Just when the Winter doldrums are getting you down, we discovered a treat to perk you back up. These brand-new Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion Glitter Sneakers ($85) were just released in a special lavender color for Spring. The satin laces and seasonal hue are so gorgeous, we can't wait to wear them all season long. These kicks are great because you can easily dress them up or down. They look just as good with jeans and a tee as with a pretty dress. The sneakers are all over the internet right now, so get a pair before they disappear! You deserve something sparkly.


But there was one brilliant murder ballad I discovered by myself without the help of Top 40 radio. It was on the 1963 Peter, Paul & Mary album, Moving, the track right before "Puff the Magic Dragon."
It was a fast-paced, minor-key tune about som hapless loser who catches his true love, the Lily of the West, with some funky dude. So the enraged cuckold pulls out a knife and kills this "man of low degree."
I stepped up my rival, my dagger in my hand/ I seized him by the collar, and I ordered him to stand / All in my desperation, I stabbed him in his breast / I killed a man for Flora, the Lily of the West!
I was 10 years old when I came across this song. It was about the coolest thing I'd ever heard.
I didn't know it at the time, but "Flora," often called "Lily of the West had been kicking around the folk revival for a few years. Joan Baez did one of the first recorded versions two years earlier.
But it goes back at last more than a hundred years before that. According to The Traditional Ballad Index compiled by California State University at Fresno folklore program, Flora goes back to at least to 1839.
Sometimes the two-timing temptress was called Mary or Molly. Before the tragic protagonist came from Louisville, he came from England. Some believe the song is Irish in origin.
But other than the details, the basic story remains the same. The guy gets starry-eyed over a beautiful dame, finds her in the company of some other jerk, who he kills. He's tried for murder, goes to prison and yet he still loves the gorgeous Flora.
Here are some other notable versions, starting with a rag-tag take from the early '70s by Bob Dylan.
Fast forward to 1995 and The Chieftains, with Mark Knopfler on vocals, does a slowed down version of the song with a much different melody.
Interestingly, a few years after The Chieftains recorded "Lily of the West" with Knopfler, they did a version with Roseanne Cash using the melody I first heard by Peter, Paul & Mary.


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A recent study by Custora came up with some findings that show us the current state of online marketing.
Organic search traffic is still the lead dog in online lead generation, with an estimated 16% of all online customers coming in through organic searches. Second is Pay Per Click Advertising, coming in at around 10%, and third is Email Marketing at 8%.
8% might not seem like a huge share, but get this: this time last year, it was at 2%. By contrast, PPC has essentially stagnated, falling down and bouncing back up to 10%.
If this trend continues for even three months, email will surpass PPC to claim a spot as the world's second most effective online marketing tool.
This might surprise you because email is an older technique. In marketing circles, we're always looking for the way of the future. However, right now, the way of the future is through the application of modern SEO and marketing methodologies to the comparatively ancient medium of email.
Twitter customers have the lowest lifetime value of any major lead generation system, at around 23% below the average for all lead generation methods. By comparison, Facebook leads are about average, email is 12% above average, and organic search traffic is a whopping 54% above average.
Why Twitter has such poor performance is unclear. It is possible that the ease of following multiple brands means that users who engage on Twitter are less likely to commit to a company as a long-term customer.
This doesn't exactly mean that Twitter marketing should be abandoned. However, it does suggest that Twitter marketers should assume that each Twitter lead will only produce roughly 75% of the value of a Facebook lead, and roughly half the value of an organic search lead. Marketers should plan accordingly to avoid spending too much on low-value Twitter lead generation.
Rural Americans are the #1 demographic for most online purchases. This is not surprising. Rural Americans have dominated all forms of remote purchasing since the days when people used Sears catalogues for something other than a doorstop.
What is surprising is the degree to which rural America is a superior market. Wyoming and Idaho are both home to customers who have an average lifetime value almost 20% above the mean. This is enough to seriously cause marketers to reconsider the value of their urban ads.
The exception is in fashion industries, where urban coastal cities are still bringing their A game.
There have been some shake-ups in paid advertising, but Pay Per Click is still the clear choice.
Strangely, banner marketing has made a comeback, increasing its share of generated leads by a factor of 46. However, banner marketing and pay per impression are still much too low to be a serious contender. Pay Per Click is popular for a reason. It gets you lasting customers.
Referral was booming a few years ago when everyone used social media to set up what were basically circular massage trains of referrals. However, right now referral barely has a higher market share than it did in 2010.
This is a little unfortunate, because referral customers tend to have amazing lifetime values, at 26%.
This could be happening because people are worried about spamming referral links in the post-Penguin world. Or, it could be happening because we're reaching a saturation point, where everyone is already swapping referral links with everyone they know. At any rate, it looks like we should all be working harder to keep pushing for referrals.


"We were surprised that the computer was able to get a pretty high accuracy in estimating biomarker risk just from looking at the pictures," said UNC Lineberger's Melissa Troester, PhD, a professor in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. "We spend thousands of dollars measuring those biomarkers using molecular tools, and this new method can take the image and get 80 percent accuracy or better at estimating the tumor phenotype or subtype. That was pretty amazing."
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 19.11.2018 (tB).


We said goodbye today to Pix our cat of 10 years, he was a good cat, and like our other cats had his own distinct personality. From day one when he arrived on our back door step I knew he was going to be a great cat.
He was the only cat I knew that fetched a ball like a dog. He would wait in the kitchen and you could throw a bouncy ball down the stairs bouncing it off the walls and he run after it, find it, and carry it back up and drop it at your feet.
A few months ago he started loosing weight and we took him into the vet and was told after blood tests that he had Acute Renal Failure (ARF) and that there was nothing that could be done for him, that his kidneys were slowly giving out and eventually he would die. We took him home because at the time he was not in any pain; however, the last two weeks he has steadily gone down hill. First he stopped eating and then he stopped drinking, and we knew it was time.
So today, my son Dylan and I took him to the vet, caressed his coat while the doctor administered the cocktail to first quiet him down, and then to stop his heart. Those who know me will tell you I am pretty good in tough situations, and I don't let my emotions show; however, I am not ashamed to say that I wept like a baby for him (and for DeLeesa who couldn't stand to be there).
I know in my heart this was the best thing for him as he is no longer in pain, and as my good friend Mike will say, has passed over the rainbow bridge to now play with Max, Kuma, Blackie and Keiko.
Goodbye dear friend, I will miss you.
I am so sorry for your loss and the difficulty being there when he passed. No shame AT all for grieving at the loss of a devoted member of the family!
Thank you all for the comments – I would have approved them sooner; however, with this new blog, my email filtering was catching the comment notifications so all of your comments were in my spam folder. I have addressed that problem, so it shouldn't happen again.
As for the comments themselves, it really does help, and I appreciate all of the sentiments.
Goodbye Pix, and thank you for your time with us. You'll be in our hearts, lil' buddy.
Thanks Mike 🙂 Your words are always comforting.
I am so sorry for your and Deleesa's loss. Our pets are family members. There are no words.
So true my friend, so true.
Farewell Pix, here's hoping that over the rainbow bridge is at least a fraction of how wonderful it was with Jim and DeLeesa.
My cousin, Deleesa knows, Sherry Bos, just put down their dog Diesel. Its tough. Just wish the good lord would just take them but we have to make that choice. I still have my Boxer Dozer's collar, ball, and picture in our living room. Can't put it away. I did a pencil of him 3 years ago and its on the wall…I feel for you.
Thank you so much for the comment Kathleen. Yes it was very difficult, I have only had to do this once before for a friends dog, she asked because she just couldn't bring herself to do it, and I know how she felt. It is heart wrenching.
Please pass my sympathies along to DeLeesa and the boys. I know how hard this. Thinking of you all.


The LongTermNZ workshop brought together 27 young people to draft a Youth Statement on New Zealand's Long-term Fiscal Position. Participants attended the two-day conference, Affording our Future, on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 December, which was hosted by the Treasury and Victoria University of Wellington. See the about page for more information about these organisations, and the FAQ page for more detail about the workshop.
The participants also had the opportunity to discuss their thoughts with the Minister of Finance, Hon Bill English, and Paul Goldsmith MP on the morning of Thursday 13 December, 2012. They then presented the document to invited guests and interested members of the public at 12.00pm that day.
To learn more about the process and methodology of the workshop, see Workshop paper 2014: LongTermNZ.


Ha-ha! I've finally worked out how to put a WordPress Follow button onto this self-hosted website. And got it to work! Now appearing in side-bar and footer. And just for the fun of it, here too. It also shows if you're already following this website. Neat, eh!
I've always been looking for a follow button on your site and couldn't see it. Now when I click it nothing happens though as usually you get a confirmation. I want to switch my static website over to wordpress but couldn't figure out how yet. No answer from the forum either. Lovely pic of the birds by the way.
Your follow does seem to have been successful.


