columbian artifacts. Both are located in Otrobanda.
In Punda, the Maritime Museum pays homage to the island's status as a major seafaring and commercial center. Housed in a restored 1729 mansion, the museum features antique miniatures, 17th-century ship models, and maps dating back to the 1500s. The nearby Mikvé Israel-Emanuel synagogue, circa 1732, is one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere.
Explore three of Curacao's top attractions and see the capital's key sights and landmarks on a narrated scenic drive.
Spend half the day discovering the history and culture of the Dutch Caribbean on a tour that includes colonial forts, pastel-hued buildings, and time on one of Curaçao's best beaches.
Discover the untamed beauty of Curaçao from the seat of an off-road vehicle.


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Medicare-Medicaid Coordination
Regulations & Guidance
Research, Statistics, Data & Systems
Fact Sheets & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Over $100 Million to Help States Crack Down on Unreasonable Health Insurance Rate Hikes
CCIIO
Consumer Support and Information
In-Person Assistance in the Health Insurance Marketplaces
Health Insurance Market Reforms
Health Insurance Marketplaces
Other Insurance Protections
State Innovation Waivers
Premium Stabilization Programs
Employer Initiatives
Fact Sheets and FAQs
Forms, Reports, and Other Resources
The Affordable Care Act brings an unprecedented level of scrutiny and transparency to health insurance rate increases. In every state, every proposed increase of ten percent or more will be evaluated by experts to assess whether it is based on reasonable cost assumptions and solid evidence. The review and scrutiny is expected to prevent unjustified premium hikes by insurance companies and to help provide those who buy insurance with greater value for their premium dollar. Additionally, consumers will benefit from greater transparency as they will be able to access online easy-to-understand information about why insurers are seeking the increases. These protections allow consumers to know that the rates they are paying are justified. And we know rate review works:
In July 2011, Oregon recently forced an insurer to lower its request for a rate hike by nearly 10%. This put money back in the pockets of approximately 60,000 consumers.
Over the past year, at the direction of the State Insurance Commissioner, Arkansas has been negotiating with insurance companies requesting rate increases greater than 10% on their individual health insurance products. The Commissioner recently negotiated a lower rate affecting approximately 90,000 policyholders.
Last year, thanks to new rate review authority, North Carolina saved beneficiaries $14.5 million by reducing a rate increase request from the state's largest insurance company.
To help states strengthen and improve their rate review processes, the Affordable Care Act provides states with $250 million in Health Insurance Rate Review Grants. These grants give states much needed resources to build on their historical primary role of reviewing proposed health insurance premium increases and to hold insurance companies accountable for unjustified premium increases.
On September 20, 2011 Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a second round of rate review grant awards, totaling $109 million to 28 states and the District of Columbia. These grants build on the $48 million that have been awarded to 42 states, the District of Columbia and five territories since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. In May 2011, the Secretary issued a final regulation to implement the rate review provisions added by the Affordable Care Act, requiring insurance companies to publicly justify unreasonable premium rate increases. This funding also provides additional resources to states as they implement the rate review final rule, requiring insurance companies to publicly justify unreasonable premium rate increases.
States have proposed to use this funding in a variety of ways in their grant proposals.
Introduce legislation: 7 states are introducing legislation to strengthen their authority to review and/or publicize proposed rate increases.
Expand scope of rate review: 19 states and the District of Columbia are proposing to use grant funds to expand the scope of rate review, for example, by reviewing rates in new markets or by reviewing rates for new products.
Improve rate filing requirements: All 28 states and the District of Columbia are proposing to use grant funding to bolster the information collected from insurers when a rate increase is filed, such as requiring insurers to provide additional information on administrative costs and requiring insurers to file rate increases in a standardized format.
Improve transparency and consumer interfaces: All 28 states and the District of Columbia are proposing to use grant funds to improve consumer interfaces such as developing a Rate Review Home Page at the Department of Insurance Website and providing opportunities for consumers to comment on proposed rate hikes via the website.