The wedding day is among the most sacred and memorable days in a couple's life. It is a day that determines what kind of future that you will lead depending on how the events turn out. For the bride, the most exciting part is the wedding dress that she is in on that special day. But like any other day, you can have a bad luck and have some wine spill on the dress, and this can be disturbing. But how can you make sure that you have cleaned this wine without leaving a trace of it on the gown?
There are different approaches to cleaning the wine stains on the wedding dress. One thing that you must recognize is that by having the dress white, wines such as red ones will be conspicuous and thus it cannot be hidden. If allowed to dry, the stain might become tough to clean and thus it must be removed as soon as possible. Here are steps that you can follow for a successful removal wine stain on the wedding dress.
Wedding dresses are made from different materials, and they might require a different approach while removing wine stains. Otherwise, such situation can turn out to be worse. You must ensure that you have the right information about the wedding dress material so that you do not end up making the matter worse than it is already. Whether you have a nylon or silk gown, the steps for removing wine spills is almost the same, but the methodology might differ. Make sure that you have identified the type of dress that you are dealing with and this will avoid the chances of destroying it by using the wrong stain removal methodology.
Color transfer on the wedding dress is one thing that you must avoid by all means. You need to be very careful to ensure that color transfer is at a minimal or zero if possible. Before you have started to work on the dress, you must make sure that you have tested for color bleeding on a hidden area or a similar material. This testing will help you to analyze the amount of color transfer that is like happen once you have removed the real wine stain. You need to use a towel in this case. Apply the detergent that you will be using on the towel and check on the color transfer to a hidden area. The more color transfer is noticed, the more the chances that the dress might get destroyed. Make sure that you have less color transfer as much as possible.
After verifying the type of dress and testing color bleeding, then the real work should kick off immediately. You should not allow the wine spills to dry since it might become tough to clean and thus it must be done as soon as possible. The best wine stain remover that has been tested and found to work exemplary well is the stain RX. You need to apply this stain remover on the affected area. Let it rest on the stain for a while. The resting will help in absorbing the wine stains and also allow for the part of stain that could have dried to be socked for easy removal.
After the stain remover has been allowed to rest on the stain for a while, you should now use your hands to rub it gently. Rub the stain remover into the wedding dress with your fingers gently. If you have a problem with your fingers, it is always advisable to use an object that will give similar results without destroying the dress. Make sure that you are not spreading the paste to other areas that are not affected by the stain. Once you have gently rubbed the stain remover on the dress, it will be very easy to have it removed off the dress.
After you have rubbed the stain remover with your fingers gently, you should use cool water to rub off the stain thoroughly. Water acts as the solvent, and it will dissolve the wine stains collected by the stain RX off the dress. Make sure that you have only rinsed the affected area and not wetting other parts of the dress. If the dress is still worn or is to be worn soon, you need to be extra careful while rinsing. It will be important to have the water flow controlled as much as possible to prevent destroying the gown further.
Once you have rinsed the area and still find some traces of wine stain, you should start this process again. Make sure that you have applied the stain remover directly on the remaining stain and the rest should follow as explained above until all the stain is gone.
After you have rinsed the affected area and the wine stain is gone, then you have to start the drying process immediately. Use of a white towel has been found to be one of the most effective ways of drying such areas. The fact that the towel is white is to ensure that there are is no color transfer at the drying stage. After absorbing most of the water by a towel, the rest can be dried by the use of a hair dryer. Hair dryer is very efficient in drying such areas. Leaving the dress to air dry can create water rings, and this will leave unpleasant marks in the dress.
These are main steps that can be used to remove wine stains on your wedding dress. Therefore, if wine spills over your gown, it should not dull your special day since it can be dealt with immediately. Such stains can be removed easily and fast in a manner that no one will notice that something happened. By just following these tips, you are guaranteed that the stain will disappear, and not even a mark of it will be left. Make sure that you have repeated the steps until the stain has disappeared completely.


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In Features, Interviews, Start ups•January 12, 2022•8 Minutes
Startup for 10: Loopin
Shona Wright
The conversation around wellbeing has been at the forefront since the pandemic, especially within the workplace. Loopin, the Employee Engagement Tool, wants to translate this conversation into actionable outputs. Their ambition is to improve employee wellbeing and nurture authentic leadership. Founded in 2020, the team has rapidly grown to 13 employees.
Loopin is the Employee Engagement Tool set to improve employee wellbeing and nurture authentic leadership. Founded in 2020, the team has rapidly grown to 13 employees.
Here to answer our 10 questions is CEO and co-founder, Antony Thompson.
1 – In your own words – what do you do?
Loopin is an employee engagement tool connecting leaders with their teams and empowering people to reach their full potential. Loopin has a range of features that brings together employee wellbeing, communication, leadership, and engagement.
We're on a mission to create an environment where it is ok to show vulnerability and emotion. We want to encourage workplaces to show a more human approach that allows people to show up, do their job, and be the best they can be.
2 – What's the most exciting thing about what you're doing?
There are two things that we're really excited about right now so I'll mention both of those!
Firstly, Loopin is at an incredible stage where our users have really started to reap the rewards of the tool. One business recently told us that prior to using Loopin, they had a real issue with employee turnover. Since using Loopin, they haven't lost a single member of staff. They told us that it's really helped to create an open and honest working environment and the team feels a lot more connected to one another. Feedback like this is really helping to shape the future of our product.
We've got some incredible new features launching soon off the back of valuable feedback from the awesome businesses we work with.
Another thing we're excited about is heading out to North America early next year. We have meetings
lined up with some of the world's biggest brands.
" We want to encourage workplaces to show a more human approach that allows people to show up, do their job, and be the best they can be. "
3 – What are you most proud of so far?
The thing that I'm most proud of is starting a business during the pandemic and still being here 16 months later. Whilst the pandemic sadly shut down so many other businesses, Loopin was just beginning.
We adapted and overcame some huge challenges and have brought together a team of seriously high performers. They are a team of thinkers and makers who truly believe in the Loopin mission. It's incredible to see. Coming into the office every day makes me insanely proud.
4 – What have you found most difficult about being a startup?
There are a few things that have been particularly difficult. Firstly, trying to get investors on board when you do not yet have a working product or a customer base is a really unique challenge.
Knowing which decision to make next is a daily challenge too. Whether that's who to hire out of a pool of amazing candidates or which platform to launch Loopin on first. You've got to make seriously big decisions and just go with it. It's a case of risk management. However, the riskiest thing to do is not to make a decision at all.
5 – What would you do differently if you started now?
That's really difficult to answer as everything is so conditional on the time in which it happens.
At the start, we began designing Loopin for Whatsapp and then switched to Microsoft Teams, which then changed to Slack.
We may have lost time and resources due to the changing nature of the direction of our product but it's hard to incorporate hindsight into what has passed. If we hadn't have followed this path, we may not be where we are today. Those lessons and decisions have shaped who we are.
6 – Where do you think you'll be in 12 months?
Loopin will be used by a number of household brands who believe in their people as much as we do. We'll be working with people-first organisations across the UK and North America.
I can't say too much right now about who these organisations are, but the team finds it astonishing that our 'small' Bristol brand could be reaching these sorts of heights at such an early stage.
7 – What tools/people/services/organisations from the cluster have helped you most?
This region has an incredible startup community that we're so excited to get involved with in the future. This year we're planning to network within the cluster to absorb as much advice, expertise, and knowledge as we can. Our tool is still being shaped around what's important right now so the more feedback from experts within the cluster the more people our tool will truly help. We see a huge value in having access to network with such a talented pool of people within the cluster.
8 – What's the best thing about the Bristol & Bath tech cluster?
The talent pool and energy within Bristol and Bath is amazing, maybe that's due to the incredible universities at the heart of both cities. Bristol particularly is a hub for up-and-coming tech and a haven for tech entrepreneurs.
We feel like we're in exactly the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right thing.
9 – Who will you be nominating for a SPARKie next year?
An organisation that brings to the forefront a unique problem that is faced daily and is attempting to solve that via a technical solution. A company that shares similar values to ours and genuinely cares about its impact on the wider community.
10 – Where can we find out more about you?
We just re-launched our website which we're super proud of! It explains the range of Loopin features in detail and you can chat live with the team there too. You can also find us on LinkedIn and Twitter, or pop into the office to see us in person. We're based near Bristol Temple Meads.
(If you stop by on a Wednesday around 2pm, you'll be just in time for cake day, delivered by an awesome local bakery!)
Bristol Startups talent wellbeing
Shona covers all things editorial at TechSPARK. She publishes news articles, interviews and features about our fantastic tech and digital ecosystem, working with startups and scaleups to spread the word about the cool things they're up to.
She also oversees TechSPARK's social media, sharing the latest updates on everything from investment news to green tech meetups and inspirational stories.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yard of the Month for January is awarded to Mary Frances Warren of 8501 Wheeling Drive. The manicured shrubs and green lawn highlight this yard's appearance.
Second place for January is Jonahan Rodrigues of 2505 Sugar Maple. Third place goes to Paul & Marie Stowers of 2505 Coxindale.
Congratulations to the homeowners and thanks to Jen Magee and Mimi Raub who served with me on the judging panel.


DJ Twinbeatz are finally back with their highly anticipated brand new hit single entitled "Speechless" featuring Talwinder & Push Kahlon!
ARE YOU DJ Twinbeatz? Contact us to get a featured artist profile page.