Hire new staff: 23 states and the District of Columbia are proposing to hire new staff during Cycle II.
Improve IT: 27 states and the District of Columbia are proposing to use grant funds to enhance IT capacity through the development of new or improved rate reporting systems designed to collect more robust rate data and allow for advanced analysis of rate filings.
A summary of how each state will use the new resources can be found in the Rate Review Works report. (PDF – 325 KB)
These grants build on state efforts to review unreasonable premium increases. Over the last year, 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories have used $48 million in grants to help them improve their oversight of proposed health insurance rate increases. States have used this funding to significantly strengthen and improve their rate review processes:
9 states passed legislation to further enhance rate review
29 states and the District of Columbia have hired new staff to review rates
37 states and the District of Columbia have enhanced IT capacity to review rates more efficiently
39 states and the District of Columbia have enhanced consumer protections
Other significant state achievements with these rate review grants can be found in the report as well. (PDF – 325 KB)
Rate review builds on other provisions in the Affordable Care Act to help make health insurance more affordable for individuals, families, and businesses. Other steps the law takes to help make insurance more affordable include:
Insurers are generally required to meet a medical loss ratio standard to spend at least 80% of premium dollars on health care and quality-improvement activities as opposed to overhead, advertising and CEO bonuses. Insurers that fail to meet that standard must either reduce premiums or pay rebates to consumers and employers;
Small businesses are eligible for Federal tax credits of up to 35% of the cost of coverage for their workers. That amount rises to 50% by 2014; and
In 2014, the Affordable Insurance Exchanges will use competition and transparency, including information on excessive or unjustified premium increases, to help make insurance more affordable.
The Affordable Care Act includes a variety of provisions designed to promote accountability, affordability, quality, and accessibility in the health care system for all Americans, and to make the health insurance market more consumer-friendly and transparent. Some of the provisions are already in effect, including prohibitions on pre-existing condition exclusions for children; prohibitions on lifetime dollar limits in all health plans; extended access to insurance for many young adults; and an unprecedented level of transparency about health insurance through www.HealthCare.gov.
March 5, 2020 Information Related to COVID–19 Individual and Small Group Market Insurance Coverage
March 12, 2020 FAQs on Essential Health Benefits Coverage and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 18, 2020 FAQs on Catastrophic Plan Coverage and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
March 24, 2020 FAQs on Availability and Usage of Telehealth Services through Private Health Insurance Coverage in Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
March 24, 2020 Payment and Grace Period Flexibilities Associated with the COVID-19 National Emergency
March 24, 2020 FAQs on Prescription Drugs and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Issuers Offering Health Insurance Coverage in the Individual and Small Group Markets
April 11, 2020 FAQs about Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Implementation
*This document was updated on April 15, 2020, to correct an error in footnote 10 regarding the current end date of the public health emergency related to COVID 19.
April 13, 2020 Postponement of 2019 Benefit Year HHS-operated Risk Adjustment Data Validation (HHS-RADV)
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text:
Q: azure logic app request trigger url is not working from RestTemplate java but working in postman I have Azure logic app with request trigger. I want to trigger this logic app from my java application. So, I am trying to call the request trigger url from my java API.
It is working fine if i am hitting in postman,
logic app with request trigger hitting via postman
but getting 401 on calling it using RestTemplate in java.
import org.springframework.http.HttpEntity;
import org.springframework.http.HttpHeaders;
import org.springframework.http.HttpMethod;
import org.springframework.http.ResponseEntity;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.*;
import org.springframework.web.client.RestTemplate;

@RestController
public class SampleController {
    @RequestMapping(value="/display",method = RequestMethod.GET)
    public ResponseEntity<String> display()
    {
        System.out.println("entered");
        RestTemplate restTemplate = new RestTemplate();
        String url = "https://pt-38.northeurope.logic.azure.com/workflows/cc0363a3bf134efca43b0bd2d15d5ed5/triggers/manual/paths/invoke?api-version=2016-10-01&sp=%2Ftriggers%2Fmanual%2Frun&sv=1.0&sig=HnllGcN9xo91kRGAjk";