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Steven Universe and More Meet Their Destiny at McFarlane Toys [Toy Fair 2017]
Last year, McFarlane Toys reworked its strategy a bit. Instead of focusing on a few longrunning lines, the company switched to a primary series that encompassed all its licensed properties. Dubbed Color Tops, each wave mixes up comic, gaming, television and film characters into a larger collection. While the big guns like The Walking Dead still make up the primary focus, now things like Mass Effect, Attack on Titan, and even Spawn all fall under one banner. Add in building sets, and you have quite a bit of promising content coming from McFarlane in 2017.
Luke Brown
Get A Hero For Fun With Threezero's 'One Punch Man' Figure
There have been a lot of action figures made for a lot of superheroes over the years, but I don't think there's ever been a figure made of a hero less suited for "action" than ThreeZero's brand-new 1/6 scale figure of Saitama from One Punch Man. I mean, at least the Man-Eating Cow from The Tick --- who actually did get an action figure --- ate a man once or twice.
Best Cosplay Ever (This Week): NYCC 2016, Part Two
Our chief cosplay correspondent Betty Felon was on hand at New York Comic-Con to document as much of the amazing cosplay as she could find. Check out more of the very finest cosplay from New York.
Betty Felon
Good Smile's Nendoroids Just Keep Getting Cuter at NYCC 2016
I'll admit that I never got into the Nendoroid craze until they started making figures of characters I really liked. I've bought plenty of more traditional figures of characters I was merely ambivalent about, but the investment in Nendoroid figures meant I had to be particular about who made the cut. With this new crop of toys shown at New York Comic Con, I'm afraid I've reached a tipping point, and will have very few Nendoroids I'm capable of turning down when it comes to adding them to my collection. I mean, just look at those faces. How can you say "no" to them?
A Hero For Fun: The Best One-Punch Man Fan Art Ever!
If you haven't read the manga or seen the anime based on it, you're really missing out, because One-Punch Man is absolutely amazing! The premise is pretty easy to explain: a young man named Saitama decides to become a hero, for fun, and after an intensely rigorous training regimen (100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10km running. Every. Single. Day.), he becomes so powerful no enemy can withstand more than one of his punches. He's then confronted with the only foes he can't beat with his fists: the unshakeable ennui of being completely unbeatable, the boredom of being unchallenged, and the malaise of everyday life in Z-City. If you still don't want to believe me, just take a look at all of this incredible fan art One-Punch Man has inspired, check out the artists' sites, and have your mind changed, because not enjoying Saitama's adventures is only hurting yourself worse than consecutive normal punches.
Chris Haley
'One-Punch Man' Anime Is A Knockout Adaptation
Pretty much ever since the original webcomic by ONE premiered in 2009, fans of the superhero spoof One-Punch Man have been aching for an anime adaptation. Last fall, Madhouse --- the geniuses behind Summer Wars and Death Note, among other things --- granted their wish with a 12-episode anime based on the manga by ONE & Yuusuke Murata, which the record will show we at ComicsAlliance are big fans of. Now, thanks to Viz Media and Adult Swim's Toonami block, an English dub of that anime is finally available Stateside. So how is it? Pretty damn good.
Pick Up A Hero For Fun With Figma's 'One Punch Man' Action Figure
Yusuke Murata and ONE's One Punch Man is arguably the best thing going on in superhero comics right now. It's got it all --- hilarious comedy, genuinely thrilling action, a complex and engaging setting that gets a whole lot bigger than you think it's going to be, and some truly amazing character designs. The only thing it didn't have was a line of high-end action figures, but now, the good people over at Figma have finally corrected that oversight. In January, Figma and the Good Smile Company will be releasing an action figure for Saitama, the hero who can defeat any opponent with a single punch --- which means that someone will finally be able to stand on my desk and tell Destro and Batman how to really get things done.
Viz Media Launches Free Daily Digital Manga Section
Since 2012, Viz Media has fought the omnipresence of poorly translated bootleg manga by offering weekly manga chapters published simultaneously with Japan in the digital Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Now Viz has gone one step further in that cause by unveiling a new section of Weekly Shonen Jump's website with free official translations of popular and new series posted daily.
Best Cosplay Ever (This Week) 02.08.16
In honor of the caped crusaders of the convention scene, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever (This Week), an ongoing collection of some of the most impeccable, creative, and clever costumes that we've discovered and assembled into a super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent.
Ask Chris #282: What To Read When You're Stuck In Bed
Q: What comics would you recommend for someone recovering from surgery? Hoping for something fun, easy, pretty episodic. -- @raebeta A: I'm lucky enough that I've never had to go through an extended recovery from surgery, but I have spent plenty sick days in bed from the usual cold and flu, so I know exactly the kind of thing you're getting at. The thing is, while I always go into a bit of bed rest thinking that I'll use that time to catch up on reading, it never really works out that way. Then again, that might be because every time I get so much as a mild sniffle, I want to roll myself up into a blanket like a burrito and play Super Mario Bros. 3 until I feel better, a process that's been going on ever since that time I had a sore throat in 1990. For the record, this is the most effective medical treatment that science has devised, and I'd recommend it over chicken soup nine times out of ten.


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How much money do astronomers make? (Intermediate)
I hear that astronomers don't make a lot of money. What is the salary like?
According to the American Institute of Physics the average salary for a Physics PhD. was about $78,000 in 2000. A post-doc right out of graduate school is about $36,000 a year in physics. Salaries for astronomers are comparable.
2005 Update by Karen. In 2004, the equivalent numbers were a typical salary of $60,000-$100,000 for a Physics PhD, and typical salary $35,000-$42,000 for a post-doc right out of graduate school. You can find these numbers yourself on the AIP statistics website, where they should be updated once a year.
2015 Update by Ann. As Karen noted, the American Institute of Physics posts comprehensive data on salaries for physics-related careers. Using data from graduates in 2010, 2011, and 2012, they found that a person with an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree in astronomy would typically earn between about $28,000 and $58,000 as a starting salary; many of these graduates, though, are likely working in fields outside of astronomy. For post-docs right out of graduate school, astronomy PhDs typically make between $45,00 and $68,000. As you can see, that's a bit of an increase from when Karen checked the data in 2005.
In other words, if your plan is to become a rich astronomer, you should probably reconsider. If you're a smart person, you can make a lot more money in another career that is just as challenging and interesting as astronomy. The only reason to do astronomy is because you're totally in love with it. If you aren't, you'll be miserable . . . and you won't have a lot of money to console yourself.
Page last updated on June 19, 2015.
How much time do astronomers spend looking through telescopes? (Beginner)
What's the difference between astronomy and astrophysics? (Intermediate)
Do astronomers believe in astrology? (Beginner)
What's the best college for astronomy? (Intermediate)
Which American colleges teach astronomy? (Beginner)
What are the atmospheres of Mars and Pluto like? (Intermediate)
Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane? (Intermediate)
Formation Red Giants Oscillation Composition Neutrons Light Einstein Time Travel Energy Superclusters Motions Sunrise Convection Planetary Nebula Pressure Spectrometer Saturn Degeneracy Pressure Airplanes Spacecraft


A tentative system to describe the interaction of historical pre-mises, cultural habits, social attitudes and perceptual tenden-cies, which may determine the final reaction to and estimation of a visual phenomenon, i.e. a work of art or a unit of urban environment. Basic assumption: mere perception as measured in laboratory experiments don't account for factual estimation and use. The interaction of the individual's social system intro-duces both censure factors and deviational influences. The esti-mation and use is depending upon the symbolic - attributive and idolic - use of the object; the reading of its content, which is iconic the sensual responses to its form/color qualities, and the estimation of its functional qualities.


The problem with musical fads is that they can get old fast. As a genre gains more popularity, so more bands start to surface. The end result is one of saturation, too many bands plying their trade in a style that can become stale as quickly as it became exciting.
The trick then is to discover the bands that are rising above the tide, those groups that are still managing to be exciting where their peers are failing to do so. Bands like Real Friends.
Amongst the spate of sub-standard pop-punk records this year, it has been easy to miss some real gems. The three EPs released by Real Friends this year deserve every bit of attention they've received, and then some.
Dropped back in January, second EP "Everyone That Dragged You Here" is one of the strongest genre releases this year. Opener 'Floorboards' is a pop-punk tour-de-force. It's energetic, it's catchy, it's got all the right breaks in all the right places. It works acoustic. It's essentially the perfect opening to an EP.
In May, the band released an accomplished acoustic EP, the one new song included showing that the possess song-writing skills away from the typical pop-punk fare showcased on ETDYH.
This month, Real Friends have come out with "Three Songs About the Past Year of my Life," a new three track EP just as strong as "Everyone..." Middle track "Hebron" is an astonishing departure from their signature sound, as heartfelt and passionate in its delivery as it is disarmingly fierce.
Vocalist Dan Lambton struggles to contain his emotion as a single guitar chimes in the background. It's painfully honest, impossible to be unaffected by, and brilliant.
From repeated lyrics about sleepy eyes and boney knees to artwork featuring houses of the leafy Chicago streets the band call home, there is an ultra-personal aspect to Real Friends that instils a vitality to their songs. Theirs is the sound of pent-up small town frustration exploding from your speakers.
For every "Floorboards", there is a "Hebron". For every "Anchor Down", a "Skeletons". Real Friends have shown, over three releases in one year, that they are a multi-faceted, excitingly talented pop-punk band that have distilled exactly what it is that makes the genre so great.
Fans of pop-punk, you owe it to yourselves to give these guys a spin. With the continued rise of The Story So Far, Real Friends may be the next to capture audiences' attention.
Check out Real Friends on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.


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Multicultural is probably the word that best defines Toronto.
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Multicultural is probably the word that best defines Toronto. Chinatown, Greektown, Koreatown, Little Portugal, Little India and Little Italy are just some of the many foreign communities that have made their home in the city. And best of all is that there is no shortage of iconic places to explore – either on your own or with friends or family. Here, then, are five things you must see when you're in Toronto.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Although aquariums are ultimately places where animals are kept in captivity away from their natural habitat, they can play a key role in raising the awareness of people – especially young people – of such issues as biodiversity and respect for and conservation of aquatic habitats. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is one such example.
Located next to the CN Tower, its 5.7 million litre water tank makes it one of the biggest aquariums in North America. If you are lucky, you will be able to watch the rays feeding or the diving vets taking care of the animals. It is without a doubt one of the things that should be on every list of things to do in Toronto. The children will love it!
It was back in 1911 when the "visionary" Sir Henry Pellatt hired the architect, E. J. Lennox, to create an Edwardian-style mansion house on the top of a hill with a view over the city. Three years later and the dream had become a reality.
Casa Loma was a family home for less than a decade, until tax increases and the vicissitudes of Canada in wartime forced the Pellatts to abandon their "castle".
Casa Loma is now a museum and one of the main historical buildings in the capital of Ontario. For me, despite it often looking like a building that is out of place, with the assistance of an audio guide, I enjoy perusing the greenhouse, the library and the lounge, through the incredible rooms created by Sir Pellatt and (mainly) by Lady Pellatt. I also like going up the castle's three towers. Try it for yourself – you won't regret it!
Once home to a large whiskey distillery, the Distillery District is now a huge pedestrianised area in the west of Toronto, where you will find lots of cafes and restaurants, art galleries and alternative shops, indie boutiques and outdoor sculptures. It reminds me of the LX Factory in Lisbon.
Like Kensington Market, it breathes creativity, although with a slightly more hipster and elitist ambience compared to the graffiti-lined streets of Kensington. Nevertheless, it is worth visiting.
And if you are in Toronto during the Festive Season, then head down to the Distillery District where you will find the city's Christmas Market. It is yet another attraction that the kids will love!
My final suggestion is not actually in Toronto, but no trip to Ontario is complete without a visit to the Niagara Falls. While the River Niagara is actually quite short, it has several waterfalls along its course. The biggest, known the world over as Niagara Falls, is actually called the Horseshoe Falls, and is an impressive 800 metres wide. No less impressive is the overwhelming force of the water! All in all, as long as you are not expecting to find an isolated natural paradise, then you will enjoy discovering the falls and the Niagara peninsula.
Presépio Fort
One of the first things you should do in Toronto is climb the CN Tower. It is one of the tallest structures in the world, dedicated to both communications and tourism, with unobstructed views over the entire metropolitan area.
Looking all around out the huge windows on the observation deck helps give you a better understanding of the layout of the city: from the financial district to the islands, passing through the vibrant (and almost void of buildings) Kensington Market district and the city's east end.
I strongly recommend visiting the CN Tower, especially early in your stay in the city so you can get an overall idea of the metropolis.
By Filipe Morato Gomes / Alma de Viajante
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From 2012 to now, I kept exploring diverse ways of creation. Le Journal de Bord was born from envy to share widely thoughts on things I was living. I always found tremendous pleasure in writing. It seemed to me that creating something such as a book would be more valuable than anything else. This piece of paper, that particular object will last. In a period where I felt a creative breakdown, I found an escape, freedom of expression. These are more than storytelling, photographs put aside with no intent. It is a particular segment in my life, a time capsule, stones put together, moments that will last in a lifetime.