        HttpHeaders headers = new HttpHeaders();
        headers.set("api-version", "2016-10-01");
        headers.set("sp", "%2Ftriggers%2Fmanual%2Frun");
        headers.set("sv", "1.0");
        headers.set("sig", "HnllGcN9xo91kRGAjk3Zlp6fW0dhwf");
        HttpEntity request = new HttpEntity(headers);
        ResponseEntity<String> response = restTemplate.exchange(url, HttpMethod.GET, request, String.class);
//        JSONObject obj = new JSONObject(response.getBody());
//        System.out.println("obj");
        return response;
    }
}

logic app with request trigger accessing via rest template
As per Hury Shen suggestion i changed api code as below,
public HttpEntity<String> display1()
    {
        System.out.println("entered");
        RestTemplate restTemplate = new RestTemplate();
        String url = "https://prod-38.northeurope.logic.azure.com/workflows/cc0363a3bf134efca43b0bd2d15d5ed5/triggers/manual/paths/invoke?api-version=2016-10-01&sp=%2Ftriggers%2Fmanual%2Frun&sv=1.0&sig=HnllGcN9xo91kRGAjk3Zlp6fW0dhwfaRij-fk1CC60c";
        HttpHeaders headers = new HttpHeaders();
        headers.set("Accept", MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON_VALUE);
        UriComponentsBuilder builder = UriComponentsBuilder.fromHttpUrl(url)
                .queryParam("api-version", "2016-10-01")
                .queryParam("sp", "%2Ftriggers%2Fmanual%2Frun")
                .queryParam("sv", "1.0")
                .queryParam("sig", "HnllGcN9xo91kRGAjk3Zlp6fW0dhwfaRij-fk1CC60c");
        HttpEntity<?> entity = new HttpEntity<>(headers);
        HttpEntity<String> response = restTemplate.exchange(
                builder.toUriString(),
                HttpMethod.GET,
                entity,
                String.class);
        return response;
    }