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← The Flash: 1973: The Family Business Showcase: Flamebird: At Grandmother's Beck and Call, Chapter 2: Batwoman's Granddaughter →
Showcase: Flamebird: At Grandmother's Beck and Call, Chapter 1: Family Funerals
by Immortalwildcat
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"…and to the earth, we commend the remains of Jackson Theodore Carson."
The minister lifted a handful of soil and dropped it into the open grave, the clods of dirt hitting the coffin with a muted clatter. Members of the family stepped forward to drop in a handful of soil or flowers before moving away from the graveside to their waiting cars. Finally, the only ones left were the minister and the widow.
"Thank you so much, Reverend Halliwell. I know you must have so much to do. I really appreciate your taking the time to perform Jack's funeral."
"Who else could have done it, Mrs. Carson? I performed the wedding ceremony for the two of you thirty-five years ago, your son's wedding fifteen years ago, his christening, and your granddaughter's christening. I can't let anyone else tend this special portion of my flock." Reverend Halliwell took the hand of Mrs. Carson and led her toward the waiting limousine. When they reached it, he turned to her. "How is that boy of yours, anyway? He didn't make it here for the burial, did he?"
The graceful older woman shook her head. "No, the rift between Phillip and Jack never did heal. He called me to express his sympathies, but I don't think he's greiving too much."
"Kathy, what happened between them? What drove them apart?"
"Phillip is an idealist. He has all these great visions of a pristine Earth. Jack's mining operations have been the focus of Phillip's hostility for over a decade. Phillip thought his father was destroying the Earth, and Jack thought that Phillip was out to ruin him personally. Phillip went so far as to change his name years ago. He thought that by using my maiden name, he could hide his relationship with his father."
Reverend Halliwell's eyes widened. "You mean that your Phillip is the man that made the news last week? The one who tried to stop the new mines in California by tying himself and his daughter across the entrance?"
"That's right, Reverend. Phillip Kane is my son."
"Elizabeth Katherine Kane, aren't you ready to go yet?" The angry voice came from downstairs. "The rally starts in less than an hour."
"I'm not going, Dad. I'm not up to it today." Elizabeth Kane sat hunched over her desk, studying an English text. "Besides, I have homework to finish."
Downstairs, her father shrugged his shoulders as he poured a last cup of coffee. "I don't know what's gotten into her lately. I used to be able to depend on her, but the last few weeks…"
"Phillip, you know damn well what it is. Ever since you refused to go back for your father's funeral, she's been angry with you. With both of us." Bonnie Kane was putting the dinner dishes in the dishwasher. She straightened up and reached for the jacket hanging on her chair. "Now, let's get up to the mine."
An hour later, Phillip and Bonnie were on a picket line, trying to block a convoy of trucks from leaving one of the Carson Industries mines. Despite the efforts of forty-five protestors, the trucks did get through. After their unsuccessful efforts, the demonstrators gathered at a local diner.
"OK, folks, that was our last chance to stop this filth at its source. We can't stop them from processing this batch — that's now under government security — but we can show these bastards just how much damage nuclear power can do!" The speaker was Frank Childress, a large man who planned most of the operation of the Coastal Anti-Nuclear Visionary Action Society. "There is a new nuke plant going online near Gotham City in two weeks, and it's time we did something stronger than a protest march to get our message out!"
Phillip stood up. "Wait a sec, Frank. I'm all for getting our message out, but just what are you planning here?"
"What do you think I'm planning, Phil? We're going to put that plant out of commission even as they dedicate it. Right now, one of my East Coast contacts is bringing enough plastic explosive into Gotham to punch a hole right through the side of the that plant's containment vessel. They built it far enough out to sea that the only people likely to be hurt when it blows are the dignitaries right there on the island."
"No, that just isn't right! Bonnie and I came here because we were concerned about the environmental impact of the mining and the nuclear waste. Nobody ever said anything about killing. We're out of here." Bonnie had stood up by his side, and as Phillip finished, they quickly darted out of the diner.
"Idiot! Now they know what we're planning and when. We'll have to eliminate them both. Now." The voice crackled in Frank Childress's ear. "Make sure you identify anyone else who might turn on us. We'll be back shortly."
Frank's reply was uttered low enough that nobody else in the room could hear it. He smiled as he heard the sound of the Kane's Jeep pulling from the parking lot, followed by the low purr of a large car.
A continent away from Phillip and Bonnie Kane, Kathleen Marie Kane Carson sat in a darkened study, a glass of wine held in her long fingers, studying the play of lightning across the sky.
"What do I do with myself now?" she wondered, not for the first time in the last two weeks. "My last two years were filled with Jack's battle with cancer. Before that, I spent thirty-three years as a society wife, chairing charities and planning parties. Now, what's left?"
She set the wine glass down on the table next to her chair, stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The lightning flashed, revealing a tall, slender woman in her late sixties with long ebony hair with streaks of gray through it. She moved with a grace uncommon even among the high society women with whom she had associated all these years, and she was still strikingly beautiful.
"I suppose I could take an active hand in the circus. Dmitri would never forgive me for that, though. He's the one who has turned a profit on it. Lord knows I never did. I wasn't meant to be a manager; I was a performer." To emphasize her words, she bent over, placed both hands flat on the floor, then raised first one, then both legs up into the air, until she was perfectly erect in a textbook handstand. Without wavering, she bent her legs at the hips, one to the front and one behind her, until both touched the floor. She then reversed them and brought herself up and over on the back foot, and ended by lowering herself to the floor in a split.
"Not too bad for an old grandmother. Still, I don't think Dmitri would put me up on the high wire on a dare." Rising to her feet, she brushed non-existent dust from the bodysuit she wore. "Of course, in this shape, I could almost consider going back to–"
The storm peaked, and lightning hit a tree somewhere just outside. The crack of the thunderbolt brought her out of her reverie.
"No, that's just plain silly, Kathy. Don't even think about it."
The storm in Gotham City was mirrored on the Pacific coast. Bonnie and Phil drove north along one of California's many oceanside cliffs, high above the shoreline. Phil was driving carefully, mindful of the rain and wind, but his attention was caught by the flash of lights behind him.
"This guy must be nuts. He actually wants to pass on a night like this?"
"So let him pass. Maybe then, if there's anything in the road, he'll find it for us."
Figuring he had no better option, Phillip slowed the car down until he saw the headlights move to one side to come around. It was a large black sedan, with nobody visible inside through the rain-streaked windows. It pulled ahead, then pulled back into the right-hand lane.
Inside the black sedan, a lone figure in the back spoke on a car phone.
"Yes, we're coming up on it now. Wait for my signal."
There was a glow in the back of the car.
"Yes, I see you. Now wait… wait… now!"
Phillip saw the flash of light inside the car that had passed him but dismissed it as a reflection of the lightning that was flashing around them. It would not have occurred to him to suspect a connection between the short burst of greenish light and the log that dropped from a trailer alongside the road.
"Hang on, Bonnie!"
"Phillip? What is it?"
"Something fell off a truck or something. It's coming this way. Maybe I can steer around it — no!"
The log had dropped to the road and rolled right at the Kane's Jeep. Just when it looked like they would avoid it, a second log dropped and fell at an angle. It hit the road, bounced up, and struck the Jeep just ahead of the front passenger-side wheel. It struck with enough force that the front wheels left the road, and the Jeep twisted on its back wheels. When all four tires were on the ground again, the Jeep was pointed out over the side of the cliff, still traveling at forty-five miles per hour. It struck the guard rail, pitching the Jeep over the rail and over the side of the cliff. It turned over twice in midair before striking the rocks below, landing top-down.
In the the black sedan, the figure in the back spoke into the phone again. "Nice work, gentlemen. I do enjoy a good game of billiards."
Kathy Carson hurried down the steps from the plane to the waiting taxi at the airport in Eureka, California. She settled in for the hour-long drive to her late son's house and reflected on the last twelve hours.
It had started with the phone call at two AM. Her housekeeper Janice had brought the phone into her bedroom with a worried look on her face. When Kathy heard her granddaughter's words, she knew why.
"Grandmother Carson? It's Elizabeth. Something horrible has happened. It's just awful." The voice broke off in tears, and Kathy could hear someone else at the other end of the line. The next words that came over the phone were in the voice of a stranger.
"Mrs. Carson? I'm sorry; nobody realized that Miss Kane was calling anybody. My name is Alicia Price. I'm with the California Highway Patrol. I'm afraid I have some bad news, ma'am."
Kathy's hand gripped the phone hard enough that she heard the plastic creaking under the pressure. "What is it, Officer? Has something happened to my son?"
"Umm, Mrs. Carson, I'm sorry to have to tell you, but your son's vehicle went off the road tonight, and both he and his wife were killed."
The blood drained from Kathy's face. Janice took a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around her employer. "Dear God in heaven. How did it happen? Was there another vehicle involved? Did something go wrong with the car?"
"We don't know yet, ma'am. Our people are going over the vehicle. It was raining pretty heavy this evening, and those roads up along the oceanside cliffs get hit with some wicked winds on nights like this, too. We won't be able to release the bodies until late tomorrow. Do you know who your son would want to handle the arrangements?" A detached part of Kathy's mind noted the detached way in which the officer handled the personal details.
"Officer Price, I will be there tomorrow afternoon to handle everything. I'll see to it that Miss Kane's other grandparents are notified and there as well. Could I speak to Elizabeth again, please?"
"Of course, ma'am. And thank you." Kathy heard the phone being transferred to another person.
"Grandmother, what am I supposed to do? I don't have any idea." The tears were gone for the moment, but it sounded like they could start again any second.
"For now, you try to get some sleep. I'll be there as soon as I can get out of here in the morning, and I'll get your mother's parents out there, too. We'll take care of everything then."
Now she was pulling up in the driveway, and Elizabeth was running out of the house and into her arms.
"Grandmother! Thank God you're here!" Elizabeth Kane threw herself into her grandmother's arms.
Kathy Carson put her arms around the sobbing girl. "That's right, Elizabeth, let it all out." As her granddaughter cried on her shoulder, Kathy picked her up, cradling her against her as she walked up the steps to the house. The cab driver followed with a surprised look on his face. Kathy disengaged one arm long enough to grab a pair of twenties from her purse and pass them to the driver. She laid Elizabeth down on the couch and sat with her.
"Can you tell me what happened, honey? Is there anything more that the police didn't tell me?"
"No, there isn't much more. They found the car this morning. They said it looked like a tree fell during the storm and hit the car. After that…" Elizabeth leaned into Kathy's shoulder again as the tears flowed once more.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth was calmed down a bit. "I don't know what I'll be doing now. Everything I did outside of school was with Mom and Dad."
"Well, it is up to you, but you could come and stay with me. I'm sure your mother's parents feel the same way, too."
"Could I? In Gotham? That would be terrific. I really don't want to stay around here now."
"Of course you can. I'm all alone in that big house. I would love to have you there."
"What about the funeral? Will that be here, or…?"
Kathy thought about that one. "Perhaps your grandparents will agree that it's better your parents be buried back home, where they spent most of their lives. Your mother was from Gotham, too, so that should work out. In that case, we will probably be going there tomorrow. Shall we start packing, since there isn't much else we can do right now?"
It was a week to the day after Elizabeth Kane's parents were killed. During those seven days, she had traveled across the country, attended her parents' funeral, and tried to get settled in her grandmother's mansion.
Kathy Kane had not quite told the truth about being alone in the house. There was Janice, her personal secretary, a cook, a housekeeper, and a gardener. While they were technically employees, Kathy regarded each of them as friends and treated them as such. Still, it was a lonely place for a teenage girl.
"I'll be glad when school starts. No offense, Grandmother, but I'm bored."
Kathy had already been considering that problem. "How about you join me for my workout this afternoon?"
"Let me guess — a private spa?"
"Yes and no. Not a club — I have my own gym, of sorts." Elizabeth did not miss the odd smile on her grandmother's face.
"What do you mean by that?"
Kathy got up from her chair. "Come on, I'll show you."
Taking the young girl's hand, Kathy led her to the foyer. There, she reached up to twist one of the spindles of the large staircase that led up from the foyer, and a panel below the stairs opened up.
"Watch your step. It's kind of narrow. This used to be part of the steps to the basement."
"What did you do? Hollow out a gym under the house?"
"No, the cave was there. And it seemed like the right idea at the time."
Elizabeth was about to reply when the lights came on below her. She reached the bottom and looked out into a large cavern.
This entry was posted in Earth-2 on March 20, 2000 by 5earths.


It wουld bе nice tο live іn a world whеrе еνеrу business-fοr-sale wаѕ sold аt top dollar. Whіlе thеrе іѕ nο such thing аѕ a perfect business free frοm аll defects, thеrе аrе a number οf problems thаt саn hinder a sale thаt сουld bе remedied, іf given enough time. Thіѕ article lists ten οf thе reasons whісh аrе οftеn cited аѕ contributing factors іn аn unsuccessful sale οr a completed deal fοr less thаn potential value.
Business intermediaries need tο bе up-front wіth thеіr seller clients, educating thеm οn thе challenges faced, аnd thе lіkеlу impact thаt one οr more οf thеѕе issues wіll hаνе οn completing a successful transaction.
Arguably, thе price a business іѕ listed аt іѕ one οf thе critical elements tο a successful sale. An owner's emotional attachment tο thеіr business, coupled wіth аn inexperienced business intermediary's desire tο obtain thе listing аnd please thе seller, саn bе a recipe fοr disaster. Overpricing a business wіll deter knowledgeable buyers frοm establishing communications. Additionally, іt wіll bе extremely difficult tο defend thе valuation whеn a business hаѕ bееn priced unrealistically. Thе typical outcome іѕ thаt thе listing wіll languish іn thе marketplace аnd recovery becomes more difficult. Once οn thе market fοr months οn еnd аt thе wrοng price, thе process іn re-pricing аnd re-listing сrеаtеѕ a whole nеw set οf challenges, thе lеаѕt οf whісh іѕ maintaining credibility.
Seller insists οn аll cash аt closing аnd іѕ inflexible іn negotiating οthеr terms.
Fοr a successful sale tο occur, a business owner mυѕt hаνе thе rіght team οf advisors іn рlасе. An experienced mergers & acquisitions intermediary wіll play thе mοѕt critical role – frοm thе business valuation tο negotiating thе terms, conditions, аnd price οf thе sale аѕ well аѕ everything іn between (confidential marketing, buyer qualification, etc). Aside frοm thе M&A advisor, a business attorney whο specializes іn business transactions іѕ critical. Once again, "whο specializes іn business transactions". Anу professional whο hаѕ bееn іn thе industry fοr more thаn a year wіll bе аblе tο point tο a transaction thаt hаѕ failed bесаυѕе thе lawyer thаt wаѕ chosen dіd nοt hаνе thе specialized expertise іn handling business transactions. Additionally, a competent CPA whο іѕ knowledgeable аbουt structuring business transactions wіll bе thе third key role. Whіlе a business owner's current legal аnd tax advisors mау hаνе thе best οf intentions іn assisting thеіr client wіth thе business sale, іf thеу аrе nοt experienced wіth mergers аnd acquisitions іt wουld bе highly recommended tο evaluate alternatives. In ѕοmе cases, thеrе іѕ one shot whеn аn offer hаѕ bееn received аnd іt іѕ therefore imperative nοt tο attempt tο mаkе a deal thаt іѕ out οf reach аnd impossible tο complete.
Thе majority οf buyers аrе seeking profitable businesses wіth year-over-year increasing revenue аnd profits. Whеn a business hаѕ a less stellar track record wіth varied results οr possibly declining revenue аnd/οr profits, complications wіth thе business sale аrе lіkеlу tο occur. Nοt οnlу wіll decreasing profits аnd revenue impact thе availability οf third party funding bυt іt wіll hаνе a material impact οn thе business valuation. Whіlе buyers traditionally рυrсhаѕе businesses based οn anticipated future performance, thеу wіll value thе business οn іtѕ historical earnings wіth thе major focus οn thе prior 12-36 months. Fοr those businesses whісh hаνе deteriorating financials, thе seller ѕhουld bе аblе tο articulate ассυrаtе reasons fοr thе decline. Both thе lender аnd thе buyer wіll need tο obtain a realistic understanding οf thе underperformance tο assess thе impact іt іѕ lіkеlу tο hаνе οn future results. In cases whеrе thе seller іѕ confident thаt thе decline wаѕ аn anomaly аnd іѕ nοt lіkеlу tο repeat itself, structuring a component οf thе рυrсhаѕе price іn thе form οf аn earn-out wουld probably bе necessary. In οthеr circumstances, whеn thеrе аrе two οr more years οf declines, thе buyer аnd lender wіll qυеѕtіοn "whеrе іѕ thе bottom?" аnd whаt іѕ thе nеw normal. In thіѕ situation, a decrease іn valuation wіll bе inevitable. Cash flow іѕ thе driver behind business valuations аnd business acquisitions. Thе consistency аnd quality οf revenue аnd income wіll bе one οf thе key focal points whеn assessing аn acquisition. It аll relates tο risk. Those businesses wіth dependable recurring revenue generated frοm contractual arrangements wіll generally bе іn greater demand thаn businesses whο produce income based οn a project based model.
One οf thе mοѕt critical components tο a successful business sale іѕ fοr thе business tο maintain ассυrаtе, detailed, аnd сlеаn financial statements thаt match thе filed tax returns. Nοt οnlу wіll thеѕе financial statements bе thе basis fοr thе business valuation bυt thеу wіll аlѕο bе thе criteria fοr whether thе business wіll qualify fοr bank transaction funding. Tοο οftеn thе business іѕ managed аѕ purely a lifestyle business thаt іѕ focused οnlу οn short term owner compensation, without regard tο building long term value. In thеѕе cases, thе owner hаѕ taken very liberal personal expenses thаt mау nοt bе аblе tο bе added back whеn deriving thе adjusted earnings. Given thе importance thеѕе documents represent, a business owner ѕhουld ensure thаt thе books аrе professionally managed аnd up tο date. Records thаt аrе messy, incomplete, out-οf-date οr containing tοο many personal expenses wіll οnlу give prospective buyers аnd lenders reasons tο qυеѕtіοn thе accuracy οf thе books. Last bυt nοt lеаѕt, businesses thаt hаνе a 'cash component' wіll need tο report 100% οf thіѕ income fοr іt tο bе incorporated іn thе valuation.
Businesses thаt hаνе a handful οf customers thаt produce a large percentage οf thе company's revenues, wіll probably hаνе customer concentration issues, especially іf one client represents greater thаn 10% οf sales. It іѕ іmрοrtаnt fοr a business owner tο recognize thаt a business whісh lacks a broad аnd diverse base οf customers possesses a higher degree οf risk fοr a buyer аѕ thе loss οf аnу one οf thеѕе large clients сουld hаνе a material impact οn thе future earnings. Aѕ a result, customer concentration wіll hаνе аn effect οn thе valuation, deal structure, аnd salability οf thе business. Vendor аnd industry concentration саn аlѕο pose complications whеn selling a business. Specialization саn bе a competitive advantage fοr a business аnd аѕѕіѕt іn winning contracts. Hοwеνеr, thіѕ same narrow industry focus сουld bе a detriment іf іt іѕ perceived thаt thе business dοеѕ possess a broad supply chain аnd ample options tο source products аnd materials.
It іѕ nοt uncommon fοr thе owner tο play a significant role іn thе operation аnd management οf thе business. Thіѕ іѕ particularly trυе wіth smaller enterprises. Whеrе thіѕ situation саn present a problem іѕ whеn thе owner іѕ nοt οnlу thе face οf thе business bυt аlѕο deeply involved wіth аll facets οf thе company – sales, marketing, operations, management, marketing, аnd financial. If thеrе аrе nο key employees аnd thеrе аrе few written processes аnd procedures, thе business lacks a dependable аnd repeatable work flow. Whеn іt becomes evident thаt thе business саnnοt operate effectively without thе owner's hands οn involvement аnd personal know-hοw, іt becomes problematic. Of equal concern іѕ thе relationship thе owner mау hаνе wіth thе customers οf thе business. If thе customer dοеѕ business wіth thе firm largely іn раrt οf thе relationship wіth thе owner, thіѕ situation wіll сrеаtе customer retention concerns аnd possible transition problems whеn thе business іѕ being sold. In summary, buyers want a business thаt саn operate independently frοm thе current business owner.
It іѕ nοt uncommon fοr a business owner tο become complacent аftеr running thе company fοr аn extended period οf time. Becoming tired аnd lacking thе previous 'fire іn thе belly' hаѕ a way οf spilling over іntο thе business fundamentals. Thе number οf trade shows thаt thе business participates іn decreases, thе travel аnd nеw customer sales calls thаt routinely took рlасе οn a daily basis іn thе early years, hаνе bееn paired down. Thе investment spending οn equipment upgrades, vehicle replacement οr marketing programs hаνе bееn сυt back. Innovation hаѕ come tο a grinding halt аnd thе business іѕ οn auto pilot. Thе financials hаνе luckily held steady bυt fοr hοw long? An owner whο hаѕ become burnt out аlmοѕt unavoidably transmits thеіr lack οf zeal аnd drive tο thеіr staff аnd clients іn a number οf subtle ways. Thе net result іѕ thе company's performance slowly bеgіnѕ tο deteriorate. Unfortunately, thіѕ situation саn become even more pronounced whеn thе owner finally mаkеѕ thе dесіѕіοn tο sell thе business аnd mentally checks out аt thе wοrѕt possible time. Transferring ownership саn bе viewed bу ѕοmе аѕ a highly emotional process, аnd thе dесіѕіοn tο sell аt thе rіght time іѕ οftеn ignored until thе issue іѕ forced upon thе owner (failing health, divorce, disability, etc.) аnd usually аt a fraction οf thе former valuation.
Over thе last two centuries thеrе hаνе bееn a number οf industries thаt hаνе developed аnd grown significantly. In thіѕ same time frame, many nеw industries hаνе bееn сrеаtеd whіlе others hаνе become extinct. Thе future outlook fοr a given industry wіll hаνе a direct impact οn thе valuation аnd marketability οf thе business during a sale. Businesses facing obsolescence οr mired іn a shrinking industry wіll face аn uphill battle whеn іt comes time tο transitioning οr selling thе company. Maintaining a diverse offering οf products аnd services thаt аrе relevant tο thе market, nοt јυѕt today, bυt аlѕο wіth аn eye tο thе future, wіll enable a business owner tο avoid thіѕ situation. Nοt οnlу wіll thіѕ аѕѕіѕt іn mitigating thе impact frοm declining sales bυt аlѕο demonstrate tο a prospective buyer thаt thе business hаѕ a clear path tο grow іn thе future.
Frοm loan application approval tο transaction funding іѕ a process іn business transactions thаt саn take six weeks οr more, thаt іѕ wіth аn 'experienced' business acquisition financier. Many deals hаνе fallen apart during thіѕ time frame bесаυѕе thе buyer became aligned wіth thе wrοng financial institution. Thеrе іѕ nothing worse, fοr аll parties involved, tο find out four weeks іntο thе process thаt еіthеr thе loan terms previously promised wеrе nοt сοrrесt οr worse, thаt thе bank underwriter declined thе loan.
In thе field οf business acquisitions, nοt аll banks/lenders аrе thе same. Thеrе аrе conventional loans, SBA backed loans, аnd thеrе аrе lenders thаt provide cash-flow based financing аnd others thаt οnlу provide asset based funding. One bank mау turn down a borrower fοr аn SBA 7a loan whіlе another institution wіll readily accept іt. Eνеrу lender hаѕ іtѕ οwn unique аnd frequently modified lending criteria. Therefore, buyers need tο ensure thеу аrе working wіth thе rіght lender frοm day one, οr valuable time іѕ wasted causing thе deal tο bе compromised, οr lost tο another, better prepared candidate. Buyers ѕhουld consult wіth thе business intermediary representing thе sale tο determine whісh lenders hаνе reviewed аnd/οr pre-approved thе transaction fοr funding. Obviously, buyers whο аrе prequalified frοm thе ѕtаrt аnd verify thаt thе bank's lending criteria conforms tο thе type οf businesses thеу аrе evaluating, wіll bе thе best positioned fοr a successful acquisition.
Fοr ѕοmе businesses thе saying "location, location, location" саnnοt bе more іmрοrtаnt tο thе value οf thе company. Typically, thіѕ wіll pertain tο retail businesses. If thе physical location іѕ οf major importance, thе business buyer wіll seek assurances thаt thеу саn еіthеr рυrсhаѕе thе real estate οr bе аblе tο sign a long term lease. On thе flip side, thе business сουld bе located іn a раrt οf town thаt hаѕ fallen οn hard times οr сουld bе located οn thе owner's personal property, both situations necessitating thаt thе business bе relocated. Alѕο, ѕοmе businesses аrе nοt easily relocatable without affecting thе current customer base. All οf thеѕе circumstances add another layer οf complexity tο thе transaction.
Additionally, thе type аnd size οf facility саn аlѕο hаνе a material impact οn thе sale. If thе facility іѕ nοt large enough tο provide thе enterprise a sustained growth path, a buyer сουld become disinterested. Another situation сουld bе thе value οf thе property. If thе current owner рυrсhаѕеd thе land/building a decade οr two earlier аnd thе financials οr recast dο nοt reflect a current FMV rent/lease payment, valuation problems wіll occur.
Business transactions involving thе sale οf commercial real estate саn bе hampered bу thе Environmental Site Assessments (ESA's) – Phase 1 аnd Phase 2. Property thаt іѕ contaminated саn bе very costly tο сlеаn up аnd wіll hаνе аn impact οn thе closing. Whеn thіѕ situation arises, іt wіll bе іmрοrtаnt fοr thе buyer аnd seller tο hаνе a clear understanding οf thе costs tο resolve thе issue, whісh party іѕ responsible, аnd whether a price offset wіll bе warranted.
Othеr complicating factors involving commercial real estate include zoning changes thаt require a property tο bе brought up tο nеw codes, аnd clear definition οf whο bears responsibility аnd thе cost οf thіѕ process. Last bυt nοt lеаѕt, thе agreement bу thе landlord wіth еіthеr a lease assignment οr offering a nеw lease аt comparable rates.
Mοѕt small business owners hаνе spent thе majority οf thеіr life building thеіr business. It іѕ nοt uncommon fοr a business seller tο become ѕο emotionally attached tο thе company thаt thеу look past ѕοmе rаthеr glaring problems thаt a business intermediary, a lender, οr prospective buyer wіll immediately recognize. It іѕ natural fοr a seller tο want tο obtain thе highest price possible fοr thеіr business. Thеrе іѕ ѕο much bаd information οn thе web related tο multiples аnd business valuations thаt thіѕ ѕhουld nοt come аѕ a surprise. M&A Advisors need tο bе hοnеѕt аnd direct іn educating a business seller οn thе challenges faced іn a potential sale, thе range fοr a realistic transaction price, аѕ well аѕ creative terms аnd structuring options thаt mіght bе utilized. Being a people pleaser аnd ignoring аnу potential problems wіll οnlу provide thе seller wіth unrealistic expectations. In thе arena οf business negotiations thеrе аrе few іf аnу "pleasant surprises". Dealing wіth issues up front rаthеr thаn late іn thе sales cycle process ѕhουld bе thе golden rule.