Getting below exception,

A: For this problem, we should put the value of api-version, sp, sv and sig in query parameters instead of put them in headers.
Do it like this:
Map<String, String> params = new HashMap<String, String>();
params.put("api-version", "xxxx");
params.put("sp", "xxxxx");
params.put("sv", "xxx");
params.put("sig", "xxxxxxx");
.....
ResponseEntity<String> response = restTemplate.exchange(url, HttpMethod.GET, request, String.class, params);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home>Featured>What does 42yrs look like for Zimbabwe?
What does 42yrs look like for Zimbabwe?
by Tapiwa Rubaya April 21, 2022 April 21, 2022 Leave a CommentWhat does 42yrs look like for Zimbabwe?Featured
Southern Africa's landlocked country which was once called Rhodesia post back during minority rule is turning 42 years independent under the black majority rule.
Zimbabwe as it is now known gained it's Independence from the British colonial regime in April 1980.
That year the world saw Zimbabwe having its first Black democratic Prime Minister Robert Mugabe and Canana Banana as the President of the country being sworn in. Rufaro stadium (Harare) where the event was held saw masses of jubilation from the crowds that had attended the event. From that day it became a custom for the country to conduct it's Independence celebration at Rufaro stadium.
After the removal of the late former President Robert Mugabe, which ushered a new era of President E.D Mnangagwa, the government of the second republic, declared that Independence celebrations should be conducted across the country. With the main event being rotated in all ten provinces every year.
For the first time this year, the second capital city of Bulawayo hosted the celebrations under the theme: Leaving No One And No City Behind.
Addressing thousands of those who had gathered at Bulawayo's largest stadium. President E.D Mnangagwa said,
"As we celebrate 42 years of our Independence, let us never allow divisive tendencies,greed and the pursuit of unpatriotic self-centered political bgains, weaken our bond of unity and harmony.
"Individually and collectively, we have a duty to wholeheartedly serve and work hard for the development and prosperity of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe," Mnangagwa said.
President Mnangagwa addressed the elephant which is in the region which many believe still exists in the country and that is, 'tribalism'. He said tribalism should be rooted out. H.E Mnangagwa said, there is no room for tribalism nor for corruption in the country and especially in politics.
He further urged politicians to put the the citizens first before anything.
President Mnangagwa also promised the residents of Bulawayo, that the Shangai-Gwai dam will be completed before the year ends. Addressing thousands of the audiences he said, the dam will assist in providing water to the city of Bulawayo.
The Head of State of Zimbabwe, President E.D Mnangagwa praised his government for the developments that it has made in rebuilding the country in the sectors such as mining and economy. President Mnangagwa also pointed out that the country is still under the Covid19 as he praised the work that was done by the Health Sector.
Mr Mnangagwa encouraged those that are of the age above 12 years to get vaccinated from the COVID 19 pandemic. Turning the tables to elections, he quoted the motto, which was introduced by the late Vice President of Zimbabwe, John Landa Nkomo, 'Peace Begins with Me, Peace Begins with You, Peace Begins With All of Us'
President Mnangagwa, he urged Zimbabweans to engage into elections peaceful as the country is preparing for the 2023 Presidential General elections. Attending the event were politicians from different political parties, who included members from MDC T and CCC.
In the same atmosphere, the country's political parties also delivered their Independence messages. The third largest political party CCC, through its National spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere's statement to the media.
She said the Independence day is a day when the country recognizes and celebrates the role that was played by the liberation heroes to liberate the country .
"On the 18th of April 2022, we celebrate 42 years of Independence .We honour and commemorate this important day as we mark and look to the sacrifices made by our forebears who fought on behalf for the liberation of our country," she said .
Advocate Mahere further urged their supporters to attend national gathering and building events.
"Independence Day belongs to us all Zimbabwean citizens. For this reason,we encourage all citizens to participate in such national institutions, organs, events and programs," she said.
Zim's 5th Population Census
Zim-Achievers UK 2022 Nominees


text:
/*Given n non-negative integers a1, a2, ..., an, where each represents a point at coordinate (i, ai). n vertical lines are drawn such that the two endpoints of line i is at (i, ai) and (i, 0). Find two lines, which together with x-axis forms a container, such that the container contains the most water.

Note: You may not slant the container.*/

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;

class Solution {
public:
    // 时间复杂度 O(n),空间复杂度 O(1)
    // 木桶原理,取决于最短的木板。
    // 使用头尾两个指针,如果头小于尾,则头往后移,如果尾小于头,则尾往前移
    int maxArea(vector<int> &height) {
        int start = 0;
        int end = height.size() - 1;
        int result = 0;
        while(start < end){
            int area = min(height[end],height[start])*(end - start);
            result = max(result,area);
            if(height[start] <= height[end]){
                start++;
            }else{
                end--;
            }
        }
        return result;
    }
};

int main(int argc, char const *argv[])
{
    std::vector<int> v = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7};
    Solution s;
    std::cout << s.maxArea(v);
    return 0;
}


THIS PAGE IS FOR JOB SEEKERS ONLY! EMPLOYERS MUST REGISTER THROUGH INVITATION ONLY. Over 120 agencies are invited to attend, to include agencies representing federal, state and city law enforcement andpublic safetyagencies. The career fair will run from 1000-1400. Since 2012, Personal & Professional DevelopmentCareer Serviceshas hosted a targeted recruitment for transitioning military and spouses interested in a career in the protective service occupations of law enforcement and public safety. Camp Pendletons population consistently demonstrates an interest and aptitude for careers in protective services. A list of participating agencies will be updated atwww.mccsCP.com/careerevents. For more information, contact the Career Center at 725-4199.
RecruitMilitary is hosting a job fair in Camp Pendleton on Thursday, April 25th, 2019 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. This job fair will be located at Pacific Views Event Center . This job fair is for military veterans who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of the United States to include the National Guard and Reserves. Spouses are also welcome to attend. For more information click here .