Quadel offers multiple trainings for PHAs administering the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Quadel's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Occupancy training is a comprehensive course for new, front-line staff and is a useful refresher for experienced or supervisory staff. Quadel's approach combines classroom lecture, PowerPoint presentations, case studies, course book instruction, and group exercises to further the student's understanding of the material. Key legislative changes affecting HCV program requirements are emphasized throughout the training. Quadel course books are complete manuals explaining HUD's occupancy rules and serve as a desk reference and provide technical assistance long after completion of the course.
Quadel's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) training is an all-inclusive course including classroom lecture, discussion, case studies, pictures of actual pass/file items and training films. The course covers general HQS requirements, performance measures, acceptability criteria, HQS versus local PHA codes, and inspection procedures.


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Q: Response Functions in a Random Forest I am reading a chapter about random forest in a textbook. After the section about the predictor importance, the author introduces "Response Functions" as follow:
"Predictor importance is only part of the story. In addition to knowing the
importance of each predictor, it can be very useful to have a description of
how each predictor is related to the response. The set of response functions
needs to be described. For tree-based approaches such as CART, one proceeds
as follows.

*

*Grow a forest.

*Suppose x1 is the initial predictor of interest, and it has v distinct values
in the training data. Construct v data sets as follows.
a) For each of the v values of x1, make up a new dataset where x1 only takes on that value, leaving all other variables untouched.
b) For each of the v datasets, predict the response using random forests.There will be a single value averaged over all observations.
c) Average each of these predictions over the trees.
d) Plot the average prediction for each value for each of the v datasets
against the v values of x1

*Go back to Step 2 and repeat for each predictor."

I use random forest occasionally, and I understand the basic procedure of the model. But the step 2 b) and 2 c) are confusing to me.
If we have N observations and x1 has p unique values, can anyone help to describe how the steps should be done?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Pet Vaccinations: 4 Facts You Should Know | The Benefits Store, Inc.
People are often worried about getting vaccinated – as they should be. It's one of the reasons August was named National Immunization Awareness Month; to make sure everyone remembers to get their vaccinations. Vaccinations can help prevent serious illnesses.
Pet vaccines don't protect pets; they protect people as well. For example, rabies kills more than 55,000 people around the world every year. If your pets become infected, rabies is one of the diseases they can spread to your family. You will want to get your pets vaccinated against this deadly disease.
Diseases once killed thousands of pets every year. Vaccinations helped nullify the impact these diseases had – but they haven't necessarily died out. Without proper vaccinations, pets are still susceptible to many of the diseases that may not be as prevalent anymore.
Pets are required to get vaccinated at a young age. If you have puppies or kittens, you should bring them to the vet to determine when they need their shots. Throughout the first six months, puppies will need to be vaccinated for distemper, measles, parainfluenza, DHPP, and rabies. Kittens will need shots for distemper, rabies, and feline leukemia.
Both dogs and cats need regular booster shots every one to three years depending on the vaccine. For example, rabies shots should be administered every year. Rabies is often fatal for dogs, which is why it's so important to keep to their vaccination schedule.
These are a few important facts about pet vaccinations that you should keep in mind so you'll remember to stick to your pet's vaccination schedule. For more general advice about the health of your pets and your family, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.


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Minister Duncan arrives in Santiago de Chile today (9th March) to attend the inauguration of the new President of Chile, Mr Sebastian Piñera and discuss the future of UK-Chile bilateral relations with the incoming administration.
As well as meetings with Interior Minister Andres Chadwick and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Ampuero, Sir Alan will meet Chilean business leaders to discuss future commercial opportunities under the Global Britain agenda, host an event for Chilean alumni of the UK's Chevening Scholarship and International Leaders programmes, and deliver a foreign policy lecture to students at the prestigious Universidad del Desarrollo.
My first official visit to Chile comes at an important time, as our two countries continue to work closely on regional and international issues such as human rights, security and peace keeping, climate change and protection of the oceans.
The UK and Chile have strong historical links that go back over 200 years. Our relationship will continue to go from strength to strength in the 21st century, as we further our collaboration in fields as diverse as trade and investment, science and innovation, and green sector growth.


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LARC NEWS Posted: 5/8/2017 1:55:09 AM
Bill Hoburg's BH Lisas Boy improved his 2017 record to three wins in as many starts after cruising to a ¾ length win in the Grade 3 $25,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap on Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Ridden by Cesar De Alba for trainer John Cooper, the Mighty Invictus gelding broke evenly with the red-hot runner El Remalcable before pulling away from his rival in the second half of the race. BH Lisas Boy covered the 350 yards in a fast :17.548 from post number one while adding the Kaweah Bar to his February victory in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Already the owner of a berth to this year's $750,000 Champion of Champions, BH Lisas Boy earned $13,750 for the win to take his career bankroll to $334,006 with 13 wins from 23 starts.
"He reminds me of Moonist a lot," said Cooper, who trained the champion Moonist to 24 wins and $878,468 in earnings. "(BH Lisas Boy) is nice to be around and I think he's easy to train. I'm sure Bill would say the same thing. He's really coming into himself right now. I really wasn't worried about him going 350 yards. They would say that Moonist was a 400 yard horse, but Moonist won the Kaweah Bar in :17.33 at 350 yards. The good ones don't just run a certain distance. It depends on when you ask them to run. BH Lisas Boy is doing things right. He had a pretty good campaign last year and Bill did the right thing, he turned him out and I was priviledged that he would think about leaving him with me. He said that I get up earlier than him. I hope (Bill) is happy. He had horses running in trials somewhere else today, but he should be here around May 15. I'm happy and I hope Bill is as well."
In 2016, BH Lisas Boy won the Bank of America California Regional Championship and was second in the Grade 1 Bank of America Challenge Championship, Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap, and Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship.
Jesus Daniel Padilla's El Remalcable earned $5,625 for running second in the Kaweah Bar. The lightly raced 4-year-old son of Two Corona Special was making only his seventh career start. He has finished third or better in every one of his outings and came into this race having won his previous four races, including a pair of allowances. El Remalcable is a half-brother of Hector Padilla's Remarkableyesapoweer, the winner of last year's Cypress Handicap and a participant of eight stakes races in his career. Jose Nicasio piloted El Remalcable for trainer Felix Gonzalez.
Remarkable is He Looks Hot, the gelding by Walk Thru Fire trained by Scott Willoughby, as he became AQHA Hall of Fame owner Ed Allred's first racehorse to go over a million dollar in career earnings. He Looks Hot, the winner of the 2014 Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and 2016 Grade 1 Vessels Maturity, came into this race needing $111 to reach the magical million figure. He Looks Hot reach the mark after earning $3,125 thanks to his third place finish in the Kaweah Bar. The Allred-bred runner's career earnings now stand at $1,003,014. Mr PYC To You and Winners Cool Chick completed the field.


text:
Watch This || By: Brian Brooks	|| July 31, 2012 11:00 AM EST
James Bond: Jumping with the Queen Last Week; New International Trailer This Week
James Bond added another leading lady under his belt after he teamed up with none other than Queen Elizabeth II in a sketch for the opening night of the Olympics in London (with what looked like Her Majesty jumping out of a plane with the eternal superstar agent). Most certainly not quite how it happened, but nevertheless a significant royal boost for 007 ahead of his next adventure. The new international trailer of Skyfall promises more action and intrigue - and of course he's once again ready for the fight, tux in tow.
Daniel Craig returns once again crisply dressed, heading to exotic locations and facing up to eccentric bad guys and of course finding romance along the way with beautiful women. Skyfall also stars Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory and Judi Dench. Bardem takes his turn playing Bond's nemesis and even sports a blond-do.
The film opens in November in the States.
Official synopsis: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
International trailer:
Watch the international trailer via YouTube
Domestic trailer:
Watch the domestic trailer via YouTube
Tags: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, ralph fiennes


WALLACE RIVER, NS, Dec. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Ian Murray, of Wallace River, Nova Scotia has earned First Prize in the 2015 American Wildlife Federation Photo Contest in the BABY ANIMALS category. His winning image – "MOMMA AND BABY RED FOX" – Photo # 1, will appear in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of National Wildlife magazine and be promoted on National Wildlife Federation's website, blogs, Facebook page and other publishing mediums. Murray's First Place photograph, as well as the other winning shots from the other categories in the competition can be seen on National Wildlife's Photo Zone page (www.nwf.org/photozone). It was chosen from 6,765 entries from around the world.
"What a thrill and honour to receive such recognition from the American National Wildlife Federation judges," said Murray, who is no stranger to capturing stunning wildlife photographs in his travels throughout his home province. This win marks the second time his images have scored First Place in international competitions. Last year, Murray won top spot in the 2014 American Bald Eagle Photo Contest for his image – "MASTER FISHERMAN" – Photo # 2. The competition, sponsored by Potomac River Bald Eagles, attracted entries from across North America. Murray's images of the people, places and wildlife of Nova Scotia have also appeared in publications promoting Nova Scotia and the Maritimes.
Ian Murray started Wallace River Photography in 2009. Specializing in Wildlife photography, he is based in a rural Nova Scotia near the picturesque community of Wallace.


Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, sports memorabilia, toys, primitives, vintage, advertising items, glassware and pottery and more! Typically a great variety of items!
Highlights include gold, silver, key dates, bullion and hard to find items. Most denominations are usually represented with something for nearly every collector or dealer. Typically a great variety!
This is the first of a few auctions to settle this large estate. Both categories include some nice collectible and vintage items. Raggedy Ann & Andy, Barbie, Cabbage Patch, Fire King, Pyrex n more!
Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, sports memorabilia, diecast and other toys, tin signs, primitives, vintage, glassware, coins and more! Typically a great variety of items!
Monthly auction featuring antiques, primitives, advertising items, collectibles, sports memorabilia, toys, furniture, vintage and much more! Typically a great variety of items and some hard to find!
Monthly auction featuring antiques, primitives, advertising items, collectibles, sports memorabilia, toys, glassware, pottery, furniture and much more! Typically a great variety of items!
Highlights include gold, silver, key dates, graded coins, bullion and hard to find items. Most denominations are usually represented with something for nearly every collector or dealer.
Not a full-fledged antique sale but the offering includes lots of collectible toys, primitives, collectible and advertising items with a mix of normal weekly items including construction material!
Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, sports memorabilia, toys, primitives, advertising items, furniture, rare items, military and more! Typically a great variety of quality items!
This special auction will feature well over 500 total toys, several diecast - most with boxes, pressed steel and vintage toys and more! There's a great variety of items-many from one collection!
Monthly auction featuring antiques, primitives, collectibles, sports memorabilia, toys, advertising items, rare and hard to find items and more! Typically a great variety and large quantity!
Highlights include gold, silver, key date, proof and some hard to find items. Most denominations are usually represented and something for nearly every collector. Typically a great variety of items!
The last Thursday of every month! Typically a great selection of rare items, military, primitives, advertising, vintage items, collectibles, sports cards, jewelry, furniture, glassware and more!
Held the second Sunday of every month, we typically have a wide variety with most demoninations represented, gold coins, silver, graded coins, key dates, currency, foreign coins, bulk lots and more!
Due to health reasons, a local store owner is liquidating their halloween costume inventory in time for the season. All costumes are new in the package with over 1,000 total costumes selling.
The last Thursday of every month we have a great selection of antiques, primitives, vintage items, toys, sports cards and memorabilia, collectibles and advertising items, glassware, pottery and more!
Monthly auction featuring gold, silver, graded coins, currency, coin sets, commemoratives, foreign coins and notes and more! Typically a great variety of items! Normally held the 2nd Sunday of month.
Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, primitives, advertising items, military, sports memorabilia, toys, unique and rare items and more! Typically a great variety of items!
Monthly auction featuring silver, gold, key date and graded coins and assorted currency. Quite a bit of silver bullion this time and a good opportunity to buy. Always a good selection including bulk.
We always have a great selection from local estates and individula consignors including antiques, primitives, furniture, advertising items, collector toys, vintage items and usually some rare items!
This month we have a good selection of graded coins as well as raw and bulk coins. Gold, silver, currency and something from most denominations. Also foreign coins and proof sets and nice rare coins.
Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, primitives, sports memorabilia, toys and more! LOTS of tin, pressed steel and toys with boxes this month!
We have an outstanding offering this month including several graded coins, gold and silver coins, key dates, Morgan and Peace dollars, hard to find currency and coins and much more! Variety, quality!
THIS IS THE SPRING EDITION OF IMPOUNDED AND GOVERNMENT VEHICLES. THERE WILL BE DAILY DRIVERS, PARTS CARS AND SALVAGE VEHICLES! NO RESERVE - ALL VEHICLES SELL TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! NEARLY 130 LOTS.
Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, primitives,vintage, advertising items, sports memorabilia, toys, unique items and more! Typically a great variety of items!
Highlights this month include gold coins - graded and non-graded - silver dollars, key date coins, currency, coin sets and more. Typically something for nearly every collector or dealer!
Monthly auction featuring antiques, collectibles, primitives, advertising items, sports memorabilia, toys, furniture and unique items! Typically a great variety of items!


Today, I am continuing my conversation with Chris Backe from One Weird Globe. We discuss how failing fast helped him find what he wanted to do as a digital nomad. He also talks about his unique approach to helping his clients, the multiple income sources that fund his travels, and how he earns money from his blog.
He also gives us an honest take on full-time travel blogging and shares his experience in self-publishing.


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ONGC and GAIL agree to reinforce ties in areas of Natural Gas and Petrochemicals
Dated : 03 一月 2011 01:48:11 上午
Shri R.S. Sharma, CMD, ONGC and Shri B.C. Tripathi, CMD, GAIL flanked by Shri Sudhir Vasudeva, Director (Offshore), ONGC and Shri Prabhat Singh, Director (Marketing), GAIL on the occasion of signing of the Gas Cooperation Agreement between GAIL and ONGC
Beginning the first working day of the year 2011, managements of ONGC and GAIL today reached a landmark understanding for mutual business growth covering natural gas as well as petro-chemicals. This over-arching understanding was documented in the form of various agreements and exchange of letters, which were initialed in the office of GAIL in the presence of the CMDs of both organizations. Initialing of these agreements was also witnessed by other Board Members and senior functionaries from both organizations as well as from ONGC Petro Additions Limited (OPaL), a joint venture promoted by ONGC
As regards understanding reached for gas business, both companies would work together for exclusive sale of natural gas produced by ONGC from its various fields to GAIL during next 3 years. This joint initiative will serve as a catalyst for effective monetization of gas from future E&P fields of ONGC, with GAIL providing the infrastructure and marketing tie-up for supply to potential customers. This integrated effort of ONGC and GAIL shall also increase the availability of firm gas sourcing for infrastructure projects. The two companies also reached an understanding in swapping gas available to both the companies so as to optimise the logistics and costs
As for OPaL, the agreements initialed today signify GAIL formally agreeing to become a co-promoter of 1.1 MMTPA Ethylene Cracker Petro-chemical complex, under implementation in Dahej SEZ area, at a capital investment of `19,535 crore
An understanding has also been reached for marketing of a portion of petrochemical products of OPaL by GAIL. GAIL and ONGC would also explore the possibility of setting up a downstream unit using Butadiene, a by-product of OPaL, to GAIL for manufacture of value-added products
Commenting on the occasion, Shri R. S. Sharma, CMD, ONGC observed that mutual negotiations on these agreements have been going on for quite some time and the agreements initialed today shall create a definitive road-map for business growth by both the entities and shall also reinforce mutual cooperation by two oil PSU giants
Shri B. C. Tripathi, CMD, GAIL stated on the occasion that GAIL and ONGC have had a very long and symbiotic association and today's development will certainly strengthen this business synergy for the mutual advantage for both the companies which will help promote long term energy security in the country
The agreements initialed today are expected to be formalized into definitive agreements immediately after approvals of respective Boards